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

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, that's true. But that doesn't... Man, it's hard to explain.

"Looks are subjective. That's different."

[faceguy]

“People say that, but we still have beauty pageants and the Sexiest Man Alive cover and stuff like that.” Leo huffs. “And anyway, being the face isn’t just about being the hottest - even though I am - it’s about knowing how to use your hotness!”

He leans against the counter. “Schmoozing info out of a witness. Talking your way out of a situation. Seducing someone into doing what you want. Not just anyone can do that! And I’m that guy for my team, ergo! The best looking one.”

It’s logic! Science, even!

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, there is that. But come on, those things are definitely based on seeing all of the 'contestants', right?

"When you put it like that, well, I guess I'm the face of my team."

No, Kate is. But shut up, don't tell him that.

"Most charismatic and best looking aren't quite the same, but I'll give you charisma."

[faceguy]

Well, at least he won charisma.

“Maaan, you’re stubborn,” says the one who is insisting on this. “Ah, well, I guess it is pretty hard to pick, since we all have movie star genes.”

They’re a beautiful family, what can he say?

[doubled_speed]

Charisma is a lot more useful than looks, man. Look at Tommy. He's not charismatic really. He's a fucking little hellion and people recognize that. Doesn't get him as far as someone with charisma can get.

"And looks can be a matter of taste that you can't affect in others. But you CAN charm people with charisma even if they have an initial reason to dislike you. So you're pretty far ahead with that edge."

[faceguy]

Charisma is more useful, but for a kid who isn’t even the same species as the models of attractiveness he’s had his whole life, it’s taken a lot of confidence building to believe he is, in fact, hot shit.

That no one here jumps to agree isn’t really unexpected, and that’s okay. Leo believes it.

Leo can’t help but grin at that. “So you’re saying I charmed you?”