AUDIO; from a cafe; post-bottle

[nerdylilspidey]

 [Peter's not quite in the right place, mentally, to put up a video post. And he definitely isn't sure he should put it up from his own suite. So he's found his way to the nearest cafe, with an oversized hoodie pulled up over his head, and is starting up only an audio feed.]

Never a boring moment around here, is there? One minute we're normal-ish, celebrating Valentine's Day, and the next we're battling evil miasma inside a magic bottle.

Does anyone ever wonder what happened to the idea of rest and relaxation?


[FILTERED to the Spider-family]

...Sorry. About what happened back there. You-- You guys know that that-- That wasn't me. You know that, right...?

Oh, God... [There's a sigh, and then a beat of silence before he continues.] Anyway, just- I'm sorry.

Comments

[unobtainableredemption]

[Well that takes the wind out of his sails fast.]

What? No! [Well, yes to that first part. Because he is an evil evil monster and he thought Peter deserved to know.]

I came to tell you that I'll tell you anything you want about my past.

[nerdylilspidey]

[And now it's Peter's turn to deflate. His eyes go wide and he very nearly drops the bag of takeout.]

... What?

[unobtainableredemption]

The damn monster aired most of my dirty laundry anyway.

[He stares at the couch.] What do you want to know?

[nerdylilspidey]

[It's really like he was full of air and someone jabbed a giant needle into his side. Peter slowly sinks down onto the couch next to Kaine, now staring down at the bag. He really should put it down on the table, but everything feels a little surreal right now.]

... See, now that you're telling me to ask you, I'm blanking.

[unobtainableredemption]

[Of course he is.]

Come on Parker, there must be something.

[nerdylilspidey]

[He's quiet for a second, keeping his eyes exactly where they are on the bag.]



... What's... your favorite movie...?

[unobtainableredemption]

Really?! That's your grand question? "What's your favorite movie?"

[Then, just when it seems like he isn't going to answer:]

...Unforgiven, Fight Club, or Blade Runner.

[nerdylilspidey]

Dude, you caught me off-guard!! The last thing I was expecting today was Suddenly Share Time.

[... He does appreciate that he actually got an answer, though.]

Nice. If we ever become capable of movie night here, we should totally get those.

[unobtainableredemption]

What the hell did you think I wanted to talk to you about?

That would first require there to be movies here. Or TVs for that matter. [Notice that wasn't a flat out "no."]

[nerdylilspidey]

I don't know! First I thought it had something to do with, y'know, Venom and the trying to eat everyone and- I don't know.

We have like, five Tony Stark genius-types here. Someone must've made a TV by now, right?

[unobtainableredemption]

It's Venom. That's what it does. That wasn't even the first time Venom's tried to kill me. I'll admit I was a little creeped out "you" were saving me for a rainy day, but again, Venom.

[He doesn't say anything about the Tony Starks. He's still reeling from the revelation there's more than one.]

Anything else, or is the beginning and end of your deep questions involve my choice in movies?

[nerdylilspidey]

[Inadvertently, Peter pulls the bag of takeout in closer to his chest. Venom.] I hate that thing.

[And then he catches himself getting mighty close to foodstuffs, and that cues him to actually start putting it out on the table so they'd be more easily accessible.]

... Why didn't you want us to know? About the- the other guy, I mean. And don't say "because I was trying to protect you."

[unobtainableredemption]

I'd rather deal with Venom than its offspring. [He should have lobotomized Kasady a long time ago. Then maybe those 23 people would still be alive... and that's not counting all the people in the tiny universe.

He rolls his eyes at the question.] Like I'm that cliched. [Spoilers: Yes, you are.] I didn't see any reason to talk about it... I don't know if you've noticed, but I don't exactly like to talk about myself. I willingly agreed to be its host in exchange for my life. [It almost seems like he's going to stop there, but almost reluctantly he adds:] I needed it to save Aracely.

[nerdylilspidey]

I choose neither. Is there a "neither" option? Because I choose it.

[Once all the food's spread out, Peter just... stares at it. Though he does spare a second to give Kaine a "bitch please" look when he denies the cliche. He knows Kaine would've said it. Peter would've said it, because it's usually true.]

Does it-- Does it come out a lot, or only when it wants to, or...? [He hesitates a moment before he throws out anything more. Whatever Kaine said about answering everything truthfully, he's not about to push his luck.] What we saw back there, in the alley... That girl was Aracely.

[unobtainableredemption]

Now they're both going to show up, you know that, right? [Because Parker luck.

Kaine doesn't look at the food. It wasn't for him. Besides, after that last question, his hands are looking way more interesting, even as he digs his fingers into his thigh.]

Yes. What you saw... it was a twisted version of something that actually happened. When I died, it confronted me in a version of my church. When I agreed to its deal, I came back as that creature. I had no control, it was just the monster... and when it was fighting the werewolves, I didn't care.

But then it turned on Aracely. Somehow I managed to wrestle control from it before it could hurt her and I've looked normal ever since... but I have no idea if I could ever turn into that again.

[nerdylilspidey]

... I hate that you're probably completely right.

[The story has Peter going quiet, eyes set unseeingly on the food again. He can understand what that must've been like. It sounds a lot like what had happened when Venom had overtaken him completely, when he nearly ate all of the Ultimates and he'd been powerless to do anything but watch it all happen. He still doesn't even know how they'd managed to neutralize him.]

And you said a little while ago that- that it talks to you. Do you hear it right now?

[unobtainableredemption]

Your luck sucks. [Luck he inherited.

He nods.] It's not as coherent as it was in that nightmare. It sticks to one word. "Prey."

[nerdylilspidey]

Sorry. We're totally cursed.

[Peter frowns at the food, his hands balling into fists. Just like Venom and "hungry."] So it thinks that I'm prey.

[unobtainableredemption]

We? I'm only cursed because I was created with your DNA.

You, May, Aracely, Galatea... anyone I remotely make eye contact with. It especially hates other you.

[nerdylilspidey]

Still counts as a "we."

[That has him looking more confused than anything else, eyebrows knitting together.] Really? Why's that?

[unobtainableredemption]

Apparently something called "the Great Weaver" promised it to Peter, but Peter rejected it. It's not taking the rejection well.

[nerdylilspidey]

[Nothing and no one handles Peter Parker rejection well, it seems]

Huh. I'm surprised it didn't become BFFs with Venom back there.

[unobtainableredemption]

It's not a spider. [Says that in the same tone as someone would mention why someone doesn't like a particular book or food.]

Plus it wasn't about to share me.

[nerdylilspidey]

They could've bonded over that, though. Their inability to share.

So... if it's not a spider... What is it?

[unobtainableredemption]

That would be like Osborn and Doom bonding over their megalomania.

...The monster's a spider. I meant Venom wasn't a spider.