I Wish I Had a Castle in the Sky ( OPEN )

[sidecars]

WHO: Everyone!
WHERE: All over America
WHEN: Nov. 14th-24th
WHAT: The Cosmic Cube is creating multiple realities for all the imPorts. Where are these "universes" coming from and who is wielding it? Are you strong enough to withstand the temptation of a new reality and thwart this misguided attempt at happiness?
WARNINGS: N/A

Hey, Davis! Did you move anything? I've got that Barnes kid's stuff logged. [ He has a digital tablet propped up on a clean, steel table full of plastic bags and baskets filled the different paraphernalia. It's rather reminiscent to an experience in the American security line at the airport. One such basket belongs to James Buchanan Barnes. ] Think something's missing. Says six item's logged, but only—Davis?

[ The man was right there a second ago, wasn't he? Looking around there's no signs John Davis had been there at all, except for in his memory. Shit, has he been talking to himself this whole time? Well, it isn't anything important. The string bean isn't going to miss one dumb little paperweight or whatever it was.

Little does he know just how powerful it is... ]


[ John spares no time or energy leaving Cap Canaveral. He doesn't even put up his cleaning cart before he's zipping through security at the blink of an eye. People've been calling him crazy for so long it's isolated him from the regular rhythm of society, but it's all been worth it for this chance. He will be a hero finally, just like the rest of the imPorts he idolizes. People will start to think twice about him and everyone else with powers. They will have the rights they need to protect this country and keep the Commies out.

This is the energy driving him to hold a dangerous item in his possession. He doesn't know a whole lot about it, only what he's gleaned from gossip rags and conspiracy theory websites. But it's worth the chance to find himself in prison, or worse. In the security of his lonely little apartment he holds the Cube in his hands as it pours out tremendous power. Without words it becomes in tune with his inner self and his wishes. It feeds off of it to create something more than itself. In his world imPorts will have just what they want, whatever it is, however contradictory.

But in truth, what good can come out of a thief too wrapped up in his own fantasies? That is no hero, and John cannot truly control the power he is playing with. As it feeds, the air around him turns hot—too hot to even breath. It's like the oxygen is burning up before it reaches his lungs. The world around him begins to fade as he holds on for dear life, but in the end his consciousness is snuffed out; a small sacrifice for a new world. ]

Comments

[gearshifting]

[He's going to invent something to do the punching for him. He gives Kyle a wry look.]

That's an understatement. Try sleeping a full six hours straight in one night. [More like three. Or four. Maybe. But he goes back for those last two hours, damn it. And after a particularly exhausting evening of superhero-ing he might even make it to eight or ten.]

Now come on, man, back to the game, so I can kick your butt and win the prize.

[redhott]

[ WELL BE THANKFUL YOU CAN EVEN CUM WITHOUT SETTING A HOUSE ON FIRE, RICHIE! GOD! Check your privilege. ]

There's a prize on the line now? What is it?

[ 'Cause if it's a good one, you are going down, boyfriend or no. ]

[gearshifting]

[He could fix that with one of his awesome badass inventions if you just let him experiment a LITTLE BIT okay. Richie snorts.]

Of course there is a prize. What's the point of a game if winning doesn't get you anything? In this case, I get your bed and you can sleep on the floor.

[redhott]

Oh yeah? Fine. If I win, you have to squeeze yourself into it with me.

[ It would then behoove them both to let Kyle win. And because of that, he's not going to hold back with the pot shots. ]

Truth or dare, loser?

[gearshifting]

What if I want that comfy bed all to myself? I hate sharing blankets.

[Which is true because Virgil would steal them all the time when they were camping. Mr Hawkins started bringing extras after the time Richie got sick.]

Dare and do your worst.

[redhott]

Not gonna happen. [ So he's got to come up with something that will make Richie embarrassed enough not to make a fool of himself in public. Then he manspreads like you do, giving on knee a pat. ]

How about a lap dance?

[ Kyle's baby blue eyes look oh so innocent, really, they so do. ]

[gearshifting]

[Richie's eyes go wide and his mouth drops open just a bit because he's not even sure he heard right except Kyle is being an ass and spreading his legs and patting his knee.

He may have just short-circuited Richie's brain. Give him a minute.]

[redhott]

[ Hell no! He is wining this game. You shouldn't egg on a lead protagonist, buster, unless you are willing to suffer the consequences. ]

Is that a no then? You want truth instead maybe...?

[ But Kyle isn't without a little mercy. He'll let Richie pick a new avenue if he wishes. ]

[gearshifting]

[Kyle he could hit you with a zapcap right now and leave you tied up dangling from someone's roof naked. And even though being given an out is the coward's way, it's what Richie is going to have to do because he is not giving his boyfriend a lapdance in a room where they'd probably have an audience.

Or at all. Ever. Kyle is an asshole who doesn't deserve lap dances.]

What's your truth?

[redhott]

[ Wow, you are the rudest boyfriend! He would give you a lap dance if you wanted it. Not that it would be very good, but the point is he would do it for you! 'Cause he's such a great guy. ]

If you had to pick some porn to watch while you, you know, did your thing, what kind would it be and why?

[gearshifting]

[Richie has no doubt he would be great at lap dancing...after searching up videos for how to do it on the web and practicing for far more time than he would ever admit. But it's not going to happen in front of an audience for a dare. Nope.

...And definitely not when Kyle keeps asking these kind of questions because he knows they embarrass the hell out of him.]

You little... [He trails off, head falling into his hands. He doesn't say anything at first but then mumbles out through his hands.] Pro'lyajokmo'ie.

[redhott]

You only get through this round if your answer's in English, dude.

[gearshifting]

[He's going to modify Kyle's phone so it cries for help and crawls away from him whenever it rings. That would be worthy revenge.]

I said... [The words come out a bit forcefully, but then taper off, getting quieter again.] A jock movie.

[redhott]

[ He lets Richie leave it at that. ] Good choice. Okay, my turn. I'll take truth.

[ Because after threatening Richie with a lap dance, he's concerned what his boyfriend would pick for him to do. ]

[gearshifting]

[Well that was easy. Why is it Kyle finds this so easy and Richie still gets all worked up by it. One of these it's supposed to get easier right? He's going to blame Kyle for making so many jokes.

He stares him down now, knowing exactly what he wants to ask.]

You only get to do it once for the rest of your life. Where and with who?

[redhott]

Oh Lord, his first time is already playing in the back of his mind. It was the first and, Kyle assumed, only time he would get laid what with his "condition" and all. The where was even better, until he ended up getting used.

But to answer Richie's question, Kyle really doesn't know. He ogles beefy guys like any other gay teen, but it doesn't mean too much to him without an emotional connection to go with it. ]

You at a big comic convention upstate&mdash:Oh, and we have to be dressed up.

[gearshifting]

[He can already imagine it because with his brain it's impossible not to and Richie's face turns positively scarlet. He'll never be able to get the images out. Ever. So he shoves Kyle hard.]

Dang, bro, you said that just to mess with me! [Then he tries to laugh it off, even if the noise is strained. Hard to fake it when your face is that red.]

[redhott]

[ It's a good thing Kyle is so meaty; otherwise, he might have fallen off the couch from that shove. Why does his boyfriend have to be so shovey?? ]

What? No, I didn't! There's a reason I'm with you and nobody else, you doofus.

[gearshifting]

[Because Kyle likes to embarrass him and he has a rep to protect. But that response just makes Richie stare at him because it's illogical considering Richie has never even gotten that far in a relationship, but Kyle looks so honest about it. His boyfriend really sucks at hiding his feelings.]

Geez, you're a sap. I don't know why I put it up with you.

[He says it, but that way he's smiling doesn't really put any bite into it. He even leans back a bit, their sides touching again.]

[redhott]

[ Kyle snickers. ] Yes, you do. So whose turn is it? Yours, right? Truth or dare?

[gearshifting]

[Because it's hard to find a cute, dorky, comic nerd superhero that you can chill with and beat at video games. And maybe make out with. You know, the simple things.]

Dare--but watch yourself because I know where you sleep.

[redhott]

[ Yes, the simple things. ]

Okay, so is that no on trying out that lap dance again? Hmm... Find someone that's not me and, without saying a word, slow dance with them for a good minute.

[gearshifting]

[Saying "screw you" would send the wrong message right now, so Richie doesn't dignify that question with a response. Instead he raises an eyebrow and asks]

Why, you like watching me get close to other people?

[redhott]

No, but I like the struggle you're facing, because it gets me one step closer to winning this game!

[ Nye heh heeehhhn! ]

[gearshifting]

You--[Lots of words come to mind right now, "asshole" being at the top, but Richie just gets to his feet and moves away from the couch, eyes on the move. There isn't any music even on, just the low sound of the TV as something else blows up while the hero dodges death by a hair's breadth.

There's a guy standing in the door way between the dining room and the kitchen where somehow there are still four people going at it on the twister mat. He doesn't look like he's paying any a particular attention, and so Richie walks up to him, hoping it means he's not going to flip out if Richie randomly approaches him.

And he doesn't bother hiding his action as he pulls his phone from his pocket and starts typing on it. When he gets to the guy, he holds up his phone, letting him read when he'd written and then sliding it back into is pocket. The guy is staring at him for a minute but smiles back at him with a shrug and a "Sure," and Richie somehow isn't collapsing dead from the relief.

Maybe not having to verbally ask was a good thing. He didn't have to make a fool of himself tripping over the words.

The dude was nice, even letting Richie do a bit of "leading" in their dance, but he kept some distance between them until the end. He caught a glimpse of Kyle over his shoulder and leaned in just then, mouth close to his ear as if he was going to say something...

...and then stuck his tongue out right at his boyfriend.]