[She quit. After what she saw, what the tower was trying to make her do again, she refused to go any further. Gwen took the door that let her leave the tower, and like she was never even there, she woke up in their apartment. Her mind spun for a moment, clearing as she processed where she was again, but as soon as clarity struck her, she was up on her feet, pushing back the privacy screen they had put between their beds.
Her eyes landed on Peter, and even if he wasn't green, or in any kind of distress at all, she was at his side immediately, shaking him awake.]
(he jolts up, startled - nothing incredibly bad has happened to him, it had been more enlightening than scary.
sounds like that wasn't the case for gwen, he can hear the fear and frustration in her voice, the way she rushed to check if he was breathing. he sits up, pulling her gently to sit next to him.)
I'm fine, relax, I'm okay. You're fine, it's just you and me, okay? Breathe.
[Gwen doesn't resist his pull, sitting on his bed with ease. But once she does another once over look at him, she can't help herself-- she throws her arms around him, burying her face into his shoulder.]
That tower-- I saw you there.
[He knows this, at least part of the way. But the decathlon challenge was just one part of her trip through the tower.]
Only it wasn't you, not really-- I mean, it was you you, and you-- it happened again.
(it's easy to wrap his arms around her, a rock in times of need. clearly, she's too shaken to explain whatever happened behind her doors, and truth be told, she doesn't have to.
even if she makes no sense, it matters very little. she's safe, he's safe, and one of his hands go to her head, as to wordlessly tell her he's got her.)
I'm here though, okay? Try to breathe, okay? Can I breathe with you? Wanna it this together?
good! just checking in on you, man I actually had fun it was like fighting out of a trippy puzzle room or something reminded me of that time knowhere got hit by the promise and me and my friends had to fight our way through the city well I mean it wasn't totally like that but it had kind of a similar vibe less brainwashed people though
YEAH mine were like too Gwen and I had academic decathlon that was great Also whats knowhere again You guys gotta get that confused all the time right With nowhere? Or no
I wanna hear your stories man they seem all super great You wanna sleep over sometime?
[Peter promised her a date for her birthday. So here she was, dressed up in the casual punk aesthetic she enjoyed so much. The black leather jacket that she managed to acquire since arrival was already studded with a few pins she had been collecting, and the rest of the outfit came from thrifting and piecing things together to get the vibe she liked. She even added a touch of makeup! Just enough to add to the look, but nothing actually extreme.
The idea was to look nice, to be dressed up, since it was-- well, a date.
She hadn't honestly dressed up in a hot minute, so it was a nice change of pace. Finally satisfied with her look, she stepped out of the bathroom, glancing around curiously for Peter.]
Peter? I'm ready. [hopefully she hadn't kept him waiting for too long, oops.]
(... she's definitely too much for him. he looks absolutely stunned with the outfit, blinking a few times and feeling the heat creep across his cheeks.)
... Woah. You look-- you look just great, Gwen.
(peter also did try to look his best here, though maybe the suit is a little too big on him - he saved for the restaurant, totally forgot the outfit he should wear for it, oopsie.
it doesn't matter. what matters is that they'll have a great night, he'll make sure of it, and that his cheeks hurt with the smile he's giving out while he looks at her. his hand reaches, palm up, offering and eager.)
[The stunned look that gets stuck on his face brings warmth to her cheeks, but she can't help but laugh. He's such a dork, but it's adorable, how he reacted sometimes.]
Look at you! [Awww, he tried so hard! Don't mind her if she walks up to him, playing with the collar of his suit. It's not hard for her to tell it's not sized the best, but she didn't care, it was the thought that counted, and Peter was always thinking about others.]
But thanks. You don't look half bad, yourself. [She's smiling brightly right back, slipping her hand into his as he offers it.]
Walking? In these shoes? [Shhh she wants to make him sweat, just a little. She's wearing black army boots, they're hella comfortable. But before he can panic too much, she clears up her joke.]
I'm kidding, Peter. I'm not about to swing anywhere in this dress.
(he doesn't get a chance to say -- wait, you're right, before she already puts that worry out of his brain, and instead, he just has his mouth half open to say it, and only a laugh comes out.
she's going to give him a heart attack one of these days! swear to god! but, well, it's fine. nothing but a little embarrassed huff before he can give his arm for them to get going.)
Hey, you know? Maybe I can hold you princess style and you swing us.
>> Are you guys okay? >> Did your numbers in the shitfest lotto get called?
[ Prank war and joking antagonism aside, Jim worried about the STEM kids. Yeah, sure, they were genetically-engineered super-people, but they were still teenagers, and this place sucked. ]
[Gwen still wasn't sure how she convinced Peter to sleep in today and not rush to do STEM things. Might've been the kisses that did the trick, but who was to say? Either way, they were having a chill day so far. She was curled up against him, tucked into his arms, while another one of the strange and stupid movies was playing on their ancient tv. It was nice.
Until her tablet buzzed. She wasn't expecting any messages, so she was just going to glance, then ignore it, but when she saw the sender, she froze. At least for a moment, before she moved to sit up, staring at her tablet in confusion and panic.]
(he's been so tired - and understandably so. all the projects, all the coding he's learning and practicing, all the things he has going on - super or not, they take a toll, and even if he did sleep in today, he is still snoozing a little while the movie plays on the screen.
the sitting up makes him wake almost immediately, with peter's eyes going straight to the tablet as the source of her anxiety.)
[Gwen doesn't realize she woke him at first. She's staring at the screen, reading the second line again and again.
Murder of Peter Parker.
She knew that was her so-called crime in this place. She had looked at it, and promptly put it away and avoided looking at it or thinking about it again. It's not like she could ever forget her best friend died and she would forever carry the guilt of not being able to save him. She had already been faced with that again, here, wasn't that enough?
But she was pulled back to the present by hearing Peter speak, even if she didn't process any words that came out of his mouth.]
[Peter's been out and about, so Gwen's had their house to herself. Except she hasn't exactly been alone.
She thought she was going crazy, the first time she saw Peter. Her Peter. She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and he was gone. It hurt, because after everything, she still missed him. But then he came back. Again, and again-- to the point that she's almost used to seeing him.
Almost.
But as the time has passed from her meeting with Jerry, his visits are more frequent, lasting longer, and how he's talking to her. He's been droning on and on all day, but her patience is thinning, and she finally snaps.]
Oh my god, can you just stop? If I have to hear one more time about how I'm replacing you, or how I'm not the Gwen you knew, I'm going to figure out how to strangle your ghost throat. And if we're going to go on about how someone is the person you knew, what about you? Peter, what were you thinking? So I don't want to hear it. You picked power over me, and I can't ever forget that--
[Yeah, she doesn't even realize Peter might be arriving just in time to hear her explosion. She hasn't even told him about this yet, so. Surprise!]
(the moment he opens the window to come in, the words 'peter, what were you thinking' coming out of her. with his standard confused look, he opened his mouth to explain-- something, he has no idea, so the moment he thought to ask, she continues. oh. it's not him, it seems. peter didn't know she's been seeing things, so his level of worry went from mild to extreme as he comes inside. it's never something easy for them to talk about, he too happens to be a peter parker, he knows the implications of them and the ups and downs they'll undoubtedly face due to him not being the sole one.
at times, he does wonder just how similar he must be to her peter parker.
there's no hesitation to place his hand on her shoulder, knowing she knows he had arrived.)
Hey, you're... Uh, are you okay, Gwen? Have you been... Who are you talking to?
[It's not easy to sneak up on a spider-person, but when one is deep in expressing themselves to the ghost of their best friend, it gets missed. At least, Gwen didn't notice him immediately.
Normally, she would have known the second he was at the window, but he's already inside before her skin crawls as her spider-sense alerts her, and she freezes. She feels his hand on her shoulder, hears his calming words, but she suddenly can't find her own again. She crossed her arms defensively, avoiding his gaze for the moment.
He heard all of that, didn't he? Or.. enough. Shit.
It would be easy to lie. Make up something, anything, that could somehow explain those words away. But she knows he would see right through her. Even if they haven't known each other long, they know each other. He would know she was lying, even if she could come up with something convincing enough.
So she sighs, dropping her arms and finally turning to face him. She looks...tired. Her eyes might even be a bit red, but she'll deny crying if he dares to ask.]
It's...this sentencing. At least, I think that's what it is. I can't imagine it's not, given-- the circumstances. [There she goes rambling anxiously. She finally clears her throat, before trying again.]
I've... been seeing ghosts. Of the people I failed to save. But especially.. my Peter. I didn't think anything of it at first. I thought it was something in my eye, a trick of the light, but-- it's been getting worse.
[It's early in the 25th morning. Most people are still sleeping and the sun is only about to send its first rays to break the darkness of the night sky. But then there is a sudden knock on a door. Huh?! Who could it be! Whenever Peter gets to the door, be it immediately or hours late they will find a christmas wreath with white roses placed on their doorstep. There might even be snowy (or wet!) small hoof marks leading away from the present. Hm. I wonder, who indeed did deliver this?
On the wreath there is a letter that reads:]
Greetings my fellow Chosen.
Thank you for your support and interest in strengthening our community. I shall look forward to our collaboration in future in the form of the defense squad. In the meantime I wish you the most pleasant and peaceful Christmas. There will be a feast held at the Inn’s tavern for the next 12 days and I welcome you to enjoy it for free. There will be warm food, treats and homemade mead and wine at your disposal.
Merry Christmas.
Signed, Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester
[ooc: There will be no ic mingle log for the feast. But feel free to either handwave or thread it out!]
[ Whenever it is all and sundry are out and about, at least one will surely come upon a (rather large) wooden box placed neatly upon their doorstep. It is covered in such a way that it keeps in the warmth and keeps out prying eyes, but it is not wrapped in any particular fashion. What it is, however?
Well: it is smart and dark in coloration. Peering over the lip (and thus into) the box will indicate that the cover is acrylic. It slides back, it would seem, from very neatly polished runners that it slips into toward the bottom. The contents are (for the moment) covered with a thin sheet of parchment paper, but the nose should be more-or-less immediately greeted with a lovely barrage of scents. Whatever is contained within is sugary, sweet, but somehow a touch tangy and zesty too. As for why that is? A peeling back of the paper will reveal neatly packaged and divided... Donuts? No, they look a little more specialized.
A card tucked near the back (with precisely typed ingredients and nothing else - such as a sender) will reveal that they are actually sufganiyot. A kind of powdered donut, it would seem, that is filled with a variety of jams and/or jellies. Some are date, some are strawberry. Some, too, are apricot or orange. There may be even a blueberry and grape one mixed in there for additional variety.
(It is easy enough to tell what they are, however, given the bit of candied fruit atop their perfectly round surfaces. Clever.)
However, what is most notable? The package is arranged to distribute the contents as they would see fit among their household. And once they are all polished off, they might too observe that the wooden box in which they arrived seems like a perfect place to hold any number of items and curios. Almost like a... Compartmentalized shadow box? Ah, that would indeed explain the acrylic lid that slid neatly into place over them all to begin with.
You do realize that the unprompted specification that there is "no reason" behind your sudden communiqué implies existence of the contrary.
[ He's just giving him a hard time, really. But, the next string of messages will come in a moment. He's got his hands full, quite literally, between penning poor Bones the dog in the other room and setting down a plethora of groceries. ]
As I assume you are arriving, please enter through the back. I am currently restocking our refrigeration unit.
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action;
Her eyes landed on Peter, and even if he wasn't green, or in any kind of distress at all, she was at his side immediately, shaking him awake.]
Peter? Peter, are you alright??
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sounds like that wasn't the case for gwen, he can hear the fear and frustration in her voice, the way she rushed to check if he was breathing. he sits up, pulling her gently to sit next to him.)
I'm fine, relax, I'm okay. You're fine, it's just you and me, okay? Breathe.
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That tower-- I saw you there.
[He knows this, at least part of the way. But the decathlon challenge was just one part of her trip through the tower.]
Only it wasn't you, not really-- I mean, it was you you, and you-- it happened again.
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even if she makes no sense, it matters very little. she's safe, he's safe, and one of his hands go to her head, as to wordlessly tell her he's got her.)
I'm here though, okay? Try to breathe, okay? Can I breathe with you? Wanna it this together?
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text
you doing alright, dude?
get sucked into the weird tower?
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I'm fine man
The tower wasn't so bad for me but it did suck for some others
You good over there?
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I actually had fun
it was like fighting out of a trippy puzzle room or something
reminded me of that time knowhere got hit by the promise and me and my friends had to fight our way through the city
well I mean it wasn't totally like that but it had kind of a similar vibe
less brainwashed people though
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Gwen and I had academic decathlon that was great
Also whats knowhere again
You guys gotta get that confused all the time right
With nowhere? Or no
I wanna hear your stories man they seem all super great
You wanna sleep over sometime?
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action; backdated to her birthday
The idea was to look nice, to be dressed up, since it was-- well, a date.
She hadn't honestly dressed up in a hot minute, so it was a nice change of pace. Finally satisfied with her look, she stepped out of the bathroom, glancing around curiously for Peter.]
Peter? I'm ready. [hopefully she hadn't kept him waiting for too long, oops.]
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... Woah. You look-- you look just great, Gwen.
(peter also did try to look his best here, though maybe the suit is a little too big on him - he saved for the restaurant, totally forgot the outfit he should wear for it, oopsie.
it doesn't matter. what matters is that they'll have a great night, he'll make sure of it, and that his cheeks hurt with the smile he's giving out while he looks at her. his hand reaches, palm up, offering and eager.)
Let's go? Walking, not swinging.
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Look at you! [Awww, he tried so hard! Don't mind her if she walks up to him, playing with the collar of his suit. It's not hard for her to tell it's not sized the best, but she didn't care, it was the thought that counted, and Peter was always thinking about others.]
But thanks. You don't look half bad, yourself. [She's smiling brightly right back, slipping her hand into his as he offers it.]
Walking? In these shoes? [Shhh she wants to make him sweat, just a little. She's wearing black army boots, they're hella comfortable. But before he can panic too much, she clears up her joke.]
I'm kidding, Peter. I'm not about to swing anywhere in this dress.
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she's going to give him a heart attack one of these days! swear to god! but, well, it's fine. nothing but a little embarrassed huff before he can give his arm for them to get going.)
Hey, you know? Maybe I can hold you princess style and you swing us.
(he's also kidding. please.)
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>> SECURE CHANNEL
>> Did your numbers in the shitfest lotto get called?
[ Prank war and joking antagonism aside, Jim worried about the STEM kids. Yeah, sure, they were genetically-engineered super-people, but they were still teenagers, and this place sucked. ]
>> SECURE CHANNEL
>> But Gwen was
>> I'm outside the building in full gear waiting for her, in case something happens
>> SECURE CHANNEL
>> Spock too. I'm on my way with him now to report.
>> I'm assuming they didn't let you go in with her.
[ Not that it'll stop him trying. But, much as Jim would love to pick a fight, they're still Biding Their Time. ]
>> I'll bring my phaser.
>> I've heard these punishments vary in intensity.
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action;
Until her tablet buzzed. She wasn't expecting any messages, so she was just going to glance, then ignore it, but when she saw the sender, she froze. At least for a moment, before she moved to sit up, staring at her tablet in confusion and panic.]
What--?
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the sitting up makes him wake almost immediately, with peter's eyes going straight to the tablet as the source of her anxiety.)
... You're being sentenced.
(... what the hell)
... Gwen, we gotta get in our suits.
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Murder of Peter Parker.
She knew that was her so-called crime in this place. She had looked at it, and promptly put it away and avoided looking at it or thinking about it again. It's not like she could ever forget her best friend died and she would forever carry the guilt of not being able to save him. She had already been faced with that again, here, wasn't that enough?
But she was pulled back to the present by hearing Peter speak, even if she didn't process any words that came out of his mouth.]
-- Sorry, what?
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action;
She thought she was going crazy, the first time she saw Peter. Her Peter. She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and he was gone. It hurt, because after everything, she still missed him. But then he came back. Again, and again-- to the point that she's almost used to seeing him.
Almost.
But as the time has passed from her meeting with Jerry, his visits are more frequent, lasting longer, and how he's talking to her. He's been droning on and on all day, but her patience is thinning, and she finally snaps.]
Oh my god, can you just stop? If I have to hear one more time about how I'm replacing you, or how I'm not the Gwen you knew, I'm going to figure out how to strangle your ghost throat. And if we're going to go on about how someone is the person you knew, what about you? Peter, what were you thinking? So I don't want to hear it. You picked power over me, and I can't ever forget that--
[Yeah, she doesn't even realize Peter might be arriving just in time to hear her explosion. She hasn't even told him about this yet, so. Surprise!]
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at times, he does wonder just how similar he must be to her peter parker.
there's no hesitation to place his hand on her shoulder, knowing she knows he had arrived.)
Hey, you're... Uh, are you okay, Gwen? Have you been... Who are you talking to?
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Normally, she would have known the second he was at the window, but he's already inside before her skin crawls as her spider-sense alerts her, and she freezes. She feels his hand on her shoulder, hears his calming words, but she suddenly can't find her own again. She crossed her arms defensively, avoiding his gaze for the moment.
He heard all of that, didn't he? Or.. enough. Shit.
It would be easy to lie. Make up something, anything, that could somehow explain those words away. But she knows he would see right through her. Even if they haven't known each other long, they know each other. He would know she was lying, even if she could come up with something convincing enough.
So she sighs, dropping her arms and finally turning to face him. She looks...tired. Her eyes might even be a bit red, but she'll deny crying if he dares to ask.]
It's...this sentencing. At least, I think that's what it is. I can't imagine it's not, given-- the circumstances. [There she goes rambling anxiously. She finally clears her throat, before trying again.]
I've... been seeing ghosts. Of the people I failed to save. But especially.. my Peter. I didn't think anything of it at first. I thought it was something in my eye, a trick of the light, but-- it's been getting worse.
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IC delivery
On the wreath there is a letter that reads:]
Greetings my fellow Chosen.
Thank you for your support and interest in strengthening our community. I shall look forward to our collaboration in future in the form of the defense squad. In the meantime I wish you the most pleasant and peaceful Christmas. There will be a feast held at the Inn’s tavern for the next 12 days and I welcome you to enjoy it for free. There will be warm food, treats and homemade mead and wine at your disposal.
Merry Christmas.
Signed,
Richard Plantagenet, The Duke of Gloucester
[ooc: There will be no ic mingle log for the feast. But feel free to either handwave or thread it out!]
backdated to yesterday.
Well: it is smart and dark in coloration. Peering over the lip (and thus into) the box will indicate that the cover is acrylic. It slides back, it would seem, from very neatly polished runners that it slips into toward the bottom. The contents are (for the moment) covered with a thin sheet of parchment paper, but the nose should be more-or-less immediately greeted with a lovely barrage of scents. Whatever is contained within is sugary, sweet, but somehow a touch tangy and zesty too. As for why that is? A peeling back of the paper will reveal neatly packaged and divided... Donuts? No, they look a little more specialized.
A card tucked near the back (with precisely typed ingredients and nothing else - such as a sender) will reveal that they are actually sufganiyot. A kind of powdered donut, it would seem, that is filled with a variety of jams and/or jellies. Some are date, some are strawberry. Some, too, are apricot or orange. There may be even a blueberry and grape one mixed in there for additional variety.
(It is easy enough to tell what they are, however, given the bit of candied fruit atop their perfectly round surfaces. Clever.)
However, what is most notable? The package is arranged to distribute the contents as they would see fit among their household. And once they are all polished off, they might too observe that the wooden box in which they arrived seems like a perfect place to hold any number of items and curios. Almost like a... Compartmentalized shadow box? Ah, that would indeed explain the acrylic lid that slid neatly into place over them all to begin with.
Curiouser and curiouser. ]
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Mister Spock
Where are you
No reason
Just wanna know
Like I will take like
30 seconds of your time
Or maybe 5 minutes
I don't know
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[ He's just giving him a hard time, really. But, the next string of messages will come in a moment. He's got his hands full, quite literally, between penning poor Bones the dog in the other room and setting down a plethora of groceries. ]
As I assume you are arriving, please enter through the back.
I am currently restocking our refrigeration unit.
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