View source for 16532/Ants and Spiders and Bad Guys, Oh My!

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2023/12/09
|Location=Greenwich Village
|Synopsis=Scott and Julia meet, sparks fly, plans are made!
|Cast of Characters=5020,453
|pretty=yes
}}
{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh come ON! Just stay down, I'm trying to not hurt you, but you're really making it difficult!"<br><br>Arachne wraps the thug into a psyweb, anchoring a line to the wrap and hauling him around, swinging him in a circle before attaching the free end of the line to a tree trunk so the wrapped thug swings around the tree before sticking to the trunk! Straightening up, Arachne glances around the area, taking in the damage to the street and a few cars with a frown, then starts towards the other unconscious or subdued thugs, starting to pile them together with a psyweb line wrapped around all of them to keep them anchored in place until the cops show up.<br><br>Dusting her hands off, she looks around for the unexpected Avenger that jumped into the fight to help bring down the burglary ring that had been plaguing the Village for the last few weeks. Julia just hopes that he wasn't accidentally hurt in the fight, she's no nurse. "Uhm.. Ant-Man? Still here?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Scott is actually near by her, "You know county fairs charge like five bucks for similar rides to that tree stump rush. I'm just saying there could have been money in that," and then he looks over the bodies. "I subdued a few of them, but I'm not a spider. I can't do the web-thing. And the hand motions are wrong," he emphasizes by doing the classic Spider-Man "thwip" motion and nothing happens. <br><br> "And I know you're one of the Spiders. Arachne, right? Should be Spider-Woman if you ask me, but that's semantics," he looks over their work. "Do you think there's anymore? I don't mean from tonight, but these are little fishes that will quickly be replaced when a medium fish finds more little fishes?" he asks honestly. <br><br> He's kind of still so she cannot tell if Scott's hurt or not. "I can't make the call, but if I could, I'd say you'd make a heck of an Avenger," Ant-Man says honestly. Then looks at the bodies. "So, how can I help you with the web thing while not being cocooned in your web?" he asks more than happy to assist.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"That's okay, my webs don't work like that anyways. They aren't even really... physical constructs, so much as psychic ones. So, I don't really make the normal motion either," Arachne offers that tidbit up with a smile that's actually visible, since her mask leaves the lower half of her face exposed.<br><br>Nodding, she offers, "My handler wanted to call me Spider-Woman, I had to remind them that the name was taken already." CHuckling, she lifts a shrug, "I think it suits the current Spider-Woman just fine. I like Arachne." Glancing towards the thugs, she gives a nod, "You're not wrong, which is why this isn't over. It just.. changes from being a fight to being an investigation."<br><br>"Thanks. I'd accept if I got the offer, but until then, I work for a different branch of the government. Still fighting the good fight, just without international approval." She lifts a small shrug before looking towards the thugs all webbed up, grinning, "Not really much left to do there. Just waiting for police pickup at this point. But they'll be there for at least an hour, or until the cops show up. Feel like getting a slice of pizza while we wait?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Yours look cooler anyway," Ant-Man adds. And he will smile as well. Undoing the bottom part of his mask. She can se his smile, too. Then talk about handlers happen. "What's it like having one of those?' <br><br> Nodding to the hero about the name, "I mean I like it. Makes you sound exotic. I mean Ant-Man is kind of basic. I like it, it works, I won't trade it in, but it's not dynamic," he shrugs a little bit. <br><br> More terms about government agencies come about. Again more nods from him, "What will all the other heroes think if they see us eating?" he'll mock clutch at non-existent pearls. "I could go for a slice and the other heroes would wonder why you're slumming it, for the record," and he looks to see a good slice is. "Do you know a spot? Especially one that won't mind us looking like this?" he asks knowing that places have limits about their customer's attire.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Ah, that would be the psychokinetic part of them. They glow!" Julia flashes a grin briefly before lifting a shrug. "Generally it's fine. Occasionally it's a pain in the butt. Especially when they get some sort of administrative hand down from above that totally screws up an investigation."<br><br>Julia gives a small nod, "I like Ant-Man. It's straightforward, no being coy about who and what you are. Don't get me wrong, Arachne suits me just fine. But there's something to be said for a straight forward, no frills moniker."<br><br>Waving off the self-deprecation, Arachne smiles at him, "If anyone is slumming it here, it's you. You're the Avenger, after all. I'm just an operative from some no name little agency buried under the DEO." Motioning for him to follow her, "Johns pizza is just down here. They're used to the masked crowd stopping by on occasion. Especially in New York. Some of us have egregious appetites, and heavy activity makes it worse." She glances back at him with a smile, "You've got pants on, I think that's good enough for John."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Ant-Man nods about the webbing. However, he grins and maybe blushes about the name. "Stop. You're going to make me blush," and he'll wave off the name. it's not really his, but he has grown attached to it. <br><br> "You're the pretty Spider, I'm not slumming it," he says honestly on that front. And he'll follow Arachne. Hearing about John's Pizza, "I mean it's not the weekend. So, he's lucky I guess?" He smirks and tries to keep up. "So, tell me something about you. Whatever you want to share?" Ant-Man asks without trying to push any subject that gets uncomfortable. Ant-Man's identity is pretty public though.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Me? I always figured Spider-Woman got that title... but thank you," Julia smiles towards Scott, glad for the mask that hides her blush. Instead, she gives a nod towards him and chuckles, "Fair. Though I have to admit, I generally have pants on even during the weekend. Hazard of an active life even outside of work."<br><br>"Hmmmmmmmmm... I love to cook. It's a passion. I don't generally order out, except for special occasions. I prefer to cook my own food. If I had the option, I would have a garden, too. Grow some of my own herbs and vegetables." Julia glances towards Scott with a grin, "What about yourself?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Nope. That's you," Ant-Man says again and then he nods. "Alright. I might wear pants more than I let on," Ant-Man concedes. "I have an active life, but sometimes a movie night in is nice," he admits with honesty. <br><br> "I like movies. I can wire up a home's electricity, my daughter is the most important lady in my life," he pauses. "The only lady in my life really," Ant-Man concedes. "You'll have to have me over for dinner some time. It all sounds amazing," and he thinks on it a little bit more. "I play the drums. I'm not bad at them. Even have my own setup at home," and he thinks on it more. "Tell me three things you like to do in life?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Oh, I enjoy a good movie night at home as much as the next person. I actually prefer it to going to the theater, they're just so crowded and gross these days. They aren't paying their staff enough so they don't really make an effort to ensure the places are cleaned properly." Arachne shakes her head lightly and smiles towards him. "Also, I make a mean bowl of popcorn that you can't get at a theater."<br><br>There's a pause as he mentions having a daughter, looking to him with a smile, "That's good to know. My daughter is also the most important person in my life. Glad to know that I'm not the only one juggling parenthood with masked antics." She offers a smile towards him, "Oh lets see... you already know about the cooking... I enjoy sightseeing around the city, going on Pokewalks with my daughter, and learning new recipes."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Movie night some time?" Ant-Man asks. The last time he had a movie night anywhere was just before Halloween at Avengers Mansion. That was fun. "I can even bring a pizza to keep you from feeling exhausted so you can enjoy the movie?" <br><br> "Yep. I juggle that, but she stays with her Mom more," and there's a distinct note of sadness there. Pushing past that, he will try to push past that, "Pokewalks are good. New recipes also good," he pauses for a moment. "I'm leaning about me. And staying out of trouble. " He thinks on it a bit. "Anything you want to ask?" Ant-Man knows there may be questions to be asked.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Masked movie night? Should I make sure my daughter has one, too?" Arachne teases him lightly, though with a smile that invites him to join the joke. She laughs softly and shakes her head, "Better to let me order the pizza.. I think I mentioned having a largeer than average appetite, right? Comes from having a much higher metabolism. I have to eat regularly to keep myself going."<br><br>Julia glances at him and smiles faintly, "I know the feeling. Until fairly recently, my ex and I had one Hell of a custody battle going on." She offers a quick smile of solidarity.<br><br>"I guess the big question would be... are you really willing to jump into the insanity of dating another superhero? We work for different agencies, have unmasked lives we've barely touched on..." Arachne pauses just outside the pizza parlor, looking at him, "I'm not trying to discourage you... just making sure."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "I mean, we could!" Then there's a pause, "You don't have a uniform for your daughter already made? You're slipping Arachne," h tases a little bit. Yes, he's joining the joke. "Noted! Means I don't need to feel bad about extra pieces," he's not afraid f that appetite. Honestly, it's a strange comfort. <br><br> "I'm sorry you had to go through that," his voice holds the weight of a battle like that. It honestly was like that between him and his ex. However, she was justified. Ant-Man was doing time. <br><br> "I would be willing for the right person, but," he pauses for a moment. "I'm public, or close enough to it. That could bring a lot to your life you may not want if anything were to happen," Ant-Man poses the obvious. "Like you, not trying to freak you out. I'm thinking of your daughter because I'd want to know details like that for my chlld," he says understanding how a parent may think. "Plus the complications it brings you.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Not a uniform, but she does have a mask. Just in case." Julia chuckles softly and lifts a shrug, "Never feel bad about how much you eat, especially around me. I can put linebackers to shame." She motions him into the pizza parlor ahead of her and follows him after. "Hey John! Got a Superhero Special you can whip up?"<br><br>Waving off the apology, she smiles at him, "It's alright. We managed to come to terms shortly before he died.. after that, I had to focus on my daughter and making sure she knew she was still the most important person in my life."<br><br>"I'm not public but... I also have excellent security at my condo. The press would be hard-pressed to associate my public face with my masked persona. So.. being known as Ant-Man's girlfriend.. well, I would feel sorry for whoever tried to come to my house looking to cause trouble. And believe me, my daughter knows the score. We've already had to deal with kidnapping villains... they never learn."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Ant-Man will quickly add, "Bacon's on this?" he asks. Then he waits and looks about, being shown Arachne's world. It's nice. <br><br> "Again. I'm sorry," he does feel bad that all of this adversity came to her and her daughter. It's saddening. <br><br> "Careful or I will think you want me back to this magical place you have," Ant-Man smiles at her. "And that person would be very dumb. I'd almost feel sorry for them."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"We can get bacon on it... anything you don't like on your pizza?" Arachne approaches the counter with a smile for the man behind it. "Hey John, get me my usual, please? And half a pie of whatever the Avenger here wants. If he likes it, maybe he'll endorse the parlor, huh?"<br><br>Turning back to Scott, she smiles, "Thanks. It was two years ago now, so less of an issue these days, but we still have our days."<br><br>Chuckling, she leans a hip against the counter and lifts a shrug, "Hey, you suggested a movie night at my place. I'm just following it to the natural conclusion. If you want to come over... we can work something out, I think." Julia offers a quick smile before turning to the counter again to pick up her order. She pulls some folded bills from out of her boot and offers it over to John with a grin, "That should cover both of us."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Ant-Man smiles and nods as he looks at her. "Ummm. Large bacon and pepperoni with extra sauce?" he asks rather than tells. It's her world he steps into. So, the Avenger is being respectful. <br><br> A smile pulls at his lips, "It's the costume, right?" Ant-Man says. Then he look at her for a moemnt and he look at her. "Alright. So, what would you want out of a relationshp. We're both heroes with kids. We know the balance and how the personal world preferences should be," he says softly looking at her. "Let's start there. See if that matches, cause you're definitely Beautiful Spider. I know there are a few spiders that use adjective plus spider in the code name."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>Arachne smiles at him and gives a nod, "Alright. Well... obviously anyone that I'm dating has to understand that it isn't going to just be dates out on the town and my place or yours at the end of the night. My daughter is with me all the time, with the exception of the occasional sleepover with friends, or the two weeks with her grandparents over the summer. A lot of 'dates' are going to involve her being there and she's going to be entitled to an equal amount of attention." Her head tilts and her smile widens, "However, that also means you're welcome to bring your daughter along as well. And maybe, if things go well, we can get you a little more time with her."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Ant-Man pauses and stops. She's holding up the one thing that -definitely- gets his interest. "More time?" The subject seems so foreign. So Alien. He knows his life comes with risks and this and that. For someone to say "More time" is holding the one thing he's wantd since Prison. <br><br> "How?" Ant-Man asks knowing sh knows things. "You're saying things that would make me follow you to Hell and Back."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Well... if your ex sees you doing well, getting into a stable relationship with a single mother... she might be more inclined to be flexible with custody arrangements. And if she isn't, well.. showing that you have a stable personal life, including dating a data analyst for the government.. you might be in a better position to get the custody situation re-negotiated. Also, I imagine that your daughter has some say in who she wants to spend time with... so having a built-in friend whenever she comes over probably won't hurt," Julia lifts a shrug and smiles at him. She's entirely too well-versed in custody battles and how they work. "And with you being an Avenger, that's going to hold some weight, too."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "It's not that we fight. It's not that we this. Or that. I'm an ex-con. Yeah, I've saved the world a few times over, but the law sometimes says that holds more weight than being a hero," he sigh sand looks at her. <br><br> "I was a thief. Not a petty one. I got tempted by a score. I had stopped for Cassie, but a chance to pay for her college, screw over a corporation, it felt like a victimless crime to give my child the world," there's a lot of regret in those words. "Obviously, it went South and I took the 'L.'" <br><br> He looks at her, "Sure you can trust a guy like that around what you cherish most in the world?" Ant-Man asks knowing he comes with baggage and a lot of it. That's something that was to be tested. "I mean i work with Stark Industries now, but my past casts a long shadow."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>Shaking her head, Julia smiles, "That's the nice thing about being on better terms with your ex. The courts can enforce an order already in place... but if both you and your ex agree to a new arrangement, the court *has* to go along with it, unless they feel that your ex is also endangering your daughter. Basically, the courts only get involved when the two parties involved can't come to an agreement. If you two come to an agreement between yourselves, the court has to honor it."<br><br>She cants her head, quirking a faint smile, "I know the story. Like you said, you're a bit famous, and I work for the government. There's a lot of bad guys out there. Someone that was trying to take down corporate assholes to better the life of their kid?" She lifts a shrug, "On the scale of 'law-abiding citizen' to 'supervillain'.. I'm pretty sure you fall somewhere around the 'made a bad choice for a good reason' line."<br><br>Reaching out, she pokes at his shoulder lightly, "The simple fact that you're asking says that you're a better man than you think of yourself."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> And those words give him pause. "You have a habit of making me pause. Between good ideas and sweet words. I'm starting to feel like you're webbing me up, too," Ant-Man concedes for a moment. <br><br> He'll pivot back to something, "Yep. Will I want alone time with Mom? Yep. Does that mean I have to wait until after story time with all the voices and what not? Yep. Is it worth the wait? Yep. Does it beat what happened during the day? Most of the time, No. That's where the real memories are. it'll be a new dynamic becase of cass. She's my priority, but I wouldn't be a wicked step dad or anything," he knows there's a bajillion reaons why he shouldn't due to her skills alone. <br><br> "The real memories are in all the times together. i do think an occasional adult dinner date should be done? Yep. I do. It's just the kid takes priority, always, and you adapt to it. Find ways to make the partnership work even if it's a trusted babysitter, lots of favors, waking up at three-am, running into each other in costume," he starts to list of a bunch of ways to show he's willing to make the kids priority while trying to maintain a partnership.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Nah, just giving you a better idea of where you stand," Julia smiles towards him, then turns as the orders come up. She picks up both trays and offers his out to him with a chuckle, "Come on, we can eat outside and watch for the police, if they aren't here already. Just remember to turn in your tray before you take off."<br><br>Chuckling, she gives a nod, "Exactly. It isn't that we never get time alone... just that the kids will always come first. So.. occasionally we may have to reschedule, either for the hero thing or the parent thing. But since we're both in those boats, I think we can work it out." Picking up her first slice, she takes a bite and chews on it before adding, "And I would fully expect you to put your daughter first, just like I will with mine. If we get to a point of being serious, then we can talk about mixed families and how to work that out. For now, I think we have a good base line."<br><br>She glances down the street to see the first cop car puling up with lights and sirens. The goons still all webbed up and waiting. "Ah, perfect timing. Also... we might be able to occasionally use each other as an impromptu babysitter if a work thing comes up last minute. You're an Avenger, I'm part of the Commission.. we don't really cross paths professionally that often, so if you have Cass and you need to do an Avenger thing, you can always drop her off with me and Rachel and we'll keep her entertained until you can come back."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>Ant-Man follows behind her. His gaze may drift a little because his emotions are just everywhere tonight. What's kept in check with sarcasm and willingness to be the clown to make everyone else smile, that mask of comedy is just gone at the moment. Yes, it's based on some very real personality traits. However, Arachne unmasked Ant-Man and she didn't have to remove his helmet. So, he's going to look a little. She probably feels it.<br><br>Ant-man doesn't pick up his slice. Being someone with a psychological background, Julia knows when she has broken through a patent's mental, or emotional, barrier. She got through one of Ant-Man's.<br><br>"Who are you? Like really, who are you? You're smart, you're funny, you're understanding, you're sexy, you buy a guy like me pizza and offered to be my girlfriend. And yes by the way, I'm not going to leave that offer on the table untaken. Just?," he looks at her, really looks at her. "How is an amazing woman like you still single? Who did I impress to get this lucky tonight? Hell, this month or year," he breathes out.<br><br>This outburst helps him reign in the emotions. Gets his brain back on track to enjoy the police lights. It also reminds him that his stomach is growling. As he talks, hands start to work on his pizza box.<br><br>"You. And people like you are why songs like 'I Want to Hold Your Hand' exist," He'll take his first bite of the pzza. "Ooooooh Man. Second most amazing thing here," he nods with approval to the pizza.<br><br>And he'll eat a little. Each bite helps him slowly slip that mask on a little bit or at least get his brain back to normal. "You called me a better man than I think of. Is that why you would trust me with Rachel?" Ant-Man asks. "Because I'm fine with being Uncle Scott or Whatever Scott. I'll watch her when we need it and I trust you with Cassie. I don't know a higher honor I can give someone," and he gives her a smile.<br><br>"Do we do this with masks on or am I going to see the world's most captivating face? And you know you're getting a Christmas present right?"<br><br><br>"Me? I'm nobody that special. If you want more personal details, we'll have to go somewhere a little less public. You might be 'out' but my identity is still a secret," Julia flashes a quick grin at him before turning her head to watch the cops gather up the thugs. She releases the psywebs as they cuff the guys. Looking back to Scott, she offers a smile, "I've tried to date here and there... mostly I've been ghosted after a week or two."<br><br>Lifting a shrug, she leans back against the exterior wall and chuckles, "As for who you impressed... well, me. I can't speak to any higher powers." Pausing, she adds, "And good.. you can start by coming over Friday night for dinner and a movie. Meet Rachel. Bring Cassie, if you have her this weekend. We can do homemade wings, fries, and salad. If Cassie is vegetarian or vegan, I can even do some cauliflower 'wings' for her."<br><br>Grinning as he praises the pizza, she nods, "John's has been an institution in the city for going on 60 years now." Then she's softening the grin to a smile and gives a nod, "Part of it. But you don't need me to psychoanalyze you. And no, Rachel is extremely bright. That whole 'Uncle' Scott thing would go over like a lead balloon. You can be Scott, she'll be Rachel, and you guys can work out the dynamic between you."<br><br>Letting out a small laugh, Julia grins at him, "Masks off. But not out on the street. And so are you, now. You're welcome to swing by the house to get it."<br><br><br>"You are beyond special. And yes, I do. If you navigate, I can get you to wherever in a way that doesn't involve webbing. You just need to trust me, even when it gets weird," that's a strange thing to say even he knows. "I don't mean to expose yourself publicly, just those you trust. And there's probably a better way to say that," Ant-Man admits as he watches the light show. Psywebs and flashes.<br><br>"I'll drive you away the opposite way. Probably,' Scott says softly. Then the first date news comes up with room for Cassie. "She's kind of on a sweet over spicy kick. IF you<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"I'll drive you away the opposite way. Probably,' Scott says softly. Then the first date news comes up with room for Cassie. "She's kind of on a sweet over spicy kick. IF you could make honey bbq wings or a honey glaze or naked, it'd be appreciated. Oh, she'll eat the cauliflower wings. There's just not a need unless you want to flex. She eats chicken just fine," he continues to watch the lights. "Movie limits for Rachel? I've showed Cassie Space Balls. A little too young for Men In Tights," he says knowing Mom can be a little stricter with the movies. However, Ant-Man respects that line.<br><br>"I can be Scott. I've had a few years' experience being that guy. Noted Rachel's already smarter than me," he grins and nods.<br><br>"Did Santa give you my wish list in advance?" Scott rises from his and starts to board up his pizza. "We getting to wherever your way or my way," he knows they each have distinct methodss of travel. "Guarantee you, you'll never have a ride like it."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"I'm fine with new ways of transportation, but.. uh.. if you need me to navigate, is it going to be a form of travel that's familiar enough that I *can* navigate? Wouldn't want to miss that left at Albuquerque, after all," Julia flashes a quick smile towards him before canting her head at his soft words. She chuckles softly and shakes her head, "I'm not that easy to scare off."<br><br>As far as the wings go, she chuckles, "Oh, Rachel and I eat meat, we're just also very cognizant of others' dietary restrictions. So if Cassie were vegetarian or vegan, we can provide options for that. But Rachel prefers barbecue to buffalo herself, so there will be plenty of sweeter options." Her lips purse up at the mention of movie restrictions for Rachel, "Well... she's still hardcore into things like Disney, Pokemon, Steven Universe... but she's also watched some more 'adult' comedies, too. So mostly a case by case basis. I'm sure we can come up with something appropriate for the both of them."<br><br>Grinning briefly, she chuckles, "In some ways, I'm pretty sure that Rachel's smarter than I am."<br><br>"Oh yeah, the wish list, the reindeer, the magic toysack... be careful, I might just come down your chimney." Julia laughs lightly and closes the lid on her own pizza. Holding up a finger, she collects the trays and turns to deposit them back inside the pizza parlor before collecting her leftovers, "Hmmmmmmmm.. well, we can try your way and if we get lost then we can try mine."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Next thing you're going to say is it's Duck Season when it's clearly Rabbit Season," Ant-Man comments. A smile pulls at his lips as he waits a moment. <br><br> "No dietary restrictions on our end," Ant-Man pauses and wondrs if the ex put up some new items. "Well, Gumball, Regular Show, Adventure Time, My Little Pony, we've watched all those. Dad just wanted a break for a night or two," Ant-Man shakess his head feeling a smidge guilty. <br><br> "I know Cassie's smarter than me," Ant-Man think of himself as an idiot depite having degreess in Electrical Engineering. <br><br> "I'm going to be disappointed if you don't come down my chimney on Christmas. Outfit and all," his voice flat and serious. <br><br> Ant-Man pauses and look at Arachne. He looks off to emptiness. "New Plan. Same idea just scaled differently," he pauses for a moment. Pulling out a disc with a blue dot. Ant-Man tosses it into the air. Suddenly, there's a giant ant in front of them. It's complete with a chair and placess to put the feet. <br><br> "This is Ant-ony. Ant-ony, this is Arachne. She's a friendly," and Ant-Man holds out a hand. "It's like riding a flying horse."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>Grinning at him, she rocks back on her heels, "Sure about that? Pretty sure it's Duck Season. Why else do you think they all run south?"<br><br>Giving a nod, Julia files that away for future use, no dietary restrictions for Scott or Cassie. "I definitely understand that. I introduced Rachel to Labyrinth, Ghostbusters, Big Trouble in Little China, The Goonies..." She smiles at him, "Could also try High Anxiety or Young Frankenstein if you want to stick to a Mel Brooks theme."<br><br>Julia chuckles and leans in a little closer, "Are you thinking of the actual Santa outfit or one of those 'Santa Baby' outfits that inevitably go up for sale after Thanksgiving?" He knows the ones. No pants, the 'coat' turned into a dress with a super short, fur-trimmed skirt. Black high-heeled boots.<br><br>Laughing, she gives a nod, "Alright... new plan." Blinking as there's suddenly an ant-built-for-two that simply.. appears. Letting out a low whistle, she chuckles, "Well, I'll give you this. You sure know how to treat a girl. Alright, flying by ant."<br><br>She'll approach Ant-ony, holding a hand out and letting him get the 'feel' of her before taking Scott's hand, "I'm confident in my ability to stay on the flying ant."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Rabbit season," Ant-Man says with the assurednesss of Daffy Duck. <br><br> "All classics," Ant-Man says with a grin. "I thought maybe Blazing Saddles, maybe" he really needs to rwatch that one. <br><br> "Already talking about dressing sexy for me? I must be doing something -really- right,' he grinss at her and doesn't answer the question. <br><br> "Well, the ant's built tougher than a human. They can withsand the transofmration without years of practice or a suit. I thought of shrinking you down, but realized you don't have a pressurized suit. This was the better option," and he will move to side ahead of her. The he will grab the reigns and the Ant starts to fly into the air. <br><br> "You'll need to guide me Sexy Clause."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Nawwwwwwww, Duck season. Pretty sure," Julia responds almost immediately, offering a brief grin.<br><br>She considers, nodding slowly, "Blazing Saddles IS amazing. We might have to do a double feature. I was thinking Home Alone for the season. Maybe we do both?" Because Home Alone would definitely be more for the kids.<br><br>Laughing, she rests a hand against Ant-ony's thorax and grins at him, "Guess that'll depend on if you're on the Naughty or Nice list. You'll have to wait and find out. Also, I suppose I should ask... do you *have* a chimney I can come down?" She glances around, "The city doesn't have a whole lot of chimneys, after all."<br><br>Nodding as he explains, Julia quirks a faint smile and offers, "If it helps, I'm much more.. resilient.. than I seem. So I may well not need a suit to handle the pressure. Something to play with another time." She hops on behind Scott and off they go!<br><br>"Head towards Brooklyn. We have a condo there, even have roof access."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Rabbit Season," Ant-Man says with an icy yet firm tone. <br><br> "Both Home Alones!" Antman is all in because they're both Christmas movies. They're seasonal. They work. They have over the top cartoon violence, especially in two. <br><br> "Can I get a hint?" and then Ant-Man pause. He adds, "I know Tony Stark. I can get a chimney built in a day if i don't," and it sounds like he would do it, too. <br><br> "We'll have to figure that one out," and then Ant-Man guides Ant-ony toward Brooklyn. The pair flying off toward the place. She can hear the flappng of the wings. It's a mixture of a rollercoaste and horseback riding.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>Pressing in closer, she leans forward, her lips right near where his ear would be (if not for the mask), and whispers, "Duck Season."<br><br>Straightening, she can't keep from grinning, then nods her agreement, "We can definitely do both Home Alone movies. Fair warning, though. Christmas Eve is Die Hard. Christmas morning is all the old Claymation and Seussian Christmas cartoons." Because of course! Also, Die Hard is totally a Christmas movie, and Julia will die on that hill.<br><br>"Mmmmmm... well, Santa didn't give me any coal for your stocking... yet.." she continues to tease him gently, enjoying the banter and encouraging him to continue with it as well. "Well then, as long as you have some way for me to climb down your chimney... I suppose I could be enticed..."<br><br>Thankfully, Spiders are crazy reilient and have amazing spatial awareness and balance. There's no such thing as vertigo or centrifuge sickness for them. So a little dip and dive with the flight doesn't bother her at all! "Next time, I drive and I'll teach you how to swing across the city. It's actually pretty fun.. and I'll keep a safety line between us, so if you lose balance or anything, I can catch you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Ant-Man isn't sure if he should retort or blush on that last one. He kps the regns going. <br><br> "The best Christmas movie of all time,' he says about Die hard. And he'll nod about the following films. "Respect that. I can't argue that logic," and he is mooving faster through the city as she talks. <br><br> "what do I get if I'm -really- good?" he asks, curious on this one. "Don't like flyng this way he says just going through the varius turns and dips heading to Aranche's.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"Hmmmmm.. so watch Die Hard on Christmas Eve, send you home, change clothes, then head over to your place, come down the chimney.. and give you your gift before the kids wake up for presents in the morning?" Julia chuckles as she tries to work out the logistics of doing it all in one night.<br><br>She lets out a small laugh and shakes her head, "Nope, not giving that away. You'll have to make sure you're Very Good until Christmas to find out."<br><br>Canting her head around, Julia looks at Scott, "You don't? Why not?" She'll point him in the right direction, leading him to a nice-looking top-level condo. "If you land on the roof we can just walk down from there."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> "Or we could spend Christmas Eve at my place. Then that saves you a trip. Christmas Day at your place and you just send me to a different area?" Ant-Man poses a compromise. <br><br> "That was a queston," he raelizes the tone is off. "I was posing it as a qestion to you. Don't like flying thi way?" he asks her curiously as he will eventually land the Ant-ony down. His gaze going to hr.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>Laughing, Julia smiles at him, "If we spend Christmas Eve at your place, then I still have to leave so I can get changed and come down the chimney. We can do Christmas morning at my place.. and maybe if you're really good you'll get an encore that night, hm?"<br><br>"Oh! No, flying this way is fine.. but you should try my way sometime too. It's fun!" Or terrifying, if you aren't used to it. Sometimes. Once they land, she gives his waist a small squeeze and smiles at him, "I'm just suggesting we share with each other. You've shared flying ants with me, let me share webslinging with you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:453|Scott Lang (453)}} has posed:'''<br> Holding her from the side, "I Would like to see your world," he says softly. His gaze going to her for a moment. A thought comes to him. <br><br> "I am going to be best boy this Christmas," Ant-Man says and he will hold her close. Then quietly he will try to move her around. Just wantng the two of them in front of each other. he'll lean in to kiss her. The kiss is deep, but the tongue will stay at bay unless she coaxes it join hers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:5020|Julia Carpenter (5020)}} has posed:'''<br>"And you will. Just like how I'll see yours," Julia smiles at him, turning in his arms until she's facing him.<br><br>"I'll hold you to that.." its murmured just before the kiss. Julia doesn't pull away or try to end it, just enjoying the kiss given, and giving it back in turn. When she doesn't pull back from the kiss, Julia reaches up to pull her mask up and over, smiling up at Scott, "I'm Julia, by the way. Julia Carpenter."<br> <br>
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