It's Spidey time

(I'll resume from here)

"Well, you'll probably feel a bit nauseous for a few minutes. Then you'll start sticking to things. If you get stuck, just relax and you'll unstick."

"Greeeeat." Kaycee groaned. Perhaps they ought to prepare for that, find gloves or something. Would the gloves get stuck? Maybe that was a bad idea. Deep breaths, they reminded themself, they wanted this.
Kaycee stumbled over to their backpack, flung off in the corner where they left it, and rummaged through it. They dragged out a pencil bag and a notebook and flung them onto their bed. Endure the nausea, stay calm, relax, all were things they were very well equipped to do.

"While you have those out, mind drawing a suit design?"

"Suit?" They turned to John as they reached to get Peter down from the top of their head.

"Yeah. As a fellow Spider-Person, you get a fancy spider-themed spandex bodysuit to hide your identity from the masses."

Right, secrecy and all. "I've... actually got a few ideas. I can probably put something together myself with the clothes I have. Really the mask is all I'd need to design! It'd be cheaper and work nicer with my sensory issues and such. I'd just have to never wear those clothes in public ever again and I can live with that!"
(I am in fact currently drawing said outfit as we speak)

(Nice)

*He nodded.*

"Do that, but I still think you should make a concept for a full suit for future reference.*

"Fiiiiine." They rolled their eyes, setting Peter in John's hands and flopping onto their bed. They curled up with the notebook, flipping through pages upon pages of scribbled miscellaneous notes, smudged doodles, stickers, and one page of a finished, colored piece of a bee landing on a cat's nose. After finally digging up a clean page and digging a specific mechanical pencil, their prized 0.3mm, and a worn down eraser, they began their work.
Nausea did indeed come. That was very unfun. Kaycee powered through, reminding themself over and over that it'd only be a few minutes. 'A few' just *felt* like thirty.

(I'm gonna stop using asterisks for narration)

And a few minutes came and went. The nausea went, too. That's when they started sticking to things.

It started with their pencil. Kaycee realized it when they went to pick up their eraser. "Oh jeez..." they sighed, head drooping against the paper. Just relax, Kayce. Relax.
Relaxing was a little tough when their stomach still ached a bit, they couldn't detach from their pencil, and their head was starting to buzz again like when they'd just woken up. They didn't dare try to move their hand from the paper. They had the feeling they were probably stuck to that to and they didn't want to rip up their work.

*John was passed out at his desk, clutching his music player loosely in one hand with his earbuds still securely in his ears.*

(also super sorry for how slow responses have been today. I've been really busy and haven't been able to get to my chromebook.)

(It's okay. I'm probably gonna transfer to my phone here soon, so expect a few more spelling mistakes than before)

They took in a sharp breath. Just keep it together, Kayce. "Right. Right." They sank a little deeper into their pillows.

"Wait here. I have to deal with tall bright and zappy out there."

"Okay." Gladly. They were not about to jump out the window to fight Mister Overstim within an hour of sticking to things.

He pulled his mask back on and jumped out the window to go fight.

(Mind swapping roles to play Electro for a while?)

(dw i don't mind. They were born female.)

"You've heard weirder?" Kaycee tilted their head at that. "From who?"

"Long story. It involves other universes. Again, don't wanna get into it."

*He dropped down.*

"Noe for web shooter fitting. Ad it happens, I have a pair of spares you can use. Just gotta paint 'em yellow to match your suit and adjust the tightness and you're good to go!"

(and I'm sure one universe doubling up on spider-people through artificial means won't have any multiversal repercussions whatsoever)
"Other universes? You can't just say that and expect me not to get curious, John." Their brow ruffled. "We can worry about web shooters later. You're implying there are *other spider-whatevers.* That's not something you gloss over."

(Not right now, anyways)

*He sighed and told her another story.*

Abridged version of ITSV)

They just sat for a moment, mulling over how the heck they're supposed to react to all of this. The multiverse is real. Cool. Sick. Awesome. They and John aren't the only spider-people. Splendid. But also WHEN THE HECK DID HE INTEND TO TELL THEM THIS? They fidgeted with their sheets. They only had more questions, but John had been so reluctant to answer their first and they didn't want to push him any harder.

"Alright then. That's... not objectively terrifying."

The lights in the room began to flicker. Outside the window, something that looked like a large ball of electricity was flying around. In the center was the vague silhouette of a man. He shouted, "Come and get me, Spider-Man!"

Before the lights could go out, a piercing noise rang through Kaycee's head. They winced against it as it flared with the flickering lights. It was quiet yet ear-splittingly loud all at once, with no discernible source. Like a ringing in your ear amplified by a thousand.

It was so bright outside. Even outside their head the lights were buzzing, something was crackling, someone was yelling. Kaycee grabbed at their head. Their skin felt too hot, like they had a fever. Leftovers from the nausea? Or just anxiety? It took every ounce of thought not occupied by everything around them to will their fingertips not to stick to their ears.

Spider-Man. A word they could make out through the din. What the hell did whoever was just past their peripherals want with him? Them? Was this a two person thing now? Did they need that officialized or something? All valid questions they would be asking if they weren't a little preoccupied with the noise and light and general threat of the situation that apparently required their brain to be screaming over it all.

(i'm back. totally didn't take weeks or anything, nooooooo)
(also spider senses and being prone to sensory overload do not mix well <3)

(It's okay, also yeah, sounds like it-)

Suddenly, John sorta materialized next to them. He was saying... something. They could make out a few words:

"Zap... doesn't know... are... you... Kayce?"

They could make out just enough to understand the question. "I- I'm..." They trailed. Deep breaths, Kayce, deep breaths. "I'm alive, aren't I?" Not the most convincing assurance of okay-ness. The Kaycee-coded equivalent of 'I'll get over it.' "Just... loud." they squeezed out.

"Yeah. I bet it was. Just sit up, dust it off. You'll be okay."

(Trying to say: "Zaptrap doesn't know I'm here again. You okay, Kayce?")

(You there?)

(Yeah sorry. Been busy lately and just need some time to work up proper writing motivation. I'll get back to you soon for sure)

(It's okay, take your time)

"Hey uh, John?" They held up the hand still stuck to the pencil. "What do I do?"

(OH also, Peter has been crawling around, having a lot of fun with himself and providing an entertaining distraction from Kaucee's discomfort)

(little guy ever love himmm)

He jostled awake.

"Wha...? Oh... just hum a song or somethin'..."

And he fell back asleep.

A song? Oh yeah! They could do that!
They shuffled through the current playlist in their head.

"Like a hand reachin' for a handle but..." Kaycee trailed off into the tune they'd settled on. Summer. One of their all time favorites from Good Kid, a band that tragically few people had ever heard of. Is this the writer's way of advertising their comfort band within the context of the story? Absolutely not!!!! Why would you ever think that????? (LISTEN TO GOOD KID DO IT DO IT DO IT /silly) No! No fourth wall breaking in the middle of their stickiness therapy exercise.

They tapped the very stuck pencil rhythmically against the likely stuck paper. After the first chorus they could already feel their grip loosen. Even the buzzing had settled down a bit, as if the proverbial bees in their brain had settled down to listen and watch the colors and patterns their mind's eye had assigned the melody.
The pencil dropped out of their hand. They lifted their fingers from the page.
Kaycee quieted their humming, letting out a last little note of relief.
"Okay. Just don't do that again." They concluded to themself that this was the best way to avoid this situation again. Simply refuse to here and now. How functional this decision would be was... to be determined, but they were an optimist.

*He slept for another hour thereafter.*

And for another hour, Kaycee worked.
They'd get to designing a full suit later, but they were not unhappy with the concept for the mask. I mean, it'd be ironic if they weren't considering how smiley it all was. This was very deliberate.
"IT'S FINISHED!" They shouted proudly. "Still need to color it all and adjust some things, but sketches are done!"

He was jolted from his sleep, and launched up, grabbing the roof. A web flew, an afterthought, sure, but still aimed true. It struck right in the center of their face.

Kaycee's head practically screamed to *get out of the way.* They let out a little yelp before being hit square in the face by the web. They sputtered and grabbed at it before finally managing to pick it up. "Mornin' sleeping beauty, sheesh!" They spat out a little chuckle as the humming quieted. "Take a look." Kaycee tossed the notebook over to John.

*He nabbed it with a web, and looked it over.*

"This is good stuff, newbie."

*He tossed it back to them.*

"So, what are you gonna call yourself? No offense, but 'Spider-Them' doesn't really roll off the tongue in the same way 'Spider-Man' does."

"Thank youuuu!" Kaycee drawled the way any artist would upon being given a single compliment.
They fumbled after the notebook, tugged half off the bed by more thrumming in their skin. It flared up almost irritably when they promptly dropped the book. They rolled out of bed to grab it, then bounced right back in.
"Okay, so!" They clapped their hands, half expecting them to stick together. "I based the design off this one species of spider with like, a smiley face on its abdomen. I think they're really cute and deserve all the attention ever, so I think something like Smiley Spider would work. Of course, still doesn't roll off the tongue nearly as well, but I like it." Their feet tapped excitedly.

(Quick question: What gender was Kaycee when they were born? It'd put my mind at ease if I knew because, frankly, I can't tell looking at the picture and it's bothering me. If you don't mind answering, that is - you don't have to if you don't want to, jt won't impact anything. I'm just asking for the benefit of the peanut gallery, specifically me)

"Sounds good. I've heard weirder. Alright, I'll get my guy to stitch you a mask. Get to assembling the rest."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtyXoZ8LTHs
(the song link if you're curious)