[ He makes a face. ]
It was, up until you called me "Petes." Now I'm not so sure.
It was, up until you called me "Petes." Now I'm not so sure.
Really? You're gonna be like that? Here I am, bustin' my butt to build to a super kickass spaceship library, and you won't even give me water.
[ He heaves a sigh before finally moving farther into the room, holding the bottle out to her. ]
I guess I'm obligated to make sure you don't die of dehydration while you're on my ship. We'd get a lot of unwanted attention that way.
Not to mention the smell.
I guess I'm obligated to make sure you don't die of dehydration while you're on my ship. We'd get a lot of unwanted attention that way.
Not to mention the smell.
[ He presses the heel of his palms to his eyes, the pendant danging around the chain hooked around his thumb, and he still sounds numb, despite the sarcastic tilt of his words. ]
Should I feel better or worse about that? "You're a demon, but at least you're unique"?
Should I feel better or worse about that? "You're a demon, but at least you're unique"?
[ She takes it, and shakes it at him in a scolding manner as she speaks ]
Not to mention I'd come back as a ghost and haunt your sorry ass.
Not to mention I'd come back as a ghost and haunt your sorry ass.
I'd-- hate to burst your bubble? But you'd be the least intimidating ghost in the world.
I mean, like, Casper the Friendly Ghost levels of scary.
I mean, like, Casper the Friendly Ghost levels of scary.
[ He looks up at that, surprised. ]
What have you got to be sorry for?
What have you got to be sorry for?
You say that, but I'm gonna hang out in your bedroom and make commentary to your shipmates whenever you and Maya do the do.
[ He can't help it-- he laughs. But then he stifles it as best he can. ]
You think that, but I'm pretty sure you'd mostly be watching in silent wonder.
You think that, but I'm pretty sure you'd mostly be watching in silent wonder.
Silent wonder at what? How much she tops the hell out of you?
[ SAY NOTHING, PETER. DON'T GIVE IT AWAY. ]
Mostly you'd be busy taking notes, like, "I never thought to put my tongue there, or, "That's a clever way to use cables," but how a ghost could utilize the many things you'd learn from the two of us, I'll never know.
Mostly you'd be busy taking notes, like, "I never thought to put my tongue there, or, "That's a clever way to use cables," but how a ghost could utilize the many things you'd learn from the two of us, I'll never know.
You're way too full of yourself, Petes.
And yes, I'm going to call you that for the rest of forever.
And yes, I'm going to call you that for the rest of forever.
-- Stop it. [ He blurts it out before he realizes he's even speaking. ] Just-- stop.
[ He doesn't want to keep hearing her apologize for something she didn't know about, something he didn't know about. Because he's really fucking confused right now, and on the one hand, he's scared as hell (because he's a demon how the fuck can he be a demon there's just no fucking way) and on the other he's angry (did mom know of course she did of course she fucking knew she gave me the pendant but why didn't she tell me and maybe this is why I never met my father); and there's a part of him that's saying, it sort of adds up, and another that's screaming, no, no, no, please, no.
He thinks back to the night he met Maya, when she told him he had magic in him. And he had signed that contract with Maya because he wanted power, right? Had wanted to get back at the people who wronged him? Well, he certainly has that power now, doesn't he?
And, in a way, it's sort of funny. Actually, it's sort of hilarious. He has power, and he doesn't fucking want it.
Maybe that's why he's starting to laugh -- silently, at first, just little choked sounds that make his shoulders shake -- before it blooms and grows in volume, sounding helpless and empty and panicked. ]
[ He doesn't want to keep hearing her apologize for something she didn't know about, something he didn't know about. Because he's really fucking confused right now, and on the one hand, he's scared as hell (because he's a demon how the fuck can he be a demon there's just no fucking way) and on the other he's angry (did mom know of course she did of course she fucking knew she gave me the pendant but why didn't she tell me and maybe this is why I never met my father); and there's a part of him that's saying, it sort of adds up, and another that's screaming, no, no, no, please, no.
He thinks back to the night he met Maya, when she told him he had magic in him. And he had signed that contract with Maya because he wanted power, right? Had wanted to get back at the people who wronged him? Well, he certainly has that power now, doesn't he?
And, in a way, it's sort of funny. Actually, it's sort of hilarious. He has power, and he doesn't fucking want it.
Maybe that's why he's starting to laugh -- silently, at first, just little choked sounds that make his shoulders shake -- before it blooms and grows in volume, sounding helpless and empty and panicked. ]
[ That grimace returns in full force. ]
I want the record to show that I will object to it every day until my dying breath.
[ He sighs again, looking around the room, and he lets his annoyance slip away. ]
I didn't think you'd get so much done this soon.
I want the record to show that I will object to it every day until my dying breath.
[ He sighs again, looking around the room, and he lets his annoyance slip away. ]
I didn't think you'd get so much done this soon.
Hey, come on. I'm the greatest engineer alive, remember? Welding bookshelves is kid stuff.
[ Her touch is enough to startle him out of his hysteria, and his head snaps up to stare at her hand. He swallows down the next laugh bubbling up in his throat and tries to get himself back under control.
It's a long while before he covers her hand with his -- and if his grip is a little too tight, he's not aware of it. His voice is just barely audible above the noise of the rain. ]
Sorry. I don't-- I don't know what that was.
It's a long while before he covers her hand with his -- and if his grip is a little too tight, he's not aware of it. His voice is just barely audible above the noise of the rain. ]
Sorry. I don't-- I don't know what that was.
[ He runs a hand along the edge of one of the shelves, giving it an appraising look. ]
If it's just kid stuff, that means we don't gotta pay you, right?
If it's just kid stuff, that means we don't gotta pay you, right?
All right then, hot shot. You do it.
[ she holds her welding tool out to him, eyebrows arched and expression expectant ]
[ she holds her welding tool out to him, eyebrows arched and expression expectant ]
[ He takes a deep breath, and the physical contact with Maya helps ground him, keeps the hysteria at bay. ]
I'm Peter as long as I've got this pendant, anyway, right?
I'm Peter as long as I've got this pendant, anyway, right?
[ Aaaand his hands go up. ]
Nope, alright, you're the expert.
Nope, alright, you're the expert.
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Page 39 of 98