i_speak_softly | Luceti Appointments

[Robert's starting to learn that Don often looks in the direction of things he wants to relate to the subject of the conversation. So it's not too hard to guess what he means by this.]

... Of... of course I would watch...

[He's not really sure if he could spar against Don - if that is what Don is trying to imply - but... merely watching him handle a weapon now is no longer impossible. It will certainly be strange - he's much more used to seeing Don handle scientific tools than weaponry - but it's not a terrible thought anymore, either.]

[Don hesitates, then stands, pads over to the rack, and takes a staff. He comes back to take a position on the mats, holding the weapon thoughtfully.]

How much?

[What level of ability can Robert handle seeing?]

[He's been training with a weapon for six or seven months now and he's actually been in a battlefield. As long as Don isn't going to be physically beating people with his bo right in front of Robert, he'll probably be okay.]

... Though this will be new to me, Don... or, er, relatively so... ... I confess it does not... bother me. Certainly not as much as it would have...

[He can't shake the feeling that it's definitely not as much as he should be bothered, either, but he is curious.]

[Don decides to go for some intermediate exercises - above Robert's current ability level, but not showing the full extent of what Don can really do.]

[The result is very fast and very precise, and there's clearly a lot of strength behind the moves. More subtle is the satisfaction Don experiences from being able to do these things.]

[There's still a small part of Robert, the part that clings fiercely to his world's values, that finds this display... slightly disturbing. It's not nearly as vehement as his feelings would have been before - perhaps it can be likened to the mixture of discomfort and awe that comes from seeing beautiful works of art carved from bones.

He is aware of the sheer skill that goes into the motions - the speed and precision are obvious to anybody with even a rudimentary knowledge of physics - and he can see the effortlessness that Don performs them with. Now, with some thought and assistance from his own training and what Leo has taught him, he can reconstruct what these moves might do in an actual fight.

On some level, that concerns him a little. On the other levels, though, he is both fascinated by Don's lithe grace and amazed by his sheer ability with something so deceptively simple as the bo staff.

He watches respectfully either way, not taking his eyes off of Don's motions as they continue.]

[After a minute or so of demonstration, Don spins the bo back to a ready position and returns to his center, only then looking away from the imaginary opponent he was battling and directing a shy, questioning gaze at his observer. What did you think?]

[Don's response is a soft, genuine smile and a slight nod of what might even be approval.]

... Is it... odd to say that you look... b-beautiful, when you are performing such motions? Even if they are... dangerous, I suppose, they... they have a sort of... [... grappling for the right words, here...] ... aesthetic quality. And... technically speaking, the precision is astounding.

[He pauses then, before continuing in a somewhat more sober tone.]

... Thank you for... allowing me to watch. It... is certainly different to see you do this, but... [Quietly:] I know that... this is very important to you, and your family. I... wish to be part of it as well... more than just, er, training alongside, so to speak.

[Don rubs his head, embarrassed - no one has ever described his ninjutsu that way before.]

[When Robert is done speaking, Don reflexively holsters the bo in his belt, then steps forward and offers his partner a hand up.]

[That's because nobody has ever had the strange perspective of this small man sitting in seiza in front of you, Don.

Robert takes Don's hand - with a surprising confidence - and stands. He doesn't wobble, not like he used to.]

... If... if it is something you would enjoy... we could p-practise together sometime. If, er, Leonardo does not mind...

[Leonardo can deal with it.]

You're wanting to train to me forever.

[Processing... processing... uh...]

... Hmm...

[Nope, sorry. Not getting it exactly.]

Ah, do you... mean that you wish me to train with you more often? Or, er... perhaps vice-versa...?

[He'll get this eventually, Don. It just requires abstractions that he has to build into his thinking.]

[... He's not sure what the opposite of that would be.]

Yes?

[Addressed the opposite way! Asking if he does, naturally.

Close enough either way, right? He got... something of it! It's a start. ~~Better than the blatant mistakes he's made earlier.~~]

... Well.

[Fidgeting with his fingers a little:] ... I... I do not mind. It... might even be n-nice, I suppose. [Though now he'll feel like he should be even more attentive to himself. Some self-consciousness has set in, though not enough to make him do more than look pitiably shy about the whole thing.]

Luceti Appointments

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