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Entry tags:
cross the roofs
Who: Otto Octavius ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
doctopoda
What: June catch-all
When: June, pre-Kaijuu
Where: Excelsior
Content Warnings: none
i. excelsior, day, out and about
ii. excelsior, night, guild housing
iii. wildcard
doctopoda What: June catch-all
When: June, pre-Kaijuu
Where: Excelsior
Content Warnings: none
i. excelsior, day, out and about
[Now that he's gainfully employed, Otto's starting to fall into something more like a normal routine.
You may see him out getting coffee at what's become his regular place, or doing some shopping. It's getting easier; the longer he's lived here, the more people in his neighborhood have gotten used to the sight of him.
Ever since the incident at Balthier's shop, though, things have gotten a little weird. There's been outcry against metas. He knew it existed out there, but he's only lived in Central City and here, where such things are less common; this is the first real anti-meta sentiment he's seen in person. He even passes a few little protest groups outside of the Guild buildings, his own home and the others near it. Yet somehow, he himself is excluded: he's a product of science, not natural-born, not magic.
A ridiculous distinction. Otto knows as well as anyone just how dangerous a rogue scientist can be.
Mostly, he does his best to ignore praise and protest alike. If he sees anyone nearby who seems upset by the crowd - or, god forbid, anyone who's getting yelled at by them - he'll go over to them, actuators curving protectively, though not too close.]
Come on. They're just looking for attention - don't give them the satisfaction.
You may see him out getting coffee at what's become his regular place, or doing some shopping. It's getting easier; the longer he's lived here, the more people in his neighborhood have gotten used to the sight of him.
Ever since the incident at Balthier's shop, though, things have gotten a little weird. There's been outcry against metas. He knew it existed out there, but he's only lived in Central City and here, where such things are less common; this is the first real anti-meta sentiment he's seen in person. He even passes a few little protest groups outside of the Guild buildings, his own home and the others near it. Yet somehow, he himself is excluded: he's a product of science, not natural-born, not magic.
A ridiculous distinction. Otto knows as well as anyone just how dangerous a rogue scientist can be.
Mostly, he does his best to ignore praise and protest alike. If he sees anyone nearby who seems upset by the crowd - or, god forbid, anyone who's getting yelled at by them - he'll go over to them, actuators curving protectively, though not too close.]
Come on. They're just looking for attention - don't give them the satisfaction.
ii. excelsior, night, guild housing
[Peter staying with Otto has been rather nice, actually - at least in Otto's mind. He spends most of his days at work, and Peter's often out on his own business at other times, so they don't see too much of one another. But when they do, it's nice to have a bit of friendly conversation. The place has felt empty since Norman left.
Even so, there's still evenings when he's left to his own devices, or nights that drag on as sleep eludes him. So there's also nights when a tentacled shape can be seen swiftly crawling its way up to the roof of one of the Guild-owned apartment buildings.
Once up there, he leans against the perimeter wall, lights a cigarette, and smokes it while looking out over the city. It's an awful habit, he knows; he went some thirty years without it. But then - as with so many things - but then there was the accident. He quit once. He can kick it again. Just...later, maybe.]
Even so, there's still evenings when he's left to his own devices, or nights that drag on as sleep eludes him. So there's also nights when a tentacled shape can be seen swiftly crawling its way up to the roof of one of the Guild-owned apartment buildings.
Once up there, he leans against the perimeter wall, lights a cigarette, and smokes it while looking out over the city. It's an awful habit, he knows; he went some thirty years without it. But then - as with so many things - but then there was the accident. He quit once. He can kick it again. Just...later, maybe.]
iii. wildcard
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no subject
[It's an obvious softening; the vast majority of the time, Otto absolutely dislikes that kind of attention! Even if it's friendly because he's a scientist meta living in Excelsior - honestly, especially if it's that. What he did was arrogant and foolish. It is not worthy of admiration.]
I've tried those hologram projectors, but they don't work well if I'm doing anything other than sitting. They're much too bulky - people just kept walking into them.
[In theory, he probably could keep the actuators out of peoples' way, but it's just too much work in a crowded city. Lots of hypervigilance, lots of bobbing and weaving. It isn't worth it.]
no subject
I suspect it is because mine is illusion based, not visual. I haven't changed what anything looks like so much as...changed the way people perceive us. It's in their minds to some extent.
[ There's...a slippery slope there, he's aware. And he's not sure the full extent. ]
I don't think I could keep people from walking into them entirely, but I could cause them to keep a wider berth, I think. Regardless, I'm early in understanding it, but my hope is to see if I couldn't anchor the spell in some object for more regular use. If I make any progress, I'd be happy for your assistance in testing it.
no subject
He trusts Balthier, though.]
Of course. I'd be interested to help in that kind of development. Strange recommended me some books, but I only really understand the basics of magic. [Which is fine. He doesn't want to become a wizard; he just wants to know enough to manage when some other magical disaster inevitably occurs.] It wouldn't affect me, would it?
no subject
[ A big part of why he's being cautious. He's already gotten himself into trouble with magic here, his own and others'. Otto's question earns a shake of the head, though. ]
The plan is for it to work like this one. It's not affecting you and I, because I didn't include us in the perception range. I'm hoping to find a way to add settings or least toggle it on and off, but I may be getting ahead of myself. [ That said, being around magical and alien artifacts certainly is giving him ideas. ]
no subject
That's always how it goes with a new project. Nothing wrong with aiming high - as long as you can still be realistic when the time comes.
[Which is, of course, where he fell short on that one.]
It's easier when you have an actual prototype. I'm sure David's told you about Andy.
[Andy the Arm! Maybe it's a little weird, given his current condition, but Otto quite likes working on the robot arm!]
no subject
But Otto isn't that. He's being supportive in fact, so Balthier tips his glass to him. ]
I will gladly bring you my prototypes for testing. And yes. I do not entirely understand Andy, though I can certainly imagine the potential applications.
no subject
I do hope it can do some good for someone. That's all I've tried to do in my career.
[And it's been a resounding failure! But he has another chance now - at least there's that.]
no subject
[ He wouldn't even mind if he knew Otto had failed at doing good in his career. The intention means more, and Balthier's had his share of fuck ups. ]
You're working at the same company as David now, yes?
no subject
[Work-life balance? Never heard of her, his wife is dead.]
They have been quite kind about providing for my...medical issues. Turns out the phones aren't supposed to be hideously bright.
no subject
Yes I am a huge fan of their no work at home policy, though David likes to get around it by working on his own ideas in his own lab. I have half a mind to ask the guild to lock it on him once a week.
[ It's one of the only places David ever reminds him of his father. And as tense as that can be, David also is much easier to pry out of the lab. It never lasts more than a few days. ]
You know, you'd have me fooled. Some of the ways things are supposed to work here baffle me.
no subject
[He sees that dynamic immediately. It's...nostalgic. A little sad, but it doesn't quite sting as badly as it used to. Otto knows Balthier and David both well by now; he doesn't always remember his own marriage when he sees them together, these days.]
I'll tell you, I don't understand the way the Internet has developed at all. Used to be, it was mostly for exchange of information.
no subject
Ah, see, there I can understand. Humes, ah humans, seem to have a penchant for turning anything they can into entertainment, war, and profiteering. It's always just a matter of time.
no subject
At that, he arches an eyebrow.]
Is humes the word in your world? [Interesting!] You're right, of course. The Internet celebrities are more irritating than I'd have imagined.
no subject
[ He laughs at the latter though. ]
Not one previously embedded in entertainment, gossip, or the upper class I take it? Those types always exist, but yes, they'll take the largest platform they can find. I don't know if we've spoken of it -- I grew up in the aristocracy. A lot of self-important people.
no subject
[As far as joining the upper class goes...well, he'd been friends with Norman, but most of their disagreements had been about matters like that. Wealth, and the pursuit thereof. Otto was never in it for the money or the status.]
I suppose there's something to be said for the accessibility of social media, but the way these children end up using it...and the heroes. The Alliance should be ashamed of themselves.
[He's definitely a member, but that's not because he thinks they're super great or anything!]
no subject
[ He chuckles at Otto's scandalized disappointment at social media and the Alliance, though. ] Never did trust an organization claiming to be good to be rational.
no subject
[He's not gonna be pushy about it, though. Otto enjoyed school, obviously, but it would certainly be a commitment.
At the rest, he just snorts. Trust in grand organizations isn't exactly where he's coming from here.]
That's true enough. Things were just very different in my world. We had one super-hero - Spider-Man. I have a hard time imagining him ever doing anything the Guild gets up to. [In point of fact, he's pretty sure none of the ones here have joined the Alliance. He is probing a little here, but he manages to keep his demeanor neutral as he adds:] I'm sure you've seen some of them around. My world's version isn't here, but we've got several others like him.
no subject
Maybe at home. I've absolutely no desire here. Besides. I have the internet and a wealth of books. I'm learning plenty.
[ He knows he's too far past being able to listen to authority or suffer fools for that to be fun, but the support is sweet. ]
I've met several Spider-Men, in fact. Generally an agreeable bunch with poor self-preservation. [ Balthier's just as neutral. One of the first things he learned about Peter was how wary he was of anyone finding out he was Spider-Man. Even if Balthier thought that meant he was a circus performer.</small. ]
no subject
They are that. Very nearly kind to a fault.
[It's admirable, of course. But...hell if it doesn't get them hurt. Hurt by Otto, at times.]
He'd been active for a few years, in my world. There was some merchandise, things like that, but I doubt he ever saw a penny of it.
no subject
So we can agree that even if money was available for said merchandise, they'd find a way to refuse it, be flustered, and still be sleeping on someone else's couch eating cheap greasy food and not sleeping enough.
no subject
Yes, exactly.
[But he's not willing to say it out loud still, not without an okay from Peter. Balthier doesn't seem to be either. Respectable, in Otto's opinion; they may both know, but that doesn't make it their secret to talk about.]
He saved my life, you know. Quite possibly more than once.
no subject
[ He's not sure he's repaid that. ]
Was yours here, or from before?
no subject
[This time, without the stress of the reactor and the river and the days of fear, Otto says it calmly enough. It's a simple fact. It does still bother him at times, but...not in ways he thinks he ought to unpack with Balthier.]
He's the reason it didn't happen.
no subject
I'm glad it didn't. Frankly, I'm glad a lot of us were brought to this world. Solved some impossible situations. [ And some impossible aches. ] But maybe that's just the opportunist in me.