Sixty-Ninth Theory [Voice]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yesterday the village grew quiet, as many villagers were called on a draft, and many others began the anxious wait to see if their friends and loved ones would return to the village safely.]

[Also yesterday, a breath of warm weather arrived in Luceti. Don has been out enjoying it, trying not to dwell on those who are fighting on a flying island right now. He has enough other things on his mind, and around midday he does something about one of them.]

Filtered to Beast || Unhackable

Beast... I haven't thanked you properly for what you did for Robert and me. For everything you've done for us.

End Filter

[Later, he leaves a brief, unfiltered message:]

Would anyone be interested in learning how to program computers and fix cars?

Comments

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert pulls away then, chagrined and - only mildly - hurt, and stares almost blankly at the brush still floating on the water in the bucket.

Presently, he asks in a quiet voice:] ... Do you wish for me to... c-continue...?

[i_speak_softly]

[In answer, Don just mumbles some sort of unenthusiastic affirmation.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Well, it would be silly to leave the job half-done anyway. Robert picks up the brush again and resumes his cleaning job, though in a much more sober and generally quiet way.

He doesn't really know what to say... so he doesn't say anything.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don hunches forward, playing with the grass around his knees.]

Did you want to talk about anything?

[semper_cogitans]

[What's a topic that wouldn't be nearly so uncomfortable? It takes Robert a moment of quiet cleaning of Don's shell to respond to this.]

... If I were to cultivate plants in the garden... I would like to know which ones you think would be... s-suitable.

[Maybe ones that best symbolize the families and worlds that they both can't have with them.]

[i_speak_softly]

[In a weak attempt at a joke typical in House 55:]

I'm an engineer, not a botanist.

[semper_cogitans]

[The joke is familiar at least, and Robert smiles weakly in return, though it may be difficult for Don to see.]

... Perhaps, but... you do not need to be a b-botanist to... suggest plants your sensei enjoys...

... And if not... perhaps I will need to review the e-encyclopedias of botany you so thoughtfully provided e-earlier...

[i_speak_softly]

[Don hunches up his shoulders, and it may be obvious even from the awkward angle that he's trying not to cry.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert immediately realizes that he said the worst possible thing under the circumstances, and his chest feels like it tears as he watches Don try to hold back his tears.

I was only trying to help... And yet Robert knows how pitiful that excuse is. He doesn't even try to defend himself.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don stands abruptly, giving Robert a "stay here" kind of pat on the knee as he does so, and heads towards the house. He'll be back in a minute.]

[semper_cogitans]

[It takes a lot of discipline for Robert to not follow Don at this. A lot more than is probably obvious, honestly.

But Don's orders are ones that he does not disobey lightly. So he sits in place, just staring at his knees and hands instead.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Distracted as he is, Don doesn't particularly notice any of this. But he returns momentarily with the encyclopedia of Earth botany, resumes his former position, and begins silently paging through the large volume.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert calms a little when the Turtle returns, at least looking a bit better now that he has an encyclopedia to look at. Quietly, he takes his place somewhat to the left of Don, perusing the pages over his shoulder.]

[i_speak_softly]

[Yeah, he probably should have explained that.]

I don't know what plants Master Splinter had, but... I would recognize them if I saw them.

[There's a subtle hint of desperation in that last part, as though he's not really confident about his statement.]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert kind of hopes that is true, because - as sharp as his memory is - this is a question he never asked the older rat sensei.]

If... worst were to come to worst... then I would simply extrapolate from the s-soil composition...

[... Or just plant something random. There was a botanical-fruit and vegetable garden here before, wasn't there...?]

[i_speak_softly]

What kind of plants are you thinking of?

[semper_cogitans]

It... seems more in line with Master Splinter's personality to... prefer functional plants, or plants that are... more resilient. [Less showy, maybe. He doesn't think Splinter would be the sort of person to like something flashy without substance.]

[i_speak_softly]

When he gardened here, he grew vegetables.

[semper_cogitans]

So I remember... [It was a pretty little vegetable plot too.]

Would you... p-prefer if I did the same...? [The winter weather in Luceti won't allow for most plants to survive, so he'd have to pick ones that would survive dying back. Or ones that would have a shorter growing cycle.]

[i_speak_softly]

I - [He ruffles the pages of the book with a finger, thinking.] I want to be almost-vegetarian, Robert.

[semper_cogitans]

[... Almost-vegetarian?]

... Is there... a reason for this decision? [He'll get to the unusual/strange phrasing part in a minute.]

[i_speak_softly]

It's something I've thought about since before Luceti. It just finally feels like the right time.

[semper_cogitans]

[Now for the second part.]

What exactly do you mean by... almost-vegetarian...?

[i_speak_softly]

I read about vegetarianism a while ago, and I learned that if a person eats meat after not eating it for a long time, they get sick from it. I can't afford that. So... I want to be not-vegetarian enough that that doesn't happen.

[semper_cogitans]

[Hmm... this isn't unreasonable to think, though Robert doubts it would be particularly extreme beyond the initial transition period for one's body.]

I suppose that... is a fair enough mentality, though... it is more dependent on the specific internal flora and... digestive secretions that your body would have to establish, depending on... any dietary habits...

... That being said, you are certainly welcome to... any dietary changes you desire, so long as you are comfortable with them...