[ Ben has to smile, then. Just a little one, that he mostly hides by ducking his head to examine the books from a little closer. Peter's response is careful and heartfelt and kind, and simultaneously such an unfathomable understatement. If he knew even 10% more of the full truth... but it doesn't matter. Ben likes that he didn't go all awkward or change the subject, or try to convince Ben that the way he was raised was probably better training, or some such garbage.
So he gives a rolling shrug, and adds in a much more casual way: ]
Oh, trust me, it was all super fucked up. In a hundred different ways I'm not gonna tell you about, because most of it is a real bummer, and we also... kinda just met.
[ There's a hint of apology in those last words, but realism as well. All of this stuff is very personal, it's about his family, it's about his past and his powers. It's heavy shit, and he's sure Peter isn't ready to hear it just as much as he isn't ready to say it. Just that little crack in the door, of admitting that things were Bad, is as much opening up as he's willing to do for now. ]
Twelve's a good size for a team.
[ Not big enough to be totally unwieldy, but plenty of people in case anyone got injured or captured or encountered a situation where their powers were hampered. You could do two groups of six, three groups of four... twelve has got options.
Ben's smile fades when Peter says he was recruited when he was fifteen. For some reason, Ben had been imagining him showing up, asking to be let onto the team. Maybe even having try-outs or to prove himself. Recruited is worrying. At least Peter seems to get that. ]
I'm glad it isn't. 'Cause it sounds creepy as hell.
[ He's going to skip past the part where he doesn't know what Youtube is. Maybe that's what they call the nightly news in Peter's world. Probably it is that. ]
Did you... I mean, was it the sort of situation where you really could've said no to joining, if you'd wanted to?
no subject
So he gives a rolling shrug, and adds in a much more casual way: ]
Oh, trust me, it was all super fucked up. In a hundred different ways I'm not gonna tell you about, because most of it is a real bummer, and we also... kinda just met.
[ There's a hint of apology in those last words, but realism as well. All of this stuff is very personal, it's about his family, it's about his past and his powers. It's heavy shit, and he's sure Peter isn't ready to hear it just as much as he isn't ready to say it. Just that little crack in the door, of admitting that things were Bad, is as much opening up as he's willing to do for now. ]
Twelve's a good size for a team.
[ Not big enough to be totally unwieldy, but plenty of people in case anyone got injured or captured or encountered a situation where their powers were hampered. You could do two groups of six, three groups of four... twelve has got options.
Ben's smile fades when Peter says he was recruited when he was fifteen. For some reason, Ben had been imagining him showing up, asking to be let onto the team. Maybe even having try-outs or to prove himself. Recruited is worrying. At least Peter seems to get that. ]
I'm glad it isn't. 'Cause it sounds creepy as hell.
[ He's going to skip past the part where he doesn't know what Youtube is. Maybe that's what they call the nightly news in Peter's world. Probably it is that. ]
Did you... I mean, was it the sort of situation where you really could've said no to joining, if you'd wanted to?