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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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Would you be concerned for my safety, like you were concerned about your friends?

[He sounds doubtful, not able to believe that Peter is just that nice. Not after all they went through.]

I'm just tired of losing people.

[ Whether that means he's just that nice or not, well. Other people can make that distinction. ]

That's what upset you the most, wasn't it...

That I betrayed your trust.

Good job. You finally figured it out.

[ He probably shouldn't have told Beck that, but. What the hell. ]

[He nods.]

I understand.

It's difficult when you think you can work with somebody and they just turn around and... dismiss you. Crushing your dreams and all the time and effort you put in and not appreciating anything.

[His voice rises slightly with emotion as he's projecting his own feelings about Tony onto this in some attempt at understanding. It's not the same, but he feels it is - at least similar enough to try to make some point about it.]

I don't want that to happen again. Not between us. We had a good thing going there. We had teamwork. We had trust. You put your life on the line to help out a stranger from another dimension, only to have that thrown back in your face as if it never mattered.

Yeah, I get it. I was wrong...

I shouldn't have treated you like that.

[ That ... was a surprisingly compelling apology. Peter knows some (or all) of it has to be bullshit, but he'd be bullshitting himself if he said he wasn't affected by it. An apology goes much further than a threat.

He takes in a deep breath. And swallows, looking a bit stricken. ]

Yeah, well. You don't get teamwork and trust back with just an apology. Live up to what you say you're gonna do. Make me genuinely respect you.

Then that's my goal.

Be the hero. The real hero.

No more tricks.

[That wasn't really a guarantee, but it's a start?]

[ He just nods slowly, shoulders sagging. ]

Then who knows. Maybe this will work.

You're a good kid. Really, you are.

Not everyone would be willing to give someone anther chance.

[Especially after all the terrifying things Beck had put Peter through. Not to mention all the destruction.]

I appreciate it.

[ Peter is pretty sure he's making a mistake. That he's being tricked again, that this is all going to explode. But what can he do, really? And what will it hurt to let Beck at least pretend to try? ]

Yeah, well. Don't make me regret it.

In the meantime, before you arrived, I was looking into the job possibilities here.

Besides being a hero, since that doesn't pay well.

But maybe you don't need to do that. There should be a school.

[ School, ugh. Peter makes a face. ]

If they don't make me go, I'd rather work. What'd you find?

[It has been something Beck had been internally debating - whether to reveal things like where he lived or where he may end up working. But after their talk, he thinks it would show some respect and openness to let Peter know some of his plans. Which is why he'd brought it up.]

There's a place...

[He glances up and around, his arms spreading wide.]

Right around here, in fact. In Nova City. It's called Aster Technologies. They had a lot of job openings. I could put my skills to good use in there.

What kind of skills?

[ It's true, Peter will absolutely use that information against him if things go south. But. For now? It's curiosity. The tentative foundations of an actual relationship. ]

Well, they deal in robotics and what they term as 'life-enhancing technologies'. I was thinking of going for a position in their computer programming and computer engineering department. You can even do the work from home as long as you're being productive. But they do have labs there and all the latest tech this city has to offer.

I could do wonders with that. Think of it! Limitless possibilities. Combining their tech and my tech and fusing the best together.

[His rising voice has gotten more pretentious, as if he thinks he's giving an awe-inspiring speech, but he honestly is excited for this. Having his technology mean something and not be treated as a joke was something he'd long striven for. Tony Stark couldn't see the potential, but Quentin Beck could. He knew it was a great risk to tell any of this to Peter. It was his life's work and he didn't want to see it laughed at or denigrated again. But in the sense of fairness and that second chance, he exposed that vulnerability. But maybe there also was that arrogance. This chance was also a way to prove himself; that he could do great work.]

[ Yeah uh, that megalomania is concerning. Peter had done his research after the Mysterio incident - and found a decent amount. Turns out Stark had a whole file on disgruntled ex-employees given how frequently they tended to show up to murder him and/or other people. Unstable had been the label for Beck.

But. On the other hand. Dude's clearly a nerd, and Peter respects that. So his expression is conflicted but not like totally alarmed here. ]

So holograms and robots again. I mean, objectively awesome as long as you don't go on a rampage again.

Are you mocking me, Peter?

[The look Beck turns on him is more intense; clearly defensive.]

[ Jeez, dude. He puts up a hand in surrender. ]

Look, man, I legitimately think your tech is awesome. You just also almost killed me with it.

And that. Is in. The past.

[Yes, he does punctuate each of the words for clear emphasis.]

Tell that to my leg, dude.

... Look, I clearly don't know the extent of your superpowers. Your strength. Your resilience.

You survived. That's what's important.

[He's back to the reassuring speech. As if isn't the one that Peter had to survive.]

I'm just saying. We're both sensitive about stuff that hurt us. Cut me some slack for being sarcastic and I'll try not to dwell on the fact that my leg's probably messed up for good.

[He silently stares at Peter for a long moment. It might be unsettling. He looks like he's contemplating a lot of things but his expression is unreadable. Finally, he nods and speaks again.]

So what work did you have in mind to do?

[ It is unsettling. Peter can't quite manage to hold his gaze the whole time. Sooner or later, his eyes slip away. God, this dude still creeps him out. ]

Hell, I don't know. Try out a couple of different tech things, see if I find something that fits. Maybe chemical engineering.

Maybe they could use your skills at Aster. We could be working together.

Aside from being a superhero team.

[In his way, Beck wants to keep an eye on Peter as much as Peter wants to make sure Beck causes no more harm.]

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