4380/...But Satisfaction Brought Him Back

...But Satisfaction Brought Him Back
Date of Scene:	11 December 2020
Location:	Bethesda Terrace
Synopsis:	Someone from Metropolis wants to interview Spider-Man. Who knew?
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Terry O'Neil, Jessica Drew

---

Peter Parker has posed:
It was an interesting message Betty Brant had for Peter when he came in.

"Some guy called. From the DAILY PLANET, no less..."
Peter winced. "Does JJJ know?"

"...P*A*R*K*E*R!!!"
Peter flinched. "...He knows."

One EXHAUSTIVE explanation about how he would NEVER give anyone else right of first refusal for his pictures, he had gotten the message. An intern from the PLANET, wanting to interview...Spider-Man.
Was Supergirl out of town? Superman offworld saving the galaxy? Batman, well, he was pretty scary, but...
Spider-Man. Hunh. Honest curiosity piece, or did the recent Spider-Fail.com post remind them they needed more clowns?

Well, God hates a coward.
Peter sent back a phone number to let this guy O'Neil know to contact him if there were any issues, and that Spider-Man would be at the Central Park food-truck kiosk near Bethesda Terrace at noon on Friday.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Excellent!" Terry had said, "Let him know I'll be in the Wonder Woman hoodie."

It was an odd thing to specify, but when the news cycle started picking up the fact that Terry O'Neil had revealed to the public that he was Vorpal of the Titans, it was more understandable. Although he was't particularly remarkable as a human and possessed only what some people call 'boyish good looks' (by which they mean 'dude you still look like you're effin' twelve, when is your head gonna catch up to the rest of you?'), his face was probably rpetty recognizable after the social media post. At least for the next half-second before something else becomes hot news.

Still... he loved food trucks and the kiosks at the park. As someone perpetually clse to bankruptcy, he culd appreciate the variety and the quality... and their affordability.

Approaching the kiosk, the redhead is true t his words: A hoodie with Wonder Woman's logo emblazoned across the front and back, blue hood pulled up over his head to hide his hair, and sunglasses. Reaching for his phone, which also doubles as his wallet, he glances around to see if a familiar red-and-blue figure is easily spotted. If he's early, he could grab a quick bite.

Peter Parker has posed:
He's late. Again. He's kinda busy ghosting gunfire to text Terry, and then it's just websling like heck and hope he isn't too late.

When he appears at the edge of Central Park, he comes out from between two buildings like a bullet fired from a gun. It looks like he is going to fail to "feel the Force" and auger into the lake, but he fires two weblines, hitting two street light cables, and slingshots himself about 150 yards to catch hold of the streetlight above the kiosk parking area, swinging up and over to land on the arm of the light pole.

In the Olympics, it would get you a gold medal. Right now, it means he is only FIVE minutes late instead of TEN.

He looks around for the guy in the Wonder Woman hoodie, wondering if Diana gets a cut, or if it just goes to her people...

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Five minutes late means that there is someone who is thoroughly enjoying his hot dog. Terry is checking out the area for any sight of Spider-Man, but doesn't seem terribly concerned that the weslinger is late. As a 'cape' himself, he's had issues with punctuality himself. He resists the urge to dig out the police scanner app, since the Bugle will probably blast some invective or other over their social media if Spidey has been sighted doing something somewhere. So for now he just walks and looks, looks and walks...

And then it seems to hit him that he's looking at the wrong altitude. He glances upwards and then his face breaks out into a grin when he notices the figure on the arm of the light pole, and he raises a hand in salute but makes no sound. He gestures in the universal sign for 'where?', asking which direction Spider-Man wants him to go for their meet-up.

Okay. Terry /thinks/ it is the universal gesture for 'where?', but he has absolutely no empirical evidence that backs up his assertion. For all he knows, he might have just asked Spider-Man if he wants parmesan cheese with his meal.

Peter Parker has posed:
Oh...there he is. Yeah, that hoodie's a dead giveaway. Maybe if Terry was pointing a gun at someone, he would nave noticed faster?

Spidey looked around, then pointed to the north side eating area, next to a big blue food truck with BIG JAKE'S CHILI DOGS printed on the side.
He hops to another light pole near the table, then drops off and lands in the grass, a 40-foot drop easy. He straightens, then brushes himself off...and finds a groove burned in the suit along the upper arm. The skin is grazed, a little blood did flow, but it's already healing. Adrenaline, what a potent mix.

The guy's eating already. He went for the hot dog, but did he get the chili? Jake's wife makes it fresh every night.

"Hey there, Charlie. Is my money any good?"
The guy in the truck grins. "Not by a long chalk, Spider-Man. Your usual?"
"Yep. Cherry coke."
He turned to watch Terry as he approaches, raising a gloved hand in greeting.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Terry steered away from the chili, mostly for professional reasons. Chili was messy and you couldn't hold an interview with stuff down your shirt. As he approaches the truck, his grin widens and he holds out a hand,

"Spider-Man, I'm Terry O'Neil from the Planet. You knew that. I'm also Captain Obvious in my spare time. Pleasure to finally meet you. That was one hell of a jump back there."

He takes the chance to grab a few more paper napkins to wipe away any mustard or ketchup from his face, trying not to be self-conscious about it. Lowering his glasses, he notices the groove in the suit and raises an eyebrow. "Looks like you had some fun on your way here."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles slightly. "Yeah, sorry I'm late. There WAS eight of them, y'know. The cops are dealing with 'em now. Nice to meet you, Mr. O'Neil."

He shook Terry's hand formally. No alpha-male strength tests or anything like that. "So...you want to interview me? I'm flattered...but a little confused, too."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Terry smiles, "You don't need to apologize, I've been kept waiting on all sorts of places when interviewing capes. When you're faced with the choice of stopping an armed maniac or keeping an appointment with a nosy reporter, frankly I'd be disappointed if you chose me." He rolls up his napkin slowly and deliberately, making a little ball out of it. "Confused? That's surprising- usually when I interview a hero, he or she already has a pretty good idea that someone will want to know more about them." He smiles a little and then attemps to throw the ball into the nearby trash can. It fails spectacularly, bouncing off the edge and onto the grass. "... I get a do-over," he says hastily and walks over, picks it up and dunks the ball while standing right over the bin. A decidedly less impressive feat. He walks back to Spidey. "Assuming you're not pulling my leg, what confuses you the most about my reaching out? I'm asking with academic curiosity. I like confusing people sometimes."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "Jeez, the list goes on. I mean you have Superman, Supergirl, the Justice League, the Avengers, the Titans, stop me anytime, please."

He walks over to the food truck and picks up his order, walking over to the table and putting his food down, but not yet sitting. He does have a guest, technically.

"Frankly, apart from the BUGLE...and, you know, Spider-Fail.com...I'm not exactly an A-lister."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
The redhead notices Spider-Man standing and gestures "Go ahead, make yourself comfy." He proceeds to sit down himself, leaning back a little. "A-Lister. See, that's an interesting concept. What do you consider an A-lister hero, Spidey? Do you mind if I call you Spidey or do you prefer the full name, hyphen and all?" He crosses his arms on the table, head tilted a little,

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey smirks under the mask, then lifts the mask up to a point just above his nose, revealing a mouth full of regular teeth - no tusks, mandidles, pincers, etc. - and Caucasian skin.

"Spider-Man. Spidey. Webhead. There are others, but I DOUBT you'll get those cleared for newsprint." He sits down, sips his cherry Coke.

"Well, not to toot their horn for them, but Supergirl's a classic example. She's awesome in a thousand different ways, can handle nearly any situation..." He looks down at his arm. "...only needs a seamstress to design new costumes instead of repair old ones?"
He takes a bite of his chili dog, chews with a smile, swallows. "She goes to SPACE to deal with threats. I think that's a pretty good indicator. And the company she keeps? Her cousin? A man who goes by the title of 'The World's Greatest Detective?' An immortal warrior princess?"

He sighs. "Sorry...I do what I do because I can, but no one is making bank from a website called Batman-Fail.com."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
The redhead raises his eyebrows again. "Aha. Yeah, space is pretty cool - but you can swing like fricking Tarzan from skycrapers at speeds that would make other people crap their pants." He glances at the injured arm, and makes a mental note to find a way to introduce him to Nadia. Maybe she can get a word in for him with the big J about costume upgrades? It's a possibility. "Back in February, you ran into my boss at a warehouse over on Brighton. She saw you saving people. I am going to bet you a hundred bucks that for most people, it doesn't matter who is saving them- Supergirl or Spider-Man. You do good work, and yeah... people don't mock Batman, but that's because Batman is dark and full of terrors, and I'm sure anyone who put up a site like that would suddenly find themselves with a scowling bat-dude outside the window. You're a New York hero, Spidey, and as a native New Yorker let me tell you- NYC doesn't love something so much that it isn't capable of mocking it. Why do you think the Titans settled over in Metropolis? Bunch of teens in spandex trying to save the world? They'd be mocked endlessly if they took up residence in New York. The big apple is kind of sour apples about things sometime."

"But I get what you're saying, actually. I've been following those trends on media, and part of the reason why I wanted to reach out to you is because I think you're undervalued and unappreciated. And, I mean, you are unfortunately the recipient of that monomaniac Jameson's obsession, and you find yourself awash in the not-unconsiderable stream of... well. *Stuff*" he says, trying to be diplomatic, "That the Bugle puts out."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey chuckles. "Don't sell Jameson short, there, Mr. O'Neil. Apart from his mad-on about me, he's a diehard newspaper man with a stickler for the truth. He hasn't posted a retraction in the BUGLE in eight years. He's a big supporter of mutant rights, he's gone to bat for his employees numerous times. Frankly, his feelings about me is the ONLY bad quality he has."

He's also a skinflint, but THAT might be too much information.

"Don't get me wrong, though. Wonder Woman may be awesome, but she is not going to have time to patrol the city every night, and she has an embassy here. She has bigger fish to fry. Seriously, there's nothing wrong with being a C-lister. Hollywood can't survive without them. Not everyone can be Tom Cruise, or Meryl Streep. A lot of times, you get a lot of good performances out of DJ Squalls or even Bruce Campbell, the Human Chin. So that's what I do. I handle the small stuff so Supergirl or Thor doesn't have to. Someone's gotta look out for the John or Jane Q. Public, right?"

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Agreed, although I am still not convinced that chin is real, to be frank. But going back to the subject- you patrol and watch out for the Publics regardless of what they say about you. Now, I know enough to know that asking a bland question like 'why do you do it?' is carte blanche for someone to give a non-committal anwer about their sense of justice or fairness. If you didn't have that, you wouldn't do what you do."

He steeples his fingers, "So here's the tricky part, because I also know that delving into an Origin Story runs the risk of exposing an identity. So insofar as you can tell me, with as little or as much detail as you're comfortable, could you tell me what was the pivotal point? At which moment did the costume and the danger and mostly dodging bullets seem like the unavoidable choice to take?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looks thoughtful for a moment.

"There was a moment where I could have acted. It couple have been the simplest of things. Trip a guy. Push him into the wall. But I didn't because I thought it wasn't my job. I was...looking out for Number One."

He is silent for a few moments.

"Two months later, I'm decking a guy who killed an old, defenseless man...and it's the same guy. I might as well have been an accomplice to his murder."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Terry remains respectfully silent for a few seconds after the answer. He nods slowly and says "Thank you for sharing that. Are you ... comfortable with me talking about it? If it's something that's too personal, I can leave it out or make it more opaque."

He taps on the table with a finger, and says "I know a few heroes who have... something similar in their past. You probably know that you're not alone. But if you didn't... well. There it is."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man shook his head. "Just...say I stood idly by when I should have acted...and that I promised I would *NEVER* make that mistake again."

He took a deep breath. "I am not really surprised, Mr. O'Neil. NORMAL people with regular jobs and families don't suddenly strap on a jetpack and put on a mask without having SOME reason for it."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Maybe where you come from, but back where I come from strapping on a jetpack is seen as pretty reasonable." He gives a little smile, trying to lighten the somber mood a little. At this moment, the incident from a year ago comes to Terry's mind. The young woman whose death the web-slinger had been held responsible for. It was definitely in the 'gotcha' spirit of things to ask him about that incident, now that his guard was down and the hero's mind was fixed on a period of time that brought up great guilt. The perfect segue for an emotional reaction, some of that brutal journalism that was very popular.

"Why don't you tell me about your costume?" he asks, instead, shifting his weight on the chair and pointing at Spidey's red-and-blue. "I remember that first one you used to have, the hoodie one. This new one's pretty spiffy... did you design it?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "Sorta had to. The first one was a hoodie, sweatpants, socks and a ski mask. Unlike Tony Stark, who has a PR department, I had to make the first bonafide costume myself. A necessary skill for a hero starting out...SEWING." He takes another bite, swallows, smiles thoughtfully. "I should write a book. 'Superheroing on $5 a Day: How to Save the Day on a Shoestring Budget.'"

He looks down at the much spiffier suit. "This one, I had some help with. Another hero hooked me up with a weave better suited, ha-ha, for this kind of work. Insulated against ballistic, physical, and energy extremes. Handy when I was fighting with Electro last week."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"If you had published it, that would've saved me a pretty penny on my first outfit. I sank half of a couple of paychecks and in the end it got absolutely wrecked so I'm back to square one," he confides, chuckling and looking at the costume with more attention. "... feel free to share my number with them, I'm in the market for material that can take more punishment than what I had and I can't quite bring myself to mortgage my soul to afford a consultation with J V D, if you know what I mean. Hobbling around half-naked in a wrecked space-ship in the middle of nowhere was not my idea of fun. But the design idea," he waves a pen in the direction of the suit, following the lines, "-was yours, right? You've got a good eye for design."

"Due to the budget thing, I assume you probably have a nine-to-five like a good amount of heroes. Not everybody can coast on Amazon gold, right? That being said, do you see yourself staying the spider course in the next ten years?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "If you have a look, let me know. I'll give you my private e-mail address, and we'll see what can be done. I can't make any promises, but I will try my best."

He takes another bite, smirking. "Lemme put it to you this way - in forty years, you see some grizzled-looking guy with a red-and-blue WALKER swinging around...it's probably me."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Terry laughs, and nods, "Well, the bright side to that is that you can take your mid-afternoon naps on a web hammock and then just go on swinging. You'll also need to remember that, the older you get, your battle cry changes into you just screaming how old you are at people. Superheroes need to age with dignity."

"So... I've seen you stick to walls and move up them like nobody's business... the webs, though." He pauses, "Do you /produce/ them as part of your, you know, spidey powers, or are they on-brand accessory?" He glances at Peter's hands, but he doesn't want to be impolite by staring and looking for details. There is a fine line between nosy reporter and too nosy for your own good with the caped crowd, and he tried to respect the line.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey grins. "More of an on-brand accessory." He holds up one arm so Terry can see the web-shooter rig. "Right now, all-mechanical. I've given the design to a couple of other people who could use it, but this design is still the original. Helps to know someone who is a mechanical engineer."

Technically, not a lie.

"The webbing is synthetic, but reverse-engineered from actual spider-silk, so it's a close approximation of the actual stuff."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Oh, that's awesome! I imagine that in a pinch, the fluid can also be used to staunch wounds and the like. Props for resourcefulness. The tensile strength of those strands must be amazing. Okay, here's the question that was a big stumbling block in my own life..." he leans in, "Friends, family. Does anyone outside of 'the business' share the secret, or is it something you've decided to bear by yourself?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looks to Terry for a long moment. "Mr. O'Neil, do you think it would be wise to admit to that on the record for millions of people to read and wonder about?"

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Oh, it would be utternly nanners. But all of this isn't strictly on the record. Unless you're live on my podcast, what you say is carefully trimmed. I interviewed someone before the Warworld invasion who blurted out the name of the highschool they graduated from. Fortunately, it wasn't during the podcast, so..." he makes a gesture across his lips, like a zipper. "Also, I don't know if I told Mr. Parker or not- I was rushed at the time- but you get a draft of this before I even give it to Lois. You know, in case I haven't caught something."

He leans back, "Some questions I ask becuase they will inform what I write. Some others, I ask because they help me understand, which informs how I write, if not what. And you're always at liberty to not answer. The reason I revealed my identity to the public was to make it clear that I don't have an agenda to advance myself at the expense of my colleagues." He grins. "I literally have nowhere to hide if I screw up, so to speak."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looks thoughtful.

"Well...off the record...I'd be lying if there weren't one or two people who knew. Sometimes, telling them is better than NOT telling them. Some people, telling them can help them understand what you're going through, so they don't think you're a jerk. But...you have to be careful. My worst nightmare is someone like the Vulture knowing where I live and paying my family a visit. A LOUD, EXPLOSIVE visit..."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Yeah, I know what you mean... I had those same thoughts, and that's what kept me from going public for a while. But then my mother and my cousin, who are really my only family, convinced me that they wouldn't be in any more danger than usual..." he pauses, "Don't know if you've run into my cousin during your adventures... she works for Channel six, but has her own podcast, too. April O'Neil? You'd be great on her podcast, I'll give you her contact if you want. Anyways, she's roomies with Harley Quinn who's trying to go straight, so..." he wiggles his hand, "When you're roomies with the clown princess, you're in as much danger as you're ever gonna get, right?"

"You've been swinging around this city for a while, and you get to see a lot more than many who fly above it. This is an unfair question to ask, but that's how I roll. Can I ask you to choose one thing about this city that you wish would never change, and one thing that you wish could change forever... what would they be?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looked thoughtful. "Jimmy Breslin, the journalist famous for being favored by the 'Son of Sam' killer in the 1970's, said he loved and hated New York City equally. One thing I'd never change is the people. No one in the world like a native New Yorker."

A slight pause. "One thing I'd change forever? Sticking my foot out and tripping that guy I told you about while I had the chance."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Jessica reaches into her coat pocket and thumbs on the spider-comm on the off chance that Spidey is out and about. The park magnetically drew her and a trove of pedestrians glorying in the relatively warm weather and sun. No snow. No sleet. It makes for a mild carnival feeling.

Pigeons coo and scoot along the sidewalks scarfing up the largesse of people lined up on the benches. Jessica walks with her chic camel hair coat open and cashmere scarf hanging loose, dusk will find the weather chill again but for now she saunters enjoying the faint breeze that wafts food truck aroma her way. Now, where is the man? A glimpse of a particular red catches her attention. It is definitely not a child's balloon.

~Bingo~

Who needs a spider com when spider senses are deployed? The dark haired woman veers toward the food truck.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Good quote, yeah..." Another moment of silence. He examines the red-and-blue figure before him thoughtfully for a second or two. That event really made a mark on the guy. Far be it from him to pass judgement on that--goodness knows that his own boyfriend often felt the shadow of his own trauma. Gar had lost his parents... and the way he always talked about the situation, obliquely and without many details, always gave Terry the impression that Gar felt there was something he could have done to prevent it. Were superheroes made from events such as these, or could it be said that those who are prone to become superheroes were the sort to be sensitive to tragedy?

"So, over at the Titans I know someone ... Ghost Spider. Are the spiders in general solitary players, or do you all get together and hang out, thwart crime, like the Titans do? I know spiders are not gregarious in general, but if you were sticklers for total brand authenticity, you'd be shooting your webs from- well. You know what I mean."

Terry doesn't notice Jessica, since his seated with his back to her. Still, anyone approaching wouldn't imemdiately draw his attention, as he'd usually assume they were there to ask for Spidey's scrawl. It's the people in colorful spandex and a scowl that you usually have to watch out for.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man spots Jessica Drew immediately, but doesn't call attention to her. She's not exactly screaming "OG Superheroine" right now, so he wasn't going to call attention to her just yet. He figured leaving it up to her was the best choice.

"Well, we don't have an official organization. It's more of a loose affiliation of Spiders. We don't have dues or weekly meetings, we're just...there for each other. Whenever help is needed."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Super hearing brings the journalist's last words to her. Journalist being an assumption on her part but his tone, even his demeanor screams wordsmith to her. She slows, eyebrows raised high in a silent question behind the man's back, directed to Spidey. What a difference a costume makes, she reflects, head tilted to the side. Still silent, she raises a hand to him, a faint smile playing on her lips as she debates on being a rabid fan, a friend from work or who she is.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"At some point, I'd love to get the gang together for a photo. Maybe you could string a web across two buildings and get a drone photograph... wait, that'd probably cause a disturbance with too manny rubberneckers causing a car pile-up... back it up, O'Neil! I can just see Miss Lane's face and hear her voice going 'You've caused a *what?*'" He chuckles, "So, of your merry band of arachnic allies, are there some you've worked more with than others? Feel free to share any anecdotes you think they wouldn't mind me hearing. Do you work with Ghost often? She's one of us Titans- but you're pretty much rooted in New York, no? No teams tempting you to join them at their swanky headquarters in another city?" he grins.

"I realize that as a native New Yorker who moved to Metropolis, that kind of makes me a bit of a sell-out, doesn't it?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man doesn't say anything, but the subvocalizer feature works just fine.

<Your call. It's just an interview, nothing hard-hitting, so if you want to make your presence as Spider-Woman known, feel free. I won't talk out of turn.>

"My mother...my aunt, but really, she's like my mother...said to bloom where you are planted. If you do more good in Metropolis, I'd be a jerk to say otherwise. Ghost is part of our collective circle, but if she's doing a lot of good out there, then more power to her. But as the old song goes...I get by with a little help from my friends."

Jessica Drew has posed:
There are times when instantly being able to put on her persona of Spider-Woman would suit her fine. Jessica steps around the journalist to stand between the two men. In a pleasant contralto with a British lilt to it, she says addressing them both, "Indeed, we all need friends. I'm a friend of the family, so to speak." Her smile widens, "Hello, Spidey."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Oh, I know that song! There's the original version, but my favorite one is by that guy who sounds like he gargled nuclear waste... Joe... Joe... Mama? No, that doesn't sound right."

Deep musical ruminations are interrupted by the arrival of a newcomer. Terry's green eyes quickly flit over to Spider-Man to make sure this is not some supervillain approaching in the guise of sarcastic friendship--- hey, it happens--- but the lack of jumping on tables and epic fights tells Terry that this woman is ok.

"Hello! I'm Terry O'Neil. From the Planet and the Titans, it's nice to meet you..." he stands up and extends a hand. He doesn't ask for a name- not in cape circles. People usually tell you what they want you to call them, and sometimes that's nothing at all. "Would you like to join us? I'm doing an interview, but you don't need to answer anything. How about I get us some overpriced italian-sounding lemonades in glass bottles for the three of us?" he makes as if to head over to the truck to get some of the aforementioned Pellegrino bottles, if there's quorum. Otherwise he'll sit down.

Peter Parker has posed:
"I still have my drink." He does stand as Jessica approaches. "Mr. O'Neil, I'd like you to meet Spider-Woman...who is far more talented than I am in...well, almost EVERYTHING. Spider-Woman, this is Terry O'Neil of the DAILY PLANET. Apparently I'm a person of interest to a major metropolitan newspaper."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Terry receives a firm slender hand to shake. Jessica holds his gaze a moment, sizing him up, before looking for approbation from Spidey at her joining them. One fine eyebrow slants upward in question. Spidey looks relaxed enough, not that he would need her help in a fight.

"Thank you, I'd love something. Nice to meet you, Mr. O'Neil. Well, Terry. Call me Jess, Spider-Woman is such a mouthful." For a moment, the blood rushes to her head, she is an intensely private person who has just outed herself. Swallowing, the pleasant expression wavers then returns. She will follow her instinct and let things go as they will. Would Spidey be in an interview with someone hostile? A more relaxed confidence returns as she expels a long breath, lowering her shoulders.

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Terry's face lights up, and he gives Jessica a nod, appreciating the confidence and show of trust immensely. "Of course- Jessica. You can also call me Vorpal- but that is such a mouthful, and when you say it quickly it sounds like you're horking a hairball." He leans in, conspiratorily, and says "Truthfully, the only reason I chose it as my codename is because I was told that 'Cheshire' was already taken by someone who, and I quote my friend, 'will turn you into a hula skirt and wear you for funsies if you take her name', so... ecce Vorpal. But I am in luck today... two spiders in one day are good luck, I think. Or at least there's a nursery rhyme about that..." he recites: "One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy..." he frowns, noticing something, "Wait. That one is about magpies... /are/ there any nusery rhymes about spiders outside of the waterspout tragedy? Hmmm... in any case, I'll be right back with those drinks."

He heads over to the truck to get the citrusy beverages. There's one person ahead of him, so it shouldn't take too long.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looks to Jessica. "Well, have a seat, OG. It's been awhile, and I was thinking about looking you up." He takes the last bite of his chili dog, then says, "You hungry? The personal pizzas are good, or you can enjoy some peppermint-bark rolled ice cream from the Rolled Cold Ice Cream truck over yonder..."

Jessica Drew has posed:
A grin lights her face at Terry's attempt to find a rhyme. "Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey. Might work."

She purses her mouth in thought before reciting, "Will you walk into my parlor?" said the Spider to the Fly.'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;The way into my parlor is up a winding stair..." Waving her hand she stops, there are a lot of them actually. A bit of a hobby of mine, you might say."

The metabolism of the average spider allows her to eat with impunity. Losing weight being a problem for her when she is on the go without rest. "Hmmm, pizza. I wouldn't mind a plain margarita. But, I'll wait. Then, ice cream for last."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
Terry returns with the drinks and deposits one in front of Jessica, and opening the other one for himself as Peter still has his drink. "I stand corrected in my ignorance of arachnid rhymes. Admittedly my knowledge is centered around feline ones, a completely personal bias I'm afraid." He grins and takes a sip of his newly acquired drink. "So how long have you two worked together?" he asks Jessica, "I thought I detected an accent from across the pond. I've yet to visit there... which is funny, considering."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man shrugged. "Well, we've known each other for a few months. She's very savvy, very capable. Certainly a lot more than I am in many ways. I've learned a lot from Jess."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Surprise and mild consternation knit Jessica's eyebrows."You might find that Spider-Man is very humble about his abilities. He is inventive, intelligent, passionate about keeping this city safe and a leader among the spiders. Don't let him try to convince you otherwise," she says, with a chiding glint in her green eyes.

"But you mentioned cats. And your name, Vorpal. That sounds sharp and dangerous," she clips her accent into a version of the Queen's accent for a few words, humorously raising her chin. "Yes, British parents have marked me for life though I can drop it if I pay attention."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Better not drop it, it might break, and then where would you be? Well. America, I guess," Terry grins, "You caught the reference, spot-on. You can't see it right now, but my other identity is the Cheshire cat. But Spidey is the star of the interview, so I figured showing up in the fur was just gauche and it would seem like screaming for attention."

He turns to look at Peter. "I have noticed that people who tend to feel a sense of responsibility for others tend to also downplay their own achievements and virtues. I know a guy just like that in the Titans, too. But don't worry," he assures Jess, "I am usually good at noticing when that is going on by now thanks to that."

Another sip from his drink, and he says "Spidey, as a Nyawker, what would you consider to be the toughest problem that the city is facing... and what challenges are the spiders encountering on that front?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man hmmed. "Actually...I think it is the rise of the Kingpin. From what I can tell about him, he is a criminal mastermind...and I think he has his sights set on control of New York, but I can't put a face or real name to the moniker. And that's not for lack of trying. He's smart, utterly ruthless, and quite capable of doing what it will take to wrest control of the New York Underworld from the ones currently in charge."

Jessica Drew has posed:
The menace that Spider-Man alludes to is the subject of a lot focused energy by law enforcement agencies. Spider-Woman keeps her thoughts to herself, nodding deeply, no trace of humor left in her face. Spidey's last words wrest a sentence from her, "One gets the impression that he wants to rule us all rather like Sauron."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"That sounds about right with things my mother has mentioned..." he glances at both and explains "She's a PI in New York... apparently she figured out my secret identity. I thought I had her fooled." He smirks a little, and then frowns, "So it wounds like a massive consolidation of the underworld. That takes resources and manpower. Whatever will arise from that unchecked... won't be good for New York."

He taps the lip of his bottle thoughtfully. "Well. If you can use some help from your friends, I'd like to offer any assistance the Titans can provide. All you need to do is ask- Ghost is one of us, and that makes you guys extended family by definition." He smiles. "But if you're open to it, we can discuss that later on... we'll trade e-mails and we can set up a time to talk when you send me the deets on that awesome mesh."

"Alright, I think I've got a good chunk of stuff to draw a profile from. But I do have a question..." he tilts his head and hmms. "Okay. On the record- do you have someone you look up to? Who are they, and why? If your first choice is someone too personal to disclose safely, you can give me someone who is public and safe."

He glances at Jess and grins, "You can answer too, for extra ice cream."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider pauses...then smiles.

"Actually, I do. You're going to find it corny, maybe. A guy who always keeps fighting. Never gives up, no matter what."
Another pause. "Rocky Balboa."

Jessica Drew has posed:
Teasing back, mouth hooked into a lopsided grin, Jess retorts, "I don't want any extra ice cream. This is Spider-Man's interview, not mine!" She then murmurs, shaking her head with an exaggerated roll of her eyes, "It would be."

Terry O'Neil has posed:
"Okay, I did not see that coming- but I'm likewise not surprised." Terry nods. "I am almost afraid of asking for video of you going up the stairs and punching air for the web feature of the article, out of fear that you'll actually do it."

The redhead reaches into his hoodie and pulls out two copies of a card, sliding one to each member of the spider family. "This is my private email and my cell phone, just in case you need to reach out. Spidey, Jess... thank you for bearing with me." He offers a handshake and stands up, "Send me an email and I'll send you the draft for you to check over before I submit it for Miss Lane to tear it apart and tell me how I can I can rebuild it to make it stronger, better, faster. Jess, do let me know if you'll do me the honor of interviewing you sometime."

As he stands up, he downs the last of his drink, and shudders "Oooof, that's.... citrusy."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "No. Besides, that art museum is in Philadelphia. But I remember this."
A slight pause. "'It doesn't matter how hard you hit...it matters how hard you GET hit...AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD."

He sits back. "There are worse words to hear when things get tough. and they ALWAYS get tough."