Fifty-Fourth Theory [Video]

[i_speak_softly]

((Forward-dated to tomorrow morning.))

[Don sends Leo off to battle today. He's not worried, only slightly disappointed that he doesn't get to go too.]

[When it becomes clear that the weather is settling in for a good storm, Don begins setting up a day's worth of entertainment.]

[The journal feed comes on with a shaky image of a television screen. After a few moments the picture stabilizes, and Don leans over to address his audience upside-down.]

Hi everyone. I'm going to be watching some movies while we wait out this weather. You're welcome to join me.

[Anyone in Luceti, with or without power, so long as they have a journal handy, may see the following films, with short breaks in between:

10:00 AM: "Star Wars: A New Hope"
12:30 PM: "Jurassic Park"
3:00 PM: "The Last Samurai"

After a somewhat longer break for dinner, the movies will resume.

7:00 PM: "Beauty and the Beast" (Before starting this film, Don will filter the video feed against tailasoldastime. He'll unfilter when the movie ends.)
9:00 PM: "The Elephant Man"

... Don has never seen this last one all the way through. Maybe tonight he can finally do it.]

[While watching the movies, Don will work on restoring the computer files he deleted during last month's experiment.]

((Talking during the movies is very much encouraged; please threadjack/do log-type things!))

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

Down here. [That is, on the floor by the coffee table. The TV is off, and he's filtering his running journal entry before he starts the next movie. Who needs light?]

How was the party?

[semper_cogitans]

... It... was certainly exhausting, being around all those people... [With nobody else to cling to, unlike the Christmas ball.

Robert smiles fondly a moment later probably for reasons that haven't happened yet.] But... it was nice... I did enjoy it, and... and I hope Helios did too.

... Have... have you been alright? I... I did not want to leave you too long...

[i_speak_softly]

[He'll ask more about this in a minute.]

I've been watching movies with everyone. [Finishing the filter, he turns the TV back on and cues up the title screen of the next DVD. Once he's gotten it started, he moves back to the couch and resettles himself amongst the blankets.] Join us?

[semper_cogitans]

[... That reminds him of something Mike said long ago. Movie nights with the Hamatos.

Or Hamato. Robert doesn't mind right now.]

... Of course...

[He shifts onto the couch near Don - not so close that his body heat is overwhelming, but close enough so that maybe it helps warm the blankets.]

Which is this, if... I may ask?

[i_speak_softly]

[It reminds Don too - of Mike's insistence that Robert would not like any movie the Hamatos liked. The one he just put on is a Disney flick, and it still has violent scenes.]

[Deciding not to mention that, Don dips his snout in Robert's direction, reading the warmth coming off him.]

It's called "Beauty and the Beast". It's - a love story.

[Robert ought to know romance is not usually Don's genre, but something about the way he says this might suggest he has a special affinity for the movie.]

[semper_cogitans]

"Beauty and the Beast"... [Robert repeats the title, thoughtfully.] ... How fascinating. And you say it is a... love story?

[He knows someone named Beast. Perhaps this will be relevant...]

... That is a little unusual for you...

[i_speak_softly]

Watch the movie. [He's hoping that by the end he won't have to explain why this is important to him.]

[He listens with rapt attention as the narrator tells the tale of the prince and the enchantress.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert studies the screen with curiosity, listening to the whole tale with some measure of scrutiny. Cursing someone for a social faux pas? That seems a little harsh.

... But at the same time, he's not having the easiest time seeing why the curse is a humongously bad thing. It didn't really change much, did it?]

... What an odd reaction, though... it was cruel...

[i_speak_softly]

[...They are not going to get the same message from this movie, are they.]

She's teaching him a lesson about appearances.

[semper_cogitans]

[Most likely not, nope.]

Appearances...? Do you mean... physical appearance?

[i_speak_softly]

Sort of. But also about how to know who you can trust.

[Maybe that's a lesson Robert can understand - or at least see the need for.]

[semper_cogitans]

... That is an important lesson... [At the least, it has many important consequences. Robert nods a little at it.

... Of course, once the intro gets to actually showing the Beast, however briefly...]

...

That... looks very much like the Beast here in Luceti...

[i_speak_softly]

[Don grins delightedly.] It's him.

[semper_cogitans]

... Oh, it is?

[For a moment, he wants to say that's impossible. But... but the turtle sitting next to him... well, Ingrid said in one world, he was fictional as well.

Huh.]

... How remarkable.

[Softly:] But... he seems like a nice person to me.

[i_speak_softly]

[Sincerely:] He's my hero.

[He's quiet a moment, watching Belle greet the townspeople, then says:] I think she was my first crush.

[semper_cogitans]

[... In a way, Belle does look like the sort of person one would have feelings for. Soft, pretty, slim... Not that Robert is much of a judge.

But someone Don has feelings for... or had feelings for - must be a wonderful person.

Robert just smiles, and threads his fingers in the blanket near Don.]

... She must surely... be a beautiful person, then.

[i_speak_softly]

[Stopping there, Robert? How disappointing.]

Wait 'til you see what she does.

[semper_cogitans]

[Hardly stopping. Robert would hold Don's hand if he wanted - he just doesn't want to impose on him now, especially when too much body heat might be a bad thing.

Still... he doesn't move his hand.]

I will be delighted to see...

[... All this singing and dancing is reminding him of himself as a princess...]

[i_speak_softly]

[Fine, be that way. Don scoots over six inches to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with Robert.]

[He gestures to the screen, where Maurice is showing Belle his new invention.]

I always watch this scene twice when I'm alone.

[semper_cogitans]

[Oh, this is nice. Robert smiles and shuffles to press into Don's side, comfortingly revelling in the heft of his side against him.]

Oh...? Is this a scene you enjoy, then?

[i_speak_softly]

One of my favorites.

[Though he can't explain why without sounding completely ungrateful.]

[He settles down with his head on Robert's shoulder.]

So. Who was at this party?

[semper_cogitans]

... Quite a number of people... Giles, Frederic, and Ginia were, of course, to be expected, but Grune and Link also made appearances.

[... There might have been others too. But they haven't posted yet.]

... At least I... was familiar with the majority of them this time...

[i_speak_softly]

You enjoyed it?

[semper_cogitans]

I... I did. [Robert smiles shyly at that. Something might tell Don that he definitely enjoyed something about the outing.]

[i_speak_softly]

[That's a little suspicious, but Don won't ask - he wants to reinforce the idea that it's okay for Robert to go out even when Don has to stay in. To that end, he tilts his head back to smile upside-down at Robert, even if it's a little forced.]

I'm glad.