13804/Arachnophilia

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Arachnophilia
Date of Scene: 10 January 2023
Location: Kraven's Estate
Synopsis: Kraven learns that Calypso has a clever plan. If you can't beat him, become him.
Cast of Characters: Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy




Peter Parker has posed:
He sits, fingers pressed together into a triangle before his face, index fingers resting atop the bridge of his nose. Peering over his hands, he watches the frolicking figure on the screen, the only sound the quite repeated rattle of the film from the projector next to him. The figure leaps, the figure swings, the figure crawl. Rattattattatatatatat.

The small dust motes float in and out of the path of the only source of light in the room, casting this way and that as the man's eyes seemingly bore a hole between him and the images playing out before him. It has been nearly three days that he has done nothing but watch these various filmed escapades. Taking his meals while studying the various fights and flights of the figure. Analyzing every move. The way the body twists. The capabilities of his feats of strength. Focused entirely on one, simple question.

What can Spider-man do?

Gwen Stacy has posed:
"You do not catch spider through television."

The voice echoes in the room. A familiar voice, tinged with that french and creole that tells of a haitian heritage. Is she there though? A cursory glance will reveal that indeed she isn't. Mind communication, one of her many powers.

And whatever else she is using to watch what the man is doing.

The silence doesn't linger long and eventually that voice is heard again. "Come to my den. I may have a way for us to deal with that spider." a beat, "But tell me, have you ever wanted to be a spider?"

Her laughter rings in the air before it fades.

Peter Parker has posed:
There is a flicker of annoyance on Kraven's face at the voice. "But to defeat prey, you must know the prey," he says, in defense. Not that that is entirely true. What does the lion need know of the zebra, other than it runs faster in a straight line than when turning?

The invitation meets with a certain dissatisfaction. If only because this was a foe he wished to conquer on his own. But he had many attempts, and no successes. A finger flicks off the projector, the rattle of the film coming to a close. He does not give any words in answer, merely rising up from his seat. She will know he is coming.

Her words echo in his mind as he moves to put on a shirt and prepare to depart his home in search of her lair.

"Be a spider..."

Gwen Stacy has posed:
There is an underbelly in New York that few know of. Deep below, tunnels lost in time, past the sewers. A perfect place for a those of a mystic bent to operate without being noticed. The walls drip with ichor, faintly revealing the wards underneath when Kraven goes past the tunnels. He's close now. Those wards serve as a warning, and as protection. For what fool would dare to come within the lair of a voodoo priestess?

The walls give way to a large antechamber. Figures in the dark wait, unmoving. Those eyes can be noticed glazed over. Full white. Are those people even alive still? But they do not move for Kraven, they simply allow him passage, further below...

"You have come." Her voice echoing but this time it isn't disembodied. The priestess is standing on a large chamber, the walls and tables riddled with various instruments and artifacts of her trade, be it bones, vials, blades..., voodoo dolls. And at the center the nubian stands, dressed in a long tunic that goes to the ground, slits to the sides to allow ease of movement. She has her back to the entrance and is busy with something, a sickle in her hand cutting away at something.

Peter Parker has posed:
By now Kraven has gotten used to Calypso's lair. Or as used to it as any can become, really. The eyeless ones still unnerve him, and he has stood in front of a charging rhino!

He picks his way carefully down among the detritus of the tunnels, heading along until he has come to the priestess. "You said you had a way for us to deal with the spider," he says, patience already eroding. Perhaps it is spending days in isolation staring at the one foe he cannot defeat, but Kraven lacks any temperament for politeness right about now.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
The sickle is put to the side, a dark red liquid staining the blade. "Yes." her malicious voice eager, "I have come across an item that will give you an advantage." she finally turning, eyes bright, focused on Kraven while her long, clawed nails rap alongside the table.

"It will allow you to -be- the Spider." she says, "For as long as you want.." her arms opening to her sides, those claws dripping red.

"And all we will need ..., is something from him. A hair, skin." beat, "A eyeball." the curve of her smile ever dark.

"You will be in his body. And he will be in yours." She explains. "For a price."

There is always a price.

Peter Parker has posed:
"An advantage?" Kraven looks on with interest at the table, wondering just what dark things she is conjuring up. But if it will help...sometimes the darkness is better than the void of nothing.

"Interesting. The spider, itself, should be the predator, and not the prey." He rubs at his chin in thought. "Oh, the prey he could pursue if he were to accept his natural role. While I..." He nods along with her thinking. "He did nothing to earn the gifts of the predator, wasted on a mere protector."

Kraven turns his head and spits. In more polite company or nicer environs, it might be a problem. Here, it simply adds to the ichor about. "I should rather like to have both eyes if it will become my body, so hair shall have to suffice." He makes a face. Calypso is dramatic always. A missing eye would throw off his aim too much.

The price. There is always a price. He should ask what the price is.

"I will return with the hair."

Whatever the price is, he would pay it.

Gwen Stacy has posed:
That loud laughter of hers echoes through the chamber as Kraven debates not wanting to lose an eye, "Everyone is always so possessive about their body parts. They hold so much power." the laugh eventually subsiding and she inclines her head.

"Yes, you will." She assures the hunter, "And then we shall begin the ritual. Do not delay it much for the moon is right." and that Kraven does not even ask what price he will have to pay?

That only makes the priestess laugh again. Yes, she knows he'd pay anything to beat this prey.

"Are you ready to become the predator you are meant to be?"

Peter Parker has posed:
"It is not so much power as it is utility." Kraven's voice is tainted with annoyance. "But why mar the temple before I move into it?"

He looks upwards, regretting it immediately as he spies things crawling on the top of the chamber that he would like to never see again. "I will not delay," he promises, before turning to look back at the priestess. "I am ready to become the predator. If I cannot claim him as prey, I shall claim him and the world shall see who the most fearsome predator is."

Not he seems to be bothered by the prospect of cheating, or that no one will associate his name with it. He has only ever sought for his own satisfaction.