revivalproject | Vay Cay

WHO: Billy Kaplan, Teddy Altman, OTA
WHERE: Risa
WHAT: Vacation, Date Night, Under Age Drinking.
WHEN: Risa Event
WARNINGS: None, Will update if needed

A vacation is sorely needed after these last few weeks, and apart from their dimension hopping adventure, this might be the first solo vacation of Billy's adult life. No parents watching over him, no twins to look after. Billy plans to enjoy himself.

The market is full of all sorts of exciting things, and Billy's eager to stock up on things the storm can't disappear on him if his magic shorts out again. Clothes, supplies, even a strange sort of idol that someone seems very keen on him purchasing, though he's not sure why.

The beach is pristine, like something out of a dream, and Billy even has one of those fancy tropical drinks. The kind that tastes so sweet you don't realize just how tipsy you're getting. And it's quickly replaced with another before it's even finished.

It feels like he and Teddy haven't had a real chance to catch up between everything that's happened since his arrival, but this is just the excuse they need to devote some time to just them. It's the sort of date night they couldn't possibly achieve back home without some serious leaning on the magic, and it's nice to pretend for a bit that things are normal again.
"So tell me about future Billy and Teddy," he prompts with a curious hum, leaning into Teddy's side, "Do we have a place yet? Have we picked a date?"

[OR feel free to throw a different starter at him]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh. Oh! Billy's eyes widen as his mind jumps to the obvious conclusion, and he gives a surprised laugh, never thinking in his wildest dreams this might be the sort of thing Captain America would ever come to him about.

"Heh- um...it was him. No ring. No plan, really, but it was perfect. I was going through a real rough time, and he...brought me out of it again. Are you-...are thinking of asking...?"

Steve nods the whole time as he mentally takes notes. As though a man proposing to another man is something that needs a checklist. But the minute that Billy jumps to the obvious conclusion and asks him, Steve's whole face goes crimson and he forces a laugh out.

"What? I...I...I mean. I don't... It's... It's not..." He lets out an explosive exhale and lets his head hang.

"Maybe."

Oh wow. This is huge. Billy grins, and he shares a hushed laugh with him.

"That's amazing! Um- what have you- are you doing it here?" Because this is probably the nicest setting they're going to have for something like this. "What do you have planned so far?"

Okay. Billy's excitement is contagious. Steve scratches at the back of his neck, embarrassed but also pleased to share the news. Or...pre-news. Whatever it is.

"I...haven't decided? I might do it on the ship. Or... I don't know. But I figured I could get a ring here." He laughs hollowly. "That's about all I got: I want to ask him and I figure I'll need a ring. Or something."

"Oh, no- yeah- you need a ring," Billy agrees eagerly. It's the sort of thing Billy would have offered to magic up, but that's not the sort of thing he wants to have stolen away if his powers drain again. "You want help looking? Guys rings aren't all that different, but I can do the whole moral support thing."

Steve smiles and nods, happy for any assistance at all. "Yeah. Yeah, that would be good, actually. I can't find anything that doesn't look... I don't know. Not us?"

He starts walking toward another jewelry stand, face turned to the sky and hands in his pockets.

"Back when I was from, rings were simple. Gold. I actually once had my dad's ring from my ma." He lost it well before coming here, though. God knew who took it after he was gone. But even so. Steve chuckles to himself.

"Sometimes I wonder what they'd both have thought if they knew I'da given it to Buck..."

"Not us..." Billy echoes the words and nods, thinking he understands, "You'll know when you see it."

He looks over to watch Steve's face, expression hard to read in that moment.

"...I'm sure they'd be happy you were happy," he offers. He knows it was different then. It's not all that better now for a lot of people, but Billy's family knows and supports him, and...he knows the difference that makes. "Did you ever...get to talk to them about it? Or...did you even know then?"

Steve blows out an exhale that's half a laugh. "God, no. I didn't even let myself think about it." He got punched enough as it was without adding more incentive for people. "We coulda gotten arrested, back then. I wouldn't have wanted that for Buck."

Still, there were so many times he would look over as they shared a bed and Steve would just. Stare. Or when Bucky would dance and look so incredible at it. Steve smiles at the memories.

"Looking back on it, I think maybe part of me felt more than I should have for him. At the time it just wasn't a possibility."

Billy knows all about the getting punched for that. But people will always find something they don't like about you...

He smiles a bit sadly, but nods, glad progress is being made, but sad for Steve that he's only able to really explore that now.

"Makes me wonder how different things will be in another...70 years."

It's something to think about, for sure. Steve nudges Billy with his shoulder and a smirk. "If I can make a recommendation, find some other way of getting there than in ice? Defrosting ain't as fun as it looks; leave it to chicken cutlets."

He grins as they come up to the stand he'd been headed for and Steve looks down at the selection of jewelry. The smile fades as he gets back to business. He frowns.

"Uh. Any of these say 'Bucky Barnes'?"

He laughs, head ducking a little. It still feels a little strange to be making jokes with Steve, but he's starting to feel less and less like a kid trying to sit at the adult's table and more like Steve really does value his opinion, so that's something.

He looks over the rings with a hum, and the tries to gauge which ones Steve has his eyes on. "...Is Bucky a classic guy? Or does he like something more showy?"

"Classic." It comes without him even needing to think about it. His eyes go to something simple that looks like silver, brushed out. It's nice but entirely new. Steve picks it up and turns it over, clearly not pleased but perhaps getting ready to settle.

"I had a ring, once. It was my Dad's. Long gone, now...but it was simple and old. Gold." He puts the silver one down and sighs, running a hand over his face. "I wish I had it now. At least that feels like something....I don't know. Sentimental?"

Classic. Billy nods, hesitating when Steve mentions his father's ring again. It's clearly the one he's stuck on, which means whatever they might find here won't be the same...

"...I could try and uh-" he gestures, leaving a blue trail of magic, looking a little uncertain, "...If I get caught up in another storm it might disappear for a bit, but..."

Steve puts the ring down and smiles at Billy in genuine gratitude. "You would do that for me?" But no. Even if Billy would, that still isn't what he is thinking of. Steve shakes his head.

"Thanks. Really. That means a lot. But...no. I really just want to figure out something. Something that...I don't know. Feels right?" He scrubbed a hand over his face.

"That probably sounds silly."

"Yeah, of course, if you wanted," he flushes and shrugs off the thanks.

"No, I get it, really. It's a really personal thing, you wanna make sure it feels right. I dunno if it'll help, but maybe, if any are calling out to you, sort of- do a test drive. Pretend you're asking him and see if it feels right?"

Vay Cay

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