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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.]

Well, the game is pretty famous among basketball players, so I already knew who won. Can't really cheer on a team you know's going to lose, right? But yeah, you're right; that's two points, so Laettner pretty much won the game for them: 104 to 103! It's known as one of the most intense games in history since they were so closely matched in scores throughout the whole game, so to pull off a score like that - man. I so wish I was on that team.

[Of course, that would mean being born like twenty years earlier than he was or so. Still, the fact that Billy's listening and indulging him, rather than most couples' stories where the other half nods and mmhmms along - he really does have the best boyfriend ever.]

I wouldn't say that. I fully encourage rooting for the underdogs.

[Or he's just a rebel at heart.

....ha.]

I didn't know you were into college basketball, though. Think you'll do that after we graduate?

Mm. I don't know, actually. What I want to do after high school, I mean. This would pretty much be the time to decide, right?

[Well, that's another strike for turning eighteen. This is about the time when teachers, parents and counselors alike hound kids about a major for college, like they're ready to pick something to do for the rest of their lives when they don't even have a proper view of the world outside of school.]

I like it a lot, but I'm not sure if that's something I want to pursue for the rest of my life. I'd like to sign up for the team, sure. But probably not go for a degree in it.

Well, you are 18. Technically, come September you'll be in your last year of high school.

[It's actually something he's been pondering on and off lately, though he hasn't really talked about it. Mostly because he's been reading more educational books than fiction these days. It's... a weird experience, being a self-starter and independent in so many ways he'd never been before coming here. He and Teddy living unsupervised, with their own apartment, cooking meals and shopping and- everything. Despite their ages, in a lot of ways they are adults now.

It's scary. Scary-cool, and he loves it, but nostalgia isn't the only thing he feels when he thinks about home. Life was a lot simpler back then, even with the heroics.]

That's okay, though. Even if it's not professionally, I think you'd do great on a basketball team. And I'd totally come to your games and cheer you on.

[For a moment, Teddy just looks down at the table, then at Billy's face, then down at the table again, doing that thing again. Lost in thought, but not saying them out loud.

Really, even if they finished "high school" here, there's no college here. And the life and experiences they had here won't matter once they go home. They'll be living with the Kaplans again, depending on them as parents once more, and be flying out to do hero work once more. All this thought about high school and college might not even occur to them back at home. So what was the point discussing it now?

Quickly, Teddy buries that thought into the never-ending chasm of worry that he has in the back of his mind. That could turn depressing very quickly, and he'd rather not have that on his birthday. So he blinks a couple of times, then looks at Billy with a smile.]

I'm totally getting rusty, though. There's not even a team here, unless you count AIs who keep running against the walls. [Yes, there, that's a much better thought. Teddy nods to himself as he fully unwraps his pastry and pulls it closer to himself.] Someday, somehow, I'll get them to cooperate with me. Then I'll have an awesome, completely made up team. Like super-fantasy basketball. [He nearly takes a bite out of the pastry, but then he has to add something on to it.] I'll make them all look like video game characters, too. [Aaaand bite. Yes, he is totally thinking of Link the basketball player.]

[Pfffft. Wow, okay, that's a pretty brilliant mental image. Even with the running-into-walls bit.]

They're seriously that bad?

[Maybe the Battle Dome just can't handle sports. Or Teddy needs a more expert programmer, if the issue's more complex than general geekery can handle. It is kind of a crazy set-up in that place.]

Well, if you need someone to help practice with that badly... I guess you could try and teach me how to play.

[Aaaaand Teddy just pauses, still looking at Billy like he's waiting for him to finish that sentence. Or, rather, the punchline. Because Billy Kaplan really asking for Teddy Altman to teach him how to play the sport of basketball instead of watching is like, in the the realm of impossibilities and nevers, where light doesn't even penetrate.

...

Any time now, B.]

[That stare is so uncomfortably judging that Billy feels a flare of indignant embarrassment. See if he ever makes such a super-nice and unselfish offer ever again!!]

What?

[... Wait wait wait]

Oh - You really want to? I mean - It's not like I'm - You were just never really interested before!

Uh- well, no, not exactly, but-

[Wow awkward.]

I'm not really... good at sports. You know that, it's never been my thing. Gym class is my Kryptonite. But that's probably because it's always full of jocks who...

[He trails off, brows furrowing. Memories of the stereotypical geek being picked last, pushed around, on top of being openly gay in a guy's locker room? Yeah, no. There are no fond memories of gym class in his history.

That's not a topic for a birth... date, though. Or ever, since it's kind of pathetic. So, moving on.]

...Jocks who aren't you. And I wouldn't mind trying it if it's with you, especially if it's really important to you.

[... Yeah, that gets Teddy to put down his pastry so that he won't squish it in his hands, then slide a fist under the table to clench by his leg. He hates hearing about the bullies of Billy's past, hates that he couldn't be there, hates that Billy had to go through all of that. He didn't say so, but he certainly implied it, and it makes Teddy's blood boil.

He does relax, however, because they're not talking about asshole jocks. It's about trying something new, something Teddy's passionate about. Like Teddy sitting to watch Sound of Music with Billy, or listening to his music or going to a musical with him, or Billy sitting with him during a football game or when he's playing a game he's not all that interested in. Support of each other's hobbies and likes, even if they're not necessarily into it themselves.]

Well... yeah. Okay then. You don't have to know the rules or anything right now. We can just shoot some hoops. You know, with someone who doesn't care if you miss or anything.

[Teddy might not have been there for Billy's experience with gym, but he's certainly been there when other unpopular boys were forced to attend PE.]

Does that still count as practice? I can actually get away with minimal involvement here?

[Billy's lips quirk into a playful smile. There'd almost been some tension there, but thankfully Teddy had relaxed. He really hadn't wanted to spoil the moment just because he can't keep his mouth shut about anything ever. And Teddy's even taking it easy on him, when Billy knows that if their roles were reversed, he probably wouldn't be doing the same.]

And hey, don't underestimate me! This whole thing could be my road to discovering that I'm a complete natural at hoop-shooting.

[Probably not, but stranger things have happened.]

[Generally, an explanation of all the rules when a newbie is on the field kind of turns them off of the sport. Better to learn slowly and firsthand rather than get a rundown of everything they need to know. And while Teddy's sure Billy won't get as into it as he is, he'd rather not turn him off of it entirely either.]

Yeah, keep dreaming, Kaplan. No one is a complete natural at hoop-shooting from the get-go; even I have trouble with it sometimes.

[He lifts his foot to give Billy's knee a playful tap, his voice turning a tad dramatic.] Besides, I don't think you could ever surpass me.

[Billy edges over on his seat a little, lifting his own foot to rest it on the spot beside Teddy's thigh, nudging him back. More fun than footsies.]

Ooh, that's a big ego from someone so out of practice. Care to make a wager?

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