riverview | Video; UN: p.parker

[The feed opens with Peter on his bed.

Not hungover, thank you.

But he looks a little rumpled, in that healthy way, a way that says he's actually gonna sleep early today.]

Ummm. So... This is weird. I, okay — here it goes.

Number one... Hey, hi, I'm — I'm 16-year-old Peter Parker. Not the puny one in the Iron Man mask anymore. But thanks a lot if you helped me out, back there; it means a lot. I was a little bit of a handful and all, but you guys were awesome babysitters? That's kind of embarrassing, but you know, that's just how a Parker rolls.

[Peter breathes out a sigh after a moment's hesitation, leaning back from the feed and tapping a pen on a notebook on his knee that is probably too full of science mumbo-jumbo and math notes — among other things. Liiiike bullet points on what to say for this message. He feels like he's got butterflies in his stomach, honestly. Which is stupid. But he's never been great at having an audience; you wouldn't catch him in drama with all those actor-types.

Okay, Pete. Just go down your list, you got this.]

Mr. Stark — Tony Stark, that is... and Sam Wilson, they've gone home. Captain America, too. A lot of people have: people from my world, some from worlds like it — and friends I got to make from wildly different places have left, too. And I just... wanna say, this place has been so good to me, you know? Sure, some really messed up stuff happened here and there, but. But it's been a place where I could think. And make new friends. And be way more open than I was back home.

I just know what I have to do now. It's been eating at me for a while, so... Decisions made. And all that.

I'm gonna take the next portal they can give me, and I'll be going home as soon as I get the word. [Some people know what that means. A lot of people don't, and he doesn't plan to tell them the grim reality behind it] There's a ton I have to do back home, responsibilities I gotta tend to and things I gotta be a part of, for better or worse. And it's not right for me to put it off. Like... how you avoid studying for the SATs until the night before? Yeah, it's super irresponsible.

... I don't know when it'll be exactly. I guess nobody does. Or else we wouldn't get pulled here or pushed away.

But yeah.

[He swallows.]

Anyway. I'd like to do as much as I can on my dumb to-do list thing, for this really weird and long vacation I've been on. I wanna hang out with all my friends who're still here and really just... have a lot of fun? Until I go back to my usual life. I hate goodbyes, so I'm not gonna think about saying them right now, but I just wanted everyone to know you've been so awesome, and I've learned so much, and I've had a blast.

... Mostly. Not including being hungover.

[He smiles a little more, warm and confident in his words.]

And, um, for certain people, I've got something else to tell them?

But I'll let you know in a more private feed.

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[Peter grins at that, more earnest.]

You can, huh? Which ones? 'How to pick a lock'?

Among others.

5, 9, 14, 16, 18, 19, 23,24, 25, 26, 28, 34, 36, 42, 45, 53, 54, 57, 58,

46 and 50 aren't possible as there are no such things as actual haunting or auras. I can, however, read your palm.

The caveat is that you don't ask me how or why I know how to do these things.

[Look kid, if you're going to leave then he's going to do everything he can to at least let you leave feeling accomplished.]

Heh. It's hard for me not to ask, but I guess I can do that much for you.

[He looks at the list, thoughtful.]

... I think I've played enough new games with you and Alex to cross off number five...

You know where to find a pottery wheel?

There are some in the house basement.

My father collected strange things.

[That is probably the least strange thing in the Strand house.]

[A little laugh.]

Any of it cursed?

Or — oh, you don't believe in that kinda stuff, right?

My father didn't believe in curses.

... Oh, yeah? Do you?

[He feels like he already knows the answer here, but... it's kinda fun to listen to Strand go on and on about supernatural stuff. He knows from experience. It's also... temporarily getting his attention off something that is plaguing his mind. So...]

No.

[He knows that Peter is well aware that he wouldn't. The boy knows him well enough to.]

Curses don't exist, neither does luck.

[He smiles a little, sadly.]

I don't know. I think luck's probably pretty real.

... Mr. Strand, I — there's something I have to tell you. I don't want to upset you, or... or maybe you angry with me, for not saying it before. It's just... It's hard to say, but I know...

[He trails off, his throat tight and stomach knotting.]

Edited 2018-11-06 05:26 (UTC)

I won't be mad with you.

[He already has an idea of what Pete is going to tell him.]

[Okay, Peter. Deep breath. You got this.]

So, uhh... Okay, okay. I know you learned about the superhero thing from Alex back when I — crash-landed off a roof, and everything. But the truth is... I... That is... Things back home, they don't... go so well. In the future.

Like, things go — really, really bad.

[... He's trying his best, and he's so sorry at how terrible his presentation is.]

I assumed as much when you started talking about your 'bucket list'.

[He's not going to deny what he knows. He's just not going to say anything until he has to.]

Peter, are you sure you want to go back?

[That at least makes it... easier. He deflates a little, rubbing his arm.]

I've got a lot of people to help back home. I've got... responsibilities. And I've still got some time left, before... Anyway, I just. I don't want to waste the time I get with my friends and family at home. Or abandon the other heroes dealing with this.

I understand.

[He does. There are some things that you just have to do.]

You won't be returning?

If... Um. If there's a way to, after I—

[He breathes in, arms folded, chest feeling tight.]

I'll do what I can. If I can come back... I will. They hope that — that my wanting to live will be enough to pull me through, but they can't... guarantee that. There are so many universes, and so many places the portal can pull from, and — and they just don't know.

Is there something they could give you to ensure it?

[A small shrug.]

Not yet... I dunno. I've been trying not to get too ahead of myself.

Nothing's ever ensured in life, right?

Precautions are worthwhile.

Guess I can't argue that.

I'll try to find them; precautions, I mean. It's the Strand Way.

[That gains a small smile.]

It's the most logical.

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