Episode 3: Shroomfield

[webball]

A. Downtown | Neutron Diner | Interior | Early Evening

[Peter sits at the bar inside of the small-town diner. Girls in rollerskates zip past him, serving the other six or seven customers in the restaurant. On the jukebox, Bobby Day's "Rockin' Robin" plays, and he can feel the vibration of the drum beats and the taps of drone feet through the floor.

Comments

[surf_n_makai]

[Kono's walking, just wishing to spend some time outside and out of her house for a bit, when she spots Peter tearing through a mailbox that's obviously not his. She walks up to him to see what's up. When she does get close, she sees he's not really taking anything out of it.]

Peter? Are you looking for something?

[webball]

[So absorbed in his activity, he doesn't register her question.]

What... why are all of these...! What is this?!

[surf_n_makai]

[Ok, he clearly didn't hear that. Kono steps up beside him and tries again, a little louder.]

Hey, Peter. What's wrong?

[webball]

[Peter perks up slightly at the sound of his name and turns to find its source. It sounds muddled to him... far away, like he's listening from underwater.]

...Kae...? What... how long have you been standing there?

[He's still clutching thin air, but when he lowers his hands to his sides, he suddenly squats on the ground, scooping up something only he can see.]

[surf_n_makai]

[Kono frowns. He's obviously tripping out on something, but she has no idea what. Ok, she can take a guess from the psychedelic mushrooms that are growing but still.]

Not too long. Are you ok? What are... trying to pick up?

[webball]

[Peter freezes, looking guilty, and looks up, his eyes wide.]

These postcards... it's just some... it's a trick!

[He starts to panic when he follows her gaze.]

NO! DON'T LOOK AT THEM! THEY'RE FAKE! I wouldn't... he wouldn't do that.

He didn't do that.

[surf_n_makai]

[Woah.]

Ok, ok. But Peter, there's nothing on the ground. There's nothing in your hands.

[webball]

[Peter whips his head up to stare at Kono, confused. When he speaks, his tone is almost muttered, like he's speaking to her and himself at the same time.]

You don't... they're right there!! The postcards... with those terrible pictures on them... pictures of Spider-Man and he's... I think I took them, but I couldn't possibly have... that's not possible!

[surf_n_makai]

... [He's not making much sense.]

That's not possible because... you're stuck here and not in New York? [She's trying, really.]

[webball]

[Peter only half hears her. He slumps to the ground, still holding one "nothing"card.]

This must be Jonah. This is a Photoshop trick, or something because... because this is my signature, but I didn't take this. Spider-Man wouldn't... he's killing her! He's killing Gwen Stacy, and... I don't do that! He doesn't... it was an accident, and...

God, there's so much blood.

[surf_n_makai]

[That was not a direction Kono expected the conversation to take. He's reliving someone's death? Who's this Gwen Stacy?

She does know one thing, though. She should get him up off the sidewalk, and probably inside. Preferably sitting down.]

Peter, come on. Let's get you up off the ground, ok?

[webball]

[Peter just sits there, zoning out, eyes watery.]

All of them. I'm... there's someone being killed by him in every one of them. Gwen. Captain DeWolff. Harry. Kraven. Uncle Ben. Spider-Man is killing them all, and the postcards keep coming out of... they must be in ALL OF THEM! Why would someone...!

I didn't mean for this to happen.
I tried.

[surf_n_makai]

[Kono crouches down in front of him, trying to make eye contact with him. Maybe that'll help.]

Peter, you didn't- [Not sure how to finish that sentence.] Look, Spider-Man isn't here so we don't have to worry about what he's doing or not doing ok? Let's go, we're not that far from my place, you can sit there.

[webball]

[Peter blankly stares at her for a curiously long time. Finally, he turns and sweeps the postcards up and stuffing them into his pockets. Unsteadily, he rises to his feet and stands, like a robot requesting orders.]

[surf_n_makai]

[Ok, this is a good start at least, he's up off the ground.]

Come on. It's not that far.

[Kono guides Peter toward her house on Stone Street.]

[webball]

[Peter hesitantly walks beside her, jumping at trees rustling in the wind or sounds of general street activity. He gives passers-by looks of utter terror until he trips over the curb and falls, landing on his hands and knees. He starts to rise but, glancing at his hands... where did all these spiders come from...?! jumps back to his feet, staring at his fingers in horror.]