halfnhalf | 002 - [Action/Voice]

Entry tags:

002 - [Action/Voice]

[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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hmm... I'm thinking enjoy the movie first, invent hideous food another time. I don't know how much of an iron stomach you've got but throwing up isn't on my game plan tonight.

[Or maybe when he gets himself some more plain old melting chocolate, instead of brownie mix. God knows what's in that stuff (besides the chocolate chips, that was his doing).]

Too bad we can't take this with us. Microwave popcorn is okay, but the good stuff is from a real popper.

[Teddy would rather not end the evening with Billy throwing up either, so he'll just grin and give a nod of agreement. Another time, then, when they both feel brave enough to possibly spend the rest of the afternoon feeling sick to their stomachs because they were being stupid teenagers.

He finally does open his eyes to watch the popcorn at Billy's comment, noting that it's almost done.]

I think we're just doomed to have to visit movie theaters forever for that kind of popcorn treatment. But I'm not complaining. [After all, it means more excuses to go see movies together.]

Oh no, what a terrible fate we have. [His tone dry, Billy lets go of Teddy to reach out and fetch them a big, buttery bag of fresh popcorn, taking his hand again and pulling him over towards the seats.] Okay, birthday boy, pick a seat and I'll get it started.

[Teddy slides his hands out of Billy's pockets once the popcorn's done, only to be led over to the seats. In that case, he'll just flop back onto the seat he'd taken before, hands entwined over his stomach and content to watch Billy work.]

I don't know about you, but these are way more comfortable than movie seats.

You think? I was going to keep working on the program later, make it a little bigger or something, but maybe I should keep the seats the way they are.

[He plops down in the seat beside Teddy, dropping the backpack in the next seat over and handing Teddy a popcorn bag. Next to come out is the two cups - deposited into the cup holders - as well as the bottle of soda, which he uses to fill up.]

[And since they must keep in contact at all times, Teddy reaches to rest his hand against Billy's shoulder blade while he works. With the other, he'll set the popcorn bag in his lap and begin snacking on them. Mm, just as good as theater popcorn.]

Definitely keep the seats. They're perfectly good to lounge in for next time we do this.

[Because there will most certainly be a next time, with them being such movie fans and all.]

Okay, the seats stay. I'll just make the screen bigger, then.

[Next time, though. Right now they have a movie to watch. Once he's done getting things set up, Billy settles back down in his seat and flicks the remote to get the movie started. Then he passes it over, making something of a show of it.]

Since it's your birthday I'll give you the honour of controlling the movie. But don't abuse this power!

[Oh pffft, Teddy can't help laughing quietly at that. Boyfriend you are ridiculous, but he, too, will make a show of taking the remote.]

The remote of power... It can turn all those who hold it mad, unless one is strong of heart.

[He holds it in the palm of his hand a little while longer, reminiscent of Boromir examining the ring in the movies... before he smiles and gives a shrug, moving his thumb to push PLAY.]

Good thing my heart's already taken.

[Pffft.]

Dork.

[It's said quietly and not the least bit seriously, as the lights fade and the movie starts up. Billy shifts over as far to the side of his seat as he can get, resting his head on Teddy's shoulder and settling in to enjoy the movie.

Part 2, he thinks, is a complete success as well. Hopefully #3 will go over without a hitch, too...]

[And so Teddy watches, slowly eating the popcorn and mouthing the words to the songs and keeping his one free hand locked with Billy's. This is not only a favorite of Teddy's, but also a nostalgic one; his mother got it for him when he was just a little boy, thinking the cover looked cute and that it was perfect for him. She had no idea how dark it actually was until she saw it along with him, but he loved it so much that she decided not to take it back. It was one of those movies that he watched at least once a day as a child with so much energy and not enough to do.

These days, he still watches it occasionally, and still loves it as much as he did back then, if the way he smiles at certain points says anything. Though with everything he's been through, one or two parts make him tense up, but the moment is soon gone. Mrs. Brisby is still bamf and quietly heroic and snarky and is still his favorite and everything else about the movie is still epic as always. He's just happy Billy likes the movie too; he'd been worried when he first showed it to him as revenge for watching so much Sound of Music, but his worries were unfounded. And Teddy probably fell more in love with him that day.

As the credits play, Teddy finds himself mouthing the words to the song again, even very quietly singing it. God, he loves that song.]

[Billy does enjoy the movie, yes, though not as much as Teddy- he lacks the nostalgia attached to it, those childhood memories, since his childhood is full of cartoons like the old Avengers, or X-Men, or Batman shows, and the classic musicals he barely understood but often watched with his parents.

No, what he liked most about it was seeing how much Teddy loved it, so during the credits, as Teddy mouths along - and sings with - the final song, Billy tilts his head up to watch him, indulging in the joy and the delight in his eyes, the sound of his voice, and the fingers wrapped around his own.

Yeah, this was a good idea. And he might even try to sing along himself, shy as he is about his own voice. He mostly just likes to listen.]

[Teddy hears that voice alongside his own, though he doesn't quiet down to listen, despite how much he'd like to. Billy would probably stop if he did that, as he is shy about his voice. He wouldn't understand why, considering his voice is perfect to him, if he himself wasn't shy about his own. He's not bad, and apparently very good if he tries. He just can't help it.

So he just keeps singing quietly along and gives Billy a long glance, noticing him watching him. Near the end, he stops all together, because he just can't hold himself back anymore - So he leans around to kiss him.

This was definitely a good idea.]

[Huh what but we were singin- oh.

...Well this is alright.

Billy indulges in the kiss for a long moment before drawing back a little reluctantly, remaining close, his arms comfortably around Teddy's neck. That? That was nice.]

Mm... I'll take that as a sign that you enjoyed the movie.

Mmhmm.

[Teddy's own arms remain entwined around Billy's waist, his smile gentle and musing while he keeps their foreheads together. That was nice. And... well, surely the evening can't get any better, so might as well get comfy here.]

You really are the very best.

Haha, you keep saying that like you're trying to give me an excuse to one-up what I've already done!

[He tilts his head to nuzzle his nose lightly against Teddy's, lowering his voice.]

Close your eyes.

[At first, Teddy doesn't shut his eyes, because really? There's more? He keeps saying that because he's never been this spoiled, not even on previous birthdays.

So, so spoiled. Pfft...

Finally, though, he does shut his eyes, his arms sliding back enough to rest his hands lightly on Billy's waist instead, in case his boyfriend needs to move.]

What am I supposed to expect now? You keep surprising me.

[Psh. Only Teddy would consider dinner and a movie to be spoiling. Billy just grins, tugging him upright a bit, then murmurs something under his breath, too faint to be understood, and then the soft, warming energy of his magic is swirling around them, accompanied by the usual blue glow. There's a flash of light, and suddenly they're standing on Luceti's beach, the salty ocean breeze making Billy open his eyes and focus on Teddy. Worried that the air might have the same effect on his boyfriend, he lifts a hand to cover Teddy's eyes, stretching his free hand out towards the water as the tide washes in and out over the rocks and sand around them.]

Not yet.

[His voice is soft, yet still carried by the wind; there's one more flash of blue, spreading out from his hand and sweeping across the surface of the water in both directions as far as the eye can see. It's such an exhilarating rush of power, pushing the limits of something he's never done before, and he can't help but release a breathless laugh, sliding his hand down from Teddy's eyes and leaning in to rest his forehead against the other boy's, pressing their bodies together, just for a moment. That felt pretty amazing- like fresh air after being stuck inside all day, like an inhale of breath after holding it too long. Like the relief of an embrace after a worrisome absence.]

Mm... okay. Okay, you can open them now.

[His hands slide down to curl around Teddy's, stepping back to watch. When Teddy opens his eyes, he'll find the ocean changed- lit not only by the moon, but by tiny dots in the water, as if the shoreline itself now contains a million tiny stars. He gives Teddy's hand a little squeeze, bumping their shoulders together. He's got a whole scientific explanation memorized that he's ready to blather on about for five minutes straight, but right now, he just wants to enjoy the moment with the one he loves.]

...Happy birthday, T.

[There's that disorientating feeling again, the one Teddy's come to recognize as Billy warping them somewhere. And indeed, he'd been just about to open his eyes until he finds them covered. Instead, Teddy just rests his fingertips against his boyfriend's upper arms, taking his time to take in the sounds and the smells and, inevitably, the flashes of light behind his closed eyes.

They're at the ocean, he knows that. He hadn't been here since he first arrived and Billy came out to find him. With it comes the memory of the first time he'd been to the ocean, being just a kid on a much-needed vacation with his mom. This will be much different, and it's why there's still a smile on his face when Billy presses their bodies together, making Teddy move his hands to rest them against the sides of his boyfriend's neck without opening his eyes.

He doesn't even know what's happening, and it's already special. It only becomes even more so when Billy finds his hands to hold, tells him to open his eyes. and he actually does see what's happening.

The first thing he does upon seeing the sight is widen his eyes and take in a deep breath, and...]

I... Whoa.

[For now, it's really all that comes to mind. Whoa. It's so amazing that every other thought in his head falls out, just to take in the sight.

It's beautiful, like stars in the ocean, all glowing with the blue light that Billy is known for. A part of him wants to splash right in it, say that he got to soak in glowing water, and the other isn't sure if he should disturb it at all. It's one of those things that you should only look at, not step into.

The awe is clear on his face, and in his voice when he finally finds it again.]

How did... [But Teddy doesn't need to ask. It's magic, no matter how Billy did it. And finally, he tears his eyes away to nuzzle his nose against Billy's ear, a breathless laugh escaping him and his whisper puffing through his boyfriend's hair.]

You're absolutely amazing, you know that?

[Billy's grinning like a complete fool, utterly gleeful that Teddy obviously likes it. He swings their joined hands a little, glancing sidelong at Teddy, even with his face buried in his hair.]

No, nature is amazing. This stuff actually exists on Earth- it's called bioluminescent plankton. They're called dinoflagellates, I read about them; they've got this chemical inside them that glows when something moves the area they're in, like the waves. They're basically fireflies in the water. The ocean's already got tons of plankton, so all I had to was add a bit of magic, and...

[Well. The sight speaks for itself. He opens his mouth to keep going - he really can ramble on forever - so Teddy might want to shut him up.]

[Shut him up, you say? You got it.

Teddy could listen to Billy talking forever, and he does want to hear about it, but right now he's got this overwhelming urge to kiss the person he loves more than anything in the entire multiverse.

And so, that's what he'll do.]

[What, what, no, but he was totally getting to the best part, like how you can swim with them and splash around and make them light up even more and

oh

okay then, kissing it is.]

[Teddy keeps it up for a long moment, just savoring the feeling, before he pulls back, then loosens up one of their hands to cup Billy's cheek, thumb gently stroking against the bone under his eye.]

I love you. [And with a nuzzle of their noses,] So much.

[Now, they can't just stand there forever, right? So, with a big smile, Teddy walks, pulling Billy along towards the shoreline.]

So what were you going to say before I rudely interrupted?

[Billy's laugh is half-breathless against Teddy's cheek, eyes remaining closed for a long moment. He murmurs a faint but no less sincere echo of Teddy's words, silent until he feels himself being pulled, snapping his eyes open again. Right, right. Uh... he was talking...]

...I forget. [His gaze drifts to the water, the glow helpfully reminding him, then he smiles and walks with Teddy until they're right up against the water. Then he tugs his hand free to crouch down, undoing his laces.] Here, I'll show you instead. Take your shoes and socks off.

[At first Teddy stands there, a bit dumbstruck. Here he was just going to walk alongside the water with Billy, but this is implying something else.]

... We can actually walk in this? [But after he says that, he bends down to roll up his pants legs, then starts sliding off his own shoes and socks.] Won't they swim away if we do that?

It's okay, they're not fish- they just sort of drift with the water. Besides, if we don't go in they might fade.

[Plus it's more fun to immerse yourself in the experience, right?

Once their footwear is taken care of, Billy snags Teddy's hand again, pulling him into the water. Since it's September now, the water is a little chilly, but not unbearable, and as Billy swishes his feet around in the glow, the dots his feet get close to brighten up a little, the light flaring as if rekindled. He grins back at Teddy, urging him forward. Embrace nature, city boy!]

Come on, it's fun!

002 - [Action/Voice]

no no I'd have done it too

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)