021 | VOICE

[myresponsibility]

[Peter's sitting on the roof of the greenhouses. He hides up here a lot when he's feeling crappy, because it's one of the highest points on the Barge and for the most part, it's a good place to go when your room's feeling a little too claustrophobic and familiar.

Not that anyone listening to the network post will really be able to tell, aside from the fact that he sounds like his jaw's a little locked in an attempt to stop his teeth from chattering. It gets cold out here at night now.]

So, I think there's kind of been some like, miscommunication about how things actually are, for people like me? Like, I get it, some of us are fictional where you're from, and that's cool or whatever- [And pretty creepy, if he's really thinking about it, but he prefers not to think about how people might know about things he'd rather keep secret.] Or we've got stuff that you don't have in your world, like superpowers or magic and stuff, but that doesn't mean our lives are like, an episode of My Little Pony or something.

I don't think any of us would be here if something bad hadn't happened to us, and like, I've never read these comics or anything? But seriously, if anyone thinks being a superhero is easy just because I've got superpowers, or because someone else has monsters or giant robots or whatever to fight, you really, really don't get it. Good people - people you don't know and people you really care about still get hurt. They might even die. [Uncle Ben, Captain Stacy, the billion times Bond's gotten himself hurt or killed on the Barge and he hasn't been able to do anything about it. A lot of good having superpowers did him then.] Maybe in front of you. And you might not be able to stop it.

Or they'll leave, because it's safer.

[Because while Captain Stacy's alive now, he'll still want him to stay away from Gwen. And Bond's gone, and he's been back before, but there's no guarantee that he will this time. It's stupid to be upset about it or miss him, because the Barge sucks, and he's better off at home. Really.]

So just... think. Before you start saying you get it, or how I don't get it because you think having superpowers means my world's "less real" than yours. Because if someone made a movie about my life? I seriously doubt it's something you'd want to trade for.

Comments

[onlysurvivor]

Who have you been talking to?

[myresponsibility]

Does it matter?

[onlysurvivor]

Surprisingly... yes. If it got such a response from you.

private

[myresponsibility]

The new kid. Mindy. There are like, comic books and movies about me, in her world.

spam

[permutates]

Hello there!

[ This is a risk. But she has to establish this person of hers, if she's going to keep going. If she's going to prove to herself that she can be good, if she chooses. She can be who she wants to be.

So here she is in a white, demure dress, waving from below the greenhouse. ]

I saw your message, but I don't like those little televisions.

spam

[myresponsibility]

[He recognizes her vaguely - a newish arrival, an inmate, and beyond that, he doesn't know much. He considers whether or not he should jump down to make this easier, but finally just scoots over so he's at least sitting on the roof with his legs dangling over the edge.]

Hi.

[He doesn't really know what else to say.] Sorry. About the comm.

spam

[permutates]

It looks nice up there - how did you get up?

Oh, don't apologize! I just feel awful old-fashioned, around everything. I was on a carrier once, and all those gauges and dials - ! It's enough to make a girl faint.

[ She smiles, a little, hesitantly. She's joking, see? She doesn't faint. ]

voice;

[notdreaming]

I was never trying to be a hero and people still got hurt. I was sort of hoping that would happen less if I was actually trying.

voice;

[myresponsibility]

It happens. You can't save everybody from everything, and that sucks, but that's just how things work.

voice;

[notdreaming]

I've noticed that. The not being able to save everyone, and the sucking.

[robinwishes]

Man, I really must've chapped your ass.

[myresponsibility]

Or, you know, you're not the first person I've talked to who doesn't get that having comics written about you doesn't mean your life is amazing and nothing ever goes wrong. Kind of seemed like it needed clearing up.

[robinwishes]

Okay, newsflash, Pete? I was giving you shit earlier. That's all. Didn't know you were still in your super-pussy phase.

And by the way? The reason you're the number one superhero of all fucking time is because your life sucks. Because you're not rich and famous and your powers don't solve anything. Because you still worry about taxes and job security. Because you're fucking relatable even with with the webbing jockstrap, okay?

I get it. Your life sucks. Everybody's parents are dead, their planets are blown up, and so on. You want to know why?

Because that's what propels somebody out of the swamp of fuck-a-day average joes: Pain. And surviving it.

Happens to the best of us.

[surfaceshine]

...You sound like someone I used to know.

[myresponsibility]

... Sorry...?

[IS THIS A BAD THING???]

[surfaceshine]

Nothing to be sorry for. He's a good guy to sound like.

What's up?

spam

[semifreakingnormal]

[It kinda seems like Pete is having a shit time, so Scott does the only obvious thing to do: he heads up to the deck, spotting Peter asap (he smells weird, different, though Scott has no frame of reference; he's never smelled a spider before - and in any case, he tries not to think about how much he can smell).]

Hey.

[He pauses in front of Peter, then paces left and right as he eyeballs the greenhouse walls. He knows he doesn't have to hide anymore - which is weird, but like, crazy cool - so now he just has to figure out how to do this.

Assuming Peter's cool with that.]

Want some company?

spam

[myresponsibility]

[He's cool with it - usually he might not really want company when he's feeling moody and depressed and kind of pissed off, actually, because this is just total bullshit and he doesn't really appreciate people effectively telling him stop whining when it's like hey, I'm allowed to be upset about this, but he doesn't think Scott's going to do that. He likes him a lot, and considering he gets the whole "being super strong and fast doesn't solve all my problems" thing, he could probably do a lot worse, as far as company goes.

So nods, wondering vaguely if he can jump that high, or if he's going to have to help him up.]

Sure.

spam

[semifreakingnormal]

[Well they sure are going to find out, aren't they? Scott backs up a few feet, eyeballing the roof. He takes a running start, leaps pushes up with one leg against the wall and scrabbles for the edge. He almost misses, but grabs on, and hauls himself up with both arms.

And dusts himself off, cause piece of cake, right, yeah you didn't see him struggle.]

So I guess, uh. I should tell you I've read the comics. But I mean, I haven't seen any really obvious thought bubbles above your head yet-- [He swipes his hand at the air above Peter's head] --so I think you're safe.

Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara sounds pensive.] ...It doesn't make things better. But the way our worlds work - it gives us more opportunities, I think.

But that can go both ways. [The more choices you have, the more mistakes you can make. The more power you wield, the more damage you can do.]

Voice

[myresponsibility]

Yeah, sorry, if you're gonna say having superpowers makes things easier, I'm gonna tell you right now, you're really wrong.

Voice

[bodilesswarrior]

I don't mean powers. I mean... [She trails off, for a moment.] A lot of places - they don't have super heroes. It's just not an option, it's not how their world works. There's so much we couldn't have done, couldn't have been.

[surrenders]

I think it'd make it harder. One more thing you gotta balance, one more responsibility.

[myresponsibility]

Exactly. I mean, it's got some pluses, but it's got other stuff, too.

[surrenders]

If you're the only one and all you wanna do is keep safe, it might be easier. But nobody's ever the only one.