[It takes Robert awhile to notice that note - he was probably awake when Don was there but, you know, Donatello's a ninja. He's good at sneaking around silently slipping notes under the doors of unsuspecting scientists without their knowledge.
But when he does notice it - in the handwriting he recognizes as none other than purple-mask-wearing-turtle's - he practically vacuums it off the floor and hugs it to his chest. He's alone, so he lets himself indulge in that little unprofessional display. He's back. He's back and he wants to celebrate White Day with m - ... Wait, what is White Day?
... That actually doesn't matter at the moment. Donatello is back; that is all that matters.
After the initial few seconds of processing the enormity of this - fifteen days, he had been gone fifteen days and it felt like an eon and now he is back - Robert snatches up his journal immediately and sends a message to Donatello. Hopefully. Full of so many emotions he can't possibly quantify all of them.]
... Donatello, you're back... I've missed you
( ... )
[The socks are irrelevant. Don grins in delight and slides off the couch. He settles on the floor with his legs tucked neatly under him, and looks at Robert expectantly.]
[Still looking mostly confused and skeptical, Robert sinks to the floor himself, sitting in what probably looks like the most formal-yet-awkward posiition ever. It's clear he isn't used to sitting on the floor by the way his pelvis is angled.]
I like furniture as much as the next American. But it will really impress Sensei if you can sit like this. [With subtle movements he encourages Robert to copy his position.]
[Mr. Sensei is completely jarring to his ears. They'll have to work on that too.]
It's all part of the tradition. There's a lot more to it than I can teach you in an afternoon. The very short version is, if you sit like this, keep your eyes down, and don't talk until Splinter says otherwise, I think it will help our case a lot. [He watches you carefully. This probably sounds very strange to a gaijin.]
[Splinter. That's his name? Is Sensei a title then?
And Don's right that this sounds strange. It sounds downright disturbing, even.] In other words, he'd prefer if I were to refrain from actually communicating with him? [Note of confusion, here.] ... And how would this teach him anything about me? Generally when people relate to each other they'd want to see each other on their own terms, correct? [Donatello may notice that wording - "when people relate" - like Robert isn't part of that group.]
... Still. I'd... rather not cause a problem, and if this would make him more amicable to this then I suppose it isn't too much of an issue.
[Robert shifts to a sitting position that's less uncomfortable to maintain - namely, one with his legs crossed primly - and makes a considering noise.] ... Define "weird". Different from what I am used to, yes.
But Luceti itself is different from what I am used to. I have yet to meet anybody whose world is vaguely like mine.
So no, I would not use "weird" to define it. [Never mind that other people have used "weird" to define him.]
[Robert scoots over to where Donatello is and kind of leans on him reassuringly-and-possibly-adorably. Never mind that they're on the floor.] ... You can start wherever is most convenient for you...
... However, I honestly would rather just savour your presence at the moment. [Robert curls gently up to Donatello and looks like he could and would kiss him again quite willingly if allowed.]
But when he does notice it - in the handwriting he recognizes as none other than purple-mask-wearing-turtle's - he practically vacuums it off the floor and hugs it to his chest. He's alone, so he lets himself indulge in that little unprofessional display. He's back. He's back and he wants to celebrate White Day with m - ... Wait, what is White Day?
... That actually doesn't matter at the moment. Donatello is back; that is all that matters.
After the initial few seconds of processing the enormity of this - fifteen days, he had been gone fifteen days and it felt like an eon and now he is back - Robert snatches up his journal immediately and sends a message to Donatello. Hopefully. Full of so many emotions he can't possibly quantify all of them.]
... Donatello, you're back... I've missed you ( ... )
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Perhaps even if it is not. I am willing to try for your sake.
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Take off your shoes.
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[Weirdest request ever. But Robert does it without hesitating, leaving him with nerdy looking white-and-blue-trimmed socks on.]
... That was the absolute last thing I expected to hear you ask.
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... Was the couch not suitable for you?
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He doesn't look particularly comfortable, though. It's clear he isn't used to this at all, and is pretty inflexible.]
... Ah... is there a reason that Mr. Sensei [- because he thinks that's his name -] prefers people to sit like this? On the floor, no less?
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It's all part of the tradition. There's a lot more to it than I can teach you in an afternoon. The very short version is, if you sit like this, keep your eyes down, and don't talk until Splinter says otherwise, I think it will help our case a lot. [He watches you carefully. This probably sounds very strange to a gaijin.]
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And Don's right that this sounds strange. It sounds downright disturbing, even.] In other words, he'd prefer if I were to refrain from actually communicating with him? [Note of confusion, here.] ... And how would this teach him anything about me? Generally when people relate to each other they'd want to see each other on their own terms, correct? [Donatello may notice that wording - "when people relate" - like Robert isn't part of that group.]
... Still. I'd... rather not cause a problem, and if this would make him more amicable to this then I suppose it isn't too much of an issue.
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... Is this typical culture for your world? [Because Robert honestly has no idea what is and what isn't.]
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But Luceti itself is different from what I am used to. I have yet to meet anybody whose world is vaguely like mine.
So no, I would not use "weird" to define it. [Never mind that other people have used "weird" to define him.]
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... However, I honestly would rather just savour your presence at the moment. [Robert curls gently up to Donatello and looks like he could and would kiss him again quite willingly if allowed.]
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