[ 009; video; locked from Norman and the Joker, just in case. ]

[bedeviledspider]

[ The video flashes on to show Reilly in his apartment, sitting at the couch, staring at the camera. Alone. ]

Has anyone heard from Ben Reilly recently? 'Cause I haven't. And he hasn't come home in a while. I'm starting to think...

[  He puts his head in his hands. ]

No, I'm-- I'm sure of it. He's gone.

[ Disconnects. ]

Comments

private;

[iron_fister]

You okay?

private;

[bedeviledspider]

Yeah. Sure. Never been better.

[ Sigh. ] ...not really.

private;

[iron_fister]

Figured as much.

You want to talk?

private;

[bedeviledspider]

You're going to be mad at me.

[ Well, that's kind of an odd thing to say. ]

private;

[iron_fister]

Why would I be mad?

private;

[bedeviledspider]

There's something I haven't told you.

private;

[iron_fister]

[Danny is now expecting Reilly to admit that he's a murderer or something because that is what this always means.]

Something like what?

private;

[bedeviledspider]

[ Oh, this is totally as serious as that. Totally. ]

Like...

You know I'm not Matt's son. But I haven't told you who's son I am.

private;

[iron_fister]

Not someone who's trying to kill me, I hope.

private;

[bedeviledspider]

Heh. No.

Unless you and the Scarlet Spider have a history no one told me about.

private;

[iron_fister]

[A surprised pause.]

He's your dad?

private;

[bedeviledspider]

[ Quietly. ]

...yeah.

He is. Was. He's not here any more.

private;

[iron_fister]

I'm sorry, Reilly.

[A long pause.]

Is there anything I can do?

private;

[bedeviledspider]

Give me a day off?

[ He chuckles. ]

It'll be okay. At least I got to... I had more time with him here than I did back home.

private;

[iron_fister]

Take as much time as you need, Reilly.

You are just a volunteer, after all.

private;

[bedeviledspider]

And here I was hoping you'd hire me out of pity.