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004 - Action/Voice
[Action]
[Although Teddy didn't go on the draft, he knew plenty of friends who did. Once he was certain they were all accounted for, though some had gone through some heavy losses, he felt like he could relax a little. And with relaxation, it dawned on him that he hadn't really practiced his shifting ability in a while. Sure, there was his Hulkling form, but he knew that one. Knew it inside and out. What about others?
This is why he sits by the edge of the fountain, homework and pencil in hand, though he doesn't work so much as watch people over the top of the page. He's inconspicuous about it, as this is a hobby he's developed for some time now.
And when he's sure he's not in anyone's range of vision, he transforms, shifting into the form of the person he's got his eyes on. That's when he stops watching them and looks down at the body he's impersonating, just to study the shape, occasionally glancing up to make sure he has everything right. Even when the person's left, he still stays in that form for a few long moments before he shifts back, writing his answers in his homework once he's satisfied with the shape he's in.
Observe, learn, shift, hold. This is what he's learned over the years, though it's been a while since he's done this for selfless reasons. Just for practice, nothing more.]
[Voice]
[It's sunset and he's still outside, though he appears to be walking back home. There's just one thing on his mind, something that occurred to him while shifting.]
Anyone up for playing b-ball sometime? It's been way too long since I actually got to play against someone. Holograms just don't really cut it, you know?
[He would suggest football, but, well. When you've got the ability to possibly break someone in half with a good tackle, that probably isn't the best sport to go for.]
[Although Teddy didn't go on the draft, he knew plenty of friends who did. Once he was certain they were all accounted for, though some had gone through some heavy losses, he felt like he could relax a little. And with relaxation, it dawned on him that he hadn't really practiced his shifting ability in a while. Sure, there was his Hulkling form, but he knew that one. Knew it inside and out. What about others?
This is why he sits by the edge of the fountain, homework and pencil in hand, though he doesn't work so much as watch people over the top of the page. He's inconspicuous about it, as this is a hobby he's developed for some time now.
And when he's sure he's not in anyone's range of vision, he transforms, shifting into the form of the person he's got his eyes on. That's when he stops watching them and looks down at the body he's impersonating, just to study the shape, occasionally glancing up to make sure he has everything right. Even when the person's left, he still stays in that form for a few long moments before he shifts back, writing his answers in his homework once he's satisfied with the shape he's in.
Observe, learn, shift, hold. This is what he's learned over the years, though it's been a while since he's done this for selfless reasons. Just for practice, nothing more.]
[Voice]
[It's sunset and he's still outside, though he appears to be walking back home. There's just one thing on his mind, something that occurred to him while shifting.]
Anyone up for playing b-ball sometime? It's been way too long since I actually got to play against someone. Holograms just don't really cut it, you know?
[He would suggest football, but, well. When you've got the ability to possibly break someone in half with a good tackle, that probably isn't the best sport to go for.]
[action]
You're in luck, then. I'm practically a math super hero.
[...Which is totally not true, but it is one of his best subjects. Something about the logic of it appealing to him, as if he wasn't enough of a nerd already.]
Does this mean I can join the engineering crew?
[action]
I'll even spare you the red shirt.
[action]
[Billy accepts the pencil, twisting it between his fingers for a moment before jotting a note or two below one of the unfinished questions, simplifying it.]
Does this make it easier?
[action]
Yeah. Yeah, it really does.
[He looks at Billy again, then sets the paper and pencil aside while he shifts the stormtrooper outfit to something more casual, what Teddy would wear.]
Now, I think I told you the prince would reward you. [And with that, he shifts again, this time changing from Kirk to himself.] Thank you for rescuing me, Billy Kaplan.
[action]
[Billy grins, although it's somewhat half-hearted; it's a bit tough to be all smiles when he's still feeling powerless and kind of pathetic. Last time he was out of magic it only lasted a week, and while Teddy's presence has helped keep his spirits up, the shapeshifting is also a reminder of the power he doesn't have right now.]
My costume would be pretty lame if I switched to that super-persona, though, I bet. All numbers and TeX symbols.
[action]
He doesn't point it out, though; Billy's doing his best and teasing despite it. That's good enough for Teddy. Instead, he moves closer and wraps an arm around Billy's waist, and finally gives in to the urge to do more than that by resting his other hand against the crook of Billy's neck.]
Math Magician or Wiccan or whatever, you're still my hero.
[action]
Any time you need me to heroically save you from Count Calculus or something, just call on me. ...And I'm glad you waited till you were normal again before doing this. Good looking as he is, I don't think I could make out with Captain Kirk.
[Hint hint, that's what he's aiming for sooner or later.]
[action]
[He smiles, the expression fondly amused, and he gives Billy's nose a little nuzzle with his own before he presses their foreheads together again.]
And besides... I still haven't really rewarded you yet.
[He doesn't give much more warning than that. It looks like Teddy's going for "sooner", because he raises his hand to press it against Billy's cheek, then leans in to kiss his lips. It's slow and gentle, a prelude to what he has planned next.]
1/2
[action]
Wait.
....Zzzzzzzzap.
Very electric, actually.]
[action]
Zzzzzzzzzap.
It turns out to be really be electric, enough for Teddy to feel like he's being pushed back by the static between their lips. He widens his eyes and blinks a few times, just to get a feel on what just happened, and then he stares at Billy while rubbing his fingers across his lips, which are still tingling quite a lot.
... That electricity actually felt really familiar. That realization, plus the way Billy looks and what just happened, makes him smile, then let out a chuckle.]
Billy...
[action]
Oh my god. Oh my god, I can't believe- that hasn't happened for like a year- I'm so sorry. Are you okay? That wasn't you, was it? Maybe it was you. Are you shifting into an electric eel now or something? Can you even do that?
[He pauses - mostly for air - and his gaze falls about half a foot to stare at something other than Teddy, which turns out to just be Teddy's chest instead, though he's obviously not really focusing on it. His fingers curl more tightly, breath catching a little as he takes in air.]
...That... wasn't you.
[A statement this time, not a question. A realization.
It was me.]
[action]
[Teddy tried to tell him, but with him rambling like that, it's a little hard to get a word in edgewise. But now that Billy's quieted down, staring at Teddy's chest and understanding seeming to dawn on him, he finds himself smiling again - it's a little ridiculous, a huge smile and all.
He covers Billy's hands over his chest, then pulls them away, twisting his own hands so that he can entwine his fingers with his boyfriend's. Then he leans in slightly, just enough so that he can speak quietly.]
Try your magic now.
[action]
...I want... I-I want... I want I want IwantIwantIwantIwantIwantIwant...
[Initially, it does nothing, and he worries that it isn't back at all, but the truth is he doesn't really want anything. What he'd wanted desperately all this time is the one thing that was out of reach: for his magic to be back. And now it is.
Instead he shifts back to the basics: eyes closed, deep breaths, intense focus. Over time he feels the heat forming around his hands, spreading along his arm to cover the rest of his body, and a shaky, relieved smile crosses his lips. He's glowing, even if his eyes aren't open to see it. The experience is unforgettably familiar. He's glowing and it's magic.
A minute or so later, when he finally opens his eyes, the glow has eclipsed both of them, surrounded them and lifted them off the bench and at least two feet into the air.
And he grins like he could light up the sun.]
I want to fly.
[action]
Now Teddy looks all around - the glow around them, the ground below them, their entwined hands, and finally, up at Billy, and - and he looks so incredibly beautiful. It's not just the magic, but it's the smile, that dizzying smile that can make the world start spinning again and everything around him to become brighter, more colorful.
For a moment, Teddy has to stare, and his expression can only be described as joyful adoration. But then Billy states the obvious, and then Teddy has to state the obvious too.]
You're doing it... You got it! [He squeezes Billy's hands, allowing his legs to stretch and his body to tilt forward slightly.] Look at you - You got it!
[action]
[Billy can't help but echo the exclamation, eyes bright, kicking his legs a bit to get them turning in the air. It's sappy and silly and kind of childish but he's so happy at this point he can't bring himself to care. He's here with Teddy and he has magic again and he can fly...]
Hey- grab your stuff, okay? I want to go flying for real.
[His expression is eager and hopeful- he's not sure if Teddy's finished doing whatever he was hanging out here to do, but he really wants to go, and he wants to share this moment with the most important person he has in his life here. And sure, they've gone flying plenty of times before, and it's not like this time is particularly special, it just feels like it is.]
[action]
I think I can work flying into my schedule! [He didn't bring much, just his backpack along with his homework, which he's already stuffing away now that he's on the ground. He'd been thinking of sticking around and copying the appearance of more people, possibly with Billy beside him and comparing the original with the copy, but this? He really doesn't mind stopping his self-training for the day for this.
Once his backpack is on his back, he looks up at Billy with a big smile, contemplating something for a moment... and then he reaches up to take Billy's hands again. He pulls himself up into that magical field again, feeling himself go weightless once more, and he gives his boyfriend's hands a gentle squeeze.]
Ready when you are, babe.
[action]
Oh my god, I've seriously missed this. I'm gonna spend all day teleporting from room to room.
[action]
And now, he doesn't even think to wonder if Billy's powers are weak thanks to being gone for so long, if he should use his own wings or if he should ask if this is all right. All that he has is full and complete trust for his boyfriend and his abilities. And he has to admit that he's missed this - not just flying with Billy, but Billy using his power to fly them both.
He, too, alternates between looking ahead and at Billy, and when their gazes happen to catch, he gives a little chuckle and brushes their shoulders together. One of those times is when Billy speaks, and Teddy keeps himself close, shoulder to shoulder.]
Just don't get too lazy. I don't want to catch you pulling a Merlin and Higitus Figitusing the room on me.
[action]
[He gives Teddy's hand a little squeeze. He's honoured by Teddy trusting him to fly them both like this after so long with no magic at all, though he isn't surprised by it; Teddy had trusted him when he'd been terrible and inexperienced and far more likely to drop right out of the sky than reach their destination.]
And why would I ever want to leave our place?
[He can't quite bring himself to call it home yet - still clinging to the notion that they'll go to their real home soon, together - but it's getting there. And it's theirs the way that his parents' place will never be, that much he knows.]
[action]
But with that question, Teddy lifts a brow and gives Billy's shoulder a little nudge with his own.]
I can think of a good reason. We live on the fifth floor without an elevator.
[At least they're not living on the eighth floor. And he's mostly teasing - he loves their place, especially loves their neighbors, and it really is theirs in a way it couldn't be back at home.]
[action]
You know, I was going to use the excuse that I picked the place because Luke Skywalker lived down the hall, but I didn't even know he was there until after I moved in. I just knew I'd miss the altitude. I was raised in an apartment sixteen floors up, after all.
[action]
[It's not that Teddy gets tired or anything; it can just wear on his patience sometimes, having to jog up all those flights of stairs. Going through the kitchen window is nice, though.]
But I can't argue. We lived on the third floor before I moved. Living on the fifth floor is a good compromise. [Even if there is no convenient elevator.]
[action]
Says the guy who can pull wings out of his back at will. I bet you like the exercise.
[action]
Yeah, I do. But one of these days I'm going to break the stairs by stepping down too hard. I've done it before.
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