revivalproject | Buffets and Birthdays

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Buffets and Birthdays

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, Billy Hargrove, Otherwise Open
WHERE: Various Buffets, Station Hydroponics, various in closed starter
WHAT: Tommy eating his fill (and yours), Growing Things because of course, and showing Hargrove a good time (no they aren't dating what are you talking about)
WHEN: Throughout March, March 29th in closed
WARNINGS: None

I. Eating Your Fill

The advantage of places like this was that Tommy could always get as much as he wanted to eat without having to rely in protein paste to fill things out. And, well... There was always buffets. And man wasn't Tommy enjoying them now, getting himself steadily onto 'must pay double' or 'do not serve' lists. Which was fine with him.

One day might find him in an all you can eat salad bar, piling on all the alien vegetables and making notes on his comm device about what things he might want to get seeds or seedlings for. Another is a place specializing in a wealth of soups, where he's again taking notes (this time on flavor combinations for cooking). Or, if you're really lucky, you'll find him on a day where he's got three different mounds of noodle dishes in front of him, happily chomping his way through them while just sitting back and watching the alien species around him.

No matter which buffet you find him at, one thing is sure. The staff is giving Tommy a disapproving look of some variety or other, he's got a stack of dirty plates near him, and he's at his table alone. Maybe go up and talk to him. He'd be happy for a companion.

II. Growing Pains

Of course to keep himself fed and to stock up the greenhouses of the ships requires something important: some form of trading capital. And where else was Tommy going to find it than through the work he'd been throwing himself at for years? Sure, he could work as an extreme speed courier on a lot of planets they have ended up on, but the space station clearly doesn't need that. With the various types of transportation it's clear that he'd not be the best price per pound for transport, and it wouldn't learn him as much. Which is probably why anyone coming to take up Station Operations on the offer to do some work in hydroponics in exchange for seeds and cuttings will find Tommy there, at most hours of the day.

Today he's humming softly to himself as he goes through and carefully clips small handfuls of greens from some salad vegetable, meant for someone's dinner, or perhaps to prune things back for better growth. But he still smiles in seeing another He Row and waves them over.

"Hey, you here to be my new assistant? They said that there was someone new coming in to work today. I'm happy for a familiar face."

III. It's Not A Date, It's A Birthdatey | Closed to Billy Hargrove

Sometimes the best thing you can do for a bro is to make sure they have a good day. No, more than that. A great birthday. And it's something Tommy had started planning the moment they set foot on the station. Sure, he was fitting it all around his work, but he was meticulously planning something out.

And now here Tommy was, showing up at the hammock where he's more than once seen Billy sleeping near he water on the ship.

"Hey, Sunshine," he says, smiling as he nudges the hammock. "Get on your damn feet. We're going on an adventure."

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Cake? "You got me a cake too?" Billy shouldn't look as surprised as he does at this news. Food was one thing but he's really starting to feel like it's his birthday with everything Tommy's doing.

"I guess I'll share with you since you're going out of your way to make sure I'm having a good time."

Once they're back in the cabana, Billy moves in a little room to change quickly. He doesn't want Tommy to see the scars. They marred him so bad and made his skin ugly there. The Californian didn't want anyone to see them. Once changed, he heads back out.

"Nineties huh? I might have to get a tape made for all of these songs I'm hearing about from that era." Too bad he'll never get to hear it back in Hawkins or San Diego.

"The ice cream cake. I told you I would. Maybe you forgot because you were falling asleep."

But he did it because Billy deserves it. He deserves all of this. Though hey, he guesses he can take some ice cream cake too. So he waits, for now, for Billy to change.

"Yeah, there are probably people who would be better at suggesting what to listen to. Maybe Stark. He likes that sort of music that you do I think? Maybe? I don't know, he seems the sort."

When Billy steps back out Tommy smiles at him.

"Looking sharp, Sunshine. Now get yourself out on those waves. I need to work on my tan."

Because of course he hasn't learned to surf so this isn't for him.

"I don't remember anything about an ice cream cake." Funny, because that insinuates that Billy's mouth was still going after his mind was already going to sleep.

"Stark? Sounds like a tech guy. I'll have to ask him about it whenever we get back to Temba." He pulls the tank top in place and heads out into the sand. "Of course I look sharp. I'm me."

But he takes the command with joyful ease, grabbing the board and heading out to the waves with it. It doesn't take him long to get back into the groove of it, easily moving through and with the waves. One time he managed to get into the barrel of a wave, and Tommy probably heard that ecstatic whoop all the way back on shore.

And he's out there for awhile. It's abundantly clear that Billy loves this, even when he wipes out, he just goes back in for more. Like the ocean was a never-ending challenge he couldn't get enough of.

So he keeps surfing, sometimes waving to Tommy from the crest, and even sometimes putting on a little show for him as the surfboard carves through the water.

After what feels like hours (probably just closer to two), Billy finally returns to the sand to prop the board up in the sane and plop down next Tommy. "That's the best time I've had in years and we haven't even gotten to the food!"

Tommy's been enjoying the 'sun' and the sand, and yes, watching his friend. He had to admit it was pretty cool looking. When Billy returns Tommy just smiles warmly at him.

"You looked really cool out there. And happy. Which already makes planning this for the last week beyond worth it."

Sand puffs up around him as he lays back, arms crossed under his head. He's soaked, of course, but he doesn't care. Billy's having the time of his life. "Of course I look cool out there! Aside from my car, surfing is my favorite thing."

So when they moved to Hawkins, it was his only thing. So Billy had to carve out his place in the student body and put himself on top.

He turns his head to look at his friend. His best friend. "You spent a week planning this for me, Daisy Dukes?"

"I can see that. I mean, the way you moved... Made me think about when I run. How free it makes me feel. You're meant for the sea I think."

And that was beautiful, seeing people caught up in the thing they were most passionate about. Really, he was glad he'd figured this out for Billy. It was like he was giving the guy something special that no one else would know how to give him.

IT was like its own form of superheroism.

"Yeah man. Well, two weeks. But who's really counting?"

Billy feels his heart thump in his chest and suddenly the warmth doesn’t feel like it’s coming from the warm beach under him or the sun above. It’s a strange feeling, and makes him stare a little longer at Tommy than what’s polite.

"Two weeks. Above and beyond the call of friendship. You really are a superhero. I don’t think anyone else would’ve thought to do any of this for me." He gestures vaguely at the sand and surf that the superhero brought them to. "Maybe Max, but no one else."

"You're worth the effort, Sunshine," he says with a smile. "Just wait until sunset. They've got it scheduled for every three hours. It just rises right after unless you pay extra for night surfing, but I don't know that it would be something you'd want."

Who knows what counts as 'night' here after all. So he thought it was better to just let it be what it will be.

"Also, you're worth thinking about like that."

"Nah. Moonlight doesn’t look as good on my curls and I can’t see that great. Makes surfing a little dangerous when I’m in a place I don’t know as well as my San Diego."

Finally Billy looks away and sits up to look over the waves. Already he feels the itch to go back out there but he holds himself here in this quiet moment. A quiet moment with a guy that gave him a chance right out the gate. Gave him that chance despite Billy beating him up in that room at Calibrations.

"You’re starting to make me feel worth it, Jersey Boy. Which is a word feeling." That’s what that thumping and warmth in his chest meant, right? It had to be.

With a grin, he turns to look at Tommy. Yep, his heart thumps and he feels warmth again. "Wanna see me surf with the sunset behind me? I’ll outshine it though, no contest."

"I disagree on the moonlight there, Sunshine. Silver and gold go together pretty damn good," Tommy says with a shrug. But that's an opinion he supposed.

And Tommy's full of opinions. Which he will share.

"You are worth it, California Dream. Now yes, I want to see you out there in the sunset. If that's what will make you happy. It's your birthday, man."

Billy is filled with them, too. He’s just having too good of a time to care about expressing them. "If you say so. I just know that gold looks good on me."

Sand shifts under him as Billy gets up and goes back to his board. "Looking good with the tan so far, too," and then he’s grabbing the surfboard to head back towards the water. The sunset was starting and if Tommy wants to see Billy with that backdrop? Fine with him.

It doesn’t take him long to find his speed again, going through the barrel a few times before riding that crest with the sunset behind him. It illuminates those blond, wet curls and his eyes almost seem bright like lights as he rides that wave like a professional.

Then he wipes out.

Billy finds the board and resurfaces with a laugh, then heads back up the beach.

Of course the sun agrees with him. Tommy had gotten a bit of his mother's skin tone, and it came out more with the sun. He went a real golden brown. He was going to look amazing once he was in his New Tick clothes.

"Go enjoy the waves, Sunny."

Then the he's smiling and watching. Because it's wonderful to watch him so overjoyed.

He too laughs when it's over. Because that looks like a rush.

Heading back up the sand to Tommy, Billy runs a hand through his wet hair, and flicks the water at the guy. "That was fantastic. Hell, you guys could leave me here for Temba and I’d be almost content."

Wait, almost? Billy let that out before thinking about it but there’s no taking it back now. Oh well.

"Think the aliens will let us come back here next winter? You’ve spoiled me. I’m no good to anyone anymore without the waves like this."

Planting the board back in the sand, Billy then offers his hand to help Tommy up. "Looking like me with that skin there, Daisy Dukes."

"What could get you the rest of the way to content? You deserve that on your birthday."

And Tommy would do what he could to fulfill it.

As for returning, Tommy shakes his head.

"Noth was the first time we returned anywhere. I'm not gonna hold my breath. Need a towel?"

He takes the hand and lets himself be hauled up. Because why not.

"My skin is a masterpiece and I have no shame. Except the scars. But we both get that."

Billy has to think up something quick - there’s too many new feelings he’s gotta work through to be able to answer it honestly. There won’t be spoiling anything on his birthday. "Just that cake and hanging out with my friend. And yeah, I didn’t think to grab any towels."

Another brush of his hair through those curls to drip water everywhere.

His expression does drop noticeably at the mention of scars. One hand rubs at the center of his chest for a moment. "Yeah. I get it."

"Hey," Tommy says, reaching out to brush a wet curl behind Billy's ear. "Any scar you walk away from. I'm glad my brother and that doctor patched you up. You make me feel less lonely, Sunshine. And that's not a bad thing. Thank you."

Which makes him smile.

A lot.

"So really anything that will be good for you, man. Oh, we could hit a bar and I could help you find someone pretty to impress later if you want."

"Don't get me wrong. I'm glad they patched me up. But this body before what happened to me? Perfection."

Then it all went to hell just because he was in the right place at the wrong time. Didn't even know he had been stood up that night.

"Just gonna be a long time before you'll even catch me shirtless, Jersey Boy." He tries to play it off like it's humorous. "So you'll have to rock the tan for the two of us."

A wave of the hand. "I just want cake. Knowing our luck, I'll be completely drunk and gotta pilot, or hungover like hell and have to pilot. Neither of those are going to be good outcomes, Daisy Dukes. Either way, this has been a fantastic day. I got to try out my board for the first time!"

Oh Hargrove, you're about to get what will seem like SUCH a non-sequitor.

"Have you ever heard of Kintsugi?"

Billy is about to go get his board when Tommy grabs his attention with a weird word. "Uh, no. Sounds like something alien." Well, at least he wasn't being offensive in describing it this time.

"Or something from martial arts. Why?"

"It's Japanese, so good for recognizing the sound of the word," he says. Then he moves closer to Billy and turns around. With the sun he's gotten the ghostly network of white scars is more visible on his skin.

"It's an art form, usually with pottery. You repair it with this lacquer mixed with powdered gold. Fill the cracks and even replace broken pieces. And the piece comes out not only stronger, but strikingly beautiful."

Then he turns back and gestures to Billy's chest.

"That's what the scars are. What they make us. Stronger, and beautiful in a whole new way. You are still perfect. Just changed mediums."

Billy's eyes find the scars easily, like birds finding the air. He zones in on them, traces the lines with his vision into his memory. Ignoring the fact that Tommy looks good, the lines reminded Billy of his own hiding beneath that wet tank top.

Repaired with lacquer and powered... well, silver in Tommy's case.

'Silver and gold go together pretty damn good.'

Nothing about his scars felt beautiful. Not to Billy. He had liked being perfect. And now he was broken and his cracks filled with lead. Maybe that's what was holding him down all this time.

"Easy for you to say, Jersey Devil. You didn't see what made the scars. I was pretty fucking close to death when I got here. Probably had a foot in its door because Kaplan and Tae wrenched me back out of it."

"You think that matters?"

Tommy looks sad, perhaps for Billy. That he would think that.

"You know, surviving something ugly doesn't make you ugly by association. Nothing more beautiful than life, Curls. Don't forget that. Take your miracle, thank them for it, and never let anyone take it from you. Time. You'll find it makes it better."

And he really believes that. But he's seen a lot of people with lots of forms of scars. And they aren't bad.

"I ever tell you about David? He has a scar right here."

He puts a hand over his own heart.

"Died from it. Like you. Got his miracle. And it was still beautiful, because he got to live and I got to know him. And he got to see more sunrises and sunsets and have more coffee and laugh with his friends and so many things."

And Tommy misses him. Even if it was complicated.

He misses waking up in someone's arms. Feeling like someone remembered him.

Billy feels the anger trying to churn up in his mind. To push him into acting out and being rash. But he doesn't want to ruin this good mood from being able to surf on his birthday. Tommy put in so much God damn work it would feel awful to ruin all of that.

"I don't have time. I'm living on it borrowed, not knowing when it's going to end. Like someone managed to hit pause right before I die with the finger hovering over the play button." There's some venom in that tone even his willpower can't stop. Because it's true. How long did he have?

His face falls at the thought. He and Eddie, people like them - they were walking dead men and they knew it.

It's bringing up a lot of complicated feelings and Billy hugs his arms over his chest, as though that'll protect him longer from what'll inevitably happen.

"I guess Temba is supposed to be my miracle." Or maybe just a stepping stone to the real one standing in front of him, not giving up on Billy.

"Brave of you to think I won't find a way to bend time and space to find a way to save you and anyone else," Tommy says as though it were that simple.

And maybe it is. Or maybe he doesn't care.

"But here's the thing. Even if I can't, we still have every day we've got. And we gotta live them always looking forward. So keep walking forward with me, until the day you look in the mirror and see the gold you've filled yourself in with.

"That'll be the fucking day, Shepherd," he remarks in regard to the idea of being able to be saved.

He leads them back to the cabana and takes a seat after leaning the board against the wall. Billy's still wet, and covered in sand now too, but still looking like a heartthrob from Seventeen magazine or something. His necklace unsticks from his skin and swings from his neck. "I'm not filled with gold. I feel like I'm filled with lead, dragging me down where I can't resurface from."

He sits up straighter and tips his head back. "Fuck. I didn't mean to drag this stupid shit into my birthday. It's a great gift and all of that. I shouldn't have fucking said anything, Tommy."

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