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[certaininequities]

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Comments

[certaininequities]

If people threw enough money at you to by a t-shirt, I'm either really impressed by the state of this economy, or busking is a much more lucrative profession than it was in New York.

[he laughs as he takes off his jacket and slips the t-shirt on. it fits perfectly, which means-]

Gonna be a little loose once this wears off - if it ever does. But Tawna will take it in for me, I'm sure. I love this, Peter.

[the tiniest pause. but it feels too right and good to hold in:]

And I love you, too. As much as if you were my own son. I hope you don't mind my saying so.

[heyunderoos]

I am in a really bright outfit, so I mean, extra solars? [Peter shrugs a little, smiling as he stretches slightly. His leg isn't happy, but he tries to not make much of a face at it.]

I'm just glad you like it! I know you like really corny puns to begin with, so it felt right.

[The sentiment draws Peter up short. His whiskers still for a moment, ears drooping as he tries to figure out his own feelings. He sounds more like the teenager he is when he speaks.]

You... do-?

I- I don't mind I mean, I just... [He trails off uncertainly.]

[certaininequities]

[oh. of course he said too much. stupid, stupid. that old REM song starts playing in his head, and he sighs, shaking his head in an attempt to turn it off. begone, Michael Stipe.]

It's alright, Peter, you don't - I don't expect you to - I understand if you don't know what to say to that.

[so, so stupid. what happened to the brain that wrote hundreds of scientific journals? what happened to the eloquent, charismatic businessman capable of bringing a boardroom to its feet? he realizes in that moment that he's no better at this now than he was years ago, faced with a very young boy with wide, wet eyes, asking him where his mother was going.]

[heyunderoos]

Like I said I don't mind, I just... [Again, he feels unsure how to respond. Everything he says feels weird, or too canned of a response.

Peter does care for Norman, just as much as he does Otto. Both men have been nothing but kind to him, protective, caring-

It feels nice to have this. He's afraid if he gets comfortable it will be ripped away from him.

The truth accidentally slips out with a weak kind of laugh as he drags a clawed hand through his fur. The claw tips catch on dark curls.]

I kind of have a bad track record with people feeling that way about me. If I say it, I'll probably jinx you.

[It isn't a logical line of thought, but it's there.]

[certaininequities]

Awh, Peter.

[his voice softens with a small sigh, blue eyes crinkling at the corners with sympathy]

Please don't say that. If anyone's going to jinx me, I've already done it myself. My son, Harry? He thought I was terrible, I'm sure. To say nothing of my ex-wife.

[heyunderoos]

I mean, I don't know everything about you, but you've been good to me? [The teenager is more than aware he doesn't know enough about Otto and Norman in comparison to how much they know about him.]

Maybe we can say... we just negate that with each other?

[certaininequities]

An inverse function.

[he grins. look at these two goddamn math nerds]

I like it. And I want to change that other thing. You not knowing me. ... Both of us not knowing each other, really.

[heyunderoos]

[The fact he caught the partial math joke does make Peter laugh a little.]

Yeah, I'd- I like to change that too. I know you guys mostly know me because of Spider-Man stuff, but, there is other stuff we can talk about too. [He's a bit more tentative with that sentiment, almost a little shy.]

[certaininequities]

I'd like that a lot. You wanna have a seat, stay for a while? Or d'you have somewhere else t' be?

[he knows certain topics might come up, but he's prepared to politely deflect them: he doesn't want to discuss May or anything related to his or Otto's recent past until they're both present]

[heyunderoos]

No, no I don't really have anywhere else to be. [The teenager moves to settle back down in the seat he had been in previously, smiling at Norman still]

Uh, tell me about you-? Whatever you want to talk about I mean.

< HasNoFear > (Blanket CW for Hollywood DID)

[summonthesuit]

[About two days after this post went up on the network, a new message pops into Norman's inbox.]

Good afternoon,

I hope you're feeling better today, and you got that blood test done that you were hoping for. I'm sorry if this message is unwelcome. I'm new to this place and I'm sure we've never chatted before. I just wanted to say that if you ever want to talk to someone who knows what it's like to have to share a body with someone else, I'm probably one of the few here who fits that bill. I know what it's like to just suddenly wake up and find out the other one's done something dreadful. Or just walked your body straight into another country.

It's up to you, of course. My situation's not quite the same as yours. Didn't have to gulp down any super serum for my mind to turn the way it did. But if you think it'll help you, I'm all for it. I never really got to talk to anyone else who knows what it's like either, so maybe it'll be good for both of us.

No pressure, though! If you don't want to, that's fine. Feel free to tell me to bugger off and mind my own business.

Oh, my name's Steven. Probably should've led with that. Sorry.

[certaininequities]

Me, huh?

[despite having invited this conversation, Norman's not really sure where to start. he folds up the shirt and moves to put it in his bureau, along with the handful of others he's bought and is carefully rotating between loads of laundry. it's the only informal one he's got, aside from a black polo shirt with a few horizontal stripes of green across the chest]

Well, uh ... back home - my world, I mean - I ran a company that dealt primarily in pharmaceuticals, but did some related mechanical engineering once in a while for extra revenue.

[thegreatmysterio]

[Quentin lets out a huff of a laugh at that last part. Honestly, he could see the whole 'whiny twig' thing, just a little. It's hard to tell if the hoodie and dark jeans are an improvement over a cheap suit, or if Hoffman's in the same boat Quentin is: you take what you can get here, and vaguely hope for what you used to have.

...And, well. Quentin knows a thing or two about wanting to impress a boss. The only difference is that he knows how easy it is to get burned. How quickly they'll toss you out on your ass if you misstep, or want to write you off completely to steal your work. Poor fucker. Probably gets fucked over with every article he writes.

Quentin gives Hoffman one of his 'cardboard' smiles, pleasant with no real substance behind it, slight and vaguely amused.]

I've heard that one before. Been in the same position more than once, even. But- [He laughs a little, rubs at the back of his neck in a casual gesture.] I don't know what would catch the ear of a guy like that. I'm used to reports and the like, not so much... interviews. Facts are easier, y'know?

[The best lie is one with some truth built into it. He's used to presentations, rattling off numbers and figures and all other kinds of bullshit. Running every possible variable into the ground to make sure a plan is air-tight. And spilling his actual plans to this guy? Is a fucking laugh of an idea.

But he can probably spin up some tasty little bullshit for Hoffman to take back, if the guy ever does make it back.]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter nods a little, smiling back.] That probably kept you pretty busy. I don't really know a lot about pharmaceuticals, but I can guess the industry is like, really big.

Were those your only two divisions-? [At least in his world, companies tend to over extend themselves pretty quick to try and compete with Stark Industries.]

[certaininequities]

Yeah. To be perfectly honest, the engineering was only originally s'posed ta be for medical equipment, but ... when things got a little tight at one point I had to diversify our output to keep us from going under to a competitor.

[he pauses, thinking about the days he spent scrambling from phone call to phone call. even the blockier car phones were yet to be, and he'd switch between living in the lab or his home office, constantly revising schematics or pleading with investors and board members, trying to make them see his vision. as stressful as the memories are, he beams proudly, not feeling any shame in it, not for this]

Turned out so well that we bought them. ... It's how we got the military's attention and landed a couple of contracts. I wish we hadn't had to go that far ... but ... if I have my way I can restart Oscorp here, and keep it the way it was supposed to be.

[he frowns a little] Dr. O'Deorain disappearing puts a bit of a stumbling block there... she was going to share her findings on species DNA so I could try and make medicines to combat some folks' symptoms, maybe even lessen the hunger.

[heyunderoos]

I mean, a lot of industries and companies get swallowed up by the war machine our system kinda turned into. [Dating MJ and being a modern teenager means Peter is fairly aware of more than a few things.] You guys were just trying to survive in a space where it's pretty hard to manage that. I'm glad you were okay, even if it's not quite what you wanted for the company.

[Peter brightens a little at that line of thought.] Oh man, I hope you can get back on that-? It'd be really nice to give people here some kind of reprieve.

Morning of June 14th

[swashgrappling]

[A few days after the post on network beginning Norman's Apology Tour, the man can expect a small package wrapped up and bundled by an the arcade entrance. Tawna isn't a 4th follower so she can't quite find where Norman is.

Within the package is a cross-stitch in a hoop. Tawna has carefully woven colorful beads into the thread on display. The words in a full rainbow read 'You Are Stronger Than You Think'. The design glitters under light.

Along with the cross stitch is a small woven patch Tawna made to pin onto Norman's jacket. It is just as rainbow as the last one with 'Kindness Is Strength' surrounded by beads and thread are colorful fractals. The same kind on his jacket.]

Hopefully this finds you in one piece. Guess I'm being kinda corny. I just wanted to give you something to hold onto.

If you ever need me, gimme a buzz. I'm always here.

-Tawna

6/19/2022 - Fathers day

[heyunderoos]

so, hi!

Happy Father's day by the way. I just wanted to see if you were... free or anything?

Sorry if that's weird.

If it is weird, you're free to ignore me.

[Peter feels a little unsure of what kind of response he'll get but he has to try. He does care about Norman, even if he's a little mad at the man still in some capacity.]

Forward-dated to after the event

[certaininequities]

Peter!!! I'm so sorry I missed this, I was - that split that happened, I was on the other side of it. I promise you I wasn't ignoring you. This -

Coming back to see this means more to me than you know.

[heyunderoos]

[After the first day, Peter didn't expect any response. So seeing this surprises him. It's a nice surprise. Peter needs a second to figure out what he wants to say before he does shoot a reply back.]

I was wondering if you got caught up in that weirdness. Are you okay?

I made you something. If you want it, I mean?

If not, that's cool too.

[certaininequities]

I am, yes. Thank you. When I found out that Joshua needed help while I was trapped, I couldn't just stand by. How have you been? I'm honestly surprised you wrote me.

[heyunderoos]

Yeah, I understand that. If you can help, you should. I would've done the same thing tbh.

I'm good I mean. Just adjusting to the house again Everything is starting to feel semi-normalish again...

I just wanted to say happy father's day, I thought I'd give you something if you wanted it...?

[He is so awkward right now, but he already hit send and can't take it back.]

[certaininequities]

tbh?

[he doesn't understand. also, the thought that Peter feels like things are settling ... it makes him happy just as much as it hurts. normal, without him. okay. he's going to have to keep accepting th -- no. wait. he rereads the message again, and realizes that he's probably just moping again. Peter wants to wish HIM Happy Father's Day. he claps a hand over his mouth, staring at the screen.]

You don't have to give me anything. Not after all of that. I - I don't feel worthy of that.

[heyunderoos]

[Norman is in luck since Peter has explained some texting slang to Otto before.]

'tbh' means to be honest. Its shorthand for texting.

I mean... I made you stuff? If you don't want it, it's fine!

I had started making it before the lake thing happened. I'd feel weird not giving it to you, since I made it for you.

[certaininequities]

I get it, I get it.

[Norman nods, trying to remember what else Peter had told him about 'Mysterio', what parts would have been public knowledge. that asinine organization that superceded the military in Peter's world, what was it called - right.]

Uh, debriefings, right? You were with SHIELD. People like that are always about the facts. But you told everyone his identity - why? Weren't you working with them?