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]

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?

[sharpes]

Oh come on. All they really care about is how good you look on camera. And I know cameras. You'd do great.

[His smile is... earnest. For all that it's something he never had the chance to choose for himself, he likes his work.]

So what. Cooking lessons?

[crotcharrow]

Unless you want me to give people food poisoning? I'm pretty sure I'm a lost cause.

[He gives a small smile and a shrug.]

[controlledvariable]

Thank you. [She smiles at Brandon] But I do think I'd actually need to be a decent chef.

[Tommy just gets an eyeroll] It's actually pretty hard to give someone food poisoning.

[sharpes]

Don't say that, he might take it as a challenge.

[SIDE-EYEING TOMMY LBR.]

[crotcharrow]

[He grins at Brandon.]

You can be my taste tester.

[controlledvariable]

That sounds dirtier than it should.

[JUST PUTTING THAT OUT THERE]

[sharpes]

[HE MAKES A FACE AT STEPH.]

No thanks. I like living.

[crotcharrow]

[Tommy half chokes on what he's eating when Steph speaks, and looks up at her after coughing.]

Okay, let's change that. Steph, you should be my taste tester.

[and we're back to the lewd comments]

[controlledvariable]

[kanyeshrug]

I'm sure there's a comment to be made here about only tasting Brandon, but it might be too inappropriate for the dinner table.

[As if she didn't just say it anyway. She's not sorry.]

[sharpes]

[CHOKE.]

[crotcharrow]

[I SECOND THAT MOTION]

[controlledvariable]

[Steph is just going to eat her noodles like everything is perfectly fine.]

Something wrong, boys?

[And the Terrible Person of the Year award goes to...]

[sharpes]

Your sense of humour, maybe.

[GEEZE STEPH. GEEZE. However grumpily he says it though, there's genuine fondness there as well.]

[crotcharrow]

I'm with Brandon on this. For once.

[He coughs a little more, clearing his throat.]

[controlledvariable]

Fine, but you're both missing out on a great joke about gag reflexes.

[because they... choked... and because she's a terrible person.]

[sharpes]

Steph!

[SCANDALIZED.]

Can we-- I mean, dinner table. Come on.

[crotcharrow]

[God, he's surprised he's not the one leading the conversation down the dirty road.

He grins a bit, and says, quite obviously joking:]

What d'you know about gag reflexes? You look like you don't got one. [Nevermind. He sort of gives Brandon an amirite kind of look.]

[controlledvariable]

[She's almost laughing at Brandon being so scandalized, but her smile disappears at what Tommy says.

It's a joke, she knows it's supposed to be a joke, but it feels like an insult and she just... has absolutely no idea how to respond to it.She did kind of set him up for it but it's still--

Her expression is a little shocked, a lot unsure, and she casts a glance at Brandon that's pretty much the epitome of "help?"]

What's that supposed to mean?