maskormenace | 01 ( voice )

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01 ( voice )

[The gravity of somehow escaping death (even if he's not entirely sure this isn't some weird afterlife, yet) is enough to put Harry in an unsettled and confused mindset. What tips it into freaking out is being dropped in the middle of a new place with new responsibilities by himself. He's never had to do anything completely on his own before, and the prospect is more than a little daunting. Suffice it to say that as soon as he was showed to his new home, he immediately ran to his room and locked himself inside. Sorry, roomies.

Since then, he's been waffling around with whether or not to ask the imPort network for help. Pride says no, but desperation says yes. Eventually, he settles somewhere in the middle.]

Hey, um. Is there a map of this place I can get a hold of somewhere? I am so lost. [He laughs, and it's almost entirely convincing to an untrained ear.] Back home, I had a driver I could just say "Take me to this place!" to and they'd take me there. No such luck here, huh? I mean, I guess you could hire somebody, but I'm completely broke at the moment. [The reminder makes his stomach flop. Going from a billionaire to nothing in a second is... well, he's going to have some trouble adjusting.

He sucks in a quick breath before continuing.] Oh-- and for the record, I'm in... [A pause as he tries to recall the name-- and ends up somehow butchering the pronunciation:] I think it's called De Chima? Anyway. If anyone's got some advice for settling in here, I'd appreciate it.

[It seems like he might end it there, but something's been niggling at him since he got here. Now's as good a time as any to bring it up, right?] By the way... this whole "alternate worlds" thing. Is that for real? Are you guys really from other places?

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No worries. I'm assuming they gave it to me as a sick joke, considering what a mess my own family tree is, but how they'd know that much about me I have no idea.

Well I'm sure I can't live up to a science genius but I'll do my best.

[It was almost too late for him too.]

Pretty much.

[A pause.]

Hey, I've got nothing really going on at work right now, if you want I can send someone to pick you up and I can show you around. No reason for you to be lost if you're going to be stuck here.

Dunno. They've kinda got more insight on us than they should, but... I just got here, and I really don't wanna think about it too much. Got enough on my mind as it is without... sneaky government spying or whatever on top of it.

Guess we'll find out, huh?

You'd... really do that? [If he seems a little astonished, a little touched at the kindness-- well. He is.] I mean, I don't wanna get in your way, but I'd really appreciate it if you've got time.

[There's a pause, and when Harry continues, his tone has suddenly sobered a bit.]

Just-- um. Please don't... mind the scars. Okay?

That's pretty much my strategy too--don't think about it until the time comes I have to.

[Like the time he got kidnapped and was stuck on a Russian submarine for how long.]

Absolutely. I was new once too, only I was lost in Nonah and not De Chima. I remember how overwhelming it can be so...

[Normie just wants to do his part.]

...I promise.

[True to his word, Normie sends a car to De Chima 007. It's only when he goes to give the driver the man's name does he realize exactly who he'd been talking to.

It was his dad.

His breath catches as he reads the name and realizes he hadn't recognized his own father's voice. He had always sworn to himself he remembered, even if he had lost him when he was so little. This was his dad after all, the most important person in his young world. You just don't forget a voice that important.

His mind races with his emotions, as he tries to reconcile 15 years of thinking with the cold truth in front of him. Maybe... maybe it isn't his dad after all. Maybe it's his own son. Like with Peter and Mayday. Maybe he named his son after his father. He'd be lying if he said he hadn't humored the possibility. That would explain why he didn't recognize the voice after all.

Or maybe... maybe the name was just a coincidence. Maybe there was no relation at all. With so little to go on, it was impossible to tell.

Normie rushes down the stairs to meet the car outside. He had been planning on coming down when the man came, but upon learning his identity couldn't bear to stay in his office a second longer. His tie seems to move on its own in places as Normie plays with the knot, unable to find something more productive to do with his hands as the car approaches.]

Thanks, pal. I really appreciate it.

[Harry doesn't think too much of it until the car arrives and he's told by the driver that a Mr. Osborn sent him.]

Uh-- but... I'm Mr. Osborn? ['Yes,' the driver replied matter-of-factly. 'The man who sent me to pick you up is also named Mr. Osborn.'

And if things weren't weird enough, they were by the time Harry was well on his way to meet this other Osborn and he finally spotted the huge building with the 'OsCorp' logo positioned proudly upon it. In trying to lean forward to get a better look and confirm he wasn't just imagining things, Harry forgot himself and thunked his forehead on the glass.] Gah--! [Doofus move. He moves a hand up to his forehead, rubbing it a bit as he spares an embarrassed glance towards the driver.

...A guy - Mr. Osborn - that just so happens to run Oscorp here in De Chima? There's no way that's just coincidence. But what does it mean? Is it one of those alternate universe things? Because the only other Mr. Osborn he knows is his dad, and he's pretty sure his dad was never this... well. Friendly? He could be awfully charming when it suited him, but that was different.

But what's he supposed to say? "Hey, you know what's funny? Our names are both Osborn, and I used to run an Oscorp back home!" Probably not the best way to break the ice. As they close in, Harry's not sure what to make of the nagging sense of familiarity when he spots this other Osborn, because otherwise... he really doesn't recognize him. Moreover, he's still not sure what to say, but he certainly can't just sit in the car and gape all day.

So he slides out of the car after taking a breath, and he's so preoccupied that his sensitivity about his scars has been momentarily forgotten. He ends up gracelessly blurting out his amazement instead:] I can't believe this. I never thought I'd see Oscorp here. And you... You're running the show?

[He'd better be in a nice suit like that, sending town cars out to pick up strangers like it was no big deal.]

Edited (wow totally hit the wrong icon) 2016-10-12 01:51 (UTC)

[Normie's breath hitches as the car door opens and he steels himself for whoever it is that's coming out of the car. For the briefest moment, he looks disappointed that he doesn't recognize the man who exits. It may have been years since he last heard his father's voice, but he kept pictures of the man in his home, in his office, and in his phone. He knows his father's face, and that isn't it, scars or no scars. Still, he couldn't write it off entirely, because even though it might not be his father's face, there's still a resemblance there that he can't quite put his finger on.

Then the man speaks, and Normie quickly looks away.]

Neither did I, to be honest, but fate decided to laugh in my face and here I am. Running the show.

[Sure, this was something he wanted to do back home. Reclaim the Osborn Corporation, reclaim the Green Goblin identity.... scrub the taint his grandfather cast on the family name clean. But here... Here was different. The scars his grandfather left in this world are too fresh. Some days it feels more like a punishment than a way to set things right. Still, no matter what universe, it seems OsCorp's fated to be his company to right, and it's a responsibility he plans on bearing for as long as he's here.

After all, a wise young woman once taught him that with great power, there must also come great responsibility.

He runs a hand across his hair as he shifts from one foot to the other. How much should he really say upfront? Perhaps he should wait for the other man to make the first move, but Normie has to know.]

I have to ask.... Does the name "Liz Allan" mean anything to you? Does.... Does the name Norman mean anything to you? Not... Not Norman Virgil... Norman Harold... Normie.

Fate? [Harry tilts his head, brows furrowed in curiosity.] Why would it be laughing in your face?

[For him, Oscorp is still an honor. His Norman wasn't nearly the merciless tyrant that Normie's is; he'd tried to do good things with his company. Naturally, Harry isn't quite wrapping his head around why owning Oscorp would be a bad thing.

Before he can mull over it much more, questions are posed to him and he has to slow down to consider them.] Liz Allan? We went to high school together. Haven't seen her since, though. Last I heard, she was dating another one of my classmates. [Flash Thompson, to be precise. MJ had been all twisted up about that one; it's the only reason he really remembers.] Why? [The second question confuses him more, and he almost reflexively insists, "Yes, of course!" until he realizes that he doesn't mean his father.

Norman Harold...? Harry can be daft sometimes, but the implication hasn't eluded him this time and he ends up staring intently at the other man. Like maybe the truth would unfold in front of him if he stared hard enough. Could this guy really be...?] I-- I don't know a Normie, no. I'm sorry. [A beat.] That's you, isn't it?

[Normie wants to answer him about fate, but not before he gets to the bottom of who exactly this Harry Osborn is.]

High school? But... [But his dad never went to the same high school as his mom. They met in college.

Then it clicks. The man in front of him must be from some sort of alternate dimension from his. He'd been around long enough to see it happen, especially when it came to some of the Avengers who never looked quite the same as he remembered.

If he was right, then this man is... it really is his dad. Even if he does look different, even if he's from another dimension, even if he's never heard of him before... it's his dad. He quickly covers his mouth with his hand to hide the fact his bottom lip is trembling.]

Yes. I was named after my grandfather... and my father.

[Finish your thoughts, Normie. Good grief.

Harry's expression only becomes more perplexed.] But what? You can't keep grilling me and not give me some answers. [He comes across as a little indignant, but nothing genuinely bent out of shape. Given all the things he's had thrown at him within the span of a day, though... Can you blame him?

This is all still news to Harry. Alternate dimensions, other worlds... all of it. There's absolutely no way this is coincidence, especially not after Normie clarifies the origins of his name. His eyes go wide as it really sets in for him.] And that makes you--? I mean, are you my--?

[Deep breaths. Thank God the car is still there, because he just starts feeling around until his hand lands on it, after which he unceremoniously deposits his weight against it.]

I have no idea what to make of this, [he remarks honestly (and perhaps needlessly), staring at Normie in a mixture of awe and befuddlement.] This place is really messing with my head.

I.... I'm your son. From another timeline.

[He'll be forever grateful for the symbiote supporting him right now, as it's the only reason he's still standing upright.

Watching his father fall back onto the car, he immediately regrets his decision to say that out loud. What if this version of his dad doesn't believe him, or worse, thinks he was just screwing with him? What if he wants nothing to do with him?

Stupid. He shouldn't have said anything.]

I know it's a lot to take in. I...

[Just shut up, Normie. Stop talking. Stop making it worse. His free hand balls into a fist and he turns to go back into the building. When he speaks, he has to force his voice to stay even.]

Gregor can show you around. He knows the city better than me anyway. I'm sorry to have thrown this at you, it was never my intention. I didn't know.

[There it is. Suspicions confirmed.

It's hard not to believe Normie when all the evidence is literally sitting right in front of him. When there's this unmistakable sense of familiarity despite knowing it's impossible for any son of his to even exist back home. It makes his heart ache a little, honestly-- to think of all the possibilities that are lost to him back home because he's dead.

And so, underneath all that shock isn't repulsion or anger. It's actually quite the opposite.]

No, wait!

[Harry wills his legs to move. He jumps out, reflexively reaching to grab Normie's shoulder and stop him. He can't let him just leave like that; he'd feel awful for it. When he speaks, it's with resolve. No hesitation.]

Why are you sorry? I mean-- yeah... It's a lot. This is all a lot. I just got here a few hours ago, y'know? Before then, none of this alternate reality stuff was even possible... But that doesn't mean I don't wanna know more about you.

Other... timeline or not, you're still family.

[Symbiote or no symbiote, when Harry calls him family, Normie loses the last of his strength and slumps to the ground. It's all so much to take in.]

You're from a universe where you never got together with my mom. I just dumped who I was on you, you didn't have to.... I could see how it would all be too much. Or that you thought I was lying, or it was a trick, or...

[The last part comes out just barely above a whisper.]

I didn't want to lose you again.

Edited 2016-10-13 01:48 (UTC)

Whoa--!

[Whatever shock and confusion of his own that Harry's trying to work through is immediately put on the back burner when Normie just crumples. Even without the reality-bending familial ties, Harry wasn't the sort of guy to just leave someone high and dry. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what to say, how to broach this subject, but...

In just a few words, Harry could see parallels between them. He didn't really have to try to put himself in Normie's shoes very much. Carefully, Harry crouches on the ground next to Normie.]

--Honestly, it was better I find out now. It would've only been a matter of time before I saw the building and tried to storm in here. Wouldn't have been a good first impression. Besides, that'd be a pretty elaborate trick. I know this place is weird, but fabricating a name and a whole building just to get a laugh out of some poor newbie? C'mon. [There's a tinge of light humor and a tiny smile on Harry's scarred lips to match before turning more serious. Sympathetic.]

... Hey. You don't see me running for the hills, do you? [He tilts his head, trying to get Normie to meet his gaze.] You're being pretty hard on yourself... I should be the one freaking out here, bud. [Alright, so he's not entirely done with the teasing, but it's the only way he knows to show that it's okay.

But he might do some freaking out later when it all properly settles in. The day's not even half over, and he's already got an information overload.]

Edited 2016-10-13 04:31 (UTC)

[He's okay, if just a little embarrassed by his actions.]

I suppose that's true. [The building isn't exactly subtle, after all. ~~Thanks, grandpa!~~] Still, I'm not sure I should have dumped all of that on you like that.

[He forces himself to smile as he cautiously looks up, juuust avoiding his gaze.]

And you'd have every right to freak out, too. At least grandfather isn't here anymore. That helps everyone.

[With the symbiote's help, he rises to his feet, brushing the dust off the symbiote-disguised cloth of his pants once upright.]

You'd have no way of knowing this, but back home, it's... been a really long time since I've seen my dad. I was just scared I'd somehow already screwed up with you.

Honestly? I... kinda prefer that over sitting around and wondering.

[And it saves Harry the trouble of blurting things out for once. Maybe they are related. He manages a sincere smile for Normie, even when the other man can't quite get there.

...Grandfather. --Right. Norman. But not his dad. A different Norman Osborn, probably. So weird. Even after everything, Harry still finds himself wanting to see his father, though. They were starting to make amends before he died, and Harry can't quite let that go.]

I... Did he cause a lot of trouble when he was here?

[He pauses for a moment, watching Normie as he climbs back to his feet before joining him. He wants to ask what happened - to this other him, but somehow, that feels too personal. They are still technically strangers.]

Can't screw up by telling the truth. [A beat.] The tour can wait if you don't feel up to it, Normie. But I definitely still want one, if that's alright.

Me too.

[Normally Normie would be more reserved, but matters of family usually has him acting less than rational.]

.......How much time do you have?

[Because frankly, Normie's not even sure where to start with that question. His grandfather had 6 years to screw up not one but two universes. It's been almost a year and Normie's still working on cleaning up some of the messes.]

But perhaps the tour would be better time spent. [Anything is better than talking about Norman the elder.] I'd... like to get to know you while we walk.

[...Not exactly the answer Harry wants to hear, but it's the one he was expecting. His father caused a lot of pain and suffering back home as the Green Goblin, and he's not sure he wants to know if this other version was better or worse.

So he doesn't ask. He just gives Normie a crooked smile and moves on.]

Tour it is, then. [He gestures to the city with an air of playfulness.] Lead the way. My knowledge of the place is officially in your hands. And I guess I can try to scrounge up some interesting things to tell you about me-- if I can hear a little about you, too.

[Sorry Harry, but everything about this particular Norman Osborn was a shitshow from start to finish.]

Good thing I'm good with directions then, or this would be even more embarrassing than I think is humanly possible.

[He looks over and smiles at the alternate reality version of his dad.]

And I'll tell you anything you want to know. About me, I mean.

[If that ain't the truth. At least the Norman from Harry's world cared about him. He was awful at showing it, but he cared.

He cracks a smile and laughs.] It'd be a hell of a way to break the ice, though. Bumbling around, lost-- and who doesn't love an adventure?

Good. [God, what doesn't he want to know, though? There's so many things he could ask. But he starts off with something simple yet important--]

--Well. What kind of stuff are you into? Like, hobbies and interests?

Me, because I'd be dead from mortification. I'd be the first recorded case and everything.

[Normie picks a direction and starts walking. As they're in the business district, there isn't much to point out just yet.]

Um, well... I like building things. I could never really figure out the chemistry part of the family business, but I figured out the gadget part of it pretty quickly, and I found doing that kind of stuff is really relaxing to me. I'm also a bit of a nerd, I like sci-fi and video games, all of that kind of stuff.

If only I had the time for it lately, heh.

A little over-dramatic, don't you think?

[Says the pot to the freakin' kettle. Harry contentedly follows Normie, though-- but he's not really paying much mind to their surroundings. His attention is pretty much focused on Normie.]

Oh man. You're a genius and a nerd? [He smiles openly to show he's just teasing him.] Guess that kinda thing skips a generation. [A beat.] Unless the... other me-- [So weird.] --was, too. ['Cause him? Definitely not.]

I'd ask, 'how come?'... but running a business isn't exactly a cakewalk.

I assure you this is calm and rational. You don't want to see over-dramatic.

[Calm and rational even comes with a smile.]

Whoa, let's not throw the word genius around. I tinker, that's about it. If you ever need-- [A pause. He just now realizes he has no idea whether or not this version of his father is, was, or even knows about the Green Goblin. Then came the second question: did he even want to know.] -- your TV repaired or anything, I'm your guy.

As Uncle Pete can attest.

[He throws out the name casually, careful not to stare as he says it. He wants to see the other man's reaction.]

I'm... not exactly sure, to be honest. My dad was a great man with... many faults, and a lot of them people won't say to my face. You tend to remember the best and forget the rest.

[It's certainly a strange sensation, talking about your father to someone who is more or less also your father. Just how many people ever had the chance to do that?]

It's not... And truth be told, I'm vastly under-qualified. Back home, I'd pretty much just taken over the company when I got brought here.

[Yeah, that's not comforting. Harry's just kind of side-eyeing Normie and returning his smile with a lopsided grin, 'cause--] Geez, you're so well-spoken.

I'm just saying-- you gotta be pretty smart to manage "tinkering" without obliterating something. 'Cause... me? I managed to screw up those baking soda volcanoes you make in middle school. Pretty sure there's still a stain on the ceiling from that little incident.

[There's no anger when Harry hears the name. He just gives another crooked smile to match the tilt of his head, because... well. Odds are, this 'Uncle Pete' is exactly who Harry thinks it is, and if that's the case, he's happy to hear that Normie's at least got Peter's influence around. Still--] Uncle Pete, huh? As in, Peter Parker?

--Huh. [He goes quiet for a moment, wondering, and a flicker of sadness washes over his face. What are people saying about him back home, now that he's dead? Is he still the mistake-riddled disappointment most people painted him to be, or are people saying all these good things about him that they never managed to tell him while he was still alive?] I guess nobody likes to speak ill of the dead... [But it's kind of depressing to leave it on that note, so he screws on a smile to cover it up.] As long as you have good things to remember him by, right? That's the important thing.

I'd offer advice, but I'm probably the last guy you ought'a be getting advice from. I've got "what not to do as a CEO" covered and that's about it.

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