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[... That's the second time that question was dodged. To hell with it all, he's going to drag himself out of bed.]

I'm coming to check on you. Give me a few minutes.

no no its okay!!! really!!!!

[Peter is badly trying to burrow under the blankets away from the computer like that will solve the problem.]

[That's alright, because Otto's not sending any more replies. He's scrambled out of bed to get dressed, fighting a hard battle not to remember how his 'old' legs had basically been torn to shreds and washed down the shower drain thanks to the appearance of six tentacles from within. God, he can still smell the blood.

Think about something else-

Standing up straight is a struggle as well, which is why he leans against the wall for support as he makes his way over to the neighboring room. His knock is more of a pounding with the heel of his fist.]

Peter? Can I come in?

[The teenager groans a little in frustration at the knock, poking his snout out enough to speak clearly at least.]

Yeah! Uh- come in!

[If he was aware of what Otto went through, the teenager would be up on his feet to help the older man.

At the moment he's just a teenaged rat trying to burrow more deeply into the blankets he's made into a makeshift nest.] I'm okay, really!

[If Peter had said "no", Otto would've just kept trying, but it's good that he doesn't have to stand out here any longer than necessary. He opens the door and awkwardly sidles his way inside, so that he doesn't have to step away from the wall too much.

Once Peter actually manages to peek out of that blanket nest, he'll be able to see just what the merperson transformation has done to Otto. The gills are barely noticeable, just a small detail, but his sleeves are rolled up to free the fins on his lower arms. More striking than any of that is the pallor, mostly visible on his face. It's pretty reminiscent of his first day in Ryslig.

The door is shut behind him. Tempting as it is to walk right up to the bed, he'd rather just lean back against the wall for now.]

... It's been a taxing day, hasn't it?

Can we get a do over or something? That'd be nice. [Peter manages from under the covers, not moving very far yet. The statement is a little childishly petulant, but Peter isn't exactly in the best mood.

A rat snoot pokes out from under the blankets as Peter peers out at him. Whiskers wiggling somewhat as he scents the air without thinking it. Mostly his bedroom smells like blood to Peter~~, and now... fish?~~.

The teenager winces at how pallid the older man looks. His gaze can't help but linger on the fins before taking in the gills on his neck.

Peter emerges a bit more, his brown fur speckled with chunky drying blood. It's becoming more obvious whatever remained of Peter's human face isn't there any longer.]

Maybe you should sit down?

Edited 2022-05-07 22:57 (UTC)

[If they got a do-over, they'd likely have to go through this ordeal all over again. At least once the transformation is over with, it's over with. ...He hopes.

When Peter had mentioned that he was a rat now, Otto hadn't quite pictured anything this drastic. That's why the rat snoot causes his eyes to widen and his breath to catch in the back of his throat. Is that blood? Good lord, how painful would that transformation have been? Just thinking about it stirs another dizzy spell.]

I... No. No, I'm fine here. [Says the middle-aged man resting all his weight against the wall.]

Yeah, no offense but you seem like you're gonna fall over. [The whiskers are wiggling a lot faster now. Peter's face has changed shape almost completely, thankfully his eyes are the same color.

Peter shifts enough that he reaches a hand out from under the blankets, the coloration having completely shifted to a darker color with red stripes along the fingers.

He pats at the edge of the bed in encouragement.]

Edited 2022-05-08 13:49 (UTC)

[He's a bit afraid that if he pushes away from the wall, he might fall over. Or his knees will buckle and then he'll fall over. But when Peter pats the bed, he can't very well turn the offer down. One deep, steadying breath later, he gingerly takes a step forward. And another. Two more steps later, he hastily settles himself on the edge of the bed. Success!]

[Otto can expect a rat hand to reach out to pat at his leg. Thankfully Peter's hands are clean even if his fur really isn't.

The teenager is aiming for reassuring without having to leave his blanket burrow. New instincts are strange and baffling, but also kind of nice since he does like being under a blanket with someone he feels safe with nearby.

He peers out a little more, his face fully revealed from the blanket as he peers up at Otto. His curly fur has dried matted blood in places. He had cleaned up the best he could, but shedding a whole human skin isn't great.]

I think just staying in one place for a while would probably be a good idea. My legs are kinda wobbly, and I don't think yours are any better.

Edited 2022-05-08 16:52 (UTC)

[There's a split second where Otto is startled by the rat hand. Because, well, it's a rat hand and the blood stains in the fur aren't making that any more flattering. He knows it's Peter, though, so he relaxes himself soon enough.]

Mm... Right. We can just... sit here for a bit.

[Peter doesn't take the startle personally, given he's gone from well himself to this in a matter of hours. He pats at Otto again before drawing away for the moment.]

To be honest, I don't think any of us are gonna be up to doing much of anything for a while. I dunno what's going on with Doctor Osborn right now either. He's probably not feeling great.

[The teenager tries to draw himself up into a seated position, but just winds himself in the process. He sinks back down onto the bed a bit closer to Otto now.] Maybe I should just lay here.

[Otto presses his lips together in a thin, tight line. Norman's situation is another one of those things that really complicates an already uncomfortable situation. Why did he have to change so severely? Why into something like that? When Peter moves closer, he shuffles himself back onto the bed a bit further so that he can stretch out his sore legs.]

That's fine. Laying here is not a bad option at all. [His hand softly pats the blanket bundle in the place where he estimates Peter's shoulder to be.]

[Peter is in no hurry to move off the bed, just accepting the pats with a tired kind of exhale. His whiskers wiggling seems to slow down for the moment as he closes his eyes. The more of his head that appears from the blankets reveals the teenager does indeed have very large floppy rat ears as well.

A pat feels nice. Then again Peter feels weirdly starved for any interaction at this point, he isn't sure why. Normally, he'd be too stressed by this kind of situation to want anyone to be close to him.]

Tomorrow, I'll... see if I can still walk okay. Right now, I dunno, not super important.

[He peeks up at Otto, a little imploringly.] Are you... gonna stay for a while?

[Oh no, those big ol' sad rat eyes... No matter how odd the situation is, it's still a bit like looking at a whimpering puppy. And the pleading isn't even necessary; Otto had no intention of leaving. He manages a weak smile.]

Of course, dear boy. I'll be right here.

[The reassurance and weak smile is enough to make Peter's whiskers wiggle a little again as he tries to move closer. It's a struggle, but he's gotta pull himself along.

He has no idea why he feels so inclined to be close, the new instinct just there right now. Otto can expect the teenager to lean into him once he's dragged himself close enough to make it happen.

He exhales in open relief.]

[Otto's eyes had just slipped shut, but when Peter leans into him, he opens them again to peer down at the bundle of blankets. It's nice to know he can help the boy feel more at ease, however small the gesture is. It's the least he can do. And in a way, it soothes him as well. His hand finds Peter's shoulder through the layers of fabric again, giving it a soft squeeze.]

[Peter hums his appreciation in turn at the squeeze.

He manages to settle comfortably against Otto, moving to vaguely drape blankets over him as well. The man is going to be pulled into a loose limbed kind of cuddle.

Some small part of Peter feels a little self-conscious about initiating what is essentially cuddling with someone who isn't Aunt May or Ben, but a bigger part of him (And new fun pooka instincts) wants to be close to someone he trusts.]

[Well. This feel a little weird. Otto's been hugged by Peter before- out in the middle of a public street, even. There's something more heartfelt about this, though. It's less out of need and more because Peter can. Otto hadn't thought it would ever turn out this way, but he's not going to fight it. Peter clearly needs more support in his life than he's been getting and as for Otto himself... Perhaps he needs it too.

Releasing a deep breath, he lies down flat on his back. The top of his head balances on the other edge of the mattress, but hey, at least he managed to stretch out without falling off the bed. He could probably fall asleep like this within minutes.]

[Peter releases a slow sleepy kind of yawn as he gets comfortable. His tail swishes lazily across the bedspread as he curls into Otto.

His self-consciousness fades as the combination of the warmth of the blankets and close proximity of someone he trusts helps ease him further. Peter is just as likely to fall asleep at this rate.

Unless something were to interrupt.

But whose to say on that front, not these creatures.]

[Norman had been doing everything he could to keep his mind off things, but two very horrible thoughts kept plaguing him: namely, that Peter and Otto respectively still needed to change, and would soon. would need him. when Otto failed to come back to their room, he dragged himself out of bed, not bothering to put on his jacket, and plodded shirtless toward Peter's door. he was so concerned that he was on the verge of pushing it open outright, but then remembered the importance of a teenage boy's privacy and knocked a quick tattoo]

Peter?! You alright in there?

[Otto had just started to succumb to his exhaustion, slumber taking hold and drawing him into the depths when the knock snaps him back into awareness. He hears the familiar voice, his face scrunches up lightly. Right... Norman. He should get up. He doesn't want to, though.

He'll just wait for Peter to respond instead.]

[The voice calling out is enough to startle Peter from a light doze. The teenager winces a little as he sits up slightly. He wants to sit up, but he's also comfortable and burrowed under blankets with Otto.]

Uh- yeah! I'm alright! I'm just a rat now! Otto is like a mermaid and stuff.

Pretty sure you mean merman, Peter.

[he's so glad he's still on the other side of the door so Otto can't see him grin. Doc Ock the merman, it's just... too spot on. he clears his throat, then adds:]

I'm coming in, then.

[he does, peering at the curious sight before him. his heart warms, chasing away a little of the worry]

Look at us... what a motley bunch.

[Otto would've corrected Peter if he hadn't been beaten to it. He appreciates Norman stepping in for him, though. When the door opens, he lifts his head and peers Norman's way with tired eyes, before laying back down.]

... Monsterley bunch, actually. [Ha HA! Hah... God he's exhausted.]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, OCTAVIUS. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 015.03.020.15 * OCTAVIUS has joined 015.03.020.15 <OCTAVIUS>** You've reached Dr. Otto Octavius. Please leave a message.

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[Action] cw: mentioned skin shedding, blood

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[Action] hits ya with the big ole rat eyes

[Action] CHILD PLEASE

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[Action] one last one before we get the goblin

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