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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[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.]

[Don't worry, he's just talking aloud. ~~Though now you might have your boyfriend stalking your crush.~~

For the former:]

... I am willing, at least. If... not quite able.

[Almost shyly:] ... I... I never did tell you I was... sword training, did I...?

... What?

[He must have misheard that.]

[Yes, it is confusing to hear from your pacifist partner, but...]

... Link was... t-training me, before he was sent home...

[Almost awkwardly:] Purely defensively, initially. But... I have... considered expanding. Since... well. S-Self-defense is necessary, here.

[Said with a twinge of regret. But after a year and a half in Luceti...]

[Just. Awed silence.]

[He's not interpreting this as awed right now.]

... Do you... d-disapprove?

I disbelieve. [He runs a hand over his head.] Wow, Robert. Of all the things I thought you'd never say.

[Nervously:] I... could prove it...?

[It is a difficult claim to just take at face value, so Robert understands Don not accepting it right away.]

[Don hesitates, then nods. In the back of his mind, he's calculating what kind of proof he would need to be convinced this is not an experiment.]

... One moment.

[Robert gets up, then, and walks off to his room.

He returns a few moments later, with a sword in his hands. It's clearly blunted as a practise weapon, and more in the style of a broadsword than anything - that's what Link was training him on.]

... Leonardo's brand of training would... necessitate a different style of sword, but... this is what I have been using most recently...

[His actions are all strangely tentative, like this was some kind of big secret. And it's true, that Robert has been a little uncomfortable to admit he was actually doing this - part of his Terran mentality still balks to consider it, even if he's mostly convinced himself that it's okay to protect himself here, in situations where it's strictly necessary.]

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