selfhelp | [IC] Appointments Post

[Teddy knows he should probably go over and be briefed for the mission, too. Get his own instructions and directions, since he'd never been here before. But the moment he shows up, the temptation to look outside is great, and when Billy gives him permission, it's way too hard to fight. He shifts his weight on his feet for a moment, as if he's deciding between if he should go forward or to the side, expression unsure. But then he seems to decide as soon as he glances at the window, because he's stepping forward and puts his hands up on the glass as soon as he reaches it.

The first thing he notices is that there aren't any stars. Which is a bit of a disappointment, but not a surprise - space is dark. If that's what Billy was worried about, then he has another thing coming; the second thing Teddy notices is the view of the planet from here, and it makes him take in a gasp, then let it out in a breath of awe, eyes wide and lips curving into a big smile. He looks just like a child would upon seeing a toy they desperately want, and, even though he knows Billy's been here and has seen this before, Teddy still turns back to him and tries to wave him over, heedless of the staff member who looks at him with a raised eyebrow.]

Billy! Billy, come look at this!

[It's the only time he dares to look away; he's staring a scant second after the call, tilting his body as if he can get a better view.

It's not the starry field that's saved on his laptop, but it's still everything he'd ever dreamed of.]

Edited 2013-07-18 12:16 (UTC)

[Well, that pretty much slays any concerns Billy might have had about Teddy not enjoying it as much, judging by the excited look on Teddy's face when he'd gotten a brief glimpse of it and the way he's urgently being called over. Billy tries to listen to his guide for about five more seconds before hastily cutting the man off and apologizing, then making his way over to where his boyfriend is being a complete spazz. He bumps lightly up against Teddy's side, one arm winding around his shoulders, and glances out the window with him.]

So, what do you think? Pretty boring, isn't it?

[He's trying to keep a straight face, but his tone betrays how little he actually believes the words coming out of his own mouth. He knows damn well that Teddy's loving this.]

[Teddy would've understood if Billy didn't come to him - he's getting all the important details, after all. That doesn't mean he isn't happy when he does; in fact, Teddy looks even happier, if possible, and settles his hand against Billy's waist to keep him against his side.]

You're kidding, right? This isn't boring at all! This is - God, I can't even tell you the names of these things, this is just amazing - !

[Not just the planet, but the moon, god, and it looks so different from their moon. Not exactly, of course, but the craters are different, the color is slightly off, just - all the things he's noticing just feed his excitement.]

[Billy can't help it; he chuckles softly, tilting his head to lean it against Teddy, feeling amused and relaxed and just good, much better than he's felt for a while now. This really was such a great idea.]

Space nerd. Go on, tell me all about it.

[You have total permission to ramble, bf. Take advantage of this offer while you can...!]

You sure you don't mind?

[Billy's not as into it as Teddy is. But even without an answer, Teddy launches into it anyway, now that he's got permission and he's right there.]

Okay, so I don't know anything about this planet or what the moon's called or anything, but - look at those craters - did you know that the only reason some of the asteroids that flew toward our planet didn't hit us is because of the gravitational pull of the moon? Do you know how doomed we'd be if we didn't have the moon there like some kind of shield? The largest crater on our moon is 220 miles, and some of the ones we've got there are more than two billion years old! You know the gravitational pull is uneven, too? Sometimes the satellites that go around it end up going off course a little before smoothing out again - NASA still doesn't know why, they're still researching it. Oh my god, if I could go out there...

[But that's not what his mission is and he knows it, so he merely longs for it instead. He's not astronaut by any means, but if he could just look at the craters, he's sure he could at least guesstimate how old they are...!]

Edited 2013-07-18 12:54 (UTC)

[God, okay, this is pretty much the cutest thing he's ever seen. The view itself is nothing new to him, and nothing terribly interesting, either, since the stars and multi-coloured galaxies were always what interested him about space, so instead he leans on the glass to watch his boyfriend, amused.]

We could, actually. When we get some free time, we could take a ship out. Or I could fly us out with a shield, if it's safe enough. I did that last time.

[That makes Teddy finally look away from the sight, eyes wide as he looks at Billy with bubbling hope in his chest.]

We can go out there? Are you serious? [PLEASE SAY SO]

[It's like offering a piece of bacon to a hyperactive puppy.]

Sure, why not? I told you before, I got to fly in a spaceship before.

[WITH OBI-WAN. IT WAS AMAZING.]

[There's only the slightest pause before a happy, dimpled grin comes across his cheeks.]

Oh my god, I love you - [And then he cuts himself off by moving his hand to Billy's shoulder and abruptly pulling him closer to kiss him, one that's full of excitement. God, he's got the coolest, sweetest, most thoughtful, best boyfriend ever.

The guide clears his throat at the display, because this really isn't the time for fanboying or kissing or anything. But Teddy doesn't really care.]

[Oof.

Okay, he's good with this. Absently the throat-clearing is noticed, but Billy doesn't pull away, waving his hand at the man over Teddy's shoulder. He's busy making out with his boyfriend right now, excuse you.]

[The kiss lasts for a moment longer before Teddy realizes that yes, he really should be paying attention to the guide; the guy probably thinks they're totally unsuited for the job. He pulls back with a smile on his face, though he can't help running his hand through Billy's hair, lips still brushing gently while he lets out a quiet chuckle, the sides of their noses brushing lightly.

Finally, though, Teddy pulls back completely with a muttered apology, and another one to the guide once he goes to him. There, he looks the picture of professionalism: back straight, looking the man in the eye and nodding, asking all the right questions and saying all the right answers. He figures he doesn't really need a layout; Billy can show him the way. But he could certainly use a run-down and all the other things they need to know.]

[Billy takes a moment to magic his clothes back into civvies; he'd been in costume in case they were suddenly ambushed upon entry or something - considering where they are, it isn't that ridiculous an assumption - but since it seems pretty safe now, he figures, why not be comfortable? And this is much better. By the time he's done with that, Teddy's about finished with his part of the mission briefing, or at least close enough to done that Billy figures it's safe to kidnap him away.

He sidles over and snags Teddy by the hand, cutting in as politely as he can and taking the folder with additional instructions and whatnot from the man, then saluting him and tugging his boyfriend away. He's already gotten the gist of it, so it's time for the tour. Or at least as much of one as they have time for on the way to the cafeteria.]

Sorry about that. I know how this works, and they really never stop once you get them going.

[If Billy's pulling him away, then he can explain the rest of it, and Teddy would rather hear this from his boyfriend than some man he doesn't know. He gives the guide a wave and a helpless smile before he follows along, soon moving up to walk beside him. Man, this is one of those times he wishes he shifted his clothes on, rather than slide on his costume which he's discovered lately is rather limiting.]

Should I be swooning and calling you my hero for pulling me away?

You could, but then I wouldn't be able to explain what we're supposed to be doing. Plus you'd miss the tour.

[He gestures to the row of windows along the corridor they're passing. Look! More of space! So much space! Swooning would be a total drag.]

[SPACE? SPAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACE

Teddy ends up slowing down as he stares out the windows, his pace only half the speed of Billy's, and thus he's probably dragging his boyfriend down. He can't help it though; it's such a gorgeous view, and some deeply buried part of Teddy wants to go out in it, travel far, see the stars, see the worlds.

Thankfully, it's only a very small part of him. The rest is completely tied his real home, and he makes it known by giving Billy's hand a little squeeze and speeding back up once more.]

Go ahead and explain, then. I solemnly swear to pay attention.

You sure? You're really ready to hear it? [And then, without waiting for an answer-] We cook.

[Sorry, were you looking for a serious answer? Give it a minute, Billy had to indulge his sass first.]

Actually, to be more precise, we're basically slop mixers and microwave operators. The food here sucks - that, I remember very clearly - but it's easy to make, so the job's pretty low effort. A couple hours of prep, serving, and clean-up per meal, odd jobs in between. If there's no attacks in the meantime, that means we'll get some serious downtime.

[What does that mean? Tours and moon-hopping, obviously.]

[Teddy raises an eyebrow, looking a little perturbed by Billy's description of the tasks they have to do. It's not really the prep and clean-up and everything, but...]

Isn't there a way to make it taste better? I don't want to serve sucky food...

No idea. I've never actually been in the kitchen side of things, and... well, you're definitely asking the wrong guy on how to make food taste better.

[That earns a quiet snort from Teddy, because yes, he is definitely asking the wrong guy about that. He gives an affectionate grin after that, letting their hands sway lightly between them.]

Right. I'll do the cooking, you do the serving. I'll see if I can make these guys' lives better for at least a few days.

[But omg the thing he's looking the most forward to is SPACE, and that's probably obvious by the way he keeps glancing out the windows.]

We'll have to ask the cook if they have anything that might vaguely resemble spices. Speaking of downtime, though, turns out we came early so don't have to get to the kitchen for another hour and a half. Think you can tear yourself away from the windows long enough for me to show you something?

[He's already tugging lightly on Teddy's hand to guide him down one of the inner hallways, away from the view, though if Teddy protests he won't force it. There's plenty of cool stuff to be done in this place, so he doesn't want to rush it if his boyfriend wants to take more time.]

Oh... yeah.

[He's a little reluctant to leave the sight of space, but eh, they have an hour and a half - might as well make the most of it, even if they end up with more free time in the future. So, Teddy follows after his boyfriend, glancing at him curiously.]

So what's this thing you want to show me?

Mm, it's nothing too interesting compared to space, I guess, but...

[Billy delays as if quietly mulling it over, then turns abruptly and opens up a utility door, dragging Teddy inside.]

I figured you'd enjoy the hanger.

[You know, with the giant open view of the moon and the simulator machines and the big flyable spaceships...]

[... Oh my god.

Oh my god.]

Oh my god...

[It's said under his breath as he stares at the sight before him. The view of the moon here is even better than the last, and the machines, and the spaceships; God, Teddy's only ever seen anything like this on the big screen, and here it is, all real, and - and if he's correct, Billy got to go in here and fly one of these things.

Teddy lets go of Billy's hand as he moves forward to one of said spaceships, where he places his hands where they can reach and feels along the exterior of it. This is nothing like the simulations in the battledome; they felt real enough, yes, but knowing that these are real...]

Billy, Billy, oh my god, did you actually fly one of these? [SO JEALOUS RIGHT NOW.]

I flew in one.

[It's a mild correction, but an important one, he figures- he has no idea how to work the controls or anything, and the results of his time in the simulators had been pretty lackluster at best.]

When I went out, Obi-Wan was the pilot - I was basically a glorified forcefield generator. I guess I could technically fly one if it was an emergency, but we're about half as likely to end up as a smear on the moon, so...

Still, you got to fly! With Obi-Wan; Billy, this is just like -

[Wait wait, give him a second as he stretches his legs. Literally, enough to actually get into the cockpit himself and stare at the controls with big smile as he lowers himself into the seat.]

It's just like Star Wars! I feel like I'm about to fly out and help destroy the Death Star right now...

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