revivalproject | OTA Log

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OTA Log

WHO: Tommy Shepherd and Anyone
WHERE: Graq Planet, Agrii Ship
WHAT: Harvesting seeds, capturing animals(?), and trying to learn Science! (TM)
WHEN: During the Return Journey
WARNINGS: None Anticipated?

A. Farming Boy | OTA | Graq Homeworld

Was it strange that he found this world so damn fun? Probably not. The trees were strong, the food was abundant enough that for the first time since coming to their damn level of reality he was full as he needed to be. It was a relief. And the food? Fuck the food was good. Good enough that Tommy had been poking around at the Graq trying to ask questions.

Which was silly. Who needed questions. Tommy just needed the fruits and vegetables. Or at least, the ones he can find that have seeds.

Anyone approaching will find the speedster laying out a variety of fruit on a large piece of stone, considering them before he raises his hands at them.

"You might wanna stand back," he warns, because he's going to try playing with his powers in a whole new way. "These... could explode in a juicy manner. Not sure. Haven't been able to do an explosion since getting here but... well, it's try time."

His hope was that it was just the Agrii ship and planet that fucked with his powers. Then again, if it hadn't... then he had the most awesome idea for trying to get some seeds to long term storage really fast.

B. Bacon Time | OTA | Graq Homeworld, minor Network

Meat. Protein. Fucking GOOD long term food that can be bred and brought up to size with foods that are less desirable to mainly human constitutions? Yeah, Tommy's all on that. Right from the world go on tasting his first side of bacon, he resolves a plan. One that he broadcasts out to the network as a group-text.

Listen. Some of us need meat and protein and all that shit in greater quantities. So I suggest this. A 'hunting' party. We can cure and preserve some of the meat. But I also wanna capture one or two breeding pairs? So we can, like, have more meat in the future? I'm sorry if you're squish and all that, but some of us need this.

Anyway, I'm starting at about noon or whatever noon is here. That's an hour or so. I've put a coordinate point up, and I've woven nets from vines and trip ropes and other stuff. Anyone wanna help?

And at the appointed time, Tommy will be standing at those exact coordinates, with one of those hats like you'd see on an episode of some nature documentary with a wise-cracking Aussie in it. Where he got the hat will have to remain a mystery. Just like why he's doing an Aussie accent. Horribly.

"Well get on their mate, we're huntin' food!"

Horrible

C. Learning Science | OTA | Agrii Ship

The problem with only needing to sleep four hours a day when you're travelling on a ship where the aliens operate on a thirty hour day is... Well, a lot of things. Including keeping oneself entertained when trying not to go crazy from a sense of confinement. Sure, the Agrii ship is a LOT larger than the ships the 'guests' of the Agrii have used, but sooner or later, every space feels confined when he doesn't have a whole planet to explore.

Which had led to the strangest behavior from Tommy Shepherd. All throughout the day the young man can be seen loitering in all sorts of places. He loiters on the bridge, watching the Agrii manage their consoles there. He loiters in the engine room, watching the Agrii and Stark and Tuesti and anyone else who comes in as they look at the new engine core. He crawls through the confined spaces of the Jeffries Tubes ~~and maybe nerds out a little over the idea that he's in a fucking Jeffries Tube because he just happens to be a closet Trekkie~~ and looks at where all of the wires go. He even hangs out in the hangar and watches the people who know how to do it mess with modifying their ships.

Why is he doing it? Well, Calibrations had taught him one thing, if only from the way Tony had stared at him.

Maybe, just maybe, Tommy wasn't as dumb as everyone had always told him he was. Maybe he even wanted to explore that.

So, if he happens by someone studying something, he pipes up with a question.

"How do you think that works?"

And if someone catches him staring as an Agrii is working hard, he waves them back for a second, watching a delicate process complete before looking at them.

"What's up?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Not ones like him," Tommy says, unable to help himself from snapping at Tony over a perceived slight aimed at David. So yeah, he MIGHT have a bit of a crush on the guy. "They don't make geniuses like him, Stark. He's a mutant. Geniuses like him are a bit different."

Was a mutant. Tommy's mom took that away from him. And Tommy felt like shit over it. He sighs and shakes his head.

He's just an asshole speedster that likes attention and partying. He's a fucking microwavable burrito and David is filet mignon served at some fancy restaurant.

"I can barely cook, and his dad was a chef. Which means he's a fucking chef. So that's not going to impress him."

Shit, when did this turn into talking about his stupid crush? Fucking hell, Tony. Why can't he just learn to think smart from Tony? Why does it always have to turn into emotions talk?

Tony was trying to talk about Star Trek, he didn't cause this problem. Tommy only had himself to blame; it wasn't like Tony willingly bared his soul to a mirror, let alone a Young Avenger. His gesturing hand landed lightly on his chest in prim apology for debasing David in such a way as comparing him to some every day math whiz like Tommy, sorry, he should have known better. A mutant genius was different. Tommy didn't seem unengaged in the effort to impress David, though, just his typical perpetual negativity, so Tony accepted, "See, ass magnet, worked on you," before tapping at his chest thoughtfully. "Are you going to tell me his mom's a botanist? What about your plants? Some people around here just put things they find on the ground in their mouths and hope they don't die." Tony wouldn't associate with any people like that, of course.

Tommy still doesn't think he's that smart. But no, there's no botany. It's just... no one is impressed by someone who grows things. Not really.

"Some people are just like that. But, it doesn't matter. He's not here."

Sad and resigned? Yeah. Tommy knows it's worse than that. He's not even lovable in a real way, so even if David WERE here, he'd want something else.

"He's into Teddy, apparently, So yeah, totally not his type."

That was the problem, wasn't it? This relationship was never going to work if Tommy was stuck in a different dimension, and Tony didn't really feel any closer to getting any of them home. Nonetheless, he scrubbed his hand through Tommy's hair and promised, "You'll see him soon. What do you think I've been doing this whole time?" Maybe by the time Tony actually figured it out and delivered, Tommy will have figured out a fraction of self-confidence. Until then, "Hey, what about that isn't good news? Teddy's engaged, off the market. Perfect time to make yourself very available to rest his weary, pining head." Self-confidence wasn't really Tony's area in any meaningful way. Manipulating a less than ideal situation to take advantage of, that he had advice for. "Anyway, who isn't into Teddy? Look at him. Of course he is. That's a hurdle you're going to have to get over with everyone you introduce to him."

Dude, don't muss his hair. Tommy ducks the touch. Wow, that's just way too familiar.

"He kissed Teddy while Teddy was engaged," Tommy grumbles.

And he didn't INTEND to introduce the hot guy at work to Teddy and Billy. That was supposed to be something that was his and his alone. They could have just... be there. Together. But David didn't even want to go to a club.

"We've only had coffee and noodles. And the one kiss. But he wasn't kissing me. He was kissing something that kidnapped me and then bam, creepy magic shit and there I was instead."

And he'd pushed the guy away and run off to a party and kissed Kate and... worst. He was the worst.

This David was really starting to sound like a charmer, kissing all sorts of things that he wasn't supposed to, making Tony's eyebrows raise in mild surprise. Something had to be at least a little recklessly chaotic to catch Tommy's attention like this, anyway, but the picture he had painted so far was, well. Tony must have really pissed him off.

"Does, uh, Billy know that?," Tony had to ask, because either that was a moot point, didn't make Teddy more available just because David was willing to make his move, or Tony found himself up against an emotional entanglement that he was about ready to back straight out of. He had something to do in the engine room still, right? Obviously, something Tommy couldn't see, they'd have to pick this up again later...Tony cleared his throat, brow furrowing seriously, and added, "Listen, coffee and noodles is a date, I feel like you buried the lede there, you're already seeing this guy and you're acting like you don't even have an in. What are you talking about?" The weird kidnapping magic shit, that was going to happen, Tommy was an Avenger, he was going to have to learn to wave it off like Tony was dismissively. More than one villain had the whole team stripped naked together, and Tony singularly naked among them more often than not, they all had to learn not to make it weird, weird shit happened.

Well, Tommy is absolutely not getting that noodles one time and coffee one time might actually be a date. Dates. He pauses for a moment to look at Tony. Could... that be true? What?

"Yeah, Billy knows. And they all know. David's agreed he isn't fucking with that shit. Apparently they'd been about to die and all that."

Still, he... wondered. Did David think it was a date? Tommy's brain is going a million miles a moment. Doesn't Tony get it? Teddy's SO much better than Tommy. And a guy into that big, buff, blonde, boy next door vibe would never want Tommy. But the two of them had been so open with each other. It seemed impossible.

"Dude, I was certain he was straight."

Tony's relief that he wasn't bearing witness to a slow collapse of these kids' relationships was palpable, making him try for another threat of Tommy's hair as he guided the kid ahead of himself into the Green Room. That all sounded very mature and adult of them, to all know what happened and the circumstances and willing to talk it out. Tony didn't know anyone else capable of that.

Less capable, Tommy still being confused about what David was into. "I'm willing to agree that Teddy is universal wet dream material, but, for the record, I would not be kissing Teddy," Tony tried to explain, not sure where Tommy got lost there to think he didn't have a chance because David was too straight. "Also, maybe don't tell him I said that. I also would like it to be on record that I would not say this before meeting Teddy now, the Teddy back on my planet is a child and, listen, I feel like we keep getting into incredibly inappropriate territory and I don't really know what that's about, but if you're trying to blackmail me, I absolutely don't have the money here, it's not going to work."

The problem was that the David kissing Teddy thing had come after Tommy had been kidnapped. After Tommy had come to the conclusion that the guy wasn't into him. Because he'd heard the guy talk about his ex-girlfriend.

"I don't want your damn money. I just wanna try and fucking learn shit. I just keep coming to ask you to teach me fucking shit and instead this happens!"

"What?" This did make a little sense, once Tony remembered that they were standing in the Green Room not because Tommy was trying to get an annoying crush off of his chest, but because Tommy had recommended a neat solution for what seemed like a navigation problem. "Then why do you keep talking about this?," Tony snapped, not about to be accused of making them talk about David; Tommy was the one that kept bringing it up. "What shit do you expect me to teach you?," he continued, equally as irritably, as though this request was anywhere as offensive to him as getting roped into talking about Tommy's high school mooning, and not that he was perfectly willing to listen to his own voice as long as Tommy was encouraging it.

"I mentioned him in passing, comparing you to him. I didn't turn it into this. You did."

Tommy sighs and puts a bit of space between himself and Tony. Why doesn't the man get it?

"I don't know what I want to learn. I just know that you don't treat me like I'm an entire fucking idiot. Sometimes I say shit and you actually talk about it, think about what I said, and either build on it, or tell me why I'm wrong instead of just saying I'm stupid, it was stupid, and I should just shut my damn fool mouth."

The last words, starting with the 'just' take on a deeper tone, a heavier north Jersey accent. He's clearly quoting someone.

"That a fucking problem?"

Mouth a tight line and eyes wide, Tony raised a warning finger, last chance, because he did not and would not be blamed for getting them entrenched in their shared romantic failures. It was Tommy that brought up Jon, and if Tony could get away with it he would be claiming he never met the man in his life, and then Tommy that brought up David, absolutely Tommy's fault, he clearly had some shit to work out. Maybe it was the comparison that did it, but Tony couldn't be blamed for Tommy seeing his crushes in him. Just because young genius nerds tried to model their lives off of Tony's sexiest Forbes covers didn't mean Tony had to take responsibility for their behaviour.

He almost softened at that unmistakable slip of the accent, but narrowed his expression back into a frown at Tommy's final combative question, his energy controlling the tone despite the serenity of the slightly harassed greenhouse, and Tony was much more comfortable butting heads with him than whatever else had been going on. "I'll tell you you're stupid when you say something stupid, if that'll make you feel better. I thought we were just having a conversation, sometimes I listen to what people say to me, sue me. I didn't realize you were trying to leech engineering facts to impress your boyfriend, if I did, we could have kept this tight, because that's not going to do it, just turn around and show him your ass, you're golden. Now, if you actually want to build something, you've got to bring me an idea, I can't do all of the work, I've got my own shit."

Good thing Tony didn't say the whole 'young genius nerds' try to frame themselves after Stark. Because Tommy would have rolled his eyes and had a list on how David Alleyne couldn't give a fuck about being like Tony Stark.

"You're assuming that when we go home, we remember all of this. And if I'm going to impress him it's going to be on things I can do for myself. But..."

The young man crosses his arms over his chest and looks away from Tony. It's about more than that.

"The thing in your memories. With the satellite. You actually acted like I wasn't talking out of my ass. People don't do that. I thought maybe I could learn something, even it was only just by watching you. But I guess I can figure something else. Someone else."

Of course Tony was assuming they were going to remember this, and readily went, "Yeah-huh," like that was all that needed to be said on that topic. The effort it would take for whoever was in control of this to selectively extract the memories of being here specifically was completely out of balance with any obvious benefit that would be to them, and Tony didn't think his brain could be defragged enough to just forget something like that expression of disappointed frustration on Tommy. Tony didn't do that to kids very often, and he braced his hands on his hips with his tongue between his teeth in his own frustration, watching distantly as he scuffed the ground. Maybe Tommy wasn't enjoying arguing with him as much as he made it seem.

Still looking at the ground, not sure if this was an apology, Tony tried to excuse, "I get aggressive when I'm hungry. Or tired." So, all the time, not a great excuse. "I'm working on it. Listen, that wasn't an act, I don't really know what you want me to tell you-- sorry nobody's been listening to you, I guess. You don't make it easy, you know, you say a lot like you don't really want anybody to listen." That's why Tony did it, anyway, and it was very effective.

Well, don't be hungry. Tommy's clearly solving some of his hunger with the sandwich he's finally finishing. Because it's easier than saying 'people don't want to listen, so it's easier to do it this way'. Sometimes pushing people away is easier than letting them be close.

A lot easier.

"I just... want to learn."

"Okay. Well." Now that Tommy didn't seem to have eighteen things to tell him, Tony suddenly didn't know what to do with that, either. The arguing really was a lot easier. Starting with something negative, though, definitely wasn't going to help, so Tony opened his mouth again only to shut it instead of telling Tommy he wasn't much of a teacher, it wasn't like he had come out here with a lesson plan, and most people found him inscrutably annoying when he was trying to puzzle something out out loud. "I guess I know some stuff," must have been the least arrogant way Tony had ever expressed the sentiment, but no one had ever just asked for something like that. "Is it--like, about satellites? You liked the satellite stuff?"

"You don't have to talk about random stuff. After we're done looking here, just, you know, go back to looking at the engine or whatever. Do your rambling out loud. Be okay with me asking questions?"

Because if he watches, he might know what to watch and learn through conversation. Just... give him a chance.

He needs a chance. Almost looks desperate for it.

That expression suggested to Tony that maybe, this time, he should not point out that Tommy could have just done that and not made it completely weird, Tony was always muttering at something and would appreciate the kind of attention Tommy brought with his off the wall questions--maybe that was for later, reminding Tommy how completely weird he was. Right now, Tony gave him a beat before repeating, "Okay," eyebrows raised slightly to say, that was a contract, they had an agreement now, don't fuck it up, arms going loose then twitching and hugging around his own chest because Tommy was kind of far away. He barely took a breath before he was continuing pompously, "You can call me Professor Tony. I'll take Doctor, too, I've got seven of those, did you know that? No one ever calls me Doctor, I don't know how Reed gets off. I don't do essays, I don't know how to read, never learned, all exams will be practical and flattery will get you everywhere. Any questions? Too bad."

Wait, really? Tony's got a lot of doctorates? Wow, okay, he didn't know that. So he grins.

"Alright, Professor Doctor Stark. I hate tests anyway. I have some serious attention span issues anyway. Comes from the fact that the world doesn't go as fast as me. Any intel you can just pump me via text on the comms is good too. They can almost keep up with my reading speed."

"That's an external problem. You do get how that's not an attention span issue, right? Major lesson uno, sitting still does not make you a better person or whatever, if you've absorbed it, it's in there, we move on, because I'm bored, too." It was possible Tony was not going to completely mess this up. Tommy calling this exchange 'intel' did change the tone enough to make Tony crack a smile that he tried to cover again, nodding solemnly, of course, this wasn't a classroom, it was an intelligence operation. Nat hated it when they tried to play at spies, Avengers were not spies and regularly proved how bad at it they were, but that didn't stop them from trying. And Tony doubted Tommy remembered, but it was gratifying to hear him change his tune after shooting Tony down the first time they spoke in this place. "First mission," Tony said, finger up, very official, "We're finding that remora."

There has been literally no one in his life, save maybe Billy's mom, who hasn't told him his attention span was an issue. His issue. Not a problem with the fact that his brain had trouble with the world.

But the first time had... its complications. Right now? He was doing the best he could. And the fact that Tony isn't sending him away makes him smile.

"Need a quick search, Professor Doctor Stark?"

"Yeah. What have you been doing this whole time, what are you standing around for?" Tony demanded irritably, like Speed wasn't working fast enough for him. It had to be a quick transition to catch him before he bolted off, though, Tony knew that, so his smile slipped again before he was even finished asking and he had to bite his lip as he chopped a flat hand through the air, palm down, putting something on the table before they broke because he couldn't let it go for now. "Now that I'm hearing it, honestly, not thrilled about the name, call me that again and I walk out of here, you'll never see me again," he said, then flicked his hand again, okay, go.

Well, he's been talking to Tony. There's a twinkle of amusement in his eyes at the lack of using the new nick name, but... Well, Tony had agreed not to call him Thomas, so he guesses he can give Stark this one. Though really No Thomas felt like a fair exchange for No Anthony.

One of these times, though, he's definitely going to call the guy P.Diddy Stark. Maybe.

As it was Tommy winks and takes off, bolting around the area. In fact, he's better than Tony.

"You going to time me, boss?"

And with that he's off in a burst of speed.

That barely gave Tony enough time to welcome the suggestion with an idle wave of his hand and say, "Impress me," so they had something to stop the clock by. Tony wasn't sure yet what exactly they were looking for, so Tommy might have just set himself a steep challenge while Tony took his time sidling over to a knocked over tree curiously to lift himself up on it, consider briefly why it was like this, then stretch himself out like a lounging cat with a groan as he dropped his arms and his back luxuriously cracked.

Impress him? As much as he can. He'll back within two minutes, looking a bit ready for a very serious cup of coffee. And he sighs, shaking his head, hands in his pockets.

"Well, for me that was about a week of searching and nope. Literally not a single thing out of the norm. Some things we don't have that I want for the greenhouse and know from datapoint only, but... No bingo."

OTA Log

wow rude computer posting something not even REMOTELY done

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clearly they won't find anything, but i'm asking mods anyway lol

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