myresponsibility | 021

[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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Who have you been talking to?

Does it matter?

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

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

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.

Ah. Not the sensitive type, is she?

By the way, are you the one on top of the greenhouse? [He asks because he's currently hovering about ten feet in the air further down deck.]

[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.

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.

Yeah. [Which means he's glancing around and then finally in Kelsier's direction, because whelp. Hello there.]

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. ]

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

I climbed. It's one of the things I can do. Like a spider?

[Because. That's what he can do. B(] I was just tired of sitting in my room.

Well... could you help me up?

If you don't mind a little company.

[ Spider people, aircraft carriers, spaceships, it's all the same level of weird to this gal. ]

[He waves then shoots in an arc toward the greenhouse then slows alarmingly fast before landing lightly.]

Oh, and I can't fly that was Steel Pushing and Iron Pulling. [He gestures vaguely behind him.] Common mistake.

We haven't had the occasion to talk before. Not really. [He holds out a scarred hand.]

Man, I really must've chapped your ass.

Um, sure.

[He's just not sure how for a minute, because this is kind of different from how he usually does this kind of thing. But he hops down pretty gracefully despite the height of the roof, brushes himself off a little nervously before firing off a web line back onto the roof. He wears the webslingers basically everywhere, and the sleeve of his jacket rides up enough to see that it's like a watch, not something he's making on his own.

And he's sort of awkwardly offering her his arm.]

Just, hold on, okay?

[Peter accepts the handshake, looking interested in the explanation and a little bit less like a puppy who'd just been kicked into a ditch.]

You're Kelsier, right?

[ She gives him another smile, a sweet one, one that reaches to her eyes. Takes his arm. ]

I'm holding.

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.

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

[Peter wraps an arm around her waist, trying not to blush before reeling the cable back. Soon, they're both on the roof, and he lets her go as soon as he's sure she's not going to accidentally fall off.]

So, um, I'm Peter.

So, are you still going to do it? Try to be a hero?

I am. At least, as much as I can. I have all these powers, I may as well put them to good use and stop trying to fight it.

Oh!

[ A little gasp, and a stiffening, but she lands gracefully, balanced. And she may reach out, tentatively, to touch the webbing.

On his name, she offers a delicate hand. ] Lily. Hello, Peter.

I know a little bit about good people getting hurt.

What made you want to fight it? If that's like, okay to ask.

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