lucetilogs | EVENT LOG

[Billy purses his lips, shifting his gaze aside for the first time, though it's brief- he catches sight of the claws on his skin, which is terrifying, and the plates on Teddy's shoulders as they shift and change, and he has to look away because it's hideous to watch, so he focuses on those blue eyes again. Whatever else is going on with Teddy's body, that's where he can keep them both grounded.]

Look, Teddy... I'm sorry about your mom. And I'm sure that whatever happened, you did everything you could. I haven't known you that long, but I think I know you well enough to know that you'd never just... let her die. So don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault.

[He may not know that for certain, because the memories aren't there to back up his claims. But what he said was also true- he knows Teddy. he trusts the other boy without question. Maybe it's stupid, and maybe it's dangerous, but he can't bring himself to care about that. He cares about Teddy. He cares... a lot. More than he knows he can admit.]

[There is, at least, one thing Teddy figured out about himself through this, if the obvious fact-turned-lie wasn't enough: he's a protective person. He wanted to protect his mother. The utter failure of that has been killing him ever since he read the card. Even now, he's doing his best to be gentle with whatever touches he gives to Billy, in a sense protecting him from himself.]

Then why does it feel like it? Even dad doesn't remember her, and...

[Teddy lowers his head further, to hide his face and reel in his emotions. Definite fact #2 that he's discovered is that he doesn't like to show when something makes him sad like this. Crying especially, even though he's still so close to it.]

I keep wanting to know who did that to her. I want to know what happened. What I did. Every time I read that card, the feeling just gets worse.

Maybe you should stop looking at it.

[It's a weak solution, temporary at best, but Billy can't help but think that maybe it's better to nip it in the bud, stop letting that failure kick him in the teeth every time he reads it.]

I know it must hurt... and I know it's frustrating, not remembering what happened or whether it's even true. We're all in the same boat here. But you can't focus on what is says. Work on getting your memories back, controlling whatever your body's doing- and worry about the rest when you've got the memories to help you deal with it properly.

[If Teddy's mom died recently and then this happened... maybe he hasn't finished grieving for her? He could be feeling that pain without even knowing that's what it is, like- like a phantom limb or something. Crazy as that sounds.]

[Teddy almost bites his lip - almost, and thinks better of it when he realizes that his teeth are still sharpened, and he'd just hurt himself more than he already has by doing that. Instead he just presses his lips together, shuts his eyes, and nods.

What Billy said makes sense. Teddy keeps reading and rereading the card as if it'll give him some kind of clue he didn't pick up on before, and - and not knowing anything else frustrates him more than he'd like to admit. And now, knowing that at least one of the facts on there is a lie...

Even now, he's tempted to look and pick out which other ones are lies. But, despite how strong it is... he won't do it. It'd just tear him apart even more to try to figure out what's going on and read that line, died to protect you, over and over...

Right now, the card isn't important. It isn't. Right now is important, trying to gather what little memories he has and controlling himself. He just... He just needed someone to tell him that.

Teddy moves his head up again, though he keeps his eyes shut, and he presses one of Billy's hands a little further against his cheek and leans his head into it.

There is, at least, one other fact on there he's pretty sure is a lie.

After that brief moment, Teddy opens his eyes, his gaze focusing on Billy's shirt.]

You're right. But I still don't know what I'm supposed to do about... what's happening right now.

[Billy relaxes a little, smiling despite the situation and his own misgivings about this situation- though he's not afraid anymore, not really. Freaked out, yes, that hasn't changed, but it's not the same as being afraid. Teddy's not going to hurt him regardless of his form, of that much he's certain.

He doesn't move his hand, thumbs still stroking over Teddy's skin, and considers that last comment for a moment, his brows furrowing.]

You were thinking about your mom, about protecting her, and... it made you stronger. [His eyes trail over the plates.] You have to relax. Think about... being yourself. Just normal, human Teddy. No danger, no fighting- you don't need armor here. Not with me. You're safe.

[Teddy's silent for a moment as he takes in Billy's words. They make sense... He had turned into this while thinking of his mom, of what could've happened and what he could've done. And it only got worse when he panicked and wanted to flee.]

Right. I'm... here. Nothing's going to happen. [He shuts his eyes, as if that'll help him.] I'm with you.

[And he tries to focus on those. It's hard to calm down all the thoughts in his head; his mind still tries to figure out what his mom looks like and what happened - who did that and how did it happen and did she suffer and - and for a moment his shoulder blades jut out as if his back and his shoulders want to grow even more.

But he starts to remember. Nothing from what he lost, but of recent times.

Talking and getting to know his dad. Finding the library and seeing if he could find a comic book to surprise a certain someone with later. Meeting a few people in the same boat as him.

Laughing with Billy, feeling completely at ease. Thumbing through a comic book, reciting the Green Lantern's oath and raising their fists up as if they were the very same protectors of the galaxy...

And he starts to shift again, this time letting the claws and plates recede and for the muscles that had broadened out to relax and slim down.]

[Billy watches him transform back, a bit of tension easing out of him. He doesn't let go until Teddy seems almost himself again, sliding one hand away from his cheek and moving to rub his shoulder, instead. The plates have retracted to become soft, pliant flesh, and Billy fights an uncomfortably powerful urge for one long moment before he caves and envelops Teddy in a hug, pressing his cheek against the blond's hair.]

You did it. You made it, T... you're okay.

[His voice is soft, almost inaudible, but he's hoping his actions are speaking loudly enough to make up for it.]

[One of his hands, the one free now that Billy's moved his hand to his shoulder instead, digs into the ground as he feels the muscles shift and the extra appendages slide back into his body. It's strange, and it's weird and he's - he's really some kind of freak. Now that he's normal again, Billy can stand up and leave because he's not what he wants. Who'd want some kid who pops out claws and literal shoulder blades and wings and it probably looks horrifying -

Except no. Billy's hugging him instead, a motion that makes Teddy tense with surprise, and he can hear that whisper near his ear. It makes his cheeks warm and, though he hesitates, he slowly raises his arms up to return that hug and shuts his eyes. For a second, claws rest against Billy's back, but then they vanish, leaving only palms and fingers.]

Thanks to you. [He's still a little scared that Billy will just leave him here. But it just doesn't seem likely now, even if it confuses him.]

All I did was open a door, Ted. You're the one who walked through.

[Billy's smiling as he replies, and it shows in his voice, one hand rubbing soothingly over Teddy's back. He feels the claws on his own back shift to normal, and he's able to relax more fully. He trusts Teddy not to do anything, of course - they're friends, good friends, Jane had said - but accidents happen, and getting himself hurt even by mistake would just have upset Teddy again. It's good that he seems to have it under control, at least for the moment.]

You okay...?

Mmm.

[Though it's a confirming sound, it's also slightly miserable. So he isn't normal. He's the furthest thing from normal, really.

... God.]

Sorry I... freaked you out.

[It was a halfway pointless question - of course he's not okay, who would be okay after that kind of thing? - but it's something a friend would ask, of that much he's certain. Billy is quiet for a long moment, biting his lip, then he finally tugs back, pushing on Teddy's shoulders to ease him up in order to look him in the eyes.]

Sorry I freaked out. Especially since... I don't really have a right to.

[He looks down, briefly, then up again, his expression filled with quiet determination.]

Can I show you something? I was hiding it, but... I don't know why, anymore.

[Teddy's so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn't really hear Billy at first, though he's aware that the other teen moved away. Mostly because Teddy feels a sense of loss along with that.

Briefly, very briefly, one hand follows after Billy, only to pause in the air, then quickly return to his side. So maybe that... other fact isn't real, either. He's not about to sacrifice this friendship he's come to treasure just because of that. Some things are far more important than the pursuit of that kind of thing.

Besides, who'd want a freak?]

... Huh? [He blinks out of his thoughts, gaze truly focusing on those brown eyes now.] Oh... yeah. What is it? [He was hiding something?]

[Billy keeps his hands on Teddy's shoulders for a moment longer, reluctant to break contact, but he needs his hands in order to do this. He draws back, shifting on his knees, and holds his hands out on front of himself, focusing on them with an unusual intensity. He'd only done this a few times so far, but each time it got easier, and each attempt more powerful. He's a magician. And, if Jane can be believed, a super hero.

And he wants to share that good news with Teddy, too.

He starts to mutter under his breath, the chant too quiet to be particularly intelligible, but Teddy might be able to make out a few words that repeat: I want or I believe or I can. He's switched them around a few times to see what works best. His eyes flare with a blue inner light, and before long, that same light manifests in his hands, taking the form of a sphere about the size of bowling ball. He cradles it close, a smile slowly crossing his lips.]

...See, Teddy? You're not a freak, and neither am I. We're special. We're heroes.

[Little metaphorical static shocks are left from where Billy left his hands, and Teddy inwardly palms his face with both hands. Teddy Altman, do you really have it this bad?

But instead of giving in to that urge to curl up and allow a hole to swallow him up, he looks at Billy's hands, his expression, then his hands again. He can hear those little phrases, and it makes him frown slightly. What's going on? Is Billy reciting some kind of self-help book or something?

Before Teddy can think on that further, the blue light shines in Billy's eyes, and just as Teddy widens his own, the light appears in his hands and Teddy had shot himself backwards.

Or, rather, he scooted backwards at a high velocity with a yelp. He wasn't scared, and he wasn't even really all that freaked. ... So, okay, maybe he was a little freaked, but he was mostly just surprised.

Is that magic of some sort? Or just lights? Or - By the time Billy looks at him, Teddy's staring at him with wide eyes.

And it really hits when he speaks.

They're... not freaks. In a way, Billy's the same as he is. Teddy's got a body that keeps stretching out of control and Billy's...

Billy's a light bulb. He guesses.

Soon enough, the shock wears away, giving way to wonder. Teddy moves closer again; that light really was beautiful, and even though nothing on Billy was blue, it seemed to match him somehow. He reaches up, fingers just barely hovering over that blue sphere, feeling something like static and warmth and something that could never hurt him, and that makes that funny feeling in his chest that had been growing just blossom all the more.

Teddy flits his gaze up then, to Billy's eyes.]

... We're heroes?

[Billy's smile gets even bigger at that, nodding his head. When Teddy had reacted to the light, he'd nearly faltered, worried that he'd taken it too far and freaked him out again after finally managing to calm him down. But then Teddy relaxes, and asks him that, and... well, Billy just can't stop smiling. He watches Teddy touch the light, carefully keeping it controlled so it doesn't flare outwards. He could never hurt Teddy with his power, just like he knows Teddy wouldn't hurt him with those huge claws.

He barely knows the guy, but he trusts him implicitly. Maybe it's stupid, but Billy really doesn't care.]

Yeah- super heroes. A woman I met here, Jane? She kept her memories, and she knows us. We're even on a team!

Wait - super heroes? Like... in the comics super heroes?

... We're on a team?

[This is almost as unbelievable as the whole "you're just a normal guy" fact. It's Billy saying it, but this woman told him, and who knows if she's telling the truth or not?

... Still. It'd be amazing if it were true, enough that Teddy really wants for it to be true. They have powers, it looks like, so why not use them for good? To be... heroes?]

So - What's our team called? Who all's on it? [...] What... exactly do we do with our... powers?

[Because for all he knows Teddy just gets all gross and armor-y when his emotions are out of control and Billy's a light bulb.]

Well, I don't know what it's called, but we do... you know, super hero stuff.

[Billy pauses, letting the light fizzle out between his fingers, and looks down, his cheeks pink.]

Okay, so I don't know that much about it. But she seemed really sure about it, and... can you really see yourself doing anything else with your powers?

[Teddy looks down at his hands. They're still some of his blood smeared on them, and he's sure he probably accidentally got some on Billy, too.

No. He doesn't like that image at all.]

I wouldn't want to use it for anything else. [...] Even though I really don't know what we're doing.

[Billy follows Teddy's gaze, his smile fading at the sight of the expression he's wearing. After a moment he reaches out, letting his hands cover Teddy's, ignoring the blood. It's a little personal, sure, but he doesn't care- this is more important.]

With this kind of power, we can do whatever we want. And I'm pretty sure we both want to use it for good.

[He gives Teddy's hands a light tug, trying to encourage him to look up.]

Hey, you know... together, we make a Green Lantern.

[Are they really holding hands right now

Yes they are, if Teddy letting his fingers curl around the other's is any indication. It's... a little easier, not having to look at that and wondering what would've happened if that had been someone else's blood.]

A Green Lantern?

[Teddy does look up at Billy, if only from how odd that sounds.]

... I guess you do light up like one.

Dork. It's magic, I bet it can do more than that.

[Billy releases one of Teddy's hands to mock-punch his shoulder, then winces and leans back, giving his hand a sore shake.]

And you've got super-strength, apparently.

Magic?

[Teddy is absolutely awed. Billy can do magic? That's what that was? Not just... light, but magic?

Wow... That's such an awesome power. And Billy's got it.

He's so caught up in his thoughts that he doesn't even notice the punch to his shoulder until Billy's wincing and shaking his hand.]

Oh... [He gives a sheepish smile as he takes Billy's hand again, this time in a much gentler hold as if he's afraid this sudden super strength revelation will make him crush everything he touches or something. He chuckles, too, even if it sounds slightly forced.] I guess that explains the door. [...] Uh... right. I knocked my door off its hinges yesterday. I just tried to set it back up again so you wouldn't notice. [Embarrassed. A little guilty.

It's easy, with him. To admit such things and be embarrassed and freaked and not... have to live up to whatever he has. Some kind of super strong shape shifter. But no, he's just... Teddy. He just has some freaky powers along with it.]

Edited 2012-10-02 10:24 (UTC)

[Billy blinks at that, then grins, tilting his head a bit to one side.]

You too? I accidentally made all the springs in my mattress disappear the other day. I think we both could use more practice before we're ready to do any real heroics.

[Teddy's still struggling with it, he can tell, but that's why he wants to share the issues he's been having, maybe make things a little lighter. So Teddy knows that he's not alone. So he knows that they're not freaks, that this power might be scary now, but it doesn't always have to be.]

You did?

[His smile grows, amused now. It really does help, hearing that Billy's been screwing up with his powers as well. He isn't alone in this; they're two teenaged boys who just discovered their powers and are dealing with it. Billy seems so happy about it, and here's Teddy not really adjusting to it at all.

He ought to try a little harder.]

Yeah... I don't think we're ready for anything close to that right now.

[...] You did make the springs reappear again, right?

[Erk. Billy averts his eyes, feeling a little flustered again.]

Well... no. But I'm sure I'll get them back eventually...

[He just needs to keep trying. And not vaporize the bed in the process.]

Anyway, that's not important! What matters is you learning to control your abilities. Maybe you could try changing yourself at will, instead of by accident?

EVENT LOG - Amnesia

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[oct 1st] i c wat u did thar

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[oct 1st] i saw it i diiiiid

[oct 1st] LIES

[oct 1st] captchaaaaaa 8[

[oct 1st] I SHALL FIX THIS