[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 repeats, as though he's trying to convince himself it's an excuse worth believing. In the end, whether he believes it or not, he apparently decides to accept it. ]
Yeah. Sure. That's.. Fine, okay. Off the grid. Why not?
[ He's rambling. The tremor in his hand is back with a vengeance, so there's some rustling coming through the line as he switches the phone to his other ear. ]
Yeah, let's catch up. There's only... how many years that I need to catch up on, between us?
[On his end of the phone, Peter has closed his eyes and pressed his teeth together in a hard grimace. It's not a lie. It's not, but it walks that line between omitting truths that he's had to get very used to as Spider-Man, but he feels how very close to not being convinced Harry. At least he didn't try to claim he'd broken his phone because, wow, that would not have washed.
But whether Harry is just brushing it off because he finds it irreverent or just not a good use of time doesn't matter as he moves on and Peter huffs out a humourless chuckle.]
Eight? Give or take. Something like that. But... Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
[There's some shifting and shuffling, Peter taking a moment to glance at some scribbled notes he'd made months ago when he first, first arrived.]
You're... Not in Central City, are you? Where did you end up going?
[ It's a huge deal, actually, and Harry's pretty sure they both know it. The difference is that Peter knows what happened in those eight years to make it a big deal, and Harry has no clue. ]
No, I, ah. Overstayed my welcome with the Alliance. I'm out in Excelsior now. [ He chuckles, tone brightening. ] You'll be proud of me; I got a job. On my own merits and everything. That's gotta be a first, right?
[ It's so easy to fall back into the casual, joking tone that they fell into after the last time they were separated for eight years. So easy to forget the look of shock and horror on the time-worn Peter's face where Harry had expected familiarity. He might be mad at himself later for falling so easily back into the trap of friendship, but for now... He needs something to go right. ]
Ooooh all on your own? Really? You didn't whip out your silver spoon for all to see and then get chased off for indecent exposure? I bet that's what really happened. You can't fool me, Harry!
[It's weird how the teasing just... tumbles out. Mildly ribbing of that kind that might come with an elbow nudge or arms slung around shoulders. It's very easy. Disarmingly easy.]
Is that what we're calling it now? My "silver spoon?" No, Parker, that stayed firmly rammed up my ass where it belongs.
[ Is he mixing metaphors here? Eh, maybe a little. But he's so wrapped up in the euphoria of being able to exchange friendly banter with his best friend, he finds he doesn't care. It feels just like it did after his dad died, joking about hair dryers and unibrows, as though they hadn't been separated for so long.
But, he knows this easy feeling can't last forever. There's an elephant in the room between them, and sooner or later one of them is going to have to acknowledge it. ]
[The snort from Peter would be worthy of any self-(dis)respecting teenage boy because it's exactly the kind of ridiculous humour that never goes out of fashion. Or it shouldn't, at least.]
Well, shit, now I feel bad for whatever poor sucker you're going to wave cash at to pull it out of there someday.
[Harry obviously can't see Peter nodding along with a stupid grin on his face, but he's welcome to imagine it as Peter scuffs his toe against the floor after a moments pause.]
It's been-- I mean. It's, it's--
[How to really answer that. He pauses again, sucks in his lips momentarily then blurts--]
You wanna get lunch and talk? When you're free, I mean. I've not seen much of Excelsior, so you can show me your favourite haunt. And pay for it, obviously. Not that you need to here, but it's the principle. You offer to pay, I tell you not to insult me, then I dig around for nickels in the bottom of my bag to cover everything at the tip. Y'know, like old times.
No cash here, remember? I might have to pawn off my silver spoon if things get too dire.
[ He's got a job. But there's a big drop in salary between CEO of a Fortune 500 company and Social Media Manager at a small, independently owned business.
Still, he's paid enough to be able to afford taking his best friend out to lunch. ]
[ Less people to interrupt their talk. Not that Harry is anticipating anything going horrifically wrong during it, but he knows he's been operating on a hair trigger lately with the stress he's been under. And his face is still pretty fresh in people's minds because of the tabloids last month. He'd rather keep a low profile. ]
No food in this world beats the stuff we have at home, that's just a given.
[ You can take the boy out of New York but you can't take the New York out of the boy. ]
Nah, sadly Felicia hasn't fallen out of the sky yet. I'm managing my own calendar now.
[ Not that there's a whole lot to manage. ]
How about day after tomorrow? [ It'll give him some time to mentally prepare for whatever the fuck is coming his way, but it won't put the inevitable off for too long. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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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?
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[ He repeats, as though he's trying to convince himself it's an excuse worth believing. In the end, whether he believes it or not, he apparently decides to accept it. ]
Yeah. Sure. That's.. Fine, okay. Off the grid. Why not?
[ He's rambling. The tremor in his hand is back with a vengeance, so there's some rustling coming through the line as he switches the phone to his other ear. ]
Yeah, let's catch up. There's only... how many years that I need to catch up on, between us?
no subject
But whether Harry is just brushing it off because he finds it irreverent or just not a good use of time doesn't matter as he moves on and Peter huffs out a humourless chuckle.]
Eight? Give or take. Something like that. But... Yeah. Yeah, for sure.
[There's some shifting and shuffling, Peter taking a moment to glance at some scribbled notes he'd made months ago when he first, first arrived.]
You're... Not in Central City, are you? Where did you end up going?
no subject
[ It's a huge deal, actually, and Harry's pretty sure they both know it. The difference is that Peter knows what happened in those eight years to make it a big deal, and Harry has no clue. ]
No, I, ah. Overstayed my welcome with the Alliance. I'm out in Excelsior now. [ He chuckles, tone brightening. ] You'll be proud of me; I got a job. On my own merits and everything. That's gotta be a first, right?
[ It's so easy to fall back into the casual, joking tone that they fell into after the last time they were separated for eight years. So easy to forget the look of shock and horror on the time-worn Peter's face where Harry had expected familiarity. He might be mad at himself later for falling so easily back into the trap of friendship, but for now... He needs something to go right. ]
no subject
[It's weird how the teasing just... tumbles out. Mildly ribbing of that kind that might come with an elbow nudge or arms slung around shoulders. It's very easy. Disarmingly easy.]
no subject
[ Is he mixing metaphors here? Eh, maybe a little. But he's so wrapped up in the euphoria of being able to exchange friendly banter with his best friend, he finds he doesn't care. It feels just like it did after his dad died, joking about hair dryers and unibrows, as though they hadn't been separated for so long.
But, he knows this easy feeling can't last forever. There's an elephant in the room between them, and sooner or later one of them is going to have to acknowledge it. ]
So, uh. How've you been? ...In those eight years.
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Well, shit, now I feel bad for whatever poor sucker you're going to wave cash at to pull it out of there someday.
[Harry obviously can't see Peter nodding along with a stupid grin on his face, but he's welcome to imagine it as Peter scuffs his toe against the floor after a moments pause.]
It's been-- I mean. It's, it's--
[How to really answer that. He pauses again, sucks in his lips momentarily then blurts--]
You wanna get lunch and talk? When you're free, I mean. I've not seen much of Excelsior, so you can show me your favourite haunt. And pay for it, obviously. Not that you need to here, but it's the principle. You offer to pay, I tell you not to insult me, then I dig around for nickels in the bottom of my bag to cover everything at the tip. Y'know, like old times.
no subject
[ He's got a job. But there's a big drop in salary between CEO of a Fortune 500 company and Social Media Manager at a small, independently owned business.
Still, he's paid enough to be able to afford taking his best friend out to lunch. ]
Yeah, we should, um. There's this noodle place I can take you to. All the cafΓ©s downtown get too crowded around lunchtime, but this spot is pretty out of the way, so it won't be too busy.
[ Less people to interrupt their talk. Not that Harry is anticipating anything going horrifically wrong during it, but he knows he's been operating on a hair trigger lately with the stress he's been under. And his face is still pretty fresh in people's minds because of the tabloids last month. He'd rather keep a low profile. ]
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Noodles sounds great. They're going to have a tough time living up to Xi'an's on Bayard, but I'm down to give it a try.
When are you free in your busy schedule? Do I have to call your PA?
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[ You can take the boy out of New York but you can't take the New York out of the boy. ]
Nah, sadly Felicia hasn't fallen out of the sky yet. I'm managing my own calendar now.
[ Not that there's a whole lot to manage. ]
How about day after tomorrow? [ It'll give him some time to mentally prepare for whatever the fuck is coming his way, but it won't put the inevitable off for too long. ]
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But sure, yeah, I'm free then. Man of leisure that I am these days and all that. Little taste of the Harry Osborn life, if you squint.
Drop me a time, drop me an address. I'll be there.
[Assuming no unexpected bad guys happen. Unexpected bad guys often happen.]
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[ He sends a calendar invite with an address. ]
Try not to fall off the grid between now and then, yeah?