notdaredevil | IC INBOX (MASKORMENACE)

All right, all right! I'll talk. If only to spare myself the detailed recounting of your latest train-wreck.

[A breath, slowly released.] I think Norman Osborn's got some kind hold on one of our other imPorts, and maybe her girlfriend. Rose Lalonde and Kanaya Maryam – I don't know if you know them.

Objection. Numerous parts of my life are not currently a train-wreck.

[But they'll all be spared the details of his soon-to-be-freaky sex life with Frank Castle's ex-girlfriend tonight.]

The names don't ring a bell. [No more jokes now though.] Blackmail? Chemical?

Overruled. Your judgment is obviously skewed from repeated head trauma.

[And then fun time's over.] I can't be sure. I'd say blackmail, but Norman's smart enough to hedge his bets, and I can't find evidence for anything that wouldn't depend on their testimony – and neither of them are talking. Every time I think I'm about to make progress they get skittish and bolt.

Rose is the new Green Goblinette, but I haven't actually caught her doing anything crime-y. Kanaya only knows me out of costume, and since I don't know exactly what's tying her and Rose to Norman... [He can't risk unmasking to convince her, not with so many unknowns.]

[He takes all of that in, parsing through the information. He could find confirmation, of course, just by being in their presence, but nothing that would be admissible in court or concrete enough for Peter to put it to use.]

Are you asking for my advice or my help?

Right now, they're the same thing. I just wanted to give you a heads up, and see if you had any bright ideas. I can't let them get hurt [there's an extra edge of desperation there, something above and beyond "great power, great responsibility"] but I can't think of anything to do that won't create more problems than it solves.

Hmmm. Beyond Osborn, what's your personal stake in this?

[He should have known Matt would catch that edge.]

C'mon, do I really need a personal stake in this beyond "it's Osborn"?

[He knows that's too defensive even as the words come out of his mouth.]

Edited 2014-06-03 23:07 (UTC)

No. But you have one. And it's hard for me to know how to help you if I don't know more of the relevant details.

It's not... really related to the matter at hand.

[Silence. Then, giving up:]

I don't know if you remember, but a few years ago there was a stretch when both Jessica Drew and Arachne were out of the picture and there was another Spider-Woman. Mattie Franklin. Just a kid, really, even though she took the name. But she had a lot of heart.

[God, that's going to take him a moment.]

I- vaguely? I don't think I met her. She broke into Jessica Jones' apartment, that I do remember hearing about. Something involving MGH, right?

Something like that, yeah. I – I didn't really push for details. She seemed to be in good hands, and you know, too many cooks in the kitchen... [Excuses, excuses. He could have gotten involved, paid attention to what was going on in Mattie's life, but all that matters is that he didn't.

His sigh rasps in his throat.] I hate this. Knowing what's going to happen, and not being able to stop it... why the Greeks went in for prophecy I have no idea.

[He doesn't understand...but he feels apprehensive, all the same.]

Back up, Peter. [The first time he's ever called him by name; Matt refuses, on principle, to use it, when he could speak around it.] You're losing me. How does Mattie Franklin fit into this situation with Goblins? Or is it MGH?

[His voice grows testy.]

She doesn't. I said it wasn't related –

[With an effort, he reins himself in. It's not Matt he's angry at, after all.]

I can't let anyone else get hurt because I wasn't paying attention.

[Oh, Spider-Man.]

Listen to me. It's easy to make guilt over someone else's choices and actions part of your life. I would know. I know you think I take everything too seriously, and that I'm grim, and judgmental. But I know, better than almost everyone, that when people you care about get hurt...you never forgive yourself for it. It was your fault. It will always feel like your fault. You have to live with that for the rest of your life. Even if the decision to put them in the dangerous situation that cost them was their own.

But there are times when it comes a point where you can't take the responsibility for other people's actions. People have to own up to their own decisions and accept the consequences for them. You could have been standing right there, the moment they fell in with Osborn, but you can't guarantee that it would have changed anything. You don't know.

You don't have eight eyes. You can't take responsibility for Norman Osborn scheming. He'd have done it even if you were paying attention. He'd do it just to get to you. Just like Fisk would do it to me. But you and I aren't the same. Your guilt doesn't help fuel you. It's not helping you at all. And you need to make your peace with all of that, and whatever else you need to now. Because you need to think about how to fix this, before anyone else can get hurt, and right now, you're not thinking clearly.

... If we'd had this conversation a few weeks ago, you wouldn't have known I don't have eight eyes.

I get what you're saying, intellectually. But emotionally it ain't that easy -- you know why I do all this. If that's not guilt, then what is it?

And if I don't take responsibility for Norman Osborn, then who does? He sure isn't.

I just don't know what the solution is. He's even more slippery here than he was back home. He was arrested and sent to a psychiatric institution and everything and ended up right back on top within, like, a year.

So what would he need other goblins for? Misdirection? I don't have the answer. I know something was going on, before I left New York. But he's always been your thing.

Much good that I've done with it.

[Deep breath.] Sorry, you're right, this isn't productive. I just can't figure out what to do that'll actually make a difference.

You're stressed. Clear your mind and think. What do you know about the girl? Movements? Targets? Did Norman hand over a glider? Bombs? Just a costume? Who do they associate with? What do they do during the day?

I can keep my ear to the ground for you, as best as I can. And if you need help, you know who to call.

I do know. And I will -- I think I just need to figure out a way to put everything I know in context. And maybe learn to be patient, because I'm going to need it to talk her around.

... Thanks.

Edited 2014-07-17 23:28 (UTC)

Patience is always the hardest lesson.

[Says Matt Murdock, who could really use some himself.]

Call me if you need anything. Back-up. I'll be there.

Whatever you say, Master Po.

I'm pretty sure I can take it from here, but I'll keep you posted.

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