redshiftrp | @lazarus

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[ The video opens on Ben's face. He is looking particularly grim, filming in one of the rooms in the residential section. No greetings or build-up, he just cuts right to the chase, holding up a tiny device between forefinger and thumb. Visible is a tiny lens, and what looks like a small antennae to transmit. ]

PSA. There are surveillance cameras hidden in the lighting fixtures of the bedrooms. I found a creepy tunnel leading to a creepy lair where some fucking creep has been spying on us. Still trying to figure out who is behind it and what they want, but the feeds only show occupied rooms and no empty ones so it's not a coincidence, unfortunately.

[ Ben turns the frame to face the spot where the small camera had obviously been ripped out of an overhead light. From offscreen he says, voice clipped and angry: ]

Anyway. Wanted you guys to know. Hit me up if you need help ripping the suckers out. I'll post again when I know more.

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[ Ben keeps his eyes on Peter's face, a little part of his heart breaking as Peter glances from him to that paused screen and back, like he's confused and lost and just a kid after all. He'd already been feeling some pretty deep anger for whoever was responsible for those cameras, but boy howdy, this really pushes that over the edge into complete hatred. When Ben finds out who did this, who is responsible for making Peter this afraid? He is going to make them nothing more than some smears on a wall. ]

It's not all on you.

[ That had been made clear from all the responses to his network announcement before he'd come here. There is no shortage of people willing to lend a hand. Right now, Ben thinks, what Peter doesn't need is suggestions on exact next steps. What he needs is to understand this huge task isn't his alone. ]

You've got people here you can rely on, okay? You can - you can rely on me. I'm gonna help you figure out what to do next, and how to find this asshole. And - there's other people here, good people, with all kinds of skills and powers, who can help. It's not all on you, alright? It's not only your job to protect everyone. We... we all wanna help protect you, too.

[ Ben squeezes Peter's shoulder, and the decides, no, fuck it, that's just not enough. He might not be the best at it but it's ten past hug o'clock. So he leans in and draws Peter against him, hugging fiercely, like he could make it all go away just with that. Ben's voice is fervent as he reassures: ]

And you're like, one of the smartest, most hopeful, just... best people I've ever met. Whoever this fucking creep is, he picked the wrong room to break into, and the wrong guy to mess with. Even if you don't feel like that right now. You're so much more than he's prepared to handle.

[Peter will be so embarrassed over losing his cool one he's chilled the fuck out, but for now, he's just going to silently listen to Ben and try to ignore all those creeping self doubt feelings that keep trying to pop up. Ben's right, Peter's not doing this alone, not by a long shot. Maybe he does expect way too much from himself, maybe it's okay to need a little protection sometimes. Now if only his head wasn't having such a hard time wrapping around that concept, we'd be golden.

He's about to protest just a bit, I'm fine, I can handle it, his usual bullshit, but then Ben pulls him into a hug, and the last of his stubborn I'm fine this is fine bullshit runs out. He takes a deep, shaky breath and wraps his arms around Ben, not squeezing too tight while he drops his chin onto Ben's shoulder. After a minute he finally replies, sounding exhausted and not very much at all like the big badass super hero he feels like he's supposed to be.]

I am so kicking his ass when we find him.

[That's one thing he knows he's always good at. Breakin' shit.]

[ Ben's pretty certain there's a limited amount he can do here to make Peter feel better. He can't change the facts: that they've all been caught off-guard by this, that someone had been in Peter's room, that none of them know what he was doing or how he'd gotten in.

But he sure as hell is going to do as much as he can, despite the situation. He sets a hand against the back of Peter's head, holding him close and giving no indication that he intends to let go any time soon. Peter has been through so much, too much, and he sounds so tired that Ben's own voice is tight with held-back emotion when he confirms: ]

Hell yeah you are.

[ And Ben will be there as backup, when that time comes. He's thinking of a little more than just ass-kicking, but no need to mention that just now. ]

The rest of the footage can wait. Soon as you're ready, we should go to your room and see if there's anything else hidden there, or any clues how the bastard got in. Then we can think about - about if you want to stay there, want to switch, and what fortifications we can put in place.

[ Ben rubs a hand up and down Peter's back. His plan might not be perfect, but it's a few first steps, just to help while Peter's mind is blank with understandable terror and helplessness. Easier to let Peter make adjustments to an existing plan than to ask him to come up with something from scratch when he's feeling like this.

But first, there's something important Ben needs to know: ]

Are you planning on telling Poison?

[ He's going to leave that decision up to Peter, because they're closer, because he knows her better. Ben knows that complete honesty isn't always the best way to go, and he'll follow Peter's lead either way.

Then, because he knows Peter is someone who responds well to a little humor in a stressful situation, and because he's desperate to cheer his friend up a little, if he can, Ben says, in sassy mock-annoyance: ]

And just when were you planning on telling me she's your girlfriend now, huh?

Edited 2019-10-16 15:16 (UTC)

[Peter is extremely tired, and terrible at reminding himself that he's not alone when it comes to protecting everyone. As much as he hates getting like this in front of other people, he's glad that Ben's here to help him get his shit together right now.

Now that he's calmed down a bit, he takes a second to rub his eyes before he finally starts to detach himself from Ben. Hugs are always nice, but they make having a conversation a little awkward.]

Um. I... honestly don't know if I should? I mean, I don't wanna freak her out or anything, and now that I know it's happening, I can take steps to keep it from happening again. S-sorry I got weird a minute ago, it's just.. this is all really freaky, but we can figure it out. So like, why scare her, you know?

[Why yes, Peter does respond well to humor. He rubs the back of his neck a bit awkwardly and chuckles.]

Sorry, sorry. I've been distracted. We haven't been dating that long, only since the spa came back online. I fell in a pool while I was trying to ask her out, because of course I did.

[ Only when Ben starts to feel Peter's restlessness and him pulling away does he let go, settling back down into his chair but staying close, expression intent and concerned. He rubs his hands together, listening as Peter talks his way through it.

Ben doesn't respond at once. He really had just been planning on going with Peter on this one... until he'd heard Peter's reasons. And now he is weighing contrasting needs. The need to support Peter and let him make his own decisions. The need to give advice and be honest as his friend. The need to not get involved when it feels scary, when he's afraid it will cause conflict. The need to retreat into himself and avoid all of this, after the day he's been having.

Eventually, though, he says: ]

I don't know Poison as well as you do, so... obviously, it's your call, and I'm gonna follow your lead. But... earlier, when I texted her, she didn't seem scared of the cameras. Like she seemed really, super insistent that she was fine. And- I think it would scare me a hell of a lot more if I found out somebody I trusted had kept something like this away from me, than if I found out someone had just been in my room.

[ Ben gives a small shrug, lifting his hands in the air to indicate uncertainty. ]

Stuff comes out, eventually. It does. It always always does. So you just have to decide... what you think is better. Her not scared, but also unprepared and uniformed, or her scared and upset like you are, but ready to help.

[ It's pretty clear what side he's leaning towards, but he meant what he said about following Peter's lead. There's no doubt in his mind that Peter means well, and it's not like he has a whole lot of romantic relationship experience to draw on, here. It's possible Peter knows Poison best and this really would scare her to such a degree that it's better not to mention until they have it under control. ]

And you weren't weird. You were reacting like a human being.

[ You're not going to wave it off as some weirdness, Peter. Ben's wise to your tricks and not going to let you get away with it. There will be none of that while he's around.

But he does smile, despite all of it, when Peter mentions his little mishap. ]

You really fell in a pool? ...Like a big pool? Did you trip?

[ He has seen Peter leap into the air and cling to trees and walls and ceilings. Imagining him klutzing out like that is... pretty priceless. A sliver of happiness on this otherwise dark day. ]

[Well shit, Ben raises a lot of good points. Peter knows he'd be pissed if someone was keeping information like that from him. Plus Poison's been through some pretty fucked up shit before, and while the last thing Peter wants to do is give her something new to deal with, he also knows that she's experienced. She's a tough lady. This might freak her out, because it would freak anyone out, but deep down Peter's sure she could handle it.

Plus, at the end of the day, telling her about something like this would be a lot easier than telling her that he likes her had been.]

No, you-- you're right. I'll figure out how to break it to her.

[He's totally got this. Probably. But anyway, the reassurance that he's just being normal by nearly having a panic attack is nice. He manages a weak smile that quickly shifts into a dumb grin and an eyeroll, because now he has to explain the pool mishap.]

But-- oh, God, it was one of the hot springs. She was in the pool and I was like, crouched on the edge of it. And-- I mean, it's me, I thought my feet were planted pretty firmly considering I can literally stick to things? So anyway I'm sitting there trying to tell her how I feel, just, completely tripping over my words- because it's me-, and then she said something along the lines of 'sometimes it's easier to show your feelings than talk about them', right? So I'm sitting there like 'this is the perfect set up', so I leaned in to kiss her. totally lost my footing, fell face first into the pool. Disaster. But, she still said yes, so I'm calling it a win.

[ Wow it really is the wildest thing, giving advice and actually being listened to. Ben had just been expecting, without really noticing he was, that Peter would reject his words out of hand and just do whatever he wanted. Klaus had always done that when Ben was a ghost - well, okay, not always, but a lot of the time. It feels good... being heeded. The same way it feels good still to be able to touch people and to do simple things like sleep and eat and even though he's starting to get used to them, it hits him sometimes, at moments like this, how good it is being alive again. ]

You'll think of the right thing to say.

[ There's certainty in Ben's voice as he says it; he believes in Peter a great deal, even if Peter doesn't always believe in Peter all that much.

And he listens, corners of his mouth gradually curling more and more into a smile, as Ben explains how he'd ended up toppling into a pool. Ben covers his mouth with his hand but the smile is still all too visible, and his eyes are sparkling with amusement. ]

Oh, man. That is just... that's the best thing I've ever heard.

[ From the sound of it, Poison does know Peter very well, had known just what to say to help him get around his awkwardness with words, to encourage him to take that first step. And that first step had led to him dunking himself in a hot springs, but that only makes it more endearing. It wouldn't have been, if she'd laughed at him or turned him down, but she hadn't. And now Peter - who he remembers talking to about how almost no one here was his age and he should resign himself to being dateless and alone forever - has someone making him grin like this even on such a hard day. So maybe the world is good after all. ]

You just went straight for the kiss? Damn, that's brave as hell. I'm impressed.

[ He's teasing a little, but he means it, too. And then, because Peter doesn't have a brother to do it for him and someone ought to, Ben reaches up and ruffles Peter's hair, genuinely proud and deliberately obnoxious at the same time. ]

[Peter's been trying to be better at taking advice lately. He hasn't been very good about it when it comes to people telling him to slow down for fuck's sake, but in other ways, he's gotten better. When Patch had suggested he dumb down his scientific talk for other people he'd listened, and had been able to explain a few things to Kieran the literal cowboy by following that advice. This falls in the same category of hey-idiot-learn-to-communicate-better, and that is something he at least thinks he's improving on.

tl;dr Peter's going to follow Ben's advice and figure out a way to break all this to Poison, but for now he's going to let his mind wander away from all of the horrible, scary stuff that's going on for a moment so he can gush about her. After he laughs and playfully swats at Ben's hand before running his fingers through his hair. How dare you mess up his hair BEN.]

Yeah man, I just- I just went for it, and totally beefed it. Like brave, maybe? Stupid, absolutely. I can't remember the last time I was so embarrassed, oh my God. So then I'm just standing there in this pool, fully clothed, looking like the biggest, soggiest dipshit who has ever lived. I guess she was just like 'yes, this is the idiot I want to date', and then she kissed me and- and she's way better at it than I am, like, no joke. Out of all the things I've stupidly bumbled into, this is definitely the best one.

[ Ben grins, totally unrepentant despite the swatting, and goes back to listening. It's always been something he enjoyed, listening to people talk about their loved ones and friends and people they care about. Something in Peter just lights up talking about Poison, and if anything good at all has come out of this shitty day and everything that's happened in it, it is finding out that this wonderful thing has been going on without him realizing.

He can't help a soft snort of laughter at Peter describing himself as a soggy dipshit. Maybe it's just that he - and apparently Poison - find earnestness (clumsiness included) to be way more endearing than suave confidence and polish. He actually sets a hand over his heart, because it's way too cute and it's making Peter happy (and hopefully her, too) and that's such great news. ]

I'm seriously so happy for you, man. When did all this start, I mean, did you know for a while you were into her, or you were friends and then something changed recently...?

[ He might not be loud about it but there's a side to Ben that's a complete and utter sap, and he wants all the mushy deets that Peter is willing to provide him. Klaus is having feelings for Julie and now Peter and Poison and it seems like things are just working out, romantically speaking, for people he cares about. Ben just wants a little of that good good vicarious joy. Since obviously, nothing like this is ever going to happen for him. ]

[Honestly Peter really needed this break. Nothing is completely hopeless, it's not the end of the world, he has a cool girlfriend and people like Ben around to help him deal with shit. He's still got a lot to figure out about their current predicament, but he's starting to feel like he can handle this. It's just another hurdle to jump over, and he's real good at jumping. He's got this.

He might roll his eyes just a bit when Ben puts his hand over his heart. Come on man, you're acting like his aunt. But it's good, Peter's all grins over here.]

I-- honestly, we started as friends. I think I realized that I liked her back in Hadriel, but it was, uh. It wasn't until towards the end, and by then we were all literally gearing up to go to war and there just wasn't time for anything else. Right after that everyone started going home. I figured I was never going to see her again, y'know? So I tried not to get too attached. but-- but then she was here, and so was I, and things just kinda fell into place. And also that Cole guy was like "dude you should stop being a dumb anxious chihuahua and tell her how you feel". Only not in those words, because it's Cole.

[ Talking about Poison is working better than anything else Ben had done to try to reassure Peter all day, and so Ben doesn't intend to stop asking questions anytime soon. But his motives aren't entirely selfless; it's just good, seeing Peter happy and hearing a story about something working out for once.

He nods along as Peter tells him about all the delays, all the reasons he used to justify not getting invested. Ben knows a little something about playing that particular game. Maybe not over a person in the same way, but he'd felt like that almost nonstop when he first got here. Not wanting to let himself believe in being alive again because it might end or turn out not to be real. But then it had finally sunk in that this really was a second chance.

And apparently it had sunk in for Peter that he might actually get to be with Poison. When Peter mentions that Cole had been the one to give him a little push in the right direction, Ben just beams. ]

Yeeeaaahhh, I'm pretty sure Cole's never said dude before in his life, but I get you.

[ He wonders if his other friend knows about how successfully he'd played Cupid in this case. He'll have to ask him later. For now, he stays focused on Peter and his cute love story. ]

So... what do you like about her? And I mean, was there a moment you realized, or was it gradual?

[ Ben doesn't know Poison all that well, and even if he did, he wouldn't see her the way that Peter sees her. And he's curious about it. What marks the tipping point between enjoying someone as a friend and knowing you've got feelings for them. What is that distinction, according to Peter? And what is it about Poison that makes her special above others, to him? ]

[Right something working out FOR ONCE. Peter's so glad it did and honestly kind of low key terrified that he's going to fuck it up somehow, but right now things are good. With Poison, at least. Everything else kind of sucks.]

I think it was gradual, but man, what don't I like about her. She's just- she's been through a lot, been stuck in a bunch of other shitty places like this one, and she just- she hasn't let it beat her, y'know? She's just so strong and determined, like whenever something knocks her down, she just gets back up again. I mean, there's a lot about her that I like obviously, she's really talented and she doesn't put up with my bullshit when I'm doing something dumb, but that really stands out the most to me, I think.

[ Ben can't help smiling, listening to Peter. Of course, he likes her for her strength and determination and resilience - because Peter is all those things, too, without seeming to know it about himself. Ben just bets that if he were to ask Poison the same question (and if she felt inclined to answer it) she would list some of those exact same qualities.

But he actually bursts out laughing once Peter mentions her not putting up with his bullshit. His eyes are sparkling with amusement and he nods while tries to fight back the giggles and choke out: ]

Yep, I can see how that would- would really help.

[ He's just giving Peter a hard time, of course - compared to Klaus or Diego or hell any of Ben's siblings, Peter's daily amount of bullshit and making dumb choices is so small. But there's something charming about knowing the two of them are so equal, that she doesn't let him get away with anything ridiculous. Ben feels even more glad he'd argued for Peter to tell her, now. She'll probably be a great ally to have, in all this. ]

You know I told her I'd go and check her room for any extra cameras after we were done here. Should I - are you guys keeping this on the DL or is it okay to tell her I know?

You're just having a blast right now, aren't you.

[Yeah yeah, laugh it up. Peter's not bothered by it, but he is rolling his eyes because of course he is, and giving Ben's shoulder a gentle nudge.]

It really does help, though. She's also like, my second brain. I can't even count how many times I've forgotten to eat lunch. But yeah, it's no problem. I mean, I don't think it's meant to be a big secret or anything, and like, why would I hide it? She's amazing.

Little bit, yeah.

[ Mostly he is having a blast because Peter doesn't look like he's carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders for once. He seems like a happy, goofy, normal teen, who is so excited to talk about his new girlfriend and all the things he likes about her. And from the sound of it, Poison has Peter's back, and much as he surely must have hers. What a good pair they must make. ]

Hey, man, I don't know why you would, either, I just figured I'd ask. Some people like keeping stuff to themselves. But she sure sounds amazing to me.

[ His smile softens a little, and Ben adds, with conviction: ]

...And I'm not gonna let anything bad happen to the two of you. Not if I can help it.

[ He might not be a tech whiz and he might not have seen this coming and he might be a traumatized wreck and he might not know how they're going to solve it yet, but no way is he letting some creep ruin Peter's happiness. Not now that he's just found some. Ben reluctantly turns back to those screens, and says: ]

So... how 'bout we switch over to the footage from my room and I can scan through quickly and tell you whether or not I've got any unwanted visitors or weird gaps or- or patterns we should pay attention to, while you use that big head of yours to start thinking up some new security systems?

My hero.

[He sounds like he's totally goofing, but the smile he gives Ben is warm and genuine. As much as being trapped out here sucks, he's so glad he got to meet someone like him. What a good goddamn dude Ben is, Peter would absolutely snap a man in half for him.

He sighs, turning his attention back to the computer and nodding. Yeeeah, it's probably time to get back to work. He pulls the footage of Ben's room up, not starting it up just yet.]

You want me to leave the room so you can watch it by yourself?

[ Ben considers for a long moment. A part of him wants to say yes, because it is his instinct to be private, to hide everything, from everyone, without question. But Peter hadn't hidden, from him. Ben had just given him those big speeches about relying on other people, not facing stuff alone. Wouldn't it make him a hypocrite, then, to make Peter leave the room, just because a few things on the footage might be a little embarrassing? ]

No, it's fine.

[ Then, as he's looking at the screen, jaw set, he admits: ]

Actually, I really don't wanna do this alone, so. You don't have to watch with me, if you wanna start coming up with some traps or whatever but. I'd appreciate if you stay in the room.

[ And he clicks the button to start the footage. He's tempted to poke at the settings, find a way to speed it up, get it over with. But then he remembers how brief that flash of a bulky figure coming in had been on Peter's footage. There might be more clues here he would miss if he tried to just race through. So he makes himself just watch, cycles of him sleeping and reading, Klaus coming in and 'borrowing' things from his closet, his desk. Ben shakes his head at that, mouth quirked to the side.

There are other, less pleasant things. They'd chosen to keep some footage of him having nightmares. The feed is silent, but him tossing around in his sleep, the way the door to Klaus's room opens and his sleepy head pokes in to check on Ben... suggests there was a certain amount of noisiness. Jaw set, Ben laces his fingers together tight in his lap, and keeps watching.

He doesn't see a figure coming in his room, like he'd seen with Peter's. But there are gaps in the footage where it cuts off abruptly. How many of those gaps are just cutting out boring down time, and how many are concealing potential incursions? ]

It keeps doing that. Do you see? When we're not in the room, sometimes the camera just zooms in on... like, our shit. Why the fuck would anyone care about my book or - or headphones?

Oh, I'm gonna go all-out Home Alone on this place, don't you worry about it.

[There are gonna be so many booby traps up in here. But for now, Peter's going to do what Ben wants and stay in the room with him while the video plays. He pays less attention to Ben himself in the videos, since Peter's more focused on watching the background for weird sneak creepers. He does lean back in his chair and rub his chin in thought when it starts zooming in on stuff, and then Ben voices the same thing that he has on his mind.]

Yeah, I noticed that, it's weird. Like, they're not exactly important, but-- I dunno, there's gotta be some kind of significance behind it?

Hmm. Gotta be. We should... check the items that have gotten close ups. Make sure they haven't been replaced with close replicas or... changed or bugged or who knows.

[ And he starts making a mental note of which objects the camera seems to linger on. ]

Small silver lining, yeah, but I'm definitely not getting a perv vibe off this. None of this stuff they kept is like, me getting dressed or undressed or coming back from the shower or whatever, so they're not, like... holding onto that sort of thing.

[ It hardly makes the rest of it that much better, but it's something, and Ben's at least relieved over that, because Peter's one thousand percent too young to need to be worrying about any shit like that.

Another few days pass in the footage, Ben reading books, Ben sleeping, Ben not sleeping when he ought to be sleeping, Ben laughing to himself as he reads some message on the device - probably one from Peter, honestly. He has to pause, after that moment, because the look on his own face in the video is so happy, so unguarded. So blissfully sure he was alone and unwatched.

Ben hangs his head for a second, rubbing at the back of his neck and taking a few slow breaths, trying to will away that crawling awful feeling. Before Peter can even worry he says: ]

I'm fine- I'm fine I just. Need a sec.

[ God, they really are going to have to kick the shit out of whoever is responsible for this. Ben's not going to feel comfortable anywhere until they do... ]

[Peter makes a mental note to check every single thing in his room that isn't bolted down and have Poison do the same, just in case there's any significance to these weird close ups.]

I'm slightly less weirded out knowing this isn't just some pervert.

[But only slightly. And too late, Ben, Peter's been worried about you this whole time. He pauses the recording so that they don't miss anything and watches Ben for a moment before reaching over and giving his shoulder a squeeze.]

This is pretty rough, for both of us. You wanna take a break for a while?

[ Ben almost says no, insists for a third time that he is fine, even though it would be obvious to the world's most insensitivie and idiotic stranger that he is not, much less his observant and sympathetic friend. He gives a shaky sigh and, relenting, nods his head. Yes. He can't stand here and lecture Peter about not working too hard and acting like it's all on his shoulders, if he's modeling the same relentless behavior.

It is that thought that tips the scales and gets Ben to say: ]

Yeah. A... a break would be good, actually.

[ The footage isn't going anywhere. It'll still be awful later, but he will hopefully be feeling a little more numb, by then. ]

[Good because Peter would have absolutely called him out on his bullshit. Lovingly.]

Sounds good. We can pick this up later. I'm thinking lunch. Then a nap. Then another lunch. In fact, let's just pick this up tomorrow. I feel like I need to let my whole brain relax for a while.

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@lazarus | video

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