ximilia | Video; un: newt | a day or two before the Big Mission Log

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Video; un: newt | a day or two before the Big Mission Log

[The little electronics shop has a small back room that is dangerously close to detection, when it comes to any government workers coming or going; just a door with a little private sign on the front — and behind that, there's a figure huddled over a desk, tie loosened and hair askew as he takes apart disarmed detonation collars and puts together prototypes to shut them down completely. His focus is impeccable, that's to be sure, but he's going on a second or maybe third night in a row without rest as he stares down the glassy front of a magnifying glass, fingers shock-still around a small welding gun that carefully patches pieces of refurbished technology together.

There is a hefty-sized box beside him, and he's placing his newly created disarming tools into it one at a time; it's gotten quite full. As he works... he starts... rambling into the feed. It does not stop. It almost seems like it never will.

Beside him on the desk, there are generic brand MEGA-CAFFEINE PATCHES.]

I can't just take it easy. Are you kidding? Taking it easy means there's less time to perfect the proper tools we need for this job; if I screw up and everyone's heads pop like grapes, what's that gonna say about me? That I'm a two-bit piece of shit engineer — and yeah, okay, so engineering isn't my primary skillset, but I helped build giant plasma canons, alright? I fortified armaments for 200 foot robots! I built a drifting PONS out of garbage! So, like, I can't just fail at this mission. Besides, this is Viv's home world, so if I fuck it up, I'll basically be letting her down; what would I even say? "Sorry I let people you probably care about go kablooey? At least I made you a dumpy robot body that isn't anywhere near as good as the ones you've got on your world?" Pfft, no, no way. So excuuuse me if I hit some caffeine patch vendors up for a little pick-me-up; what else was I gonna do, snort sci-fi cocaine? I'm not gonna snort sci-fi cocaine; let's leave that to the Scarface wannabes, yeah? I'm steady as shit right now, couldn't be more steady, like Doogie Howser up in this bi — shit! Electronic shock. Sorry. Don't worry, I'm not gonna blow myself up. C'mon, do I look like a guy who would blow himself up? Okay, maybe I look like a guy who'd blow himself up, but I've been alive 36 blissful years and I haven't turned myself into a reenactment of Jeff Goldblum at the end of The Fly yet. What a sick movie, totally worth it for the gross-out. A lesser man would have played it in its entirety at one of our movie nights, but I'm a kind and compassionate soul who would never do such a thing; Newton H. Geiszler is an angel. I don't know why I put an 'H' in there, I don't have a middle name. Does everyone have a middle name? Shit, did my dad skimp out on me? First he makes me a torrid love affair baby, then he curses me genetically with the gold trophy standard of ADHD and bad eyesight, and now he's not giving me my due right as a German-American by giving me some ugly middle name like Clarence or Wolfgang. Actually, Wolfgang sounds kind of lit. Newton Wolfgang Geiszler. Dude, I might just adopt that for myself. Shit! I don't know. What time is it? Someone'll come and let me know when we're doing the mission thing, right? 'Cus I'll be fine to do it, I'll rest in a little bit; I've been taking catnaps in-between finishing disarming tools. Trust me, I'm the king of taking power naps while sitting upright. I've even done it on a stool before, easy peasy pumpkin peasy pumpkin pie. Oh! Actually, I need to think of names for these ones, right? Like how I named the Newtrilizer. I loved that fucking thing; I'm actually using a few notes from that to help make these, too. But I'm seriously blanking on a name... Hermann would probably think it's stupid to name it, but what does he know, anyway? Only a complete loser would name something after a bunch of dead scientists or boring numbers. He's not here to stop me, so whatever! I'll do what I want! And what I want is to name this one The Geiszler Extemporizer. The Geiszler Depolarizer? Or is that too long? It's kind of a mouthful... I guess naming it something that ends in E-R is pretty boring, though. Maybe I'm boring, too. Damn, I don't wanna be boring... Ooooh, I think I'm having heart palpations. Or hot flashes? I really need to get some air conditioning installed in this place. How am I so poor and underequipped in every job after MIT? You'd think saving the world would get me a hell of a lot more money; mo' money, less problems, ha! Ha.... Mmmrrr.

[He quiets for a moment, then another moment, and then his head slouches forward to rest on his chest. There's a quiet buzzing of dead noise and a soft snore before he he startles back awake, gripping the soldering tool more firmly in his hand.]

Whoa!

[He sniffs, rubbing his eye.

Looks left. Looks right.

Squints at the equivalent of a flashing red video light in his vision.]

... Was I recording?

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After the Scorpion's Bend disaster, I learned to pack extra when we go on missions. I brought with me water bottles, packed rations, and meds. Most of them I exchanged for tablets so I could bring them to the lower circles, but I kept some for emergencies. I'll bring you real food and clean water.

I know you are trying your best, Newt, but you look like you haven't slept in a month. You'll end blowing yourself up by accident.

[ Peter will knock you unconscious if he has to. Don't think he won't! He pauses for a second, before adding; ]

Don't do space cocaine.

'Disaster' is definitely a word for it...

Hey! Do I look like someone who'd do space cocaine? I wouldn't fry this big beautiful brain with illicit substances!

... Not that kind, anyway.

[... He glances at his reflection in the shiny backside of a metal husk.]

What, do I look that grisly?

Edited 2022-07-07 17:26 (UTC)

Yeah...let's not go there.

[ He doesn't really want to think about it, no. ]

Is that a trick question?

Right now you look like someone who spent the last 3 hours huffing paint, Newt. I say that with love.

I'll grab my things and be on my way, Try not to hurt yourself.

Dude, I've only ever huffed paint once. Total lapse in judgement years ago!

[He rubs his nose, almost as if the distant memory has come back to him.]

Hey! I told you guys, I'm not gonna blow myself up or anything.

That'd be a pretty lame way to contribute to the mission.

We all have been young at some point...

[ Peter can't judge, he's done the weirdest things in the past. ]

Ah, good. Because I THOUGHT you were planning to contribute to the mission to the point of killing yourself

[ Have a very sharp look at your...well, everything, Newt. ]

How do I get into your shop? do I need a special knock or something so you know it's me? Do I just walk in an call for you?

[Newton makes a face at that.]

You guys worry too much. This is nothing; I've had crazier sleepless binges back home.

[He elects to not mention it was also the lowest point of his mental health during the kaiju war, but whatever. Point is, they used to have all-nighters out of pure desperation at least a few times a month.

With a deep sigh that says 'I know you're gonna hunt me down anyway', he says:]

I'll leave the front door unlocked for you.

[It's not like the place is super huge. If anything, the main room is no bigger than a person's bedroom, and the backroom is somehow even smaller, with its little desk and table for all his busy work; you get what you can afford, man.]

I'm sure that sounded reassuring in your head.

[ Not so much in reality. And yes, Peter is not letting this one go. If he has to go Stern Dad Mode on Newt, then so be it. ]

Thanks, I'll be there as quickly as I can.

[ He's in the first circle, with Yzak and Blue, so it's actually a good 20 minutes before he reaches the circle where Newt's shop is located. Long enough for Newt to chat to his heart's content with others who are just as worried as he is about his friend's state. ]

Babe, I'm home! [ Peter says loudly once he's inside and a moment before his head peeks into the backroom. Ey man.

Peter walks in, one hand inside his knapsack looking for something, being careful not to step on anything on the floor. A moment later, he places an unopened water bottle on Newt's desk. ] For the love of God and my own peace of mind, drink something.

Awww, hey, honey! Hope work wasn't too tough today!

[He leans back in his chair, surrounded by half-built technology and looking like a kid who has refused the afternoon nap hour, to be put very lightly. But as the water is put down in front of him, he blinks owlishly at its sudden appearance before collecting it in his hands.]

What am I, stranded in a dessert? I'm not gonna pass out, dude.

[He's unscrewing the lid, before you complain.]

Nah, the usual at the bar. A couple of drunkards getting into fights, another idiot trying to get handsy with one of the go-go dancers, and getting kicked in the face by a 10" heel platform...

[ Peter shrugs and then looks up and down at Newt, making an effort to not grimace. The scientist looks even more tired in person, dear gods. ]

Allow me to doubt the veracity of that statement. [ It's all Peter says, already searching into his bag for more things to give to Newt, and relieved that the other man is at least willing to drink. He drops a package of chocolate energy bars on the table, careful to avoid touching anything in there for fear of causing an explosion, and slides it closer to Newt. ]

Do you have a couch around or someplace to lie flat on your back?

Edited 2022-07-12 12:23 (UTC)

Oh, I can lay flat on my back any time, any place.

[He waggles his eyebrows at Peter, his arm slung over the back of his chair, lifting one leg into the air suggestively.

... What an idiot.]

[ Peter raises his eyebrows and leaves them there for some long seconds. Like Newt, he's used to falling asleep anywhere at any time, and that includes floors. But Newt is playing and trying to distract him, and Peter's answer to that is 'let the game begin'.

He leans against his chair, his posture relaxed as he smiles at Newt and pats his lap. ]

Then come 'ere.

[Newton squints at him suspiciously, as if to say "What's your game here, Quill? — but he's never been one to turn down any kind of challenge, even when it's not framed as one, and that includes invasively crawling into someone else's lap. Even if it's totally ridiculous!

With a huff he plops down on Peter's lap, folding his arms over his chest.]

What're you gonna do, give me warm milk and read me a bedtime story?

[... He's already feeling sleepy just sitting like this.

Uncool.]

[ Come and get your love, Newt. If this is what Peter has to do to convince him, then so be it. Once Newt is in his lap, and it doesn't seem like the weight bothers Peter at all, he wraps an arm gently around his middle, pulling him close, the other resting on Newt's upper thigh. ]

Afraid not, I only brought water with me. But I know a lot cool stories about fighting weird monsters, space babes, and saving the galaxy.

[ It's been a long while for Peter since he's been this close to someone, and it brings a pang of loneliness to his chest. He ignores it to the best of his ability. He focuses on gently pushing Newt to rest more comfortably against him, his chest rising and falling at a steady rhythm. His hand moves to rest from newt's back to his nape, fingers carding through the hair and scratching lightly at the scalp. ]

Have I ever told you about the Sovereign? They are a group of humanoid aliens that are gold colored, from head to toe, and ruled by Queen Ayesha. A smoking hot lady, totally nuts, and with a bad temper.

[ Granted, Rocket did steal the Sovereign's batteries and pissed them off, but Peter has conveniently forgotten to mention that detail. ]

[Dude, handsy. He'd be far more flirtatious and dirty-minded in a situation like this, but he honestly is just so fucking tired, he can't even conceive of it. Even if he weren't so tired his eyes feel like they've been scrub-daddied, the precursors made some pretty harsh work of his mojo. Feels like he'll never feel right again, sometimes.

He relaxes against Peter like he's a pillow, but he stubbornly keeps his eyes open, studying the ceiling.]

... Sounds like my kind of lady. I've got exes just like that.

[He's got terrible tastes in partners sometimes. It's a flaw. But in fairness, he's pretty sure they have terrible tastes in partners sometimes, too, considering they decided he was a viable option as a boyfriend.]

Lemme guess: you guys got on her bad side?

[ He's keeping his hands above the waist! Newt doesn't have to worry, his virtue (if there's any left?) will still be intact by the end of the night as far as Peter is concerned. People playing with his hair always gets him relaxed and sleepy, so he is trying to see if the trick works on Newt too. ]

Oh, she was absolutely your type, pretty and dangerous. If she were to step on you, and you'd be tempted to thank her. But she doesn't hold a handle to my Gamora.

[ Much more dangerous, and prettier, and also a decent person and sweet, unlike Ayesha who is fucking nuts. Gods, Peter misses her badly. He just wants to curl up next to her and forget the rest of the world. But ey, he's got Newt on his lap now, it's a start. ]

Yep. And she is both too high and mighty, and a sore loser. Royalty, eeh. So had a huge army, that got destroyed twice. But worry not, the Sovereign's ship are piloted from a distance, none of them got hurt. Only their egos.

[Ugh, it is a trick that's working. But only because he's going into danger territory levels of sleeplessness, okay! Or maybe he just likes when people touch his hair like he's loved. Something like that. So annoying, how people figure out his weaknesses.

If he feels little heavier, it's because he's becoming deadweight from the sleep that keeps trying to close his eyes.]

... Yeah... Royalty's a pain in the ass... But I'd totally smooch royalty.

[He sounds a bit dreamy, eyelids sinking.]

Probably'd get myself into a whole lotta trouble, though...

[ Peter takes Newt's weight easily, back against the chair and feet firmly planted on the floor, he can stay like this for hours. One of his legs might end up falling asleep but it's a worth sacrifice. ]

We will find you a prince or some queen to kiss one of these days. Perhaps both. We can handle the trouble.

[ His voice is barely a whisper, his fingers still in Newt's hair. After that, Peter start humming a little, and maybe Newt will recognize the tune as 'Never Tear Us Apart' by INXS. ]

[Hey, all he needs is an hour! Maximum! Who needs a whole night's sleep anyway? Not him. Not Newton Geiszler. Just give him some caffeine later, and he'll be right back at it... yeah... totally right back to business. Against all common sense advice.

Groggily, he grumbles:]

Are you trying to sing me to sleep?

[If he's mildly annoyed, it's because his eyelids are closed, because they're too heavy to keep open right now.]

Edited 2022-07-28 18:52 (UTC)

[ An hour is nowhere enough to be a functional human being! It wouldn't even be nowhere enough to be a functional do ]g.

Hmmm hmmm...perhaps...

[ No point in lying when it's obvious. Peter doesn't think Newt will move away anytime soon, so he keeps scratching his hair lightly and humming softly. If Newt falls asleep and then wakes up again, Peter will try to get him to eat something again, but with some luck, the man will be knocked out for a while. ]

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Video; un: newt | a day or two before the Big Mission Log

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