[CLOSED] Where Alcor gushes about ~*humanity*~

[bittydragon]

[Yamato wasn't certain why he even bothered taking it home. It was only something he did to pass the time in (useless, in his opinion) art class. A simple mimicry of a drawing in a book of some European beach while the sun set. Incredible cliché.

Of course Yamato excelled at painting, but that was the norm. He excelled in everything, even the unnecessary things. He saw no point in trying to perfect his artistic skills, however, since he needed to focus on the more practical studies to become the best he could be...

So when Alcor comes home, there is Yamato sitting at the squat coffee table in front of the television, doing his homework, with his little painting on the floor beside him. Go wild]

Comments

[jumyouboshi]

[implying gushing about ~humanity~ is not alcor's default state of being

Honestly, he didn't notice right away, since the scene seemed so familiar. Same Yamato sitting at the coffee table. Same homework that would probably take him a fifth of the time it took other children to do. But, after a little time, he does notice, and he walks over, closer to him.]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato looks up when he hears Alcor approaching, looking a bit curious. His caretaker normally left him alone to his work instead of interrupting him]

What?

[jumyouboshi]

[Alcor picks up the little painting on the floor, stroking the edges of the paper. He stares at it for a while before responding.]

...Did you create this, Yamato Hotsuin?

[bittydragon]

Yes...

[Yamato tried to gauge Alcor's expression. As usual, his caretaker was unreadable]

I did it for art class.

[jumyouboshi]

Ah...

[Good thing his expression doesn't remain unreadable, then. Instead, Yamato's artistic efforts receive a smile, wider than his usual ones (only by a tiny amount). He's very pleased with this...of course he would be, given how fond he is of human culture. There was absolutely nothing wrong with dabbling in it...!]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato looked pretty flummoxed at Alcor's openly approving expression. It was just a painting, why did it receive such an expression...?]

Do you...like it?

[jumyouboshi]

Yes.

[With that, Yamato got a slightly more affectionate than usual hair ruffle.]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato blinked at the sudden hair ruffle, the warmth of Alcor's palm seeping through his scalp right down to his toes, leaving him with that happy sort of feeling in his stomach. Alcor seemed really happy...but over a painting of all things?]

Ah, why, though? It was easy to do...

[jumyouboshi]

[First, he'll have to answer a question of Alcor's own.]

...Tell me. Did you enjoy creating this?

[bittydragon]

[A bit of a strange question but...]

It wasn't boring to do.

[jumyouboshi]

[When it came to Yamato, that was as good as a 'yes'.]

I'm glad to hear that.

[...You still didn't answer his question, Alcor.]

[bittydragon]

[Which Yamato noticed with a small pout]

...why do you like the idea of me engaging in the arts? I wouldn't have thought you'd be interested in such things.

[jumyouboshi]

To engage in the arts is to enrich one's soul with culture...

[Pause. Here it comes...]

Once, humans were ignorant and weak beings, that merely kept themselves alive...but they received culture and nurtured it, and thus made real "living" possible. Music, dance, painting, film, literature...the arts are proof that human civilization has blossomed.

[It was rather obvious that he had a lot to say on this subject.]

[bittydragon]

[Oh no. Yamato recognised this...! It was Alcor's "why humanity is so perfect and wonderful and brilliant I love them all" rants! Ah, abort, abort!]

That...is not anything inspiring, though. A mere scribbling. Nothing at the level of progressing human civilisation.

[jumyouboshi]

Haha...it does not need to be.

[Yamato receives another hair ruffle for his efforts. He should consider himself fortunate that Alcor stopped his humanity gushing early, instead of going into another long-winded spiel.]

[bittydragon]

[Well this was - something? Yamato couldn't remember getting hair ruffles so frequently, or having Alcor being so affectionate. Not that Alcor was cold by any means, but he was just generally...

...

Alcor.]

...would you like it if I did more of this?

[jumyouboshi]

I would be pleased. However, my approval should matter little as to whether you wish to partake in the arts or not.

[As always, he'll never force him to do something he absolutely does not want to. The choice is always up to him. Even if it's something he doesn't agree with, he won't force the issue...in this 'verse at least. It can't be helped.]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato was contemplative for a moment. If drawing or painting got Alcor happy enough to be so...weirdly affectionate, then maybe it wouldn't be so bad...

Not that he wanted it solely because hair ruffles felt nice! It was just - argh, whatever]

It was okay, so I might do it again.

[He says while pouting, his face slightly red]

[jumyouboshi]

The choice is up to you.

[If he wanted to or not, it had nothing to do with Alcor's approval. Well, at least that was how he thought it should be.]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato let out a small harrumph]

You always do that.

[jumyouboshi]

...Is it wrong to give you a choice?

[Answer carefully, Yamato.]

[bittydragon]

No. But you always give me a choice, so much so that it appears that you neglect your own ability to choose.

[Translation: stop being a doormat]

[jumyouboshi]

Ah...I suppose I do.

[Haha...typical Alcor.]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato rolls his eyes a little. Typical Alcor indeed. It was incredibly frustrating]

Okay, how about this then. Do you want me to participate in the arts?

[jumyouboshi]

Only if you wish to.

[...Still avoiding his own wishes. Then again, his own wishes were based on those of others, so...]

[bittydragon]

[Yamato sighed]

It is okay to be selfish, Alcor.

[jumyouboshi]

...I cannot afford to be selfish when it concerns the freedom of others.

[bittydragon]

[Yamato just stares.]

How're you going to be happy if you just put everyone else before you?

[jumyouboshi]

The happiness of others will suffice.

[It's depressing how true that is. Humanity's happiness > his own. The happiness of, say, Hiro and Yamato, might as well be considered his own happiness. ...Especially Hiro's.]

[bittydragon]

[Your favouritism is showing again Alcor]

I can't understand that. What if the happiness of others openly defy your wants?

[jumyouboshi]

It depends.

[...Ah, this is depressing now.]

I can only hope it does not come to that.

[Smoothing out the edges of Yamato's painting, he places it down on the coffee table, looking like he's ready to leave.]

[bittydragon]

Your way of thinking is very weird.

[Yamato says this bluntly]

You should be more selfish.

[jumyouboshi]

Haha...perhaps.

[Nobody's ever said that to him before...save for maybe Hiro, and he always put it as "take care of yourself more" than anything else. Still, if Yamato's concerned about him and his own wants, then he must have done something right in making the child like him...kind of.

...Oh right. Hiro also wanted Alcor to say things like this more often. Or something.]

...I'm proud of you.

[bittydragon]

...

[There was just this pause where Yamato stared at Alcor, looking a bit...bewildered]

...what?

[jumyouboshi]

I'm proud of you.

[Is it that strange for him to say that?]

[bittydragon]

Oh.

[It is obvious that Yamato has no idea how to respond to that. He is mentally flailing, and his face is...getting a bit red...]

[jumyouboshi]

[...Oh no did he screw up again? He wasn't the best at taking care of or understanding children; he'd be the first to admit that.]

...Is something the matter?

[bittydragon]

...

[ ............ ]

Nn...

Nothing! I'm fine!

[Yamato suddenly turns back to his homework, his face and ears red]

[jumyouboshi]

...All right.

[Well, that's his cue to exit the living room and leave Yamato alone, so he leaves.]