welgaia | [CLOSED] 'And they were roommates'

[CLOSED] 'And they were roommates'

[When Otto was sent home, he thought that would've been the end of his troubles. He had his sanity. He had the silence in his head. He had reaffirmation that Peter Parker was someone worth trusting. Going home like this could've been the start of something great. Only... It hadn't been.

The machine was still out of control. Peter and his girlfriend were about to be sucked into that thing. It was too late to turn it off. It'd need to be drowned in the river. He was going to die anyway, ended along with his precious machine - only, he never even got the chance to do that. Glowing rectangular portals opened all around him and for a moment, he expected more people like that sorcerer to come through, but these visitors were quite different. Dressed in some sort of soldier garb and armed with peculiar sticks that glowed when activated. Peter could do nothing to stop them from adding to the chaos, as he was roughly shoved aside. All their attention had been on Otto. They identified themselves as the Time Variance Authority and spouted nonsense about 'crimes against the sacred timeline'; about how he 'had to stand trial'.

He refused to go without a fight, so he fought. The three mechanical limbs which still functioned pushed through these soldiers and threw them aside. Not with the intent to harm, of course. Merely to get rid of them, to get them out of his way. Some were foolish enough to try and dodge around him, only to get sucked into the unstable sun of the reactor. More casualties. Ultimately, Otto saw one of them fiddling with a device to call for back-up and open up another one of those portals. The device was the key, then. One of the tentacles' jaws snatched it out of the soldier's hand and delivered it to Otto's instead. It was childishly easy to operate- the menu's options spoke for themselves. He knew which day was of interest now, he knew which event.

If his newfound existence was a crime against the sacred timeline, so was someone else's. And now that Norman had been 'fixed' with an antiserum, it was difficult to say whether he could still put up a fight when the TVA would come for him two years prior.

The first thing he did was open an enormous time door right beneath his solar fusion reactor, allowing it to fall through. If the TVA's device was to be believed, it'd end up in a planet that was about to be destroyed by a meteor storm. No harm done, then. Even as those in his immediate surroundings attempted to grasp what he'd just done, one of his tentacles snatched up their broken fourth compatriot from the floor. The Goblin might've severed that limb back in the other universe, but it'd traveled back with Otto and he rather hoped he might one day fix the damage. He opened a second time door and dashed through it, leaving behind the few remaining TVA agents and a very confused Peter Parker and MJ.

He's coming for you, Norman.]

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[he hears that unspoken word in the pause, and for a moment his hackles go up. he can hear That Voice telling him how weak he is, how useless ... but it's only echoes, and now they sound more like his father than the Goblin. given enough time, he might start to realize just how closely the two were intertwined, but this isn't the right moment for introspection in the least. Norman swallows, whatever sharpness had crept into his gaze melting into thoughtful concentration.]

Of course. If anyone does follow us, there's another exit at the back - it leads to the service stairwell.

[he pulls a rolling stool over toward the doorway, where he can perch just out of sight and listen for footsteps, watch for flashlights and shadows.]

I'm sorry I broke it, Otto. I -

[his voice catches on his guilt, and breaks]

I'm sorry about so much, so very much, and I'm sure - I'm absolutely sure you are, too. This ... we're so much more than this. Aren't we? Still? I want to believe we are.

[Even as Norman moves the stool, Otto's already fiddling with the tempad, making sure it's hooked up properly to an outlet. It seems to be charging alright with this voltage. Perhaps, since it was created by a timetraveling agency, they made sure it would be able to connect to typical power sources throughout the ages. Even so, it doesn't look like the most ideal way to charge it. It'll take a while to fill up like this.

He looks up at the sudden apology, and the breaking of Norman's voice. The way he sees it, Norman's not the one who broke the actuator. Norman's not the one who did any of those horrible things he's likely apologizing for. That was the Goblin. Hypocrisy at its finest, since he absolutely blames himself for what 'Dr. Octopus' did. He ends up tilting his head a bit, forcing a smile.]

Peter believed it as well. All three of them did. Who are we to dismiss brilliant minds like those? [A moment's pause as he places the severed actuator on a nearby table before him.] ... We can be so much more. All we need is a chance to prove it.

You're right.

[he pulls himself together quickly. Osborns don't get emotional in front of other people, It's Not Done. when Otto's back is turned, he swipes the back of a hand roughly across his eyes, then checks the hallway again]

Too bad that thing can't charge closer to the door. I could poke at it a little while you're working. But ... tell me more about this Agency. They don't think we should be here?!

[Thankfully for Norman, Otto doesn't notice the hand gesture. He's already turned his attention to the severed actuator, checking the damage to all the wiring inside. That's going to be the worst to fix, really. Still, he can talk as he works.]

I'll admit, the details are still a bit fuzzy, but I think I understand the gist of it. ... Peter said that he wanted to change our fates, though it seems like that itself is already a crime. The Agency mentioned something called the 'sacred timeline'. I expect that's the way things are meant to be, at least according to them. I'm not certain who or what determines how the sacred timeline is meant to flow. There's some sort of information archive in the tempad device, but I haven't had time to peruse it yet.

Sacred.

[he says the word as a curse - not entirely surprising for someone who favors science and hard fact over superstition and religion. the more Otto explains, the more the gears in his head turn.]

So even though you and I are back to ourselves, we're still breaking the law by someone's standards. I don't know about you, but that seems like a particularly pungent load of manure. Those things are used for travel through time, you said? ... What if we went somewere we weren't meant to be, but kept our heads down a while? Some other decade, some other place.

[Otto doesn't like the equation to religion either, but... Well, he never believed in magic either, and that other universe proved him wrong several times over. Who even knows how much truth a word like 'sacred' might hold to it? Best not to ask questions.]

That seems like our best bet right now. Go into hiding somewhere- [He shakes his head.] Sometime, so we can regroup in peace. There's something else that bothers me, though. One of those agents said something about us being the source of 'variance'. Regardless of what that actually is, it seems like they can track it.

So whenever we go ...

[his eyes narrow thoughtfully]

... we have to maintain the status quo. Which means we have to find a way to hide those arms of yours. Or safely separate them.

[Otto had just picked up some pliers to try and pull the broken wiring out of the actuator a bit, but that last statement startles him so badly that he freezes in his actions. His head whips back up to stare Norman's way.]

Separate?!

Calm down.

[he says it gently, holding up a hand]

Only if it's possible to do without hurting you, Otto. I'm not saying you wouldn't ever be able to use them again. And if it's not an option, then we'll figure out another way to hide them.

[It's not himself Otto's worried about. Granted, the whole 'melted into his spinal cavities' thing does give a valid reason for concern there. Trouble is, the last time someone tried to remove the actuators, they fought back and people died. He instinctively raises a hand to the back of his neck. Things are different now; he hasn't heard the voices once in all this time, but that doesn't mean they aren't there. They're simply being prevented from reaching his brain. The AI would effectively be screaming into a void if it were threatened now.]

... It's not an option. [The statement is quiet and absolute. He's grateful for having regained control, but he doesn't need any 'fixing' beyond that.] If maintaining the status quo is the goal, we simply need to go somewhere without people.

[Norman's curiosity is boundless as ever, but he stops himself from asking why. This isn't the time for it - there are more important things to consider]

Someplace without people but still with enough resources for us to comfortably survive. Bit of a tall order, don't you think? We'd have to be very specific.

[There's quite a lot Norman doesn't know about Otto's situation, all things considered. Rosie, for example. It's not something they had a chance to discuss in the other universe, nor does Otto want to raise that topic of his own accord. He turns his attention back to the actuator, once again tugging at the wiring with a pair of pliers.]

... Hermits are around in this world. I can't say if they're living comfortably, but they're living. Nice little cabin in the woods, or up in some mountain range... Who knows? They might even deliver pizza to a place like that. [Is he joking? Maybe. Sort of.] And if that fails... Well, humanity's bound to go out some day, isn't it? Perhaps they'll do so with a sudden bang and leave their belongings behind, food and all.

Hermits.

[he says it haltingly, the word tasting odd in his mouth. not only because of how accustomed he became to a life of luxury, but because of how roughly he had to live in that other New York while the Goblin had control. shivering in alleys, scrounging for scraps, cobbling things onto the armor, barely allowed to sleep while he made what repairs and upgrades he could for that final assault. he doesn't want to go back to that, to that sort of hardscrabble life.

but then Otto makes the crack about pizza delivery, and Norman manages a weak smile.]

Alright, alright. Cabin in the middle of nowhere first, though. I'm not sure I'm quite up for nuclear wastelands yet.

[Otto's already made peace with the fact that the life he had was gone. Destroyed with his old lab- killed like Rosie. Mind, he hasn't processed the loss in a healthy emotional way, he just knows there's no way to undo it. A cabin out in the middle of nowhere won't be too different from a ruined old warehouse by the docks. At least now, he'll have enough common sense to eat and sleep instead of obsessing over some useless machine. And he'll have an actual human companion. It's a thought that helps him more than anything else.]

Despite my degree in the matter, I've had enough of nuclear anything to last me a lifetime. [This was absolutely a joke.] The cabin will be fine. We'll be fine.

[With the wiring finally properly exposed, Otto raises the part of the actuator that's still attached to his body to see whether it'll connect properly. C'mon Larry, live!]

[he sees the joke for what it is - the two always did have similar senses of humor, after all. Otto has earned a weak chuckle for the quip, and Norman wonders if he even has the right to laugh at anything, after what he's done. he needs to earn it back. he has a long way to go before he can even consider happiness for himself.]

When you say it like that, I almost believe you.

[he stands, hoping to get a better view of the repair work]

How's it look?

[A chuckle is progress. It may not be much, but in a most stifling environment, the slightest breeze is already welcome. Who knows, maybe if the denial regarding the fact that they're absolutely screwed is strong enough, something positive will come rolling out.]

Well, it's fixable. [Which is still an ambiguous statement, and he knows it.] I don't suppose you have any soldering tools?

[the most 'really???' raise of Norman's eyebrows is directed toward Otto, before he moves over to a nearby tool cabinet: stacks and stacks of slim chrome and powder-coated steel in white and Oscorp green. without hesitation, he pulls a drawer open and unearths a soldering kit and a spool of solder, bringing them over.]

Here, I'll plug it in. Everything you need should be in there, it's a good kit. Had it for years.

[what he forgot is that there are still little green metal shavings inside the kit itself, along with a few spare circuit boards: the last thing he worked on with that kit was the mask]

How much time do you figure we have before they catch up?

[Truth be told, Otto doesn't really know what sort of things Norman got up to in his laboratory, both before and after the Goblin was born. Military research is a very broad term and Otto was so deep in his own project, he couldn't spare too much attention on what old friends were up to. In hindsight, he wishes he had paid more attention. Perhaps he could've prevented Norman from resorting to desperate measures.

It's always hindsight, isn't it?

He accepts the kit with a nod of his head and while he does take note of the green shavings, he doesn't comment on them. Best to set to work right away. And hey, the kit includes goggles, so let's be sure to wear those too!]

That's the question, isn't it? Time. They all have these Tempad devices as well. I'm surprised they weren't already lying in wait when we got here.

[Perhaps they're setting up a trap somewhere nearby. Or perhaps they aren't giving off enough of that 'variance' energy right now for the TVA to figure out they're here. Perhaps, perhaps... So many theories, so few clues.]

Damn it, did I just jinx us?

[he gets up from his chair and starts dragging racks of supplies over in front of the door. he may be sore, and tired, but this is more important, and Otto is occupied.]

I'll secure the room best as I can. Solder faster.

[sure enough, the TVA are just arriving on the roof, having sensed the presence of the glider. they may be able to buy a few more minutes...]

["Solder faster" are not words a perfectionist likes to hear. Especially when it pertains to a limb that's basically an extension of himself. He knows very well the situation is dire, though. So this wire connects to that one, this goes there... Are those pounding footsteps above them?

Solder faster...!

Nearing those final connections, there's already a bit of life in the actuator. The claw twitches, even rolls sideways a bit. But it's not connected enough to make those very precise movements just yet.]

Almost there... Just one more wire.

Damn it.

[Norman scans the room, hearing the footsteps grow closer. It's a lab, damn it, he thinks. There's plenty of things he can use as a diversion... ]

That thing you stole. Does it need an actual door to work?

[backup generator. distilled water. yes, the idea brewing would do quite nicely as long as they don't need the door he just blocked. Norman's already pulling the generator down off the shelf, even so. If they need the door he'll think of something else.]

What? [The question is a little distracting to him, but he tears his attention away from the actuator to process it all the same.] ... No. No, it can open its own door wherever.

[Or, at least, it did the last time he used it. That's good enough for him. His functional actuators use their tweezers to connect the last wire and he quickly looks back down to solder it together. As soon as it's done, they can leave. Though... That does mean leaving the glider behind on the roof, he realizes vaguely.]

Good.

[he starts emptying the distilled water onto the floor, making a puddle large enough to cover the area of the door, but not so large that it'd spill into Otto's work space]

You'll want to stay away from this door, then.

[Otto's smart, Norman knows. it won't take him more than a nanosecond to realize what kind of trap Norman's building for the TVA.]

[Otto catches sight of the trap that's being set up from the corner of his eye, even as he continues soldering. He knows he's safe where he's currently standing, but that doesn't quite stop the cold chill cantering down his spine. Electric currents hit him damn hard and he's lucky Electro failed to fry his chip back then, or things would've ended very badly for everyone. Next time, he might not get so lucky, so he intends there to not be a next time. Ever.

Just a little more... Just finishing up that final little seam-]

Done. [He puts the soldering tool aside and the actuator's vertebrae all snap neatly back into place, covering up all the internal wiring. Larry's as good as new! Where's that TVA at?]

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[CLOSED] 'And they were roommates'

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