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[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

2/2

[heyunderoos]

[He just needs a minute to hold onto Norman, mentally just pulling himself back to the actual point. This was supposed to be for Father's day. He's just... ruined it so swiftly.

The teenager only draws back once he's feeling calmer. An awkward apology sits in the back of his throat, but he swallows it down. He rambles, his words getting ahead of his thoughts. Even as his gaze drops to the side.]

I... I have no idea how to actually like smoothly transition to- anything right now. [He shrugs his backpack off, moving to open it, digging through it for Norman's gifts.] I wanted to give these to you! I- I keep kind of forgetting, and that's like part of the point!

cw: toxic parenting

[certaininequities]

[carefully, Norman reaches out to put one hand over Peter's, to stop him from rummaging in his pack]

Peter, it's seriously okay. You don't have to ... transition to anything. Please, don't feel like you have to stuff down how you feel in front of me. I -

[he falters, choking on his own emotions. but he manages. this isn't his time, it's Peter's. and besides, explaining will help]

My father, Amberson - he didn't let me express myself. Say how I felt. I know we've talked a little bit about it before - the hobbies and such. But he also wouldn't let me be upset unless it was anger, and even then, never at him. I got conditioned to shove everything down, deep, into some dark corner where no one could see it... and I see now how much it hurt me and the people around me. What - who - became of it.

[he takes his hands away, looking at Peter with deep, genuine love and concern, the way he'd looked at Harry the last time he'd seen him. like a son.]

I know you wanted to come here because I missed Father's Day. And if you're going to consider me a sort of Father to you ... I don't want to do a single thing even remotely like mine. If you don't feel comfortable being upset in front of me yet, I can understand it. But please don't ever feel you have to hold anything back because I'd judge you for it, or disapprove. You feel how you feel. I may only just be learning there's nothin' wrong with that, but ... I don't want you to think there is.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter goes quiet, just listening to Norman speak. His shoulders slump somewhat. Guilt twists uncomfortably in his chest.

He hadn't realized Norman had such a complicated and... bad relationship with his own father. This was supposed to be a good fathers day thing, not an emotional rollercoaster.]

Okay. [He says quietly back, just trying to find something to say. Everything that comes to mind feels useless.] I'm- I'm not afraid of expressing myself, I just...

I wanted to do something for you. I didn't want to be a weepy mess. I've been crying so much, and... [He raises a hand to press it tightly against his eyes.]

[certaininequities]

But you are doing something for me, Peter.

[he gathers him carefully back into his arms]

I didn't dare to expect you'd even want to spend time with me again, let alone talk like this. Be honest with each other. I just want to be here for you. No matter what kind of mood you're in, weepy mess or not.

[he lifts his head and calls out, quietly]

Elias, may I have the defaults, please?

[the pixels around them shift in Matrix waterfalls, turning like tiny cubes. some sink down and others rise until they're standing in Norman's penthouse on an Oriental rug next to a soft-looking couch]

Come on, let's sit down.

[heyunderoos]

[It is almost a relief as much as it a proverbial gut punch at New York disappearing.

Peter isn't sure what he should feel at it disappearing around them. His hands shake slightly. He forces them to steady out, clutching a little at the backpack in his grasp for some semblance of stability.

He settles on keeping it simple. Keep it in the moment.]

Yeah, sitting down would be good.

pls check the keywords for this icon <3

[certaininequities]

Alright. Make yourself comfortable, please ... this is where I used to live: Tudor City. Right up at the top.

[he waits for Peter to sit, playing the good host and the concerned adult all at once. he can see the way Peter's hands clutch, but he's glad that they're muckling onto the bag instead of his hair this time, at least. he finds himself wishing that the little bar in the Cube was real - he would offer the poor kid a glass of water to calm himself down.]

We can always go back to Queens later. It'll stay in the database. I've got a lot of other places in New York programmed, too, y'know: Bruno keeps asking to see things.

I hurgle

[heyunderoos]

[Peter ends up settling the backpack in his lap as he sits down on the couch, the weight of it comfortable enough to help him feel a bit more grounded.]

It's really fancy here.

[He releases a soft huff at that.] He never really saw a lot of stuff, so, I'm not surprised.

[certaininequities]

I admit, most of it was for appearances at first, because I didn't know what kinda stuff a successful businessman should have in his house. Let someone else pick a lot of it, someone who isn't part of my life much, anymore. But I grew t' like it well enough.

[the portrait of Caroline Osborn that would really be on the wall has, instead, been replaced with one of him and Harry. it's a painted representation of a photo they had taken of the two of them for Harry's eighteenth birthday, and both of them look almost uncharacteristically content in each other's presence. glancing at it as he sits down, Norman feels a pang of melancholy himself, and turns his attention to the bag]

I still can't believe you did something, for this. Pretty sure Harry stopped giving me anything more than a card once he started high school.

[heyunderoos]

[The teenager looks down at his backpack, debating with himself on whether to pull the gifts out. His gaze flicks back up to Norman.

It doesn't take long for his attention to stray to the portrait. He finally has a face to go with the name. At least he assumes that's Norman's actual son.]

I'm glad you grew to like it. I've never really lived somewhere that like... was this fancy. I dunno how I'd deal with it.

[He huffs a little.] I always try to do something? This is... our first fathers day together, and I wanted to make it special.

[certaininequities]

... And so far I've completely botched that up, haven't I?

[he chuckles without humor and shakes his head, smiling sadly]

Alright, Peter. Let's turn this around. You show me what you've brought, and then we'll do something fun. Your choice. We could go bowling at Insert Coin, maybe get something to eat, whatever you like.

[heyunderoos]

You've been trying to- talk about a lot of stuff. It's been a lot for both of us.

[He rubs at his face a little, just trying to shift gears properly to something else.]

Yeah, I'd- like that, if you have the time, I mean.

[He looks back down to his backpack, finding the plushie first. The shirt has fallen towards the bottom of the bag.]

I made this for you. [He pulls the stuffed axolotl to hold out to Norman. The teenager is a little nervous now.] I- I hope you like it?

[certaininequities]

[Norman squints as he takes the soft little creature from Peter's hands: he's obviously curious, a little perplexed, but generally pleased as he looks at the grouchy little gray face.]

You did this on your own? Peter, this is fantastic. All this clever little stitching, and -

[he turns it over, puzzled. rainbow fabric? maybe Peter ran out of gray. then he realizes that something else can be done here, and fiddles with the axolotl until it turns inside out. the wonder and joy on his face are as clearly projected as though he were Peter's own age, or even younger.]

Oh my God, it - HA! Look at that! Oh, lookit - that is so great. Where in the world did you come up with something like this?

[heyunderoos]

Yeah! Ben and I used to make some stuff like this together. Also helps that I kinda had practice with Otto's and got better with yours. [One or two bits of stitching are lopsided and strange in spots all signs of someone still figuring out what they're doing.

The teenager releases a soft amused sound at Norman figuring out the flip so quickly. Seeing Norman look so genuinely happy eases the teenager immediately. The tension he's been carrying disappears for the moment.]

It kinda just came to me? I thought it'd be cool y'know? So you get two stuffed animals at once kinda.

[certaininequities]

It's fantastic, I love him. He can keep me company in my workspace.

[for now, he sets the happy little critter on the arm of the couch]

So what would you like to do?

[he has no clue that isn't all]

[heyunderoos]

Oh, um-

[Peter peers into his backpack, pulling out the shirt.] I made this for you too. Well, the design I mean, not the shirt. I don't really know how to make shirts.

[He extends the shirt out to Norman, hopeful the man will laugh at the terrible joke written across the front.]

[certaininequities]

What - you didn't have to -

[and then he reads it and does, indeed, laugh.]

O.M.G - I know that one. That's terrific.

[Norman takes it from Peter and turns it around, holding it up to his shoulders to check the fit]

Perfect size, too. At this rate I'm eventually going to have a collection.

[he'll bring it to Tawna to tailor for him to accommodate the spider legs as soon as he can. in the meantime he folds it carefully and sets it by the axolotl so he can lean in and give Peter another hug]

Thank you so much, Peter, this - this means more to me than I can really put words to.

[heyunderoos]

[The reaction is enough to make Peter laugh softly himself, he further relaxes visibly. He's still to some degree used to giving gifts to May. Things are- were different with her. He always knew relatively well how a gift would go over with May.

New people being folded into the family means, new things to learn.] I thought it would be cool if you had another science pun shirt. I- made a physics one for Otto too. Even if he's more a turtleneck guy.

[The teenager returns the hug readily, just happy for the shift in mood. Happy that things are kind of working out.] I mean, if we all have science shirts, it's just a cool thing we do, right-? Opposed to a collection?

[certaininequities]

Why can't it be both?

[he's still grinning broadly, and actually gets up, unbuttoning his shirt]

I'm going to put it on right now. ... You're right, though, I don't think I've seen Octavius in a t-shirt since college. Then again, I don't think I'd worn any since college, myself, so. You're doing the world a service. Making us both be a little more casual now.

[Peter is now privy to the cursed knowledge that Dad #2 is Surprisingly Ripped even off formula, sorry, Peter. at least he only has a moment to process the new fact before Norman wriggles into his new t-shirt like a kid at Christmas]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter releases a soft amused sound at the fact Norman is changing now. The teenager is happy of that much.

Wow, Norman is weirdly ripped. Peter blinks a little, but the thought drops out of his head fairly quickly.]

With how much stuff goes wrong here, being casual is probably way more comfortable. Less chance of like shedding all over anything nice.

[certaininequities]

Exactly. Not only that, but ... I think I've worn enough suits and ties for a while. Don't get me wrong, if I do get Oscorp going and it manages to make traction, I'll still have plenty of cause for formality, but until then?

[he straightens the t-shirt and strolls over to the pierglass mirror to look at it, proudly]

I think this is a good new look for me.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter closes up his backpack, shifting to wipe at his eyes one last time as Norman looks himself over. The teenager is tired, but... The promise of doing something with the older man is enough to keep him going.]

Yeah, I think so too. New look, new you, right? [He rubs at his snout, starting to groom himself without much thought.] I like to think we can redefine ourselves whenever we want, if that's not dumb to say anyway.

care to wrap it up? :)

[certaininequities]

I like that.

[he gathers up his plush and the wrapping]

Shall we go have some fun, then? You and I, our newer selves?

Yeah, lets wrap here!

[heyunderoos]

Yeah! Lets- go. [Peter brightens at Norman's acceptance of his sentiment as much as he does about their outing to be.]

I think we both deserve to have some real fun.