InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "the sun is still in the sky"

Tommy Merlyn (tommy_merlyn) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2013-06-05 09:23:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2013 06, character: g callen, character: tommy merlyn

RP: Tommy and Callen
Who: Tommy and Callen
Where: Camp Site
When: Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Summary: G checks on his old partner

Tommy was going to get claustrophobic if Oliver didn't leave his side at least for a few moments. Yes, he loved Oliver. Yes, they were best friends for ages. Yes, he trusted Oliver to have his back. No, they didn't need to spend all their time together since it seemed apparent that they would anyway. It wasn't like they could just take a walk here, or go for a bite, unless one wanted to be 'the bite'. So he was glad when Callen came over and Oliver moved away to sharper his arrow, or whatever else Oliver did for fun when left to his own devices.

"You look good for someone who's been living-" Tommy waved a hand. "I'm more of a spa kind of person. They take me away from my natural habitat and look what happens," he said, raising his hand which was still that violet shade that made him think of Easter and newborns.

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g_callen
2013-06-07 12:05 am UTC (link)

Over the next several days and weeks, G was going to have to talk to people as much as possible. He needed to see how those he knew had changed in five months and get a feel for those he didn't know or didn't know well. But, there would be time for that after they got everyone securely settled for the time being. Today, he was just trying to acclimate to the voices in his head and check-in on those he felt a greater responsibility for over and above the responsibility he felt for all of them.

He'd taken Merlyn on as his partner just before leaving, which made the man one of those people. "I've had nothing to do for months but train and survive. It's a relaxing lifestyle," he teased, chuckling. He nodded toward the upraised hand. Marty hadn't been kidding about the violet. "I'd heard about that. Good new is, we're all used to weird and the animals here have no fashion sense at all. Other than the technicolor dream hands, you look like you're doing much better than when I left and even walking took a huge toll on you. How deceiving are those looks these days?"

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tommy_merlyn
2013-06-07 01:16 am UTC (link)

"And there you are, just as crazy as before, because only you could think this is relaxing. You make Derek look sane and he's certifiable." He wasn't any better than Oliver in fact. "A spa is relaxing. This," he said, waving one pointed finger toward the sky. "This is so not relaxing."

Tommy looked insulted. "I'll have you know that the blue of my eyes matches perfectly with the violet, and if you don't believe it, just ask TJ. It was pretty much the first thing he said when he saw the color." He gave up trying to look affronted and chuckling. "I can turn into other people. I can turn into myself, the non violet copy, but it takes a lot of energy. I have some time to learn to control it, unless you have good news and it was all a lie and we're about to go somewhere with a spa."

He sighed at the question. "Physically? I'm good. It's hard not to when we're been tortured on a daily basis. Mentally?" He shrugged. "The urge is always there, just beneath the surface. Some days are better than others. Today is not such a good day, but it's not like we have something... actually we do. I just try not to think of all the drugs Brian has stashed in that supply truck."

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g_callen
2013-06-14 01:15 pm UTC (link)

"The crazy never changes, just ask Sam." G chuckled, thinking of how much he and Reese had trained together, neither saying a word, when they'd thought Savannah and John dead. "I think the line from Alice in Wonderland applies: We're all mad here. See? I would never consider a spa relaxing. Too exposed." Too much touching and letting people get close.

"I'll take Thomas' word for it vicariously through you, how's that? I'd almost guarantee the only one of the four of us with any sense of true fashion is Emily," he rebutted with a smirk, unsurprised the younger Hammond had gone straight to color coordination. Even the short time he'd been with them before was enough for G to know the young man considered himself an icon of style. "'Fraid I'm not in the habit of lying to my team or my partners, past or present. But, if we find a spa without a herd of thunder lizards grazing around it, we'll see about going."

G couldn't help a quiet groan. He didn't want to know what was stashed, literally, in that truck. "Physically is a good start. Mentally, we can work on. You sound much stronger than when we last spoke about it, more in control of yourself. Urge may always be there, but it doesn't have to control you and when you don't believe in your own strength, you've got people around who can remind you of it. That includes me. You hit those times when friends, lovers, family are too close to see what you need and you think the drugs are the only option, you find me first. Got it?"

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tommy_merlyn
2013-06-14 02:05 pm UTC (link)

"I'll take your word for it and skip the discussion." On the other hand, he was certain that Derek's brand of insanity was very different. He had gotten a taste of it with Oliver and he wasn't anywhere near as bad as Derek. "No, there are some pretty normal people here. Just because you are crazy and contradict what's normal doesn't make us crazy, too," he answered, laughing. "And yes, I've heard the argument that normal is just not understanding all of the risks, but if the majority of the world considers it normal, then it is normal. That's how it works."

Tommy nodded. "That's fine, although he'll be happy to give you lessons if needed. In fact, we need to see about haircuts, because the bald or almost bold look does not work for me," he said very seriously. He wasn't hoping for a good haircut, but he wanted a decent one least, and that did give him an idea. He looked at Callen smiling. "Who says we can't have one? Plenty of people here who know about massages, we'll see about haircuts. We might just have something there since I'm thinking that a club with music is off the menu."

The reaction was totally expected and Tommy chuckled. "It was all done under orders. Pot, pills, other things." He was sure that Brian had stuff that wasn't stashed in the truck and that was the thing to watch for. He probably would have done it too if he hasn't known that he wouldn't resist the call if he had something with him. "Don't take this the wrong way, but you're not the first option, because you don't get it. I'm pretty sure those profilers don't get it. I mean maybe intellectually, but not really. I don't think Brian gets it. To him, they are party favors." He had a feeling that only TJ actually understood. "Drugs are always the first option when things go bad and sometimes even when they go right. It's not even a conscious thought, but it's always there, at the back of your mind. You know how you're always aware of your weapons? That's how drugs are. They are always there. They are always an option. The only option? Always and never at the same time. Always, because that would be the first option, making it impossible for another option. Never, because I know intellectually they aren't." He sighed. "I could be clean for years and I don't think that will change."

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g_callen
2013-06-20 03:11 am UTC (link)

"Ah, but I'm training you all in the crazy. Give me time." G smirked, the unofficially patented G Callen I'm-Brilliant-and-You-Will-Soon-be-Dazzled-by-That-Brilliance wicked smirk. "But, don't worry. I wasn't going to give you that argument at all. I was, rather, going to say that, as normal is defined as 'The usual, average, or typical state or condition. Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected', then whatever is typical or average for the members of this group now constitutes the definition of normal. We are now the only human society, as we know it, on the planet, after all. We are the world." And, yeah, he was well aware how much most of them wouldn't take the kind of comfort in that he did.

G had a fleeting image of Thomas Hammond squaring off with Hetty Lange over wardrobe and tried not to choke on his silent laughter. "I'm sure he would be, but it's fine. I'll know it when I need to know it, for whatever cover I wear that actually knows and cares about style and fashion. Until then, I think I'll stick to jungle chic." Silent laughter turned into audible chuckles. "If people have time for massages without using any scented oils or lotions or any such accoutrements, they can be my guest. Plenty of mud around for mud baths. Hair cuts shouldn't be a problem, though. Just need to find the people who can do it for you. We can burn all the cuttings after."

He shook his head. "You're misunderstanding me. I don't mean you come to me first above all others. We might have been partners when I left, but it was a short time and I've been gone a long time. You hardly know me and you have others to turn to when you need help, others who get your specific demons more. But, we all have demons to fight. In most people's lives there comes a time when they don't feel they can turn to friends or lovers or partners. I'm saying when you get to that point, and you will because we all do, you try to come to me before you give in to the drugs...or after, if that's how it works. I'll have your back either way. And I do understand having that fallback option that makes everything seem better. It's not drugs, but it's a habit all the same, something I fight against every day. So, I do get how drugs are your always and never option. I have one, too. It just isn't drugs."

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tommy_merlyn
2013-06-20 03:38 am UTC (link)

Tommy shook his head. "Derek didn't convert us, I doubt you can. We had decades to get used to our normal, while this is a temporary stay. Let's remember that part. Temporary. Until we go back to our normal with dinners in nice restaurants and spas, and you can go back to your crazy. It's the perfect solution." He needed to keep telling himself that it was temporary or he might really find those happy pills.

He knew that Callen was joking, but Tommy wasn't. "Mmm, we need to get Brian involved. And TJ. We can use the cave as a spa since it's not being used, and you can still use oils, just natural ones. This is totally doable. Of course if you could find us some hot springs, that'd be totally awesome. Natural spas are the best and clay is excellent for your skin, and we'll need exfoliation, because with this weather the skin dries up. I don't even want to think about my hands. I had the best manicure done. And, you probably don't care, and I won't even classify it as normal unless you come with our bank accounts," he said, laughing.

"I... appreciate it. Hopefully, it won't get to the point that it's after. You know the funny thing is that I wasn't even using that much anymore. There was a woman I wanted to impress and being clean helped," he explain. "But the drugs were there, if the night was right or the mood was right. I wasn't really stopping, just not using as much. I don't think I ever considered not using until that island, until I knew that Oliver needed me clean, whether he knew it or not. Keeping the drugs away makes it harder to use without thinking. It's why I haven't kept a stash even when I could, but... I'll remember the offer. Thanks."

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