#enrollment | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

blankdblank · 1 year

Text

The White Dove Pt 42 - Limb Contest

@devilishminx328. @theincaprincess, @lilith15000, @jesevans, @jiminapickle

The White Dove Masterlist

*.*.*

Footage of the tussle with the now named Silver Surfer was watched by both the Fantastic Four and the Avengers as the satellites Reed and Stark had been compiling efforts to replace were being programmed properly. Reed asked as the footage showed the grey blob in space being blasted in a glittering yellow explosion, only compounded by a fireball of a ship behind the not so ghostly figure Chickadee. Who seemed to vanish as the shockwaves of the blast the ship’s energy blast in ripples of silvery blue and glittering yellow shot the surfer far beyond view of the satellites that all died cutting off the video feed entirely. “So you’re telling me that’s a dimension hopping powered person who comes to this universe only to blow themselves up?”

Steve butt in, “She killed Hitler,” dropping jaws from the Fantastic Four, “Back the tone up, Son.”

Ben asked, “She killed who?!”

Tony said, “There was a blast like the ones she makes in the middle of Germany days before they waved the white flag. Our sources say Hitler was in the building she blew up but they covered up the blast and said he killed himself in a bunker. Anyways, on topic, several times she’s hopped to this dimension to save us from something.”

Rhodey said, “Her world doesn’t have Misique, and from one person who has been able to get there, it’s not a pleasant place. Her and Misique are bonded, somehow, and she comes here to help. All we can guess is she’s preventing what her world is facing here in ours.”

Johnny asked, “Why doesn’t she just help her own world?”

Rhodey said, “Maybe she is, the only agent who had been able to talk to her last was Peggy Carter. And she doesn’t share much aside from a time variance that it moves slower there.”

Reed asked with brows furrowed, “You’re saying someone’s been to her dimension? What happened? What was it like?”

Rhodey said, “Misique isn’t there and it isn’t pleasant.”

Clint said, “Tony got taken too once but the Sorcerers wiped his mind after.”

Tony nodded, “Can’t seem to get my memory tech to unlock what happened. All I get is a blurry view of me flying somewhere over a forest.”

Reed, “Did your suit have any scans of the area?”

“No,” Tony answered with a sigh, “Jarvis had been wiped as well. There was no internet and little past radio frequencies available so low or highly advanced tech I couldn’t pair with to know when or where I was.”

Clint said, “The one who got taken back was sent to Chickadee’s world’s past, back in WW2 to Steve’s wake. So there’s a chance Stark was sent back to a time frame near to that.”

Stark smacked his lips a moment awkwardly then stated, “And possibly turned the tide of the war for the worse. Since I can’t recall what I did there’s no telling what a fully suped up super suit could have achieved back then in that world.” He sighed and said, “But it has to end well I think, a redemption or something because she’s gone in our time to help save my dad, and I was two blocks away from the Surfer this time so me also loosely.”

Bruce said, “We got no clue what the endgame is, there’s no trace of how she got here this time and just the explosion to show how she got back. Apparently it takes blowing herself up to get back every time. Don’t know why she’d want to keep coming back if that’s how she leaves to get back to a worse world.” Heaving a sigh at the unlikely choice that anyone in the room would choose again and again.

“No one’s that selfless,” Susan said, “I can’t think of one person who’d take that on willingly.”

Rhodey sighed and said, “I think it’s to keep this version of herself safe.”

“What?” She asked, “What version?”

“Pluto Pear is this universe’s version of Chickadee.” Making Ben and Johnny straighten up in shock as Rhodey stated that. “Chickadee arrived in our past and Pluto was sent to hers. Pluto didn’t share much but I think it’s awful enough her other self is trying to keep this world from turning out like that one.”

Reed shook his head, “Pluto is a scientist, why wouldn’t she spend extensive time there to learn about that world? Bring back samples, if they can both trade off, Chickadee could give us information at the same time.”

Rhodey cut him off, “Because her parents are dead there too.” Leaving the scientist open mouthed. “She doesn’t want to stay there, and if Chickadee can do what she can without Misique to help her I don’t doubt someone would come after Pluto thinking she’s Chickadee.”

Clint said, “I know the last time she went there she had whiskey on her breath when she came back. Didn’t seem drunk but without people to look after her we’re not considering making them swap. No matter the rules clearly back in their past teenagers can drink no problem and I for one will fight the person who tries to give that order. Got too much to offer to be dumped to drinking so young.”

Ben asked, “Can they talk?”

Rhodey said, “According to Pluto they don’t talk. We think Misique can though when they cross over. Misique can talk to the Titans so maybe they both can since there’s no Misique there and over some unheard frequency they can communicate.”

Reed looked at Stark demanding, “Keep working on that memory tech. Maybe if we come across Misique we can convince her to have Chickadee send a drone to that world to give us more understanding of what’s so awful about it.”

Susan asked, “Couldn’t that cause a paradox? We try to learn what could go wrong and trigger it here?”

Reed said, “It is a possibility but we should take the risk.”

Stark said, “If we do that we’ll handle the chat with Misique.”

Reed argued, “Clearly you haven’t been able to build a camaraderie with her.”

Nat said, “That’s debatable.”

Reed said, “She shot Steve in the back!”

Clint said, “After he almost blew up some kids. Usually she doesn’t shoot first.”

Steve said, “Ya, if anything Pluto and me butt heads more than us and Misique these days”

That made Ben ask, “She’s a blast to sit with what did you do to get on her bad list?”

Steve cleared his throat and said, “She was in the subway that day, and I said some hurtful things while trying to find out what she knew about a friend of mine she told me wasn’t dead.”

Johnny said, “I’m confused, what friend?”

“My friend Bucky, he was one of her teachers in Russia. We thought he died in the 40’s.”

Ben asked, “And you found him?”

Steve answered, “Not yet. Russia won’t let us into their airspace still.”

Johnny asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be super spies?”

Nat said, “We’re hunting a dead man a secret organization is hiding. Bit harder than just delving into satellite imaging to find him at the markets. He’s being kept under wraps.”

Johnny looked at his sister saying softer, “Again, super spies?” Making her glance away to keep from laughing.

*.*.*

“I heard he likes to open the year with a research project,” Peter said, having snuck with his aunt May to laundry day so he could run into you and get some advice. “What are we supposed to pick for that?”

“Well I chose the history of pens,” you said making his brow arch up. “Just finished reading a book on inkwells out of a spiral of topics as I read about the wars pre 1800’s and how they maintained their troops and all that with candles and other necessary supplies. So pens was sort of a continuation of that. But you can pick anything. Like a food, or chairs, or cameras, your uncle got you that new camera. It only has to be ten pages.”

And he nodded, “I can look up cameras, ya,” he said with a creeping grin making yours creep wider as well. “I can do that. Thanks, you still coming back again?”

“Yes, still no budge on the credit requirements. Just the basics sans clubs and I can add some animal sciences classes at Columbia I wanted to give a shot to. So you and Ned can certainly spring for lead seat on the team this year to spite Flash.”

He shook his head, “Even if I can get the opening shot he’ll still try to fight it out, you know him.”

“At least he’s determined. Could do worse for a teammate.”

“Rather have two of you on the team instead,” he said looking you over as you went to move your load of sheets and pillow cases into the dryer when the washer buzzed. “Are you still staying off the Color Guard team?”

“Ya. I have my sail to start on. During my last visit everyone was so excited to offer design options, but I think I have one that Eldfalls will pride displaying. Took a good while to print enough of the metal chord to weave in and the design will suit how to hide that from obvious display. It has Vili’s crest on it now, but the museums will love to have that on display.”

May asked, “How long do you think it will take to have the sail completed?”

“Could, take a year, I’m not certain. Hopefully by summer at the earliest if I spend my weekends on it as best I can. Ricky and most of his friends graduated and are off to universities around the country so I will have the time.”

May said, “Well whenever you want a weekend off you are always welcome at ours for study sessions,” smiling even as Peter nudged his foot into hers at the straight up push for him to invite you over without you saying you wanted to come over without the excuse of being in the same club anymore.

Atop the rug you used to break in the habit of wearing heels the spare bit of space from your kitchen counter to the far wall diagonally from where your bed sat was where your large loom was settled. Eldfalls with your request had teleported the human sized wool base spool into your place atop a platform that would cause the large heavy thing to spin inside the zero gravity field to have it weightless to spare the floor beside more that held the smaller spools. You didn’t want to have to go down to the garage to work on the sail, or risk it being seen and bothered by anyone else. You still would show online trips down to explore new inches of Eldfalls to see if any more hatches or controls could be found until he could try the new sail on for size.

Measured in strips all across the top of the loom wool strands were secured and again at the base for the first section you were beginning with. Down the side support marks were made to remind you on when to begin the entrance of the Asgardian metal chords into the base. Tediously done to perfection for your bees to watch just a first two foot strip was readied to receive a couple inches across the top to press tightly before you had to break for a meal.

Viking ships mainly have rigging to hold their sails in, meanwhile the 40.5 foot mast around seven feet up had a securing arm to hold the base of the sail, while three feet from the top of the mast was a yard pole to secure the top. Both mounts would rotate somehow by controls you’d yet to find and imagined destined to do so by accident at this rate. So 35 feet x 40 was the size the shape of the ship had called for, and was ten feet wider than you had hoped to make until Eldfalls had buzzed at you until you came across these dimensions. The sail was meant to be used in storms and honestly he could fly without it so the sail was a bit of a third leg upon first thought, but who knows, you might just find a need for it and its bulky self when it was completed.

This was going to be a task to complete all your own, especially since you had to go bigger before the heat treat to compress the material of the sail for wind proofing. Alone sails had taken four years for some to craft but with your bees you hoped to be able to have this ready by summer, or at least next fall.

A reminder on your phone however took you away from completing your fifth inch of pressed material to get ready for enrollment at Columbia Eddie soon messaged you he was on his way from the Bugle to pick you up.

“How much of the bike went into your class choice?”

“I have two grand left,” you said making him let out a puff of air. “Most of my dance funds I put that into my rent, so I can finish the year off saving my checks.” You said ignoring the news reel playing on a tablet a group was looking over as you left the enrollment office to head to the book shop of the latest countrywide Purge. Nazi’s this time and a new ring of traffickers who had come from other countries, all of their financial status being liquidated to pool into various charities as per the norm. Each time you imagined it might be harder to have the country come into an uprising but yet again they had disappointed you in doing so.

“Please tell me you’re at least saving the plane funds.”

“Well I have to. Who knows what will come up. Plus when I hit 18 I’ll have to find my own medical insurance, if I want to.”

“I’m pretty sure we can get your gramps to add you to his plan if you wanted.” You nodded and he asked, “What’s on your mind?”

“Had a dream I had a baby with horns and a tail,” he chuckled and you rolled your eyes, “I know there’s no way I could be pregnant, I know I don’t need it, but even you have insurance. If I did end up starting,” you couldn’t finish the sentence and he looped an arm around your back.

“When that happens it’ll be taken care of. We will get you all fitted up and legal before any tiny horned and tailed babies come about, or whoever could help you have them is able to dream of giving you a ring let alone hug you too tightly.”

“I know,”

“I know you, best plan now. You pay taxes, school, rent, all your papers, one day we’ll add home purchase papers to that mix. All the adult boxes ticked so far.”

“What happens if Midtown doesn’t keep my scholarship up?”

“Jonah when the credit fiasco hit last year pressured the owners and the workers now have school funds available for kids of the workers, including you. Whole world knows you’re my sister, and even if they didn’t there’s grants the paper will offer, you’ve given more leads than some of our best sources. More than a quarter of the headlines and profits included with them came from our tips and sources. He’s determined to see you graduate, been in it almost four years now he’s got a soft spot for you.”

“$500,” you huffed at the first sight of the first book on your list. Internally your hive buzzed in work on discovering online copies and locations of other books. Both Connors and Octavius made certain to drop by, the latter busy on his own internal battle with final details of his upcoming debut of his power source he made certain to share he’d keep you updated on his own progress. Two stops for books later and inside your place Eddie let out an impressed whistle at the loom and anti gravity spool supports you had set up leaving the place a bit cramped but no less welcoming for him to share a snack with you to go with a film he picked before you broke into your new books.

Smoothly enrollment at Midtown went with little issue as the final few classes you had to take were split to two half days minus Saturday classes that would enable more time to weaving.

And for the first three weeks you seemed to make little progress, going an inch at a time working both the base diamond checkered pattern in alternating colors alongside the pattern inside the colors of either woven oak branches and oak leaves or acorns, both with hints of nine. Between corners of each transfer were compass stars. All alternating colors in beautiful bold shades around what would be the Web of Wyrd symbol that would stand out in black. Busy and tedious the alternating threads of ones you had been sent and metal based ones the few feet you had completed left Eddie in awe seeing it secure within the loom.

Atop a staircase you sat peering up at the bulky athlete who had stood in front of you with a cocky smile. “This time Saturday you and me can be front and center for the big premier. My mom knows a guy in production.”

“Didn’t you just post a picture of you making out with a redhead yesterday on your team feed?”

That had the guy scoff and his friends a short distance away bump fists behind his back for some odd reason to you. “That was my cousin!”

And to the pitiful excuse you simply replied, “Go away.” The response made the young goth Eartha Kitt and young Mickey Rourke duo manning a vegan muffin stand on campus smirk and the female push her co-worker out from behind the stand to go talk to you. More than once you had been seen eyeing the stand mournfully without chance to learn why you never bought anything from their stand and as the one who asked you out walked away your eyed shifted to the book laid atop your lap.

“We sell muffins,” had you look up from your book to a new young man in front of you who cleared his throat and gestured to the stand.

“Vegan is not allergen free,” you answered plainly causing his lips to split into a wide smile.

“Tomorrow, non-vegan treats will be in the stand when you drop by.” And before you could say anything he turned to get back leaving you to blink at his back a few moments then look down again.

‘Dr Octavius Missing!’

Front pages contained the latest blow to the Columbia roster while you sat for tea with his disheartened wife who had no clue where her husband had gone. Years of work were just gone and the news had made ample servings of helpings on pictures of both Misique having snuck in for his demonstration beside Spider Man and Venom. The first who contained the blast his unstable power source had tried to reduce itself to while Venom and Spidey helped to web debris that could have killed the others.

Metal arms meant to help with assembling the final charging core of the power source now were fused to his spine and were behind the attack on Dr Stephen Strange and his team who tried to attempt removing them.

The science was all explained and with that same footage clearly Otto was knocked unconscious causing his metal implants to take control of maneuvering his body due to the inhibitor chip being fried. The kind Doctor was not to blame, but the world did want to know where he was to get him some help and back home again.

Discovery of a second power source off the shore of an abandoned horse glue factory was made. And with some talking from Misique both man and metal were eased to allow help to contain the power source that now stable with ample notes on how to keep it so found him elatedly back in the arms of his ever loving wife. The Military of course would come calling by dawn, and in the papers with demonstration of the stable source avenues of channeling it were now in talks, while he and his metal limbs were now on a very tight leash in doing so.

Out of the mask and armor however on his first day back on campus you had staggeringly broke the pre-Halloween fear of the title of monster off everyone’s lips by saying to a crowd of popular students you passed, “Seems the Science staff is in contest to see who can grow the most limbs.” Smiles split and laughter bubbled across campus as jokes did to sent to ample staff members’ ways to see who would do something drastic next as Dr Octavius had soundly beaten Dr Connors in number by three and was in the lead.

Another of the staff however knew just which quiet thoughtful student had started this particular helpful rumor and had both Doctors flash grins your way as the sweater clad duo were dealing with the eve of a monster based holiday upon which easily they could be attacked.

You on the other hand, while seeming so calm, had a monster of a call to make. Six panels in on the sail you had to call the factory you had toured to put in an order for more of all the spools to finish the project several nights had been sacrificed sleep free to have your bees assist in gaining as much sail material as possible. There was enough to finish the panel you were on but after that you would have to wait for the arrival of the hopefully free second supply to continue onwards until the full sail material and test strips of sail cloth were completed.

“Pluto,” your name pulled your eyes off the printed copy of the latest translations emailed to you from Elliot off the book of apparent fairy tales in Old Asgardian Hogun had given to you when you asked for a book on Asgardian to learn the language. Presumably you guessed he meant it as a joke in your expense, however Elliot assured you that Hogun speaks Allspeak and must have mistaken as most allied Vanir of Asgardians who know the Rosetta Stone of languages causing them to be able to be understood and understand any written or spoken language they encounter that this book was in Old Asgardian. Dean Morita stood on the front steps of the school in wait for you and gave you a smile saying, “Just wanted to give you advanced warning, as you’re top two grade wise of your year to write a speech for graduation.”

“Oh,”

You said and he said with his smile splitting wider, “Principal gave me two day notice for my own graduation so I try to give plenty of time to prepare.”

“Okay. Sorry, I didn’t think, with the skipping, non-skipping thing if I’d be in the graduation ceremony or be set aside somehow.”

“Oh no! No, no, all our meant to be skippers who didn’t get their ged’s in the summer are involved this year. We have a special slide in the opening speeches and everything, yearbook too.”

“Okay, I will, try to, write a speech good enough by April.”

You said making him chuckle, “Whatever you come up with will be exactly what it was meant to be and unique to you. Something nobody this year will forget.” His eyes dropped to the printed pages and he asked, “Did I disturb a study session?”

“No, um, it’s an Asgardian fairy tale.”

“Oh,” he said in shock.

“With the, um, portal fiasco when gravity went all wonky I ended up on Svartalfheim and managed to use a transport dock to end up in Vaneheim when I was trying to get back here to Midgard,” he nodded. Pitifully hiding his confusion on his face that had a grin flinch ever so slightly across your parted lips to say, “Eddie and I ran into Thor’s friend Hogun, the sort of samurai armored looking one,”

“Oh, cool.”

“Well I asked for a book on Asgardian and he ended up giving me a book in Old Asgardian by mistake. A friend is helping me to translate it. A story every week or so comes in an email with comparison of runes to words. Like a complicated flash card method.”

“Now that sounds like something incredible. Maybe you can publish a copy for earth when it’s done.”

“Maybe.” He nodded and asked, “What’s his planet like, even I’ve seen he has samurai like armor.”

“It’s kind of weird, even Eddie said it’s like a cross between Star Wars and Feudal era Japan. But there are elements from several Asian cultures, clothing to hair styles and how they build and arrange their homes, cattle and crops, even some art pieces. Which leads to insensitive questions like did some Asian people come from children of migrated Vanir who remained on Midgard,” you said making him nod to show he was keeping up with you, “Or if it’s coincidental that their society is so similar and their own outer physical features as well. I don’t know internal they could have seven stomachs and hidden arms in their back or something, or bird feet, no one I saw was barefoot either. Or they could have brought some Feudal era people and culture to Vaneheim.”

“Do you think we could be aliens and not know it?” You shrugged and he said, “Maybe one day Thor will bring him back and we can get the big questions answered on our history as a race and planet from such an older race who had records when we were just learning ways to keep them.”

He got called away and you separated with him leaving you at a loss for what you could possibly talk about to the graduating class that could be inspirational from your slightly grim pessimistic self a good chunk of your class was still shunning even with Harry trying to keep your contact on friendly terms as his father’s imprisonment continued.

Pt 43

#Escaped Child Assassin #Fantastic Four #Avengers #Dr Octavius #Dean Morita #Eddie Brock #Venom #Found family #Loom Love #Enrollment #Marvel #Peter Parker #May Parker

10 notes · View notes

blankdblank · 2 years

Text

The White Dove Pt 17 - Drivers Ed & Enrollment

Three days was all the companies deliberated before mid sift on the new Blackhowl duo the news broke that they had withdrawn their lawsuit in hopes of coming to a new set of standards on how to run their companies from now on. No money was being handed over as you weren’t handing over anything in return. Just a statement that you had control of their repaired lands and would not return them for any price or demand. Being back in town was nice, aside from the Osborns being able to descend again in tries to take over what free time you did have between shifts back at the candle and book shop.

In celebration of the completion of two more Blackhowls you found yourself back at the hair salon to get a trim of your now rib length curls you hoped to keep long at least for a little while as you’d gotten accustomed to it. Enrollment would soon be upon you again and for the time being you simply did what you could to get ready for school.

A bit backwards with Eddie’s insurance plan listing you as an approved driver the next couple weeks would have your mornings filled with motorcycle driving lessons before the school given car lessons. Amongst the other older, taller male students atop Eddie’s bike you followed the tips of the instructors on your first maneuver they wanted to teach you. Manuals had been handed out and apart from written tests and quizzes mostly this class was physical demonstrations you had to copy and perfect.

Amusing for the instructors on the first time you mastered what they wished to teach your class and to the ire of the older men your petite self could drive circles around them. Inside the small classroom the second week in, backgrounds were shared in talks on their other rides had mention of trucks and long hauls they had taken part of with this as a fun second mode of transport they aspired to have. An expecting glance your way had one guy ask you, “Well, what type of car did your parents get you?”

In a shake of your head you answered, “Been just me since I was six,” instantly changing the air in the room with now all eyes on you, “I’m legally emancipated. But my neighbor sort of adopted me as a sister, he’s the one who loaned me his bike. Car driver’s ed is offered at my school, but he has a bike so till I can get a car he said if I need to use his bike I can.”

Questions on more into your life had the group try to respectfully build something close to connections to reach out to if you needed that would last until the final exam and receipt of the completion certificate that Eddie beamed brighter then you had in the wait at the DMV to get you your license. Near to an hour you waited and with proof of your emancipation and forms of identification once the certification was validated you finally left with a laminated card with your picture on it saying that you could drive a motorcycle. A film and dinner was up to celebrate for the evening in after mornings of the latest results of recovery from Central and South America to being near to on their own feet again thanks to the help.

“Pluto!” voices exclaimed from your friends who were hanging out outside of the school, having agreed to meet up at the enrollment since they had been called away for their own summer plans.

“There you are!” was echoed by your former Russian teacher and Max, the latter who was pleased to have you in one of his classes again this year. Both who shared their favorite parts of what they had seen of your travels online and asked a few questions on the friends you had made until they had to get back to speaking with other students and families and would get back to you when the semester began.

Dean Morita with a grin found your side when you took a seat in the cafeteria to focus solely on your class selection list and the information form to sign up for the drivers ed course. “Difficulty in selecting your courses?”

Beside you he settled down and you showed him the list you had. “I have them down I think. One after lunch and then I got a basic list of classes in Columbia that I can squeeze in then come back for Color Guard and then I have the driving class on Saturdays.”

“Well these certainly look to be equally accommodating and challenging for you. When do you have enrollment for Columbia?”

“Tomorrow morning. Dr Connors and Dr Octavius sent a joint email to talk when I get there to work some more Science classes on top of the basics, which a good deal of them can be done over the summer anyways.”

“Good, and you have secured insurance for the license course?”

“Yes, my brother has me on his account and helped me to get my motorcycle license so I can borrow his bike if need be,” you said widening a grin across his lips.

“Congratulations.”

“Thank you, don’t know when I could afford a car but crossing a bike and car course off the list. Good part of our exploring had him on the bike to get the small pathways the jeep couldn’t fit on for some good shots.”

“And you certainly traveled a great deal. I know a great deal of students and teachers will be asking how the rest of the Americas looked post blip.”

“Wasn’t that rough beyond the really drug torn cities where people kept trying to hoard the supplies. Hopefully later on when they’re open again we can get back to take some more hiking trails in.”

“Certainly exploring suits you. You seem happier.”

After a giggle you said, “My therapist said it helped too. Get back to some exploration roots. I think I’m the first of my bloodline to get to the lower Americas. Should be nice to fuel me up before I see how this semester goes.”

“You will do just fine,” he said and helped you to finish the paperwork to hand in and let you get to your shift at the book shop.

“Brock!” Jonah Jameson called out across the floor of the Daily Bugle luring Eddie inside his office.

“Yup?” He asked curiously between bites on the doughnut he had gone to fetch from the coffee station.

“We got a tip Misique is drunk and damaging a storefront down in Chinatown spouting off some wanna be French rant. You want it or you want me to set Piper on it?”

Eddie finished chewing his bite of the doughnut and said, “Not Misique, her metabolism is too fast to get drunk.”

Robbie Robertson asked, “You know that for a fact?”

Eddie nodded, “Why she always stops with the food vendors. Gets hungry.”

“Piper!” Jameson called the teen who had been after a story since his hiring and said to Eddie, “Good on you, Brock. Had nine copycats while you were out of country. Didn’t think the fake accent would give her away.”

Eddie said as he went back to his desk, “Besides, she speaks 35 languages, wouldn’t need to fake French.”

“Piper!” Jameson shouted again only to look over the ruffled teen who had climbed under a desk and over a mail cart to get into the room fast, “Get down to Chinatown and find out who is impersonating Misique this time. We can add them to our wall of fakes.” He said stealing a glance at the new posted series of pictures of people captured by police posing as both Vigilantes and Heroes alike over the past few years.

Eddie at his desk however took a moment to steal a look at the bracelet you had woven for him on the trip he had been spending a good deal of time looking at between tasks. For so long now he hadn’t been more than a door or arm’s length away since the blip and now he had to get used to the fact his baby sister again was off for most of the day on her own. He knew where you were and even if he had imagined you might be caught up in something enough to make the police scanners then you would have called him for help on an escape plan.

Compliments in passing were still being given to him by those he worked with after his masterful story on the trip always bringing his focus back to the picture of you and him atop a cliff at sunrise. Both of you arguably looked like you fell out of a series of trees to land there but he still loved the moment as you were so happy seeing the plants re-grown to the sound of new animals settling into their new home. Shaking off his thoughts he got back to his story that would distract him until he could go and pick you up from your dance class you were starting back up tonight as it picked up post break for the instructor’s own vacation.

Not even a year yet you’d been in his life and now he had no idea how he could function if you weren’t a part of it. Venom’s bond was partly to blame for the level it had been taken to yet all the same he never wanted to consider what could possibly split his life to shreds in forcing distance between him and his baby sister. He supposed much like you had, himself and Venom had felt so terribly alone for such a long time now that family was found neither cared to consider life without it.

“Baby sister, off to college,” Eddie said making you giggle in removing the helmet you had on. To the back rest you strapped the helmet and reached up to ruffle your hair that had laid awkwardly and sprung back into your face in removing the obstruction to their free will.

“Funny,” you said, “Still on year three to my school degree. Have to finish that I think to be off anywhere.” You said as he adjusted his leather jacket that was bunched up under an arm fully ignoring the stares of a few curious young ladies who pulled up in colorful convertibles coordinated as their bright outfits were. Clearly inseparable since they were kids by how they mirrored one another to pretend a familial link, very much unlike the similarly dressed group of upper crust guys who arrived in a larger vehicle perfectly ignorant of how identical they imagined themselves to not be in their own faux unique personalities.

Upper crust down to those also on scholarships to attend at this Ivy League schools bodies seemed to just drop in surrounding the pair of you on the way to the first set of desks you would all have to check in at. Parents mingled into the mix only prolonging for a few of them the process for their children they did not want to release custody of just yet.

All the same a sorority sweater clad young woman looked you over curious about your open cardigan over a layered floral sleeveless blouse that hung loosely around your waist from the ribbon cinching the under layer beneath the bust. Both in more expensive materials to match your faux fox fur purse unlike your pale jeans that hung around the tops of your newest pair of second hand pink platform heels you wanted to break in prior to your shift at the candle shop later today. “Pluto Pear.” You stated to break the silence.

“Like, the fruit?” she asked then dropped her eyes to the accordion file folder on her lap she brought out a booklet and large envelope and aimed you inside to your next stop following a series of halls. “Just follow the signs if you get lost.” She said and Eddie behind you moved out of line to keep up with you stirring curious glances your way to try and see how the two of you were related.

Forms in line through the makeshift office were handed over to the conveyer belt that ended with you being photographed for a trio of ID cards that while still warm you kept hold of them to follow the signs to the next office. “Alright, I have your schedule and introduction notes,” with a grin you accepted those papers and the small cellophane bag that inside had a whistle and a tube of pepper spray. “There is also a pamphlet on safety procedures and location of security alarm points which will be lit up at sunset.” Up at her over the desk you locked eyes as she looked down at her papers, “I don’t see a dorm packet. If you haven’t signed up for on campus living I will warn you that it takes months prior to the semester for rooms to be assigned and there is a waiting list for those to get one as they become open.”

“I have an apartment,” you said, “Closer to my jobs.”

And a grin quirked across her lips, “Congratulations, so hard to find a place nearby to campus.”

You flinched out a grin and followed her tip to move onwards and out in the hall you muttered to Eddie, “Welcome to Uni, prepare for assault.” Into your purse you put the bag as he let out a huff.

“You won’t need that. I’ll eat them.” Eddie murmured back to you.

“Either way the new app will help,” you said alluding to an app you had created where people could warn what police wouldn’t find chargeable against people who were using or abusing them all throughout the country that would just input information and not post it publicly for the safety of the victim but show a picture of the person. Labeled as user or abuser with varied levels of aggression, mental manipulation or sexual exploitation to warn others including emails or aliases used that would search for social media use or companies and flag the person to be blocked.

The latest way to help people who were afraid to go for help that had a different kind of wave taking the power away from those who imagined themselves untouchable. And those with links to child rings or trafficking instantly were flagged to have the FBI bust for the past week all across the country collecting the people who had been involved. Financial scams were what you had been on the month prior to this through your bees who had taken out the scammers and blacked out their accounts on social media flagging their IP addresses for future scams. And for those who issue threats of any kind online would be flagged to be sat down by FBI agents as well for extra defenses for the online world to take away the power some people felt when hiding behind a screen. Already people had been writing to the po box listed on your youtube account if people felt safer contacting you through snail mail instead and this was just another try to help as most online programs preferred their statistics to actual prevention of enabling predators.

“Hmm,” a man dressed more for sailing on a yacht in front of you in the next line for a list of books you required that for the scholarship kids where the selection for your classes were already gathered. While any other choice of books to be also useful for your courses were possible to be purchased at the book shop. To Eddie he said, “Biker chic. I suppose some take to different tastes.” The man’s eyes traveled over you and he said, “Attended here myself back in ’73. Best place to keep your girl busy until you get her off her feet.”

Up at him you looked in his cocky grin in a stroll farther down the line to greet another familiar face making you look at Eddie and ask, “Was that alluding to a pregnancy or am I missing some social reference over my head?”

He smirked as the man in front of you softly cleared his throat to not chortle at what you said, answering, “Apparently he’s assuming this is some husband farm for you.”

“Ah,” you said, “Man it’d be nice if housing prices matched his pre-gender equality law mindset.”

“Well if we ever do create time machines I’ll go back with a chunk of gold and plop down a bundle for a Hamptons mansion for us and a crew to keep it up till we can move in. Create some of the best ghost stories till we get there to move into the supposed abandoned mansion.”

“Can’t have an abandoned mansion without a good crime story, don’t forget to bury a gelatin mold crawl space to add some fun,” you chimed in making the man in front of you look up at the ceiling to not laugh while his son chortled in the building elaborate plan to enhance the haunted rumor to this figurative mansion.

The plotting however had to pause when you reached the front of the line. “Bag ready,” Eddie said with a smirk opening the small gym bag he had folded and tucked under an arm to hold the hefty helping of books your scholarship covered on the core books for each course you had. Promptly to the open palm demanding it you handed over the form required to claim the books to the team in charge and once fetched the stack of books assigned were added to the bag and you were gestured to move onwards by the bored young man in charge. Over his shoulder Eddie settled the bag holding your core text books and off to the book shop you walked looking over the extra books related to your courses. A line outside gave you time with a pen from your bag to mark off the ones you could find online through the library or those you could find in secondhand shops just leaving seven more books to hunt for.

“This is $104,” you said lifting a book the size of a children’s book in thickness that had Eddie take hold of it to weigh on his fingertips and flip through then pass back.

Leaning in to whisper, “Scan it,” making you smirk at his turn to form a body wall to cover the ignite of the eyes of the bee hidden in your hair to record every page you flipped through cover to cover before setting it down signaling him to move on with you. On to the next slightly cheaper but five times thicker book Eddie grinned faking a near drop to the ground in lifting it making you and other young ladies who were across a table of books aiming to get his attention giggle at his playful mood. Solely on you he focused and helped you to gather the ones you felt you needed that he paid for from surplus funds lifted from the Hydra safes.

Free from the required steps you simply looked around a courtyard they let out at still chatting with Eddie in the breath of peace until your name had been called. “Dr Connors,” you said with a grin to the Professor who with Dr Octavius lagging behind him noting something in a notebook he shut arriving in front of you to greet you as well. “Dr Octavius.”

“Here you are, you have all your enrollment completed?”

“Yes,” you said and glanced at Eddie, “My brother, Eddie.” You said making them shake his hand after they had shaken yours.

Octavius said, “Yes, we followed your trip abroad, very poignant article, couldn’t put it down. Certainly Pluto here has had an influence on your writing to aim it towards the essence of nature.”

Connors said, “Yes, we in fact have been enthralled with your interactions with insects especially. Oscorp has decided to fund a stem of research into the genetic manipulation of spiders we are going to be carrying out here on campus.”

Octavius said, “Not me,” with a chuckle, “Still aiming for a new power resource actually.”

“I take it one to ruffle Stark’s feathers a fight against his arc reactor.”

He chuckled saying, “I fully intend it to be a power source to fuel the entire state. Not just for some tower or super suit, no. It truly touched me the effects Misique’s pathway to granting freedom for the masses. And while it may not be possible to give energy away for free I do intend to keep it as close to zero as possible.”

“Very admirable,” you and Eddie said widening his grin.

Connors said, “Are you settling into a dorm today?”

“No, I have my own place in Queens. Curfew’s wouldn’t really be good for my work schedule even if my scholarship would have paid for one.”

“Where do you work?” Octavius asked.

“Book shop and a candle shop, the second’s not far from here. I do work in a market in Queens in the summer and clean up in a theater too for spare funds.”

“Books and candles, sounds like a perfect balance,” he said making you chuckle as he and Connors did. “I hope they pay well.”

“Candle shop does, plus commission, but I get discounts on books.”

“So it evens out,” Connors said, “I know some of the books here are beyond reasonable to an extent.”

You nodded showing him the page, “I got three here, the rest I found in second hand shops or online for free outside the basic books.”

Eddie said, “Good thing they have her email they’re holding the list for us.”

“Then we will let you go pick up your wares,” Octavius said with a wide smile making you chuckle. “I do hope you do not overwhelm yourself.”

“I’m starting on the basics now, a few upper level classes, so I don’t have your classes yet.”

“Take your time,” Connors said with a kind grin making you grin back. “We will be here when you are graduated and have your basics completed.”

Octavius said, “And do not forget to sleep. I had to retake three classes my first year when I overworked myself and kept falling asleep in class.”

“I will do my best,” you said and in parting with them Eddie grinned. Guiding you back to his bike to head to the stores holding the books you had wanted all the way in Brooklyn for a sort of second hand emporium of books and another in the lower end of Queens who always loved your drop ins for rarer book choices.

“Come on, more shopping,” he said offering you the bag of books after you added your helmet again to keep on your lap for the ride from Manhattan to Brooklyn. His excitement was prolonged with this next stop with mental images for him of your bees at home printing off copies of the books you had found online that with the ones purchased and to be purchased would be delved through entirely and packed with notes to be memorized as good as possible to be prepared. Hard work was to come with travel time to be filled with as much studying as possible until you had absorbed it all around time you had actually scheduled to get some sleep between shifts and various classes on two campuses.

Near to fifty pounds of books by the time Eddie had paid for the second hand books from both shops were dropped off in your apartment so that you could grab your uniform for Eddie to drop you off at the candle shop when traffic and other distracting customers in the book shop had stolen the decided lunch stop. Celebration was moved to a late dinner when he would pick you up again after your shift.

Close to a fan dance and play of motions you played a role behind a glass and white wooden station that seemed to be floating as the lights built into it disguised the legs that held a series of cases full of vials of different oils and cups of scent swatches. A self raised lofty woman wanting her usual helper had settled for you and with a smirk had found a new intriguing sort of plaything to keep her occupied. Foreign and mysterious, with gentle taps of your nails to the counter and different vials that to your notice had influence over this woman’s pulse and breathing drips of oils were added to swatches and wafted between you in a task to select a candle and soap scent pleasing to her.

Rarely the manager had let you behind this counter and unlike other girls on staff before the proof was there that you earned your commission without a single customer able to turn away. Cleverly somehow always each customer no matter their level of interest you chose to interact with left with something, even if it wasn’t exactly the something they had come in intending to buy. Random visits from people assuming this was just a candle or soap shop avoided by other girls who worked here were approached by you and seemed to leave with a different take on the place.

For some a sort of mind control might be assumed, for you those years of mental manipulation training to be an ultimate spy assassin were now coming into play as you played a role for each and every customer who you walked up to or approached you.

The plan was as soon as it was legal for you to play poker you would to try and build up funds and until then you would practice bluffing and a poker face on these people until you could. The book shop didn’t even pay $8 an hour, and while you made $20 here the commission part had you devoted to selling a sort of ambiance to the shop even if to you it was just a place to get apple and honey scented soap and soaking salts for your feet. It was a lie, and you were trained to be the best liar in the room. Not ideal but it was a survival skill that would be made of use in this harsh town until the next nine years had passed and the funds trapped in trust from your parents and the Blackhowls was available to cement your future all the more. You had to lie just enough to earn funds to cover both your lifestyles and tuck a bit away on the side for the chaos you knew was always coming.

“We got a buffet,” Venom said with a smile matching Eddie’s when you got to their place after your shift to find his counters and table coated in various types of takeout around a tray of tater tots he eased into the oven to have chili cheese tots as well. He twisted the head of his rhino kitchen timer and Eddie said, “Couldn’t decide which would be the best to mark the occasion, so we got a bunch of food.”

As you giggled Eddie added, “Was a bit of a standoff with the deliverymen outside but we handled it as smoothly as possible by lying about picky in-laws.”

“You’re gonna burn through all your money,” you said and he raised a finger.

“No, no I am not, we’re gonna eat it all,” he joked making you roll your eyes and turn to fetch a drink as he went to put on a film to enjoy while you ate.

‘And remember kids, it’s not just your duty to follow the laws of the land, but rules of the road as well.’ Steve Rogers in his Captain uniform widened his cocky grin in a confident swivel of his head in a thumb on his raised fist tapping the star in the middle of his chest, ‘I know I do.’

Ricky beside you leaned into your side whispering lowly as the instructor on your first driving class rubbed a hand over his face, “You know they just got off steam engines in the 30’s right?”

“I don’t think he could afford a car before he hit the ice,” you whispered back making Ricky bite his lip to not laugh out loud and sit up again when the instructor sighed and readied the next clip. This lesson wasn’t inside the school but inside a side building attached to a garage that had four vehicles and in groups you split up. No one wanted to drive the car you had been assigned to, while the newest one from an alumni a convertible in emerald green with tan leather interior, it was a stick shift that you walked to without a care. Ricky at your side, who had been given lessons on trips for racing with his dad that he did for a living alongside another racing enthusiast kid, he hoped to get at his brother for driving this rare car even if it had been adapted to have two wheels and spare pedals.

“Have you driven stick before?” the instructor asked and seemed a bit stunned to have a trio of nods and assigned from tallest to shortest that had you and Ricky in the backseat to wait your turn. Volunteer cops and firemen were there around this empty lot painted with colored lines for varied driving skills to help guide the cars safely in turns with handheld traffic signs to mark control of traffic flow at each intersection.

A bit jostled in the first kid’s initial minute of adjusting to the pedal weight and the first lap went smoothly after mirrors and belt had been checked upon the checklist before being green lit to begin. Though a screech and a slam on breaks in the truck headed for the other side of the lot had you all near to snorting in hushed tries to not burst into raucous laughter as that truck soon erupted into a shouting match between the students who caused the cheerleader behind the wheel to have reacted that way. One of the volunteer cops had to go and knock on the window to halt the fight that eventually would erupt again and have the students noted to not be allowed to drive together ever again throughout the rest of the class.

Compared to the other groups yours seemed to be miles ahead with a few minor exceptions of road rules, especially for yourself at the varied laws from Russia where you learned to here. “You can turn right now,” the Instructor said and you glanced his way having stopped at the signed red light.

“Oh,” you said making him smirk.

“It’s alright, unless there is a sign specifying no right on red you can take that maneuver. Where’d you learn to drive?”

“Russia, the man in the couple I was sent to live with taught me to drive and to fly. Had my pilot’s license since I was eleven.” You said making his brows shoot up, “No right on red in Russia.” You said flatly and followed the rotating sign warnings to take your turn after a conversation filled van passed by.

After class forms were signed on progress reports from the instructors who would keep them and on a night when you were uncommonly off work for a Saturday you accepted the offer from Greg and the twins to stay at their house with your friends for the first approved sleepover since their dads had revamped their theater and game room. Just in time to show off their own efforts, relentless tries to get you to be able to stay over had been agreed to as long as three female cousins were enforced to come over too so there would be familial unknowing guardians within the group of guys.

Along the wall of the classroom you lifted your bag that had a change of clothes and a sleeping bag that Venom and Eddie had found for a possible sleepover that didn’t pan out the last semester. And to a large van Ricky led the way to your friends who had been picked up for the ride to Greg and the twins’ house.

Three stories and brick wrapped as near to a castle as you could call a house built on two side by side lots joined into one house for twin brother architects who didn’t want to live apart had built a wonderfully more cheerful home than the modern styled home Ricky had. Full of secret doors and even an indoor heated pool to the game room you went and looked as the other kids did to Greg’s dad who said, “Supper is almost done and we will have you all bunking down in here, we have some spare sleeping bags if you need them.”

“You remembered a sleeping bag?” one of the twins asked and you pulled out of your bag a stunning sight, what looked to be a rolled up bear pelt that had jaws drop and you giggle.

“It’s a sleeping bag,” you said. Reaching into the jaws to separate them revealing the pink plushy velvet lining that had the guys amused until a distant call for pizza was given luring a near stampede of teens down to the table where Greg’s uncle helped you up into one of the taller chairs you feared might tip over at their awkward construction. Onto plates slices were dished out as questions of the first week of school were answered, leading to you being asked, “Pluto, we heard you go to Columbia too?”

“Yes, I have a few classes a day.” You answered lifting one of your offered slices while one of the mothers helped to serve some of the pasta and wings and breadsticks while her sister in law helped to fix up some salad to go with the more savory options.

“And you live alone?” was asked to a hushed utterance from the twins to make them stop what could only grow into an interrogation.

“Yes, my adopted brother lives in the building behind me.” You said taking a brief bite of your slice.

“Why doesn’t he live with you?” the other dad asked gaining another hushed utterance to stop he shook off.

After you chewed and swallowed your bite you answered, “Well we met a couple months after I moved here. He’s the one who got me into therapy and helped me to get my motorcycle license so I can borrow his bike if he can’t drive it for the day.”

“You go to therapy?” the other dad asked and you nodded.

“Every other Sunday, I have trust issues,” you said and forced a grin and went to take another bite.

“And, Greg has said your parents are missing?” one of the moms asked in her return making Greg and the twins tilt their heads back in joint huffs as eyes turned to you as you swallowed your mouthful.

“Yes, I was six, and there was a fire, I was taken to Russia and my parents have been declared missing since. Technically I was too but then I got citizenship here and the Ambassador came to my apartment to handle some legal documents and to let me know that in a few years I can legally, um, not proclaim, declare, my parents as deceased.” You said as they simply stared at you. “So as soon as I get my license hopefully on my birthday I can be one step closer to full independence for whatever I run into. Try to graduate on time and get my degree the year after to move onto graduate courses to hopefully have those degrees before the trusts I’ve gotten off the Blackhowl jobs start paying in nine years.”

“And, you have trust issues?” one of the moms blurted out in shock flatly wondering how that was all you suffered from.

“I wasn’t safe in Russia. It is mostly with food and building relationships type of trust. My brother has done a good deal with the therapist helping to enforce trust and boundaries as far as what type of behavior I will allow others to display towards me to not continue any abusive habits to repeat in my future.” Before they asked you explained, “I wasn’t allowed to speak or move without explicit permission.”

“This brother treated you well?” one of the dads asked protectively before he could be stopped.

And with a giggle you said, “Yes, not like he’s some raging cannibal eating people around town.”

A few of your friends chuckled and the other dad asked, “And, you met when you moved into your building?”

“No, actually, I um, I got roughed up in the park last holiday break,” you said dropping jaws on the parents around the table, “Eddie was there, technically it was a trap for Venom and Misique I got caught up in. And he took care of me, we talked and he set up the meeting with the therapist and kept getting closer since then. We actually went to the same laundromat so we’d been around one another a bunch, talked a few times in passing. Bound to happen, just was a bit rough from the get go. I have a habit of finding traps, part of why he wanted to take me along last summer so I wouldn’t be alone.”

One of the dads shook his head, “You got roughed up?!”

And the other butted in, “Tell me they were arrested!”

“Technically Venom ate them,” you said taking another bite of your pizza leaving a silence over the table that had Ricky jump in to change the subject to anything else all your friends jumped on seeing the parents now had shifting views on how they had imagined you to be on what little they knew about you second hand.

Movies after dinner and games lasted until the first teen started to yawn then to a film the dads wanted to watch all the sleeping bags were laid out with yours arguably the most amusing to see you lay back and zip up inside an upside down bear pelt. Your head resting atop the built in pillow inside the back of the bear head for a surprisingly easy drop to sleep reminding you of your first days in your place sleeping on the floor.

The shared bathroom in the morning however found you simply waiting on top of your bear so on top of living alone nobody else had the chance to see the brands under your tongue when you brushed your teeth. Breakfast didn’t take long and fully dressed back in the van you were all led as they were going to drop you all off on their way to church. And after a trip upstairs into your place a second breakfast was fixed up when your things were put away to fill the time until your shift at the book shop.

Pt 18

All –

@sherala007, @mariannetora, @jesgisborne, @knitastically, @catthefearless, @theincaprincess, ggbbhehe4455, @lilith15000, @alishlieb, @fizzyxcustard

Not nsfw(smut) - @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore

X Marvel-Cast - @himoverflowers, @theincaprincess

@jiminapickle

#Escaped Child Assassin #Drivers Ed #Propaganda Man #Enrollment #Dr Connors #Dr Octavius #Eddie Brock #Venom #Proud Big Brother #Sleepover #Marvel

13 notes · View notes