8589/Saved: Peril

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Saved: Peril
Date of Scene: 30 July 2019
Location: Swimming Pool - Avenger's Mansion
Synopsis: Jessica and Josh reflect on their past and present.
Cast of Characters: Spider-Woman (Drew), Elixir




Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
It's been a long 24 hours. Actually, it's been a long month. Or more. Time has had little meaning of late, when every day is a new struggle, and every night the same old struggle replays in Jessica's mind. Even the Avengers' refrigerator has had a stay of execution for the past month. (And that's saying something.)

Today, Jessica is to be found poolside, reading. Unfortunately, she is so unfocused, she has read the same paragraph at least twelve times. She is seated at a table, beneath a huge patio umbrella, in a black tanktop and khaki cargo capris, and a pair of strappy patent leather flip flop sandals. Staring at the water.

Elixir has posed:
Josh comes out of the mansion with a pair of textbooks and a tablet under one arm, and a beer in the other hand. He's got sunglasses under messy blonde hair, a plain blue t-shirt and dark shorts on.

"Oh hey, Ms. Drew," he says, hardly missing the Avenger there. He gestures toward the next table over. "Mind if I take a seat and get some studying done?"

"Ms. Drew?" Josh asks, head tilted, when she does not answer at first. "You okay?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica looks up from her reverie, possibly even startled. "Oh, hi Josh. Of course, feel free. It's a great place to read. It can get noisy inside sometimes."

Jess shakes her head. "Oh, I'm fine, just a lot on my mind. The world's been spun sideways for a little while, now. But it /seems/ like...maybe it will be getting better. Hopefully." She looks up from her book and tilts her head sideways, trying to read the spines of his books. "Ohh...right, you're a medical student, yeah?"

Elixir has posed:
"These? Oh, no, I wish! Premed," Josh says with a smile. "Hoping to make the jump sooner rather than later, but I'm just one of the wannabes for now."

"Sorry things've been rough," he says. "Lotta stuff happening around here from what Wanda's told me. I dunno how you keep up, you know?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Ah, you get the hang of it pretty quickly. I mean, you're juggling college and Xavier's, which seems like it can get even crazier, right? I figure this place is a walk in the park after all that. How are you doing in your studies? Keeping your grades up despite the chaos?" Jess closes her book, seeming grateful to have something new to focus on.

Elixir has posed:
"I guess," Josh says. He moves over to Jess's table and takes a seat when she closes her book. "I haven't been here long though, and you guys are already raising the dead. So I dunno if it's gonna be any more slack here than over there."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica blows out a huge sigh, as if her entire being is deflating. "Yeah." Jess sits quietly for a moment. "I need ice cream," she states, with what seems like every ounce of conviction that she has. "Do you need ice cream?"

"JARVIS?" she calls out toward the mansion.

Elixir has posed:
Josh looks a little concerned.

"I do," he says and puts down his books.

"Hey, you ever had a beer float? I can make you a beer float. Or maybe JARVIS can. You think he knows how?" Josh asks with a grin.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
JARVIS replies as politely as ever. "Yes Miss Drew?"

But Jess seems caught offguard by the question, and snorts a laugh, quickly covering her nose and mouth with one hand and blushing as she laughs. "God. As...delicious as that sounds, uh....Let's not put poor JARVIS out, he works hard, isn't that right, JARVIS?"

"Right as rain, Miss Drew," comes the reply.

"I taught him that," she asides to Josh, regaining her composure. "Could you please send out some rocky road ice cream in a waffle bowl? Hold the Pop Rocks this time...and Josh will haave....." She looks questioningly at Josh for his request.

Elixir has posed:
Josh snerks a bit at Jess's teaching JARVIS.

"Tiger tail! And a waffle bowl. And, uh, whipped cream on it," Josh answers toward the house.

"Pop rocks? Spider Woman, like, the Spider Woman, eats rocky road with pop rocks?" Josh says with a grin. "That's awesome. And uh, sorry if I was like, prying or whatever, you just looked like, you know."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica gives a dismissive wave and shakes her head. "I eat Pop Rocks with everything..." And she means everything.

But her expression takes a more serious turn with Josh's comment. "Life's messy sometimes, Josh." She pauses thoughtfully for a long moment, then continues. "I'm elated that they were able to bring Vision back. He is amazing. He once sat here with me and had a long discussion on artificial intelligence. And his insight on the matter is unbelievable."

"But..." she continues, and that single word carries the full weight of her guilt. "I was held under the sway of another cause, which seems as though it may have been misguided. And when it came to a battle between him and another sentient being who is also made up of AI, I chose the wrong side. And it cost Vision dearly. It's why he was in there last night. It's how he got killed. I didn't do it. But I might have been able to prevent it. Probably."

Elixir has posed:
"Oh," Josh says quietly. His usual thousand-watt smile fades to something somber. "I dunno what to say, that's, yeah. He seemed to be okay with you, last night. Like, really cool about whatever happened. That's good, right?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"It's good...It's really good, for his sake. I didn't want to ruin him. I didn't want to break the trust he has in humans. And I didn't want him to suffer the anger and hurt of having been betrayed." Jessica draws one knee up and rests her foot on the edge of her chair, wrapping her arms around that knee. "But I deserve more than 'it's fine'...I deserve anger and rage. So it's all a mixed bag. I feel terrible."

Elixir has posed:
"Kinda like something that just gnarls up in your stomach and you wanna puke out, but can't," the young man says quietly. He leans forward and cups his beer with both hands.

"Waiting for people to really figure out how bad you are throw you out, and it's like, this tension that never stops. It'd almost be better if they did throw you out or do something. And when they don't? Just feels worse, even more pitiful. Cause you're a phony, not a good person. And never will be."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Wow, if I didn't know you were talking about yourself, I'd swear you were trying to get me kicked off an island," Jessica replies with a blink. "There's no way you should feel that way, Josh. You're awesome. You're amazing. Everybody has doubts, and weak moments, or whatever it is you're harbouring there, but that's because they're human. And believe it or not, no matter what gene you have, and what you can do...you're still human. We all are."

Jessica pauses for a moment, then adds, "But yeah. You pretty much nailed it. I expected Tony to throw me out. He sat me down. He told me I was wrong. He told me to cut that shit out. But I don't think he felt like he had much room to talk on the whole 'obeying orders' part. So it wasn't what I deserved. And neither was Vision's response last night."

Elixir has posed:
"I just kinda know how you feel," Josh says and shrugs. "It's shitty. I mean before I knew I was a mutant? I was Church of Human Potential. Full on, even became a Reaver to beat up and kills mutants. Guess if I hadn't turned out to be a mutant I'd be a cyborg killer. Nobody's ever really come down on me for it. I got the same kinda talk from the Professor. Should've had worse."

"I don't think it's coming though, Ms. Drew," Josh says with a resigned shrug. "Even if we want it to. Not sure what we're supposed to do with that."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica is taken aback by Josh's admission. She hesitates, and just shakes her head. "Josh, that's..." She pauses again. Then she takes a deep breath. "I can see where you're coming from. I can. But not one of us is the same person right now that we were yesterday, much less months or years ago. If you're looking for someone to come down on you that hard, you're barking up the wrong tree. I got a teammate killed because I sided with his enemy. And his enemy was a sentinel. So I think we're dead even in this race."

Elixir has posed:
"I think so," Josh smirks. "But I mean, that stuff you started with? If it's just happy bullshit, that's okay. Nice of you, but it's okay. If you meant it though, kinda goes for you too. Right?"

Josh takes a pull from his beer and smiles a bit when a robot comes out bringing their ice cream. "This place is ridiculosly fantastic," he says with a slight grin. "Seriously. Who lives like this?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"I meant it. But I sorta think yours was before you knew better. I should have been better already. I should have known better..." There is a lot she could say, but then there's a robot with ice cream, and Jess smiles.

"It /is/ ridiculously fantastic. And the answer to that questions, of course, is...You do, now." Jessica takes her dish with the waffle bowl snugged down inside it, and notes a packet of pop rocks on the side. Just in case. "Awww, JARVIS...you DO love me."

Elixir has posed:
"He thinks of that stuff?" Josh asks incredulously when he sees the pop rocks. He laughs but then fixes Jessica with a wry half-smile. "I knew killing people was wrong. I was 20."

Josh digs into his ice cream and smiles. "And my dad said I suck at chess," he quips to himself.

"Do you live here? Or just hang out?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"JARVIS is awesome. But he probably just knows I'd end up asking for some later, so he is saving me the trouble." Jess grins, and shrugs. "I DO suck at chess. Horribly. I cheat, and I STILL lose."

Jessica digs into her own ice cream, and shakes her head. "I have a house, but I have a room here where I can stay if need be. I split time between the two, depending on whether I'm needed here."

Elixir has posed:
"JARVIS is pretty amazing," Josh say and winks at the Avenger across from him when she mentions sucking at chess.

"That's cool. Always got somewhere to go, if you wanna be around the others or away. What's it like being on the team? That's pretty insane. I mean, you guys are /the/ hero team. Even Scott has a poster of you guys, it's up in the garage. He says Logan put it up, but I saw him do it when I went in there to get one of the cars to go into town."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica grins. "Yeah that's the weird part, I guess. It's like...you go shopping and you find toy versions of yourself and your friends. Posters in garages. Tee-shirts. Heck, I have a Batman shirt, AND a Superman shirt, too. Maybe someday they'll make shirts with you on them, too. Ya never know." She smirks and takes a bite of ice cream, wiggling a little in her chair as she sways slightly. The food dance. Definitely the food dance.

Elixir has posed:
"That'll be the day," Josh snerks. "Healing people isn't sexy like webbing their asses to the wall or something."

"The food here is ridiculous, like, all of it," Josh says and shakes his head.

"I dunno what things were like for you before you got on the team, but I was eating Ramen like two meals a day, starving student styles," Josh laughs.

"You get people asking for your autograph and selfies all the time when you go out? That's gotta be weird. Or maybe you're used to it? You've been a superhero for like a while now. And have you seen how high up you are on..." Josh trails off. His eyes go wide and he turns beet red.

"Fucking great ice cream," he mutters and stuffs some in his mouth.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Sometimes, I guess, there are people who want selfies..." Jessica considers for a moment, trying to remember the last time she actually went 'out' for anyone to recognize her. "The only time I've gone out in recent memory was with Thor, and he definitely got attention. But sometimes, I think people don't expect to see us out and about, in plain clothes, and they don't recognize us. Especially since I do still wear the mask sometimes, and people are more familiar with that than my actual face. That's probably a blessing..."

Jess shrugs, when he mentions how she lived before, however. "I had my house. But I never had much of a life." She looks over at him and adds, "Trust issues." The air quotes are implied. "I sort of disappeared into my life behind the mask and never looked back. But then I didn't grow up like some normal kid, either, so I don't guess I ever really learned how to socialize properly. I'm SO glad you aren't eating ramen anymore, though. That stuff's not food, it's loofah and salt."

Elixir has posed:
"There's lots of nutrients in the beer on campus though," Josh nods sagely and then grins.

"I can see how Thor would like, get a lot of the attention, I mean, he's not easy to hide. I've seen him on TV in some of those like, out and about New York things, and... Hey, wait. When you say like, went out, you went on a date with Thor?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"As in past tense. Yeah," Jessica replies. "It was fun. I was glad that he was the recognizable one among us, though. I'm not sure I'd want quite that much attention. Not like /that/ anyway. So many kids...so many girls. All of them knew his name."

Elixir has posed:
Josh tries to suppress the laugh but can't.

"Damn, Thor?! You and that doctor chick are now like, the most hated women in the word!" Josh grins. "Fun my ass. I mean, sorry, but damn! Where do you go from there?"

Josh eyes Jess with a wry grin. "Can't be that bad if the literal God of Thunder worthy hammer guy went on a date with you!"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica laughs and shrugs. "It was just a couple of dates. My only ones in...a Very. Long. Time. Nothing to get twisted up over. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. No sense worrying over it." Jess smiles at Josh and tilts her head. "I'm glad you and Wanda found each other. She seems to make you very happy."

Elixir has posed:
Josh smiles and lets the Thor thing go. Mostly because he breaks out in an ear to ear grin.

"She's... I dunno, I can't even explain it. Amazing," the young man replies. "I got /really/ lucky. Don't deserve it, but she doesn't even care."

Josh looks a bit embarassed. "Gross, I know," he says with a laugh and scoops himself more ice cream.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"It's not gross. It's love. And love is beautiful. It's just beautiful over /there/ and not in my lap, where it can hurt me." Jess grins and takes another bite of her ice cream, this time snagging a bit of the waffle bowl, too. "At least you've found the answer to that equation."

Elixir has posed:
"I think so, but then that's what I would say, right?" he grins.

"Might just be a spell she cast on me, too, you know? I'd never know the difference!" he jokes.

"I get the gears about it so bad at school, it's pretty funny. And weird. You guys live in like this crazy superhero celebrity world, where you /actually/ save the world and everyone knows your name."

"It's really strange sort of standing on the edge of it. I'm just some dude from Queens. Where're you from?" Josh asks. He polishes off the last of his waffle bowl and washes it down with beer.

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica breathes a laugh. "It's complicated," she replies. "But the short answer there is, wherever HYDRA had me. I don't remember anything before that."

Elixir has posed:
"Hydra? I've never heard of him... Or her," Josh says apologetically, trying to make sense. "Was that your mom's superhero name?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"HYDRA is a villainous superpower. An organization that creates nightmares. I was one of those it created." Jessica takes another bite of her ice cream and pushes the dish away. "See, Mutants are born with their powers. Even if they dont manifest till later. But plain humans aren't generally born with them. They gain them, or buy them, in cases like Tony. Something usually happens, and it's often tragic. An accident. An anomaly. Or worse. When I was young, HYDRA had my parents killed and took me. I was tortured. Experimented on. My brain was wiped. I dont remember my parents. I dont remember anything from before they took me. And they gave me the powers I have. They weaponized me. Turned me into an assassin. It wasn't until I learned the truth and I escaped them that I found there was something more - a life that could use what they did to me for some greater good. So...here I am. I was solo for a long time. At least until I met Tony Stark."

Elixir has posed:
Josh's mouth falls open and he blinks a few times.

"Shit... Uh... fuck, I'm sorry... I didn't mean to..." Josh fumbles, flustered. He starts gathering his books. "Really sorry Ms. Drew, I didn't mean to like... Sorry to bother you..."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Josh..." Jessica reaches out a hand to rest it lightly on his arm. "You didn't bother me. If you don't find out one way, you'll find out another. I didn't have any control over what they made me. But I had control over what I did with it. What I do with it. And that is where I put my heart. Into what I do now. Every single day. If I frighten or disgust you, well then, that I can understand and accept. But don't run from me because you feel that you pried. I think it is important to understand where someone began before you can understand who they are now."

Elixir has posed:
Josh stops at Jessica's touch and slowly puts his books and tablet back down.

"Oh, no, I mean yeah it's important, but no doesn't scare me," Josh says. He runs a hand through his hair.

"I thought I went somewhere I shouldn't... I'm sorry for what happened to you. Sounds like... Horrible," he says. "Kinda makes turning out the way you did even more amazing. People fold for like, less than that stuff, you know?"

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
"Yeah," Jessica replies with a grin. But forever's a long time to live folded. What option does someone who's bulletproof have? I couldn't live with self loathing, and neither can you. So we look at the options that will make us /happy/. This is mine. And you're on your way to yours." Jess' expression softens. And I hope you know that you can always talk to me, anywhere along the way. You may think you were a monster before you changed. Trust me, you weren't. I can clearly relate."

Elixir has posed:
"Thanks, Ms. Drew. It's nice to someone can relate, especially someone like you," Josh says with a smile.

"You're really cool, for like, an international assassin superhero Avenger," he adds with a grin. "Maybe we can like, encourage each other. Cause I've sort of looked up to you since the bank robbery thing last year. I know that sounds super cheesy, but whatever, it's true. You've been really cool since I met you."

Spider-Woman (Drew) has posed:
Jessica grins amd wraps an arm around him, squeezing gently. "Josh, I admire your dedication to what you do, and where you want to go with it. You've been given some tremendous blessings, and I'm so glad you're here. I think you're gonna fit in fine. And I think you're going to do amazing things. Beyond your imagination."

Elixir has posed:
Josh grins and reddens a bit at the squeeze from Jessica

"Like pass my exams?" he jokes. "I should actually get some studying done before Wanda gets back. I wanna make her dinner tonight."

The young mutant stands up with his things and says he will catch Jessica later.

Whatever has been going on for Jessica, she unexpectedly made Josh's day quite a lot brighter and it shows.