The Hotel Wundagore

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

It's a hell of a place.

They have seven suites on the top floor. The ritziest kind of opulent glamour of the era. Everything's comfortable, everything's stylized, and everyone gets their own hot showers.

Thanks to one guy getting sick of a neverending journey through crap.

"Here we are, kids. Try not to damage the upholstery. And if anyone's around, my name is Tyler Stone."

His throat constricts and tastes of vomit just for saying that.

"You're welcome."

Comments

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

Miguel is suitably stunned as Raven heads back to her bedroom. She's awful. He shouldn't have liked that - especially after she was just covered in Wolverine spit not so long ago...

That's when Lyla appears next to him.

"Would you like me to research the legality of marriage to a grandmother and granddaughter at the same time?"

A hand drags down his face.

"I don't think the local municipality has jurisdiction over the space-time continuum, Lyla."

"For extradition purposes, then?"

"No, Lyla, thank you."

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"I don't know how we're affording this..."

Morph's still studying the newspaper, absorbing the information - and not in the fashion of Silly Putty, either.

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

"We're not. Someone who can is. This is a gift horse, no tonsilectomy is necessary."

That might even be a smile on O'Hara's face. That certainly doesn't happen much.

[exiles-media.livejournal.com]

The Daily Bugle Morph is reading is crowded with articles and accompanying black-and-white photos. The most prominent articles describe corruption running throughout the city and state. Headlines include "Dockworkers Fear Mob Strongarming," "Erik Lensherr: Philanthropic Real Estate Mogul or Mafia Don?" and "Opium Empire Claims Thousands of Lives Annually."

Another black-bordered photo of Peter Parker graces the op-ed page, the caption this time pledging that the Daily Bugle will not rest until justice is done.

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

Miguel glances over Morph's shoulder at the paper.

"Anything in there about fatal loins?"

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"You think they even have a Paris Hilton on this world?"

He says it without missing a beat, but the delivery's not his usual.

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

He just blinks.

"I'm guessing a pop-culture slut from your world?"

If he doesn't get the joke, he can at least get the gist.

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Got it in one - we'll have you up to speed yet."

He sets the paper aside, looking pensive.

"I recall you saying that you once ran into the original Spider-Man on your world, right?"

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

His brow furrows for a moment. Did I actually tell him that?

Then a shrug. "My world, but it wasn't my time - one of the only times I got sucked into extra-dimensional nonsense before this whole Timebroker mess started."

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Time-travel's always a hoot. Anyway - I knew Spider-Man back home, too. We were friends. People say Captain America's an inspiration - and sure, he is - but Spider-Man? One of the most singularly decent human beings it has ever been my pleasure to know."

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

There's a pause, then a sigh.

"Okay. I'm not living up to the name, fine, I get it."

His eyes move back to the paper.

"Does this Lensherr guy ring a bell?"

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"No, that - this isn't about you. You're a fine Spider-Man, I just wish you had his joie de vivre, sometimes. No, I'm bummed because his desire to see justice done got him murdered, here."

He nods, to the second question.

"Yeah, Magneto. Absolute control over magnetism. Violent mutants-rights activist back home, and sometimes veered into terrorism. He had some lighter moments, but most of the time, he was very 'ends justify the means'."

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

Miguel slaps his own forehead. "Lensherr, right. Raven can't shut up about how much of a god he is. I must've just tuned her out and forgot about him. No wonder she's in a good enough mood to shove her tongue in my mouth."

His face twitches a little. Still not sure how he feels about that. She's so irritating most of the time.

"But anyway... there's no sense in trying to compete with you in the happy-go-lucky department. Most class clowns take pride in being the only one."

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, maybe. I don't feel very funny right now, though."

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

An eyebrow raises.

"And maybe now you can understand why I'm not full of the joy of life."

[proteus-maximus.livejournal.com]

"Difference is that I'm going to do something about what's bumming me out, and then it'll be back to business as usual. Grim and gritty all the time? No, thanks."

[spidey2099.livejournal.com]

Miguel just shakes his head.

"I've got a hologram in my wrist that giggles like Marilyn Monroe. Nothing gritty about that."

With that, he turns to head off toward his room. He could use the shut-eye.