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

[spiderkid]

Yeah. Things get crazy sometimes.

So you're okay, now? Now we're back and all.

[nerdylilspidey]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm totally okay now, thank God.

What about you?

[spiderkid]

I'm fine. Y--It didn't hurt me too bad.

[He rubs the spot where Venom had stabbed him, thankful that this is just audio and not video. He'd almost said 'You didn't hurt me to bad.' Good thing he didn't. He doesn't want Peter to feel responsible for what Venom did.]

[nerdylilspidey]

[Nothing can stop a Peter Parker from feeling bad about these things. But nice try, Miles.]

...Are you sure? You- You went and got patched up, right?

[spiderkid]

Yeah, I went to see Mrs. Reyes and she took care of it. [He's bandaged up something awful, but the pain's pretty much gone.] She said it wasn't too bad. Guess us Spiders are tougher than we look after all.

[It's an attempt to lighten the mood. He laughs a little, unsure how Peter will take it, but trying not to worsen the guilt he must already be feeling.]

[nerdylilspidey]

[He lets out a little chuckle of his own, kind of relieved and still kind of feeling guilty.]

I guess we kind of have to be, huh? With all the smashing into buildings that we do.

[spiderkid]

And getting punched, and getting thrown through windows... To risk a musical theater reference, it's a hard knock life for us.

[nerdylilspidey]

Well, instead of kisses we do get kicked.

One day we'll win a popularity contest. One day.

[spiderkid]

Only if the other ones voting are Kaine and Spider-Girl. And probably not even then.

[nerdylilspidey]

I'd like to believe that my family would vote for us, too.

[spiderkid]

For you, maybe. Heck, I'd vote for you.

[nerdylilspidey]

Well, I'd vote for you.

[spiderkid]

Then our votes cancel each other out.

But seriously, you'd win. You wouldn't believe how many people cared about you when you... yanno... died. People turned out for your funeral like crazy.

[Then Miles realizes that this line of conversation probably isn't going to help things...]

[nerdylilspidey]

[Hooboy. Funeral. That word just drives reality right into Peter's gut like he couldn't even have imagined.]

...Still. I don't- I don't really think that'd make you any less popular.

[spiderkid]

[Oh man. Miles is so sorry right now.]

Maybe. [He sighs.]

Anyway, all's good now. You're fine, I'm fine. I haven't talked to Kaine or Spider-Girl since we got out, but hopefully they're fine too.

[nerdylilspidey]

No maybe.

And- Well, I know that Kaine's alright. Just kind of-- He sort of turned in his costume.

[spiderkid]

He turned it in? To who? And... why?

[nerdylilspidey]

To me. He said that he's... done.

[spiderkid]

Done? Done being Scarlet Spider? Why? 'cause of the weird spider-monster thing?

[In the back of his mind, Miles thinks, 'But he'd promised to spar with me...']

[nerdylilspidey]

He said he's "done trying." Exact quote.

[A beat while Peter mentally goes over what they'd talked about.]

But I think-- I think he'll keep going. He left his suit with me, but...

[spiderkid]

But you think he'll come back for it? Or keep fighting without it, maybe?

[nerdylilspidey]

Yeah. Or make a new one for himself, maybe?

It's kind of... I've found that it's not easy to just quit.

[spiderkid]

Yeah, after my mom died, back home, I quit for a while. That's after I came here, though.

[nerdylilspidey]

Yeah...


..Wait. What?

[spiderkid]

The Emperor has this room that can show you your future. At least, the old Emperor did. I dunno if the new one still does.