[ 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

[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.