Owner	Pose
Leonardo	Its early morning and after having patrolled most of the night Leonardo and his brothers have returned home. Breakfast was had and then they split up to relax in their own ways. For Leonardo this means he is on an exercise mat going though sword kata: Iaido or Iaijutsu, to the untrained eye it would be hard to differentiate (it's Iaijutsu, mainly due to the occasional attack forms which the sport-like Iaido removed in the re-birth of martial arts in Japan after the practice of which had been forbidden by the allies following World War II. While some might assume that someone being so focused on a conetemplative exercise would be unaware, if someone were to enter Leo's dojo he would know so surprises are unlikely.
Terry O'Neil	There is a palpable change in Vorpal, as he enters the dojo. For starters, there is no announcement, no flashiness and no joyful greetings. If the Cheshire Cat is usually a neon sign, right now he's been decidedly unplugged. "... Leo," he says as he crosses the threshold, one small duffel bag, hastily packed in the middle of the night. If anyone could look like a cat that's been left out in the rain without actually being wet, well, this is it. "Are you busy?"
Leonardo	The change in Terry's demeanor is indeed palpable and in no way does Leonardo fail to notice it. His sword is swiftly and elegantly sheathed, as befitting an Iaijutsu practitioner. "Not at all, Terry," Leo replies as the sword is snapping into place in its scabbard. "Even if I was though, you seem disturbed, Terry," he states as if that is enough to override normal priorites and asks, "What's wrong?"
Terry O'Neil	He takes three steps further into the dojo. "I... got into an argument with my team-mates. One team-mate. And I'm not sure I've got anywhere to go right now..." His eyes are red-rimmed, which probably explains what he was doing to cause the low energy. He rubs at one of them. "I don't think- I may not be a Titan after all of this is said and one." Saying that almost causes his expression to crumble.
Leonardo	Leo moves to be at Terry's side quickly. Not so fast that the human eye can't follow but with such alacrity that anyone not familiar with the repillian youth might be surprised at it from a turtle. "Come over here to the tatami mat and sit down, Terry," Leo says in a calm and (hopefully) calming tone of voice. "Use the breathing technique I taught you in our first training session," (Terry had been utterly bored by it. An hour of sitting and breathing. Any attempt to speak answered by an authorative bark of "Quite!" but he learned the techique and did acknowledge how well it helped create a sense of tranquility.) "Just relax. You always have a place here, Terry. Once you are ready we can discuss what happened." Once Terry sits, Leo joins him within arm's reach sitting with his legs in a half-lotus position.
Terry O'Neil	It's funny what happens when we forget to breathe sometimes. Settling down as Leo instructs, Terry soon is lost in the cycle of inhaling, holding and exhaling, so the tension in his shoulders and his face slowly begin to ease out. In due time, he finally opens his eyes and glances at Leo. "... thank you, I'm feeling a little better." His eyes drift downward to the tatami, and he takes a few more steadying breaths. "Leo- you don't have to answer this, but have you ever kept a secret from your brothers because you thought it was the right thing to do?"
Leonardo	The question is asked but not answered for a good number of minutes. Something in the way Leo is sitting - even with his eyes closed - makes it clear that he heard it and also that he is not ignoring it, just that he's considering how to answer it. When he answers he is speaking softly, not quite whispering but also being able to be heard quite clearly. "A secret? Everyone keeps secrets, Terry," Leo says before saying, "I left. Didn't tell them where I was going. Stayed away for a year." He pauses and says, "Mikey seems to have forgiven me fully. Donnie too. Raph... I'm sure part of him still resents my leaving... and worse my coming back after so long." Finally opening his eyes, Leo looks at Terry and asks, "Do you want to tell me what happened? Or are you looking for blind advice that... honestly is unlikely to be helpful."
Terry O'Neil	Churning thoughts over in his mind, he finally answers. "A friend's doppelganger contacted me. She assured me she was good and part of the other universe's resistance. She was here to send doppelgangers back and to stop this big crime boss from opening a portal back into that dimension to bring others. She was very cautious, and at first I thought it was a trap." He sighs, running his fingers through his hair. "I vetted her. I was as cautious as could be. In the end, I came to the conclusion she was telling the truth and had given me solid info. You know, Harley is part of the resistance in that universe, too." "But this doppelganger made me promise one thing. She was afraid of how her counterpart here would react- she is a /very/ paranoid woman. She made me promise, made me give my word that I wouldn't tell her of her existence, tell as few people as possible about it. And she'd work behind the scenes giving info and pointing us to threats the Titans could neutralize. I did. So she did. And her intel proved exact and legitimate. We saved the world from becoming like that doppelganger hellscape two days ago because of her."
Leonardo	Leonardo listens. He nods when appropriate in order to show that he's actively listening and taking in what's being told to him. But he doesn't interrupt. There's no need to ask questions right now. What is going to be told is going to be told. When Terry pauses he still doesn't ask anything, instead he sits there in his half lotus position and simply says, "I see," iin a way that shows understanding and continued interest. Likely something he picked up from his father.
Terry O'Neil	"But what I got back from Hawkeye were recriminations of why I held this back from the team. Three other members of the team knew by this point, and she was angry that I had not revealed this to her. I was honoring a promise I had made... and, look. Robin and Nightwing hide their identities from most of us except Troia and Vic. They keep a secret from the rest of us, and we trust them to know what secrets should be kept, right?" He raises his hands in a helpless gesture, "But Hawkeye went on the offensive from the first get go. It was You've Fucked Up O'Neil. She never even asked me what I had done to vet her. It was very much an unspoken lack of trust in my ability to make a decision of that sort." He reaches over and rubs his eyes, which are slightly damp. "And so she's going to call a leadership meeting to see what is to be done about me. I was furious. I dropped my comm and walked out. I spent the night at the Asgardian Embassy after Lady Sif gave me permission because... they wouldn't expect me to be there. But I can't abuse her hospitality. It's an official building..."
Leonardo	And here comes the sensi in full. "Quiet!" he snaps, not unkindly, just forcefully. Without actually moving, Leo seems to slowly begin to tower over Terry (definately something he picked up from Splinter, and it is somewhat ackward as it is obviously not something he's practiced much). "Breathe," he orders again. Once the breathing exercise is started, the turtle resumes speaking, again using the calm and calming tones. "Think back over the conversation. This time, discard your perceptions for a moment. Simply tell me what your friend actually said, her words. Her tone of voice if you wish but... remember to not color it with your perception. Be a reporter and tell me what was said, Terry O'Neil."
Terry O'Neil	Terry stops, and breathes as directed. He seems eager to follow directions right now, as if surrendering to someone else's will helps lessen his load in this moment. It may also be that he trusts Leonardo implicitly. It's probably a combination of both. "She said 'fuck off, Terry. You don't get to claim the moral high ground . You kept a secret from your team because a stranger asked you to and led us into missions on their intel." Terry has a very good memory. Most of the time, he doesn't record the interviews he conducts, unless they happen to deal with subjects that he is not familiar with, technical or otherwise. He's usually very good at recalling conversations. "That I kept a secret from friends and teammates and it could have gotten them killed or injured in those missions."
Leonardo	Nodding slightly without moving the rest of his body, Leonardo keeps his response neutral as he asks a simple question: "Factually speaking, is she wrong?" He seems to be seeking a simple answer as there is a sense that he is holding back other statements, questions and/or opinions.
Terry O'Neil	"In the abstract, no, she is not wrong. We could have gotten killed in a mission. But that is /every/ mission we go into. The difference would be on whether the intel was good or not. In the concrete, the intel we got was good, and my evaluatin of the doppelganger was correct. I undertsand her objections. What hurt me, what makes me feel insulted, is the fact that she never sought to ask what is the difference between the principle and the concrete." He spreads his hands, "She never asked why. She /assumed/ that I met this woman for, like five minutes and then I swore an oath to secrecy. Is it because I'm a cat? Because I'm colorful? Because I'm flamboyant? Gay? Because I like to joke?"
Leonardo	Another nod. "Did you ask her?" is Leonardo's simple response, spoken in that calm voice he learned from his father's use while dealing with four youngers who often had disagreements - particularly one hot head and his sensitive and often rule quoting brother when they had arguments that could descend into a phsyical brawl. He is still obviosuly withholding advice or judgement; whether this is due to feeling it's not his place or that it is premature to voice it is completely unclear, however.
Terry O'Neil	"I didn't really have the opportunity. She went on the offense from the start," Terry looks down at the tatami again. "I started on the defense and she just kept going. By the end I just couldn't take it anymore." He closes his eyes and tightens his lips. "Like I was back at Saint Sebatian's again with every goddamned nun telling me what a failure and a disappointment I was. And would always be." There are some tears escaping his eyes, no matter how much he may try to hold them back right now. "I went down to Tartarus with them, went up the stairs to the Doom Gate with them, fought an army of the dead and I got marked for revenge by the goddess Eris herself - me, personally - for standing by my team and facing death to stop her. And then I am treated like I am a child who can't make..." He brings up his hand to his cheek to brush away the tears, and he frowns. "Eris. Discord... gods, is this part of the curse?"
Leonardo	"What curse?" Leo asks idly. His voice is no longer in Sensi-mode. It's just the curious friend seeking better understanding. His body is also less rigdly held (not that he slumps, seriously can you imagine Leo slumping?) but it's obvious that he thinks something important has happened and that the sternness isn't "right" anymore.
Terry O'Neil	"... we got trapped in Tartarus and we found out that king Ixion was leading an army of dead centaurs to storn the portal to Themyscira. We unanimously decided we'd brave Tartarus to warn the Amazons. And then we took part in the battle. I used my magic to throw a large part of the army down the stairs.. and after everything was over, the goddess of Discord, Eris, appeared and said she took special umbrage to a creature of chaos opposing her. And that she would take revenge herself upon me, personally." Wiping his tears, he sniffles a little. "She sows discord wherever she goes. What if this is it? What if I'm a catalyst for discord now?" He hurriedly gets to his feet, "That means I can't stay. I can't stay anywhere. I need to stay away from... everybody."
Leonardo	"I see," Leo nods as he starts his reply, "The going gets tough so give up. Hide from the world. Sever ties from those who would help you." He pauses a moment and slowly rises to his feet. Looking down upon his student, the teenaged turtle asks, "What do you think Eris' thoughts on that might be? Perhaps she's laughing at you for accepting her curse and making it have an effect on you with no true effort on her part?"
Terry O'Neil	Terry stops and blinks a couple of times. Frowning, he mulls things over for a few seconds, and then he looks up at his friend and sensei. "Has... anybody told you that you have the infuriating tendency to be reasonable when provoked?" he says. It is delivered with a very slight smile, but it's the first hint of humor he has shown so far.
Leonardo	This elicits a laugh. "I had to learn to do it... but it was so worth it for Raph's reactions." Leo smiles as he adds, "When we were kids, before I developed this ability, we had semi-frequent fights." Leonardo sits back down, this time right next to Terry. "Since you agree she had the right to be angry, don't you think that your friend also deserves the right to still have your friendship if she wants it?" After asking the question he asks another question, this one seems to be a more important one based on his slightly shifted vocal tones: "What is the opposite of love, Terry?"
Terry O'Neil	"I haven't withdrawn my friendship. But if I feel I'm not respected, what basis for friendship can there be?" the Cheshire says, settling down next to Leo. The question sets him thinking again. When he finally speaks, it's after thinking about it carefully. "It's not hate. Hate is love with its back turned. I'd have to say... indifference?"
Leonardo	The proper answer given, Leonardo smiles. "It's a lesson that took me a long time to learn as a child," he says before leaning over to press his shoulder against the Cheshire's as he asks, "If you feel disrespected are you actually disrespected?" Not quite a true Zen Koan but voiced in a way to elicit thought like a true one.
Terry O'Neil	"Not necessarily... yeah," the Cheshire says quietly, and finds his arm reaching around to wrap around Leo's shoulders in an appreciative hug. "I need a place... to just think. Think things through. Straighten things out. I'm not ready to see any of them yet..." he glances around, "Would you... would you let me stay here for a little bit?"
Leonardo	"Of course," the turtle replies with a slight (and very friendly) chuckle as if the thought of Terry having felt like he had to ask is silly. He stands and extends his hand to the magical meta as an offer to help him stand. "Want some lunch?" he asks and then follows it up with an indisputable truth about his family's larder by saying: "I'm pretty sure we have pizzas."
Terry O'Neil	Terry gladly takes the hand and stands up. And that turns into a full-fledged hug for Leo. "... thank you," he says quietly, and then he separates in order to grab something out of his bag. "I got you something. It's from Themyscira." He offers Leo a small sculpture, a miniature hand-sized one no bigger than a small box, but it is exquisite. It is a marble turtle, chiseled with the unparalelled mastery of a craftsman who has spent thousands of years at her art, so much so that it almost seems alive. Its shell is decorated with finely-carved roses and myrtles. "I saw it there and I thought of you, and they let me bring it with me. The turtle is one of the symbols of Aphrodite, as are those flowers. Leo, this is the second piece of art to ever come out of the island of the Amazons to be owned by someone other than an Amazon. It's for you." he holds out the gift with both hands. And then he smiles, "Pizza sounds great just about now."
Leonardo	Taking the carved stone and looking at it, predominantly pale white but streaked with distinctive veins of blue, Leondardo smiles. "That is amazing, Terry," he says. Then, taping his head so that his finger intentionally touches his blue bandana, Leonardo smirks as he asks (with a tongue-in-cheek tone of voice), "But why did this remind you about me?" as the pair walk out of his dojo together heading towards the "abandoned" mall's food court.