Calibrations Waiting Room Mingle

[trpmods]

WHO: ALL HE ROWS
WHERE: The Secret Tunnel, which has become the Calibrations Waiting Room (or was it always...?)
WHAT: Mingle log for literally anything you'd like to take place in the waiting room between sleep cycles during the event
WHEN: June 3 - July 10
WARNINGS: Please mark individual threads with warnings

For those that have heeded Ga Re's warning, the door within the secret tunnel - which looks suspiciously like the hatch to one of your shuttles - is wide open, waiting for you. You walk through... and the door behind you disappears. You’re now standing in a cavernous, cold, white waiting room. There are hallways leading off the main corridor with names above each. One of them has your name and will draw you toward it, inevitably.

And on the wall, in pink, running letters is written this single greeting:

‘Welcome to Calibrations’.

The secret tunnel has become a large waiting room with chairs, tables, and the same food dispensers available in the shuttles. There are also communal bathrooms - one for each gender - with several toilet stalls and shower stalls in each, including basic shampoo and soap dispensers, like you might find in a hotel. The water isn’t hot, so hopefully you don’t mind lukewarm showers. Somehow, at least, it never goes cold.

Branching off the main waiting room room are the labeled hallways. At the end of each short hallway is a door, with the same character’s name written on them. Anyone can enter any room, regardless of the name written on it. Everyone has their own room, though of course people can share. Each room has a simple bed (approximately queen-sized) and a set of drawers.

You can opt to spend time in your room or in the larger, common waiting room. (And if you do, you can thread it out here!) But every 16 hours, you'll feel a compulsion: You need to sleep. Right now. You find yourself going into your room (or someone else's, if you really want). But you’re drawn to the bed. You can’t help but lie down. And then, you fall asleep.

Comments

[doubled_speed]

Because he's been scarred. By his brother. Because Billy will always hate himself for that. Because he was still scared OF Billy. Because he failed to protect his brother. Because he was ready to die because he couldn't hurt Billy. Because he wanted to, if Billy didn't want him.

"Who says I'm avoiding you?"

[wearingthestars]

"...All the uh...avoiding, mostly," Billy said, trying for a teasing smile, though it's a little more awkward than normal and he bites at his lip.

"...I took care of Cal. He's okay. And Teddy...and uh...Tony."

[doubled_speed]

Cal was... literally the only person that got really close to injured, and he feels so horrible about that.

"Good. I... tried to strangle him."

Fuck his life. As for Tony...

"I know Tony is okay. He sent me a message to make sure some people got here. Figure he can't do that if he's dead."

[wearingthestars]

"...I saw," he winces a little, "He's all right though. He was worried about you."

"Mm-" Billy flushes uncomfortably, "You um- you saved him." He can never take back what he's done, but he's forever grateful that his actions hadn't left Stark permanently gone.

[doubled_speed]

Well, small things.

"You saved him, Billy. You got the adrenaline," Tommy counters. "And he didn't deserve what happened. Nobody did."

[wearingthestars]

He didn't know. None of them did. Billy looks guilty again.

"Without the CPR it might not have mattered. It was you. And I-...I'm so sorry Tommy. I know I can't take it back, but- it kills me that I did that to you..."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy's hand, after a moment, goes to the scarring on his arm, and he rubs at it without really thinking.

"It... Fuck, B. None of that should have happened. I just, I'm sorry I couldn't save you."

[wearingthestars]

"You didn't know how- none of us did- And you wouldn't-" Billy sighs, blinking back tears, "...You wouldn't fight me. I could've killed you and you wouldn't-...Please- if it happens again, don't let me- don't let me hurt you."

[doubled_speed]

Fuck, see, THIS was why he had been avoiding Billy. Because of the crying.

"I won't hurt you, Billy. Ever. Period. Not in my right mind. And I sure as fuck won't kill you, because that seemed like what it would have had to take. I just... wish Tony hadn't gotten involved."

[wearingthestars]

He's trying really hard not to.

"If he hadn't you might be dead Tommy-" And fuck that still makes Billy sick to think about how close he was to doing that.

"I-...I never wanted to be one of the people that hurt you like that, and I nearly killed you."

[doubled_speed]

Tommy shrugs as he pushes off of the wall and starts to walk away. Slow enough for Billy to follow if he wanted. This wasn't something to talk about around other people.

"So what? You wouldn't have brought me back?"

[wearingthestars]

And of course Billy follows after, a few steps behind despite Tommy's slow speed.

Of course he would have saved him. If he was in his right mind. But- "If Tony wasn't there, then Jon wouldn't be there to stop me either. I would have killed you and then moved on to everyone else."

[doubled_speed]

"You think Creeper wouldn't have acted? Doubt it. He meddles. Like a fucking asshole."

CLearly Tommy has OPINIONS about Jon.

[wearingthestars]

"I think if Tony hadn't come out then Jon wouldn't have followed." He frowns though, "...What happened between you two? He said you met, but he didn't say what happened."

[doubled_speed]

"Jon's a fucking asshole who deserves to be thrown into the sea," Tommy answers, which is SO not an answer. He keeps walking. Keep up, bro. He's going to school you once they're away from other people. Mostly just about 'don't be stupid what do I have to live for beyond you?'

[wearingthestars]

"...Tell us what you really think," Billy mutters, surprised to hear such a hostile reaction, quickening his pace a little. He's been all right with Billy, but he's concerned to know his brother seems to have a different impression.

[doubled_speed]

A very different impression. And the last thing he wants is his brother interacting with Jon. His brother knowing... how bad Tommy is.

"I think he's useless and he doesn't belong here. There have to be more effective people to kidnap."

[wearingthestars]

"...You know I work with him now, right? At the hospital?" he points out. He doesn't want to argue that Jon's only been nice to him, it doesn't negate anything Tommy has to say, but...it is hard to picture Jon as anyone deserving that level of reaction.

[doubled_speed]

Tommy freezes. And is glad his back is to Billy, because he's sneering in disgust, his hands fisted at his sides.

"The man is bad, Billy. Stay the hell away from him."

[wearingthestars]

"I-...I'll try to...if you really want me to, but- ...I want to keep working at the hospital. I feel like I'm actually helping people, and-...Tommy, what happened? What did he do?"

[doubled_speed]

It's better if Billy stays away from Jon. The guy is evil.

"The man has freaky powers. He KNOWS when you're afraid. He can make you afraid. He can, like... His powers are fucked up, B. He MADE me tell him things. And somehow hid a recorder in our home and recorded me saying shit."

And he hated it. There were things people weren't supposed to know.

[wearingthestars]

"..." Billy looks surprised, and a little guilt, as though he should have known some how, and additional guilt for how part of him still want to hold onto that tentative friendship, but that would be a complete betrayal to his brother. He swallows before giving a nod.

"O-okay. I'll...I'll stay from him. I promise. Are you okay? Why didn't you tell me before??"

[doubled_speed]

"Because... it wouldn't be easy to explain. I don't even want to explain it now. I just wanted you to listen."

He's vibrates with the tension, the nerves of all of this.

[wearingthestars]

"Hey, it's okay- I won't- I'll stay away. I promise. As much as I can, okay?" Billy tries to assure, "I believe you, you don't have to explain any more than that."

[doubled_speed]

"Thanks," Tommy answers. Because... because he can't handle the idea that his brother would hate him for the weakest moments of his life. At last Tommy stops, and he turns around. No one is around so...

He steals a brief hug from Billy, holding him tight.