[ Opening Mingle ]

[randomly_modding]

[Everyone will wake up suddenly, as if having drifted off -- while sitting upright in an uncomfortable office chair. In one hand they're holding the communicator, and in their lap is propped a clipboard with a job application (standard, looking something like this; it requests up to ten years of job history, ) and a pen. The waiting room is also fairly standard, except for being empty.]

[The communicator's lock screen reads, Complete the job application. Time limit, twenty-four hours.]

[There are magazines, fake plants, and computers. There's a staff lounge with food -- tupperware that might have belonged to some of these nonexistent workers, popcorn and cocoa packets, vending machines -- and restrooms. There are exits, but characters will be unable to use them... or make their own, or escape in any way.]

[So the characters are stuck here, until tomorrow morning. Set up a comment telling everyone what your character is doing, and thinking, whether they're obeying the task or not, at any time during the day. Then tag other people! Be sure to check back later in the week, when people are encouraged make threads for the evening as well as the day! Characters that have been claimed are also welcome at this point to join the community, and will be able to make their own posts, which can be tagged by anyone taking part in the event.]

Comments

Hope you don't mind a belated tag!

[confiscate]

[ The application is filled out in under a half hour of unflinching concentration (as would be expected for first in the class) but just sitting around afterward? Well, that's pretty boring.

Gwen leaves her completed application and her communicator on the desk where she had awoken and begins wandering. She peeks from room to room quietly, intending to pass by the break room in kind.

A dark hair of head gets her attention and she stops -- ]

Peter?

[ She is still angry at you, boy.

But she's not spitting tacks. Yet. ]

Never ever

[promisebreaker]

[Peter looks up, surprised because he knows that voice. He also has a bit of a deer in the headlights look about him, and his mouth is half full of some brownies he found stashed in a cabinet. He swallows (thankfully) before responding.]

I--uhm--yeah...Gwen. Uh...hi? [His voice breaks a bit on the 'hi'. He's supposed to be staying away from her. That was the deal and yes he's been thinking about breaking that promise, but he hasn't had time to think that through thoroughly so he doesn't exactly know how to respond to her. Especially here.]

[confiscate]

...Hi, [ she says, her voice a bit slow.

She hadn't expected to see him here, of all places. In the wake of her confusion, of feeling floundered and helpless, she settles on unflinching professionalism. ]

Did you... finish your application?

[ Or, you know.

Lameness. ]

[promisebreaker]

[It's okay, he's incredibly awkward. He clears his throat and scrubs a hand over his hair, sending it going everywhere. He shifts his weight and ends up with one hand up on the back of his neck, rubbing at it.]

Uhm...I--no. I mean...I will. Eventually. I just--you know. Thought I'd explore. First.

You?

[confiscate]

[ If she was still his girlfriend, she'd be shaking her head and (gently) reprimanding him. Rather, she remains distant and neutral. ]

Did it when I came in.

[promisebreaker]

Right. [Sometimes when he looks at her, he forgets that she's not still his girlfriend. Of course, there's no danger of that with her demeanor. He doesn't blame her. He would never blame her.]

I mean--get it over with. That's--that's smart.

[confiscate]

[ Suddenly, she is all too well aware that she's in a very strange room, having just filled out an application for god knows what and is now facing down the boy who couldn't even dump her to her face.

Gwen's expression loses some of its ease. ]

You --

[ Nope, she's got nothing. Turning to walk away now. ]

[promisebreaker]

[He steps forward, reaching out to grab her arm.]

Gwen, wait.

[Except he has no idea what to say to her or how to make this better.]

[confiscate]

[ Her arm grabbed, Gwen freezes utterly. Her heels click down on the floor, in a gesture that could be called impatience -- were anyone else making it.

Having nothing to say and not wanting to ask, she simply looks at him. ]

[promisebreaker]

[ There are so many things he wants to say to her and so many things that he can't. He promised her father. He promised and he wants to break that promise more than anything, but he knows Captain Stacy was right. He bites his bottom lip hard, shaking his head a moment. He lets a breath out, not realizing he was holding it until now. ]

I--I don't---I'm sorry.

[confiscate]

[ Turning back fully, Gwen's expression gives away nothing. She does pull her arm away, however, letting the movement be gentle enough to get her point across without being forceful.

Her words, when they come, are quiet and nearly impassive. ]

What are you sorry for, Peter?

[ It's not a real question, like she doesn't know. She does. She just wants to hear his answer. ]

[promisebreaker]

I--I--I [He's already shaking his head.] I don't know. I--everything. Getting you involved in what happened. [He swallows hard.] Your dad. [It's a very quiet statement. He is sorry for not being fast enough to save Captain Stacy. He is sorry for putting her father in that position to begin with. He is sorry for so many things.]

[confiscate]

[ Like deflating a balloon, all the tension slowly eases from her face.

It's not like she isn't sad about her father. Of course she is. Anything less would be -- unthinkable. But, that's not why she's upset at Peter, not by a long shot. He doesn't get that. ...He always was so wrapped up in his head, she was afraid he couldn't see what was going on around him. Maybe it's true in a way she never expected. ]

Hey. [ She steels herself. ] Look at me.

[promisebreaker]

[ Gwen knew him so well. It's comforting to know that even when he's tied up and wrapped up in his own head that she will understand him, even if he doesn't understand himself.

It takes a moment, but finally he looks up at her, his eyes meeting hers. ]

[confiscate]

[ She doesn't move away from his gaze. It's so rare that he looks at her at all anymore. Even having to demand it, she still recognises that. ]

Do you think my dad was an idiot? He was perfectly control of his actions, Peter. Don't cheapen his sacrifice by acting like it's all about you.

[promisebreaker]

[ Peter nods, looking down to the floor and swallows thickly. He can't meet her eyes now, can't do this. Can't....because Captain Stacy wasn't an idiot. He knows that and Gwen, whether she realizes it or not, is reaffirming her father's last request. Peter wishes she wasn't. He wishes that he could disregard Captain Stacy's words and break that promise. He wants nothing more than to wrap his arms around Gwen, curl up around her and make everything okay for the both of them. ]

No. I-I know. I mean--I know. It's not--he was a good man. A really--really smart one and...I'm sorry.