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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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.

[...Dammit, now he has to sing in public, too. He really wasn't thinking it through when he suggested bringing the cake here. Maybe the cafe does one of those stupid staff sing-alongs...

...he doubts that, with Natasha in charge. Ergh.]

Ugh... but fine, deal.

[Teddy immediately smiles at that, back straightening with delight. Gosh, if he wins this, he'll get to hear Billy sing to him, even if it's a short song; Billy doesn't even realize how much his singing voice puts Teddy at peace, when he can hear it at least.]

Deal. [He reaches out to shake Billy's hand, even if there's no reciprocation behind that, then clasps both of his own hands together as he glances at the box with the cake. Now that he's gestured to it... he can't help being curious.]

Speaking of that, though...

Oh, right! [Billy slides aside his plate to drag the box closer, more to the center of the table, his impending doom momentarily forgotten.] Guess it's about that time. You have to close your eyes first, though.

[It kind of looks like crap hen it's half-buried in a box, after all.]

Aww. All right.

[He shuts his eyes obediently, although he gives a deliberate sway to show how much he wants to see what's under there. Disaster or no, he's eager to see what Billy slaved away at all afternoon.]

[As soon as Billy's sure he isn't looking, he stuffs the last bite of his pastry into his mouth, chewing as he pulls off the lid and carefully lifts the cake out of its box. It's not actually a cake at all, more like a giant chocolate bar, and it looks even more like one when he upends the plastic tub to have it sit upside down on the plate he'd brought in the box. Shockingly, it's not even that much of a disaster, either. Once that's done, he snags a couple of those big numbered candles and buries the sharpened stick ends into the top (which takes more effort than it rightfully should- stupid hardened chocolate.

Only once they're lit does he finally shove the box and whatnot to the side and lean back, allowing a spark of magic to dim the lights above their table.]

Okay, you can look!

[Go on, look upon his masterpiece.]

[When Teddy opens his eyes, he's totally expecting a cake. Even has a little smile on his face in anticipation for it. When he sees a giant chocolate bar instead, the smile slips away for something like awe, his jaw dropping a bit while he stares at this glorious sight before him. How did - What - Oh my god -]

Holy... [Is about all he can say out of all of that.]

[Billy's just going to assume that's a positive reaction, holding on to his grin.]

Yeah, um. I lied, it's not really a cake. It's a Snickers bar. Hence all the chocolate.

You're kidding. How did you even make this?

[Yep, he's already reaching out to pull it towards him. Snickers is only like his favorite candy bar in all the worlds ever, so a giant one... Holy shit.]

I found a recipe. It's actually not that difficult, just kind of time-consuming. And heavy.

[Billy gives the bar a meaningful prod.]

Go on, blow out the candles before they get wax all over the top.

[... ... ...

Teddy looks up from the bar, eyebrow raised.]

Oh no, not yet. Don't think you can escape singing the Birthday song, Kaplan.

Edited 2013-09-01 01:15 (UTC)

[DAMMIT uh. Well, it's not like he was sure he'd get away with it. Billy mock-pouts for a moment, then leans back, drumming his fingers on the table a few times to give himself an intro before singing,]

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Tee-bear,
Happy Birthday to you!

[The nickname is his quiet rebellion, deal with it.]

[For the first two lines, Teddy rests his chin in his hands and teasingly looks at Billy with adoring eyes, complete with an innocent smile. He wants to groan because ugh, that song, but it's not like he wants Billy to stop.

After the nickname, though, Teddy lets out a snort before he hangs his head to hide his grin, fingers against his hairline. Tee-bear, really?]

Okay, okay, I get it. [Subtle retaliation, he sees it.

Now that Billy's done, though, Teddy lifts his head, takes in a breath, and blows out the candles easily. Eighteen years old, and he's still doing dorky things like this.]

[Billy smirks, getting up from the table and coming over to Teddy's side to give him a quick peck on the cheek.]

I'm gonna get a knife to cut it, so feel free to pick away at it if you want. It'll only be a minute.

[After that he wanders off to the counter, chatting briefly with the server before hopping over to raid the kitchen for a knife, a cup of steaming water, and a towel, with which he will return in a minute.]

[Oh, he'll pick at it all right. Teddy can't really resist the call of a Snickers bar (unless money is tight), though it is a little large for his mouth...

Except he's a shape-shifter, so.

When Billy comes back, the end of the bar is already bitten off, and Teddy is chewing the last few bitefuls with his eyes shut with pleasure. At least Billy didn't have to see just how he managed to get that large of a bite from the bar.]

[It would be impossible to miss the huge chunk of chocolate bar bitten off the end - between the teeth marks, the center showing, and Teddy chewing away with that look on his face. Billy stands beside the table in stunned silence for a moment, taking it all in, then sighs quietly and slides back into his chair, dunking the knife into the water to let it heat up.]

I should've known better than to leave you two alone. Maybe I ought to forget about the knife and just let you go at it.

[Teddy's lips quirk up in a smile at that statement, though his eyes remain shut for the moment. At least, until he can swallow and look at his boyfriend with a teasing gleam in his eyes.]

Yeah, sorry, I'm leaving you for the Snickers bar. [And as he pushes the bar forward,] Unless you want to make it a threesome.

[Billy snorts, reaching out to pick off a little chunk of chocolate that was loosened where Teddy bit the end.]

A strange suggestion, coming from you. Wouldn't you implode from jealousy when I bond with it instead?

[He eats the mouthful and then takes his sweet time sucking the chocolate off his fingers, lifting a brow. He knows how Teddy gets when he feels threatened, after all.]

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