IC Inbox for Ryslig

[certaininequities]

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<DR_OSBORN> You've reached Dr. Norman Osborn.
<DR_OSBORN> Please leave a message: I'll respond as promptly as possible.

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Comments

[certaininequities]

[Norman nods a little, getting up to pull a small cooler from beneath the bed and take out bottles of iced tea as he responds]

Honestly, it's probably good. She knew about it in their universe, supported it. And he was using it to help her get support for the shelter ... it might help him feel connected to May.

[he holds a bottle out to Otto: whole, full, safe, and nothing like the broken one they'd left behind in the Cube that day]

Maybe we should figure out a way to support him the way she did. ... I'm sorry, the store down the street doesn't stock salt water.

[did he just wink at Otto? maybe. he had been right on the other side of the broken wall from that exchange, after all.]

[sciencesquid]

[Otto reaches out to take the bottle as soon as it's held out to him. There's no hesitation there, no reason to second-guess the gesture. ...Well, until that joke. That's when he freezes for a moment. He'd really hoped no one else had overheard that conversation. He can't even bring himself to be mad about it.]

Iced tea will do. [He twists the cap off with one quick motion.] I'm just worried that... being Spider-Man will come at the expense of Peter Parker. He could've lived a normal life all those years, but he didn't, and the amount of terrifying situations he's been in as a result can't even be counted on both hands. And I know we can't protect him from that sort of thing, considering the very nature of this world, but... I just don't want him to forget he's a teenager above all else.

[certaininequities]

[when the joke and the wink both fall flat, Norman tries not to take it to heart. it was, after all, connected to May, and -]

I'm sorry, that was in poor taste. To the Parkers.

[he clicks the neck of his bottle against Otto's and drinks, considering the matter as he listens]

I'm not surprised we have the same concern. I don't feel like we have any right to set boundaries, even with some things taken into consideration.

[his gaze shifts to the little plush dragon Peter made him, sitting on his pillow with the smiling face showing. Father's Day had been a very bittersweet thing for both of them, and he imagines it was for Otto, too]

But we can encourage him to do regular things, enable them a bit. He's close with Chiaki, after all. She might have some good ideas... though I'm not sure if she knows about Spider-Man. He likes to keep that secret, even here, and I can't say I blame him. But ... in terms of helping him keep the balance of things ... at least I'll be able to help more with that.

[he pauses, looking up at Otto with an uncertain smile]

I've spoken to Reira. She's letting me come back to Hill House, and giving me my own room.

[sciencesquid]

[He'll allow that toast and fight very hard not to comment on how a salt joke is in literal poor taste.

The encouragement is something he's been trying, but he doesn't feel he's been very successful. Every attempt to have Peter develop more hobbies of his own has been waylaid to some degree. Even the suggestion that the teen could develop his skills as a stuffed animal crafter had received a reply along the lines of "it would be weird for Spider-Man to make plushies". May had enabled Peter's superhero persona, and now, Otto's left wondering whether Peter still knows how to be Peter. That's an issue to tackle in the long run, though.

The notion of Norman returning to Hill House raises Otto's spirits, as that'd been one of the things he'd wanted to discuss. Even so, his thoughts seem to trip over the "own room" bit. He'd blindly assumed that if Norman were to return, it'd be to that same shared lodgings. But it's better this way, isn't it? It makes far more sense. So the surprise, which lasted only a split second, is replaced with a smile.]

Oh, good! That's good. The kids will be happy to hear that. [A pause, and then:] I'm happy to hear it.

[certaininequities]

[that smile becomes perfectly certain, once Otto says he's happy about the news. Norman feels a lump rising in his throat, and uses his iced tea to cover it. it was one of his favorite old business tactics - at a function, always have a drink in your hand. it made you fidget less, seem more confident, and let you build pauses into converssations so you could think. unfortunately, it had also led to a bad habit...]

I miss them. I've missed you. I can't wait to be back there, but I'm waiting until the others have finished moving out. Reira's going to give me the go-ahead.

[he remembers that Otto had contacted him for a specific reason, and he wonders if his guess about it is right on the nose. there's a little sparkle of mischief in his eyes, now: he's in a good mood, and feels he can indulge himself in that as he asks]

So, we're gonna talk about Bruno?

[sciencesquid]

[Otto's stomach clenches when he hears that Norman missed him. It shouldn't be a surprise, and it isn't, but hearing it voiced aloud still makes him nervous for reasons he can't quite describe. ...Or maybe it's excitement instead. He can't tell. So just as Norman did, he takes a quick sip of iced tea to try and mask the feeling. To settle it.

Quite frankly, the next topic of conversation won't be any easier on him. It helps that Norman's so lighthearted about it, at least. He can try to mimic that.]

... There's a lot to say about Bruno. [It's stated with a wry smile of his own.] He came to see me today. To talk about... Well, I'm sure you already know.

[certaininequities]

You've got me there.

[he gives Otto a sheepish smile, but it doesn't last, and he finds himself wishing he'd opted for ginger ale over iced tea. he doesn't frown or wince: instead there's open care and concern in his eyes]

I hope you'll forgive me for not saying anything. He wanted to speak to you himself... partly because I didn't feel comfortable telling him about Rosie. It wasn't my place or my business.

[sciencesquid]

[Rosie... Dammit, Bruno doesn't know about Rosie, does he? Otto's going to have to tell him himself. That's not a conversation he looks forward to, but it can wait a bit longer, can't it? God, he hopes so. He's already juggling a few too many stress factors at the moment.]

Oh no, it's... It's fine. It's better that I heard it from him personally. [He pauses for a second, his gaze flitting down to the bottle in his hands.] And it wasn't a bad conversation. Just surprising, mostly.

[certaininequities]

He surprised me, too.

[Norman huffs a soft laugh at the memory, but it doesn't last, because he can clearly see how distressed Otto is. he shifts a little closer down the cot, thinking about the conversation he had with Atem: how he'd been told to be clear and honest, and not try to predict Otto's reactions to choose for him]

Especially since ... well. If I had to make a choice, I know what it'd be. No matter how long I might have to wait.

[sciencesquid]

[The sentiment is clear despite its ambiguous wording, and it takes Otto aback. It's true that Norman's known him longer than Bruno- that they've been through more together. But in a way, maybe that would've made Bruno the more preferable option. Less tainted history. To know Norman would still choose him even after all that's happened... It causes his cheeks to burn just a little.

And then he deciphers the underlying implication.]

No, you... You won't have to choose. [It honestly feels as if they've outgrown those sort of restrictions. As if it really doesn't matter in a place like this. They should get happiness wherever they can.] Bruno suggested that the three of us could work something out, and I'm sure it's possible over time. ...But it's nice to know you're so confident about your choice.

[certaininequities]

[was Otto .... blushing? Norman isn't sure if he should dare to smile, but he wants to. he can feel it tugging at his cheeks like a foolish schoolboy, and he's embarrassed for himself. was it Ebenezer Scrooge that said 'I don't have the right to be this happy'? possibly. probably. ... fitting, even.]

You think it is?

[Norman ducks his head, reaching up to ruffle a hand through his hair, fluffing it up a little.]

He'd posed the same idea to me, but I wasn't sure what you'd think. I -

[he laughs a little: mostly at himself, but also relieved, as he looks up at Otto, sheepishly]

I'm glad you think we could...

[sciencesquid]

[He catches that smile on Norman's face. It feels like the sort he hasn't seen on his friend's face in years. It's a very flattering one, too. Perhaps if Norman had had reason to smile like that more often, he could've kept the Goblin at bay. But then, those are the sort of hypotheticals Otto is probably better off not pondering for too long.]

It's different than either of us is used to, but then... So are most other things here. There's no reason not to try, if we all feel the same way.

[Feelings are a tricky topic, though, as he's still sorting through them. He takes another sip from his iced tea, if only to mask his nerves.]

[certaininequities]

[he wants to be closer to Otto, right now. wants to invite him to sit next to him, so that they can lean on each other the way he and Bruno did, in the Cube. not even for anything more simple than the comfort of each other's presence. for the warmth, physically and emotionally. he knows Otto is in a tough place, himself: the aftermath of all of this, plus still processing his grief for Rosie, and everything else ...]

Everything's moved so damn fast, hasn't it...

[he reaches out, places a hand on Otto's shoulder. a compromise.]

I feel like I haven't even had a chance to process what happened at home - and I was here a month before you. S'there anything I can do...?

[sciencesquid]

[It's true, everything has moved fast. Ever since that failed reactor demonstration, it's like a rock was sent tumbling down a hill, only for that hill to become a mountain and the rock to become a full-blown avalanche. Otto would like to think he's still in control of his own life, but all he's really doing right now is rolling with the punches. He's not the man he used to be before the incident; not anymore.

Needless to say, he appreciates the sentiment, as well as the hand on his shoulder. His own reaches upwards to cover it; a confirmation for Norman that it's okay.]

This is enough. Really, it is. Just sitting here and talking with you... It helps.

[certaininequities]

I'll sit and talk with you any time, as much as you like.

[he turns his hand under Otto's to hold it, briefly. he feels like this, at least, should be okay]

... I'm worried about Peter. Is it just me, or is he going out as Spider-Man more than he used to?

[sciencesquid]

[It's more than okay. It soothes Otto's nerves in a way he can't quite describe. Unfortunately, the change in topic is not so soothing.]

He's restless, I think. I've tried to divert his attention to other... hobbies, but he keeps going back to Spider-Man.

[certaininequities]

You, too, huh?

[he gives Otto's hand a little squeeze]

We had a little talk about it in the Cube, when he gave me this shirt ... I tried to tell him that being Spider-Man is fine as long as he doesn't do it alone. Said he was one've the people who showed me how important it is t' accept help ... and he should take his own advice.

If this helps him, if it's good for him, the last thing I wanna do is tell 'im ta stop, but ... at th' same time, I don't want him ta bury himself in it either. Like I did my work.

[he tilts his head at Otto, considering]

He looks up to you, listens. Maybe the two've us can brainstorm something that'll let him walk that line.

[sciencesquid]

[The notion that Peter looks up to Otto- that he listens to him- is oddly reminiscent of something that Beck of all people insisted. That it's Otto's job to look after Peter now. But that's not right, is it?

He exhales deeply, squeezing Norman's hand in turn.]

We should, then. So he can listen to the both of us. [Because the way Otto sees it, the two of them are on equal footing where Peter is concerned.] Perhaps we can patrol alongside him. Or... find a way to keep in touch with him a little more, so he can reach out to us the moment he's in over his head.

[certaininequities]

I don't know if patrolling will be a good idea for me, given everything else. At least, not right now. I'll be his R&D department - we're already working on recreating those web-shooters of his.

[he seems to be absolutely fine despite mentioning the Goblin obliquely - the hand-holding is definitely the grounding factor, and Otto gets a grateful little smile]

Ya know, when all that stuff started raining down from the - oh! You weren't here for that, were you? I always forget. Feels like you and Peter have been with me all along. Not long after I arrived, there was this strange interdimensional fluke where a bunch of items started falling from the sky - nothing newer than, say, 1988? But all kinds of technology and clothes. Like people's drawers just got emptied out over the city. Most of it wound up in the dump ... I bet we could find and repair some short-wave radios.

[he says, refusing to use the phrase 'walkie-talkies' because he is trying to sound like an authoritative, possibly parental figure here. please call him out on his ridiculousness.]

[sciencesquid]

[Oh, Otto had a look at the webshooters as well, there just wasn't much he could do with them. From what he could tell, the problem was more chemical than technical, which isn't really his field. Norman's a better candidate for that for certain.

That other thing, though... He chortles a bit at the vague wording.]

Short-wave radios? You mean like walkie-talkies? Well, it would certainly beat tin cans on a string, wouldn't it?

[certaininequities]

Yes, exactly!

[look, he's still not saying it. it's very easy to continue the conversation that way. just you wait.]

No getting tangled up in horns and tails and such. Or having to re-enact Theseus and the Minotaur. The only thing we'd have to figure out is converting them to whatever this place does for batteries. They must have something...

[sciencesquid]

Can we not use whatever power source the laptops run on? Or ask Mana to provide us with some suitable, long-lasting battery packs for walkie-talkies?

[Walkie-talkies, Norman. Walkie-talkies.]

[certaininequities]

[Otto gets the slightest squint as Norman begins to suspect he's being mocked]

Well, we could, but at the detriment of the laptops, and everyone uses those. I don't want to deplete a vital resource even if it's just enough for a handful of kids.

I haven't bought anything from Mana just yet, I'm saving up for some lab space of my own ... but it's a thought. Looking into local batteries is probably the easiest first move, though.

[sciencesquid]

[Now now, it's just a bit of friendly ribbing. Besides, Otto likes saying the word "walkie-talkie". It rolls right off the tongue.]

Well, certainly. Assuming local batteries can be easily recharged and hold the proper mileage to keep a walkie-talkie going at all times, that would be ideal. Though if push comes to shove, I have more than enough coins of my own to barter with Mana. I don't quite know what else I'd possibly spend them on.

[His days of having his own lab space are over, as far as he's concerned.]

[certaininequities]

Or we could jerry-rig a charging station. Not too hard, just conductors and plates on bases...

[at the mention of coins, though]

You can't tell me you don't want a space to at least tinker in, Otto.