Well…I mean, maybe? But I asked him for that info. Of course he's not gonna just hand it over. That can't be shocking. And like, I guess he doesn't want people like me with crazy techno powers running around, you know, getting everyone depowered on accident. Did you know they used to kill people for not joining guilds? This place, man.
[ He sighs. Okay, it's probably bribery, listen. He knows better. That's why he's here with Otto and not signing some contract. ]
But that's not the whole reason I'm thinking about it. Most of the people I know are Alliance folks. And I…I don't know. I don't wanna be some PR face or anything. I just want to exist without people blaming me for everything going wrong all the time. The guilds aren't exactly a shield for that, I know. Mechanima called it freedom and I…don't exactly buy that? But like, this is the guy helping with the protests and stuff behind the scenes. What the hell is Atomight even doing?
[ Peter isn't Atomight's biggest fan just because his optics are so…the way they are. ]
But actually I think Mechanima and Atomight are even friends which is the weird thing? I wouldn't have thought that, but he seemed like…I dunno. Not like he's against Atomight or fighting him or whatever.
[ Gold star for not getting more off-track than this. ]
But even if we just have access to more things, you know, like...Alliance stuff, sure, cool, whatever. But what does the Society have? Probably stuff that is not legal, strictly speaking...
[ Or not strictly speaking! He's sure May is going to come and haunt him for this stunt, but he can't get his mind off it yet. ]
This world just has so much shit we don't know. And I don't think the Alliance is gonna give it to us. The Society probably isn't either but they're more likely to look the other way if, you know, we hack a database or something.
[ He can't even look at Otto for a second because he is 100% aware of what this sounds like. ]
[Otto lets Peter ramble with a slightly bemused look, as he generally does. But this is a more serious topic than usual. Hands folded in front of his mouth, he takes a moment of consideration before responding.]
I don't think they're trustworthy. But you know I don't much trust the Alliance either. My reasons for choosing them over the Society were...well, they were personal.
[He doubts he has to explain further. Peter knows exactly what he was, only a day before their arrival here. Otto had wanted nothing more than to distance himself from all of it, so of course he'd reacted rather badly to the Society's overtures. Even now, even knowing what he does, he's not sure he could bring himself to join a group of self-described villains.
Frankly, he is a bit surprised that Peter's considering it. But then again, he already knew that the Alliance doesn't really have the same heroic ethos as any given Spider-Man. The Society hardly does either, but at the very least they don't sound likely to press-gang him into anything.]
Either way, I'd tell you to be careful. But if you think the Society can help you get what you need, I won't tell you not to do it, Peter. Is that what you're looking for - the freedom to dig into Guild history more?
I don't think any of these guys are trustworthy. They're all lying to us about something. In some ways the villain guys are almost more straightforward about it? We know they're hiding things because they're the bad guys. You know what I mean?
[ Peter's surprised he's considering it too, really. He's about as unambiguously Boy Scout as it gets, a fact he's self-aware about. ]
I know why you joined the Alliance. I get it! It was a good call. Honestly? I don't want to do either one, laws or not. But I sure as hell don't want everyone hating me without anything to back me up again, either. I already did that at home.
Joining a guild won't stop anyone from hating metas, but then he's not so alone in it, he thinks.
I'll be careful, don't worry. But, you know, this way you don't have to buy things for me and maybe I can apply to colleges again.
[ That would be true with the Alliance, too, of course. He doesn't even need to say that.
In answer to Otto's question, he nods. ]
Yeah. Well, not just the Guilds. Someone hacked that simulation so we'd all have to see the hacker's version of what happened to Starstruck. I don't know if Eclipse had something to do with that or someone else but I just can't forget about it. And from there, you know, what else are they hiding?
[ He shrugs. ]
I know this won't help us get home. I should focus on something else, maybe, but this is important to me.
[It's an old topic of discussion: how much Peter (and Peter) contribute, and how much Otto bankrolls them. He really doesn't mind. Between his Alliance income and his actual job, he makes good money - and honestly it's the absolute least he could do.
But it isn't like he doesn't understand. He'd probably have trouble accepting that kind of charity himself.]
You will be a lot safer with a Guild membership. I wish that weren't the way of this world, but it is. And the way the Alliance is going lately...I don't think I'd ever suggest you join up there. You don't need their brand of back-up like I do.
[As Peter said, the Society doesn't really police its members. The Alliance does. On one hand, it's a little unsettling, but on the other - if a member suddenly snaps and goes on a rampage, they will be contained. It isn't Otto's first insurance policy in case of a chip malfunction, but it's one of them.
Anyway - he tries to move on from that, cracking:]
Plus, I get off light with them - you're a lot more marketable than an old man with too many arms.
[Anyway. It seems like the boy maybe just...wants his approval? Of course he has that. Otto may worry, but he'd likely do that in any case. Peter's smart. And, if Mechanima or anyone else ever does try to pull anything, they'll handle it, same as they would if the Alliance did. He nods, a few of his claws clicking as they rotate.]
It's a good idea. You should go for it. Besides, like you said - you know people in the Alliance already. If you ever need anything done on that side, all you have to do is ask.
I know, but I mind. I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate it! And…obviously I still need the help for now. It's not like I'm gonna have a job tomorrow or something.
[ Let's be real, he's going to spend a large chunk of his time and energy pursuing the Starstruck thing. ]
I wish it wasn't, too. I don't wanna do this forced team crap. Not that the Society is a team. I don't think they, like, work together or whatever. They allow some things I am really not chill with, but whether I join them or not doesn't change that.
[ He kind of laughs. ]
Yeah, I don't think the Alliance is going to parade you around for PR stunts. Spider-Man, they might. But…Spider-Man isn't joining the Society, either. I don't know what I'm gonna do about the identity thing, but I was kinda thinking about a "hero" identity based in the tech stuff? Or not a hero. Not a villain. Man, I dunno.
[ It's the first time he's said it aloud. The complications of having three identities floating around are not lost on him, but separating Spider-Man from the Bad GuysTM seems like a good idea. ]
Also if Mechanima will teach me some of his stuff? Man. We could do so much with tech, Otto! I know your actuators are incredible already, but like…that machine me and Eddie found? Stuff like that exists, so what else is out there? What if we could not accidentally destroy things but make things that help people?
[ There's that hero at heart thing. ]
He could drink coffee through his smart glass without ever showing his face. I don't even know if Mr. Stark has that kind of tech.
[ Speaking of Tony, he doubts Tony would approve of this either. But he can't make every decision based on what dead people would do in his shoes. ]
[Not in the sense that Otto would consider swapping teams for it - but why would he ever be above collaboration? The technology considered commonplace in this world is already quite advanced by the standards of his time and place. Of course the idea of getting his hands on some advanced tech is appealing!
His last attempt to help people went so, so horribly. But his work with Adaptech has been good. Collaboration, not getting caught up in ambition...these are good things. He can still contribute.]
Joining them doesn't have to mean you go out on any of their missions. You could probably keep on doing what you have been. But, yes, I see why you'd want a different identity. Especially with Pete around. [Their shared names can be a little confusing, but people usually know who's being discussed.] It'd be easy enough to switch out the cosmetics on that new suit...
Right? Having access to both, like...obviously you and I trust each other, so it's a pretty good partnership. And I think it might actually help keep my identity as Spider-Man more secret, since absolutely no one would associate Spider-Man with the villain side.
[ But the tech thing matters a lot, too. His new suit isn't quite finished, and while sure, he can use Otto's funding to do it, he's still into doing it himself. ]
I don't plan to do their missions or anything, gross.
[ He knows never say never, and he's not actually sure what missions they might want people for. But Mechanima seems pretty into independence as long as people follow the rules.
He doesn't bother mentioning that rule breakers apparently get killed; the rules are pretty easy to follow when you're a squeaky clean hero joining the bad guys for access to tech and info. ]
I mean...I'm still Spider-Man too.
[ When will he have time for all of it? Who knows? He doesn't care about that right now. It's good to have a (hyper) focus. ]
So I dunno. Building any other sort of suit would take time, but if it's not a secret like Spider-Man then maybe I could commission the base or something.
[ Deep breath, Peter. ]
I think I'm gonna do it. Better than being targeted for being Unaligned. Probably.
Sure, but you ought to be careful about it. If you're keeping it all separate, than Spider-Man is still unaligned.
[Safety in his civilian identity is nothing to sneeze at. He'll still have to keep his guard up while in his Spider identity, though. But then, Otto supposes that's nothing new.
He nods. Yes, it all sounds reasonable.]
Alright. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I'm not sure what that would be, but I'm here. [A beat, and he laughs.] I'll tell everyone you're my villainous nemesis from back home.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[ Defensive much? ]
Well…I mean, maybe? But I asked him for that info. Of course he's not gonna just hand it over. That can't be shocking. And like, I guess he doesn't want people like me with crazy techno powers running around, you know, getting everyone depowered on accident. Did you know they used to kill people for not joining guilds? This place, man.
[ He sighs. Okay, it's probably bribery, listen. He knows better. That's why he's here with Otto and not signing some contract. ]
But that's not the whole reason I'm thinking about it. Most of the people I know are Alliance folks. And I…I don't know. I don't wanna be some PR face or anything. I just want to exist without people blaming me for everything going wrong all the time. The guilds aren't exactly a shield for that, I know. Mechanima called it freedom and I…don't exactly buy that? But like, this is the guy helping with the protests and stuff behind the scenes. What the hell is Atomight even doing?
[ Peter isn't Atomight's biggest fan just because his optics are so…the way they are. ]
But actually I think Mechanima and Atomight are even friends which is the weird thing? I wouldn't have thought that, but he seemed like…I dunno. Not like he's against Atomight or fighting him or whatever.
[ Gold star for not getting more off-track than this. ]
But even if we just have access to more things, you know, like...Alliance stuff, sure, cool, whatever. But what does the Society have? Probably stuff that is not legal, strictly speaking...
[ Or not strictly speaking! He's sure May is going to come and haunt him for this stunt, but he can't get his mind off it yet. ]
This world just has so much shit we don't know. And I don't think the Alliance is gonna give it to us. The Society probably isn't either but they're more likely to look the other way if, you know, we hack a database or something.
[ He can't even look at Otto for a second because he is 100% aware of what this sounds like. ]
no subject
I don't think they're trustworthy. But you know I don't much trust the Alliance either. My reasons for choosing them over the Society were...well, they were personal.
[He doubts he has to explain further. Peter knows exactly what he was, only a day before their arrival here. Otto had wanted nothing more than to distance himself from all of it, so of course he'd reacted rather badly to the Society's overtures. Even now, even knowing what he does, he's not sure he could bring himself to join a group of self-described villains.
Frankly, he is a bit surprised that Peter's considering it. But then again, he already knew that the Alliance doesn't really have the same heroic ethos as any given Spider-Man. The Society hardly does either, but at the very least they don't sound likely to press-gang him into anything.]
Either way, I'd tell you to be careful. But if you think the Society can help you get what you need, I won't tell you not to do it, Peter. Is that what you're looking for - the freedom to dig into Guild history more?
no subject
[ Peter's surprised he's considering it too, really. He's about as unambiguously Boy Scout as it gets, a fact he's self-aware about. ]
I know why you joined the Alliance. I get it! It was a good call. Honestly? I don't want to do either one, laws or not. But I sure as hell don't want everyone hating me without anything to back me up again, either. I already did that at home.
Joining a guild won't stop anyone from hating metas, but then he's not so alone in it, he thinks.
I'll be careful, don't worry. But, you know, this way you don't have to buy things for me and maybe I can apply to colleges again.
[ That would be true with the Alliance, too, of course. He doesn't even need to say that.
In answer to Otto's question, he nods. ]
Yeah. Well, not just the Guilds. Someone hacked that simulation so we'd all have to see the hacker's version of what happened to Starstruck. I don't know if Eclipse had something to do with that or someone else but I just can't forget about it. And from there, you know, what else are they hiding?
[ He shrugs. ]
I know this won't help us get home. I should focus on something else, maybe, but this is important to me.
no subject
[It's an old topic of discussion: how much Peter (and Peter) contribute, and how much Otto bankrolls them. He really doesn't mind. Between his Alliance income and his actual job, he makes good money - and honestly it's the absolute least he could do.
But it isn't like he doesn't understand. He'd probably have trouble accepting that kind of charity himself.]
You will be a lot safer with a Guild membership. I wish that weren't the way of this world, but it is. And the way the Alliance is going lately...I don't think I'd ever suggest you join up there. You don't need their brand of back-up like I do.
[As Peter said, the Society doesn't really police its members. The Alliance does. On one hand, it's a little unsettling, but on the other - if a member suddenly snaps and goes on a rampage, they will be contained. It isn't Otto's first insurance policy in case of a chip malfunction, but it's one of them.
Anyway - he tries to move on from that, cracking:]
Plus, I get off light with them - you're a lot more marketable than an old man with too many arms.
[Anyway. It seems like the boy maybe just...wants his approval? Of course he has that. Otto may worry, but he'd likely do that in any case. Peter's smart. And, if Mechanima or anyone else ever does try to pull anything, they'll handle it, same as they would if the Alliance did. He nods, a few of his claws clicking as they rotate.]
It's a good idea. You should go for it. Besides, like you said - you know people in the Alliance already. If you ever need anything done on that side, all you have to do is ask.
no subject
[ Let's be real, he's going to spend a large chunk of his time and energy pursuing the Starstruck thing. ]
I wish it wasn't, too. I don't wanna do this forced team crap. Not that the Society is a team. I don't think they, like, work together or whatever. They allow some things I am really not chill with, but whether I join them or not doesn't change that.
[ He kind of laughs. ]
Yeah, I don't think the Alliance is going to parade you around for PR stunts. Spider-Man, they might. But…Spider-Man isn't joining the Society, either. I don't know what I'm gonna do about the identity thing, but I was kinda thinking about a "hero" identity based in the tech stuff? Or not a hero. Not a villain. Man, I dunno.
[ It's the first time he's said it aloud. The complications of having three identities floating around are not lost on him, but separating Spider-Man from the Bad GuysTM seems like a good idea. ]
Also if Mechanima will teach me some of his stuff? Man. We could do so much with tech, Otto! I know your actuators are incredible already, but like…that machine me and Eddie found? Stuff like that exists, so what else is out there? What if we could not accidentally destroy things but make things that help people?
[ There's that hero at heart thing. ]
He could drink coffee through his smart glass without ever showing his face. I don't even know if Mr. Stark has that kind of tech.
[ Speaking of Tony, he doubts Tony would approve of this either. But he can't make every decision based on what dead people would do in his shoes. ]
no subject
[Not in the sense that Otto would consider swapping teams for it - but why would he ever be above collaboration? The technology considered commonplace in this world is already quite advanced by the standards of his time and place. Of course the idea of getting his hands on some advanced tech is appealing!
His last attempt to help people went so, so horribly. But his work with Adaptech has been good. Collaboration, not getting caught up in ambition...these are good things. He can still contribute.]
Joining them doesn't have to mean you go out on any of their missions. You could probably keep on doing what you have been. But, yes, I see why you'd want a different identity. Especially with Pete around. [Their shared names can be a little confusing, but people usually know who's being discussed.] It'd be easy enough to switch out the cosmetics on that new suit...
no subject
[ But the tech thing matters a lot, too. His new suit isn't quite finished, and while sure, he can use Otto's funding to do it, he's still into doing it himself. ]
I don't plan to do their missions or anything, gross.
[ He knows never say never, and he's not actually sure what missions they might want people for. But Mechanima seems pretty into independence as long as people follow the rules.
He doesn't bother mentioning that rule breakers apparently get killed; the rules are pretty easy to follow when you're a squeaky clean hero joining the bad guys for access to tech and info. ]
I mean...I'm still Spider-Man too.
[ When will he have time for all of it? Who knows? He doesn't care about that right now. It's good to have a (hyper) focus. ]
So I dunno. Building any other sort of suit would take time, but if it's not a secret like Spider-Man then maybe I could commission the base or something.
[ Deep breath, Peter. ]
I think I'm gonna do it. Better than being targeted for being Unaligned. Probably.
no subject
[Safety in his civilian identity is nothing to sneeze at. He'll still have to keep his guard up while in his Spider identity, though. But then, Otto supposes that's nothing new.
He nods. Yes, it all sounds reasonable.]
Alright. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help. I'm not sure what that would be, but I'm here. [A beat, and he laughs.] I'll tell everyone you're my villainous nemesis from back home.
[Ridiculous!]