Log | July Arrival and Catch-All | ota

[takeitin]

Who: Peter Parker and YOU? (OTA)
When: Arrival/Mid-July
Where: Bonnie's, ADI, around town
Summary: Peter gets settled at the flophouse, starts working at ADI, tries to Spider-Man without being Spider-Man
Warnings: Mentions of injuries (pecking wounds, bruises, cracked ribs), bullying, violence


(ooc: can switch to prose for all of these if prefered, I'll match)

i. Moving Day (Bonnie's) - OTA

[So ADI sounded pretty cool. And their facilities were pretty cool. And staying in their top notch apartments sounded pretty cool. And then they basically tell him You'll have to be home by 11 pm and that's pretty much that. Now here he is at the flophouse instead after they patched him up in medical, trying to leave a good impression with the landlady (he's not sure if he did, pecked to shreds as he is. He's not bleeding on the carpet though? It's something?).

Everything hurts and for the first time he realizes just how used he is to his powers. Not just the strength or the speed but the endurance. Of being able to take a hit or twenty, of getting flung into walls or hitting the ground and getting up again. But now? Now he's full of tiny scabbed wounds, his entire side is bruised and he can't quite remember if the doctor said something about a cracked rib or two. Every step hurts and it reminds him of the days where Flash would kick the ever-living hell out of him and he could do nothing but take it lying down.

Then there's of course the humiliation of getting bested by a bunch of stupid birds. And a tree. Falling out of a tree, he thinks that hurts worst. Climbing, that's his thing. It's supposed to be his thing. He can't have it not be his thing.

It sucks. This sucks. He wants his powers back. He feels blind and deaf and weak without them and he's already low-key thinking about how to go on about that. There's gotta be criminals around town, right? Bad people? Bullies like Flash? He can scare them and then he'll be back on his feet and be a lot more useful to the whole stopping the apocalypse thing. With his powers, he could have grabbed a bird easily, they could have examined it, they could have gotten answers. And who knows if ADI's even telling the truth about everything. Maybe they're just the... the ADI Entity. Trying to keep them weak on purpose.

He's in one of the communal bathrooms, washing his face and scowling at his scratches when he sees someone else come in.]

Hi. [He rubs the side of his head with a towel, looking over.]

Do you, uh, you live here? I'm Room 4. ... I mean, I'm in Room 4, that's, it's not my name, it's just. I stay there. Here.


ii. Hanging out (Bonnie's) - OTA

[Peter is taking it easy for the first days after the bird accident. He's taken a liking to the ground floor, hanging out in the communal room. It gives him a better feel for the place and his housemates. Sometimes he moves to sit between the masses of potted plants, looking out the window and watching the street outside. Today he hangs out on a couch with a bag of chips and a notebook he bought in town, switching back and forth between writing and playing on his smartphone, still marveling at how much better than his old phone it is.

Truth is in the eye of the beholder. That's what the piece of paper said when he got here, right? He wonders what's up with that. He writes it in the upper corner of his notebook, doodling around it. There are other notes, too. About the Entities - along with some sketches how he imagines them to look, all very fantasy-Lovecraftian-like. About time travel and the multiverse (how cool is it that it's real?) and some theories how he could have ended up here. A list of things that 2022 has that are really cool. A grocery list and some calculations for fabric.

When someone enters, he looks up briefly, taking them in before muttering a greeting. Maybe giving them a small little wave depending on their reaction. Maybe leaning around the couch to see where they're going or what they're up to.

Maybe fingerguns and a smile if he knows them.]


iii. Lab Rat (ADI research or equipment department) - OTA

[This is worse than pretending to be an intern at Oscorp.

Peter looks around, a little overwhelmed by the mass of people who also work here. It's just very different from building things in your shed and he realizes that he has no idea how this works. Great.

After some hesitation he finally steps over to someone who looks like they're not currently too engrossed in work and clears his throat, holding up his hand in a greeting.]

Hi. Sorry. Can I, I was wondering, do I just...

[His hands come up. Points at equipment. Workstations.]

Do I just take it, I mean, after signing off on it, I'll probably have to sign off on it. But is there like. Projects. Do I have to join a project, can I just start my own, is there a... a project approval department to approve of my... projects...


iv. Skate or... maybe not die but definitely get your ass kicked? (Around town) - OTA

[When the first paycheck arrives, the first thing he buys is a skateboard. Until he gets his powers back, he needs a way to get around town that isn't walking. Next to swinging, it's as good as it gets.

He's on his way back to Bonnie's when he sees an altercation in the street. Looks like a bunch of drunk guys harassing a much smaller man in a two-piece suit. Peter skids to a stop, takes a second to lament that he has neither suit nor powers, then decides to step in anyway.]

Hey! Leave him alone!

[It goes, of course, how it goes.

Angry eyes on him. Posturing. Legs that definitely did not skip leg day stomping towards him. Maybe one or two remarks from his side that do nothing to de-escalate the situation, what can he say.

In his defense, he tries? He really does try. But his swing goes nowhere and then he gets punched in the gut and goes down immediately and God, he sucks. He can't believe how much he sucks. Somehow he manages to bring his board up and smack the guy up the chin with it. He lets go with an angry cry and Peter stumbles back, looking at his life, looking at his choices. Yeah, that's not good. At least their victim has taken off so, in a way, that's a win?]

You know. I just remembered something. I'm actually late for my running from your problems self-help group, so, gotta go, bye, see ya!

[He kicks off the board and soars down the street with the beefy stampede on his heel, yelling and waving his arms when he's coming up to someone walking ahead.]

Sorry! Sorry! Coming through! Angry drunk people on a rampage!


v. wildcard

[For (event-)things yet to come or other ideas. c:]

Comments

IV. 🥴

[taabou]

Holy-- [ Takayuki only narrowly avoids getting slammed into with a turn of the heel and a backwards step. Though he spares the kid skating away a glance, turning his head has him seeing a... considerable group of drunkards, actually. How many of them are there?

It isn't his fight, so he doesn't think to pick up where it left off, especially considering the other civilians around that do their best to stay out of harms' way. Instead, Takayuki drops his own skateboard where it'd been neatly tucked under his arm to the ground.

Looks like he won't be getting any walking done tonight, after all.

It doesn't take much to catch up to the kid, but the sound of an angry mob chasing them persists behind. ]

Hey, what the hell is going on?

[takeitin]

[And then there's a guy skating with him. What a night!

Peter looks at Takayuki in surprise and then grins because danger aside (or maybe because of it?), with the familiar adrenaline-rush and some bad guys being pissed off, this is actually pretty great?]

They were harassing some guy. I told them to cut it out. Don't think they liked that! Hi, I'm Peter, nice ride you got there, how's it going!

[taabou]

[ "How's it going?" ]

I guess you saved me from blowing my cash on beer.

[ But he's not entirely convinced that's a good thing. ]

I'm Takayuki. [ His foot pushes down on the asphalt to take him forward, but his head turns briefly to regard Peter at his side. ] I hope you know where you're going.

[ Especially considering all the civvies he's had to swerve around so far. ]

[takeitin]

Well... away from them.

[He jerks a thumb back over his shoulder, skidding around a fire hydrant and jumping a curb before it can knock him off his ride.]

Other than that? No idea. I'm kinda new in town, you see.

[taabou]

You're kinda--!?

[ What look of disappointment Takayuki might have started to wear is wiped off as soon as they approach a crossroad. A car's starting to come down, meant to go straight along the road perpendicular to theirs.

Takayuki speeds up as much as he can and turns sharply until he's able to grab the back of car and crouch. ]

C'mere! [ His other hand's held out in Peter's direction with every intention to tug him forward so he can do the same. ]

i

[cuttypie]

Uh...

[Luka pauses in the middle of brushing his teeth, staring at the person with the overly friendly greeting next to him.

There's a long pause before he spits the toothpaste out and rinses his mouth.]

Yeah. I live here, too.

[And that's all the information he's gonna give him. He takes a towel and wipes his face.

There's something off about his face. Or maybe it's the mirror that's off. Maybe his reflection is just a smidge too slow, or too sharp, or too blurry.

The mirror is probably just old. It's probably nothing.]

[takeitin]

Okay.

Cool.

[Man, that faucet sounds like crickets.]

What room are you in, uh, like, in case I need you to reach something on the top shelf for me?

[He glances over at the mirror, frowning for a moment, taking in his own reflection. Maybe giving it a little wave. Then he adds helpfully,]

'Cause you're tall.

[cuttypie]

[Luka just stares at him because this is actually happening. He's not entirely sure he should tell him.]

You could use a ladder.

[He turns off the water.]

Or a chair. Or a stool.

[takeitin]

Right? Right. Could do that. Probably will?

[This is going well.]

So, uh, what's your name? I'm Peter. Are you...

[He realizes this isn't ADI and he pauses. What's a good and inconspicuous way to ask if someone was from another universe?]

Are you local? From... here?

[cuttypie]

Luka.

[He has an almost desperate, instinctive need to be anonymous but it's just prudent as well.

Still, this kid is probably from ADU, and it's not like he can hide his identity from them, especially if he talks to anyone.

Then again, it could also be because of his accent.

This time he turns to the kid and raises his eyebrows, sounding more annoyed than before.]

No. Where do you think I'm from?

IV

[canofmanji]

[To be honest Manji was heading towards the sound of a fight, not because he was hero, but because he was bored. A fight sounded like an interesting way to spice up the night. Plus, a fight was easy to understand for the man pulled from 17th century Japan.

In an effort to fit in he's not dressed in his kimono today. Instead sporting a long black skirt and t-shirt. It makes it pretty obvious that he's missing his left arm as he steps around the corner and comes face to face with Peter. Having just enough time to shout out a quick-] OH SHIT! [-before the impact. Maybe this wasn't going to be as simple as he first thought. Falling backwards onto his ass with a painful thump.] What the hell!?

[takeitin]

[The impact sends him flying and he can barely bring up his arms to break his fall which makes the bruises from his bird encounter flare up with a vengeance. Peter yells, gritting his teeth as he rolls on his back and it's like he can hear Aunt May berating him about wearing elbow pads.]

Sorry! Sorry. That was my bad, that's on me, are you all right, can you move, can we do the whole apology thing while moving...

[... because he's kind of, sort of struggling back to his feet and moving backwards, glancing back and forth between the man - oh man, he only has one arm, as if he didn't feel shitty enough about this already - and the looming stampede on the horizon.]

Sir, you, you really gotta get up.

[canofmanji]

Yeah, yeah. [Manji waves way Peter's concern before doing a quick snap jump to return gracefully back to his feet without the use of his hands. His movements smooth and easy; suggesting he does that sort of move often. In fact if Peter hasn't gotten himself up yet, Manji will offer his own hand to help him up.] What's wrong, kid? [He nods his head towards the group that was very quickly approaching them.] They giving you problems?

[takeitin]

Uh.

[Peter blinks at the hand, then takes it, stumbling to his feet.]

... yeahhhsorta? [He stares at Manji, unsure, at the approaching mob.]

They harassed this guy. Told 'em to cut it out. Who woulda thought, they kinda took that personally. ... Like, I really think we should go...

[canofmanji]

Told them to cut it out and they didn't want to? [A sadistic grin spreads across Manji's face. He reaches into his skirt's pocket and pulls out a dagger. Surely this is what Peter wants, right? Escalation!] Let me see if I can help cut through this problem.

iv

[punched_hitler]

[Steve is that person walking ahead, and his head snaps up at the yelling. He turns, frowning - and sees the situation - and does what he does best: turns right around and heads for the angry drunk people.

He's still a big guy, at least. He's probably got this.]

[takeitin]

[Oh! It's his guide, the one that showed him around ADI. And he's...

And he's running back there to meet those goons head on.

Peter skids to a stop, staring back over his shoulder and yep. That is the total reversal of what he just did for that other guy. He could scram now, he guesses. That's probably the idea.]

Oh, come on!

[Seriously. Like he can leave you with them.

He sighs, shoulders slumping, then turns to follow Steve into battle.]

[punched_hitler]

[Sorry Peter. Steve is just... like this.

Fortunately, being big and having years of experience fighting dirty brawls like this is advantageous, even without the serum. So, granted, he fights like a guy mostly used to just throwing said weight and height around until something gives, but this time around, at least, things look a lot better for the side of good. Maybe partly because the drunk guys clearly didn't expect somebody to turn right around and charge them.

And maybe he's actually enjoying the excuse to fight something - someone - who's not an untouchable entity of the apocalypse or their avatar. Just a little.]

Come on, we can send 'em packing.

[takeitin]

[Well...

Okay, that attitude is infectious. It's what he would have done if he wasn't so outgunned and outnumbered. But maybe now he isn't outnumbered anymore.

Oh what the hell.

Peter tries to pick a guy that is less on the beefy side and more around his size. He has to take a few more hits but actually manages to swing at the guy (ow, ow, ow? that actually hurts?) and the sudden adrenaline rush has him laughing out.]

You're a bad influence, you know that?

[And he loves it.]

[punched_hitler]

[For Steve, it's a weird mix of pre- and post-serum experience: He doesn't have to swing as many times as he once did to get a guy to turn tail and run, but it's also not the easy win he might have gotten used to.

Plus, the skin of his hands and arms is still a little raw. Hitting someone with it doesn't feel great, but what can you do.

He's grinning when he glances over at Peter, looking absolutely unapologetic.] Yeah? I guess I've been told.

[Between the two of them, they've gotten two guys out of the mix. They might just win this.]

II

[musicdied]

[Yelena is not one of the more guilt-prone multiversal transplants. She does not, in particular, have a tendency to blame herself for the outcome of other people's decisions.

But Peter had been injured on her watch, and she's aware that his plan to try to catch one of the unnaturally silent and watchful birds would probably have been halted much sooner if she hadn't helped by distracting the guards.

(Or perhaps just delayed. That seems...equally likely.)

So she turns up at Bonnie's in the late morning a couple of days after the incident on the outskirts of Dogtown, bearing coffee and a bakery box of muffins.]

I thought I would come make sure they're feeding you. [There's a brief pause as she takes stock of the lingering scratches.] How are you doing?

[takeitin]

Oh hey!

[He brightens when he sees her, sitting up a bit.

There's just something about the first people you meet when you come to a different universe. And especially the ones that help you break the rules and get in trouble with. Though he hasn't snitched on her.]

Good. Better. They chewed me out quite a bit and I don't mean the birds. But I think I got the new guy bonus so it's all good now.

[He cranes his neck, looking at the box and the coffee.]

That smells really good.

[musicdied]

They do that. They're serious about the rules.

[She gives him a quick grin.]

Or at least about not being caught breaking them.

[She closes the distance between them, holding out the coffee and bakery box in offering.]

For you. Even if they are feeding you, you probably haven't had a chance to find the best spots in town yet.

[takeitin]

Have I mentioned that you're still my favorite?

[He brightens at the gift, taking the coffee and carefully balancing it over to the table.]

It was fun though. You were great at distracting that guard!

[He grabs a donut, taking a hearty bite and continues, mouth full.]

I'm usually a lot better at that whole climbing and getting things done part, by the way.

[musicdied]

I have a lot of practice.

[At both breaking the rules and at distracting guards. It comes with the territory.]

What happened up there anyway? Did you manage to grab one of the birds before they swarmed?

[The wrong word for birds, perhaps, but they had seemed more like a swarm than a flock, too in sync despite the variation in species.]