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]

[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.

[semper_cogitans]

[Not even the mun knows what happened at the time of this posting, but it probably involves kissing Helios. And Robert wouldn't actually hide it from Don if he did ask.

In fact, he says, a little tentatively:]

... If... if you want more detail later, I... certainly can provide it.

[... He trusts Don not to be too bothered by it, and... well. It's not like it isn't the worst-kept not-secret he has anyway.]

[i_speak_softly]

You don't have to tell me anything.

[To be honest, part of him would rather not know. He returns his attention to the movie, where Gaston is informing the villagers, in song, of how great he is.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert doesn't realize he'd rather not know, and assumes this is more an attempt for Robert to save face than anything.

Still, the movie is sufficiently distracting at this point that Robert turns his eyes back to it.

... Gaston comes off as a real ass to him.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yup. Splinter had made clear to his impressionable boys which of Gaston's traits were worth emulating, and which were not.]

He's a strange villain, isn't he?

[semper_cogitans]

He... certainly is. And... ethically repugnant, to... say the least.

Does he not understand the concept of consent...? [... Yes, this is what Robert fixates on. And the fact he's a parody of masculinity? That hasn't even registered.

...

He does have kind of a nice-lookin chest though... not that it excuses anything.]

[i_speak_softly]

I don't think he understands she's saying no.

[Hence, doesn't know he's doing anything wrong. Don is curious to see whether Robert will pick up on this gray area.]

[semper_cogitans]

[... Nooot quite.]

How could he not? It is... fairly evident, even to me.

[Yes, getting into a serious discussion about ethics due to Beauty and the Beast. Only Robert...]

[i_speak_softly]

[In the most affectionate tone:] That's because you always expect no.

[More seriously:] Gaston can only imagine yes, so that's what he hears.

[semper_cogitans]

[That... makes a very selfish sort of sense.]

... Ah... well, I suppose he... should learn otherwise, then. It is... not good to be ignorant...

[As Robert knows himself. Ignorance leads to all sorts of problems.]

[i_speak_softly]

[An hour, a bowl of popcorn, and much commentary later, Don gets up to change the DVD. He settles back onto the couch as the black-and-white credits flicker onto the screen, curling close to Robert and seeming much more anxious than he did earlier.]

[semper_cogitans]

[In response, Robert curls back, letting a hand drift almost reassuringly to Don's shoulder.]

... Is... is there an issue...?

[i_speak_softly]

[Don doesn't answer. The opening scenes of the movie should be all the explanation Robert needs.]

[semper_cogitans]

[... Even Robert can tell that this movie is going to be horror incarnate.

But he sputters, aloud, when he sees the cartoonish words in black and white -]

"Freaks"...?!

[That is a clearly disgusted sputter.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don slides down to rest his head in Robert's lap, his shell towards the back of the couch, one leg partially drawn up. He's just going to watch the movie from here.]