Jump 185: Spider-Man - Into The Spider-Verse

Jump 185: Spider-Man - Into The Spider-Verse

Age: 23
Identity: Drop-In
Drawbacks: [+300] Crime Spree

[300/1300]  Amazing Spider-Jumper
[Free]      Stylistic Decisions
[600/1300]  Reluctant Teacher
[700/1300]  Take The Shot
[800/1300]  Costume Import
[1200/1300] Alchemax
[1300/1300] Thank God It's Jumper's

Oh look, it's another crossover event. This is getting to the point of silliness, to be terribly honest. So many Spider-Men (and variations) in a single place, all about to do something incredibly stupid.

Time to derail it. Hard. By stomping on a certain Miguel's narration at a crucial moment, while showing a montage of important moments.

"...inspector Singh's death was a canon event. You weren't supposed to be there, and you weren't supposed to save him-"

"Yeah but, hey, I can't help but notice," I interject.

He aims a glare at me. "I'm trying to explain. Do you mind?"

"Not at all!" I grin, pulling off my mask as he scowls. My features flicker between a few different forms, lingering on a jolly old elf for a long moment, before snapping to that of an gray-bearded Peter Parker. "See, the problem is you're seeing fragments of an infinite multiverse and ascribing meaning where it doesn't belong."

He falters, briefly, as my features flicker again. Then narrows his eyes. "That dimension is unraveling, and that's what happens when you break the canon-"

I pinch the bridge of my nose, features briefly shifting to that of a familiar an older man wearing glasses. Miles has fallen back, watching the dialog between us, sensing that something isn't right. "Sticking to a single canon, that's just lazy writing. Do you think one more day is going to make a difference? Timelines exist in flux, they pop in and out of existence constantly, that doesn't matter. You know what matters? Someone doing their best to help others," I tell him.

Miguel is more wary of me, now. His stance shifts, getting ready for what he sees as an inevitable conflict. He explains what happened when he took the place of a version of himself. Miles briefly interrupts, realizing his father is about to become a police captain, slated for death at the Spot's hands.

Miguel concludes with, "Being Spider-Man is a sacrifice. That's the job. That's what you signed up for."

I snap, before anyone else can interrupt, "You, my friend, are full of it. Being Spider-Man is not a sacrifice, it's a responsibility - run, Miles - because what made us who we are came with great power! We have a great responsibility to use that power - Miles, run - and when you ask us not to save someone, you may as well be asking us, hey, why don't you let Norman Osborn take over your body, because honestly I could see Doc Oc becoming a superior Spider-Man if he took the driver's seat but Norman is literally the worst human being I've met in five universes so far and MILES WHY AREN'T YOU RUNNING?"

He got the hint not long after, and... well, a chase ensued. A running battle. I didn't have much of a role after that, other than fading into the background until late in the hour, after things have been resolved. After Gwen finds out that her father didn't die in the first place, meaning it wasn't a canon event. After Miles beat seven different kinds of crap out of the Spot.

And, in the end, I gently explained to Miguel what an Incursion was. Explained to him how the Multiverse is structured, and the eroding effect of dark matter - one of the quick-and-dirty ways to permit multiverse travel without tapping into magic. Explained that I wasn't just one Spider-Man. I was many, living many lives.

After everything having gone as crazy as it was, he actually listened.

And in the end, I clapped him on the shoulder. "There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. Don't blame yourself for what happened, Miguel - and don't try to tell me you don't, because I saw it in your eyes, heard it in your voice. Blaming ourselves, more than anything else, is what we do. But you became afraid. Don't let that happen. Don't let that rule you. Fuck canon, and fuck the writers."

I turned to leave, and then stopped, addressing him one last time. "But do me one small favor. If you see Paul... grab Deadpool so you can figure out where the hell he's getting his plot armor, would you? Fuck Paul. All my homies hate Paul."

He opened his mouth to question, but I fell backward into a sudden portal and disappeared instead of elaborating.

Because Miguel is kind of an ass too.