5084/A Time to Heal

A Time to Heal
Date of Scene:	02 August 2018
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Superman seeks out the Spider-Woman and finds her in the Dominican Republic, taking time to mend.
Cast of Characters:	Spider-Woman (Drew), Superman

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Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
A message was left on Clark Kent's work phone, well after hours, two days after the final showdown with the Oomycetan and the infamous Mr. Peck in Mexico. Jessica Drew has not been seen or heard from in the two days since the battle. Until now.

"Hi. Clark, it's Jess. I guess you know by now how things turned out in Mexico. I just wanted you to know I'm...I'm okay. Thank you for all your help. And if you do have a way to contact Superman...well, would you please tell him 'thank you,' too? I will be out of contact for a while. Just....thanks. For everything."

Jessica's voice sounds...tired. Her tone is upbeat, but there is a somberness underlying the words. The originating number, if he cares to trace it back, goes to an international embassy in the Dominican Republic. She left no contact information.

Superman has posed:
Clark's phone buzzes to let him know he has a new voicemail. He gets up from the couch and walks to the kitchen. The evening news continues to drone on in the background as he listens to the message from Jessica. After listening to the message, he taps his cell phone on the kitchen counter a couple of times. Then he goes to his laptop at the little home desk he and Lois shared and sends a few emails. Before long, he has a reply back with a telephone number for the call Jessica made to his desk.

A little bit of further research and he learns the number belongs to an embassy in the Dominican. Clark calls the embassy and waits patiently as his call works it way through automated menus and hold music. He finally gets a consular official and asks to speak with Jessica Drew. A bit of wheedling and stretching of the truth gets the official to reveal that Ms. Drew was not at the embassy, but that she registered her travel destination as Villa Altagracia.

Lois was out of town working on a story, but Clark sends her a text message anyway telling her he was going to the Dominican to check on a teammate.

A short time later, Kal is in the air heading south. He passes quickly over the continental US above the cloud cover, chasing the evening south over the ocean. Before long he is approaching Villa Altagracia and looking for signs of Ms. Drew.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Small fires dot the landscape in the Dominican Republic town of Villa Altagracia. The evening sun is setting in the west, and the last vestiges of twilight paint only the highest peaks of the lonely clouds lowest on the western horizon with blazes of pink caught in lofty golden rays. Beyond that, the landscape is hued by the indigo blanket of night that stretches far beyond its eastern rim.

A single soul might be nearly impossible for just anyone to find in an impoverished little town like Villa Altagracia. Except that this woman may be known to possess incredible strength, and the look and accent of an American. A few questions, asked of the right people as they cook meager dinners over the fires, will lead Kal to one of the larger fires in the area, built in celebration and anticipation of a feast. A dozen or more children are gathered around the fire, and one little girl in particular, is wearing a dust-coated Spider-Woman mask, too big, and ripped up one side, as she sits by the fire with others clamoring for their turns to try it on.

The woman matching the description Kal gives is pointed out, preparing food to be cooked alongside the other women. Her head is covered with an embroidered scarf. They refer to her affectionately as "Araña."

Superman has posed:
Kal thanks the man who points out Jessica, then pauses at the edge of the big fire's light. He watches the children for a time, with a hint of a smile on his face.

A waft of warm air brings the smell of cooking food and gently bends the column of smoke trailing up from the fire into darkening sky. The breeze tugs at his cape, wrapping it partially around him.

Kal walks around the edges of the fire, not disturbing the children or anyone else as much as possible. His blue and red contrast sharply with browns and greens nearby him, even in the fading light. Surreal, even alien, he walks through the flickering light towards the women.

He stops short though, his lips pursed, watching the woman he knew as Spider-Woman. Kal opens his mouth, then closes it, still watching the women work. Finally, Kal takes a few steps forward.

"Arana", he calls over.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
The only reason that the older children have not mobbed Kal thus far is that many of them are superstitious of ghosts that join them at the family fire and stir gently or restlessly within the flames. The smaller children are in a silenced state of awe, with wide dark eyes and freshly washed faces.

When Kal speaks, the spell is broken. Jessica knows who said her name without turning around, as the children erupt in a chorus of "Superman!!"

Jess turns to find the children rushing him, touching the hem of his cape, and begging him to show them miracles. Jessica laughs softly, covering her mouth with one hand and the corner of the scarf draped over her head. "Well you've done it. Now you'll have to stay for dinner."

Superman has posed:
Kal crouches down to meet the children that crowd around him. He smiles warmly and down at their height, he shakes small hands, gives high fives and learns names. Kal answers a smattering of the questions thrown him way. He is caught off guard by one little girl who throws her arms around his neck and begs to go flying. Kal chuckles as he extricates himself.

"Quizas mas tarde," he says and sets the girl down on her feet. He stands up again. With a smile, he takes a breath and lets out a stream of cool air, setting the younger kids to shrieking and laughing as they run away, only to run back to try and get him to do it again.

"They're wonderful," he says to Jessica.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"They are," replies Jessica warmly, smiling as one of the younger children, maybe four or five years old, breaks away from the group to hug around Jessica's legs, gathering the skirts of her traditional garb in the embrace. In one little fist, the girl is holding the Spider-Woman's mask. She looks up at Jess with eyes shining in the firelight, then runs off to join the others again.

"That is Anna," Jess explains as the girl disappears into the giggling throng. "I wasn't sure she even existed." She pulls a mass-printed letter from a cross-body bag that rests on her hip. Paperclipped to the letter is a picture of the girl, hugging a tattered stuffed rabbit with one ear, and smiling joyfully. "I have sponsored her for two years, through a company that promises that love and gratitude can be purchased for eighty-three cents a day, to provide food and clothing. An education, when she is old enough." She unfolds and turns the letter over, revealing a crayon stick figure with golden hair and bright blue eyes. Beneath the figure are the misshapen and inconsistently-sized letters letters "JeScA."

"She had big dreams of who I was, I suppose. I hope I haven't let her down."

Superman has posed:
Kal comes over to look at the letter. He smiles slightly as he looks over the drawing, then hands it back to Jessica.

"I don't think you need to worry about that," he says confidently.

He looks around at the village, the fire, the women cooking. "Is this your first time here?

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Folding the letter again, and paperclipping the picture carefully inside the folds, Jessica slips them back into her bag. "It is. I needed to go..." She begins to form a word...a few words. But only letter sounds, an 's'...a 't'...come out. "I needed to go. So I decided that this was where I needed to be. At least for now. To see if I could help. To see...if she existed."

The expression in Jessica's green-eyed gaze has gone someplace far off. Her eyes are unfocused, and for the moment, at least, she is lost somewhere else.

Superman has posed:
Kal's brow knits together and he nods slowly. He folds his arms across his chest.

"I won't ask if you're okay, but I was worried after the resort. I was... surprised to see you at the village. It couldn't have been easy to come out and fight so soon."

He watches Jessica carefully in the flickering light.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I'm not fighting. Not really," Jessica replies. "Just helping where I can. I can move materials for homes faster than ten of their men. I can catch game for them to eat. I can...I can help them build a school where these kids can learn. The closest one is ten miles away in the heart of the village. That's quite a commute on little feet."

"I wasn't. I saw my life flash. Always thought that was just a metaphor. But it was there. And I knew I wasn't ready. But everything in me wanted to give up. Feeling life slipping away...wanting to fight, and wanting to give up in that same last breath..." Jessica trails off, and this time goes completely silent.

Superman has posed:
Kal's expression softens. He sighs heavily and gently puts a hand on Jessica's shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Jessica," he says quietly. "I really am. What happened to you was not okay. You put your trust in the team, and we let you down. I'm sorry you have to carry the consequences of that."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"No, Kal," Jess replies, placing her hand up on his at her shoulder. "It was my fault. Because I /didn't/ put my trust in that team. I didn't trust The White Queen, or whoever the hell she was. I didn't trust her any more than I trusted Paul. I mean, I knew - or thought I knew - what he was capable of. I thought I could handle it. I didn't act responsibly, because I was afraid of what /she/ could do. I never heard Paul's voice in my head, not like I heard hers. I thought he was the lesser of two evils. Who'd have guessed a guy like that could do something so..." She just shudders.

"I will forever be grateful to you for what you did that day. If not for you, I don't think I'd be here."

Superman has posed:
Kal purses his lips at her thanks. "Help should have come earlier, from me or one of the others," he says and lets his hand slip out of hers and off her shoulder. "Keeping our teammates safe has to be a first priority."

He gestures for Jessica to join him and walks a little further way from the fire, still in sight of everyone, but out of earshot.

"I don't think any of us realized what he was capable of. Telepaths..." he shakes his head. "They're frightening. To think he could kill with a word... I wonder if even the White Queen knew."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I don't know. I think that she must have known. I wonder if /she/ could do the same if she wanted. If just /any/ telepath could be that powerful. What if they can? But then I wonder if it's any different from us." Jessica glances back at the fire, where the children are all sitting, eating their dinner. And laughing, as one boy tries to imitate the cooling breath of Superman. "What we have is just as deadly, it just requires physical contact to achieve it. You....not even that, really. So how does it make them any different? And yet it still somehow seems all the more sinister. I can't seem to get my mind around that sticking point."

Superman has posed:
Kal frowns and crosses his arms again.

"I don't know what she can do, and it's part of why I kept my distance," Kal admits. He follows Jessica's gaze to look back at the fire as well.

"What telepaths do is different," he insists. "Anyone can get hit, we all learn that from a young age. But ours minds are a..." he graps for the right words. "...sacred space. Some things just are more personal than others."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica nods, sighing as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other. "You're right. I guess that's the difference. I couldn't put my finger on it until now, or at least give it a name. But that's it. It's all that we have that makes us who we are. And they can change it all with a thought. It's just...inherently wrong. I don't want to be judgmental over powers that people didn't ask for. But I cannot trust it. I cannot stand for it, or be near it again."

Superman has posed:
Kal gives Jessica a sympathetic look. "I can understand, I avoid them as much as I can. Nobody will blame you for keeping your distance, especially after what happened. It was disturbing to see."

He pauses for a moment and looks up, eyes narrowing slightly. His face takes on an uncharacteristically wry cast for a moment, then his attention returns to Earth.

"Did they tell you what happened to Paulie?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica shakes her head. "I didn't ask. I was just glad to be away from him." She studies Kal's face for a long moment. "What happened to Paulie?"

Superman has posed:
Kal looks back to the fire, his expression clouded. "There was someone else in him. When I got to him, there was something wrong with him, he couldn't hear me. Then someone /else/ started talking through him, taunting us."

He shakes his head a bit and looks back to Jessica. "I don't doubt he was the kind of person who would do what he did. But there was someone else in there, too, using the oomycetan as some kind of psychic conduit... I don't understand it. But the White Queen said whoever it was shredded Paulie's mind after he taunted us. Paulie's in a coma, I doubt he'll ever wake up. I doubt he'd want to wake up."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Shuddering and crossing her arms in front of her chest, Jessica sighs. "Nobody deserves that. Not even Paulie. At one time he was just some dumb, unassuming schmuck who dreamt of money and women, just like every other guy in the world." She winces and looks back at Kal. "Present company excluded, of course."

Superman has posed:
Kal smiles gamely. "I'm a stranger here, I don't count."

He waves at one of the younger boys who comes some distance from the fire to look at the two of them. The boy gives a little wave and runs back to the fire.

"You're right though, it could have been worse. And you got right back up and into the field to fight the oomycetan. It takes a lot to keep going like that. It's inspiring. Gives us something to remember when things happen to us. We can get back up."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Shrugging, Jessica smiles. "We are strong enough to do what we have to. When we have to. But we can only hold it together for so long, sometimes. I came here to break." She exhales, watching the children, who are in turn watching Kal and Jessica. "And I came here to heal."

Superman has posed:
"I'm glad you have this place," Kal says. His eyes sweep across the village again and he breathes in the warm night air, spiced with wood smoke and cooking.

"I hope you'll take the time you need here. I've seen people get ground down and changed," he says sadly. "I wouldn't want that for you or anyone else."

He looks at Jessica squarely. "If you need anything at all, let me know. You can always call the Hall of Justice, or get word to Clark. He's reliable enough to pass a message along quietly."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica narrows her eyes at that with a little smile. "Clearly, he is." She nods slowly, and definitively. "Thank you."

Superman has posed:
"Don't mention it," Kal says.

He glances up again and shakes his head.

"It never takes long," he sighs. "I should go, before I draw too much more attention to this place. By now there are a bunch of people trying to figure out what is so interesting about Villa Altagracia."

Kal looks back down at Jessica. "Take care of yourself, alright?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I will, Kal." Jessica replies. "I promise. You, too. And tell Clark thanks, won't you? If I call him again, there's no telling /who/ he will send."

Superman has posed:
Kal smiles and nods. He glances around one last time, as if committing the scene to memory. Then he is gone, rising into the night sky with the smoke. But where the wind blows the smoke east, the sounds it carries call Kal west. Watchful eyes follow him and discussions turn away from the tiny village in the Dominican Republic to a prison fire and riot near Guatemala City. Soon, Villa Altagracia is forgotten, just one more log entry in a long list of them.