selfhelp | [voice/written/action]

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Hey, ah... Vision - I mean, Jonas - of the Young Avengers got sent home. Sorry, if you knew him.

[Why is he always full of bad news? Ugh... let’s try to be less depressing for a while.]

There’s something else I wanted to talk about today: since I got here almost a year ago I’ve noticed how there’s this huge range of cultural norms across the multiverse- which makes sense, different worlds have different standards, I get it. People who are accepted in one world aren’t tolerated in another. Luceti’s kind of an anomaly, where there’s really not much, if any prejudice. I mean, there’s the whole Malnosso versus Us mentality, but that’s because of what they do, not what they are. Basically what I’m saying is that I think that’s great, and I want to do my part to keep encouraging that universal acceptance here for the people who might not be able to get it back where they come from, open up discussions to people who might not be sure about who or what they are, um...

Okay, this is a really roundabout way of saying I want to start an LGBT club. If you don’t know what that means, here’s a breakdown:

[Below is a jotted list-

L = Lesbian = girls attracted to girls
G = Gay = guys attracted to guys
B = Bisexual = guys and girls attracted to BOTH guys and girls
T = Transgender = People who feel like they were born in the body of the wrong gender (or genderfluid)
*Q = Questioning = Anyone not sure about the above or if they apply

And then it returns to voice.]

Those are really oversimplified, and there's still a lot of other words people use to define themselves, but you get the gist of it. I’d really like to meet up with anyone who matches any those descriptions, or feels like they might, or are just curious about it. I’m gonna put up some posters with suggested meeting times and places, but if you have any questions or just want to talk about it, you can use the journal (it’s okay to be anonymous!) or come right to the school. I’ve got a table set up and I’ll be here pretty much all day. I don't know if this is going to go anywhere, but it's worth a shot, right?

One last thing- we’re looking to make this a safe place, so if you plan to come just to make fun of people: we have a Hulk.

[And true to his word, Billy will be at the school, curled up in a chair at a plain table littered with papers. He’s designing posters and doodling various symbols to use for logos. Come bother him if you like?]

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Mm... may as well stay here. Nobody would buy it anyway- I can't scream like a girl.

[He glances sidelong at Teddy, catching sight of the wings and peering curiously at the colours. Huh... maybe he should have made the logo pattern more subtle.]

[Teddy lets out a snort at that, just imagining Billy actually screaming like a girl in that scenario. Once he catches sight of him peering at his wings though, Teddy moves his arm away to lean forward properly, giving Billy a more proper view of the way his wings look.]

No good?

Mm... maybe. Lemme look.

[He leans back further to get an even better view of the wings, tilting his head this way and that to see it in the light at different angles. His chair is on the brink of tipping over but he seems unconcerned.]

...I think it's too bright. Maybe I need some pastels instead.

[Even if it did, the chair wouldn't go anywhere, seeing how Teddy's got his hand near one of the legs and ready to grip on to it if it tips back further than it should. With Billy's suggestion, a new set of colors spread from the base of the wings to the tips, a lighter, more pastel version of what he had before.]

Something like this?

[Billy's brows lift at that, a smile crossing his lips.]

Actually, yeah, I like that. It's a little more subtle. Can you give it maybe some darker accents? Like spots where the colour stands out more.

[He has no idea how specific Teddy's shifting can get, but it's good practice for the both of them, technically.

Hmm...

[He thinks for a moment; specifics like that are a little more difficult, but nothing he can't handle. It's like adding highlights to hair, really.

With a light frown, Teddy makes the new, darker colors appear along the spine of the wings, making it seem like the lighter ones spread out from there.]

How's that? Or maybe you can point out where you want the accents if it's not good enough.

...Could I?

[Intrigued - because he'd honestly never considered the suggestion - he reaches out a hand to press a finger against the feathers, trailing along the length of it.]

[Billy doing that is a lot like him trailing his fingers along a sensitive patch of skin, so not only does it feel nice, but it also gives Teddy a very clear idea of where he's touching. It takes a second, but soon a line of color begins to follow the trail that Billy's showing him; it's not quite a steady line, seeing how this is very specific compared to everything else he's done, but he does his best, and his point remains.]

Why not? It'd be easier on the both of us.

[And all of a sudden Billy is less interested in the logo and a lot more interested in what just happened.]

Oh my god, Teddy, you should see this! It's like I'm painting your feathers!

[He moves his finger around more, weaving a dipsy-doodle pattern all around the expanse of Teddy's wings. It's absolutely fascinating.]

[Ted chuckles lightly at that, then opens his mouth - only to shut it, then speak up again.]

I actually could grow eyes on the back of my head. But that'd probably freak the both of us out. [He grins suddenly and ducks his head, another little laugh escaping.] Ha ha - Not so fast, Bee; this is a lot harder than it looks...

Wow, yeah, that would totally ruin the moment.

[With his free hand Billy reaches up to poke two fingers to the back of Teddy's head (where his extra eyes might have been), just to solidify his point. He does slow down, though, letting Teddy catch up with his other finger. Even slowed down it's no less impressive.]

Have I told you lately how amazing you are? Because you're amazing.

[Teddy rubs his head where Billy poked him, another little laugh on his lips. He can't help it - Billy touching his feathers like this is pleasant and he just has to laugh or chuckle over things like this.]

Maybe one or two times since last week. Doesn't mean I don't like hearing it.

[Now that it's slowed down, it's much easier to follow Billy's finger with the line he's making, and he even changes colors, from green to blue to purple to red. Maybe he's showing off a little, but he's allowed to do that with his boyfriend.]

Amaaaaazing. Oh my god. Don't stop, I gotta-

[Billy keeps tracing little patterns, shifting to trace actual shapes into the feathers now to give Teddy more of a challenge; his fingers wobble a bit as he works for a moment, reaching down and fumbling to get his camera. There's a whirring sound of the lens folding out, then a click as he starts recording.]

You really do have to see this. I knew you could do patterns, but geez...

[There's a slight wobble in the line thanks to that movement, and a pause when he hears the click, but then he keeps following the path set for him anyway. Billy's getting more complex here, but Teddy manages it, though he doesn't have a clear idea of what his back looks like.]

... Wait, are you recording this?

Of course I'm recording you, you really think I'm going to miss this?

[Billy lifts his finger off the feathers and moves to a different spot, resuming his play to see how quickly Teddy can switch areas and whether or not the old pattern will stick.]

Billy...

[He gives an embarrassed little laugh as he ducks his head and presses his hand over his eyes. Thanks to that, it takes him a second to remember that he's supposed to be following him, so the line at first makes a wide turn towards Billy's finger, then stops, before it appears again just behind the trail once more.

The old pattern does fade a little, then reappears, then fades and disappears entirely; if he were making patterns on his wings all on his own then this wouldn't be so hard, but with Billy making shapes of his own and Teddy having to concentrate on that? Yeah, Teddy wasn't lying when he said it was a lot harder than it looked.]

It doesn't have to be a one time thing, you know. It could even be good practice - painting for you and shifting for me.

[Billy ignores the way Teddy says his name - he's just being dumb and shy again, like he isn't as absolutely spectacular as Billy knows he is - and traces a dipping, curving line over the very edge of the wing, barely touching the tips of the feathers. Testing sensitivity now; he feels kind of like one of those photographing documentary directors, researching some grand new discovery. Or in this case, his boyfriend's very cool ability.

It is beautiful, though, a form of art unique to Teddy. Why wouldn't he photograph it? Being able to record is just an added plus.]

I'd be up for that. Like temporary wing tattoos or something.

[Teddy's posture relaxes when Billy does that, a long sigh coming out of him. That right there feels especially nice, and Teddy's sure that if he were laying down, Billy could make him fall asleep just from doing that for a few minutes. The touch is so light that Teddy doesn't quite register all of it, so the colors come up more in patches in the areas where it's easier to feel Billy's fingers brush his feathers. He could cheat and just fill in the rest of the path, but it's test for him too, one that Billy's helping him with.]

Only going away when I fall asleep... I like that.

...As long as you don't fall asleep now. I know what this can do to you.

[Curious and impulsive, Billy pauses for a moment and then leans forward to press his face against the wings, kissing the spot between them gently, enjoying the way the soft feathers tickle his skin. He indulges himself for a dozen or so seconds before withdrawing to film what that just accomplished, if anything.]

[Teddy deems it necessary to only answer that with an amused snort; yeah, he remembers falling asleep on Billy's lap a few times when his boyfriend decided to do that to him.

And that - mm, that just made a warm, tingling sensation spread from his wings and across his back, making him give a weak little shiver and a quiet, affectionate chuckle. When Billy pulls away, well...

It's not the most romantic mark he's made, considering it looks a lot like a face print in an almost Rorschach sort of fashion. Hey, Teddy felt pressure there, and that's where he made colors appear. But after a few seconds, he lets the pattern stretch into swirls until they reach the other side of his wings, and then fade out completely.]

[Billy pauses for a while, lightly stroking his fingers through the feathers at the edge of Teddy's wings, no longer making patterns as he's too preoccupied with watching the pattern shift, change, and eventually fade. He'd been amused at first, almost laughing at how ridiculous it had looked, but as it changed, his expression shifts into something much softer.

There's a gentle whirring sound as he stops the camera's recording, and then a light pressure against the back of Teddy's neck as he leans in once more to press a tender kiss against the exposed skin, arms winding around his shoulders from behind.]

You're a real artist, you know that?

[For a moment Teddy lets a mark stay on his neck, something of a lipstick stain from where Billy kissed him. But he lets that fade soon enough, and his wings shift back into their mockingbird pattern as he holds Billy's arms in place and glances sidelong at him.]

Hey, if anyone's the real artist between the two of us, it's you. You're the one who gets it all on paper. [And in art galleries, for that matter.] I'm just cheating with my powers here.

I don't remember anyone complaining about me using my magic to make all those statues at the mansion. Besides, it's not easy, right? Not just anybody could pull this off.

[He gives Teddy's chest a little prod.]

Too much modesty is boring.

[Even with those comments, Teddy still shuts his eyes and lets a little smile play on his lips, just content with the feeling of being in the arms of the love of his life. Though that doesn't stop him from opening his eyes slightly and turning his head to get a better look at Billy.]

Are you calling me boring? [WOW BILLY RUDE.]

Only if you're particularly sensitive.

[Billy lowers his head again to nuzzle his nose over the tips of Teddy's feathers- where he knows that something is sensitive.]

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