Spider + Cat + Redhead notes (Patreon)

So, interesting response to the latest chapter. Some people are positive on the kinky stuff, some are negative on it. I feel it's pretty tame by smut standards. Jess and Carol ask Peter if he'll let them try to seduce him, with the knowledge that they'll only 'seal the deal' if he agrees to the Mary Jane proposition, and he's fine with it because, hey, c'mon.

Moreover, I think it's somewhat in keeping with the Spider-Man tone. The idea of Peter being a hard-luck hero has been unfortunately associated now with the OMD/BND creators who have pushed that concept to the extreme of Peter being an absolutely pathetic man-child with nothing to be happy about and who will never have a successful relationship. Which, no.

But, Peter being totally happy and content, with no conflict or drama *at all*, would be bad for the exact opposite reason. There's only so long you can read about a guy being Lawful Good and having great sex with two gorgeous, loving women before it frays, even in a cathartic escape fantasy*. So I can either interject drama in the form of Peter's superhero life--which is hard to do, but I will try--or in the form of his relationships. Which aren't perfect in the real world, even the polygamous ones.

It's like James Bond. Does he live a charmed life where he constantly makes love to beautiful women, drives fast cars, wears the finest suits, stays in the finest hotels, is renowned for his bravery and skill, and is otherwise an all-around mensch? Sure. But he still has to get tortured, shot at, blown up, gassed, choked, run over, and beaten up now and then, otherwise you're watching Lifestyles of the Rich And Famous.

(*I know people primarily read the story because they like Spider-Man and want him to be happy, but still, that has to be a starting point, not an ending. Otherwise, I stop getting paid for the things...)