VIDEO & TEXT | un: too larby | @everyone

[fwips]

[The image veers abruptly down and then back up again, a smear of pale skin and mop of brown hair sliding by before the picture settles, canted, on a skinny, old-fashioned desk with a darkened window above it. Distantly, a teenage voice:]

What the—

[The picture slides swiftly around to the baldly-astonished face of Peter Parker.]

Is this new? WHEN DID WE GET VIDEO? Can anybody see this?

[He squints at the screen, leaning in.]

There's an option to save and send. I'm gonna do that, tell me if anybody gets this.

[A tick, and he flicks a glance back up to the camera.]

This is Peter. Parker.

Comments

[nonstopnarcissist]

I did not come here to get roasted.

[fwips]

may says it builds character

[nonstopnarcissist]

So does Rhodey. They'd get along pretty well, I think. Why have I never introduced them?

[fwips]

probably that whole donut in space end of the universe thing

[nonstopnarcissist]

...I meant before that but, sure. Probably a good reason.


And it was only 1/2 of the universe. Silver linings.

[fwips]

uh
not for everybody?

[nonstopnarcissist]

...




















yeah. Yeah, I know.

[fwips]

oh man
its cool, mr stark
pls dont be upset
its my bad for bringing it up

[nonstopnarcissist]

things I hope you never learn, Pete. Survivor's Guilt? Sucks.

[fwips]

kinda already there tbh just cuz im here hanging out and getting nothing good done and i know what happened back home



also idk if it counts but
i dont think i ever told u about my uncle
he died cuz of me so
it sucks

[nonstopnarcissist]

You're helping the collective village survive by doing chemical research for our medics. How is that nothing?



No, you haven't, yes, that sucks and- christ, kid. I'm sorry.

[fwips]

yeah but its going NOWHERE
idk why im even bothering
i mean i know u wanted to b ncie and give mesomething to do but
im bad at it ok
give it to dr banner

[nonstopnarcissist]

Peter I pointed you in that direction because you've got a better head for chemistry than I do. I don't say that lightly.

Because you saw somewhere you could step in to help and have taken your best swing at it. Talk to me, I'll be your rubber duck. Here are things falling apart? Is it an equipment issue, a samples issue?

And if you want to put this aside and work on something else? That's fine too. What else do you think you can put your brain to work on?

[fwips]

i just dont know whats the point
of me
here



i got some of my powers back fromthat machien in the bunker and it was like ok
it wasnt a lot but i felt idk
better
and now its gone and what am i even doing

[nonstopnarcissist]

You don't need your powers to have value. You don't need the suit, you don't need your mutation to do good.

You're smart, kid. You step up when something difficult needs doing because you feel responsible and that's not something I can say about most teenagers, hell, I can't say that about most adults.

[fwips]

i know im being stupid
sorry
youve been sick and stuff and dont need all this on u right now
im ok
ill figure it out

[nonstopnarcissist]

...yeah, no. Where are you?

[ He needs to find this kid and give him a hug or something. ]

I was sick, I got better. I'm not doing any forgework till I'm at 100% an even if I was? I've got time for you. I always have time for you. I know back home I wasn't as good at making that obvious, so call this a belated open invitation to talk or come by whenever for any reason.

[fwips]

im in my room
pls dont come here
ill feel really bad and prob get a lecture from somebody
im ok

[nonstopnarcissist]

You know I've been a teenage genius that's felt useless because they weren't enough for whatever reason before, right? Literally my childhood right there. I've been 'ok' too.

I'm well enough to walk, and no one's going to say shit to you if I choose to visit.

[fwips]

omg
dont

why are u like this

[nonstopnarcissist]

Do you legitimately want to be alone right now?

[ Space for processing complex emotions is a THING, he knows, again- he's been there.

But his coping mechanisms weren't the best and even then he had Rhodey. Ned is Peter's Rhodey and Ned isn't here. ]

[fwips]

YES




no
idk
i know youre trying to like dad me and


its kinda a big deal and i dont want u to think i dont care because I do and thats the point
stay in bed
im just being dumb

text > video

[nonstopnarcissist]

Let's split the difference, then.

[ A little like face time, and not really all that difficult- Tony props his arm up to capture him (avoiding the forehead of security issue Happy had) and quirks a brow into the camera. ]

You're not being dumb, Pete. You're being a teenager. Getting frustrated with a project and feeling useless is kind of par the course, it doesn't mean it sucks less when it happens because it's almost always going to happen and it is always going to suck, but you get better at dealing with it. It's part of why I've usually got, like, five to ten different projects lined up at any one time.

[fwips]

[Peter sighs, his gaze slanted away, wrist resting against his abdomen as he lays propped up in his own bed, so that the camera shot is from up under his chin.]

I know. And, like... [Another sigh.] It's just hard sometimes. And obviously you get that—

[He motions toward the camera with his free hand, and then hesitates, realizing he needs to hold his arm up.]

My uncle, he said this thing to me before he died. That with great power comes great responsibility. And ever since I got my powers, and he died, that's been the main thing I thought about. I mean, I screw it up sometimes. We both know that. [A soft, sad little quirk of his mouth.] But now, I don't have great power. I don't have any power. And it feels like... I don't know, like I should be doing more for him.

[nonstopnarcissist]

Mistakes are learning opportunities. Sometimes the lesson sucks- most of the time the lesson sucks. All you can do is get up and keep going. You already know that, you do that.

[ Better than him, he doesn't say, but that doesn't make it less true. ]

Pete. You've got a killer head for chemistry, two working hands, and the stamina of a well fed teenager. I don't know if you know this but: That is plenty powerful. Back home there are systems in place to keep kids, well, kids that also tend to make you feel disenfranchised and shit but- none of that exists here. About anything you can think of that you want to do, or a change you think needs to happen? You can make happen. If you need help? I'll help.