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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...I love you? A lot?

[How can you be suspicious of that, come on.]

[Gaze. GAZE.

... Until he breaks it to duck his head and laugh quietly, anyway.]

I think I'm better off being your boyfriend than your cape. Certainly a lot more benefits. [He gives him a nudge with his shoulder; definitely more benefits.]

[Pfft. Well, one of them was bound to crack eventually. Billy's lips quirk into a smile and he relaxes, snagging the last bite of his chocolate and standing up.]

Definitely better benefits. Mutually. Speaking of which, are you about ready? I need to work off all this junk food.

Oh, yeah -

[NOMF. There went the half of a slice he had left, stuffed easily into his mouth.

Though he may need to take a minute or two to chew it all up, because that was a pretty big slice. Sorry if that was unattractive, bf, but at least Teddy's standing up now...!]

[Wow, Teddy, it's a good thing he loves you. Billy keeps smiling anyway, though, and distracts himself by packing the remains of the "cake" back into the box, tucking it under his arm. He gives a wave to the server at the counter before snagging Teddy's hand and pulling him towards the door. Let's go-o-o~]

So I guess we should make that again sometime.

Mmhmm.

[Teddy nods to emphasize that he does agree, he very much agrees. But he can't exactly voice that fact yet, what with his mouth still full of chocolate, peanuts, caramel and nougat. He follows along, though he seems to be pulling ahead a little; this is exciting, man!]

[His boyfriend, ladies and gentlemen.

Eventually they make their way down to the dome, which may or may not have involved a teleport or just a nice walk through the woods, and with all of Teddy's chewing he probably had to put up with a whole lot of babble from his boyfriend. Thankfully they're both used to that.

Once they arrive, though, Billy nudges Teddy over to the console.]

Go program in your basketball thing, I'm gonna run up and put the chocolate upstairs so nobody swipes it. Be right back.

All right.

[Teddy starts typing as Billy heads up the stairs, using some of the programming that Fayt taught him, and - he pauses at one point, then presses more buttons as a smirk starts to come up.

He told Billy about his dream team that isn't quite a dream yet. Maybe he should let him meet the team and their... charming qualities.]

[It only takes Billy a minute to go up then back down again, in the middle of undoing the top buttons of his shirt to give himself some air for the game. Even if he's terrible or just tossing the ball at the basket, he doesn't want to get overheated.]

Okay, I'm ready when you are.

[... ... ...

Teddy is going to see the rest of those buttons undone if it's the last thing he does. And that shirt is going to come off, too. And the pants. And -

Hngh. Easy, Altman, gotta finish this thing up.

He blinks, realizing that his eyes had kiiiind of strayed down to watch what Billy was doing. Eyes up, and then he tilts his head to the door.]

The court's ready, too. Let's get going. [And in through the door we go~~

Inside, it looks like a basketball stadium, like the kind you'd see on TV. In the center of the court is a team of twelve players in what looks like a mid-stretching warm-up, each doing a different thing. Though they do seem a bit automated and repeat the exercises a bit too precisely, as AI are oft to do.]

Meet the team. Don't worry, they're not actually going to play. I just wanted to show you what I was working on.

[The team itself is of mixed races, even one with elf ears and one with a tail. Each has a number, but also a question mark for the name. Teddy has always been and probably always will be the worst at names.]

Edited 2013-09-16 07:13 (UTC)

[Billy has to refrain from commenting on that, but don't think he missed that look, Teddy. Way to give him even more incentive to dress up again.

Once they're inside, he doesn't even try not to laugh. It just... it's so ridiculous-looking, sort of like watching those silly Skyrim mods. Elves do not look cool in basketball uniforms.]

Oh, wow. Um. Well, the programming doesn't look that bad...

No, just wait.

[Teddy trots down the stairs that lead to the court, where a few basketballs await. The team pauses to look at him, awaiting his instruction.

And when he throws one of said basketballs, a few of the teammates run after it

and

have decided that the chairs the ball flew into are an obstacle they can't possibly get over, and so they run against it as if they were running against a wall.

Teddy immediately looks back at Billy and gestures with both arms to the teammates, his expression far less than impressed.]

Edited 2013-09-16 08:07 (UTC)

[Billy stares at the player for a long moment, tilting his head slightly to the side and quirking a brow. Well, that... sure is not what he'd call productive programming.

He's really not sure what he'd call that, actually. Besides a mess.

He glances back at Teddy, then lifts his hands to slowly clap them together. Artificial intelligence, minus the intelligence. Gold star, Teddy.]

[With his arms still up, Teddy takes a bow at the waist. Yes, you are looking at the world's best master of programming right here.

Meanwhile, it looks like the players have given up, looking after the ball for a moment before walking back into place. Yep, nothing to see here.]

Edited 2013-09-16 08:22 (UTC)

[Billy smiles playfully, stopping his applause to jog over to where the basketball had gotten stuck, twirling it around in his hands a few times before starting up a lazy dribble from one hand to the next. He may not be great at sports or know all the rules of the professional leagues, but he'd played a few times in gym class, so he knows the basics.]

Maybe I can help you out with the programming later. Coding can be kind of a pain, and it's easier to catch errors with a second pair of eyes.

Knock yourself out. I went over it at least fifteen times already... I bet it's one little thing that I'll feel stupid out later.

[Teddy grabs another basketball, dribbling it a few times before he spins it on one finger... only to have it fall over after a few seconds; he may be great at the game, but he still can't really get this down.]

[Billy cracks a grin at the fallen basketball - Mr. Show-Off's not doing so well! - and lines up for a shot, aims, crouches, releases, and...

....

Toooootally misses. By like three feet.]

[... Pfffft hahahaaaaa

Although to Teddy's credit, all he really does is snort and crack a smile before he backs up, until he's by Billy's side.]

You're losing your aim when you shoot, I think. It's okay, it's easy to do. You're pulling out of the crouch too fast. Do it slow right now - aim, crouch...

[He follows the motion as he speaks, and when he shoots - BAM, clean through the net!]

[Billy scowls, both because of the laugh and because of Teddy's perfect shot. He makes it look so easy...

Yeah, he's probably singing tonight. But he's not giving up yet- he goes to fetch his ball, returning to the start position and trying again. He works in Teddy's advice, slowing himself down a bit, but this time to ball just bounces off the backboard.]

...I swear the basket wasn't this far away in gym class.

[The shot Billy takes misses just as Teddy passes under it to retrieve his ball, so he goes ahead and grabs that too. Once he has both of them, he dribbles them alternatively between each hand.]

You were closer this time! It's not something you'll immediately get better at; you've got to get used to the feel of it first.

[With that, he passes Billy's ball back to him, then shoots his own again, this time from the edge of the court. It's not a perfect shot, as it bounces on the rim, but it still makes it in the basket.]

[Stupid talented gorgeous jerk 8( Billy's brows furrow, and he rolls the ball back and forth a few times between his hands, considering it. He tries to memorize the feel of it, the weight, tossing it up a few inches. Hmm. Hmmmm.

He shifts into position, angling, crouching, releasing, and...!

It hits the back again, then the rim. Spins along the edge for a long moment, just teasing, and then rolls off the side. Back in his position, Billy stews.]

What the hell! It was so close!

Oooh, so close.

[Again, Teddy goes on to retrieve the both of them, flashing Billy a grin as he passes him. Billy might be stewing over it, but this is seriously fun for Teddy. He never thought he'd see the day when his boyfriend would be willing to do something like this.

Once he picks up Billy's ball, he weighs it in his hand for a moment, a thoughtful look on his face. Then a suggestive little smile comes up as he passes it to him.]

Tell you what, if you can get the next one, I'll take my shirt off for you.

[Teddy had been considering doing it anyway, but why not throw an incentive in there?]

[Billy's brows lift at that, immediately intrigued. That is most definitely good incentive for him. Billy takes a deep breath, dribbling the ball in front of him a few times as he studies the basket, thinking carefully about his previous misses. Too far, too short, too off-balance... this time? He really to score. (In more ways than one.) And since chanting is his usual method of focusing on what he's doing - and what he wants - he can't help but unconsciously do that. He's not even trying to cast, and it's under his breath, but...

...well, that's why his eyes flash blue right before the ball leaves his fingertips, flying smoothly through the air to drop right through the basket, a perfect shot. And Billy fist-pumps the air.]

Yes!!

[Teddy stares at the net when the ball flies through it without even touching the rim. It's not because of the perfect shot that Teddy's staring, though.

He knows he saw Billy's eyes flash blue. That was definitely a spell.

But when he looks back at Billy to call him on this, Teddy can immediately recognize something. There's pure excitement in the way he's reacting, a big grin on his face rather than a smirk, punching at the air like he accomplished something rather than putting his hand at his hip. That is honest happiness and delight right there, not cocky or self-satisfied. That's the look of someone who made a basket with effort, their first one after many failings, not of someone who manipulated it all for the sake of making his boyfriend lose his shirt.

All from a gesture, Teddy can tell that it was an accidental spell. And he himself slips up with his power all the time; why should he call Billy out on his? Especially when Billy looks so happy. He couldn't take that away by saying what really happened.

So he grins, more from the joy that Billy's showing rather than the shot itself, then lets his own ball drop to the floor while he jogs on over, hand lifting to give a high-five once he's close enough.]

Nice one! I'm still gonna call it a lucky shot, though.

[Billy sets free a brief, helpless laugh, slapping his palm against Teddy's and then curling his fingers to hold the blond's hand, pulling him in closer. The look Teddy'd had on his face had been priceless, and it just makes Billy's smile even bigger. That shot was nothing short of a miracle,and he'd surprised his boyfriend. What could be better?

One thing, actually. Just one thing. He leans in, the hand holding Teddy's lightly swinging back and forth, the other finger-walking up Teddy's chest, toying with his shirt collar.]

Lucky or not, you promised me a shirt.

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