The Fifth Dream - action

[vivi_aislinn]

[One of the most fundamental aspects of Vivi's Luceti life has been taken away. Patchouli Knowledge, her "adopted mother", was killed in battle. She hasn't yet returned, but Vivi knows that when she does, she won't be quite the same. Vivi is wandering through the village aimlessly, emotionlessly. She's in shock. She needs someone, anyone...

Comments

[Action, maybe]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert hasn't been paying a lot of attention to the journals lately - what with Donatello's sudden disappearance, he has other things on his mind - so he's out and about attempting to distract himself. Just doing mundane things, like shopping, to try to suppress the nagging feeling of "Did I ruin it again? Don't I always ruin this sort of thing?"

With that now-familiar white cloth bag in his arms, Robert heads down, at his usual slow pace, back towards his community building when he notices Vivi looking... blank. That's the only way to describe it.

Now, Robert can't read emotions well - but a face like that on a girl like Vivi warrants inspection. So the scientist approaches awkwardly, wondering if he won't just make things worse.]

... M-Miss Aislinn? Are... are you alright?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert can't help but smile, albeit weakly. A little forced. Yes, she did want him to be her foster father.]

... I... I would attempt it, yes...

But you may find yourself with two foster fathers, then. If everything goes alright, anyway.

I certainly hope so. [And Robert's gaze goes far away, just a moment.] ... But yes. I... I did always wonder what it would be like, to be a father... and I suppose I may as well try, for your sake.

[Action]

[vivi_aislinn]

[Two fathers...? That makes her nervous. Let's get more details before she commits to anything.]

Um... w-who's the second one going to be? Do I know him?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert blushes slightly. Explaining the intricacies of his floundering love life to a six year old girl is not the easiest task.

He does it like he does everything else - bluntly.]

... His name is Donatello. He is a wonderfully intelligent person... [And, he'd actually almost forgotten this next part...] ... and a non-human sapient...

But I... I am not sure if he... w-wants to be with me. It's... a very complex situation, and... [Here Robert trails off, looking a little ashamed.] ... H-He's, he's been missing for awhile, and... I... I'm not sure if that has anything to do with me.

... [More to himself:] ... perhaps his brother would know, if Donatello doesn't want to speak to me...

[Action]

[vivi_aislinn]

[Donatello? Non-human sapient? ...Does he mean one of those really cool turtles from that cartoon? She'd ask, but given that he seems to be in love with him, saying that he's fictional is probably Not a Good Idea.]

Oh. Um... I hope things work out for you, mister Hastings. [More to herself:] Maybe I can find him and talk to him...?

[Back to the subject at hand, though!] Well... if he knows you, then he should be nice, and if he's not a human, then he can't be a bad guy from my world... [She's trying to rationalize the whole thing, but some discomfort still exists in her voice.]

...I can handle that, I think... [She smiles at him, a bit nervously yet.] ...dad?

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert could take it, of course - though he'd be confused and possibly more than a little perturbed. The TMNT are technically fictional on Terra too, but because they're so far in the past, Robert wouldn't recognize that.]

... [He still looks a little shy, but he nods, and curls his fingers in hers more tightly, leading him back to his community building's room.]

Yes, dad.

[He never thought he'd be saying that. And it's very unlikely that Splinter and Donatello will take this well.]

[Action]

[vivi_aislinn]

[At this point, she's more than willing to try to mitigate any backlash from this. It was her choice, really.]

[Her smile eases up. She seems so at peace now; a stark contrast from the sobbing mess she was not very long ago.] Dad... dad. Dad dad dad. [That might incite a curious look, but she'll explain.] Um, sorry... just trying to get used to the word. I never said it a lot.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[She may need to do a lot of mitigating. Especially with Splinter, who isn't going to like this situation at all. He already hates Robert enough.

The fact that Vivi seems so peaceful now definitely sets Robert's mind at ease, and makes him glad that he decided to accept this. If he can give a little girl some peace of mind, then he's done a small thing to help someone in the village.]

That's quite alright. It is rather like me having to get used to saying the word "magic". [He smiles at this.] Strange situations call for new terminology, though.

I am definitely going to have to meet your mother now, though, of course.

[Action]

[vivi_aislinn]

[Fun fact: anthropomorphic mutant rats are far scarier in person!]

Okay. [No magic in his world? That's sad. :( She'll show him some! ...Eventually.] I guess maybe we should practice more, dad.

[The mention of her mother, though... that puts a frown back on her face.] ...Well, when she, um... gets back. Yeah, you can meet her.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Oops. He didn't mean to be hurtful to her. A reassuring look crosses his face, and he hugs her with one arm.]

We will make sure everything is alright, however we can do so. Especially for your sake.

[He's letting her in the apartment now. It's the second time Vivi's been to his home - she might notice that it looks more lived-in, now. Still clean. Still sterile... but less painfully empty than it had been.]

May I get you anything, Miss Aislinn?

[Action]

[vivi_aislinn]

[Well, it still looks like Robert's house. Not that that's a bad thing, though!]

Um... how about some more of that good tea if you have some? [She's not picky. Anything that might be comforting would be great.]

[She's also going to follow him a bit, looking like she wants to help or feels obligated to do so. He did take her in for the night, as well as pretty much adopting her...]

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert smiles paternally over his shoulder as he goes to fetch some of the tea for Vivi.] I would be glad to. [He notices her following him around, but isn't really sure why yet; he figures it might be because she wants comfort, so he doesn't mind. If she makes it more clear she wants to help, though, he might gesture at the refrigerator to get out the milk, or perhaps the counter with its neatly-arranged contents for the sugar bowl.

At any rate, as soon as the tea is done brewing (and smelling quite pleasant), Robert pours some for Vivi and himself, sipping it quietly. He's not sure if he should say anything else... despite so much happening in the past weeks since he last saw Vivi.]

[Action]

[vivi_aislinn]

[Something she can do! She'll gladly help get everything together on the counter, or perhaps the table.]

[Once the tea's ready and she's diluted it with sugar and milk, she'll start sipping at it, looking awkward. She's not sure what to say either, except...] Thank you, dad.

[Action]

[semper_cogitans]

You are very welcome. [Robert kind of wants to reach across the table and take her hand, though she's drinking tea and that might startle her.

All he can think of is whether this will work out. Whether everything will be okay.

He hopes so.]