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Whoa-!!

[So here's the downside of growing up in the apocalypse: surprises are a bad idea, generally. Mostly when little creatures try to jump at you. As soon as it lunges for him, Casey leaps back from the doorway and stretches a hand out to defend, and his grapple kicks in, firing the claw out to catch the little bot mid-jump around the midsection. The grapple retracts just enough to leave it hanging, all limbs wiggling, from his outstretched arm. Very spider-like, actually.

Casey looks at it. Then Peter. Then it. Then-]

Um. What?

[Is his gift a killer robot?? Because if so he has some questions for you, buddy.]

[Peter manages to skid to a stop in the entryway. Openly relieved Casey managed to grapple the bot.]

Uh, surprise? [He walks over to gently grab the spider pot from the grappling hook if he can.

Once freed, the bot beeps repeatedly, wiggling in offense before Peter sets it on his shoulder.] Its supposed to be like for helping around the house, but it has a mind of its own.

[The grapple releases and winds itself back up into Casey's wrist, but you can believe he's keeping that on standby...

He tilts his head, leaning in to peer at the spiderbot, still confused.]

Whoa... did you build that?

Oh yeah! [Peter pats its little head earning some more mellow beeps in kind. The spider bot tries to lean into the touch, but its very Round.] I was in a robotics club before- and I felt like making something.

So I made like a few of these.

Huh... that's really neat.

[Casey leans in closer, reaching out to - maybe? - try and give it a pat as well.]

So was it trying to escape, or was it just really excited?

[Does it jump people like an over-eager dog or should he brace himself for home ambushes.]

[The spiderbot accepts the pets with a beep. Its eyes flash blue and red, before settling on blue.]

I'm not sure yet? I don't know what it's going to be like. The one I gave Rue is really friendly.

[That's... reassuring? Maybe? He's gonna go with yes and hope for the best. And aww, it's kind of cute, in its own way.]

O-oh, well. That's good! [He'd rather not have an attack robot at Mom's, much as he appreciates Peter's efforts.] Maybe it just needs training. How is it for maintenance? And power, does it need charging or does it self-regulate?

[Nerd-to-nerd communication, activate.]

[The spiderbot raises a leg trying to keep Casey's hand there. Peter snorts a little in amusement.] I built them to assist, so, once they get used to you, I think it'll work out pretty well.

For maintenance, its pretty easy- [This is sure vague specific nerd talk being done in narration.

As spiderbot 'blinks' at Casey.

Peter fishes a remote out of his pocket.] This is the main control for it, hard reset and power off. It usually self regulates, but I have a charger too. You place it on the station and it'll be good.

[Casey nods along... obediently patting the demanding spider. Just who is training who?]

Sure, sure... okay, I got it. [This sounds well within his range of experience, thank goodness. It means he doesn't have to bother anyone else with it.] How come you decided to give one to me? Not that I'm ungrateful! It's really cool, thank you. [But why tho.]

Oh, I thought you'd like one-? [Peter offers, now wondering if this was weird.

The spider bots eyes flash, it beeps audibly, moving to try and anchor itself onto Casey's arm to skitter over.] I know you like tech a lot, and I thought it'd be cool if you had a bot you could work on occasionally or just hang out with.

I programmed them to help collect small items, follow basic commands and be friendly more or less.

Ah- I do! I just, uh. [Casey lifts his arm to let the bot scuttle over and perch wherever it pleases. He'll give it another pet, because that is what you do with nice robots. He knew SHELLDON after all.] This is going to sound ungrateful, but I never really got gifts for no reason back home. I'm still getting used to it here.

[Giving, and receiving, both. Actually, it does sound ungrateful. Let's try again.]

But- thank you, really! It's super cute. And it is cool. Maybe it'll be like- my almost-pet, like Flapjack.

[Spiderbot nestles on Casey's shoulder, front legs fussing at any strands of hair it can find hanging within range.]

Oh, well- I hope you adjust to it, since whenever your birthday hits, I think everyone is going to go a little crazy. [Peter says easily back.] Or whenever Rue feels like doing random gifts, you can't really stop them when they set their mind on something.

You're welcome, feel free to name Spider-bot whatever you want, or modify it. Its here for you, Casey.

[...ahaha... birthday...]

I don't know what Rue had planned for my birthday... they haven't told me when it's going to be moved to yet. You're right about the random gifts, though. They do that already.

[He'd gotten the jacket well before he was officially family after all. Like a premonition. He gives the Spider-bot another pat.]

I'll come up with something. It should have its own name too.

Wait- [The implication hits and Peter has to ask. He hopes he's wrong about that and Rue is just gung-ho about a party.] Did we seriously miss your birthday?

[Casey is suspiciously silent for a long moment, ducking his head and focusing on the robot.]

Not... on purpose. It was right after Leo got hurt, so...

[No one was ready for a party when the day rolled around.]

[The small spider bot reaches out to try and hold onto his hand.]

Oh. [Pops out of Peter's mouth before his expression softens to something sad, a bit regretful. He steps forward wondering if this is too much but- opts to just pull Casey into a hug. It's quick, wary of making the other teenager somehow more uncomfortable.] god, Casey, I'm sorry the timing sucked on that.

[Oop, he is hugged. One arm is sort of pinned by the hug and the spider bot handhold, so after a moment, his free arm lifts to hold Peter back until he withdraws again. Definitely not too much.]

I... it's okay! Something terrible always happens around my birthday, I should be apologizing for not warning everyone.

[Kind of hoped this year would be different, in a world where terrible things don't always happen, but fate had other plans.]

Casey, if you try to say your birthday is cursed or anything, I'm going to throw you out a window. [Peter warns with a wrinkle of his nose.]

None of us knew that would happen, and its definitely not because of your birthday.

Okay but if you did, I'd be fine.

[Look, he's trying to be funny! Sheepishly. Awkwardly.]

I don't think it's cursed, just... I'm used to things going south. I think I got too comfortable with this place.

[Peter can't help but snort at that.] Not the point, and you know it.

Casey, things just happen, it's not your fault. Sometimes bad things happen, and it's out of our hands. We're going to celebrate your birthday, and its going to be really fun.

[He's just gonna silently laser focus on that "it's not your fault" for a few seconds and go back to compartmentalizing it. Nope, nope, noooope.]

I know... I said I'm used to it, not that it's my fault. [Every other time it hasn't been. And maybe the timing would still have been bad, especially if Peter... died. Like Leo thinks. (Thought? He doesn't know if they've talked about it since then.) Maybe something else would have ruined it. But this one was at least in part on him.] Anyway, it's fine. Rue gave me a cupcake.

You felt like you needed to apologize for not warning us, kind of veering close. [Peter bats back, but seems like he's going to let it be for now.]

Okay, I'm glad you have a cupcake. Gimme like a few days and I can get something together too. Wouldn't hurt to make something fun, right? [He's giving Casey an out. Take it if you dare, Jones.]

[Wow he can't even make a joke (that was also kind of not a joke and he was then called out for so now he has to pretend it was a joke-)]

You don't have to do anything else. Look, you just gave me this! [Pointing to the spider bot.] Give it a party hat, now it's a birthday present.

[Peter is dating the King Of Not Coping With Comedy, he sees you, Casey.] I want to, Casey. Spider-Bot was genuinely me having fun and probably getting carried away, I figured you'd want one of my first ones to play with.

For your birthday, I want to do something more. I mean, making you a meal isn't the biggest thing I could do, but, at least humor me and maybe some latkes.

[Lover, meet son. Since Leo raised him it tracks that he'd pick up on some of the same bad coping methods. ...At least it's not usually a habit with Casey, though.]

What're latkes?

[He doesn't mind saying yes to food. That's a smaller commitment than a present.]

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