VIDEO - un: p. parker ( WATER BALLOON BABY DAYCARE )

[webdesigned]

( first things first... this place is freaking cold. Peter isn't as bothered by the elements as he could be, super senses and all that... but he's worried about his squidge, who did only just thaw. Beaker's little face can just barely be seen over the edge of his t-shirt, under his sweatshirt and jacket and every other layer he's got on. he's not asleep, though, he's quiet and curious. not sure what he feels about the world yet. it's cool, it's hard to have a real lock on your understanding of the world when you're a few hours old.

and you'd think having one tiny alien creature to worry about would be enough for anyone. more than enough, in some cases... but apparently, not for Peter Parker. he's worried about the little crowd of unattached squidges that wander off on their own, and tries to stay as close to him as he can, and well, that's not the only thing he's worried about.

he waves to the camera, offering a slight smile. )

Hey. Peter Parker. Still. You guys remember me. ( he is still pretty new as far as the team is concerned, but he's been long enough to know quite a few faces. ) I figure we should talk about the little ... flock? Crowd? Pile? ( who knows the proper terminology for a group of squidges? anybody? Bueller? ) ...the poor little buddies that don't have anybody to look after them. I know they haven't imprinted but that doesn't mean we should just ignore them. I'm willing to keep an eye on them but I'm just one guy, anyone else that wants to help out...

( a pause, and an awkward scratch behind his ear. his glasses are fogging up from the heat of his breath, and he pushes them back up his nose. Beaker stares up at him from the safe alcove of his shirt, watching quietly. )

And... I mean, if you think this is too much, or you don't want to look after yours... let me know. I get it, it's not for everyone. But we can't just leave them, you know? I'll keep an eye out if anyone needs a... squidgesitter. ( HOW MANY SQUIDGES CAN ONE KID WATCH? idk but spidey senses will probably help... right??? ) Anyone who wants to help out, though... yeah. Please. Seriously.

Comments

text, @TARANTO

[heavyhitter]

what about a splat

[webdesigned]

jsyk, i laughed, but felt bad about it after

( CAN A SQUIDGE GO SPLAT NOW HE'S MILDLY CONCERNED )

[heavyhitter]

it's okay to laugh at my genius, i deserve it
a splat of squidges though you gotta admit that sounds good

[webdesigned]

v fitting, and vaguely scientific, so i dig it
a splat of squidges... i wish there were some wood to knock on, if they actually go splat we are going to feel like monsters

[heavyhitter]

"we" are you sure that's the right word

[webdesigned]

cmon
you wouldn't feel even a little bad if your little buddy is squished?

( RAMIR THIS IS WHY HE IS CONCERNED.
SO. CONCERNED. )

[heavyhitter]

are you kidding me i didn't sign up to be a single mom
well
an unmarried mom
i'm not saying i'm gonna kill the guy but if he falls off a cliff or something i think i'll live

video, un: shirogane

[regiment]

They're going to be difficult to transport and it might add hours to the trip. It's like herding a bunch of cats.

(but they are living creatures—and, unfortunately for the tight schedule he tries (and fails) to keep, shiro's never one to ignore a person in dire need of assistance. so his eyes lift, lips a thin, serious line as he thinks.)

What about pulling them all on a large sled?

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yeah but they didn't sign up for it either, and they're not big enough to protect themselves yet
it sucks but someone has to be responsible for them

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I mean, yeah, probably. But it's what we're here to do, right? We can't just ignore them because they're more work.

( or, some people clearly can. Peter just doesn't want to. still! a sled! is a great idea! )

Yeah! Dude, that's fantastic. I bet we could make one pretty easily, if we can find enough material... though pulling it might be harder.

( can't give his super strength away pulling a flat of twenty squidges after all... )

[heavyhitter]

aw that's so nice of you volunteering to squidgesit for me like that

[webdesigned]

would be like "haha good one"
if, you know, i hadn't just offered to squidgesit for everybody

( he means it, though, even if he ends up with twenty to look after, he'd rather that than the idea of one getting forgotten. )

[heavyhitter]

yeah and this is me taking you up on it
where are you?

[regiment]

Hey, I absolutely agree. That's why we were brought here, right? To help out the inhabitants. (so it'd be kind of lame... to ditch some of the ones they're supposed to help protect. now he feels a little guilty about not trying to take as many squidges as he could handle by his lonesome.) —And it's not like they're going to make things more difficult on themselves by causing trouble for us. Right?

(stern look back at his own squidge, who chirps at him in acknowledgement. #toughlove)

Right.

(shiro has since circled back to seek peter out, hands now waving a couple of wayward squidges back to where he recalls the group had been.)

I'd suggest a jacket, but we'll freeze to death if we use ours. I'll take a look around for supplies while I'm on my way back to you. Worst case scenario, we can take turns pulling, but I don't mind doing most of it... I mean, how heavy could these little guys be?

[webdesigned]

( wow... so... that was fast, but? ? ? ? ? )

pretty near the lake
turn left at the nerd glasses ha ha




no really i am wearing glasses tho

( just in case she doesn't remember from the video feed. )

[heavyhitter]

great more nerds is exactly what we needed around here

[ and complaint thus issued, she's on her way, squidge wrapped into her coat and all. she's in sight in just a couple minutes, and offers a lazy wave. ]

Is this the P Parker Squidgesitting Service Inc?

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( THERE CAN NEVER BE ENOUGH RAMIR

he's where he promised, huddled in snow and pretending he's not freezing. little Beaker is out of his coat, toddling around and occasionally bringing him fistfuls of snow like its something new and exciting and not something literally all around them. he looks up and looks surprised, maybe for half a second, before smiling. he's still getting used to running into people he met behind a mask. )

Corporation pending, but you bet. ( he glances at Ramir's sqidge, offering it a smile too. ) does your buddy have a name?

text. UN: LATRODECTUS

[expatriates]

A babysitting service?

un: swan

[sheriffing]

[Look, he seems like a good kid. It's because he's a good kid that she's going to respond. (Though not offer to help because one is enough, Peter). Someone should probably warn him... ]

You might want to hold off on that offer to squidge-sit. These things are pretty needy.

[Take her already crying squidge who can be heard off-screen, for example. Poor Fred.]

text; un: okami

[whatshimadayou]

I would exercise caution so that no one takes advantage of your generosity.
That said: I will assist where I can.

AUDIO. UN: LOKI

[selfimage]

It does seem rather senseless to keep them all apart.

[ he's currently poking his. ]

Do you think they'll merge together and create some sort of squidge robot overlord?

[ he says it so reasonably that it could be true ... ]

[Video | un: tsukuyo]

[sekimorinashi]

I'll help. You're right, we can't just leave 'em.

Have any of 'em wandered far yet?

[ She can go fetch them back, if need be. ]

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Right.

( peter laughs, knowing that's meant more for the squidge than for him, but he'll answer anyway. it might not be true, if he's honest. chances were good that squidges would get into trouble just because they were babies. babies were troublemakers by their nature. still, anyone getting along with a squidge makes him happy, so he won't point out the obvious.

it's easier to talk without the device, too, and he stands up when Shiro arrives with a new little crowd of friends. the ones that haven't imprinted seem far less friendly, but he offers a hand to one of them and the squidge sullenly takes it, as if it was a great hardship to do so. )

they're pretty light, actually. ( Beaker is still in Peter's coat, so it's safe to say he can carry one. then again, he's a lot stronger than he looks. ) I'm not sure a coat would be big enough, anyway... you think there's any sort of plant we could use around?

[webdesigned]

kinda? er, no charge obviously, but... we're a team, seemed fair to offer to help if I can.

( he just wants the little guys to have someone to look out for them, and if someone needs a break, he can offer one. )

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( whenever Beaker hears a distressed squidge, he automatically starts up a weird cooing mantra. must be some squidge thing to communicate comfort. )

I know they're needy. That's why I'm offering. It's a lot to do by yourself without any help.