"Wh- ...what are you?"
'...ve...nom...ous...venom…*gurgle*'
"Well, 'Venom'...what are you doing in my room? ...and why am I so calm about this? I saw something like you on the television."
'Smell...hatred…*gurgle*...vengeance...same as me...'
"...you don't plan on eating me, do you?"
'Need...host...to live…*gurgle*...want revenge...like you…'
"I mean, you're not wrong...but you didn't answer my question."
'...give...power...for revenge...become...unstoppable...! Promise...not eat you…*gurgle*'
"Then you have yourself a deal! So...I don't suppose you can shake hands, or-?"
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
"...and that is why it is improper to be engaging in grand theft auto, criminal!"
That was what I heard when I swung onto the scene, my good friend Taylor Polendina standing triumphantly over some random thug who, apparently, was attempting to commit grand theft auto.
The nice looking car with the scuffed up hood gave credence to the theory.
"Your quips need work," I said, perching on an empty newspaper dispenser next to her, "it's gotta be more than just literally stating facts."
"Oh, hello Friend Spider!" She waved at me with her free hand (the other was holding onto the car thief), "How are you doing on this fine 5:52 pm today?"
...I forget that she's a robot sometimes.
"Oh, you know, just chillin'." I hopped down to the ground. "I was actually just finishing up my patrol; my friends and I were gonna watch a bunch of dumb, girly movies and eat a bunch of junk food, so I was just making sure nothing big was going on before that started."
Taylor's expression instantly morphed into one of pure delight.
"Can I join you? Please?" she pleaded, "I would very much like to try on clothes, and paint my nails, and talk about cute boys just like normal meat people do!"
…"normal meat people"?
"So may I join you and your friends?"
"Uh...maybe next time; this was sorta supposed to be a thing for just the 3 of us...but I can definitely bring it up to them tonight, how about that?"
"..."
Give her a minute, folks; she's processing.
"...that is acceptable!" she eventually declared, "I will begin researching cute boys to prepare for the inevitable conversation on the topic!"
Waaaaaaaay ahead of you, girlfriend; there's a certain scraggly, blonde soccer player that can handle me anytime…~
...uh, forget I said that.
"You do that," I said, getting ready to swing back home and get ready for the Girl's Night, "Are you gonna be at Beacon High next week?" I refrained from putting "will I see you" at the front of that sentence, because secret identity and all that.
"Indeed I will; my father thinks it will be good for me to attend the pep rally."
"Go sports team!" I called as I swung away.
She's a good kid, that robot. I know she can be a little bit...exuberant, but she's actually pretty sweet when you know how to talk to her. I don't know why Kara doesn't think she can handle being out in the world on her own…
Anywho, I promised the girls I'd grab some ice cream for the marathon, so I guess I'd better get on that.
Brb!
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
"Cheers!" we all chorused, before pounding back our first cans of People Like Grapes soda of the night. I've loved the stuff ever since I was 4, and I'll swear by it to my dying breath; if there really is a god out there, then have them bless Kara for bringing 3 packs of the stuff. Anyway, we're using Kara's flat for this, since my place isn't the roomiest abode in town, and Arryn's mom will probably just try to adopt us all again.
"...blegh! This is practically pure sugar; how can you possibly stomach this?"
Welp, more for me, then.~
"Easily," I said, popping open another can. "In a just world, they'd call it 'Manna from Heaven'."
"More like 'Diabetes in a can'..."
"It's not that bad," Arryn came to my rescue, "I usually prefer tea, but this is alright for what it is."
"Whatever...I think I'll just stick to water for the night, thanks."
"So...which movie are we gonna watch first?" I asked. Arryn had rented a least six, so it wasn't like we were strapped for choices. If anything, six films might have been a bit much.
However, before any of us could suggest one of the flicks, my communicator Tiger Queen gave me suddenly sprang to life, vibrating in my pants pocket.
"Uh, hold that thought, guys; TQ's calling. Just gimme a minute..."
Kara nodded, and Arryn said "Tell her I said hi!" before I ducked into the other room to take the call.
"You've reached the spectacular Spider-Girl!~ Please state the nature of your emergency calmly and clearly."
"Where are you right now?"
...you know, you'd think I'd be used to TQ's lack of social graces by now.
"Nice to hear from you too, TQ. FYI, I'm at a flat downtown; my friends and I were about to spend the night watching cheesy movies. ...why?"
"Because I just saw you taking down a J-walker in the Atlas district."
"I mean, I did run into Taylor Polendina around there earlier...but she was dealing with carjackers, and she'd already taken care of them by the time I got there, and I think I'd remember stopping any crime after that…"
"I believe you, but I still have footage of someone who looks just like you, using webs like you, and with preternatural reflexes that I've only seen one other person display before-"
"I get it, I get it!" Sigh… I'm all for cosplayers and everything (side effect of being Arryn's friend) "...if it makes you feel any better, I can go check out the scene and talk to witnesses, learn what actually went on and everything?"
"That'd be appreciated, thanks. ...for the record, I suspected that other Spider-Girl wasn't you, but thank you for confirming it for me. If there really is someone else with your abilities, I'd like to know whether they're willing to cooperate with the rest of the Hero community."
"I'll keep that in mind. Spider-Girl out."
I let out another sigh. Geez, I was really looking forward to our Girls' Night tonight…
"Hey, Kar, Arryn?" I called. "I've got some bad news…"
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
So that's how I ended up swinging all over the Atlas district, tracking down the people who saw "me" fighting crime earlier. Not how I wanted to spend my Friday evening, but at least I'm keeping my cardio up.
Only the barest of silver linings, if I'm being honest.
Regardless, I actually had a productive evening tracking down information.
"Yes yes, I know I was already here, but humor me? It's important."
"Oh, uh...sure thing, Spider-Girl," the random citizen nodded. "I mean, there's not really much to tell; you swung in, webbed the woman up, then told everyone that you'd be around that you'd be back if anyone else broke the law." They paused, furrowing their brow. "...to be honest, I don't remember you being so direct or blunt before…"
"Well, I must have been having an off day earlier," I shrugged, "is there anything else about that event you can recall?"
They tapped their chin for a moment. "...actually...wait, no, nevermind. I thought there was something weird about your suit-"
"Wait, my suit? What about it?"
"I dunno...I didn't really have the best view, so it might have just been the light." They shrugged. "Sorry I couldn't be more helpful, Spider-Girl."
"Don't worry about it-" OK, I never felt more like a mobster than at this precise moment. "-you actually helped a lot." A shot a web line into the air, "Keep fighting the good fight, Citizen!"
Then I swung off to go find the next witness.
OK, real talk for a moment; am I the only one who thinks that it's weird I didn't sense another Spider-Person before now? I mean, my Spider-Sense is usually pretty consistent about warning me about danger...unless I'm congested, that is. B-but aside from that, it's never failed me before!
Also, I'm suddenly craving Pizza in a Cup™, but that's pretty par for the course where I'm concerned.
One quick stop at the food cart later and I was hanging from Jimmy's perch, enjoying my artery-clogging junk food.
"I mean...we've known each other for a long time now, Jimbo...have you ever known my Spider-Sense to not work when I don't have the sniffles?"
…
"Yeah, that's what I thought."
…
"Huh...you're right- *munch munch* -she could have just arrived from out of town! Speaking of, I wonder if TQ's fought out anything new on her end?" I dug out the communicator and quickly called Tiger Queen's end of it. "...come on TQ, pick up already…"
I hate waiting, remember?
She eventually did pick up.
"Spider-Girl. I take it you've learned about your doppelganger?"
"A little bit. For starters, she may walk the walk, but she doesn't talk the talk quite like I do. Also, she may have come from out of town, considering I didn't know about her until, you know, tonight and everything."
"Interesting...that would definitely explain why she only apparently now. I'll see what I can gather on my end; feel free to return to your friends; I get the feeling we probably won't learn anything new until she shows herself again."
"Thanks, TQ; the next time we hang in person, the Pizza in a Cup™ is on me."
Welp, I guess there nothing left to do but head back to Kara's place and see which movie the girls are on.
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
The next day we said our goodbyes and all returned to our respective homes, having at least gotten to watch one movie together before sleep reared its ugly head. (some low budget horror movie sequel, for the record. It was a good laugh.)
And, as it turned out, Mom said she was gonna make cookies tonight.
Which meant grocery shopping, which kind of became our little ritual together at some point.
...I like food, so what?
"It's a piece of cake to bake a cookie plate, if the way is ha-zy,~" I sang as I helped Mom load a large bag of flour into the- DON'T JUDGE ME! That song's an ear worm, OK? It certainly doesn't have anything to do with my excitement over the cookies we'd be having later, no siree!
"You've got to do your cooking by the book," Mom followed up, "so you won't be la-zy!~"
SEE?! It's not just me!
"Alright, flour acquired," she said, dusting her hands off, "Thanks for the assist, Lindsay."
"Anytime!"
Shopping didn't take too long, as we already knew where everything in the store was. After checking out (the cashier tried to flirt with Mom. Major barf.) we headed back home, braving the perils of downtown Vale traffic.
I did mention how much I hated waiting, right?
"UGH!" I sigh, practically melting down the passenger seat in our sedan, "It's like, noon! Why is there so much traffic right now?"
"If I knew, I would have taken 8th instead of 36th." Mom was currently leaning her chin on the steering wheel, her fingers drumming on the side. "This is a bit unusual, I'll agree with you on that, Linds."
"I wanna bake the cookies…!"
"I knoooooow...but whining isn't going to make the cars-"
What whining would or wouldn't make the cars do would remain a mystery, as something landing on the hood or the car interrupted her thought.
That something had a mechanical scorpion tail and a manic glint in his eyes.
Naturally, both of us shrieked. (Thankfully my Spider-Sense didn't go off, so he probably hadn't noticed us yet.)
"I only listen to my Goddess, insect; you have no authority over me!" The Pincerman declared.
OK, for the last time, spiders are arach- wait...he wasn't talking to me just now, was he? It took me a second to process that, but fortunately I held my tongue.
If I don't make any sudden movements, I can probably change into my suit and take him by surprise…
"Doesn't he mean 'arachnid'?" Mom wondered aloud, which had the unfortunate side effect of causing him to suddenly wheel his head around to glare at whoever just spoke.
Sigh...Mom, I love you, but could you please read the situation?
"All are but insects compared to the magnificent Salem!" he calmly shouted at Mom, clearly missing the point of her question.
Welp, so much for changing into Spider-Girl….
However, before he decided to force us to cash in our auto insurance, he flew back off the hood, it looked like he was yanked by something. Mom and I both glance at each other before getting out of the vehicle. Whatever was going on, it was happening further up the road.
Sure enough, we found the source of the traffic: there was what looked like the remains of a limousine, holes punched all along the roof that looked big enough to fit, oh I dunno...a mechanical scorpion tail? Not to mention a bunch of other destruction normally caused whenever a supervillain decides to fight me instead of surrendering.
Only this time it wasn't me Crazypants was fighting; it was me! Or rather, my doppelganger that spontaneously appeared yesterday. (I can words good.) And honestly? It was super surreal to watch myself fighting Loony Toons there, though now I kinda get the awed looks on people's faces after I wrap my fights up usually.
...geddit? "Wrap up"? See, cuz I have spider powers, so it's a pun on-
"Shouldn't you get out there and help her?" Mom suddenly asked.
"I would, but it looks like she has everything taken care of." And in a moment of beautiful timing, DoppelSpider flung a newspaper dispenser (I thought those things went extinct in the early 00's?) right into Pincerman's stupid face right before he accidentally involved some of the innocent bystanders. "See?"
"I guess so…" Mom rubbed her chin. "...she looks a bit taller than you, though."
"Uh huh, sure- Go, Spider-Girl!" Again, it felt weird to cheer myself on, but I wasn't going to pass this opportunity up. Think about it: if Lindsay Rose is seen cheering Spider-Girl on then my secret identity is basically air tight for life! So hellz yeah I'ma make a show of cheering for the valiant hero.
The fight didn't last too much longer, and after a few close calls (Other Me's suit was starting to look a bit worse for wear after taking a couple glancing blows from Crazy's tail barb) Pincerman was bound and hanging from a nearby lamppost, struggling against the webbing.
Not as many quips as I would have made (gotta stay on brand, you know?), but an admirable performance nonetheless.
"Spider-Girl rocks!" I shouted along with the rest of the crowd.
Who all suddenly went dead silent as my doppelgänger zipped over to me, standing roughly a head taller than I was.
"Eep! Um…hi?"
Not gonna lie, it was a little weird how she just stood there...looking down at me like I'd just committed a cardinal sin just by daring to acknowledge them directly.
"...my name is 'Spider-Woman'," she said eventually, "don't forget that." Then she addressed the crowd at large, "And that goes for everyone else as well; I've left the name 'Spider-Girl' behind me. From now on, things will be different, and I promise you that I won't make the same mistakes I used to." She shot a web line up to the rooftops, then pulling herself up into the sky, swinging away.
A moment later the police showed up, half of them dealing with Pincerman while the other half set about dispersing the crowd now that the action was done.
"Well, that was...weird," I said once Mom and I made our way back to the car, "Other Me kinda seems a little full of herself, huh?"
"I got that impression as well." Mom had her "science face" on now, and I could tell there was something about the whole affair she was trying to parse out. "...was there anything else you noticed?"
"Hmm…" I thought back to the whole ordeal, scratching the side of my head. "Well...she wasn't that talkative until after the fight was over."
"I meant about her appearance," she clarified.
"Oh. ...she was taller than me?"
Remember, this is the girl who didn't remember her own school's Queen Bee until it was basically spelled out for her.
Apparently Mom realized I wasn't going to get what she was talking about, and sighed. "You saw how she took a bit of battle damage during the fight, right?"
"Yeah…?"
"Think about how her mask got ripped."
Her mask? But what would that have to do with any-
...no.
No, she couldn't be…
"...Lindsay? What's wrong, hun?"
"I know who Spider-Woman is…," I moaned, letting my forehead collide with the dashboard.
"Oh?"
"Yeah…"
For the record, Spider-Woman's mask had a tear across the scalp, which revealed a lock of strikingly red hair.
There was only one person I knew who had hair that color.
And if my guess was correct, and I have no reason not to think it is, then I'd be hearing about this at school in the next couple of days…
to be continued…
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
"So we understand each other, right, Venom? I give you a place to hide, and in return, you help me mimic Spider-Girl's pow-"
'*HSSSSSSSSSSSS!*'
"...could you please not do that every time her name is brought up? It's...unsettling, and it makes conversation difficult."
'*gurgle*...can't help...instinct...want...to destroy…!'
"So do I, but the direct approach isn't going to work for either of us. We need to lay some groundwork first, demoralize our enemies before going in for the kill; psychological warfare can be a powerful tool if used correctly."
'...what are…*gurgle*...these words?'
"Human concepts- now where did I put it…? But trust me, victory will be so much better for us if we can properly savor it in the end."
'Yes...savor…*gurgle*...I know this…'
"And who knows, maybe I can help find someone you can merge with when this is all over? It's the least I can do to repay you for helping me like this."
'*gurgle*...not you...Jennifer…?'
"Well…."
_/_/_/_/_/_/_/_/
AN: I still exist, folks! The last while has just been fairly busy for me, so I haven't had a lot of free time to work on this story. Thankfully, that's changing for the better, so I should be uploading more stuff here in the foreseeable future.Starting with Spider-Ruby. This is an arc that's been scheduled to happen since early in the character's first appearance in Paradigm of the Rose (Which you people should be reading, FTR!), and I'm eager to finally see it come to fruition. Hopefully, I can do this event the justice it deserves, since the Symbiote is a major part of Spicerverse lore. Of course, I have a few twists of my own planned so thing don't feel too similar, but fingers crossed all the same. In the meantime, yada yada yada, stay safe out there, and be Excellent to each other.