maskormenace | (no subject)

(no subject)

[ So here's a new kid on the network tonight. Trying to find an angle that lets him hide at least some of his nervousness. Or at least lets him use it to channel his best impression of a Definitely Normal Team, No Superheroics Here Honest. He mostly just looks awkward and nerdy, which is … accurate anyway, so let’s go with that. ]

Hey - um, so I’m Peter. Peter Parker. And I just got here, and -

[ He’s read through what’s left of his files, he’s read through the last couple weeks of posts just to get a feel for things. After that, he has one incredibly important question: ]

Did I seriously just barely miss out on a Death Star being here? For real? That’s not fair. Please tell me it’s coming back at some point.

[ That’s probably an objectively incorrect thing to want, but. Look. That would have made his entire life. He could die happy. For the second time. Well, the second time dying, first time dying happy. Anyway, he turns reluctantly to the list of actual serious questions he made. Not enough time to ask them all (unless he just takes in a breath and rapid fire asks all of them in thirty seconds) so he’ll just pick one for now. ]

So, school. How is that working out for people who still hafta go? And can you like … argue with it at all? Because I’m all for finishing high school, but this is my third time going into sophomore year and I’m starting to feel like that movie with the Ghostbuster being depressed in Pennsylvania.

(( OOC: Spoilers for Far From Home are likely, but I can avoid them if necessary! ))

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[ It’s just how things go in Spider-Man stories. Trust the wrong person, screw up, have to fix his own mistakes.

Also he pinks a bit at casually being called a genius. ]

Speaking from experience?

[Like he should be embarrassed by the truth. Don't forget, Parker, David's now precisely aware of how smart you are. And how much room for growth you have. Which is a good bit.]

Yeah, only in the end my villains and heroes have a pretty blurred line between them. Let's just say that the mutant agenda doesn't always work out well for the mutants on the front lines. Or former-mutants.

[ A small wince. ]

I’m sorry. If mutants show up in my world - or if they’re already there - I promise I’ll help you guys.

[Well, David doesn't really expect he will. People tend not to care about mutant needs.]

That's kind, Peter. But maybe focus on yourself for right now.

Helps me out to help other people. I freak out if I focus on just me.

[ He means that. his own life is too overwhelming to contemplate in detail. ]

We're not meant to focus on ourselves. We give ourselves to other people, that's what it is to be a hero.

[And Spider-Man is always good for caring about other people.]

There we go. Glad we’re on the same page.

And, um. Thanks for talking through all this stuff with me. I appreciate it, man.

Well, I know what it's like to be in your position. Sorta. I started all this when I was sixteen. I don't recommend it.

[And it's more than that, but he's not going to share the whole psychology thing.]

I may have a bit of experience helping talk people through things like this.

[ Yeah, uh. Peter makes a bit of a face. ]

Fourteen for me. Still, it’s rough being a teenager and doing this kinda thing.

[Fourteen? David looks a bit sick at the very idea of it. From his knowledge, their Spider-Man was a bit older. But he nods in agreement at that.]

Yeah, that's not wrong. You are still taking care of yourself, right? Taking school seriously? You don't have to be a hero.

[ Fourteen and practically drafted by Tony to fight Captain America. Maybe don’t ask him for details on that one. ]

Uh, I’m trying? Thanos kind of messed everything up. And then Mysterio unmasked me and framed me for murder, so I’m probably never going back to school.

[Civil War. David was lucky, the X-men protected their own from that, including the kids. Except now David is staring, and there is a flash of anger across his face. Mysterio did what.]

Fucking hell. That's not okay. That... Fuck. Tell me the man is in jail.

[ And here Peter just looks. Pained. Guilty. Relieved? And then guilty again for feeling any relief at all. ]

He’s dead.

[And yet there is one here. It is frustrating to think that the man might hurt Peter again. Peter... might have unintentionally earned himself a quiet protector.]

Then he got off easy. I'm sorry about that. It complicates things for you.

[ He could use it. The Mysterio stuff is definitely going to explode eventually. ]

Yeah. Well. I should have done more to help him. Even if he did hit me with a train.

[And hopefully David will have his back. But that's the future, so they can't anticipate it. He isn't Ruth, he doesn't have foresight.]

He what?

[Yeah, David has given up all pity.]

Dude, when someone hits you with a train, they lose some degree of pity. Geez, the only way this could get worse if he got whatever he used to point a finger at you to the Daily Bugle and J. Jonah Jameson.

[Everyone knows that guy had it out for Spider-Man.]

[ Peter just kind of jolts in surprise at that. ]

How’d you know?

[No. Way. David groans a the very thought.]

That guy has it out for Spider-Man. Not even kidding. Back in my world he's dedicated himself to catching Spider-Man. Thinks he's a criminal. In fact...

[Oh that is why Peter's name sounds familiar. And David starts to laugh.]

Damn genius. The Daily Bugle always has the best pictures of Spider-Man back home. Or did, before he went full on Avenger. And their lead photographer for that is Peter Parker. Dammit, that is genius.

Why would he need pictures? I’ve got a Spider-Man Insta account.

[ Or had, before all his social media accounts imploded. But okay, he can parse this. Give him a second. ]

You’re saying your version of me worked for that guy? And, what, made money taking selfies?

Yeah. I guess he did. Damn, that is ballsy. Like all the years people were supposed to believe Iron Man was only Tony Stark’s bodyguard.

[Damn people got away with weird things. Then again, Billy Kaplan didn’t even bother with a mask and no one figured out who he was. But that was probably magic.]

And our Spider-Man was working before social media?

Yeah, see, Stark never really ever pretended to be anyone but himself.

[ Come to think of it, he’s sort of the only one with a dedicated secret identity? And now that’s gone. Anyway. ]

Okay, okay, fair enough. But still, JJJ is an asshole. Like, the worst of alt-right “if you call me a nazi to my face I’ll whine about liberal snowflakes despite literally sporting a Hitler ‘stache” douchebaggery.

[Well, Peter was in a very weird place. That same truth didn’t hold back home. But...]

You’re not wrong about that guy. People just feel like they can get away with racism and sexism and all those other isms. On my world it meant there was a situation where all heroes were expected to register and operate only under government sanction.

[Yes, they had that civil war thing too.]

[ Yikes. There’s a depressing amount of recognition in Peter’s expression. ]

Yeah, I remember that. S’how I got started for real, actually. Mr. Stark needed help fighting Cap so he talked me into it.

Those two... [David just sighs. It was a mess back home too.]

I’m sorry you had to experience that. Still, I’m surprised you would side with Stark. Registration would have hurt you.

[ He looks a bit confused. ]

Uh, I didn’t really get a chance to pick a side? I tried to stay home and do homework, but he threatened to tell my aunt.

[ His tone says that he doesn’t think it’s a big deal, but... ]