text;

[writtendestiny]

Does anyone know anything about panic rooms?

private to Peter Parker;
Where are you, I need to talk to you.

Comments

[writtendestiny]

He's easier to talk to in person, isn't he?

He makes more sense.

[Slight avoidance of the question? Yes.]

[itsnotaonesie]

Yes he is and yes he does, but you didn't answer my question.

[writtendestiny]

He told me things. About what happened here. What happened to him. About what he's trying to keep us safe from.

I know where he's been living. He took me there.

[itsnotaonesie]

We're gonna have to exchange Joe notes. He gave me his contact info, told me a little about what happened, too.

Where is he staying? Or did he just wanna keep that between the two of you?

[writtendestiny]

I'd rather not say over text. I know that devices like these can be monitored by people you don't want to see your conversations.

[itsnotaonesie]

Good call. Want me to meet you somewhere?

[writtendestiny]

Outside the VR rooms. I'll explain when you get there.

[itsnotaonesie]

On my way.

[And he is indeed on his way, showing up at the designated meeting place in less than ten minutes. Whether she gets there first or he does, he greets her with a hug because he's a giant sap.]

Okay, guess we better get down to business. What's up?

[writtendestiny]

[A hug. Good. She leans into it and tucks her head against his shoulder for a moment, allowing that flash of vulnerability that only Peter really gets to see.]

I don't think he means us any harm. Not deliberate harm, anyway.

[itsnotaonesie]

[That's because Peter is the most special and the best at giving hugs.]

Joe? Yeah, I totally agree. He said he wants to help us, I believe him.

[writtendestiny]

I believe him, too.

[She glances around, frowning, then takes his hand and starts leading him towards the medibay.]

But I don't think everyone will.

[itsnotaonesie]

[He gives her hand a squeeze and follows obediently, also not super thrilled that people are inevitably going to make this more difficult than it has to be.]

I can kind of understand why they wouldn't. This whole situation is just super weird.

[writtendestiny]

[Poison nods once, sharply, her thoughts already half somewhere else and forming several half-cocked plans about what she might or might not do if the more reckless people here decide they're going to do something to kill them all.]

In the Box, some of us were trapped inside a hotel building. The Technicians told the people outside not to try and get us out, and the people inside not to try and get out, because there was a dangerous disease inside. Someone broke through anyway.

[She frowns, though it's more like a scowl.]

That was stupid, and ignoring what Joe tells us is stupid, too.

[itsnotaonesie]

Yeah that is the stupidest thing, holy shit. You don't break quarantine, that's just asking to spread the disease to the entire population!

[People are so dumb sometimes WHY.]

I know I can't make people listen, but... I guess I'll just have to keep talking to them.

[writtendestiny]

Nobody trusted the Technicians... and why would they.

[People didn't trust the Techs. People didn't trust the 'gods' in Hadriel. People wouldn't trust Joe, either.

But Poison had long since learned her lesson about when to trust somebody who knew far more about something than she did, even if they might not necessarily wish you well.]

But I don't think Joe is keeping us here. I think he's a prisoner, like us.

[itsnotaonesie]

Well right, they were literally torturing you, right? Joe really seems to want to help us, he just... I don't know, he's so far gone because of everything he's been through. He's not good at communicating, but I really feel like he's trying his best.

[Meanwhile Peter's a little too trusting of pretty much everyone. In this situation it isn't bad, probably, but it'll likely get him in trouble down the line.]

[writtendestiny]

Mm.

[Close enough to torture. She still wakes up in cold sweats because of the things that happened to her in that place, and she's sure she'll carry it for the rest of her life.

Poison glances around them, making sure they're alone, then speaks very quietly.]

I know where he's living. He told me I could tell you.

[itsnotaonesie]

[hugs and cuddles probably won't help, but he will gibe her the best hugs and cuddles he can manage.]

Really, wow. Just me? We get some kind of special Joe privilege?

[writtendestiny]

He said... the 'kids' could see it. None of the older people.

[She isn't sure why that is, but she can guess. They're somehow safer to him.]

But we should probably keep it to ourselves for now. Until we need it.

[itsnotaonesie]

Interesting.

[He's not sure how much he likes this whole hiding things form people thing, but Joe trusted the two of them. Peter wasn't about to betray that trust, especially not right now.]

Yeah, just... for now. Until we really know what's going on.

[writtendestiny]

[She nods. It would be a difficult promise to keep, but Joe had trusted her in showing where that room was.]

I wish we knew where he came from. What other people were here when he was.

[Poison sighs sharply and looks down at their feet while they walk.]

There's so much we don't know, and so much he could tell us if he could remember.

[itsnotaonesie]

It's so frustrating. It feels like we've been here forever, but we've barely scratched the surface of the whole... mystery, I guess.

[But then literally everything is frustrating. Unfortunately, there aren't nearly enough people that he'd feel okay punching to vent said frustration.]

I just-- I wish I knew what to do for him. I really want to find out how long ago his people were wiped out. The only thing we know is 'a long time', but I think whatever's in him has been keeping him alive this whole time and like, it's kind of fascinating? But also kind of horrible.

[writtendestiny]

[She nods a few times when he talks about that thing in him, having had the same idea herself.]

I think it's... keeping him confused, as well. Maybe not on purpose.

[But, hey, she's not going to put anything past strange alien parasites. Maybe it is doing it on purpose, and maybe going to meet him by herself was the most idiotic thing she could have possibly done.]

There must be something in the computers. His cameras aren't the only ones here.

[itsnotaonesie]

I mean, it's like coming out of his head. Maybe his face tentacles are like, attached to his brain? I dunno, I don't think I actually want to think about that right now. But yeah, I can check the systems later, see if I can turn anything up.

[YEP IT WAS PRETTY DUMB, but Peter can't even talk because he'd totally done the same thing.]

[writtendestiny]

[Peter might not want to think about it, but Poison definitely does. She presses her lips together and holds back on the other questions she wants to air out, and looks down at their feet while they walk.]

I hate not knowing things.