Sixty-Seventh Theory [Accidental Video]

[i_speak_softly]

[Turtle Luck runs true to form, and Don crashes shell-first into the full bathtub in the winter room, Robert falling unceremoniously on top of him. The scientist, mildly stunned from the impact, pushes back and breaks the surface with a sputtering sound. Don fights down his panic reaction at being suddenly submerged, and simply sits up in the shallow water. He tries not to bang Robert against the sides of the tub, but the close confines ensure Robert's legs get squashed somewhat as Turtle and human attempt to suddenly coexist in an unforgiving ceramic tub.]

Don, are... are you a-alright?

Yeah. Just -- can you get up?

[Robert complies, scrambling out of the tub.] What an... unusual place to be returned. Perhaps the rogue Malnosso were... more interested in seeing our reaction to that than... "testing" us...

[Don coughs, and drags himself out of the water behind his housemate.] Typical. Give me a minute to convince my lungs they're fine, and then we can theorize about the Malnosso's motivations all you want.

[As the two talk, neither notices that Don's journal is transmitting video of their awkward return and private conversation.]



((Joint post! Don and Robert's conversation will be continued in a thread; feel free to assume your character can hear all of it. Specify who you want to talk to or you may get both. :) ))

Comments

first because of obvious reasons

[semper_cogitans]

[Still recovering from the shock and mild injury of slamming into the tub - even cushioned with water - Robert spends the next few moments trying to wring water out of his poor lab coat and occasionally looking over at Don, trying to figure out whether he's okay or not.]

... Is there... any way I can... assist you?

[i_speak_softly]

[In answer, Don makes a "calm down and wait a minute" gesture. You're hovering, scientist.]

[semper_cogitans]

[He can't help it... he knows what being dropped suddenly in water does to you, Don.

But he's also good at listening when told, so he backs off and instead focuses on squeezing more water out of his clothes. For all of its durability in a laboratory situation, his lab coat is definitely not meant to be dropped in so much water.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don swallows hard, making sure everything has gone down the right tubes.]

You should go change.

[semper_cogitans]

[Good idea.]

Ah, yes. One moment, then...

[The journal may be treated to the swish of Robert's waterlogged lab coat as he walks past, out to go get into something drier than this.]

[i_speak_softly]

[After Robert leaves, Don allows himself a moment to just slump, admitting what an unpleasant experience he's just come out of. Then he pulls himself together and heads over to his winter room's control panel, to see what everything has been set to for the past few days.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Whenever the man returns, it's in distinctly different clothing - namely, a pristine white house robe drawn over him in much the same way his lab coat was formerly, as well as hints of a muted green shirt and gray trousers. Nope, not a particularly sharp dresser.

He hesitates only briefly before walking up next to Don.]

Have the settings been... altered, at all? [If they have been, he'll need to check the plants especially carefully.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Robert may not be the height of fashion, but his choice of clothing is simple and normal and familiar, and it makes Don feel a little better.]

No, but normally I would change them every few hours. I should check out the systems.

Voice

[fierybluebird]

[In the most deadpan of voices:]

So a turtle and a scientist fall into a bathtub together. The turtle turns and says to the scientist, "Is it just me or are the Malnosso getting lazier about their experiments?"

And the scientist says, "Looks to me like they're all washed up."

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[While the mun finds this joke uproariously funny, Robert... takes it completely literally. Or, well, mostly literally, if only because this means they've been heard.]

Ah -

...

The... j-journal was... broadcasting this...? [Suddenly very glad he chose to wear a housecoat, or his scars would've been on camera.]

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

Aye. But don't worry, you weren't doing anything too risque, eh?

[Leave it to Marco to be that guy.]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Leave it to Robert to have no idea what Marco's implying by that.]

... I... s-suppose not. I am not certain what... w-would be considered as such, especially when much was... n-not intentional...

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

It never is.

[Nope, not explaining either.]

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[As much as Robert likes explanations... he doesn't know if he should press for one this time.]

Well, n-no. I... imagine most people would... n-not willingly broadcast themselves... being returned in s-such an unpleasant fashion...

[It's obvious that Robert doesn't like to be seen so unkempt.]

[Voice]

[fierybluebird]

Aye that, or just being in the tub together at all, eh.

Are you hurt or shifted or anything?

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[That's the least of Robert's worries, honestly. Though he's not too fond of the idea of his arm scars being public knowledge.]

... It... d-does not appear as such, no... [If there is anything, it's so subtle that he can't tell, and that is subtle.] Any... minor damage sustained during the i-impact was not enough to... harm either of us...

voice + both if you want!

[herotypical]

...Maybe this is their impolite way of saying 'hey dudes, you should really think about bathing more often.'

[ it's a joke as much as it's anything else. simple and friendly. ]

voice

[i_speak_softly]

[Thank you for adding to the humiliation, Buffy. Don will sort of pretend he didn't hear that.]

Hey Buffy. Did we miss anything while we were gone?

voice; both or either, although she's talked to don only before

[bluemikan]

Well, that's one way to make an entrance.

voice

[i_speak_softly]

Thank you; we do our best.

[Determined not to be embarrassed by what the Malnosso did.]

voice

[bluemikan]

...So they actually drew a bath for you two to land in?

[ who does that malnosso. WHO. ]

voice

[i_speak_softly]

No, I... left it full. Fortunately not running.

voice

[bluemikan]

I like to think someone would have noticed before then, if it had been.

voice

[i_speak_softly]

But probably after it... wrecked some other things. [No need to specify what.]

voice

[bluemikan]

...Well, yeah, there's that. There should probably be some sort of brigade checking that people are still around, just in case someone has the stove on when they disappear.