voicetesting!

[starquill]

What? No -- seriously? Come on. I have friends now, and a shiny ship -- you saw. You were happy for me! Why do you want to drag me into all this crap that sounds -- kind of boring, actually. Very... on the ground.

You said it yourself. This place doesn't really need more guys like me running around. Though I don't really get that one because, I mean, I'm pretty cool. I'm a badass, actually, and handsome, and I have the best taste in music in the whole galaxy (you agree with me on that one), and basically, who wouldn't want to have me around?

...except me, I don't want to be around here, I want to be -- Just put this journal thing back where you found it and let's pretend this didn't happen. Okay?

Comments

[sonofcoul]

I'm afraid they don't listen very often.

[starquill]

Oh yeah? You have any tips? Escape plans? There's gotta be a way out, right? There always is.

[sonofcoul]

Make the best of it and hope they get bored.

I know, not exactly the most exciting plan.

[starquill]

Boring. I can be boring. I can...

[ He really thinks about that one. ]

Okay, nevermind. That plan's out. How long have you been doing this?

[sonofcoul]

Almost three years.

On and off. I have had some temporary reprieves.

[starquill]

Three --

[ Hold on, he's going to need a minute to have a genuine emotion, or a few of them, actually. That's a long time to be stuck here without the guarantee that he'll see his friends, and he seriously just settled into that. He's done the lone ranger thing before, and -- yeah, it's fine, but that was better.

He tries to reel that back in, but he's still upset about it. ]

So, what do I have to look forward to? Fiery hoops to jump through?

[sonofcoul]

It depends. Sometimes more than others, but odds are good that you'll end up stuck somewhere. On the bright side, usually when that happens, you'll be stuck with someone you know.

[starquill]

That wouldn't be so bad, I guess. [ He lacks a home, other than "outer space" but maybe... "wherever his friends are" might count for that, too. ]

You see a lot of people you know around? [ He frowns suddenly. ] What about people you don't like? You ever see, like, the guy you might owe a lot of money because you screwed him over once or twice or a lot?

[sonofcoul]

I've run into the guy who killed me, so yeah, it's a distinct possibility.

[starquill]

Killed? Wow. You look good for a zombie.

[sonofcoul]

Yeah. I got better. Wasn't exactly expecting it, but...

[starquill]

To get better, or to die? Because I wouldn't bet on either, under normal circumstances. Maybe the first one, at some point.

[sonofcoul]

Getting better. Dying wasn't all that much of a shock under the circumstances.

[starquill]

You don't happen to be related to a tree, do you?

[sonofcoul]

I'm pretty sure I would have remembered a tree showing up for Thanksgiving.

[starquill]

Just thought I'd check. So how did you get better? And do they sell whatever that is?

[sonofcoul]

Dubious experimental technology, all of which is now buried under a collapsed mountain. Not all that marketable.

[starquill]

[ Hm. He thinks on that one for a second. ]

Not necessarily. It depends on the equipment you have, and how crushed everything is.

[sonofcoul]

And blown up. The mountain collapsed due to a whole lot of explosives.

I honestly can't say it's a bad thing.

[starquill]

That could be a problem. And no? You don't think so?

[ Quill had been very willing to sacrifice himself for the galaxy, but that doesn't mean he wants to go around doing that any ol' day of the week. He isn't particularly attracted to the idea of immortality, but would he rather be able to live again if Yondu manages to find him. ]

[sonofcoul]

It could. And I don't.

The method used caused some pretty severe side effects in most of the test subjects. The risk is too great for an uncertain reward.

hover for translation

[i_am_groot]

I AM GROOT!

[starquill]

Groot! Hey! You're looking... tall. Did you grow a vocabulary yet?

[ But he's happy to see him -- really happy. Can you tell? Have a shoulder pat of happiness. ]

[i_am_groot]

[Have a little shoulder patting of your own, Peter.]

...I AM GROOT.

[starquill]

That is just what I was going to say. What a coincidence, huh?

[ How does Rocket do this? Is it because they're in love? Peter hasn't said anything, but... it's because they're in love, right? Not his business.

Except he wants to ask but he won't. He won't! ]

What, you're not disappointed though, are you? You grew back okay, it looks like.

[i_am_groot]

I AM GROOT!

[starquill]

Yeah, me too. [ He says it as a joke, and then he remembers the whole we are Groot thing, and it makes him a little sorry to be giving him a hard time. ]

C'mon, let me get you a... something. Do you drink? Eat? ...photosynthesize?

[i_am_groot]

I AM GROOT!

[starquill]

Alright, that's what I thought. [ He finds them a spot at the bar and orders a drink for himself and then looks up at Groot. He's got his mouth open ready to order something for him, but then he stops and smirks a little to himself. ]

And for the tree?

[deadliestwoman]

Shiny? You mean filthy.

[starquill]

Hey, it was shiny because they just rebuilt it for me.

All shiny and new and just waiting for me to make it filthy again.

[deadliestwoman]

[Oh dear.]

May I make a suggestion? Do not make it filthy...again. I am sure my movie counterpart wouldn't like that at all.

[starquill]

Good thing it's my ship then. [ And have a big, giant grin. Ha! ]

It's just like marking my territory, you know? Makes it feel more homey.

[deadliestwoman]

But you're not an animal, Peter Quill. [A pause.] Outside of bed.

[starquill]

You got that right -- what?

[ He starts out with slightly douchey and overenthusiastic agreement, but then he stops, his face falling, and he looks a little like a confused puppy. ]

Did I miss something?

[deadliestwoman]

[She smirks. Did she just make the infamous Star-Lord speechless? Yes, yes she did.]

Let's just say I'm aware of your talents.

[starquill]

[ Yes, she did, and now his mind's working overtime because -- whoa now, really? Sure, he's thought about it, maybe even thought it was possible, but then things kinda changed, and that kinda took backseat to being, like, friends and guardians of the galaxy together. ]

What -- You mean other me and you --

So are you like, from the future? When is that going to happen for other you and me? Because I want to make sure I brush my teeth really good that day.

[deadliestwoman]

No, I'm not from the future. [She smiles.]

Like you said, there are multiple yous running around. I was curious.

[starquill]

You mean you and me hook up in an alternate universe?

[ That's a little disappointing. ]

Does that mean in my universe, we don't -- [ He gestures between them. ]

[deadliestwoman]

I'm not telling. [She grins and laughs.]

Who knows? We might.

[rocket_raccoon]

I wouldn't bank on the humie puppeteers listenin' to ya, Quill. Ain't really in their nature.

[emboldened]

Friends and a shiny ship are great, don't get me wrong. Doubt it'll really be enough for you to get out of the boring stuff.

[ best taste in music in the whole galaxy? hmm. ]

Do you like the Beastie Boys?