( after being lectured about the importance of humility by an alien, he's making amends. no use making enemies after being in this world for all of ten minutes: )
You were that guy at the bar who asked for a drink, to which I pretty much said the equivalent of 'fuck you' to, right?
Yeah, that wasn't cool.
We woke up in, like, superhero hell. You can drink all you want.
I mean, maybe find some better coping mechanisms, but.
Good. Hopefully, it does something in your favor. Just don't take it too to heart if it's only temporary. Things with powers can be that way sometimes.
Although, if any part of what he does, does work, I'd suggest hooking him and your on-board scientists together to see what kind of correlations they could make. If it works, whatever he does, might hold a key to finding that cure.
[Harry Osborne. A complexity sitting in Peter's chest that he feels both responsible for and knows is completely beyond him. There had been a chance when he realised they were both in this city and he wonders now, being effectively taken out of action for the better part of a month, if he's already too late to help keep things on a better course with Harry. He still doesn't know what to do with his own feelings about Harry--what he did--but at least in theory this Harry hasn't done that yet. Does that make a difference? Peter's still not sure.
And maybe it's regressive or weakness or something else with a different word that probably only exists in German, but Peter can't think who else to reach out to. So when he calls, his voice is small and at the end of a low sigh.]
[ It's been a weird couple of months for Harry. He's met sentient alien helicopters and Asgardian gods. He's met versions of his dad and his best friend from other worlds where things were so very, very different. And yet the one thing that should be the same, the version of his best friend that he knows, has been avoiding him entirely since that chance encounter in the lobby when he first arrived. It hurt, sure, but Harry steeled himself against that hurt and pressed on without Peter, doing his best to ignore the fact he was being ignored.
So when he sees the caller ID come up reading PETER PARKER, his first assumption is that it's the other one, the teenager. The one who actually gives him the time of day. But it's clear from just those two words that it's not. It's the other Peter. His Peter.
He doesn't know what to say. A part of him wants to yell and swear and call Peter out for blowing him off so spectacularly. He'd earned that, hadn't he? But a bigger part of him, the part that has learned to shove dangerous emotions deep down into that dark place where no one can find them, and no one can use them against Harry, decides not to give himself the satisfaction of yelling. That part of him doesn't want Peter to know how much he was hurt by the dismissal.
So, after what is probably too long of a pause, and the sound of Harry swallowing awkwardly, there comes a ] ...Hey.
[Honestly, Peter is already in the state of mind where he expects and is willing to take a few metaphorical lumps and he's almost braced for it when he hears the phone give a sharp click as Harry picks up.
And Harry speaks.
Yeah, complicated feelingsβrelief and something else that's more mixed up.]
He has been, but I haven't seen him at all today and he won't answer his phone. I thought he'd just gone out before I got up, but this isn't like him.
[He won't say so in so many words, but Otto's actually been a bit worried over how reclusive Norman's been. He can't really imagine where the man might have gone, much less for so long with no word.]
Hey, Harry. Uh, this is kind of awkward and out of the blue, sorry. My name is Peter Parker. You might have heard of me before because of multiverse shenanigans, right? Haha, what a weird time. If you haven't heard of me before that's great! I mean, not great, but then it might overcome any preconceived notions or whatever...
[ He is the WORST at playing it cool. ]
UHHH anyway, I traced the info in the simulation and I guess I wanted to apologise. You were Triple Trouble, right? I was stuck as Starstruck and I couldn't get out. I didn't mean to...go off the rails about it. So...I'm sorry. For how that went.
Yeah, okay. I guess that's all. You can call me back at this number if you wanna talk or whatever. Bye.
[ When Harry listens to the voicemail, he can't help but let out a disbelieving swear and shake his head. ]
You've got to be fucking kidding me... Another one?
[ What is it about this place that attracts so many goddamn Peter Parkers? It's like they're as common as fucking Spider-Man or Loki.
He listens through to the end of the message, quietly amused that apparently rambling is a universal Peter Parker trait. As soon as the message is over, he dials the number back.
[Otto has stepped back a bit, after Norman's disappearance. He wanted to give Harry some space. Honestly, he's not sure if that was the right thing to do or not. The truth is, they don't know each other all that well. But it had seemed a sensitive time, and...well, for better or worse, Otto's own impulses have always leaned towards isolation.
He never meant it to last forever, though. After a while, he does reach back out.]
[ Harry's been... isolating himself, since the kaiju attack. Memories had been shared, secrets revealed that he almost wishes had stayed secret. But there's no shoving the tiger back in the cage now. Harry feels betrayed by the person he trusted most, in this or any other world.
So Otto will have to forgive Harry. He's not catching him in the greatest of moods. ]
Otto's priority in this has always been to protect Peter - all the Peters. If Harry already knows their secret, then he sees no point in lying about himself.]
[ Peter asked Harry to meet him at a coffee shop, preferring to do this in person. Has he met Harry in person? He thinks the answer is no, actually! They've only talked a few times. Is this going to be awkward because of the other him? He hopes not. He's awkward enough without weird multiverse help, thanks.
He finds a relatively quiet table in a corner. The shop is pretty quiet; turns out regular people don't like hanging out in places metas are known to frequent. Well, fine. ]
[ The funny thing is, they have met. But neither of them were themselves at the time. Harry had been Triple Trouble, a bit-part villain doing his best to stop Peter as Starstruck from destroying half a city block. Since they were both in the simulation at the time, Harry himself isn't all that sure what this Peter is really like, as himself.
But that's what this call is, right? A chance to get to know each other better?
Harry walks into the coffee shop with a pep in his step that has been lacking in recent months. Joining up with the Society means that there are protections in place when he does the underhanded things he needs to do in order to cure himself of his ever-progressing illness. While before, he had tried to limit himself from needing to corner random strangers in back alleys and beat them senseless, now he does it without hesitation, whenever he needs to 'top himself up,' so to speak. He doesn't plan on telling Peter about it, of course. Something tells him even if it's guild-sanctioned violence, any Spider-Man would see something like that happening and would try to stop it.
So all Peter will see is Harry Osborn in his prime, swanning his way into the coffee shop like he owns it, pulling off his jacket and scarf to sit across from Peter at the little corner table. ]
Yeah, don't mention it. You said you wanted to talk?
text; misfire
un: h.osborn
in which city?
oh right un; ΞΟιάνα
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text. lethalprotection.
You were that guy at the bar who asked for a drink, to which I pretty much said the equivalent of 'fuck you' to, right?
Yeah, that wasn't cool.
We woke up in, like, superhero hell.
You can drink all you want.
I mean, maybe find some better coping mechanisms, but.
I'm not your boss.
un: h.osborn
but you can rest easy, I won't be begging any more strangers to buy me drinks.
[ He's still going to be drinking, of course, but now that he's turned 21 he can buy them himself. ]
thanks for the helpful tip, bar guy.
no subject
Let me make it up to you.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text Β» @callidus
Saw a guy on the network literally advertising being some sort of healer. Could be worth a shot?
@h.osborn
we're going to give it a go. might as well, right?
I also have some scientists working on finding a cure.
[ One of whom happens to be an alternate universe version of his father. It's... fine. ]
no subject
Although, if any part of what he does, does work, I'd suggest hooking him and your on-board scientists together to see what kind of correlations they could make. If it works, whatever he does, might hold a key to finding that cure.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text; ourpowers dm
We received a tip that you didn't exactly have the best birthday this year. Would you care to comment on that?
no subject
[ It's not quite as damning as "Who told you?!" but... still pretty damning. ]
my birthday was fine. I celebrated it exactly the way I celebrate every birthday.
[ Alone, with alcohol, making bad decisions. ]
incoming call;
And maybe it's regressive or weakness or something else with a different word that probably only exists in German, but Peter can't think who else to reach out to. So when he calls, his voice is small and at the end of a low sigh.]
Hey, Harry.
no subject
So when he sees the caller ID come up reading PETER PARKER, his first assumption is that it's the other one, the teenager. The one who actually gives him the time of day. But it's clear from just those two words that it's not. It's the other Peter. His Peter.
He doesn't know what to say. A part of him wants to yell and swear and call Peter out for blowing him off so spectacularly. He'd earned that, hadn't he? But a bigger part of him, the part that has learned to shove dangerous emotions deep down into that dark place where no one can find them, and no one can use them against Harry, decides not to give himself the satisfaction of yelling. That part of him doesn't want Peter to know how much he was hurt by the dismissal.
So, after what is probably too long of a pause, and the sound of Harry swallowing awkwardly, there comes a ] ...Hey.
no subject
And Harry speaks.
Yeah, complicated feelingsβrelief and something else that's more mixed up.]
Hey. [First surprised. Then--] Hey! Harry! Wow, I-- er... Hey.
[Smooth as ever, Parker.]
I've been tied up with a whole lot of... Stuff. Like, pretty really kinda off the grid stuff. It's been a whole thing and I want to--
[What, exactly? He's not even sure he knows, but after a second--]
Wanted to touch base. Catch up. You know?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text
Harry, is Norman with you right now?
no subject
No, I haven't seen him or talked to him since
[ Since that stupid drunk phone call on his birthday. ]
I assumed he was with you?
no subject
[He won't say so in so many words, but Otto's actually been a bit worried over how reclusive Norman's been. He can't really imagine where the man might have gone, much less for so long with no word.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
I am so sorry that this is so late
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
voicemail, figure we'll move to action in a bit!
[ He is the WORST at playing it cool. ]
UHHH anyway, I traced the info in the simulation and I guess I wanted to apologise. You were Triple Trouble, right? I was stuck as Starstruck and I couldn't get out. I didn't mean to...go off the rails about it. So...I'm sorry. For how that went.
Yeah, okay. I guess that's all. You can call me back at this number if you wanna talk or whatever. Bye.
call back!
You've got to be fucking kidding me... Another one?
[ What is it about this place that attracts so many goddamn Peter Parkers? It's like they're as common as fucking Spider-Man or Loki.
He listens through to the end of the message, quietly amused that apparently rambling is a universal Peter Parker trait. As soon as the message is over, he dials the number back.
RING RING! ]
no subject
Hello? Harry, right? Hey, thanks for calling me back and everything.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
text; I don't know when, time is an illusion
He never meant it to last forever, though. After a while, he does reach back out.]
Hello, Harry.
How have you been?
hoo boy this'll be fun
So Otto will have to forgive Harry. He's not catching him in the greatest of moods. ]
did you know?
that Peter was Spider-Man.
no subject
Otto's priority in this has always been to protect Peter - all the Peters. If Harry already knows their secret, then he sees no point in lying about himself.]
Yes, I did.
(no subject)
(no subject)
wow this sure is a whole month later...
(no subject)
society things incoming!
He finds a relatively quiet table in a corner. The shop is pretty quiet; turns out regular people don't like hanging out in places metas are known to frequent. Well, fine. ]
Hey, man, thanks for coming.
whoops this became a bit of a novel...
But that's what this call is, right? A chance to get to know each other better?
Harry walks into the coffee shop with a pep in his step that has been lacking in recent months. Joining up with the Society means that there are protections in place when he does the underhanded things he needs to do in order to cure himself of his ever-progressing illness. While before, he had tried to limit himself from needing to corner random strangers in back alleys and beat them senseless, now he does it without hesitation, whenever he needs to 'top himself up,' so to speak. He doesn't plan on telling Peter about it, of course. Something tells him even if it's guild-sanctioned violence, any Spider-Man would see something like that happening and would try to stop it.
So all Peter will see is Harry Osborn in his prime, swanning his way into the coffee shop like he owns it, pulling off his jacket and scarf to sit across from Peter at the little corner table. ]
Yeah, don't mention it. You said you wanted to talk?
(no subject)