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 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.]

[Don recognizes this as a Western-style practice sword. What he's having trouble with is the idea of Robert holding it, and not even looking terribly uncomfortable.]

Recently? Robert, how long --?

[Robert's voice is surprisingly even for the fact he's holding a weapon.]

... J-January. The third.

... Every Tuesday, at ten...

[Maybe Don always wondered where Robert was, when that happened.]

[Not really. Robert goes out frequently to run errands and such, and Don doesn't keep track of days well enough to notice a pattern like that.]

[Still.]

I feel so stupid...

... S-Stupid...? [Robert shakes his head at this.] I... was not exactly making it public, Don...

... Just... I suppose part of me felt... sh-shameful about it... and so I was recalcitrant to share...

...

But... but if you think it is a good thing... [He tries to smile.] ... Then I am willing to try to be part of it...

I do, but - we live together. I'm trained in detecting - [A vague gesture.] - this. What else have I not noticed?

[Quietly:] You said so yourself... you never would have expected me to do this. Perhaps the... unexpectedness kept you from considering it... as viable.

[That's possible.]

Can I just ask - why?

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