#specifically midtown tech

[brekitten]

The Therapist

There's a new therapist at school.

Normally this wouldn't really bother Peter at all, since he's never gone to see a shrink in his life and doesn't ever plan on it, but there's something... off about this woman.

She seems unassuming enough at first glance. Red hair, green eyes, bright red lipstick. But there is something in her eyes, something that Peter can only describe as a predator looking at its next prey, when she looks around the school at all of the teenagers milling about. Heck, even the way she walks makes her seem as if she is a predator stalking her prey.

It could always be some kind of power move, Peter reasons. He's met people like that before, who try to intimidate everyone around them into thinking that they are superior, that they are the apex predator and anyone who dares to cross them would pay for it dearly.

But his Spidey Sense went crazy around her.

He tries to brush it off as paranoia. He'd pulled an all-nighter last night in the lab with Tony because neither of them had been able to sleep, and he hadn't been sleeping well even before that. (Funny, how it had all started the night after he first bumped into the new therapist in the halls.) So his Spidey Sense is probably out of wack because he's tired. Simple as that.

But it seems like everyone in the school is depressed. Even Ned, who can't even muster up the energy and enthusiasm to talk about Legos or Star Wars or even the weather. It worries Peter.

Because it all started when that therapist came to the school.

He can't ignore it forever, he knows that. There is only so long his Spidey Sense can tell him that she is danger danger danger before he finally listens. He has to do something to help everyone.

So he researches.

And he falls into the rabbit hole of ghosts and ectoplasm and secret government organizations and the little, unassuming town of Amity Park, Illinois.

He doesn't sleep that night.

When he comes to school the next morning, Dr. Penelope Spectra looks him dead in the eyes, and smiles.

[logansgaar]

the way mcu Peter is the one existing in the least financially stable position out of the three we've had yet is the one who gets called middle class and an insult to Spider-Man's origins the most is baffling to me

yes, he's technologically more privileged than the other Peters having been given access to the suits and connections he has, but that isn't because he's wealthy or middle class, it's because of grooming. the tech he has is a by-product of child exploitation. and that then led him to being further exploited by others afterwards. hardly a fair trade off.

(And as for Midtown High, Peter's a scholarship student and an exemplary student at that, needing scholarships and grants is literally how Tony gets his literal and proverbial foot in the door with him.)

All three live action Peters have ties to some incredibly rich men, but one has a significant and important contextual difference I've seen ignored constantly:

Raimi's Peter and TASM Peter were both childhood friends with a boy their own age in authentically and organically formed relationships, formed before either Peter acquired their powers. Both Harrys were peers to the Peters, despite the wealth gap, and the Harrys don't make the Peters feel lesser for not having the same resources or living situation. It wasn't smooth sailing and there were issues that arose due to that gap, but at their core, the Peters and the Harrys were friends without ulterior motives. This is also the case with many other versions of Peter and Harry.

MCU Peter at 14 was specifically targeted and exploited by a 46-year-old man who'd been stalking him (justify it however you like, the fact Tony had been aware of Peter as Spider-Man and did digging to find out who he was and where he lived. He'd been watching Peter for up to six months... that's a form of stalking).

He had no prior relationship with Tony outside of childhood hero worship for Iron Man. Tony Stark is one of the most powerful men on Earth, financially, socially, academically and politically speaking, as well as militaristically as Iron Man, and Peter is a child who got powers six months ago wearing swimming goggles and a hooded sweater. Already, all of this creates several power dynamics that aren't to Peter's benefit.

Tony locks him in the room with him after entering his home under false pretenses and offers him gifts/bribes him after rifling through Peter's belongings mocking and making Peter feel small for what he did have. Tony had ulterior motives for seeking Peter out that, no matter how you spin it, are child exploitation. He turned Tony down, we never see Peter willingly agree, yet Tony didn't take no for an answer and used blackmail to get him to fight for him without telling Peter anything, particularly scary since he had Peter fighting against his own human rights as a genetically enhanced person. All he told Peter was that Steve had "gone crazy" for not wanting enhanced people to... say, have to wear 24/7 identification and monitoring trackers. Wild.

And despite admiring Tony who's given him all these things, he's frequently disobeying Tony. He and Tony have contradictory ethics. Their morals are at odds, they're constantly shown disagreeing on how to handle situations because Peter is far more like Steve Rogers than he has ever been like Tony (something we also see between how Peter handles Norman, under the control of another entity to kill May, and how Tony handled Bucky, also under the control of another entity to kill Maria.)

Peter might be into tech and a genius, but that's where his likeness to Tony ends. It's people like Happy around him who try to make him fit into the box of a Tony mini-me (ex. in FFH, we're shown Peter through Happy's grieving eyes as this, and then through the use of the music and the camera frame shifting solely to Peter, we see that it's a false legacy Happy's invented in his grief. Peter has a completely disinterested reaction to the music, even though he claims to "love" it and gets the artist wrong. This isn't a reach, it's symbolism, used to convey complex themes without having to spell it out.)

It can even be argued that Peter failed to clue into Quentin Beck because Beck treated him exactly the same way Tony did, which we're shown was on purpose once Beck drops the act and we learn he personally knew Tony and how he behaved. Peter has been constantly exploited, not just by Tony but also by "Fury"/Skrull Fury and SHIELD, since the age of 14. None of Peter's peers are in the superhero/spy world and he was never given the chance to properly talk to any of Earth's other heroes, just Tony, so he has no point of reference to know what is and isn't acceptable dealings in superheroism. Every single time he's been recruited, it's been with lies and manipulation. Victims of abuse, of any kind, are 4x more likely to go through it again as they go through life and that only goes up if they were under 16 at the time of first instance.

Anyway, I'm just really tired of seeing important context about MCU Peter ignored. No one seems to realise that they're not calling out proof that MCU Peter is lazy for using this advanced tech or living in a billionaire's back pocket, they're highlighting the symptoms and direct results of child exploitation.

[moongirlwidow]

Hey, I’m Vera Heladottir-Banner. Professionally, Vespera Volkov. i know it sounds fancy and I think it’s mildly absurd. Just call me Vera

I was born in Romania, I’m eighteen years old. I’ve been out of the Red Room after fifteen years — I had passed my graduation test, I was meant to undergo the forced sterilization graduation ceremony ten minutes after Natalia and Yelena crashed into the academy. I was already on the bed and everything

So, long story short, I moved to New York and was hidden in Stark Tower by James, Yelena and Natalia. I became a vigilante, then an avenger, known as the Winter Widow. I started dating MJ, then Peter. I’m dating them both. I got two cats, later two dogs

I retired from Avenging and Vigilante work after almost dying in a HYDRA hostage situation where I underwent temporary memory loss. I’m tired as shit. I’m trying to learn to be normal but that’s leaned more into… the tech-y side of work, handling vigilante work that doesn’t involve as much combat, especially because now I still walk with a cane around half the time

I’m also not as close with my siblings these days, specifically Nat, Bucky and Yelena.hard to be close with the dead, especially because they aren’t in my mother’s realm. They died in battle to save me.

They’re in Valhalla

Red Room File || Timeline Explanation

My family

Mother — @goddessof-death

Father — @imnothulk

Partners — @midtown-braincell-holder @definitelynot-peterp4rker

Uncle — @verygoodlawyer

Nephew/son — @ducktamer415

Brother - @redroom-peterparker

Blog Rules:

— No nsfw stuff

— no racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, anti-semitism, Zionism, etc etc

- stand with Palestine & Ukraine

— mod -- @over-bi-the-wayside

// = OOC

[under0-0s]

Stark Tower, 200 Park Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, NYC-United States. 18/01/2025 23:47 P.M (listen to the music for an improved reading experience) _____________________________

___________________________________

The workshop had become a crime scene reconstruction in all but name. Scattered across the tables were the remnants of Shade’s deadly masterpieces: a scorched circuit board from a hacked drone, fragments of a synthetic neural net burned beyond recognition, and glass vials containing nanobot residue extracted from a victim’s bloodstream. Tony Stark moved through the room like a ghost, his normally sharp wit replaced by a cold, calculated focus.

The holographic wall before him was alive with data. Crime scene photos floated beside CAD schematics of devices used in the killings. Heatmaps and timestamps were overlaid with surveillance feeds, all connected by glowing blue threads that shifted and updated as new information came in.

J.A.R.V.I.S.’s voice echoed in the silence. “Sir, I’ve processed the autopsy report for Dr. Mercer. The cause of death was mechanical asphyxiation. The drone utilized a custom grappling mechanism to—” Tony cut him off, waving his hand to expand the drone’s design schematics. “I know how it killed her, J.A.R.V.I.S. What I need to know is why that drone could bypass her own security protocols. She built those herself.”

The drone in question was splayed out on one of the workbenches, its outer shell removed to expose its circuitry. Tony picked up a magnifying glass, inspecting the board’s solder points. His gaze sharpened when he noticed something out of place.

“These connections... they’ve been modified,” he muttered. “This wasn’t an after-market hack. This was done during assembly.”

He pulled up a hologram of the drone’s manufacturing log. The drone was supposed to be a prototype, not for public use, and every component was supposed to be accounted for. Yet here it was, implicated in a murder. “J.A.R.V.I.S., cross-reference this serial number with the manufacturer’s inventory. Find out if there are other drones like this one that went missing.”

Seconds later, J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. “Sir, the serial number does not appear in the manufacturer’s official logs. It’s as if this drone was fabricated off the record.” Tony’s jaw tightened. “An inside job, then. Someone got access to their assembly lines.”

He turned back to the holographic wall and zoomed in on another piece of evidence: the melted remains of a server rack from Dr. Aaron Fielding’s lab. The servers had been rigged to overload, sending a lethal electrical discharge through the room. Tony had already reconstructed the event digitally, watching the moment the surge fried Fielding’s security systems before turning on the man himself.

“Run the analysis on the discharge pattern again,” Tony ordered. The hologram shifted, displaying a 3D model of the event. Tiny markers appeared, showing the flow of electricity. Tony stared at the pattern, something about it gnawing at him. “That’s... too controlled,” he muttered. “It’s like they designed the overload to target Fielding specifically, not just the equipment.”

He zoomed in further, focusing on the microscopic residue left behind on the server casing. The forensic team had flagged it as an exotic alloy—rare, expensive, and used primarily in military applications.

“What kind of murderer has access to this level of tech?” Tony mused aloud. “J.A.R.V.I.S., find out who’s been buying this alloy in bulk over the last five years.”

As the AI processed the request, Tony moved to another table, this one holding fragments of a nanobot casing. These were pulled from the bloodstream of Dr. Claire Xu. The nanobots had been designed for precise medical interventions, but someone had reprogrammed them to trigger a fatal chain reaction in her cells.

“Their programming wasn’t overwritten,” Tony said, studying the microscopic etchings on the fragments. “It was replaced entirely. That takes time. And skill.”

He projected a holographic reconstruction of the nanobots’ behavior. They had been introduced into Dr. Xu’s system through an innocuous-looking vial—a fake supplement she’d likely consumed without a second thought. Tony watched the simulation of the bots activating, spreading like wildfire through her body.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., any progress on tracing the origin of those nanobots?”“Yes, sir. The nanobots were part of a limited-run batch produced for clinical trials. The batch was reported stolen six months ago.”

Tony frowned, cross-referencing the theft report with Shade’s timeline. The stolen nanobots lined up perfectly with Xu’s murder, but something still didn’t fit. “Why wait six months to use them?” he muttered. “Shade’s deliberate, but they’re not sloppy. What were they doing with the nanobots all that time?”

He pulled up Shade’s message left at the latest crime scene:

“You build, and you break. I break, and I build. The cycle ends with me.”

Tony read the words over and over, trying to decipher the intent. Shade wasn’t just killing—they were making a point. But what?

His gaze shifted to the holographic timeline of the murders. Each victim had been taken out with precision, their deaths tied to their own inventions. But as he looked closer, he noticed another pattern: a two-week gap between each killing, almost to the hour.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., is there a significance to this timing? Why two weeks?”“Analyzing, sir.”

As Tony waited, his mind raced. He thought about the clues—custom drones, stolen nanobots, hacked systems. Each piece of tech had been turned against its creator, but there was something bigger at play. Shade wasn’t just showing off their skill; they were proving a point.

“Sir,” J.A.R.V.I.S. interrupted, “I’ve found a connection. Each victim’s death coincided with the release of a major research paper or patent application in their field.”

Tony’s eyes widened. “They’re not just killing people. They’re trying to kill progress.”

He stood, staring at the wall, piecing it all together. Shade wasn’t some rogue hacker or deranged killer—they were a strategist, dismantling innovation one step at a time. The murders weren’t random; they were part of a larger plan.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., we need to predict their next move,” Tony said, his voice sharp. “Cross-reference every active patent application, research paper, and tech conference scheduled in the next two weeks. Focus on anything tied to AI, robotics, or advanced materials.”

As the AI began its search, Tony turned back to the evidence. Shade had left him a trail, but this wasn’t just a game—it was a war. And if Shade thought they could outsmart Tony Stark, they were about to learn how wrong they were.

Tony Stark's mind whirred with thoughts like a well-oiled machine, but even he could feel the tension of the moment—a case this intricate was like untangling the wires of a self-destructive bomb, with each step taken possibly leading him closer to an irreversible detonation. He leaned back in his chair, staring at the now massive, sprawling map on the holographic wall in front of him, a map not just of the crime scenes, but of an intricate web of people, companies, and criminal syndicates—each thread interconnected in ways too complex to be a simple coincidence.

Shade was not just a hacker, not just a killer. This was a war, one fought in the shadows, with every move calculated to perfection. Tony knew his usual methods of detection and decryption wouldn’t be enough this time. This wasn’t just about finding evidence; it was about understanding the unseen forces at play, the motivations behind the murders, the deeper conspiracy woven throughout. And that meant thinking like a criminal mastermind—a tech-savvy one with a vendetta, but one who also understood the delicate balance between chaos and control.

He took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving the wall, his mind shifting gears like an engineer meticulously aligning each component of a machine. The pieces clicked into place.

The Murders It had all started with Dr. Mercer. The shock of her death had shaken the tech community, but it was her life's work that had gotten her killed. A leading authority on quantum encryption, she had cracked a code so advanced that it could revolutionize cyber defense—if it was allowed to see the light of day. Tony had dissected the murder forensics already. The drone that had killed her had been expertly hacked, bypassing her most sophisticated security measures. The killer hadn’t just known the technical specifications of her system, they had also understood how her mind worked. Her work was more than just encryption—it was a puzzle, a reflection of her genius. But someone had gone a step further, using it as a tool to erase her from history, as if she never existed.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., pull up Dr. Mercer’s last few communications. Focus on her encrypted files,” Tony murmured. “Something in there will connect the dots.”

“Pulling them up now, sir,” J.A.R.V.I.S. replied, displaying Dr. Mercer’s encrypted communication logs. As Tony skimmed through them, he noted an unusual pattern. Every file had been accessed remotely, but each access came from a different geographical location. Tony’s mind pieced the puzzle together, and a sudden realization hit him like a jolt of electricity.

"Remote access, multiple locations, but there's a constant pattern of activity—a single entity coordinating these accesses." He stood up, tapping a holographic map of the world. "Whoever this is, they’ve been tracking Mercer’s work long before the murder. They’ve been waiting for the perfect moment."

"Indeed, sir. I’ve also found a link between the IP addresses used in accessing Dr. Mercer’s files and a high-profile contract between Vanguard Industries and Armstrong International," J.A.R.V.I.S. reported.

Tony’s fingers flew over the table. “That’s it. These companies weren’t just competitors—they were the perfect stage for a larger operation. This wasn’t about killing Dr. Mercer—it was about controlling the innovation. Whoever Shade is, they’ve been manipulating the entire landscape of tech research for years. And this was their first public strike.”

The Pattern of the Murders Tony stared at the timeline of the other victims: Dr. Aaron Fielding, Dr. Claire Xu, and several others. Each had their unique contributions to tech, and each had their own invention turned into a weapon of destruction. But Tony was looking for something more—something that connected the victims beyond their brilliance.

He narrowed his focus on the gap between the murders: two weeks, almost exactly, between each death. Each killing tied to the release of a groundbreaking research paper or the unveiling of a major tech breakthrough. It was no coincidence. Shade wasn’t just killing inventors. They were controlling the release of the most significant discoveries in tech history, manipulating the very pace of progress.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., cross-reference the dates of each murder with major tech conferences and patent applications. I want to know if these deaths coincide with the unveiling of anything big."

The AI complied, and a moment later, a surprising result appeared: Each murder had been perfectly timed to coincide with the release of a major patent or announcement from a different tech giant. Not just any patents, though—these were patents for projects on the brink of reshaping the future. Quantum computing, artificial intelligence, neuroprosthetics. But there was something else—each of the patents had involved either Vanguard or Armstrong in some capacity.

"These companies aren’t just on the periphery," Tony muttered, deep in thought. "They're at the core of every major breakthrough. And Shade is systematically eliminating the minds behind them. They’re controlling the flow of the future, and their weapon of choice is murder."

The True Enemy Tony leaned in, zooming in on one specific name that had been recurring across all his investigations: Orion Ventures. This shell company had provided the resources, funding, and materials for both Vanguard and Armstrong. Tony had suspected that something was off about them, but now the truth was becoming clearer: Orion Ventures was acting as the intermediary between the legitimate tech world and the underground criminal syndicates, like Legion. Legion wasn’t just an arms dealer network—it was a resource broker for black-market tech, and their reach extended far deeper than Tony had initially thought.

"J.A.R.V.I.S., trace the financials of Orion Ventures. See who’s been pulling the strings behind it," Tony ordered.

Moments later, J.A.R.V.I.S. displayed the intricate financial web. A series of shell corporations led back to an individual with a surprisingly low profile: Rafael Sorrentino. The name was a whisper in the corridors of both the criminal underworld and the highest echelons of tech—part entrepreneur, part mercenary, Sorrentino had a reputation for being able to make problems disappear. He was the perfect figure to orchestrate this covert war on innovation.

Tony smirked, leaning back. "So this isn’t just some rogue killer, is it? It’s a carefully orchestrated conspiracy, a tech war waged by a criminal mastermind with a network of corrupt corporations and mafia connections. Shade is just a pawn in the game."

But Tony wasn’t done yet. There was still something off about the way the murders had unfolded—something that didn’t add up.

“J.A.R.V.I.S., analyze the nanobot data again. I’ve been thinking…” Tony murmured as he stared at the data on Dr. Claire Xu’s death. “The bots weren’t just designed for a lethal purpose. They were programmed to replicate and adapt. This kind of technology doesn’t just exist on the black market, it’s the product of cutting-edge medical research—research that comes from labs like Fielding’s, Mercer’s, and Xu’s.”

"Indeed, sir," J.A.R.V.I.S. replied. "The nanobots found in Dr. Xu’s bloodstream were derived from a patented technology created by Vanguard Industries, but the modification was done with an advanced understanding of bioengineering. The code used to reprogram them could only have come from one source: Rafael Sorrentino himself."

Tony’s eyes widened. "Sorrentino’s the one who's been engineering these tech deaths. He’s been pulling the strings all along. Shade’s not the endgame. Sorrentino’s the one orchestrating the tech murder syndicate, using his pawns to eliminate the tech world’s best and brightest."

Tony stood up, pacing back and forth. "Sorrentino wants to control the flow of technology, not just steal it. He’s eliminating the minds who could stand in his way. But there's one thing he’s underestimated: me."

_____________________________________

To be continued....

_____________________________________

[midtownhonda007]

2025 Honda Civic Si Vs 2024 Honda Civic Si

The Honda Civic Si has long been celebrated for its blend of style, technology and performance. As Honda transitions from the 2024 to 2025 model, Honda presents several upgrades to enhance the driving experience and aims to provide and improve comfort, drivability, and overall user experience. This clear and comprehensive comparison will assist you in knowing which model aligns the best with your needs and preferences.

2024 Honda Civic Si

The 2024 Honda Civic Si offers a driver-centric and performance-focused cabin, giving a sporty yet comfortable experience; the black and rear SI sport seats provide lateral support and keep you firmly placed during spirited driving.

The leather-wrapped steering wheel, 10.2-inch fully digital TFT driver meter, and aluminium-trimmed sport pedals all together contribute to the aesthetic ambience of the interiors. For added convenience and comfort, the heated rear and front seats allow passengers to stay warm during unbearable winters. Thoughtful touches such as soft-touch material and ambient lighting give the interiors a premium touch and feel.

2025 Honda Civic Si

Manufactured upon the firm foundation of the previous model, the 2025 Honda Civic Si maintains its high-tech interior design and sporty exteriors while introducing some new features for a more seamless experience and connected driving experience. One of the most noted upgrades in the new 2025 model is the navigation of Google Built-In, allowing for enhanced connectivity and access to media, navigation and other applications. This feature makes it easier than ever to stay connected on the go. Also, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, the 2025 model includes additional USB-C ports in the first row to ensure fast charging and better device compatibility.

The 2025 model brings 12-speaker BOSE® Premium speakers and a powerful subwoofer to ensure every beat and note is clear. Sports seats with contrast stitching and driver-oriented layout remain unchanged. All the new features and the carry-forward from 2024 make this new model a top choice for drivers.

2024 Honda Civic Si Performance

The 2024 Honda Civic Si is equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, delivering 200 horsepower and 192 lb-ft of torque. This powerplant is mated to a 6-speed manual transmission with rev-match control, providing a hands-on driving experience. The model features a helical limited-slip differential, enhancing an individual strut front, which is manufactured to improve stability.

The Drive-By-Wire Throttle System™ optimises throttle response by assessing specific driving data such as coolant temperature, road speed, engine rpm and responsive acceleration. 2024 is the perfect blend of performance, drivability and appearance.

2025 Honda Civic Si Performance

The 2025 model continues to give an amazing experience to the passengers powered by a 1.5 litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that produces up to 200 horsepower and 192 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is combined with an exclusive short-throw 6-speed manual transmission featuring rev-match control, ensuring smooth gear shifts.

There are more enhancements in the 2025 model, including increased body rigidity, achieved through rear door sill supports and a new lower B-pillar. The Rev-matching system now includes downshifts from 2nd to 1st gear, providing smoother transitions. Drivers can modify their experience with the Drive Mode System.

Contact Us

Explore the Honda Civic Si 2024 and 2025 models at Midtown Honda today! Whether you are seeking detailed information on review and pricing for the Honda Civic Si for sale or need a test drive, our expert team members are available to assist you at each step. Visit our authorised and trusted Honda dealership near me to get first-hand experience with innovative models. Contact experts at Midtown Honda today!

FAQs

Q: What are the key differences between the 2025 Honda Civic Si and the 2024 Honda Civic Si?

A: The 2024 and 2025 Honda Civics share similar design elements; the 2025 model introduces major changes in exterior design, such as a new headlight design and a refreshed bumper. The nose now features expansive, angled headlights topped by an LED bar. The grille is more minimalistic, and the bumper includes a bold, black element with gills on the sides.

Q: What are the performance upgrades in the 2025 Honda Civic Si compared to the 2024 model?

A: The 2025 Honda Civic Si has a 1.5-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine that generates up to 200 horsepower and up to 192 lb.-ft. Of torque, which is an improvement from the 2024 model. The 2025 Civic Si also has a six-speed manual transmission that sends power to the front wheels.

Q: What is the expected price range for the 2025 Honda Civic Si?

A: The expected price range of the 2025 Honda Civic Si is $39,066.0, including $2,966.00 for Freight, PDI and Fees (including up to $1,000.00 for Dealer Fees.)

Q: Are there any changes in the available trims or options for the 2025 Honda Civic Si?

A: No multiple Honda Civic Si trim options are available, Just one, in fact- and the performance remains the same no matter how you configure it.

Q: What are the available colour options for the 2025 Honda Civic Si?

A: There are different colour options available with 2025 Honda Civic Si:

Modern Steel Metallic with black or grey interior. Alabaster Silver Metallic has a black or grey interior. Urban Titanium Metallic with beige interior. Taffeta White with beige interior. White Orchid Pearl with black or beige interior. Crystal Black Pearl with black or grey interior. Crimson Pearl with beige interior.

Q: Where can I find a Honda dealership near me to test drive or purchase the 2025 Honda Civic Si?

A: You can find a Midtown Honda, one of the authorised Honda dealerships near me, to get information on a test drive or even purchase a 2025 Honda Civic Si.

[roshmedia]

Navigating the Move: What Detroit Residents Should Know About Local Moving Companies

 Moving in Detroit presents unique challenges and opportunities that reflect the city's ongoing renaissance. From historic neighborhoods like Indian Village to revitalized areas like Midtown and Corktown, each relocation within Motor City requires careful planning and the right moving partner. For Detroit residents preparing to change addresses, understanding the local moving landscape can make the difference between a smooth transition and a stressful ordeal.

The Detroit Moving Company Landscape

Detroit's moving industry mirrors the city itself—a blend of established legacy companies that weathered the city's economic challenges and newer enterprises emerging alongside Detroit's revitalization. This diversity offers residents options across price points and service levels.

Legacy movers like Palmer Moving & Storage and Corrigan Moving Systems bring decades of experience navigating Detroit's distinctive neighborhoods, from the narrow streets of Boston-Edison to the high-rise apartments downtown. Meanwhile, newer companies like Motor City Movers and Detroit Modern Movers often compete with competitive pricing and tech-forward approaches to booking and tracking.

The city's variable economic conditions have unfortunately created space for less reputable operators as well. "We've seen an increase in reports about movers who provide lowball estimates and then hold belongings hostage until customers pay significantly higher amounts," notes Melissa Howard from the Better Business Bureau of Detroit. This makes due diligence particularly important for local residents.

Licensing and Insurance Considerations

Michigan law requires all moving companies to register with the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). For moves within Detroit or elsewhere in Michigan, movers must maintain proper intrastate authority. Companies handling moves across state lines need federal registration with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Detroit residents should verify a mover's LARA registration and request proof of insurance before signing contracts. Legitimate movers will carry liability insurance, worker's compensation, and cargo protection. Given Detroit's older housing stock with narrow staircases and architectural features in neighborhoods like Palmer Woods or Sherwood Forest, confirming adequate insurance coverage becomes especially important.

"Many Detroit homes have irreplaceable architectural elements," explains Thomas Jefferson, an insurance specialist focused on the moving industry. "Making sure your mover has both liability coverage and expertise handling historic properties can prevent costly damages to your old or new residence."

Detroit-Specific Moving Challenges

Detroit's complex urban landscape presents distinct moving challenges that residents should discuss with potential movers before booking:

Parking restrictions: In densely populated areas like Midtown or downtown, securing parking for moving trucks can be difficult. Professional movers familiar with Detroit will know how to obtain temporary parking permits when necessary.

Security concerns: While Detroit's crime rates have improved, security during the moving process remains a valid consideration. Reputable companies employ vetted staff and maintain secure protocols for overnight storage if needed.

Seasonal considerations: Detroit's harsh winters bring snow and ice that can complicate moves from December through March. Summer months bring humidity that can affect wooden furniture and certain belongings. The most experienced local movers adjust their techniques accordingly.

Housing variety: From high-rise condos in Lafayette Park to sprawling homes in Rosedale Park, Detroit's diverse housing types require different moving approaches. Companies with specific experience in your housing type can navigate challenges more effectively.

Cost Factors in Detroit Moves

Moving costs in Detroit typically run 10-20% lower than the national average, reflecting the city's lower cost of living. However, prices vary significantly based on service level, distance, and timing.

Basic local moves within Detroit typically range from $300-$600 for a one-bedroom apartment to $1,000-$2,500 for larger homes. Full-service options including packing and unpacking services can double these amounts.

Several Detroit-specific factors can affect pricing:

Bridge and tunnel considerations: Moves that involve crossing into Windsor via the Ambassador Bridge or Detroit-Windsor Tunnel incur additional fees and require movers with international experience.

Downtown access fees: Some downtown buildings charge access fees for moving companies or require certificate of insurance verification that may add to your total cost.

Neighborhood accessibility: Certain historic districts with narrow streets or limited access may require specialized equipment or approaches that affect pricing.

Vetting Your Detroit Mover

Beyond basic licensing verification, Detroit residents should take additional steps to evaluate potential moving companies:

Check local reputation: Resources like Detroit-specific Reddit communities, neighborhood Facebook groups, and local review sites often provide candid feedback about moving experiences specific to Detroit areas.

Verify physical location: Legitimate Detroit movers maintain physical facilities in or near the city, not just virtual offices. Visit their location if possible.

Request Detroit-specific references: Ask for references from customers who moved in your specific neighborhood or similar housing type.

Understand valuation coverage: Michigan law requires movers to offer basic valuation coverage, but this minimal protection ($0.60 per pound per article) rarely covers the actual value of damaged items. Detroit residents should consider purchasing full-value protection, especially for valuable possessions.

Planning Timeline for Detroit Moves

The optimal timeline for securing moving services varies seasonally in Detroit:

Summer moves (peak season): Book 6-8 weeks in advance, as May through September sees highest demand, particularly around Wayne State University's academic calendar.

Fall and spring moves: Schedule 4-6 weeks ahead, with flexibility increasing after Labor Day or before Memorial Day.

Winter moves: While requiring weather contingency plans, winter moves often offer the best availability and rates, sometimes bookable just 2-3 weeks ahead.

Detroit's revitalization has brought increased moving activity across the city as new residents arrive and established Detroiters relocate within the changing urban landscape. By understanding the local moving company environment, verifying credentials, addressing Detroit-specific challenges, and planning appropriately, residents can ensure their next move contributes positively to their Detroit story rather than becoming a cautionary tale.

[walkerwon]

The Ascent of Digital Marketing in Nashville and San Diego!

In the current digital first period, organizations increasingly go to specific marketing offices to strengthen their web-based presence and associate with interest groups. Nashville, Tennessee, and San Diego, California, are developing centers of digital marketing excellence. The two urban areas boast flourishing marketing ventures custom-made to the different requirements of organizations in their respective locales.

The Best Services of Digital Marketing Company Nashville

Over the last ten years, Nashville's business scene has differentiated, offering everything from medical services and land to new tech companies and independent ventures. In addition, interest in digital promotion organizations has soared. Digital marketing company Nashville frequently underscores imagination, mirroring the city's creative roots. They have some expertise in administrations like website improvement (Web optimization), virtual entertainment advertising, and content creation. By utilizing the city's rich pool of creative ability, Nashville organizations succeed in building brands that hang out in serious business sectors.

One distinctive component of Nashville-based marketing organizations is their emphasis on neighborhood and provincial commitment. They comprehend the significance of narrating and social pertinence in showcasing, guaranteeing efforts reverberate with the nearby crowd. For instance, whether it's making virtual entertainment buzz for another café opening midtown or creating digital promotions for a neighborhood medical care supplier, Nashville office like Websites That Elevates knows how to take advantage of the city's novel soul.

The Power of San Diego marketing companies

San Diego, known for its radiant sea shores, dynamic culture, and proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border, has secured itself as a center for development and business development. The city is home to a blend of enterprises, including biotech, the travel industry, specialty lager, and innovation, which provides more than adequate opportunities for organizations to flourish. San Diego marketing companies take care of organizations and ensure that everything is equal, from arising new companies to lay out endeavors. These organizations offer an extensive scope of administrations; for example,

The design of San Diego organizations is their essential approach to consolidating imagination with information-driven experiences. They design campaigns that convey quantifiable outcomes by examining client behavior and market patterns. San Diego promotes organizations that emphasize joint efforts. These organizations frequently work intimately with clients to comprehend their objectives, guaranteeing that their efforts align with the brand's voice and vision.

Why Pick a San Diego Marketing Agency?

Whether your business is in Nashville, San Diego, or elsewhere, picking a marketing office in these urban communities can offer particular benefits. The two cities are home to offices with profound industry skills, solid, inventive capacities, and a talent for conveying custom-made arrangements. San Diego marketing agency profoundly comprehends their nearby business sectors, which empowers them to organize crusades that resonate with territorial crowds.

Imaginative Greatness: Nashville and San Diego advertising organizations succeed in mixing inventiveness with procedure, guaranteeing organizations hang out in jam-packed markets. From digital marketing and Website design enhancement to online entertainment and content creation, offices in these urban areas give start-to-finish advertising arrangements. The way to fruitful digital advertising lies in picking the correct accomplice.

Conclusion

The digital marketing scenes in Nashville and San Diego offer many chances for organizations hoping to raise their web-based presence. Nashville's imaginative local area-centered approach makes its offices ideal for organizations seeking genuine connections with crusades. In the interim, San Diego's creative soul and vital ability guarantee state-of-the-art marketing arrangements. By joining forces with a first-rate organization in one or another city, organizations can open new degrees of development and outcomes in the present cutthroat commercial center.

[midtown-apartments]

Convenience at Home

Having a full-size washer and dryer in your apartment makes life so much easier. No more trips to the laundromat or waiting for machines. At Haven at Midtown, you’ll enjoy the comfort of doing laundry right at home. Along with this convenient feature, these apartments also come with granite countertops and a custom tile backsplash, adding style and functionality to your living space. Whether you’re in a studio, one, or two-bedroom apartment, you’ll appreciate these high-end touches. For anyone looking for apartments in Phoenix, Haven at Midtown offers the perfect combination of modern amenities and ease of living, making it the ideal place to settle.

The Economy of Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix’s economy is growing, and you can see it in the number of jobs popping up across the city. Tech companies are moving in, and that’s creating a lot of opportunities for people with different skill sets, especially in IT and engineering. It’s not all about tech, though. You’ll also find a strong healthcare sector here, thanks to big hospitals and medical centers. The construction industry is booming, too, with all the new buildings going up. Living in Phoenix, you might notice a mix of established companies and startups, giving it a lively, energetic feel. Tourism is also huge, with people visiting year-round, which adds to the city’s economic health. If you’re job hunting, Phoenix can be a good place to look.

Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona

The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix is a fun place to explore, whether you’re a music lover or just curious about different cultures. You’ll find instruments from all over the world, each with its own story and background. One cool feature is the headphones you get when you walk in—they sync up automatically as you move around, letting you hear music from the specific instruments on display. There’s everything from ancient drums and flutes to modern electric guitars. Kids and adults alike enjoy the Experience Gallery, where you can play some of the instruments yourself. It’s a laid-back, interactive place that gives you a new appreciation for music from every corner of the globe.

Arizona Flight Passenger Goes Viral After Leaving Unmarked Powdery Substance in Luggage, TSA Inspects Her Bags

Anna McKay from Phoenix learned a valuable lesson about air travel when her bag got flagged by TSA. After landing at her destination, she found an inspection tag inside her luggage, along with a note from TSA. When she checked her bag, everything seemed normal—until she got to a bag of fiber powder that looked like it had been rummaged through. McKay quickly realized that the powder, which she’d packed for her trip in a clear bag, might have raised some suspicions with security. Though the fiber wasn’t a banned substance, TSA had to inspect it just to be sure. McKay laughed it off as a silly mistake, and even ended up getting free packets of Benefiber after sharing her experience on TikTok.

Link to map

Musical Instrument Museum 4725 E Mayo Blvd, Phoenix, AZ 85050, United States Get on AZ-101 Loop W from E Mayo Blvd and N Tatum Blvd 3 min (1.0 mi) Take AZ-51 S to E Indian School Rd. Take exit 3 from AZ-51 S 13 min (14.1 mi) Continue on E Indian School Rd. Drive to N 3rd Ave 6 min (2.2 mi) Haven at Midtown 222 W Clarendon Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013, United States

[theha1rarch]

comfort dash game!

comfort food(s) : chinese food, pizza, any type of sweets but especially cake-like stuff, whales, pringles

comfort drink(s) : pepsi, dr. pepper, sparkling ice water (like the brand sparkling ice), decaf coffee

comfort movie(s) : both now you see me films, tangled, up, the wizard of oz, luca, the mamma mia films, so many more

comfort show(s) : friends, gravity falls, modern family, girl meets world, shameless, again so many more

comfort clothing : either of my steve shirts, any of my jatp shirts/clothing, my mcu spidey hoodie - modeled after the midtown tech yellow jackets, my folklore cardigan even if i've hardly gotten wear it yet

comfort song(s) : literally anything in taylor swift's discography but specifically any of my top five - blank space, all too well tmv, cruel summer, yoyok & peter. same could be said for both olivia rodrigo & sabrina carpenter, for the most part. i'm still standing by elton john

comfort book(s) : my sister's keeper by jodi picoult

comfort game(s) : super mario galaxy & any mario kart, the original donkey kong countries, most pokemon games - but specifically the og pokemon pearl

tagged by : both @patchedstars & @autopsified tagging : @anxietytold, @melodyplucked, @inspotlight, @tcrnadcwarnings, @childrenofslumber, @hellsfavor, @churchfoundling & anyone else who wants to do it!

[knebelblacktown]

Building Permits for Kitchen Renovations Near Me

If you’re planning a major structural kitchen renovation, like changing the layout or opening the kitchen to other rooms, you may need a building permit. This is the type of project that can involve tearing down walls (potentially load-bearing), moving gas and plumbing lines, and rewiring electrical.

Before the sledgehammers hit, prepare by making space for a temporary kitchen. That means storing food in the garage and setting aside money for pizza, take-out and other budget-friendly options.

Cabinets

A cabinet is a piece of furniture with shelves or drawers for storage. It can be built into a wall or freestanding. Cabinets may be painted or stained. They can also be covered in a high-pressure decorative laminate, like Wilsonart or Formica.

Many cabinets are made from wood or a wood derivative, such as MDF, plywood or particle board. The interior of the cabinet box can then be finished with a solid-finish paint or a veneer.

When choosing cabinets, consider the shape of your kitchen renovations near me and how you will use it. Consider the work triangle – how close the sink, oven and refrigerator are to each other – and how they might be situated in your space. Also, think about your budget. If you’re working within a strict budget, a professional remodeler can advise on ways to minimize costs without compromising the end result.

Countertops

Many homeowners have different ideas about what their new kitchen countertops should look like. Some are interested in natural stones, while others prefer more traditional or modern materials. Whatever you choose, the remodeler should ensure that your countertops are durable enough for your household’s needs.

One of the most common kitchen counter materials is laminate, which comes in a variety of colors and patterns and has a smooth surface that can be sealed to resist bacteria. However, laminate is prone to dents and scratches, so you might want to consider a more resilient option.

Stainless steel is the countertop material of choice in professional kitchens. It’s heatresistant and easy to keep clean. It also has a crisp, contemporary aesthetic that complements any design. Stainless steel counters can be fabricated to your specifications.

Appliances

Appliances account for 15% of a kitchen’s remodel costs and include dishwashers, refrigerators, ovens, and associated ventilation components. Replacing these appliances gives homeowners the opportunity to upgrade their models to match modern kitchen trends and improve a kitchen’s functionality. Consider energyefficient models, which reduce utility costs and environmental footprints.

When shopping for new appliances, research available features to help narrow your choices. For example, high-tech ovens and ranges often feature larger time and temperature displays that allow for easy reading and adjustment.

A full remodel changes the layout of a kitchen by dropping walls, moving plumbing lines and upgrading electrical wiring. These projects require professional design and construction services from a licensed general contractor partner.

Flooring

Flooring is any surface that lays on, is glued to, or is nailed or screwed to the subfloor of a room. It can include carpet, hardwood, vinyl, ceramic tile, and any other material that covers a subfloor.

The team at Klein Kitchen and Bath renovates kitchens based on design ideas and client goals. Their showrooms in Midtown East and the Upper East Side offer curated collections of high-end appliances, fixtures, natural stone and man-made countertops.

Paula McDonald is known for her elegant and understated interior remodels, and her firm’s projects have appeared in New York Cottages & Gardens and Dering Hall. She specializes in l-shape and galley kitchen renovations for Manhattan condominiums and historic brownstones. She works with clients to create a design that suits their lifestyle and meets city building regulations.

Lighting

Lighting is far more than lumens and watts. It’s about illuminating spaces in ways that support their functionality and enhance aesthetics.

Kitchen renovation cost must have a firm grasp of lighting principles to create an effective design. They must also be able to guide owners through the process of selecting fixtures that meet their needs and budget.

If homeowners aren’t ready for a full remodel, many contractors offer cabinet refacing. This option provides a fresh new look and saves on cost. It’s also ecofriendly and more durable than traditional wood cabinets.

[thefangirltreehouse]

spider-man two, thoughts (spoilers below).

this is literally just spit-balling

harry as venom isn't a plot i hate. the way insomniac likes to craft their stories primarily around the emotional baggage of established relationships that peter (and miles) has. fighting for and against your terminally ill best friend with pretty bleak execution results is far more interesting to me than fighting a character who's no more than a missable footnote in the original game. harry as venom isn't something i'm gunning for in the comics but it works for insomniac.

i'm so glad that insomniac really leaned into peter and mj's dynamic and it was nice to see her as more than just the doting girlfriend.

i mean, darin de paul is just a national treasure. in what world does the man that plays ardyn izunia play triple-j.

speaking of final fantasy xv, king regis you bitch! how dare you stab peter. i cannot believe we have two caelum's in one spider-man game.

i'm so happy they integrated hailey into the main supporting cast (also playable?!) but when did she find out about miles?

mj i get, but i feel peter moved on far too quickly from the fact he nearly killed his girlfriend. and on that note, literally just stands and watches the scream transformation. i know they're trying to keep it together considering peter's experience with the symbiote but like, i would've been pissed at harry.

rio and miles dancing at the gala was the most adorable thing. (especially as someone who grew up with a single-mum).

they literally don't explain how venom gets his name

"show them your manhood!" / "yes sir - wait, what?!"

young peter's look just confirms disney / marvel wanted the face change to represent the mcu because that is literally tom holland's face.

i actually didn't think yuri's performance could get any better, it did especially once peter has the symbiote off.

the music during the venom fight with peter at midtown is incredible.

i obviously knew he wasn't going to die but i legit cried when pete got stabbed.

i understand insomniac really want you to use the symbiote suit but peter's lower-level unlocked suits are low-key hot garbage. even as someone who doesn't mind the militarized, tech suits the choices were so mid. i didn't get the suit i really wanted until after i bet the story. i ended up using the raimi suit which i never used in the original game as i don't like that suit but it was the only normal looking suit that wasn't native to insomniac as i don't like their peter suits.

miles' were better but a lot of them seemed to blend together. his endgame suit is actually my favourite (but with the red, purple and blue ombre lining - which i'm annoyed i couldn't even use the swatch in the finale).

had quite a handful of restarts and crashes in 23hrs play-time.

kinda wish we could've seen young!mj with peter and harry.

miles telling harry that he doesn't care if he's peter's best friend, he's still going to kick his ass was great.

i feel like the plot beats for this game overall were kinda predictable in that kraven was the early game bad guy, pete gets the symbiote suit from harry, harry takes it back and becomes venom all with the end result of norman being pissed at spider-man(s) for harry's probably bad outcome. that said, i genuinely have no guesses for structure of the next one and i doubt they're going to make harry a 'villain' again.

i don't think they'll use carnage in dlc, especially when yuri said it might take "years" to track him down, but i also don't know if he'll be enough for the finale as it might - at least gameplay and conceptually - feel like a venom rehash.

this just me on a tangent so feel free to skip. based on what i said, as someone not super familiar with carnage outside of specific media, the problem i have with him in relation to venom is the same problem i have with 'the batman who laughs' it makes the former feel less threating in direct comparison (which will happen when you cut to carnage after immediately having venom as a main antagonist one game prior), especially when venom is brock rather than peter as the host, because there's internal conflict with peter (which can be argued with tbwl's to some extent). carnage, in basic terms is bat-shit venom with zero redeeming qualities and i worry that for a medium like this he will feel derivative. the joker and the venom shouldn't feel less dangerous, especially now that it feels like venom has taken on anti-hero and carnage has become what venom was. like what happened in cruella. disney tried to make cruella likable, so emma stone basically played 'disney: harley quinn' and emma thompson played cruella.

this is oddly specific but i feel laura bailey is like the only woman in gaming that goes for the scream. and i always watch these games (cyberpunk in particular) and i'm like "girl scream, let out that guttural scream because i know that's exactly what's i'd be doing in that situation because this shit is terrifying." the only other time i've properly seen it done was also by laura bailey when she played fetch.

i actually don't know if we'll get another in-between game because i feel like the "play as miles'" itch has been scratched. meaning there's no need to fill that void as until his spin-off we couldn't play as him, now we can.

but if we do, could potentially see a silk, miles team-up to take down carnage.

mj's stealth missions are terrifying. her section under the tunnel with peter should’ve been longer

gutted there's no ng+ yet.

my bisexual queen is thriving.

getting the spider-bots was really the only fun thing to collect.

we’ll probably see gwen in the next game.

the sheer amount of detail on felicia's face

i can’t not hear wally in any of jason spisak’s roles.

“i don’t know what it is, but i just love this spider-bot.” - peter (about the spider-girl spider-bot)

vulture, electro and shocker really didn’t need to be killed completely off-screen. but i feel like they might’ve lost their rating if they weren’t. it’s just a bit strange that nobody noticed, especially pete that multiple high-profile raft inmates went missing?

people are being weird as fuck about cindy and peter. the girl is clearly a minor.

i booted up the first game to replay it, yeah. i still don’t like peter’s new face.

felt like there was half an act missing. could’ve done with one more agent venom mission, perhaps they can’t save vulture or electro. kinda felt like they needed a ‘he really is taking them out one by one.’

could’ve done with venom’s arc being a little longer.

miles’ arc was incredible and i loved watching him team-up with mj.

the black suit with the blue and red highlights from the nineties cartoon?!

speaking of, mj’s outfit during the zoo mission is also a call back

reed richards is defo getting a cameo in the next game and maybe tony on a phone call. i’d also love a nudge-nudge side-quest for deadpool.

i know it’s an emotional scene but i spat out my drink when i saw they changed the pic of harry from the old game to his new design in peter’s garage.

“i think we should get them” the line delivery on that is immaculate, like thank you captain obvious.

i’ve had a bit to linger on this but, there’s a bit of a disconnect between harry wanting the suit and getting it back. i think there had to be just a bit more push with peter specifically. i get he’s a nice guy but we needed to see a bit more passive aggressive harry brewing in the desperation for the symbiote.

watching a playthrough i realised venom got his name from oscorp / dr. connors as there’s a container with the name “vnm” when peter turns connors human again.

i don't want a venom spin-off and it feels like the only people who do want it is to take venom for an hour's joy-ride (until the gimmick wears off) or eddie brock stans that feel jilted by insomniac. i'd much rather get straight to the finale because i don't want to have to buy a playstation six just because some randomers want an eddie simulator first.

chameleon is absolutely going to be dlc.

how did mj get her motorbike back from the tunnel?

predictions for the next game:

electro isn't dead, primarily due to the fact that max may have became pure energy to escape kraven.

cindy, miles and black cat team-up mission.

may is hinted at towards the end of the game.

madame webb is getting something.

if carnage is in the third game and not two's dlc, he'll be the opening act villain (pseudo-kraven).

they'll tease hobgoblin - harry or not. (i could genuinely see harry becoming hobgoblin to help take down otto and green goblin, if it's norman).

peter might die, but i doubt it.

if harry dies, it'll be half-way through the game. i will actually kill myself tho.

i low-key want spot to be in the game or dlc but i don't think they'll do that purely because of spider-verse but you can tell a lot of insomniac grew-up on the nineties show, so it might be a possibility. (most of my knowledge for spider lore exists in that show and the various film franchises because the only spider comics i own is one 'noir' trade and a handful of 'the superior foes of spider-man'.)

i mean, they also could have miles go after spot, which could be fun.

HOLY FUCK! WAIT! HARRY AS GREEN GOBLIN COULD BE AN HOMAGE ARC TO MARY JANE IN LIMBO BUT EVEN MORE ANGSTY CAUSE THAT SERUM IS DEFO GONNA MAKE HARRY PSYCHO - I ACTUALLY NEED TO SEE IT BECAUSE THAT EPISODE IS LITERALLY ONE OF MY CORE MEMORIES.

the delivery of “i think we should get him” is immaculate

someone mentioned this on tvtropes, but stark industries bankrolling f.e.a.s.t is not a bad idea.

fisk will probably be back in side mission capacity or dlc.

[poipoipoi-2016]

So uh.... killing yourself for Elon

Or anyone really. But specifically Elon.

My bonafides:

2 dead coworkers, of whom I remember one name. This is a point of deep personal shame.

$2 Million and counting in medical bills

On good days, feeling in 8 out of 10 fingers

5 surgeries (defined as "Something they knocked me out for") and I bet that number goes up

Is working yourself to the bone something worth doing?

Oh yeah. You'd better understand for what though and you'd better have hard red lines. But go get that bag.

Career growth

Learning

$$$$$$$$

You understand what you're doing and what you're giving up? GOOOOOO.

You'd also better understand what your marathon pace is and what your sprint pace is and what that takes out of you before you can go back to marathon pace. Even now, if you need me to pull an all-nighter, I'm good until 3PM the next day, but that night I'm probably going to bed around 5PM and sleeping "until I'm no longer tired" which sometimes means noon.

Specifically, my marathon pace (defined as >= "I have to do laundry and my fridge is empty") is:

8 hours of sleep

A shower

1 cooked meal a day with some protein in

A walk around the block

Clean clothing

4 doctor's appointments a year by default because I need contacts, dental, and a physical.

I have a couple of prescriptions. I need to make it to CVS before they close or I stop breathing.

SOME ability to take deliveries and stuff. Or at least get to Fedex during the hours of Fedex to grab things they're holding for me.

I see the sun at least once a week after the first month

All the things that are needed to make that happen.

My sprint mode is sacrificing some or all of that, but also notice I said sprint. Usain Bolt is very very fast for 9.58 seconds. And then you pay for that.

(Is this prison? Well, I mean, you can't leave prison. And prison doesn't pay $200K/year, albeit a $200K/year where $90K is taxes and $60K is rent and the remaining $50K is going into a Cost of Living where rent is $60K or rent-controlled. But I mean yes, most of you would take that deal on the money side)

Is Twitter a good bag by the standards of tech or San Francisco?

No.

You can absolutely slide up or down the payscale vs. WLB vs. 'Having to live in the Bay Area and pay Bay Area rents" sliders, but right now, Twitter is sort of pants on all of the above and also pants on the career growth, vision, and ability to drive great products people ask of you at more senior levels. Some really good experience that I use later in my career is desperate pivoting, but you can't get a job off of that; The result is extremely awkward interviews.

And what's the upside? There's no check, there's no growth, there's no equity...

Even at a startup, there's a shot at a $10 Million check and just brilliant career growth because you get to build everything. Or if you're done taking risks, you can move to Ohio and make 80-90% of your salary in OHIO from a whole entire house. Or you can move jobs and not work 105 hours/week.

Some really good experience that I use later in my career is desperate pivoting, but you can't get a job off of that; The result is extremely awkward interviews.

Also, I'm pretty sure working at Twitter on those salaries would kill you. We'll get to this.

If you're in an office, you can't be parallel processing

Laundry is simultaneously 3 hours and 25 minutes. Because it's 5 minutes every 45 minutes for 3 hours. If I'm HOME, I can do laundry. If I'm in an office, the laundry machine isn't running.

You will turn money into time

In NYC, there is a helicopter service from Hudson Yards to the airport. This is totally worth it to the sort of person who works in Midtown. Because you turn $200 into an hour.

This is your mindset now.

Amazon is awesome because it means you don't have to travel to a whole entire store. Stuff just shows up and you spend 2 minutes running upstairs to get packages off the front porch.

BUT this means you'd better make enough money that you can convert large fractions of the median American income into time.

Or on the corporate level, the point of the corporate cafe is that you don't HAVE TO go the grocery store because there's a bacon tray full of bacon and now you don't have to buy and cook bacon. Which is why I think getting rid of the corporate cafes is dumb.

Don't move to SFBA for $250K, it's unironically not enough money, but also you really cannot do this specific thing

Maybe if you're 20 and have no life or kids and can do the roommate thing.

12 hours a day isn't 12 hours

Specifically, I hated the San Francisco Bay Area because I had a 90-minute one-way commute. 12 hours is FIFTEEN hours and if you need 8 hours of sleep....

Normally, you wouldn't need that sort of commute.... except it's SFBA. Twitter doesn't pay enough to NOT have that sort of commute. See above about Money into Time and understand that Twitter doesn't pay you enough to turn Money into enough Time. Because San Francisco is so wildly expensive.

2. SF doesn't support the 24-hour lifestyle like NYC does

15 hours is a lot, but also it's 15 specific hours. And there's a decent chance your nearby CVS isn't open when you're home. Or Safeway.

But in NYC, everything is open 24 hours; It's so so ridiculously awesome. You'll feel the pricing more than you'll feel it in SF in many cases, but allergy meds that keep me alive are priceless. And for the specific laundry case, there's a drop-off/pick-up service. So you can absolutely be in the office with a laundry machine running.

As a bonus, there's lovely relatively safe gentrifying neighborhoods within a 45 minute commute of Midtown and Downtown where you make a million bucks a year in finance and can really get serious about this Money -> Time thing.

The right way of doing 12 hour days is actually really awesome

So the way I usually do this is called "Core Hours".

And what this means is that I, a bit of a night owl, work for a PST-based startup from EST and every meeting I have is between noon and 5 EST. Or sometimes, I share a team with Europe and all my meetings are before noon, that's also an option.

So if I have to run errands, I run errands. Or if I was up until 4AM, I sleep until noon (And if we're doing the Europe thing, I don't work until 4AM).

And I'll give you 12 hours, but I, within a certain pretty broad degree of reason, get to pick which hours they are.

In Summary: Twitter will literally fucking kill you. For zero upside.

So right now, Elon has effectively created a world where:

You work 15 hour days

Firefighting

Which are 15 hard-coded specific hours. And they're not even off hours, the nice part about starting a 12-hour day at 4AM is that every store in the world is open at 4PM.

With effectively no PTO ever, even at holidays because that's not "hardcore"

From an office in the most expensive city in the world with some of the longest commutes in the world.

Which is also a city (or at least metro) without much in the way of 24-hour pharmacies or grocery stores

With a terrible package theft problem so you can't even do delivery. to try to deal with those problems.

Do you begin to understand my problems here? Do you understand why when I tried to do this, I went into full-on ICU psychosis after a couple of years?

You're skipping sleep, food, water, mental health...

And not even for a good bag! For a bunch of reasons, I don't want a union, but this is why people make unions people!

[waspenned]

atomic • peter parker (18+)

it's not like you actually think peter parker is stupid, you just know he likes it when you call him names • 2k

warnings: NSFW MINORS DO NOT INTERACT !!! sexual content, sub!college!pete, that beautiful balance of degradation and praise, a splash of mirror kink, pete recieving oral, gender non-specific reader !!!! light choking

now playing: atomic by sleeper

a/n: this is my first foray into smut to please forgive me for the cringefest ur about to attend anyway sub Peter rights and anyone with any genitalia can read this because I believe in smut 4 all !!!! this is also dedicated to @subspider for the masterpiece, my pillar, my bible, wolf-teeth. title inspired by atomic by blondie but specifically the sleeper version bc its hornier. im still taking requests and now have a taglist to join if you'd like to be told when I upload fic :)

slow and steady, his hand inches towards you like a spider, trekking the hills and dales of his striped note sheets before resting beside yours; his index finger scratching at your knuckle. there’s a long moment of silence between you as he scratches away, before he eventually evolves to poking.

“hey bestie.” he prods, like you haven’t already made it obvious you’re ignoring him. usually, studying with peter isn’t an entire pain in the ass, but he seems to be hellbent on distracting you today, jostling you with his shoulder and bumping you with his knee. any other time, you would have been happy to play along - it wasn’t like you were above doodling on his paper when he was distracted - but nothing was fun with the threat of midterms hanging over your heads.

outside, the pigeons coo and rustle in the nest near his dorm room window, the general hustle and bustle of campus droning away three stories beneath you. the two of you are poring over study notes at his desk, buried under reams of worksheets and notes and hand-outs, and when you look up at him he’s got that sappy look on his face, like you can take the pain of schoolwork away. if only.

“i’m studying, bestie.”

“i’m bored.”

“good for you.

“my brain hurts.” he’s whinging now, scratching and scratching at you, a feather-light touch, until you drop the biro from your lips and look at him, unimpressed. peter is pouting at you, his bottom lip set into a jut, feigning a tremble. “what?”

“we have midterms, pete.”

“it’ll be fine!”

“yeah, you’ll be fine. we’re not all midtown tech prodigies.” you stick your tongue out at him, and his face crumples for real now, his eyebrows furrowing into an unhappy knot. “what is it?”

“don’t say that. you’re really smart - smarter than me.” it’s a blatant lie - it’s not like you’re an idiot, but only one of you manufactures spider-web technology and takes down supervillains in between classes, and it’s certainly not you. you can see what he’s trying to do from a mile away, his head cocked keen like a flower turned to the sunlight, but you don’t have time for what you know he wants. instead, you roll your eyes at him, but it only seems to goad him on.

“shut up.”

“you are!”

“i’m not doing this right now, pete.” he’s playing dumb as usual, but he can’t stifle the smile that tugs at his mouth, breaking into a sheepish grin. you should have anticipated it really, he always gets like this around exam season; you’re not really sure what it is, but you suppose the expectations get to him. he spends most of his time stressing over his grades, and his aunt, and whether or not manhattan will be intact when he wakes up, that you guess he just enjoys a little simplicity - for someone else to be in charge for once.

it started off as simple sex last year, nothing complicated, just as a stress reliever and a wind-down to a long day of studying. ‘simple sex’ quickly snowballed into something else after you’d accidentally lost your balance while riding him, your hand slipping to his throat to catch yourself. it had wrenched a groan from peter that was so embarrassingly loud, he had to hide in the bathroom for ten minutes, stewing in shame until you coaxed him out again. now, you were at a stage where he enjoyed the embarrassment of it, sought it out. it made sense really; he spent all day having to be so smart and responsible, that all he wanted when he saw you was to switch his brain off and be treated like an idiot. he spends most of the run-up to exams as putty in your hands, and usually, you’re perfectly happy to take the pressure off of him; it’s just that you’ve now got an entire semester’s worth of material to study, and not a lot of time to actually study it.

“doing what?” scratch scratch scratch. you’re quickly fed up with it, your hand snapping and suddenly his wrist is locked into your grasp, pinned against one of his hardback textbooks with a light thud. the room falls into a lull, the november gale dropping to a whisper and stilling the planetrees outside. some wild glint is sparked in his eyes like a flint - you’re both the steel and the tinder, igniting and fuelling it.

“peter.”

“please.” the lilt in his voice seems to seal the deal, every atom in his body thrumming at the cadence of you, ringing like a tuning fork. he’s got that look again, the one he knows melts you, and something gets you by the throat. not peter, no, but perhaps the situation of it all.

ah, fuck it. he needs it. you need it.

in an instant, you're both up on the desk and you’re pushing him across the cool surface, your arm on his chest forcing him down, down, until he’s pressed to his notes on metaphysics. he’s absolutely delighted, a breath tugging itself from his lungs in an ecstatic huff.

“is this it? is this what you’re so desperate for?”

“i don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“don’t be so fucking stupid, parker.” he fidgets under your lap, eyes blown wide and dark, hands grasping reflexively at your thighs, using them as leverage to rasp his hips into yours. you rise up on your haunches, denying him the sensation, and he whines, his voice small, a low and gentle murmur.

“say it again. please.”

“don’t beg, it’s pathetic.” his back arches with your tone, his nails skimming your skin. peter is settling into this character far too well, leaning into your touch as you grasp his jaw, mouth lolling open. you adjust your grip, pressing your palm to his cheek and forcing his head to the side, sinking him into his ruffled chemistry notes. his face is turned to face the mirror on the wall parallel, but he’s just looking at you, legs scrambling on the oakwood in search of purchase - his hips canting up, up, up.

“stop moving.” there’s a small whine, the crack of a whip in his throat, and he freezes. your fingers crawl, moving, wrapping, holding a grip around his throat, pinning him in place - peter is thrilled at the sheer force of it, gasping. “look at you. there’s nothing in that pretty little head, is there?”

there's an attempt made to nod his head, but your hold on him tightens at the movement, a breath hanging in the air, his adam’s apple bobbing beneath the heel of your hand. his flesh is warm and pliable beneath you, but the hair he hasn’t had a chance to shave yet scrapes against your palm as he flexes his jaw. the way he’s staring at himself is almost criminal, lips parted as the flush on his face spreads like fire to his neck and ears - burning your fingertips.

“harder.” peter whispers, and you squeeze, his body curling up, straining, strung taut. his hand reaches for you, tracing the pad of a trembling finger over the slope of your cheek, outstretched like michelangelo’s adam. “harder, pleasepleaseplease.”

“jesus christ.” you breathe out, watching a smirk tug at his mouth, head thrown back as he watches you in the mirror. his hair spills into the stacks of your notebooks, splayed out, a chestnut halo. dropping your hips, he jolts like something’s shocked him, grinding up and into you with a groan. he’s hard and hot against your thigh, the weight of him caught between you and the plane of his stomach, your hand sliding up his throat into the dip where his neck meets his jaw, tipping his head back. between gasps and semi-desperate rutting, he still has time for sarcasm.

“my name is peter.”

“shut up.” you want to tighten your grip, to punish him, but he’d probably like that. instead, you indulge him, working the stress and tension out of him like a knot, shifting down his body until the drawstring of his sweatpants is in your sights. they’re shucked down his hips as he lifts them for you, releasing him from the confines of cotton and polyester, swelling against his happy trail. there’s no hand on his neck anymore, but he stays where you put him, willing and obeying with every fibre of his being. as he turns his head, you see an smudged equation printed in blue across his cheek, pressed there by freshly-written ink.

“you wanna ask nicely for me, or did you forget how?” you ask, and he keens at you, shifting under your weight, desperate, until you pin his hips still, thumbs stamping bruises into the peach-soft skin in the dips of his pelvis. you want something akin to devouring him, digging in your teeth, sinking in your nails, tasting him on your tongue like syrup and grenadine. “come on, show me there’s a brain in there, sweetheart.”

“will you go down on me? please. please.”

“good boy.”

his honeyed gaze is fixed on you through the mirror, watching you as you take him into your mouth, and the gasp that hangs in the air seems to be the only sound in the world; pealing like a church bell from saint patrick’s. it sinks quickly through his chest into a moan, sweetness mixed into the timbre of it, like the bursting of pomegranate seeds from hades itself. his chest heaves, rising and falling under his university hoodie, sweat beading at his temples. hair falls over his forehead as he tenses, shoulders curling in on himself, brows furrowing. your tongue slides over him, drinking up what beads at the tip as if it were ambrosia, and the sounds he produces are nothing short of illegal. you feel every vein and ridge of him, the plush slit at the tip, the petal-soft velvet of his skin.

“love you.” peter huffs, head lolling back and exposing his rosied neck, stumbling over his words. his hands flutter over you, moths to the flame, before settling into your hair, pushing it from your face and exposing it to the plane of the mirror. you watch each other in its surface, his eyes starried and captivated by your ministrations, like narcissus in the pond. “so hot."

you leave him with a pop, spit slick, and smile at the acme of him, your lips brushing the taut skin at the underside.

“is that all you can manage?”

“while you’re doing tha- that-” you’re moving again, his speech juddering to a stop, a moan stuttering out of him. he curses once, then again, hands fisting in your hair as you increase in speed, tongue flat against him.

“fuck, i- 'm gonna-!” he cuts himself off with a hitch of his breath, hands pulling his practice chemistry exams into tense fistfuls. your response is a low hum, your mouth full - ‘already?’

it’s only when his come pools in the fold of your tongue like oyster pearls, strings of your name falling from his lips like a rosary, that you realise he’s sprawled over all of your test notes, crumpling them. you swallow him down, and he falls back, spent.

“if you’ve ruined any of my notes, parker, i’m blaming you for my grade.”

“you can blame me for anything you want if it means you do that to me.”

“no,” you muse, swiping your thumb at the corner of your mouth, and then his cheek, marring the ink into a blue stripe. his nose is smushed against the wood, eyes closed in bliss as he stretches out like a cat that got the cream. “that’s only for when you’re being annoying.”

[tommyparkerr]

Bad Timing | Peter Parker x Reader

It’s been awhile. I missed y’all. Life update: I’m now obsessed with Andrew Garfield (again), but who isn’t. I may or may not write specifically for his Peter Parker in the future. I have ideas.

Warnings: Cheating, a tiny bit of violence

Words: 7.2k

-Masterlist-

B A D  T I M I N G :

“I don’t care! They’re my friends, Brad. What do you expect me to do?”

There were better places to fight than in the Midtown Tech parking lot. You were sure more than one person was listening in.

Brad rolled his eyes. “Stop hanging out with them!”

“You’re serious?” you laughed, shaking your head in disbelief. “I’m not choosing between you and them, Brad. And if you think for a second that I would choose you over them, you’re sorely mistaken. So you might as well get used to them being in my life.”

You turned and walked away before either of you could say something you’d regret. On your way into Midtown, you tried your best to cool off and ignore the dozens of eyes following you. Still angry but feeling less heated, you walked to the hall where you knew your friends would be.

MJ was the only one there. One of her brows popped up as you rather forcefully ripped open your locker. 

“So” she said, dragging out the ’o’, “wanna tell me what that show was all about?”

“You didn’t stick around and listen in?”

MJ scoffed. “You know I love spying, but not on my friends’ relationships. If there’s something wrong, they can tell me themselves. Plus, I have better things to do.”

“Fair enough,” you reply, relieved she hadn’t heard the argument like everyone else. 

“So?” she prompted. “What happened?”

You signed, shutting your locker. “Nothing happened. It was just a fight over something stupid. Where are Pete and Ned?”

MJ picked up on your hurried change of subject, but she was merciful enough to let you get away with it. 

“They’re in class already. They didn’t hear it either, by the way.”

You breathed a little sigh of relief with that additional news. A small, genuine smile made its way onto your face. “Those two boys are the nosiest people I know. How’d you manage that?”

MJ smirked, shrugging. “Don’t worry about it.”

You laughed and started walking to class, MJ by your side. “Well, however you did it, thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.”

XxX

To your surprise, neither Ned or Peter had asked any questions regarding Brad or your rather public fight this morning. You wondered if that had something to do with MJ as well. 

Brad hadn’t spoken to you all morning, but you could say the same. You’d decided on the silent treatment until he bucked up and apologized. Until then, acknowledgement didn’t seem too pressing. Not even at lunch when you could feel his eyes on you, silently stewing over your decision to sit with your friends instead of his. Of course, you weren’t the only one to notice—you just hadn’t planned on bringing it up. But MJ couldn’t keep Ned and Peter quiet forever, no matter how terrifying she could be. 

“Uh, Y/N?” Ned asked, very obviously pointing to Brad. “Your boyfriend is staring at us. Or you. Or me. Wait, is he staring at me?”

“Trust me, it’s all of the above,” you snapped, making Ned awkwardly drop his finger and shift around on his seat. Peter looked like he wanted to smile at his friend’s response but was fighting it due to the inappropriate timing. He wasn’t doing a very good job, though, which made the situation slightly more amusing and caused an apology to erupt from your mouth. “It’s not you, Ned. I’m sorry. Brad just needs to get something through his thick skull, and until he does I’m rather ticked.”

“I’ll say,” Peter murmured under his breath, causing Ned to let out a giggle and MJ to kick him under the table. 

“It’s fine, MJ,” you say, waving a hand with a smile on your own face now. You shook your head, going back to stabbing at your lunch. “But I commend you for upholding girl-code.”

“I abide by no such code,” MJ lightly argued, flipping her book open again. 

“Yeah, yeah. Keep telling yourself that, big shot,” you reply, making Peter and Ned chuckle. “Hey, Pete?”

Peter stopped laughing and turned his full attention to you, looking like a deer in headlights. You couldn’t help but laugh. 

“Relax, you’re not in trouble. I just wanted to ask if you’d mind if we made a stop at the library before walking home today. I’ve got some reading material to check out.”

“Oh,” Peter said, still processing your words. When he finally did, he looked slightly relieved and nodded. “Yeah, of course. Sure.”

“Great!” you exclaim, waiting for Peter to take a drink of water. At the perfect moment, you smirked and added, “It’s a date.”

MJ was a wonderful actress, pretending to be furious when Peter’s spit take landed some half-water, half-saliva droplets on her book, but you could see the hidden amusement in her eyes and considered your mission successful. 

XxX

“Really, Parker?” you asked, holding up Biochemistry for Dummies—the book he had chosen to check out. 

“Oh, get it out already. I’m such a nerd, why would I study biochemistry for fun-“

“Actually,” you interrupted, bumping him with your hip as you walked to the front desk, “I was going to ask why you were wasting your time on it. We both know you can recite everything in that book, inside and out. You’re no ‘dummy’ in the subject.”

Peter looked sheepish (and a tad embarrassed if the red on the tips of his ears meant anything), rubbing the back of his neck. “It’s good to go back to the basics every now and then.”

You rolled your eyes with a snort. “Uh, huh.”

When your books were all checked out and put in your bags, you and Peter started your walk home. You didn’t live in the same apartment building, but his just so happened to be within two blocks of yours which made it rather convenient to implement the buddy system. You’d been doing it for years now, ever since junior high. 

Apparently Peter had something on his mind today, as he was pretty quiet other than to give the bare minimum response to anything you said. You were used to it, though; he wasn’t often like this, but whenever he was it meant he was either dealing with a situation at home, at his ‘internship’, with his friends, or sometimes just random strings of thought. It was fine, anyway. His silence gave you more time to think about what had happened with Brad. There wasn’t a whole lot to go over, as you’d had the same fight what had to be four times now, but it still made your blood boil. 

He was going to apologize like he always did. But you had no problem making him sweat until he did. 

“Hey, Y/N? Can I ask you something?”

You blinked a couple times to reacclimate yourself with the outside world, then said, “Of course.”

Peter hesitated. “I overheard a couple of girls talking about you and Brad’s fight this morning. I...I know what it was about.”

You pursed your lips and tucked your thumbs behind your book bag straps, your mood suddenly more sour than before. “That’s not really a question.”

“Y/N, I-“

“Look, Peter,” you sighed, stopping in your tracks to turn and face the brown-eyed boy. “This isn’t the first time we’ve fought about this. He just gets pestered by his friends occasionally about why his girlfriend hangs out with the school losers and falls into peer pressure, and then he drills me for the sake of his friends. He’ll apologize within the week-“

“No, that’s-that’s not what I was going to ask,” Peter said, stopping you. 

You raised an eyebrow. “Then what were you going to ask?”

He sighed, hanging his head. “Maybe he’s right. I mean, you are his girlfriend. Maybe you shouldn’t be hanging out with us so much. Maybe you should sit with him at lunch sometimes, or even ditch us completely. I don’t want to be the reason your relationship is in hot water all the time, and I’m sure MJ and Ned would agree-“

“Peter-“ you tried, more than a little surprised by his disclosure. 

“I guess what I’m asking,” Peter hurried on, getting to his point, “is why do you hang out with us still? Despite your boyfriend and his friends and practically the whole school disapproving?”

You scoff. “Why wouldn’t I?”

Peter blinked, then pointed over his shoulder with his thumb. “Well, I thought I already listed several reasons just a few moments ago, but if you’d like a recap-“

“No, Peter,” you sighed, grabbing his elbow to turn him and resume your leisurely pace. “What I meant was why would I hang out with people who only like me if I’m dating the popular guy? I’d much rather hang out with people who have known and loved me for me since the sixth grade than have fake friends who would ditch me at the drop of a hat.”

“I…” Peter shook his head, looking a bit guilty. “I’m sorry, Y/N. I didn’t mean anything by it. You know I’d hate to lose you, I just didn’t want to be the reason you were unhappy.”

“Au contraire, mon frère,” you say, offering Peter a soft smile. “You’re one of the reasons I am happy. You, and Ned, and MJ. And Aunt May’s date loaf.”

That got an actual smile out of Peter. “You know, you keep saying things like that and she’s going to love you more than me.”

“I hate to break it to you, Parker, but I’m ninety-nine percent sure she already does.”

He laughs, giving you a look you can’t quite place. “I don’t doubt that.”

You finish the remainder of your walk in a comfortable silence, neither of you opening up your mouth again until you reach your apartment building. Peter looked a bit awkward—probably from your heart-to-heart not too long ago—and not sure what to do. So you stepped in, slipping your arms between his back and backpack. 

“You’re the best, Peter,” you murmured as he hugged you back. 

“Yeah,” he said half-heartedly. “I...I try.”

You pulled away with an appreciative smile. “Now, if you ever suggest something as stupid as you did today again, I will hurt you.”

Peter’s lips curled upward and he faux-saluted to you as he walked backward. “Yes ma’am.”

You saluted back with an amused grin, watching him until he disappeared into the crowded New York streets. 

XxX

You were right. It only took a day and a half before Brad came up to you at lunch—with an unimpressed look from MJ, an uncomfortable shuffle from Ned, and the classic eye-contact avoidance from Peter—and apologized quite profusely. You weren’t stupid, though. It took quite a long discussion before you were convinced he wouldn’t pull the same stunt again and that he was being sincere. 

For the most part, he stuck to his word. You never fought about your choice of friends again, but he’d occasionally make a snide comment regarding one of them; it only took one look from you to shut him up. And you were happy. You both were. You’d gone back to your normal routine of his arm around your shoulders, morning greetings at your locker, and Friday date nights. 

Midterms rolled around, and you split your time between studying with your boyfriend and each of your three friends, all of you acing them, and then it was the last football game of the season, and then it was fall break, and then it was the dreaded finals season. You and Brad hadn’t had any major disagreements since your parking lot debacle at the beginning of the year, and he kept quiet for the most part when it came to you spending time with your friends. You had fun, you laughed, you made memories together, and it was good. 

Which was why something had to ruin it. You were Y/N Y/L/N, after all—nothing ever stayed perfect for long. 

It was a wonderful, sunny, Monday morning when the bubble burst. Brad was at your locker like he was every morning, asking you about your weekend and what all you did, but before you could continue the conversation MJ appeared beside you. 

“Hi. Can I talk to you?”

You didn’t have the chance to answer before MJ was dragging you away by your elbow to the girls’ restroom. She did a quick scan of the area, making sure no one was there.

“Why, yes, MJ,” you drawled, “I would love to speak with you.”

Satisfied that the stalls were empty, MJ pulled an ‘Out of Order’ sign from her bag and stuck it to the restroom door. 

“Should I even ask where you got that?”

“It doesn’t matter,” she replied, letting the door fall shut again.

“Then can I ask what all”—you gestured to the room you were in—“this is about?”

MJ took a deep breath. “I need to tell you something, and you aren’t going to like it.”

You gave her a questioning look. “Okay…? What, did someone slash my tires? Smash my bumper? Break a mirror?”

MJ paused, looking confused for once. “You don’t have a car.”

“Indeed I do not,” you said with a mischievous smile. “I just like to make you doubt yourself sometimes. You see, you get this look on your face, like you’re not quite sure whether or not to believe-“

“Brad cheated on you.”

Your face dropped along with your heart. “I...what?”

MJ sighed and ran a hand down her face. “At a party this weekend. I was there because I rather enjoy crashing parties and making rich kids uncomfortable, but apparently Brad didn’t see me. I saw him, though, dancing with and kissing a random blonde chick.”

You shook your head, frowning. “That doesn’t make sense.”

An almost sympathetic look formed on MJ’s face. She even looked a little guilty. “I’m sorry.”

You continued to shake your head, your eyes narrowing. “Why didn’t you tell me right away? You know where I live, you have my phone number-“

“Yeah, well, I was grounded because I missed my curfew and I figured this kind of news would be best delivered face to face.”

Doubt and anger were overtaking you. “Look, I know I cracked and told you and Ned about Brad not liking me hanging out with you, but don't you think this is a little too far?”

“Wait,” MJ said, holding up a hand. “Are you implying that I’m pulling this out of my ass?”

“Way to connect the dots,” you sarcastically praise her. “Maybe now you can even move onto coloring inside the lines!”

MJ didn’t look angry, to your surprise. She simply looked shocked that you didn’t believe her. “Y/N, look, I’m sorry for being so blunt but what I’m telling you is the truth-“

“I have class to go to and a loyal boyfriend waiting for me at lunch. I’ll see you around, MJ,” you said dismissively, not allowing her to get another word in before pushing past her and exiting the restroom, tearing down the ‘Out of Order’ sign as you went. 

XxX

“So…”

You sighed, kicking a pebble on the sidewalk several feet away from you. “So, what?”

Peter took a few moments. “Can I ask why you were sitting with Brad at lunch instead of us and why MJ looked positively murderous?”

“She didn’t tell you?” You laughed, but it wasn’t particularly humorous. “Why does that not surprise me?”

“So…” Peter said again, obviously unsure of where to go from there. You rolled your eyes. 

“We had a…disagreement.”

“I gathered that much.”

“Then why did you ask?” you asked, slightly annoyed. 

“Because you and MJ have never fought ever, so it had to have been something pretty serious to make you both like this…at least, I think?”

A sigh escaped your mouth when you heard the timidity in his voice. You knew how quickly and easily the boy could shut down, and you didn’t want to push him away. “I’m sorry, Pete. I’m not mad at you, I swear. If I were, I wouldn’t be walking home with you.”

“I know,” he said quietly. “I’m sorry for asking. It’s none of my business anyway.”

“No,” you disagreed, “it totally is. You deserve to know.” Peter stayed silent, patiently waiting for the explanation you felt obligated to give him. “Long story short, MJ told me Brad cheated on me at a party this weekend. I told her recently that Brad didn’t like me hanging out with you guys, so she practically despises him anyways, but then she goes and pulls this? I never took her for a liar before, but I guess true colors and all that.”

Peter was frowning, concern in his eyes. “Y/N, are you sure she was-“

“Absolutely.”

“It’s just that I don’t think she’d ever lie about something like that, even if she did hate-“

You glared at him. “Brad would never cheat on me.”

Peter wisely shut up, pressing his lips together in a thin line. He let himself get lost in thought for a few minutes—you could tell by the way his fingers were twitching—before he spoke up again. “Coffee?”

“What?” you replied, blinking a few times. 

He pointed across the street to a little coffee shop. “Wanna go get coffee? We can even do some homework together there. It’ll be good to get your mind on something other than MJ or-or Brad.”

You smiled and let out a soft chuckle. “I don’t deserve you, you know that?”

Peter only offered a small smile in return before grabbing your hand and running across the street with you. When you got into the store, Peter put you in charge of choosing a table and watching your bags while he went to order. He came back with two coffees and a chocolate chip muffin, sliding the muffin to you without a word. You didn’t know if the muffin was a peace offering to get him on your good side or just something to cheer you up, but either way you appreciated it. 

“So, ignoring the whole MJ thing, how was your day?” 

You sat like that for much longer than you probably should have, doing homework, sharing your muffin (at your insistence), and talking about nothing and everything. It was nice having someone to talk to after the day you’d had. You’d never admit it, but you regretted sitting with Brad and his friends. For one, you didn’t feel comfortable around any of them, and two, now that you had you couldn’t go back to your normal lunch table without working things out with MJ. And that most definitely was not going to happen. 

It was a while later when you checked your watch and sighed, starting to pack up your things. “It’s already almost five-thirty. My parents will kill me if I’m not home by six.”

Peter blinked, pulled from his own world of studies, and then began packing up his things as well. “Good call. May would kill me, too.”

You laughed a little. “I’m gonna run to the bathroom real quick. I’ll be right back.”

He nodded, acknowledging you. You headed to the opposite side of the shop where the bathrooms were at and had to wait a good minute before it opened up. After that, you hurried as fast as you could, not wanting either you or Peter to get home late. It was why you practically hit the ground running when you were done and why you didn’t see Peter waiting outside the door until he was pulling you back behind the corner. 

“Peter?” you said, confused as to why he was over here. “Do you need to use the bathroom too?”

You didn’t like the look he had on his face, full of panic and sympathy and anger. He peeked around the corner, staring at something, but when you tried to join him in seeing what he was seeing, he pulled you back again. 

“Peter, what’s going on?” you demanded, trying to get another look into the cafe. 

“I-“ He swallowed, his eyes darting back and forth between various places before settling on you. His shoulders slumped. “Y/N, I’m so sorry.”

You tilted your head in confusion. “Sorry for what?”

Peter bit his lip like he always did when he was nervous, then carefully led you to the edge of the wall and pointed a weak finger close to where you’d been sitting. You immediately understood. 

MJ hadn’t been lying after all. She was right, all the way down to the girl being a blonde. They were holding hands across the table and Brad was kissing her like he kissed you. Your stomach turned.

Before you could think it through, you marched back to yours and Peter’s table and grabbed your bag, Peter frantically scurrying after you. You saw the moment Brad saw you, his eyes widening in realization and shock. 

“What?” you spit. “Didn’t expect to see your girlfriend at the local coffee shop?”

You had to give some credit to the blonde who, upon hearing the word ‘girlfriend’, dropped her jaw and pulled her hand from Brad’s. She was just another unknowing player in his game, apparently.

“How many, huh?” you asked, your blood boiling. “How many girls in the past six months? Two? Five? Twenty?”

The blonde made a disbelieving noise and got up from her chair. “My mom was right. Men are pigs.” With that, she quickly left the shop—much to Brad’s dismay, though he clearly tried to hide it. 

“You know what?” you said, following the other girl’s timely exit. “Never mind. I think it goes without saying, but we’re done. This little ‘game’ is over.”

Brad stumbled out of his chair as you started making your way toward the exit as well. “Wait, Y/N—it’s not what it looks like!”

“Oh, really?” you challenged, spinning on your heel to get a good look at him. You knew the entire cafe’s eyes were on you, but you couldn’t care less at the moment. “Then, do tell, what should I be seeing?”

Obviously not prepared to answer that question, Brad stumbled over his words like a bumbling idiot. 

“You know,” you said, taking one step closer and narrowing your eyes at your now ex-boyfriend, “MJ told me you cheated on me at a party this weekend. I didn’t believe her. I told her my boyfriend was loyal. I believed in you, Brad.” You shook your head, trying to keep your voice from shaking as you spoke your next words. “That’s the worst part.”

You had to admit, he played the part of the guilty ex really well. If you hadn’t known better, you might have actually believed the tears in his eyes were real. 

“Goodbye, Brad.”

With Peter still right alongside you, you turned to walk away again only to be stopped by Brad‘s grip on your forearm. 

“Wait, Y/N-“

You shook your arm, trying to get him off. “Give it up, Brad!”

“I’m sorry.”

You scoffed. “You’re only sorry because you got caught. Now let me go!”

Brad’s eyes hardened and his hand visibly and painfully tightened on your wrist. “Don’t you dare walk away-“

Suddenly the grip on you was broken and a fist was crashing into Brad’s face, causing a mix of gasps and cheers to ensue throughout the cafe. 

“Don't you ever touch her again,” Peter said, his voice like steel and his face tinged red with anger.

Brad groaned, holding his cheek. “I think you broke my jaw!” he whined. 

You rolled your eyes, knowing if it was broken then he wouldn’t be able to speak. Peter may have had superhuman strength, and he may have had stronger reactions than most to certain situations, but you also knew he wasn’t stupid enough to unleash his full strength on him—not for someone as pathetic as Brad. 

“Yeah?” Peter said, angrier than you’ve ever seen him. “If only I could break your heart the way you just shattered hers. Maybe then you’d feel a single ounce of the pain she does.”

You pulled your arm into your side, simply watching the scene in front of you unfold while your heart beat wildly in your chest. Then you turned around and started walking. 

Surprisingly enough, no one stopped you or Peter from leaving. It might have had something to do with the sympathetic looks from the staff and more than a few of the women in the café clapping. You wanted to feel proud for standing up for yourself in a way that obviously won the approval of many strangers, but now that you were out of the active situation it was all you could do to hold yourself together. Peter was a blessing as you walked home, never once pushing you to talk or even asking you about your wrist (which was completely unharmed, thanks to Peter’s quick reaction time). 

Tears were blurring your vision much sooner than you would have preferred, but you repeatedly blinked them away, knowing you couldn’t break yet. When you finally reached your apartment building, you could see Peter hesitating as to whether or not he should go with you. You knew Aunt May would worry if he didn’t come home, but you also wanted the company. Your parents wouldn’t be home until late that night, and while you never normally minded the occasional late nights, you didn’t want to be alone. 

You went inside without a word. When Peter followed you up the stairs, you were more than a little relieved. 

Your fingers shook as you got out your keys and attempted to unlock your apartment door—so badly, in fact, that Peter ended up taking them and unlocking it himself. 

As soon as the door was shut behind you, Peter removed both of your backpacks and carefully wrapped you up in his arms. That was when the dam broke, tears flooding out of your eyes and ugly cries escaping your mouth. But Peter didn’t falter, pulling you even closer. Your fingers were tangled in his sweater and his were pressed firmly against the small of your back and the base of your neck. He made no effort to shush you or tell you it would be all right; he knew it wasn’t what you needed at that moment. 

“I’ve got you,” he whispered instead. “It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you.”

You stayed that way for a while, but then a thought popped into your head that made you jolt out of Peter’s hold on you with wide eyes. 

“Peter, your internship! Your actual internship! You have to be so late! I’m so-“

Peter reached out and tenderly wiped your cheeks that were wet with your tears. His thumb moved slowly across your skin, gently caressing it. The action combined with the softness in his eyes made your speech falter. It took a few blinks and a hard swallow to get your mind to think coherently again. 

“Peter,” you said, your voice cracking. There was something else in his eyes that made some place deep inside of you come to life. It unsettled you, but not necessarily in a bad way. “The internship…”

Peter hardly seemed to be paying attention to your words, but he must have registered them enough to come up with a response. “It’s okay. I already texted Tony earlier and told him I wasn’t going to make it in because something had come up.”

You frowned a little. “You’re not in trouble, are you? Because if you are-“

“No,” he said, chuckling softly. He let his hand fall from your cheek finally, and even though you had just been so terribly hurt by your now ex-boyfriend, you missed Peter’s touch. “Well,” he corrected, “I’m not in trouble on the condition I tell him everything when I’m there next.”

“Wait,” you said, taking the slightest step back. “Are you serious? Tony Stark actually said that?”

Peter grinned, laughing a little. “I'm telling you, he’s the biggest gossip I know. He always has his nose in places where it doesn’t belong.”

You shook your head, Peter’s smile infectious. You couldn’t help but be amused at this new bit of knowledge. You’d always imagined gossips to exclusively be old ladies and teenagers who had nothing else better to do. Throwing Tony Stark—a literal superhero and billionaire—into that same mix seemed out of place in more ways than one. 

“How about you get changed into your PJ’s and I’ll turn on a movie and break out the ice cream?” Peter said, getting a bigger smile out of you. 

“That sounds perfect,” you replied, reaching out to squeeze his hand before traipsing back to your bedroom. 

By the time you were dressed and back out in the living room, Peter had managed to get everything ready. Ice cream was sitting on the coffee table by the pint, spoons sticking out of the tops. Star Wars was on, although you weren’t sure which one since it was paused. He’d somehow already made an intricate fort out of the space, but a quick glance around showed it was most likely due to the webbing holding the blankets to the walls. 

Peter turned around and grinned as if it was just a normal movie night, offering you a pint of your favorite ice cream. “We haven’t done this in awhile.”

Guilt flooded through you at his comment, even though you knew it wasn’t his intention. Brad was the reason you hadn’t had a movie night alone with Peter in so long; he never liked it that Peter was your best friend, and you were stupid enough to let him take so much of that time from you both. But instead of letting on what you were feeling, you gave a small smile back and took the ice cream from Peter’s hands. 

“No, we haven’t,” you replied, ducking under the entrance to the fort so you could make your way beside him. He had pillows set up inside as well, which you used to prop yourself up. You wanted to tell him thank you—not just for the ice cream, movie, and fort, but also for his help with the whole Brad situation earlier—but before you could come up with the words Peter raised the remote and pushed play. 

You tried to pay attention, you really did, but the thought of Brad still hung in the forefront of your mind. Sometimes it was easy to forget, like when Peter finished his own ice cream and wrapped an arm around you in silent comfort. But in the end, the ice cream could only numb so much. 

Tears filled your eyes but you desperately tried to fight them off with another mouthful of ice cream and a renewed focus on the movie. You’d seen it probably twenty times with Peter and knew pretty much every line, but now you could hardly make out a single word and everything on screen seemed to blur together into one singular color. 

Peter was quick to notice your newfound tears and didn’t even bother to pause the movie before reaching to wrap his other arm around you too. You shook your head and shoveled another spoonful of ice cream into your mouth and mumbled, “I’m fine, really,” but it was an obvious lie even to your ears. 

Peter took the pint from your hands and put it back on the coffee table, and you didn’t fight it this time when he went to hug you again. You let yourself be tugged practically into his lap and let your head fall onto his shoulder. He quietly shushed you as you truly felt Brad’s betrayal for the first time. 

“It’s so stupid,” you cried, your voice muffled by his sweatshirt. “I didn’t even love him and I’m crying over him again. The boy who’s been cheating on me for who knows how long or with how many other girls.”

Peter raised a hand to your hair and combed his fingers gently through the knots. “It’s not stupid at all. Regardless of whether or not you loved him, you trusted him and he broke that trust. That hurts just as much as a broken heart.”

You didn’t say anything, but you slowly untucked your arms from their place against his chest to wrap around his back. You clutched the fabric of his sweatshirt between your fingers just to hold onto something real and soft and warm—to ground yourself to one of the only people in your life who you know would never break your trust or your heart. 

Your tears started to subside but neither Peter’s nor your hold loosened. “You deserve better, Y/N,” Peter murmured, his voice vibrating in his throat. 

“Thanks, Pete,” you whispered. With a watery, humorless laugh you added, “I just wish I listened to MJ.”

You could feel Peter smile and simply waited for whatever he was going to say to lighten up the mood. “Yeah, now you’ve gotta apologize to her and tell her she was right. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes solely for that reason. She’s terrifying.”

A genuine laugh escaped you and you lifted your head from his shoulder. “I’m also pretty sure she’s still mad at me, so I’ve gotta deal with that too.”

You went to wipe off your cheeks but Peter beat you to it, his thumb gently wiping away any traces of your tears. His beautiful brown eyes made contact with yours, and the atmosphere shifted. Your heart jumped and you couldn’t look away from the boy you called your best friend, and suddenly you were made aware of how close you were. 

Peter’s hand still rested on your cheek. His eyes parted from yours for just a moment as he tucked a piece of hair behind your ear, his tongue wetting his lips the way he did whenever he was nervous. 

You were still looking at him when his eyes met yours again, and he sighed and frowned. “Y/N, you can feel free to slap me or kick me out or never speak to me again, because I know this is the worst possible time that I could ever tell you this, but…” He took a deep breath. Your mouth was dry. “I like you. I have for a long time but I was too afraid to do anything about it, then Brad asked you out and you were so happy about it I couldn’t say anything to ruin it and-“

He cut himself off and broke eye contact with you, pulling himself out of your reach. His head heavily fell into his hands as he shook it and mumbled something you couldn’t quite catch. The next part, however, you did. 

“I’m so stupid, Y/N, I’m so sorry-”

“You like me?” you interrupted, not being able to help the slight hope that bled into your tone. 

Peter turned his head just enough to peek at you out the corners of his eyes. You were alarmed to see the beginnings of tears in them, so you scooted closer and ducked your chin slightly to meet his gaze more head on. 

“I…” He swallowed. “Yes.”

“Like, like me, like me?” you repeated. 

“Yeah...I-I like you, like you.”

You paused for just a moment, the words spilling out of your mouth before you could think them through completely. “Not that it’s your fault that Brad is a pig, but I really wish you would’ve asked me out before him.”

Peter blinked a few times, trying to process what you’d just said to him. “Wait—what?” he said, eyes blown up wide. “Wait, wait, wait, you liked me?”

You ran a hand over your face and flopped back onto your pile of pillows. “Yes, I liked you, you twerp! I don’t think I could’ve made it any more obvious than I did. I mean-“ You gave him an exasperated look. “Peter, I asked you to prom.”

“I didn’t know!”

“How did you not know?”

Peter threw his hands up in the air. “I don’t know, I just thought we were doing a double date thing with you and me and MJ and Ned!”

“No, you dork!” you exclaimed, swinging a pillow his way. He didn’t even try to dodge it. “Ned and MJ only went together after that because you brought up the double-date-friend thing at lunch the next day!”

Peter’s eyes comically widened at what you were insinuating. “You thought I said yes to going out with you!”

“Of course I did!” you said. “We all did! But after it was obvious that you thought I’d asked as a friend, I just thought you didn’t like me that way and I’d misread you!”

“Well, how was I supposed to know you were asking me out out?!” Peter sputtered, shocked by that turn of events. 

Your jaw dropped in disbelief. “I don’t know, maybe because I literally asked you out?”

“But you never specifically said you were asking me as more than friends!”

“I thought I’d made it pretty clear with the poster!”

“Well, it didn’t exactly say ‘Hey, Peter! I know we’ve been friends for years but do you wanna go to prom with me as more than that?’”

“I didn’t think it had to! People don’t make posters just to ask their friends to prom!” you pointed out. “Besides, I spent time on it! If I was asking you just as a friend—first off I wouldn’t have made a poster at all, but if I did—I wouldn’t have stayed up all night making it!”

“You stayed up all night making a poster for me?” Peter questioned, somehow much closer to you than before. You faltered in your retort, staring at your best friend who was mere inches from you. You could feel his breath as he exhaled, big doe eyes waiting for your response. 

“Yeah,” you eventually responded in a whisper. “I had to start over, like, four times.”

Peter’s eyes flicked down for just a second, and it took you a moment to realize where he’d just looked. Your lips. 

“You don’t have to try so hard for me,” Peter whispered back. The atmosphere was changed again, the air thick and time slowed. Not even the noise of the city could be heard. 

You swallowed, trying to squash your nerves. “That’s not entirely true since you didn’t end up getting the hint.”

Peter started to say something back but you didn’t hear, your eyes now having gazed downward to look at his lips too. They stopped moving when he realized you weren’t listening and waited a few seconds before they parted around your name. 

“Y/N?”

You looked up again, blushing at having been caught. His eyes searched yours, looking for something. 

You didn’t know who made the first move, only that you were kissing Peter after what felt like decades of only dreaming about it. His lips were soft against yours, gently pressing them apart to make room for his own. Your noses brushed as your heads tilted to fit together like a puzzle you had both done a thousand times. It felt so familiar, so easy, and so…right. 

You lifted a hand to cup his cheek, not wanting him to move. He followed your lead, tangling one of his hands into the hair at the base of your neck to hold you in place. 

You didn’t know how long it lasted or what was happening outside of Peter’s touch, but you did know that when his lips finally parted from yours it was too soon. 

And then reality hit. It didn’t hurt like you thought it would, but there was still the matter of Brad and the mess he made that you had to clean up. So when you opened your eyes to meet Peter’s softened gaze, you knew exactly what to say. 

“I really, really would like to give whatever”—You gestured between you—“this is a try, but…is it okay if I take just a little bit of time first? I-I want to continue this, I really do, but I still have to work things out with MJ and deal with all the texts I’m bound to be getting, and I don’t think I’m quite ready to walk into school Monday holding your hand.” Realizing how that sounded, you were quick to backtrack. “Not that I’m ashamed of you or anything! I just want Brad to get what he deserves and I don’t want people to think I was the one cheating or that would defeat the whole purpose—not that it even should matter what other people think because I know my friends believe me and have got my back but-“

Peter covered your mouth with his hand to stop you, a faint smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. “I know what you mean, Y/N. It’s okay.”

He slowly removed his hand to let you speak again, hopefully without trying (and failing) to explain yourself to him this time. You took a deep breath and studied him carefully to make sure he wasn’t lying for your benefit. “You’re sure?”

He kissed your forehead. “Take as much time as you want,” he assured you. “I’ve waited for you for this long, I don’t mind waiting a little longer. We can go as slow as you need. I won’t do anything you’re not ready for, Y/N/N.”

You had to bite back tears at his sentiment, already having done more for you in ten seconds than Brad had in six months. A soft breath of relief escaped you when you realized there wasn’t a drop of doubt in Peter’s voice—that he truly meant everything he was saying. 

“Thank you,” you said softly, still looking into his eyes. He smiled in response which made you smile too. You hesitated but leaned forward to kiss his cheek anyway. You pretended not to notice either of your blushes that followed and sat yourself back on top of your pillows. 

The movie was still playing, so you pretended to turn your attention back to it. Really, it was impossible to do such a thing after kissing your best friend, so you were well aware of when Peter was staring at you instead of the TV and when his fingers subtly raised to touch his lips. You could just barely feel the ghost of his lips on yours still, making you smile from the memory. Peter’s hands were twitching, as if he wasn’t sure what to do in this new territory. 

Deciding to put the both of you out of your misery, you started to lean toward him. The gap between you closed as your side rested against his. He looked down at you in surprise, but you were focused on the screen in front of you. You could still sense the smile that followed as his arm found a place on your waist and tucked you further into him. His scent filled your senses and you couldn’t help but close your eyes at this new feeling. 

Brad’s hands never felt warm like Peter’s, or even half as secure—not even on his best days. But in that moment, without anything in your life left even remotely unshaken, you felt the safest and the most secure you ever had. 

Permanent Tag: @starsholland @spideygirl2003 @dahliaspidey

Peter Parker: @captainstartights @quaksonhehe

If you don’t see yourself on here when you were before, it’s because I recently scrapped my entire tag list and started over:) You can join my taglist here!

[angelixxsstuff]

Irondad & Spiderson Fic Masterlist Pt 2 🕸🕷🖤

5 Things That Change for Peter After The End of The World by ironspider

and one thing that always remains the same. The specific one I love to read is the one where Peter and MJ prank Tony, funniest shit ever. Lol ♥️

A River To Skate Away On by frostysunflowers

Peter has survived a spider bite, a building falling on him, turning to dust and being a teenager. He can handle anything. Except being forgotten.

Perfectly Parental by Bergan

Peter saves a little bit from drowning, and in the rush of it all, causes a little misunderstanding.

With Kind Regards and A Completely Serious Warning by Jennylarner

When shots are fired at Midtown Tech during the school's fortnightly assembly, Peter knows (or, is reminded by Ned) who he needs to call. Leading to everyone finding out just what Tony and Peter's relationship really looks like.

Downfall by ardett

Peter is being abused. Tony finds out in the worst way possible.

5 Times Peter Parker Pretended To Be Asleep by blondsak

Hearts Are Empty by Jwc

Peter is injected with Tetrodotoxin B.

Somebody Catch Him by wordscorrupt

Peter’s falling, and Tony has to catch him before it’s too late.

Infinite by wanttoread234

After being kidnapped Tony Stark is given the choice between saving Morgan or saving Peter. It's not hard to guess what option Peter encouraged.

A True Hero by stereks_fifth_nipple

Peter gets Tony something for Father's Day. Tony got him something as well... Sort of.

Everything is beautiful and nothing hurts.

Did We Come Close To Having It All by forthenight

“What’s wrong, Mr Stark? What does it say?”

Tony didn’t respond. He didn’t even twitch. He just stared at the screen in front of him. There was no ransom note under the photo. No ploy or negotiation, it simply stated ‘Pepper’s life for Spider-Man’s.’

All Good Things Fall Apart by forthenight

"I have something of yours"

It took those five words to flip Tony's world upside down, but when he finds Morgan safe at school maybe all isn't as lost as he thought. Maybe.

More Than Okay by Icylightning

Peter cleared his throat "Mr Stark I..."

Tony raised a warning finger "Not. A. Word. Kid"

Peter sealed his lips lightly. Steve noticed this and wrapped an arm around the boy and frowned at his friend "Tony you're scaring him" he said protectively

"Good!"

Bullet Holes In My Spiderman by wolfpuppypiles

Tony shoots Peter, that’s it.

Every Fifteen Minutes by amatterofloyalty

Peter Parker was in a car crash—except... he wasn’t. One forgetful Spider-Kid, one sleepy best friend, and one misleading post on social media all lead to a disastrous turn of events, culminating in the arrival of an unexpected guest at Midtown High.

[racefortheironthrone]

Any thoughts on No Way Home?

So my overall take is that this is quite a good Spider-Man movie, arguably the Spider-Maniest Spider-Man movie since Into the Spiderverse.

More specific thoughts below the cut.

So my main thought about No Way Home is that what works best about it - the reunion of supervillains and superheroes from past Spider-Man franchises, the adaptation of Uncle Ben's "with great power there must also come great responsibility" dying words to Marisa Tomei - is like an amazing magic trick that works only once.

Both as spectacle and as moments of heightened emotion, these things were so couched in suprise and shock that they can't really be replicated in future Spider-Man movies. Leaving aside the fact that characters who have been killed off can't easily be brought back, I don't think there's a way to go bigger when it comes to bringing back old favorites, given how deep the bench was on this one particular film.

I don't think that's a bad thing at all. Ironically for a movie about retconning the big status quo change from the end of Spider-Man: Far From Home, this film has rather emphatically moved Peter Parker into a new status quo. Peter has been forced to flee his old apartment in Queens for a new place in Manhattan; his supporting cast (Aunt May, Happy, Ned, MJ, the folks from Midtown Science and Tech) are either dead, have gone to MIT without him, or no longer remember who he is. I would be very much surprised if future movies didn't revolve around Peter attending Empire State University while supporting himself as a photojournalist with a whole new crew of supporting characters (the Daily Bugle crew would be a natural place to pivot to).

I also think the movie did a great job with the Marvel of it all, letting Doctor Strange be a supporting character (and giving Daredevil a nice little cameo) without overwhelming the movie. Then again, I didn't have as much of a problem with the Iron Man stuff from Homecoming as other people did (although I had more of a problem with it in Far From Home), so I might not be the best weathervane for that particular issue.