a return (forward dated to 11/11)

[arachnerina]

Who: Gwen Stacy + open
Where: around Aldrip
When: 11/11 and onward
What: Gwen is back from her canon update and trying to reacquainted with Aldrip
Warnings: TBA



i: a return

[Needless to say, it was a bit disorienting to wake up in a strange place after being away for well over a year, with no memory of any of it until she woke up. Memories and feelings flooded her brain, then came the confusion of the tablet not working, as well as the apparent full-time darkness?? What in the world did she miss? Thankfully she's able to find her dark web device pretty quickly and that seems to be working.]

un: spider-woman

so apparently the universe said it was my turn to go home for a year
anyways i'm back now
if i'm remembering right it's only be a week??
what happened?
not sure how i feel about the creepy mood lighting

ii: patrols

[Okay, so constant darkness? ✅ Practically zero working electronics? ✅ Uptick in monster attacks? ✅ Being back in Aldrip was already so fun.

At least being in a different dimension isn't nearly what it was when she was here before, but she doesn't like being trapped, not when her friends desperately need her, but since she can't exactly take out her frustration on Miguel and the Spiders helping him, she's going to take it out on some monsters. Per usual, she's out patrolling, fully suited up in her Spider-Woman gear, though those that know her might notice to subtle differences in her suit design.

And looky here! Some razorfins are harassing a shopkeeper. Yeah, that broom the Aldrip local is using is not going to be enough.]

Wow. And here I thought New York City's rats won Most Mutated. [Perfect, the razorfins are looking at her now, but she's conveniently perched on the nearest roof, out of reach.]

Here, sharky-sharky! Pay attention to me, not the nice shopkeeper that definitely won't taste good.

[She's got this under control for the moment, but who knows how long that will last. Lend a hand?]

iii: stem club

[When punching monsters isn't a good enough distraction, surely diving into science will be?? Gwen's missed the STEM club people, which is saying something, since she didn't even remember them until she arrived back. But she was honestly really glad to be around her friends here again, even if the freedom to come and go from dimensions was taken from her. She's not happy about that, but maybe she has a way to work around that.

It was months ago in this place's time that she found the web-watch in her room, but at the time, she had no idea what it was or what it could mean for them escaping. But now? The possibilities are endless. It took a few days to figure out where she even threw the thing, but once she found it, the first place she went was STEM club.

She set the device on the table in front of her, then stepped back, crossing her arms.]

Would've been nice is Hobie left me a user manual right about now, huh? [She's mostly talking to herself, but anyone else hanging around STEM would easily be able to hear her. She's not exactly trying to keep the web-watch a secret, but she...has no idea how to make it work.]

iv: wildcard

[Feel free to come up with any fun ideas for interaction over the rest of the month or for the event! You can hit me up by DM or crystallium to plot!]

Comments

closed to peter 1

[arachnerina]

[It would've been too easy for Peter to be home when she woke up back here, wouldn't it? And it would've been way too convenient for the tablets to be working so she could call him. But nope! No, she had to get out and search the hard way, when she had no idea where in the city he could be.

Actually, that was a lie. It honestly didn't take her that long to figure out where he went. If he wasn't home, and he wasn't at STEM club, then...

He was at their favorite spot.

Well, one of their favorite spots, anyway. Considering they couldn't exactly leave the city thanks to whatever the weird mist was surrounding the border, which meant it had to be one of their spots inside the city. And it wasn't hard to figure out which one. All spiders had thinking spots-- the tallest spots in their cities, with breathtaking views and plenty of isolation.

It still wasn't an easy trek to get there, but Gwen made her way up the tallest building in Aldrip, hoping she was right about where Peter had disappeared to. As she drew closer, her spider-sense told her she was right. She cleared the rest of the distance to the top, landing a few feet away from...him. Thank god, it was really him.

It felt like a lifetime ago, that she was here. That she was crying over losing him, only to disappear and go live her life away from this place too. Apparently it wasn't for as long as he was gone, either. Just a week in the time here, even if it was almost a year and a half in the time she lived. It was so...weird. And confusing. Because those memories were back. She remembered their time together, all the kisses, all the things she felt-- still felt, somehow. If anything, maybe this put them back on equal ground.]

Hey, Peter. [She's suited up, because of course, but the differences should be immediately apparent. Her suit is different, even if it's fairly subtle-- the patterns on her arms were around her hands now, and instead of ballet slippers, she was wearing converses. It was something the average onlooker probably wouldn't even notice, but as much time as they spent together, especially suited up, it would be unmistakable. It's...been a while.]

[spidermenaces]

(he couldn't ever lose hope. he left for a month, and he came back, which means there's precedent for longer waiting times. she'll be back eventually, she's fine, he has to believe or else what else does he have? she'll be back, or they'll see each other again somehow.

it doesn't mean he's not missing her to the moon and back. he already lost so much, did he have to lose her, too? he needs some time alone. some time to think and get his head in place, because there are things to be done, and he's too upset to do them. she'd not want him to be like that, he thinks, but he can't just push all the time. he needs to breathe, and the air will help blow away the doom, at least for just a second.

but then he feels something approach, and his heart nearly drops. who-- she. how long has it been-- not important, he can't help the speed he stands to come see her.)

Gwen, you're okay, and you're back! I was-- Man, I was hoping so hard that you'd not take long, are you okay, actually, you seem okay, but are you okay?

[arachnerina]

[The way Peter races to her brings a laugh out of her. She heard his heart pick up when he sensed her, which only filled her with more emotions about this moment. She couldn't help but clear the distance left between them and threw her arms around him. It felt like forever, since she was here. Like a dream that was suddenly coming back to her. It's confusing, to go from one second to the next, and suddenly remember months of a life you had forgotten.

But she definitely remembers how she felt towards him. What they had together. How important he became to her. She is not going to cry, but damn is it hard to not be emotional about finding a love like this again.

She finally pulls herself away from him, and it's only then that she finally tugs off her mask. Her hair falls from the hood-- longer, and more pink, which she brushes out of her face, so she can rub her wet eyes.]

Yes. No. Maybe? Things were...not great, at home. [She blinks hard, avoiding looking at him for a moment, partially to hide her own shame. She's frustrated beyond belief, that she would get pulled back here in the mere moments before she could rescue Miles, so now she's in limbo, unable to help.]

I...messed up. I really hurt Miles, and now the whole fabric of reality is in danger. You know-- just another Tuesday for us.

[spidermenaces]

(as soon as she embraces him, he lifts her to sit on his forearms, a smile as big as his face allows once she is finally in it. the anxiety never leaves in this place, but her not returning and the fact she could take even longer than he had was not helping him mentally, and it all dissipates once she's back with him. thank god for gwen stacy - there is no other way of putting it, she has a way to make even the worst things feel light, and it's simply because she exists around him that he finds a little extra strength to push forward.

and well, she can definitely hear how his heart skips once he takes a look at her, she's-- she's his age? he can't tell, but he likes the look, keeping one arm supporting her with ease as he moves his free hand to wipe away the salt on her cheeks.)

-- The fabric of reality? You too? Wait, what happened to Miles?

[arachnerina]

[Gwen didn't expect to suddenly be pulled into his arms, but she certainly isn't going to object. She laughs, wrapping her arms around his neck and just watches the way he looks at her. She remembers how it felt, when she was the one waiting for him to return, how relieved she was, and how uncertain he felt. She gets that now, big time. She's a little uncertain, but less so, as she listens to the way his heart is skipping.]

Almost a year and a half. That's how long it was for me, back home. [She knows he's wondering. She looks different, so it's obvious a good amount of time had passed. And yet, here she was, looking at him and feeling the feelings just as strongly for him as the day she left.]

So much, Peter. God... I don't even know where to start. [She ducts her head, avoiding looking at him for a moment, out of her own guilt. Things hadn't been fair to Miles. It wasn't her fault, but... could she have done something different? Definitely not gone back to see him, but she had missed him so much. And without remembering Peter, he was the only connection she really and truly had and missed.]

So, um. I guess, first off. You and Dr. Strange really pissed off the Big Guy. There's a whole society of Spider people with the goal of protecting the multiverse, and at the top of it all is Miguel-- he's like this ninja-vampire spider guy from the future-- Anyway, we kinda pissed him off too with the whole collider thing, but.. it started with Miles. He's the first anomaly. The spider that bit him was from another dimension, which means.. there's a universe that needs a Spider-Man, and doesn't have him.

text | un: user010102

[computation]

What do you know, that happened to me, too. It's been about two years for me.

The lighting change is new. Careful if you see anybody you think you know, including me -- there's some pushy doubles around.

text

[arachnerina]

so that makes me, you, and peter
that's weird, right?
three of us from stem
wonder if it has anything to do with the reset

oh great!
love that for us

[computation]

I don't think so. There's not that many of us here overall and it happens regularly anyway, right? Randomness includes clusters like this.

She is annoyingly persistent, I'll give her that much. My double.

[arachnerina]

has it though?
peter was the first time i heard of it happening
if it happened before it hasn't happened often

i can only imagine
mine would be so much fun
guess i'll be playing keep away

[computation]

Yes, it has. If anything, with the reset, we have reason to believe the system is working as intended.

If you see me in a business suit, feel free to shoot me. I don't think they really ever die. At least, I haven't figured out how yet. I'll keep trying!

closed to vi

[arachnerina]

[Usually, even the more dangerous days are fine for the spiders. But this long ass nighttime that they can't seem to escape has been awful. She's not been able to patrol nearly as long, either from getting ganged up on by the insane amount of monsters out, or just from running out of webbing.

Her and the Peters have been trying to go out more together for back up purposes (strength in numbers and all that), but she got separated from them in the chaos. With her webbing dangerously low, she ducked into the first Chosen business she could find, knowing they were doubling as safe areas these days, only to realize...

A bar. Huh.

She's still masked up as she walks further into the establishment. Like all the other safe areas, it's busy. People that would usually be elsewhere, like their homes, or even just on the streets, are huddled in this safe place. There's a corner that's been turned into a makeshift first aid spot too, but it looked like they had everything handled.

There aren't many empty seats, so Gwen slips into the first empty chair she spots at the bar, sets her backpacks on the countertop, and starts going at her webshooters with a screwdriver. Changing out the webfluid is no big deal, but it's usually easier in the lab, not on the fly at some random bar. Oh well. She'll get back to the others soon enough, once she handles this.]

[grappler]

[she's seen a few people come in and out of the bar, and she'd been keeping it open just in case. some of the monsters had gotten close... but between her gauntlets and whatever was keeping them away from some of the buildings, it was fine.

for now.

when she sees the girl sit down with her things, she fills a cup with water and sets it in front of her. she looks like a fighter, she thinks. maybe one of those nerds, with the way she's messing with something on her outfit like that.]

Need anything to eat? Most of the staff is hunkered down in safer places, but I can find something for you if you need it.

[arachnerina]

[Gwen is only halfway aware of the bartender setting the water. Her spider sense is always keeping her aware to some degree, so she nods her thanks absently, continuing to fiddle with her webshooters.

Until she hears that voice.

Oh.

Oh.

That was. So weird. It was maybe a bit tougher than her own, but...yeah. That was her voice, on someone else.

She looks up from her work, finally pulling her mask from her face, and looking up at the redhead curiously. There were...other similarities. The buzz cut on one side of their heads. The piercings. Weird. She clears her through awkwardly now, her blue gaze not leaving this other woman. She was hot as hell too, but--- not the point, here.]

So. You must be Vi.

[grappler]

[that voice.

Vi blinks as she speaks -- a little younger, a little softer maybe. but the similarities were in fact, really close. like Gwen, she takes her in. notices the haircut.

the multiverse was super weird.]

And you must be Gwen.

[she looks over at the spider suit, and the web shooters. was she one of those kids that had powers?]

Guess I know why Jinx was thrown off for a minute, there.

[arachnerina]

[Gwen knows Vi isn't a spider-- she can always tell, thanks to her spider sense, but now she can't help but wonder if Vi isn't some alternate, parallel universe where she's even cooler than she already is. Because-- Damn. It's not likely, given the Spiderverse, but still. It was just...weird.]

Yep. That's me.

[Yeah, her webshooters are suddenly not the priority now. She's still fascinated by the woman in front of her.]

Yeah, it...definitely makes sense now. This would throw off anyone that's close to either of us.

[Well. And especially given that Jinx didn't seem very-- stable?? But she knows it would throw Peter, for sure. She's surprised this is only coming to their attention now, though. Surely someone else has interacted with both of them??]

iii

[finalfrontiersman]

[ This month has been...a helluva month.

Jim's sentencing put him on the back foot for most of the month. Spock had successfully argued to keep him (mostly) confined to the house, or under some kind of supervision, and Jim can't rightfully disagree - not after The Kitchen Incident. Just...don't ask. Ultimately, he'd had to concede the point - and moreover, after how the bond had affected Spock when Jim disappeared to the courtroom...well, quite simply, he hadn't had the heart to argue it further. He never wanted to feel such acute distress from his bondmate ever again, and if that meant sitting through his month of court-ordered kid gloves time, so be it.

The effects are beginning to wane, or so Jim hopes. Ish. It's fine. He's fine. He's letting Spock take the lead, and that's been helping. Today, he managed to convince Spock to take him to STEM, and even better - that he'd be fine for the twenty minutes it took him to run over to the Library. Fifteen, probably, if Jim knew Spock but - well, after The Kitchen, he gets it. Especially with all of the fire hazards around STEM on a good day.

But Gwen is here, so at least he has that going for him. She can stop him from getting into too much trouble if they don't enable themselves into a Situation.

Still. Fifteen minutes. What's the worst that could happen? ]

Who left you a what now? [ Jim wheels over in his chair, spinning idly as he bumps up against the workbench Gwen is working at. He's not allowed to touch anything besides his computer (fair), but he has eyes. He can live vicariously, and Gwen has a...Jim doesn't know what to call it. It almost looks like a futuristic version of one of the webshooters? ] What is that?

[ If this is reminiscent of the afternoon just before his sentencing, well, he's not going to mention it if she doesn't. ]

[arachnerina]

[It's been an adjustment for Gwen, returning to this life that she forgot. Not only having to grapple with memories and feelings of what almost feels like another life, but relationships too. Friends, people she cared deeply for, what felt like forever ago.

Jim...doesn't look the greatest, but who would? She remembers how she struggled through her own sentencing, but she also thinks it's good that he's here at STEM again, trying to get back to some sort of normal. Which is kind of hard, given the moon is literally hanging over the city as a semi-permanent feature, so. Yeah. Fun times. She's remembering just how annoying this world could be.]

It's a webwatch. It's a device for traveling across dimensions. Andddd it doesn't work, like most things around here right now. [Well, maybe that was an odd thing out, because things that they brought from home, or had made here worked, but the watch still wasn't functioning. She's pretty sure it wasn't functioning when she found it months ago either, but she's also not sure if that was just because she didn't know what she had even found.]

My friend Hobie made this one. I found it here, months ago, but I didn't know what it was at the time. Now that I'm back, I actually know what it is, but. Like I said. It's not working. If it was-- maybe it's a ticket out of here? But that's a big Maybe.

[finalfrontiersman]

[ He missed her, a lot. More than Jim is willing to admit, probably. You learn to compartmentalize, being in the line of fire the way Starfleet tends to swing. Starship Captains didn't exactly have a long life expectancy. Most crew didn't, but officers especially. Just a hazard of the job. That's not to say that it really gets easier to lose a crew member, especially when they disappear without a trace...

But there's nothing for it, and they'd all had to just keep going, and hope that maybe Gwen came back, the same way Peter did. Jim, for his part, just tries not to think about it too hard. If he thinks about it, he has to come to terms with the fact that she's not there anymore and then -

Well, he hadn't had to. She was back, and everything was fine. It's fine. ]

Sorry, it's a what? [ Jim straightens in his seat, suddenly paying a lot more attention. Traveling across dimensions? Was that something Gwen could do in her world? Jim was under the impression she was from his relative past, but that certainly wasn't something that existed in the 23rd century. ] Back up and start from the beginning. Your friend made a device that crosses dimensions? How? What does it run on? I mean the energy for that alone would be -

[ Bigger than any warp core Jim's ever known. Spock's gonna be so pissed he missed this. ]

[arachnerina]

I mean-- yeah? Hobie's from the 1970s, but he's really smart. Like the rest of us spiders. But this vampire-ninja spider guy named Miguel designed the first one-- he calls it a gizmo, he's...not the best name, at the naming thing-- but he's from 2099. I couldn't tell you exactly how it works, only that it does, which is why we need to figure it out. I don't want to poke at the wrong part and destroy half of Aldrip.

[She hadn't exactly poked at the gizmo she got from Miguel, because-- well, she hadn't needed to. She could mostly come and go as she pleased, as long as she followed the rules of the Spider Society. But now that she was locked out, and relying on the one Hobie made her, she was really wishing she had taken a closer look at it. Obviously Hobie had, but she's not surprised. He was always plotting his next uprising.]

[finalfrontiersman]

[ What the fuck. If Jim's bewilderment wasn't evident before, it's easily read across his face now. Neither the 1970s or the 2090s should have access to that level of technology - at least, not where Jim is from. Curiouser and curiouser.

Jim peeks over her shoulder a little more, leaning in his chair. It looks like a crude digital watch with a thick band, punk-esque spikes on it Jim hasn't seen the likes of since his days at Club Decade, a retro-style dance club that had themed nights throughout the span of human history. ]

Maybe we should take a diagnostic? [ Jim folds his arms over the chair, fingers drumming mindlessly as he watches Gwen examine the device. ] I'd say destruction is unlikely, and Spock would probably have a statistic for you, but that feels like asking for trouble.

iv, taking a ride on the wild side

[spideyguy]

[ Peter's starting to hate Aldrip.

May has always said hate is a strong word, but Peter feels like a strong word is warranted. It's been nothing but nonsense ever since he arrived, and every time he feels like it can't get any crazier - no that is not a challenge, why is the universe taking it as a challenge?

First, the whole world-glitching, doomsday scenario. They managed to make it out to the other side, but not without casualties. Not without Peter getting used as a pincushion, and his counterpart...not making it back. It was a different kind of devastation from Gwen, in the month that followed; a quiet grief, unresolved. They didn't know what had happened to him, for sure, and in some ways that made it worse. Not knowing whether he'd been returned home - if there was even a home to return to, given the last memories the other Peter had shared, about disintegrating into nothing - erased from the system, or some other unknowable fate. Peter did what he could, but he knew he was an unwelcome reminder of - God, so many things. This was not his Gwen, and he was not her Peter - neither of her Peters. There was only so much his presence could do for her.

And then Peter was back, as if nothing had even happened. The win lasted about a week - before Gwen disappeared. Jeez, could they ever catch a break? And was he next?

Now the city has been plunged into darkness, like some knock-off version of the purge, crime popping up left and right. He feels like he's playing the world's worst game of whack-a-mole, flitting from one incident to the next - like he's working overtime on Halloween, ugh. Peter's swung up to a rooftop, listening for the next crisis, when his senses SCREAM at him and he narrowly rolls out of the way of a blackened fist. It cracks the concrete where it impacts and suddenly, Peter's starring in his very own purge-esque crisis.

His attacker is a black blur, difficult to see in the dark. He's pretty sure it's another enhanced person, though they're clad in black from head to toe, tracking him along the rooftops as Peter tries to swing to get away. It's only when the person swings after him that Peter realizes it must be another Spiderperson.

Shit.

He tries talking to them, but they're weirdly silent, not responding to any of his quips or interjections, relentless in their pursuit. He blocks hits that rattle his bones, pivots and swerves, tries to lose his assailant in the narrowest city streets he can find. This isn't New York, a city he knows backwards and forward - but it becomes apparent after a few dizzying punches to the jaw that this isn't a fight he's prepared for. When he finally swings out in a wide arc, bursting out of an alleyway and onto a busier street - his assailant disappears, melting back into the shadows.

Well, not for long.

The wraith follows him, appearing where Peter least expects them. Toying with him or being scared off by the presence of others, it's hard to say. It's starting to grate on his nerves, but what else can he do? If he tries to give chase, they disappear - or beat the hell out of him, until he's forced to run. They're strong, and Peter can feel the anger in their hits - and still, silent. So unnervingly silent.

He needs help.

No one responds to his message on the STEM comm, but frankly, it's to be expected. He's sure everyone is equally busy with the craziness, and the regular network is down - so to the streets it is, in the vain hope that he finds the other Peter, or one of those alien dudes from the future.

It's after one such encounter - getting the wind knocked out of him when he's thrown into a brick wall, scrambling to fight his way out when the evil Spiderperson grabs him by the throat and nearly crushes his esophagus - until a wild punch Peter throws connects, and frees him, leaving him gasping for air - that he barrels out into another street and runs straight into a white and pink something. Peter coughs as he falls on his ass, fingers shaking as he pulls his mask up and over his nose so he can suck air into his abused lungs. Yeah, no, he hates it. Aldrip sucks and - ]

Gwen? [ Peter croaks, squinting up at her as his vision finally resolves. Naturally, no one follows him out of the alley. He feels like he's going insane. Maybe he is. ] Gwen?

[arachnerina]

[Gwen is still trying to wrap her head around returning to Aldrip. She thought she was crossing the portal to Earth-42, and instead, here she was, back in the simulation she had completely forgotten about. Disorienting was barely touching how she felt.

And she reappeared just in time for chaos to happen, apparently. She's barely gotten into town when her spider-sense started screaming in her ears that something was going down. She can hear the familiar swooshing of web slinging-- multiple people, even, then definitely some fighting?? She's not really sure what's happening but she's following the noise the best she can, finally landing in a random alley close to where she thinks she needs to be. She's proven right, quickly, because someone sure crashes into her moments later. Said blur was on his ass before she could even do anything, and Gwen blinked down in surprise at an all too familiar red and blue suit.]

Peter? Oh my god, it's really you! [She drops down to crouch next to him, unable to help herself and pull him into a hug. He was such a lifeline, the last month that she remembers here. It feels like forever ago for her, but it really wasn't that long ago for him, was it? This is all so confusing. Especially now that she's aware of his dimension and knows more about his world. About what happened.

The embrace only lasts for a few moments, before she pulls away and looks from him, to the direction he came from, feeling the familiar unease of her spider-sense again.]

What's...going on? I thought I heard fighting. Was something chasing you? Is-- is Peter with you? [She definitely swears she heard two spider-people, but....she doesn't sense the other Peter now. Was she just dreaming it or something?]

[spideyguy]

[ Gwen pulls him into a hug before he can blink, and Peter wraps an arm around her, tight with both surprise, and an underlying tension. His gaze is caught between the shadowed alley behind her and her, returned, back in the flesh. She starts to pull back, and Peter nudges her, shifting to put himself between her and the alley. Wow, yeah, there's a lot happening right now. ] You're back - where the hell do you guys keep going? Glad to see you, like really glad to see you because no one is picking up my calls, but uh - yeah there's a bit of a - situation. Whole town's in chaos, what else is new -

...and then there's him. [ Peter's skin breaks out into awful goosebumps as the Spider-person slinks out of the shadows, finally, punctuating Peter's nervous rambling with their presence. ] You can see him, right? I'm not going cuckoo for cocoa puffs? Very intimidating with the whole black night-suit thing going on but uh - he doesn't like me very much. If you can't tell, from all the - you know, beating the crap out of me.

[ The Spider-person tilts their head at the pair of them, deathly still. Peter twitches, with half a mind to grab Gwen and haul ass. Never too late to run, but then, it's not like Peter's going to get any piece with this nasty surprise lurking around most corners. ] He doesn't like to talk.

...Gwen? [ Alright, looks like the dark Spider-person just loves to prove Peter wrong. His gaze flickers back to Gwen, before Peter locks onto his assailant - though his hand does tighten on Gwen's arm, betraying his nerves. What? You try getting choked out and see how jumpy you are! ] ...Do you know this guy?

[arachnerina]

Home. Ish. Me and Peter might share a knack for breaking the multiverse. [It wasn't like it was her fault the collider pulled her into Miles world and then they broke reality a bit, and it definitely wasn't her fault that Peter also broke reality. She's trying to fix things with the Spider Society, so!! Or was. She's kinda burned that bridge with Miguel, by siding with Miles. Oops!]

Oh, great. Venom? Here? [Because of course that's her first thought. She's dealt with enough Spider-people to know all about that, and while it's not always bad, it's not always good, either. But as the shadowy spider comes more into view, the look on her face gets more puzzled, because...yeah, that's not venom like she suspected. She's...actually not sure who is it. It's...familiar, but it's still screaming WRONG in her head. And it knows her name! Great!]

I don't think so? [She is so confused but hey, she can roll with it. Don't mind if she takes a step forward, keeping Peter behind her, and tilting her head at them.]

Um, hey! Cool suit. Really like the vibe you're going for there, all dark and mysterious. A couple of Peters I know tried that, too. Is...that who you are? A Peter?

[spideyguy]

Why am I not surprised?

[ The words are couched in a huff of a laugh, disbelief and resignation mixing in his tone. Yeah, that sounds about par for the course for their life. Either way, he's still glad to see her - and based on the story Peter had told when he returned, Peter was sure Gwen would have something equally wild to relay.

But that's not the current problem on deck. ]

Venom? [ Peter is clearly unfamiliar, head cocking to the side in clear question - sounds like Gwen does know him, though, so that's something. His senses crackle uncomfortably, Peter twitching with the urge to pull Gwen behind him - not that he doesn't think she can defend herself, but it makes him supremely uneasy that the other Spider-person knows her. Nothing about them says safe.

He stays at her back, instead, letting Gwen take the lead since she wasn't immediately being attacked the way he had been, but careful not to move too far that he wouldn't be able to help her deflect, should the Venom make a move forward. The other person is preternaturally still, watching them inscrutably behind the mask. ]

Yes. [ The person says finally, hands still at his side. Peter's spidey sense is making him feel ill with how wrong it is - danger oozing out of every pore on this guy. Maybe Gwen can feel it too, Peter's not sure - but it's definitely aimed more at him than her. This Peter doesn't want to hurt anyone but him.

That doesn't mean he won't, though.

The dark Spiderman tilts his head, examining Gwen for a beat, before he does the unthinkable - he lifts his hand, and pulls off his mask. Just like that. And that's where it gets weirder.

That's his face. Peter's fingers clench like a vice on Gwen's arm, alarmed, and the other Peter's gaze flickers to it, something dark and ugly crossing his expression. That's his face, with deep shadows under his eyes, jaw clenched in a way that speaks of violence. His hair is still the same, unkempt, ruffled by the mask - it could be him, save the air of danger that kicks up a notch, with his face exposed. ] Get away from him.