Violet Tides: A Spider-Woman Story

Chapter 4. Family Dinner With The Starks

Rain started to bucket down as soon as Violet got off the bus. It had been drizzling all day but it was just Violet's luck that just as she was about to start her ten minute walk to the tower it would pelt down. Violet used her body to protect her bag and ducked in and out of other people's umbrellas all the way to the tower. It didn't stop her from getting soaked through. She sat in a chair of Stark Tower lobby dripping everywhere, she had a feeling she was about to be escorted out by security when Peter appeared in front of her.

"Hey violet," Peter greeted her. He was wearing jeans and a t-shirt under a white lab coat.

"Do I get one of those?" Violet joked lamely. She was grateful for Peter's laugh. Violet had come to realise she makes shitty jokes when nervous. Peter looked violet up and down; she was sure she currently looked like a drowned rat.

"Come with me, we can get you a towel," Peter said, confirming her suspicions. Violet followed him to the reception desk where she was issued a purple visitor badge. She was about to ask what it meant but the receptionist beat her to it.

"Purple is for visitors that don't fall into any of the orange, yellow, green or blue categories. Blue gives you access to any rooms with a blue sign, green gives you access to blue and green and yellow gives access to blue green and yellow. you get the idea. Purple gives you access to a few rooms of different colours without giving you access to the whole building. Understand?"

"Yes"

"Good if you lose your badge you will be detained by security and escorted out of the building"

"No losing the badge, got it"

After signing a few things Peter showed her how to use the elevator and how to call FRIDAY the tower's AI (violet jumped the first time she heard it's disembodied voice). They took the elevator up to one of the top floors where violet had to swipe her badge to be let out. They reached a cloakroom where Peter gave her a towel to dry herself. Violet removed her sweater and shoes and placed them on a drying rack. Then she followed Peter back to the elevator where they went down and followed him down several corridors. Violet prided herself in having a good sense of direction but she had to admit she was totally lost. They came to a door with a yellow sign where both violet and peter had to swipe in. Peter had a red badge which the receptionist had not explained but Violet didn't think it was any of her business.

"This is the programming lab," Peter explained as they walked through the door. It wasn't what Violet was expecting; it was a large blob shaped room divided in half by wood panelling and indoor plants. One side was filled with bean bags, hammocks and an arrangement of other comfortable sitting areas. The other side of the room had desks and chairs arranged in a circle and around the edges smaller desks if you wanted peace and quiet. Both sides of the room had the perfect balance of natural light that it felt homey but wouldn't create glare of computer screens.

The room was nearly empty so it allowed Violet and Peter to sit anywhere they wanted. They decided on two bean bags near the window. Peter pulled a laptop out of his backpack and opened up a file two people in stark industries uniforms came in behind them carrying what looked like Spock's coffee table.

"Where would you like this sir" the taller one asked

"Just here" Peter responded, motioning between the bean bags. The workers quickly deposited the table and left. Violet pulled her notebooks and phone out of her bag before turning back to peter.

"I'm guessing this is the holotable you were talking about" she asked, trying to keep it together but on the inside she was screaming. So cool, so cool, so cool. Peter nodded and turned it on. Blue light holograms of various designs popped up. Peter swiped them away before Violet could get a good look but she was pretty sure she saw a Spider-man suit.