13366/Ted. I really need help.

Ted. I really need help.
Date of Scene:	24 May 2021
Location:	Ted's Room (West Halls), Xavier's School
Synopsis:	Jeremy visits Ted to get help with a tie. They talk about the future as well.
Cast of Characters:	SpyderByte, Ted Gammage

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SpyderByte has posed:
There is a knocking at the door from outside as Jeremy stands out front. He is nervously glancing down the hallway as he rocks on his feet. His long black hair by now is past his shoulders, sprawled out, and he is wearing his usual Gothic apparel. He seeks out his powers, trying to see if Ted is within by pinging his phone.

<< Ted, you there? It's Jeremy. I have an emergency. Hopefully you can help me. >>

Ted Gammage has posed:
He's in there. Been pouring over a book for an hour already, so an emergency might be welcome. His heavy footfalls are heard as he crosses the room and the door opens. He smiles a little tiredly, wearing his usual shabby t-shirt and jeans, hair a bit of a mess from probably waking up later than he should and not really doing much the whole day. "Yeh, Jer? wha's up? Need somethin' lifted?" He's not sure what other emergency he could take care of.

SpyderByte has posed:
Giving a shake of his head, Jeremy looks a bit flustered as he holds up his hand, revealing a red tie. He furrows his brows into a bit of a scrunch.

<< I can't make this work. I have tried and tried but my hands don't work. Can you show me how to do a tie? I have my tuxedo ready, but I can't do a tie. No one has ever shown me how. >>

With a busy father who practically ignored him, he never got the 'man' lessons.

Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted moves aside and lets him in, "Ah, well ah didn' do a lotta formals, but dad showed me ah thing or two," he says. "Ah figured you'd be all brain-googlin' it," he says. He starts to reach out, then pauses, considering a few moments, then apparently decides his trusts his control, "Y'gotta start like so an' then loop it 'round..." and he mostly gets it done, though ends up saying "Ah, s'just about right but it's hard doin' this on someone else."

SpyderByte has posed:
Handing the tie over to him, Jeremy's lips quirk upwards as he shrugs hsi shoulders.

<< I tried. I watched videos, but my fingers can't make it work. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I make it too big, I make it too small. I just can't figure out how to do it right. >>

He will hold himself still for him as he works the tie in his hands, watching him with a grin.

<< I never had a brother before, Ted. Or any siblings. My family only had me and they never even wanted me. I wish I had someone to help me how to do stuff growing up. >>

Ted Gammage has posed:
"I didn't have ah brother, but m'dad's around," Ted says, leaning back after redoing part of the tie once, apparently pleased enough, "He made me learn. Said it was ah good skill. I just wanted t'buy the clip on ones," he muses. "Dad told me ah was lazy, then made me do extra chores for a bit. Seemed excessive at th' time but ah know how to do it so... worth it?" He grins. "An' hey, y'got folks now. Nothin' wrong with that. Not all families are traditional."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I know, but I graduate this year. I won't be here in a month or two. >>

Jeremy says as he glances down at the tie, giving it a bit of a tighten to make sure it sits against his chest proper. He smooths it down, then loosens it to slip it off his head. He doesn't plan on undoing it. It will be easier to put back on tomorrow. His lips curve upwards.

<< Tomorrow is our prom. I can't believe I'm going to prom. I thought I'd never go. I thought that I would be back at Metropolis Liberty, hiding in my room while everyone goes and has fun. I haven't been beat up for a whole year here. No one has teased me. Tomorrow feels like a big deal. >>

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Heh, ah should've been a senior next year. But y'know...dumb ol' brain, an' dumb ol' poor education system." He crosses his arms and wonders, "Well, it is a big deal," he smiles, "An yer just becoming who you were meant to be, right? Plus we'll beat up anyone who teases you so its all good." He looks around a moment, "So," he wonders, "Where y'goin' to? After all this?"

SpyderByte has posed:
<< I have a job at Stark Industries with Mister Tony Stark. He wants me to help him work on weapon guidance systems for his new Iron Man Suit, as well as research and development for future technologies. He has a place for me to move into as well. I should be signing my salary and benefits package after graduation. >>

Jeremy gives a small smile as he rocks back and forth on his feet some, folding the tie in his hands carefully, then slips it into his inside pocket of his jacket.

<< So, I won't go far. I am also going to University. MIT. Though a New York branch, paid for through work. Maybe one day I will change the world. Maybe I will find myself in a cubicle. I don't know, but I am excited. >>

Turning to face him, he reaches out and places his hands against his friend's shoulders, giving it a squeeze.

"You. Are. Smart." He says in his normal voice, forcing the words out so that they don't stammer. It's slow and drawn out. "And, you are my best friend. You will do great things, Ted."

Ted Gammage has posed:
"Oooh, maybe he'll give y' one of the Iron Suits. Hear he has like a million of them. That's prolly fun as heck flyin' around, shooting lasers and stuff. Pew Pew." He sort of does finger guns at that then nods, "But yeah, ah bet you will change th'world. Hell, ah've seen you do crazy things already, wouldn't be surprised if y'had the capacity to change it already in ways you haven't considered."

At the gesture and the words, Ted's expression falls a bit, "Ah'm..not great at things," he says. "Ah mean, ah can like...bust things up like a champ, but math is my bane. Not gonna ever be a scientist." he shrugs, "Probably be a good mechanic or something. I enjoyed that. But ah'll end up working on cars, not guidance systems. S'not a bad thing, but y'know, ah know where ah'm lacking and mostly ok with it. Ah can get through high school, and college ah'm sure, though I'll take it slow. Held back a year already," he notes. "But eh, ah doubt ah'll do anything big. We don't all get to. An' we don't all gotta. Ah can find my own happiness outside of greatness."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< We are only as great as we allow our confidence to make us. You are strong, but you are also smart. You do not need to be a genius at math or science to be smart. Don't look at yourself as a failure. You are here at Xavier's, surrounded by the best of the best. You can find yourself someone to model after. Colossus would be an ideal choice. There is also nothing wrong in working on cars. I can't work on cars. But you should not limit yourself to cars. The world still needs farmers and with your strength and your rural background, you'd make a great farmer, or someone who works in agriculture. You don't need to see the big picture, when you can be successful at the smaller, what's in front of you picture. >>

Jeremy takes a seat on the edge of the bed, giving a bit of a bounce on the mattress, listening to it creak. He rolls his shoulders upwards.

<< Or, you can put on spandex and punch bad guys really hard in the face. It'd make your ass look great. >>

His lips twitch upwards with a grin.

Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted just chuckles softly, "Ah'm not a failure, or ah don't see myself at that. Jus' not real book smart. Not something that clicks. I have other things that do. Honestly, being here is nice, but got people who can read minds, move things without touching them, and at least one that could probably destablize the world economy since we're all on th' internet now."

He crinkles his nose lightly, "Eh, maybe farming. Ah'd be good at it, but can't go back home. Not for a while at least. M'uncle was talking about putting together a mob to kill th' demon, aka me, so m'not really feeling the love there." At the latter, he rolls his eyes. "Haveta be some tough stuff. It's weird, ah guess, but like if ah move wrong, something rips up. Usually its just the' sleeves in the shirts or along the seams in the back if ah have a jacket on, but ah can see tight spandex bein' a fashion accident waitin' to happen on me. S'ides, they already got strong, punchy guys. Oh, construction. Probably be real good at that. Could save folks money and not rent cranes or something," he jokes.

SpyderByte has posed:
<< You are the third strongest person here. I am sure that Piotr and Rogue both have clothing that doesn't rip off when they flex. The X-Men have unstable molecule based technology woven into their uniforms. It's designed to take impact and modulate through different body types. It's really cool. >>

Jeremy nods his head as he slips his phone off his shoulder, sliding it into his palms.

<< You can farm somewhere else besides where you came from. You would also do great at construction I think. The world is changing now, becoming more accepting of our kind. Even if it's not a perfect world, I am sure any team would be excited to have someone like you. >>

Ted Gammage has posed:
"True," he admits, "But yeah, we'll see. Apparently got a couple years b'fore it becomes somethin' ah have to decided anyway." He gives a light shrug. "Plenty of time t'figure it out."

"As for it changin', yeah, in parts. If ah had to guess though, s'gonna get worse before it gets better. Few changes happen without some sorta conflict, right?"

SpyderByte has posed:
<< We already had conflict. They sent the Sentinels to our country two years ago to kill us and we survived. I don't think it can get any worse than that, but at least our government helped shut it down. >>

Jermey says as he furrows his brows, then gives another glance at his phone as he gives it a squeeze. He studies the screen for a moment at the green and white coded text.

<< But, there is always something on the table. Something that I will find and then I will shut it down if I can. >>

He glances at the door, then rises off the bed to give his friend a smile. << I have work to do. Thank you for helping me with the tie. I'll see you tomorrow at prom. We have to make sure we get pictures together, for the memories. >>

Ted Gammage has posed:
Ted just gives a little nod. "Fair enough, maybe ah'm just a pessimist." He does give a light shrug, "But yeah. AH guess we'll haveta get new team members if you're going too," he says, just thinking about it. He glances over as Jer looks at his phone. His brow furrows but he doesn't ask, figures its a need to know sort of thing. "Sure, ah'll pose fer pictures. Wear m'best smile an' all. If it comes loose again, though, bring it back, ah'll restring it."

SpyderByte has posed:
<< Thank you. >>

Jeremy gives a smile to Ted, swaying his arms back and forth a few times before he slips his phone on to his shoulder once more.

<< It's going to be fun, Ted! A real prom. >>

He reaches out and opens the door, then heads out into the hallway, heading for his bedroom with his usual slow lurching manner.