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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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?

[... Oho. That makes Teddy raise his eyebrows, foot sliding gently down Billy's calf muscle.]

A wager, huh? Okay. I'll bite. What did you have in mind?

Hmm... well, let's see...

[Last time the prize was video games, one of Teddy's passions. It makes sense that this prize would be one of Billy's, so...]

...If I win, you have to write me a song.

[...]

You want me to write you a song. Me. A song.

[Even Teddy knows that his way with words could... use some work. Playing a song? Hell yes. Writing? Noooo.]

Mm-hm, I do. Write me a glorious ballad.

[Considering the chances of him winning are extremely low anyway, it's not such a terrible fate to risk, really. And if he does win, against all odds, it'll probably be unintentionally hilarious.]

[Blank face. Blank face.

...

Snrk. Teddy ducks his head, hand briefly covering his mouth to hide the ever-so-hated dimples before he lowers it to the table again.]

Okay, fine. If you win, I'll woo you with my awesome song-writing skills. And if I win... you have to serenade me with a song of your choosing.

[.....

WOW DID THAT EVER TOTALLY BACKFIRE ON HIM.]

Sere- wh- you want me to sing!?

[Teddy nods, eyes on the pastry as if he's more interested in eating that than Billy's new-found misery, even starts to slowly cut a piece with his fork.]

Mmhmm. An entire song, too. Hell, it can even be Twinkle Twinkle Little Star if you want to choose a short one. Even if it's the least romantic song ever.

[He looks up at him again, the carefully neutral face giving way to a smile, a somewhat shy, yet pleased one.]

It'll be just me, if that makes you feel any better. And - you know, like it or not, I really like your singing voice. [In other words BEST BIRTHDAY GIFT EVER.]

[God, how is he supposed to say no to something like that? Even if it isn't what he personally believes, even if he's always figured it's just Teddy being his usual excessively nice self... it's still enough to get him flustered. That smile on his face, geez.]

How about Happy Birthday? I can totally sing you Happy Birthday.

[...Except that's probably cheating.]

No, that's cheating. [Yep.] You're already singing Happy Birthday when we get to that [He gestures to the box holding the cake.], so if that counts, then my part of the wager dies right along with it.

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