Work Text:
“Cameras?”
“All accounted for.”
“Lights?”
“Ready when you are.”
“Mics?”
“Picking up sound. Adjusting volumes now.”
A pause, then “Mics?”
“All set.”
“Actors on your marks. Quiet on set.”
Tommy relaxed his shoulders.
“Ready. Three, two, one. Action!”
Tommy barged through the set throwing his ‘backpack’ onto the kitchen table. He faked a pissed-off expression and sighed. Techno was waiting on the mark at the kitchen sink, seeming to be ‘cooking’.
Tommy slid into a chair and hung his head in his hands.
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3
“How did you fail your test?”
Tommy brought his head up to start at Technos back.
“I didn’t.” He gritted out, clenching his teeth, trying to make his eyes look like they were blazing.
Techno turned, raising one eyebrow.
“You got a 30%.”
“Ms. Bitch thought I was cheating.”
“Tommy.” Technos's voice was serious, Tommy made himself tense and straighten. Trying to ignore the actual dread that filled his stomach.
“I WASN’T!”
Techno walked towards the table and rested his elbows on it.
“What did you do?”
“I was using my resources.”
Techno faked an unimpressed look.
“Tubbo helped me with one problem Tech, one!” Tommy let desperation fill his voice.
“Tommy you can’t keep doing this!”
“Tech,” he gripped his hair, “It’s so hard.”
“Then study! You don’t understand how pissed Phil will be when he comes back. You’re digging a grave for yourself.”
“It doesn’t work like that,” Tommy yelled, standing up fists clenched.
Techno straightened up, “Then make it work.”
Techno’s words hit Tommy straight into the gut, he swallowed back the tears prickling in his eyes. This was fake why did he feel so small. “You don’t get it! You never do!”
“Woah! Woah! What is going on?”
Wilbur walked onto the set, mug in his hand. He walked past Tommy and Techno placed it in the sink, before standing at Techno’s side.
“Tommy failed another test.” Techno bit out, disappointment filling his tone.
“Tommy. You have to do better.”
Both of them yelling at him was too much, even if it was fake. Tears pooled in his eyes. “You don’t understand.” He choked out.
Shit. He needed to stop crying. Yet Techno and Wilbur’s disappointed gazes made him want to curl into himself.
“Then make us Tommy.” Techno huffed, “You’re failing half your classes.”
“I-,” More tears flew down his face, and he choked on a sob. “You never listen to me or help me. I- I always ask for help but you always say you’re busy.”
“Why don’t you ask Ranboo and Tubbo then? You just play video games all night.”
A whimper lodged itself in his throat. Tommy needed to get a grip and finish the scene. This was quickly becoming too much for him.
“Why the fuck do you think I’m there all the time? They help me with my homework every night because you won’t.”
Tommy grabbed his fake book bag and ripped it open accidentally throwing papers everywhere. Shit shit. Shit.
He bent down and grabbed them, “Done, Done, Done. These are all fucking done.” Tommy was off of the script now.
When he looked up concern was on both of their faces, he couldn’t tell whether or not it was real.
“Toms,” Wilbur spoke gently, trying to walk towards him. Tommy threw the papers at him.
“Get the fuck away from me. I did this without any of your help, don’t act like you did anything for me.” He was sobbing now, but back in the script. He didn’t know how much longer he could do this without breaking.
“CUT!”
Both Techno and Wilbur had smiles on their faces. “That was good Toms, the improvising and the crying.” Wilbur was in front of him now. His smile dropped as he looked at him.
Tommy was shaking and dried tear marks were covering his face.
“Tommy, are you okay?”
“I need a minute.” He choked out, walking off of the set and into his trailer.
Fuck. He needed to get a grip.
This wasn’t real.
None of this was real.
So why did it hurt him so much?
A knock brought him out of his thoughts.
“Are you okay Tommy?” It was Wilbur.
Tommy opened his trailer door, “Yeah I'm okay.”
The two stood in awkward silence.
“Listen, Toms,” Tommy’s heart twisted at the nickname, “I understand how it can be to get caught up in a scene. I'm here if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Wil,” Tommy whispered.
“Tommy, can I give you a hug?” The way Wilbur spoke was so gentle it made him freeze. Tommy didn’t answer he just fell into his arms.
“I’m always here for you Tommy. The scene wasn’t real. Tech and I aren’t mad at you.”
A small hiccup flew from Tommy’s mouth, “It’s so hard sometimes. It just seems so real.”
“Shh,” Wilbur rubbed a small circle into his back, “I understand.”
“CUT!” The director yelled.
Instantly the two boys broke away from each other.
Tommy looked at Wil in disgust and wiped the fake tear tracks off of his face.
This was the real world, not all actors liked each other.
The director walked up to them.
“The camera stopped working halfway through, lets's take that scene from the kitchen.”
The two boys walked back in silence.
“Tommy you’re good on the first cry, but be louder in the internal monologue. Remember they can’t hear you so talk louder. Especially on the ‘this isn’t real’ scene.”
Tommy nodded.
The cameras started rolling.
The scene began again.