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

[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.

[semper_cogitans]

[This is another thing that is normal and familiar; seeing Don able and willing to check the equipment's functionality in his winter room. It is certainly much nicer than being cooped up in a sterile cell for awhile.]

As you do this, I will... inspect Carbon, and the plants. They have been two days without... regular care...

[Since neither of them got a chance to tell anybody and nobody would have been around enough to do it anyway.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Not as able and willing as he's trying to look.]

I'll do it later. I need to equalize...

[Unless there's something urgent you need him to do first?]

[semper_cogitans]

[Nothing urgent. Robert kind of wants to sit there and hold Don - as he usually does after a crisis is past - but he has to finish caring for the other living dependents of the house, first.]

... Yes... just... [Quietly, and in a vulnerable tone he clearly wouldn't use around anyone else:] Please... when we are finished, I... I want to sit with you, now... n-now that I can...

[Though the journal's camera might not show it very clearly, his hands are trembling a bit, even as he walks over to the corner of the room to inspect the first plant.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Silently, Don takes Robert's hand and just holds it a moment. He needs to equalize emotionally too.]

[He'll be waiting under one of the sun lamps when Robert is ready.]

[semper_cogitans]

[All in all, it doesn't take too long; only a few minutes. Still, any viewers who can see Robert when he's within the bounds of the camera will notice the strange hyper-precision of his motions, despite the slight shakiness of his hands. It doesn't look as if he's doing a good job holding himself together.

Once he's finished, he returns to the Turtle's side under the sun lamps, joined by a daintily-stepping cat, who immediately curls up on the scientist's lap as though she can tell that he's worse for wear. Robert reflexively strokes the softly-purring cat as he leans into Don's side.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don twists a hand into the skirt of Robert's robe, and just breathes - steadier than before, but in a determined kind of way.]

[After a moment:] Are you hurt?

[semper_cogitans]

[This sort of quiet, emotional ritual purges some of the stress and discomfort of the past few days, though it doesn't rid Robert entirely of the trembling.

Eventually, he responds.]

... No. Not... n-not physically.

[i_speak_softly]

[Before continuing, Don gestures up at the lamp.]

If I stop making sense, turn that off.

[semper_cogitans]

[Duly noted.]

Are you... h-having troubles with temperature equalization, Don? [Because maybe he shouldn't be cuddling on you if you are.]

[i_speak_softly]

No, it just - [He pauses to scratch Carbon's ears in an oddly deliberate way.] - makes me feel better.

[semper_cogitans]

[Carbon responds by delicately nudging her head into his hand, quite content to be scratched behind her ears for a good long while.]

... That is something we both need at the moment.

[i_speak_softly]

Do you want to talk about... anything?

[His tone is dull, implying that he doesn't really want to talk himself - but he recognizes that Robert likes to deal with things by talking.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Does he? Robert actually isn't sure, for once. And he can tell that Don would probably rather just sit.]

The only thing I wonder is... wh-why? But... who can presume to understand the M-Malnosso's motivation, at this point...?

...

Mostly I just... w-want to be here with you, now. [He wants the comfort, and shows it by leaning himself closer into Don.]

[i_speak_softly]

I certainly don't know what... what that's about.

[semper_cogitans]

[Helplessly:] Humiliation, p-perhaps...? Something about us...? [Don's fears, for instance. Or maybe they were poking at Robert's compulsions about staying clean. Or both.]

[i_speak_softly]

I didn't think it was funny.

[semper_cogitans]

It was not. [Even if a bunch of people made amusing jokes about it.]

... Regardless, I... c-cannot help but feel it was... easier, than it should have b-been... not as if kidnappings are ever easy, but... [They were surprisingly gentle. He hasn't felt anything out of the ordinary, besides the usual symptoms of being kept somewhere two days.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Just a politely vacant look. He's not really following.]