video. un: p.parker | the morning of september 20th (aka an epilogue to bad choices)

[madeupnames]

[There's a muffled and pained groan, one of a boy who has made terrible mistakes and is suffering horribly for it.

... And also a clear sound of someone sliding out of a bed and thumping on the floor — blankets and all, legs barely hanging onto the lip of the mattress.]


I am so, so sorry.

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[11calls]

[Alex just frowns, and she puts a hand on his arm at that, her eyes meeting his own.]

I'm not saying it's not okay to go out and do stupid things and just to cut loose. God, if any kid has ever deserved that, it's you, Pete. And I know Richard is going to tell you to come over, and you're welcome but I also know that I mean, parents ages and all of that.

[There's no way that she ever would have done that shit, man. Richard may not remember being a kid, but Alex does.]

We, all of us, we just want you to be safe. Safe in more than just the physical way too, safe in the ways that are important to you, like with Spiderman and having a secret identity and all of that.

[There's a beat, and a little laugh.]

God, I'd never thought I'd ever have to say that. But anyway, next time, a friend's house, or throw a wild kegger here or whatever. But no more roof tops, okay? At least when you're that drunk.

[madeupnames]

[He smiles, and though he still looks like warmed-up crap, he seems to appreciate the pep talk she's administered. It reminds him of Aunt May — and lord knows she'd tell him all about her wild times as a youth, before she ran into Ben.]

... Honestly, I'm not much of a party guy.

The last one I went to was because I had a crush on the girl having it.

[11calls]

Hey you don’t have to be one. Sometimes it’s better not to be.

[Alex herself normally lands somewhere in the middle between partying and not. At least now a days. But she’s not talking about her past here.]

You can just drink quietly but always try and drink with someone. Drinking alone isn’t all that great for you. And if you need to I know there’s a lot of us who are all ears for you.

[madeupnames]

Yeaaaah... Drinking alone is more... uh. Like what sad detectives do in old movies.

[He laughs a bit, rather painfully, like the effort hurts his head.

(It totally does.)]

[11calls]

Yeah.

[Sad detectives, sad rational skeptics, still the same thing, right? But she does give him a little bit of a sympathetic frown when he laughs.]

Water next time. It actually does help.

[madeupnames]

Yeah... I'll drink a lot before my night-shift.

[Oh. Um. Right.

... Spider-Man.]

I swear I'm way better on my feet at work. Sober.

[11calls]

[Alex just laughs softly at that.]

You don't need to convince me, Peter. I mean, I'm a reporter, if you didn't do your job and stay on your feet better at work, then I would have heard about it a long time before now.

[At least there's no J. Jonah Jameson here in Riverview, right?]

[madeupnames]

[Rubbing along his eye with his palm, he laughs meekly.]

Does that mean Spider-Man's work gets a decent score?

[It's weird. He's used to talking about it with Ned, how he'd saved so-and-so or whatever... And now here he is, collecting people who know what he does for a living. Life's weird that way.]

[11calls]

I've heard some good things. People think he's a nice guy. No one thinks he's all that much of a menace. All the more reason to keep who you are wrapped up, right?

[madeupnames]

[He breathes sweet relief.]

Oh, good. I was worried I wasn't getting good scores on Yelp.

[Oh look, the boy is not too hungover to say a dumb joke.]

[11calls]

[That makes her laugh hard enough that she winces too.]

Now I'm wondering if your world has superhero Yelp. Like "Spiderman is better at rescuing than Tony Stark. Five stars."

[madeupnames]

... I never thought of that before.

[The wide-eyed wonder has defeated his hangover. Momentarily.]

What if people're rating me and I don't even know?

[11calls]

Well I guess when you get home you’re gonna need to google the crap out of that huh? I’m sure someone’s got it somewhere.

[The laugh is there inside Alex’s voice even if she doesn’t speak it.]

[madeupnames]

[His shoulders slump a little. Get home... right. Ha...]

I'll definitely look.

Maybe — maybe there's one here somewhere. Like how this place has friendr?

[11calls]

[Alex catches her mistake and just frowns quickly.]

There could be. I mean, I'm sure someone would start it. I'd offer but tech building stuff really isn't my thing. And I'd cheat and skew the results.

[madeupnames]

... You, cheat at something?

[He looks shocked and awed, Alex! Shocked and awed! You seem like such a straight-edged adult!]

[11calls]

[Sorry Peter, hangover or no hangover Alex is just going to dissolve into laughter at that.]

Hey! I’m human too. And of course there are some people I like more than others. You’d get full marks from me!

[madeupnames]

[Nothing like turning red-earred under the covers on typical a hangover morning.]

Oh man, thank you. I don't know what to say.

[11calls]

Say that you won’t go jumping off roofs while drunk and that’s all ya gotta do, okay. No more worrying everyone.

[Alex is just gonna nudge him with her shoulder at that.]

[madeupnames]

[He gives the best 3u3 smile he's got, Alex.]

I swear. No more drunk roof acrobatics.

[11calls]

Good.

[Alex gave him a grin, and then offered him a sandwich.]

Eat greasy food, it'll help.