MARY JANE / WATSON.

“Are you one of the ones affected by all of this?” Shuri asked. “I’m trying to investigate it all.”

“You mean the ‘deaging’ because yeah, I’m affected.” The previously nineteen year old said. “What the hell happened?”

Ivy smirked. “If you have a better suggestion then ice cream you can say it, is just a simple place to start but if you have something more challenging I will be glad to hear.” She smirk when the girl said she would give him hell. “I like it.” Fabulous and insane did describe her well. 

“I honestly wouldn’t mind a drink,” she admitted with a hint of a smirk tugging at her features. “Although, I’d need that job. Do you really think you could speak to Mister Stark for me? I’d hate to impose, but I’m desperate. I’d ask Peter, my friend, he did an internship for him once... but I don’t want to ask for too much, you know? I’d rather save my favours when it comes to him.”

Iris glanced up, about to place her order, when she saw the look on the girl’s face. “Is everything okay?” she asked, and glanced around as she caught the manager’s eye. A frown formed on her lips. “Is he bothering you?” she asked, not liking the look on his face as he stalked back into his office. She hadn’t overheard the gist of their conversation, but the volume had been inescapable. 

“Everything’s fine, just I work for a shitty manager who doesn’t respect women... or anyone, for that matter.” Mary Jane admitted. It was hard working under such a brute, but she didn’t have any other choice. “I bet it happens all the time in places like these. Don’t worry about it. I’m sorry if the commotion disrupted your experience here,” she said, as though she was reading from a script.

Karolina looked up from her menu as the waitress spoke to her, though her eyebrows furrowed in concern as she noticed the look on the girl’s face. “Are you okay?” she asked softly, her head tilted as she looked up on her. “Here.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a pack of tissues. 

“I’m just fine,” she sighed as she lowered her eyes to her notepad, attempting to conceal the pain on her face. However, her eyes caught sight of the woman producing a pack of tissues, and she shot her a grateful smile. “Thank you, I appreciate it, ma’am.” She took one and momentarily placed her pad on the table to dab at the tears streaking her face. “I’m sorry, this is so unprofessional.”

 Rose stared at her coffee. It had been 3 weeks since she touched any alcohol. Without the serum, she felt a little useless even though she wasn’t. She supposed that’s the after-effects of withdrawal. Coffee was becoming her best friend as was this quaint little diner. Something about people watching always got her in better spirits. If she tried hard enough, she had a semblance of a normal life and she could live it vicariously through others. Spectator sports were always her favorite.

As she lifted the porcelain cup to her lips, her enhanced hearing allowed her to zone in and capture an entire conversation that made her grip unsteady. If she really lost it, she could break the cup into pieces. If there was anything she hated it, was an asshole who thinks he could talk to someone like that. Especially a woman. When it was over, her heart was beating faster as the young woman involved walked towards her and Rose looked up, a small frown on her face. “Yes. You can.” She whispered. She had already been taken care of by another member of the wait staff but Rose was suddenly protective. “I’ll have the grand slam with extra pancakes…” Her gaze shifted to the manager standing behind the counter. “And his name.” She gestured towards him with her chin. “That guy’s a dick.”  

Mary Jane cocked a brow at the customer, before she caught onto her gesture. Turning her head, she glanced back over her shoulder at the manager that had so rudely screamed at her and her forced smile immediately fell into a disapproving frown. Not towards the other woman, but towards the fact that she had allowed him to speak to her as such. Although, when you’re desperate, you’ll do whatever you can to improve your finances.

“Uh, you want his name? I don’t --” Screw it. “It’s Don. He owns that Cadillac out front, and thinks he’s the best thing since sliced bread. Forget all those heroes out there, in Don’s eyes, he’s the only important one here. The saviour of New York City, assisting members of public by serving them shit food at overpriced prices.” Maybe she was pushing it a little, but it was true. It all was. “Except for the grand slam with extra pancakes.”

Scott was sitting to have lunch when he heard shouting in the kitchen. It wasn’t easy to tell, over the roar of people talking in the rest of the restaurant, but he definitely heard it. His curiosity made him want to investigate what was happening, but he resisted, skimming the menu even as he heard someone berating who he presumed had to be a server, eyes darting between the menu and the kitchen door waiting.

When a redhead stepped out looking composed, he thought he must have misunderstood, but a second glance at the girl made him sure that it was in fact her. A tear slipped down her cheek and he gave her a smile, wanting to help but unsure how. “Are you okay?” He asked softly.

Mary Jane knew her cover wasn’t effective -- a forced smile and a shoddy attempt at clearing away her makeup wouldn’t fool anyone. However, she raised a hand and slid away the stray tears that had persistently fallen, and continued to keep up the rouse that she was fine. “I’m alright, sir.” She could already feel her smile slipping, she wasn’t as strong as she used to be. “Just a heavy day at the office,” she teased, tapping the pen against the top of the notepad as a way to distract herself from admitting the truth. “What can I get you?”

Michael looked at her as he watched her respond to the word peasant, of course she may not be one. But he didn’t care , he was going to call anyone that bumped him a peasant.  “One why of course you may be dealing with someone who may think I’m a god, but I’m hardly one.  “And who am I dealing with, as I’m not sure I am scared of your back handed threat’s as well. 

Mary Jane squinted her eyes, narrowing her vision as he spoke to her. She couldn’t believe this man, she had no idea who he was but he looked like money and from experience, anyone who carried themselves to have such an amount of wealth was bad news. “My name’s Mary Jane Watson, and you better start speaking to me because I’m a proper lady and I deserve to be treated as such.” A proper lady that will kick his ass. 

Every day Michael was astounded by the amount of people in the city.  But he hardly cared for them.  As he enjoyed the power and the money that can get him what he wanted.   Why should he put up with people that were beneath him or not to his standards.    He lived a slippery slope as he tended to be the most mastermind of some of his criminal plots.  And living in a mansion, had paved his way. 

Uh why did those hero’s have to be on the move again.  Honestly he would just rather see them leave or die as he would prefer it.  At least they hadn’t been on to his schemes, and here he was watching the news.  He had even read the article about someone named Luthor, to him he sounded more intriguing and the kind of person he want to meet up with. 

After watching the news , he went for a walk in his nice suit, that he had stolen or with the help of his servants.  “Watch where you are going you peasants, you may have to learn who you’re dealing here with” he groaned as he thought of the insanity of the people , this is why he wasn’t a  people pleaser.

“Peasant?” Mary Jane cocked an eyebrow, her lips protruding into a pout at the sight of the very gentleman who had been so rude to her in believing she was somehow inferior to the suited brute. “Who am I dealing with then, some asshole with a god complex?” She knew she should have been more intelligent in situations like these -- not egging on her potential predators, who’d swallow little MJ up whole if she stepped out of line. Although, as her eyes glanced up at the skyline, reaching above the skyscrapers of New York, she hoped that Spiderman was nearby and watching her, as always. “A suit doesn’t make you important, I hope you know that, sir. You might want to learn who you're dealing with.”

Ivy nodded, the bad part of town always seemed to be more grey that’s why she was planting more flowers on that areas. “Well, I would normally say we should go to a bar and teach you to get free drinks from the guys but since you’re younger…Maybe free ice cream.” She chuckled. “How about the situation with your manage for exemple, what you would had done in my place?” She asked that way she would know what the girl would normally do and it would be easier to tell her what she should do different.

“Free ice cream?” Mary Jane scoffed, but smile at the woman. “I’ll take it.” She’d thought before of what she would do if she were to finally stand up to her manager -- but she’d never applied it because she needed that job, it wasn’t so simple. “Honestly, I wouldn’t. If anything, I would have found another job and then give him hell when I left. I couldn’t do what you did... that was insane. Fabulous, but insane.”

He had heard from both sides, and being Peter –– he did not really take sides. Even if he would say that Harry was the one being a total jerk right now. Besides that, the other male was his best friend and even if they were very different; the two had always had each other’s back –– so it would be weird if he never had Harry around. So Peter had gotten a few calls from Harry when the two broke up; and sent a few texts to MJ to make sure she was alright. He did not like having his friends argue, or any of them hurting. 

Stepping into the apartment he smiled to her. Happy to see her, it had been a while. Though, both would wish for a batter reason to meet up like this. He had met her, just not as Peter; because Spiderman had a little habit of always being there to save the day when it came to MJ. “no, no totally not!” he assured her. “you are like super fun, honestly” he said as he sigh. “Harry is just ––– well, he’s Harry” and Peter wasn’t sure how else to explain it to her. 

“If I’m super fun, Peter, then why didn’t Harry think: ‘Oh, maybe MJ might like to join me while I plunge myself off into a pit of self-loathing disguised as white powder and vodka.’” Mary Jane was definitely bitter about the downfall of their relationship, and had no repentance about being vocal on the matter. At least to Peter -- he understood. She hoped he understood. Inspecting his physique, and deeming it unsuitable for crime fighting in her eyes -- she had to look out for him, she walked over to her fridge and retrieved a sandwich encased in foil, which she’d made earlier for her next shift at the dinner.

“Eat,” she demanded, like a mother caring for her cub, as she shoved the wrapped meal into his hands. She knew the streets were plagued with villains that would devour little Spidey in a second, so she kept her eyes on him as a way to make sure he’d consume her attempt at giving him strength. “Have you spoken to Harry? Is he... okay?”

Pam smiled. “It won’t work if you don’t give yourself more credit.” She remembered that she also didn’t gave herself much credit when she was younger and that did made life harder.Ivy smiled. “You’re right, why waste a beautiful day off here.” She said getting up ready to leave the establishment. “I can teach you one or two things if you want.” It had been fun going out with Gamora and showing her how to manipulate man, why not do it again, besides this girl reminded her when she was young and she would appreciated some true help when she was her age.

Mary Jane stood to her feet, relinquishing herself from the apron around her waist and discarding it onto the table. With a smile, she followed Pamela outside of the diner, making sure to keep up with the redhead. “It is a beautiful day. Although, it’s tough to tell sometimes... especially downtown,” she said, glancing around at the anything but vibrant scenery. “So, what’s my first lesson?” She teased.

Perhaps it was out of line for Mary Jane to find comfort in Peter Parker. After all, he’d known Harry much longer than he had the redheaded girl next door. It seemed only fair that the Osborn heir had first dibs on his best friend. However, nothing had ever been fair in MJ’s life, and she wasn’t going to cater to the needs of a person that preferred to spend all their nights on whatever substance and partying with people that weren’t her.

“Peter,” she greeted with a half smile, as she opened the front door to her dingy apartment downtown. “Thanks for coming, tiger. I know you didn’t have to, so I appreciate it.” It was apparent to MJ that he was potentially the most reliable person in her life, second to Spiderman -- although, there wasn’t really a contest there when they both possessed the same heart. “I just feel terrible about what happened, but I couldn’t put up with it. He’s just so -- He acts like he doesn’t care, you know?” She explained, frustration present on her features. “He’d rather get high or drunk than spend time with me. I mean, am I really that awful of company?”