middleofsomewhere

Entry tags:

To Climb

Preparation

Just after light on the seventh day since boarding the train everyone’s SCA glows with the colours of the void before showing a message. A briefing for the mission to come. No one gets much time to process this before there is a shaking, like turbulance before there’s a jolt and flash of colour.

”Welcome to Hub World#5739. Our next stop will be Ciyesia in a few hours.”

Outside the windows the void is gone. The train is winding through a mountain range. The mountains tower up around them. The sky is a beautiful blue though every now and again there is a swirl of colour, like the void is trying to break through.

The countryside wizzes by, sometimes you go past settlements, small villages of wooden houses. Sometimes you pass farmers in fields. Sometimes herds of animals, horses, camels, strange animals with six legs and curled horns.

Eventually the train slows. ”Now arriving at Ciyesia. Passengers must wear their Safety Control Apparatus. Please ensure you take all equipment needed for your mission with you when you leave the train and take extra care when you step from the train to the platform. Next stop Ciyesia.”

Arrival

And in a billow of steam the train comes to a stop. The doors hiss open and there is indeed a rickety wooden platform, fallen into disuse. Sat upon it were two children, a boy and a girl who were staring at the train with open mouths.

Before the doors were even fully opened they were off running, “Ma! Ma!”

The platform is in a clearing, surrounded mostly by trees but down the path the children took a building can be seen. If you follow the children you will find it a large homestead, with a sign outside. The Weary Wanderer. The children are on the doorstep talking to a woman and gesturing towards you.

As you approach she smiles, a little nervously. “Well. This is not something I thought I would see in my lifetime. Welcome Treckers, I offer you the hospitality of my inn.”

She gestures them in. Inside is a large common room with wooden tables. There is a fire place but the day is warm enough that it is not lit. At first glance it looks old fashioned to anyone from a modern world, even fantasy-esque for those who would recognise it as such. Indeed her and the children are dressed in simple layered, loose tunics. But then you may notice some of the candles are battery powered and! there’s a coffee machine on the bar.

“Maia can you ask our guests what they would like to drink?” The woman hands the little girl a slate and chalk before she begins rummaging around on the bar for mugs and glasses. “I’m sorry, it’s the quiet season so we aren’t quite guest-ready.”

They become guest ready in an impressive amount of time. The little boy runs off and returns a short while later with a plate of oat biscuits that he begins handing out.

Sheltered and soon to be fed it is time to learn more about this land and plan for your journeys ahead.

(OOC: Information for this event is here and the initial briefing is here

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"The what?" Tony asks, looking up from where he was setting his pants in a drawer. "Is that like 'don't step on a line'? You do realize you have a small advantage to that game."

He wasn't really challenging Peter's decision in games, just harassing him good-naturedly. "I'm glad you're going to include Buttercup. She could use some extra eyes looking out for her. Hey, toss me those socks, will you?"

"So does Gwen? Besides, it's not like I'm gonna let the little kids burn in the fiery lava pit, Mr Stark. I'm nicer than that." He rolls his eyes because it's almost like Tony's never heard of the game before and that might just be a crime.

"Anyways, it's easy-someone just shouts the floor is lava and you have to get off the ground as fast as possible-like right now you'd have tragically died in the pit of lava." He explains, grabbing the socks and tossing them lightly over to Tony.

"No, I wouldn't have," Tony states very 'matter-of-factly'. He picks up the socks and lays them neatly together in the drawer (not in a ball like some heathens).

When he gets the inevitable odd look he smirks. "You didn't say the floor was lava first and you didn't shout." He leans over and ruffles Peter's hair.

He picks up the tankard of ale sitting on the dresser and takes a swig. "Okay so playing goofy kid games is what you'll be doing tonight?"

"Sure Mr Stark." Peter offers him an ornery little grin. "I think you're just mad you would have been taken out so fast by lava." He shakes his head and makes a point of leaning back on the pillow where he's safe from imaginary lava pits on the bed, folding his arms behind his head and everything.

He just offers a shrug at the question because what else would be be doing? He's a little concerned that Tony's going to immediately have a list of things for him to do just like that last few times. "Sure. Why not?"

"If you aren't going to follow the rules then I can't lose the game. There's no game until you shout lava and I didn't hear you. Ergo, I'm not dead. Better luck next time Skippy."

Okay, so while he's at it, he should probably start looking for where he's going to jump when Peter inevitably says that next.

And the kid had clearly learned a lesson, but tonight would've been one of those rare times Tony didn't have a list- at least not yet. "I plan on getting plastered. If I don't have a hangover tomorrow then something went wrong tonight. I'm telling you. Two weeks is too long without a drink, especially when dealing with you and Blondie."

"Yeah but this was all hypothetical, so if I had shouted 'the floor is lava' then you would have been lost to the lava floor and it would have been very sad." Peter states, sitting up again and giving Tony a look^tm because of his plans for the evening. Why do adults always want to drink so much anyway? May's never overdone it where he could see, but even she likes a glass of wine every weekend.

"Uh... it's only been one week, Mr Stark. Gwen and I can't be that bad." He pauses to rethink that statement. "...Gwen can't be that bad." He amends, knowing that he's definitely been a handful the past week.

"Oh by the way Mr Stark-The floor is lava!"

"How is that a fair game? The instant you call it the floor is lava? There has to be a second or two delay or that makes no sense whatsoever. Come on Peter, think!"

He's ignoring that look. He doesn't care if it's been one or two weeks. He just needs a drink. "You're always a hand- shit!"

Tony takes a leap and hoists himself up onto the top of the dresser. He nearly spills his drink, but is entirely too pleased when he saves it. Well.. this was new. "So uh.. how long does the floor stay lava? What if I said the bed was lava?"

"Hey, I didn't invent the game." Peter states calmly, arms crossed as he stays seated on the bed. Peter's honestly a little surprised that Tony was even willing to indulge him with this stupid little game.

"Uh... doesn't really have a time limit? You either leave the room without touching the floor or just sacrifice yourself to the lava. You can also call falling rocks and then everyone has to find a new spot-" Speaking of, Peter gets up and jumps up onto the ceiling. Please ignore the fact he had to jump on the bed to do it. It was already stated he has an advantage.

"Then I get off the bed-it has clearly sunk into the lava."

"If you're not improving it then you are condoning it's mediocrity. That's not how what I've taught you, is it?" He scolds in a mock stern tone.

His lips curl upward in amusement as Peter defies gravity to achieve lava-free living. Although, he looks down at the bed again and sighs. That would mean soon the lava would overtake the dresser if this was to keep playing out.

"You know if you open the window the lava might pour out that way."

Just exactly how long did they have to keep this up?

"Uh... yeah! Good plan, Mr Stark!" Peter nods, crawling on the ceiling over to the window then standing on his knees to reach the window latch and push it outwards.

"There-Now all the lava will flow out the window and... onto... whoever happens to be outside. I did not think this through." He realizes, readjusting himself on the ceiling so he's just sitting cross-legged.

Tony rolls his eyes. He feels bad about how things had gone earlier that day and it was kind of fun just goofing off with the kid but, his attention span was having trouble with this. He opens his mouth to tell Peter to close the window that way it protects all the people below even if it takes them out but.. that was a little too close to home.

The moment of silence drags on. Tony's not sure what to say. He can't bring himself to apologize for earlier because he doesn't want to think about that conversation. He could simply move on and talk about the missions, but he didn't feel like doing that either.

Also, had it really only been a week? He was just now reflecting on what Peter had said a moment ago. It had felt like so much longer.

Peter does close the window after a moment though, not because he's making a sacrifice but just because it's cool outside and he can't take too much cold. He stays seated on the ceiling upside down and waiting for whatever it was Tony was going to say.

But he's not saying anything.

Peter lets it stay quiet for a moment, his need to talk starting to burn at the back of his throat-it's too quiet and he doesn't like it when it gets too quiet. His mind starts to veer off in weird directions-it's where some of his weirder questions come from. Right now though, his thoughts are drifting to Gwen again. They've done that a lot lately and their earlier conversation sticks out in his mind-specifically her comment about 'maybe later.' Maybe she thinks he's too much of a child?

"S-So uh.. can I ask you for a favor?" He starts a little suddenly. "Uh... can you um... maybe try not to like... treat me like a kid so much in front of... um.. Gwen?"

It was dangerous, this quiet. It wouldn't be long before the things he hears and sees in the dark or when he's alone will start to creep in. The visions of nearly starving to death on a space ship, of all Thanos put them through, of losing Peter, of the sacrifice all keep whirling about in his mind. He needs an escape on a level he hadn't needed in the past. He wants to forget tonight and drink till none of those nightmares can reach him for a little while.

His thoughts are interrupted. His gaze turns external instead of the internal trauma he's still suffering through. "What?" He asks, for a moment not understanding the words till he replays them again in his mind. And just because he can understand what the words mean, doesn't mean he understands why Peter is saying them. "What are you talking about?"

Peter suddenly has an urge to backtrack-it's not that important and he has no idea how Tony's going to take the request. How does he say this without managing to just embarrass himself further?

"Well, it's just..." He lets out a sigh, running his hand through his curly hair. "I know I said I didn't want you to play matchmaker-" And he meant that. "-but uh... could you maybe not uh see I really like her-like really like her." He's started his finger tapping way of fidgeting again as his cheeks start growing warm..

"S-so I'm kinda uh.. I mean not kinda... I am trying to get her to like me back?"

Tony just stares at Peter for a moment, watching the silly kid squirm and flounder with his words while being upside down on his ceiling. Seriously, how was this his life?

He shakes his head and rubs a hand across his face. He needed a refill and some aspirin. "You moron, she already likes you back."

Peter just continues to tap his fingers together nervously as he thinks about Gwen and her smile, and her voice, and her cool hair and her flow-y dance moves. She's perfect.

"She's-Really?" Peter questions for a moment before shaking the hopeful thought out of his head. "But how can you know that, Mr Stark? I mean-it's not that I think she doesn't like me at all-we hang out kinda a lot. But does she like me, like me."

...And that is such a childish way to put it, he's not helping his case with wanting to be treated less like a kid in front of the girl he has an obvious crush. He lets himself down from the ceiling and back on to the bed. "I told her I'm not with Liz anymore-if she was wondering but she said sometime later? Whatever that means? Maybe she doesn't think I'm mature enough? I mean-I'm plenty mature!"

The poor dumb kid was hurting his brain. How could he even be questioning this? It was so obvious! Was he ever this clueless? Probably.

"Peter.. come on. You two have been drooling over each other since you met. The only ones who don't seem to be completely aware of it and thinking this is yesterday's news is you two. You can trust me on this, Pete." He gives the young man who, yes, seemed very, very young to him right now a caring smile. "Of course you're mature enough. Why wouldn't you think you were mature enough for her to be into you? Or 'like, like you'." The last part was a tease, a little playfully mocking tone to how Peter had put it.

Then he frowns a bit. "You were with someone?" He doesn't even remember that.

Peter's face flushes, his ears going a bit red as he quickly shakes his head harshly. "Wh'what? No! I haven't been drooling-I mean-she's really cool and pretty and I'm uh... me." Really awkward, terrible with words, rambles about science and math at ever opportunity, socially awkward on top of just plain awkward and an over all mess. Which, surely she's noticed by now.

"Uh.. kinda? I mean I had a date to homecoming but then her dad turned out to be the vulture guy s-so I kinda... uh.. left her on dance floor and then she moved to Oregon."

It breaks his heart a little to hear Peter ever doubt how amazing he was. Did he have any idea what he meant to people and the gaping hole he left- no, now wasn't the time for that. His shakes his head again, pushing those dark thoughts away. Now was the opportunity he thought he never would get to tell Peter what he really thought of him.

It helps the next moment the kid is making him laugh. Of course Peter's first date would be with the Adrian Toomas' daughter! The boy was a walking example of Murphy's Law. However, despite all that, he needs to make something clear- clearer than anything he's ever told the kid. Tony slips off the dresser and comes over to crouch next to the bed Peter was sitting on. He puts a hand lightly on his knee and looks him dead in the eyes.

"Listen to me Pete. Really listen. Your dad, Richard, isn't here to tell you these things and unfortunately neither is Ben. So you have to hear it from me. I know I don't quite cut it standing next to those men in your life but.. If they were here they'd be telling you the exact same thing I am. You're brilliant and capable. You're strong and charming. You can have any girl you want and if that's Gwen, then she's a lucky girl. And you're a lucky bastard because she does like you back. I can see it. It's just one of those things you can see when you're older. Just.. you got to be patient and be careful with this. It's a gift and if you break her heart over something stupid, I will... kick you in the ass."

Peter hadn't expected the conversation to get quite this serious. It's true that he's really not that confident and there were about a thousand reason he could list off the top of his head for Gwen to not return his feelings or he could even mention the vague fear something was going to disastrously wrong as it always seems to right when things feel like they're at their best in his life.

And as much as Peter is head over heels for Gwen there's more in that statement that needs addressed than just the girl Peter's crushing on possibly, maybe liking him back.

Mr Stark mentioned his dad and then Ben, and Peter can't help but swallow a little thickly at the thought that neither were around anymore-he couldn't tell Ben about Gwen and that stung just a little. And then Mr Stark says that other part which just earns another of Peter's looks.

"But.. you do, Mr Stark." He lets out, staring at his mentor in confusion. "Cut it-I mean." And just like he always does when he gets really nervous about something he starts to fill the silence with words. "-I mean I don't-It's just that um... before uh.. before I met you I didn't feel-it's hard to explain." He states before trying again.

"So... you know I have-or had-Asthma and uh I was weak-like really weak. Practically all I could was stay inside and read and uh build leggos but that's not important-the thing is-I got picked on a lot for being so weak-I mean still do but that's nothing-but I didn't feel... normal, you know? 'Cause I was always singled out and stuff and I couldn't do normal stuff other kids could do. And then the spider-bite happened and I felt like I was never gonna be normal-how could I? I had super powers. But after I met you-on that day you just... somehow made me feel like a normal kid-even with my powers." He offers a shrug. "And I just... I didn't think I'd ever get that."

It was humbling that after what Tony had said, Peter hones in on where he can compliment his mentor back. It wasn't easy hearing that he had done something so important to the boy- as big of an ego as he had, he still questioned whether he was truly 'good' at heart after all the mistakes he's made. However, he couldn't just push that away or deny it. That wasn't fair to Peter, especially after what he'd just had to listen to Tony say. So unsure what else to do or say, he just rises up a little more on his legs and reaches in to give the boy a hug.

He'd learned the power of hugs over the last five years. They were stronger than any weapon his family had ever made and he understands that now.

However, he still is Tony and some things never change. "Alright, enough of the chick flick moment. Let's change the subject before we both start growing lady parts." He ruffles Peter's hair and then stands up and draws the chair closer to the bed. "Now what's this you were saying about treating you like a kid in front of Gwen. You do realize reacting like you did about the ale was just as kid-like as anything I've said about you, right?"

Peter makes a face because while he does understand Tony's not really one for feelings, he doesn't understand why it's seen as unmanly to do the whole heart to heart thing. The only reason Peter's never particularly willing to talk about such things is more because he gets nervous, uncomfortable and his track record with adults is... horrifying.

"What? No! That was me being responsible. It was the responsible thing because I'm not twenty-one and not gonna take advantage of the situation."

Tony's from a different generation. He's pretty open minded, but sometimes his humor reflexes some of his limitations. At least there isn't any real prejudice behind it.

It was painful to think about what Peter had been through in his short life. Pretty much any lesser fool would have been destroyed by the grief of losing so many family members and getting bullied along side it. Somehow Peter just seemed to keep getting purer and better. Tony couldn't understand how he was doing it, but he respected it all the same.

"Well, whatever the reason, it seems to be working for you with Gwen. But that was really a lead in for you to tell me what you need to tell me. I doubt you really came in here to help me put away my socks and play 'lava' did you?"

Peter manages to push the thought of Uncle Ben and his dad out of his mind and just gives Tony an ornery look before moving to lean back on the pillows again.

"What? I can't just come hang out with my favorite mentor/Avenger?" He asks, grinning at Tony as he does. He really did come bother him for a reason but that reason was just to talk about Gwen. And how could he know that whatever he was doing was working? He wasn't even doing anything!

"But uh, seriously Mr Stark-do you think you could maybe not talk about me like I'm almost completely helpless when Gwen's around?"

Any other time Tony would roll his eyes or make some sarcastic answer to Peter's compliment, but this time there's a few seconds of a really genuine, little smile on his face instead. His eyes look just a touch sad too, vulnerable, before he's shaking his head and the mask of his ego is put carefully back in place. He still can't make himself push that compliment away though.

He considers the request while watching the young man for a moment. "I'll do my best, kid." He picks up his mug of ale but doesn't end up drinking it, just looks inside at the remaining liquid for another moment. "But.. perhaps you can quit reminding me of times you've almost.. when you've gotten in situations like that building." He feels so pathetic having to even make this request and he's afraid of what kind of questions it might bring up. The pain keeps showing through the cracks, despite how hard he works to hide it. "I just.. I can't handle thinking of what could have happened to you right now."

To Climb

Re: The Talk

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