15832/Where do I find Pizza again

Where do I find Pizza again
Date of Scene:	10 September 2023
Location:	Gotham University
Synopsis:	Scott ends up making a friend out of someone he briefly met in Gotham. He did feel bad about their first meeting.
Cast of Characters:	Scott Lang, Phoebe Beacon

---

Scott Lang has posed:
Standing in the middle of the courtyard for Gotham University is an older man. Some people may recognize him. Others may not, or even question those that recognize him. There's a small crowd, a lot of odd looks of students coming and going, but it'll get word to spread. Whoever this guy is, one thing is clear: He's looking for Phoebe Beacon.

Sadly, these things are like telephone. So, the story becomes warped. Everything from a spurned donor, a would-be rich donor, former lover, weird Uncle, strange Intern, political manager, and everything else. It just depends on how many of these stories will hit Phoebe's ears. And she will have to see what's waiting for her.

At the epicenter of everything is Scott Lang that shows a photo of her and passes out pamphlets for her, "Hey. I'm just looking for this political candidate. She has a good message, likes animals." He doesn't upsell anything. However, he will read straight from the pamphlet to sell her. It may seem kind of sad, if he's a hype man for her.

Scott's wearing a pair of light blue jeans and a simple black shirt. He has a dark blue jacket on that may look like a jean jacket from afar. It's not, but holds a similar shape. Like someone trying to emulate it while offering something different.

A bit strange, but Scott did hear through the grapevine Pheobe attends here. Someone may ask, "What are you looking for her for?"

"Pizza. Why else?" Scott replies like it's normal. He'll be quick to add, "You wouldn't understand. You weren't there and an annoying bug was involved. Fun day. Weird day," he says upon reflection.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Phoebe Beacon was indeed a student here, in her sophomore year, and was in English Composition when the first rumor hit her phone. ONe of her friends had texted about some older guy waiting for her. That she's running for office. That she's in danger of being stabbed by a bug!

    And, after tapping into the security system on her Bat-Enabled phone, se sees that it is not the running-for-office Phillip Glass who's looking for her -- but a very different person.

    She comes out of class, wearing jeans and a denim jacket that was definitely designer over an equally designer T-shirt, because she had to act the part in public. Her pink hair was wrapped in an equally pink hairwrap, and she seems to relax as she makes her approach to Scott's back

    "Mr. Lang? I heard you were looking for me?" she questions, and then with a gentle, rueful smile she asks "... wouldn't it have been easier to make an appointment at Wayne Enterprises?" she jokes.

Scott Lang has posed:
"Then your people would have to talk to Tony's people then they'd have to pass it on to me. Any reply I'd have to pass it back to Tony's people then back to your people," he waves a hand just trying to brush all that aside. "Kind of a lot to go through to get a face to face," he smiles brightly. "And my way -did- work after all. Do you got time to talk? Or when would be a good time to? I'm just in the neighborhood and I forgot to ask everyone where the good pizza joints were. It's really important to find that out about any place they visit," the smile stay son his face. It's all a gamble and the results leaves everything in Pheobe's court. Sure, she could have brushed hm off and made him wait for who knows how long for a meeting. Yet, he's going to take that risk.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Well, the secretaries tend to make my appointments quickly, since I don't often have people asking for me personally." Phoebe gives a smile to Scott, and gives a shake of her head "BUt ah, there used to be a guy who'd show up here and try to bother me, as a head's up. He was a jerk. My boyfriend broke his nose. It was all over TikTok." Phoebe gives a waggle of her hand, shoulders rising up as she winces "Great way to end my freshman year at college. So, we've got a couple of decent pizza places in the area. Coffee shops, and I've got the next hour and a half open." she replies with a smile, and motions to walk.

    "What did you want to see me for? Probably not because of the pizza reccomendation."

Scott Lang has posed:
"And why can't it be for a pizza recommendation?" Scott asks and he will wait for the people to dispense. It's anti-climatic anyway. There's no shock, no drama, just two people quintessentially talking after going "Hey, I remember you!"

Then he'll begin to walk toward her, "Lead the way to this pizza," he gives a soft smile and walks with her. When people just leave them alone more, his real intentions come forward. "I feel bad about the other night. Like maybe I didn't desecalate the situation quick enough. So, I wanted to know what I could do to make it up to your campaign," he looks back to Pheobe.

"Same with Barbara. Y'know, cop girl. She was doing all that police schmoozing. I might have wrecked that a little," there's tangible regret in hs voice. Not quite beating himself over the head, but like his actons caused a planned luncheon to fail.

"I didn't wreck your butler's night. The guy in the fancy suit with a sunny disposition. He must make a great doorman looking all professional with undertones of anger," Scott says as he explains Jason Todd. "I should probably make sure he gets a good lunch or something. That guy clearly earns his paycheck."

At least the secret identities are working out well.

"Barbara did ask if I wanted to own a bat. That was a little weird, but I do wonder if they make good pets," he says honestly as the pair move together.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "All right, Gino's it is." Phoebe comments, and then she gives a small smile. "Oh, it's not... it's not a political campaign. The Martha Wayne Adoption Center runs on funding from the Thomas and Martha Wayne Foundation, founded in their memories by Bruce Wayne. He couldn't make it out there, so my brother Jason -- that'd be the guy in the suit, the butler is way, way more professional looking -- and I did. Austin's not an official family member, but he's pretty much like a brother to me, and the Gordons have been friends with the Waynes since before I got involved." Phoebe states with a small shrug. And she gives a small laugh, and shakes her head.

    "Bats don't make good pets. You need at least four, but colonies can measure in the thousands. Guano makes a great garden fertilizer though." Phoebe considers.

Scott Lang has posed:
"So, Jason is your brother and he's not a butler. There is a butler, but makes Jason look like old news.Then you have an unofficial brother named Austin. Then Barbara isn't your sister, but a good family," he says updating his notes about the Wayne and their connections.

He pauses for a moment, "I don't think my home could handle a colony, but why four? Why is that the magical number?" he asks just genuinely curious. It's the first one anyone has talked about bats with him.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "To be honest I'm not sure, that's just the answer I was given by a Gotham Zoo employee when I asked if I could have a bat. Instead they named a bat pup after me." Phoebe gives a smal smile to Scott as they walk, and they come up to a small hole-in-the-wall pizzaria that has a couple of booths open. Phoebe dips her hand into her backpack and pulls out a wallet and some cash, intent on paying for the two of them -- because she's got an ID with the last name Wayne.

Scott Lang has posed:
"Oh," Scott takes this as answer as fact and won't check into it. "I could have paid," he says honestly on that one as she pulls out the cash. "I'm taking you away from school. So, I can pay for it," he offers.

"So, how can I give back to your cause? I can't endorse it as an Avenger. That's crossng a line, but Scott Lang, the person, can do something," he offers with a smile just wanting to make things right. Even if it doesn't need t be by others' standards. He is trying too make it right with his own conscious.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "You... you don't have to do anything to support it." Phoebe gives a small smile. "You were there and talked Killer Moth out of kidnapping me or my brother. You literally put a stop non-violently to a very public and dangerous kidnapping and then shrank his wings down to like, toy wings?" Phoebe gives a small smile to Scott.

    "REally, you were the hero of the day. End of the day I'm just a rags-to-riches adopted Wayne kid. You kinda just walked up, accepted a bat pamphlet and talked a violent and dangerous kidnapper down... really, there's nothing you need to make up for."

Scott Lang has posed:
Scott waves a hand as if to brush it off, then he points to his head. "Doesn't feel like it in here. Feels like I could have just toned things down sooner or somethng," he admits honestly. Evne if it's not true, it felt real to him.

"I'm just a single dad trying to do right by his kid, society and everything else. I'm simple. Nothing important like a Wayne. Not like you, the police friends and your army f brothers. Just a guy," he shrugs again. To him it's that simple. Yes, he's an Avenger. At the end of the day, Scott is just a guy trying to do the right thing.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Mr. Lang. You are an Avenger. And of all the Avengers I know..." Phoebe pauses, and her shoulders slack. "None of you are unimportant."

    She pays, pizza half cheese, half whatever Scott wants, and two drinks. She takes her own cup to fill it.

    "I wasn't a Wayne until like, last year. My dad was a firefighter, until he got killed on the job." she mentions, "And it's Old News, so don't fret about 'oh, didn't know'. It's OK." she comments with a smile. "Were you there trying to figure out a good pet for your kid?"

Scott Lang has posed:
"Well, I'm not the heavy hitters you know. I do my part, but I do my part to make it a better world for everyone," Scott just sees thing in a very smple lense. "I mean I've got access to some abilities. Not just everyone can do what I can do," the pym particles are a little fickle. It's not quite anyone can pick it up nor is it a powe rno one else can have. It's in a weird happy-medium of the two.

"Bacon. Onions. Extra sauce on the side to drown the pizza. Like it's going for a spa day in a sauce bath," he says with a grina nd looks back to Phoebe.

"How did you get tangled into the Wayne life? That's like hitting the lottery. Look at you!" he marvels a bit. "Who wouldn't want that kind of money?"

Then Cassie comes up and he gives a genuine smile. Some of the snark, or comedic sens, slips from him. "I lost time with my little girl. Nothing I can do will ever get it back. A stupid mistake on my part, irony was, I was trying to give her a better life," he shakes his head. "It's why I cherish our weekends, our weeks, our holidays. Me and her Mother have a friendly relationshp, but she needed to move on and I needed to grow up. I did, mostly," Scott admits he will always be hmself.

"So, I struggle with ways to be a good Dad. Make up for lost time. Avoid upsetting her mother. We're friends at the end of the day, but we'll still clash sometimes. I don't mind making some waves. I just don't want to tip the boat either. So, I was trying to see how getting her a dog would land," he admits and is giving it a lot of thought like a responsible owner.

"I'd offer, but sometimes I work lng hours. Then the whole Avengers stuff. I don't want to neglect the dog-child either. I just want to do right by everyone," he admits and breathes out.

"Just trying to get back into a groove wth it all."

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... my second set of adoptive parents got killed. I was in a bad way. Bruce met me and figured throwing enough money at the problem might help. I was also good friends with two of his other adoptive kids --" Phoebe states as she sits down in a booth "-- so I had a built in support network. Getting adopted just meant that Bruce has access to my information via a carefully balanced conservitorship." she explains. "In return I get to stand in for him at minor charitable events and take notes at meetings. AND I have an office in two Wayne buildings that I can do homework in." she jokes with a small smile. "... trust me. I'd rather have the way things were with my second set most days. Dealing with the corperate grind is *exhausting*." she admits, and gives a smile.

    "At least you're trying for her. It must be really difficult, trying to make up for lost time and balancing being an Avenger on top of it -- so maybe, if you're considering a pet, consider a cat? Daily box cleaning's better than the dog not being able to go out. And in spite of what some people say, they can be really friendly and affectionate... we have a couple of cats around the manor. And apparently I adopted a dog while I was not being kidnapped." she jokes.

Scott Lang has posed:
"I think thee corporate thing is exhausting regardless of Rich person. I do work for Stark. Get me doing my job, just fine. Bust out the paperwork, and it's so exxxhhhasussstingggg," his voice trails a bit, hating that.

"The grass isn't exactly greener with a differrent rich guy," he warns Pheobe in case she considers making a break for it. Other rich folk have their equally dry moments.

"What dog did you adaopt?" he asks curiously while he just chews on the cat thought.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "No, bu, billionaire playboy philantropists are largely the same..." Right Oliver Queen?

    She gives a small smile, and shakes her head "I've got a lot of loyalty to Bruce. He's also putting me through college and maybe even med school, sooo yeah, not going to suddenly jump ship." she replie, and she gives a smile.

    "Ah.. the big white one that just... stood by me the entire time. Turns out he's what they call 'bomb proof'." she shrugs. "I thought he was deaf."

Scott Lang has posed:
"I'm not saying you should jump ship. I'm just saying, the grass is the same shade of green on both sides of the fence. There may be some slight differences, but the same at the end of the day. Little more of X than Y and vice versa. I'll be loyal to Stark, just saying I don't expect Queen's company to be much different on a structural level. Different intents, same paperwork," Scott tries to clear his view.

"'Bomb Proof?'" Scott asks as he tries to fgure out what exactly that means. Phoebe has his curiousity.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "So much paperwork." Phoebe agrees, and exhales in a soft huff. Student, part time work at Wayne Enterprises, she goes through a lot of paperwork to go through.

    "Yeah, bomb proof. He's not really bothered by much. Like, he's got partial deafness, super common in all-white dogs." Phoebe explains, and gives a small smile. "He was just totally unbothered by the dog whistles or all the noise. I mean, he even lost his leash and just hung out with me... so I guess I was CHOSEN by this dog." Phoebe gives a laugh. "He's some sorta bully breed mix. Spent most of the week snoring on my couch at home."

Scott Lang has posed:
Scott can only magine her paperwork load compared to his. "How do you manage all that paperwork?" he asks softly.

Bomb proof has a different definition than he originally thought. "Well, yeah. You got a dog now. What's his name?" he asks. Scott knows when an animal picks you then you're more than likely an animal owner now. "Does he show signs of missing you?"

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I don't sleep a lot." Phoebe admits with a small laugh, and she shrugs her shoulders.

    "Ah... the name he came with from the shelter was Chicken Snuggets and Smashed Potato, so I've just been calling him Potato. And he Potato'd in front of my door this morning to try and convince me to not leave. He's like eighty pounds. A real heckin' meatball of a chonk." she gives a small smile.

    "My other dog is not enjoying having a sibling that's larger than he is."

Scott Lang has posed:
"How come?" Scott asks as he is oblivious to her life and various activities. The lack of sleep would make sense if he only knew.

"So, it sounds like Potato is adjusting. A smile pulls at his lips as he can see this chonky boy plopping in front of the door. An 80 pound sack of non-violent resistance.

"What's the other dog?" Honestly, he enjoys the conversation. It's nice to not feel rushed during a conversation.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Two jobs and school now. NOt a lot of time when you have to memorize different types of blood vessels, their functions and the best ways to stitch them back together. I'm in Pre-med. Did I mention?" she gives a small laugh.

    The pizza arrives, the cheese is still bubbling. Might wanna wait a minute.

    "Potato's adjusting well to being the king of the over-stuffed seat-and-a-half chair and eating the finest home-made dogfoods the family butler arranges for. The other's... an Ibizan and Pharoah Hound cross -- like a smaller greyhound had a kid with a basenji and it keeps complaining about existence. He's only about forty pounds." Phoebe explains with a small smile. "Kids aren't in my future, I don't think, so dogs are going to be the closest there is."

Scott Lang has posed:
"Your veins must be filled with a Redbull, Reign and Five Hour Energy cocktail," Scott's both impressed and worried. "That's a lot. Don't be like the candle that burns out at both ends.

The pizza comes and Scott can practically taste the bacon already. However, Phoebe is right and so he waits. A few key lyrics of a Tom Petty song dance through his head as the eyes do drift back to that delicious looking pie.

"Why don't you think kids are in your future? I mean you're a successful heiress. You could probably tackle Motherhood in your sleep," Scott shakes his head. "No one is ever ready for them, but they can bring out the best in you. Look at me? I'm still working on it. I just know I'm a better man today than I was yesterday. I've got Cassie to thank fr that," he says just coming from the other side of the debate. He doesn't chide, just wants to make it known that Phoebe can do it in his view. Scott also knows the lengths someone would go through to give their child the world. And a lot of times that does brng out the best in someone.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "... actually it's because the guy I'm interested in doesn't think he can do it." Phoebe gives an awkward smile. "We live some pretty phenominal lives; I'm able to travel with my dog..s... now plural, and the only reasons allowances are made for *that* is because of Bruce Wayne's Last Name." Phoebe explains.

    "And that's OK. I know it's not something I'm ready to tackle yet, since I'm nineteen, and two jobs, in college, occasionally hanging out with an Avenger over pizza --" Phoebe laughs, and she grabs a slice of the cheese side.

Scott Lang has posed:
"Oh," Scott pauses not expecting that answer. "Well, that would do it," Scott tries not to blush as he feels a little awkward, too. Nods come from him as Phoebe talks about all the neat things she can do. "You make it sound like I'm Captain America. I'm not even Captain Ant. I'm just Ant-Man. It has been a few weeks since someone confused me for either 'Spider-Man' or 'Cyber-Spider.' I'd call that a win," he chuckles and tries to look on the brighter side of life.

Taking a slice of his side. That Bacon and Onion goodness. "If there's ever a day where you want to change that. Find me. Stark may have something that can help," and he'll leave it at that. Scott has no idea if a device like that exists, it wouldn't be surprising if it does. Honestly, he just doesn't want to think of the logistics.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Like I kept telling Robbie, Avenger's an Avenger." Phoebe comments with a wry smile. "You are all pretty much amazing, or you wouldn't be involved with the group. Or so I hear. I mean, what do I know. Only time I've met with any other Avenger was when I flubbed my rich person check at a party and Van Dyne was ready to pretty much tear me apart socially speaking, so..." she trails off, and she narrows her eyes a minute.

    "... how could anyone mistake you for Spider-Man or the Cyber Spider? That's three entirely different looks, not to mention your costume's all red with silver, isn't it?"

    There's a slight pause.

    "High risk of kidnapping by bad guys means I've had to learn what all the good guys look like."

Scott Lang has posed:
"Yeah. He could ask Tony for something," shaking his head as he takes a bite. When he swallows it then Scott continues, "You managed to escape Janet's tongue lashing. Luuuccckkkyyy," it kind of scares him.

Scott Lang looks at her and shakes his head, "You'd be surprse how I can get confused for others. I think it's the bug theme. Maybe I should take a page out of Batman's bok and scare more people. No one confuses Batman for another Bat," he ponders aloud.

"Well, every good guy appreciates you. Myself included," and he'll grab his glass of soda to give a wordless toast of thanks.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "No. She chased me up to the roof and insulted me and the butler until I lost my cool." Phoebe admits with a shrug. "But she knows I didn't come from money, and being rich isn't that important to me. It's nice, but the best things in life can't be replaced with money. Friends. Family. Not being confused for other rich people." Phoebe gives a small smile, and tinks her glass of soda against Scott's.

    "Don't imitate the Batman. That only works in Gotham, 'cause Gotham's a Bad City. Fear's everywhere. He just sucks it up like some kinna fear vampire and then uses its power for good instead of evil." Phoebe jokes.

    She's definitely not thinking about the time she was in the Bat Cave, was exhausted, and asked Bruce for something in a Middle Egyptian dialect and he made a FACE. Yes. That face. That exact face you are thinking of right now.

Scott Lang has posed:
A nod comes from Scott as she talks about not acting like Batman. "Alright. Alright. I'll try not to act like Batman," he gives a chuckle and shakes his head. "Maybe I'll just call myself Spider-Ant. Land in the middle," he jokes.

"I'll figure it out. Just getting back nto the groove. Maybe coming to Gotham more will help with that and make the place less scary," he says just wanting to do his part n this city when it welcomes him as a tourist.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    Spider-Ant, Spider-Ant, does the things that a Spider-can't. Controlls bugs with pheramones, talks to ex wife on the phone look out! THere goes the SPider-Ant.

    Phoebe folds her pizza in half and takes a bigger bite of it.

    "Well. I mean the local good guys are a tight knit group. Best thing to do might be to kinda reach out to the Bat and say 'hey bee-tee-dubs, I wanna help'." she replies thoughtfully, "But uh... Gotham's kinda the butt of the joke for a lot of people. The city's deadly if you don't know what you're doing and I feel like I'm giving a PSA and you obviously know what you're doing..." she trails off and solves her issue with stuffing her mouth with food.

Scott Lang has posed:
"I didn't think Batman was a calling at randomly type. Or a calling type, period," Scott says and he wonders if Phoebe knows something. She seems to have some odd innerworkings of the Bat-Family. That or maybe she just haerd some really good rumor mill gossip.

Taking antoher bte himself, he'll gve a nod. Just savoring the pizza and the moment. It's nice to have a friend in Gotham. Gets him out of Stark's place more.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "I've seen other heroes in Gotham. We had a Spider for a while. There's a lady with a crossbow. I've seen Superman capes, but a lot of people just seem intimidated by the Bat. Meanwhile I was pretty sure during that year we were No Man's Land he brought me a new bike." she shrugs.

Scott Lang has posed:
"Well, speaking as someone that lives outside of Gotham. Some people say Batman rules the heroic life with an iron first. Like only the Worthy are permitted to enter or work with him. Like Gotham is his kingdom and he'll be the one to cure it on the operating table," Scott says just going over what he's heard. All of it rumors. Just things that come from someone looking in and lives on the outside.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Or Gotham's bad guys aren't a bunch of superpowered lunatics except for a couple of superpowered lunatics. We don't have a Giant Monster problem," other than Killer Croc, "But it's not like we have people trying to rob banks with freeze guns or melta rifles," Looking at you Captain Cold and Heatwave, "just regular guns. An' Batman has like, a different highschooler chilling with him every week, how selective can he be?"

Scott Lang has posed:
"True, but people don't see him outside of Gotham much. It's rare," Scott points out knowing that there are some exceptions. Most of the times Batman stays in Gotham. However, other heroes seem t be a little mor mobile. Yes, most of them have some kind of home turf, but you see these people in more group shots. Batman not too often.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Costume probably isn't camera friendly as Superman's." Phoebe points out, and then she shrugs and motions "Besides, plenty of Bat Merch around. They even make socks with little capes, you know?" she gives a small smile.

Scott Lang has posed:
"Every hero has merchandise. They even have knock off merchandise. Have you seen an Avongers shirt and my personal favorite Aunt-Man," he just looks at Phoeber. "And there's the Avingers with Scant-Man."

Scott gives a smirk. "I think the big picture is: Do guys liike Spider-man get the profit? Y'know, the merch money?" he asks.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Not from the unofficial merch, obviously, but they should from any official merchandising -- but I work in the charities section of Wayne Enterprises, not finance or law... or financial law." Phoebe recounts as she rubs the back of her neck. "So I wouldn't know. I think there's special licensing for Bat Burger for their toys though?"

Scott Lang has posed:
"I'm surprised Batman hasn't sued that place," Scott leans back a little bit. "So, is it any good?" he's referring to the chain. Maybe it'll give Big Belly Burger a run for its money. "Thank you for this evening. it's been nice. I still feel like I owe you, but it's nice to just get out of my normal surroundings," he gives a nod of thanks.

Phoebe Beacon has posed:
    "Sure thing, Mr. Lang!" Phoebe gives a small grin, and a little bit of a wave.

    "Big Belly's nice, but Bat Burger has way more vegetarian options." she points out.

    "Sure thing. Any time you come to Gotham, let me know. It'ce nice to have normal conversations." she laughs.