The Lies We Tell And The Places We Hide

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, Anyone
WHERE: Agrii Ship, On top of the Diner, Diner, Greenhouses (Temba or Peanut Party)
WHAT: Agrii Repair Deliveries lead to Freak Out, Lots of Introspection
WHEN: April 2nd on first prompt, post return to Agra-10 otherwise
WARNINGS: N/A

I. Calling Into Question | Agrii Ship

There's always use for someone who is fast when it comes to repairs. Courier work was something Tommy was just good at. So carrying things from the holds of the Agrii ship and those of the He Rows works out well for Tommy. Even if it means going back into Under Engineering.

He's got to help, right? Can't just stand back, even if he's confused over some stuff personally. Being busy, helping out, that's what he's meant for. Which is what gets him down here so often. Except now he comes down with his box of supplies, still looking for the person who sent him for them.

"Yo computer," Tommy says as he passes by. He's heard Tony gave it a name. Doesn't remember it. "Watch this for me, will you?"

He doesn't wait for confirmation before wandering around. Doesn't even notice where he's going until he steps into the room with all of the beds. The forcefield that made him feel bad is gone so he doesn't even notice he'd gotten here. And...

"What the fuck?" he asks, looking around, his breath hitching. "Those are... they're like the statis things we found Cloud and Scruffy in."

II. The Stars At Night... | Atop The Diner

What do you do when the world is giving you so much trouble facing the fear in your heart? Clearly you gotta feel your place in the universe. Being small, seeing things that are vast, trying to reframe the context of your problems.

For Tommy that used to mean atop Young Avengers HQ. Now here's Tommy, late at night, on top of the Diner. His legs dangle down over the edge of the building, just over the door below. Not that his eyes are cast down there. No, he's looking up toward the sky. The stars. Simple. Distant. Coldly beautiful. Made you feel small and insignificant, and your problems there too. And that helped.

He told himself it helped.

III. Keep Your Hands Busy | A Greenhouse (Peanut Party or Temba, your choice) or Diner

Nothing like buying a shit ton of stuff in a random spacestation to make the work easier. And really, all Tommy can think to do right now, no matter the hour, is working. In the Diner it means reorganizing cabinets and even building new ones to store all the new equipment, tools, and preparation tools. There's even some new experimentation with a pasta maker going on.

But that's not all. Gotta keep busy. So from there it's the greenhouses. There are plants to plant mostly on the ship, and plants to tend to with new tools in Temba itself. Pruning and labeling here, planting and watering there. Considering things for transplant too, now that Donnie's got really cool devices for helping move plants.

Not hard to run into Tommy at this point and find him with dirt under his fingernails and shadows under his eyes. Clearly someone's not getting enough sleep. But don't worry, he's working hard. That's good enough.

Right?

Comments

3

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis had so much on his mind lately with newfound developments and cash flows. He was still attempting at working up the courage to try and nail down a date with Gladio. It was just nerve wracking. Everything like this had been taken care of with the marriage that he was supposed to have, but obviously that didn't happen.

So he came across a tired looking Tommy which of course helped him take his mind off of his own problems.

He tried to smile. "When was the last time you took a break?"

[doubled_speed]

Noctis has a super power. When Tommy's messed up and hurting, Noctis appears. Super. Fucking. Power. Though when it's used to imply he needs rest...

"Had a water break five minutes ago," he says. Evasion is his thing.

[fatedsacrifice]

Noctis shook his head and amusement laced his tone.

"Five minutes ago. Seems like you could use another one."

[doubled_speed]

Really? Tommy sighs. No, he doesn't need a water break. He sighs and straightens up to consider the guy.

"Nah I'm good. You need something?"

[fatedsacrifice]

The king shrugged. "No, but I was just on my way home and I happened to catch sight of you. So I thought I'd take a minute to see what you're up to and how you're doing."

[doubled_speed]

Ah. That. Tommy sighs. Of course he did.

"I'm as great as I ever am."

So, you know, shitty.

[fatedsacrifice]

"That's not really reassuring."

Noctis wasn't about to think that Tommy was okay at all.

[doubled_speed]

"I guess it's not," Tommy laughs. That's how it goes with him isn't it? "It's because you've got your super power. Your mopey Tommy radar. I swear I'm happy sometimes."

[fatedsacrifice]

He wasn't sure if that laughter was forced or not, but hell he'd go with it. The reply though had him laughing a little. "Didn't know I had a superpower but I guess I do now."

2

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve is just out for a walk. Some nights he can't sleep and there's no reason to make Eddie suffer through that. All of his friends are snoozing nice and comfortably so, yeah. It's time to take a walk and just get air. See if the relative safety of the area around you can make the worries and the memories fade.

He's just about passing the diner when he looks up toward the sky and sees...a person? On top of the diner? Yeah. The white hair gives it away. Steve smiles and walks closer.

"Can't sleep either, Tommy?"

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, he's pretty unique here isn't he? At least for his hair. Though perhaps now for his speed given Sonic's missing in that way that says maybe he comes back, maybe he doesn't.

"Not needed," he says as he looks down. Harrington, right? Right. And hey, his words are even half true. "My biology means I only need about four hours in every twenty four. Though I guess the thirty hour day fucks that more."

[farrahfawcetts]

Why is he not surprised. "Man, it really sucks being a normal guy around all you superheros." But he's smiling and he doesn't really mean it. Steve shoves his hands into his pockets and just looks up at Tommy.

"So, just getting a head start on the morning rush? Or am I missing out on a great view up there?"

[doubled_speed]

"It sucks being a superhero around superheroes sometimes," Tommy says with a shrug. "Embrace being normal, man. Sometimes there's advantages to that."

Not ones Tommy wants. What he is granted him a special sort of freedom, even at its lofty cost.

"Not cooking up here, and you could find better views in other places. Just... needed it right now and didn't feel like wandering far from home."

[farrahfawcetts]

Well, that is telling. Steve moves to lean against the wall beside the door.

"Something on your mind? Or bothering you?" Steve shrugs his shoulder. "I am not gonna sleep tonight so I am all ears if you wanna just talk it out. Sometimes I even have halfway decent advice." He grins. "Just sometimes. Don't verify that with Robin though."

[doubled_speed]

"Robin? Don't know her."

Still, he supposes if the guy is going to stick around...

"I've got tea inside. Could warm some up if you need it."

Of course something is on his mind. He just knows Steve Harrington in particular isn't going to want to hear it.

[farrahfawcetts]

Steve smiles and nods, pushing off from the wall to go inside. "Once it's warmed up," he calls loud enough that hopefully Tommy can still hear him as he comes down to the main area, "we could take it back up to the roof? It's not bad weather out right now. And if you're enjoying the star-gazing, I don't wanna make you stop just because you're being a good host."

[doubled_speed]

Steve pushes off of the wall and Tommy... pushes off of the roof. That's right, baby. Hero landing. Hell on the knees unless you have the right sorts of powers or mutations. He straightens and smiles.

"Man, if you're trying to get into my bedroom, you can just ask. Also, don't you have a boyfriend?"

He heads through the door of the diner and moves at his speeds to the kettle. Puts his hand right against it and lets his power channel into the thing to heat the water faster.

"I'm a shit host most of the time, by the way."

III; diner, well after getting back to Temba

[faceguy]

Given everything that happened to Donnie back on the ship, since returning to Temba, Leo has been... well, he would defend himself against any accusations of being clingy! He's just been staying close, that's all. In case Donnie needs anything.

So he hasn't been seen much out and about by himself. But they need food, and the diner is where the food is, and so Leo is here now, looking for food.

It wasn't his goal to run into Tommy; their last interaction wasn't exactly positive. But he doesn't think Tommy is the kind of person who would actively stop someone from eating just because he doesn't like them, so it's probably fine.

He waltzes in and starts looking for food he can take back like things aren't awkward here. Just pay no attention to the teenage turtle!

[doubled_speed]

Of course Tommy's going to notice the turtle awkwardly coming into the kitchen of the diner and looking for shit. The getting ignored is fair, but man, guy seems a bit lost.

"Need some help, kid?"

Because maybe they didn't get off to a good start, but he's still going to help the kid.

[faceguy]

Leo startles when he gets addressed, abandoning the cupboard he was just searching through to look over at Tommy. It’s true he’s a bit lost here, only because he’s still not used to all this alien food or what’s available to them since going to the spaceport. It was easier on the ships, with the Agrii making food.

“No, I got it,” he says, almost reflexively, even though he doesn’t really. After a second, he changes course. “Hey, you know how to cook, right?”

[doubled_speed]

Clearly he doesn't. At least he changes his mind.

"Yeah. Been working at it for years now. Radley's better, but I'm the one here now. What do you need?"

[faceguy]

“Do you have any idea how to make flavorless juice?”

That’s maybe not the most pressing issue, but it sure is the one that comes out of his mouth.

[doubled_speed]

"If we were on Earth I'd say you were talking about something close to pear juice. Pears have a really minor flavor and it's used as a filler with juices that won't overwhelm flavor. But that's not what you mean, is it?"

[faceguy]

Pear juice? Huh. Leo is surprised Tommy even has an idea.

“I dunno. I mean, I don’t like to drink it. Donnie likes it for breakfast, though.”

Leo looks around the kitchen. “Guessing we don’t have any pears here, huh?”

[doubled_speed]

Flavorless juice? Tommy has to think.

"Could just be talking about simple syrup. Sugar dissolved in water? And no, no pears. Sorry man."