selfhelp | [Voice/Action]

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[Okay, so. Post-draft, he's given himself a few days of seclusion and bed-rest (apparently being infected with a zombie virus is exhausting), and even Billy can freely admit to himself that he's been pretty depressed lately, a fact for which he feels no shame considering that depression was well and truly earned. One can only spend so much time fretting, moping, and dwelling on one's own misery for so long, however, and today? He's decided that enough is enough. Billy will be going out today, limping around the village and visiting the people who were on the draft whose fate he's still uncertain of. The ones he can't find or has no reason to actually visit, he'll check with a light location spell, and he'll spend a few hours at Seventh Heaven people-watching out the window while he doodles in a book that Teddy had given him containing a series of patterns (much like this) that resemble inkblogs, and bit by bit Billy's turning them into something like this instead. It's been a tiring week, though, so you could always catch him napping on the table, instead.

At some point he'll attempt to find Peter, and when both a location spell and a teleport fails, he tries to teleport to the apartment he'd been staying at instead, finding it almost completely emptied. All he manages to dig up is a small cartridge that, after a moment of scrutiny, he identifies as a web fluid cartridge. His fanboyish glee at the discovery is tempered by the fact that the empty apartment means one more piece of bad news.

After his visits and window-watching is done, he'll return home to make the announcement, along with one more message-]

Hey out there... just wanted to let his friends know that Peter Parker went home. So... sorry. Yeah.

[Locked to Loki]

...We still on for tomorrow, or do you want to take a break? Because... you know. [Draft. Awfulness all around. He wouldn't blame Loki if he wanted to take a week off.

Later on in the evening he'll be over at Ben's barbeque, if anyone wants to bother him while he's there.]

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[As soon as Teddy lifts him up, Billy slides his arms around his boyfriend's neck, tilting his head to rest comfortably in the crook between his neck and shoulders, and smiles faintly. For all his pride and determination to defy the homophobic slurs about femininity he'd had thrown at him since middle school, sometimes he likes being carried like this. There's nothing safer than the arms so strong they hold him effortlessly, and there's a certain degree of romanticism to it that even he can't deny.

He's no one's princess. But Teddy is, in fact, a prince.]

Mm-hm. Like I said- busy night.

[His tone expresses just how much the idea bothers him- that is, not at all.]

[Whereas Teddy just enjoys carrying people, especially the one he loves most. He definitely respects that pride and has quite a fair bit of it himself, but when Billy gives him permission like that? Teddy can't help indulging in that part of him that loves supporting people.

Yeah, Billy is no one's princess. But that doesn't mean Teddy can't spoil him and treat him like a prince every once in a while.

Teddy grins in response to that, and soon enough, they're in the room that might as well be his as well, for as much as he hangs out and sleeps there. Once he makes it to the bed, he sets Billy down, carefully of course, and climbs up on his knees beside him.]

So.

So. Pampering. [Once settled against the covers, Billy stretches out gingerly, arms over his head and back arching. ...Yeeeep, he needed that. Once finished he smiles up at Teddy, wearing the expression of the most self-satisfied cat, one hand sliding down to toy with the material of Teddy's shirt a bit.] The next question is, who goes first? I'd suggest flipping a coin for it, but we don't have one...

[He ponders it for all of two seconds before lifting his fist towards Teddy, thumb facing the ceiling. Rock paper scissors lizard Spock, y/n?]

[Teddy raises his eyebrows, as if silently asking if he's really challenging him to this game, before his lip quirks up in a smirk, and he holds out his own first, thumb facing the ceiling. Rock paper scissors lizard Spock it is.]

Okay. 1, 2... [And after a pause, he moves his fist and:] Rock paper scissors lizard - [He stops his fist, giving the Vulcan Salute.] Spock.

Rock. Aww, I thought for sure you were doing lizard.

[Billy sulks a bit, dropping his defeated fist; he doesn't particularly care who goes first, but he doesn't like to lose in a geek battle. The sulk fades when something occurs to him, however-]

...Wait, uh. What exactly did you win?

[Well, he's not going to let Billy drop that fist without pointing at it like phaser and making a quiet shooting sound. VICTORY.

But the question makes him blink, then slowly lower the hand phaser before pulling it back to scratch the back of his head.]

You got a point. It's kind of a win-win here... [After a moment of thought, though, a smile comes up again.]

All right, I got it. I won the right to choose if I'm the pamperer or the pamperee first. [And as he reaches to slide a hand down Billy's chest:] I think I'll choose pamperer.

[Billy can't help but lift a brow at that, his gaze shifting down to follow the movement of Teddy's fingers. Hmm...]

So you're saying that even when I lose, I win? I can get behind this.

[He leans back against his pillows, hands moving to clasp together behind his head, and smiles up at his boyfriend, ready to watch his every move (or at least until Teddy gets him too distracted, something he's very good at).]

Alright, Altman, do your worst.

Oh, so you want my worst, huh?

[He presses a few light kisses to the side of his neck, then one on his jawline, then a couple on his ear, before he whispers into it:] Here I was going to give my most mediocre. All right then.

[The hand that had been sliding down comes to a stop on Billy's abdomen as Teddy presses a kiss to a still clothed collarbone, then down on his sternum, and once he reaches his hand, he sides it down once again, now over his waist and hip, until it stops on his thigh.]

You've been using these all day, haven't you? [And there's another kiss, right at the spot where the hip and thigh connect.] Your legs.

Mm... except for when I flew up the stairs.

[Billy squirms a little, his legs sliding together a bit. He's not sure what Teddy's thinking, but he's pretty sure he'll enjoy it either way. Nothing about this is mediocre, and he's barely started. And if this is his reward for losing, well.

He'll have to think of something really good when it's his turn.]

Hm. Then I think they deserve the most TLC.

[And with that, Teddy goes back to kiss and trailing his hand down, covering his thighs and knees and shins, though he's more careful when he's near the wound. Once he's close enough to Billy's ankles, Teddy moves his hands to untie his shoelaces.]

Let's get these off. [His voice is quiet as he says it, and he doesn't say anything else until he has both Billy's shoes and socks off.

Then he leans back to get more comfortable, let Billy's heels rest on his lap, and start to press his thumbs and fingers against his feet in a nice massage.]

How does that feel?

[Billy had lifted himself up a bit to watch what Teddy's up to, but once his feet are bare and the massage begins, he slumps back again, eyes closing, nestling comfortably in the bed. He hadn't been sure what to expect, but this is definitely a treat.]

Mm... feels like heaven. Are you shifting your fingers, or do you just have the magic touch?

[Though he certainly wouldn't put it past Teddy to know his feet well enough to know just where to touch- he knows every other part of him, after all.]

[Really, just by observing the way Billy walks and studying his posture, Teddy can pretty much figure out where his pressure points on his feet are and what exactly needs the most attention.

...

So yes, he knows his feet well enough, too. It's only a little sad.]

I'd rather call it an art. Think I should get into massage therapy on top of hero work?

[Not sad at all- actually, it's impressive. Billy's a little envious, admittedly- he's nowhere near as observant. He never had to watch people to that degree, never felt the need. With Teddy, he's gotten better, since he'd wanted to reciprocate the attention he'd received from his boyfriend, but he's not quite there yet. Intent can't replace years of practice.

...Well, there's always those keen analytical skills. He's got a few good ideas, both tried and true, and some new...]

I think people would definitely pay you for this.

[Well, Billy's certainly gotten a lot better - he was able to see what bothered Teddy when he himself only gave a little glance, after all. It's leaps and bounds better than when they first got together, and honestly, Teddy's impressed by it. Impressed and more than a little touched.

The statement makes him give a little smirk as he moves his hands down Billy's foot a bit, paying attention to the muscle there, then a little lower.]

Not that it'd mean much here. [...] Unless they paid me by giving me my laptop. I'd definitely take that as a suitable payment.

[Billy wiggles his toes a bit, feet arching unconsciously to encourage more of that. It really does feel awesome, especially when he feet are so sore.]

Careful- the Malnosso might kidnap you now and force you to give them all foot massages.

... Well, if that's all they want me to do, then why not? Even better if they sent me back with my laptop as a reward once their feet are satisfied.

[And... heheh. Billy's wiggling toes. Teddy can't help letting out a quiet snort as he watches them; he definitely gets the hint, so he'll keep his hands at that spot for now.]

[Mmm, excellent, hint received. Billy settles back down, though his arms reach out over his head, body stretching cat-like. A comparison aptly used, as a matter of fact- if he had the capability to do so, he'd definitely be purring right now.]

I dunno... think of all the trouble I could get into if I was left here on my own.

What, even knowing I was on a quest to get us some quality entertainment? You can stay out of trouble for that, right?

[Jeez, he almost expects Billy to start purring, or to grow cat ears or knead his hands or something. Which means he ought to pay attention to that spot a little more, at least a minute longer, before moving downward again.]

Mm... I dunno...

[Billy's voice his distant, almost like he's drifting- not exactly sleepy, but definitely satisfied. He's not paying that much attention to what's being said, caught up in the pleasure of the much-needed footrub (and Teddy's magic fingers, of course).]

If you left, I'd miss you... you're the best quality, um...

[Train of thought: derailed.]

[Teddy stays quiet for a moment, waiting for Billy to finish that sentence, before he glances up with a raised eyebrow.]

I think 'entertainment' is the word you're looking for. [And then he shrugs, his hands moving back up now that he's reached the heel.] Well, at least I know I'm not boring you to tears.

I was bored to tears before you got here. If you left me again I'd definitely cry.

[The tone is mild, but multi-faceted; outwardly he's still talking about the joke of Teddy being with the Malnosso, but inwardly...

...yeah, the thought of being trapped here alone is something he hasn't forgotten, a fear that is ever-present in this place. With Teddy being here for as long as he has now, it's faded to background noise, but any time he sees that someone's been sent home, he can't relax until a quick locating spell reassures him that his boyfriend and brother are still with him.]

[Teddy's movements slow a little as he glances up again, examining his boyfriend's expression and the tone of his voice. Mm... He might be going along with the joke still, but...

As he slides his thumb along the bottom of Billy's foot, Teddy lifts it up to press a tender kiss against it, eyes shut and a little smile still on his face. After that, he lowers it to pamper it with his magic fingers some more.]

Same goes for you, too.

[Billy's quiet for a moment, eyes closed, his head turned and face partially buried against his pillow, just letting the words sink in.

Then, after a pause, he pushes against the sheets to sit up a bit, lifting a brow.]

...Did I just get a prince to kiss my feet?

[This is too serious- he wants to keep up the casual atmosphere, and this topic is treading too close to the line.]

[Teddy lifts a brow in return, then lets out a quiet laugh while ducking his head, the faintest of pink on his cheeks as he tries not to let his humility show.]

Billy... [It's still so weird to him. He's never been royalty, he was always just some odd kid who tried to fit in. Now he's some prince? A rather bad prince at that.

But in retaliation, he suddenly glances up with a smirk.]

I can do more than that. [He says as he lifts up Billy's foot again to give his big toe a playful nip.]

[A humble prince? As if he wasn't endearing enough already. Billy keeps himself propped up, his lips curving into a smirk much like that of his boyfriend. It's better like this- light, easy, fun. It's better when Teddy's smile is genuine instead of consoling or worried.]

Bring it on, your majesty.

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