Tolly: If at first you don't succeed, try, try again. I will be trying different ideas because, as I said before, this is a half-baked idea.

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When Spiderman came to, the first thing he saw was Vampira's face. Quickly shaking off his lethargy, he leapt to his feet, ready to fire a web. But Vampira just held up her hands and took a step back.

"I don't want to fight." she said. "I just want to talk."

"Then talk." said Spiderman, not lowering his hands.

"Look, I know what you think I am, but if I was a murderer, wouldn't I have killed you already?"

"Not if you wanted to get me on your side."

Vampira sighed and put her head in her hands. "You don't get it, do you? The Daily Bugle, heck, people on the streets say that we're both villains. What I want to know is, are you?"

"No," said Spiderman quietly.

"But you don't believe that I'm not. Look around you. In case you haven't noticed, we're in an alley. My wingspan is about sixteen feet, so there's not a lot of room for me. Plus, it takes longer for me to transform than it does for you to shoot a web. You have the advantage, Spiderman. Will you just listen?"

Spiderman put his hands down slowly, but he was still ready to spring at any moment.

"Now, you've said that you're not evil. I'm willing to believe that, if you agree that I'm not either."

"I'll believe that when I see it." said Spiderman.

"You've got trust issues, don't you?" Vampira suddenly whirled around, towards the entrance of the alley. "We've got company."

As Spiderman glanced toward the street, Vampira jumped, flipped and transformed in one fluid motion, ending up hanging by her claws from a fire escape, wings wrapped around her like something out of a horror film. Spiderman climbed quickly up a wall and hid in the shadows.

The intruders turned out to be four or five men, in pursuit of a young woman. The woman had apparently gone down the alley in hopes of an escape route. There was none, and the men quickly surrounded her.

"Now," One of the men leered. "We get to have some fun."

"Not on my watch." Vampira growled.

"Who said that?" A couple of them reached for weapons, looking around.

"I did." Vampira opened her wings and let out a piercing screech. The men yelled and began running out of the alley, but Vampira launched herself into their way. She spread her wings, completely blocking the way out. "Not so fast. Do you really think I'd let you go?"

Suddenly, one of them grabbed the girl, producing a knife and holding it at her throat. "Let us go," he said. "Or she dies."

Vampira did not lower her wings. The man pressed the blade closer, a determined snarl on his face. Just then, the knife was snatched out of his hands and yanked upwards on a web. Pretty soon, one of his buddies followed it. Another guy pulled a gun out of his jacket and peered upwards, preparing to shoot Spiderman. Before he could, however, Vampira fastened a claw around his arm and drew him close to her face. "Now, now." she said, dangerously soft. "That's not nice." She kicked her leg out, sending him into a wall and effectively knocking him out.

Meanwhile, Spidey wrapped up two more of the gang members. The last one made it out into the street, and Vampira calmly swooped after him. Ignoring his screams, she lifted him by the shoulders and deposited him in a dumpster.

Vampira landed near the shocked victim and changed back into human form. She held a hand out comfortingly towards the woman, but the woman slapped it away. "Get away from me, you—you beast!" shrieked the lady, running off into the night.

Vampira stared after her. "Thanks for saving me, Vampira." she muttered. "You really are a hero." She sighed. "Guess not. No matter what I do, I'm a monster to them."

Spiderman stepped up behind her. "Join the club." he said, smirking dejectedly behind his mask.

She turned to face him, her eyebrows raised and her moment of depression evidently forgotten. "What, are we on the same side now?"

Spiderman merely shrugged noncommittally.

"I take that as a yes." smiled Vampira. "You know, we should get together sometime. Not a date, just a freak-to-freak talk. We could just walk into a restaurant, dressed like this," Her smile broadened. "Get a table and get to know each other. What do you say?"

"Well, the restaurant idea doesn't really work for me." said Spiderman with mock seriousness.

"Fine. Then we'll just talk. Tomorrow night, ten o'clock, top of the Daily Bugle building. How's that?'

"You make it sound like a date."

"Ew, no. I've got a boyfriend." Vampira paused. "I shouldn't have mentioned him. Forget I said that."

"Deal." said Spiderman, thinking of his own girlfriend. "So, tomorrow, ten, Daily Bugle. Not a date."

"See you then, Spiderman." Vampira grabbed his hand, shook it, and half-ran out of the alley. She transformed and took flight.

Spiderman stood for a while in thought, then turned and made his own wall-crawling, web-slinging way home.

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Tolly: Any suggestions as to why she is what she is? Cuz that'd be super.