Amazing!

"You clean up nicely, yeah. I think that's what I said. I could even go as far as saying you look handsome."

MJ wasn't going to call him out on the obvious staring, but she did like the attention. It was a warm glow in the pit of her stomach that she hadn't felt in God knows how long with Paul. Her self-esteem was something that she had put a lot of care and attention into. From an insecure teenage girl to the woman she was, MJ had fought for her confidence. She could be strong and independent but still enjoy the rush of being desired.

Rolling her shoulders back, the redhead attempted a calming breath. "That's because I'm an excellent actress, tiger. Trust my words, not my face. I'm not, like, throw-up nervous, but the jitters are there." Maybe the butterflies in her stomach weren't the gala. That would mean they were — god. She felt like a teenager with a school yard crush again. A crush on Peter Parker. History really did repeat itself.

"oh, is that what you said? thank you, that's very sweet of you." peter's tone was nonchalant, but the word handsome brought just about the dumbest smile to his face.

"I mean, I'm not exactly Mister Fantastic. My arms aren't that long." MJ cracked as she tried in vain to reach the zipper. She stilled then as Peter drew closer. The tug of the zipper tightened the dress, the fabric closing around her. A good dress was a shield, an armor. Add a little red lipstick and stilettos and she might as well have been invincible. Turning to face him, her breath caught as she realize how close they were.

"You're a life saver." And, surprisingly, right. MJ tried to avoid colors that weren't in her palette. She was only slightly ashamed to admit that she had once paid for someone to do an analysis on her. Some shades of red were doable, but orange was definitely out.

"--you want me to?--yep." peter nodded and walked around the side of the desk. for a split second he stared at the zipper, then he shook his head and reached for the tiny thing. He pinched at the fabric at the base of her dress and tugged at the tab upward with the other, trying to ignore the warmth of her skin against the back of his fingers....or the curve of her waist, dip of her spine....Peter cleared his throat.

"uh--" peter cleared his throat when she turned around. Christ, what was this nineteen twenty? had he never seen a woman's back before? he tried to reorganize his thoughts from the scramble they'd been turned into and focused. honestly? she'd look good in a paper bag.

Shifting realities were a mind fuck. Some things were the same, some different. It was just enough to almost get comfortable but never be able to fully relax. The Daily Bugle was in the same location, but the interior layout was completely different. As a result, it didn't take long for MJ to get completely turned around.

Under the wrathful of J. Jonah Jameson, everyone was scrambling around. Mary Jane may as well have been invisible as three different employees gave her the brush. Finally spotting someone fiddling with a camera, MJ approached him.

"yeah--i could--we could--yeah." peter nodded a little too quickly. his mouth was moving and he wanted it to stop. "its, uh, this way." he said, rounding his cubicle.

"you just started here, right?"

#ouch