Sixty-Fifth Theory [Video]

[i_speak_softly]

[The video feed clicks on, and Don looks thoughtfully at the camera for a moment before speaking.]

Another Christmas in Luceti.

[His tone is direct, just stating a fact, but somewhere behind it is a note of melancholy.]

This is my third. All of them have been in this house. All of them have been with different people.

[He slides back from the journal, revealing a corner of his winter room. He's been gradually moving into it over the past week, and has more or less taken up residence now.]

I've seen a lot of people come and go. There probably aren't many left who remember when Luceti didn't have electricity.

[He picks up some small bit of tech and squints at it.]

When I arrived here, the drafts were just starting. There were no missions. The Battle Dome didn't exist. We didn't have a farm and there was a desert where the ocean is now.

[He carefully threads a length of wire through a hole in the tech part.]

The buildings were shorter. Some of the stores and restaurants weren't open. [A pause.] I think I'm forgetting things...

[The wire slides through, and he knots the loose ends to form a loop.]

Does anyone remember other things that have changed? Or, does anyone want a history lesson? I'll be here all day.

Comments

[semper_cogitans]

[The young, tropical tree is probably as far from the archetypical "Christmas tree" as one can get.

Somehow, it still seems strangely fitting.]

... Merry Christmas... [A pause. Why is Don calling him something so unusual?

He stops midway through his sentence and gives his partner a questioning look.]

[Video]

[fortunefail]

[Sharing information about what they don't know over the journals isn't entirely harmful. It's when they delve into what they do know that things are better off unsaid. Still, he can see they're slowly heading in that direction.]

... Hm. You're welcome.

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

Those are new ones on me. I usually just hear 'brain'. When they get creative, it's 'geek'.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

My brothers always had too much time on their hands. I'm glad yours had better ways of occupying themselves.

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[Surprised by this.] I like Pascal's inventions.

[i_speak_softly]

[Don smiles encouragingly. How do you want to end that greeting, Robert?]

1/2

[herotypical]

...I guess so. I don't even know what the guide says about it. I haven't read it since I arrived. But--

2/2

[herotypical]

Wait! Don! Your words. You...

You went to see him?

[ john. ] When?

[i_speak_softly]

What? [It takes him a minute to follow the conversational U-turn.] Oh. About a month ago. I guess I haven't seen you...

[semper_cogitans]

[That's just the thing. Should he use something as formal as what Don just used?

The silent drags out uncomfortably long, as Robert studies Don's expression, attempting to gauge what the encouraging look is supposed to mean. Just what do you want me to say?]

[i_speak_softly]

[Well, okay. Time for Plan B(lunt and Specific).]

[Don reaches for Robert's hand, and squeezes his fingers.]

Robert, anata - and by the way I like how you translated that for Spock - you know you're allowed to call me by names other than 'Don', right?

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

They weren't exactly brothers, just the kids back in high school. [She was juuust finally graduating before Luceti threw a wrench in the works of her plans to escape via college.]

video;

[bestevolving]

Evolved, transformed, changed, all would fit. Think about it like if you reached a point in your life were you changed into a stronger, different forms.

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert tentatively responds in kind, looking at Don as though he'd never actually considered this before.]

I... am? [When he's told to call somebody something, he does that.]

[i_speak_softly]

Of course. [He watches Robert carefully, determined not to let the man get the impression he has done something wrong, as he is wont to believe.] To be honest, it's a little strange that you only call me one thing.

video;

[i_speak_softly]

That happened to me and I didn't get shell cannons.

[Only a bipedal stance, opposable thumbs, enhanced intelligence, power of speech, and etc. Nothing interesting.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Almost shyly:] You... asked me to call you Don, so... that is what I did...

[But, if he wants other names...] What would.. you want me to call you, then...?

[Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

Oh. High school.

[Well, this is awkward. Him not having gone to a real school (outside of Luceti) and all.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don blinks, amazed again at how literally Robert takes everything.]

I barely knew you when I said that... You're my mate now. You can call me anything you want.

[semper_cogitans]

[Anything he wants... This is an almost-dizzying amount of possibilities.]

... Would you prefer Japanese terms as well, or... something else? [Because he has one in mind, now.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don smiles shyly, glad Robert recognizes Japanese as being meaningful to him.]

Anything that feels right.

[semper_cogitans]

There is one.

[He hesitates, nervously, before he speaks again with a visible effort - a translation shield.]

Kararbo.

[Then he speaks again, though in a distinctly different way than he usually does. More... artificial sounding.]

'Dear tree'.

[Now back to normal.] It is... a C-Common Language term of endearment... and, er, one that my father used often. He had an affinity for plants, perhaps... even moreso than the u-usual Terran...

[A sort of sad look, as he recounts this. It's a bittersweet sadness.]

[Voice]

[mysicksadlife]

[For all Daria knows, he goes to school with bunches of other talking animals. And Mother Goose as a teacher. Why not.]

You sound about as excited by it as I was.

[Voice]

[ledbythewind]

How many of them have you seen?

video;

[bestevolving]

Did it? Maybe you have to evolve once more in order to get them. [though she's just teasing him there.] It took Blastoise two evolutions.