futurology | VIDEO; UN: HAWKEYE

[Instead of any person, the scene presently on the screen is of a backpack lying in the snow, overflowing with child leashes in a variety of different colors and patterns. The voice that pipes up has about as much warmth as the chill tundra wind and is just loud enough to cut through the continued wailing of infant squidges nearby.]

It appears that some of our superiors question our ability to properly watch over these small creatures.

[Though if the delivery was sent in earnest rather than as a practical joke, she can't say she disagrees with the assessment, at least not with regards to a certain subsection of Team Audentes. (Fortune might favor the bold, but it certainly won't favor anyone lacking basic common sense as far as she's concerned.)

Regardless, she presses on.]

While I should hope that none of you will need one at the moment [judging u if you put a leash on ur infant squidge tbh] some of you may find them necessary at a later point in this mission. There seem to be enough for each recruit to have one.

[Unfortunately.

A brief pause follows, enough time for a resigned sigh.]

With that said, if you are concerned about caring for a living being, I'm sure there are several of us willing to provide advice.

(ooc: i bought a bunch of child leashes as an ac reward as i was completely out of ideas, feel free to handwave your character grabbed one.)

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( true to her word indeed! he smiles when he sees her, waving slightly. he's armed with not one squidge but two, making good on that babysitting promise. he and stiles are pretty used to having two to look after at this point, they're built in babysitters after teaming up for the mission. )

Hey. Wow, you weren't kidding that you had plenty.

( Beaker and Scooter are both making curious chirping noises, blinking up at Riza with wide eyes. )

[She smiles at that, though it's less an entertained smile than it is a brittle attempt at not letting her irritation spew all over the place. Leashes. Honestly.]

I'm afraid not. [Opening her bag, she holds it forward to Peter and his two squidges.] Do you think they'd like to pick one?

Maybe? Might as well find out.

( he shoos the two of them forward, and they trundle toward Riza with wide eyes and obvious curiosity. still, when they look inside they seem befuddled by what they find, so Peter plucks one up to show them. )

See? He's a friend, for hugging, and playing with.

( he makes exaggerated kissing noises and peppers both with the stuffed bear he's taken at random, which makes the squidges writhe and make more cooing noises. Beaker braves picking one up, too, and it's almost amazing he can hold it, considering how little he is, but it makes peter grin anyway. )

[Riza's own motions are about equal to that of the squidge's in terms of fluidity - she holds herself stiffly, relaxing only once so she can let her own squidge slither to the ground and join its brethren. It's strange to be around this many "children" so to speak. She'd never planned on having children or even getting married. Her job is to kill, not bring life into this world.]

You're very good at this.

[The whole interacting with babies thing.]

( is he? it's not the first time he's heard it, and while he doesn't have extreme experience with little kids, it's true, he's not as awkward at it as he could be. in the end he's pretty empathetic and relates easily, even with people younger than he is. apparently that easiness translated even to squidges. )

I've always liked kids. Even though these are littler and squishier than I'm used to.

( he stands now that the squidges seem content to hold onto their stuffed friends, making sounds mixed with happiness and curiosity. )

Liking them is probably half the battle, and sets you above half our crew already.

[If recent conversations are anything to go by. She watches him watching the squidges, notes the easy set to his expression.]

You'll make a good father some day, if you decide that's what you want to do.

( that very idea scares him a little, though it doesn't surprise him particularly much. he pushes up his glasses and tries to push the reminders back that all too many of their team had been happy to kill, and only for themselves, and not for the good of the mission. )

Maybe one day. I dunno.

( it was more complicated than she realized. being Spider-Man, having the genetic mutation he had, was it even possible to have a kid? even if it was, was it smart? when anyone close to him could be in danger? he couldn't decide now, yet he couldn't deny a part of him liked the idea. )

Squidges are more than enough for me right now, anyway.

( he wiggles the toy in his hand to the delight of the two alien creatures. when squidges were miserable, they were completely miserable, but at least when they were happy they were very happy. )

[It's not a particularly surprising answer; he is quite young after all (in her eyes) and more suited towards exploring whatever adventures life still has to offer him rather than settle down already and raise a family.

She watches the squidges play another moment more, surprisingly content for this single point in time. (That feeling, of course, fades quick as it always does)]

Do you think you'll miss them once this mission is done?

[They can't possibly be allowed to keep them when this is all over...]

( that's a sobering thought, though if he's honest, not one he hasn't had before. he has considered the fact that sooner or later, the squidge is going to need to stay behind and he's going to have to leave. that's a hard fact to think about, especially considering he realizes how much being left behind hurts. )

I know I will. But... that's a part of him growing up, anything growing up, right? They've gotta learn to make it on their own.

( the mission is to make sure the squidges make it to where they need to go, to grow up to their adult forms. he assumes that when they do, they'll be better able to take care of themselves. it'll be hard saying goodbye. still, what kind of life would they have trapped in Oska?

if this was where they were meant to thrive, it wouldn't be fair to take them away, even if it means he'll end up missing them. and worse yet, the squidge he's looked after misses him. )

It is.

[The more years that pass, the more people come and go, willingly or otherwise. She's certainly learned that the hard way. Hopefully their squidges will have an easier time of it. If nothing else, Peter's squidge seems well-balanced already, quiet and contently playing with the plush animal given to it.]

Maybe we'll be able to keep in touch with them somehow.

[Wishful thinking, maybe, but if ALASTAIR has the ability to pull people from their worlds, surely they've got some way of allowing brief visits. But for now, she straightens up.]

I have a few more deliveries to make, but if you need any help you're welcome to give me a call.

[Or whatever passes for calls on their jewelry. They're grouped close enough at the moment that it isn't too much of a trek one way or another and besides, she wouldn't mind spending more time with Peter.]

( there's no way of knowing whether that's true or not, that they'll have a way to look back and check in. still, Peter seems heartened by that answer. whether he'll be able to see Beaker again or otherwise, it seems like he'd be very happy to believe. )

I hope so. Postsquidge. But that means I'm gonna have to teach you to read, little buddy.

( Beaker hums and hugs his toy, seemingly noncommittal to the idea of learning to read. that's okay, they'd work on it.

Peter stands up straight, giving Riza a smile. ) Sure. I bet there's a lot of little guys that need a new friend. It's really awesome of you to do this. ( as for needing help, he nods. ) When I know, you'll know. Promise.

( in the meantime, he and Beaker are going to rest a little longer, and then get back on the trail. )

VIDEO; UN: HAWKEYE

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