009 - [Video]

[halfnhalf]

[With the knowledge of getting out of here soon looming on the horizon with no set date, Teddy's been thinking more and more about his home. The thought of seeing his friends again, his weird, pseudo-family, the tall buildings of New York City, the crowds of people... it makes him so, so excited to just hop on the next plane back home and say goodbye to this place for good.

At the same time, he can't really deny that Luceti's been... okay, for what it was. A glorified prison for glorified lab rats, a vacation house in the middle of a very pretty hell. Horrible things have happened here that Teddy would rather forget about. But, just as well, some pretty incredible things happened too. There are some things he doesn't really want to forget, although he wouldn't mind the alternative. Start the adventure all over again with Billy at his side through all of it – it sounds more and more appealing the more he thinks about it.

Which he's doing as he flips through his journal, looking back on not only his own past entries, but his friends as well. Birthdays, introspection, some rather embarrassing or plain hilarious things... It's all kind of nice to look back on, and he can't help wondering a few things, too. Might as well before the end, after all.

So he turns on the video, where he taps his Starkphone against his upper lip for a moment before he addresses everyone.]

So hey. Before we all go back – or not, for some of you guys, I wanted to ask something. What's the best memory you have of this place that you might wanna keep with you? It doesn't have to be the happiest or anything. Maybe it made you proud or relieved or whatever gave you feels. But there's got to be one little memory you're at least kind of fond of, right?

Or, you know... one of the best, if you don't want to talk about your favorite one. I get the privacy thing, it's cool.

[And... this will probably, hopefully, be his last post on this thing. He can't help thinking of that as he waits for responses, too.]

Comments

[halfnhalf]

Really? It sounds pretty awesome. [He says it with interest, and he punctuates it by resting his chin on his hands as if Billy's got his utmost attention.] Tell me all about it.

[selfhelp]

It's kind of a long story, but... the short version is that I was taken out for a picnic at the most romantic place in this whole world, and an extremely handsome prince decided for some weird reason that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. Crazy, right?

[halfnhalf]

Mm, I wouldn't say that. I mean, you're really cute. He'd be the crazy one if he didn't want to spend the rest of his life with you.

[selfhelp]

Hah, well, I must be cute enough if a guy with such good taste says so.

[halfnhalf]

More than cute enough. I'm jealous of that handsome prince already. He's really lucky to have someone like you for a future husband.

[selfhelp]

Stop that, you'll make me blush. But yeah... sometimes I get fidgety and think he could totally do better, but if anybody tried to steal him away I'd totally put up a fight. He's worth it.

[halfnhalf]

[Hey no, none of that self-deprication, Kaplan, that's one of your weaknesses there. Teddy pauses, flips the phone in his fingers a few times, before he looks at the screen again.]

I'm pretty sure he thinks you're worth it, too. And that even if you don't think so, you're totally the best choice he could ever have made in his eyes. [He smiles as he gives a sage nod.] So says the guy with good taste.

[selfhelp]

Heh... well, I can't argue with you, then. You're probably right.

[He wasn't really intending to be self-deprecating about it anyway- he's just amazed sometimes, looking down and seeing the ring on his finger, realizing it's actually his, that Teddy chose him. It's both mind-boggling and cool.]

What about you? Any good memories?

[halfnhalf]

Hmm. Well. I proposed to a very handsome wizard about a year ago. That was a really awesome memory. Probably my favorite.

[His smile softens a little as he looks down at his hands, where his own ring is. Not only did they decide to spend the rest of their lives together, but Billy had been so happy too, so absolutely joyful, that it was probably one of the most vivid parts of that day for him.]

He gave me some of the best birthdays, too. He got me games I wanted, played a sport he didn't even like just for me, sang for me, made me a giant chocolate bar... made me laugh... gave me the stars.

[selfhelp]

[Hah... apparently two can play at this game. At least he's well-versed in this enough that compliments from Teddy don't get him so flustered the way they once did. It's still a thrill, of course - probably always will be - but it's a familiar and comforting sensation, and it makes him grin.]

How do you give someone the stars, anyway? Ridiculous. It's like something out of a story book. I'm pretty sure I read that one.

[halfnhalf]

Hey, hey. He's a wizard. He can do all kinds of amazing things, even story book stuff. He could make the stars show up on his clothes and it'd be completely legit.

[... That'd be pretty cool, actually.]

[selfhelp]

...You really think he could?

[Because now he's thinking. And that? Would be totally amazing.]

[halfnhalf]

He definitely could. Give 'em the old razzle dazzle.

[Someone's heard that song far too many times and it's all probably thanks to his fiancé.]

[selfhelp]

Hmm. That would involve either a sing-along striptease or a day in criminal court.

[He knows which one he'd prefer.]

[halfnhalf]

I could live without the singalong part. But the striptease? Hell yes.

[Does that mean Billy's gonna give him a striptease later oh please yes]

[selfhelp]

I hope that isn't the kind of story you'd be sharing with the public.

[He's offering a vague "maybe". The potential is definitely there.]

[halfnhalf]

What happens behind bedroom doors stays behind bedroom doors. Cross my heart.

[selfhelp]

Good to know. Not that it has anything to do with me...

[halfnhalf]

Oh, no. Not at all. I'm talking about my handsome fiancé, after all.

[... He still really likes saying that word.]

He should be pretty close by, actually.

[selfhelp]

I don't doubt that. Anybody would want to stick close to a catch like you.

[And yeah he's pretty much like a room over, max.]

But in that case, I should really leave you to, you know, whatever.

[halfnhalf]

Yeah. Gonna whatever it up now.

[And with that, he shuts his journal.

...

And after a few seconds, he shows up in the doorway with a big smile.]

Well, hey there.

[selfhelp]

[Billy was already setting aside his own journal, and he can't quite help smiling back. Yeah, they were being a bit silly, but it was fun.]

Hey there, yourself. What've you been up to?

[halfnhalf]

I just got done talking to a really cute guy. [He sits down beside him, gaze up on the ceiling.] He kept trying to pull fast ones on me. But I told him about how charming and handsome you were, and he just had to back down after that.

[selfhelp]

[Billy shifts a bit closer, edging his toes beneath Teddy's thighs. He's got socks on but his toes are a bit nippy, and nothing warms his up like Teddy does.]

I guess there's no competing with infatuation these days. Are you sure he isn't just biding his time and hoping to seduce you later?

[halfnhalf]

[omg boyfriend, rude. Teddy makes a face from the sudden icy cold sensation against his thigh, though he doesn't move away, as this is something Billy regularly does when he's cold. He just raises an eyebrow at him, then shifts a bit to let Billy's toes be more comfortable.]

Pretty sure I've already been thoroughly seduced. By a guy who's pressing his cold toes up against me, no less.