(Untitled)

[bigreveal]

WHO: SPIDER-TEENAGER and FAT AND OLD
WHERE: On an apartment building rooftop.
WHEN: Afternoon of May 15th.
WARNINGS: None.
SUMMARY: Amanda and Spider-Woman eat incredibly expensive pizza, possibly (not likely) bond.
FORMAT: whatever

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[arakhnes]

Ugh, she had given her name out way too much. The point of Julia Carpenter was that she wouldn't be connected to Spider-Woman. Well, maybe she still wouldn't be. Who knows. But it was frustrating nonetheless and her paranoia was spiked. These were the thoughts running through Jessica's head as she swung across the city to meet the strange, older woman who had taken an interest in her... and well, vice versa.

The set-up was pretty easy to spot from the skies and Jessica released her web line, flipping and landing nimbly on the roof before Amanda, waving after a moment.

"Uh! Hi. Hope I didn't keep you waiting."

Granted, she was only about ten minutes later, but these things happen.

[bigreveal]

"Not at all. Take a seat. Relax."

Amanda herself leaned back, rolling her shoulders, and helping herself to a beer. For Jessica? She had left out a choice of bottled water or soda. Who knew what she liked.

"To get this out of the way, so you really can relax - Julia's not your real name, is it?"

"I'm hoping you're smart enough that it isn't."

[arakhnes]

Jessica didn't reach for any drink though, just stepped closer with her hands cautiously at her sides. Yes, she was still nervous, even though her posture didn't tell much about that. (She had learned how to at least hide the way she felt through her body language thanks to Roxxon.)

"Uh..."

Did she want to answer that?

"No, it's not."

Well, it was probably better to answer it than let it go unanswered. Though now she'd have to think about getting name changes or something. Nertz.

[bigreveal]

"Good. That means you can still do damage control. Make sure anybody who knows the name calls you Julia as little as possible, though, and lock all posts that do. Go back and lock all the posts you made during that week, too. You're not on a lot of people's radars yet, which means this whole blowup will be pretty minor, now, and in the long run, if you lock things down tight

[arakhnes]

Jessica listened quietly though her hands instinctively went to her hair when it was mentioned. Okay, it was not her fault her hair was so big (and not because it was full of secrets). This was purely genetics and Peter's fault. She could probably invest in a wig though, or just... never go out of costume. Ugh, this was complicated. It was a lot easier in her world when she was just Spider-Woman and Jessica Drew when she went on that date with Johnny.

"Er. Okay."

Not that she wasn't grateful for the advice. It was a lot to think about and she was jerked out of her thoughts when Amanda spoke again. Her gaze moved to the pizza and she tentatively stepped over to it, sitting down and watching the woman for a moment. And then slipping a finger under a seam around the neck of her costume, lifting up her mask just over her mouth and taking a slice.

"Thanks for this, by the way."

[bigreveal]

"My pleasure. I have a lot more freetime than I used to to just... talk to people. So I'm intending to make full use of it. Hell, I'm dating for the first time in over 10 years.

Amanda actually smiled. And it wasn't one of those 'I know WAY more than you' smiles.

It was a genuinely happy smile.

It was almost creepier, that way.

"Plus, I figured you could use the food. A metahuman's metabolism can be... insane, especially if on regular patrol. You need more calories than most people."

[arakhnes]

"You're dating someone?"

Was a question before she realized that she asked it, between mouthfuls of pizza. In fact, between those words and Amanda's initial ones, Jessica was already on her second slice, just inhaling the food like she hadn't eaten in days. However, there was a small grin at the expression on the other lady's face and it was pleasing to see that. She liked seeing other people happy.

However, the grin dropped and was replaced with something similar to sheepishness at the comment on food, her eating going a little slower.

"Yeah, I've never noticed until recently, really. My food bills end up kind of high."

Metahuman? That was a new word though.

[bigreveal]

"Yeah. Hank McCoy. Teacher at the institute, all around genius. We hit it off after he showed me to the ballet. It's going pretty well, all things considered." Though it was a little weird finding out just how similar his last girlfriend was to her

[arakhnes]

"Oh, I know him. I'm in some of his classes and uh, he owes me for babysitting."

It was an idle comment, a few words between the fourth and fifth slice of pizza that she was on. However, she was quiet again, just eating as much as she could though she made a face at the offer for money.

"No, I'm fine. I don't need help with money."

It was the Peter Parker in her. Offer to help everyone that she could, but refused to take any help of her own. Pride? Maybe. Or just plain stupidity. Who was she to judge her faults. "Besides, it's not too bad. It's not like I cook gourmet everyday or something."

Or that she could cook.

[bigreveal]

"Don't let need get in the way of help. Waiting till something's absolutely necessary has a way of biting you in the ass. But I won't force you to take the money. Expected that for an answer anyhow."

She chuckled a bit. Good lord, was she going to eat the entire pizza? Good thing Amanda anticipated and bought the largest size possible.

"Either way - you should look into putting together particular stuff for your diet. People have all kinds of smoothies and drinks and bars and meals and whatever they eat after a big workout to help them recover. You should have the same, after a long night for a patrol. You may not need the muscle, but you will need to be able to stay awake for classes."

A pause. Tapped the table.

Laughed more.

"I'm giving too damn much advice again, aren't I?"

[arakhnes]

Seventh slice. Yeah, she might end up eating it all. Though her bites were slowing and she was taking her time with her piece of pizza now.

"Yeah, you are. I don't mind though. Seriously."

Jessica hesitated before continuing, lowering the pizza from her lips.

"Not a lot of people really give me advice. I've kind of just been figuring this stuff out on my own. So I owe you one."

Oh, that was a bit too... too giving. Too much information about herself and a bit too personal. Normally she'd throw a joke out there, but instead, she chose to stuff her face some more.

[bigreveal]

"You're too young for me to collect on you owing me anything. But I'll keep you in mind if I need some housesitting."

"And it's the least I can do. Nobody tells fresh superheroes how to do much of anything, so they're all pretty much doing it the same way as you. Learning as they go. I've got no reason to not share what I've learned of the business so far."

Easy breaths.

This was nice, wasn't it? This was legitimately nice. She hadn't spent time with anyone so young since she was still raising her own kids. Brought back some fond memories.

"But enough of the advice for now. You're doing really well for yourself, juggling everything here. It's impressive."

[arakhnes]

"Well, if anything, I've got some mad sitting skills."

She was about to say something in reply to the advice again, but was glad for the change of subject. Well, sort of. They were still on her. She would have to get used to that, she supposed. Jessice finished off her eighth slice and reached for a bottle of soda, cracking it open and downing it pretty quickly before wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

"I've kind of had practice." A pause as she thinks over what she said. "That is, no other choice but to learn how to juggle it all."

Memories as Peter Parker really helped it all.

[bigreveal]

"So." She started, letting the air sink in. "What would you actually like to talk about?" Amanda had been leading the conversation for an awful long while, after all.

[arakhnes]

"Uh. Good with anything, really."

Jessica took a moment to pull her mask back down over her chin and smooth the fabric out with her hands before turning her head towards Amanda, large white patches over her eyes back in place.

"I kind of just say the first thing that comes to mind since, you know, it's my shtick so..."

She paused, catching herself before she went on a ridiculous tangent about nothing.

"So life in the City's been pretty good for you, huh."

[bigreveal]

"I have no responsibilities to the US government, and I do not have to carry out top secret classified actions every day, putting who knows how many people out in the line of fire. So, yeah, you could say that."

"I'm surprisingly okay with being a civilian again. I just pour my workaholism into other projects. It's nice to be a person, a real human being, instead of the image I have to build."

Surprisingly honest about herself, there.