2nd sketch - [action]

[sketchingideals]

[One good thing about being taken here is that Jeb hasn't run out of inspiration for art. Currently, he's found a nice place to sit and draw the surroundings around him.

Feel free to approach him, but don't be surprised if he doesn't hear you at first or jumps when he does. This is something that steals his focus very quickly.]

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

I like to build things. Sometimes it helps to draw a diagram first.

What about you? Why trees?

[sketchingideals]

You build things? That's so cool! Yeah, I could see how drawing a diagram would be helpful, then.

Well... [Smiles softly.] It's not just trees, but I do like how beautiful the trees are here. I draw other things, too... [He shows Donatello another drawing he's done recently--it's half done, but it's of a young man with stubble and a short ponytail, whose eyes look slightly weary but very determined.]

[i_speak_softly]

It's just a hobby...

[He tilts his head at the drawing.] Someone you know?

[sketchingideals]

[Smiles down at the drawing fondly.]

Yeah... one of my best friends. From back home, I mean.

[i_speak_softly]

[He nods knowingly, then looks down and stretches out one leg. He may have walked further than he thought.]

[sketchingideals]

[Stares down at the drawing of his friend.]

...I know time isn't passing back home, but I can't help but wonder what everyone would be doing if it was.

[i_speak_softly]

What do you usually do at home?

[sketchingideals]

Well, we usually hang out, get ice cream... play games, that sort of thing! ...but I don't think we'd be doing any of that right now.

[Because of what happened right before he was brought here...]

[i_speak_softly]

[Sounds like a nice life. Don isn't sure whether he should pry about that 'but'.]

Oh?

[As generic as possible, meaning anything from "Did something bad happen?" to "So you like ice cream?"]

[sketchingideals]

...a friend of ours wasn't really our friend.

[It hurts so much to say, because like his twin brother, he had gotten close to the man who betrayed them... and he desperately wants to believe that it was all some kind of horrible mistake.]

[i_speak_softly]

Oh. [Having had occasional nightmares on the subject, he can imagine what that would feel like.] I'm sorry.

[sketchingideals]

It's okay, it's not like it's your fault or anything. ...it just hurts a little. [Actually, it hurts a lot.] I don't want to think that the entire time we were friends was a lie.

[i_speak_softly]

[Another nod of understanding. He'll listen if you want to say more.]

[sketchingideals]

[The ball has rolled and he can't stop it. Jeb's gonna say more, only half aware of his company at the moment.]

He was trying to kill someone I love very much... did he get close just to try again?

[i_speak_softly]

[If Don had hackles, they would be rising. There's really nothing he can say to this, but he is officially getting angry on the artist's behalf.]

[sketchingideals]

[Sighs.] I guess... I guess I'll have to face that when I'm sent back.

[He really doesn't want to.]

[i_speak_softly]

Have you - thought about what you're going to do?

[Because honestly, that sounds like a pretty great time to have your life suddenly put on hold.]

[sketchingideals]

I... I've tried to. I can't think of anything.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don understands: He's hardly the family's best strategist. He would feel out of place even trying to give advice right now. He can sympathize, though.]

It hangs over you, doesn't it.

[sketchingideals]

[He appreciates Don's sympathy. It's nice to have someone to talk to about this. He's been holding it in since he got here.]

Yeah...

[i_speak_softly]

I - have something like that too.

[sketchingideals]

I'm really sorry to hear that...

[It's hard to deal with kind of thing when it happens to him, but Jeb doesn't like it when others hurt, and Don seems like a really nice guy.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don offers Jeb a sideways smile. He likes this kid.]

A lot of people here are in similar situations. Just another strange thing about this place, I guess.

[sketchingideals]

[Jeb smiles a little in return.]

This place really is an interesting one. There's a lot of diversity, but a lot of similarities, too. It's really nice in its own way!

[i_speak_softly]

[A very good attitude. No further need to dwell on the mechanics of Luceti, right?]

Have you been practicing drawing for a long time?