strongroots | [thecity] inbox

[ Yeah, that tells him enough. Thanks, Robby, for giving him a simple answer. That's definitely the 'I briefly looked at it, but didn't think too hard about it' answer. ]

It was talking about an imaginary scenario where two people you don't know are arguing on the street. And asking whether you'd ignore them or whether you'd stop in to try and help.

[ He exhales after explaining, his shoulders pulling up into a slight shrug. There's something a little helpless to it, but he does add: ] It kind of feels like it fits within the theme, right? Like this place is checking to see whether we're people who'd help others, or who'd collaborate.

[ Just like a whole lot of those reports seemed to talk about.

Even if Daniel still isn't sure how that connects to most of the ends of this place they've seen, other than the one where there were just too many criminals added in that Robby's report described. ]

[ It does, when Mister LaRusso shares it. But stating that isn't enough to pull Robby one way or another, mainly out of a stubborn that's been with him since the mall. It's just a system to obviously game. Do the people in charge really believe the results, or is participation itself showing a willingness to follow along with this inhuman situation?

He doesn't say anything for a while, sucking on his inner cheek. Before, finally: ] What about the other part? The rating? What's the best answer to give there?

[ At least despite Robby's unsure tone, he's asking. Listening. ]

[ Daniel shrugs a little. ]

I'm always honest on that one. [ He figures he doesn't need to say what that means. At least the two of them are exactly of the same opinion when it comes to the strange events that happen here in this city - they all suck. Terribly so.

And though being honest about that has just been instinctive for Daniel on the first few surveys, by now he's thought more about it too, shifting a little with the dog in his lap as he explains. ]

Lying about them is just going to encourage them to make what happens here worse, I figure. [ Especially if they are taking the survey results honestly. There's still the possibility the people in charge of this place are cruel, but just because they are oblivious to the suffering of the people stuck here, the ones on the other end of the experiment. ] They need to know that we hate what's going on here, but that we are all still willing to collaborate amongst ourselves to try and deal with it. It's practically our only way of communicating anything at all to the people in charge, after all.

[ Not like they could just send them a sharply worded letter of criticism.

If only. :( That's Daniel's usual way of doing things!! When his temper doesn't get in the way, anyway.. ]

[ It feels useless, is what sticks to Robby's mind. Where he knows where Mister LaRusso has to be going with this, but, maybe like everything about what happens (and doesn't happen) in this place: what's the point? What do they get out of the survey, other than fluff?

It could be his stubborn mind at play--it's not like it makes a difference to him. Robby sits in his silence, looking from Mister LaRusso and down to the dog on his lap, then at his own. It would be easier to do nothing, and to not imagine the smug smiles in his head when he submits to their game.

...but it is Mister LaRusso asking. And he looks at him, like he's on the edge of making a decision. Just needs something to give him an extra push (or for him to push back more, first): ] Working together's gonna be more important to them than a survey.

[ Put on your best brown eyes, Mister Larusso. ]

.. It's not like we can't do both.

[ He understands why Robby is pushing back a little bit. Maybe that's why Daniel doesn't sound like he's arguing with passion here. This has nothing to do with anger, or disappointment. Maybe a little bit with worry, but that's not the main emotion that shows in his tone or on his face right now.

Instead.. he's smiling a little bit as he's looking at Robby. It's a smile the boy has seen before. It's small, but genuinely sweet. The kind of Daniel smile that's hard to resist for anyone who cares even the slightest bit about him. ]

I'm not saying you have to, Robby. In the end.. it's your choice. It's always your choice.

[ The last thing Daniel would want to do is take that choice away from him. Especially when this place already does that so often for them. ]

I'm just saying I would really appreciate it.

[ ugh.

It doesn't feel good, conceding. That small smile that's still understanding and warm, the words delivered with it. It doesn't get rid of the itch, the bothersome bug in him, the discomfort in not knowing what complying will bring--giving their captors what they want, possibly leading to a stronger control on them, somehow.

Robby sits there chewing on his inner cheek, looking at Mister LaRusso, until he finally exhales, deeply, shoulders sinking some as he drops his gaze onto his phone. ]

... alright. [ Fine. ] I'll do it.

[ Maybe not immediately, but--he says he will, so he will. ]

[ The man gets that this is a reluctant agreement. Pretty much every single bit of it screams as much.

But maybe that's exactly why it means even more to Daniel. Even though Robby clearly doesn't like the idea, he's willing to do so after Daniel asked. Sure, the man bets a whole lot of that is because of his reasoning, rather than it being him asking, but.. there's something in his heart that feels a little extra warm regardless to see Robby listening to him.

Daniel doesn't think about it.

Instead he reaches out, his hand landing on the other's shoulder, gently squeezing it. ]

Thank you. It really means a lot to me.

[ How can you say no to such a proud sensei, Robby.. Giving you those same warm smiles he always used to.. R-Remember the bonsai room, Robby? ]

And if it ends up doing nothing, you can absolutely tell me that you told me so. [ Daniel is willing to take the blame! To be on the other end of teenage pettiness! ]

[ b-baka, shoulder touching him?

Robby looks down when the touch is given, though he doesn't flinch or make any particular look. The thing is, he doesn't want to show--or admit--that he likes it, that it gives what it's meant to, and maybe more for him. Not because of that sense of stubbornness that's been clinging to him, but more so--maybe he's been missing his mom. He's been missing a certain kind of contact, and he has nothing he can do about these feelings but let them roll through in moments like these.

Think about their situation uselessly, tugging a little on his sleeve.

--ah. ]

There's something you can do for me back. [ Looking back up at him. ] A favour.

[ A deliberate pause, for a look or acknowledge that Mister LaRusso is listening, before... ]

Miss Ives wants to see different kind of dances. [ He tips his head against the back of the sofa, expression unchanging. ] I want your help.

[ congrats. ]

[ Just look how quickly that expression drops right off Daniel's face the moment he hears Robby says that. You need an indication that Daniel is actually listening, Robby? Here you have it. He heard absolutely every single word of that, otherwise he wouldn't be making such a face right this very moment!

Robby could have asked him anything. Pretty much anything. There's so much Daniel would do for this boy.

Except.. ]

Did you mention my name to her?

[ Please tell him you didn't, Robby?? Is this less of a request and more something the boy already locked in? Unescapable?? ]

[ Have you ever seen a teen pretend to think, and then say with the most false sense of innocence, ]

I might've dropped a mention.

[ This Guy. This Kid. Really bringing out that most admired side of the Lawrence genes, here....

(making daniel suffer) ]

Robby!

[ That name came out of Daniel's mouth so instinctively. His cheeks are definitely colouring a little at this point, the man shaking his head in total disbelief.

It's not like teens roping adults into things is an entirely new concept or anything, but.. s-still! Robby! Robby, how could you do this to him?

Just look how this man suffers. ]

Isn't this the sort of thing you should talk to me about first? [ Before giving poor Vanessa!!! Ideas!!!!!! ]

[ Okay, he can't help it with that reaction--he's gotta smile a bit, while giving his very good defence!! ]

I just said you could show her some moves--I didn't promise anything! [ No promises made!! ] But it's just a couple of moves--don't you go dancing?

[ Robby's sure he remembers him and Misses L going out dancing, okay. ]

Yes, but-- [ Do you see the face he's making, Robby? Do you see this face.

Because it's such a typical mister LaRusso face. It's the sort of face he makes when he's doing a whole lot of mental calculation in his mind, and he's not sure if he likes even half of what he's finding there - while at the same time trying to figure out how to explain this to a kid who might not understand. ]

I dance with Amanda, you know?

[ D-Do you know?

Do you understand, Robby.

Daniel isn't sure if he wants to say what he's trying to say with quite as many words here, so p-please understand, teen!!! ]

[ There's a few things that Mister LaRusso could mean here-- ]

It's not a date. [ Please, Mister LaRusso!!! ] It's just for fun. She's from some old age--like Victorian England? And she really likes dancing. She's been learning things like the band Queen, new music.

[ Look at how innocent it is! And with this teen trying his best to sell it like a new learning experience for a lady...who may or may not actually be from the Victorian times, Robby doesn't know. But regardless!!! ]

[ It's not even that Daniel doesn't get Robby's point. He sees what the other is getting at, and-- really, he knew what Robby's intentions were from the very start. That's entirely separate from the fluster that's creeping up more and more on Daniel over here.

After all, to him it just feels like Robby may not understand certain implications about dancing among adults. There are some things teenagers just can't grasp.. Clearly..

It's not nothing to do with Daniel just being dramatic..

(It doesn't help that pretty much every girl he's danced with in the past was one he was actively dating, huh.) ]

Look, I understand it's different at your age. [ Daniel, please don't pull out that tone. It sounds like you're about to start a rant that starts with When I Was Your Age. ] But usually when adults dance together there's something a little.. more to it, you know? Even more so if she's from a place that's more in the past compared to the time we come from! I'm pretty sure that back then you had to practically be married before you could dance together.

[ It's the kind of response that has Robby both looking at Mister LaRusso like he might have a second head growing out the side of his neck, but also--maybe Robby's imagining it. He's pretty sure the guy is wrong, since while he knows that, yeah, okay, his mom liked to dance with good-looking guys and get more (ugh), it's not like that's all that's involved.

But none of this is about other people, is it? It's about Mister LaRusso, which is what Robby starts to lean towards with that 'possible second head', nibbling on his lower lip some as he comes to that. ]

She was interested. [ So, you know, Mister LaRusso really can't hide behind the 'she's too proper' excuse!! Regardless: ] But if it's some big deal to you, then you don't have to do it. I didn't know you were...like that about it.

[ And that 'like that' is said very carefully, even considerately!, not meaning to offend....the man who clearly has some curious Pure 'don't dance if you're unmarried or it's scandalous' vibes right now.

don't show an ankle around women, mister larusso. ]

[ N-No...

Not the like that. Teenagers aren't allowed to tell him he's being like that about something. Nothing crumbles a grown man's resolve more instantly than that, even more so when it's a teenager Daniel is so fond of. Even though Robby is being so gentle about it, for a moment Daniel looks like Robby just told him he threw Daniel's phone into the laundry by accident. (Heartbroken, that is.)

Then he withers a little bit, before giving in enough to say: ]

.. no, if she-- If she really wants to, I can do it.

[ :(

So weak for one boy. Don't abuse this power. ]

She's been so kind to us, and she's always been good at supporting the diner too, so I suppose it's the least I can do.

[ SEE! H.. He's not like that..!! ]

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