[Backdated] Storm: Our Lives On Display

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy Shepherd, Open
WHERE: Temba
WHAT: Two Stormy Memories
WHEN: During Storm Week
WARNINGS: CW: Child Abuse in starter 2

I. A Memory of Delight

Storms. Tommy hates the storms. In fact, if he could just have 100% less storms, he'd be very happy. The happiest a man can be. With the storms he's just... He's lesser. It's always upset him. Always hurt him. Always left him frayed around the edges. But hey, this time they were supposed to be spotty? So he tries to go about his life.

Problem is, this one hits when he's alone, and man if Tommy wasn't on his way back from the new Avengers manor or whatever Tony was calling it. Turned out he didn't like being in his room there, still a work in progress, when the storms and world felt so draining. So walking back was a thing.

And of course, that's when a storm rolled in over him. The second the rain started he felt his powers go and Tommy just cursed. Because, well, what the fuck was going on here? Why did the rain hate him in particular? Cursing one more time, this time in Polish just for good measure, he finds a bit of stone overhang and sits his ass down. If he doesn't move, logically he shouldn't have troubles, right?

Except there's something different today. Of course there is. The rain is getting thick enough that it's hard to see beyond his hand and for some reason... it almost looks like he's in his room above the diner, which makes no sense at all.

II. A Memory of Pain | CW: Child Abuse will be depicted in threads from this starter

That was an experience that was shaking, and for a while, Tommy just stays back in his room at the diner, cuddled up by the fire even though it made him too hot because it just reminded him of what was happening in the moment. It was safer. It was better.

It wasn't enough because anxiety was prone to driving Tommy out of comfortable situations. Which was why he was outside again, heading for the greenhouse. His other safe place. The one that made him feel like he was useful and had a place where he fit in. Even if he had no powers, he could help the plants, right?

What a mistake that was, going outside. Because while it was clear when he stepped out, by the time he made it across the square and was nearing the greenhouse, the rain started. And this time, well, the change comes quickly.

Too quickly.

Comes in the form of his feet stepping not on the road but on familiar worn down wood. He knows the creak his foot produces almost instantly. And there's the sound of a truck door closing.

Sure it's Tommy there, but it also isn't Tommy there, because to another person's eyes it's Tommy but younger. Tommy but with hair as dark as his brother's, not a hint of white in it. A younger, childhood Tommy who is flinching at the sound of booted footsteps nearing in the rain...

Comments

[faceguy]

“It wasn’t worth it that time,” says Leo dismissively, trying to turn away.

About that time in the memory, a young boy appears on the display in the tank, gloating about his plan to expose the “mutant menace” to all of New York for the sake of social media likes and donations. The people of New York, who are presently gathering into an angry mob.

“Wait, so he wants to expose us to all of New York for money!?” yells the memory Leo in protest.

[doubled_speed]

Tommy sneers at the person on the screen. Nothing like the words 'mutant menace' to work him up.

"That sort of shit happens back home plenty of times. Blackmailing mutants. SOrry you had to deal with that bullshit, man."

[faceguy]

Leo glances back at the memory again. At least someone gets it.

He tries to break away from it again. All there is to see now is the rest of their frantic attempt to get the tank back under control, leading to a crash into the Hudson (okay, so maybe it’s a little exciting).

“I told them coming out in that was a bad idea,” he grouses. “…But I guess now I’m out in this alone and my brother might blow up if the moon starts screaming at him.”

Leo sighs and drags a hand over his face as the memory ends. Then he bucks up.

“Sorry to you, too. Guess mutants have to stick together, huh?”

[doubled_speed]

"But it is a cool thing, so I guess I can't judge them completely," Tommy says. Even if he's not a vehicles guy. Though when he memory ends Tommy actually snickers into the rain.

"We really do. It's a whole thing back home. I'm usually excluded though."

[faceguy]

Yeah, the Turtle Tank is pretty cool, Leo can’t lie. Though not so cool when it gets hijacked and goes careening through New York out of control.

“Huh? Why?” Tommy doesn’t seem like someone who would normally be excluded from much of anything.

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, most things that go careening through New York out of countrol suck.

"Because we're not like other humans. We're born with powers. People don't like that because it's not like them and people don't always like what is different."

[faceguy]

"Yeah, I get that... That's why Dad raised us in a sewer."

Or otherwise what happened in the memory they just saw might happen.

"But aren't there other human mutants where you're from? Can't you hang out with them?"

[doubled_speed]

"That shouldn't have been something you had to live with, but I get why you did," Tommy says with a shrug. There's nothing a kid can do to control that.

"Lots of them. They even made their own nation recently. It's, like, the third or fourth try. That's a lot of bad luck there. I think islands might be cursed."

[faceguy]

“Eh, it’s pretty sweet, actually. And Donnie figured out how to get rid of most of the smell ages ago.”

So it’s totally fine! The idea of a nation of mutants is interesting, but Leo doesn’t think he would want to live with most of the ones he knows…

“Oh yeah! I mean, look at Staten Island. Eeeyuck.”

[doubled_speed]

The smell? Tommy cringes. Yeah, he can see why that would be a problem now that he things of it. Ew.

Though even thought thought is destroyed by the jab at Staten Island. He snorts in amusement.

"Sounds like your New York isn't far off from mine."

[faceguy]

“Oh so your Staten Island is gross and tacky too? Glad we’re all on the same page.”

Staten Island being terrible is a universal constant.

[doubled_speed]

"I mean, less gross, definitely tacky. But I'm mostly from North Jersey so I have a lot more opinions than most people," TOmmy says with a smile and a shrug.

[faceguy]

Leo can’t help but wrinkle his snout at that. Jersey…

“Being here has to be an upgrade, then.” No offense! But some offense…

[doubled_speed]

Does it? Tommy rolls his eyes. New Yorkers are sassy in the worst way.

"You know, that's a joke that people from Jersey get to make."

[faceguy]

"We have to look at Jersey so I think we should get to make it, too."

He's just saying!

[doubled_speed]

"You can make jokes about Jersey City, but's all you can see. I'll let you have that one," Tommy says. "Meanwhile we actually have to see you from a distance. So the teasing is earned."

[faceguy]

“Uh, no, I get to make fun of all of it because all of it is make-funnable.”

Yes, that is a word!

“Now can we get out of this rain? I don’t want it to start showing me memories of that time I almost died in Jersey.”

He’s being dramatic, he didn’t almost die.

[doubled_speed]

"You've been to New York, right? Like, it's more easily teased than Jersey is. And I'm saying that as someone who has lived in both. And doesn't like Jersey as much."

So yeah, he thinks he's got a basis to point that out with.

Though walking, yeah. Distractions were better than anything else for him actually, so he'd happily latched onto the conversation to not think about... Frank.

There's a moment where the storm around them flickers, almost as if it's threatening them with memories again. Tommy thinks he can hear a truck. No. He's not going to do that.

[faceguy]

“Been to? Been to?” Leo sounds offended (and overdramatic). “What, like I’m some kind of tourist?”

He is a dyed in the wool city boy. And one who should give more distractions - time to walk!

“I’ve never lived anywhere else. Not that I’d want to.”

[doubled_speed]

Tommy's smirking because man he works up so easily. Like, not really New York at all.

"Need to work on the NYC 'I don't give a fuck' attitude. But it's going okay so far. And the city isn't the best but it'll be fine."

Moving, though, that sounds good. He's happy to do it.

[faceguy]

No, see, his vibe is campy and overdramatic. Pay attention, Tommy!

“There’s nothing wrong with my attitude just like there’s nothing wrong with New York! …Well, other than Staten Island. And the subway. And the cosplay wizards. And the Times Square mascots that are actually mutant bugs.”

Other than that, though.

“You’ll learn to love it. Well, if you ever go back.”

[doubled_speed]

Yeah, that's not very New Yorker. It's weird.

"And the traffic. And the smell. And the insanity of the taxis and ride shares. And I've lived in New York plenty long man. Both in it and around it. Still a jersey boy."

[faceguy]

It’s a big city man.

“If you insist. Learn to travel like I do and you don’t need Uber, though.”

He means over rooftops, but given that Leo can teleport that works, too.

[doubled_speed]

It's not that big. He's seen bigger.

"I mean, I'm guessing you do rooftop shit? That's not as interesting as the roads though."

[faceguy]

“How are rooftops less interesting? You afraid of heights or something?”

It’s Leo’s primary way of getting around. Even getting thrown off a skyscraper hasn’t turned him off it.