16334/It's Good To See You Peter Parker

It's Good To See You Peter Parker
Date of Scene:	14 November 2023
Location:	Empire State University
Synopsis:	Norman bumps into Peter Parker at ESU and takes him to lunch
Cast of Characters:	Norman Osborn, Peter Parker

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Norman Osborn has posed:
The three black SUVs parked along the edge of the sidewalk beside the Norman J. Osborn Science Building are a little out of place on the urban campus of Empire State University. Though most students don't give them more than a glance as they head past, on their way to class or to get lunch.

Lunch is also on the mind of Norman Osborn as he walks down the hallway towards the exit of the building that bears his name. A step behind and to the side is his assistant, Jeffrey, carrying a large tablet which at some point in the last twenty years replaced the binder that Norman's assistants always had with them.

Beside him and walking even with Norman is the Dean of Science. The Dean reflects his field, a small somewhat mousy man with glasses that aren't Coke bottles but that he'd have difficulty seeing without. "We are most appreciative Norman. I'll have the information for the grant sent over tomorrow," he says as the two approach the door.

"Today, end of today, Jim," Norman says, shaking the Dean's hand even as he makes the quiet demand of the man. "Good seeing you again. And tell your boss I'm looking forward to seeing him up at Shinnecock Hills on Sunday. Tell him he'd better bring his A game," Norman says, mentioning one of the better golf courses in New York.

Peter Parker has posed:
"Mister Osborn!" The call is a little faint, and easily lost in the hubub of the foot traffic around the science center.

Peter tries again. "Mister-- Mister Osborne! Hey!" he shouts, and starts running in the direction of the SUVs. When Norman finally hears him and looks over, Peter sighs in relief and slows to a steady jog. He closes the space quickly enough, lifting a hand in apology as he nears.

"I'm-- 'm sorry sir," he says, huffing a bit and trying to force his breathing to slow down. "I'm so sorry I was late for the meeting," he apologizes with real chagrin. "My lab professor didn't believe me when I told him I had an appointment. I hope it went well. Oh, and Harry asked me to give you this if I saw you," he says, and pulls his heavy bookbag around to root through it.

Papers, books, and a pencil case spill out while he searches. He flails once, trying and failing to prevent the spillage, then sighs in resignation and goes back to digging through the papers. Finally he comes up with a manila folder and stands, offering it to Norman. "It's the feasibility study for that park you asked us to look at," he reminds Norman. Peter hesitates, then bends over and starts quickly picking up the loose items from his bag. "Remember, the water table thing?"

Norman Osborn has posed:
Norman Osborn breaks out in a big smile as he sees who it is. "Peter," Norman says warmly, moving over towards the college student, leaving the Dean to follow along in his wake. The greetings Peter gets from Norman are typically warm, as he frequently holds Peter up to Norman's son Harry as an example that Harry could strive to live up to when it comes to accomplishments.

"No worries, Peter," he says, taking the report when it's finally produced. "Yes, thank you for working on this," he says, immediately handing it off to Jeffrey who puts it into a pouch on the cover of the tablet. "So how are you, lad?" Norman asks, looking Peter over. "Looks like you've been spending too much time in that lab. They do make you take physical education don't they?" he asks.

Norman turns to the Dean. "Parker here is going to be a great mind, you mark my words, Jim. ESU can do well to keep recruiting people of his standard."

The Dean gives a quick, sycophantic nod. "Yes, yes, very promising," he says to agree with the school's largest benefactor.

Norman turns back to Peter. "I was just going to grab lunch. Are you free to join us? You can tell me what Harry's been up to. I find it hard to believe he actually is studying as often as he claims," Norman says in a light-hearted voice. Though he's rarely that light-hearted with Harry.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter's stomach growls audibly when Norman mentions food. "That-- that would be great," he admits, gratefully. "My cafeteria card ran out and I can't reload it until next month. It's been OK, though," he hastily reassures Norman as they walk to the back of his car. "May's been packing me lunches when she can."

There's a little awkward shuffling with Peter and the chauffer before he piles into the back of the luxury car. It takes him a few seconds to figure out how to maneuver gracefully into the backwards-facing seats, and he sits down heavily with his bag clutched in his hands on his lap.

"Harry's been really busy, actually," Peter assures Norman. "I told him he's taking too many credits but he says he wants to get done as fast as he can so he can start doing 'real work'," Peter explains. "Which is cool, he's got a bunch of awesome projects in mind. Stuff he wants to build or design or put into practice. Like this really cool adaptation of a Tesla valve to filter out heavy contaminants in a water supply."

Norman Osborn has posed:
The vehicles whisk them away through the midday New York traffic. "Well good, Harry has always needed a fire lit under him," Norman says. "I think it's good, having you around him, Peter. And good that he seems to have moved on from some of those others you went to high school with," Norman says. He was never quite approving of Mary Jane Watson, having called her a distraction to Harry.

"I'll have to have him show me what he's got in mind," Norman says, glancing over at Jeffrey who is already making a notation on the tablet to have a reminder.

Before too long the small caravan of vehicles pull into the parking of a restaurant. Peter might not be familiar with it, but then it's just emerged on the trendy dining scene for the high society set. "Are you a steak or a seafood eater, Peter? I hear this place has a fantastic ribeye, and the lobster is said to be nearly as good," he tells Peter, clapping the young man on the back once they are out of the car and heading inside. There's no difficulty getting a table, they appear to be waiting for him and a server takes them to be seated right away.

Peter Parker has posed:
"Uhhh..." Peter shifts his weight from foot to foot, self-consciously. Norman's in an immaculate three-piece suit complete with dress shoes. Peter's in worn out old snakers, jeans, and a slightly over-large flannel shirt that belonged to Uncle Ben. He can't drag his feet for too long, though, because Norman sweeps in like the tide. Peter hurries to catch up and catches a glance at the menu. It provokes a pained wince, and he surreptitiously touches his wallet.

"I guess ... I'm more of a steak guy?" he hazards. Thank goodness there's no dress code here, which is rare in an upscale New York eatery. "I mean, I like lobster. May takes me up to New Hampshire once a year on a day trip and we eat them fresh off the boat. But it's hard to get a good steak."

Once Norman sits, Peter pulls out a chair and slings his backpack under the table.

A waiter walks up. "Hot towel, sir?" he says, offering one to Norman and Peter.

"Yeah, thanks!" Peter says, and promptly uses it to scrub his face. "Ooh, lemons!"

Norman Osborn has posed:
Though Peter's attire might get a glance or three from others there, the staff don't seem to show any visible issues with it. Not where Norman can see them anyway.

Norman takes the towel, wiping his hands and his face before passing it back to the person. Norman orders two glasses of a bottle of wine which Peter probably isn't familiar with, saying to the younger man, "Excellent vintage, I think you'll like it."

As they are pouring the wine, Norman orders for the both of them, getting ribeyes for both and letting Peter tell them how he likes it cooked, and what sides he'd like.

"So how are your own studies going, Peter? How long until you're set to graduate?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks a little relieved when Norman just starts calling the shots. The twenty-two dollars in his wallet was intended to be used at the hardware store on the way home, and it would have gotten him approximately 2/3 of their cheapest appetizer on the menu. "Oh, uh... medium?" he hazards, and glances at Norman. "Medium... rare?"

The younger man reaches for his water and takes a few fast gulps. "Wow, that is tasty water," he mumbles. "Oh, school, right-- well I've got about a year and a half left," he tells Norman. "I got into a great study program and I had a lot of AP classes from High School that transferred over. I'm just not sure if I want to get right into the workforce or stay and maybe go for a Master's or professional degree," he hedges. "I liked the internship I had with Stark Industries but it was pretty, um, overwhelming, to be honest."

Norman Osborn has posed:
Norman takes a sip of the wine as it is delivered. "Stark has some good electronics," Norman says as if he's conceding something even by making the statement. "Though you are better suited for bio-medical or chemistry, Peter. I want you to consider an internship with Oscorp next year. Harry would no doubt like to have you around," he says, Harry having done an internship at Oscorp last summer. Though he'd told Peter he'd really hoped to go sail the Mediterranean instead.

"And how is your aunt doing?" Norman inquires. "Is she still involved with... what was the name of that charity? The one down on sixth street, right?" he asks, before taking another sip of the wine.

The waiter brings out an appetizer. Skewers of Octopus, chorizo and pickled purple carrots. The combination quite mouth-watering. Norman picks one up, eating it between talking with Peter.

Peter Parker has posed:
"Oh, uh... gosh, Mister Osborn. Thank you," Peter says. He's a little thunderstruck by the suggestion. There's a little moment of self-doubt there, too-- the internal critic asking himself, 'Am I getting the offer because I'm good, or because he wants Harry to be near his friends?'

Down that road lies madness, and Peter shakes off the question before it festers in his mind. "May's doing great. FEAST is really doing well. She says it keeps her off the streets, which I don't get, but it, uh..." he picks up one of the skewers and gives it a once-over, expression both slightly unsettled and utterly fascinated. He wiggles the skewer experimentally to observe how the tentacle dances.

Bounce, bounce bounce-- Peter looks up and realizes Norman's staring at him while he's playing with his food, so he quickly takes a third of the skewer off in his teeth and chews hungrily.

"But yeah, she's keeping the place open. Somehow. I have to get lightbulbs on my way home," he says, more reminding himself than sharing with Norman. "The ballasts keep blowing out in her office."

Norman Osborn has posed:
"Good, good," Norman says, the slight look of disapproval fading once Peter stops playing with his food at eats it. "Good to know someone is looking out for others," he says. Tone sounding like he's including himself in those who do such charitable work. Or write checks now and then when it's good publicity.

Their meal arrives soon after. The steaks are cooked impeccably and smell delicious. The sides are amazing as well. Truffle potatoes, and how they make asparagus taste that good is a mystery. "Well, pass on my best wishes to her, of course," Norman says to Peter as he digs into his food.

Jeffrey comes by the table from wherever he's been waiting. He shows Norman something on his tablet which gets a quiet grunt from Norman. "Move my meeting to make room," he tells his assistant, the man apparently doing so even as he disappears across the dining room again to somewhere out of sight.

"Peter I'm afraid I'm going to have to cut this short. You said something about your Aunt liking lobster, I believe?" he asks, but is already flagging down a waiter who is ready at hand, before waiting for Peter's answer. "An order of the lobster to go," he tells the waiter before turning back to the table. "If I have to depart early, can you catch a ride back to campus on your own?" he asks.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter gets awkwardly to his feet, bumping the table loudly with his knee. "Yes-- oh-- yessir," Peter gets out, the words spilling awkwardly out around Norman's remarks. "Yes. I mean, yes, I can get home, there's a bus station not far from here," he assures Norman. "I'll tell May you said hello, too," he promises.

Norman's walking away when Peter adds-- "and thanks for dinner!" --but he remembers too late to catch Norman's hearing in time. The young hero sits down at the huge table, by himself, and starts digging into his meal. When he's sure no one's looking, Peter reaches over and takes Norman's leftover steak, also.

"Man, I really hope he doesn't stick me with the bill," Peter frets quietly.