Forty-Third Theory [Mostly Action]

[i_speak_softly]

((General post for the next two weeks or so. Preemptive tl;dr, find him anywhere, though suggestion of day/place/activity is appreciated.))

[As May begins, and as a fairly large percentage of May goes by, Donatello can be found doing the following things:

-Jogging through the woods, tracking down any signs of life detected by the departed Mr. Scott's not-really-new-and-not-exactly-improved-either tricorder. ((New Feathers, feel free to jump in here.))

-Hauling huge loads of books to and from the library.

-Studying these books - in and around House 55, at the library itself, by the fountain, at the coffee shop, alongside the river... pretty much anywhere.

-Copying diagrams from the books into his journal.

-Working at the smithy, trying to create physical equivalents of these diagrams.

-Digging through bins at the item shop.

-Practicing wind magic or good old-fashioned ninjutsu in various open areas around the edges of the village.

And a few more specific actions:]


[Don needs a few minutes of your time. If you don't dare to approach him while he's working, he'll come looking for you.]



[Some rainy evening, Don will show up at Robert's door with a duffel bag and a goofy grin. You owe him a nanocomputer demonstration - and he brought you a gift.]



Frederic, a question, if you have a minute...

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

[Seriously, Mike. Invite a few people, but Don won't be amused if a dozen of your friends show up to what's supposed to be a quiet family retreat.]

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Just Ami and Keimi and maybe Lucy. Derek's already up there, so he doesn't even count.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don gives Mike his Sad Look. It's not nearly as good as Mike's own Sad Look, but maybe you'll take pity on him anyway?]

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

[Not a bad effort, but you still have much to learn.]

You're bringing Robbie. Why can't I bring people?

[i_speak_softly]

Rob is only one person, and he's family. You'd invite the whole town if no one stopped you.

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Fine. [Grumble grumble.] Well, I can't uninvite Ami, and she's... [Practically family? Well, yeah. She's practically family.

But his throat's stuck now.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Not until you say something, Mikey.]

[Don gives Mike an affectionate half-hug. He's happy you have so many friends here, and part of him hates telling you you can't invite them. But he just doesn't have your boundless social energy.]

Next time I won't let anyone stop you.

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Next time? [You mean there's gonna be more hang gliding trips?]

[i_speak_softly]

You thought we were only doing this once?

[No more half-hug; noogie.]

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

[Half-hearted swat.]

Sweet!

Ami can still come this time, right?

[i_speak_softly]

Ami can come.

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Then I guess I can put Robbie through his paces.

[Yes. Robbie.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don gives Mike a look of suffering-that-has-only-just-begun.]

Slowly.

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Slow paces. [-he agrees. Then-] But you gotta answer me one question.

[i_speak_softly]

[He raises a trepidatious brow.]

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Why'd you tell me not to call him Robbie?

[i_speak_softly]

[Mike, what.]

Because it's disrespectful and he doesn't like it.

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

Not according to him.

[i_speak_softly]

... Huh?

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

He told me he liked being called Robbie. [Well, he said he didn't mind it. But that's pretty much the same thing, right?]

[i_speak_softly]

Wh-- Really?

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

[Seriously?]

[i_speak_softly]

[A scrutinizing look, because Don knows how good Mike is at feigning ignorance. After a moment he decides you're being ingenuous.]

... Thanks.

[the-mikester.livejournal.com]

He's your boyfriend. You should know what he likes. Or doesn't like.

[i_speak_softly]

What else do you know about him that I don't? [Another kind of piercing gaze, as though he will absorb the information directly from your brain if you don't tell it to him immediately.]