route666radio | [Audio] Just A Lil Buggy...

*with the whole hitting up Nirvana thing and it NOT being the actual end of the road trip from hell, there were still lots of things to do. While others poured over information and the like, Raph braved the roads when the storms around the area weren't too bad. His bike was strong enough to take it and he had a feeling there was more to discover on the outskirts before they all moved on*

*even if he didn't have much luck, he parked at one point to radio in, since the winds made chattering to the rest of the convoy difficult at times*

Not much luck finding anything worth looking at within the agreed upon scouting range. I'd keep going but I know we're going to leave in the next few days so we'll be going further out anyway.

I'll be doublin' back in a few since I need a break.

I swear the terrain out here is trying to rattle me right outta my she--

*right in the middle of his report back, there's a sickening CRUNCH that cuts him off, following only with a scream of pain as the radio goes quiet for now as he dropped for the time being as another new monster form decided to sneak up on him*

[OOC: I promised I'd get this up before next event but Raphie's got double trouble coming his way. He'll pick up the radio to answer people who audio's back at him after he catches his breath but this boy's getting his scarab wings! :D Which means his shell's cracking to accommodate it. Otherwise you can come find him if you want.]

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With how much his shell is changing, it's no surprise that Edward would sense its changes through vibrations and the sheer determination that the damn thing is to breaking apart to let the newfound wings free. If it wasn't a change to himself from Revan itself, it'd have probably killed him otherwise.

"O-Okay," he says, trying to at least get his rebelling body to respond so he can do just that. He hates this, being the one that is coming apart at the seams, but at least he knows that Edward doesn't think any less of him. So much of who he is? Is being the protector, not the one in trouble.

The fact that the hive mind is there again would scare him, given how much he hates bugs, as his skin splits at the joints to let some of the armor plating free - he focuses on what Edward is sharing with him through the link. The clear brothership between himself, Edward, and the other brothers. They all adore each other and it's clear that it helps ease some of the panic.

He's so used to fighting everything - to let it just...happen sounds like giving up. But he tries to nod, gritting teeth, and lets a breath out in a rush.

The blip of a wolf makes him laugh, amused. "Oh yeah...? Bite the shit out of things, huh, man?" Because ultimately, it's Raph. He's going to crack a joke with a friend.

It's not something Edward has ever discussed with the brothers, but he's had turtle soup before. He knows how attached turtles are to their shells. A crack like that in a regular turtle would almost certainly be fatal.

Edward knows what it's like to be the strong one, too. He had men under his command during the war, and many of them, particularly as the war wore on, were younger than himself. He knows what it feels like to have the weight of the world on your shoulders, and how hard it can be to let it go. Which is why he squeezes Raph's arm, then lifts another arm and loops it around his head.

"You're doing very well. You're being so brave and strong right now. You can do this."

The joke isn't that funny, but Edward laughs regardless. "You have no idea. Ask Donnie about it sometime."

The war wolf is horrific, and can do far worse than bite the shit out of things. Now isn't the time for that discussion, though.

"Have you seen my regular wolf form? I'll show you later. I'm told that when I transform into it, I have a... what's the term... a magical girl transformation sequence."

That means nothing to Edward, but maybe it will ring a bell for Raph.

Typically this would be devastating for the turtle, but between the fierceness he had originally, the demon side, and now this blip into insectoid? Raph's just along for the ride at this point. The shell cracks and splits, sounding terrible even now, and lifts away from his back to show newly formed wings under there. They're still furled up, wet and needing to breathe.

He swallows hard and lets Edward sling his arm around him, listening to his friend as he nods at it. "T-thanks, Edward..." he manages, before cracking a smile when the war vet laughs at his dumb joke anyway.

"Oh yeah? I'll hafta do that."

The fact that Edward is here and talking to him helps distract him from the changes, though it aches and hurts even still as his body tries to make sense of it all. He shakes his head.

"I haven't, no," he starts, before the term makes him perk up, lifting weary eyes to Edward before he laughs again. "Wait, really...? Well now I gotta see it sometime to see if you sparkle."

Donnie will have stories about both of Edward's wolf forms, the pretty glitter one and the slathering monster war one.

Edward smiles and chuckles along with Raph. If he's laughing, then perhaps the worst of the transformation is beyond him. With one hand, he very lightly pets one side of Raph's cracked shell, his touch as light as a feather. The vibrations are showing him the new wings, but he doesn't want to draw attention to them yet.

"I've been told by multiple parties that yes, I do indeed sparkle in that form. I don't mind showing you, once you're more comfortable."

Everything still hurts, but the cracking has stopped, since the shell has lifted to expose the wings and let them start to unfurl and get blood pumping into them. His joints have the armor plating, so there's the scent of blood in the air from where his skin was punctured, but otherwise he's hearty and whole.

He doesn't say anything about Edward touching him; he knows his friend needs to do it to sense what the damage is. It's very light and doesn't hurt beyond what is already there.

"Heh, I'll...hafta see that at least once... haven't seen a glitterwolf before."

Edward can feel Raph's wings twitching, wanting to be freed, and he lightly rubs the edge of his shell in encouragement. Through the hive mind, he sends another wave of acceptance, of kindness. There's also something else there, just on the edges: the faintest hint of excitement. The hive mind craves connection, the more the better, and having another member has pleased Edward's spider.

"I'll show you when we're back at the convoy. Wolf paws don't make for safe motorcycling."

He keeps tracing the edges of Raph's shell.

"The good news is, it seems your new changes have stopped. How are you feeling?" Edward knows how silly that question is, and his voice reflects it. "Beyond the obvious shock, of course."

The aches and pains are still there, considering the armor plating that popped up and the shell cracking down the middle like a scarab's carapace. Edward's light touch helps reassure Raph that his shell is still there, just...different now. He wonders if that weakened the protection it used to give but the hive mind's blips of calm kindness helps ease a lot of his fears. He can't help but be scared of it - the phobia is still very real, even if he's gotten over parts of it like his friends' changes.

He chuckles a little, the murmur of excitement helping him refocus on the thought of a wolf trying to drive a motorcycle.

"Now that'd be a feat," he says, taking a slow breath as the wings keep twitching. "Better, now that like...it doesn't feel like something's trying to rip my spine out."

"Your spine is still very much in place. I can feel it with the vibrations."

That feels like something important to clarify! Edward gently taps around the edges of Raph's splayed shell, then nods.

"I can't feel anything else trying to shift at the moment. I believe you're done."

He hesitates then; he can also feel those wings, and how they're longing to stretch out, but he doesn't want to terrify Raph.

"Do you want to know what happened?"

"Coulda...fooled me," he breathes, making a joke of it after all, but much of the fear is quelled with the good vibrations (ha) and company. The changes are over now, since many of them are more inner than outer for the hybridization.

He swallows. He knows part of it was the bug form again, like in the carnival, but...it's Edward, his friend. And he trusts him.

"....yeah, I do. What happened?"

[Audio] Just A Lil Buggy...

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