502/Being Social (Media)

Being Social (Media)
Date of Scene:	14 March 2020
Location:	Queens
Synopsis:	Billy scoops the media with his sudden interview with the infamous vigilante, Spider-Man.
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Billy Batson

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Peter Parker has posed:
For Spider-Man, Queens holds a special place in his heart. He spent his entire life growing up there, most of it on Imgram Street. He is particularly protective of these neighborhoods, from the old neighborhoods to the new avenues.

Tonight, he is swinging along the tall buildings, weaving in and out as he casually performs acts of gymnaastics that would make the likes of Nadia Comaneci and Kerri Strug eat their livers in envy, and he can do this for hours.

The bodega robbery barely slowed him down. To pass the time, he ponders how to structure the communications network he is putting together.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson hears from some passersby about the bodega robbery. Out for an evening walk with his foster sib Freddy, Billy is quickly instructed by Freeman, "Say Shazam, catch up to him. Change back and get him to speak for our podcast!" Batson complies as Freeman whispers further instructions. "... No flying, he'll see you. Like run really really fast. Do that Mercury thing you do... you call that running? Darla runs fast than that!"

How does Flash do it? Several billboards are rocking, trees are waving, a couple of ladies are in danger of wardrobe malfunctions and... where the heck did Spidey go? The neophyte hero looks around, puzzled.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man lands on the side of a billboard, one of those LED jobbies that act like a giant TV, flipping between ads every ten seconds. When he lands, it is showing a STARK INDUSTRIES ad for the new StarkPhone, a gleaming rectangle on a black background.

And then it switches to one for the Pink Mattress and the billboard goes almost solid white, revealing Spider-Man's presence in...well, a flash.

Spider-Man was not startled by it, though. He was craning his neck around to check out the area, to see if there was any daring derring to do.

Billy Batson has posed:
Shazam shrugs and says, "The heck with Freddy's orders. He was only King Shazam for one fight and he mostly ran away from Anger... or was that Hate? I need to get Spidey's attention... of course!" Shazam throws his hand out and says with feeling, "Shazam!" Lightning strikes and Billy Batson appears. "This ought to get his attention."

Peter Parker has posed:
Okay...Sixty degrees, breezy, and a clear night sky.

So where the HECK did the lightning come from?
This bore looking into.

Spider-Man fired a webline, heading towards the point where the lightning struck. The concussive force of the strike set off car alarms for four cars. After he landed on the street, he moved forward towards the location. Two alarms shut off a few seconds later as their owners cut them remotely. Spidey lifted up one end of the other two vehicles as he passed them, lifting them high enough to cut them off. (Car alarms shut off if they detected the tilt and concluded they were being towed.)

After he lowers the second car and finds the strike point...only there's a teenage boy there. He didn't smell ozone, no ionized air...what was going on?

"You all right, son?" Spider-Man asked Billy, looking around for any other signs of the lightning.

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson says a little loudly, "Wasn't that the darndest thing! Wow! You're... you! I'm Podcast Batson and I have a Freddy with my brother... I'm Billy Batson and I have a podcast with my foster brother, Freddy. He's a huge fan of yours! We cast about superheroes and foster home life and Queens for kids! Wow, you're You! Would you mind saying a few words for me to record?" Somewhere, Billy is sure, Lois Lane is grinning. Okay to be honest... if Spider-Man asked him did he cause that lightning he'd fess up. It is Spider-Man. You can't lie to Spidey.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey looked around. No tingle of the Spider-Sense. If it was Electro, he'd know. He still didn't understand for sure, but...

"...Okay. But let's move over to someplace under cover? I don't know where the lightning came from, but best not to tempt fate, right?" He glanced to his left and saw a covered awning outside a bistro that had closed for the night. AND it had a lightning rod, so bonus. "Let's go over here, Billy. I think I can spare a few minutes."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson does a silent 'Yes!' and fumbles for his phone. He holds it up and his face falls. "But it was char... Darla, I'm going to kill you." But he can't. It's Darla. Maybe it's also karma. Misuse your powers, get the shaft. He looks up into eye lenses and smiles a sickly smile. "My sister was playing some pony game here and drained my battery. Also... my brother has a superhero... who sort of pulls for him... he's calling himself Red Cyclone right now. He threw a little phony lightning around to get your attention. I'm sorry. You have better things to do with your time than answer my stupid questions."

He pockets the phone. "Red Cyclone is probably gone now."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "Lemme see your phone."
He unslings a red-and-blue backpack with the round spider-symbol that matches the one on his back. He unzips it, then takes out a portable battery charger. He eyes the phone Billy had, then gets the correct cable, plugging it into the battery. "Plug this into the phone and give it a few seconds."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson thinks, "A backpack... why don't I carry a backpack?" So many questions. He sees the phone is charged and sighs with relief, "Hey everyone this is Billy Batson with One of New York's native heroes, the incredible Spider-Man, who agreed to answer a few questions for me tonight! Hey Spider-Man, thanks again! Tell me... what's fun to do in Queens? I haven't lived here that long."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "Well, Billy, there are a few places to look out for. There's Uncle Sal's Ristorante, one of the best Italian restaurants in the five boroughs. And that's saying something, in New York. Let me see...the water's getting warmer, so Rockaway Beach is starting to see some life. The Unisphere is always something to check out if you are in the area. Very peaceful there." He looks thoughtful. "If you can, check out the Amazin' Mets at Citi Field. And if you're lucky, you might see Big Jake's food truck in the kiosk just south of Flushing. They serve the best street meat around. His wife makes the chili fresh every night."

Billy Batson has posed:
Pap. Stupid trite question. Good answer though. Billy takes a deep breath and is quiet for a moment, studying his shoelaces. When he looks up his eyes are shining and seem oddly older as he asks, "What made you decide to be a hero? It's not easy... I'm told. especially with Flintheart Jameson hounding you. I don't want any secret origin information but I mean... how did you come to do this? And do it so well." A little flattery there but not really.

Peter Parker has posed:
Wow. That's a serious question right there, and Billy Batson is going to scoop them all, because this is the first time people other than the occasional hero get to hear this.

Spider-Man takes a deep breath.
"All right, Billy. Good question. I do it because...well, when I got these gifts - and they are gifts, because I never earned them - I had to learn a hard lesson. Something a wise man once told me. 'With great power must come great responsibility.' If I have the ability to help people with these gifts, then I HAVE to. They have to be used responsibly, to do some good. Anything less is the worst kind of laziness. Selfish...maybe even evil, if you use gifts like this just to line your pockets." He looked down. "I made that mistake once, and it cost me everything. I won't stand idly by anymore." He looked to Billy. "If I can do something that means someone goes home to their family, then I have to do that. Whatever I can, when I can."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson's eyes seem to be all pupil as he listens, he is that attentive. When he speaks his voice catches at first. "I've made... bad choices, especially when I was living on the streets. I've gotten a rare gift--my new foster family. Maybe I can do better. I have to do better. Thank you, sir. This means a lot to me. I hope you get home to your family safe, tonight and every night."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckles. "It doesn't matter what you used to do, Billy Batson. It matters what you do *now.* You can stay in the past, let regret consume you...or you can harness it in the present. Do better. Be kinder. Your attitude is one of the few things you have almost complete control in your life. This is for me, for you, for your listeners. It's not what happens to you, it's how you respond to it."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson nods, coming back into the moment then asks, "Uhm, I think the Red Cyclone deserves a put down or a snark, a famous Spidey put down. For bothering you with that lightning strike. He'd get a laugh out of it, trust me. Do you have anything to say to him?" he is smiling a mischievous smile.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man tilts his head. "You sure? I tend to save my material for the bad guys. Make someone angry, they get careless. Tip for the day."

He rubs his chin, giving Billy a glimpse of the web-shooter along his inner wrist. "Well...let's see. I could say something like he's a flash in the pan. He's not even a blowhard...more like a blowEASY." He looks back to Billy. "Hope that's good enough for your public. My material tends to be snarkier when I'm being attacked."

Billy Batson has posed:
Wow he got snarked and got a professional tip! Big night! He stifles a laugh teenager mood swings and all that. "Thanks Spider-Man. I'll pass this on to Red Cyclone... maybe he should change his name to the Red Met, or go to Brooklyn?" Then he's laughing too hard to continue..

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man shrugs. "Any other questions, Billy? The hour groweth late, and you should probably be getting home soon."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson stops laughing and at a loss asks, "Do you think that's J.J. Jameson's real hair?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man smirks under the mask. "COMPLETELY. And apart from the mad-on he has for me, he's actually a pretty solid editor."

He stands up, then brushes the legs of his costume. "Listen, Billy? Try not to ask superheroes to run interference for you. But I'm glad we did this."

Billy Batson has posed:
Billy Batson pockets his phone and nods. "I will try not to, but they have a habit of showing up unexpectedly. You know?" He pats the phone in his pocket. "Good night Spider-Man be safe out there. I'm glad we did this too."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey reaches up and fires a webline to hit the ledge of the building nearby. "Take care of yourself, Billy."

In the next second, he has launched himself into the air and is swinging away.

Queens' native son, and the protector of every Friendly Neighborhood.