Log | The Multiverse Is Weird

[heyunderoos]

Who: Peter Parker & You
When: December 13th and beyond
Where: Around the ADI building and downtown Gloucester
Summary: Peter tries to understand why, who, how and what all at once.
Warnings:claustrophobia, spiders

A. Well, This Is Awkward - OTA - cw: claustrophobia, spiders

[Falling into a vent when one had been previously walking away from a bar in Prague was sure a thing. A time even. Peter can't even really process what happens before he lands heavily on his stomach with a loud metal thunk. He grunts in surprise, clutching at his side with a wince. The Night Monkey costume does a decent job of cushioning some of the landing.

He looks around, just staring at the darkness. It takes him a moment to actively put together that he's trapped in a vent. The musty smell and metal walls surrounding him just make him guess that anyway.]

...Why am I in a vent?

[Peter's active confusion is why he isn't panicking. Normally an enclosed dark space would freak him out. Right now he's too baffled to actively panic. His grip tightens on the straps of his backpack as he forces himself to take a breath. Peter bites the inside of his cheek as he opts to just start crawling forward. The best way out is to find an opening somewhere. He can do that. Just focus on that, not the oppressive feeling of being inside of a vent.

Anyone below him will hear him moving around. Peter focuses on his breathing as he goes, grimacing when he bumps into something.

Why is his life like this? Why?

The spider drops on his face and he yelps in surprise, recoiling back. The sound of something jolting around in the small metal space is very hard to miss.]

B. Its Free, Actually! - OTA

[Actually getting a chance to walk around Gloucester feels freeing. A little nice even after going through all the weird introductions on base. Its definitely not New York by a long shot but it's pretty nice all the same. He's gotten the warning to avoid Dogtown, whatever that is, so, he's sticking with something kind of normal so far.

Peter is trying to not freak out about all of this and focus on anything else. Start small, build up. He can do that.]

Okay, so, in theory, I could start around here. Clothes, shoes, a flip phone, maybe. [He slows to a stop on the sidewalk, mentally trying to figure out just store to hit first. People drift by him, absorbed in their day to day lives, Peter is barely a footnote in their lives. He's fine with that. He wants to be normal, unnoticed for a while longer. That was what his whole summer vacation had been about until Elementals showed up. He couldn't help but worry about home given what he had been dragged away from.

Thankfully, Mr. Beck had it handled now. He had E.D.I.T.H, he could help Mr. Fury with Avenger stuff until Peter got back. So everyone was in good hands. He would worry about that later.

He lets the thoughts drop out of his head as he dug his hand into his jean pocket, tapping his fingers against the surface of his wallet. He had been given some money to get some new clothes and necessities off campus. It isn't a lot of money, but it can get him started somewhere.

He frowns a little debating with himself before releasing a sigh. Dumpster diving would save him some money, even if he would have to sort through everything he found.

Peter ducks between two stores, walking down the alleyway until he ends up somewhere behind an electronics store. He waits to see if anyone comes outside before approaching the dumpster. He flips the lid open carefully, picking over the array of electronics thrown inside. Older computer consoles, broken phones, keyboards, monitors... There is a lot to go over in here.

He shifts his backpack off his shoulder, unzipping it and already grabbing a few smaller components to stash away inside. He turns his attention back to the dumpster, frowning thoughtfully now.

Peter for his part is rooting around for anything useful, his attention focused a bit too intently on the finds within to notice anyone who could have found him amidst his crime.]


C. Survival Of The Fittest (test drive meme based prompt) - OTA

[Peter is definitely out of his depth here. After the lengthy introduction process, some mass confusion and strange conversations an ADI agent strongly suggested he take one of the training courses. Thus, Peter wound his way to the underground gym.

Peter stares at the various stations. He knows logically, he probably should learn some kind of self defense, but the idea of it makes him uncomfortable. What if his powers come back? Would a better punch hurt someone worse?

He just shakes his head before looking at his fellow drafted ADI agents for some idea of what to do.]

Uh, any... recommendations? I kinda have no idea where to even start.

[Will you help him, oh stranger?]


D. Wildcard

[Got a different idea? Want to go apeshit? Hit up this prompt.]

Comments

[semilethal]

[Storms over and stands over Leo, hands on his hips. ...not sitting down. He doesn't know Peter! He is a stranger danger! Maybe he kidnapped Leo and Leo doesn't even know it!

...okay unlikely, but like, he's mad and shit] So this nonsense about "time discrepancies" isn't actually nonsense. Because I've only been here a day or so, and I've seen you within the last two. [Eyeballs Peter] Seems like you're doing fine. [like who the fuck is this and why are you buddies and why weren't you desperately trying to find HIM. wow. brothers, right]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter nearly asks if he should leave before remembering this is his apartment.]

Yeah, uh- time is apparently really messed up here. People are being pulled from different very random points in time. You might wanna compare notes and see what you both remember last-? [He awkwardly just goes to meddle with his own backpack, unloading some of the mixed motherboards and tech stolen from a dumpster.]

[neonleon]

Yeah, uh. I've been here by myself. So why weren't any of you looking for me?

[Two can play the annoyed brother back.] It's been boring and we can't even get delivery here.

[semilethal]

[sorry peter for being in the presence of the two brothers most likely to express worry and affection by being nasty bitches to each other]

I was, while you were missing, but obviously with the temporal differences that would've been a much shorter time! And of course you've somehow managed to disable your tracker, which should have been impossible. [UGH. leave it to leo to be UGLY and ANNOYING all the DANG HECKIN TIME.]

-Peter, yes? Are you two in the middle of something? [lmao ok not asking LEO if he's in the middle of something then]

[heyunderoos]

Uh, yeah, it's Peter. [Honestly the fact Donnie got it right is enough for Peter to feel pretty alright with the way the turtle addresses him.]

We're just hanging out-? [Peter offers back, wondering what is happening right now.] We got back from dumpster diving for stuff.

[neonleon]

[Sighs SO LOUD and gets up to drape an arm over Donnie's shoulders.]

Peter, this is my incredibly presumptuous twin brother, Donald. That I told you about.

[If he had eyebrows, he' be raising one at Don.] He wanted to know about the wifi you built.

[semilethal]

[Despite the cranky look on his face, Donnie does not in fact shove Leo off of him as one would expect. In fact, maybe his hackles even lower, ever so slightly.] Donatello, we are not twins, and as I've told you before, you don't "build" wi-fi. I simply spliced our own cables into the new fiberoptic utility lines the city's been laying down and custom built the routers so that the speed is uniform throughout the lair because otherwise you guys complain.

[heyunderoos]

[Peter arches a brow at that. Congrats, Donnie, Peter actively understands what he is talking about.]

That is a really good compromise to make sure everything works smoothly if you're underground. Otherwise, coverage would be really spotty and hard to maintain.

[neonleon]

[He jerks a thumb at Donnie, addressing Peter.]

See? Told you. Super nerd.

[semilethal]

[Perks up at the recognition, ignores tf out of Leo's razzing] Thank you, Peter. This dumdum doesn't know his ADSL from his SDSL, but still comes crying to me when his cat videos buffer.

[heyunderoos]

[He snorts a little at Leo's commentary.]

It can be a little complex if you're not interested in it, so I can get it. I usually fix the internet for my aunt back home, and half the building, so I at least kinda know. There is always room to learn.

[Nerd meet nerd.]

[neonleon]

[He knew they'd get along but he wishes he was wrong. He settles to just leaning on his brother.]

If you want some more motherboards or anything, we remember the dumpster we found all this at.

[semilethal]

[Give it time Peter, you will tire of Leo's "haha im not a smarty smart boy please explain to me in dumdum terms and then do it again six more times" charm soon.]

I always want more motherboards and anything, but surprisingly I wasn't assigned to an apartment with someone who is completely inept. My roommate has acquired equipment that will do, for now.

[heyunderoos]

[Alas for Donnie, the two seem like they're going to be fairly good friends.]

Oh, that's good at least. I know the roommate thing is kinda random? Mine are nice, so that worked out. [Peter hasn't really spoken to his roommates that much.] The dumpsters here aren't New York level of decent, but they'll do in a pinch.

[neonleon]

I still haven't talked to mine. Glad yours worked out.

[Both of them. With Donnie still not shoving him off, Leo's going to lean more comfortably and less introductory. Tilts his head to stage whisper:]

He's from Queens, but it's a different Queens than Our Queens, it's that whole split timeline thing.

[It really is not, Leo.]

[semilethal]

[Well well, another New Yorker. Donnie makes a considering noise and welcomes tolerates Leo's draping.] A different Queens, how interesting. Perhaps other timeline bifurcations before Casey?

Do you still have the Unisphere?

[heyunderoos]

I think we're from different variations of New York entirely. The Snap didn't happen for you guys thankfully. Though we both had weird alien invasions happen.

Oh yeah, its one of the few monuments that hasn't gone down. Everything just keeps missing it.

[neonleon]

Hey, how does that keep happening by the way? There's gotta be some statistic somewhere of like. How that keeps happening, right?

[semilethal]

[better strap in leo this is a long one] A statistic, no. But multiverse theory has been around for decades. In fact a lot of it boils down to inflation theory, which posits that the universal expansion from billions of years ago didn't ever actually cease in all pockets, and continues onward until interrupted or otherwise acted upon by a neighboring universe. Which I would've called ludicrous before we got into all our other messes, but even before Casey showed up I guessed there had to be some overlap with all those other dimensions we were hearing about.

Whatever this 'Snap' thing is, [gestures to peter with his chin,] it's likely that our universes split long, long ago. There's way too many similarities for there not to be some connection, but it's possible it goes back even further than imagined.

[heyunderoos]

There are probably variations on variations, depending on a few factors. A single choice could change everything too. The multiverse just adds a lot of layers. [Peter adds with a little shrug. Donnie did the heavy lifting with explaining, so Peter opts for an easier approach.] So, it kind of makes things more complex.

Its kind of interesting though, someone from a different universe entirely had crashed into mine pretty recently. The elementals had destroyed his universe and were coming after the one I live in, so he came to try and stop them. Now I'm wondering if that helped cause my arrival here or not. [He's too nerd to realize he's treading dangerous waters now. Dangerous in the sense he will absolutely spill he's Spider-Man if he's not careful.]

[semilethal]

Now there's a thought! [Ignores his annoying brother pretending to doze off and drool on his arm to point at Peter, eyes glinting with interest.] If the traveling methods between a multiverse can become worn just like a walking path. For matter to move between them, one would have to assume so.

What are the barriers that prevent mass migration from one dimension to the next? The energy necessary to make the journey, I assume. Likewise finding those pathways, or determining methodology that allows you to create your own pathway. [Thought exercises!! Theoretical dimension travel! Fun!!]

[heyunderoos]

[Peter arches a brow at Leo's act, unable to hide some of his amusement. His attention shifts properly back to Donnie as he speaks.] An interesting problem that comes up here is if any paths are made by a disaster, how safe of a path is it-? Would it destabilize other universes in the process? Maybe something like erosion in effect if the path gets used too much?

[It's all theories being thrown around at this point, nothing concrete. It is fun to talk to someone with this, given Mr. Fury and his crew had shut Peter's line of thought down when this came up originally.]

Mr. Beck made it seem like he used some kind of magic to get through the barrier to follow the Elementals. It has to be something natural to each universe? Some kind of force? I honestly have no idea.

[semilethal]

[For sure!!! Especially when adults are both dumb and buzzkills in equal measure, which many adults are.]

Magic. Oh-ho-kay. Well, considering magic is just the application of misunderstood physical properties, I think we can rule that out. The multiverse theory does postulate that these parallel or adjacent universes likely have their own unique laws of physics, so 'magic' regardless of its origin is just a caveman calling fire a gift of the gods. Namely: ignorance.

[heyunderoos]

I don't know enough about magic to actually offer up much about it. I figured it would be at least something to consider in passing since Mr. Beck managed to get through after his own universe ceased to be. [He doesn't really argue the point about magic. He's met Doctor Strange, but never asked the man about his magic or how it works.

He is also decidedly unaware Beck's magic is fake, so he's going by what he's seen.] In theory, he probably should take on the rules of the new universe he's in, right? It's just something else that adds another layer to things.

[He shakes off the point, given it's not the main thrust of the conversation.] Regardless, whatever governs this universe we're in has some kind of pathway already. Just to ADI instead of anywhere else. It's worth thinking about hows and whys.

[semilethal]

I'd like to be able to examine the most frequent arrival spots to take some readings, but all my decent spectrometers are back home. Unless you've got a hookup.