Report 013 [Voice/Action] | Another 365.25 days have elapsed...

[semper_cogitans]

Comments

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don, as usual, spends the early part of the morning ensconced in the back room, and so he doesn't find this journal message until Robert has already left the house.]

[When the scientist gets back, he'll find his partner waiting for him, wearing the attitude of a parent whose teenager is breaking curfew.]

When were you planning to tell me?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[... Oh.

Hello, Don. Robert looks more than a little chastised when he realizes he never actually told Don what today is.]

...

... I... suppose I... did not think it was significant enough to w-warrant... [He trails off, lamely, suddenly feeling very small. The blueberry pie's ingredients are now incriminating evidence.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[He sighs and takes the bag from Robert.]

You don't usually celebrate?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

... No, not usually... [Who would he have to celebrate it with?

Robert shakes his head a little.] Regardless, I... I-I apologize. I should have said something...

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

It's fine. [You're forgiven.]

[He opens the bag - such a nosy Turtle.] What did you get for yourself?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[There's an eclectic mishmash of items in there - a bunch of assorted electronics, primarily, as well as the ingredients for a blueberry pie.

... Yes, they look like uneasy bedfellows at best, but Robert had somehow managed to make them look organized anyway.]

Ah... well, I meant to... see how the technology here compares to Terran technology... [Quietly:] I... I miss it.

[And with somewhat less melancholy:] I also planned to... make a blueberry pie.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don slings an arm around Robert's shoulder, leading him towards the kitchen.]

I definitely want to help with the first, but for the second, I should warn you I failed Mikey's pie-making lessons.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

... Mike had pie-making lessons...? [The thought of Mike actually teaching him something seems unprecedented, but it would have been nice. Mike was fantastic at it.]

... Not that I would discourage your assistance anyway, though.

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

He tried to give me some. [He puts the bag on the counter and starts unpacking the baking things.] I think it was mostly an underhanded plot, though.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[There is... a lot of baking things to unpack. Though not nearly as much as there will be. Get used to the sight of these, Don...]

... Underhanded plot?

[Obviously, Robert is taking this entirely literally.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don likes the sight of these. His body is shifting into Eat Everything mode, so any implement or scenario that seems likely to result in food is suddenly becoming very interesting to him.]

He was trying to extort or humiliate me into telling him about you.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Well, luckily for Don, this is exactly what is going to happen.

And for once, the literal interpretation is correct! Robert raises an eyebrow at this.]

... he could have... simply asked.

[There isn't much Robert would willfully withhold.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[In the most affectionate way:] Mike was never good at simple.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[In retrospect, that was probably obvious.]

Did he think it a more... effective solution, I suppose?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

More likely to have fringe benefits, anyway.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[That prompts a slight smile from Robert.]

Ah... well, I suppose it is... something to expect from him...

...

... [He wishes Mike were around for this.]

... At any rate, I should... begin work on the pie... [Shyly:] So we may have it later of course.