deercountry | (closed) march catchall

Entry tags:

(closed) march catchall

Who: Ange (

entreats), Chizuru (

tealeafs), Daniel (

miyagimagic) and various others.
What: March shenanigans.
When: During all of March.
Where: Locations vary.

Content Warnings: Nothing right now, specific warnings will be in headers when they come up.

( starters in the comments! if you want to plot anything with me, feel free to either pm the journal or contact me at

queeningsquare, i'm always open to new ideas and threads! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Daniel gets up, moving to instead sit down on the armrest of the seat Robby is sitting on - mostly so he can reach out and wrap an arm around the boy's shoulders, lightly pulling him sideways until Robby is leaning against him, his hand on the boy's other shoulder gently rubbing against his shirt.

It won't help this pain, sure, but Daniel has always been bad at just watching people hurt and doing absolutely nothing. At least doing this feels better than nothing.

.. especially when he knows no words will help this. Robby's grief may be a very different kind than Daniel's own, complicated in different ways, but Daniel knows just how persistent that emotion can be, how nothing anyone can say could make it vanish.

So rather than saying any words that might just ring empty, Daniel instead speaks up after a brief moment of silence with: ]

Do you think you'd still want to help him?

[ Daniel feels like the answer is 'yes', if not for Peter's sake, if not for Robby's kind nature.. but maybe talking it over and putting things into words will help Robby sort through his own feelings right now as well. ]

[ He can't put himself entirely into the hold Mister LaRusso gives. It even takes Robby a moment to tilt his head, letting the side of it rest against the man, but he doesn't do much else. Head angled so he's still looking downward, because Robby doesn't particularly feel like being seen, and not even out of some strong sense of humiliation.

But it doesn't make the question any easier, one he both knows the answer to, and yet doesn't want to answer. The day has already been long and heavy enough. ]

I-- I do, [ he tries anyway, the but hanging off his tongue. Except he can't think, he can't get beyond on, and Robby pulls his head back, dallies for a second and then stands on his feet. Not removing himself from Mister LaRusso forcibly, turning around to look at the man after the fact. ]

I need some time-- I need to figure out my own head, [ he says miserably. A note lower: ] Can we talk about this later?

[ When Robby gets up like that, Daniel just lets his hold naturally slide off the other. Nothing too awkward, since he doesn't want Robby to feel bad - or, well, to feel worse, given what the boy currently looks like. He just slowly returns the arm to his own side instead, still sitting on that armrest even as Robby is standing in front of him now. ]

Of course.

[ It's an easy answer to give, even if there's a little bit more to it in Daniel's mind. Of course he's willing to give Robby some space. It's a little hard, since Daniel is so worried about the boy, about the effect this place and everything that happens in it is having on him, but he knows that sometimes people just need time to overthink things.

He's mostly just worried that he might have pushed too hard just now, but he pushes down guilt in favour of looking out for Robby right now.

It's why he tries to keep his tone appropriate when he answers. Enough of an edge to it to show that he's taking the other and the other's feelings seriously, but light enough to hopefully not put more of a burden on Robby's shoulders. ]

When you want to talk, you'll know where to find me. [ It's not really hard now they're living in the same house..

There's a faint smile on his lips. ]

Rest up, Robby.

[ In whatever way works for him.

Daniel, in the meantime, will just continue to go about his day like usually - trying pretty hard to not think too much about Robby, but internally fussing over the other all the same.. A dad just can't help it..

But - true to his word - Robby will easily be able to find him somewhere around the house by the time he's ready to talk, no matter whether it's the same day or some other time. In fact, it's easy to tell Daniel is in the dojo judging by the soft snipping sounds that are audible through the door, indicating that the man must be in there taking care of the bonsai. ]

[ He takes in and lets out a breath, the first sensation of relief when Mister LaRusso agrees. Robby knew the man wouldn't hold him there, and it's not out of held apprehension that he feels some loosening in him--it's just the prospect of getting away from this conversation, one held before Mister LaRusso walked into the room at all. From its concurrence, when his mind has been mentally wrung out.

Robby gives Mister LaRusso the briefest of smiles, and he leaves him not in a rush, but with a goal of going into the spare bedroom he's been occupying.

And in there, he thinks.

It's not his goal, nor what Robby initially does. He wants to stop thinking, like any more of it will push his skull out of place, or dislodge his brain. There's concrete up in there, and so he sprawls on the bed with no intention than staring at various parts of the room: the ceiling at first, then the walls on either side. Sleep isn't an option, though Robby tries once or twice; but his body won't drift off, and it's in the times after his first few attempts his thoughts lead him to the inevitable. Where they've been since Mister LaRusso called, and Robby looked down the hall and saw his face.

He thinks about Peter.

Sitting there across from him, in Mister LaRusso's living room, in Peter and Luna's own; them sitting side by side on his front doorstep, commiserating in how more magical and capable everyone around them seemed, how freaky Trench was and is. His shaking hands, his avoidant gaze; coming to the dojo to be more himself, and 'Meditating, Peter said it help with keeping Paimon at bay'. A tiny piece of sanity after the disorientation.

He thinks about a friend, and the shit he's going through.

It had been easy to offer to help. Not that Robby really knew what the fuck helping was, what learning about Paimon would entail. What good he could do, or what or if they could figure out anything useful. Paimon's behaviour leans young, but Robby isn't about to underestimate a demon that swatted aside beasts without them being close, the unnatural way it acts in Peter's body. A lot in life, he was able to do stupid shit without any consequence. Lately, before Trench and after, he's become more aware of how limited he is, how easily everything can fall.

(a body over, a kick, a burst of anger that didn't want to give in.)

And so he has to think about Paimon, and yet--he thinks about his dad, too.

That's the hardest. That's what makes this hard, complicated, like picking up a weapon and training with Darth Maul again. Isn't it similar, the same? If he was to just do it, even if it wasn't for Paimon himself, and maybe it would be more like Tory in this context. Help Paimon to help Peter.

Except he couldn't do it without telling his dad, and it's a conversation even in his head that makes Robby feel like shit despite how short he imagines it. Acceptance, being told it's good he's helping, and that somehow frustrates him for a reason he can't explain to himself for a good bit.

But no one should be fine with it, right? No one should be fine with death. 'It's still death'--even Peter had acknowledged it. But death is probably a subject his dad is done and over with, he doesn't know how to retread, and maybe it's unreasonable for Robby to be stuck on it, or wanting anything different than what he's been given. A man who doesn't regret most of his deaths, stood up for what he believed in, and Robby--he just has to deal with that.

He doesn't come close to feeling as relieved as he did on leaving Mister LaRusso earlier in the living room. ]

[ But time moves on, and Robby finds his body less heavy, head less so. Emptier than he was, and not on the verge of tears. He doesn't hurry to bring the conversation up; they might eat dinner before that, if Mister LaRusso decides to tell him when it's ready, or Robby can find it later. Just as he will his sensei in time; when he finds himself becoming tired of isolation, and seeking comfort in company.

He might've lingered in the indoor dojo anyway, even without Mister LaRusso already there, the soft sound of his clippers. It's always a quiet space, unassuming, somewhere separated from the rest of the house by design. Robby enters without greeting, closes the door. A shame, that it's likely he'd be heard for it, as there's a peace to the sound of the occasional snips of the blades that he lingers on before dealing with the door.

But with it closed behind his back, Robby does step more inside the dojo. The subject on his mind, but something else too. A delicate subject, but even so: ]

Did you used to sit and listen to Mister Miyagi work on his bonsais?

[ Because Robby thinks he would have liked it, personally, and can't help but wonder if Mister LaRusso was ever the same; as he comes to sit somewhere in the man's proximity, but not right by. A spot he can be looked to, and Robby can see him and the tree being trimmed. ]

[ It's impossible to not hear Robby enter with the sound of the sliding door. Daniel knows it's Robby too - not because he looks up from his work here, but just because he figures it's the boy, considering the circumstances.

In fact, it's the entire reason Daniel just continues snipping away at the bonsai in front of him, rather than looking up or verbally acknowledging Robby's presence. He figures that the boy will speak up first if he's ready for company now.

.. and he is, it seems.

It does make Daniel's lips curve up slightly into a faint smile. ]

Hmm. [ He figures it's not the topic Robby came to talk about, but Daniel will gladly talk about this too. Maybe Robby needs something lighter for a moment.

And when doesn't Daniel like talking about mister Miyagi? The entire reason he's standing here right now is because of him, figuring that it was easier to deal with his worry about Robby by clearing his head by pruning the bonsai.

(It's working, too.) ]

Mister Miyagi was the handyman at the apartment complex me and my mother moved into when we first came to the Valley. I went to his office all the time after school to just sit around there and watch him work. [ There's another snip, and Daniel finally looks in Robby's direction, gaze lingering for a moment. ] He even stocked his fridge with drinks for me, so I imagine he kind of got used to me being there.

[ Looking back at the bonsai and running his hand over the tiny leaves, he adds: ]

I liked it. It was nice and calm compared to everything else.

...Sounds cool.

[ Cool might not be the right word, but it's close enough. A guy like that in your life, buying drinks for you because you come over and watch him tinker--Robby could be jealous of that. Reminds him of the quieter and calming parts of the Miyagi he knows, in Miyagi-do.

The parts he always liked, even if they seemed goofy or silly: cutting at the bonsai, taking in the silence of nature while Mister LaRusso himself went off to listen to hockey results. Dweeby, sure, but--it was nice, despite that. Nothing Robby would have done out of his own volition, ideas that would have never crossed his mind. That was always the delight in those early days: finding a sense of peace and accomplishment in actions otherwise so...simple.

He kind of wants to sit here and listen to the sound of the clippers, now. Knees raised so he can wrap his arms around them, tucked in close, and Robby asks instead: ] Your mom ever find that weird? Was he teaching you karate then?

[ Just a kid every day hanging around a guy's workplace.... ]

[ Daniel lets out a very soft huff. ]

No, that didn't come until later. [ After your father nearly beat me to death, Daniel knows better than to voice at a moment like this. ] I started hanging out with him after he fixed my bike. [ After your father pushed me down a hill. ]

I went to thank him, and since I got curious about his bonsai, he invited me in to look at them and help cut them. And things just kind of.. [ Daniel pauses, making a vague gesture with his hand that isn't holding the clippers. ] .. went from there.

[ There's another brief pause. He isn't done yet, since he hasn't fully answered Robby's question yet, but maybe Daniel is focused on snipping off one or two branches before he continues. ]

I'm pretty sure my mother would've preferred me to make normal friends my age and hang out with them, but.. well, that wasn't so easy back then. [ Because your father drove them all off.

.. maybe there's a lot he isn't saying here, huh. But Daniel is perfectly okay with sanitizing the story of his youth, if he means he can present the nicer parts of it to Robby right now, prevent the other having to think of even more heavy things than he already must be right now. ]

But I liked hanging out with mister Miyagi just fine. It made me happy.

[ It made him feel welcomed, wanted, Daniel would say if that didn't feel just a touch too embarrassing, even for him. ]

[ An older man inviting a guy into his bonsai space to cut them? That sure doesn't sound familiar or anything.

Robby feels the connection, personally. Head ducking as he remembers that space in the dealership, one he rather missed after losing the job. But the Miyagi-do dojo had more going on, it had its own maintenance work, and it wasn't like Robby was itching to go back to LaRusso Autos for a few plants.

...but maybe in this moment, he can think about some mix of their two pasts; of a far simpler life than the one in Trench, and imagine if it were him and Mister LaRusso taking care of bonsais and nothing else.

But I liked hanging out with mister Miyagi just fine. It made me happy. ]

...I get it. [ He almost doesn't say the words, and he doesn't try to call any particular meaning to them with a knowing look. A quiet admission, and--this isn't why he's here, is it. As nice as it would be to sit here and listen to the snipping, encourage Mister LaRusso to talk on. It wouldn't feel sincere, but instead a prolonging to the inevitable--to the subject set aside, but now sitting between them.

Robby touches at the flooring with a hand. ]

...I want Peter to keep coming here. If it helps him... [ He pauses, swallows. ] I'm mad about what Paimon did, but... he's really got nowhere else. Nothing back home--I don't want him to lose himself.

[ He's been staring down at the space between them, but looks up at Mister LaRusso then. ]

Even if it means working with Luna and Paimon, I wanna do it.

[ Daniel expected the topic to shift back to this, at least, so it doesn't come as a surprise. He was happy enough to just chatter on about whatever if it's benefit Robby, but.. if the boy decided by himself that he wants to talk about this after all, of course Daniel is going to go along with it.

Enough that he even pauses his work on the bonsai. The man doesn't move away from it, but he does turn his head into Robby's direction instead to look at the boy, Daniel's gaze soft. ]

.. I'm glad to hear it, since I want him to keep coming here too.

[ Granted, if Robby really didn't want him around, Daniel would have figured something out, since it's not like he was planning on giving up on Peter - but he kind of figured things would shake out this way.

Mostly due to his now unwavering belief in Robby's nature.

It's why he can say that with a smile on his face - though still a small one, wanting to acknowledge the seriousness of this topic, the wiehgt of everything behind it. ]

And, when I spoke to him..

[ Daniel's voice trails off for the faintest moment, before he releases a breath instead to continue. ]

I realised you have to be a very important friend to him, Robby. [ Because he saw Peter, the way the boy seemed to basically have multiple breakdowns right in front of him, worried that Daniel would push him away over the demon thing.

The knowledge that Robby accepted it, tried to help him with it, having a friend his own age who didn't give up the friendship and just went along with it - it must have meant a lot to a boy like that.

And maybe even more now, with Robby continuing to be in Peter's camp, despite what happened to his father. ]

I would've hated for you two to lose that.

[ Robby's mouth twitches, not quite a smile, but a recognition to what Mister LaRusso says. Peter is important to him; though there's a part of him that dislikes that Peter kept what he did from him, in the end, it's Peter. He listened to him. He's always listened. And when they talk, it's like they understand and get each other in a particular way Robby's not sure he's often had.

He's not sure he wants to give up on that sense of normality. Questioned it for a while, but his brain feels less frantic, less stuffed with cotton. Now there's just the quiet after the noise, the mess of thoughts that he needs to clean up, sort through. And Peter--he didn't hurt his dad.

His worst crime is being a coward. Not like Robby doesn't know a few things about that. ]

He gets how weird this place is, [ Robby offers wryly, a tepid reasoning. But it'll do, he figures, fingers plucking at the fabric of his trousers idly. ] Did you... Did you ask about Paimon? Do you wanna meet him?

[ Do you want to deal with him? is the question--how involved Mister LaRusso wants to be with this side of Peter's life. ]

Yes. [ The first question is easy to answer, at least. ] We talked about Paimon a little.

[ Though Daniel does seem to get lost in thought for a moment after that. He idly taps his clippers against the edge of the bonsai's pot. It's a complicated matter, but then again.. a whole lot of matters in Trench are like that, right? Things often got complicated enough back home, especially recently, but then throwing in all these strange supernatural angles here only makes it even more complicated.

A mess. ]

Though.. you know, given the choice, I'd rather not meet demons. [ Daniel says it with just a bit of A Face, trusting that Robby gets what he means here. Demons don't exactly sound pleasant, especially going by what you see in movies, and knowing that said demon killed Johnny - it's not exactly sounding great.

He doesn't leave it at just that though, of course. Inhaling, exhaling, and then continuing. ]

But if anything could help Peter, of course I'd do it. [ Peter is his student, after all. His oldest student out of the kids group, but a kid in Daniel's heart all the same - meaning he has to look out for him. ] I just don't know if there's much I can do to help with a demon of all things.

[ Daniel didn't study for this.

In fact, he didn't study for anything. :( ]

[ Robby can manage a twitch of the lips at that. I'd rather not meet demons. Who would. If there was no demon to meet, Peter would be a happier person for it, too.

He cants his head slightly, something of a shrug. ] Knowing what he's like might help. In case you ever meet him. [ There's a possibility, and it might be good; though it's not really his place to say, some warning of Paimon's ways might be helpful. ] He's...all about equivalent trades. You tell me this, I give you that; I'll do this, you do that. Peter said it makes him calm? It's like-- it's a way he understands people. And he'll listen to you if he likes you. He likes knowing things.

[ ...which might sound like Robby's thinking he should chummy with a demon, and it might not be such a bad idea, but even he's grimacing--who he's speaking about, what he just learned earlier that day. ]

I think... I don't know. If Paimon has people he can trust, or who understand him, it'll be easier to calm him down, or help him work better with Peter too. Help them learn respect? Or balance.

[ He looks up at Daniel then, not a wink wink nudge nudge to that particular use of balance, Robby struggling to search for what he means to express. But--balance might work. Two forces who need to work together, find their place in a world as two parts stuck as one.

..probably a whole lot easier than respect.

(Then again--begrudging respect is still that.) ]

[ It's a lot of information to suddenly process here. Peter really was telling the truth that Robby was helping him with all of it, if Robby knows so much about Paimon. It doesn't even sound like Robby is necessarily just repeating information Peter told him - though Daniel could be wrong. To him, it sounds like this is something Robby learned through experience.

.. it makes a part of him antsy, deep down. The idea of Robby hanging around a demon, something that dangerous.. Or even just the idea of poor Peter dealing with having something like that in his body. Something that threatens to take over. ]

.. hmm.

[ It makes it hard for Daniel's initial answer to be more than a thoughtful hum.

Because there's so much to think about here. Way too much. ]

So do you think he likes you?

[ Since Robby said 'he'll listen to you if he likes you.' Is that something he's seen for himself? ]

[ ...well, that's a question to think about. Does Paimon like him? ]

He might, [ Robby answers, as truthfully as he can. ] I tell him things. Show him stuff; I think he appreciates it. I can be useful if he sees me like that--he won't want anything to happen to me if I make him happy.

[ ...it's a calculating way of looking at the relationship, but Robby can do it. Most people want something out of you--you want to be useful to people. It's what he thought about people, his own worth, before he spent time around Mister LaRusso. Had people in his life give a shit.

Still, Robby wants to maybe...give Paimon some "credit", wrinkling his nose. ] He doesn't act like he's ready to hurt you or talk about humanity and how worthless it is, or any crazy stuff like that. [ Like in The Movies. ] But he might be upset I haven't talked to him in a while.

[ If he does like him. ]

Well, I.. [ .. for a moment Daniel seems to just be thinking of how to word this, a frown forming on the man's face as he glances back at the bonsai for a moment.

But when he's speaking up, he's definitely looking at Robby again. ]

You get that I'm not exactly fond of the idea of a demon like that being upset with you, right..? I'm kind of worried about you being around him. Not that I'm saying you should stop, just.. [ .. Daniel lets out a sigh that sounds a little defeated. It feels so dumb, telling Robby he's worried about him. Like he doesn't say it all the time already, like it isn't obvious. Like he doesn't constantly worry about the boy when there's so many things here that are dangerous or hurtful.

It's a useless thing to say, and yet Daniel can't help himself. Maybe it's due to what Robby said only a moment before that. Thinking about relationships - thinking about himself - in terms of usefulness. Daniel gets why it's practical here, but.. it still sits inside of him that upsets his heart.

Robby is so much more than his usefulness. ]

I just don't want you to get in over your head. [ I don't want you to get hurt. ] But if you're confident about all this, then I'll trust you.

[ Robby gets it. How couldn't he, when they're talking about something that killed his dad? But plenty of others killed his dad--not demons, though some might apply the title to Darth Maul. He could try and reassure Mister LaRusso, that he was only making guesses than coming from a place of certainty, but--it doesn't really change much. Robby was still figuring out Paimon.

...and regardless of the risk, he wanted to be there for Peter. Despite the unsavoury taste on the back of his tongue at the thought of Paimon, of what he and Luna did: what if something happened to Peter? What if he stopped feeling like a person who belonged?

What if anything happened to him is the thought that drives him back to Paimon, that makes him unable to promise anything to Mister LaRusso. Quiet, thoughtful. Looking back over to the man as he says: ]

...I want to talk to my dad about it. I don't want him not to know. [ ... ] He should know.

[ He didn't want secrets between them, unintentional or otherwise. ]

[ He does think it's rather telling that Robby doesn't address anything he just said directly. But on the other hand - it's not like Daniel is going to force him when Robby must have enough thoughts circulating around in his head in the first place.

Daniel will just do what he can. See what he can do to help Peter with the demon. Keep an even closer eye on Robby, to make sure not more bad stuff happens to him - his thoughts like a silent vow in his heart. ]

Alright. [ He instead answers, focusing on the things Robby does say out loud here, nodding as he puts down the clippers for the moment. ] I don't think you have to worry about your father minding it.

[ In the sense that Robby would be helping something that killed Johnny, that is. After all, Johnny just has.. such a weird relationship to this death stuff. It's the thing that set all of this in motion in the first place, the thing that first started wringing out Robby's heart.

Maybe that's why Daniel addresses it so briefly before moving on to the next point, like he doesn't want Robby to linger on it either. ]

He'll probably just worry about you the way I do.

[ It might be a little generous towards Johnny, but it's not like Daniel believes Johnny doesn't care.

It's just that it's-- well, it's Johnny. ]

[ put you on read, Daniel, got your message, loud and clear, etc.

There is something pitiful about his dad not having a problem--like Robby wants it to be more difficult than that, and he does. He's not eager to talk to his dad about this, but he's not eager to talk to his dad about any part of this. About any death, like he hasn't gone through the discussion once already.

Will it be any different a second time? Robby ducks his head than give Mister LaRusso any look as his mind thinks about his dad's reaction. A good thing then, that Mister LaRusso doesn't give much pause, that Robby can sit on the thought of them both being concerned, and this time give the man more of a trying smile, though it's more a pull of his mouth than anything shapely. ]

I'll be careful, [ he promise this time. Whatever that can really account for. ] If we want to help Peter, we...have to help all parts of him.

[ But he's said plenty about that, and there's something else Robby wants to add, or just acknowledge: ] I know it's weird.

[ But it's Peter, the thing said, and left unsaid. ]

[ Daniel can't help but pull a bit of a face in light of that last remark, adding: ]

At this point anything being weird is just about the last thing I'm worried about. [ There's an attempt at humor in it, at least, if not faint.. Because they can both acknowledge how weird that is, in turn. All these things keep happening around them that just aren't supposed to happen in real life, and yet.. There it all is, just happening anyway.

When Daniel is concerned enough about the potential things Paimon could do, it being weird - which it still definitely is - doesn't feel as important anymore. ]

But you're right. [ He won't deny that, the faint attempt at humor sliding out of his voice. ] I'm not planning on just giving up on Peter either.

[ It's not even been a question. It's never been, even when Peter sat there imagining that Daniel would kick him out of Miyagi-do over the entire demon thing. ]

So I'll see what I can do too. Even when it comes to the demon. [ He'd rather avoid demonic interactions, sure, but-- part of being a (karate) dad is that you sometimes have to make a few sacrifices for the sake of your (karate) kids, right. ] Let's handle this together, alright?

[ Because Daniel would hate for that huge burden to only be on Robby's shoulders. ]

[ Robby won't press on the topic of meeting the demon, or interacting with it. That's for Mister LaRusso to think about, and it'd be bizarre to go back on. Maybe it's better, not stepping into a situation intentionally. A situation that Robby hadn't entirely done so--didn't know the full picture--but he can't deny he didn't always know Paimon wasn't human.

He messed around with a demon and found out--that the demon helped kill his dad. Cool.

So all Robby can do is give Mister LaRusso a nod, rubbing the palms of his hands together in nothing more than a restless action. There was nothing that could be done or said to make any of this easier, but it would have to become so, in time. To live with the demon in their lives like Peter had to.

He sighs, more of a huff, but it's not relieving or relaxing. ]

I'll talk to Peter later about it. I'll talk to Paimon after I talk with my dad. [ ...whenever he'll do that. Because he sure as hell isn't in the mood for that, either. ] I guess that's...it.

[ What else was there? Now, they just had to move forward, as strange as it is. Because he's sharing this with Mister LaRusso at all? Revealing how little he actually had planned, winging it with a few talks. ]

[ Sounds like there's a lot of at least semi-heavy talks in Robby's future, huh. And it's not like there's anything Daniel can do to help with that. It's one of those things where a kid has to do some things by themselves, even though Daniel would absolutely love to take that burden off the shoulders of the kids he cares for.

Right now he can't do much more than show support for the boy though. So he steps over until he's right in front of Robby, and then leans over to press a hand against his shoulder. Firm, but reassuring, a small smile on Daniel's face. ]

We'll make it work.

[ Even if Daniel still has a lot to figure out too. About Paimon - and what he can do if the demon does rears its head in the middle of the dojo, or what he can do to help Peter in general.

With a lack of anything concrete right now though, Daniel doesn't mention it. Instead he keeps looking at Robby, the look in his eyes softening further. ]

.. you want to work on one of the bonsai for a bit? It might help to clear your head a little. [ Especially when there's got to be so much going on up there for Robby right now. There's got to have been a lot going on there for a while now.

And sometimes you just need to take a moment to slow down. It's why Daniel was here working on the bonsai in the first place. ]

[ Most times, it was all about waiting, and the inevitable. There was nothing that anyone could do for Robby, when it was his choice, his decision. Other than running from it, which, he's done plenty of that already (and look how much it's blown up in his face--or was that inevitable?), and going any longer wasn't going to make things better.

Nevertheless, he gives Mister LaRusso something of a smile as he comes over to rest that reassuring hand on him. Considers the following offer (is he going to manage not to muck it up right now?) with his heart indifferent, but-- ] Sure.

[ He could give it a go. Robby stands up on his feet, asking which one still needed work on to go over to.

Visualise your future, and make it real--right? ]

[ When Robby stands up, the hand leaning on the other's shoulder changes into an arm slung across both shoulders, hand resting on the opposite upper arm so he can press Robby into his side, like a sideways hug. It helps Daniel guide the boy over towards the right bonsai that could use a bit of trimming anyway, and it also allows him to give Robby a faint extra moment of comfort before he lets go again when Robby is standing in front of the right bonsai, Daniel quickly producing another set of small clippers for the boy.

Daniel doesn't say anything. He just gives Robby a last smile before returning to the bonsai he himself was working on, letting the air instead fill with the soft sound of branches being snipped.

Sometimes you don't need more words. Sometimes you just need calm, or you just need time. ]

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(closed) march catchall

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cw: mentions of (cobra kai typical) bullying

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