020 | VOICE

[myresponsibility]

[So. So. That was a thing, and it doesn't take a genius to or a telepath to realize how bad people are going to take what happened. Hell, he's having a hard time reconciling some of it, and he hadn't even been involved in anything too bad, so while he's usually someone who holes up and doesn't bother people with his problems, or ask them about theirs, this time, he's stepping up. Having a responsibility to people goes beyond just preventing muggings, or saving people from burning buildings, and he's starting to realize and accept that. Slowly.

It might be a total disaster, but people he cares about will be hurt and hurting, and this is so not as easy as just punching someone in the face when it comes to solving problems, but dammit, he is going to try.]

[Private to Alex]

So, I totally get if you're not up for this, but. You told me you'd rather talk than have me trying to deal on my own, so. That goes both ways.

[And Peter wants it to be 120% clear that he is totally here and available to be a sounding board, or a sparring partner, or just someone to hang out with. He'd maybe even let Alex cry on him if he needed to, after something like this.

... Well okay, his preference is no crying, but. If you had to, he'd deal with it.]

[Private to Anya]

Hey, I don't- [Know what to say, is probably what he should be going for here, because he sort of lost track of her by the end of it, but.] Are you okay?

[Private to Arya]

Sorry for being kind of a jerk. During the... thing. [Although he doubts you will take this personally?]

[Private to Banner]

I got out okay, if you need an extra hand in the infirmary. And stuff.

[How are you doing :|]

[Private to Bond]

[Bond is tough. Peter knows that, and has known it from the second they met, and he knows there's no way he's dealing with his alternate life well like, at all. He totally can't blame him.]

Hey. [... It's hard, to think of what to say next, mostly because he knows that he's going to be pushed away, or not even replied to if he's in the pub trying to literally drown his liver.

(It's the first place he's going to look for him if he doesn't reply, and again, he's willing to be company or physically drag him away from the bar if he has to.)]

The weather's not bad in the CES if, you know. You want to go for a run.

[Private to Chris]

Is it totally lame to ask if you like, need anything?

[Brushing him off with a lame joke or profanity will probably at least reassure him you're not totally traumatized. B(]

[Private to Dean]

[... Actually no, maybe Dean is the toughest person to talk to, because he got a really good look at what his counterpart was like, and how bad things had got at the end, and he doesn't. Really know how much he wants to have that addressed.

But Dean's a good guy, and he's sort of his boss, so. He's going to do his best not to worry about that.]

Hey.

[Private to Polly & Mal]

Hey, so, sorry this took forever, [Stuff kept coming up, so it's been way more than the few days he promised Polly to begin with.] But I think I've got two functional Clacks Towers. If you're still interested.

[Private to Scott]

[Maybe it's the fact that Scott hadn't said anything about being Different - it sounds better to him than saying he and Alex are mutants, or Scott's some kind of monster - or just because he's a newer friend that he's really clicked with who hasn't had to weather this kind of thing before, but Pete feels like Scott's one of the people he's going to really not let retreat in on himself. He's actually tempted to just go down to his room and do this in person, but for now, that's Plan B.]

So, there are five more Star Wars movies - even though three of them are complete crap - and I still know like, basically nothing about lacrosse. If you're more in the mood for that.

[Private to Snow]

You know I suck at this, but. You need anything, and I will totally drop whatever to help.

[He means it. :| Do you want tea. :| He can make you tea. :|]

Comments

[breathoflight]

I appreciate the offer, Peter. But I do not believe I need much of anything right now.

[At least nothing she thinks can help. :(]

Are you well?

[myresponsibility]

Yeah, I guess. [Things weren't that bad, really. He didn't die, or kill anyone he cared about, so. It could have been worse.]

Are you?

[breathoflight]

As well as can be expected.

[myresponsibility]

That's not really a reassuring answer.

[breathoflight]

Truthfully, I'm still trying to make sense of it. That was...

[Snow shakes her head.]

I have never been able to do magic before. To have that much power and to be so heartless at the same time was jarring.

[To put it incredibly lightly.]

[myresponsibility]

Yeah, uh. We were all pretty ugly, over there. [Because that was basically exactly what his counterpart had been like, and he's got no interest in ever exploring that ever again.]

And I know this isn't like. Helpful? Because people telling you stuff and actually getting to a place where you like, know it is different, but... it's not like you're gonna be her.

[breathoflight]

I know. There are many things different between her and me that it makes it impossible.

But you are right. It takes time to get to that place where it's easier to remember that.

[myresponsibility]

Sorry, I'm just... Trying, to like. Be there for people, and it's sort of not. As easy as it probably should be.

[breathoflight]

I don't believe that it is always necessarily easy. Especially when you are having to sort through something yourself as well.

[myresponsibility]

I'm fine. Seriously. I just wish I could like, do something.

[breathoflight]

Do you have any projects you are currently working on?

[myresponsibility]

Yeah, I guess. I finished the Clacks Towers, but. I'm still working on figuring out a way to contact people who aren't on the Barge? When people said they were getting weird interference on the network, I sort of hoped-

[But.]

But I guess we kinda know what that was about. So.

[breathoflight]

That does not mean it is no longer a worthwhile pursuit, does it?

[myresponsibility]

No, definitely not. I mean, we all have people we want to stay in touch with, right?

[breathoflight]

I imagine so.

[myresponsibility]

Next time I visit Tim, I'll try to get him to help me out with it.

[breathoflight]

That sounds like a good plan.

[myresponsibility]

I hope so. Maybe we'll actually get somewhere.

[breathoflight]

You're very intelligent, Peter. I'm sure you will sooner rather than later.

[myresponsibility]

Thanks.

And seriously, if anything does come up, let me know. Like, if you need anything, I mean.

[breathoflight]

Of course, Peter. You will be the first that I call.

[myresponsibility]

Good. Thanks.