[Open] the journey is half the adventure

[hulkintraining]

WHO: Teddy, OTA
WHERE: Graq Planet, Agrii Ship
WHAT: Seed gathering, PB&J adventures, and more!
WHEN: During the Return Journey
WARNINGS: N/A



Graq Planet

1; Deciding to take a detour trip to drop off the Graq had been an easy decision to make for Teddy, who is tired of ships and space travel at this point and welcomes the idea of having solid ground beneath his feet and fresh air in his lungs. Not to mention more room to move around. And it doesn't take him very long after arriving to find what he assumes is the town marketplace.

He's on the hunt for fresh food, tasting as many of the new plants as his stomach has room for, when he catches the attention of a few of the crafts-makers. When his sword catches their attention to be exact. Soon he has a couple of the Graq grouping up behind him, trying to get a better look at the weapon strapped to his back. Questions and comments fly about where he got it, trading, and even ways to enhance it. A frazzled Teddy cranes his neck, searching desperately for an escape route.

"Look, it's definitely not for sale -- or trading. I like it the way it is. Don't you dare spit on it!"

2; When Teddy sets out from the village he does so in the pursuit of gathering seeds from the delicious plants this planet has to offer to take back to Agra 10. He brings a plain sack with him that he slowly begins filling up. His process is a little rough, including a lot of breaking the plants open to search for seeds.

Eventually, he takes a break. Turning his attention to the nearby mountain face, he scales it with ease, and once at the top he seats himself on the cliff edge, letting his legs dangling over. He gets captured by the view from higher up and ends up sitting there for a long time.

The Agrii Ship

3; The discovery of the mess hall is an experience marked with joy quickly followed by resignation. The idea that the Agrii had to have better taste in food than the gel is quickly rejected at Teddy's first taste of an iced tea tasting apple.

What doesn't go out of style though? The delicious taste of a good PB&J...even when you're not expecting it. Teddy is currently munching on what he had assumed to be a tuna sandwich but which has a distinctly not tuna flavor. But he can't complain. It could be worse. He has had worse. It could have been iced tea again.

"You know...I don't think I mind the all sandwiches tasting like peanut butter and jelly thing. I mean, it's a classic for a reason."

4; Wildcard

[Choose your own adventure! Teddy can be found exploring the ship pretty much everywhere. He's not a pilot and has no real experience to help with figuring out the core, but that doesn't mean he won't check things out and throw out ideas. Even if it's just 'dear god don't touch the red button'. Come on, everyone should know that. Or, if you want to plot something you can reach me at NearTheHeart or PM this journal.]

Comments

1

[deal_me_in]

Cayde's about had it with the locals but given he knows the trip home is bound to be a long one, he decides he'll make the most of being able to wander about planetside. Even if it's this planet.

The Graq have either come to tolerate him or just give the strange metal man a wide berth whenever he was seen poking about. It's become vastly the latter of late, especially as the Exo walks around with what looks like a young bird of some sort, tucked under an arm. Young for how scraggly and drab in color it is. It's otherwise a pretty good size, which might hint what to expect once it's full grown. Or of course, if one's had some of the local delicacies and seen the size of those drumsticks...

An amber-lit smile brightens Cayde's face as he spots Teddy, and he begins to raise his hand, pausing only when he sees the attention he's being given. It's obvious from the look on the kid's face that he's in need of some assistance, so the Exo resumes his original plan, waving enthusiastically as he approaches.

"Heya kid!" he greets.

[hulkintraining]

The curious Graq's have Teddy cornered even as he does his best to angle his back, and the sword strapped to it, away from their interested gazes. So much for 'out of sight, out of mind'. He's considering shifting into his bigger, more intimidating Hulkling form just to see if it would make them back off, but he hesitates, not keen on turning this into a fight.

They've just gotten on good terms with the Graq and they certainly don't need any incidents that ban them from returning to this planet.

Luckily, Cayde's greeting comes just in time, preventing Teddy from having to make that choice. When he turns and sees the familiar face of the Exo his own expression lights up in relief. A few of the Graq step aside easily enough, allowing Cayde to get closer.

"Hey. Man, I'm really glad to see you." His eyes quickly glance between the surrounding Graq and the Exo, his brows furrowing together in a silent plea. Help.

[deal_me_in]

"The natives bein' nosy?" Cayde moves on in, turning to glance around at the lingering Graq with a bright smile. Some of them look a little uneasy, maybe having heard of the brief stint when he'd burst into golden flames from their kidnapped brethren.

He looks at Teddy and then closes the distance between them, hooking an arm around the kid's shoulders before trying to steer them both along and away from the Graq gathering. The bird under his other arm squawks, making a few of the furry locals jump, side-eyeing the Exo as they mutter in their grunt-like language amongst themselves. Clearly they haven't worked out what to think of Cayde, and he's perfectly fine with that.

"How's the sightseeing been going?" he asks Teddy.

[hulkintraining]

"They're just a bit curious about my sword. A lot curious." Teddy allows Cayde to grip his shoulders and begin to guide them through the gathered Graq. They grumble a bit but don't make any moves to stop them, and Teddy catches the strange glances they cast towards the Exo.

The bird's squawking finally draws Teddy's attention away from his own predicament and he can't help but grin at the creature.

"Got a replacement for your chicken back home?" He's never going to forget about that. Ever.

[deal_me_in]

"I mean, it is a nice sword," the Exo offers, but he nods as he continues to walk Teddy along and away from the overly curious eyes.

Chuckling, he gives the bird a bounce. "A replacement? There are no replacements for Colonel," he insists. "But I was thinking if we had a few of these birds around back on Temba, we could have a farm or something to supply for other than questionable alien veggies and fruit and paste. Initially I was thinking eggs but I think someone said something about 'em being uncrackable."

3

[wearingthestars]

"Yeah?" Billy laughs, making a bit of a face. He's still having trouble getting past the texture. It's a bit of a mind trip, but that's been true for most of their food options since they were taken.

"I dunno if I'd put this on my top 10 alien foods or anything, but it's okay. Honestly it's just nice to have something different that I didn't magic up."

[hulkintraining]

He shrugs. Maybe this is just a sign of how bad their culinary choices have been up until now that he's willing to settle for anything that tastes even halfway familiar.

"Nah, it doesn't belong on anyone's top 10 list. If this is the best the galaxy has to offer than we have a huge problem. But on the other hand...you can't mess up the taste of PB&J. It's impossible. And I kind of like knowing what to expect when I bite into something."

He's aware of the irony even as he takes another bite of his tuna-not tuna sandwich.

"Don't get me wrong. Your magic has saved us from eating a lot of unfortunate things, and for that I'm thankful."

[wearingthestars]

"I mean, we've sampled a bit running through the multiverse, there's definitely some stuff out there I prefer. But I guess they might feel the same if we showed them some Earth food. Except pizza. I still maintain pizza has to be a universally perfect food."

Especially a New York slice, but that's a whole other argument.

[hulkintraining]

"The thing is I'm pretty sure this is what the Agrii think Earth food is like." Which is both kind of humorous and horrific at the same time. "Makes me kind of wonder what they would think of actual food from Earth."

He nods, humming in agreement as he chews another bite. "Definitely. Pizza is one of the single most best foods ever invented."

2

[heeeyadora]

Catra really didn't expect to find anyone else this high up, and she slows in her approach, a mischievous look on her face before attempting to startle him with a sudden- "Hey- you're gonna wanna be careful this high up-"

[hulkintraining]

Startle he does, flinching at the suddenness of her appearance, and knocking his sack of seeds over, several of which pour out over the edge of the cliff. Hurriedly, Teddy snatches the sack up, and aims a frown over his shoulder at her.

"You know, maybe that's not such a great joke to play. What would have happened if I really went over?" Not that he would have gotten hurt of anything - thanks shapeshifting. But she wouldn't necessarily know that.

[heeeyadora]

"Natural selection?" she poses with a dark sense of humor. Honestly, she hadn't really thought about it, the consequences of her actions are so often an after thought.

"What are you doing up here any ways? If you can get up this high then you should be able to handle yourself," she reasons.

[hulkintraining]

He shakes his head but he had more or less expected such a response. In his few interactions with Catra so far he's come to expect her to be a bit abrasive.

"I wanted to see what the view looks like from up here. It's not that hard of a climb." Quickly, between one blink and the next, Teddy's skin changes to a light green, he becomes taller, and bigger, with claws and reptilian wings. Clearly, he hadn't needed to climb in the first place, but he enjoys the challenge and the exertion, especially after being cooped up for so long.

"I think I'll probably take the easy way back down though."

3

[doubled_speed]

Tommy, on the other side of the table from Teddy, is already into his third sandwich, with his looking like a meatball sub. It's hilarious. He actually LOVES the strange dichotomy here.

"Not as good as bacon-mushrooms, or Cumato and mint soup, but I like it. Though I think when we get back I'm temporarily banning all attempts at peanut-tasting food at the diner."

[hulkintraining]

"I think you might have something here. I mean PB&J is clearly universally loved and nearly impossible to mess up the taste of. Something like this at the diner would be a hit."

But maybe not immediately after several weeks of eating nothing but PB&J tasting food.

"Maybe a waiting period after we return to Temba wouldn't be a bad idea though."

[doubled_speed]

"Yeah, but some people are so damn picky about texture," Tommy points out. Still, if it tastes like PB&J without the allergy factor, they could make millions.

"What do we do? When we get back? Saving them clearly hasn't helped us. You and Billy need to get home. We all need to get home. Fuck, this waiting is maddening."

[hulkintraining]

Teddy shrugs. As far as he's concerned texture falls below general taste and he's pleased just to have an alternative that doesn't taste bad or like nothing at all.

"Well, we clearly need to learn more about whoever is really in charge. And then we need to find out what they want from us. Besides creepily recording us..." Which isn't a great plan, but it's a start.

3

[brooklyn_boy]

Steve is eating more or less to just keep running at this point. He has a plate piled high with all sorts of items that he is guessing has the highest calorie-counts. Have to fuel the super-machine somehow. On his plate he has a stack of sandwiches of all different sorts and, despite having eaten three, he still has many to go.

Therefore he is a bit less enthused about it all as he turns to Teddy and raises an amused eyebrow.

"They were a classic three days ago. At this point I would really just love the grilled cheese to taste like cheese. Any sort of cheese. Limburger. Anything but more peanut butter." At least the gel was flavorless. Nothing to get sick of there but texture.

[hulkintraining]

Teddy's gaze lingers a moment on the remaining pile of sandwiches on Steve's plate before he gives the man a look akin to pity. Yeah, he can understand the fatigue that comes from basically eating the same thing over and over again. But, as a child he was also one of those kids who went through a big PB&J phase that drove his mother crazy.

He's trained for this.

"Well, I would say to try something not sandwichy but that would be a big mistake. You'll carry that regret forever." His mouth curls down like he's remembering a particularly foul taste. "But it's a long way back to Temba. Nothing says we can't go out and get other supplies on the way."

[brooklyn_boy]

"Yeah. They had something I was positive was a steak. It ended up tasting like borax. Don't ask me why or how I know that. Just avoid the steak."

He frowns at the sandwiches but tucks in, scarfing down an 'egg salad' that tasted like strawberry jelly instead of raspberry. Variety.

"A supply run would be good, actually. Or some way to teach the Agrii what this all is supposed to taste like. I don't even know how they're managing these things..."

[hulkintraining]

Teddy blinks. "Well you can't just say something like that and expect me not to ask." Though, on second thought, maybe it's not the type of story he would enjoy hearing about. "Avoid the steak. Got it."

He perks up at the thought of a supply run, more than ready to see some sights that aren't the inside of this ship.

"Well, maybe we could accomplish that with a supply run. Find the right ingredients, make the proper food, feed it to the Agrii. I don't think trying to explain taste to them is going to help any. It's more about the experience."

3

[beholding_archivist]

Looking up from his cup of tea with a single raised brow, Jon glances over at Teddy - And remains silent. Though his expression may be answer enough.

After a moment, he sighs and turns his attention back to his tea with a little sigh. "I don't even want to think about how this sort of Americanization is possible, but you are aware that this combination of food is considered vile in most other countries on Earth, are you." No, this isn't a question, it's a statement. As far as Jon is concerned, peanut butter itself is already gross.

[hulkintraining]

Teddy pauses mid-chew, appearing to think about Jon's words for a moment, before slowly shaking his head. Most of his international experience can be summed up in quick superhero missions or trips to space, neither of which usually give one time to appreciate the differences in tastes in food. He probably has more experience with space food at this point.

"Okay, you're not a fan of PB&J. What do you like to put on your sandwiches?"

[beholding_archivist]

"Not to make this a competition of stereotypes, but... I quite like good old baked beans on mine." Jon answers with a small shrug. Maybe he did grow up in a very stereotypical British way, but he was still raised by his grandmother. Though judging by what he has been able to pick up from his assistants, baked beans remain a staple of British cuisine.

At least he can easily skip the Agrii's ideas of what certain food is supposed to taste like by simply... Well. Not eating any of it?

[hulkintraining]

Teddy doesn't quite manage to keep the horror he feels off his face, but he quickly tries to hide it by taking another bite of his sandwich. He's an accepting guy, to each their own and all, but in that moment he quite possibly despises the idea of baked beans on a sandwich as much as Jon does PB&J. Cultural differences indeed.

"That's...nice. I didn't know that was a thing." This has been a learning experience.