12775/Guess Who is Coming to Dinner

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Guess Who is Coming to Dinner
Date of Scene: 13 September 2022
Location: 5D - Gwen's Greenwich Loft
Synopsis: Peter manages to somehow make a good impression on Gwen's family despite Paste Pot Pete's best efforts.
Cast of Characters: Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy




Peter Parker has posed:
This was definitely not what Peter had in mind for his first official visit to Gwen's family. Although was it really an official visit? Det. Stacy knew what was going on, but did the rest of the family? Unclear. There is a little bit of panic in Peter's face as he realizes the implications of this particular meal, and he reaches up to try to quickly make sure his hair is not astray. And then he realizes there is a glob of Paste Pot Pete Paste Perched Precariously en el Pelo de Peter. Predicament!

He rapidly runs his fingers over it, and makes the daring and yet painful move to yank it out, some of the hair coming with it, but it lets him smooth it down. The choice in clothes? Not much he can do about that.

"Why didn't you tell me to dress _up_ for this?" Peter hisses at Gwen, trying to maintain a smile in case anyone is watching from inside. Oh boy.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Peter arrived. And sorta right on time! It's good. But Gwen should had known when he didn't answer those messages about the branzino, and what to dress and ....

Gwen spots that 'stick-up' hair first, mouth hanging open a moment, then it shifting to a grimace when she sees Peter trying to solve it. Then a resigned sigh that is telling she is just going to have to do it all..

"Come in..." Pause, ".. And don't use your hands you will just ..." as Gwen brings Peter in she inavertedly gets hands on that glue too so her fingers get sticky. "Great, now we are both pasted..." she is close to him now and there's a little bit of a look of conspiracy that she shares with Peter. "Post-It.." she giggles a little to herself. She -does- sound nervous though...

"I thought you had seem my messages! I sent you all the details, and what to wear, and what we were going to eat and ..." Breath in, Stacy.

Steps of her father are heard approaching and he looks at them all close together in the hallway. "If you two are done kissing your helloes I would like to sit for dinner? And welcome Peter." he goes out while Gwen just gestures and..

"We weren't ...." sigh.

Peter Parker has posed:
"At what point in our conversation did you think I had had a chance to read your texts?" murmurs Peter as he slips inside, letting her try to help with his sticky situation. "And I mean, you were definitely _part_ of the conversation." He glances around and leans in, whispering. "Pete asked if you were cute after we got off, and I told him you were--"

"Ah, hello, Detective Stacy!" he says looking up quickly, smiling despite the slight flush on his cheeks. "I am sorry for getting here late, I was stuck overseeing an experiment on a new polymer over at the lab, and you know how in depth those Stark folks get." He shrugs sheepishly. "They have the building secured so my phone didn't work until I got out." He moves to slip away from Gwen and follow towards dinner. Hoping that that was the worst of it.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"Whaaaaaat?" Gwen's brow is arching up as Peter goes on about talking with Paste Pot Pete about how cute she was. But whatever else she may say about _that_ matter is quickly smothered down by her father's approach. Still, a talk for later! Big blue eyes squinting just so at Peter.

Uh-Oh. Trouble!

She starts walking along with Peter but then takes a detour. "I need to wash my hands.." still with glue. Though hol' up. Does that mean Peter is alone with the wolves?

Not much time to think as a moment later he stands on the living room. Large table set for six. A nice smell of fish and mashed potatoes in the air. Two young, blonde boys are already sitting at the table. Nice buttoned up shirts. Gwen's mother is coming into the room with a large plate. "Oh, hello. You must be Peter. I am Helen, Gwen's mother.." So warm, such a contrast to the more dour Captain Stacy. "Come and sit.."

Captain Stacy comes a bit later. "Yes, sit down Peter. Tell us how you two got back together."

Peter Parker has posed:
There is a _look_ given to Gwen in response to her question. Something to be sorted out later. He will go into all kinds of detail then about how his enemies think his girlfriend is hot. For now, though, he has other concerns.

He makes his way over towards the table, quickly able to sort out where to sit - opposite one of the two blonde boys. He does not, however, take his seat, standing until Captain Stacy arrives and gives him that instruction. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Stacy.": He nods to each of the boys, and then looks back to Captain Stacy. "It's a funny story, actually, Captain Stacy."

Peter settles into his seat, and then decides to tell the truth. Mostly. "I happened to find a retro arcade that had a few pinball machines, and I remembered that Gwen _really_ liked this one in particular, so I sent her the info. We decided to check it out together and..." He pauses for a moment, waiting for Gwen to return, and he beams a warm smile in her direction. "Not that I ever really forgot how wonderful and kind your daughter is, but we just got to talking and..." He shrugs, looking back to Gwen's father. "We decided to see what would happen if we spent some time together talking over the summer. We started working out a bit to get some exercise, and..." he trails off for a moment, wondering just how much detail the Captain actually _ wants_ out of the question. "We enjoy each other's company very much, Captain Stacy. And I consider myself a lucky man because of it."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Funny stories. That seems just the type of stories that Captain Stacy enjoys. It shows in that raised brow that is just so similar to Gwen's. That one which is says this better be worth my time. You know .., the one Gwen just gave Peter when he started talking about Paste Pot Pete and how hot she was. Captain Stacy doesn't interrupt though, settling in to the table while Helen begins serving food to each plate.

"Oh, Gwen never got back to us on how you liked the branzino. So I went ahead with my favorite way. I am sure you will like it." big, gentle smile and a large fish being set on his plate. Some mashed potatoes following it.

Gwen walks in right as Peter is talking and it doesn't take her long to realize what he is saying. Her features go beet red and she walks quietly to sit next to Peter. It's only after she sits that she speaks up again, "Yes, we like running together in the morning." she clarifies but does reach out to place one hand visibly atop Peter's.

"We are happy together, Dad."

The Captain nods at it, "You don't sound like a bad kid, Peter. Certainly not like some of her old boyfriends.." old boyfriends? What?

"Why are you talking about that, dad?" "I just worry about you, Gwen." "Well, I am here, and fine." "Yes, but you almost..." "But I didn't!"

Tension.

Peter Parker has posed:
It took a few minutes, but Peter was starting to relax. Telling the story - omitting the vigor with which they were skilled at PARKOUR - helps, as it really is your typical story of two kids coming together again. He settles, in, and at the end of the story, nods as the branzino is served. Peter nods and smiles as it comes before him. "Thanks, this looks great!"

He looks up at Gwen and smiles, and then relaxes a bit more once her hand is on his. He turns it over and reaches up to entwine his fingers for a moment, giving a squeeze.

He is nodding along with Captain Stacy at the compliment until he feels the conversation shift. Then he remains quiet, watching the bit of drama unfold. He gives Gwen's hand another squeeze, and tries to stay out of this one.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
This doesn't seem the first time this kind of thing happened. In fact, considering how her mother's expression has lost the smile it seems constant. Not that she gets into the conversation. That's between the Captain and the Daughter. Two headstrong personalities clashing.

"Can you just not get all defensive again? You used to be a lot more open with us and.."

That seems to strike a nerve on Gwen who grits her teeth. "I have changed!" she doesn't shout but it's close. "It's not fair, you go out every day and endanger your life but I don't tell you what to do.." she gets up to her feet and stalks out of the room. Her mother steps out as well, most likely after her daughter.

The Captain just looks as if he won't say anything but then looks at Peter, "She became so different after.." the coma. The drop down that bridge. "Sometimes I just don't know what I can do to make her happy."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks back and forth between the two of them, not wanting to get in the middle of it, of course, but also wanting to be there for Gwen. He starts to move as if to follow but sees that Gwen's mother is already on the way, leaving him with the Captain. And a very difficult situation. But he has faced down Norman Osborn, so...probably not the best villain to come to mind in this _specific_ scenario, but...

Peter nods. "I can tell that you care. But she has your stubbornness, sir, which trust me, is one of the thinks that I lo-" He pauses, trying to shift quickly but likely not quickly enough. "-ike about her." The briefest of pauses, and then Peter continues. "At the risk of being selfish, sir - I'd like to think that I make her happy. And whatever is going on with you too...I'm sure it will pass with time."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"She is my daughter, of course that I care. And this city just gets more dangerous by the day, and those vigilantes don't help.." The Captain admits with a sigh, resting back on his chair briefly.

"And I see that you care too, just ...." his eyes look at Peter squarely, "... promise me you will keep her out of trouble okay?" the eyes of a father that has nothing but worry for his daughter. But then he gestures.

"Go on. I am sure she'd like you there with her.."

And if Peter goes he will find her at the varanda, standing outside, blonde hair in the wind. Her mother will be inside but smiles at Peter quietly before stepping away and back to her husband.

Peter Parker has posed:
There is a slow nod. Peter thinks about Capt. Stacy's words. "I promise that I will do everything in my power to keep her safe, Captain." A pause. "And trust me, I'd be doing that without the promise too." He thinks for a long moment, and decides in this case, less is more. Gwen will probably already be angry for how much he was talking. Really, she knows he is a talker, so why she gets exasperated at him for doing that, he doesn't know.

"I wanted to give your wife some space, but...yeah. I think so." He slips from the table and heads out, passing Mrs. Stacy on the way and offering her a smile before slipping up behind Gwen.

"Hey." he speaks softly, reaching out with both hands towards her arms, trying to rub them to comfort her. "I know it's hard. And I'm sorry. But if it makes you feel better, I think your dad likes me now?"

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Gwen is standing outside, arms around her, perhaps a touch too defensively. Or maybe it's due to the wind being felt tonight that makes that long hair flow around her shoulders and her skirt to ripple. The 'Hey' has her turn to Peter and she offers him a tentative smile.

"Hey.." her tone quiet. Eyes are just a touch red, as if she had been on the verge of tears or had shed some already but a quick brush of the back of her hand over her eyes cleans it. She relaxes further when Peter rests his hands on her arms, some of that defensiveness leaving her, "It's not really fair, is it?" she murmurs, "I have been here for over two years but he always goes back to that time, to the..." she shakes her head to herself. "What about -my- worries about him?"

She takes a step forward to rest her face against his chest, breathing softly against that crumpled shirt. "I am sorry and ..., well, I am glad at least. What did he tell you?"

Peter Parker has posed:
There is no precedent for how to deal with this situation. Peter has no real idea of how anyone could talk through what she is _really_ going through, so he settles for just being there and hoping he is enough. He wraps his arms around her as she leans against him, and he breathes out slowly, making a quiet sound as attempt at being soothing.

"Nothing to apologize for, Gwen. It's a difficult situation." He reaches up to run his hand gently along her back. "He said he can see that we care about each other. I think he likes me. Or at least, appreciates that you do." He gives her a squeeze. "He asked me to promise to keep you out of trouble. And I promised him that I'd watch your ass at all times." Humor always helps, right?

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Gwen finds Peter's presence soothing, relaxing. The hand running on her back has her arch against him quietly, feeling his warmth against her, breathing slowly starting to come down from the nervousness it was at just moments earlier.

"That's something at least. He never likes anyone." is she talking about her old boyfriends?

It's all going well until Peter speaks about that promise. Some tension on her shoulders. "What?" Yea, Peter. Sometimes less is more. "I am not a damsel that needs to be kept out of trouble. I am Ghost Spider, I am as capable as you and..." there's a strain to her voice, as if she was trying to convince herself of that. As if those thoughts of plunging to the darkness down that bridge didn't plague her nightly.

"I can take care of myself."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter breathes slowly, allowing himself to relax as he tries to help Gwen find that relaxation too. "What can I say, I'm a charming friendly neighborhood kind of guy." He gives her a squeeze.

He pauses, and shakes his head. "I don't think that you do, Gwen." He pulls back a bit to look into her eyes. "You're just as capable, if not more, than I am. He doesn't know that. Unfortunately, no one can know that, other than me." A pause. "And _I_ know that because I know how amazing you are, in and out of the outfit, and you can do it." He leans his forehead against hers. "I told him it was not a promise that I needed to make. He needed to hear it, but you don't need me to do it."

He pulls his head back. "But, honestly, do you really think I could keep myself from watching your ass?" Maybe now, humor?

Gwen Stacy has posed:
Those big blue eyes are looking up at Peter's for a good, long moment, taking in those words. How he says it. The way he just seems to know how to have Gwen feel better. She exhales quietly, eyes closing as their foreheads rest together, "Thank you.." she says back at Peter, quiet, intimate.

Arms go around his shoulders, "I just .., I don't want other people getting hurt because of me." like the other Peter had. Died because of her. But she doesn't venture too much down path now because Peter is starting to talk about her ass...

That trademark Gwen eyebrow starts to raise. "Yes, I remember how you were watching it when we were doing the PARKOUR." little bit of a mischievous look to her eyes and she leans up to meet his lips for a kiss.

Peter Parker has posed:
"Anytime." Peter breathes out slowly. Knowing how he can soothe her makes him feel good, that connection that they have. She can do the same for him, of course. It is what makes everything feel so special with her.

He gives her another squeeze. "Neither do I, Gwen. And it's not going to happen." Like the other Gwen had, of course. Bonded in tragedy, these two were, and guilt.

"In fairness, I was watching it during PARKOUR, and after, and ... " He laughs softly. "My time would have been _way_ better if I hadn't, it it also would have been _way_ less fun."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter leans in as well, brushing his lips against hers. For the moment, confident that nothing would go wrong, and that what had brought the two of them there, be it destiny or something else, had made no mistakes.