Thread Roulette: This Old House

[Event !]

Travis Brooks, Lucas Blacke, and Joe Honnick have been assigned to remodel a house on the outskirts of town. This one requires collaboration.

[Travis Brooks]

Carpentry was something Travis had always been interested in.  He liked getting dirty and he liked using his hands.  He was used to being out in the hot sun all day, so doing that wasn't such a difficult thing for him.  God had been kind enough to open an opportunity for him to hone these skills he'd only partially developed.  There was an old house that needed to be remodeled and with his interest in the topic, and his free time there at the farm, he figured it was the perfect opportunity.  It wasn't like he had anything better to do some of the time.  Sure, there was glads but he couldn't let the boy fill his whole life, and besides he needed more friends.  Friends his own age.  Friends with possibly similar interests.

Dressed in an old white t-shirt and jeans, he made his way to the outskirts of town where the old house was, glad Laurel had been nice enough to tell him about the program.  He brought his own tools just in case, not exactly sure what they would be doing or what to expect.  He just wanted the experience.  One day he'd like to remodel his own home if he could.  It sounded like a fun project to him, really.  Buy an old fixer upper and fix'er up.  He'd made someone real happy someday.  

[Joe Honnick]

This was going to be different. That was definitely the way this was going to go. Joe was a lawyer by trade and an activist by passion, but never in all his years had he ever helped someone remodel a house. Even his own house, he’d let his wife do most of it, he was the strength and did whatever she told him to do but those were minor tasks like retiling and painting. Not the kind of remodeling it seemed that he was going to be doing. He at least had enough strength that he could do a lot of the heavy lifting. He’d recovered well enough from his fall, but he’d relented and gotten a brace for his knee. He old sports injury seemed still bothersome enough to make him suffer. Joe was wearing jeans and a dirtied old tee shirts. It was an old Ohio State shirt he’d had forever and had so many paint stains on it it wasn’t fit for anything but working.

He pulled up to the address, glad to see he wasn’t the first person here, he parked in the street and out of the way. Joe got out and walked up the lawn where he found the other man, standing ready with tools and Joe realized how out of his league he was. When he had volunteered for this he had not anticipated this work load. “Hello,” he said politely as he got closer. A pleasant smile rested on Joe’s face and he struck his hand out. “I’m Joe, seems we’ve been put to work together.” He seemed pleasant enough but as for planning things out Joe wasn’t sure he knew enough about houses to be any help in that regard.

[Lucas Blacke]

Aw brittleballs, what now? Lucas had to do something, like remodel a house. In fact, it wasn't like remodeling a house but just that. First time he'd done that. He supposed he'd have to start looking at tv shows with hammers and such, drills, tools in general. Luckily Luke was a tool so they'd accept them happily. He hoped. If not, no biggie, he would convince one of the people there to do his part of the work. Oh how he hoped there was a hot girl there..

He put on clothes that could be easily discarded, a white tanktop and worn-out pants, beaten up shoes and went to the location they needed to go. Or well, he needed to go. While he did see many girls on his track they all seemed to move in the opposite direction and the idea of there being a girl was beginning to look bleak at best. Maybe there'd be nothing but guys.. Luke clenched at the thought and cursed his good looks.

Arriving at the place he saw that two other guys had arrived. This would not be fun at all.. last time he was with a guy he very nearly ripped his wings off.. Not counting Marcus anyway.

''So which one of you 's the gay one?'' He asked jokingly, though knowing for sure there was one. Re-decorating? Yeah, someone would have a goshdarned jolly time.

[Travis Brooks]

When the next guy showed up Travis had hoped he was the one in charge of the project, but it became evident very quickly that he was a worker just like Travis himself was. Travis took the guys hand with a warm smile, giving a firm, sturdy handshake. His father had taught him that, and as an adult he thought it almost comical. It was such a father thing to teach something. Not that his daddy was much for first impressions, but the man had a lot of pride and liked others to believe he was tougher than he was.

"Seems that way." He agreed with a nod, pulling his hand back and tucking his thumbs into the belt loops of his jeans. "I'm Travis, by the way." His drawl was clear in his speech; he talked a little slower than most people did there in Vermont and anyone could easily tell he was an outsider. Though Travis had always worried about finding himself an outsider, he didn't mind it so much out there in the Pilot Ridge area. Hanging with Glads showed him very quickly that the town was full of people from all walks of life. There were people from all over the country and all over the world. He knew why now, of course, but he imagined not everyone would.

A third guy showed up, a kid, not much younger than himself but there was an air of cockiness about him that made Travis raise a brow. The boys greeting immediately put him off. Now Travis wasn't gay, but he certainly wasn't straight either. He was secretly in love with a guy and despite his upbringing didn't have any problem with those that went to bat for the other team.

"Kind've an odd place tuh find yerself a date." He smiled as though this were bordering on funny though his tone suggested otherwise. "I'm pretty sure I heard somethin' 'bout an LGBT Youth Center somewhere round here. May have better luck over there."

[Joe Honnick]

“Pleasure to meet you, Travis,” Joe inclined his head as much in greeting as the handshake had been. The man had a small drawl but it didn’t stand out to Joe, perhaps because he noted it and let it go. Perhaps because he didn’t care if Travis wasn’t from around here. Joe wasn’t around here, though he’d been here for close to twenty five years. In fact Joe didn’t know a whole lot of people that were born in Pilot Ridge. It seemed to be a haven for all sorts of people and Joe often times thought they lived in a sort of bubble. One of acceptance and the vast meta human population made that pretty normal. Joe also knew that this bubble made it hard for a lot of people here to understand the dangers that meta humans posed out there in the real world.

Joe followed Travis’ gaze and turned to see a third man arriving. A very young man, a boy, Joe might even say. Certainly both his daughters were older than this boy. Joe smiled and his brow raised in confusion. Was this how children were greeting each other now? Joe didn’t like it one bit. Nothing was better than a polite hello and a handshake, opening with a joke, and one Joe didn’t find particularly amusing, grated him the wrong way. He kept his smile plastered on his face and didn’t comment and shook his head giving a sigh. Kids these days.

Joe found his humor returned as Travis seemed to handle the situation well. Joe crossed his arms and he knew he was still a bulking man and could be seen as intimidating so he used that now. “What’s your name, young man?” Taking the tone he used with his daughters when they’ve done something wrong but might not have realized it yet. Granted his daughters would know by the tone but this boy might not even care. He nodded approvingly, Travis was handling this very well and Joe was impressed. He looked around the rest of the site and then back at the two people standing with him. Well, if they weren’t just a bunch of misfits. Joe hoped to God one of them had experience in this.

“It there supposed to be someone else coming?” Joe asked of his companions the real question ringing clear, ‘someone who was in charge?’ Joe shifted off his bad knee, giving it a break before the real work began. It had been acting up more than usual since he’d smashed it on the stairs. Lesedi and Jasmine kept insisting he get a brace and when Rachel, his doctor in training heard wind she put on the pressure even worse. He didn’t need a brace and he didn’t need a cane. He was fine with it the way he was. Besides, he was too young to be old enough for a cane.

[Lucas Blacke]

It seemed that day would be quite fun, hearing the words coming from the young man and amusing him more than they should. But then the old guy stepped in and went all dad on him. Well, he thought the guy was going dad with that stern pose of his and that serious question, the derogatory term at the end of it. That was what fathers did right? Luke had no idea, all his father ever did was brush him off and tell him he would be better off somewhere else. Which he was, kinda.

''Lucas Blacke, at yer service.'' He said with his signature bow, and yes, he could see how the last part of that statement could be seen as a gay one. Not that he cared though. ''I don't work well with guys though, so.. I guess ya tell me what ta do an' I'll get it over with.'' He added as he crossed his arms over one another. It was obvious the guy asking his name was trying to be intimidating, but that didn't work on someone who got off on annoyiing people, did it? ''Ya look old enough ta order people around. What is it, eighty years or somethin'?'' He joked.

And as for the other guy, well he looked like the more fun one of the two. Still a guy and no doubt an annoyance, but more fun than the other one. Probably the age thing at work. Turning his head to that guy and smiling at him he shook his head. ''I don't find dates, big guy.'' He began. ''Dates find me. Not that I've been on lots of 'em.'' An imaginary nudge was given as Lucas continued. ''Most girls don't even have ta know me that well. Except.. ya know.. one. Okay, I'll give ya that one. I fucked up once.''

He then turned to the house with a sigh and forced himself to think happy thoughts, like games, or music. ''So..'' He hesitated as he walked back and forth a bit, inspecting the house as if he knew what he was doing. ''What now..?''

[Travis Brooks]

Travis didn't miss the smile on the man's face as he commented to the slightly younger boy.  The kid on the other hand didn't seem as amused, though he didn't seem all that upset either which was for the best.  The last thing he wanted to deal with was a grumpy teenager.  He himself had been a grumpy teenager not terribly long ago and he knew what it was like to deal with one being one of four kids.  Plus there was Glads..  Not that Glads was ever a grumpy teenager.

Lucas made a decent point.  Was someone else coming? He looked around but didn't see anyone else.  Surely there was instructions somewhere?  He looked around; was that a note on the door?  Before he could mention it Lucas went on to insult Joe specifically this time.  What was with this kid? Sure, it was a tease, but Travis was from the south and kids didn't tease their elders there.  It was considered rude and was frankly inappropriate.  Neither he nor Joe put Lucas in this situation; why was he being such a jerk?  Travis decided to defuse the situation before it began.


"Eighty's a bit steep.  I'd putcha at seventy-nine." He gave a nod and clapped the man on the shoulder, grinning.  Clearly he was much younger, but they all knew that.  He would be okay following Joe's lead if he wanted it, but he certainly didn't mind holding the reigns.  

Something told Travis this guy wasn't as big a player as he came off as.  He cocked a brow when he noted that dates find him.  Somehow he found that very unlikely.  Then he was rambling and Travis wasn't able to follow.  "Oookay.." He pursed his lips and stuck his hands on his hips.  "Maybe we should check out that note up there on th'door. Maybe it says somethin' 'bout what we're s'posed tuh do."

[Joe Honnick]

Joe didn’t feel the need to get the young people to like him anymore. He was far beyond that point in his life. He raised a brow and already was wondering if this youth could really pull his weight or if he was going to be horsing around this whole time. Teenagers! Honestly, after having been one and raising two himself Joe was just about ready to wash his hands with that whole age group. Joe would have his eye on this Lucas, Joe wouldn’t have it if he made trouble that would set back their work. He shook his head at the boy, what a foolish kid. Well maybe some manual labor would be good for him. Joe’s expression grew dark and he crossed his arms. He was a big guy, a former football player. Back in his college days no one would speak to him like that.

He leveled a glare at the boy and was very close to offering to let him hammer his head out but luckily Travis stepped in. Joe blew air out his nose in an exasperated snort. And he pointed a finger at the both of them. “If I’m old enough to be in charge, you’d better watch yourselves.” He said his lips edging up into a smile. He shook his head and gave a laugh. “Cool it, Lover Boy, don’t make me have to give you a cold shower.” Always the boastful youths. Joe grinned, he was more embarrassed than anything else to remember that he had been just like this kid when he was growing up. Oh heaven bless his parents for beating it out of him. Joe highly doubted this kid was anything but talk, it was entertaining to say the least. What was it with kids these days always making it seem like they were players?

“Why didn’t you say that in the first place?” Joe asked Travis, even though not being observant enough to notice that would have been equally his fault. He made his way up the steps stubbornly ignoring the twinge in his knee. He plucked it and quickly read through the salutation to the important bits. “Alright, Travis, Lucas, it looks like we’re in charge of remodeling the living room, dining room and one of the bedrooms. I say we check out what we’re working with and go from there.” He flipped over the note to see if there was more written but unfortunately it seemed that there was nothing more. “Did any of you meet the owners or anything?” He had kind of just volunteered and been put on an assignment here. He knew just about nothing and he was wondered what it had been about his application that had put him with remodeling. Sure he was strong but beyond that he didn’t know what else he could bring to the table.

[Lucas Blacke]

So that big guy was acting like the boss already, and Luke would bet that he would have even if he didn't comment on his age. ''Yeah.. I 'ave this thing with authority where I.. Ya know..'' He trailed off mid sentence and smirked. ''Don't listen.'' And this was doubly true because he was a guy, and maybe more so because there was a second guy there. And even more because the dude looked old as balls and was using his physique to obviously try and intimidate. That was something that wasn't going to work, Lucas would have less than no trouble decking the guy, or so was his mindset anyway.

When the other man pointed out there might be a note on the door Luke smirked when the big guy walked over, stating something akin to 'I'm fucking stupid.' before taking the note he didn't even notice was there and began reading it. ''Yo, grandpa, whats up with yer knee?'' Lucas asked, as though the guy tried to ignore it while moving up the steps Luke could clearly see it not moving like it was supposed to. ''Bet ya got a replacement hip ta go with it.'' He joked as he shook his head in laughter.

''Oh.'' He said as the guy read out ther names and said what they were tasked with. ''As soon as this shit is over I'll forget yer names. I don't see th' need in rememberin' guys.'' He told them honestly.

Only three rooms, that was it? ''I call bedroom!'' Luke yelled out and only did so because he could show off a bit in getting to the second level of the house. Thank god for Assassins Creed and body strength, right? With little to no effort he found things to grab on the outside of the house and managed to get to the window that led to the hallway on top the stairs leading to the level he assumed the bedroom was at. With one swift punching motion he bashed in the window before climbing in gently as not to cut himself and poked his head out.

''Owners? Whoops.''