ic contact

[youretheworst]

(Gwen is a millennial, you better text her cause she sure ain't checking her pocket watch voice-mail)

Comments

[youretheworst]

That's easy for you to say. I still have to keep an eye on you.

[ Responsibility! ]

[notthekingpin]

Well you sound like you don't really want to, and I don't really want you to so where's the harm if you just go?

[youretheworst]

Oh no you don't, kid. I said I'd take responsibility for you, and that's what I'm gonna do.

[ Gwen puts her foot down for emphasis. If he's blind then he can't see her expression, so she'll just have to make her "I'm totally serious"-ness clear in other ways. ]

Besides, aren't you like, hungry maybe? I can get you lunch or dinner or whatever. You shouldn't be wandering around on your own or something.

[ That sounded real mature until the "or something" ]

[notthekingpin]

I'm not hungry.

[youre not his real mom and dad, gwen

(they're dead :') ) ]

[youretheworst]

Then what, did you have some kind of gameplan here? Because you're pretty far from home, kid.

[ Surely her superior knowledge will somehow win this kid over? Maybe? Not likely? ]

You might claim you don't need help, but everybody does when they first show up here.

[notthekingpin]

Not me.

[he says it with the kind of baseless confidence only a youth can come up with, but also: the hand hadn't ever given him any help, they'd only ever demanded things of him. you don't speak japanese? better learn. you can't see? figure out how to use your other senses]

[youretheworst]

[ Gwen is a teenager, she has no clue how to deal with a child, much less one with Matt's... colorful history.

But he's her responsibility. She's gotta try. ]

Alright, so what'll it take to get you to listen to me? I'm older than you, you know, didn't anybody ever tell you to... I dunno, listen to your elders?

[notthekingpin]

[she's got something of a point, almost. but not enough that he takes it.]

Who are you, anyway?

[youretheworst]

[ Hey, it's progress! Minimal progress, but progress all the same. ]

Gwen Stacy. I also go by Spider-Woman when I fight crime, back in New York. That's where I know you from.

[ u are a criminal, child. ]

[notthekingpin]

[ok, now she's actually gotten his attention. because she did say something about his older self so that means:]

I end up back in New York?

[there's a note of hope. that dangerous, awful thing he was supposed to have learned better about by now. but it's there all the same]

[youretheworst]

[ wow, tiny matt, slow your roll with the emotions.

actually, okay, he really is very small, even gwen can't be a total jerk to seeing a hint of hope rise to his otherwise ninja-stoic face. ]

Yeah. I think you showed up there a few years ago? I know you've been a thorn in my dad's side for a while now. You're a defense attorney for crooks and the Kingpin.

[notthekingpin]

[the kingpin -- silvermane, the man who'd killed his father. he may be a stoic ninja child, but he's still a child and the shock (and disgust) is immediately obvious. he'd expect to be doing something for the Hand, and it makes sense they'd send him home one day....he'd stick out a lot less there than in Japan, but....

the kingpin?

he quickly tries to hide it, though, tries to school his emotions back into not giving anything away]

How do I know you're telling the truth?

[youretheworst]

[ Well, that's unexpected. Gwen kind of thought Matt would be down with crime since he'd been raised by assassins but she evidently miscalculated here. Maybe this is before the brainwashing really set in. Now she feels kinda bad. ]

Why would I lie to you? I just told you that you grow up to be a huge thorn in my dad's side. Plus I fight crime. You and I aren't exactly friends... we're more like. On a reluctant team-up basis. If I was gonna lie to you, I'd tell you you were my weird uncle or something.

[notthekingpin]

I guess so.

[maybe. he doesn't want to believe her, but also: it feels like that kind of horrible thing where try as you might to convince yourself it's wrong your gut says it has to be.]

You shouldn't try and protect me. I can protect myself.

[youretheworst]

[ Too bad Gwen doesn't know about Matt's powers or she'd be way more likely to drop this responsibility thing. ]

Psh. I know that. You're a ninja. [ At least that wasn't a lie. Incredible. (Matt doesn't actually lie to you that much, Gwen??) ] But you're still a kid. I'd feel like the world's biggest jerk if I left you alone after older-you asked me to keep an eye on you.

[notthekingpin]

Older-me wasn't thinking.

[unless he really hates this girl or something. everyone who tries to take care of him ends up dead. his mom. his dad. stick.]

Just go away!

[youretheworst]

[ oh no not the darkness no parents!! ]

Pretty sure older-you does more thinking than I ever wanna think about.

[ The proper word is very likely "scheming," to which Gwen responds by simply standing her ground. ]

Look, I'm not gonna tell you to eat your veggies or whatever, if that's what you're worried about. I just wanna make sure you don't get yourself hurt or anything.

[notthekingpin]

You're just gonna get in trouble.

[whatever nothing is actually keeping him here so he's gonna bounce bye spider woman hope you can keep up with him if youre planning on continuing this conversation.]

[youretheworst]

[ Guess what nerd!!! Spider-Woman brought her web-shooters so she's totally gonna catch up to you! She doesn't need super strength to use these, at least. ]

I'm supposed to be keeping you out of trouble, you little twerp!

[notthekingpin]

[matt listens to the sound of her running behind her, and then the twip of her webshooters. he has no idea what they are, but he knows he doesn't want to get caught by them. he dodges all of them, weaving between the webs from the sound alone. it's simple - like dodging shuriken.

(file under: skills a child should not have.)]

Stop following me!

[is he gonna climb out a window? yeah, totally.]

[youretheworst]

[ Jeez, okay, that's...... that's definitely more than what a blind kid who was trained by ninjas should be able to do. Dodging her web-shooters?? People who can see can't usually do that. ]

Heck no! I'm not letting you out of my sight, kid!

[ She follows him, reaching out to try and grab his leg. She has so many questions, but those are best saved for Murdock later. Maybe?? God, if she thinks too hard about it she won't be able to chase him out the window. ]

[notthekingpin]

[the second her hand is on him he's pulled a knife out of his cane. the one he has as an adult is a little more exciting than the one he's used to, but he'd already figured out all the weapons in it well before she got here. he's got the knife up to her neck as she closes her hand around him but he doesn't try and cut her.

yet.]

Let go.

[he's not kidding he really will stab her]

[youretheworst]

[ Jesus christ, no spider-sense could save her from this, apparently. It figures of course, it never works when she needs it to and only seems to scream at her when she's already neck-deep in trouble.

Man, but who'd've thought mini Murdock would pull a knife on her? ]

Yikes, okay, okay... [ She pulls her hand away and raises both of hers in surrender. This is embarrassing, being held at knifepoint by a kid... ]

Man, you weren't kidding around when you said you went to ninja school. How are you even doing this right now, aren't you blind?

[notthekingpin]

[well if she'd been from one issue later she'd know matt pulled a sword on poor miles so you know

after she lets go, he stands, backing away from her a few paces to regain his personal space. at least he's got the upperhand here.]

I thought you said you know me.

[youretheworst]

[ Alas, the power of continuity. ]

I said we worked together. It's not like we're friends.

[ Gwen crosses her arms. They are definitely not friends. ]