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

[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.

[He laughs nervously.] Robert, I can't comment on advice from Japan.

Why not? [It hadn't occurred to Robert that advice from Japan could be flawed somehow...]

And do you have any? [... however, he certainly wouldn't think Don's was.]

I mean, it would be like going to someone who sort of knows how to work a computer, and asking them to critique Turing's theories. It doesn't matter what I think; you have to ask him what you should study.

Mr. Japan is... not entirely a non-combatant, though. [Robert saw him fight the simulations, after all. But then again Robert's definition of non-combatant is a little different.]

... But he does dislike fighting...

... I suppose it would be better to ask the combatants I know. Like Ms. Daisy...

That makes sense... [Sort of. To the extent that it makes sense for a country to have a human form, at least.] He didn't say anything else?

Well, specifically, he spoke about various conventions essentially preventing him from going to war unless it was to aid another. [The way he says this, it's clear Robert approves of this policy.] But I suppose in Luceti things must... be somewhat different for him.

Still, Ms. Daisy and Giles are both combatants - not to mention your family - so I have quite a few options.

[It's getting easier to talk about this. Robert isn't sure if this is a good thing or not.]

[... Erm. Later he'll ask Leo to refresh his memory on Japanese peace treaties.]

We all have very different styles, too.

How does that... work, exactly? [He fiddles uncomfortably with his sleeves. This is a question he's simultaneouly frightened to ask and morbidly curious about.] I mean, what exactly are the... nuances?

Um... [Robert, do you realize how big a question this is?] Different fighting styles are based on different philosophies and strategies. From there they develop different kinds of movements, different patterns of moves. To learn a new fighting style you have to learn a new way of seeing a fight.

[He looks to Robert, gauging whether this explanation has made any sense to him.]

[No, or he wouldn't have asked it...]

A new way of seeing a fight...

[For Robert, this is confusing; he doesn't even know how to approach a fight to begin with.]

... I... suppose I should talk to everyone I know and... see the different styles they have...?

Edited 2011-09-10 03:21 (UTC)

[He nods.] I think it would be a good idea. [You know, if his opinion counts for anything.]

[Don's opinion always counts for something.]

I could... watch you, as well. [... That would probably be almost enjoyable if Robert can divorce himself mentally from the context.]

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