http://bigreveal.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] bigreveal.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] capeandcowllogs2011-08-07 04:14 pm

(no subject)

WHO: Spider-Man and Amanda Waller
WHERE: At a greasy spoon diner in-town
WHEN: Sometime after the Vulcanus mission
WARNINGS: Nothin'!
SUMMARY: Spidey has noticed that Jessica and Amanda talk a lot. Spidey would like to know what that is all about!
FORMAT: Whateverrrr


So he wanted to talk, apparently.

Fine with her. So long as it was downtime from all that Vulcanus, Metamen, DeConnick is a pain in the ass crap. As much as she liked the familiarity of being in that kind of work again, she did not like dealing with stupid assholes once more. Wanted to spend time with Hank, or just get some relaxing in.

She supposed talking with Spider-Man over lunch counted as relaxation.

Amanda sat in the booth, having already ordered, waiting for her sandwich and salad to turn up. Would've liked a cold beer, though.
incywincyhero: (spidey: it's tingling more than ever now)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-07 08:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Peter knows, realistically, that this lunch is nothing to sweat about. Amanda Waller may be intimidatingly brilliant and prone to asking exactly the right questions, but so far as he's been able to figure she's neither any kind of telepath nor a magic user. Which means that no matter what, his secret identity is safe.

But then, if anyone here in the City has both the resources and smarts to figuring out his psychic blindspot protection exists and how to circumvent it, it's definitely Waller.

In any case, if he wants to find out what's going on with Jess, he has to take a risk. The double-takes and murmurs start as soon as Spidey walks through the door, but he ignores it all as he strides over to her booth at the back, steps more casual and bouncy than he really feels. He slides onto the opposite bench, leaning back against the overstuffed fake leather.]


Ms. Waller. Thanks for meeting with me, I appreciate it.
incywincyhero: (spidey: this is my thinky face)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-07 09:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Spidey is well used to looking like a goofball in a whole range of circumstances, including eating out while dressed in what amounts to a circus outfit. So he's completely relaxed as he orders a coffee and, after a quick flip through the menu, a reuben with slaw and extra fries.]

Yeah, I took the afternoon after we got back off, and now I'm back on the usual schedule. All in a day's work, eh?

[He drums his fingers on the plastic tabletop, just the once.]

Would've been nice to catch the top dogs, though. As it is they'll have another scheme soon enough, if it's not running already.
incywincyhero: (spidey: over the wall)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-07 10:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Sleep? What is this "sleep" you speak of? It sounds inefficient.

[And now he starts looking visibly uncomfortable -- not so much nervous as wary.]

I've noticed you've been talking to Spider-Woman a lot, lately.
incywincyhero: (spidey: what.)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-07 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[He tucks his chin on steepled hands, watching her for long moments through those big, white lenses. Then he sighs, and glances away.]

I didn't want to let on at the time, but that -- yeah, that worried me. She's been better lately, but --

[Refocusing, redirecting the conversation back where he wants.]

So you're looking out for everyone's best interests. Including hers?
incywincyhero: (spidey: what.)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-07 11:50 pm (UTC)(link)
You're telling me.

[Leaning back again. Seemingly at ease, but poised.]

That's the Cliff's Notes version, yeah.
incywincyhero: (spidey: moody b/w)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-08 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[He pushes his mask up over his nose and takes a sip of his coffee. Setting it down, he stirs in no fewer than three packets of sugar, no creamer.]

So you're mentoring her. How's she taking to that?
incywincyhero: (peter: decisions)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-08 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh. That does all sound like her. She loves her tech. And I was wondering where she'd picked up that new trick with the webbing.

[He sounds a little wistful. She's doing a lot of the things he wants to be teaching Jess right now, and would be if he weren't trying so hard to navigate all the emotional pitfalls that come from being a surrogate big brother to your opposite gender clone.]
incywincyhero: (peter: noes not the coffee)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-08 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[Spidey almost chokes on his coffee, and has to take a moment to dab at himself with a napkin. He coughs ostentatiously.]

D-did you now?
incywincyhero: (spidey: oy vey)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-08 10:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Face, meet palm.]

Oy, I knew I should've talked to her about the hair thing...

[Just then Spidey's reuben arrives, which gives him a few moments' delay as he thanks the waitress, arranges his food just so, and eats a fry.]

So you know her name is Julia Carpenter.
incywincyhero: (peter: mope)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-09 12:53 am (UTC)(link)
I knew that kid would be trouble.
incywincyhero: (spidey: hot dog!)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-09 01:07 am (UTC)(link)
[Spidey stops mid-chew. That ... was not a question he was expecting. He's too startled to even consider telling her to back off.]

I haven't ... I mean, it's not really on the table back home.

Here...

[A short laugh.]

Well, with all the mini-Spider-People around I can't exactly not think about it, can I?
incywincyhero: (spidey: what.)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-09 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
... That's unfortunate.

[Give him a minute he's still processing the whole "Amanda Waller is a mother of four" thing.]
incywincyhero: (peter: faceplant)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-10 08:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[If his hands weren't a mess from his food he'd facepalm; as it is he huffs a little and flops back in his seat, head leaning back on the headrest, a little too resigned and just plain worn out to be petulant.]

I think you're doing a better job with this than I am, whatever that says about me.

[As fast as that he's already leaned forwards again, but he's not quite meeting her gaze as he picks up another fry.]
incywincyhero: (spidey: sinking feeling)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-10 09:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I wish it were that simple.

[But now she's brought up the other point of contention. He takes a fortifying sip of coffee and a couple bites of his reuben, keeping her at bay that much longer.]

We're acquainted. Have been, for a while back home.
incywincyhero: (spidey: ay yi yi)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-10 09:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[And it's a good thing Peter hadn't been taking another fortifying sip of coffee, because otherwise there would've been a repeat of the earlier choking incident.]

That -- wha -- it's not like that!
incywincyhero: (spidey: headscratch)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-10 09:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh. Well, you're right it was a slip-up ... thing is, back home everyone knows Parker's my -- well, a former business associate, I guess you could say. It's hard to remember that's not the case here, what with so many people from the same universe...

[He polishes off the last of his reuben, then wipes his hands and clasps them loosely on the table.]

Back when he did photography, he was my official unofficial news photographer. I let him know where I'd be, he'd take the shots, we'd split the proceeds. He's been out of that for a while now, but you know a guy for ten years, you stay in touch, you know how it is.
Edited 2011-08-10 21:46 (UTC)
incywincyhero: (peter: decisions)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-10 09:55 pm (UTC)(link)
[A wry, and not at all uncomfortable chuckle.]

Well, he wasn't much more than a kid when I went him -- I've been told I'm a bad influence.
incywincyhero: (spidey: oy vey)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-11 12:59 am (UTC)(link)
Oy. Well, it's nice to know just how much she listens to my advice...

[He chomps on a fry irritably.]

She's actually moved in with me as of a week ago. She's welcome to stay as long as she likes -- if it becomes permanent we'll find a bigger apartment outside the MAC, no problem. I've also gotten an account set up for her paid from my own funds, so she has a nest egg if I get ported out. Though I haven't told her that, yet. Given the ... particular situation, I'm trying not to push. She's not used to -- well, to people looking out for her.

[He shrugs a little, polishes off the last of his slaw.]

I'm sure you've figured that out, too. With us it's -- well, there's another layer. So I've been trying to balance looking out for her well-being and giving her the space to set her own boundaries --

[He makes an exasperated noise.]

Obviously, I could be doing a better job of that.

[Just then, the waitress arrives to clear their dishes, and after a bit of banter Spidey orders himself another coffee and a slice of cheesecake.]
incywincyhero: (peter: *SCIENCE!*)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-11 01:51 am (UTC)(link)
Trust me, the superhero part is the least confusing bit.

[Spidey cocks his head, watching her think.]

I'm assuming you mean something a little more complicated than a ponytail. She's got way too much hair to manage a wig comfortably ... what, are you talking about some kind of color-changing solution? Not a permanent dye, but one activated and deactivated on a trigger, something like that?
incywincyhero: (peter: smile)

yeah this is not un-convincing Waller about the boyfriends thing, Peter

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-11 02:05 am (UTC)(link)
[Slight smile.]

Bet you Parker could reverse-engineer that in a jiffy. He does like his tinkering.
incywincyhero: (spidey: moody b/w)

[personal profile] incywincyhero 2011-08-11 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[Just then the waitress arrives with dessert on tray, and he waits until she's set things down before he continues the conversation.]

First of all, I don't think you'll do that as long as the benefits of Parker's trust and my goodwill outweigh the value of yet another secret. Second, I think you'll find it won't be quite as easy as you think it'll be.

I'm sure he'll appreciate the consideration, though.
Edited 2011-08-11 02:24 (UTC)