hold onto hope.

“Is... that what this world thinks of Gwen Stacy? As nothing more than a victim? Nothing more than an inciting incident for a man in a mask?”

⸻ ❝ May I take a look? ❞ Gwen asks, gently taking Toby's wrist into her hand. She's looking for similarities between her and Peter. Gwen's comment about power and responsibility flowing through the hero's veins hadn't been literal, but due to the differences in their abilities, perhaps she had literal web shooters? She looks back into Toby's eyes, wrist still in hand. ❝ What else do you two have in common? ❞

⸻ ❝ You're him, aren't you? ❞ Gwen speaks in hushed tones as she approaches him at the charity gala. She takes a sip of her drink, careful not to draw too much attention to herself. If this was who she thought it was, she was taking a huge risk. However, it was that Stacy spirit that kept her poking her nose where it didn't belong. She does a quick look-around before continuing; calling him by his supposed moniker. It had to be him; he just . . . fit the part. ❝ The Velvet Devil? ❞

⸻ ❝ You can talk to me, Harry. You know that, right? ❞ Gwen presses a careful hand to his arm, looking into his eyes in the hopes that he sees she's only trying to connect and console. She didn't pretend to know what was happening inside his head, but she had a hunch that something was up. There was something in the air. Something different. ❝ It's important to me that you know that. ❞

⸻ ❝ Oh. ❞ A bracelet is found on the ground by her feet. Looking up, she sees someone walking ahead of her. At this time of day, there weren't many people out and about. She'd been off late due to having a lot of data entry to complete, and the sun was soon to rise. Unless this had fallen hours prior, this had to belong to the person ahead of her. Calling out, she picks up the bracelet. ❝ Hey, is this yours-? ❞

⸻ ❝ Sorry, that's a lot of questions. I know. I just thought, I don't know, that you might be able to offer a different perspective than someone who experiences the passage of time in the way that we're supposed to. Logan, how do I live? ❞

⸻ ❝ Why do you make that face whenever I mention OsCorp? ❞ Her brow furrows in confusion as she takes a step closer to him. She felt like she was five hours into a jigsaw puzzle before realizing there was a piece missing. When she was considering an internship with the company due to it's reputation for upward mobility and personal projects receiving grants, she didn't expect to feel like something was . . . off. She couldn't figure out what it was. Had it been something she said? ❝ Are you okay? ❞ 

⸻ ❝ Wanna try a sip? It's lavender. ❞

⸻ Her eyelids are heavy; hardly able to stay open under the pressure from her mind to give in and sleep. She'd let the other know she didn't need assistance, if that wasn't the biggest lie she could tell. Her limbs buckle as she is lifted; clearly needing extra hands on deck. She murmurs a tired apology, her explanation softer than she means for it to be. ❝ The Osborns needed me to stay behind last night. Big project. ❞ 

And considering they seemed to be two of the only people to have survived the death sentence that was being Gwendolyne Maxine Stacy, she was keen to know what they had in common. ❝ I have an extra evil eye bracelet if that'll get this conversation rolling? ❞ A pause. ❝ Look, I know it isn't a fun topic . . . but I feel like I'm living on borrowed time, and I need to know what you know. Just how many universes have you seen? How many times have you, have we, died-? ❞ 

❝ You're insane. ❞ She shouldn't be cosigning this, and she knows it, but once in a while . . . No. No, she should not be as interested as she is. And yet? She gives in, eyes gleaming at the prospect. ❝ Okay, fine. Pretend I'm interested... Now that you have my attention, how would this work exactly? ❞