InsaneJournal

log: shatterstar and longshot
SUMMARY: The boys finally get a break as they're talking about the people left behind.

ART: The longer Art was out on the road with his brother, the more he missed the hotel. Everything was better back there - his friends were back there, his job, and Star wasn't so - well, broody. There was already a giant dent in the side of the car thanks to his frustrations, and it was getting worse the longer it took to find Rita. The producer of the show she'd signed up for - 'Arcade', he claimed his name was - had refused to give him the details of where she was, instead sending them on a goose chase that he claimed was an audition for his show. Follow the clues, find the show, and he'd have the girl! It would make great television!

Except neither Art or Star had laughed, and when Art hadn't let Star hurt the guy, they'd accepted the challenge. Which had sent them driving all around America. Art didn't even know where they were except that it was cold. He and Star were sitting in a diner, waiting for the next clue to be delivered. They'd already eaten, a few chips soaked in sauce still remaining on the plate.

"If you want to go home," Art said morosely, slumped in his seat. "It's cool. You should go."

SHATTERSTAR: Star had been even more stoic than usual, of late. Which, for him, was really saying something. He seemed to rotate between three stages -- that strong stoicism, where he seemed more like a robot than a person, the broodiness wherein he looked like a rather stormy robot, and then flashes of anger. The latter lasted only moments, but typically ended with things like rather large dents in the side of Art's car. And the broodiness and anger both came after or during his talks with Ric and Tabby. It was hard to forget things and force them away, when two of them kept yanking your attention to them forcefully. Star had been staring vacantly but intently at some unknown target on the table, when Art's words broke through his concentration. He blinked and looked up, studying the other. "We have not yet found your friend." Or Mojo. And Star still wanted to settle this physically with that Arcade man.

ART: If Art had been his usual self, he wouldn't have let Star continue with the stoic or the broody, but he'd felt a little broody himself. Not something he was used to, and so dragging himself up out of it was proving rather difficult, especially given the circumstances. Chasing after a friend in trouble with a brooding brother was not really a cheerful situation. He shrugged at Star's comment, slumping down a little further. "I can keep looking by myself. It's cool." Who knew when Arcade would stop with the whole Amazing Race scenario, and Star had things back in California to sort out.

SHATTERSTAR: It was a good thing that they were at least very attractive, and thus wore brooding well. Star continued to watch Art, before shaking his head. "No. It would not be cool. You will need help when we find your friend. And I must find Mojo." He reached out to take one of the fries, because far be it from Star to let food go to waste, even in a serious discussion. "This is our mission, Art. I will not abandon it. And you are my brother, I will not abandon you." Dishonorable, to say the least. And Star would never leave something if that was the price.

ART: "And what happens if he keeps this up indefinitely?" Art asked, feeling ridiculously morose about the whole thing. "Who knows when we'll find Rita. Or if we'll ever find Mojo. All we do is follow these stupid clues all over the country and we're not getting any closer. And our friends and everyone are back in California and it sucks being away from them. Don't you miss -- them?" He'd nearly asked about Ric, but then decided that maybe that wasn't such a good idea. It was a touchy subject at best.

SHATTERSTAR: Star may have been in a bad place because of Rictor, but he seemed unphased by the seemimgly impossible task before them. Then again, he had been charged with saving an entire world from an evil overlord, so following clues to find some people probably seemed like small potatoes in comparison. "We will find them, Art. We will not leave them to him, amd I will not leave you to him either." His pale eyes watched Art calmly for a few moments before replying to the other question on the table. "...Yes. I suppose I miss the presence of the others." The words were carefully chosen and said.

ART: Star's implaccable nature was starting to get though to Art - he was so determined not to give up, so focused on their goal, that nothing phased him. Art was the opposite - mercurial and energetic, he struggled to focus and follow through when things took this long. He chafed at the delays, wanting something to actually happen. Patience was definitely not one of his virtues. "I'm sick of this," he declared, and for a moment, his eye twinkled. "I'm sick of being jerked around, I'm sick of being away from our friends, I'm sick of --" Whatever else he was sick of, the world will never know, because at that point the waitress came over, carrying the diner's portable phone. "Is one of you called Art? Because I have a phone call for you?" Art snatched the phone with a grin, the fourly dour waitress returning the smile hesitantly before withdrawing. Art was on the phone for a few seconds, and just as he opened his mouth to speak, he abruptly shut it again, as the person on the other end hung up. "I've got directions for the studio. We should go. Like now. And we should see if other people can join us. Maybe Lila can transport people here? We totally have go in kicking ass. I'm sick of them pushing us around like this!"

SHATTERSTAR: Star watched as Art took the call, understanding that something was changing in what they were doing. He stood when Art was finished, and gave a nod. "I will contact the security team." Star had no problem with using others, himself, but he knew that the person he reported to did -- and more than that, knew that the people on the security team tended to be the best in combat situations. Thus they were who his mind tended to instantly go to. He had turned to go away, but then turned back to grab another fry -- and then he was on his way out the door.