calm before the - wait, what? [open]

[sharpes]

Characters: Brandon Sharpe and ~open~
Location: All over the place during the Storm System This is forward-dated a little to accommodate various timelines whoops!
Situation: Brandon is giving that Big Damn Hero thing a try. He's about ten shades of not sure if want.
Warnings/Rating: Brandon's attitude.
Notes: Not really anything. Fly at, have fun. PM me if you wanna hash out something a little more structured.





[So, maybe storms aren't the usual superhero fare, but Brandon wouldn't exactly be up for facing anything more threatening than the Condiment King (whoops, DC crossover) on a bad day at the moment. Between missing his team, the dead bodies on the altar, losing his shit for a week and all the really hard conversations he's had with Steph? He's sort of feeling the aster.

But when you're somebody that controls lightning, a little bad weather really can't get you down.

So maybe his suit's soaked and chafing in all the wrong places, but Brandon is out and about, helping people get to safety (still sort of weird) and diverting lightning strikes when he's in the area (less weird) and generally trying not to live up to Pym's expectations.

For which you can totally thank Stephanie Brown.]

Comments

[controlledvariable]

Tommy. [It's a gentle reproach in response to the "cousins" thing]

[The comment about Blake Lively earns Brandon a smile, but she doesn't respond other than that]

Let me pretend that you're both responsible people who don't illegally get into bars.

[because she was the paragon of virtue when she was younger, clearly]

[sharpes]

Hey, it's not illegal to get into clubs. Some places just make you wear bracelets.

[HE KNOWS THESE THINGS OKAY...]

[crotcharrow]

Sucks to be you if they don't sell you booze 'cause of the bracelets.

[controlledvariable]

[Steph is just going to shake her head]

True. [about the bracelets, and because she's pretty sure Tommy is right about the fact you can't buy alcohol if you have one] But what's the point of going to a bar if you can't drink? [a beat] I've honestly never actually figured out how underage guys got into bars? My method was always low cut tops.

[what]

[sharpes]

It's not about what you wear, it's about who you know.

[That's said with a bit of a suggestive raise of one eyebrow. When you're rubbing shoulders with Lindsay Lohan, who needs to be legal?]

Oh, you know. Dancing. Partying. There's a lot more that goes on at a club than just drinking, Steph.

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy smirks.]

It helps if you're with someone with a low cut top. [Not that he's against wearing them either. But Kate was good at getting you into places like that. Especially when she had the extra help of oodles of money.]

Grinding's pretty fun.

[controlledvariable]

We can't all be famous.

[Tommy's comment gets a grin] Yes, it is, but I've always enjoyed dancing more at places that weren't clubs.

[In fairness, she hasn't gone to a lot of great clubs]

[sharpes]

[Good thing he's got a mouthful of food at the moment, it stops him from having to contribute directly to the conversation while he figures out a reply.]

Dance studio?

[So he doesn't have to think about Tommy doing grinding of any sort. Or Steph for that matter. UGH BRAIN WHY DO YOU SUCK.]

[crotcharrow]

[He smirks right back at Steph, because unlike Brandon, thinking about Steph grinding is exactly what he intends on doing.]

Exotic?

[Just because he likes to push things.]

[controlledvariable]

You wish. [That's directed at Tommy, with the added bonus of a look that translates to I know exactly what you're thinking.

To Brandon's question, she shrugs] I never really got into proper dance, I meant like, at house parties and that sorta thing. The clubs I went to were always kind of skeevy, and unlike at house parties, they'll throw you out if you break someone's fingers.

[Potentially a joke, most likely true]

[sharpes]

[Yeah well fuck you too, Shepherd.]

Only if you don't do it right. Come on.

[crotcharrow]

[He laughs at the look, Steph and then starts eating because the food is going cold and he's actually pretty damn starving. And shutting himself up is probably the best way to stop himself from getting zapped.]

Dancing in clubs is easy. All you to is just grind up against someone and that's it, not exactly hard. [He shovels in another mouthful.]

--This is really good.

[controlledvariable]

Sometimes it is. [She says it straight after Tommy says "hard", and combined with her smirk, it's pretty clear what she's talking about.

Steph is terrible, news at 11

But she does give a bit more of a genuine smile at his last comment] I'm glad, there should be enough for seconds if you want.

[She sort of just automatically made a lot, because Tommy, and because she can leave it as leftovers for Brandon.]

[sharpes]

More info than I wanted there, Shepherd.

[He chews thoughtfully. Swallows.]

You can stay, though.

[That last bit's to Steph. He winks.]

[crotcharrow]

[He has to stop himself from snorting his food through his nose when Steph comments and it takes him a moment to stop himself from choking too. He does laugh though and shrugs at Brandon.]

You say that like you don't do it.

[And then he goes back to his food.] Seriously. If I didn't have Teddy the master chef, I'd be stealing you to cook everything, Steph.

[controlledvariable]

[Oh, she can stay, can she? She raises an eyebrow at Brandon, trying not to laugh]

Thank goodness, I was worried you were gonna kick me out.

[She makes a face at Tommy, amusement hidden under feigned annoyance] You could try.

[She will not be stolen, nor will she be anyone's personal cook]

[sharpes]

Maybe later.

[Yep teasing. And then he turns to Tommy with a bit of a scowl.]

Try it. I'd fry you.

[Typical male posturing, whoops.]

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy rolls his eyes with his mouthful at Brandon and swallows, waggling his fork at him.]

Geez, there's no kidding around with you, is there? Get over yourself, I'm not actually here to steal your girlfriend.

[He gives Steph a look.]

I'm pretty sure she'd punch me first.

[controlledvariable]

I would! [It's said cheerfully, in a bit of a gameshow host 'well done guessing the correct answer!' tone. Four for you, Tommy.

Then she turns her attention to Brandon] I know there's a bunch of unwritten rules about the whole alpha male thing, but I really don't need anyone fried on my behalf.

[sharpes]

[He puts his hands up in a gesture of surrender.]

[crotcharrow]

[He glances at Steph because, yeah, he had been right about a butt kicking (he tended to be attracted to women who could break his spine) and snorts when Brandon puts his hands up, going back to his food.]

Seriously, where did you learn to cook like this? I pretty much know how to cook mac and cheese in a box and use the microwave.

[controlledvariable]

[She gives Brandon a look that translate to good boy, and eats a mouthful of food before answering Tommy's question]

My parents weren't really-- [She shrugs, not really sure how to finish that sentence, not really sure if she even wants to. Brandon knows enough that she does't need to explain, and she hopes Tommy can fill in the blanks] I had to learn to look after myself, which meant teaching myself to make edible food.

[sharpes]

[In an aside to Tommy,]

Actually, I'm pretty sure she just wants to audition for Iron Chef.

[crotcharrow]

[He's about to reply to Steph when Brandon cuts in and he has to snort again.]

With food like this she's on her way to her dream.

[Kidding aside though.] I had to learn too, but none of my food was ever edible unless it came in a box.

[controlledvariable]

[Steph shoots Brandon a look that's... grateful, mostly. She's not quite comfortable enough with Tommy to talk about this easily]

I don't think I'm cut out for Kitchen Stadium.

[annnd another shrug] I guess I just got lucky. I could probably try to teach you some basics, if you'd like?