route666radio | voice;

[The voice coming over the radio is pretty upbeat, despite the nature of the topic he’s about to discuss. And also on the young side - for people who don’t know him, it’s an easy guess that Leo is a teenager or very young adult.]

Sooooo… I’ve been thinking, since we picked up new people. Last time, when our group got here, the convoy was totally empty, right? But this time we were already here. So, were we the first stop? Or did everyone before us get… uh, well, you know.

[He makes an uncertain noise through his teeth.]

But personally, I think we were the first stop. But not the first convoy! Maybe there’s multiple, or maybe the train goes in a loop. I dunno, but it’s probably something like that.

But what about those weird summoning circles? Does someone activate them when the convoy is coming? Or do you think it’s something about the convoy that activates them?

[There’s another option, that they activate regularly and some people who are summoned here get unlucky, but… yeah, he doesn’t feel like suggesting that.]

I guess I’m just spitballing theories here. There’s, like, nothing to look at right now. Just bush after bush. Seemed like a good time for some… thorny topics. Heh.

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I think I got enough of that when my brother spontaneously grew a snake tail.

Ah. Was that during the recent storm?

[That would align with the harpy and naga traits other Drifters developed, at any rate...]

Yeah, when he first showed up.

[Leo kinda dropped the ball at the time. He still feels bad about it.]

I didn't get hit with it... managed to stay dry! Somehow...

I think most of my changes were subtle. A desire to perch and soar to high places, the ability to manipulate the wind... My avian traits were unrelated, but perhaps their presence is to blame.

[Still, to lose one's legs...]

How did your brother adapt to the change?

Oh, he hated it. Not that I blame him.

[Leo would hate to lose his legs, too. Especially if he just found himself somewhere other than home.]

But he has his legs back now, so he's up and kickin'!

Well, it would be rather inconvenient to have to learn an entirely new form of movement, when legs are so deeply intertwined with your everyday actions. For a snake, legs are hardly a concern, but for a bipedal turtle... well, that's an entirely different matter.

[Akechi would also hate to lose his legs, of course. Fortunately, he's in the clear for now.]

On the other hand, growing new limbs is also fairly disorienting. Suddenly, I take up significantly more space than I did before.

Oh yeah, I bet that's pretty weird... Hey, is it hard to like, fit in beds and stuff now?

[Leo already has a hard enough time sleeping so that sounds terrible.]

Regrettably, yes.

[You can just hear the growl in his voice.]

The quarters within the Convoy aren't exactly what I'd call spacious, and just a single pair of wings is cumbersome enough.

[And then there's Serph, with multiple sets... He can't say he envies him, really.]

Too bad. A lot of beds don't have any support for my shell, so, I kinda get it.

[He sighs.]

Wish I had my sleep mask, too... [Bummer.]

Frankly, I could do with some earplugs myself. With so many people living in shared quarters, it's hard to escape the noise...

[It's not unfamiliar, per se. He'd spent some time in crowded orphanages, but now they're in a Convoy full of monsters.]

Heh, I'm used to that, at least. My dad's snoring used to pipe directly into my room.

[In a way, the sound is kind of nice.]

But if you're not used to it, it must suck. Hope none of your changes give you better hearing...

Unfortunately, if the first Moon Warp was any indication, I will get sharper hearing in time...

[There's an air of resignation to his voice.]

I suppose it'll help identify threats in advance, if nothing else.

There you go, look on the bright side!

[It's all they can do, really.]

Frankly, I've never been an optimist. "Hope" isn't exactly something I have in spades.

[Granted, here, acceptance is really all he can do, short of taking steps to counteract the changes...

But should he? They have their benefits...]

Oh, well, you should rethink that one. Hope's a ninja's greatest weapon!

[Or so he's been told.]

Hope, and not stealth or battle strategies.

[Can't you just hear that raised eyebrow, Leo?]

Those things are important, too. But you gotta know you can do it.

Well, determination can be just as efficient in that respect. Spite as well. It's been one of my strongest motivators, at any rate.

[...Which probably says a lot about the kind of person he is, really.]

Hey, that works too! That's probably Donnie's main motivation...

[That or praise.]

You know, that actually explains a lot.

[Not that he minds. Akechi's enjoyed his interactions with Donatello thus far, not that he'd be especially saccharine about it.]

Though I suppose that begs the question of what your overall team dynamic is, since I know it's more than the two of you.

Oh, well, that's easy. [Leo's voice perks up a bit, always happy to talk about his brothers.] Raph's the oldest of us; he's our smashy guy. And he loves being a hero, and...

[Oh wait, never mind, his voice is dipping again. Turns out he can't talk about Raph or he'll just get choked up. That's a frustrating development.

There's a brief pause where he trails off, then he starts up again.]

And then Mikey's our youngest. He's short, but his mystic powers are off the charts! Seriously, you should see his razz-ma-tazz sometime! ...Just, hopefully not here.

And then Donnie's the brainy guy, obviously. He's always been the smart one. But he can definitely lay a smackdown, too - don't tell him I said that.

[Never mind this is a public conversation, so...]

[Akechi listens intently before responding. The team dynamics aren't entirely surprising, really. It always pays to have muscle to compensate for those more lacking. Magic offsets brute strength, adding more balance to the team composition, and smarts...

Well, obviously, Donatello's intellect speaks for itself.]

Oh? Are you afraid of bloating his ego?

[Or perhaps it's something more intrinsic to siblings. Pride, rivalry... Who can say? He's an only child, after all.]

Heh, well, we're the same age. Can't have him thinking he can show me up. Especially in a fight.

[It's absolutely a rivalry. And pride. And general sibling razzing.]

Ah, a rivalry. Now that's something I know all too well...

[How lucky. He has his own rival and his brother...

No, he's not jealous. Shh.]

Well, I can't promise I'll be entirely impartial. We all have our biases.

I don't like the way you're saying that. Sounds like you've already picked him.

[Rude!]

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