3889/Coffee and Spider-Webs

Coffee and Spider-Webs
Date of Scene:	21 October 2020
Location:	The Coffee Bean
Synopsis:	Spider-Man meets Taka Hiroshi, and they bond over stopping a robbery.
Cast of Characters:	Hiroshi Taka, Peter Parker

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Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Not in her amateur attempt at a vigilante costume this evening, Hiroshi Taka is attempting to be fully 'Americanized'. And by that I mean she has purchased a Vanilla Latte, and is sitting off to one side by herself.... It has been a long day of classes, and she has her laptop out ahead of her. She has a semi-pretty face that might stick in the memories.
    Taking a sip of her drink, she grimaces a bit. She really -does- prefer tea of course. But she's trying to be American. This is her first year taking -any- of the engineering classes just for the sake of having taken them... and it's starting to feel like she is in over her head.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man walks into a coffee shop...

No, that's not the start of a joke. A guy in a rather...new-looking Spider-Man suit walks in. At first, the barista eyes him warily. She's had issues with masked crooks lately.

However, someone pokes Spider in the ribs as he passes one table, revealing that he is Spidey in two ways. One, the musculature displayed in the suit is not padding. And two, Spider-Man turns to look at the girl who poked him, and says, "Hey, hands off the moichandise..."

He continues to the counter, where the barista asks, "What'll you have?"

"Hot chocolate, please."
The barista looks a little more relaxed. It must be his go-to drink. "Coming right up. Three dollars."
Spider-Man reaches into his backpack and pulls out a meager money clip, handing her a fiver.

As the barista makes the drink, Spidey looks around. Not many people stare. He comes here often, and apart from the suit, he is pretty much like any other customer...

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Okay, a part of her training means Taka is more 'aware' than most folks. So the moment the colorful vigilante walked into the shop, her dark eyes flickered that way. Her bangs hang over her left eye, with a tiny bit of purple dye tinting the hair.
    Okay. She can't help it. She stands up as Spider-Man turns from the counter. Then she gives a formal bow and adds, "A protector of the city must not pay for his own.." She pauses as if trying to get the word right, "Cocoa... Please put that on my credit card sir." She says with a bow. "May I offer the hospitality of my table?" she adds with a small wave of a hand towards the seat across from her.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey blinks. The eye-lenses of his mask actually blinks in surprise. "Uhm...well, if you want to, I wouldn't say no. Well...thank you. And I would like to sit with you, especially if you're buying my drink."

He does drop a few ones into the tip jar. Force of habit.
The barista hands Spider-Man the cup with the paper sleeve for insulation, and Spider-Man walks over to Hiroshi's table, bowing slightly before sitting down across from her.

"Uhm...hello, I'm Spider-Man. You can also call me Spidey, or even Webhead. And you are...?"

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Bowing her head once more, her hair styled in a -very- non-Japanese fashion, and her long-sleeve hoodie showing the logo of some local indie rock band on its chest... Taka remarks, "You honor me. I am Hiroshi Taka, and believe me, it is far more interesting to speak with you Spider-Man, than to try to do impossible Engineering homework."
    She sips her Latte once more, grimacing just a tiny bit.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man lifts the mask up to just above his nose. Caucasian, clean-shaven, sees a dentist, but otherwise nothing special.

"Well, I'm always glad to meet a fan. I..." He tilted his head. "Engineering? Are you having trouble with a particular concept?"

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Turning her laptop about, Taka shows one of the standard projects for first year Engineering students. A truly basic one that her player can't really name. "I am a Philosophy major, but my father has told me that I am to take at -least- two Engineering courses."
    That said, she shrugs and wraps both hands about her hot beverage, warming her fingers as they poke out of the hems of her sleeves.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man nods. "Applied Physics, it looks like. Conversion of energy?" He looks back to Hiroshi. "If you're curious about anything, you can ask...but if you'd like, maybe I can help you with this exercise? I know a little about engineering."

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Eyes lighting up a bit, brightening in the dark liner she wears around them, Taka smiles. "You are familiar with these concepts? I am far more comfortable with... more intangible concepts such as ethics."
    "For example. Why do you do it? Why do you risk -your- life for strangers, many of which believe the propaganda spewed by the Daily Bugle?" she asks.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man sips his drink, looking thoughtful. "Let me answer your questions, and then maybe I can give you some tips to help with your physics course."

He paused for a moment, "It doesn't matter what other people think, Hiroshi. People are entitled to their opinions. But what matters is what you do with the gifts you are given. I say this a lot, but it's what I believe more than nearly anything else. With great power must come great responsibility. I have these gifts that I can use to help people...so if I don't help people with them, I'm squandering them. Being selfish with them. I was selfish with them once...and it cost me more than I can say. So...I help people. Try to, anyway."

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    "Please. Taka. I forget American name custom." Taka states with a small giggle. "Hiroshi.. family name. Taka my name." Yes. She is playing up her Japanese accent because she finds that amusing sometimes.
    She bobs her head though at the explanation and inquires, "My Grandfather told me once... a European author... Edmund Burke, penned a line." and she pauses to get it -just- right. "?The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing..." And she grins, "Arigato for not doing nothing Spider-Man."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey chuckles. "Good line. And it's still true. So Jameson can say what he wants. He will give his opinion at the drop of a hat...I wish I had a hat so i could drop it, but oh well...but he always keeps his opinion to the editorial page. Beyond his problem with me, he actually runs a pretty tight ship at the DAILY BUGLE. It's been years since he's had to print a retraction on any factual article. So he's not all bad, really." He shrugs. "I know the Avengers and the Justice League handle massive problems. I'm just...I just want to help the regular person on the street. Nothing too grandiose. A lot of New Yorkers can always use the help."

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    "Hai." agrees Taka. "Scale does not make a heroic deed more heroic. Saving the world, or saving one young single parent.. is just as heroic. One should be on the lookout for the people. Watching over them. Those who cannot defend themselves deserve to be helped." She nods her head in support. "Forgive the questions. I ... what do Americans say... Devil's Advocate?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man smiles. It is a pleasant smile, without trace of sarcasm or snideness.
"Hey, you can ask whatever you want. I may not be able to answer them, but at least I'll tell you why I can't answer them." He sips his hot chocolate, mmming. "Anything else you'd like to know, or..."

He pauses as that little tingle comes up. He looks around, then whispers, "Stay calm. There's a guy coming up the line to the barista, and he came in with two guys who are standing near the door. I think they are going to try and rob the joint."

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    "It seems a popular pasttime at this establishment." says Taka calmly as she scans the scene herself. She is not in costume, so does not really want to show off. But she doesn't want anyone getting hurt here. Okay there are three people she wouldn't mind hurting.
    "Worry about the others Spider-Man-San. I can take care of myself." she adds as her hand reaches into her backpack, producing what looks like a set of nunchaku that are -not- attached. Small sticks? Tiny clubs? They are made of some lightweight metal at least.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looks at the fighting sticks. "Okay...I'll go to the ringleader. His two friends will want to get involved. If you can mange it without getting hurt, take the one on the left."

As he stands, the man with the blonde hair and the army coat looks startled as "Spider-Man" stands up and walks over to the counter. "Any chance I can get a refill...?"

The barists looks surprised. "Uhm, you have to go to the end of the line."
"Come ON, just top it up! Jeez...!" He turned to the blonde, then said, "Can you IMAGINE these slackers? I just..."

THWIPP, THWIPP!
The blond blinks as he sees his right hand webbed to his pocket and his feet webbed to the floor.

The two men flanking the door move forward, and the one on the right has a sawed-off shotgun.

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Well, not exactly fighting sticks. Taka doesn't even get up from the table. She merely assembles her weapon calmly, attaching the two sticks together and fastening them with a click before turning and activating a stud in the side... suddenly as the webbing is deployed, a seven foot Yari (spear) telescopes from her position.. the tip of the blade a hair's breath from the neck of the attacker Spider-Man indicated as hers.
    "Please. Do not seek to... make my day. It would really not be fun for either of us." she states as she stands up, speartip remaining aimed unwaveringly.
    But then she narrows her eyes and stabs forward and down with the spear... the blade pushing through the man's jacket and ripping out the back of the jacket with his handgun speared.. the blade sticking through the finger-guard.

Peter Parker has posed:
The guy on the left STARES at Taka, not expecting her to just come out of nowhere. Her spear seems to be out of play, and he reacts instinctively, swinging at Taka's face with a right cross.

The guy with the shotgun has it raised when a webline wraps around the end of the barrels, and then it is jerked from the guy's hand, landing in Spidey's hands. He opens the shotgun, ejecting both shells, then drops it.

"Buddy...just stay right there."
The man on the right gapes at Spider-Man. "That's...not a Halloween costume? It looks so...CLEAN."

"Everyone's a critic..." Spidey sighs.

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    Everyone assumes that the head is the only part of the spear that is used in a fight. Taka is basically a master of Yarijutsu. As the young man tries to swing for her, she sighs and leans back as she lifts her hands.. using the haft of the spear between them to intercept the man's attack. The effect of this is to make his fist strike titanium with a bit of a sickening crunch.
    She steps closer, inside his reach, and uses her shoulder to shove him over the foot that she had already slide around his stance and hooked behjind an ankle.
    "There is a concept known as... laundry. Something which you should consider making use of more than once every year." she offers.

Peter Parker has posed:
Taka's opponent lands flat on his back, the breath bursting out of him. He is about to get up when a thatch of webbing pins him to the floor, and then the shotgun-less crook is webbed to the wall.

"Isn't she great, folks?" Spider-Man starts applauding, and a few others join in.

Hiroshi Taka has posed:
    "Please. I was on my way to visit my Sensei for further training. I am nothing special." Taka states softly with a shake of her head as she retracts her weapon and snaps it apart.
    She reaches to stuff the smaller sticks into her bag before she blushes and sits back down. "Please. The real hero did most of the work." She adds.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man took his half-empty cup and walked back to the table. "You were the real hero when you stepped up. Training and gifts are a lot, but they are nothing without the decision to use them. And THAT...was all you." He waits for Taka to sit down again before he follows suit. "The barista called the cops, they should be here in a few minutes..."