(no subject)

[semper_cogitans]

Who: Robert Hastings (semper_cogitans) and Hamato Donatello (i_speak_softly)
What: Celebrating the birthday of a certain Turtle.
When: February 6th
Where: Around the village, though the Battle Dome's a standout locale.
Summary: While there's some rare peace, Robert tries to give Don some semblance of a birthday celebration by doing everything he's terrible at.
Rating: Shouldn't be anything too bad here. PG-13 maybe at most? Or maybe B for Birthday.


Thanks to the genius of Don's winter room, this year the Turtle is actually coherent on the day Robert remembers he defined as his birthday. And while the birthdate might not even be particularly accurate, it's nonetheless significant enough to Robert that he wants to commemorate it somehow.

So what better way than by making himself look a little silly doing all the things his partner is so fond of? Don had already wanted to go for a run, and it was easy enough from there to suggest a sparring session of sorts afterwards - they've been cooped up inside too long, and need the exercise anyway.

All of this is a little nervewracking for the scientist, but he is determined to make it work as he makes his way to the Turtle's winter room bright and early in the morning.

One way or another, he is going to make sure Don has fun today.

Comments

[i_speak_softly]

Don is already awake and dressed, as much as he usually is, though he will certainly need to put on his snowsuit for today's outing.

He comes over to Robert right away, smiling brightly and eager to go.

"Good morning. Are you ready?"

[semper_cogitans]

"Yes."

Robert's opted against eating much for the moment - just a customary cup of tea and a few biscuits - because of the running, so he really doesn't have anything to do anymore except get up and go.

"There are... no significant forms of inclement weather in the enclosure today, so we should... be fine."

[i_speak_softly]

Don grins at this comment before bounding towards the door.

"So prepared."

[semper_cogitans]

It warms Robert to see Don so obviously excited to be getting out and about, and it intensifies the feeling that he made a good decision. He turns to follow him out of the room.

"I am glad to hear that, Don... would you like to leave right away?"

[i_speak_softly]

Don heads directly for the closet where his snowsuit is stored.

"I'd like to leave five minutes ago." He casts a suspicious glance at Robert, wondering if the man is making a clumsy attempt at surprising him with something. "Why do you ask?"

[semper_cogitans]

He totally doesn't have anything up his sleeves at all - but he does have a suggestion.

"Though our running plans did include... physical locales, there was something I had been... thinking of, to try in a safer environment..."

It actually sounds kind of crazy, and he falters a little.

[i_speak_softly]

Don blinks, trying to figure out where Robert is going with this.

"Huh?"

[semper_cogitans]

"... Roof-jumping." There, he actually said it and it sounds like lunacy coming from him.

"S-Specifically - in a simulation, of course. Because... well. Such a situation would be... safer, yes."

This hurried statement is accompanied by quite a bit of nervous hand-wringing.

[i_speak_softly]

Don stares at Robert for a moment, then turns away, sticks his head in the closet, and says something that sounds a lot like:

"I built one for you."

[semper_cogitans]

"... You... did?"

Robert's not sure what's weirder about that - the fact he willingly suggested it himself, or the fact Don specifically made a simulation for it.

[i_speak_softly]

Don emerges with the snowsuit, and awkwardly clarifies:

"I built one while fantasizing that you might use it."

[semper_cogitans]

Oh, Don.

Robert breaks into the world's most awkward smile and lets his own gaze drift downward, even as he half-turns in the direction of his own closet.

"... Ah, well... I... s-suppose then that I am... glad that I... had that thought myself..."

Though he is pretty certain he will look absolutely ridiculous.

[i_speak_softly]

Don starts stuffing his feet into the snowsuit, now even more excited to get going.

"Is there anything else you wanted to tell me?"

[semper_cogitans]

After the exciting roof-jumping interlude at the Battle Dome, Robert gets ready for the second part of the doing-things-he-isn't-any-good-at bonanza - that is, sparring Don.

He doesn't look entirely confident, but here he is, in the dojo and more or less ready to spar. The clothes that he's wearing are uncharacteristically loose and casual, baring his arms and wings - they are clearly exercise clothes.

Still lingering near the doorway, he waits nervously for Don, clearly uncertain of the exact protocol in this unusual situation.

[i_speak_softly]

Don joins him momentarily, looking equally uncertain.

"Anata, are you sure you want to do this?"

[semper_cogitans]

The man's wings flutter slightly against his back. His expression is hard to read, and the uncertainty on his face is obvious. But he nods anyway.

"... I... want to be part of your life in its entirety, kararbo - and... this is a large part of it."

A part that he honestly wants to be here for now, at least, when nobody else from Don's home can.

[i_speak_softly]

Don studies Robert for a moment, then nods, brushing a hand over the man's shoulder as he heads into the room to take up a position on the mats.

[semper_cogitans]

Robert knows the importance of this decision to Don - or, at least, he's pretty sure he can guess. So he carries that in his heart as he makes his way to the mats in the dojo, stopping at the one on the opposite side from Don.

How different things feel like this.

[i_speak_softly]

Don waits for Robert to join him, then asks, in a completely serious tone:

"How badly should I beat you?"

[semper_cogitans]

Ask a completely-serious question, get a completely-serious answer.

Robert bites his lip slightly - some part of his mind is regretting this decision already, though he won't admit it - and tries not to methodically wring his hands as he responds.

"... Within a margin that I am... able to heal myself from, ideally..."

He'd rather not resort to magically patching his own wounds up, but he will if that ends up being the case.

[i_speak_softly]

Don blinks at this nonsensical answer, then slowly asks:

"Robert... am I safe today?"

[semper_cogitans]

"Yes. It... it is not you." Robert exhales slowly, in a sort of resigned way. "It is me. I... have little physical skill or resilience... as it is.

... I do not... e-expect you to willingly harm me in any significant way. I am just... not so ignorant as to... be unaware of the possibility."

He sounds fairly blasé about it, but in truth he is more than a little nervous.

"... I assure you, I am... prepared for any outcome..." Or as prepared as he's ever going to be anyway.

[i_speak_softly]

Don doesn't seem to know quite what to do with this, so after a moment he defaults back to dojo routine. He raises his fists into a ready stance, and in an oddly questioning tone says:

"Hajime?"

[semper_cogitans]

Automatically, Robert shifts into a ready stance of his own - a little less confident-looking than Don's, but still with a slightly threatening edge... well, if Robert could be at all threatening-looking.

"Hajime."

... Even as he utters the words, though, he doesn't quite know how to begin. Should he try to keep his distance and feint Don out? (Probably not going to work, his moves are likely an open book to the Turtle.) Should he get in close and try to actually hit something? (Always a risk when you're punching something covered in natural armour.)

If Splinter were here, he might say something like "do not think - do" - but Robert has never been very good at just doing.

[i_speak_softly]

Don circles slowly, giving Robert opportunities to make a move. He really doesn't want to throw the first strike...