[ the comment about judging people by their worst mistakes earns a startled glance but no comment — he knows he's his own worst critic when it comes to those, and he knows that he's going to spending a long time making up for it (them). he knows he's done good, he knows he's helped people, but he also knows that he's probably never going to do enough to feel like it balances out.
(he's aware, too, that therapy would probably be great, but who can afford that? who has the time? and knowing his luck, it'd end up being with mysterio again.) ]
Sure. [ he agrees after a moment, expression shifting into brief discomfort. he holds up a hand and— ] Listen, in the interest of transparency, I don't think national disgrace is actually a judgement call on my character. Honestly, all else being equal, it's kind of an achievement — you know, kid from Queens earns enough recognition to have a very dramatic fall from grace? [ but it's not exactly overachieving perfectionism, and there'd been a very real reason may had chewed him out when he'd gone to visit her post-fact. ] How many people can say that? And it actually did me a favour, but it's a really long, complicated story and I like to take refuge in audacity, so I'll leave the rest to your imagination. [ beat. ] But for what it's worth, someone very close to me found it hilarious, so it's definitely not as bad or as low as you're imagining.
[ the question of what he likes to be called shuts him up, and the momentary blank expression reflects the fact that he has never, not once, been ask that. he opens his mouth, pauses, and then laughs. ] I feel like I should have a wittier answer than 'Peter', but it is my name, so — that.
—Are you saying knowing your first name and where you live isn't enough? [ equally playful, though it's followed by a moment of pointed, deliberate consideration and he eyes her appraisingly, just for a second. ] The other option was comparing you to that boss I mentioned, which is insulting on a level I can't even begin to put into words, so unless you're doing a really good job of hiding a moustache and you're wearing a wig to obscure a hairstyle that's definitely been inspired by the cutting-edge development of yard brooms over the last, I don't know, thirty years, it seemed like the safer bet.
no subject
(he's aware, too, that therapy would probably be great, but who can afford that? who has the time? and knowing his luck, it'd end up being with mysterio again.) ]
Sure. [ he agrees after a moment, expression shifting into brief discomfort. he holds up a hand and— ] Listen, in the interest of transparency, I don't think national disgrace is actually a judgement call on my character. Honestly, all else being equal, it's kind of an achievement — you know, kid from Queens earns enough recognition to have a very dramatic fall from grace? [ but it's not exactly overachieving perfectionism, and there'd been a very real reason may had chewed him out when he'd gone to visit her post-fact. ] How many people can say that? And it actually did me a favour, but it's a really long, complicated story and I like to take refuge in audacity, so I'll leave the rest to your imagination. [ beat. ] But for what it's worth, someone very close to me found it hilarious, so it's definitely not as bad or as low as you're imagining.
[ the question of what he likes to be called shuts him up, and the momentary blank expression reflects the fact that he has never, not once, been ask that. he opens his mouth, pauses, and then laughs. ] I feel like I should have a wittier answer than 'Peter', but it is my name, so — that.
—Are you saying knowing your first name and where you live isn't enough? [ equally playful, though it's followed by a moment of pointed, deliberate consideration and he eyes her appraisingly, just for a second. ] The other option was comparing you to that boss I mentioned, which is insulting on a level I can't even begin to put into words, so unless you're doing a really good job of hiding a moustache and you're wearing a wig to obscure a hairstyle that's definitely been inspired by the cutting-edge development of yard brooms over the last, I don't know, thirty years, it seemed like the safer bet.