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Norman's... fine. We're fine. We both made it through the portal. But that... That was several days ago.

[He doesn't like being the bearer of such possibly-distressing news, but Peter asked about it, and he couldn't lie about it even if he wanted to. Faerie instincts and all that.]

[Peter blinks a little, just taking that in. He expected to be gone a few hours, maybe a day. Several days is different.]

I... oh.

[He needs a second to collect himself.] I'm, I'm glad you guys are okay. I didn't- I didn't think I'd be gone for so long.

[Even if the exact words aren't uttered, that last sentiment feels like an apology to Otto and it's not something he wants to hear. Who would expect to be gone for so long, when everyone else seemed to have been revived immediately? He shakes his head, one hand clapping against the back of Peter's shoulder.]

Don't worry about it. You're back now, that's all that matters. [...] We should get you cleaned up.

Right, I'm all... [He wrinkles his snout unhappily. He's blanking on a decent word to describe his current state of being.] Lake-y.

I was gonna try to take a shower before I reached out to you guys, I kinda... assumed I was gone a day at most like last time.

[It's curious, now that Otto thinks about it. The fog isn't even out today. Is it because the portal to Felfri is still open at the moment? ... Well, it doesn't matter.]

It's fine. You go shower, and I'll get something to eat for you. What are you in the mood for?

Anything is good, I haven't really eaten before- y'know. [He rubs at his furred face tiredly.]

I'll meet you in the kitchen when I'm done. If that works anyway.

[He already suspected that Peter might be far more exhausted than he's letting on, and that rubbing of the face seems to confirm his suspicions. So he shakes his head.]

It'd be better if you have a lie down, I think. I can bring the food to you.

[A sign enough Peter is tired by the fact he doesn't argue with Otto about the issue. He nods a little, whiskers flicking vaguely.]

I... yeah, probably a good idea.

[He exhales a little.] I'll see you in a bit then.

[He hesitates before heading to his room, pushing the door open to is bedroom.]

[Otto just lets him go. He still hasn't died himself, so he doesn't know what it feels like to be revived, but if Peter accepts that lie down suggestion without protest, it must be bad. As the teen gets cleaned up, he heads up towards the kitchen to prepare a light meal. And while he stops by Norman's bedroom first, there's no point to it. The man's not home right now. He'll have to find out later.

About half an hour later, Otto's carrying a bowl of soup and some bottled water on a tray down to Peter's bedroom. Knock knock!]

[The half an hour is enough for Peter to clean up, change and more or less doze off under some of his blankets. He startles a little bit when the knocking comes.

The teenager needs a second to reorient himself as to when and where he is. He squirms out of the blanket pile to sit at the edge of his bed. He likely looks freshly awakened to some extent.]

Yeah, um, come in!

[Otto won't open the door until he hears the OK from Peter, but once he does, he won't waste another second on waiting. Carefully balancing the tray on one hand, he reaches for the handle and walks right in. Peter looks freshly awakened, but also cleaned up and that's a good sign.]

How are you feeling? [The tray is set down on the bedside cabinet.]

Tired, but, I'll bounce back in a couple days probably. [Peter remembers how this went last time. He stretches a little bit, ears flicking somewhat as he yawns somewhat.] Thank you again, I appreciate the food and everything.

That's not something you need to thank me for. It's the least I can do.

[He should've done more, he thinks. So much more. Peter's safety was his responsibility, and he failed. Again. Why does he keep failing? Beck was right to chew him out several weeks ago. His wings vibrate uneasily, just for a few seconds.]

I'll still thank you anyway. Cause my original plan was literally just kinda laying on a flat surface and going to sleep for a while. [He was and is too tired to muster much in the way of cooking, and none of his snacks sound particularly appealing in the moment.

He eyes the vibrating wings, not entirely sure what to make of them.] I'm still just happy you guys were safe.

[Peter immediately falling asleep doesn't sound quite acceptable to Otto. He understands that the teen must be exhausted, but he expects anyone brought back from the dead must be running on an empty stomach. Peter needs something to digest, and he's sure soup is just the thing.

He ends up taking a seat on the side of Peter's bed as well, folding his hands in his lap.]

Since we were both allied with E+L, it was quite easy for us to reach the portal. But I wish... I wish all three of us could have gone through together.

[He stretches a little, tail lashing against the bed as he moves to investigate the soup Otto brought for him. Peter's whiskers are at least moving their usual pace, showing his interest in the meal.

He carefully picks up the tray to rest in his lap.] Me too, it would've been nice to actually go through together, but I don't regret my choice. I wish none of us had to get so... enmeshed with this to even survive or feel safe.

I want there to be peace here for everyone. No brainwashing or hurt from either side. I want home to feel safe, you know? [He's decidedly determined now, even with how tired he is. It flickers slightly as he picks up a spoon to get get a spoonful of soup. He blows on it, going quiet. He gets the first spoonful down, obviously hungry since he goes for another spoonful even if it burns his mouth.]

[It's vegetable soup! He would've added chicken, but they didn't have any in the house, so that's unfortunate. There's some noodles in there, at least. It's sure to be easy on Peter's stomach, and it's thankfully not hot enough to burn.

Otto listens to him talk, and really, it just makes him feel helpless. Wanting peace and safety, that sort of thing was already impossible back in their own worlds. There's no such thing as a place free of conflict, he's sure. Even with what he's been told about what Felfri was like before the Fog, he doubts it was as grand a utopia as everyone believed.]

... I know you do. So we'll make it feel safer. We'll do whatever we can. [Otto will do whatever he can, anyway. Even if it means signing on with the 'lesser evil', if it'll help Peter, that's what matters.]

[The teenager for his part is taking his time to eat. Wary of going a bit too fast after coming back to life. His last few experiences with death at least taught him to take it a bit more slowly in recovering.]

I guess I need to get W.E.B reorganized and work on the smaller stuff, and then focus on the bigger problems where I can. [Unsurprisingly, Peter is already formulating a rough plan of what he wanted to do.]

After living like that in Felfri, I kinda realized something though. [He frowns down at the soup, avoiding meeting Otto's eyes for now. Guilt sharp and uncomfortable in his chest.] I kinda... wanna stay in Ryslig. I know its bad, but... I don't want to be alone in New York.

[The 'working on the smaller stuff' bit is like music to Otto's ears. One step at a time, easy problem-solving first, that's the way to go. And in a way, he hopes Peter never gets to the bigger problems at all. That last sentiment has him fall silent for a moment, though.]

But Ryslig is... It isn't the best place to be either. Even if you have a family here, there's far too much needless suffering and death. You still have a home to return to. One where you aren't forced to kill for your own survival.

[Though even as he says it, he can just about taste the error in his words. People like Beck died for Peter's survival, didn't they? And more might die in the future, just as Otto and Norman died fighting their own Spider-Man. Even if Peter didn't mean for the fights to end that way, they still did.]

[Whilst Peter is Peter and intends to get himself involved in bigger problems where he can. He can't just pretend everything is fine when it isn't.]

Yeah. [He says quietly back, his gaze dropping to his soup. Withdrawing a little now. Feeling stupid for admitting as much.] Sorry.

I can guess you and Norman still wanna actually go back home. You have stuff to do, lives to pick back up on. [He manages a thin smile back at Otto.]

Not this.

[Well. This is a problem. Otto's returned to being a Faerie, and so, he can't lie to Peter about this. He could dodge the topic entirely, but... Considering how open Peter is, that wouldn't be right. He needs to be truthful about this.

So he hangs his head, shaking it a little.]

... No. No, I think that... even with what you've done for us, the moment we return home, Norman and I are destined to die. Being cured won't allow us to avoid the fates that were set in stone for us, I think. It certainly wouldn't change a thing in my situation, in any case.

But... I.. [He had assumed Otto and Norman would be okay. That they could go home safely. This future version of him had actually helped them. His expression just falls into something anguished and shocked all at once. His voice is very small when he does speak again.]

I thought... you'd be able to just go home and be okay.

[Otto hesitates for a second, then places a hand on Peter's arm.]

If I were to return to the exact same moment in time from which I was taken, the outcome would be the same. The reactor I built was already going out of control. It's for the best that it's drowned in the river, and since that's what needs to happen... I would need to drown with it. I've thought about it quite a bit over the months, but I can't see any other way out of that.

[That does not comfort Peter. Not even in the slightest. He clicks his teeth together uncertainly. His expression if anything is crushed by that sentiment.]

I... didn't know that. [Not particularly eloquent, but he's reeling.]

[He squeezes Peter's arm lightly, hoping that it brings the boy comfort. It's a difficult topic, one he would've liked to avoid if possible.]

Don't worry. I've made peace with it. Even if I were to survive, there isn't much left for me, in that world. It's better that I just make the most of the time I have here.

IC Inbox | Ryslig

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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.