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]

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.

[nerdylilspidey]

Isn't that kind of thing bound to make the universe implode or something? A la Back to the Future?

[spiderkid]

I dunno. It's magic.

I'm thinking about going back, actually.

[nerdylilspidey]

Seriously? Just to- to see what happens?

[spiderkid]

Well last time I went, I saw myself quitting, then talking with Jessica-- Spider Woman, and starting up again. I want to see what happens after that.

[He also saw that he had a girlfriend, and he's curious.]

[nerdylilspidey]

Oh... So you knew Jessica? She knows who you are?

[spiderkid]

Yeah. She-- well, SHIELD, through her-- gave me my suit.