video; @gamora

[godslay]

[ When the camera switches on, Gamora is in her apartment, Godslayer across her lap (diligently cleaned and freshly oiled), and she’s holding her communicator with her usual unreadable expression in place. ]

I want to expand my training opportunities. Those looking to spar or test their abilities – I want a challenge.

[ And with a slight lift of her brow— ]

Or let me know if you simply want others to practice with. Tell me how you prefer to fight, and we can work something out.

[ What a friendly and welcoming message.

… Except definitely the opposite of that.

Gamora is working on that “reaching out” thing, on trying to get a better idea of who and what surrounds her in the city, and she might as well use it as a chance to stretch her legs and potentially come up against a worthy opponent or two. ]

Comments

[godslay]

That definitely was not what I said.

[ But it's also not necessarily untrue.

Not that Gamora would ever outright feed his ego. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

But it was implied.

[ that's fine man no one needs to feed the fire that is Peter's pride.

he does it well enough on his own. ]

[godslay]

Or you have an unruly imagination.

[ Potentially both. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Nah. I'm pretty certain of my good looks.

[ Definitely both. ]

You're okay to say I'm handsome, you know. The sighted world is already pretty aware of it, so it wouldn't be telling me anything new.

[godslay]

If you're already certain of it, then why do you need me to tell you?

[ Still... not... saying it. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Clearly you've never heard of positive affirmations.

Sometimes, it's just nice hearing things aloud from other people.

[godslay]

Your ego is big enough already. You do not need my help.

[ — And the word comes before she pauses to think about it, though she tries not to let that flicker of realization cross her face. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Maybe Gamora tries not to let it show, but Peter's not nearly so in control. He visibly winces at that, and his jaw tics as he clenches his teeth together.

It was an easy mistake. And god knows it's hardly Gamora's fault that his douchebag of a father chose such a fucking apt descriptor as his name. Egotistical prick.

Still, his gaze darts away, and he swings his legs off the couch to sit up properly – a weird, defensive instinct, as though being sprawled out as he had been made him vulnerable.

He forces his tone to remain light and unconcerned, ]

I'll just take it as understood, then.

[godslay]

[ Gamora knows it was a slip the second it happens, and she can't take it back or— apologize? Can she?

She leans her weight a little more on the back of the couch, watching Peter intently as he looks away, sitting up. ]

... I didn't mean that.

[ Well, she did, but she didn't mean... that. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He gives a wave of his hand, breezy and mild. ]

I know you didn't.

[ (did he, though?

Mom's voice in his head: You're so much like your daddy.

And his father, calling him a "great man," taking pride in how much Peter has taken after him, even without his presence to guide him.

His stomach rolls.) ]

I mean, what're you gonna do? [ He feels a little sick, but he refuses to let it show. ] Excise the word "ego" from your vocabulary?

It's fine.

[godslay]

No, but it was thoughtless.

[ Especially thrown so carelessly in his direction. With someone else, she would have said it without a second thought, but... there are implications (clear, obvious ones) she should have been aware of, that she should have considered. ]

And an unnecessary reminder.

[ Talking about it a little doesn't erase exactly how devastating their circumstances had been before coming to the city, especially for Peter. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He forces out a quiet laugh, shaking his head. ]

Gamora. It's fine. Really. We don't have to make a big deal about this. If I'm not worried, you shouldn't be, either.

[godslay]

[ The look she gives him isn't necessarily as flat as the ones before, but equally unimpressed. ]

You wouldn't tell me if you were worried.

[ They've both done their fair share of sweeping things under the rug (lately, and in general), so the comment isn't biting this time, not a criticism, but more... fact, as she sees it. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He opens his mouth to respond, though the words don't immediately come.

She... sort of has a point, he has to admit, and he falters for a second, gaze darting to the coffee table. Eventually, he gives a quick shrug. ]

Well, I'm telling you now that I'm not. So that's gotta count for something.

[godslay]

Would you tell me if it was something other than worry?

[ Whatever that heaviness is that she saw the last time they talked about Ego, when he told her about the Walkman. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Another shrug. ]

Yeah. Sure. I guess if it was a big enough deal.

[godslay]

[ She studies him for a long, drawn-out moment (that intense look she gets when she's trying to pick him apart with her eyes), and then, finally, she shrugs. ]

All right.

[ When she speaks again, there isn't much in the way of levity, but it's a change of subject, a proffered out, ]

You are still not invited if you bring anything that resembles a pom-pom.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He endures that look — thanks to his adamantly not making direct eye contact, because nothing would have made him fall apart faster, if he's honest – and when she changes the subject, he lets out a breath. He casts her a quick, grateful smile. ]

What if they're really small.

[godslay]

If they're small enough that I can't see them, then fine.

[ But given how good her eyesight is, that would have to be very, very small. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

Well, that's impossible. You could see an ant scratching its head in the dark.

[godslay]

Then I suppose that means you won't have any pom-poms.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He heaves out a dramatic sigh, flopping back on the couch. ]

Fine.

I'll just bring air horns instead.

[godslay]

If you're going to be disruptive, you should just stay at work.

[ Since she's going to be sparring at the training facilities for the Guard. It would make it easier for Peter to drop in, but also easier for him to shoo him off in the proper direction. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts out a laugh, waving a hand dismissively. ]

Fine. I won't bring air horns. Can I at least bring popcorn, still?

[godslay]

I assume you can eat that quietly.

[ The key here is clearly to be quiet. ]