possessum | — 𝐜 𝐨 𝐧 𝐭 𝐚 𝐜 𝐭

[ All of it.

But he's seen worse, which Peter doesn't exactly doubt; he's pretty sure Mike, and Will, and a lot of them, have seen things infinitely worse than car accidents. But it's still— an awful thing, a thing that nobody his age should ever have to see, no matter what.

Peter's own breath is shuddery, rough and rippling inhales that seem to be difficult for him to keep up, like he's cold. ]

Mike, I'm sorry. You shouldn't have had to see that. You—

[ The guilt feels corrosive in him and cuts off his own words, and Peter leans over a little where he's sitting on his bed, leans into the ache of his stomach muscles. Suddenly, he's almost afraid to say the four words. He doesn't know why. They just hurt.

But he says them, voice strained at the edges, just barely staving off a whine-sound. ]

It wasn't your fault.

Honestly I don't even blame you. There's a lot to cry about in this place

(especially nowadays... abby wouldn't usually seek out weed for herself, she's a social smoker and a scab-off-of-clarisse kind of person but. desperate times, right. never hurts to have a stash.)

It is, but it's far more predictable
It has drugs too, though. So it evens out

How about tomorrow. I'm going to the gym in the evening, could meet you before or after

It was.

[It bursts out of him, too loud, almost desperate, almost an accusation. Like he's trying to persuade Peter of something he knows the boy won't accept. This isn't what Mike deserves to hear. Why can't Peter understand that? Why can't he just admit that Mike isn't worthy of this apology?]

It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't there. That's fault.

God, mood

[ How do people make it through the day without crying, honestly? If Peter doesn't end up wilted on the floor shaking and trying to stave off panic, it hasn't really been a normal day for him here. Thank for for marijuana, at least. ]

Oh sure, that'd be great. I'll head over that way when it starts getting a little late, catch you outside at some point or other

[ He doesn't mind lurking outside the gym for however long it takes to locate Abby; lurking outside of buildings is kind of his thing. ]

I'll make sure to tell Hot Fists a successful drug deal went down, thanks to her
Her fists have done good work

[ That desperation is so familiar, because there are two ghosts living in Peter: one that constantly whispers it was all your fault and the other that just needed someone, anyone to tell him it wasn't. ...And someone had, here. Someone he loves, trusts, someone who knows him. She'd held him and told him what happened wasn't his fault, and half of him couldn't believe her and the other half clung to those words like it was a lifeline. He's still... both parts of it. His guilt is a part of him now, like some piece of his identity. So maybe it's hypocritical to tell this boy otherwise now, but— ]

It could have been anyone. Any time. It wouldn't have happened if I wasn't there, either. [ Maybe it's easier to be objective when you're trying to help someone else. When you can't stand to see someone else blame themself the way you do. ]

It's okay. It was just an accident. I don't— blame you.

What mood (what????)

And don't actually tell her that, it'll go to her head
She's gonna start pretending she's the leader of a drug cartel or something
But in all seriousness; I'll text you. do you mind if I save your number

Oh, it's something from my time
It's like when you relate to something someone else says
so you're like "Mood"
Kinda short for "That's my mood too" I guess??

[ Hopefully he explained that well enough... Peter's gotten used to people from all different types of places, but he's not the best at putting thought to word. ]

God you're right, she would
She must never know about this

But yeah no that's totally cool!
Feel free to hit me up any time

Oh, okay (hang on let her scroll back up. okay, so he was just saying he's in the same mood as her re: there's a lot to cry about in this place. she gets it.)

Yeah, our secret now. If she asks, pretend you have no idea what she's talking about, it'll piss her off

Cool. Good talking with you Peter

Hey Peter.
How you holding up?
You busy?

Ruby, hey
It's good to hear from you

[ Good that you're still here. ]

I'm hanging in there, but what about you? Are you doing okay?
And no, I'm just kind of sitting around doing a whole lot of nothing

Good to hear from you too.
You aren't getting rid of me that easy.

[Or at least she's not planning on going home anytime soon.]

I'm glad you're doing alright. You and Luna keeping busy?
I'm doing okay. Just been doing the whole trying not to die in a crumbling world thing.
It's working out pretty okay so far.

I was wondering if you wanted to go for a walk or something?
Maybe hit up the ruins of the school with spray paint???
Could be our last chance to do it.

[ There's a secret little smile to himself at that. Peter's... not accepted what's happening, not exactly, but he isn't fighting it. He's never been one to fight against it. Everything's ending, fading. Soon, he will too. ]

Yeah, I'm still staying with her, and we're helping out anyone who still needs it around here
I'm glad the crumbling world hasn't gotten you yet
But I'm not surprised, you're one of the toughest people I know

[ He wants to ask Ruby the question that's right there in his mind, but he can't. Not yet. ]

Oh
Oh yeah, I'd really like that
I can meet you up at the school in like an hour or something, if you want me to?

You know what? I'm glad to hear it.
You two have been really good for one another. And it's pretty awesome the two of you are helping out other people around. It says a whole lot about the both of you.

Not yet! A couple crumbling buildings tried but they have to get up pretty early in the morning to get the jump on Ruby Rose!
I guess that does make me pretty tough. Like a super tough cookie. With big flexing arms.

Yeah.
That would be great. I'll be there in a jiffy.
I'll get my backpack and we'll hit it up.

[And she's there before the hour is up. Sitting on some rubble with a backpack just filled with spray paint cans. Go big or go home, right?]

Thanks, Ruby
You too, you know? I know you're out there running around helping people, too
A giant cookie with big arms, saving people who need to be scooped up

[ It's nice to be dumb sometimes, even when the literal world is ending. ]

I'll meet you there
Be safe

[ Peter'll grab a backpack too, toss in a couple of bottles of water and snacks for them. And a single spray paint can of his own: the sole one that he'd taken from his house, one of Henry's. Bright, bright orange. It made him think of her the most. With that, he heads out, carefully, but the fog has all lifted now, and those monsters seem to be gone, too. The town is so silent and still; the skies are strange. There's an odd calm to it, despite everything.

Peter takes a deep breath as he nears the high school. He hasn't been here since the nightmare that was prom happened, and it only looks worse, now. Crumbling in, all but ruined. The boy soon enough spots a flash of red and heads to where Ruby's perched on some rubble, offering a grim little smile — but there's a warmth in it. He really is glad she's still here; it feels that little bit like home, still, having a friend with him. ]

You ready to live the delinquent life?

[After everything they along with all of their friends had been through in Deerington, it said a lot that they could still joke around like this. It made it feel more worthwhile to know that glimmer of hope was still there.

Ruby's nibbling on some cookies while she waits but she hears his voice and looks up with a bright smile. Her mechanical eye glows a few shades brighter when she sees her friend there.

She stands up and quickly reaches up to put a hand on his shoulder. She was glad he was still there too.]

Of course I am!

Kind of a shame there isn't going to be anyone around to freak out about it. But- We get to leave our mark here anyways.

So it all works out, right?

[ Cookies. Of course Ruby has some. Peter's smile grows a little as his friend greets him, reaching his hand up to briefly touch hers in exchange, a little affectionate gesture. And then he extends that further, actually taking the girl's hand and giving it a soft, comforting squeeze before letting go. ]

Yeah, you're right. At least we'll know.

[ Leaving his mark isn't typically Peter's style; he's almost the opposite there. He doesn't like to leave evidence that he was ever somewhere, likes to live as... lowkey as possible, sticking to shadow. Preferring to be easily looked over.

But this is.... different. This is something he wants to do for Henry, and with Ruby. The boy smiles gently again before sliding his backpack around to tug his sole orange spray can out. ]

This was uh, one of Henry's. I know she'd approve of spraying up the high school. She hated it here.

[ She'd still go, though. To keep an eye on him. ]

[When Peter steps outside of his house one day in April, he will find a nicely sized box of jell-o packs with a bow tied around the whole package to secure it. Tied to the bow is a note that reads:]

Sorry about that stuff in the lab. I wasn't exactly myself. I think I owe you more than a bunch of jell-o but this's the best I could do with things the way they are.

- Lance

— 𝐜 𝐨 𝐧 𝐭 𝐚 𝐜 𝐭

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Text | RadRidingHood

text | un: P.Graham

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Delivery Backdated to mid-April-ish