i_speak_softly | Forty-Ninth Theory [Action/Voice]

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Forty-Ninth Theory [Action/Voice]

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only | Expand All

[He will be surprised. And by surprised, one means probably embarrassed-by-proxy, at Robert's abysmal failure.]

... I could... attempt. [But even Robert's pretty certain he'll get it wrong.]

[Don gestures for Robert to go ahead. He will watch and be... appalled.]

[Trying it out now... Robert picks up one of the oversized rings, standing there awkwardly for way too long trying to judge it, and then gives it a rather pathetic toss.

... To nobody's surprise, it misses, though it at least hits the stake in question.]

...

There is a reason I do not usually engage in this sort of thing.

[Facepalm time!]

That wasn't bad. [As far as Don is concerned, the ring hit the target - just not at the intended angle.] Throw another one.

[And Robert repeats the throw, trying to adjust for the first - this time, the ring misses on the opposite side of the stake.]

... Agh.

[This is frustrating.]

[Ooh, overshot. There's still one more ring, though.]

[Can he do it? Can he manage to actually get one ring onto that stake?

Moment of truth! Robert attempts to throw the ring again, centring it as best he can on that stake, and...

... Whelp. The oversized ring hits the edge of the stake, hangs for one terrifying moment, and then... falls off.

Robert just sighs.]

... Well.

[Don applauds anyway.]

Play again?

It might be better if you attempted it instead of me...

[Read: "I don't want to fail miserably twice if I can help it."]

[Don picks up a pile of rings, eyeballs the stake, and tosses one... It bounces off the side of the pole just below the top.]

Ha - I'm not used to throwing side-arm.

[Okay, that's kind of reassuring if even his obscenely well-trained boyfriend can't throw it properly in one shot.

But Robert's hardly in any position to chide, and besides, that was more accurate than his attempts. So he's just going to watch like Don just practically performed a miracle.]

[Don adjusts his aim, and the next two rings fall neatly onto the stake. He turns to beam at Robert.]

[Okay, that was impressive. Robert beams right on back.]

Wonderful...

[And Don gets a congratulatory hug!]

[Don doesn't usually get a hug for accurately throwing things at a target: his expectations run more towards a slap on the back or a punch in the arm. Nevertheless, he finds that a hug is a good congratulatory gesture too.]

[The droid working the booth hands him a small stuffed animal, and he accepts it uncertainly.]

[What an adorable stuffed animal. Screw antiquated notions of masculinity, Robert is going to beam at it.]

That was very accurate aiming. I suppose it comes from your training...

[Robert may take it; Don isn't really a stuffed animal kind of guy.]

It's one of the things I practice.

[Even though Robert has only lived with the Hamatos for two weeks, he's surely noticed that Don really does spend hours every day in the back room, engaged in his mysterious training exercises.]

[He's totally taking it then, and cradling it with a reverence not generally intended for stuffed animals.]

Ah... that makes sense.

[How can he not notice? Though Robert is never quite sure what to do when that happens, other than not just barge in without knocking (he remembers that warning quite well).]

... Has... anyone ever expressed any desire for me to do the same?

[Don turns to stroll slowly down the midway.]

What, practice throwing?

Well... practise anything. Physical things in general. [He knows he still has to get regular self-defense training in. ~~And half of his CR offered to teach him.~~]

[That seems like an odd question. Robert must be aware that quite a number of people would like him to learn at least the basics of self-defense.]

Do you mean Leo and Master Splinter?

... Them primarily, yes... but almost everybody I know seems to think it is... imperative.

... and judging by what tends to happen here, I would be inclined to agree.

[... They don't need a repeat of the Kusanagi incident.]

[... ?]

If you want lessons in something, you only have to ask.

The main problem is, er, deciding whom to ask. I think almost everybody I know has offered to teach me self-defense...

[Maybe you should start by asking your highly-trained boyfriend what style of self-defense he thinks you should pursue, and under which teacher.]

You know, it's generally considered an honor when one person is willing to train you. [A sideways smile.] You're very popular, Robert.

I am not so sure if it is popularity or simply a realization that to do otherwise is a liability.

[Because how can he be popular when he can't even manage social relationships half the time?]

... Mr. Japan suggested I start with some specific style of self-defense... something that suits me.

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[Action] | I think that's the first time that icon ever got used at Robert

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[Action] | :|a... my memory could be failing sob

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