tushanshu | [Audio]

Entry tags:

[Audio]

[It's been a day or so since Peter got set up in his suite. He's not entirely sure. He'd been exposed to total information overload when he first showed up, and he needed the time to sit and let it all process. Not that doing so allowed anything to really make sense. But still. And of course with the way his body had refused to cooperate with even the simple task of listening to someone, he'd been in desperate need of some actual rest. But when he next woke up and really felt aware of his situation, only one thought really resounded.

They told him that this was an "In-Between." But Peter wasn't fooled.

Eventually he pulls himself out of bed (with a wince) and makes his way over to the console in his suite. It doesn't take long for Peter to figure out how it works, and as soon as he's got it running, he's turning on the audio feed. He's sure he's still looking pretty beaten up and he doesn't want to alarm anyone, after all. This doesn't feel like a good time for sympathy from total strangers. And "In-Between" or no, keeping his identity a secret was second nature. When he speaks, he's trying to be slow and careful about what he says-- and at the same time, there's a nervousness in his voice along with that slight strain caused by his injuries.]

Um... Hi, everyone. I, uh-- Not to sound ungrateful to the- the people who brought me over here and explained everything, but. Uh. Just wondering if there's somewhere I can go for, y'know, fresh clothes. And.. And maybe some clean bandages...? Or ice packs... Y'know, just-- any stuff like that, that would actually be awesome to get...

[There's a brief pause, during which he can probably be heard fidgeting awkwardly.]

And I... I get that I'm-- we're all stuck here. For like, forever. But-- [He stops again, breath catching. Somebody just level with me. Seriously. Just admit that this is-- some kind of after life and that's why we can't leave.] ... Never mind.

Clean clothes would really help me out a lot, thanks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I guess...?? But I mean-- It's not my fault that the guys I'm up against have superpowers or crazy weapons that rip the ground up or whatever.

[These pants are not cooperating. Maybe if he gathers enough material on both sides and then ties them together...]

"We"? You mean like, you and the rest of the Ultimates?

Oh. Huh. Yeah, we need to work on your collateral damage control.

[That's right, this Peter is still very young and who knows what his experience is?]

Yes, but no. Where I'm from, we're part of a different group. We call ourselves the Avengers, but it's mostly the same deal. Still qualified for starter training.

[He lets out a sigh. Back home, Tony said he'd been on Peter's side. But to be fair, his enemies did destroy a lot of stuff.]

Um… Okay. [He'd ask why they're called Avengers, but it doesn't seem like Tony would have the answer.] But, uh-- I was asking more about- about the training part. I mean you wouldn't-- You don't mean here, right?

[Tony is mostly just enjoying the chance to poke at his new friend, but the question actually gets him to focus.]

Why not? I'm sure I'm as qualified as your Ultimate friends for it. Basic safety isn't that hard to pick up.

[No big deal, right? And he's proud of his Avengers, too. Surely he could help out the Ultimates.]

Well, it's just-- I mean, how many of you guys are actually here??

[Oh… Waitaminute, hold the phone--]

Do you… have your suit with you??

What? Numbers aren't everything. Even if I were the only one in the city I could still train you.

[Hah. This Peter is going to be fun to mess with.]

You didn't think I'd leave it behind, did you?

But you're not.

[He blinks again, carding a hand through his hair.] Well-- Well, no. But I mean, I don't know how this place works. So.

But I'm not. [He nods agreement.]

I get it. You showed me yours.

[Tony smirks and holds up his arm. He's learned that he can have some fun with people who aren't from his world, and Peter is already a good target for it. Tony lets the metal form a gauntlet over his hand, then retracts it again back into his skin.]

So. How about that?

[What. In. The WORLD.

Peter's eyes couldn't get any wider if he tried, and his jaw has dropped open slightly. The metal came out of his skin?! What the WHAT?!]

Whoa... You definitely weren't able to do that back home.

[Hah. Tony can't help but look smug at that. Even if he knows it isn't a new trick, he got to surprise Peter with it. There's something pretty satisfying about that.]

Really? That's nice to know. At least I'm good for something. I'll take you for a ride some time if you want.

[Peter gives Tony a slightly confused look at that. "Good for something"?? That so does not sound like his Tony.]

Um… No offense or anything? But you're Tony Stark. You're Iron Man. How can you avoid being good for something?

[And then he goes right back into nerd mode. There was an almost audible DING! as he does.] I can-- You would-- Really?

[Oh, Peter. Tony has to smile at that, because young Peter Parker having that kind of admiration for Iron Man is endearing.]

Very carefully. Or not very carefully. Take your pick.

[Don't worry, he can still joke. And look entirely too self-satisfied with his amazing technology as usual.]

Sure. Yours never did that? We'll make it part of training. Which you're going to get, by the way. FYI.

[Look, he just thinks Tony's awesome and brilliant and he wants to work for him someday. Somehow.

Peter pauses for a second there, considering that answer.] …Fair enough.

Well-- No. He kinda just… We ended up fighting Mysterio. (Which wasn't part of the plan.) And then that was kind of… it. Like, that was your first pass and then continuing… became a non-option.

[He's so young and impressionable. It's probably a bad idea to let him hang out with Tony. But it's too late now.]

You must not have made a big impression.

[Just kidding. Tony grins and puts his hand on top of Peter's head, letting him know (hopefully) that he's just teasing him.]

Well, now it's an option. I think I'm qualified to fill in until you meet up with him again.

[He gives a sheepish sort of smile at that, working on the assumption that Tony's joking. He specifically remembers his Tony being pretty pleased with him. And it's not like this Tony knew what happened.

The hand on his head is reassuring, even as Peter raises his own hand to half-heartedly bat Tony away.]

Not gonna lie, I'm glad it's an option. And uh, I feel like you'd be way better at it than, uh, Other You.

[Tony has no idea what went on in Peter's world other than some vague mentions of people and strange trivia (President Cap being a sample of that), but he does like Spider-Man most of the time, and he certainly likes Peter, so this meeting seems perfectly fine to him. Plus, with this Peter being younger, he kind of has a responsibility for keeping an eye on him.]

Well, I'm clearer the better me. You can let your me know that when you talk to him again. And we'll get you some practice in the meantime. You can surprise him.

[He chases an errant thought suddenly.]

How do you feel about nanotech?

[His smile wanes ever so slightly, but he quickly shakes it off.] Yeah. Yeah, I'll do that.

[And then that feels like it comes way out of left-field. Nano-tech?] Uh… I've only ever read papers on it, and stuff on the news about the Ultimates and your company. Or, uh-- Other you. But it's-- I think it's really cool, the stuff that can be done with it.

[Tony's expression freezes for a bit. It's not tense, but for a moment it is delayed, like he has to push forward more effort to show expression.

They aren't going to get anywhere with all this "your Stark, my Stark" business. He was having enough trouble with the other Avengers as it was.]

How about we stick with "him" and "you", okay? It's not actually like we're the same guy.

[His smile brightens now that he got that out of the way.]

You've already seen a little example of it. I think it would suit you. Literally, but I won't push if you don't like the idea.

[Maybe. He lets the clothes he's wearing melt into the armor form, this time completely. Tony doesn't really have qualms about showing off since Peter seems to be enjoying the show.]

It might come in handy, though.

[Peter freezes suddenly, stunned, eyes wide. He's floating somewhere between completely utterly shocked, paranoid, and ecstatic.]

Wait… Are you-- You want to make me a suit… out of nano tech?

Why not?

[He looks completely calm, almost curious at Peter's reaction. It's as if he just expects Peter to be perfectly fine with what he just said. After all, he knows a Tony Stark, so this shouldn't be surprising to him. In Tony's opinion, of course.]

You don't trust me?

Nonono, it's not that. I totally trust you. It's just… You really don't have to do that. For me, of all people. I mean-- We practically only just met.

I know I don't have to. It's not about whether I have to or not.

[He gives Pete a look that says this is completely obvious.]

It'll be fun.

[Peter's... really pretty floored by the offer. So he immediately finds a place to sit down.]

Wow... I- Do you have the equipment you'd need to do something like that here?

You do know who you're talking to, right?

[Tony's arrogance makes its way through on that one. Can he do it? Of course he can!]

[He has no words to express how cool this is. He's not used to accepting gifts for no reason - it's just not the way he does things. But from Tony Stark?]

I... Wow. Seriously, just- Wow.

Have I mentioned that you're super awesome cool?

[Audio]

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)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)