(Untitled)

[lucetimods]

Who: EVERYONE
What: The Great One's Festival!
When: From early morning till early (or late, depending on how festivities go) evening of the 22nd.
Where: Mostly in the village plaza, though you're free to spread activities out elsewhere!
Summary: Today's the big day! All that planning and prepping is going to finally pay off as the day of The Great

Comments

Concert area derp time, likely far before the concert

[semper_cogitans]

[Did somebody say "fumbling with the electrical equipment"? Because Robert is very much involved in that particular vein of fumbling. He is weaving through the crowds (who may be giving him quite the berth anyway...) with a single-minded, obsessive purpose - the power systems. While he doesn't exactly enjoy the burden of his magitechnological enterprise, he knows that he's one of the few people who can make everything run properly considering he knows the ins and outs of the system powering the festival (and probably owns a good portion of it if not most of it).

He approaches Giles with a small, drawn smile. Clearly he doesn't want to be anywhere near here, but... duty calls, ethics dictate he should help even if he thinks the festival's basically hogwash, and he wants to encourage his friend.]

Hello, Rupert... preparing for the concert later? From what I've heard of your practise sessions with your students, it'll be phenomenal. [He pulls himself carefully up onto the stage, pulling out several small scopes from a tool belt around

[consultmybooks]

[Oh, Robert. Giles is so happy to see you right now, and the fact that you're looking through the equipment has clearly just made his day.]

J-Just some last minute preparations, yes. And, um, more than a few things have gone wrong already, so please do.

[He perks up even further at the mention of Vivi.] Are you sure you wouldn't mind? I could always ask Paprika - she doesn't have anything to manage.

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert's happy to see you too, Giles. This festival is a threatening place, with many people who are giving him strange and uncomfortable looks and in general are being alienating. A familiar, friendly, positive and handsome? face is very much appreciated.]

Is that so? Anything I could help with, perhaps? [The cables seem fine. Perhaps there's a short somewhere...]

And... no, I wouldn't mind. Anything for Vivi. [A more genuine smile, this time.] I know how much this sort of thing delights her, and people tend to be kinder when I have her in my presence. At least, kinder to my face.

[Even as Robert works, he's careful not to brush up against Giles... too much, anyway.

Mustn't get too close. Especially in such a public place... What are people going to think?]

[consultmybooks]

Yes. [Giles points to an amplifier with a chalk "4" on one side.] It's giving off feedback so bad that I nearly deafened Luke.

[He smiles affectionately.] She absolutely adores the festival. And after that Shift a few days ago, I don't like the idea of her wandering around alone. Thank you so much, Robert - I promise, I'll pay you back for anything she ropes you into buying, and I can take her off your hands for the rest.

[An unspoken plea - please let me take her. Please let me forget about my work for a few days and be her father again for a while.

And there's just nothing he can really think of to say to the last half of that sentence. Because it's horrible to think about. He's never observed anyone being truly unkind to Robert - would put a stop to it in a heartbeat if he did - but how much does he know about Robert outside of how he relates to Vivi or school? He also knows that his daughter can bring out the best in the scientist and maybe that helps him with people, and helps people with him.]

[semper_cogitans]

Ah, certainly. [Robert inspects the marked amplifier in question with a discerning gaze. Aha. A quick glance reveals some damage to the cording, and as he works to repair it - slowly, drawing his time with Giles out - he continues their conversation.]

Nonsense, Rupert; the cost is hardly an issue for me. [And it isn't, at all.] Really, I would be happy to have something worthwhile to spend it on outside of my research... [Anything that brings that light into Vivi's eyes is worth it.

And... Robert knows Giles well enough to - unlike most people - read that undertone. Sometimes, he feels almost like an accessory father, almost wants to take the place of Giles, and he knows he shouldn't. He just... wants to be part of Vivi's life, and sometimes it feels frustrating to know he'll never be in that same permanent spot as her father.

Still, Giles definitely deserves time with his own daughter.]

I'm sure she would be glad to spend time with you. There's only so much of my mathematics diatribe she should have to hear, after all. [It's good

[consultmybooks]

On the bright side, she's getting good enough at mathematics to give Ami a run for her money.

[Relief. Because it does sometimes feel that Robert is taking his place in Vivi's life, and that scares him. He put her in Robert's care to keep her safe, not to lose her, and he knows that's a line he's been toeing for a while, now.]

It might not be an issue to you, but it is to me. [Which is to say - he's already in financial debt to one person. He doesn't want to make it two, even if Robert wouldn't see it that way.] I insist.

[semper_cogitans]

Is that so? I've seen Ami - she's absolutely brilliant. [Robert has always admired the quiet young woman's abilities, even if he isn't too close to her. Something about her always drew him to her.

But Vivi... Vivi has been the real love of Robert's life (beyond his strange trysts) and one of the most permanent parts of it. He doesn't really think that Vivi would ever truly reject her father - she loves him - but sometimes, he wonders if she can't have both...

Of course, that comes unsettlingly, awkwardly, painfully close to having him be Giles' partner, and Robert knows that wouldn't be fair. Wouldn't be ethical to his half-brother, who he adores with a fiery intensity. But...]

And... well. If you're certain. [It's a strange feeling, to have somebody want to pay him back. Robert is used to investing his money without having any return guaranteed.]

I just don't wish to cause any undue stress for you. You deserve to be around somebody who doesn't cause you problems. [Well, at least I hope I don't cause you any...If it was more

[consultmybooks]

I'm around plenty of people who cause me problems every day. [Vash being Vash, Amelia with her new boyfriend, his debt to Nami, Helios being Helios...]

That doesn't mean I mind. [Part of having a family, after all.]

[semper_cogitans]

I suppose I wouldn't know that well. [Robert has never had a close family. Between the rejection of his parents - which was admittedly mutual, but he never wanted them to completely disappear and their later disappearances at the hands of the Third Party didn't help - and the death of Benjamin (rumoured to be liver cirrhosis), he really didn't have anybody except Don.

And Giles' family.]

... Your family has filled in for it, to an extent. [He feels like a person with Giles' family, and he has to thank him and the others for helping him to be less alone here.]

... Oh, I think I may have fixed the amplifier, now... try it out? [It's clear Robert doesn't want to leave. He is stalling so much right now.]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles gets up from his seat and goes over to the amplifier. When he flips the switch, the steady buzz that emerges is nothing like the high pitched whine that caused Luke so much pain earlier. The music teacher smiles in triumph.]

Perfect.

[But he's gotten a good sense, over the last several months, of when Robert has something else on his mind. Of when he's stalling. So he turns away, folding his arms, and makes a play of looking over the carefully arranged microphones.]

...I don't suppose you'd mind taking a look at the first microphone while you're here, would you? I don't think it's working very well.

[semper_cogitans]

[It isn't as if Robert doesn't telegraph these things. Though he is smiling gently at the fact the amplifier works now, he is definitely looking with the same brand of I-don't-want-to-leave that should be familiar to Giles.]

Oh, I certainly wouldn't mind at all. [And he steps up to observe the microphone, checking it over carefully, thoroughly; probably altogether too thoroughly.

Is it just him or is he a little too close to Giles again? Close enough to be very aware of his presence. His heartbeat is probably a little too loud, a little too fast...

He's just my friend. What am I doing?

Robert attempts to pour all his attention into the suddenly-very-fascinating microphone.]

[consultmybooks]

[Giles sits down again. He lets a few seconds go by, humming quietly to himself, before he breaks the silence.]

Has everything else been working al right, at least?

[semper_cogitans]

So far, yes. Just... minor issues, like some of the wires needing their insulation replaced... But nothing major enough to cause a system failure. It's likely because the cords and other peripherals are well-kept.

[Very few people have approached him, so far, though. Which is kind of how he wants it.]

... I should be finished soon enough... but... [With a bit of nervousness:] I'd... almost rather not leave.

You're the best company I've had all day. And the only.

[Still uncomfortable/y aware of Giles, Robert tries to seem less clingy.] ... So... how is the work with Frederic and Helios coming along, if I may ask?

[consultmybooks]

[Giles appreciates the attempt, Robert. He'll indulge Robert's social anxiety sometimes, but outright expressions of it make him uncomfortable. Especially considering the fact that he and all his siblings had to grow rather independent and not-clingy, the occasional bad day aside.]

We think we've worked the theories out. All that's left is to try for practice.

And for that, we'll need other musicians who can play other instruments.

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert knows how the clinginess makes Giles feel, to an extent. He can't really help it, though. Try having almost no friends and being completely sheltered for most of your life, and then not being at least somewhat clingy.]

I'd always considered taking up an instrument, but never could quite decide on one...

That, and I'm rather terrible with lung capacity. Perhaps a percussion instrument... [There's probably something out there he wouldn't be horrible at.]

But I'm glad that things are going well, Rupert. [Does Giles hear that little bit of uncertainty? The bit that says "Will I get to be with Vivi still when you're done"?]

[consultmybooks]

Or string. I could help you learn if it was a string instrument. [And Giles' own naturally protective nature towards those less able to defend themselves probably doesn't help.]

But, yes. They are going well, for now.

[And he wishes he could answer that uncertainty. He does. But he has plenty of his own on the subject. He knows that he certainly can't keep them apart, wouldn't ever do so even if he could, but all the same...]