6794/Nuts to You!

Nuts to You!
Date of Scene:	04 July 2021
Location:	Central Park
Synopsis:	Spider-Man meets Squirrel Girl and a Jedi, stop a few thieves and discuss plans for the future at White Castle.
Cast of Characters:	Doreen Green, Peter Parker, Madison Evans

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Doreen Green has posed:
Tonight Squirrel Girl is gliding over Central Park using the webbing attachment for her jacket, which lets her become, temporarily, a -flying- Squirrel Girl! Her goggles and climbing claws are also worn today. She's in full on patrol mode this evening!

Her night-vision goggles don't pick up anything criminaly.. yet.. but she's going to be ready if anything happens! Tippy-Toe peeks out from Doreen's jacket, her own tiny goggles keeping the gusts of air out of her eyes. She squeaks happily, gliding is fun!

So far there's just a few joggers and homeless people about..

Peter Parker has posed:
However, the quiet night is about to end as three men burst from the alleyway next to the diamond exchange and hotfoot it into the green of Central Park, staying close to the treeline along the north side to try and evade pursuit.

And for good reason, because someone IS pursuing them.
"Hey, guys!" the voice overhead calls out. "That's a lotta diamond rings! Who you guys wanting to marry, HOBOKEN?"

There are no tall buildings once Spider-Man gets into the park proper, but there are trees, even though it means catching a branch or two...

Doreen Green has posed:
Squirrel Girl is nearby when the men rush into Central Park. Doreen hears the voice and her gaze quickly turns in that direction, barely glimpsing the fleeing men as they disappear under the trees, "What do you think Tippy Toe? Sounds like trouble! I say we investigate!" Tippy Toe squeaks in agreement as Squirrel Girl guides herself down into a smooth descent.

Landing in one of the trees, Doreen's night vision gives her a good view of things, barring the fact that branches are everywhere! But the men fleeing aren't hard to miss, "That voice calling after them said something about diamonds.. and marriage?" Tippy Toe shrugs.

"Let's keep track of where they go for now, that voice sounds familiar, I think I might now who it is.." She glides from tree to tree as quietly as she can, waiting to see if if a certain fellow hero of NYC is about to show up...

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man is nowhere near as quiet as Squirrel Girl is. Give him a skyscraper, and he's a happy guy. Trees have branches. Little ones, big ones, painful ones he more or less crashes through.

As the trio reaches Belvedere Castle, Spider-Man gets a clear shot at the guy with the cloth bag and webs him to the path. He follows up with webbing the bag to the thief's hand as he jumps over him and lands between him and the other two.

The other two look a little uncertain. Monty has the bag. They can't leave the swag. (Hey, that rhymes.) Monty could also ID them to save his own neck.
Then Mitch raises his fists. "C'mon, Murray! We can take 'im!"

Murray, the third stooge, quickly pulls out a gun. A .380, but those can put ugly holes in people. "Let us go...or I'll put some holes in you you ain't had before..."

Doreen Green has posed:
Squirrel Girl watches, jumping tree to tree, keeping up with the fleeing men. When Spider-Man makes his attack, Doreen holds back for a moment, not wanting to jump in the way. Yeah she learned how bad of an idea that is.. the hard way.

Once the other hero lands and Murray pulls out his gun, that is Doreen's 'in'. She jumps into the air, keeping her arms tucked so she doesn't glide this time, only extending them RIGHT before she lands on Murray, hopefully removing the gun from the fight for now, "It's time to kick butts and get NUTS!"

She is standing on Murray's back now, Tippy-Toe on her right shoulder, "Spider-Man! Looked like you were outnumbered!"

Doreen eyes the other thieves with a devious smile, "You're outnumbered hundreds to two now. Drop the diamonds!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Holy cats, a flying girl?!

For a moment, Spidey is a little stymied. He wasn't the target of the attack, so his Spider-Sense never saw her coming. Murray never saw her coming, either, and is a little gobsmacked to find himself being disarmed by what looked like...some kind of giant flying squirrel.

Spidey blinked, then looked to Mitch. "Buddy...you are about to have the WEIRDEST bad luck I've ever seen. Want to just lie down like a good boy, or take your chance with...well, who knows WHAT?"

Mitch glanced from Spidey to Doreen, then lay down on his belly, arms outstretched. After a moment, a blanket of webbing helps him stay where he is.

Spider-Man stood up, then looked at Doreen for a few seconds before looking around her. "Uhm...where are these 'hundreds' you were talking about?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Squirrel Girl points up when Spider-Man asks about the 'hundreds' ... and sure enough there are a LOT of squirrels peeking down from the trees around them now, "The Nuts and Bolts Army is here to make sure that this park stays free of trash!"

Tippy-Toe literally body slams Murray when he starts to stir again, a high pitched shriek preceding the attack.

Doreen grins, "Last chance to come peacefully! You can keep your faces or lose them! The choice is yours!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man says, with a certain amount of reverence, "Holy cow, we ARE surrounded." He walks over to Doreen, perched as she is on Murray. "Uhm, would bt be all right if you moved a little to the left? That way I can web him down, and we can socialize in the way." He points to his web-shooters, then at Murray's prone body.

Truth be told, he was a little intimidated by the sight of all those squirrels.

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen steps off of Murray and Tippy-Toe climbs back onto Doreen's shoulder, "Sure! Gift wrapped for the police right?" She folds her arms and eyes the other two thieves again, "Don't even move." It's not like they really have much choice now but..

"If we can settle this peacefully then I'm all for skipping the butt kicking! I'm not like that Punisher guy I promise!"

Yeah she's heard about him too..

Peter Parker has posed:
"Of that, I am much relieved." Spider-Man aims and fires, and three web-wrapped jewel thieves are ready for the NYPD to pick up.

He glances to Doreen, then walks over to her. "I wasn't really expecting your arrival...or your involvement...but I gotta say, you did a lot to keep things from escalating to violence. Thank you, miss...uhm, what would you like me to call you?"

Okay, it may seem obvious with the big bushy tail, but c'mon, MANNERS...

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen smiles when Spider-Man asks if they've met, "We met before! I'm Squirrel Girl! Well.. maybe not -met- met per-say but.. remember last year when Belvedere Castle turned into a pyramid and undead creatures almost overran Central Park? I was there!"

She beams, "Yep.. I've been extra vigilant about the Park since then. There are a lot of lives to keep safe here! This park shouldn't have the reputation it does.."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man blinks, then tilts his head.
"Wait...I remember getting a glimpse of you, but it was pretty chaotic. I was busy grabbing that staff and trying to dodge an entire army's worth of attacks." He grimaces. "Yeah, they got me in the leg. It was enough to keep them busy while the heavy-hitters banished the whole lot of them back to wherever they came from."

He extended a hand. "Well...nice to formally meet you, Squirrel Girl."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen takes off her clawy gloves before shaking Spider-Man's hand, "Oh yes.. I've wanted to meet you for a while now! I met Peter Parker! The guy who does your tech work? He meant to arrange a meeting with you before but I'm sure he's really busy! He's into media too, just like me, I have a Youtube channel! I do livestreams and stuff!"

She ponders the zombie battle again, "The Nuts and Bolts Army suffered heavy losses that day.." She frowns, "But they died fighting for what they believe in. The squirrels of this city are very proud of this park. I won't forget where we buried the fallen. It's near where the battle took place. I'll hold a vigil this November on the anniversary of the attack."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey looks startled...then a little apologetic. He never had any beef with squirrels, or chipmunks, or rabbits, or other small wildlife. But he supposed Squirrel Girl would have a kinship with them, and if they had helped keep Anubis from taking control, then that was something that deserved to be recognized.

"I'm sorry to hear about that, Squirrel Girl. I'm sure you wouldn't ask them to do anything you wouldn't do for them..."
Odd to say that about squirrels, but his life stopped being normal a long time ago.

"Is there...anything I can do?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison was a curious sort. Sure - her mom would rather she ran //away// from yelling. But she was a Jedi, right? And besides - what's with all the squirrels? They seem so... aggitated. And numerous. She'd never seen so many squirrels in her life!
    So the teen approaches slowly, and curiously, peering through some bushes until-
    "OH! Mister Spider-man. Hi!" she says brightly! "Remember me? We saw that great van, and went to White Castle and- whoa. Wow. Your tail is... sooooo cool!" The enthusiastic teen exclaims as the girl bursts from the bushes, a huge grin her features.
    Her gaze goes to the three guys in webs before asking, "So, uhhh - what did the evil doers... do?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Squirrel Girl pats Tippy-Toe as she addresses Spider-Man's question, "Well just coming to the vigil would be appreciated! Not many of the world's heroes know about me or these brave squirrels. I think that we can honor them by continuing their fight and by remembering them every year, even if it's just candles and hot chocolate!"

When Madison makes her sudden appearance, Doreen is all smiles, "Hey!" She isn't really the type to assume hostile, even when someone just pops in out of nowhere, "This tail is fluffy on the outside.. bludgeony on the inside!" She blows at her tail like one would a smoking gun.

"I don't think we've met before! I'm Squirrel Girl! And these guys?" She gestures to the caught thieves, "They stole diamonds and thought that they could escape through Central Park."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey nods. "Hello again, Madison the Jedi." He points to the lead guy with the bag. "Squirrel Girl is correct. The stolen goods are there, but we're going to leave it alone for the cops to handle. Preserving the chain of evidence."
He looked to Doreen. "Doreen, meet Madison. We met awhile ago. I introduced her to White Castle while avoiding a police surveillance van watching a crime scene."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Squirrel Girl! Hi!" Madison greets the other girl in a cheerful voice, her eyes going to Tippy-Toe as she adds, "Man, is he your pet? I aaaaalmost got a squirrel to eat from my hand once, but then some little kid ran by and... poof. You know? Squirrel just took off."
    Her attention shifts to the criminals as she frowns down at them. "A jewel heist, huh? Well. See what good it did the. Crime doesn't pay and all that, right?" She drags one of her toes in the dirt as she adds, "I'm still not much of a Jedi, though. And mom still wouldn't like it if I..." she gestures to the criminals. "You know."

Doreen Green has posed:
Squirrel Girl can't help but laugh a bit, "-Her- name is Tippy-Toe! And she's my friend, not my pet! All squirrels are my friends, we have a special bond, and we help each other. You'd be surprised at how many squirrels are crime fighters by nature."

"Most squirrels are cautious around anyone else who isn't a squirrel, even if you offer them food, they see what goes on and aren't easily fooled. Isn't that right Tippy-Toe?" The squirrel makes a high pitched noise that suggests an affirmative!

"Crime never pays.. but it definitely pays to go to White Castle. Their burgers and fries are amazing!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey looks thoughtful. "Well, there's one at the northeast corner of the Park. Would you like to chat over there? The wind's pretty cool, the night's clear, and the NYPD is going to be here before you know it. We should only stay as long as it takes for them to get here."

He glances to Tippy-Toe. "Is she okay with White Castle sliders? I was going to buy her one or two for her help."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "It was my first trip to White Castle!" Madison supplies eagerly. "I'm from the West Coast, you see, and we don't have them there. It was pretty good. And my mom doesn't usually let me go to fast food places - at least, she never takes me there. But what I do on my own, with my own money, you know..." She gives a shrug of her shoulders.
    "I wouldn't mind a trip to White Castle. I'm celebrating!"
    She takes a few steps - walking backwards - in what she //thinks// is the correct direction. It probably isn't. "Would, umm - do you think Tippy-Toes would let me pet her? Or hold her? Even though I'm not a squirrel, I mean."

Doreen Green has posed:
Squirrel Girl smiles again, "That sounds great! Squirrels are omnivores actually, she likes food in general, and isn't picky at all really!"

At Madison's question, "Well.. she doesn't like to be treated like a pet honestly. If you get to know her I'm sure she'll be willing to show affection. What do you think Tippy-Toe?" Tippy-Toe squeaks and hops onto Madison's shoulder for a few minutes, clearly willing to make friends.

"Well that settles it! I think she trusts you already!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey smiles at the show of trust, then looks to his left as red and blue lights begin flashing. "Looks like the cops are here." He points to the north. "Head in that direction. I'll catch up with you shortly after I give the 411 to the five-oh."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison is almost quivering in delight when the squirrel jump on her shoulder. "Oh. Oh, wow. Hi, Tippy-Toes!" she exclaims brightly. She glances back to Peter, giving a nod to the costumed man, before she turns to start walking normally. "So I guess you hang out in the park a lot then. With your friends? Are you only friends with the squirrels in Central Park, or...?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen nods, "Oh I come here a lot! It's the closest thing to a forest in the city. But I love going upstate and exploring the natural forests there when I can. But there's a lot of crime to fight, Spider-Man knows that all too well! He does a good job but everyone needs help!"

She gives a nod to Tippy-Toe who also nods, a serious look in her eyes, "We have to keep our priorities straight.. like school too.." She laughs nervously, "I guess between crime fighting, school, and my social media activity, I don't have a lot of time do I?"

"Well I still have time for a late dinner." Tippy-Toe's stomach is audibly rumbling now, "I think we can all agree!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man takes a little time to bring the patrolman up to speed on the situation, but a few minutes later, he hops from tree to tree (catching yet another branch to the face) before catching up to Squirrel Girl and Madison. He elects to drop to the ground to the right of them, instead of behind or ahead.

"Hey...!" He jogs over to the two. "Cops have it in hand, so we're good. Let them know Squirrel Girl also helped catch the bad guys, because, y'know, credit where it's due."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Your mom doesn't mind that you do crime fighting?" Madison asks in surprise. "Gosh - mine'd kill me. And one of my teachers - he says that sort of thing's for after college. Which - well. I guess I'm going to go to, now." She hadn't //really// been planning on it before, if she was being completely honest.
    "Oh, hi Spidey!" she says brightly as the man rejoins them. "Glad the cops've got it."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen shrugs, "My parents have known about my abilities since I was a kid. I guess they just assumed I'd do something with them! Besides I'm old enough now to make my own decisions. They can't really.. tell me not to." She snickers.

When Spider-Man catches up, Squirrel Girl grins, "Hopefully the papers will credit the squirrels too! We probably wouldn't have avoided a fight without them!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey eyes Doreen for a moment, then glances at her squirrel's tail. "Yeah, I can see why they clued in quickly. I've only had my special gifts for...about three years."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Less than that even, for me. Just a few months," Madison explains. "And - well. I guess who expects a //literal Jedi//? You know? And... leeeeegally I'm still young enough that mom gets to tell me what to do," she explains, letting out a heavy sigh. "Oh well. I met this girl named Charlie and she says I need to practice and train first anyways."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen nods, "Oh yeah.. I never tried to hide it either. Didn't see a reason! At first they thought I was a mutant but.. turns out I am something called a 'mutate'? Apparently my DNA was altered before I was born. No one really knows why but I'm not complaining! I can do a lot of good!"

She glances at White Castle, "Those fries are calling to me.." Tippy-Toe concurs with excited squeaks!

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey looks over and nods. "Yeah. They are good. Welp, no sense delaying the inevitable."

Spider-Man opens the door, but steps aside to let Madison and Doreen go in first.
The place is handling its evening crowd, but no one seems to bat an eye when Squirrel Girl and Madison step inside. Girl with a squirrel's tail. Got it.
There is something that explains it, though. On one wall is an offer for ten sliders, large fries, and a large drink called the "Spidey Special."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison happily traipses in - beaming as this only her third trip to White Castle. She eyes the 'Spidey Special' on the board - and lets out a quiet giggle. "I don't think I could eat quite that much. Maybe I'll get... five sliders, with a small fries and a soda," she muses as she eyes the menu. She goes for another of the crab cakes again - but the other four are all cheese burgers. She's halfway to the soda machine when she stops and asks, "Oh. Should we get a glass of ice water for Tippy-Toes? Soda probably isn't good for squirrels, huh?" Like it's good for people?

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen grins at the menu, "Oh trust me.. between me and Tippy-Toe? We can clear that! Spidey Special for me!"

Tippy-Toe is jumping with excitement. She is clearly VERY food motivated. Doreen looks around, "We'll need a spot with a big table I think.."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man raises an eyebrow. "I know they were doing it at the Brooklyn location, but that's a family franchise."
The cashier, smiling at the trio, volunteers, "Oh, the district manager saw it and also saw their sales went up after they posted the special, so they're doing it at all the locations in the city." She marks down the orders, then looks to Spidey.
"Oh...yes, I'll have the special. Gotta support local businesses."
The cashier (name tag reading HEATHER) punches it in, then asks, "Paying separately?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Oh - umm. My treat, actually!" Madison volunteers abruptly. "My mom, like, literally //cannot// get mad at me this week when it comes to money!" she exclaims brightly, as she slides over a credit card, and beams at the two super heroes. "Besides. Treating you guys to a meal after stopping a //jewel heist// seems like, you know, the least that someone could do."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen blinks, "Well if you insist! Money's no problem for me.. living in a dorm and all. But hey I'll get the bill the next time!"

Squirrel Girl peers at the room again and spots a large-ish table, "I think that will work." She points, "It's just the four of us but we'll need space for all this food.."

"If your mom gets mad about the bill, just tell it was superhero fuel?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man looked to Madison. "You're a class act, Madison. I gotta say it." He looked to Doreen, then said, "If everything works out, I;ll get the third one."

Heather runs the card, then hands it back with a receipt. "Sit anywhere you like. Thank you for choosing White Castle. Someone will bring out your order shortly." She hands over three cups, then looks to the next customer as the trio head for the big table.
"I can get your drinks. What do you want?" Spidey asks helpfully.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Oh, she won't. Like I said - she can't this week! Might as well take advantage while I can!" Madison says brightly, beaming as she gets called a 'class act' by //Spider-man.// Man, if only she'd had her phone recording... Oh well.
    "Ummm... Raspberry flavor ginger ale," she supplies, as Spidey offers to get the drinks. She starts to bounce her way over to the table - but abruptly remembers there's a squirrel still on her shoulder, and settles for a more sedate approach, setting her arm on the surface of the table so Tippy-Toes can run down it and back to Doreen whenever she likes.

Doreen Green has posed:
Tippy-Toe leaps back to Doreen's shoulder. Doreen glances at the drink options, "Hmmmm.. Orange Coke! Tippy-Toe doesn't like soda much though.. she'll drink water when we get home or visit the water fountain after she eats.."

"I liked Big Belly Burger in Gotham. It's hard to really say which is better.."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man nods, then goes to the fountain machine. He is pretty good at balancing the drink cups as he fills the first, then the second, then the third.
Then, while balancing the three drinks in one hand, he takes out a small square plastic container and fills it up with cold water from one of the nozzles.

He strolls over to the table, handing out the precariously-balanced drinks. "Raspberry ginger ale...Orange Coke...Cherry Coke for me..."
And then he places the red container filled with water on the table near Tippy Toe. "Aqua Vita for TipToe..."
He sits down, then pulls up his mask to just above his nose, revealing the lower part of his face. No scars, Caucasian, white teeth, but otherwise...he could be anybody.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Thanks!" Madison says brightly as she accepts her drink. She kicks her feet idly, picking up her cup for a sip and letting out an appreciative sound.
    After that she finally announces. "I won my school science fair the other night. //First place//. I mean, I really didn't expect it..." But who's going to argue with something like that? //First place!//
    "Crime doesn't pay. //Science// pays!"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen slurps her drink as she sits down, "A bottle of water works for Tippy-Toe!" When Spider-Man pulls up his mask a bit, Doreen can't help but grin, "I don't see any spider mandibles.."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey looks heavenward. "Jeez, what is JJJ saying NOW?" He shakes his head. "No mandibles, no eight eyes, no eight limbs...as a human/spider hybrid, I'm kind of a let down. I don't even make my own webs." He holds up one arm to expose the webshooter along the inner wrist.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "...who's JJJ?" Madison asks without comprehension, looking between Doreen and Spider-man. "And why would he have a mandible? He's Spider-man, not Man-spider," she declares - as if this statement makes perfect sense. I mean - apparently it does to her.

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen snickers, "Of course I knew he didn't have mandibles! They wouldn't fit under his mask! And JJJ? He's just the Editor in Chief of the Daily Bugle. He doesn't like Spider-Man for some weird reason. Doesn't criticize anyone else nearly as much."

She slurps her drink again, "I don't know why though..."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man shrugs. "It's a mystery to me, too. He's a big fan of mutant rights, is a stickler for accuracy in his paper. But for some reason, he hates me. No idea why. But he keeps his opinions to the editorial page..."

He looks up as a waiter arrives with three trays. His nametag says "Ben," and Spidey does a brief double-take as Ben hands out the trays with the food. "Uhm...thanks."

Ben smiles pleasantly. Thank you." And with that, he steps away from the table.

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison slides her tray towards herself, as she looks between the pair who were both several years her senior, picking up a fry to nibble on idly. "Well. I guess who knows why people do anything? I don't get the point of hating someone, though. Why waste all that energy. You know what they say about fear, anger, and hate, you know?" she remarks - as she starts opening some packets of ketchup.

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen shrugs as she bites into her burger, "Some people just don't understand that heroes are necessary. I've read his stuff.. but the police can't handle everything. There are a lot of villains who would probably take over entire cities without superheroes. The police need help. I hope that Jameson realizes that one day."

Tippy-Toe is devouring fries and a bit of burger that Doreen broke off for her.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey practically hoovers a cheeseburger slider before nodding. "Well, he is still entitled to his opinion. It doesn't change what I have to do, though." He pauses for a moment, then looks to Madison. "You say you need training? Like, Jedi training?, or simply how to handle situations where you may have to put up a fight?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Well - I mean, Jedi training, yes," Madison volunteers immediately, dipping a fry repeatedly into her ketchup as she talks. "That would //cover// situations where you might have to put up a fight. You know? But I have to get better at my powers. I bet I can do stuff I haven't figured out yet. And I can get better at the stuff I have figured out. And... and I should probably take karate, or taekwondo or something. You know?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen agrees with Madison, "Karate is great! Taekwondo is too.. but you have to get a LOT of flexibility first. Those kicks are tricky. Still I think you should do it!"

She turns to Spider-Man, "I bet you know every single martial art on the planet! Right?! I mean not even Rhino can stand up to you!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man rubs the back of his head as he sips his cherry Coke. "Well, I'm pretty good at ninjitsu. Learned what I know from a techno-ninja. Long story."

He glances to Doreen, then to Madison. "Well...I happen to know a place. It used to be a scrapyard, but I kinda converted it into a training area. The owners aren't going to mind, since they disappeared a few years ago and it's tied up in probate court. If you would like a place where you could learn a few things, maybe train what abilities you have..."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "They probably have a karate club or something at school," Madison muses quietly. With all the super-powered individuals that go there.
    Her attention shifts to Peter again, as she nibbles on one of her fries and hastily swallows. "That sounds handy. And - umm - would you... Could you teach me ninjitsu, too? I mean- well. You're probably too busy, huh?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen nods, "Sure! That sounds like a good idea! My room mate isn't really.. the training type. My other friends are usually too busy to train anyway. Having somewhere to do that will come in handy."

She looks at Tippy-Toe, "And a certain squirrel is going to need to burn some calories soon.."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey smiles. It is a wry, but not mean smile.

"Hey, Madison, if I help you learn, that means you can become a more effective Jedi and help people." He turns to Doreen. "And you can work to become a better superheroine, which means you both make *my* job that much easier. So...a little effort NOW saves me a lot of effort LATER."
He reaches into his backpack. "Do either of you have a smartphone?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Oh. Yeah! Like how my mom says we should be investing in schools and early education instead of prison!" Madison supplies. "Or free preventative health care." She reaches into her pocket - pulling up her phone, which shows a picture of her sitting on an ant the size of a pony. She quickly gets into her address book instead, though.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey chuckles. "Cute picture, but actually..." He hands Madison a card. On the card is a wesbite link, and a small icon that looks like Spidey's mask under it.

"Going to that website will allow you to download a link for an app for a stealth comm network called Spider-Comm. You can hide it on your phone as a completely different app called Spider's Web. It even has about five levels for a game, but the game is confusing enough to lose people's interest. But, tap the right area, and you can open up the comm network. Send IMs, secure files, access the independent database...we even have support for Metropolis and Gotham City, now. This way, we can stay in touch covertly."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "That was part of my science project!" Madison chirps brightly, before accepting the card.
    "Wait - whoa. Really?" she asks curiously, as she opens her browser instead - thumbs flying as she goes to the website. "Did you design it?" she asks curiously. "Or hire someone to do it? I couldn't design a program... Okay, there it is." She starts downloading it as she asks, "Who else is on the... Spider-Comm?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey chuckles. "The same guy who designed my web-shooters wrote the software. As for who's on there, well, we have a bunch of other Spider types...but we also have a number of 'honorary' Spiders as well."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "So, umm, I'd be an 'honorary' spider?" Madison asks - sounding impressed with this idea. "Man. This week is the best! ...but I can't really tell my mom about this one. That's okay - she'll just think I'm still excited about the other one," she decides, flashing Spider-Man a bright smile. "...okay. I think it's loading up. How do I use it...?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey points at the screen. "The startup instructions will walk you through setting it up. There is a number of locations pre-loaded. The training area is one of them. Just run a search for 'King's Landing Scrap Yard.' It was owned by a man whose last name was King, and it's on the waterfront, so no, it's not a Game of Thrones reference."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "I mean. ...it could //also// be a Game of Thrones reference," Madison supplies - as she starts fiddling with the startup - while nibbling idly at one of her sliders. She hums cheerfully to herself as she clicks through some of the settings - and starts searching for 'King's Landing.'

Peter Parker has posed:
A map waypoint suddenly appears on the screen, with offers to supply directions, send arrival notification, or send an emergency message.

"There are more options, but you would need the full augmented-reality rig for that sort of stuff."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "An augmented-reality rig?" Madison asks - looking up towards Spider-man. "What's an augmented reality rig? What other options does it give you? Can try I try it out sometimes? That sounds sooooooo cool!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey hmms, then ohs and holds up a finger. "Hang on. I think I have one of the old prototypes."

He reaches into his backpack and pulls out what appears to be a set of Gargoyles mirrorshade sunglasses. Sadly out of style, but apparently something he was able to use.
He puts them on, hmms, then takes them off and hands them to Madison. "Here. It's only got the basic functions, but it'll show you what I mean."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison takes them curiously, turning the glasses over in her hands, then putting them on. "How do I look?" she asks, before glancing around the room, and glancing back down at her phone, to see what if anything has changed.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey says quietly, "Give it a moment to sync."

Then the world changes.
A text box above Spider-Man appears: <SPIDER-MAN> Looking around causes Madison to look in the direction of Central Park, and a waypoint appears in midair: <BELVEDERE CASTLE: 214.5 YDS> Other waypoints appear, denoting a few other landmarks and the distance between them and her.
Two menus appear on the left side: <SEARCH DATABASE> and <COMMS>.

Madison Evans has posed:
    "It's like having google maps on my eyes!" Madison decides with a giggle. "I have to interface with it - with my phone? Or is it voice-activated?" she asks. "'Hey Goggles. Call Captain America," she tries - just to see if it works.
    There's a brief pause.
    "Darn. That would've been cool," she remarks.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man chuckled.
A text box appears: <NO CONTACT INFORMATION>
"I WISH I had Captain America's phone number. But then again, he's an AVENGER, and I'm...well, I'm just Spider-Man."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "....IT IS VOICE-ACTIVATED!" Madison practically shrieks in response. Then - even //she// realizes that was much too loud, and it shows in the way she abruptly shrinks in her seat and adds more quietly, "...sorry. That was just- that was really cool. Whoa."
    She gets a thoughtful look on her features before asking, "So. How do we get Captain America's phone number... hrm."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen has been speaking with Tippy-Toe for a bit, mostly about training, but also regarding future patrolling, especially around Central Park. She has finished her food at this point, "Tippy-Toe and I both agree that the training area you mentioned is perfect! In fact it could be a great spot for other heroes to train. There are quite a few up and coming crime fighters around the city you know!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey nods, noshing on another slider before responding. "Let's just focus on doing what WE can. There are a few others who know about the place and note when they are using it. But no reason more can't come, as long as they don't do anything to attract the attention of the police." He looked to Doreen and Tippy Toe. "Do you have a smartphone you can install the app on?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Gosh, I don't know what I could possibly do to attract the attention of the police. I'm not... the flashiest person around. You know? Just - umm - a little loud sometimes. But there's no laws against //that//." She takes off the glasses, holding them out to Doreen as she adds, "Do you want to check these out? They're pretty cool. I wonder if they could find the nearest Pizza Hut. Or-" She looks speculative for a moment. "Do they scan police scanners? That'd be cool... And useful."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen pulls out her most recent generation iPhone, "Oh DO I?! Are you kidding?! This phone is a big chunk of my life!" She holds the phone out.

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey picks up the card and shows Doreen the website link. "Works for Android, iOS, and StarkSoft." He chuckled. "The programmer is rather prolific. If you want to incorporate a full Spider-Comm A/R rig, it will take about five days to put together."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "Who put it together? The same friend who did the webshooters, again? How //did// he make the web shooters? Can I try shooting them someday? Then I could tell my teachers 'I'm sorry. The webshooter destroyed my homework.' Do you think they'd buy that? I go to Happy Harbor, so there's a lot of people with special abilities at school..."

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen stares at the website, "This.. is.. so.. cool! We have our own Avengers comm system.. thing! Spider-Comm.. wow! I had no idea that you were this high tech! Honestly I thought you were psychic! You always know where the worst crimes are happening. I guess this explains it!"

Doreen doesn't know about Spider-Man's spidey-sense so she's... not -entirely- wrong about the psychic thing.. but ssshhh...

"I'll install the app ASAP! Tippy-Toe doesn't like technology much, but Gadget-Gregg is all about tech. Is it okay if he has the app on his computers?"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man sips his drink, then said, "Well, it's like this. He built the web-shooters...and reverse-engineered the web-fluid compound...and kinda wrote the software, too. I owe a lot to him."

Careful, Peter Parker. Try not to sound like a sanctimonious know-it-all, okay?

"It should work on a computer, but all Gregg is going to get is the database and the mapping...much of the rest of the built-in functions aren't really going to work for a stationary computer. If you like the app and want to set up a full rig, let me know."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "...can he build me a lightsaber?" Madison asks before almost immediately saying in disappointment, "Oh - though... A Jedi's supposed to make their own weapon. You think he could teach me how to make a lightsaber?" she asks in a hopeful voice. "I'm hardly a Jedi without one, you know?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen scoops up the offered pair of glasses that relate to the comm system, "I use a few gadgets already so these will fit right in! I'll just add them to my kit! We are going to really put a stop to crime now!"

Tippy-Toe excitedly jumps up and down, "Yeah she's right! Most bank robbers don't even text each other during a heist!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey blinks. "Uhm, S.G., that's an old prototype. Only does a fraction of what the current rig can do. If you like it, I can make something that might work better for you. I can set up a rig with a subvocal microphone, fingertip sensors, and contact lenses that can do a much better job..."

The glasses take a little time to adjust to, but in a few seconds, Doreen can seen the waypoint, the landmarks, and a text box over Spidey and now Madison:

<SPIDER-MAN> <MADISON>
<Spiders> <Jedi>

Madison Evans has posed:
    "So. Not so much of a lightsaber engineer then, huh?" Madison says with some disappointment - as that part of the conversation goes unanswered. "That's okay. I'll ask Doctor Pym, and maybe that'll be my //next// science fair project, and I'll win //again// and then I'll //really// be able to afford any college that I want," the girl muses between bites from another slider.

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen is even more excited now, "Seriously Spider-Man?! That would be great! Coordination is something I have been trying to work on but.." She laughs nerviously, "I am.. not THAT good yet. I'm better with hardware stuff honestly. I don't have the level of programming skill needed for my own comm system. But with yours I won't have to!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider's exposed cheeks color slightly. "Uhm...it's more of a matter where I can't afford the materials to build you a lightsaber, sorry. I'd had some thoughts about it, but I don't have the budget. My cash flow is less SHIELD and more Shoestring."

He looks back to Doreen. "All right. Give me a few days to get a complete rig built for you." He looked back to Madison. "Do you want something like that, or stick with just the phone app?"

Madison Evans has posed:
    "....how much do you think it would cost?" Madeline asks uncertainly. How much of the $50,000 she just won - could she talk her mom into pouring into her //next// science fair project? "I mean... Maybe I can afford it?" she muses thoughtfully.
    "I mean - I'd like a complete rig, but- since it's not like I'm going to be fighting crime yet, because my mom would blow a //literal// gasket," okay, a //figurative// gasket... "so it seems like that might be a waste of resources? At the moment?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen blinks at Madison, "Wow you have THAT much money! Get out!! You could almost be our Tony Stark! ....almost." Her tails swishes a bit, "Not having money is one of the reasons I haven't even tried to set up high tech comms. I know my way around computers but I've never actually tried, and even if I did try, we're talking quite a bit of trial and error at first. Either way this Spidey-Comm will link us so that I can keep trying to hack Rhino's personal emails.."

Yeah she just said that out loud...

"Ummm.. you probably don't want to read those.. really.."

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey peers at Madison. "I'd like to see you start with practice swords. Maybe my techno-ninja can teach you something like kendo, a martial art involving swords. I'd rather you work with something like that before you upgrade to a lightsaber. As for that...I'll put some serious work into getting you a wholesale price for a functional lightsaber...but we can start with the skills first."

He popped the last slider into his mouth, chasing it with a sip of soda.

"S.G., the training center is at King's Landing Scrap Yard. You can find it with a Google search. We can meet there when you're available next time, and I can see about setting you up with the rig there."

Madison Evans has posed:
    A huge grin appears on Madison's features. "Yeah, okay. Sword practice! Great idea!" she agrees.
    Then looking towards Doreen she adds, "I mean, I don't have //that// much money. But winning the science fair won me a lot of money - so maybe my mom'd be willing to put some money into my next science project, so that maybe I can win more money?" she suggests. "Because science pays! It might work. Right?" She looks between the two. As if they would have any way of knowing how to convince Medison's mother.

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen 'ohhhs', "Well even a little money is a step in the right direction! Don't go broke but.. if you can help I am sure Spider-Man would appreciate it!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spidey chuckles again. "Let's start with the absolute basics and go from there. If I can set you up with a lightsaber, I need to know you're not going to Luke Skywalker yourself and have people call you 'Lefty' for the rest of your life. I'll check with my Teacher and see what we can do. Next goal - meeting at the training area and setting up the rigs. That's on me."

He takes one last sip, then pulls his mask down. "We start out the right way...the rest is easier."

Madison Evans has posed:
    "He didn't Luke Skywalker //himself// - Vader did it!" Madison protests. "But... fine. I mean, it makes sense. Lightsabers //are// super dangerous," she agrees. She gets a thoughtful look on her features before asking, "But can we rig up a blade that's strong enough - but also super-light? I mean, for one thing - a lighter blade would probably hurt less while practicing. But since the blade of the lightsaber isn't supposed to have any weight itself - it makes more sense to practice with a light blade. Right?"

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen thinks... "Sooo I've never trained with a sword before. It wouldn't hurt to learn how to wield a staff or something! Might even be easier to direct squirrels in combat if I have something to point with!"

"Either way the training ground is a start! We can go from there!"

Peter Parker has posed:
Spider-Man stands up. "All right, I think we have enough to work with. I should probably get going, but I think we have something to work with. You got heart, Madison. That counts for a lot. But training makes it powerful." He then looked to Doreen. "You have skills. If you can learn how to use them at their highest effectiveness, you'll be a force to be reckoned with."

Spidey grins under the mask, then says, "A pleasure to meet you both."

Madison Evans has posed:
    Madison beams brightly - she can't get //enough// of being complimented by Spider-man. I mean - that's just cool, right? "I mean, real nice meeting you too - Spidey," she says eagerly. "And, umm, yeah. You guys can buy the White Castle next time. Because if I shop at White Castle too often, I'll sooooo hear it from my mom. She's a real health-food nut," she explains - just before popping another fry in her mouth with relish.
    "Looking forward to our first practice!"
    We'll see if that enthusiasm eventually fades. Doesn't seem like it yet, though.

Doreen Green has posed:
Doreen concurs! "Definitely looking forward to our first practice! I'll bring some squirrels with me too so that they can teach the others what we learn!"

"Maybe one day we'll finally bring down Fisk!" Sure it's a slim hope but Doreen is nothing if not perpetually looking on the bright side of things!