Forty-Ninth Theory [Action/Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don has never been to an ocean before, and last time he was at an amusement park he had to electrify the roller coaster to defeat an enraged colony of nanobots.]

[He is determined that this excursion will be one of pleasant discovery.]

[To that end, he takes the teleporter to the beach on Thursday morning, and spends the next two days exploring the park, the waterfront, and as far out into the ocean as his own limbs can take him. (Or farther, if anyone is kind enough to offer him the use of a boat.)]

[At some point during the two days, he opens his journal and leaves the following message:]

Researchers, experimenters, tinkerers, inventors, curious people of all kinds... join the "Scientists, Hypothesizers, and Engineers of Luceti League". I'm starting it right now and everyone is welcome.

Comments

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Then you should contact them! Edward and Alphonse Elric.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don regards Robert's personas with varying emotions - fondness, remembrance, worry - then turns to gesture to his own.]

That's me a few years ago. This one I recognize from an experiment. That one reminds me of an experiment too... the others I don't know.

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

I thought he might be. [She smiles slightly, which makes a faint warmth come into her voice.]

When do you intend to begin meeting?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[The orange-circle-marked Don gets Robert's interest first.]

An experiment...?

[This had to be from before Robert knew him. He doesn't recognize the brand on Don's plastron, though it's mildly eerie.

The junkie persona smiles across at Don and gives an almost-normal wave - almost normal, Uncanny Valley-esque to real social ability. He's almost the same age Don is now, even - he looks starkly different from the professional-looking man nearby.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Last summer. I turned into him, or thought I was him... [He shakes his head and shrugs, turning back to the mirrors opposite.]

[That wave is - strangely unsettling, somewhere between normal-for-Robert and normal-for-other-people.]

Was that really only five years ago?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

In a few weeks? I'll let the word get around first, so no one who wants to come will be left out.

[i_speak_softly]

... Brothers?

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Yep! Very close and nearly inseparable.

[i_speak_softly]

[Okay, Don's a little jealous. How often has he wished he had a brother he could share his interest in science with?]

I'll leave them a message after this draft.

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Good! Ed can be a little rough around the edges sometimes, but I'm sure you'll find Al likeable enough!

[i_speak_softly]

[So noted.]

You'll come too, right Winry?

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

Of course! Is there a date for the first meeting, or will that be planned later?

[i_speak_softly]

I'll see who's interested, and then I'll let them know when the meeting will be.

[Subtle message: The existence of the club is not a secret, but it's probably better if they keep their meeting plans on a need-to-know basis.]

[crytearsofjoy.livejournal.com]

All right. Keep me updated!

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

A good idea. I'll be sure to look for news.

And, that will be after the battle is finished and everyone comes back here.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Right.

[And after everyone recovers from the inevitable injuries and deaths. But he doesn't need to say that.]

Re: [Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

[She knows, and she'll do her best to help them as they return; but she can't think about everything at all times or she'll get tangled up in her own thoughts again.]

Are any of your brothers fighting right now?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

... No.

[Somehow he can't bring himself to tell her the full answer - but maybe that hesitation will give her a hint?]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Like the false life... [Robert half-murmurs it, studying the... experiment-Don slowly before moving his gaze to the others. They're all so... different from the person standing next to him - the preteen in particular reminds him poignantly of watching his own young self hunched over a console.

At Don's words, though, he looks at his old self again... the man from five years ago.]

Yes...

... It hardly feels like it, but... [Robert exhales slowly and looks into his own self's gray eyes. They have that distant, dreamy quality of somebody obviously intoxicated.]

You miss this, don't you...?

[He ignores the words in his head, trying not to think of how easy it might be to fall back down that crevasse again.]

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

[She makes her own first guess, though she can hardly imagine it's possible.]

Robert?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

Similar, but less... cohesive.

[He looks back and forth between preteen-Don and young-adult-Robert. They're so unlike each other - how could they have grown up to have anything in common?]

[The younger Don drops the jo again, and looks down at it despondently. Even though it's just an image, Don can't help murmuring a word of encouragement.]

Ganbatte kudasai, touto-chan...

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

What? Ami, no. [Don't even suggest it.]

[Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

Then, what is it? [That answer still doesn't really reassure her overall.]

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[A moment of silence, then:] Raph and Mike are both gone.

Re: [Voice]

[no-use-running.livejournal.com]

Raphael, too? [Oh, Don. She can't pretend to have known him well, but she has no reason to dislike him and she certainly feels for the family left behind.]

I'm sorry.