[Voice / Action]

[selfhelp]

[Okay, so. Several things need to be dealt with here, one way or another. First being the fact that he has a facetwin hanging around who is pretty damn hard to explain, though Tommy being more or less okay with the "brother" title helps with that. Second is that he knows the truth about his heritage now, which is, in short, a huge weight off his shoulders. Third is that his strength is mostly back in his arm as long as he doesn't bend or twist it in a way that stresses his brace too much, which admittedly doesn't mean much, but it does mean that he's able to finish the sketches he'd promised to Pepper's art gallery.

Thus, since it's so warm and dry today, he'll be heading out to deliver a set of hefty-sized rolled sheets of drawing paper to Pepper's art gallery, and then to swing by Tony's house to catch up on some work and maybe fill his... sort-of employer in on the recent developments. Mainly the kid with Billy's face who is probably going to hate him for a while. Tommy's not as keen to forgive as some people.

His last stop will be the plaza, armed with a miniature sketchbook, and props himself up against the side of the fountain to draw whatever comes his way. Occasionally he might have to stop and give his hand a frustrated shake, but hey, there's no physiotherapy like a good work-out, right?

At some point while he's out, though, he'll be doing what he told himself he'd get done: a journal entry that is better late than never.]

[Voice, locked from Tommy]

Hey, it's Billy. Just wanted to get it out there that if you see anybody with my face - or hear my voice, I guess - that's Tommy, my... brother. Kind of. It's complicated. He might be a bit tough to deal with sometimes, but he's not a bad guy, so just try to put up with him, if you can. He could use some friends.

[....]

Just don't let this get back to him, I'd never hear the end of it.

Comments

[ filter; 60% ] most awkward conversation.

[herotypical]

...Huh.

Well. Thank you. For the non-judgement. Heaven knows I probably deserve some of i--

[ heaven. ugh. she coughs. ]

S-sorry. What did you say your brother's name was? Tommy?

[Action]

[snikting]

Draw what you like, bub. I ain't an art critic.

[Though he does decide to move around Billy. Take a look at whatever he's working on.]

[neversurrender]

[His tone suddenly gets serious. Not mean by any means, but stern enough that Billy knows he's serious about what he's saying.]

That's not really my place is it? Nor is it my business. But no, I don't mind. I may be old fashioned Billy but I've always considered myself open minded. As long as it's not hurting anyone, I don't have anything to say against it.

[ action ]

[selfhelp]

[...wow, Rogue, way to successfully 180 the entire mood.]

He did what?

[Oh god Tommy would totally do that if he could, wouldn't he.]

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

[What is it with his family and relationship problems? Should he be worried?]

Ah... he can be, yeah. As long as you don't mind his kind of fun.

[Voice]

[shieldsup]

Can't be any worse than Johnny at that age, but I'm afraid you've spoiled me for teenage super-heroes.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

They might, sure. I'm pretty sure a comic about Pokemon exists on my world, so you should check the library and see if it shows up one day.

[omg is Aang a Pokemon fan. That would be pretty awesome.]

[ filter; 60% ]

[selfhelp]

[Oh geez. He should probably just let her derail it there for now, since she seems so uncomfortable, but he quietly files that comment away.]

Tommy, yeah. His full name's Thomas, but he hates being called that.

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

That'd be pretty cool. Thanks for the tip! Pokemon are really interesting, so any fantasy stories about them would have to be really fun! But wait... if you got a comic about them on your world, does that mean some worlds that don't have Pokemon still have them as fantasy?

[selfhelp]

[There is a prolonged pause after that, as Steve's words sink in. It's something Billy's always believed, himself: that it isn't anyone's business, and that he shouldn't be judged for how he feels or who he loves. But what he believes and what others do has always clashed, ever since he was little. Moreso since he decided that yes, he's gay, and the world should just have to deal with it. Because then he learned exactly how they "dealt with it", and...

...it just changes things. It changes too much.

He's quiet, but not because he's upset or anything, even if at that moment he kind of feels like crying. It's just... it's nice to hear that kind of response from someone, especially someone he respects, someone he's looked up to for years and years. The confirmation that yeah, it's okay. That it doesn't matter.

People like Kesler can hate him for it if they want, he won't care- because Captain America doesn't mind.]

...Thanks.

action;

[selfhelp]

...Uh. Yeah, actually. T- Hulkling's here, and Speed just showed up last week.

action;

[selfhelp]

I wasn't going to fight him, I'm not an idiot. [Contrary to what Teddy might say when he does something crazy.] Magic is weird sometimes- different kinds of power kind of... call each other. Like magnets, almost. I've felt it before, it either clashes or gets attracted to the magic around it.

[It occurs to him that if he goes any further with this he'll start rambling about the mechanics of magic, something he's sure Tony has zero interest in, so he settles down and gets back to the main point.]

Think of it as wi-fi. My magic's a wireless device testing the air for a signal, and Loki's a local connection. I just want to see how strong it is.

[ filter; 60% ]

[herotypical]

Can't say I blame him.

[Voice]

[spiritblocked]

What, that's a bad thing?

[Action]

[selfhelp]

I'd be worried for the art if you were.

[He takes a very quiet, secret delight in being called 'bub'. He doesn't mind the scrutiny, either, shifting his sketchbook just enough to make what he's drawing more visible. It just happens to be a profile shot of Rogue, from the side, since she'd come along to visit him earlier.]

[Action]

[snikting]

Rogue, huh?

[Logan's suspicions are apparent. Rogue is a fine looking girl. Billy is a crazy fanboy. And he has no idea Billy is gay.]

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

Not so much. But it could be if he ends up even more insufferable when he wins.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

Haha, that's a huge compliment, coming from you. If Tommy was more like me he'd be honoured to be compared to your brother, I bet.

[Action]

[selfhelp]

[Poor, clueless Logan. And Billy misinterprets his question.]

I'm not trying to be creepy or anything! I just like to draw my friends.

[ filter; 60% ]

[selfhelp]

Maybe it's a family thing. Billy, Tommy... even Teddy, he counts too.

[Voice]

[shieldsup]

Haha, nah, knowing Johnny and Tommy I bet they'd both be like 'I'm way cooler than this weirdo.'

But hey, you're a good kid. You remind me a lot of Kitty when she was younger. Except the whole being a wizard and a boy thing.

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

Oh, yes, I'm sure I can! [...Promising.] Are they your favourite?

action;

[televisioned]

Cool. Cool cool cool. So, can I see your magic, or are you strictly keeping your alter ego separate? I can keep that on the downlow, by the way.

[Voice]

[selfhelp]

Maybe! I think fantasy between universes is flexible like that. My world's had a lot of experience with alternate realities, so I've heard a few things about it. It's pretty much parallels on top of parallels.

[This is edging on dangerous territory, but Aang did ask, so...]

[Voice]

[savedtheworld]

Wow, that's really weird. But I guess it's like that with different types of animals. I know I haven't been able to find any other worlds that know what a sky bison is, but maybe there's at least some world where they know it as a fantasy. That'd be pretty neat.

[He has no idea what he's teetering on.]