voice } locked from Norman Osborn & Victoria Hand

[osborncomplex]

[ the voice is that of a male teenager, American. it sounds... a little tired, but mostly kind of dead. somewhere under all of that, though, is a banked ember of anger. he's probably not even aware of it. ]I was wondering the other day: why do adults lie

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permavoice.

[sorcerously]

[British accent. Also, she sounds kind of sad.]

Because it is a cold, hard world, no matter what they want us to believe.

[osborncomplex]

It's cold and hard, so that's why they have to lie? Or they lie because they want us to believe otherwise?

[sorcerously]

Both, I suppose. Sometimes, people lie for themselves, too. To make fictions that they can believe instead of facing the truth of things.

[osborncomplex]

[Pause.]

You do what you can to go on.

[sorcerously]

I suppose so.

My name is Gemma, by the way. Gemma Doyle.

[osborncomplex]

Nice to meet you, Gemma. I'm Harry Osborn.

[He no longer introduces himself as confidently as he once did. Now it's more guarded, very conservative.]

[sorcerously]

[Notices that, because higher society trains you to. She wonders if being lied to is the reason for that.]

Likewise, Master Osborn.

I don't mean to pry, but have you any idea why you were lied to?

[osborncomplex]

Just Harry's okay.

I wasn't thinking of any certain time, but now that you ask me, I would say it's when people wanted something from me.

[sorcerously]

Ah, old habits and all. Harry, then.

Then I know what you're talking about, I assure you.

[osborncomplex]

And "Gemma" is okay? [Audible smile.] I don't have a problem calling you Ms. Doyle.

I guess it's just going to keep happening. I don't know why, today, I feel so disturbed by it.

[sorcerously]

[Something of a smile is in her voice, too.] Gemma is alright.

Sometimes, things just sneak up on us.

[osborncomplex]

All right.

Maybe I should have talked about it sooner. My — people keep telling me I shouldn't bottle things up.

[sorcerously]

That isn't generally a safe route to take. Talking about things... helps. Especially when it's someone who understands you.

[osborncomplex]

I did ask around for a therapist, one who can handle all the crazy stuff that happens around here? But maybe it'll be okay if I just talk to people on the network. I think a lot of them are in a position to understand, because, well, my father has been such a horrible person to... everyone.

[sorcerously]

I can't say how the doctors are here; but the ones in my time... they probably wouldn't have been able to handle the things that happen here.

And I'm afraid I don't know your father.

[osborncomplex]

Yeah, I'm sure most of the doctors of this era wouldn't be equipped to handle this stuff either. When are you from, if that's not impolite to ask?

That's good. I'm serious, I think he's a really great person to miss out on. Maybe at some point he wasn't, but... he's just not. Well, never mind, it's just frustrating to get into and you're better off like... not poisoned by the information.