[He looks like shit. Goddamn. Gwen could tell he looked rough from the ground, but being up on the same level, past the incandescent glare of those awful flood lights, it was even worse than she originally thought-- and that had already been pretty bad.
There's one thing she can be sure of at least, this is not Jim. Whatever this infection had done to him was blocking out the real Jim. Removed all the good and kindness she had grown so fond of. She had watched Peter B. become like a mentor to Miles when he needed it, coaching him and guiding him with compassion and understanding-- something she didn't exactly get. Even if Jim wasn't a spider-person, he still had a level of understanding that most others didn't. He was someone she had found she could talk to, be honest to, without risk of judgement. It felt weird to think of him as a mentor, but maybe like a big brother sounded better. And as an only child, who wouldn't want that?
Only. Here he was. Spitting everything she told him in confidence back in her face. Even if it wasn't really him doing it, it still stung-- which was exactly the point.]
Wow. Wow. You know, you could've just told me you didn't like my nail puns.
[Deflecting. Because that's all she can do-- how else do you respond to all of that? Those insults, carefully designed to hit her right where it hurts the most. To throw her off. He couldn't beat her physically, but who needs to when you know exactly what to say to break her spirit?
Needless to say, she's still reeling when the first punch comes, and while she starts to move, it isn't quick enough. His fist makes contact, and she stumbles back, the electrical shock that comes with it throwing her off balance. She's grateful for the guardrail, otherwise she would have stumbled right off as her muscles tensed, but at least it gave her a minute to recover and hop back before he could hit her again. But the downside was her webslingers were fried in the electric shock-- because of course. Jim would know a regular tazer current wouldn't be enough to take her down. What he used still wasn't enough to do more than make her stumble, at least with a quick punch, but her tech was vulnerable.]
You know, you're right. I did miss you. I'm a terrible friend. The worst, really. You're right to say it. And with such a moving speech, too! Look-- why don't we hug it out and call it a day?
[She's mostly bullshitting again, but...that's her plan. To hug him. She can't explain how she knows, but she knows... that's what she needs to do to save him.]
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There's one thing she can be sure of at least, this is not Jim. Whatever this infection had done to him was blocking out the real Jim. Removed all the good and kindness she had grown so fond of. She had watched Peter B. become like a mentor to Miles when he needed it, coaching him and guiding him with compassion and understanding-- something she didn't exactly get. Even if Jim wasn't a spider-person, he still had a level of understanding that most others didn't. He was someone she had found she could talk to, be honest to, without risk of judgement. It felt weird to think of him as a mentor, but maybe like a big brother sounded better. And as an only child, who wouldn't want that?
Only. Here he was. Spitting everything she told him in confidence back in her face. Even if it wasn't really him doing it, it still stung-- which was exactly the point.]
Wow. Wow. You know, you could've just told me you didn't like my nail puns.
[Deflecting. Because that's all she can do-- how else do you respond to all of that? Those insults, carefully designed to hit her right where it hurts the most. To throw her off. He couldn't beat her physically, but who needs to when you know exactly what to say to break her spirit?
Needless to say, she's still reeling when the first punch comes, and while she starts to move, it isn't quick enough. His fist makes contact, and she stumbles back, the electrical shock that comes with it throwing her off balance. She's grateful for the guardrail, otherwise she would have stumbled right off as her muscles tensed, but at least it gave her a minute to recover and hop back before he could hit her again. But the downside was her webslingers were fried in the electric shock-- because of course. Jim would know a regular tazer current wouldn't be enough to take her down. What he used still wasn't enough to do more than make her stumble, at least with a quick punch, but her tech was vulnerable.]
You know, you're right. I did miss you. I'm a terrible friend. The worst, really. You're right to say it. And with such a moving speech, too! Look-- why don't we hug it out and call it a day?
[She's mostly bullshitting again, but...that's her plan. To hug him. She can't explain how she knows, but she knows... that's what she needs to do to save him.]