one. video.

[askedtobe]

[ It's all just black. For a few seconds.

And then there's suddenly an all encompassing flash of yellow light, filtered through fabric, followed by some muffled grumbling.

YUP. Somebody's done a butt dial. More like a pocket dial, but whatever. And it all goes back to black for a couple more seconds before it happens all over again, a distinctive crackling added to the soundtrack along with a 'shit!', the light turning an ambient orange as it flickers angrily.

.. Hey. You. Stop guessing that someone is a pyro. Because he isn't.

After another second, Peter goes for his comm with the intention of- oh. Double shit. That would be some awkward staring right there ]

Sorry. [ awkward… ] Wasn't trying to give anyone a show. Or anything at all, I'll just- [ but he hesitates before cutting the feed, brows furrowing by way of sudden light-bulb inducing ideas. ]

Is anyone maybe interested in doing a little trial and error experimentation? I promise that you won't die in the process or anything and the worst that'll go wrong is you'll need an... injection at the end of the day. Sounds worse than it is. It'll even end up making you feel better than when you even agreed to help. [ Because someone’ll totally agree to help after that little intro. He clears his throat, starting somewhere else. ]

But if you know anything about physics or... or radiation. On how to just control atoms? The atoms that make up anything in particular. [ God he's going so far out on a rope right now it's not even funny. In fact, it's making him cringe. ] Especially someone with an ability where you can control an element... more than just use it, but manipulate all the parts that make it up. On it's actual atomic level- I could use the help. The science behind it's a little above me, but if you've got your ability fine tuned all the way down to a molecular level.

I could use your help?

Comments

video;

[cargojet]

My little brother, ladies and gentlemen.

[ Some days, Peter. Have you tried actual words they are an amazing thing; really revolutionary. ]

Are you doing what I think you're doing?

video;

[askedtobe]

[ Peter doesn't really know what to say to that because c'mon Nathan, you should be used to this by now. ] Like anyone needs your introductions, Nathan.

And you have no idea what i'm doing so why does it matter?

video.

[fatespoken]

Asking if anyone knows anything about physics is a big question. And how to control atoms is equally as vague. What are you asking for, specifically?

Are you even qualified to be performing an experiment like this? With live test subjects?

video.

[askedtobe]

Yeah, asking about controlling atoms is pretty vague, but I was sort of going for the fact that if somebody could do it, they'd speak up about it. You can never tell around here.

[ definitely not, no. ] Depends on what you mean by qualified, doesn't it? I'm not exactly a scientist.

voice »

[rancorously]

What are you meaning by an element?

[ Not that he can even remotely help you with the science behind it, but color him curious to be honest. ]

voice »

[askedtobe]

I don't know, like- fire or water or anything. Anything that atoms are made of.

video;

[slayer_not_player]

You little weasel-faced bastard.

[ Tillman is pinged because gathering volunteers for experiments and injections to make them feel better doesn't sit well with him on any day. Given that he's still confident that Peter is from his universe, he is full of cold, quiet rage.

It's feasible that Castle had a partner in making the nanites, and Castle was good at making people disappear unless he needed them. Having a partner conveniently get hooked on hard drugs and shuffled off to be a pawn in Society was hardly out of his scope. So even if Peter's intentions are good, Tillman knows full well how easily that shit can be misused.]

Don't. I'd hate to have to kill you again.

shameless threadjack with apologies

[sweetmotherofgod]

Oh, is this the guy?

[She should say something, right? After all, they kind of have a little agreement now. Plus she spent so much time wishing she could see him again she feels just a little responsible for the fact he's back, so she should try to keep him out of trouble. Right?

...

but he's got a point.]

That is pretty creepy.

video;

[askedtobe]

[ it takes him half a second to figure out why he's showed up again before peter's rolling his eyes. maybe he was intimidated last time and now he's just a little bit annoyed. not even about the fact that threats over the network are fairly empty to him anyway, along with the ones where he's being threatened with murder.

but with the assumptions in the first place. ]

Y'know, if I actually thought explaining it to you would do anything at all, I might try it. But since it won't? I'll just let you know that you're more than welcome to try and kill me. See how far it gets you.

video;

[cargojet]

Are you the one? Because the sooner you get it into your head that this ain't your world, the better.

[ What the actual fuck is going on even. ]

[voice]

[sorrycharles]

You’re serious.

[ Erik’s delivery is deadpan, his attention inevitable. ]

Have you ever met anyone capable of the degree of control you’re looking for.

[voice]

[askedtobe]

Yeah. I'm serious. [ and he sucks completely at being vague. ]

I haven't, no. I've only ever gotten help from people who were... out of touch?

[kutte]

Well shit, if you promise we won't die...

[ peter that doesn't sound reassuring!! ]

[askedtobe]

[ he does vague really, really badly. ]

That's actually a promise I know I can make.

video;

[warandapiece]

I'll address the rest of that in a minute, but let's just start with--

What are you doing? The flashy lights. Is that an E.T. thing?

video;

[askedtobe]

[ seriously, dude. seriously. ]

This wouldn't be how i'd try to go home, no.

voice »

[became]

I suddenly have so much more sympathy for Peter.

...not you, my handler. Controlling atoms?

voice »

[askedtobe]

[ if you're calling nathan his handler, he's going to smack you. ]

Exactly how it sounds, yeah.

voice.

[forgodssake]

I hope you're aware that even the most revered of scientists must go through an awful lot of screening before given license to test on human subjects.

[ A primly English voice comes down the line, slightly and consistently out of breath, as if he were running, or something more or less strenuous. The background is not free of noise, but it's still hard to pick out immediately the scenario.

(He's pacing some several kilometres off a treadmill count in his level's gym, while making contact with strangers with ill-advised designs of experimentation.) ]

My name is Charles, Charles Xavier. Perhaps I can be of any assistance, if you clarify what on earth you're doing.

voice.

[askedtobe]

[ man he sure did pick up a lot of people with that line. peter's starting to get somewhere between amused and just kind of over it, but it does say a lot as to why he never made a whole lot of friends growing up. ]

Think everyone sort of missed the part where I was asking for help. It's not like I want to experiment on anyone, and-- [ he takes a breath. decides he'll start over because he got an introduction. and that means something, right? ]

I'm Peter. And i'd like to learn how to control radioactivity better than I already do. That sound better to you?

voice »

[hypospray]

[ ...no. ]

A little trial and error experimentation and you're promising that you won't die. [ what in the fuck. ] You're serious right now.

voice »

[askedtobe]

I phrased it badly.

[ BITE HIM, BONES. ]

voice » | not here

[fatespoken]

[ Shaking his head with you, Bones. ]

[morgoth]

[ The voice that speaks is clipped and only faintly accented. Melkor has been watching enough of the local-verse's vids to have a very excellent approximation of Hyperion's planetary vocal mannerisms. ]

I was reluctant, at first, to respond to this. You must learn to be more precise in such requests.

I am familiar with both the technicalities of particle science and the practical application of that knowledge. What are you needing?

[askedtobe]

[ peter clears his throat, pushing a hand back through his hair. just ways to push his words a little further back. but at least he's not being told off again, and that's something.

at least it's another offering of information. ]

I should've gone with the more blunt approach, I get it. Being... vague isn't something i'm very good at and apparently it shows. [ apparently? ]

I want to know how far radiation can be manipulated. Scientifically, what're the constraints?

voice »

[unparental]

Does this helper need to understand science at all?

voice »

[askedtobe]

Considering what I know about it, i'm gonna go with no.

[ is this like the big brother thing where you make fun of him and then call him an idiot. ]