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[ Hey look, it's another teenager! A totally and completely normal teenager that has managed to scrounge up some clothes that aren't just whatever the hell he was wearing under his suit. Looks like a hoodie and some kind of shirt that looks like it might be nerdy? He tried for a nerdy aesthetic, anyway, which is hard when he doesn't even know what nerd culture looks like here. He's seated outside in Nova City somewhere, trying to figure out what to do next.

Anyway. He. Waves awkwardly? ]

Hey, um. I'd ask if people really just introduce themselves online like this without making it like "Welcome to My Star Wars Vlog And/Or Podcast" but I went back and looked at a bunch of posts and I guess that's exactly what it is? Which is cool. But weird? I'm weirded out.

[ Focus, Peter. Maybe breathe a little. He looks incredibly awkward, which is still only 50% of the Awkward Peter Parker Experience. ]

Anyway, I'm Peter Parker! I just got here like. A couple hours ago? And I have one really super important question.

[ Pause. Try not to look too excited. Look incredibly excited. ]

Did I see something about Pokémon? Like, actual physical Pokémon? Is that real or is this some super convincing AR thing? Because I'm down with both but if it's the first kind I am literally going to explode.

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[ It's an impressive show. So impressive that Peter flinches, despite his senses staying silent the whole time. At the end of the day he's still afraid of the man, afraid of his own mortality. He'd said he wanted to stay out of heroing because he wanted to have a normal life, and that was true. But it's also true that he'd wanted that normal life all the more desperately because he'd lost his own life, even temporarily.

But it doesn't touch him. The smoke goes past him, the illusion goes through him. And that ... that's almost worse than getting hit. ]

Mysterio.

[ He's so sad about being right. ]

[The helmet retreats and Beck shrugs, giving a lopsided grin.]

Maybe my powers just don't work here...

[But he knows the game really is up. The only power he has left is some smooth talking and a little charm.]

Listen, Peter. This is a chance. A chance to start again. Don't you see it? Why else would I be here? Why would you be here? We arrived within a day of each other and there has to be a reason.

[ Yeah, no. Don't even try that angle. That option is dead. But convincing Peter to give him a chance ... that might have traction. The pain in his eyes is testament to that. ]

What kind of chance? What are you gonna do with it, huh? Make up more threats and act like a hero?

No threats but I am a hero. That's how I came in here, people believe me and you will not be ruining that for me this time.

[Maybe a little bit of a threat. Whoops. But he takes a deep breath and continues.]

I don't want to hurt you, Peter.

Sure sounded like a threat to me.

[ Yeah, he heard that tone. His jaw sets stubbornly. ]

If you didn't want to hurt me, why'd you ruin my life?

You killed me, Peter. What was I supposed to do? Just let it happen without consequences? I told you I had contingencies. Did you not think I would use them if things went wrong?

[ Peter recoils sharply at that. ]

I didn't - I didn't kill you. And I wish I'd done more to save you.

Save me?

And how do you think you could have done that?

I don't know, okay? Carried you out, called for help, something.

[ Despite everything Beck had done, despite everything that had happened, Peter hadn't wanted Beck to die. He'd carried the Vulture out of a flaming plane wreck; he'd have done the same for Beck if he hadn't been so terrified that Beck was going to pop back up and shoot him. ]

[He takes a step forward, toward Peter. It's not meant to be menacing but it may come off that way - even if Peter has nothing to fear physically. After all, Quentin Beck is just a regular man and not a superhero with any extra strength.]

Then you know what you can do to make it up to me? You can do something here and now.

We can put the past aside and make this a new beginning in a new world.

You just have to make sure to do one thing - and that is not tell anyone about what happened between us before. That remains between us, OK? Don't tell anyone.

[He doesn't know it's already a little too late.]

[ He takes a step back, again limping slightly on his right leg. Whether Beck meant menace or not, he's sure having that effect. ]

You tried to kill me! And all my friends! And you almost succeeded. Why should I believe that you want to do actual good this time around?

[ He is also conveniently not going to mention having told Gwen. For multiple reasons. ]

And I have the proof that you killed me. All on video.

[Well, that was a lie. But he believes he could create something equal to that effect, as well as his crew did for his greatest gotcha moment toward Spider-Man.]

I'm not asking to be friends but we don't have to be enemies, mutually hurting each other.

[Now there's a pleading tone in his voice, his hands outward again, this time in a peace offering - a display that he had nothing dangerous in them. No guns. No magic.]

It's just you and me this time. No Fury. No friends. Just us. Let's work together.

Pro tip: I'd be a lot more interested in working with you if you could stop casually threatening me for two seconds.

[ Because seriously, casually dropping that little tidbit about having a video of him killing Mysterio? Not cool. And Peter fully believes that he has it.

But that's not why he's considering working with Beck. Quite the opposite, honestly. The threat of being viewed as a menace makes him less likely to cooperate. ]

If you mean this - really mean this - you've gotta prove it. Actually be a hero, use that tech for good.

[Insurance; even if it was all made-up. Beck felt he had to try to have some sort of ace up his sleeve. Despite it being an invisible card that only worked if Peter believed in it.]

That's what I've wanted to do all along.

[He means that too. Just his twisted ego got in the way of doing it and being the hero in a less grandiose and destructive fashion.]

[ He does think that Beck wants to be heroic. Just for all the wrong reasons, with all the wrong execution. There's no way he can trust the guy. But ... ]

Then do that. No tricks. If you go on an ego trip and start causing property damage or killing people, it'll be all over the network.

Only time can offer that proof. For now, you only have my word.

[Truthful, at least. He can't predict what may happen in the future.]

Yeah. Trust me, I'm not happy about that.

[ But he's quickly realizing he doesn't really have a choice. If he exposes Beck, then the man has no choice, right? It's straight back to supervillainy. At least this way he might actually do something good. And it gives Peter time to get back on his feet. ]

But fine. You've got my word too. I won't tell anyone.

[ Also truthful, given Gwen already knows. ]

Good.

[He gives out an easier smile and ducks his head as if acquiescing to Peter. Then he holds out a hand again, offering to seal the deal with a handshake.]

To our new partnership.

[He may be pushing the goodwill a little too far.]

[ Yeah, Beck deserves this glare. ]

This isn't a partnership. It's a truce.

[He keeps his hand out this time, waiting.]

A truce then. For now.

[ Ugh. He hates this. He hates all of this. But he reluctantly takes Beck's hand, squeezing a little too hard. ]

Fine. For now.

[Beck visibly winces. Yeah, one punch from Peter would likely just knock Mysterio out. He had to be careful.]

Thank you.

[He at least sounds sincere?]

Now... What's the next step?

[Letting Peter take the lead, or at least give an opportunity to. Whether Beck agrees to anything Peter says is still up in the air. He'll make his judgments as they happen, although he does want to try to make this work.]

[ Easily. He'd have a harder time avoiding killing him, honestly. Maybe don't think about that too hard.

Anyway. That ... is a good question. A really good question. Because frankly he has no idea. He sighs, deflating a little. Looking more like the teenaged kid he actually is. ]

It'd be great if you fessed up to the Elemental stuff being bullshit, but I'm guessing you wanna keep that part.

What good would that do here? I'll keep that story. It's a good jumping off point for conversations.

[He makes it sound so flippant; all that tragic backstory.]

[ Peter flinches. ]

Conversations. Right. With people like me.

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