Caritas, Friday Evening

[breakfastlover]

There was a bouncer at Caritas tonight. That was... new. More to the point, it was an English guy who badgered Mike about their rules. Something about 'no capes, no powers, no heroics' or something like that. Mike didn't really follow

Comments

Lounge (02/01)

[breakfastlover]

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

Jessica requested a meeting here, so Otto showed up. He didn't even bother to look around and make sure there was metal around that he could use for arms if it came down to it.

... Mostly because this was a bar, yes, and silverware, restaurant equipment, and bottlecaps alone would give him plenty to work with. But he was trying not to think that way this weekend.

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

After her three shots (shut up, the metabolism caught at least one of those), Jessica made her way over and took a seat. "Okay. So. You wanted to talk, go ahead and talk. Just do me a favor and remember that we're in public, there are squirrels listening to everything we say, and so there are privacy concerns."

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

"...Squirrels?" Otto asked.

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

"You know, bushy tails? Notepads? Work for the radio station? Squirrels," Jessica said, matter-of-factly. "Should I just cut to the damn chase and ask them what you're doing here?"

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

"As I said, I'm here on your behalf. Have you been having dreams with me in them?" Otto asked.

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

"That's creepy, 'Pops,'" Jessica said immediately. A moment of silence passed before she added, "Technically, I'd call them nightmares, what with you being in them."

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

"I gave you life, Jessica. I know you better than you might think," Otto said. "The one difference between you and Peter is that you would have seen me dead if you ever had the chance. That is the inheritance I left for you."

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

"Well, two differences," Jessica said, giving a slight nod downwards. And then pointing under the table. "You know. Missing stuff. Kind of a big difference."

Really, this was why Jessica should never drink.

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

Otto was lucky he was dead. The way he was grinding his teeth, he would end up paying a lot of money to a dentist if he was still going to be around next week.

"And then the one person you wanted dead died in an attempt to sway Norman Osborn from his murderous intent against the closest thing you had to family. Do you really expect me to believe that anyone with Peter Parker's neuroses wouldn't have issues stemming from that?"

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

"With that kind of insight, I'm going to change your wikipedia entry title to 'Psychologist Octopus,'" Jessica said. "Yeah, Norman murdering Peter and even you messed me up for a bit. In a life full of horror and confusion (thanks to you), that was a really horrible and confusing thing. Of course it was! What else would it be?"

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

"The one time in my life - the only time - I had any closure on anything was when I made you and your siblings," Otto said. "I put away my life as Doctor Octopus. I was past it. I would never see jail again. I did what no one else could. And had I any sense at that time, I would have ended it there. Removed from my hubris, I would have lived a fine, quiet life. I had closure, but I threw it away, leaving me adrift until the day I died."

"My death robbed you of closure. You couldn't kill me yourself. You couldn't get an explanation for why I died the way I did. I'm here to finally give that to you. I can make you understand how I defied everything you knew me to be. But only if you want me to do so."

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

"... Go ahead."

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

"As I mentioned, I came to terms with my responsibility for what Peter became. I realized it was something I... both Norman and I should be proud of, even if it was a sheer accident," Otto explained. "Norman was raving, claiming it was God's will that he should kill the boy. I pointed out that this was a mistake, and he attacked me. Threw me out a window."

"Peter was the spark, but the fight, for me, was self-defense. That, and rage at Norman for the years I spent in his shadow. Under his boot. In the end, it wasn't about Peter at all. Not for me. And not for Norman."

"Even in death, I am exactly the man you thought I was. The only difference in me now is perspective. I know how every foolish choice I made led me to this point and how inevitable it was, one way or another. Let that be your closure, Jessica. Know that I was always going to die thanks to rage and spite, and know that you would have never needed to act upon the rage and spite I gave you. Know that and be free."

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[craftyladyparts]

"... Did you really come back from the dead - you CHEATED DEATH for a few days - because you desperately needed to tell me that you're an egomaniacal douchenozzle?" Jessica asked, standing up and leaning in across the table, hands on her knees, for emphasis.

"You're right. You really are exactly the man I thought you were. The only thing is, I knew you thought you could play God. I had no idea you'd find a way to play-act as a guardian angel. So thanks for all of the clarifications about who I am and who you are and our independent motivations or whatever? But this? This is how I get my closure."

She walked toward the stage to slip the band some brain money in exchange for playing We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together as many times as the other patrons would let them.

Re: Lounge (02/01)

[spiderbirther]

"Jessica, what are you...?" Otto started to ask. He was going to stand up and follow her, but he realized that his feet were thoroughly stuck to the floor with quite a bit of webbing. And then the band started playing Taylor Swift. And he realized that he was trapped.