halfnhalf | 005 - Action/Voice

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005 - Action/Voice

[Today marked a big day for Teddy Altman: He's eighteen today. If he were back in New York, he could vote in elections, own a credit/debit card of his own, and not have to groan over papers and applications that had a little note for people who were under eighteen. He's pretty much an adult now.

He still kind of feels like a young teenager who has no idea what he's doing, though, so he can't help being a little disappointed when he wakes up and doesn't suddenly feel like a man with a plan who knows everything and can do anything.

After gently being coaxed outside by Billy, Teddy decides to do all the things he usually does, seeing how Luceti is sorely lacking in ways to celebrate a milestone year like this. He wanders and chats up store owners, from the bakery to the weapon shop to Seventh Heaven to even the general store. He gets himself a large meal for lunch, as is customary for a guy like him, and orders his favorite just for today. He visits the library and reads up on whatever new comics they have, and that's where he gets lost in thought enough to open his journal and ask a question that's been on his mind since the day began.]

When someone turns eighteen, do they do anything special? It's a pretty big thing for teenagers in America; you can vote and get drafted and pretty much be considered an adult by the law. But does it mean anything in other worlds? Call me curious.

[He goes to the Battledome after that to simulate a basketball game – just to watch this time, not to participate. The 1992 East Regional Final, Duke verses Kentucky, one of the most suspenseful games in history and something that Teddy had watched on YouTube, but certainly not like this. It's no wonder that he's particularly hyped when he walks out. So much so that he takes to the sky as soon as he's outside, deciding that he'd rather take the joyride home rather than plain old walking. He's still a teenager, and he still feels pretty invincible even without that adult knowledge he was expecting, so why not?

Teddy might not feel any different, but it's still a pretty special day.]

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[Teddy's stare is telling, though at first Billy isn't sure whether it's a good sign or not. His approach had slowed a little because of it, and it takes an extra boost of courage to get him to pick up the pace and reach the table. He's just about to explain it - and potentially apologize or offer to switch back to his usual look, depending on what Teddy says - when Teddy stands up and says that, in that tone, with that smile... and Billy feels suddenly, unexpectedly pleased with himself, ducking his head and feeling a light blush cross his features.]

...You like it...?

[It's a redundant question - Teddy's feelings on the issue are pretty damn clear - but he can't help asking, anyway.]

Ha... Like it? I love it.

[He kind of wants to forgo the date and take Billy home to just ravish him, right then and there, get up close and kiss all over his body and get his hands under his clothes and - nngh. But he's sure they'll be able to do something like that together later, once everything is finished, and they're alone again...

Teddy can't help moving his hands up to brush his fingers through Billy's hair - yep, that's bonafied gel all right. Not as smooth and soft, but definitely gives a new, amazing look to him. He really doesn't just like it, he loves it.]

Was this why it took you so long to get ready?

Part of it.

[It's pretty obvious that he's inexperienced with gel and styling, considering he's never done it before, so there's no point in dancing around it. Still, it was well worth the effort, and hopefully he can pull it off faster next time. ...Oh god, this means there'll totally be a next time.]

I really did make the cake, though, and that's what took the longest. And there was some... other stuff. But you'll see it later.

Oh... Oh! Right -

[Wow, his boyfriend is just standing there holding the box and the gift bag - Teddy makes quick work of that by at least taking the box and setting it on the table. He doesn't know much about human strength, but he at least knows that it must've been tiring to carry the cake all the way there.]

You made me forget it was even my birthday. Let's at least order something.

Wow, thank you, my arm was about to fall off.

[It wasn't that bad, really, but it was pretty heavy for a cake. Too much chocolate. Technically it's not a cake at all, but that's the surprise.]

Actually, before we do anything else...

[With his hands free, he reaches up to wind his arms around Teddy's neck, drawing him close enough for a long, tender kiss, though not before murmuring-]

Happy birthday, Tee.

[Teddy lets out a quiet hum in the kiss, his own hands sliding from Billy's hair, down his shoulders and torso to wind around his waist and pull him closer to his body. This right here, coming into age and technically being an adult, kissing and being kissed by the man he loves, the man who not only made himself look fantastic for his boyfriend, but without any magic, making it all effort and natural?

This is perfect. Everything about this is perfect.

When they break the kiss, Teddy presses another light one against Billy's lips, then rests their foreheads together.]

... Thanks. [For all of this.

He spends another moment like that, just shutting his eyes and soaking in Billy's presence, before he pulls back, hands sliding back to hold Billy's hips.]

Now come on, hot stuff. Let's get some coffee.

[Billy feels a slow grin cross his lips, and he sneaks in one more quick peck on the lips before he pulls back enough to draw Teddy over to the counter to put in their order.]

Is that a subtle reference to what you want to be doing later tonight?

[He's never played Grand Theft Auto, but you'd have to have your head in the sand to not know the phrase.]

[Shockingly enough, that isn't what Teddy meant, though he understands the reference as soon as Billy alludes to it. He has played Grand Theft Auto, and had quite a bit of fun with it as well. So he raises his eyebrows as he places his palm against the small of Billy's back and keeps it there, which is definitely confirming that subtle reference of Billy's.]

Mm... Could be. Or I could be making a subtle reference to wanting to order some coffee for the both of us.

Spoilsport. My theory was more fun.

[He's smiling anyway, because yes, he does want some coffee right about now, and he likes where that hand is, too. Very much, actually. Leaning back a bit into the touch, he tries not to look too much like a lovesick dork while he makes his order (an iced raspberry cappuccino, since it is summertime, and a couple pastries). Then he'll wait patiently for Teddy to take his turn, though he sets his hand into a pocket as casually as he can, toying with what's inside it.]

[Even while looking away, Teddy can tell Billy's getting his hand into his pocket merely by touch alone, what with his hand on Billy's body. But that's not so suspicious, so he doesn't look back at him. Merely makes his own order, an iced hazelnut latte and a couple of pastries, different from Billy's. Once he's done, and the server confirms their order and gets to work, Teddy slowly leads Billy down to the end of the counter, seeing how these usually don't take very long. He waits in comfortable silence there, though he does turn his head to press his lips against Billy's hair, nonethewiser about what the other boy has for him.]

[Billy follows along quietly, debating how to do this; much as he likes their cozy positions, the way Teddy's touching his back and kissing his hair, he does want to see Teddy's reaction to the gift, and this is a perfect time to do it, since they have little else going on. Besides the obvious cuddling.

Finally he decides to go for it, the hair-kissing being the most obvious opening. He turns around, looking very serious, and presses against his boyfriend from the front instead of the back. He then lifts a hand to give Teddy's nose a gentle flick while the other slides up his arm to his neck, fist clenched, relying on the nose-flick as a distraction for his real plan.]

You'd better not be messing up the hair, Mr. Altman. I'll be really put out if a single lock is out of place.

[It's a good distraction - a bit drastic, but such things are needed for a guy who notices everything. He blinks, head leaning back just slightly before he moves it forward again, scrunching his nose a bit to rid himself of that weird sensation, a teasing grin on his lips.]

A single lock, huh? Wow, you're making that really tempting right now.

Go on, I dare you. But I'll totally break up with you.

[He totally will. Like, absolutely, immediately. Even on your birthday.

....

Except first he's going to kiss that nose. And then that chin. And then those lips, good and thorough. It's the best distraction of all.]

Oh, I get it. You love your new hair more than you love me.

[Except Billy's kissing his face and then his lips, and Teddy shuts his eyes to return it, trying his best not to smile within it. Definitely the best distraction of all.]

Mmmmhm.

[His lips otherwise occupied, it's the only way he can really respond. Since Teddy's plenty into it, he opens up and tries to deepen the kiss. Not too much, obviously, since they're still in the middle of the coffee shop, but enough to hopefully keep Teddy's focus on their mouths instead of his own neck. Billy opens his fist halfway through the kiss, sliding one hand up Teddy's chest to grab the end of the string that dangles from his fingers. That hand lifts, winds tenderly around his neck to meet the other, and... clasp. When he pulls back a bit for air, lingering close, there's a beaded chain hanging from his neck.]

I love a lot of things about today.

[He could tell that Billy was doing something with his hands, but Teddy's so into the kiss that he didn't make it a point to figure out what it was. It's when he feels the new, cool and hard sensation of the chain against his neck and collarbones that he nearly breaks the kiss in surprise, only to have Billy do it for him.

Immediately, Teddy tries to look down at the necklace, even picks it up off his collarbones to do so, but it's not quite at an angle he's satisfied with. Still, he does see part of it, and a smile slowly comes up on his face.]

Billy... [To get a better look, he retreats to one of the windows, looking at his faint reflection and the necklace that Billy snuck on him. Oh, wow, it actually fits his colors pretty well, who would've thought - ] Where'd you even get this?

[Perhaps, in a place like Luceti, it'd be better to ask "when", since there's generally only one or two places to get anything like this. But Teddy is still firmly stuck in culture shock, still far too used to the big city where many, many jewelry stores and shady vendors frequent the streets.]

I reached into my magic hat and wished for a really dorky birthday present, obviously.

[Or he'd found the lovely matching set of silver and gold in one of the stores a while ago. At the time he'd thought they were so pretty he had wanted to share them right away, but gifts are so hard to come by when everything's free, so he opted to save them instead. Now he's glad he did.

The necklace looks really, really good on Teddy. He runs his fingers lightly over the beadwork, once again looking pleased with himself.]

Well, what do you think? Was it a good find?

Definitely a good find.

[Teddy runs his fingers over the beads as well, a thoughtful sort of smile on his face. The only jewelry Teddy really got into was earrings, having gone from five in each ear to three, and he's still thinking about what kind of modifications he can give them. Other than that, he's not much of a jewelry guy. And even if he was, they'd only break all too easily when he had to shift.

But this is nice. Simple, and it looked subtle yet good on him. And he can't really see himself shifting enough to break it, unless he tried to become a giant or something. And - something he notes in a giddily embarrassed way, is that Billy's necklace matches his. Gold and silver. Matching like the sickening duo that they are.

He turns to face Billy again, hands moving away from his necklace to touch Billy's chest, slide upwards along the smooth material of his shirt, feeling the heat of his torso beneath, indulging in all of that while he spreads his fingers to ghost along the beads of Billy's necklace.]

You're right. You do have good tastes.

See, this is why people shouldn't doubt me when I say stuff like that.

[Billy's smile grows, his hand sliding down a bit to rest comfortably on Teddy's chest. it really does look good on him. He'd mulled over the colours for a while, wondering if the silver would fit better - match the earrings and all - but in the end, gold really was Teddy's colour.

Which makes sense. To Billy, he's always been first prize.]

It's big enough, too- to fit your neck when you shift. I checked.

You know my neck size?

[He would ask how, except the server is done with their drinks and pastries, and so calls out their orders together. Teddy looks back at the drinks, then tilts his head in a gesture to follow him as he steps to the counter.]

I gotta say, I didn't know there was a thing like that. Neck sizes, I mean.

Is that creepy? It's not supposed to be creepy.

[Billy accepts his own order and leads the way back to the table, setting down his stuff and fidgeting a bit before sitting down.]

It's just- I mean- I've hugged you enough times as Hulkling to get a basic idea of how big it had to be, and-

[He straightens up, then moves his arms together in a circular gesture, lifting them up to show Teddy.]

Like this. At least it's more subtle than checking for a ring size or something.

[For a moment, Teddy feels a flush come over his cheeks, and he fiddles with the necklace with a quiet chuckle, a musing smile on his face while he looks down at the table. He's probably reading too much into that "ring size" comment, he knows it, hence why he stays quiet about that.

It's after that moment passes that Teddy lets the chain drop to his collarbones again and looks at his boyfriend once more.]

I was going to say it was cool, not creepy. That you remembered something like that. [A pause, and:] Also, it's cute. But mostly cool.

[Teddy's usually the one who knows "neck sizes" and whatever comes with needing to know how a body is shaped. For Billy to pick up on that with him really is pretty cool.]

[Billy snorts quietly at that, his smile amused as he sips at his coffee.]

I'd be a lousy boyfriend if I didn't remember what a hug felt like.

[He hadn't really been thinking about the ring thing, either - it was an offhand comment at best - so the pause had been a little confusing, but he figures it's just Teddy being his usual thoughtful self and rolls with it. Maybe he'll keep an eye out for more.]

Well. I can definitely say you're not lousy.

[Teddy reaches his feet out to rest them against Billy's, sipping at his latte and already starting to pick the wrapping on his pastry apart. And - oh man, he knows that Billy's not all that interested in sports except if Teddy's playing, but he just seems to light up as he begins to talk, hands moving animatedly as he gets into it.]

I know this'll probably fly right over your head, but I've got to tell you: Before I called you, I set up a simulation to watch one of the really famous college basketball games of our time. It was from 1992, Duke verses Kentucky. Duke was just trailing behind 103 to 102, and with just two seconds to spare, Christian Laettner hit a jumper just as time ran out! Billy, you should've heard the crowd - seen them! Everyone went crazy as soon as the buzzer went off!

I can imagine. So that's... two points, right? A win? Who were you cheering for?

[He may be kind of clueless about sports, but basketball is Teddy's passion, so he's heard about it enough to follow along, even if the names and dates of the game don't ring any bells.

Plus it's his birthday. The best time to indulge someone's hobbies.]

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