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[made_up_names]

[ 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.

Comments

[made_up_names]

[ Peter can probably guess at some of them. For him, at least, he's counting on the fact that very few people know he's Spider-Man. ]

If it's not important then you definitely don't need the info. Hard pass, dude.

[mysteryhero]

I know. I stopped asking, didn't I?

[made_up_names]

Sort of sounded like you were still digging.

[ Sigh. But. Fine, he can let it go. ]

If you're actually concerned, then don't be. I've been homeless twice.

[mysteryhero]

I'm not allowed to be curious or concerned?

[Probably not when he's often so manipulative for all the wrong reasons.]

Why would a kid like you ever be homeless?

[made_up_names]

[ Yep, that's exactly it. ]

Alien invasion when I was eight. Part of a building fell on my aunt's house, wiped out everything we had.

[mysteryhero]

Ah, yes... An Avengers-level event.

[made_up_names]

Yep. The original Battle of New York. Between the mess and the cleanup, we were in homeless shelters for three weeks.

[mysteryhero]

I'm sorry to hear that. It must have been very frightening for you.

[made_up_names]

Yeah, it wasn't great. My parents died in the battle too, but May and Ben had been raising me by then anyway.

[mysteryhero]

Oh, Peter... I'm so sorry.

[He sounds genuinely sorry and does reach out and toward him, intending for a sympathetic grip of his shoulder unless Peter doesn't allow it. And he wouldn't blame him.]

[made_up_names]

[ He's not exactly pleased by the gesture, but he permits it. Reluctantly. ]

There you go. Personal info. Not that it does you any good.

[mysteryhero]

[It's not what he'd been expecting. He hadn't delved into Peter's past. The present and future had been of more importance to him, most notably: where to find EDITH. But EDITH was irrelevant here, if what Peter claimed was true. That changed a lot of Beck's motivations right there.]

You've had to deal with a lot. That you can keep putting out such a positive attitude says a lot about your spirit, kid.

[He releases the contact after a moment, quietly surprised that Peter hadn't hit him instead of accepting it.]

[made_up_names]

[ It was a near thing, honestly. That tension in his shoulders says that Beck made a good decision letting go when he did. ]

What else can I do?

[mysteryhero]

I guess we just have no real choice on how we feel when life gives us the worst twists and turns.

You could have been consumed by bitterness.

[made_up_names]

What, like you?

[mysteryhero]

.....

[He couldn't really deny it. Sure, he was bitter.]

That's right. Don't be like me.

[How sincere or regretful he was as he said that is up for debate, but he feels it's the right thing to say.]

[made_up_names]

That I might be able to do.

[ He straightens up a bit, hauling his backpack up onto his shoulders. ]

[mysteryhero]

[That seems to be a sign so Beck straightens up too, watching Peter.]

I'd better let you get to... whatever you were doing.

I guess I'll see you around, huh, kid?

[made_up_names]

... Yeah. I'll see you around, Beck.

[ He's gonna websling his way out of this alley, heading back out into the city. ]