sixthiterationlogs | so take it in, don't hold your breath, the bottom's all i found.

[tommy has been anxious and worried and pissed off that billy got snatched and teleported to god only knows where in the mountains. if he'd had his powers, that would've been fine - he could've teleported himself back right away, but without his magic, he's had a trek of several days, though who knows what kinds of dangers, in the great frozen outdoors.

and tommy had been stuck here, completely useless. if he only had his speed, he could've zoomed around and rescued billy and whoever else got poofed to the mountains days ago. but he's powerless here, and it's infinitely frustrating for tommy to know he could be doing a better job of handling this whole disaster, but he realistically can't, due to stupid circumstances.

this sucks. a lot. and all tommy can do is wait, restless, for billy to come home.]

It's late, when the door finally opens and Billy steps through, exhausted. It's been a long, long few days, full of very little sleep, very little food, and way too much stress. He looks older, as he stands there, back against the front door, and the bags under his eyes threaten to swallow the rest of his face. When he finally calls out to Tommy, his voice sounds just as bad as the rest of him looks.

"I'm home."

Tommy’s taken to dozing on the couch in the living room while Billy’s been away - the better to hear him when he returns home, and Tommy is resolute in his belief that it will be a when, not an if. He hasn’t been sleeping well either, under this arrangement, so there are dark circles stamped under his eyes to mirror his twin.

Tommy’s awake the instant he hears Billy’s voice, clambering to his feet an instant later, rushing toward his twin an instant after that.

“Billy!” he shouts in uncontained surprise and anxiety and elation. “Holy shit, dude, am I glad to see you.”

He doesn’t even think about the fact that he’s supposed to be pretending he doesn’t have feelings - Tommy pulls Billy into a tight hug, a lightness of relief ballooning up in his chest.

“I was so worried. You doing OK?”

The hug isn't what he'd have expected, even just a few weeks ago, but they've been getting more frequent since he's been here. Some other time maybe he'd crack a joke about Tommy missing him, or being replaced by a Skrull, but now? Now, he needs that hug so badly, and he clings to Tommy hard enough to steal his breath away, arms wrapped tight around his twin and chin pressed into his shoulder.

The question is enough to make him laugh, though the sound he makes isn't exactly a laugh, more like a half-choked sob. He's been trying so hard to be okay for the last...however long it's been, four days?? And now that he's home and the door is shut and he's here, he's finally able to stop trying. "No, no, I'm pretty sure I'm the opposite of okay right now," he says, drawing a shuddering breath in as he swallows down that slightly hysterical laugh. "Tommy, this week has been--pretty fucked up." he doesn't even know where to start, except with the fact that he's not letting go any time soon.

Tommy initiating hugs with his twin is a sign of how much he's grown in the months he's been here in the village. It's not something he would've done back in New York, around other people who just know him as a hothead speedster with a record of trouble and a lack of feelings, but he's come to understand just how important the gesture is to Billy, and he's come to understand just how important Billy is to him, and vice versa.

The fact that Billy admits to not being OK is ... worrisome. If he's not even trying to pretend he's fine, that means whatever happened is really bad. Tommy frowns, but doesn't move to release him just yet.

"Do you wanna talk about it?" he asks, nothing but sincerity in his tone. This isn't a joking matter. "Maybe sit down? I can get you some water, if you want."

[tommy doesn't pay a lot of attention to his wrist device when it beeps, glitches, and switches from eye-blinding teal to a much more distinguished-looking light grey. he's heard about people with certain colors having certain powers, but frankly, if it's not super speed, he's not interested. he's also never had a chance to activate his teal danger-sense yet, so as far as he knows, not everyone here gets a boring, substandard special power.

he's not in the best mood, with wanda's disappearance, but he's not a shut-in like his brother gets when he's severely depressed, so there are many places in the village where he can be found: at the edge of the forest, practicing throwing his knife, like wanda showed him; going for long runs throughout the village in the mornings and again in the evenings, slower than he'd like but better than nothing; hanging around at the inn, because it's one of the only cool-ish places in this dumb boring village.

he's plenty easy to bump into. and if you bump into his uncovered skin for 15 seconds or more, you'll get a very interesting reaction from him.]

Day four post ~~death~~ arrival, and he'd finally got himself out of the house he'd ended up settling down in. As much as Theta had chided him for it, there had been something really hard about how that encounter with Wash had gone, he just hadn't... well, he hadn't had the motivation. Sure, he ate, he exercised, he kept up with the routine. And he told Theta he just needed a day. Which he'd given himself. 24 hours of self pity over all that had happened, and then he was back on his feet, this time for a more complete walking tour of the area. The distances involved didn't bother him at all, this was nothing, especially without the heavy burden of his armor or weaponry. It was almost like being back home, so very long ago.

It was ultimately the sound that drew him in. There is a specific sort of sound that comes with throwing knives. Well, a few. There is one with a knife sinking properly into a target, another when it bounces off. In these conditions the latter isn't as easy to pick up, especially with no metal floors, but the hits? He hears the hits.

Wash?

Was he really brave enough to try approaching again so soon?

I don't think it's Wash, Theta offered after another sound, maybe a displeased noise? He wouldn't miss much. CT was pretty thorough in his training with them.

Wow, Theta. Could just be that the knives aren't suited to it.

Wash can put a K-Bar through a target at...

Yeah, I'm getting your calculations. I'll believe you.

Not Wash, maybe. Well, with a deep breath North let himself approach and frowned as he found Tommy there, a young man with hair that seems an impossible color and a determination to slay whatever target he has chosen.

I think I'll wait until he doesn't have a weapon in hand to say hi.

Edited 2019-02-05 04:05 (UTC)

He's in a bad mood about missing Wanda, so his concentration and throwing form are all off, which is what leads to so many missed throws. He'd done better at this with Wanda around - much better, but today, Tommy just can't seem to summon up the requisite fucks with regard to his practice. He gives the knife another halfhearted throw and it glances off the trunk of the tree, tumbling off to the side. Tommy curses under his breath and jogs over to retrieve the knife, and on his way back to the throwing line, he spots North watching him.

Tommy waves at him. "Hey dude, are you lost?" He's not his usual effervescent self, but at least he's aware of his visitors.

His eyes make me think of Delta.

It's definitely the right green, but Delta wasn't human, so that's right out. Still, at least North understands that pang of sorrow Theta feels. Apparently they can both feel bad about the loss of siblings now. Bonding.

But there isn't time for that and he's definitely told himself to move on, so he focuses on Tommy and his words. Young, he thinks, if he's still any judge of age. Hurting maybe? Who knows, he can't be sure here. Not everyone he's met is exactly human. Can't even judge at face value he supposes.

"Lost, new to town, basically the same thing I expect. Mostly trying to acquaint myself with the place and I heard the noise. Made me... made me think of someone I know from home who is here. And some who aren't."

Young and hurting - that's an accurate assessment of Tommy at the moment. Taking out his frustration one of the only ways he knows how, physical activity. He can't go fast enough to outrun his feelings here, without his speed, and there aren't any Skrulls or bad guys to fight, so ... just this. A knife and his throwing arm and his thoughts.

North's arrival is a welcome distraction.

"Welcome to the Village of Suck," Tommy says with a shrug as he sheathes the knife and tucks it away in his pocket. "I'm Tommy. Where's home?"

"The Village of Suck? Sounds like something my twin would name this place," he observes as he watches Tommy tuck the sheathed knife into his pocket. And yeah, he frowns just a little at that. Bad place to keep a weapon, even if you're not good at throwing it. Clearly it needed to live on a belt, but he won't correct the action. Not his place.

But he does quash the frown quickly, used to it because his sister was always sharp on such expressions of concern.

"I'm North Dakota, and 'home' is a bit of a complicated question for me. Been to a lot of planets Earth colonized, can't really call myself from any of them at this point. So I guess... here is home. Does that make me a Suckite?"

He's say 'suckian' but that could so easily lead to horrible puns. Suckite might take a bit more effort.

[ Fern is looking a bit brown these days. Of course, he doesn't know much about how to take care of himself in this weird place, and it's taken this long for him to realize that photosynthesis isn't cutting it and ask Swamp Thing for advice.

He has no idea what sort of foods are high in nitro-whatsits or fos-whatever, so he's mostly putzing around the kitchen and dining area looking for something that might taste good. There's not much of interest until stew starts making the rounds, and Fern definitely isn't the only one attracted by the smell. In the bustle of people it isn't hard to bump into someone and well... technically all of Fern's 'clothes' are uncovered skin.

Fern notices only that he feels a little healthier, a little happier, stands a little straighter. Tommy on the other hand may find himself unbearably hungry, bitter, maybe a little insane, afraid of himself and what he might be capable of, with deep feelings of inadequacy and inner confusion. ]

[Tommy's usually a lot quicker on his feet and able to avoid running into people, but this no-speed thing? Sure, he's had months to adjust, but how can you really adjust to losing a part of yourself? It's like missing a limb or an eye - Tommy feels the absence of his ability, and he aches in phantom pain for it.

So that's why he isn't paying super close attention to where he's walking, why he ends up bumping into Fern so hard he reaches a hand out to steady both of them.]

Whoa, dude - sorry about that. [He holds on just long enough for his new power to kick in, and when it does? Tommy has a few regrets. The feelings he picks up from Fern overtake him, leaving him gasping to catch his breath.]

[ Fern isn't bothered by the bump, not after that first couple of seconds. All his annoyance has just... melted away. He turns to Tommy with a relaxed smile. ]

Don't worry about it, guy. It sure is busy in here.

[ Only... Tommy kind of looks like he choked on something, maybe? ]

Hey, are you okay?

[wanna do something else with tommy this month? just poke me - incendiarisms#3738 @ the disco(rd) - or send me a pm and we'll get it set up!]

Losing Wanda hurts a lot, even if Tommy is still stubbornly keeping to the facade of being the guy who doesn't have feelings. He knows himself - he can function through the pain, but Billy ... Billy's a different story. When they lost Cassie and Vision, he shut down entirely, and Tommy can't afford to let that happen here.

Later in the evening after he posts to the network about Wanda's disappearance, Tommy is on a mission. He tracks down his twin, a firm I-won't-take-no-for-an-answer expression fixed on his face.

"Hey. Grab your coat. We're going over to Nida's."

"That's--"

That's okay, I'm fine, he'd been about to say, the usual demurring response of a Billy Kaplan who would much rather just sit alone in his room. And honestly? He'd be lying if he said there wasn't at least a little of that urge within him. Just the tiniest part of him that would love to just...curl up into a ball and wait for the feelings to fade.

But he can't do that, can he? For one, he can't deal with the intrusive thoughts, can't sleep for the nightmares, and honestly? He definitely can't handle the guilt he'd be feeling if he tried. Nida hasn't been just hiding alone in his house. Jason--well, Jason might be, a little, but that's understandable. Billy? He doesn't have the excuse for any of it, and honestly, Tommy looks worried enough to drag him out, anyway.

So instead, after a second of silence, he starts again. "That...sounds good. Hang on, I'll be ready in a sec."

See, Tommy? No depressive fugue. Just a lot of anxiety and insomnia. And maybe more than a little bit of heartache, both for his recently relived experience and also the sudden loss of the only other family they had here.

Tommy is relieved when Billy agrees, the knot of anxiety balled up in his chest loosening a little. He knows the impulse to claim I'm fine when you're not, because he does it too, but - look, it's different for him. Tommy represses his feelings and pretends they don't exist, but Billy damn near drowns himself in them.

But this is good, Billy's agreeing to be around people. He's become close with Nida, and that seems to be having a good effect on him, all things considered. Plus, Tommy can keep an eye on him better if he's not pulling the hermit routine behind the door of his bedroom. He grins widely, pleased with the fact that he didn't have to fight his twin on this request.

"Awesome. I'm timing you, by the way." He turns his device-wrist up, feigning watching the clock.

Billy does. Billy did. But here, he's realizing, he doesn't have that luxury. Because that's what it was. Okay, so maybe part of it was actual depression, but the rest? The rest was luxury, and selfishness, and a dozen other things. Cassie and Vision died, and he just put away his costume and expected Teddy to just come--pretend like everything was fine, expected the world to just let him live in a safe bubble.

There was no bubble here. What there was, was danger. What there was, was a twin who was clearly worried about his brother being, well, himself. What there was was a sense of loss at the knowledge of Wanda's disappearance and an ache in his heart that mirrored all the other scars both old and new left by similar losses and the knowledge that there would inevitably be more. What there was, were friends who needed him. And Nida, who was that, and also a nebulous something else.

He couldn't hide away. Not anymore. Not and still deserve any of the good, not and survive the bad. So what else is left but to face things?

The smile on his face as he looks at Tommy is faint, but it's there as he pulls his boots on and grabs his coat from the chair in front of the window. "Hey, come on. We aren't all speedsters," he protests. But he does move quickly enough, and follows Tommy out the door into the night.

"So, why Nida's?"

Even a faint smile from Billy is an encouraging sign, and Tommy's glad to see it. The crack out speedsters even pulls a small laugh out of him.

"Hey, I'm not even a speedster anymore. And, for the record, I do not understand how you people can stand moving this slow. Someday you'll have to explain that to me."

He's been stuck here for months without his powers, and the discomfort's faded somewhat over time, as normal speeds have become his reality, but still ... he'd rather have his speed back, thanks. But he's light on his feet as he starts down the path toward Nida's house with Billy in tow, turning around to face his twin as he slowly jogs backwards.

"Nida invited us over. Said he'd scare up some drinks, something about doing pushups with one of us on his back? Oh, and I guess he screwed up his ankle falling off a roof." He shrugs, hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans. "I told him that sounded like a bad idea, pushups with a busted ankle. Shouldn't he be icing that or something?"

"Don't know, I don't have anything else to compare it to," Billy says in reply to his brother's dramatic mourning of his current temporal state. He knows it's been difficult for Tommy to adjust--one more thing he's ignored for the sake of his own difficulties. He's not going to be doing that again. Family was the most important thing. If he remembered any part of what Wanda had said to him, it was going to be that. "But taking things slow isn't a terrible idea all the time."

And of course, inevitably, some part of his mind turns to the person they're going to visit at those words. Something else he's definitely not going to talk about right now. He isn't going to be selfish anymore. But what Tommy says is a surprise. He hadn't known, and the concern draws him a little further out of his withdrawn state, frowning as Tommy jogs backwards.

"His ankle? What happened? He didn't say anything about it, and he's a green like me, his power should have kicked in, stopped him from getting hurt." Unless there's something else affecting it, which could mean more trouble. He's almost grateful for the distraction. "He's definitely not gonna be doing any pushups if he hurt his ankle, with or without us." Because that sounds like Nida, for sure.

Tommy shrugs; he may be exaggerating his lack of knowledge over living at a more normal speed. His super speed didn’t manifest until several years ago, and he remembers what it was like the last time he was depowered like this, in that government detention facility where the Young Avengers found him. That’s part of the problem of being here - it’s an all-too-sharp reminder of the trauma he endured there, a nagging thought that refuses to stay entirely pushed down and out of sight.

“He said he fell off a roof, was doing parkour I guess? And he landed on it wrong.” It sounded reasonable enough, as far as excuses go, though Tommy doesn’t know Nida nearly as well as Billy does. “That’s what I said, but maybe he’ll listen to you.”

They’ll find out soon enough - Nida’s house isn’t far.

Billy shakes his head at the idea. "I don't know about that. I mean, he listens, he's just--pretty stubborn. I bet you he thinks he can just tough it out through the pain, pull that soldier junk and just be fine. He might listen more to Seifer. Maybe." There's a resignation to the words, but also no small amount of affection. He hopes Nida's okay, even if he's not sure he buys that explanation. Sure, it might make sense, but...he doesn't know.

They'll see soon enough for real, as the house Nida, Seifer and Rinoa share comes up, Billy turning up the walk after Tommy and moving to knock quietly on the door. It's the first time he's been over since they got back, but he's definitely no stranger here.

He'd been waiting. Apparently getting Billy wrangled was a bigger task than Nida had anticipated. He'd managed to slip over to the inn, liberate some of Bull's beer and the vodka Sam made, and bring it all back, even all the way to his room. And still no knocking. HE did, though, end up hearing the steps on the stairs, and that got him moving. The limp means he's not quick enough to beat the knock, but there isn't more than one before Nida's opening the door for them.

"Hey," he greets once it's open. For half a moment the soft look he offers Billy is only for him, purely affectionate. Then it changes into something a bit sadder as he considers both of the twins.

"You know. I think this is the first time I've seen you two side by side. It's... really eerie."

Then he shook his head and pushed the door open further to let them past. "Billy, you know where my room is."

He'll need more time to get there, the injury wasn't even a full day ago, he's still limping pretty bad.

It wasn't so much that it was a bigger task so much as, well. Things take time. Undoubtedly Tommy had been uncertain what he was going to find when he opened Billy's door, and Billy's been exhausted enough from the shrine, the journey back, and the nightmares that won't stop that everything just takes a little longer to do.

When Nida opens the door, Billy offers the tiniest flicker of a smile, about all he can manage under the circumstances. Still, it's more than anyone but Tommy's managed to get. "Hey," he answers in return, and the softness in his voice is unmistakable.

The comment about the two of them makes Billy look over at his twin, considering. "Eerie? I mean, maybe. Most people don't really notice we're identical unless we're standing next to each other like this." He shrugs, because that's so low on his list of things to care about right now it's basically at the bottom.

Stepping inside, Billy's attention is entirely on the way Nida's moving, and that's definitely way up at the top of the list. "Yeah, and I thought you'd be in there resting. How bad is it?" For real, Nida, and don't just put a brave face on it.

Tommy laughs at Nida’s comment - notes his expression, but decides not to engage. “The only thing eerie about us together is how much you’re suddenly surrounded by so many good looks,” he says, grinning widely. “Like lookin’ straight at the sun, right?”

Yes, this is how Tommy is choosing to Not Deal with missing Wanda - stupid jokes. He won’t mention how he and Billy are identical except for hair and eye color, how he ended up taking after Pietro in so many ways while Billy resembled Wanda more in both appearance and abilities. It’s his job to bring the humor, fake like he’s untouchable, buoy the others with levity.

Tommy follows a few steps behind his twin, giving him space to say whatever he wants to say to Nida. He’s already expressed his concern for Nida’s injury, and the message hengot was that Nida is stubborn. Better let Billy take a crack at it.

"You're not wrong, Tommy. At all," Nida mumbles, mostly under his breath. He's allowed to be jealous of how good the guy he's got feelings for and said guy's twin brother look, right? Please tell him that's not taboo.

But he's not buying that Tommy's untouchable, and Tommy knows he isn't buying it thanks to the earlier conversation, so he doesn't get the point of the posturing. The twins are not okay, he doesn't believe they are okay, and they probably know that they aren't okay, so why pretend? Whatever, if it floats his boat, fine.

Of course he can't help but shaking his head and sigh at Billy's question. Really? This is happening again?

"Didn't you tell him I'm fine?" Nida asks Tommy, before turning his attention to Billy. "I am fine, really I am."

Of course he moves slowly as he is mostly forced to follow the twins. The limp means being a bit slower in his motions. And he's supposed to elevate it but... yeah, whatever. Let him bask in the pain for right now. He'll be responsible about it later. Sorry Dr. Crusher.

"Can we move this to my room so we don't bother the housemates much?"

Rinoa and Seifer had both come back in a funk that almost made Nida seem serene.

Looks are looks, and his thoughts might get a very different kind of Look from Billy, but honestly it wouldn't be the first time someone's thought it. He's got other concerns right now anyway, and so does Tommy, despite his joke. He knows how his twin copes.

"As someone who says he's fine the most when he's actually not, I think you can guess how much I buy that," Billy says, eyeing Nida with mingled exasperation and concern, but he keeps his voice low. Don't want to bug Seifer or Rinoa. And it's pretty clear to him Nida isn't going to listen, so their options are stand in the foyer arguing, or move to Nida's room. Billy turns to his brother, gesturing with his chin. "This way," he says, and leads the way to Nida's room, clearly a path he's walked before.

"So, what's the plan? Drinks, some marginally bad life choices?" Because honestly, he's pretty game for that right now.

Tommy shrugs at Nida, a kind of nonverbal Billy's gonna Billy, you know him. He did warn Nida that Billy would fuss over him, after all. And yeah, maybe a twisted ankle isn't as bad as breaking a bone, but it's still nothing to ignore. Pain exists for a reason - it's a signal from your body to slow the hell down, and ignoring it will only serve to make things worse.

He follows his twin to the bedroom, a little curious but not inclined to ask why he's so well-acquainted and comfortable with Nida's room as to lead the way. Tommy knows they're close, knows Nida kissed Billy, and assumes they've spent time together here. He can pester Billy about it when Nida's not around, if the topic's still holding his interest by then.

"Hey now, as long as you don't overdo it, drinks aren't a bad life choice," he protests.

Hilariously, Nida's never even been in his bedroom with Billy before, tonight will be a first, which is something of an amusement. He does hobble past them to the bed and sits on the floor by it. Look, he's even got a pillow under his ankle, and a nice selection of drinks on a nearby table. So well prepared.

"They are. I've seen people do a lot of stupid things under the influence. People drinking always made my old job easier," he tells them both as he settles in. "But tonight... is definitely a night to make an exception for. Not sure what other bad life choices we're going to make other than drinking. Unless you two are going to cuddle. Is that a bad life choice? Wait... what counts as bad life choices with you two?"

He's actually only been in Nida's room once before, with Rinoa back at the young adult club gathering, when it had been used as a quiet room. Never with Nida, although Nida had been in his room a few times. But he's still been over to visit a couple times, and so it's a familiar enough path.

The drinks on the table aren't a totally unwelcome sight. He doesn't party nearly as much as his twin, but some days are worth the headache the next morning, and this definitely feels like one of those. "Your definition of overdoing it and mine don't always match," he tells Tommy, shooting him a look, tolerant and faintly amused.

Turning to Nida, Billy's about to tell him he doesn't have to sit on the floor, especially with his ankle, when Nida makes his comment about the twins cuddling, and what comes out instead is a laugh, almost surprised. "I'm a hugger whether I've been drinking or not, don't make it weird," he says, still grinning, and while the expression feels rusty it also feels good. It's good to laugh. It feels like it's been forever. "I'm probably going to end up hugging both of you by the time the night's over. You're probably already resigned to it--" here he points at Tommy-- "and you might as well make your peace with it, too," he finishes, pointing at Nida as he takes a seat on the bed. "Tommy, pour the first round?"

Cuddling.

Tommy's eyes go wide and his expression contorts in horror at the suggestion. Hugging Billy in private because he's having a bad time of things and that's what he needs to feel better is one thing ... cuddling is something else entirely. Something that sets Tommy's skin crawling. Nope. No thank you.

He shakes off the suggestion and beelines for the drinks instead.

"Hey, I learned my lesson at New Year's," Tommy protests, setting to work pouring drinks as requested. "My metabolism's all off here. That was the worst hangover of my life." Drinks poured, he hands one to Billy, then one to Nida.

"So ... what are we drinking to tonight?"

"Yes, I seem to remember rather forward offers of teaching me to dance," Nida smirks at Tommy as he settles back against the wall, letting his eyes drop a bit closed. "The vodka is Sam's make, the beer comes from the Boss. I may have pilfered both supplies, so this stays between the three of us. And... I guess we drink to life."

Because that just the most logical thing to call for, right? After all the pain, the separation, the loss? Life seems the right choice. Unless someone else has another suggestion. The suggestion that Billy might hug him, though, has him shooting a quiet look at Billy. One that is almost as if to say 'if you need it, but only if you need it.' Seemed like Tommy wasn't going to be the only stubborn one on physical affection tonight. For a different reason of course.

Meanwhile he swirls the glass of alcohol in his hand and contemplates it. Should he even drink? Sorta not a thing he really does. Last time he did he sort of unloaded on that old guy Picard. Happy Birthday or whatever. That had been the night he met Tommy. The night he and Billy truly started down the road they were walking now. Not best life choices night.

"To life. To family. To friends."

Fuck it. He throws back a damn good swig.

"Said like you've ever had a hangover that lasted more than five minutes," he shoots back at Tommy, but it's affectionate complaining. Yeah, he's still recovering from that week of being gone, everything he'd seen on the mountain and the nightmares after, and he's sure once Wanda's absence fully settles in it's going to hurt, but he doesn't want to hurt right now. He's with his twin, and he's with Nida, and he doesn't want to feel bad. Nida shoots him that look, and Billy looks right back at him, not breaking the eye contact for a long moment. Of course he hasn't forgotten that day in the schoolhouse and what they decided, but this isn't about that. This is about reaffirming that two of the people he cares most about here are still here. That they're real. Maybe they could all use that reassurance.

"Life, family and friends. Pretty much the best things there are, right?" Billy lifts his own glass and takes a healthy swallow, warmth burning through his chest. He takes a deep breath, shakes his head, then eyes Tommy and Nida in turn. "So, what's this about you two dancing??" Because he'd definitely missed that at New Years.

"I'll drink to that," Tommy says, raising his glass in a toast, then takes a drink - which he ends up choking on as the surprise of Billy's question distracts him from swallowing properly. He coughs and splutters loudly against his arm, eyes watering, and sets his glass down again so as not to spill it. Another loud cough, a deep breath, and Tommy's able to speak again.

"Hey man, he started it," he answers, pointing to Nida. "Asked if I'd dance with him 'cause it was his birthday. Can't really refuse a guy a dance on his birthday, right?" That would just be rude.

"In my defense, it was my birthday, I used that line on everyone, and at the time..."

Nida trails off with a sigh, shaking his head a little. He didn't need to feel guilty then, and he refuses to feel guilty now. Not like him and Billy are anything yet, not like he and Tommy ever did anything more than dance, and not like he hadn't been too mindful of Billy even back then to let it be more than dancing.

"I even danced with Seifer, that turned into mostly being use trying to one up each other and it was aggressive as fuck," Nida explains with a sigh. "Tommy offered, I needed the distraction. May be my birthday, but that night always ends up making me think of my parents, and, well... you get why that's a problem, Billy."

Because Billy had seen it. Seen Nida getting to face his suppressed memories in a very immediate sense. The cause of his birthday grief laid out for people to see. For that, he takes another swig of his drink.

"That being said, having danced with both of you? Billy is better. Sorry Tommy, saying it straight to your face. I don't know what you were doing, but it isn't any sort of dancing I know."

Honestly, seeing Tommy choke and splutter like that...maybe he shouldn't laugh, and he does still ache over missing Wanda, but the look is still so comical that he can't help it, lifting a hand to cover his mouth as he grins. "I'm just sad I missed it, honestly," he says, still chuckling, though the look softens and fades as Nida mentions his parents. "But yeah. I know what you mean."

He'd seen what happened to Nida's parents, after all. He knew. But now wasn't a time for those memories. Now was a time to make new ones, to share things with people he cares about. "See, I keep telling you, Tommy, you definitely need to learn ballroom dancing," he teases his twin, leaning over with an elbow before picking up his drink again and taking a long swallow. The warmth it gives him is nice, but the warmth the company gives is even nicer. "It's not just for nerds, just look at Nida." And that warm smile is directed at Nida next, his look maybe a little softer than it should be.

so take it in, don't hold your breath, the bottom's all i found.

closed to billy >>> whenever he returns to the village.

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gmail decided to file this in spam ... thanks, gmail, i hate it

gmail!! o9

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open >>> off-color; feb. 3-23

The Fourth February, Now With Knives

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early on, at the inn

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open >>> wildcard

billy + nida >>> feb. 2

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