i_speak_softly | Fifty-Eighth Theory [Voice/Action]

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Fifty-Eighth Theory [Voice/Action]

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The person who made the little wind-up dragon... can I have another?

Action for Nezumi

[The reason Don needs another dragon is because he took the first one apart to make a camerabot for someone he doesn't even know. He hopes this was a good idea.]

[He heads to building three, floor one, room five, as he was told, and knocks five times.]

Action for Isamu

[After making that delivery, Don circles southward to the home of one Isamu Nitta. Allegedly some other people live here too, but Don has never met them. Hopefully, if they exist, they won't mind too much that a giant turtle is climbing in their window. Isamu did say to surprise him.]

Action for Buffy

[Around sundown, Don makes his way to House 7. He knocks here too, though he doesn't count how many times. He has a question to ask...]

((Housemates of the people Don is looking for are welcome to tag in, and of course the Voice part is open to anyone pinged by clockwork draconids.))

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[Don floats in around midnight, too blissfully happy to admonish anyone about anything.]

Hey. You're awake.

Waiting for you. [Robert's voice isn't angry, just matter-of-fact.] It is... significantly later than you usually return.

May I ask why that is?

[He drifts to the kitchen for, as usual, a huge glass of water.]

Found a running partner. Lost track of time.

[Or maybe just ceased to care.]

A... running partner?

[Robert's intrigued.]

At... such a late time...?

[Though it's not unprecedented for Don to lose track of time.]

People keep all kinds of hours in Luceti. It's one of the few ways this place is like New York.

Hrm, I see...

... Did you enjoy yourself, at least...? I would think so, considering the time...

[The time which is very much later than Robert expects Don to be home at.]

Mm. [He swivels a chair away from Robert, sits in it backwards, and turns serious.]

Robert, can we talk?

[Robert's eyes flicker up from the screen of his nanocomputer at that tone.]

... Yes?

[Don looks down, rotates the glass in his hand.]

Did... something happen between us? Over the winter?

[Robert immediately shakes his head.]

Sexually? I would have absolutely refused.

... You could not consent, Don. It was... in your best interest. [Though the way he says it suggests Robert would have been fine with this otherwise.]

[He shakes his head, echoing Robert's motion.]

Not that. We had a - an issue.

... An... i-issue?

What do you mean...? You forgot I was your partner for awhile, but...

[Robert's genuinely confused.]

[So that memory was true. Don risks being blunt.]

Was there an incident with Helios?

[The bluntness helps. Robert's expression shifts to one of awkward apology when he hears this - that would be an answer alone, but:]

... Yes. There... there was.

... I... kissed him. [Blunt as usual, but Robert's expression is definitely uncomfortable.] I... was under the impression this was... a-acceptable from previous statements made by yourself, but... I acknowledge I may have... overstepped boundaries...

... [Quietly:] ... I will not... d-do such a thing again, at least not without... more e-explicit permission...

[Don holds Robert's gaze as he says:] I said it was okay and I meant it.

[Then he has to look away.] Do you... still like him?

...

[Very softly:] ... Yes, to... to a degree...

... But... I know it will never lead to anything, and besides... I have you. [This is accompanied by a weak, soft smile.]

[Don bites his lip, then ventures:] How terrible is it if I say those same things about someone else?

[Rather than seem upset, Robert merely just looks surprised - and a little interested.]

... About whom?

[Robert didn't answer the question, but Don guesses it isn't unreasonable for his reaction to depend somewhat on who the interesting party is.]

... Buffy.

[It comes out almost like a question. Are you okay with that?]

[He barely knows her... so this isn't something he can easily respond to.]

... Hrm, I see... [Still doesn't seem upset, though. If anything, Robert seems to be mulling this over.]

... I have no real issue, Don. You... have every right to find other people attractive. Especially if you allow me to do the same.

... But... might I ask why?

Why I like her? [He thinks for a moment, trying to sort out specific reasons from the general feeling of liking.] She roof-runs. She's smart. She doesn't think turtles are completely disgusting.

[The last one makes Robert wince a little. But... maybe that's okay for Don?

However:]

Her athleticism is... attractive?

[He's not saying this as if it's a foreign concept. Rather he's saying it in the way that makes it sound like maybe he's starting to consider this himself.]

Yes.

[He knows this is an idea Robert is still trying to understand, and he's gratified that the scientist grasped this example of it so quickly.]

[Continuing this line of reasoning:] Do you find... other athletic people attractive, too? Or... is it the combination of traits Buffy possesses?

[Thoughtfully:] Giles told me he was Buffy's mentor... [Maybe this is another reason to study Buffy.]

I - [How to explain.] I like doing athletic things with people. So I like people who are... able and willing.

[He isn't sure what to do with that second comment.]

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