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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[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.

[Teddy's brows lift at that, though his smile doesn't soften as much as he'd like it to, the excitement just being too contagious. Yeah... he's definitely glad he didn't point out just how much luck was in that shot - or how little, in this case.]

I did, huh. [He moves his own free up to catch Billy's fingers as it toys with his collar, then lifts them up to kiss the tips of them.] Guess you got lucky in more ways than one...

[Although with the two of them teasing each other like this, and their hands occupied, he can't exactly take it off just yet. He does, however, lower Billy's hands from his lips to slide down his stomach until it reaches the edge of his shirt; wanna do the honors, bf?]

[Billy's gaze lifts to meet Teddy's, the smile easing off into a gentle smirk, and his fingers tease against the fabric of the shirt for a moment, testing Teddy's reaction. He does very much want to do the honours, actually, but he wants to enjoy it, if that's the case.]

You know, this is a public place, with a viewing window up top. We have to be careful what we do here.

[He says, a bit shamelessly, as he finally lets go of Teddy's hands to grip the shirt, pulling it up and over the blond's head.

...No matter how many times he sees it, that is still a damn fine prize.]

Never stopped us before.

[The same little smirk is on Teddy's face as he raises his arms and lets Billy pull the shirt off; yeah, sometimes they'd get a little too caught up in whatever fantasy they created. He keeps Billy's words in mind, though he's completely serious about his own, too, judging by the way he locks his hands in the air and arches his back, stretching even though he doesn't have to, just to give Billy a good view of his torso and abs, before he lowers his arms to rest his hands against Billy's sides.]

Well. Now I know how to make you a professional.

[Ooh, that is a nice view indeed. Shirt in hand, and with Teddy holding him like that, Billy lifts the material to his face to give it a quick, shameless sniff. Sweat, coffee, and something uniquely him- he loves that scent. He lowers the shirt, his smile visible just above the fabric, and leans in to bump his body against Teddy's.]

I think you'd run out of clothes to take off long before I made it to pro. But I'm not opposed to the idea...

[With Billy leaning up against him, Teddy slides his hands from Billy's sides to the small of his back instead, fingers just barely teasing the edge of his pants. It's always nice, so nice, to get a reminder that he actually looks good to Billy. Him, who can pick out every single flaw about himself, and Billy doesn't even consider it. Just loves him for everything, even the flaws.

... Though, really, what he's mostly thinking about is how close together they are.]

Always plenty of clothes in the shop. I could always get more...

That just sounds counter-productive. Not to mention embarrassing, if you start my games with twelve layers and leave with none.

[Billy lifts the shirt to drape it around the back of Teddy's neck, gently tugging on each end to pull him down, foreheads touching.]

And then I'd forfeit the game, because I'd just want to drag you home, and...

[He can use his imagination for the rest.]

[Teddy lets out a soft chuckle, eyes glancing downward to look at Billy's lips.]

Sort of like what I've been wanting to do to you since you walked into the cafe...?

[His hands slide to Billy's hips, just to punctuate his statement, and to feed their imagination a little more.]

[A faint line of red crosses Billy's cheeks, feeling the same wave of pleasure as the one he'd felt when Teddy had first complimented his new look. Clearly he really had made a good decision. Despite the amount of work it had taken to get it right... yeah, he's definitely doing this again.]

You liked it that much, huh.

[He gives the shirt another tug, drawing closer still, barely a breath away.]

[The action makes Teddy take in a quiet breath, lips parted and gaze hooded as he keeps his gaze on Billy's eyes. They're so close that he can feel the heat coming from Billy's body, every breath and every twitch, every little sway as they're drawn closer and closer together. His hands slide partway down Billy's upper thighs, as far as the human body can reach, then up again, until they slide under his shirt to rest on his bare sides.]

Loved it.

[And thinking they probably shouldn't waste any more time, lest they end up molding together with all their tugging and pulling, Teddy tilts his head and closes what little distance is between them to kiss him, deep and passionate, tugging him until Billy's flush against his body.]

[Oof. So much for basketball. Billy isn't complaining, though- his mouth his far too preoccupied with the whole make-out thing. Much better than shooting a ball through a hoop. He knows all the rules to this game, all the steps. And he's much better at it, besides.

He lets go of the shirt with one hand, winding it around Teddy's shoulders instead, his fingers toying with his hair and neckline. The other hand grips both ends of the shirt, to keep Teddy as close as he can, to prolong that kiss as long as they've got air.

Happy birthday, for sure.]

[It's safe to say that Teddy prefers this to basketball any day, no matter how passionate he is about the sport. This sport in particular has much higher priorities, after all, and is thoroughly enjoyed by the both of them. Therefore, it's much more fun.

Teddy's hands are quite busy themselves, taking advantage of their position to slide up Billy's shirt, as much as they can without causing discomfort, and smears up and along his chest, thumbs grazing the nipples, before he brings them back down again, this time winding around to press against the small of his back. Definitely, definitely better than basketball, even as he breaks the kiss to breathe, lips still hovering over Billy's as if he's ready to dive back in as soon as he catches his breath.]

[Billy's already breathless, shuddering against him, and the more Teddy's hands wander, the more he wants to touch, too. The shirt is abandoned, and Billy begins to run his hands over the exposed skin, one sliding over his back, the other down his chest, stroking and groping without shame or hesitation. At least, until there's a muffled crash behind them, and Billy's eyes snap open, tilting his head to the side so he can get a glance over Teddy's shoulder.

Oh, right. They're not exactly alone. And one of the AI players just fell over a chair.]

...I think we should take this somewhere more, um, private. Any more of this and I'll want to rip your pants off, too.

[And that would just get weird with an audience.]

[The crash makes Teddy jump a little and turn his head, only to let out a groan, roll his eyes, and lean forward to press his head against Billy's shoulder. His dream team can be so, so embarrassing sometimes. But Billy's words make him chuckle, and he lifts his head up to nudge his nose against Billy's jawline.]

I'm all for that. Wouldn't want them giving us creepy stares while we tear each other's clothes off.

[Now, to fly back, or to let Billy teleport them back...]

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