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

[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.]

[redhott]

[ Wow. Wow, he sees how it is. Don't hate the player, Richie, hate the game. A game, he may add, that YOU put stakes on. This is your own doing, pal. ]

Ha ha ha, very funny. You are such a little cheater.

[ He's gonna take your phone next time. ]

[gearshifting]

[Richie finally pulls away--97 seconds should be a long enough minute--and thanks the guy with a shrug that is way more awkward than his initial approach was. He's cool with it but Richie is turning and making his way back to the coach with a sheepish look on his face. Until he hears Kyle's comeback and that little grin turns into a very smug one.]

Need to give better instructions if you don't want me following them to the letter.

[Don't give him outs and he won't take them, Kyle. It's not cheating, it's game management. He sits back down next to him, body still feeling...weird, about dancing with someone else like that. But he knew Kyle would push his buttons from the get-go and he's not going to back down now.]

Truth or dare, my eminent loser?

[redhott]

.......... I am gonna shove cheetohs up your nose when you're asleep tonight, Rich. [ That is a promise. One that they both know Kyle would never keep because he is too nice to actually be truly mean. ] Truth...

[gearshifting]

[Richie is not intimidated in the slightest. Whereas he might actually try and get revenge, Kyle is too much of a sap and it always works out in Richie's favor.]

Why do you like getting me so worked up about this stuff?

[Hah. Try to get around that question, Kyle. Yeah there's a small part of him that isn't sure he wants to know the answer but he tells himself it's probably going to be Kyle teasing him some more and he's not afraid of that.]

[redhott]

What stuff? I'm going to need you clarify, Rich.

He's going to make this hard for you as it will be for him.

[gearshifting]

[He takes it back. Kyle is not a sap. He's a dick.]

Sex. [He forces it out a bit louder than he means to an a couple heads turn towards him and Richie is going to kill Kyle at this rate. Or die. Or both. He shoves him with his elbow again.]

[redhott]

[ UUGH HIS BOYFRIEND IS SO VIOLENT!! He's so mean to Kyle. What does this angel put up with a yellow-haired devil like you?? ]

Well, you're the one that's trying to make me sleep on my own floor tonight instead of sharing the bed with me... I'm just defending myself is all.

[gearshifting]

[He knows you can take it Kyle, big baby. Superhero up. He rolls his eyes just a bit with a grin.]

Yeah I know you want those hands all over this, but I just want to have some blankets so I'm not cold all night.

[redhott]

Pfff, like that would be a problem. [ Has Richie forgotten? He puts a few fingers on the guy's bare hand. Immediately warmth pours into Richie as if he just sunk into a cozy hot bath. ]

[gearshifting]

[He does not start to become more relaxed just from that sensation, definitely not. He doesn't lean closer to Kyle at all.]

I don't want to melt into a puddle of human fleshy fluids either. [That is also definitely a scientific term.]

[redhott]

[ Mmmhmm, yeah of course. None of them ever enjoy and lean into Kyle when he's warming them up. Nope, not a one.

With a heavy sigh, Kyle grabs Richie around the arm so he can get a better look at those pretty eyes behind his glasses. ]

You are the worst, Rich.

[ Now let him off the hook on this game as you stare into his blue eyes and remember all the reasons why you like him and want to let Kyle spoon your scrawny butt tonight. ]

[gearshifting]

[As soon as Kyle pulls him in like that, Richie knows he's screwed. He stares at him for a moment, blinking into those eyes before a smile curls across his lips.]

Sounds like you have bad taste in boyfriends. [He leans in close, barely a breath between their faces.] As your friend, I should warn you about guys like that taking advantage of your trusting nature.

[And what does he mean by that? Well he's about to steal a kiss right there.]

[redhott]

[ It's true. Kyle has terrible taste in boyfriends and those who do take advantage of his very open and trusting nature. But Richie, for all his sasstalk, is not like that. He is, however, unusually shy about anything sexual, so this kiss? In public? It really takes him by surprise. ]

[gearshifting]

[It's like something comes over him, looking at Kyle like that. It's hard sometimes considering he'd been hiding this part of himself for so long, constantly wondering who might fight out and what they would do. Kyle changed that.

It's reflex now, the worrying, the awkward hold back, even though he doesn't need to anymore, it's still there. But sometimes he sees Kyle and just...really wants to kiss him. For once his brain doesn't give him fifty reasons not to do the thing and he's kissing his boyfriend right there on the couch.

It's quick, but forceful and he pulls back with his ears turning bright pink and a dumb grin on his face even as he rubs at the back of his neck.]

Uh, I... [Wow, he just did that.]

[redhott]

[ Yeah, Richie sure did. Kyle looks just as taken aback, but it fades quicker than it does on his boyfriend. He finds his tongue a little better than Richie as well when he says, ]

So... I think, uh, what you're telling me is... You'll be sleeping in bed with me tonight, right?

[gearshifting]

[Richie isn't sure why he's surprised by that question or why he suddenly starts laughing except it's so Kyle and he has to shove him again because of it. Hard enough to knock him over on the couch, he hopes. But he follows the motion and is intentionally leaning over him.]

You gotta ruin the moment.

[Not that he said no.]

[redhott]

[ Wow, okay, that one almost unseats him right onto the floor, but Kyle holds on with cat-like reflexes. ]

Well, hang on—I think I can get it back.

[ Kyle leans up to meet Richie, a little dry when he kisses him very softly. That same warmth creeps through the contact again, pouring into Richie all the way to his toes. Now just think about that, pal, if it was on other places eh ehhh. ]

[gearshifting]

[Now he's the one that's surprised. His hand grips the back of the couch, fingers digging in, eyes closing as the warmth spills over his body. His free hand ends up in Kyle's hair and yeah, he has like no real experience with this, but he likes it. Likes it a lot.

Why don't they do this more? This really seems like something they should do a lot more often.

He finally makes himself pull away only to slump just a bit against Kyle's chest, breathing deeply to catch himself.]

See--[He says, a little breathlessly.]--I told ya. You're trying to melt me.

[redhott]

[ Hey, he is ready any time any day, bucko. Just ask. ]

...... Okay, maybe figuratively.

[ Kyle slides a hand through the front of Richie's messy blond hair, eventually coming down to cup the side of his face. ]

[gearshifting]

Jerk. [Richie is getting that warm, twisting, breathless feeling just from the way Kyle is look at him. He should feel way more awkward about this than he does, sitting on the couch, making out with his boyfriend where anyone could see them. But right now he's kind of forgotten than anyone else is around except the two of them. Kyle's touch is great at distracting him.]

I give, I give.

[redhott]

Yes! [ He surges up on the couch, pushing Richie back a bit in his victorious rapture. ] Ha ha haaa...!

[ Yup, soak in this smug ginger face!! ]