12157/The Way of the Spiders

The Way of the Spiders
Date of Scene:	25 July 2022
Location:	New York Harbor Docks
Synopsis:	Peter teaches Gwen and Andi the basics of the Way of the Spider to start them on the path to learning it.
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy, Andi Benton

---

Peter Parker has posed:
A message has been sent to Gwen and Andi both, from Spider-man. A time and a place, and a vague message about he wants to help them become one with the spider. He has never really talked about the metaphysics of it all that much, so it seems a strange phrasing, but it was clear and a request.

Waiting for the arrival of Gwen and Andi, Peter paces along the ceiling of the warehouse he had drawn them to. He is not sure that he can capably teach this, at least not the way Shang-Chi was, but since he is the only person in the world who can do it, he is probably the best suited for it. Certainly, he has taken what they developed together and expanded.

So why does he feel a bit of nervousness coming into this meeting? It had been on his mind since the cloak suit mystery, and...

He pushes that thought out of his mind, and focuses instead on the mission at hand. Teach them the Way of the Spider. Help them defend themselves. Be the mentor he never really had so they don't need to remake his own mistakes.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Ghost Spider has been having a time of relative peace and quiet where it comes to fighting crime. At least since the criminals that had shot her father had been taken out. The most of it had been the random bank robber (it's still a thing in the 21st century, amazingly) but little else. The irony of it was that to contrast with that peacefulness her personal life had been a living hell with finals on ESU nearing a close.

So the answer Peter gets?
> You aren't old enough to be Mr. Miyagi.
Then a few moments later:
> But fine, I will be there.

*thwip* *thwip* The sound of webs heard gluing near the warehouse is heard, then the black and white figure of Ghost Spider is seen flying through the air and landing without a sound on that ceiling. A moment later and she is up to her full height, arms wrapping about her waist, hip jutting to the side.

"Hello Spidey."

Andi Benton has posed:
The way things go, sometimes people drift apart for one reason or another. Gaps build in conversations and encounters, even when there's no particular reason for it. People get busy with other things. That's a big one.

Mania still lives in Happy Harbor, still patrols NYC and its nearby locales routinely, still loves chocolate as much as anything...but the last few weeks have been different. It's led to some internal conversations that have not been quite the same as usual.

During a time when Andi was out around Happy Harbor, a text came through from a familiar person, one who's already served as a mentor in the early days of the bond, even if he didn't have experience with that sort of thing directly - it was more about setting a good example.

<<Ah, Spider-Man. We were thinking about you lately. We hope you are well. We do not know what you are talking about with this meeting, but we will come see you.>>

It doesn't take that long to get there, either. Mania swings in on a webline of her own, something she learned how to do what seems like ages ago now. It mimics Spider-Man's but is organic and does not last more than a few minutes before it starts to dissolve, but other than that? Effective. She lands quietly and nimbly, the solid white eyes, more expressive than one would think, settling on both already here. "Spiders," comes that dual voice, both female and alien. Arms cross, a casually punk stance taken on.

Peter Parker has posed:
There is a change in Spider-man's posture as Ghost Spider arrives. His mask twists in what is seen as a smile. "Uh, hello, Ghostie," he says, his voice softer than usual - closer to Peter's than Spider-man's. "I'm glad you came. I--"

And then Mania makes her entrance. "--am looking forward to sharing this with you," he replies in a voice deeper, seemingly more secure. Spider-man's voice entirely. Almost certainly not the way that sentence was intended to conclude.

He drops down from the ceiling and does a flip before landing on the ground, looking up towards Gwen to watch her make her descent.

"I realize that it sounds funny, and yes, I'm aware of the irony, but I've been using these powers a lot longer than either of you. And when I first started, I just kind of..." He throws his arms around for a moment. "Flailed around, effectively, and I started to become good at fighting, but I didn't really maximize what I could do. Not until a friend saw that I could do when NOT fighting, and asked me why I didn't do that when I WAS fighting."

He pauses, as if to add drama to the moment. "And that is when the Way of the Spider was born."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
It's one of those things with their masks. Sometimes they can show what they are expressing. And when Peter speaks of having been at this for longer than them?

Eyebrow raise.

"Did he just pull the 'I am older than you' card?" this asked while she is looking at Mania. "And hello, Mania." There's a tsk coming from under the mask as Gwen shifts her weight from one foot to the other and nimbly begins to approach, "I will note that you are still flailing?" is she talking about something else? Or the fact that .. "The arms, I mean." the words offered in a softer manner. She is clearly teasing him though.

"Just playing a little, Spidey." She offers before inclining her head, "And I will bite and ask then ..., what's the way of the Spider?"

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania's arms remain crossed, the all black creature with elements of white in the design peering between Spider-Man and Ghost Spider. "Your voice just changed. We noticed that. Did you notice that, too?" She goes from looking his way to hers by the time she's asking the question, and it can't be anything but intentional.

Having entered the warehouse through whatever opening was easiest, she watches him descend from the ceiling and there is a sniff of sorts behind her own mask..which is not quite the same as theirs. It isn't exactly costume fabric. "He did. We have been doing this for over two years now. But if your 'Way' includes chocolate, now or later, we will listen." Casually, she adds to Gwen, "People do not tend to like it when we bite."

Peter Parker has posed:
Laughing just a bit - maybe nervously - Spider-man nods to Ghost Spider. "I mean, I try not to lord it over anyone, but yeah, I've picked up a few tricks. It's not about the years, or the mileage, or anything, it's about sharing the things that we know, so we can all improve, you know?"

He turns to regard Mania. "I have chocolate, but that's for later."

He relaxes his stance a bit and looks between the two of them. "Put simply, the Way of the Spider is a way to use our reflexes offensively. We are very good at getting out of the way of things, right? Someone swings at you, you duck, or flip back, right?" He pauses. "Well, what if, at the same time, you were using that to strike back against your enemy?"

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"I didn't notice anything.." This to Andi. Is she covering up for Peter? Or just too oblivious about it all? Maybe a mix of both. Or something else entirely ... Who knows the Ways of the Ghost Spider?

A wince then given when Peter mentions he has chocolate. "Oooh, that was a mistake..." she knows Mania may just want it NOW. But maybe it will be incentive.

But then she is silent for a while. Because it's learning time. She considers what's being said by Spiderman, mmm'ing. "It's a different way of tackling things.." she admits. "Are you talking about using it, for example, to duck towards the enemy to attack instead of running off? Or using the environment around us? Because the latter I ..., am quite good at.." one of her less known powers that differs from the other spiders. That uncanny spatial awareness she has about where everything is.

Andi Benton has posed:
No surprise here. Mania's eyes enlarge eagerly at the reveal that there is chocolate, and there are a few seconds of distraction when she turns one way then the other, as if it should be sitting out in plain sight. Upon finding it must have been stashed away, she /could/ probably just sniff it out, but.. "Later is fine. We are paying attention." See? It can work.

She does flex a few claws and makes a show of examining them after both have spoken. "We have ways of getting in close if we have to, but this makes sense. We will dodge if we need to, but sometimes it is faster to let someone think he has an advantage over us. Not many see us and think that way, but sometimes they are dumber than they look." And, most of them have not figured out any of Mania's weaknesses.

The symbiote (and host within) split attention between the two Spiders, who both explain and react as well.

Peter Parker has posed:
Nodding as he listens to both, Spider-man walks up to Ghost Spider. "Ok, so, let's dive right in." He nods to her. "I want you to take a swing at my head. Now, all of us, in that case, we know how to get out of the way, right? We know the punch is coming, if we can rely upon our reflexes, like a leaf on the wind, we blow out of the way. Our spider sense handles it."

He nods to her, as if showing that he is ready. "Now picture that instead of just laying back as the leaf, you keep hold of the stem, and you direct where you go instead of the wind."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"Sort of working counter nature..." Gwen says with a brief nod, "Because you want to get out of the way instinctively, but this way you will be moving in instead.. I can see the merits for sure.."

She readies herself for that punch, feet a touch apart, arm being brought back. It's not ..., the best punch form. But that's a well known thing from Ghost Spider, and Gwen. She couldn't throw a punch to save her life... "I will let you know this is not one of my strong points.. You should know this by now, Spidey.."

Because what comes right after is a rather mediocre attempt by the blonde to take a swing at Peter. Of course that it packs the power of a horse or four behind it. But that doesn't mean there's much technique there.

Look, her talents lie elsewhere, okay?!

Andi Benton has posed:
It could be a good idea that Spider-Man focuses on Ghost Spider first. It's often difficult to predict just what the symbiote side will do. Andi has good control, but there is a push/pull nature to the bond.

<<Mania>> What do you think will happen, Andi?
<<Andi>> He might throw her, or act like he will.
<<Mania>> But it is not serious?
<<Andi>> I don't think so. Guess we're about to see. Now stop trying to find the chocolate and be patient.
<<Mania>> We are not trying to--
<<Andi>> Yes, you are.

The things they talk about when nobody else is privy to it. Those eyes still shift this way and that, searching without moving. "Yes, hit him!" is encouraged, a gleeful tilt to those eyes.

Peter Parker has posed:
"It makes for an easier demo, though," replies Spider-man, as he awaits the swing. "I'll let you come at me with your legs a bit later."

It's a good thing that this was a demonstration of Spider senses, because the way Spider-man pauses after speaking probably would have set him up to get socked in the jaw. Instead, he bends backwards such that the fist sails over his head. But unlike what might be expected - a dodge, a duck, a scamper away - as his body moves back and down he pushes off with his legs from the ground. Instead of simply ducking the swing, his entire body follows through on that motion as if his waist were on a spit, and his legs swing up in what would be a vicious kick under Ghost Spider's jaw.

Or would be if she didn't have spider reflexes of her own, anyway.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"With my legs?" Is Gwen wanting for Peter to expand on that or simply amused with the choice of words? The voice under is perhaps a bit playful as she bringing that arm back to deliver the punch. And then there it goes!

It finds air, of course. She knew it would. Hard to land a punch on a Spidey on the best days, and certainly not when training! Yet she is also ready when that counter comes and her whole body spins as that vicious kick shoots up real close to her face. But still a miss. There is no counter out of her though as she mostly moves out of the way, as per her usual.

"You just disappointed, Mania.." She murmurs when she ends up down on a knee after the spin and jump to the side, "But that was some impressive attack." She says in approval.

Andi Benton has posed:
Mania meanders marginally nearer, the better to see the Spiders do their dodging dance. "We have noticed something. It is much harder to spar when it is almost impossible to surprise you." This is something the symbiote has made possible for Andi as well, with a similar ability that just works in a different way.

All the same, it's a good way to note how the pair move. Knowledge can be gleaned from that, as well. There are things Mania has picked up on based on the way the two move, Spider-Man in particular. It's helped with web-swinging as well.

Peter Parker has posed:
"Uh," is Spider-man's response. Ghost Spider is definitely getting the better of the dialogue battle, if not the actual combat maneuvering.

Spider-man completes his flipping kick and falls into a defensive crouch behind where he was standing, but watches Ghost Spider's graceful dodge of her own. "Well done, but did you see how my kick flowed directly from my dodge? Now imagine that instead of you spinning to the side, you spun forward and sent your own kick at me how I am right now?"

He looks over at Mania. "You want to take a swing at me? I can do another demonstration, and then we'll see how well you can become one with your senses." He laughs softly at himself. "Ok, can I at least be Yoda?" he asks, glancing to Ghost Spider.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"Well, it sharpens our spider senses." Gwen points out about them being near impossible to surprise, "Sparring like this.." she gesturing with long fingertips, "It's all very instinctive, as I am sure it is with you. But instinct can't do everything, there needs to be training.." she then getting back up to her full height, hands resting on her hips.

"I did *try* to strike back but.., instinct took over.." She considers for a few, "I suspect this is something that will need training to accomplish and become natural. But I like it.." she then chinjerking Andi's way. "Want to take a swing at Spidey now?" she then offers, taking a step to the side.

It's followed by a soft laugh. A Gwen laugh, not a Ghost Spider one. "Short, green, talking sorta backwards? Yes, Yoda you will be." see? She agrees!

There's a wink though.

Andi Benton has posed:
"Our senses are one of our most important advantages," Mania explains to Spider-Man, looking him up and down after he comes out of his kick into that crouch, and she shares a glance with Ghost Spider before moving closer for her turn. "Yes, we know much about instinct. It has guided others like us for far longer than the bond we share."

It's time to really put that Spidey-Sense to the test. Mania doesn't give him any warning, nor does she telegraph anything. Without being within reach of him, she swings with a right and through the malleable nature of the symbiote itself, that arm extends a couple feet, the fist swiftly growing larger. More reach than the average person would have, as feet plant to help carry it through. She forgets to pull the punch, for what it's worth.

Peter Parker has posed:
"I spent a lot of time working with Shang-Chi, but I think most of that was him trying to understand how I can do what I can do. But I already know what you can do, to an extent." Spider-man watches Ghost Spider as she straightens. "And yeah, instincts are to use this to defend. Spiders get out of the way, they let their webs be their attack. So you've got it exactly right - you have to retrain the instinct, work it in the other way. Force it to twist back around."

He is busy talking, his attention focused on Ghost Spider. So much so that as Mania attacks, he _almost_ seems like he is not paying attention. Truth be told, he probably isn't, but that's all part of the demonstration. "Yoda I am..."

This time, Spider-man twists out of the way of the first, but his hands come up and grab it as it goes by. The solid grip of Spider-man, both compressive and tensile strength, latch the hands on. His body swings, again as if the other side of a pendulum, the momentum of his dodge coming right back into the twist of his arms as he hurls Mania off in the direction that she was punching - already, of course, leaning her body that way.

It happens so quickly, and almost without thought, that Spider-man barely breaks the stream of his thought or statement. "...Luke you are?" He flashes a grin towards Ghost Spider, clearly visible from the way his mask twists, and only after that does he notice that he has attempted to send Mania towards the wall.

Clear evidence that the throw is not even something he is even aware of doing.

Andi Benton has posed:
There are ways the symbiote compensates during a fight. With its senses, its presence, it has the capability to 'see' all around itself, not just where the eyes are facing. This has helped when blind attacks are made, but by itself it isn't as effective when someone actually grabs on in the midst of an attack in order to redirect momentum and, with Spider-Man's own strength, send Mania flying.

"Hey!" she blurts, chunky-soled feet leaving the floor. Immediately, that voice registers internally.

<<Mania>> We have this, Andi.

It is happening before she can even think about what to do. Instinct would suggest a twist, or perhaps trying to brace for impact by letting her back be the first point of contact. Or, sending lines of webbing out to attach to something.

Mania's instinct turns up in the form of a pair of bat-like wings appearing, fanning out from the back at the shoulders. They beat against the path she's taking, stalling out any progress toward that wall. While hovering in place with the use of those black wings, she crosses her arms again and affixes something of a scolding expression on the wall-crawler. "That almost worked, but we have surprises of our own. We do not always need to spin a web to land safely on." Inside, it's someone else's turn to react with surprise, though it not even a verbal thing from Andi that way. Mania's visible expression, through the eyes, turns smug.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
As the conversation is ongoing Gwen doesn't flinch or otherwise react either when Mania goes for the punch, even if her eyes do follow the trajectory Mania does through the air.

"Nice wings..., reminds me of someone.." Her close encounters with Venom most likely. "Can -you- fly with those though? Now that would be something.." she inquires, continuing with her arms folded, gaze shifting between Mania and Spider-man.

"Bah, make it Leia and I will accept." A smirk felt under the mask, "Lets just skip the weird-looking bikini though.." a sigh escaping her lips.

Peter Parker has posed:
"Nice trick," replies Peter as he watches Mania slip away and easily recover from his throw. "The thing is, imagine how effective this is against someone who _can't_ instantly react to a changing circumstance the way we can." He looks to each in turn. "So I want you both to try to focus on how your senses kick in - each of you take a swing at the other. I _just_ want you to focus on how the sense feels. Isolate it from everything else."

Spider-man starts to answer Ghost Spider. "Of course, late stage Leia is..." Yeah. He totally loses his train of thought at the bikini comment.

There are at least a couple of beats before he remembers that he is instructing. "Oh, right, hit each other. Or try to." He hops backwards to watch the two spar.

Andi Benton has posed:
Still maintaining her position in midair within the warehouse, Mania's arms settle in at her sides in a show of helping keep herself steady. "We..do not know. This is new to us." The eyes narrow toward a squint as she adds, "We rarely see /that/ one around." Then, the wings tuck back in to disappear, allowing her to land in a brief crouch before rising back up to her full, if unimpressive, height.

She doesn't have much to say about the Star Wars characters, except, "She looked like she had cinnamon buns over her ears, but without the frosting." Hands come to rest at her hips, near the spiked belt that has always looked like it was more for appearances than anything else. It isn't as though there are a pair of pants to keep from sliding down.

With a shrug, she looks back to Ghost Spider before approaching, and this time she feints leading in with a left before coming in with a right. An attack coming in at the same time creates a moment of pause, where she is caught somewhat in between finishing her own swing while also beginning to move to avoid the other one. Both hands go up, at least.

Being able to separate the way it feels, that may be the most challenging part. Instinct doesn't always work that way.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"Wait, your cinnamon buns have frosting..?" That seems to be what Gwen takes out of that conversation, " ... Maybe we should go for those sometimes, wherever it is you get them. I thought you had a one-track mind for chocolate.." a wink from under the hood at Mania. "And good that you are learning a few new things about yourself. Impressive job, Spidey. Fine, you are the honorary Yoda for at least this week.." It's a great honor!

"So you want us to go at each other. Okay, so... Be gentle.." says the one that packs a quite the gallop behind her punch.

Eyes quickly follow the motions, all the way to the feint. Body is reacting and moving before the second attack has even launched, that preternatural sense coming full to the fore. So she moves fully into the feint... Just as that right cross is coming.

Ghost Spider nimbly shifts her body to be sideways in relation to Andi's so as to avoid the attack and doesn't roll away. Not that she attacks right out.. Instead..., there's a moment pause.

Instinct is indeed hard to fight.

It's only the split of a second but for spiders that's an eternity. And only then does the blow comes in the way of an attempt at hitting Andi with a shoulder as she moves into that previous feint with the left.

Peter Parker has posed:
"I like cinnamon buns," Spider-man murmurs, almost inaudibly, as he watches the two face off and tangle. His gaze sweeps over the bodies in motion, and he nods slowly.

"Alright, so, did either of you feel like you had a sense of the force, the FEELING, that was pulling out of the way of danger? I know, it's elusive, like trying to feel your pulse or your breathing, but once you can feel it, that's when you can start to control it."

He leans back against the wall, crossing his arms, and studying both of them. "Either of you feel like taking a stab at touching it while I try to knock you on your ass?" That twist of mask indicates grin.

Andi Benton has posed:
It might be that directing an attack while countering the same, from two people with the kind of instinct Spider-Man has been gifted with..could lead to a stalemate.

Mania's eyes show a mixture of confusion and frustration, then determination, but the way she tangles with Ghost Spider ends up more stilted and stiff than looking natural. There is a little contact made, though nothing solid such as a punch or other attack connecting, and after they both bump shoulders she takes a reverse step then flips backward to create more space, attention splitting between the pair.

"Who eats cinnamon buns without frosting? And we love chocolate, but it is not the only thing out there that tastes good." That interlude done, she rises back up from another crouch to consider his question. "We always feel something. That is just the way it is. We are not sure it works exactly the same way, but..close enough."

Whatever the case, she gestures toward Spider-Man in the classic 'bring it' way, palm up, fingers motioning toward her.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"There's always a feeling, but it's gone in a moment.." Gwen replies, looking thoughtful as she goes back up to her full height again. "It's hard to grasp, but as with everything, requires practice."

"Two on one, Spidey?" That has Gwen cast a look at Andi and then back. "I think we won't be the one on our asses.." she rolls her neck and loosens her limbs, getting into a ready posture, closer to the ground so as for her center of gravity to be lower.

"Let's dance then."

Peter Parker has posed:
There is a nod to Ghost Spider. "It took me years to do it. Lots of practice. Keep trying, and someday maybe it will click." He pauses for a moment. "Actually, it just occurred to me, one of the breakthrough moments for me was when I was nerve gassed, and everything slowed down. Sure, I was in a fight for my life against Kraven the Hunter, but once I could see my hand slowly moving in front of my face, I felt like I was in more in touch with that too." There is a twisting grin on his mask again. "Maybe we should go bar hopping some time, and _then_ see how this works."

A nod to Mania. "Just feel that, let that feeling in. See if you can focus on it."

As the two square off, Spider-Man shakes his head. "Come on, now, that's hardly fair."

He adopts his Spider-man action pose, leaning back with one leg bent, the other straight out in front of him. "For you!!"

And so the Spiders fought, well into the night. Going through motions and sparring, each too fast for the others, but going through the paces. Perhaps it will not be tonight, but both Gwen and Andi were now on the path to learning The Way of the Spider...