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1.Tom
The thing about befriending Luke is that he actually picks and chooses who he wants to BE friends with. He's an energetic and bubbly person but sometimes he just needs to be around people he can feel settled with.
To let him stay in the background for a tiny bit as the others talk. Maintaining that big of an energy will take a toll on anyone, but the way it bursts out is always so addicting to see.
Tom being the oldest in the group of four was used to being pushed to the side at times due to how easygoing he can be. He is patient and as affluent into thinking what monologues fit that he comes up on stage. Monologues are easy for him to conjure up, however the task of bringing up how the audience is slightly disrupting their performance is one he doesn't like doing often.
They like encouraging people to drink before the second half but it has bitten their asses before. Tom hopes Luke would continue on with the show as they were in the climax bit of the flurry when,
"Grandmama?" A high-pitched joking inquiry came out from Luke. Gave that audience member just a few bits of his time and have the rest find the humor from it.
That person didn't seem to be purposefully interrupting them, but Luke as always has masterfully and politely told them off.
It was silly for me to think Luke would have let go of something small, but he must've noticed how his attention swerves at times from these small distractions.
Tom noticed his quick nod and smile at him when he came back sitting next to him after the scene ended. His charming self that I can't help but notice and love every time we are together.
2. Sam
Sam likes messing with his friends during their shows but mostly trying to make them corpse. Tom makes it harder for him every time, AJ laughs at very specific jokes when he gets it, and Luke. Well.
Luke's laughter alone powers the three of them in continuing to have fun doing improv together. That even with being a part of this group, he manages to be the greatest fan. So it's always been a mission of his to either make him have that Manning BreakdownTM OR do ridiculous non-facts counter the real facts he mentions in the shows. Him having a mild annoyance from it is enough of a reason for me to keep doing them.
This current longform of ours has a normal but intriguing title. So, of course we are taking that to a more absurd level. The staple of these longforms is his and Luke's couple characters, so we're having that box ticked again.
He has once again decided to power through after saying a random word during the scene. Being asked by Luke to define it, is already making him smirk at the request. Of course, he manages to bullshit his way in saying the definition as if it were really true and sees him immediately scold the audience for cheering him on.
They both shared a look and continued on being a strange couple to one another while also remembering every plot point they were introducing. Including the bullshit.
Every playful disdain that Luke gives him during his decisions in the longform, Sam thoroughly enjoys. It's always fun to see him play two characters at once because he fully commits to the bit.
As much as he likes messing with Luke, he really loves just seeing him perform and be in his element. He really is everyone's favorite Luke Manning, including his.
3. AJ
AJ always has fun when he shares the stage with Luke. Them being the opening scene for today was fun but still doesn't shake off the nerves AJ has from time to time.
Luke has maybe called the made-up names for this current longform so many times in that outrageous accent, that it slowly made him comfortable again.
Maybe that's what he had intended to do if he noticed AJ slightly fumbling on his words. Of course, the younger man had to give the blond little man a knowing look when he made a bald joke. Overall, everything was going well.
But sometimes laughter from the audience makes some of them be TOO comfortable. Comfortable enough to be loud whilst they're performing. It brings AJ quickly to a place back then when they are desperate for people to listen to them.
"My grandson is muttering. Over in the back such a naughty wee boy!" Luke says, snapping him from that scene.
He can feel himself already grinning big as he sees the blond man go down towards the audience.
"Grandson, where the fuck are you? When I'm talking to my friend. Fucking SHUT UP!" The crowd laughs and woos from this as he sees Sam and Tom giving him applause as well.
Luke comes back on stage, the light bouncing atop his head as if a halo rests on it for a few minutes. AJ looks at him hoping to show how he still looks up to him after all this time. His focus now is all on the shorter man looking up at him to listen to what he would say next.
"Remind me to not piss you off then. " He answers him back. Nerves fully gone as AJ gives his full attention to Luke's character. A guiding light, a reliable rock to whom he can settle with.
+1 Luke
Luke can still feel that uncomfortable feeling that this particular show's hecklers left in their meet and greet. He doesn't understand where they get the gall to even ask for their pictures. He looks back at Sam and Tom talking to them as they aren't even sorry for the disturbance they caused.
The three subtly make Luke stay at AJ's right side to avoid being nearer to the group of jerks as they take that picture. The blond man only lets out a sigh of relief when they call the next people in the queue.
---
"I'm going to go check if our Uber is outside and wait for you guys there."
"Are you sure? We can all wait here and go out together." AJ asks as he fixes a worried look at the older man.
"It'll be fine. I also sort of just needed.." The three understood that Luke just wanted a bit of space for himself. They always had hecklers but for them to specifically put a target on Luke made them more vigilant after a long time. Noticing as well how Luke chose to be more subdued in noticing the rude men as the other three continue in the offensive.
"We're just settling the check here and then we'll be out." Tom finally gave him the permission to go out. It's not like they won't see each other at his house later to sleep. The blond man stands in a lone spotlight lit by one of the streetlights. He breathes in and out of a particular fear he can't rub off, rubbing the straps of his backpack. On how this feeling of being paid attention to is making his skin burn. The laughter that he likes joining is now stuck in his throat. He has his glasses now, taking his contacts out after the show to maybe hide how his eyes look right now. Unfortunately, the day proves to make it worse for him.
"I KNEW IT!" Luke turning around makes him see the same group again, going near him this time.
"Oh, hello. Are you guys waiting for--"
"You're midget Manning!" The nickname breaks something in Luke. A time in the past he hid so deep that he thought he moved on from already.
Chills pass through him as the group of four now towers at him.
"I remember now. It's me! Matthias. We used to be in the same youth football team in Essex. Remember?"
He remembers him alright. The bruises that his calves endured from all those "practice drills", his glasses breaking weekly from all the shoving trying to "teach him" how to properly play the sport.
Now it all makes a bit more sense for his heavy apprehension. His hand tightens at the strap of the backpack he's wearing.
"Oh. I think you've got the wrong person--"
"Nope..Pretty sure I remember that wide eyed stare behind those thick glasses frames." The group laughed with his exclamation. From the slight slurring they had in their voice this might get worse with their lowered inhibitions.
"Yeah, you were that small guy bad at drills. You fattened up didn't you now? Looking good man." One of them pipes up with a mocking voice.
"Hey, hey. Remember those times where we used to play those pranks on you? We had a big laugh on that one. Better than your "jokes" earlier." Matthias pats Luke's chest heavily.
"Uhm..vaguely.."
They kept locking him in a locker when they found out he was small enough for it. His family thought he loved the sport since he kept going home late when really that's what happened. They were surprised when he finally told them he was quitting.
Luke searches for the three as he hears the door of the bar open, but he just gets his backpack strap yanked by Matthias to have his attention back at them.
"Mr. Bigshot now thinks he's hot shit huh. We aren’t worth your attention anymore, are we?"
"Look, I don't know what exactly your plan is going here. But can you just let me go." Luke said harshly.
"Talking back now huh? Where was this when you were little weakling Luke Manning. Is it because you have your trio of pussi--" Luke pushes towards him to escape just to be yanked back hard until he is sprawled on the ground.
The smaller man immediately has his arms up readying for the possible assault until he hears someone saying AJ's name. A loud crunch was heard, and the group of boys were yelling after it.
Luke felt gentle hands taking his hands away from his face. He sees Tom's worried eyes, turning his face left and right to see if he was hit. The adrenaline from suddenly being put to the ground is making him breathe too fast for Tom's liking. The taller man stays with him on the ground trying to make his breath slow down.
The blonde looks beyond his shoulder to see Sam holding off a pissed AJ as if a bull in a China shop. He sees Matthias on the same ground with his hand clutching his nose.
It was the sight of blood, the vague scent of chips and beer wafting from the bar's open door, the yelling from every direction. All the yelling. His throat was closing up from the panic.
It's the feeling of large hands at the side of his face making him face Tom again.
"Hey there. We're still breathing too fast, Lukey. Follow my lead now." Tom does his slow breathing again, patiently waiting for Luke to copy him.
It's in this moment where all he remembers now are snapshots of what happened from the bar to Tom's house. Of how he blinked, and he was in the car clutching Sam's hand.
Another blink and they were in Tom's house with him standing on top of the older man’s Dr. Who welcome mat.
And another to being in AJ's arms getting hugged tightly. His arms were laxed at his side and he willed them to hug the younger back. Luke thinks he mumbled an apology, but it just gets tutted by AJ.
He probably tells them in the same night how he knew that group of people. How he insists on being the one to wrap AJ's hand with bandages. He tells them the past bruises, the unsaid history of trying one sport just so he doesn't worry his parents for always choosing to stay inside with his books and only his brothers to accompany him.
He tells them that there are some battles he let himself lose and be forgotten to time. The group hug that came after helped him stay grounded, using it to quiet the sobs that finally came out.