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[soft_shelled]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, DONATELLO. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 016.04.154.55 *** Bootyyyshaker9000 has joined 016.04.154.55 <Bootyyyshaker9000> God this tech is old. <Bootyyyshaker9000> ANYWAY, you're conversing with Donatello. Leave a message.

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[detectivision]

[...ah.

The wall Donatello threw up gives, unexpectedly. Just an inch, but sometimes an inch is all you need.

With curiosity, rather than hostility:]

What is it, that makes you wonder about that?

[soft_shelled]

Because I'm well aware of where I stand, skill wise, with everyone.

[He's useless without his tech, and more so here even with the advantages he has with being a monster.]

[detectivision]

....do you consider yourself less skilled than the monsters around you?

[This comes as a surprise to Sherlock, but there's no disbelief in his voice. Go on. Tell him about it.]

[soft_shelled]

Without my tech?

[Because Sherlock has no idea what Donnie can do with his tech, if he had access to it he would own this damned place.

At least he thinks he would.]

I'm the least skilled out of my brothers, so what I could do back home doesn't exactly carry over here, so yes. Yes I do consider that.

[detectivision]

[He has no idea Donnie is planning world domination.]

....it is hard, to feel like one has fallen behind one's peers. To have your usual advantage taken away, and to know that others around you are outpacing you.

My brother had a greater faculty for deduction and inference than I did. He always has. He simply did not choose to use it in the same way I did. If he had, I'd be no match for him. He'd be the greatest detective the world has ever known, and I'd just be his...not-as-good brother.

But does that mean I should quit my work? Or, worse, that I shouldn't exist at all?

[soft_shelled]

[Well, the whole overthrow a god and become one in their place is basically world domination?

He has a sip of his water as Sherlock talks.]

Except that's you and your brother being skilled at the same thing, and it's something that you can still do here. While my skills are useless here and I'm not as good at the... Ninja thing as Leo is.

[Or at people, or a lot of things. Leo is just better at it then Donnie is.]

[detectivision]

[His head tilts, listening.]

Is it only Leo you're comparing yourself to? Or are you measuring yourself against everyone else, as well?

I would bet you're better at the "ninja thing" than most.

[soft_shelled]

Leo, Raph, Mikey... You know, the ones that matter.

[And maybe also Bucky, he knows Bucky can better protect his brother than him.]

But I'm not better at the whole... Monster thing. [He gives in to his hunting instinct way too much, after all.]

[detectivision]

[Well, there is that. But no one's self control is at its best at that age.]

Yet surely you are not the worst. I've yet to see you stumble, in ways I have witnessed often in others.

What is it about being a monster that you'd like to get better at?

[soft_shelled]

[Some more sipping of his drink now, as he considers how to answer that.]

I give into instinct way too much.

[detectivision]

[...there's two ways that could go.]

Murderous instinct, or...the chasing-stray-feathers sort?

[soft_shelled]

[Hmm... Donnie would be pressing his index fingers together if he wasn't holding a glass right now.]

Both? ... Both.

[detectivision]

Well -- they are not unrelated.

[Sherlock takes half a moment to retrace the conversation, to determine how they got here, and if this is still relevant to the goal he wants to achieve.

Make Donnie feel like his wellbeing is worth fighting for. He's insecure about his skill set. Okay, yes, they can continue forward.]

Do you hunt anything at all, besides the...instances in which you cannot help yourself?

[soft_shelled]

[And here Donnie was hoping they have left the original path of this conversation behind!]

Not really? I don't exactly have the time for such things.

[detectivision]

[He's just coming at the topic from a new angle, Donnie, like a cat trying to get at your cheeseburger by climbing the back of the sofa and sneaking up behind you when the direct approach failed.]

That might help with your self-control. Learning how it feels to chase something deliberately may help you resist the impulse when it comes on unexpectedly.

[soft_shelled]

But if I do that I'll never hear the end of it from Leo.

[His pride, Sherlock! His pride!]

THAT ICON LMAO

[detectivision]

[With a conspiratorial raise of an eyebrow:]

Leo doesn't have to know.

[He lifts a hand, gestures to the surprisingly nice weather outside.]

I am not usually one for it, myself. [Tragically, he's rather fond of animals.] But the weather is good for it. You can't hope to get better at anything without practice.

[soft_shelled]

He'll find out, somehow.

[Donnie doesn't trust that Leo won't find out. As to Sherlock's offer?

He shakes his head.]

I'm busy, got plans.

[To mope and cry.]

[detectivision]

What on earth is there to be ashamed of? It's the sort of pursuit many men are quite proud of, once they get good at it. And being good at being a manticore will be something to be proud of, too.

If you don't work on it, Leo will get you every time with the feathers. Or a laser dot.

[soft_shelled]

Ah but see, if he does that? I can just sting him in revenge.

[Yes, he is willing to paralyze his brother.]

[detectivision]

[Oh no, there's been plenty of times Sherlock would have paralyzed his brother, had it been an option.]

So you'll sting him for making fun of you for making you hunt feathers -- but not for making fun of you for choosing to hone your skills and master your instincts.

[He gives Donnie a Look.]

If you are going to sting him either way, you may as well have the benefits of being better at being a monster. You can rub it in his face, when you don't chase the dot.

[soft_shelled]

Oh you think I wouldn't do it to him for both?

[Sherlock, have you seen these two fight? He bites Leo almost constantly for no reason other than he can.

As to Sherlock's attempt to get Donnie to rise to his bait? He shakes his head no again.]

Maybe some other time though, I'm busy.

[detectivision]

Doing what?

[Eyebrow up! What's more important than self improvement, teen?]

[soft_shelled]

Important private things!

[His tail is lashing about in irritation, and Sherlock is never going to get Donnie to outright say "I'd like to resume crying and feeling miserable" ever.]

[detectivision]

Mm. Well. Grief is a process.

[He actually thinks he gets it, a little. But come on, Donnie, it's not like she's dead!]

When you are less indisposed and more disposed towards working on the problem, we'll talk again. But remember -- when you don't take care of yourself, it means the people who love you have to take that on instead. Looking after your own wellbeing makes you a better friend, and a better partner.

[Is this the healthiest angle to approach the problem from? Hell no. But they're in monster hell, and Donnie needs to start considering his own wellbeing, even if it is just for the sake of the people he cares about.]