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[ 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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