5454/Sunset at the Gotham Cafe

Sunset at the Gotham Cafe
Date of Scene:	05 March 2021
Location:	Star City Coffee
Synopsis:	Peter meets up with Nia and they go out for friend chicken and geeking out.
Cast of Characters:	Peter Parker, Nia Nal

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Peter Parker has posed:
Jeez, this place seemed more somber at street-level.
Peter Parker, whiz-bang photgrapher for the Daily Bugle, got these awfully-odd assignments on the weekend. Why did he keep taking them? Well, it was because JJJ actually PAID him, AND gave him an expense account (which he examined with the intensity of a salesman working straight commission) so he could splurge on pricey coffee and relaxed atmosphere. Plus, the new laptop he got with his school program doubled for his work laptop.

He looked across the street at the convention center. Another couple of hours, and the SF/fantasy fans would descend on the place as the first of many A-listers intended to show. Nathan Fillion, Bruce Campbell, Jason Momoa, and more to come. He had about 90 minutes before he had to be there.

So he sipped his orange smoothie, still wearing the convention badge under his press-pass lanyard.

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia is a cub reporter, and she's rarely given serious stories. She's been put on the Gotham Science Fiction And Fantasy Con, which she honestly doesn't mind as much as she has some of her other stories. Large pumpkins during Halloween? Stuff like that.

Peter will likely recognize her, but she only saw him in costume. She slips through the door of the cafe, dressed to fit in. Jeans and a faded old Ladyhawke t-shirt under a jean jacket make up her outfit, with her press badge tucked into her pocket for now. She peers about the cafe and shoulders her purse before she crosses the cafe and steps into line.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks up as Nia enters, and blinks.

Yeah, he could call out her name, wave hello, beckon her over...if it wasn't for the fact she didn't know him as Peter, but as Spider-Man...and familiarity would breed more suspicion than contempt.
Dangit, what to do, what to do. Check for...dang, no press credentials. Plan B...hmm...say he recognized her from the Daily Planet staff page? Why, NO officer, THAT doesn't sound stalker-y at ALL...
A ruse, then. Just wait until she gets into hearing range, peer into the laptop screen, and sigh.

"Jeez, Spidey, watch where the heck you're GOING next time!"

Nia Nal has posed:
As planned by the nefarious Peter, the girl overhears that bit. She blinks and glances over curiously while she waits in line. "Hmm? What about Spider-Man?," she asks curiously. She adjusts the strap on her purse and cocks her head to the side, watching him for a moment before stepping forward in line again. Lots of people are getting their Pre-Con caffeine, afterall.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter blinks and looks up, tilting his head as he regards Nia. "Oh! Uhm, yeah, he made the Spider-Fail.com website again." He shakes his head. "I gotta WORK with the guy, too..."

Nia Nal has posed:
She reaches the front of the line and fishes out her wallet. "Can I have a Supergirl, please? Extra shot?" Lots of the drinks are named for heroes and villains at the moment to make money off of the Con. She steps aside to wait for her drink, ending up on Peter's side of the line, near his table. She scoffs.

"Spider fail? Ugh. Some people have too much time on their hands. He's saving lives. Leave the guy alone." She pauses, then. "You...work with him? What do you mean?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter smiles wryly and stands behind his table, extending a hand. "Peter Parker, freelance shutterbug for the Daily Bugle in New York City." He holds up his lanyard. "I take a lot of pictures of Spider-Man and sell them to the Bugle. Guy's helping me pay the ConEd bill for nearly three years now."

Nia Nal has posed:
"Oh! You're the one who got that shot of him scooping up that electro-villain in webbing the other week. Amazing work, Pete." She takes his hand and grins. "Nia Nal." She plucks out her own press badge and shows it to him. "Reporter for the Daily Planet. I have a feeling we're both here for the same event, hmm? Well, we work for different cities entirely, so it isn't like we're professional rivals or anything. Wanna help eachother? It's going to be a long weekend in Gotham and I at least don't know anybody."

She pauses when her drink is called out, and she turns to collect it.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter grins. "Have a seat, and we can plot things out. I was looking through the info bag with the events and everything. I even got a room at the hotel nearby."

The fleabag where the rats have their own gang, but the only other one close by was still being cleaned after the Joker held a "party" a few days ago.

"I'm sure the Planet secured better accomodations, though."

Nia Nal has posed:
"I mean, they might have. But I need to take a shuttle from the hotel to get here and back. It's annoying. Nice room, though. Awesome view of the weird, ominous blimps."

She slides into the chair across from Peter and slinks the purse off of her shoulder and sets it down. "That sounds cool, though. I haven't done an event like this before. Well, not as a reporter, anyways."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter raises an eyebrow. "Really? I've never been, myself. I can't afford it and I couldn't ask Harry to help out. Harry's my best friend, and he's pretty well-heeled, but he's already got so many asking him to give them money, he doesn't need one more." He shrugs, a what-can-ya-do shrug. "I hear a lot about them, though. What's it like?"

Nia Nal has posed:
"I went to SDCC when I was a kid. My mom took me. It was a big trip, but I grew up in California, so it was just downstate," she explains. "We were never rich, though. Just...not poor, I guess?" Nia shrugs a shoulder and sips her drink. "My parents were big on encouraging me to socialize and stuff, since they were worried about me. I was fine, mostly, but growing up trans can be rough on a kid. Thankfully, my little town was really welcoming."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter sat down, nodding as he listened. "SDCC? That's the big one. Must have been a madhouse. Did you go in costume, like a lot of these people do?"

He chuckled. "Forgive me. I deal with a guy who swings around town in a costume, so it's a thing."

Nia Nal has posed:
She grins and shakes her head. "No, I was way to shy," she admits. Nia tucks some of her dark hair behind her ear, sipping idly at her drink.

She leans back in her seat a bit, turning to glance about the cafe and take in all the happy, eager people.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "Yeah, I can relate to that. School growing up was..."

Torture. Persecution. Horrendous. So many good and apt words.

"...a bit of a rough time." He sipped his smoothie. "So, do you have any favorite genres? TV shows, movies, anime, games?"

Nia Nal has posed:
"Oh, all kinds!," the girl exclaims, setting her drink down. "I used to play a lot of games, but I haven't since moving. Just been too busy with work. My old Super Nintendo my dad gave me is still unpacked." Nia runs her fingers back through his hair. "What about you, hmm?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks thoughtful. "Cowboy Bebop. I think it is the only anime that I watched with Uncle Ben. He thought it was just a cartoon until he saw the first episode, and he was HOOKED. He even told my Aunt May that he was surprised at how sophisticated it was. I think he also like the music, too. Telling me about the episode references to real music." He sighs wistfully. "I think we connected with Bebop at some level."

Nia Nal has posed:
"Mmn. Seems like you're using the past tense with him. Sorry. But Bebop is great. The music is great, too. It's a classic. I got really into Kill la Kill? It's...insane." Nia laughs softly and shrugs a shoulder before she picks her drink back up for a sip.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "Yes, well...my uncle died a few years ago. It was a rough time for everyone. But we had some good times, and even though I did some things he never understood, he loved me anyway, even though my parents kinda dumped me on their doorstep when I was four." He takes another sip. "I've seen that one. It is mad as March hares. Did you catch the little Pulp Fiction Easter egg in that one?"

Nia Nal has posed:
"My mom passed away not too long ago. I get it. Some stuff was left unsaid that I wish hadn't, but overall our relationship was good. I miss her. She...left some weight on my shoulders." And powers. She chews her lip a bit and then laughs. "I didn't! What was the easter egg? Also, did you see that movie that company did? Promare? I saw it in the theater by myself. It was a ton of fun."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter grinned. He practically looks like he should still be in high school.
"There's a scene where the family is driving pell-mell down the street in that junk truck of theirs, and they drive past two men. If you look closer, you'll see they look like Vincent and Jules in the one segment where they had to get out of their suits and into casual clothes. Even the t-shirt design is a match." He thinks for a moment. "Never saw it, myself, but I'll bet there's a Blu-Ray of it in the Dealer's Room over in yonder convention center."

He pauses for a moment, then says, "Listen, I hope I'm not screwing things up. You said you were trans, but is it MtF, or FtM? I just wanna make sure I'm using the right pronouns."

Nia Nal has posed:
She is about to respond to the first part when Peter asks that conversation. She blinks and then smiles softly. "Oh. MtF. I prefer she/her, but I don't flinch at they/them. If that puts you off I won't flirt with you, though." She was flirting? She's bad flirting.

She sips her drink again and then turns, pausing as a girl walks by in a decent Dreamer cosplay. Her jaw drops.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter is about to answer when the Dreamer cosplayer walks past. "Hey, that's not a bad design. Basic, no-nonsense." Peter blushes slightly, then says, "Sorry. I took an interest in costume design awhile ago, and Spidey runs into a lot of the capes-and-tights people, so I get that by osmosis."

He pauses for a sec, then says, "It doesn't put me off, Nia," with a reassuring smile. "I tend to take people as they are, not who they were. So if you want me to treat you like a lady, then I will. You're awfully pretty, too."

Was she even paying attention? She was still checking out the girl in the simple-yet-functional costume. "Who's that supposed to be, anyway? I don't recognize the costume."

Nia Nal has posed:
Oh, she hears him. Her cheeks pinken at the compliment, and she clears her throat. The cosplayer leaves the cafe, and she turns back. "Dreamer. She's this smalltime hero back in Metropolis. Only showed up on the scene a few months ago. She makes some kind of energy weapons or...something." She shrugs a shoulder, secretly pleased at the compliment to her costume design.

"Well, um. Thanks, Pete. That's really nice of you. I'd ask you out, then, but we live in different cities. If things worked out it might end up kinda awkward because of that..." She actually has never had a guy compliment her before, so she is already way out of her depth.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter shrugs. "I thought so, too, but there is the Hyperloop, so it's not as big a deal as it usually is. I've been thinking about following Spider-Man, and he's been showing up here and in Metropolis. Not sure why, but it is a lot easier to go between the cities."

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia Nal blinks at that and considers. "I...I guess you're right. Huh. Nothing stopping us, then." She shrugs again and offers a small, rueful grin. "Alright, then. After the con floor closes tonight, do you want to grab some food? I'd say drinks, but I don't think either of us have ID," she teases softly. She sets her drink down again.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter chuckles. "Nah, I'm a pretty straight shooter. But I hear there's a good fried-chicken place that's not too far from the convention center. They're even open late on weekends. And then there's a burger place a couple streets south of here that serves some huge burgers cooked over a mesquite-wood grill. I've been meaning to check it out."

Nia Nal has posed:
"I can't drink much alcohol, anyways. Anything beyond tipsy and it can mess with my meds," the girl says softly. She grins and nods. "Fried chicken sandwiches are one of my favorite things in the world. Let's check out the chicken place," Nia says excitedly. She tucks a locke of hair behind her ear and smiles. "I like to cook, too. But we're kind of far from my little kitchen. Maybe, if, you know...things work out or whatever...I can cook for you sometime. But let's play it by ear."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "Sure. But give me a little advance warning so I know to bring dessert. My Aunt May is as good at cooking as I am at science. Maybe even better." He checks his watch. "We still have an hour before I have to be in place for the Big Reveal. Want to go there now?"

Nia Nal has posed:
She grins and nods. "Sure thing. I'm a bit antsy, so killing some time would be good." She picks up her purse and climbs to her feet. "I haven't seen the place before, so do you mind leading the way? By the way, do you hate Pete? Should it be Peter? Petie?," she asks curiously.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter closes the laptop, sticking it in the beat-up backpack he had at his feet. "Pete works. And sure, no problem. I don't have much trouble getting around town." He zips it up, then hefts it in his back, picking up the smoothie and taking another sip. "Maybe we can share some other fandom things on the way there?"

Nia Nal has posed:
The girl grins and nods, moving to follow along. "Sure. I'm always happy to nerd out. Plus this is kind of the perfect environment for it, right?" She walks close beside the boy, but not too close. Just nearby. "You first, though."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods, but cannot help opening the door for Nia before stepping out to move slightly ahead of Nia. "Well, if we're talking hometown heroes, do you have any favorites? I know Superman and Supergirl are the go-tos for a lot of people, but are there others from Metropolis you follow?"

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia Nal doesn't complain when he opens the door for her. It makes her blush a hint, in fact. "Oh, Supergirl, for sure. I've met her. She is just as nice as you'd expect her to be. I met Spidey once, too, but he isn't from Metropolis, obviously. He was...I dunno...chasing a villain or something and we talked. It's...well, it's a nice costume," she says, her cheeks pinkening a bit further.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "Yeah, I think they know each other. Both worked to stop a gold robbery last year. You should have seen Spidey's old costume. Hoodie, ski mask, sweatpants, and socks. But the whole shebang cost about ten bucks."

$18.45 after tax, but who's counting?
"...but I guess if you don't have the money for the latest tech, you have to deal with what you got. Spidey wants me to publish a book he's writing about superheroing on a budget."

Nia Nal has posed:
"Mn. Doesn't sound half as tight as the outfit he wears now," she says with a conspiratorial grin. "Anyways, that's awesome. A lot of heroes work on low budgets from what I understand. Unless you're on a government team or one of those Heroes For Hire you don't get paid, anyways."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter chuckles. "Yeah. But he's not exactly...an A-lister, you know? Thor, Iron Man, Supergirl, Batman. They get to save the world on a daily basis. But someone's gotta look out for the little guy...and girl, Nia." He grins to her. "There's some benefit to your enemies knowing you're not doing this for a paycheck, though. Spidey told me once about him getting beat up pretty bad and taking the subway home. On the way, six of the Sing Wing Triad gang got on the train, spotted him, asked their leader if they should...well, get rid of him. The guy said no, because three weeks previous, Spidey saved his little brother from another gang. They left him alone...out of respect."

Nia Nal has posed:
"Wow, that's pretty cool. Okay, really cool. New Yorkers, right?" Nia flashes a grin before she slips her hand out...intertwining her fingers with his if he lets her. If he lets her down she tucks her hand into her pocket like nothing happened. "So, chicken. Ever had chicken and waffles? There's this awesome place back in LA, which I went to when I visited."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter doesn't seem to mind. They are going together, so this could qualify as a date. They can just see how it goes.
"Never had it like that. I never thought they'd go together. Then again, I never thought salt and caramel could work together, but I was wrong about that. Maybe I'll try it sometime." He looked up the street, then back to Nia. "Okay...quick question. Favorite captain? Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Janeway, or Archer?"

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia Nal has pleasantly soft, warm hands. "Oh, sweet and savory go well together. It's delicious." She furrows her brow at the question, though, and considers for a moment as they walk along. "So, they were mostly all on tv before either of our times, but...while I think Shatner is a total creep, the gonzo insanity of the original will always have a place in my heart. And it was so fun. But that wasn't the question, right? Hmmm."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter looks to Nia. "Are you saying Kirk, then? He DID lose his shirt an awful lot..."

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia Nal laughs and nods. "He did, yeah. I think DS9 was a bit too dark at times, but I did enjoy it. Janeway was cool. They're all cool, but Kirk for me." She cocks her head to the side and glances over at Peter. "You?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter responds instantly, "Archer. I think he had it the toughest, but he blazed a trail for humanity to follow. He had to learn a lot of it on-the-job." He chuckles. "Some things you have to learn for yourself."

Nia Nal has posed:
"Oooooh, controversial answer," Nia responds with a playful grin. "But I respect that. Plus, come on. Scott Bacula. Quantum Leap, anyone? Oh boy." The girl laughs and continues walking along with Peter.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "Yeah. Plus I liked him in LORD OF ILLUSIONS." He thinks for a moment. "If you could get any costume for yourself, money covered, which one would you wear?"

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia Nal furrows her brow. "Supergirl." She grins ruefully. "Easy answer. What about you? Spidey?," she jokes, lightly elbowing the boy.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter winces melodramatically. "Ow. Nahh, my big one is either Indiana Jones, or Nathan Drake from UNCHARTED. Indy more than Nathan. I was TOTALLY into archaeology for a full YEAR after seeing the Indiana Jones trilogy. Even if the end of RAIDERS scared the hell out of me. Those melting Nazis...BRUHHHH..." He shivered slightly. "Still...science was always my strength, but I never completely canned the concept of learning history."

Nia Nal has posed:
"I support melting nazis," she says with a lopsided grin. Her pace slows as she glances up at a building they're approaching. "Oh, this the place? Ugh, it smells -good-." She smacks her lips an stretches a bit before she looks back over to Peter. "Indy's cool, though. Never played the Uncharted games, though. I mostly grew up with older games."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods to Nia. "THANK you. Gotta love the classics. I actually like a lot of classic movies, in addition to more recent ones." He checked the menu as he opened the door for Nia. "Wow, it DOES smell really good. You a dark meat or white meat fan?"

Nia Nal has posed:
"Depends on what I'm eating, I guess. Korean fried chicken? One hundred percent dark meat. A chicken sandwich? White." She grins and steps into the restaurant, raising a hand to the person at the front. "Hi. Booth for two, please? Thanks." She turns back towards Peter. "Yeah, my dad made sure i had a respect for the classics. It's why I brought the Super Nintendo with me from California instead of anything fancier. Best system ever made, if you ask me."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods, snagging a menu as he sits across from Nia. "My friend Harry likes the newer stuff, but there is something to be said for gameplay that is simple to pick up but challenging in every way. Let me think...I liked single-player games when I was growing up. Figuring out puzzles, handling things on my own because good luck finding others to game with. Do you game online?"

Nia Nal has posed:
She sinks into the booth across from him. "I did back home, but I haven't really had the time since graduating," she explains. "Work keeps me pretty busy. Not that I have any life -other- then it, so i guess I could dive into online stuff. I'd rather have a lovelife, I guess. Not that you can't have one without the other or anything." Nia looks downj over the menu and considers it. "Mmmn. Spicy chicken sandwich. Extra pickles. Hell yes. Get in my mouth."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter chuckles. "Sounds good. I like the look of the chicken tenders, though. I think I'll get the 5-piece with the mashed and gravy and green beans for sides." He put the menu down and looked to Nia. "Nothing wrong with that. It can be fun to have something you can do together, even when you're not together. I know this couple in their 40's who have been playing the same online game for a decade." He shrugs. "They sounds very happy, and it's something they share. So, again, stuff you can do together."

He looked around, then continued, "I don't play online, though. Never got into those games, and I also kinda have a full plate. Two jobs and college tend to eat up a lot of time."
*...not to mention your Extracurricular Activites,* his mind added almost playfully.

Nia Nal has posed:
She nodded to that, smiling softly. "That's cool. Very adorable. The older couple, I mean." Nia glances up when the server arrives, and she rattles off her order, tacking on a sparkling water. The girl waits for Peter to order, and once the server is gone she turns back to him.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter gives his order, then asks for cherry soda to drink.
As the waitress leaves, Peter sits back in his booth seat. "I was curious about what parts of the convention you're going for. Like panels, exhibits, art show, dealer's room, networking with others in similar talents?"

Nia Nal has posed:
"Anything I can. The artist area could be cool. The art show. Maybe do something on the amateur artists pitching their work at the con. Or on the indie comics that get kind of shoved off to the side." She shrugs a shoulder and leans in. "What about you, hmm?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter ponders. "Definitely the RPG gaming rooms. I like the science-fiction games more than the sword-and-sorcery ones, but that may be because all of the min-maxers I've run into. I thought about the card games, but I think I might have an unfair advantage there. Art is always cool, so I like checking those out. Dealer's room is nice to window-shop, and I get to see some of the practical FX stuff they are doing...I like the hard-science panels, too, and Jeez Louise my mouth is backing up again, isn't it..."

Nia Nal has posed:
"Another thing I never got into. Not for lack of interest, just lack of friends." She grins softly and shrugs. The drinks arrive first, and she picks hers up for a sip. "No no, it's fine. It's cute. You geeking out, I mean." She blushes a bit and then grins. "I don't mind, I mean."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter seems to relax a little more at that. "Oh, good. Sometimes I tend to do what Uncle Ben called 'Holding Forth.' Like some great orator, except it's just me going on and on and on and not noticing people nodding off or wandering away, yadda yadda yadda."

Nia Nal has posed:
Nia Nal grins and shakes her head. "You aren't mansplaining or anything. Just...excited about something. Don't worry." She's still leaning forward a bit, chatting happily with the boy. This trip is certainly looking up, compared to how it looked this morning.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "Well, tell me something about yourself. What do you like to read, when you get the chance?"

Nia Nal has posed:
She blinks and considers that. "Well, I got my degree in international relations, and I can talk about that stuff for hours but...I'd rather not. Not right now, anyways. It's what I want to report on, eventually. But I'm the new kid and have a long way to go before I get there, anyways." The girl considers a bit. "I kickbox? Self-defense, you know? As for reading that isn't politics? Hm."

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods. "I've heard about capoiera. An art useful for slaves in South America who need to fight with theis hands shackled together. I did learn self-defense, but it was usually for boxing. My uncle did some boxing before he served in Vietnam."

Nia Nal has posed:
She nods to that. "My dad taught me. He wanted me to be able to protect myself, you know? In case I dealt with...bullies." The food arrives and the girl sits up with a smile. "Oh, whoa. Smell that." She eyes her sandwich and picks it up to make sure it has extra pickles. She nods in satisfaction.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter smells and smiles. "Yeah, that does smell good." He picks up one tender and examines it, then bites into it. "Hmmm. Cooked perfect. The last place I went to, the chicken was like biting into rubber." He shakes his head. "Kinda sad. And I can understand bullies. There were these two...Flash Thompson and Carl King. King was the worst by far, but Flash was the BMOC and he never let anyone forget where I was in the high-school heirarchy."

Nia Nal has posed:
She winces when she hears that. "Overcooked chicken is one of the worst foods." The girl shakes her head and picks up her sandwich. She takes a bite and her eyes roll. "Mmmmmmn!" She swallows and nods, staring at the sandwich. "So good. Great idea, Pete. This place is awesome. Good first date meal." She glances around her sandwich as she listens. "I grew up in a little town. It was more accepting then most, though. I didn't really deal with any bullying until I got to college. I was a lot luckier then most trans kids, honestly." The town being where aliens and humans lived openly with eachother in secrecy sure helped.

Peter Parker has posed:
Peter nods, mixing up the mashed potatoes and gravy, salting it lightly, then dipping the chicken into it like a thick sauce and chowing down.
"I've lived in Queens just about my entire life. Same burg in Forest Hills, same old house. I know where every creaking board is. Sleep in the same bed I've had since I was 11. It's just...home, y'know?"

Nia Nal has posed:
She nods to that. "I get it. I grew up in the same house in the same town until I left for college, and now Metropolis...clear on the other side of the country." The meal continues on, light conversation and gentle flirting exchanged between the two. It is a pleasant time, and phone numbers are exchanged by the end of it.