The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

“Raiden and his mighty goose call of lightening.” He laughed. He liked the thunder god character, but, like with a lot of the other characters int he game, his moves sometimes got ridiculous. It was supposed to be like a bad kung-fu movie, so it made sense. Once Todd had picked his character, Lance selected the pit stage, confidently saying “Prepare to be sliced and diced, my friend.”

He was quite good at the game. Not as good as Pietro had been, sure, but he didn’t have the added benefit of extreme speed and dexterity. Playing while tipsy was highly entertaining, and even though it somewhat hindered his reflexes, he ended up laughing half the time, anyway.

Oh, the whole game was definitely a bad Kung-Fu movie. Made in the eighties, one couldn’t help that it was just… terrible.

Needless to say, Todd was not very good at it, and struggled the entire game to both decide on a character and play them with any aptitude. More often than not, the rather terrible voice-acting and the crazy moves caught him completely off-guard and caused him as well to laugh, and in doing so, he usually became distracted and could not continue for several moments.

Opportunity to strike? Lance had it in spades.

He seemed to do alright with Reptile—since he also had the ability to spit a rather ambivalent green goo—but all in all, he played for fun; not because he was skilled.

The booze had set in pretty quick—but not until about halfway into the first round… and then it hit him hard—and there was no hope for him.

“MAN STOP MOVIN’!” he barked at his pal, nudging him roughly. “Ya’ goin’ too fast!”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

Lance didn’t take it as a challenge, and just laughed a bit while casually handing the whiskey bottle to Todd as he stood up. He wasn’t too drunk, either, but probably more than Todd. Greeks and Mexicans didn’t have too high of an alcohol tolerance, but they were fun drunks, if anything. This certainly went for Lance, if he was in a good mood. He walked over to the TV and began the set up, changing a few cables to hook up the Genesis instead of the PS2.

He put the cartridge in the console, and turned both the tv and system on, saying, “Fine by me, man. I play Baraka.” Which he was particularly good at. The title screen came up, and the classic MK soundtrack chimed over the speakers. He took a controller, scooting it behind him in Todd’s direction, and sat down with the other one. The screen looked particularly interesting with the buzz, which was part of what he liked about drunk videogames.

Considering his facial structure and the name ‘Tolansky’, it was likely the boy was Russian—and that would have made a lot of sense as far as his tolerances and behaviours, both drunk and sober.

The bottle was quickly grabbed, and his glass refilled a total of three times, all put back quickly and without regard to the sharp taste, before a long-toed foot grabbed for the controller set before him, and he began to actually think (or at least, muse out loud).

“Woah, woah… Baraka? Fuck that, then—A’m gonna’ be Liu Kang… or Reptile… or Scorpion…” he thought, looking puzzled by the prospect of truly having to choose. “Shit. Maybe I’ll be Raiden.”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: lordofthelesserupchuck: When the subject seemed to be a little more...

geokinetic:

Family trouble? That was interesting. He had never really seen too many problems between her and her parents, other than the typical occasional misunderstanding. He furrowed a brow in thought, trying to consider it himself. Eventually, he just nodded. “Okay. I hope she’s doing alright.” He settled further into the chair, feeling the largest wave of the alcohol beginning to kick in. There was a buzz that now came to the forefront of his senses, and the room swayed very slowly.

“This shit is good, I have to admit. I’ll have to thank Eliza and Erika for it.” Especially Eliza, who looked like she was giving up a favorite childhood toy or something when she gave him the crate. He looked at Todd again, a small smile growing more noticeable on his face, “So hey, I have a Sega Genesis and Mortal Kombat II. Think you’re up for a drunk round of fighting games?”

Todd really didn’t have anymore on the subject—so when Lance dropped it, his comfort seemed to return—and he could resume enjoying the lack of awkward tenseness.

When the other suggested drunk video games, he laughed almost loudly. “I ain’t drunk yet, man—hit me a few more times an’ then A’ll be a fair match.”

His tolerance for alcohol was higher, that’s all—but Lance could have probably creamed him in any game, any day of the week… so it wasn’t an arrogant battlecry—simply a call for more booze.

The thought of playing old games on an old system in an old place he knew with an old friend seemed to definitely make a mark on him, though—he was in his comfort zone; completely and utterly.

“I wanna’ be Kung Lao.”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

Lance had been thinking about one particular resident of the institute. He knew Rahne was okay, and Todd seemed perfectly fine. The only other person he cared about there was Kitty. He hadn’t heard from her in a month, now. he hadn’t been able to call her, and with the note they seemed to have fizzled out on, he didn’t have the courage to simply go visit her, if she was even still there. But he did have the confidence to ask Todd, who probably knew very well of his like for the girl, anyway. “Is… Kitty still there? Is she okay?”

He was worried. Worried that she was gone forever, or that she just didn’t want to see him any more. He was worried she had forgotten her feelings for him, and had moved on. Though it was probably better for her, it was the one thing Lance didn’t want to sacrifice for his mistakes.

When the subject seemed to be a little more pointed towards an individual than just the general populous, Todd caught the hint pretty quickly—the Hispanic boy would have eventually revealed his true purpose for asking light, shallow questions like ‘how is everyone?’.

“Kitty? Man, I ain’t really talked ta’ her… She’s on the ‘net all ‘e time, but I don’ hear too much otha’n that.” Though he knew that Lance still had a whole lot of feelings for the girl (of course, then again, who didn’t?), he had no idea what Kitty was thinking—he’d tried to avoid that subject for awhile, since his own mild attraction to her in the past would have spoken competition with his Alpha… and that was completely untoward. “Heard somethin’ about family trouble… but otha’wise she’s the same ol’, same ol’.”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

He smirked a bit, lifting his glass to his lips and sipping at the whiskey. The heat of the alcohol going down his throat helped to ease away the tightness from his emotional state, before. He listened to Todd, and nodded calmly, closing his eyes for a moment. “Sounds like a plan. I think you’ll do fine.” He looked to the side, the small smile still on his face. There were still a few worries aout the subject, of course. The most prevalent of which was the small fact that a lot of best friends of parents often ended up as surrogate aunts, uncles, godparents, or in some way involved with the child’s life.

He’d be honored, if that even happened, but he’d still have absolutely no idea what to do. He was bad enough with the memories of his own childhood, how would he deal with having any sort of guardianship over anything? He wasn’t even sure he could handle a dog. More alcohol would help those worries be tamed for now.

He shrugged, “I haven’t been anywhere near the institute for a while now, but is everyone else doing okay? I bet they’re all kind of excited over the whole ‘baby’ thing.”

The slimmer boy couldn’t help but catch the contagious smile, even if his own goofball grin shone much brighter than the earth-bound boy’s. “A’m hopin’ so, man… It ain’t like I got anythin’ ta’ go off’a…” Again—such a detachment to his own situation could have never daunted the ever-optimistic amphibian. “But hey, it ain’t nothin’. I catch on quick.”

When he had finally downed yet another shot, it seemed like the haze of the alcohol might be starting to set in—that buzz from a pleasant amount settled in the back of his mind, blanking his thoughts for the most part except to the utmost short-term—but that was where he lived, in the first place.

Don’t plan and don’t dwell—that was Todd Tolansky.

“I dunno—I guess,” he answered, truly unsure—he hadn’t really gone around gathering opinions. “Whoeva’s left’s doin’ a’right… but they ain’t had the time ta’ get excited jus’ yet.”

Oh, what Lance didn’t know was in store for him in the very near future…

“Uncle” was not what Todd had in mind.

No—that role was much too small for his imaginative brain.

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

He remained quiet for a while, and just poured himself another drink. His hand was just barely shaking, but he could feel it. It was the first time he had actually spoken about this, and it ended up feeling much more emotional than he thought. Saying it out loud made him realize just how much it took to hold it all back. At least Todd what there, and supportive. That was all he could ask.

The emotions almost became too much. He would have shed the tears welling in his eyes, had he not hidden them by dipping his head back to down more whiskey. “Th-thanks.” He took a slow breath in, trying to gain composure. “I wish it had gone differently. I just wish… I wish I didn’t care so much.”

Todd definitely had become a lot more of a crybaby since being sober… but even the thought of Lance in tears would have made him blubber, drugged. He waited for what seemed like ages before he heard the other’s voice, ever-intent on that well-formed face that he had always admired for more than just its features.

“Yeah, man… I… I know how that goes… way too well,” he sympathised, truly meaning those words—as his feelings more often got in his way than likely any of the other members of the Brotherhood. “I swear, I gotta’ disease a’ somethin’; but Lance, man… it don’t make ya’ weak a’ nothin’ ta’ care that somebody ain’t got a dad ‘er a brotha’ a’ whateva’. It jus’ means ya’ human… sorta’.”

Oh, the boy was always wise far beyond his years… but delivery? He needed a little work with the street-sneer before he could counsel professionally.

“Things could’a gone differen’, but they didn’t. So now ya’ jus’ gotta’ accept it like it is an’ move on. No rush—but even’cha’lly.”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

Lance couldn’t bare to make more eye contact than he already did, feeling utterly ashamed that this is what he had become, what he had done, what he was trapped in. Hearing Todd express that he had been there, desperate, as well, gave him the smallest amount of comfort, and though he was curious, he wouldn’t ask. Not right away, anyway. He instead kept his eyes focused on his glass, listening to the reassuring words his friend had to offer.

He didn’t mean to do it. He didn’t. But still the horrible guilt, the feeling of absolute responsibility for the loss of their lives, no matter how low they were as human beings, clung to his soul. He could feel the harsh, judging eyes of the Lord on his back, and the dark fact that if any of the X-Men knew, they would despise him. A murderer was the only title he felt worthy to claim. “I just… I can’t stop seeing it. I can’t stop hearing their screams. I can’t stop thinking about their families.”

Finally, the alcohol was slowly taking its effect. The pain in his side was less noticeable, now, but Todd asking about it made him only more aware of its presence. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine. It just stings.” Even if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t care. Not right now. Not after everything.

“… I’m sorry, man. Here you are talking about your kid, and I just had to blurt this out like an idiot…”

Those sobering words… Todd knew very well that kind of guilt, and feared that in the same situation, he would have felt just as hopeless; just as completely rocked and shaken by the fact that it had happened.

He didn’t want Lance to be in this rut. Not for a moment.

“Hey, hey, hey—baby—come on…” he coaxed, trying to reach out; to comfort him, somehow, some way… even though he was completely unsure of how to properly do so. “Yeah, it’s gonna’ be bad f’er awhile; horrible, even… but things pass, man. Y’a’ll get past it; I know ya’ will.”

Lance had more heart than Todd ever would—if he couldn’t get past something like this, that would have sunk the boy’s faith entirely.

“F’er now, have y’er moment… let it be, though… man, if I didn’ stop thinkin’ about shit I been through, you know I wouldn’ be here.”

Maybe a hard, macabre truth would help to snap him out of it.

“An’ don’ worry about it—I got all ‘e time in ‘e world ta’ jabber about my drooler… You got this weight on ya’ now… an’ it still has ta’ pass.”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: lordofthelesserupchuck: When Lance laughed, there seemed to be a...

geokinetic:

“I-I know…” Lance sighed just a bit. “It’s really more of something I got myself into… You know that neither me, nor Fred have diplomas, or anything we can use to get work… We had nothing, and when I got here, Fred hadn’t eaten in days, and the electricity and water were shut off. So I got desperate, and I…” He closed his eyes, a twinge of shame showing on his face. “I got into the mercenary business. And not for the good guys, if you know what I mean.” Drug lords, war mongers, some real scumbags. But scumbags with money.

“The last job I did… Things got rough. And I think…” He finally opened his eyes again, looking at Todd. He looked overtired, beaten, and weighed with guilt, and it showed clearly through his amber eyes. “Todd, I think I killed some people. I didn’t mean to… I just wanted to block the path. But—… But some guys got in the way and…” He pulled away, burying his head in his hands, “And the rocks fell on them… The last guy there, he came at me with a knife, and I wasn’t paying attention.”

As the younger boy recounted, the deep brown eyes that had always been so full of spinning thought seemed to blank—he nodded to assure his old friend that he was listening—but his mind couldn’t process just what he was hearing, then.

It wasn’t that he had a problem with people dying, or Lance getting in with the wrong crowd, or having to make a last-second move that backfired—no, none of that could bother Todd Tolansky… it was how bad Lance felt about all of it that bothered him most.

“Man, ya’ ain’t kiddin’…” he agreed quietly, to the statement ‘I got desperate’. “I had a stretch where I had ta’… get desperate, too…” he admitted, for a moment avoiding the other’s face entirely with his worldly gaze. “I did a couple’a’ things I ain’t too proud of, neitha’.”

He had gone without water or electricity or food, though—for a great long while. Luckily for him, he had always survived on insects for his nutrition… and wasn’t opposed to roughing it.

The second part seemed to be harder to respond to… and he couldn’t bring himself to words for a long time. “Lance, man… ya’ didn’ mean ta’ do it…” he assured the stronger boy, his gaze returning to his alpha for a moment, to ensure that he was absolute in his statement. “Ya’ can’t blame ya’self if ya’ didn’ do it on purpose. If ya’ feel bad about it, ‘at’s punishmen’ enough. Ya’ dwell on it an’ it’s gonna’ eat ya’ alive.”

About the ambush? Well, that got an indignant little puff. “An’ man… ya’ all that hurt? I mean, ya’ look like ya’ favourin’ the one side, an’ it hurts ta’ move too much… but I mean, ya’ a’right? Really a’right? ‘At’s all I care about.” 

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)

The Walking Tremor: Face to Face - Lance/Todd - Some Things Never Change.

geokinetic:

There were a few soft chuckles from the mutant, but his body language still read as seriously as before. He shook his head, leaning forward in his seat. “No, no… It’s not that kinda thing…” He pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought. He knew Todd was the only one he had become so trustful of. Even Kitty, as perfect as she was, wasn’t who he’d go to for this kind of support. Even if she was around, anyway. He let a small breath out, and looked directly at his friend.

“I’ll… I’ll tell you, but you can’t tell anyone else. Not yet. This is… kinda heavy.” He looked somewhat desperte and nervous when he finally agreed to confess. Would Todd accept the news well? He had been with the X-Men for a while now. Had he picked up their morals and judgement? He hoped not. Sincerely.

When Lance laughed, there seemed to be a little puff of pride from him—he had successfully brightened the earth-mover’s mood, and that was an accomplishment in and of itself. When he dismissed the notions, though, the toad began to worry once again… and he returned to that frown, ambivalent feelings conflicting each other as he waited and kept the mood sombre.

“Lance… man… you know I know heavy,” the boy assured him, a very hardened look in his eyes as he quickly touched on things that had happened to him—abuse; torture; rape… he had endured the worst life could throw at him, and Lance knew it—if his friend faced any of these things, he would do all within his power to help him sidestep it… or face it, if that became the best option. “I ain’t gonna’ tell nobody—promise.”

(Source: lordofthelesserupchuck)