(Untitled)

[due_punishment]

WHO: Open
WHERE: Central Park
WHEN: Afternoon, Monday 13 June
WARNINGS: None
SUMMARY: Frank engages in an old ritual.
FORMAT: Para

Comments

/creeeeeeps in if it's not too late

[incywincyhero]

Peter normally goes webswinging over his lunch break, only stopping for a quick bite between stretches of patrol. Sometimes he eats during patrol, resulting over the years in more than one pedestrian finding lettuce in their hair after he passes overhead. Today he's in the mood to take it easy, though, so he's strolling through the park, his coffee thermos freshly filled and two sandwiches in a paper bag.

He's just settled himself against a railing and unwrapped his first bánh mì when he notices the weirdo on the grass. Okay, so it's pretty good weather to fly a kite. But a grown man -- a big, burly, tough-looking guy at that, not that Peter likes to judge a book by its cover -- on his own, no kid in sight? It's not even one of those fancy stunt kites that can do tricks, so he's not a hobbyist

It's never too late

[due_punishment]

Frank turns and looks over his shoulder when he hears the coughing. His eyes narrow briefly at the young man. There was something familiar about him, but Frank couldn't quite place it. Whoever the kid was there had to be a reason Frank remember him at all. Taking a gamble he started to walk his kite over to the railing waiting to see how the young man reacted.

[OOC: You know I don't know for sure. I think they might have though when Peter was photographing something for the paper. Actually I'd be surprised if they hadn't as I'm sure Frank has conned his way into more than one event with a press pass before.]

[incywincyhero]

Peter looks up from dabbing away the coffee droplets on his shirt to see Castle walking towards him. He quickly schools his features into his best "nobody here but us hapless civilians" expression, hoping against hope the other man attributes any dismay in his expression to Peter's spilled drink rather than his own approach. Still, there's a reason Peter wears his mask to Ben Grimm's poker night even when everyone present knows his identity, and it's not to hide his acne. (Well. Except for that one time.)

[[OOC: Okay, I just spent some time browsing teh intarwebs and reading back issues ... Peter and Frank met in Amazing Spider-Man 201-202 when Frank suspected Peter of being part of a gang (obviously Peter convinced him otherwise, by telling him he was Spider-Man's photographer). Then in Spectacular Spider-Man 141 Peter came into some evidence of a murder that Frank wanted, and though they didn't talk directly Frank knew to go to Spider-Man. This was in the late 80s, so maybe they've met since then ...? /shrug So if you want Frank

[due_punishment]

Now Frank remembered where he had seen him before. He was Parker, Spider-Man's photographer. Interesting that the porter would bring him here too. Still, no reason to tip his hand yet. The kid might have just genuinely had too hot of a cup of coffee. "You alright?"

[OOC: Thank you for looking all of that up and yes I think Frank would remember him. If nothing else he'd always think of Parker as an easy way to get in touch with Spider-Man.]

[incywincyhero]

"Um. Yes," Peter said, brushing ostentatiously at his (dark blue, thankfully) shirt. "Just went down the wrong way, is all."

He squirmed a little, unsure whether Castle had come over just to intervene before a random stranger choked to death on his lunch break or if he had actually recognized him, God forbid. True, it'd been years since the Punisher had "met" Peter Parker, Spider-Man's unofficial official shutterbug and one-time gang suspect, but it wasn't as though they'd had a nice conversation about the New York Philharmonic over a cup of tea. The experience had been ... memorable on Peter's side, to say the least -- the question was whether it had stuck in Castle's mind as well.

[due_punishment]

"Sure it wasn't because you were surprised to see me, Parker?" There wasn't any reason to play it subtle. Better he come right out and intimidate the kid so he didn't get any ideas about calling the cops on him.

[incywincyhero]

Oh, well. It'd been worth a try, anyway.

"I'll ... grant that might've been a contributing factor," Peter said, wincing. "I didn't realize you'd recognize me," he added, with not entirely put on resentment. "I'm sure holding me at gunpoint was all in a day's work for you."

If he were being honest, holding Peter Parker at gunpoint was the least of the stunts Punisher'd pulled on Spidey over the years, but Castle didn't know that.

[due_punishment]

"Wasn't planning on it. Not unless you make me." To further the implied threat Frank sat down next to Peter. "Everyone has to eat lunch Parker. I just want to eat mine and leave quietly no trouble, no cops. Got it?"

[incywincyhero]

"Wasn't planning on it," Peter echoed faintly, edging backwards. "What would I say, anyway? 'Gee, Officer, this guy who looks exactly like a serial killer from my home universe was standing around in Central Park. What was he doing, you ask? Oh, flying a kite. It was very menacing.' I'd probably get fined for wasting police man-minutes."

A beat, while Peter considered that he'd just called the Punisher a serial killer to his face, while out of costume.

"Uh ... I didn't mean 'serial killer' in a mean way," he offered.

[due_punishment]

It didn't phase Frank. He knew what he was. Had known for a long time, long before he lost his family. Maybe even before he'd joined the Marines and had gone to Vietnam. Still, he had to correct the boy on one thing. "I don't kill for pleasure. I'm fighting a war and their the enemy. That's all it is."