VOICE || Terran calendars 101

[kicksomegrass]

Okay. [ There's no preamble, no introduction. Just Rocket's unmistakable voice, sounding as irritated as ever. ] I thought I had a pretty good handle on the way you Terrans did your calendar. Earth rotates around its axis: day. Earth rotates around the sun: year. Pretty standard. All the stuff in between is chopped up inta arbitrary "months" that don't make much sense, but hey, ya stick on every wall and on the communicators so at least I can kinda keep track.

It ain't perfect. Kind of annoying, but I don't expect a whole lot from you Terrans anyway.

That said, how the hell did I end up missin' a month and a half?

Last I looked it was all trees and snow and... "kris-mas". [ The air quotes are practically audible. ] Now it's all red and pink and... and kinda an assault on the senses, honestly. What is with you people? Somebody fill me in here.

[ There's a bit of a pause, and he seems to be ending it there. Until, as an afterthought, he adds: ]

Quill, you better still have my stuff or I'm gonna kick your ass.

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He makes a scoffing noise. ] Oh, a room or two.

[ He glances around though, crossing his arms over his chest. ]

Pretty sure these places only got the one bedroom, anyway.

[kicksomegrass]

Take the tour and see for yourself.

[ There should be two- Nonah is nice like that ]

[nostalgiabomb]

What, not gonna give me the guided walk-through? [ Even as he grouses, he shoves away from the table to take a look around. ]

How'd you luck out and get your own place, anyway? [ asked as he's wandering off to walk around the place. ]

[kicksomegrass]

No idea. Maybe they like me.

Or maybe they don't like me living with other people.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That makes him huff out a laugh. ]

I can see both of those bein' true. They're crazy enough to bring you back a third time, but not crazy enough to inflict you on other people.

[ ~friendship~ ]

[kicksomegrass]

[ Rocket squints at him in confusion for a second before it clicks. ]

I keep forgettin' I was here once and don't even remember it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ah. Right. Peter pauses in a doorway, glancing back over his shoulder at him. ]

... Right. Forgot that you don't remember. [ Probably for the best, since preceding his disappearance, Peter had been a colossal dick to the guy, thanks to the mess with the Hornets. But that's buried way deep in the cellar known as "Peter's Issues Vault."

Another pause, then, dryly, ] This place must really like you.

[kicksomegrass]

[ Rocket still finds it bizarre and extremely unsettling to have his memories messed with like that, but there’s not much he can do about it. It seems to be an odd topic of conversation for Quill, too, so he doesn’t dwell on it. ]

You mean ‘cause they keep bringin’ me back or ‘cause I got a nice house all to myself?

[nostalgiabomb]

Mostly the first thing. The second thing is probably 'cause they don't want you accidentally blowing someone up.

[kicksomegrass]

Hey, if I gotta be here, I'll take it. I don't think I exchanged two words with the people at the last place.

[nostalgiabomb]

Hey, they're good folks. [ for the most part? probably? ]

Pretty sure you were gonna give the big guy a conniption with all the explosives you left lying around, though.

[kicksomegrass]

Psh. That guy had no sense of fun.

[nostalgiabomb]

Or, a healthy sense of self-preservation.

[kicksomegrass]

Pretty sure it was the first thing, but sure.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts a laugh, half amused, half derisive, but eventually turns to face Rocket from a doorway, leaning against the jamb. ]

Not sure anyone else would share that particular outlook of yours-- [ and a touch wryly, ] --but sure.

[kicksomegrass]

[ Rocket simply rolls his eyes. ] Ha, ha. You’re a riot, Quill.

You gonna get your stuff or what?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter raises an eyebrow, then puts on that wide, infuriating smile of his. ]

Aww, Rocket. We've only been not-roomies for, like, an hour. You miss it so bad already?

[kicksomegrass]

[ That smile always pisses him off, and he knows Quill knows that. That’s why he uses it.

Rocket sneers, baring his teeth. ]

I was savin’ you the trouble of asking. This last month and a half musta been real hard on you.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ he sighs, a patient look on his face, and he says with cloying sweetness, ]

I missed you, too, buddy.

[ you know how it is -- couching sincerity in jokes and sarcasm to take the edge off. ]

[kicksomegrass]

I couldn't miss you, Quill. Much to my disappointment, you were never gone.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ his expression pinches. ]

Yeah, yeah, rub it in. At least you got to bail.

[kicksomegrass]

You were there, ya know. Back home.

So knowin' you never actually left this place just adds to the weirdness.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He puffs air out between his teeth, the sound derisive. ]

You're tellin' me.

[ His expression sours further. ]

Did I tell you I've been here a year? Goto pointed it out the other day. A year wasted in this stupid place.