[ jake stretches his arms and peter takes in a deep, deep breath. he hasn't been on base too long, but it feels like it's been months since he actually breathed fresh air, or stood on solid dirt and ground. he can feel the cramped anxiety he gets in the base leaving his shoulders.
he feels at ease for the first time since getting to iniidae. ]
[Jake understands. On the base, his usual anxieties and worries seem to triple for no good reason except that he's locked up somewhere. Here, he might still be a nervous wreck at times but he's free.]
Oh, right! Do you mind wading a little? Just your shoes off should be enough.
[Jake's already taking his off and placing them aside. He starts leading him around the lake.]
They seem pretty fond of water. I'm no scientist but it makes sense if everything around here evolved to be compatible with water.
[ he follows after jake, keeping his steps light to avoid any mishaps. ]
Yeah, it's a shame. I can understand why they would be, though.
[ before the accident, peter wasn't really a fan of spiders either. but that's neither here nor there. peter knows better than to just touch the web, so he takes out the knife that was part of their welcome pack, lightly tapping the lower corner of the web to attract the spider. ]
I think all the legs make people nervous, you know?
[ once the spider comes out, peter is ready with a large jar he brought from the base, coaxing the spider in. he'll throw in some leaves and twigs later for the spider, but for now, he'll just keep it in there. ]
You're right, though. They're pretty cute. [ he also thinks it's kind of cute that jake is so enamored with them. ] I'll bring him back later after I get some samples at the lab.
[Well that makes sense to him. He doesn't like the really big ones that lived on the island but those were literally bigger than his room, so he feels like that was less a fear of spiders than a fear of monsters.]
URSULA said their silk can hold up to water pretty well, right? So I was thinking, what if we used some of that to make like a sort of net or harness and attach it to the subs? It'll make transporting materials back from the Aurora faster and you can carry a lot more at one time. I mean, obviously we'll have to combine it with something else to make a large volume of the netting, but I think the compounds that form the silk itself is definitely something we could look into.
[ that got a little rambly. #nerd alert. it's also not the only reason why he's looking into them, but he promised tony he wouldn't reveal his superhero status. ]
... Also, I just really like spiders and I wanted to get to know him better.
[Nerd, yes, but Jake gives a low whistle, impressed by it.]
Dude, that's awesome? I never would've thought of that! Golly, if you need any help let me know? Not that it's entirely my forte but Dirk says I'm the fastest learner.
[ peter actually blushes a little at the compliment and embarrassed but pleased grin breaks out before he can attempt to hide it. he ends up kind of ducking his head anyway, waving a hand in front of his face. ]
I-It's not a big deal, I just have a lot of time on my hands. That's what I do, I guess. Make things.
[ he gives jake a very light bump on his shoulder with his fist. ]
Dirk also says not to let you tell me you're just an amateur at science, so, yeah. You bet I'm gonna hit you up. I'll at least show you the design when I'm done.
[Now he's the one blushing. Jake shuffles his foot a bit in the water, trying not to grin but it's hard not to when he's getting complimented by technically two people at once? His poor heart can't take it.]
Oh, um, gosh, well... thundering tarnation, I can't let you down now. I'm really excited to see it, though. [He bends over to look at the spider.] It'll be nice working with you, too!
[ turnabout is fair play. jake's grin just makes his own wider and they probably look like idiots right now, embarrassed and grinning while ankle deep in water. but there's a lightness in his chest that he hasn't felt in a long, long time. ]
I guarantee you won't let me down, dude. Scout's honor.
[ not that he's ever been in boy scouts?? whatever. the spider (peter decides to name it ben) just gives them some kind of blank stare and continues to tap the glass. ]
[Oh gosh that's such a sweet invitation. He can't help getting a little flustered.]
Oh, um, maybe? I know he does miss me, he's been leaving me presents. [Which makes him really happy but still. He thinks about it, fidgeting a little.] There might still be too many people for me. We've gotten more, haven't we? Gosh, I'm tempted to pitch in and help the base get bigger myself if it means more room for everyone to wander in.
[He didn't mean to get distracted from the question but there's just so many people in a cramped area.]
[ aw, he leaves him presents. that's really sweet. ]
Yeah, there's more people and yeah, it's pretty crowded now. But there's this new girl, Annabeth, she's like lead architect or something? She's in the process of redesigning the entire base and she got me and some other people to help out, so you should too, if you want.
[ they basically need all the help they can get tbh. ]
And hey, if it gets too much you can always come back to the island. I just think it'd be nice if you stopped by for a bit, you know? Not just to help out, but just to hang out with everyone and... I dunno, show them how you're doing.
[Peter has a way of being convincing just by being understanding and sweet? So after a moment of though he nods. It sounds like a good idea and he doesn't mind and Peter's right, he can just come back if it's still too much.]
Okay. There's no point in holding out just to be a stubborn mule about it. I do miss seeing everyone. I can hold our spider friend nice and safe while you drive? I'd just fly us back but, um, I'm not sure the seamoth thing will fit in my sylladex? Like it might but I'm not sure.
[He grins, putting his laptop away so it vanishes again.]
It's pretty cool. It's on the fritz though for some dadgum reason. Don't ask me why, Dirk probably gets it. Me, I'm just happy I don't have to lug everything everywhere like everyone else. I got used to this handy dandy thing.
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no subject
I get what you mean.
[ jake stretches his arms and peter takes in a deep, deep breath. he hasn't been on base too long, but it feels like it's been months since he actually breathed fresh air, or stood on solid dirt and ground. he can feel the cramped anxiety he gets in the base leaving his shoulders.
he feels at ease for the first time since getting to iniidae. ]
So where's this cave you told me about?
no subject
Oh, right! Do you mind wading a little? Just your shoes off should be enough.
[Jake's already taking his off and placing them aside. He starts leading him around the lake.]
They seem pretty fond of water. I'm no scientist but it makes sense if everything around here evolved to be compatible with water.
no subject
[ he'll just take off his shoes and roll up his pant legs, making a mental note to find shorts to wear next time. ]
Yeah, that's basically what URSULA told me earlier. Their webs must be able to hold up well underwater too.
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Yeah, they sort of go into the water. It's pretty neato! Too bad so many people are frightened by arachnids.
[He stops and bends over to point at a web.] There we go. Here's one!
no subject
Yeah, it's a shame. I can understand why they would be, though.
[ before the accident, peter wasn't really a fan of spiders either. but that's neither here nor there. peter knows better than to just touch the web, so he takes out the knife that was part of their welcome pack, lightly tapping the lower corner of the web to attract the spider. ]
no subject
Aw, but how can you not like them? They're small and furry.
no subject
[ once the spider comes out, peter is ready with a large jar he brought from the base, coaxing the spider in. he'll throw in some leaves and twigs later for the spider, but for now, he'll just keep it in there. ]
You're right, though. They're pretty cute. [ he also thinks it's kind of cute that jake is so enamored with them. ] I'll bring him back later after I get some samples at the lab.
no subject
What are you thinking of doing with him?
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[ that got a little rambly. #nerd alert. it's also not the only reason why he's looking into them, but he promised tony he wouldn't reveal his superhero status. ]
... Also, I just really like spiders and I wanted to get to know him better.
no subject
Dude, that's awesome? I never would've thought of that! Golly, if you need any help let me know? Not that it's entirely my forte but Dirk says I'm the fastest learner.
1/2
I-It's not a big deal, I just have a lot of time on my hands. That's what I do, I guess. Make things.
[ god parker, get a grip. ]
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Dirk also says not to let you tell me you're just an amateur at science, so, yeah. You bet I'm gonna hit you up. I'll at least show you the design when I'm done.
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Oh, um, gosh, well... thundering tarnation, I can't let you down now. I'm really excited to see it, though. [He bends over to look at the spider.] It'll be nice working with you, too!
no subject
I guarantee you won't let me down, dude. Scout's honor.
[ not that he's ever been in boy scouts?? whatever. the spider (peter decides to name it ben) just gives them some kind of blank stare and continues to tap the glass. ]
I think he's looking forward to it too.
no subject
Oh! Should I fly this little guy back for you? I don't want him to have a bumpy ride.
no subject
[ he thinks about jake telling him earlier how floater island was basically his second home and he realizes something. ]
Maybe we could go back to the base together? I'm sure Dirk and your other friends miss you.
no subject
Oh, um, maybe? I know he does miss me, he's been leaving me presents. [Which makes him really happy but still. He thinks about it, fidgeting a little.] There might still be too many people for me. We've gotten more, haven't we? Gosh, I'm tempted to pitch in and help the base get bigger myself if it means more room for everyone to wander in.
[He didn't mean to get distracted from the question but there's just so many people in a cramped area.]
no subject
Yeah, there's more people and yeah, it's pretty crowded now. But there's this new girl, Annabeth, she's like lead architect or something? She's in the process of redesigning the entire base and she got me and some other people to help out, so you should too, if you want.
[ they basically need all the help they can get tbh. ]
And hey, if it gets too much you can always come back to the island. I just think it'd be nice if you stopped by for a bit, you know? Not just to help out, but just to hang out with everyone and... I dunno, show them how you're doing.
no subject
Okay. There's no point in holding out just to be a stubborn mule about it. I do miss seeing everyone. I can hold our spider friend nice and safe while you drive? I'd just fly us back but, um, I'm not sure the seamoth thing will fit in my sylladex? Like it might but I'm not sure.
no subject
Wait, what do you mean by sylladex?
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[He holds out his hands and a laptop drops into them from nowhere.]
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peter blinks at the sudden appearance of the laptop, a startled and confused expression on his face. ]
Are you saying you have some kind of infinite personal hammerspace inventory system?
[ a pause. ]
That's awesome.
no subject
It's pretty cool. It's on the fritz though for some dadgum reason. Don't ask me why, Dirk probably gets it. Me, I'm just happy I don't have to lug everything everywhere like everyone else. I got used to this handy dandy thing.