[Open] Beat The Heat

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, You
WHERE: Temba Fountain, Beach
WHAT: Tommy's Gone Nocturnal Creature
WHEN: Mid July
WARNINGS: None (Unless you count Tommy replicating a Super Soaker)

I. Don't Play In The Fountain | Temba Fountain
Midday. The hottest part of a stupidly hot summer. Sometimes it was just important to cool off. And given Tommy's been working hard all day in the greenhouse and diner, he needed a method to cool off so desperately.

Maybe there was somewhere else he could go, something else he could do. But damn, that fountain had been looking good each time he walked between the greenhouse and the diner. Until finally Tommy couldn't help it.

Which was why he was currently floating in the fountain, eyes closed, trying to keep his stupid body's accelerated metabolism and thus body temperature a bit lower in the hottest part of the day.

II. Stars Over Sands | The Beach
Night. The coolest time of the day, and probably the quietest. Which of course meant it was a time that Tommy absolutely got into his own damn head. There was problems that came from being a guy who only needed four hours of sleep on a world with a thirty hour day. So he had to take up some new hobby to handle the nights when he really wasn't able to sleep.

And there was something that was making going 'home' harder to do. So here he was, stretched out on a towel on the beach, just beyond the high tide line. His eyes were raised toward the stars, watching them. He doesn't even move when he hears the slide of sand that might mean someone approaching.

"Can't sleep?" he asks, his voice soft. Maybe he accidentally asks it of a lobster. But if he does, who could ever know?

III. Water Ambush! | Around Temba
Usually replicator rations should be used rationally in Tommy's opinion. Usually he used his own for getting food products for the diner. But for right now Tommy needed something for fun. Which was why people might come around corners and find themselves suddenly getting sprayed from an orange and green super soaker. And there was Tommy too, grinning and laughing.

The good news was that Tommy's speed meant that he could read things easily when someone came around a corner. In what would be a second or two for another person he had hours to experience, which meant he could come around a corner, make sure the person wasn't carrying something that would be ruined with the spray of cold water, and so his targets weren't going to have that to complain about.

Complain in general, though, that's possible. He even grins and winks after squirting someone.

"You're welcome for cooling you down."

IV. Frustration | Pink 10
The best way to deal with frustration, in Tommy's opinion, was toying with powers he doesn't trot out as often. Running was supposed to be freeing, comforting. But fuck it was too hot, especially at night, to be dealing with that too much. So instead, in the hotter parts of the day when he's got nothing better to do, he sits back under an umbrella he's rigged up from some massive cup leaves and toys with explosions. Given no one lived near this area or passed through as much, Tommy didn't see the danger.

So here he was, every now and then rushing into the mess of the ruins of this area, piling up bits of rocks and other things into structures, and then he would return to his shade. From there, well, he raised a hand lazily toward the construction, focused, and soon there was a loud noise as things blew apart in small scale explosions or crumbled apart, depending on the material.

Until, of course, he heard someone approaching.

"I can't really keep it down," he says without looking for whoever's arriving, "if that's what you're after. Explosions are noisy."

Comments

BEACH

[spinsandneedles]

To be honest, sand kind of sucks to run on. It gives a little too much, and Sonic can't really get up to top speed on it. He hasn't really been over here too much since his arrival yet though (mostly because he can't swim but shhh), so he might as well explore a bit while getting some exercise. It was a big open area, nobody was around, and it was too goddamn hot during the day for Sonic to go for a good run. So here we are.

It's dark and he's going pretty quick, so at first he doesn't notice Tommy laying around. Unfortunately, the slide of sand that Tommy hears is less than and more Sonic obnoxiously kicking up a wave of it as he runs past. That's when he realizes there's a dude there who might have said words, and immediately returns, kicking up more sand as he skids to a halt next to Tommy. Sorry about all the damn sand, man.

"Tommy! Dude, I haven't seen you in forever! You say something?"

[doubled_speed]

Maybe one day Tommy would teach Sonic the trick to running on sand. It had never really been a barrier to him. Maybe it meant that there was something different about his powers from Sonic's. Who knew.

Still, advantages of also being fast: see sand coming, roll out of the way and cover your face with the goggles around your neck. A+ recovery there.

"Of course not. I got trapped in my personal fucking hell. Clearly you didn't. How you been, my quick little friend? And don't worry about what I said. So not important."

[spinsandneedles]

Could be! Sonic doesn't know the details, he just knows GO FAST and BOUNCE OFF SHIT.

He's glad Tommy is fast enough to react to incoming sand with no problems, that means he doesn't have to feel bad about kicking the sand up in the first place. He does feel bad about just blurting out the first thing that popped into his head, though. He'd heard about these calibrations or whatever, he should know better.

"Yeah, no, I didn't. I was still here with like three other people, kinda freaked out when everyone up and vanished." He's not about to whine about how bored he was, considering the 'personal fucking hell' that Tommy was apparently trapped in.

"And how are you gonna sit there and tell me not to worry about it after saying something like that? Of course I'm gonna worry about it!"

[doubled_speed]

Oh, feel bad. He's going to have SO MUCH sand in his towel.

"Only three?" he says, confused and mentally counting. "I didn't see Tony, or Jon. Radley. Lark... Actually, I could keep counting."

Huh, weird. Maybe people went to Sh'Ka.

"Dude, I didn't mean 'don't worry about hte fucked up thing I said'. I meant 'don't worry about what you didn't hear me say, it wasn't important'."

There's a difference.

[spinsandneedles]

"There were probably more, I only ran across a couple people though."

He probably could have looked harder. Don't worry about it.

"It was so unimportant that I already forgot about it, I guess. So what about the thing I did hear you say? Are you like, okay, or..."

IV

[sunglassesincluded]

"And of course I find you with nothing better to do than purposely destroying stuff." Comes a very likely familiar and very much disapproving voice from just behind Tommy where a certainly familiar figure has come to stands, as always clad entirely in black despite the heat, arms crossed and expression stern around the always present sunglasses. Of course he is well aware that Tommy is usually quite occupied with the diner, but that doesn't mean he can't remark on the younger man's choices regarding how he occupies his free time.

He gestures forward to the building that Tommy is setting up his explosions in, his gloved hand raising slightly in time with a small cloud of dust birthed by the most recent detonation. "If you want to level this building, at least set a perimeter to let people know what you're doing. You will end up with those nosy teenagers trapped in there."

[doubled_speed]

Ah, lovely. The cockbite.

"Wow, check it out, dude that destroys other people's stuff in a hissy fit is judging a dude who is relaxing and clearing land for possible development," Tommy says easily. Because it's not like he doesn't have comparative hours to come up with a response and still seem to be at normal human pace.

And honestly, there was no small part of Wesker's choices that had driven Tommy into needing this outlet. So fuck off.

"I don't have any caution tape and there is literally nothing around here for a serious distance that would tempt people. And I'll remind you that the only people who could even potentially get into the blast zone before I noticed them would be my brother who always appears directly at my side when he teleports to me, Sonic who always stops at my side to say hi and who could avoid explosions on his own, and you."

He doesn't need to point out that he could care less if Wesker got hurt.

[sunglassesincluded]

Weskers attention shifts down to Tommy himself. "What happened at the bar is none of your business. The damage has been repaired." As factual as those words are, there is an impatience to them. Yes, he lost his temper, but he also fixed his own mess.

"And those are excuses, Tommy. You're a hero and as such should know to never underestimate the ability of civilians and children to be exactly where you are sure they cannot get." A very basic rule from his time as Captain of S.T.A.R.S. to always be cautious no matter what. To always be prepared for the worst outcome. To expect the mistakes of others. Not that Wesker necessarily cares if anyone gets hurt, but the most recent mess in the hospital has just been cleaned up and Dr. Takemi doesn't need to deal with missing limbs after all.

[doubled_speed]

"What happened at the bar affects other residents than just you, dumbass," Tommy points out.

But the other part makes him laugh.

"Yes, I am a hero. And I specialize in getting people out of dangerous bullshit. So I know better than you do what people can get up to, and how to handle it. I also know that I'm not going around threatening to inject dudes with mint extract or whatever, so maybe I'm not going to take your advice on how to be a hero."

[sunglassesincluded]

The older man simply frowns at that.

"Do you even listen to yourself?" He asks with a doubtful edge to his voice. "Is all you heroes are just being pretentious idiots without any sense of reason behind the nonsense you sprout all day long? This kind of attitude will get someone killed one day and you are okay with that outcome because you're a hero and assume you are above having to tale responsibility for your actions?"

"Has your Spider Friend also told you why I said that or did he latch on to the one detail he is afraid of and you both tunnelvisioned on that fixed idea that my actions have no reasons behind them as well?" Wesker sneers. "You disappoint me, Tommy. Your friend wanted to challenge me to a fight. He threatened to web me to a wall. And I told him if he tried anything funny, I will be prepared. And I will be. If he believes the right choice now is to rile up his hounds against me, I will also be prepared. But I will let you know, Tommy, that so far I haven't had reason to kill anyone in this place. If you force my hand, those deaths will be on you."

II - Stars

[fatedsacrifice]

Gladio was in bed and Noctis was up thinking. He kept tossing and turning and was afraid to wake the Shield. Figuring there was no way to actually sneak out the door, the king attempted to be as quiet as he could and thankfully nothing crashed or made noise.

Once out the door he warped down to the water and saw the night sky filled with stars. With a smile at them, his dark blue eyes closed and he sighed, letting the tension drain from his shoulders.

Then he heard Tommy's voice and his eyes opened as he looked down with a smile.

"You look comfortable."

[doubled_speed]

Well hell, he wasn't expecting Noctipus. He spares a brief smile and sits up. It's better for keeping his face slightly hidden.

Which was actually necessary as he's got the shadow of bruises on it. Fist fights and him don't mix.

"You doing okay? Not used to you out so late."

[fatedsacrifice]

The question had him laugh slightly as he sat down near Tommy. "That makes me feel old. But back home the stars were beautiful and I would make sure to take a look up at them every once in awhile."

[doubled_speed]

Dude, he was pretty sure that Noctis spent these hours of the night all cuddly up against his beefcake.

"Yeah. I... feel smaller under them. It helps sometimes."

[fatedsacrifice]

He smiled with a small sigh. "Ya, makes you feel pretty small in the big scheme of things. It just never gets old. Same sky every night, but there's always something different to see or look at."

II

[wearingthestars]

"Nope," Billy replies, just as softly and nudging for Tommy to move over a little and share that towel, stretching out beside him.

"...you weren't home," he acknowledges after a minute, looking up at the stars over head, "I got worried."

[doubled_speed]

The problem with having the magical twin is that, of course, he's magical. Which means he has the ability to absolutely throw a fucking wrench in Tommy's attempts to literally avoid him. Which yes, he has been doing. Basically since the combination of the the getting beat up (thank fuck the darkness means the fading bruises aren't really as obvious), having Wesker invade his mind in the worst way, and remembering how horrible of a brother he had been he's been doing his best to avoid Billy. Which is REALLY SHIT HARD when his brother can literally teleport to him.

Still, he wasn't expecting it so soon. Or for his brother to nudge him over and share the space. Though he supposes he's been negligent on his 'show up in Billy's room, collapse on him, and pretend he's not desperate for human contact and cuddling' duties. But he does scooch over because it's Billy, and he keeps looking at the stars.

"Technically I haven't been home in a month," he points out. Because quibbling works.

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah, well...couldn't do anything about it then," Billy mumbles sleepily, resting his head on Tommy's shoulder.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" It's pretty. Quiet. Maybe that's the point. Billy wonders if he's intruding. Maybe Tommy needs some space after being locked inside that tunnel for a month.

[doubled_speed]

That's fair. Tommy sighs and closes his eyes. It's nice, to be comfortable with Billy. To feel wanted. The fact that Billy had apparently been sleepy and still come to find him, to be comfortable with him, possibly to feel safe, that made Tommy feel less bad. Just a little.

Should he lie? He probably shouldn't lie. But fuck it would be easiest to lie.

"Didn't want to bother you coming in late."

[wearingthestars]

"..." Billy's silent, dark eyes flitting up to study Tommy's face. He knows when Tommy's lying to him. And he sees those fading bruises.

"...yeah?" he allows, not pressing for the moment, trying to give his brother space to come to him, but not quite able to hide that concerned look from his face.

Beach

[playingtough]

After hours of tossing and turning in his own bed, the tune of 'Running Up That Hill' now on repeat in his head, Billy headed out of the hotel. Cleaned up from his... encounter with Wesker, there's still little cuts on his arms that are visible from the broken glass and wood.

The stars glimmer overhead but he doesn't care about them. Even this late at night in this strange ass city, he knew where to go.

Billy could probably find the beach in his sleep.

He kicks off his boots and rolls up his jeans before properly walking into the sand, heading for the waves lapping at the wet sand. If he notices Tommy, he doesn't say anything. There's a passing glance, but he doesn't stop moving until his feet and ankles are in the water.

"No. I can't," finally comes the answer. Hands curl into fists, and he glances over his shoulder to Tommy. "But at least this place has a beach."

[doubled_speed]

Oh. Him. This was one of those encounters that Tommy knew was going to happen sooner or later but he wasn't quite sure what to do with. Would the guy even remember him in the dreamscape? Or was he one of the ones that didn't retain people waltzing through his mind? Tommy knew they dreamt every night down in that space, knew they wandered every night. But there were plenty that he didn't remember, so it was always possible.

The fists definitely weren't a good sign, so he doesn't bother getting up from his towel. See man, he's lying down. No fucking threat here. Except of course that he could just be not here in the blink of an eye.

"You're welcome for that. It's sorta... accidentally my fault that we even found this place."

[playingtough]

Billy could remember pieces. Wesker calling him pathetic. Eddie and Steve both showing up. The echo of his dad around him as this little shit tried to talk to him. Billy also remembered punching this asshole's face before leaving him be.

But as annoying as Tommy was, Billy was torn because one of the bits he remembered was being told he could be a person his mom would be proud of. Maybe that thought was why he couldn't sleep.

He turns his body enough to where he doesn't have to strain his neck. "It's a beach. How hard could it have been to find?" It seemed like a stupid thing to tell Billy. Water would be somewhere on a planet, even this one he had been brought to. "And it seems boring. The times I've been here I've never seen anyone surfing."

[doubled_speed]

Well, don't break his heart by telling him that you don't remember him jumping that fucking chasm with you. That would just be cruel.

"You weren't here when everything started. Temba was so overgrown that you couldn't really see very far for the trees and other stuff. Food was a lot harder to get. No running water or reliable power. So really hard. Then I cracked open part of the greenhouse with mint. Stuff grew stupid fast and over everything. Woke up to the glownies having found us, and then having munched a way through the forest to guide us here."

And the ocean had been so good and important. They could make more energy rods, they could have more power. And of course, the ocean itself.

"We don't have surf boards," he says with a little shrug. "Guess you could ask. The Agrii probably don't know what those are, but my br-"

No. He can't direct the guy to Billy. If Billy at all figures out that Curls here beat him up, that would go poorly.

"You could try asking I guess."

[playingtough]

He takes a few more steps into the water, going in deep enough that it starts to soak into the denim of his jeans. It feels good.

It feels like home.

Like the home he knows he'll never get back to. So this beach will have to suffice until he's sent back to his demise in the mall.

The blue gaze stays on Tommy, intense despite the rest of his features keeping a relaxed, almost bored look. "If you don't have surfboards for riding all these waves, then this city is worse off than I thought." Now his gaze drifts downwards, looking for shells. He doesn't see any in the dim light.

"Thought about making one, but I don't know if there's enough material for a longboard. Maybe a shortboard, but it'd take awhile to do."