video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ INT. Shared Housing, Floor 13, Room 4 – Very Late Night.

We open on a shot of the living space in one of the many shared housing units. It's dark in the messy room, with a couple of red jackets tossed onto the backs of chairs. Nearby, soft snores are audible.

In frame is a small, wooden creature, his giant eyes squinting with concentration as he stares at the screen. An old, beat-up mp3 player and a Sony Walkman sit beside him on the coffee table. The little creature mumbles a tiny, irritated— ]

I am Groot?

[ —in the same tone of voice someone else might use to ask, “How the hell do you work this thing?” He pokes at the screen fruitlessly for a while, but soon enough, his eyes light up as he shoves his hand forward one last time.

Suddenly, “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap” by the illustrious AC/DC shrieks over stereo speakers.

DONE. DIRT. CHEAP.

Sorry about your beauty sleep, Floor 13. And probably Floors 12 and 14.

The sapling yelps, scrambling and panicking to figure out how to stop this crazy thing, just as a sleep-tousled Star-Lord stumbles into frame, flicking on a light. Barely audible over the music, ]

Groot, what are you—?

[ Busted.

Peter picks up the device, sees that it’s recording, and he grimaces. ]

Oh, son of a—

[ Which is when the feed and the music both cut out. ]

Comments

action;

[godslay]

[ Peter makes it out of the room before Gamora does, but she's close behind, curls tangled and frizzy around her slightly-flushed cheeks, Godslayer in her hand. There's a bleariness clinging to her eyes that she can usually shake on demand, but she's not nearly as alert on command. She does, however, quickly see that it's just Groot with Peter's communicator and... Peter's music players.

She sighs, lowering her sword, and then pushes her hair back out of her face. ]

Groot, what are you doing out of bed?

[ The little sapling looks sheepish, and he offers a squeaky, "I am Groot" that sounds a close to "I'm sorry."

She clears her throat to banish a faint croak to her words, then continues, ]

You probably woke everyone on our floor.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ With the music stopped and the video cut, Peter is tossing the communicator aside onto a couch, lips parting to give Groot one hell of a lecture. He's interrupted when Gamora arrives, though, and he glances back at her, lips parting to voice his agreement, except—

Groggy as he is, the first thing he notices is the sword in her hand, and Peter pauses to let out a quick, incredulous snort. ]

... Seriously, Gamora?

[godslay]

[ She gives him a sort of "What?" look as she sets Godslayer aside. ]

It could have been an intruder.

knight.time; text

[chumpelstiltskin]

i really wish i understood more than 25% of what just happened

voice; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter is That Asshole who answers texts with phone calls, because he talks so much faster than he types.

So have a slightly groggy, annoyed Peter. ]

I think you're good with just the 25%, actually.

video @d.va

[bunnyhopped]

[ 4AM or whatever the heck time it may be, this is a sight for sore eyes for Hana, who's keeping vigil at her boyfriend's bedside at the hospital for the night. Whatever just happened, it's definitely helping lift the tired Hana's spirits. Her reaction, which would otherwise be loud and bubbly, is momentarily quieter and subdued given her location. And what time it is. ]

Aww, how cute...! Is that a baby tree or something?

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Welp, have a haggard looking Peter, with a chagrined Groot sitting at Peter's elbow on the table.

Ostensibly, he is thinking about what he has done. ]

His name's Groot. And he's in big trouble.

[ This, a little pointedly, and Groot grumbles beneath his breath, kicking at some imaginary dust mote.

But Peter peers at the screen a little more critically, and, listen, no matter the planet, no matter the environment, there are some locales Peter just recognizes, almost instantly.

It's why he frowns, annoyance replaced with concern. ]

Are you alright?

@sparrow; audio

[flowlikewater]

[ The Zune makes Genji remember that he had a discussion with Peter on the network a long while ago, although the cute little plant being definitely takes precedent in his thoughts. ]

I think your little friend is in need of an upgraded music player.

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter will flick on the camera; he's currently sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table, and at his elbow, Groot is sitting on the table, facing away from Peter.

If Genji has never seen a tree sulk before, now is his chance. ]

What he needs is to ask for adult supervision before he messes with stuff he doesn't know how to use.

[ And while Peter doesn't see it, Groot silently mimics Peter's words with a sour look on his face. ]

text; un: iron.man

[buildsomething]

Kid's got good taste.

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Have a video message of a sleepy- and pissed-looking Star-Lord, sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. Groot sits at his elbow, arms crossed as he fumes.

Someone is on time-out. ]

I have good taste.

[ Peter gestures with his thumb at the kid. ]

He doesn't know how to wait until the morning.

video; @galadriel

[inafadingcrown]

[Galadriel wasn't asleep. It's an elf quirk- they don't actually need to sleep. Unfortunately, excellent hearing is another elf quirk, so she is still more than a little irritated. She's Peter's neighbor, actually, so she would have been quite cross indeed, if she weren't completely distracted by something- or, rather, someone- in the video.]

Your small friend- is he, by chance, an entling?

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ SORRY NEIGHBOR...

Peter turns the feed on again to respond, sitting on the floor in front of the coffee table. At his elbow, Groot is currently sulking on the table, arms crossed and head bowed, having been lectured about the finer points of "getting an adult if you really need help with something" and also "getting a good night's rest" and also "don't mess with junk you don't know how to use at butts o'clock." ]

—A what-ling?

video ( @the.tetherer )

[tetherer]

[The Tetherer happens to be on the 12th floor, which heard enough echoes of this foreign music to stir them from their light slumber, groggily trying to palm at their phone.

Only this isn't their alarm, and it's coming from the floor above. Lovely. The Tetherer is not used to noisy neighbors. They consider going upstairs and having a stern word as to the hour of the interruption, but it stops quickly enough. A mistake, maybe.

Since they're awake, they glance at their phone and see there's a video explanation to go along with the disturbance. Their eyes are hooded with sleepiness as they flip on the video, interested enough -- and awake enough -- to consider replying.]

Your ward seems like quite a handful. I take it this isn't a regular occurrence?

[At least they hope it's not.]

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Hey there, neighbor. Peter, for his part, is looking equally sleepy, hair still mussed from his rude awakening. (There may also be a faint crease in his cheek from his pillow.) Beside him, on the coffee table, Groot is silently fuming about the unfairness of it all. ]

No, it's not. Usually, someone is smart enough to ask for help.

[ Peter doesn't see it, but Groot silently and derisively mouths along with Peter's words, mimicking him. ]

text, un: n. romanov

[latrodectus]

[ Natasha is too many floors removed to hear the music in person, as it were, but it's loud and unexpected even glancing through the network. ]

I didn't realize we were allowed to keep pets.

voice; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter is that particular brand of asshole who answers text message with phone calls, so, enjoy his groggy, sleep-heavy voice. ]

He's not a pet.

[ in that tone of voice that suggests she's said something horribly offensive. ]

vide → wild.flower

[hasitsthorns]

[ Rose doesn't mind the music. In fact, she enjoys it. Who needs sleep, anyway? Certainly not her. Despite the dark circles under her eyes and how clammy she looks, she's got a smile ready for the cute creature that'd been on the screen.

Not Peter even though that's who seems to have taken the helm now. No, Groot is way cuter. Can he come back? ]

Nice selection, little plant dude. AC/DC is always a good choice. Especially this early. Get those people up and rockin'.

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Groot does happen to be on camera again when Peter answers the message, though he's mostly sulking after whatever lecture he's just undergone. ]

Listen, AC/DC is a decent choice, but it'd be a whole lot better if it wasn't blared out in the middle of the night and yanking people out of a deep sleep.

[ Say, Peter, for instance. Who's still looking sleep as hell. ]

video. un: skyenet

[evite]

( sleeping doesn't come easy. private rooms here are quiet, more so than she'd expected, so skye fills her nights with anything that quiets the thoughts in her mind instead. things like scrolling the network. she really didn't expect ac/dc this late at night. especially not at that volume, and definitely not from what looks like a really, really tiny tree... thing.

so, you know. cue the tired eyes and exhausted whisper of: ) ... what?

( no, wait. one more, for good measure. )

Jesus Christ, how high am I right now?

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Have a groggy-looking Star-Lord, with a tiny tree sitting cross-legged on the coffee table. The tree, apparently, is on time-out, and almost certainly sulking. ]

Can't give you an answer on that, but I can at least let you know this is real, if that's what you're worried about.

video: @scavenger.rey

[talentedscavenger]

[Well...that was entertaining. Never mind the fact that Rey is staying up late, but she can't sleep and trying to stay healthy in all this mess.

The tiny plant thing is cute, but what catches her attention is his language...or maybe lack there of.]

You're not a wookie, that's for sure. [More muttered to herself than anything.]

What were you listening to?

video; @star-lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ In response to the message, Peter flicks the camera on again. He’s still looking sleepy as hell, and Groot sits at his elbow on the coffee table, fuming in time out. ]

He was listening to AC/DC. Or was trying to, anyway.

[ Listen, Peter’s not going to fault the kid for having good taste. On the other hand— ]

But he should have waited till morning. Isn’t that right, Groot?

[ The small tree – Groot, apparently – makes a sour expression before throwing out an, ] I am Groot.

[ Which apparently means, Yes, sir, or something like it, judging by the slight nod Peter offers in response. ]

[Video | @threewings]

[heavenfell]

[The music choice is enough to overwhelm her frustration at being woken so...abruptly. Alexiel pushes back her hair and smirks faintly at the screen. Groot - is that his name? - is an interesting creature. Plus his mistake seems to be innocent.

No one will die today. At least by her hand.]

I have to wonder why that song was so easy for him to find?

video; @star.lord

[nostalgiabomb]

[ The camera flicks on, revealing Peter, sitting in front of the coffee table with a pouting Groot at his elbow, sitting with his arms crossed on the tabletop. ]

I mean, I have my songs sorted by artist, and AC/DC is, you know. Pretty high up there.

[ —that's probably not what she meant in the slightest, and Peter knows it. He makes a habit of being difficult. ]