Temba's Where The Heart Is

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, OTA (Some closed or limited starters)
WHERE: Temba: Greenhouse, Diner, The Twin Roses
WHAT: Tommy got hurt in Not Temba so now he's staying home for traditional work
WHEN: Early August
WARNINGS: Tommy's attitude is going to be testy due to leg soreness/pain

1. New Plants Need Time | Greenhouse | OTA

Green. Tommy had never thought he'd feel so attached to the color. Yes, it was part of his uniform but this green space, this peace... It was magical in its own way. Somehow he hadn't noticed it in himself back home, the way that when he was stressed he ran to not only natural wonders, but ones that were in some way green. But here, on Agra 10, he had found some measure of peace in the greenhouse right at the start, and in a strange way, the place felt like home.

"I'm back babes," he called out to the plants, dragging along the bubble-olive tree that Obi-Wan had helped him dig up back in the other city. He needed to get it to the place where it would have its final resting and a chance to adjust. "I've brought new friends. Once I've got them in, we're going to do a prone. And it's almost harvest time, so everyone do your best."

There was peace, calmness, happiness to be had in finding the greenhouse still standing after all the stress in life.

"Now if only I had more hands," he mused as he kept going, limping along slowly. Stupid hurt leg. But he'd power through it. He always had.


2. Food Makes Family | The Diner | OTA

Okay, so maybe he hasn't done this in a while, but that doesn't mean Tommy doesn't know what he's doing. Okay, maybe he doesn't know what he's doing very WELL but dammit he's trying. And, with people everywhere and some of the diner help staff working their asses off exploring and Tommy no longer easily able to do that, he had come to do it instead. This afternoon he was falling back on a classic. Anyone who had an issue with soup as a side today was going to get serious glares from him. For now Tommy was working on making fresh noodles from one of the Coruscant grains he had just ground into flour for the purpose.

With the back door to the kitchen open he could hear someone enter the building and he called out from the back as loud as he could to let them know he was working.

"Hold on and there will be a fresh salad or fruit if you want. I'm working on a noodle-soup. Come on back!"


3. Welcome to the Roses | Twin Roses | Closed to Twin Roses Crew

Home. Tommy was one of the lucky ones and he didn't even know it. He had brought some new plant samples to try in the Twin Roses hydroponics system and had no clue that the ships had been juggled. Then again, save for the first assignments, this had really been his ship. It was, in a weird way (especially when considering his claustrophobia) home. He moved easily and confidently through the ship, not expecting that the people on it could be so different. And once in the hold he moved right to his hydroponics unites.

"Hey kiddos," he greated them. he'd heard once that talking to plants helped, and given they had to live in the more artificial environment of the ship, he didn't intend to not do it. "Got you some new friends seeing as the sorta pea-pod vine things weren't working out. Say hi."

And now it was time to get them started.

Later on, after he was done with that task, Tommy busied himself in the laundry area, sitting on top of the washer with a bowl of chocolate protein paste with slices of fruit cut up into it, eating as the machine worked on cleaning his clothes. His injured leg hung to the side, keeping all weight off of it.

We anyone to enter he would look them dead in the eye.

"What, never seen a dude washing laundry before?"

Well, they might have, but given Tommy was literally wearing only a pair of what looked like booty shorts, there might be another reason to be staring. Be glad he wasn't standing, because that shining silver script 'juicy' on the ass might just make some people react less happily. But hey, free shirtless dude. Comment on the faint scars on his skin and there might be trouble though.


4. A Mind Is A Beautiful Thing To Use | Young Avengers home | Closed to Quentin Beck

Learning for himself had never been something Tommy was good at. It was just something that was universally true. He'd been bad at school because even before his powers had come in he'd had some attention issues. After school had been brutal. And then, well, there hadn't been school at all. The Kaplans had stressed the importance of him getting his GED and it had been pure stubborn desire to get a job and his own place that had Tommy getting his degree.

But complex issues? Tommy had always thought himself too stupid to learn really useful and valuable things. He hadn't thought about how one putting together thousands upon thousands of electronics, even according to instructions, was teaching him things. Between that and watching Tony, helping Tony, having Tony put up with him, Tommy had started to think he could learn it. Except he'd run into a road block. How was he supposed to learn the basics?

Less mobile as he was after getting hurt in Not-Temba, his mind turned back to the thing he wanted to learn. So he did the only thing he could do. He borrowed some supplies from Tony's forge he would apologize when Tony got back and sat down in his home, trying to puzzle out different resistors Tony had put together into the systems.

"This is so fucking stupidly complicated," he hissed in anger. How could he have been so fucking smart in that damn fake-city!?

Comments

New Plants Need Time

[silenziobruno]

"Do the plants talk back? They never told me anything."

Surprise, Tommy, you were not alone in the Greenhouse. There happened to be kid, looking around 13 or 14 years old, peeking from behind a large plant and holding the pinkish flower petal of a Pathistery. He had big green eyes and curly hair, skin tanned by the sun and freckles. The clothes he was wearing looked pretty threadbare, and he had no shoes on. None of that seemed to bother him in the slightest.

Alberto was looking around the greenhouse for something to eat when he heard voices and came to investigate the source. it didn't take him long to notice Tommy's limping and he pursed his lips a little before offering a smile.

"Do you need help?"

[doubled_speed]

To sneak up on Tommy Shepherd is probably one of the hardest things to do on the planet. But damn if Alberto didn't catch him off guard. The man snapped around faster than humanly possible and that led to him wincing from how he stepped weird on his injured leg. But when he saw it was only a kid he relaxed some.

"Well, you could start by maybe getting me one of those petals. If the plants aren't overly picked. Gotta manage those carefully. But I'm not sure how much strength you've got."

[silenziobruno]

It was luck mostly, and the fact that he's small and doesn't make a lot of noise while walking because he's got no shoes on. That said, Alberto is quite taken aback at the speed Tommy moves, and he's left blinking in confusion for a couple of seconds before he can articulate a reply.

"I'm strong enough." Alberto grins as he says that because confidence goes a long way. If he has trouble with the plant, he will find one way or another to get the petal. "Are you sure you don't want me helping you move that plant first?"

[doubled_speed]

"How much have you moved full trees before?" Tommy answered. He definitely didn't think a kid could handle something like this.

He continues his hauling of the tree. Sorry kid.

Welcome to the Roses

[thestaremaster]

Bucky had come to do his usual clean up routine, finding this ship not too different from the last until he happened upon a half naked kid sitting there without a care in the world.

He blinked silently, and arched a brow as he took in the scene.

"You really wait 'til the last second, huh?" he remarked, shifting his bag, "...I can come back."

[doubled_speed]

Bucky stepped into the doorway and Tommy took in a lot of facts at once. Shorter hair. Cleaner shave. Not using his name. The Arm. The arm especially. Tommy'd met T'Challa once. He knew how to recognize the look of Wakandan tech.

Huh. This wasn't who he would have thought.

"You're not Triple Scruff," he observed, sitting forward as he put his bowl aside. "Which is a few kinds of weird. I guess this means that there's been a ship change. And don't bother leaving. There's, like, ten minutes left on the cycle."

Then he'd move things to the drier.

[thestaremaster]

"...Triple Scruff," Bucky repeated, wondering if he was supposed to know what the hell that meant, head tilting faintly, but he stilled in the door way and shrugged a shoulder, moving to find a place to lean and wait out the time.

"That what you called one of the other Buckys?" he guessed finally, not looking too thrilled about the choice of nickname if it was.

A Mind Is A Beautiful Thing To Use

[itsamysterio]

Stark's cameras hadn't been easy to hack, especially without letting the other man know, but they made Beck's job of stalking so much easier. And after he'd see Tommy steal away some supplies he made a plan to visit him not too long after.

His fingers rapped on the door, running through lines in his head. It didn't always go to plan with the Kid, but he had a few scenarios planned out, smiling easily when he opened the door. It was a practiced sort of bashful look, knowing their last interaction had ended...poorly.

"Hey- Sorry. I was wondering if I could borrow your eyes for something..." he explained, holding up a little bundle at his side.

[doubled_speed]

Things that everyone should be scared of: someone hacking Tony's tech.

With the knock Tommy got to his feet and limped to the door, opening it up and expecting someone, anyone, but this. He stared at Beck for a long moment. He didn't know how to react. They had a really awkward interaction last time.

Thomas. His seven year old son was Thomas.

It definitely meant Tommy didn't slam the door in his face, even before hte man spoke.

"You know I'm not that sharp on this shit, right? Other world not-withstanding.

[itsamysterio]

"Okay, honestly, I mostly need a sounding board. But I do need your eyes. Specifically. The way you see-" he clarified hopefully, "And you catch on quick enough. Can you help me out? It'll cut out weeks of testing, and I really wanna get this this up and running. It's kind of a side project."

Food Makes Family

[demjiin]

Kaz has always used a cane in Temba. But he's leaning heavily on it to try to keep as much of his bodyweight off his bad leg as he can and is hardly moving his knee at all today. If Tommy is unhappy because of an injured leg meaning he can't explore Not-Temba, then he has company in that department.

"Don't worry about food on my account, just black coffee."

Kaz gabbed a chair, probably made a loud noise as it was dragged across the floor, then set it in front of another chair. He made a pained expression as he sat down, then used his arms to assist lifting his bad leg into the other chair. Usually he made his own coffee, but today he could barely move. TThat he was at the Diner at all was a pretty big concession to pain.

[doubled_speed]

Coffee, huh? Tommy nods and moves to the kettle to start it boiling. Don't ask him for something more than a French Press style, because it's what he's got. As for the heating, Tommy put his hand near the kettle and let it vibrate, letting his powers start to infuse energy, and thus heat into the water.

"I know a root you can chew that relieves a little pain, if you want."

[demjiin]

A french press sounds fancier than Kaz is used to. He also likes his coffee to be as bitter as possible which is why he made his own. Usually, Kaz would say nothing about pain remedies, but it was obvious to anyone with eyes that he was in pain today. He grimaced at Tommy's suggestion.

"The only pain killer I'll sometimes use is a bottle of whiskey. I don't like the feeling that painkillers give me.

Plants

[orangewayfinder]

Terra was still learning about this place. And at least now he had his communication device and had pressed buttons just like Cayde had shown him. But the greenhouse had sounded interesting even if growing plants didn't seem like a fun thing. But he wanted to learn about them in case Aqua or Ven appeared and he'd have so much to tell them about all of it.

So he wandered in and heard an unfamiliar person talking. Of course they'd be unfamiliar to him though because everyone was to him at this point. He stepped back when he heard the man use the term 'babes' and realize there was no one in the greenhouse except the man who'd spoken and himself.

But when he expressed the need for more hands, Terra smiled. "I can help."

[doubled_speed]

Worst part of being in bad shape was that he was trying not to react too fast and strain his leg. So Tommy took a careful breath and looked back over his shoulder to see...

Shit, that dude was built. He actually might be able to help.

"Get over here then and help me get this to the spot I cleared."

[orangewayfinder]

Well the person had turned and acknowledged him so Terra nodded. The other man gave off an odd air, but he was never one to judge someone on first appearances. So he lifted the little tree and started helping in clearing out the spot.

Working with earth was a joy and it had been quite a few years since he'd had the time to play in it. So he started working on trying to make a deep enough hole.

New Plants

[kyley_b]

Peace. Calm. Harmony. None of these are words you can associate with a Broflovski.

Kyle lopes into the greenhouse, pulling himself up short when he sees Tommy just so he can admire his form a moment. But only a moment - the guy IS injured.

"Did you say you need hands?" he asks as he walks over, wiggling his fingers.

[doubled_speed]

They were terms Tommy sometimes mentally gave to Kyle, just because of how the guy made him feel. As it was, he smiled to hear the voice, and nodded.

"Bubble olive tree is a touch heavy," he said. Which wasn't something that normally stopped him. It was more of a 'help was good in this state'.

[kyley_b]

"Yeah, it is," he says, gently shoving Tommy out of the way. "Tell me where you want it, I don't want you tearing your ACL or something because you were being macho."

1

[small_compromise]

Having only come here once before in her earlier wanderings, Omega was glad to have an excuse to remember to do so again. She's never been around so many plants before, and to be in a building that was dedicated to the growth of them was absolutely fascinating. It was a much warmer place than clinical white surroundings of Tipoca City's interiors.

She almost forgot why she'd come in the first place, distracted by the greenery, the flowers. Catching movement out of the corner of her eye quickly reminded her of why she'd come, and she looked up before starting down the row towards where the older boy was. "Hello? Are you Tommy?" she called.

[doubled_speed]

Tommy stopped when he heard a voice, and tipped the tree back up to standing as he turned his attention to the source of the voice.

"That's my name, don't forget it."

[small_compromise]

The girl that stepped into view was in her preteens, smiling a little as Tommy confirmed his identity. She jogged a little closer, and not without having a look at the plants flanking the path beside her before she looked up at him.

"I'm Omega," she said. "And I need help finding a plant."

food for fam

[margenes]

The diner is a familiar place to find a familiar face, is all Pietro thinks about as he tries to imagine where exactly he can find that not-nephew of his (though, more accurately perhaps, another person who is just like him).

Soon as he walks in, there is a set of instructions loudly announced. Does the kid take a break? Pietro would probably be on the same boat, finding things to do and the like. It's easy enough to take the invitation to 'come on back', perhaps a lot quicker than Tommy would be expecting should he be expecting anyone else.

"You usually work here on your own?"

He's got some type of fruit on his hand; he's taking the offer seriously.

[doubled_speed]

One second someone was entering, and the next Pietro is there. Tommy can't help it, he smiles. Pietro. He can't help but let that smile linger as he speaks, his voice just a touch too fast for someone else to understand.

"Once, yes. And it was bad because I'm not the greatest. These days a lot of people really take over. But while I'm injured, I'm trying to help out. Kyle gets annoyed if I put too much stress on my leg. Billy too. Here I don't have to walk around as much."

He looks at the fruit and then nods. A Mangourd huh? Pietro might well enjoy that.

"Husk is hard on that, you should probably be able to snap through it. I advice a knife though. They hollow out well, could use some nice vases."

[margenes]

Are they even talking quickly? It's hard to tell when that's an easy default to switch to, now that it's a possibility to hold a conversation this way. He glances down at Tommy's legs.

"How did you get injured?"

The two of them could literally get injured anywhere else and they would just walk it off; getting their legs messed up, though? Sure is like getting their wings clipped. Pietro sympathizes.

At the suggestion, he looks around and finds himself an apt enough knife to get through the husk of the mangourd, setting up to Tommy's left and getting to work on it.

"I'll do my best," promising, really. "If you need any help with what you're doing, I may have some time."