maskormenace | Video: 003

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Video: 003

[ Marco's video opens on him sitting in a computer chair, which isn't unusual. What is unusual is that he's not wearing anything ridiculous (no Spiderman T-shirt here) and that he actually has a serious look on his face. ]

So since apparently we're doing this the absurdly complicated way:

If you're under 18 and want to work on this whole 'not letting the multiverse destabilize while we're living here' thing, let's coordinate.

Oh, and for all the adults who want to complain about this: I'd much rather work under the leadership of more experienced people. I think leaving us to do our own thing is stupid. But, I also know that there's a zero percent chance we're all going to stay out of it and coordinating minimizes the risk of something going wrong. Consider it harm reduction.

Or, you know, living in the real world.

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Don't expect you to.

Seriously, I don't. I've been you, remember? I know at least some of what you can do. It's just that one of the things you have in your favor that I really don't is that adults really like you and actually give a shit. If you trespass that trust, we might be giving up an asset and I'd rather not right out of the gate, especially since we have other sources on the inside of the adult teams.

[He's gone into full on strategic mode, but it falls away and he looks a little sheepish. ]

I don't know, I'm just trying to think strategically, I guess?

I mean, it's not like I'm in charge or anything, so I can't stop you, and I wouldn't anyway, it's just a concern I thought of, I guess. I want to keep the communication channels as open as I can, and while our sources can feed info to us, it would harder for them to take it back since people might be suspicious of where they got it.

You can play the teenage 'look what I found I'm telling you adults because I am a Good Kid' easier than the rest of us.

[ This face definitely says he's not going to cooperate here. Spider-Man is going to be a menace and go out to hero with the adults whether anyone wants it or not. But - he at least tries to listen to what Marco's saying. Genuinely. ]

I ... guess you're right about that. But it's still not great? They act that way because they think I can't take care of myself. Like I haven't already been through a whole bunch of bullshit.

[ And sometimes he needs the help, but if anything, he's learned that adults are exactly the same way. ]

I mean, I'll do that if it helps, but I kind of hate it.

[ Yeah, Marco recognizes that face. Hi, Rachel. Thanks, he hates it. ]

No, it's not great. I agree that they're morons.

Look, it's your call, like I said, I'm not in charge. I explained why I think that's what you should do, but I'm not you. Just let me know either way, because that way I know what's going on. That cool?

I hate all of this, so hey, we've got that in common.

How do you think I feel? I'm not even that useful on the front-line. Relying on strangers gives me hives.

[ Peter's quiet for a moment, torn between pretending to go along with this for the sake of listening to Marco and being honest. He suspects Marco would rather have the latter; he's used to going with the former. Secret identity and all.

Maybe if he focuses on a different topic for a while. ]

I'll tell you, okay. Just let me think about it.

[ There. that's something settled for now. ]

Dude, you're plenty useful. Hell, you're useful in the same ways I am. You've got a lot of options.

[ Marco nods. He's trusting you to tell him, Peter. He means it about not being in charge. He just wants to know what's going on so he can react if he needs to. ]

Yeah, sure. Your life, your call.

But just so you know, Peter-

[ Marco adopts a 'parental' tone, like a parent giving the 'you can call me if you drink and need a ride' speech. ]

If you're going to run around as Spiderman, you can call me any time you need me. I'd rather you call me then try to swing yourself home hurt, okay?

[ He grins, then shrugs. ]

I know. I'm mostly useful for surveillance and infiltration. But doing that without direction is a lot less useful.

[ God, Marco. Don't give your boyfriend the dad voice. He only barely manages to keep from rolling his eyes. (Fondly.) ]

Does that make you my sidekick? Because I'm down with having a sidekick.

[ WHAT. Not even an eyeroll? Marco's got to step up his game here. He grins. ]

I will absolutely be your sidekick. Spider-Man and Gorilla Boy!

What, you don't even want to be Gorilla Man?

Side-kicks always have '-Boy' names. It makes you look more serious. Gets you more respect.

I'm the comic relief everybody underestimates until I have my own dark, gritty episode that makes everybody see me differently and that the true fans always bring up on forum posts to prove that I'm deeper then I appear.

DUH.

[ Peter chokes with laughter at that. ]

Sounds like a character I'd write fanfic about, not gonna lie.

[ And that is how Marco defines his social successes. Besides, Peter is a giant ball of anxiety, so it's good to see him laugh for the same reason it's good to see Jake laugh: They need it. Sure, Marco's a ball of anxiety too, but it's a different kind. He leans forward and gives Peter a very, very, very Serious Look. ]

But would you ship us? That's the real question.

[ He pauses. ]

I did that right, right? Shipping?

Edited 2019-10-13 03:13 (UTC)

[ Have a second laugh, if not quite as enthusiastic as the first. ]

You totally did that right.

But yeah, if I were a fictional character in this setup? I'd totally ship us.

[ Well, the first one had a very particular build up there, and referenced a very niche shared culture. The larger laugh was understandable. ]

Good. I mean, we would be the hottest guys on the show.

[ He shakes his head a little. ]

I mean, I'm glad my boyfriend thinks I look good, but I still don't get it. You're way more handsome than I am.

[ He laughs. ]

I mean, that's true.

[ Marco puts a hand over his heart. ]

It's a burden, really, being the most handsome man in the world. People don't believe me...

[ The he drops the act and shrugs. ]

I don't know. It's just the...

[ He gestures at Peter. ]

I don't know, the shy nerd boy thing does it for me. It's thoughtful and honest at the same time, and you can tell just by looking at you, you know what I mean? It's a rare combination, that's all.

[ Marco please. That deserves (and gets) a light shove. ]

Well the most handsome man in the world has a boyfriend now, so hopefully that makes things easier.

[ He should say the same for himself, right? Right. But it's easier said than done. He blushes at the compliment, which probably makes the shy nerd boy thing even cuter. ]

It's not on purpose. It's just who I am. I got bulled a lot before the superpowers came in.

[ Marco shoves him back. Honestly, if Peter wasn't super-strong, it would probably devolve into a teenage-boy wrestling match. ]

It does! Aw, do you need some sunscreen, Peter? You're looking mighty red there.

I know it's not on purpose. It's just... I like that I can tell things about you based on how you look, and I like what I see, that's all.

It's funny, that doesn't work as well for us.

[ Meaning, of course, the Animorphs. ]

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