[Network & Log] Welcome Back Birthday Boy

[doubled_speed]

WHO: Tommy Shepherd and Everyone (Open for Mingling, so people can make own starters inside)
WHERE: Agrii Ship
WHAT: Birthday Boy Returns and Parties
WHEN: [Backdated] October 12th and 13th
WARNINGS: Potential spoilers for recent Empyre series comics


Network | Video October 12th

[The video goes on and look, it's a face that has been missing for a few days. Looking a few years older, his hair longer, and seeming... Well, he's using the VIDEO function rather than rapid speed texts so many that tells the story better than even the chill and half apologetic look on his face.]

Hey guys. So, apparently I've been missing for a few days? At least it was shorter than Lorna, or the people grabbed by the Graq, right? Uh, so, I'm back? Just, well, older? I got sent home by whoever is manipulating the Agrii for a bit, and a lot happened. But the important thing is I'm back, and it's me and the little bro's birthday tomorrow.

[His fingers slide easily through his far longer hair, offering a smile.]

Listen, I am pretty sure the party here wasn't long ago that Stark and I helped through, but I did wanna do something a bit nicer and more, I guess, intimate for our birthday? This year B and I get to have it together and that doesn't happen often. I'm gonna set up some small things in the cafeteria. No gifts required. I'll arrange everything. Just come share the birthday wishes because we've survived a year here. So join us tomorrow. Or don't. Not my problem.



Happy Birthday Green Boys! October 13th (Feel free to set up your own mingles/starters)

After all of the, you know, happy welcome back statements and that mess, Tommy sets out to spend the whole night preparing for what he wants to do. More 'ice cream'. He works on getting together other foods. He searches boxes in the hold for things to use like streamers. Tommy even rigs up some small decorative cloths that he put the excess not-quite-confetti of tons of small shiny pieces of colored plastic Tony had made at his failed party attempt into so he could pull a string later and make it rain down.

Tables are decorated, and Tommy spent HOURS trying to communicate to the Agrii what he was doing. The importance of solar cycles in his world, and how they were used to celebrate the growth of people. He thought they got the point because they helped him make a cake. Well, not QUITE a cake. It was more like... an oversized, multi-layered sandwich that was actually part ice cream because you know, small victories.

Which ultimately got him to, like, a five year old's idea of a party, so it was time to call in the big guns. One call to his brother, a hurried conversation, a SECOND hurried conversation after the first so Billy could reassure Tommy that it really was okay to want something so silly after so long, and the party theme was set.

Hope someone other than the twins appreciates the Teenaged Mutant Ninja Turtles because there are balloons, and place settings and even Shell backpacks for people to wear. Goodie bags are offered to people with stickers and pogs not that Billy or Tommy know what those are. Hell, there are even Turtles themed snacks like turtle face pizza, cupcakes with the turtle's faces, and frozen Ninja Turtles branded yogurt pops. Oh, and if you wanna make noise, enjoy a noise maker.

And of course the karaoke machine was back, but this time there were other party games, like pin the weapon on the Foot Ninja, a Shredder pinata, limbo, twister, musical chairs (don't worry, Tommy DQ'd himself) and in one corner, a water balloon toss. Because, you know, there's no reason not to enjoy these things, no matter your age. Sometimes turning 20 and 22 meant you were old enough to just own up to wanting that one kind of birthday party you never had before.

And everyone arriving will of course be greeted by the older of the two guests of honor, who is grinning stupidly as he puts a party hat on people's heads, gives them a Ninja-mask and plastic weapons, and offers them a goody bag because he's nice like that.

"Laugh at the theme, and I'm tying you to one of the chairs on the creepy room where the Agri watch the Drift Fleet files. My boyfriend isn't here to tell me to be nice."

Comments

Following Network | Pre Party | REUNION

[wearingthestars]

Billy's best efforts to quell the anxiety and worry have him drifting back to dangerous territory, catching himself disassociating more than once as that familiar numbness threatens to overtake him.

He glances over at his data pad, near dismissing it as a notification pops up, but he forces himself to pull it over and taps it with a frown.

His eyes widen at the sight that greets him, welling up with tears of joy, and he's rushing to find Tommy almost before he knows it, half running, half flying into his brother's arms once he finds him, holding him far too tight.

"Tommy~"

[doubled_speed]

The video ends just in time for Tommy to look up from his pad and find... well. Billy. His brother is practically flying and Tommy just sets his pad aside and catches Billy in his arms.

"Hey little bro," he greets as he embraces his brother, hand soothing over his back, holding him as gently as he can. "I'm sorry I made you worry. I never wanted that."

[wearingthestars]

Little bro seems to be for sure accurate for once, though Billy needs a little longer just holding him in that crushing grip before he's prepared to loosen up a little and really take him in.

"Please- I barely noticed," he tries, the attempted teasing all the less effective when followed by a sniff, hastily wiping away tears.

"Are you okay? Is everything- you're good? Really?"

[doubled_speed]

"Bullshit. You know you suffered a serious decline in cool because you couldn't measure yourself against me while I was gone," Tommy counters, fingers reaching up to mess up his brother's hair.

"B, I swear, I'm okay. I'm... fuck, except for some hang ups, I'm really okay. Home's good. We're happy, both of us. The things I could tell you would be intense, shit even Teddy doesn't know yet. Billy, Cassie's alive. We have a Great-Aunt named Nadia Van Dyne who is the newest Wasp and a total science nerd. Viv got me into some really stupid RTSes and plays with me online when we're not busy. The world is good."

[wearingthestars]

He laughs and ducks his head, unable to stop smiling, and he gives Tommy's another squeeze while he's putting up with it.

"She's wh- I-?" Billy blinks in disbelief, tries to hide his smile, overwhelmed, heart full and hope shining in his eyes. "Really?" he presses.

[doubled_speed]

Oh that hope. it's painful to see. And yet, Tommy's glad for it. "Yeah. Lives in Florida with her Dad. She helped host Nadia's birthday party with Viv. Our team went, except for Noh-Varr, Eli, and David. Because we're hard on the guys in our team I guess. Cassie was at your we-"

Wait, nope. Brakes. He's not bringing that up right now.

"She's at the major events in our lives. If she was old enough, she'd come to the bars with us. But she's too good to sneak in."

OTA

[rage_on]

He's still not sure whether he's kinda creeped out at the whole thing or if he should be happy that somewhere in the multiverse, there are people who know and appreciate him and his brothers. He supposes it's somewhere in between. Maybe Mikey might get a kick out of cakepops and pizza that look like him because that boy will eat anything, but Raphael isn't sure how to feel about eating something with his or his brothers' likenesses...or watching other people do so.

Honestly, this is like a very strange dream. He wanders the party setup in a bit of a daze, although the idea of smacking around a Shredder piñata is pretty appealing.

Once he comes across the birthday boys, he'll greet them with birthday noogies and a smack upside Tommy's head because he'd promised Billy. It's a good-natured slap. He gives them to his brothers all the time. ...okay maybe not as hard as he'd give his brothers, anyway.

"What, you disappear for almost a week and come back a hipster?" he grins.

[doubled_speed]

Dude, don't tease him like that. Tommy takes the slap and laughs, reaching out and draping a red turtle mask around Raph's neck.

"Dude, it's been years for me, okay? And my boyfriend never complained about my damn fashion. I didn't do it first, but I do it right. Hope you don't mind the party theme. Always wanted one when I was a kid."

[rage_on]

Dude, he will tease as he please...s. Raphael's grin falters just a touch as he fingers the mask he's been given. "You guys went all out," he says, smirking a bit. He might just snag the other colors later, trying not to dwell on the thought of not having his brothers actually here to be just as weirded out about the whole thing as he was.

"Years? But...you still remember being here? Did you remember when you got sent back?" He hasn't heard too much on people going back, or making return trips. Everything seemed so uncertain. Tommy at least appears to be okay with the whole thing though. Raphael can tell it's been some time, and not just for the hair and the looks. This Tommy's had the roughness around his edges filed down.

[doubled_speed]

Oh boy, those were questions that Raph had gone off on. Tommy sighs, fingers going up through his hair. Yeah, he's... Definitely smoother around the edges, but he had reasons for it.

"Yeah, I do. But when I was there, I didn't. Which blew, because if I'd known who good Vision could be, I would have just shown up at his door sooner, told him to be a fucking father, and been happier."

[rage_on]

They seem the most obvious things to ask, at least to Raphael. He frowns, the whole matter sounding a lot more complicated than he'd have hoped for.

"Weird. Yeah, I can see how it'd suck, not remembering things from here." Not that he knows who Vision is, but if there are things you can take back from here to apply back home... The thought's sobering, and he tries not to think about the implications of going home for good.

"Anyway," he says, shaking his head. He thumbs over at the dessert goodies. "Are you seriously encouraging people to eat us?" He can't quite hold the stern look as the corners of his mouth upturn in a grin.

[doubled_speed]

“Dude, I don’t control how the spell manifests,” Tommy grins, looking at Ralph and then back at the food. “It’s chocolate cupcakes. Pretty simple. Don’t tell me you aren’t tempted to take a bite out of Leo.”

Tommy rushes over toward Raph and then back with one of Mikey and he takes a bite.

“When I was a kid, I never got a party.”

[rage_on]

"That just sounds even worse," the turtle groans, but he allows himself to be directed over closer to the food. That doesn't keep him from making a face as Tommy chomps into Mikey, although he looks uncertain as to whether he should be disgusted or amused.

He picks up a cupcake of himself, brow arching as he gives it a critical look. Not that he supposes he should expect anything fancy from kiddie birthday party themes. He pops the cupcake into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully. "Well, least I can say I'm tasty." Raphael looks around again as Tommy speaks.

"We didn't have much by way of parties. At least nothing big like this. But it's always been just our father and us brothers, so small celebrations were enough. Lemmee tell you though, worm and algae cake doesn't even compare to actual cake." He picks up another cupcake, poking a finger at the blue mask frosting.

[doubled_speed]

Oh no, Raph just said something that sounds HORRIBLE out of context. And Tommy, still Tommy, snickers.

“Damn, that sounds like an invitation, and I need to pass on it.”

This was hardly a big party, or even the normal kind. But Tommy had always wanted a birthday that was a THING, so he accepts this. Takes it in stride and grins.

“Yeah, I’ll pass on worm and algae.”

open ( party )

[geomagnetically]

Lorna already fits in with the theme a little (for once in her life), with her naturally green hair, and it's her nephews' party, so hell yeah she's not taking off this party hat or party supplies.

She's also absolutely ignoring the hell out of the 'no gifts required' part of Tommy's network post, because she made Billy a metal bookmark and Tommy a metal cup, each with a short, small, engraved message on them of "Happy birthday! Love always, Lorna." Which means first on her agenda is delivering the presents, then on her way to a few of the party games. The likelihood of getting pulled into a water balloon toss game with her is high, so beware wallflowers and those who look a little zoned out.

Or, find her at the snack table later. She wasn't really hungry until she saw the pizza and realized that pizza sounded really good. Does it actually taste like pizza or is it like other foods that are here as of late? She doesn't know but also doesn't care enough to avoid finding out.

[doubled_speed]

Tommy grins when he sees Lorna, accepting the gift and giving her the largest hug before bestowing a purple mask on her. Lorna is smart, she deserves it.

"Hey, how is my favorite Aunt who lives with my boyfriend? Missed you a lot. This cup? It's cute. No one gets to touch it while I'm running the diner."

[geomagnetically]

"I missed you too. I'm glad you didn't get a second power of invisibility or something crazy." Not that that was a more likely option, but hey, who knows what shit this place could decide to pull. "But yeah, just put a 'no touch' sticky note on it or something when you are." She jokes.

[doubled_speed]

“Fuck, I’d hate invisibility,” Tommy admits, smiling at her. Isn’t that some honesty. “Hard enough for me to get people to notice me in Billy and Pietro’s shadows. And I’ll fucking INVENT sticky notes if I have to just for that. For the laughs.”

network; video

[seeingscarlet]

Tommy!

[And without anything further, Wanda bursts into tears.]

We were so worried...but you're all right. [She manages a very watery smile.] You look good.

[doubled_speed]

Hey. I'm... I'm sorry I scared you.

[He looks so sad to have done that to her. If he'd had a choice, he wouldn't have. But he's back. He'll take care of her. Of course it hasn't even occurred to him that he's so much closer to her age now. More like a younger brother than a nephew or a son.]

Thanks. I try.

[seeingscarlet]

It wasn't your fault. I am just glad you are safe.

[It could have been worse. But at least it sounds like he had a better time than Lorna did.]

Can I see you?

[doubled_speed]

[Oh come on, is the video not enough? Okay.]

Tell me where.

[seeingscarlet]

[Not for a telepath, no.]

Do you remember where I have been staying?

[doubled_speed]

Yeah. Lemme grab a snack. You want anything?

[seeingscarlet]

[Oh. Yeah. She should do that eating thing. But it's so hard to keep track of time in space.]

Something good? I trust you.