tom holland oneshots

stars aligned

warnings : mental health?? nothing too negative

summary : tom goes to a ted talk convention, meets reader

word count : 2400

Working in the film industry definitely had it's benefits. In this case, it was being invited to events he'd never heard of, but the showcase portfolio with event listings seemed interesting, and he hadn't been to an educational show in quite a while, so he jumped at the opportunity. 

For three boys stuck in San Diego days before a comic con panel, they needed an escape from a place fans would no doubt find them, and what better than a conventional event like a TED Talk Show? 

They'd already seen two; one about the brain and its procedure on processing information, and another about music and the making of a song, something that would go back with them to London and motivate Harrison to buy a few guitars, maybe even one for Tom if he was lucky. 

After a coffee break and some merchandise purchases, the three of them were heading into another live show talk, of which their tickets were already purchased (on the house, whoever that may have been), and their seats up front. Supposedly this girl was good, so good that she had multiple college applicants viewing her from the audience. She paid no mind to any of them -- what were they even here for? A scholarship or a job offering?

"Mate do you have any gum?" Tom asked Harrison, the three of them going through the large opening and into the dark theater room, the stage about three-fourths of a circle, their seats up close. It wasn't so much of a stage as it was a platform; it definitely wasn't like a concert stage where the host's feet would be to their faces, but it was elevated a few feet. 

"I only have mints," he said back, ruffling through his mini backpack.

"Give 'em here," Harry chimed, snatching the small metallic box from his hands before popping two into his mouth, giving the package to Tom, all the while Harrison was groaning a complaint, asking for his mints back so he could eat one too. Out of everyone there, they didn't want to be the neighbors with coffee breath, especially with Tom's Hollywood status, though they suspected they would go unnoticed in a location for such intellectual people, a table none of them happened to fall under. 

"C'mon, let's find the seats before the show starts."

Nodding in agreement, the three of them made their ways through the columns and rows of loaded seats. It wouldn't be difficult finding their seats -- almost all of the rows were already full. The rumors must've been true, Tom thought to himself. Why else would she have sold out the entire theater? 

After locating their seats and getting situated on who would have to be stationed next to the smelly old man, the trio settled as the theater lights dimmed and a spotlight shined on the platform. And then, a girl emerged, her eyes shining before the jewels that were wrapped around her neck snugly. Clad in a simple outfit, she had brown straight-legged jeans, a white tee and some doc martens. She was also noticeably young, probably in between Harry and Tom's age. 

The microphone attached to her face was on, but she hadn't started talking yet, merely glancing around at the hundreds of people in the room, the light bright yet dim, an odd contrast to the girl. 

After about a minute, she finally spoke up, her voice silky and smooth, light and airy. The upcoming words to follow throughout the hour would be quite the opposite. 

"Hi, I'm Y/N," She introduced herself. "I'm twenty-two years old, and I'm from the place beyond the pines." The audience laughed in response at the reference, Tom included. "Is Gosling here, by any chance?" She asked, a playful smile fitted on her face. Her lip gloss was shiniest out of everything, the light portraying it greatly.