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

[daughteroftheoriginal]

I-

[Hold on-]

Really?

[notyourfathersosborn]

A man named Norman Osborn introduced himself on the network. Are you really surprised, given Kaine's hatred of my family?

[daughteroftheoriginal]

When you put it that way, not really. [Even though she knows Normie's better than that, and that he proved himself in their world. He can do the same here, right? His grandfather here too or not.]


I'm just surprised you already know.

[notyourfathersosborn]

[...He certainly hopes so.]

I was surprised to see him myself. Man, he looks completely different.

[He wants to tell her about the Spider-Man thing, but he has no idea how much she knows.]

[daughteroftheoriginal]

Yeah.

He also said he was my uncle.

[Everything's been too much, all at once.]

[notyourfathersosborn]

[He knew that too. Only this time he remembers to look surprised.]

Really? Wow... well, at least that explains why Kaine always looked after you back home, right?

[daughteroftheoriginal]

N-not really.

He hated my dad. My dad doesn't like him back. The first time I met him he talked about playing Rumpelstiltskin Normie. I was still green at doing the whole webs thing and he gave me a pretty good beating at the time.

[Something she hasn't told anyone, considering the timing.]

I've already spent that much time with him and he's helped me so much. Why is it that this is something I'm finding out here? I'm tired of the fact that apparently my whole life's been a lie!

[notyourfathersosborn]

[Puts his hand over hers.]

Just because something happened between the two of them doesn't mean he would take it out on--he what?!

[He honestly can't even imagine Kaine doing that.

Give him a minute.

Okay, he finally gets over the shock of that information, and he's all business.]

...May, you can't blame yourself for any of this. If they kept these things a secret from you, that's on them, not you. I'm sure they had their reasons, and seeing as both your father and Kaine love you, I'm guessing they were only trying to protect you. And no, I know it's not fair, and that should have been your decision to make, but if that's true they only had your best of intentions in mind.

[daughteroftheoriginal]

That was ages back, Normie. I'm pretty sure he was just trying to get me to quit. [She very nearly came close to it, with how much that shook her.] But that's old history now.

And maybe they were trying to protect me, but from what? Everything that happened when he was Spider-Man is in the past. Most of it doesn't matter anymore, but a lot of still what does affects me. My dad likes to make a big deal out of me not knowing what I'm doing at times, but you know what? If he actually told me more than just the bare minimum instead of hiding everything I would be better prepared!

[At this point she's closer to just venting tHan anything else.]

[notyourfathersosborn]

From their own squabbles, most likely. From picking a side. There might even be a little pride mixed in. [At least your family tried to keep you out of their problems.]

When we get back, talk to your dad about it. You know even if he's stubborn as a goat, he's also reasonable.

And while we're here, it's not really a problem, since now you know everything.

[Wait.]

Except maybe the fact that Kaine is apparently openly pretending to be Spider-Man here, in what I can only imagine is the worst con in history.