001; Video

[notyourfathersosborn]

[The feed starts, showing Normie sitting out on the balcony of his residence. He's dressed in a beige t-shirt over a green long-sleeved shirt, and his wavy brown hair (the signature Osborn look) slightly mussed. ...Did something on his shoulder just move? Nah, just your imagination, 'cos it's not now. Normie gives a little lopsided smile to the camera.]

Hey there. [Small wave.] My name’s Norman Osborn, and uh, according to my file I'm apparently a genealogist now. Well, "Family Genealogy Researcher," but I'm pretty sure that's the same thing. I don't think anyone seeing this will really need one, but honestly I don't know too much about genealogy so I'd appreciate any help anyone can give, even if it's just pointing me in the direction of the nearest library. Oh right, I'm in Nonah, so that would be the library there.

[He leans over to turn off the feed, then suddenly stops and resumes his original position.]

Before I forget, I'm looking for the location of the nearest junkyard, or maybe a pawn or thrift store that might have some broken electronics I can take off their hands. I'm also looking to buy some welding equipment. I need them for...

[For a fraction of a second, there's a crazed smile stretched across the young Osborn's face. However, just as quickly as it comes, it's gone, replaced by the lopsided grin that had been there all along.]

...reasons.

Comments

[notyourfathersosborn]

[...Oh great, there's more than one of these things?

...Wait. If that original world was destroyed, doesn't that mean the group on that original world failed?]

But why this specific version of Earth?

[glowsferatu]

[ well everything dies some day, even universes. whether that failure or just nature running its course all depends on your perspective. either way, when atropos comes, when the thread is severed, there's no stopping the end. ]

Only she could say that for sure. Perhaps by random lottery.

Some may think we came here because there was a porter ready to receive her, but I think it's the other way around. There was a porter ready to receive her because it's where she decided to come.

Chronology is a limiting perspective to a being that can transcend it.

[notyourfathersosborn]

I suppose.

It's... a lot to think about.

[glowsferatu]

That's the truest thing you've said yet. Which I suppose means you may be ready to start thinking about it.

You've just got to always look out for where your own thoughts may blind you. Perhaps a fresh perspective may reveal unseen facets in some cases, but it can be just as guilty of misdirecting those thoughts, as well.

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Alas, he's never been one for Philosophy.]

You make it sound like the truth is unobtainable.

[glowsferatu]

Not entirely. Just that bad guesses are a waste of time.

Though the truth is difficult to confirm, since the one person who really knows it isn't exactly talking.

[notyourfathersosborn]

I've found that bad guesses can eventually lead you to good ones, but I suppose to each their own.

[glowsferatu]

[ "eventually." she scoffs. ]

That's really only true when there's someone to tell you what a bad guess it is. Hi, I'm Kanaya Maryam, I'm here to tell people when they guess bad.

[ in other words, she is a pain in everyone's ass. ]

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Chuckles.]

So you're this place's personal Jiminy Cricket?

[glowsferatu]

Who's Jiminy Cricket?

[ she's got more kinship with moths, anyway. ]

[notyourfathersosborn]

The little cricket from Pinocchio? Pinocchio's conscience? [He seems more shocked by this question than anything else in the conversation so far.]

[glowsferatu]

That was a Disney thing, wasn't it?

[ hey, you can't hold it against an alien to not be totally up on local pop culture. the only disney films she cared about had hot lady villains, like cruella de vil. ]

[notyourfathersosborn]

Yes.

[He... might own all of them back home. Including the sequels.]

I... just meant to imply that like Jiminy Cricket, you try to steer people away from doing--or in this case thinking--something stupid.

[glowsferatu]

Well. There you are, then.

For most, it will only be the thinking. Stopping the doing does happen, but among a more limited set, it wouldn't be as viable on so grand a scale.

Not that any of it has helped my own stupid actions.

[ she is still in prison, after all. ]

[notyourfathersosborn]

We're usually better at giving advice to others than ourselves.

[glowsferatu]

I'm sure your grandfather knows plenty on that subject.

[notyourfathersosborn]

My grandfather thought...thinks he's above advice.

[glowsferatu]

And above quite a lot more, as I understand it. But I'd imagine you know all about that already.

[notyourfathersosborn]

It wouldn't surprise me.

He actually died when I was still pretty young, but... he definitely left a lasting impression.

[glowsferatu]

So, all you had was the legacy and the name. Lucky of you.

[ with that legacy? that's some luck. ]

[notyourfathersosborn]

You can't forget the reputation.

Still, those things aren't always a curse. It's all about what you do with them.

[glowsferatu]

A statement like that only leaves me curious what is done with them.

[notyourfathersosborn]

Things that matter. That really matter, and aren't just a PR stunt.

[He'd be more specific, but he's not sure how much he wants to say right now, especially since he now knows his grandfather's alive.]

[glowsferatu]

Sounds to me that would be the opposite of the reputation you've been left.

[ norman osborn doesn't do things that matter, not in her experience. he only does things that will elevate himself, because nothing else does matter to him. but it is possible that public opinion would disagree with her. ]

[notyourfathersosborn]

Which is where the name and reputation come in handy.

[Even if it's been tarnished thanks to three generations of Green Goblins attached to it, you'd be surprised just how many people don't care so long as there's still money behind the name. And his mother was one heck of a businesswoman, so he's set there.]

The legacy is mine to change.