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Donnie wanted to try a new hobby: Journalling. Well, not really wanted, more like forced. Mikey wanted him to do something different other than working on his very important technology, because according to Mikey, he “already have enough inventions”. Pft, there’s no such thing as “too much inventions”. So Donnie, just a few years ago, started journalling just to make Mikey satisfied. At first, Donnie didn’t know exactly what to write about. It was a fresh journal, so why not start off with a basic summary of his life up to that point?
— Starting Page —"̶H̶i̶,̶ ̶j̶o̶u̶r̶n̶a̶l̶(̶?̶?̶?̶)̶"̶“Journal creation / usage date: 3 / 24 / 21”“Starting off with a simple summary of my experiences from creation, from my perspective, for any intelligent creature that somehow gets its hands on my journal – Written by Othello Von Ryan.”“We (we, as in me and my brothers) were all purposefully mutated to be part of a project that took part in war against humanity, by a ‘yokai’ who will remain anonymous. I do not have the knowledge of whether our different species were intentional or if our creator randomly chose 4 different terrapins for their project, but either way, we (starting out as your average everyday turtle) were mutated into humanoid figures for the purpose of fighting on our creator’s side. To put it simply, let’s say that a specific figure that is now our mentor broke us free and lost everything by becoming a mutant as well, forcing the 5 of us to live on our own out of humanity’s sight. From that point on, our mentor (or sometimes referred to as a father figure) we were given names after the 4 famous Italian Renaissance Artists; Donatello, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Donatello. Since our mentor’s last name was Hamato, we took that last name as well, part of the Hamato Clan that came from many generations ago. Our mentor taught us of the “Foot Clan”, an ‘evil’ clan that lives in a lair we currently don’t know that works for a demon named as the Shredder formed from a specific type of Metal long ago. With that knowledge in mind, we also began training. I recall we started just a few months post that time for our mentor’s dream and goal to get rid of the Foot Clan to save humanity – even though no mutant was going to be thought of as a savior for saving their very lives. Very idiotic, if I do say so myself. During my youngest ages, I remember being presented to a type of knowledge that none of my brothers now seem to understand: Science. Specifically engineering, invention, botany, and other “fancy stuff” as per my brothers’ words. Since I was also training, I had to balance those two together evenly. During that time frame, I remember feeling neglectful feelings due to my mentor’s actions. I still believe, even after my mentor has passed, that I felt like I was “being used just for my intelligence and skills” just for my mentor’s benefit and satisfaction. Specifically me, since I am the most intelligent terrapin out of the four of us.”“Now, after some time has passed, the Shredder and the Foot Clan were defeated, leaving me and my four brothers to live in peace. Not much has exactly happened now, since that event has just recently taken place.”
Donnie ended his writing there, not sure what else to write. Maybe he’d write something later, he didn’t know. Nor did he exactly care. He was just doing this to make Mikey happy. Maybe he should work on advancing the Lair’s outerfields for now and decide what to do later. Yes, that’ll certainly do.
🖤 🖤
6 more coffee mugs later, Donnie was finished with upgrading the Lair’s outerfields to ensure maximum security and safety for his loved ones. When he checked the time, it was nearly 2 in the morning. Well, Donnie didn’t exactly feel tired. All that he could feel was the stretch in his leathery shell from being hunched over for a bit too long. He attempted to recall what the morning and afternoon plans will bring, but nothing came to mind. He guessed that nobody exactly made any plans. Great, back to the usual “stay in your lab the whole day and only come out for food” everyday routine. Sometimes, he felt as if he was living his days in a repeated cycle, if not something tweaked here and there. What should he do now, exactly? Maybe write in his journal again? Eh, it was something to do. He flipped open the page he recently wrote on and continued writing.
.....
2:13 AM – Current time.“After recently completing the task of upgrading the Lair’s outerfield security systems, I am unsure of what to do currently. Perhaps I will attempt a cooking class taught by Michelangelo, the best cook out of the four of us? That seems satisfactory. That event will have to take place later, since it is only 2 in the morning. I will ensure that Mikey acknowledges my interest in his baking techniques later on.”
The writing was put to a halt there as Donnie put down his mechanical pencil, pulling off a sticky note from his stack and making a note to himself to ask Mikey about his cooking. Right, back to writing.
“Now that I have made a note-to-self set in an obvious place in which I will remember, I shall continue writing. Let’s see, what events have occurred in the past week? Nothing exactly new, just fixing up Mikey’s cooking supplies, enlarging the size of my Raphael’s room because of his constant growing size, and putting up with my nuisance of a twin named Leo and his idiotic comments on my sacred laboratory.. I believe that is pretty much it. Some things just needed a bit of tweaking. Honestly, I’d truly appreciate it if my brothers acknowledged and took my inventions to mind and appreciated my work. I do not believe I am being appreciated nearly as much as I should be now. Perhaps it’s that everyone has grown so used to my helping, that they see it as an everyday action? Even though that is not in my knowledge, I still feel the same. I guess that I’m simply putting up with it because I care for them, especially my Raphael. Raphael is the most appreciative of me than the other two. But I just don’t know why he is, though. Sure, Michelangelo can take forms such as “Dr. Feelings” where he coaxes out the feelings of others when he tells that the other is down, but that is pretty much self explanatory on its own. Leonardo is the same as always, arrogant, narcissistic, and especially more optimistic than any of us combined could ever be. Over the years, they’ve always been a nuisance to deal with, but at least my Raphael is appreciative towards my hard work. The only one of the other three that have common sense, I suppose.”— End Page —
Donnie lifted the pencil’s led tip off of the paper after dotting the period, signalling his completion of the journalling session. Donnie then had a thought occur to him; Why did he keep mentioning their eldest brother, Raphael, in his writing first if not constantly? Well, Raphael was quite the most careful and caring out of the four of them in general. Both in general loving ways and general “taking care of” ways. It only made sense to acknowledge his not-too-over-the-top optimism, surely?Or was it something more?
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
~♥️Raph had overheard the little Dr. Feelings session with Mikey and Donnie, talking about Mikey wanting Donnie to start journalling to help cope with his feelings. Classic Mikey move. Raph didn’t exactly want them to know that he was there, but Raph did have to give Mikey credit; it was a good idea for Donnie.Now that Donnie has – surprisingly proudly – announced that he has started journalling when the four turtles were sharing conversations over pizza, they now knew that Donnie had been holding up on his promise. Mikey seems extra enthusiastic. Leo being Leo, he didn’t exactly care much. Raph does know how much Donnie has struggled with emotions in general, he was proud to hear that Donnie was trying something new. In fact, Donnie had pretty much been Raph’s primary focus over a stretched distance of time, so of course Raph was going to give Donnie a sweet snaggletooth smile and a “Good job, Dee!” And Raph meant it, every word. Raph was proud of Donnie, really. Who wouldn’t be? But then again, Raph’s mouth worked faster than his brain as he asked, “What’ve you been writin’ about?”Donnie seemed to slightly freeze, which made Raph anxious and release a little “gush” of nervous stink over the table, and Donnie immediately eased Raph by saying, “Oh, simply writing down my plans, dates, and reminders to ensure I don’t forget anything important.” Raph was surprised by the simplicity of Donnie’s statement and nodded in acknowledgement. Donnie had excused himself from the table by standing up with all of the grace of a cat and saying, “Well, gentlemen, I am off to flourish in my laboratory once again,” with his arms flexed forwards as his hands grasped the edge of the table while talking. Raph couldn’t help but zone in on Donnie’s toned shoulders and arms, and how graceful he acted as if he planned every movement.Donnie walked off after telling the other 3 about his whereabouts, and the conversations seemed to ease as the other three departed to go their own ways. Mikey, of course, headed to the kitchen, Leo heading to his own room somewhere down the hall, but Raph.. Raph wanted to know exactly what Donnie was doing. Raph didn’t know why, but he was feeling the slightest bit clingy towards his younger brother, Donnie. Raph’s legs took him to Donnie’s laboratory entrance, and Raph knocked on the titanium-made locked double doors. The doors slid open separately, revealing a surprisingly clean laboratory and a slightly annoyed Donnie with his goggles pulled over his eyes and resting on the top of his short snout. “Yes, Raphael?” Donnie answered with a sniff, and Raph tapped his pointer figgers together as his nervous stink started to make an appearance again.“Well, after Dinner, Raph’s want’n’ t’ say that ‘m proud of you for reachn’ out ‘n doin’ somethin’ different for th’ family, Dee,” Raph explained, looking down at the ground in front of him before looking back at Donnie. Donnie’s expression seemed to be slightly taken off guard for a moment before replying.“Oh, err, thank you? It is to my belief that this is not a big deal,”“Oh, well… S-sorry to bother, ‘ll get goin’--”“Hold on, Raphael,” Raph paused in his tracks as Donnie signalled that he should stop. “Now that I have your presence, I require your assistance in my lab whenever you have the time.”“O-oh! Yes! Sure! Raph’s always free!”“Alright then, come inside, my Raphael,”Then Raph was guided inside to the laboratory. Turns out, Donnie needed help with moving some particularly large pieces that Donnie retrieved from the Repo-mantis’ abandoned Junk Yard. Pretty much it. But Raph was pretty glad in helping Donnie in something at least. After the moving was done, Raph sighed and swiped his palms together while Donnie slumped down in his ‘gamer chair’. “I appreciate the assistance, my Raphael,” Donnie stated after sitting, and Raph excitedly nodded and replied, “No problem, Dee! ‘M always happy t’ help ya,” before simply walking out of Donnie’s lab, making sure not to step on anything important as he made his way out. When he did enter the hallway, the titanium double doors slowly slid shut with a gentle hiss, and Raph was on his way to his own room. His mood did seem quite uplifted from helping Donnie. It was only fair to help out his younger brother! Donnie did so much for him and the other two, why not return the favor?
~💜
His laboratory doors slid shut, leaving Donnie alone in his laboratory after the movements were completed. He didn’t know why, but his heartbeat was the slightest bit faster. Was it because of the way his Raphael’s muscles moved? Or maybe his Raphael’s alligator-like tail swishing softly in excitement? Perhaps the way that his Raph was eager to help? Donnie didn’t know, but he did know that he found it amusing and slightly adorable at how Raph always reacted. All the better for Donatello’s apparent lifted mood. Donnie hadn’t realized he was smiling until he picked up his journalling pencil and started to write another entry.
— Starting Page —February 27, 2022, 6:07 PM – Current time“Recently, my Raphael has assisted me in the movement of some particularly heavy objects to a place where I needed them for maximum benefit. I observed that he was very helpful, and surprisingly eager to help in my laboratory. From what I saw, my Raphael has grown in his ability of strength. The items weighed approximately 300 pounds, and Raph has demonstrated that he is capable of carrying approximately 4 times that amount, based on how easily he carried the objects. Also based on my inference, his next touch-up of his benchpressing weight will take place in approximately 2 weeks. How much can he carry now? I will most likely test it later on for full accuracy, but in the current time, I’ll set out to do what I needed those objects for.”