002 - [Action/Voice]

[halfnhalf]

[Late in the morning, only just after he had his morning coffee and just fixed toast for breakfast, Teddy had been surprised to find himself being shoved out of the apartment by his own boyfriend. Soon, he found himself blinking at the front door, a piece of cinnamoned toast still in his hand as the post-it note with his name beside Billy's door sign fluttered mournfully to the ground.

He got out a pitiful whine and forlornly posted the note back up before he ushered himself outside, finishing his toast in the meantime.

During the day, Teddy can be found at multiple places. The first is the Battledome, where he fiddles with the settings, some as harmless as a movie theater and some as dangerous as a warzone, but he doesn't fully go through with them. He's merely going through the options for later use. He may mutter to himself about how this must be what the Danger Room is like, and he may even be up for a light spar or something different if someone found him.

The second is Seventh Heaven, where he eats a light lunch of a small burger with fries, and he's a little proud of how he didn't compare it to New York's food outloud. It doen't mean he doesn't think it, though, and he spends more time subtly people watching and listening to conversations than really focusing on food and what the homelife was like. When he's done, he doodles a few musical notes on a napkin, again to possibly be used at a later date, before he stuffs that in his pocket.

The final place is on the roof of the school. He's not doing much of anything up there, just sitting with his legs pulled up and looking out over the village.

Teddy still can't help marveling over how different this place is from what he's used to. There aren't any sounds of car alarms or horns, no distant conversations or laughter, no police sirens or a far off explosion from an invading force (though, Teddy thinks to himself, he ought to be more thankful for the lack of the latter). Occasionally at night, he still wakes up and thinks that it's too quiet, too dark. And he really hopes he's not the only one who thinks that way.

With that thought in mind, Teddy reaches behind him to take the journal, left open in case Billy decides to let him back into the apartment, and decides to address the masses.]

Does anyone else feel seriously out of place here, or am I just being weird? And I don't mean the whole, "being held captive and having to suffer through lame shifts", but just the setting in general. Anyone else out there come from a home that's completely different from a village straight out of Golden Sun?

[He decides then that he'll chat with people for a while, then venture off the roof and see if Billy will allow him back inside. Not that Teddy knows what he did to deserve being kicked outside, but maybe he can beg for forgiveness enough to be let back in.]

Comments

[voice] 1/2

[selfhelp]

[It's taken him most of the day, but finally, finally, everything seems perfect. Billy takes a moment to survey his work, hands on his hips - gingerly, since his arm is still on the mend, but he'd spent at least an hour at the clinic earlier getting in some last minute healing so it's somewhat functional now - then nods and leaves the various steaming pots on the counter before he turns to fetch his journal. Flipping through, he notices that Teddy's already got an entry up, so that makes life easier.]

Hey, Teddy, feel free to come home whenever you're done socializing. Everything's ready here.

[action]

[selfhelp]

[Now, hopefully Teddy is far enough away that he has time to finish up the final piece of his perfect-date puzzle. Smiling confidently to himself, he hefts the engraved plate he'd magicked into existence bit by bit over the last few weeks (trying to make it perfect) and carries it outside.

Aaaand promptly crashes into Teddy in the hallway. Great minds think alike, apparently- calling him back wasn't necessary at all.]

[magicalesbian]

[There is something oddly familiar about this guy, but that goes out the window at the mention of Golden Sun because omigosh.]

Tell me about it. This place is way different from any of the cities back home. I mean, there's no pollution, you can actually see the stars at night, the buildings are all made of wood, and there's so many trees everywhere!

[...]

Not that I'm complaining. But. Still. It's weird.

[halfnhalf]

[Has he seen this girl somewhere before?

...

Nah. She probably just looks like a girl he saw in a commercial or something.]

It's a lot quieter here, too. I still can't get used to the sound of just a few crickets chirping at night.

... Hey, what you're talking about sounds eerily familiar. What's your place called?

voice

[thelittlemacthatcould]

Ain't too sure what y'mean by Golden Sun, but, oh yeah. Been here for a good while an' things still surprise me. Ain't nothin' like home, that's f'sure.

voice

[halfnhalf]

It's a video game thing. So what's your place like, Mac?

[He knows enough from playing his games, but to hear it from Mac's mouth would probably make the boy in him jump for joy.]

[voice]

[sundead]

[uhh well...]

It's a lot quieter than Tokyo, if that's what you meant.

[voice]

[halfnhalf]

If everything I heard about Tokyo's true, then it's probably as noisy as New York. But yeah, that's what I mean.

[action]

[handing]

[Pepper ends up in Seventh Heaven for lunch as well, although she pauses when she sees Teddy. She hasn't talked to him since Billy told her about Teddy's heritage, when the boy in question had been asleep in a hospital bed. But Pepper had meant it when she said that being an alien didn't change what mattered most about Teddy--so it's time for her to live by her words.]

Hey, Teddy. [She walks over to his table, unable to help grinning a bit.] You know, I think I've seen this scene before, except it was Billy who was alone with his thoughts and a plate of fries.

[action]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy heard footsteps, but at the moment he'd decided to be more focused on his food than his usual people watching. He regrets it when he hears Pepper's voice, though, as it makes him look up with wide eyes and a couple of fries sticking out of his mouth.

He makes a choked sort of sound and covers his mouth with his hand as he chews and swallows quickly, pointedly looking away with a blush covering his cheeks. Oh yeah, he's a great alien/savior/prince of his race.]

Uh - Pepper! Sorry, I didn't... [Aaah, whatever. He lowers his hand to give her a sheepish smile, mouth and teeth now void of fries.] I guess I was too deep with my thoughts. Was Billy kicked out of the apartment, too?

[action]

[stillplaying]

[She's been out in the eastern woods for a change, scouting more than hunting. The western woods will always be her home here, the forests she knows the best, where the lake is and the treehouse and memories that don't hurt so much. But it could be okay to expand, to hunt somewhere new. Especially if it means no river or stream to cross when it rains.

It is on her return from the eastern forest that she sees him. It's not the first time she's seen a blonde haired boy sitting on one of the roofs within the village. But still, it's not exactly a common occurrence. She stops at the edge of the woods, behind the schoolhouse, and watches. For a moment, she thinks that the boy is Draco and takes a few steps closer. But the build isn't quite right.

When she realizes that, she stops in her tracks again. Watching is safer for now.]

[action]

[halfnhalf]

[With Teddy's hearing the way it is, he can hear the footsteps, hesitant as they are, and how they stop. But he's heard plenty of footsteps pass through the plaza, so he doesn't exactly call attention to it.

After a moment, though, when he realizes that they haven't moved, Teddy lowers his head a little, listening for the sound again. Then, he finally looks toward it, and sees the girl watching him.

He offers a light smile, a nod, and a little wave. Hey there.]

voice;

[consultsdetective]

Yeah, I know the feeling. London it's not. I never had it figured that nothing happening would make it harder to sleep than it was already.

voice;

[halfnhalf]

Here I thought the sound of quiet made you sleep better. I guess when you're used to car horns and other not quiet noises, it sticks with you for a while.

[voice]

[dogboy]

[PFFFT yes. Soren, his Swellow, was born and raised here. But Chien himself? Naw he comes from the jungle.]

There was a small village near where I lived, but this place is bigger. Not as dangerous either. Compared to my home, it's pretty... safe, I guess.

[And friendly. Too friendly.]

What's the sun have to do with it though?

[voice]

[halfnhalf]

Huh? Oh, sorry. Just a reference to something from my world.

Safe's a good word for it, though... when shifts and drafts don't happen, anyway. What's it like at your home?

[Voice]

[thefinaljedi]

I don't think anyone here feels in place. The entire village is pretty surreal, but I think you get used to it.

[Lord knows Luke had]

[Voice]

[halfnhalf]

[That voice sounds familiar -

Is that Luke Skywalker.

IS THAT LUKE. FUCKING. SKYWALKER.

Pardon the long pause from Teddy as he just GLEES THE FUCK OUT INSIDE and tries to wait until he's sure his voice won't squeak or generally sound embarrassing.

okay




okay

he's good.]

I... guess I still need a while. Or something. [Smooth.]

[Action]

[shieldsup]

[Susan's wandering around doing her usual business in and around the village. Most of the days like this she's spent at the Battle Dome. When she spots Teddy lingering in the area, she can't help but walk over.]

Hey Teddy, why the long face?

[Action]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy has his hand on the panel and is staring at the coordinates when Susan calls for him. Right now it looks like he's got the settings on some kind of battle on rooftops in New York City, and her voices breaks him out of his thoughts and makes him turn his head to look at her.]

Susan? ... Was I that obvious? [He rubs the back of his neck; he really should be more on top of his emotions.]

[Voice]

[wildkotetsu]

Yeah! [Oh, right, intro-ing into normal conversation. Blurting things are totally a way to start one.] This place is a lot more like my hometown, I mean, but I actually live in a big, bright city. Y'know, lights, tall buildings, blimps, giant TVs...

[okay, he's ticking them off his fingers at some point]

[Voice]

[halfnhalf]

[Well that voice sure is familiar. Teddy is so, so so so tempted to look and see who it is, but he's afraid of his own reaction. So he just buries that temptation away and keeps looking out over the village instead.]

That sounds kind of like where I came from, with the lights and the tall buildings. Where are you from?

[Voice]

[toujoursfluer]

village straight out of Golden Sun? I'm not sure I understand that reference.

[Voice]

[halfnhalf]

Looks like a lot of people don't. It's a video game from my world; the villages there look a lot like the ones here, is all.

[Voice]

[doubleppk]

Yes, I think I definitely understand that feeling. Even traveling most of the world, this place is still extremely foreign. I guess it's only natural since it is an entirely different world, but I can't get used to everyone having superpowers. Real ones, not just tricks.

[And they can't even be stolen. Such a waste.]

[Voice]

[halfnhalf]

I can imagine. People with superpowers are more of a minority back at home, but there's enough of them around to not be surprised by it. But to someone who's never seen someone with real powers... It's foreign in more ways than one, huh?

[Action]

[inkdrops]

[It's close to the end of her shift at the restaurant for Miyabi, just twenty or so minutes left before she gets off. Teddy's order is, actually, going to be the last one she brings out, most likely. Today's been on and off slow and busy, so she's not bustling about as much today as other days. She smiles pleasantly as she arrives with the food, greeting the young man gently. He kinda seems to be spacing.

Her smile drops a little, changing to mild concern and curiosity.]

Uhm...s-sir? Your meal?

[Action]

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy'd just been looking out the window and at one of the buildings when he hears her. He blinks out of it and turns to her, a friendly smile coming up while he straightens up.]

Oh, sorry. Spaced out there. [He grins once he sees the food though.] That was fast!

[voice]

[powdersup]

There's certainly less power lines for there being a functioning electrical grid. The lack of automobiles is killing me too.

[voice]

[halfnhalf]

I can sure get the lack of power lines. But in the city where I live, automobiles are kind of more of a hindrance than anything. It's actually a lot faster to walk, or to take the subway somewhere. I guess it's not like that where you are?

[thebellthatbinds]

[A burger and fries, huh? Sabriel served the same thing to Teddy's counterpart a month or so ago and ended up having quite a nice chat with the young man. It had been a while since she'd been properly social after the...incident around Houses 44 and 46 and she might look a little different than Teddy might remember her.

Tray in hand she pauses by Teddy's chair, giving the young man a small, mild smile.]

Hello Teddy. Can I get you anything?

[halfnhalf]

[Teddy had seen her before she approached, and it's one of the reasons why he doesn't look too surprised to see how different she looks. If only because he already took the time to widen his eyes and keep it under wraps.

The smile he gives in return hasn't changed since the first time he smiled at her, as a result.]

Nothing except food for a growing teen, and it looks like you brought that already? [And a hopeful glance to the tray.]

[voice] She is walking into a very late trap

[frost_jewel]

Most of the people here probably feel out of place, for one reason or another, even if that reason is not "this is not my home." Is your home town very different from this, then?

[voice] hhhhhhhiiii mia /lurk

[halfnhalf]

[Considering Mia was never voiced in that game, he doesn't seem to realize who he's talking to at first. Give him a moment for when he actually looks at the journal.]

More like completely different. We've got tall buildings, lights everywhere, constant noises going off even at night... I'd say it's the direct opposite of this.

What about yours?

voice

[positivelycharged]

There's a village in the sun?

voice

[halfnhalf]

Ah - No, sorry about that. It's the name of a story I... read once. It has a village like this in it.