12575/Reds Sticking Together

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Reds Sticking Together
Date of Scene: 26 August 2022
Location: Recreation Lounge: Triskelion
Synopsis: Betty and Mary Jane have a long, friendly talk.
Cast of Characters: Mary Jane Watson, Betty Ross




Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson is currently settled over in the Rec Room of the Triskelion where seh's fiddling over with one of the standard SHIELD issue general communications eqiupment. For some reason, it's flashing continuously that her biometrics are not matching what it is programmed to, and it keeps on giving her error messages and then shuts itself down. Mary Jane groans. "That's the third time today."

Betty Ross has posed:
    Red wanders in through the open doors, wearing civvies and apparently off duty as she glances around, then spots Mary Jane and heads over towards her. "Hey, what's new?" She eyes the equipment. "Having techy problems?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "Yup, I just got issued this and it's not working. Can you be a bit of a help? You're really good with these things." By the look in her eyes, amusedly, indicates what sort of 'help' she wants.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Ms. Watson, are you perhaps suggesting I would accidentally crush a piece of SHIELD issued equipment just because it may not be working as well as it should?" Betty says, looking amused as she flops down on the couch next to MJ. "What's going on with it?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Well, I could have some level of hopes. And it's supposed to be biometrically linked to the operator and pre-aligned." She quotes what she read of the manual during it's issuing. She goes to pick it up, and it gives a chime of 'system locked, user not recognized'.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Hmmm. Here, let me try. Sounds like the biometrics is screwy though. Either a bad sensor or bad data.." Betty says, cocking her head then holding out her hand. "I mean, I can't make it worse, at least."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would hand it over, "Sure." She would let Betty take it up. "I'd rather get it sorted out here than in the field. Or at least in a way that won't have me arrested for being an impersonator."

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty starts absently poking at it as it repeatedly beeps at her, then bangs it lightly against the arm of the couch, seeing if that changes anything. "I'm pretty sure you won't be the first person who had a bad read....military does things by the lowest bidder, after all." she says ruefullly.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It goes to then flash 'UNAUTHORIZED USER' and starts to flare over with a very, very annoying 'alarm' sound that has some other agents staring over for a moment, then going back to what they were doing. "Sounds about right." Mary Jane would 'guh' over at the noise.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Hmmm." Betty considers it, looking faintly annoyed and where she's at least pondering squeezing it to powder. Only the fact it belongs to MJ stops her from doing so, as impulsive as she is. "Welp...dunno. You could take it to the quartermaster, see if they can swap it out?" she suggests.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Well, yes. I'll probably have to do that. Is there any way to get it to stop that? I'd rather not have my ass ringing all the way up to where we requisition gear."

Betty Ross has posed:
"...weeeeelll...would you rather say it's defective or broken? Cuz I can definitely do the latter." Betty says, perking. "But otherwise, not sure. Get used to drawing attention to your ass, I guess?" She smirks a bit.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would let out a sigh, "Believe me, I'm very much used to that already." She would qiup. "And let's go with broken. That has the smallest amount of time they'll keep me there while they try and fiddlew ith it."

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty shrugs, then puts it between her hands and flexes her arms slightly. There's a sad little *crunch* of breaking equipment, then she offers the now cracked and silent gizmo back over. "We aim to please..."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile over and give Betty a big hug, and a smooch on the cheek, "Thanks Red, you're the best." It has also now stopped shrieking!

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty grins. "Hey, nice to be able to put my talent for breaking things to good use." she says with a shrug. "Say a truck backed over it or something?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Or that someone from the engineering department was passing around some munitions in the hall and it was caught in the way."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Either would be believable." Betty says dryly. "It's a good thing I'm durable as a recruit, because some of the others they've got going through recruiting tasks...man..."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smirk, "I see. I suppose that for most of the physical tests they have on hand you kind of are a bit outside the calibration scales they can use?" She would giggle. "Or do they have things on hand that can push you to your limits?"

Betty Ross has posed:
"They've got some things, yeah. I'm not the only super strong and tough person who comes by, I guess? Haven't run into a lot of them, but that Superman kinda guy who's not actually Superman maybe?" Betty says, frowning thoughtfully.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would cock her head, "That doesn't narrow it down much." She would note, dryly. "There are a lot of those types flying around. For whatever reason." She would lean back. "I don't presume to know, but I think you're int eh higher end of individuals that work with the agency."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Who aren't in the Avenger, yeah." Betty agrees, nodding slightly. "I mean, I can't fly so they've got that over me. Probably could give them a run for their money in an arm wrestling contest though." She grins.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would chuckle, "Yeah. Taking on high, fast fliers is tricky." She's had to go through that training simulation enough times. "So, okay to ask a question? It's fine to not answer as it could be kind of personal."

Betty Ross has posed:
There a raised eyebrow. "Sure, shoot." Red say, crossing her legs absently as she rests an arm along the back of the couch.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would lean back, "Would you take the opportunity if one of the.. Teams.. Wen to approach you on it for membership? Or is that not a cycle of life you want to ever pursue?"

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty purses her lips, leaning her head back until she's peering up at the ceiling, her black hair spilling over the back of the couch. "Hmmm...not sure. There's something freeing about having this power and being able to use it. But I don't want to end up like Bruce either." she admits after a moment of thought. "Then again, you could say I'm already in the life because of Bruce."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod over, "I understand that." She would just sit curious. Not judging either way. And not saying something about going to Bruce, or did she blame him.. "you're among friends here." She would take out a hand to squeeze Betty's shoulder.

Betty Ross has posed:
    The red amazon mmms a bit at the squeeze (like warm rock with slight give to it, her shoulder), before she peers over, smiling a bit. "Yeah. It's been a while since I really had someone I could trust...even if I didn't have much of a choice with joining."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would lean back, "Hey, you're a comrade. And we do try and make the world a better place." She would smile. "And we have a massive flying aircraft carrier. I think we win on the routine of what you thought was cool as a kid."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty snorts a bit at that. "I mean, it's definitely what my dad wished for. Never got it. Which is for the best, I shudder to think what kind of stupidity he'd have gotten into with an aerial aircraft carrier to go with his other Hulk killin' toys." She rolls her eyes a bit at that, then frowns. "...hasn't reached out to me yet. My dad, I mean."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "I'm sorry." She would take her hand up and over tos queeze Betty's. Torn on offering reassurance, but realizing it would be mostly empty on any end. "If it makes you feel better I'm sure he would've crahsed it into a mountain right away."

Betty Ross has posed:
    Betty carefully squeezes back, frowning a bit. "Eh. Fuck him." she says, shrugging her shoulders as she lets go again. "And probably. Or more likely the Hulk would have broken it in half during one of his escape attempts."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Yeah." Her tone agreeing. Even if not sure on the 'fuck him' bit. But hey, family. And she said the same thing to her own parents right before cutting off ties.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty sits up a bit. "Man, you put up with a lot of sad sap stuff from me." she notes, running her fingers through her hair, then shrugs. "End up talking a lot more like this than I do when I'm normie."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Hey, it's fine. You're a friend and you were a good sport on helping me with technical assistance when I requested it. So just repayig the favor."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty snorts indelicately at that. "Not sure they're on the same level, you know." she says dryly. "I mean, you must have more important stuff to talk about." She points at her noggin. "Like the guest in your head."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would wave a hand, "No, we get along very well. She's entertained,s he got to ride a unicorn a few weeks ago and nearly disemmber it too for fun so she's in pretty good spirits."

Betty Ross has posed:
"...so Grimm Fairy Tales sorta of unicorn then." she says amusedly. "Mmm. I do feel bad for breaking her sword though. Maybe we can get it reforged somewhere? They can do that, can't they?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Had it done, thank you. I do appreciate you checking up on it. She works pretty nicely. Still adjusting to the new balance."

Betty Ross has posed:
"I imagine they can make high tech version of it these days that'll probably be even tougher. I kinda miss that huge hunk of metal I had for a while, just about anything else I'd probably just bend or break by using it." Betty says, but smiles. "Glad to hear it, she seemed kinda upset about it.'

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "Thanks for understanding and I appreciate you following up on it. And yes. Sonja was fascinated just by how metallurgy's changed a lot as have forges."

Betty Ross has posed:
"I imagine the metals are a lot purer these days, even setting aside all the weird supermetals out there now." Betty agrees, nodding. "I'd be kind of curious to see the process where they have to make something out of that metal Black Panther has, for example."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would let out a sigh, "And I'm sure that whomever we have would love to make things out of it too. I'm not sure that the Wakandans necessarily want to give us any of it. But you could possibly ask him sometime and he might make an exception."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Hmm. Or ask Captain America to borrow his shield to play with." Betty says with a snicker. "I know that they have to do liquid metal for adamantine or something, because once it's shaped it can't be reshaped or melted.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Yeah. But adamantium's one of the strongest alloys on the planet if not hte strongest. I have no idea how they even run something to make things with it."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Prob'ly takes a big brain like Richards or someone to do it. Or that brainy girl in the armor....uh, Valeria...' she says aftera moment of thought. "There's always crazy rumors about what the Fantastic Four get up to."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would let out a sigh, "I'm kind of scared of her. I don't think I've met her. but she has lots of frekay things. You could probably meet her if you ever went to hang out with GIRL." The last report she read with GIRL involved 'shrinking submarine to fight disease' and she didn't go any further.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty smirks. "I'm not sure if she's forgiven me for using her invulnerable armor like a club." she says, shrugging slightly. "Also not sure if I'm allowed to be out in public yet."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Well, I would guess if you're not your big self you could go out and wander. You just might have to deal with people asking if you're suppoesd to be dead or not. But it's not like you're restricted to barracks when off duty."

Betty Ross has posed:
"I doubt I'm well enough known most people would recognize me when I'm not in big'n'red mode." Betty admits. "I haven't ever tried to be high profile and stuff. Most people would think of my dad or Bruce before me."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Sounds like a plan. Jus tnext time you're off duty go as yourself and wander the city and seew hat you can run into. Go shopping and get some things to personalize your quarters."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Couldn't hurt. Kinda annoyed I can't walk around like this but I guess I should let the heat die down a bit more still." Betty says with a grumble.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to pat Betty on the shoulder, "Probably. I mean the US Army probably does want to have a few words with you over the way things went. I mean, presuming they've moved past the whole 'their superweapons were stolen by a short green guy with a MODOK sized head' phase of the dignity well."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty sighs. "Well, I mean, it's not like they didn't get most of their stuff back. I'm sure SHIELD gave it to them, I mean. Eventually. Except the stuff they shouldn't have been doing in the first place, and fuck that." she grumbles. "I mean...I guess I get to keep my research, which can still help people."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "No, you're completely right." She would slide her hands down. "And I mean, it's the US Army. I'm sure they have lots of other stashes of superweapons about that they can use if they need to. They're like squirrels I swear. They have so many they forget where they're buried."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Oh man, you have no idea how much money goes into black projects where some politician gave some wacko an unlimited budget for supersoldiers or superweapons or whatever..."Betty sighs. "I've seen a lot of that. Why I'm skeptical of any military type saying they'll definitely destroy the bad research or stuff."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod and frown, "You're right, I'm sorry." Another apologetic squeeze of Betty's shoulder is given. "I have a friend around here I'm hpoing you can meet sometime. I'm sure you two would get along very, very well."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Nah, it's fine." Betty pats MJ's hand. "I've just kinda accepted it's life at this point. Oh, a friend? What kind of friend?" she wonders.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Well, she's nearly as tall as you are. Her name is Angela. You can tell her by her.. Let's, uh.. Her outfit is on par with Sonja's preferred combat uniform." She looks mortified. "And has lots of stabby ribbon in her hair."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Oh, battle bikini stuff?" Betty snickers. "I mean, I can't say much with my top, but in my defense it shifts forms with me so I'm not going to end up hiding in the bushes after a fight or something."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "I suppose there is that. And her's does function as real armor I guess." Since, Asgardian. She would slump over in her seat, covering up a fit of giggels.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Is that like the rule with magic armor for women, the less you wear the more magical it is at defending you?" Betty raises a brow. "Did you say she's got stabby ribbons?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "I wouldn't know! Sonja likes it because it gave her freedom of movement. And Angela.. Yes, her hair is very flowy and stabby and it trails ribbons which she controls with her mind."

Betty Ross has posed:
"What did she wear, the classic chainmail bikini from fantasy books?" Betty says curiously. "I always thought that would be uncomfortable on your boobs. I mean, I assume they wore an underlayer for the cups, otherwise sensitive things would get caught in the links....mmm, well, that's not the weirdest thing I've heard of as a weapon."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shudder, "She did. She was empowered by her goddess, Scathach." Mary Jane would elaborate, "So she never had any issues with it and I think it did actuallyhelp protect her. And on the times she's made me wear it I've used the underlayer." Don't ask how she was covinced into having a set of that armor actually made.

Betty Ross has posed:
"What was this Scathach a goddess of?" Betty says curiously. "I mean, besides warrior women. And how did she talk you into wearing it?" she adds with a grin.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "I can give you a disseration but Sonja goes on about how inaccurate modern interpretations are and that.." She was having the back and forth look on her face of having a rapid debate. "And Goddess don't ask me. I lost a bet!"

Betty Ross has posed:
"That'd do it." Betty commiserates. "I've never heard of her, but not really my field, I'm more what to name little cell bits."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Fair enough. And.. She gave Sonja a purpose and a cause. Which is more than most people of her era had."

Betty Ross has posed:
"That must have been weird, considering how little history seems to know about that period." Betty admits.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "Yeah. From.. W hat I can gather it's maybe fifteen, maybe twetny thousand years ago. Very little survived from then. Almost no ruins, almost nothing archaeologically to be excavated.. The Hyborean age excelled at slaughter and destruction."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Huh. Wacky." Betty says thoughtfully. "It'd be interesting to hear about sometime, but I'm sure you get her talking about it in your head enough already."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Yeah. They.. At least the areas she's from had very scattered settlements. Most large settlements were very attractive targets. Cities, castles.. They'd be attacked fairly often and sacked. Survivors enslaved. It was a very.. Brutal period that had some of the worst impulses of humanity put paramount." HEr face is troubled as Sonja's memories scroll past her.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty nods, her expression softening. "Sorry, I shouldn't make you remember that sort of stuff. I'm sure it was a pretty brutal way to live back then."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake ehr head "NO, it's all right. It's just strange. Like you're looking over someone's shoulder at a documentary. She didn't hate it. Then. HSe just accepted it. So when I look over it I get her perspective. Not that I agree with her, uh.. It was just all normal for her. So I get that emotional vibe."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty consider that, then nods. "Sort of have her...I dunno...discipline over thinking about it? Honestly I'm surprised someone who lived in those times and did all the stuff she's supposed to have had to deal with didn't give her PTSD or something..."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "I guess that's one way to handle it. And.." She would frown and bite at her lip. "Sonja was the type to cause terror an dslaughter at her presence. I don't think she ever felt it from anyone or anything else."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Huh. Well. Long as she pointed it at the right people, doesn't make no nevermind to me." Betty admits with a shrug. "I mean, maybe not the slaughter so much these days, but I've no problem with making bad guys feel terror."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would close her eyes, "I don't think it was necessarily the right people. It was the ones she was pointed at. And there.. Weren't a lot of good people then. Or causes. They didn't survive very long. And she made everyone feel terror. She was the She-Devil."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty mmms. "So she just..roamed around slaughtering people? Didn't have a cause or people she protected or such?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would roll her eyes, "Close to it sometimes. She worked as a mercenary, she would rob for a living and steal things. She did what took her fancy. She had things that enraged her an that were personal.. But she wasn't on any big, epic quest or for a righteous cause. She had her own wars and agenda.. But ultimately, it was her life."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Burn bright but live wild, I guess?" Betty says, nodding. "It must be hard to hold all that in you at times."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod after a moment, "Yeah. But she's part of me now. And we're together. And.. For as crazed as we make one another.. I know I'm never alone. I always have someone with me and I'm never by myself. So there's that."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty ponders that. "I guess...maybe that's something she didn't have either? Someone who was just with her along the way."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would close her eyes, "I don't know. She had things and people who meant things to her. There was this -really- bawdy bard that.. Goddess, no, I don't want to dig up those bits. And there's a.. Rival."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Ah. So not alone, completely." Betty says, nodding. "I imagine she's got LOTS of memories about that sort of thing..."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shudder, "Oh, oh yes. There's one thing that hides nor hells can I figure out if she's making fun of me for thinking it's real or not and I don't want to touch it."

Betty Ross has posed:
"I imagine she enjoys messing with you." Betty smirks a bit. "Has to be fun to tweak you about stuff, yeah."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would give a glare to herself, "She does. I keep on going on about how I'll get my revenge but everythin I see she can know and we share the same body." SHe would go on. "But, in turn I make sure she doesn't slaughter anyone and she has to use non lethal techniques so I consider us even."

Betty Ross has posed:
"I imagine that's annoying to her, yeah." Betty shakes her head a bit. "But I can see how it would be hard when she's in your head like that. Ooh, maybe you can find a way to exorcise her into a plushie or something. Fiercest teddy bear!"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to break into laughter, "I -can't- say that. I won't saythat to her. She's our -friend- Sonja! And no, I'm not letting you take over so youc an say it." She's cracking up with laughter.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Oooh, she sounds angy now." Betty teases, smirking, but looks pleased at MJ laughing over it.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would giggle, "I'd call it less angry and more, uh.." She would be in a titter over. "I'm not sure what the exact word is, but she's frothing."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty snickers. "Frothing? That's descriptive at least." She grins. "Well, she'll live...wait, no." She hmms. "Well, she'll get over it at least, I'm sure."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would let out a giggle, "She will. I'm sure she'll get revenge on me sooner rather than later, but it makes life interesting." She would lean over and give Betty a quick peck on the cheek if allowed

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty blinks at that, but doesn't seem to mind it, smiling slightly. "Well, glad I can help then. What does she do, wander around in your body when you're asleep?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
There would be a twinkle in Mary Jane's eye as she would sit back, "We.. Share space. Sometimes one or the other of us will be in primary control, other times we split it. Most often we tend to leave it ot one or the other just as both of us at once is chaotic."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty nods her head thoughtfully as MJ explains. "Sort of time sharing I guess. So you just agree when one of you should be in charge?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would give a nod, "Pretty much. If there's a fight I tend to let her be the one at the reins. Sometimes when we're talking on specific things."

Betty Ross has posed:
"So do you share skills sorta? Like...you know how to fight better, she knows more about modern life from you? Or is it still where you need to talk it out or let the other person take over to use skills?" Betty says curiously.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would consider over, "Ther'es a.. Lot of overlap. We're in a lot of discussion. She doesn't really care about the modern world or all these shiny things we have so she tends to mostly go quiet if it doesn't interest her. I defer to her in things where we fight or spar so long as she isn't getting brutal. SHe -wants- to talk now but I'm not letting her." As MJ is being petty.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Ah, so...mostly if it's not partying, fighting, or sex she doesn't care?" Betty says amusedly.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to break out into laughter, "Pretty much. Also carousing but since I don't exactly do that."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Hah, you're the age you're supposed to be partying your life away though." Betty says amusedly. "I mean, even I went clubbing sometimes when I was in school. Not a lot, but sometimes."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would chuckle, "life as a secret agent doesn't exctly lend itself to heavy binge drinking, much less legally or not. I can't exactly go to the Swordfish and ask for a keg."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh melancholily, "I don't get to go out clubbing anymore."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Well, not a keg per se..." Betty tilts her head. "You don't get to do it when you have down time?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would let out a sigh, "Yeah. Just really it's a matter of priority and focus and.. I like clubbing, but I like acting more." So what little spare time she has is spent chasing after auditions.

Betty Ross has posed:
"What type of roles do you like?" Betty wonders. "Like, on stage? TV? Movies?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Stage is great. TV.. TV is lots and lots of retakes. And I've only been an extra in them and that's all I ever would. I'm never going to be able to dedicate time to a long term production.. But it's nice to have auditions, to go out and do them, and go around trying to find parts."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty hmms. "What, only extras? I mean....not even like a murder victim for one of those CIS shows or something?" she teases a bit. "Mm, do you have a favorite sort of character to play?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would grin, "Betty, I am a young girl with little experience and an acting degree and no networking. The proper response to that is 'any part I can get'."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty makes a face. "Bah. You're not THAT young. You've got talent and looks too. I'm sure someone will see it." She purses her lips. "If they talk about casting couches though, tell me so I can break one over their head."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "I'd like to think so. It's mostly a matter of available time. I have a full time job already and I can get called away at any point from something I'm doing for it. That makes things more than walk on rolls suck."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Mmm. Actually, have you ever tried seeing if SHIELD PR could put you in a role? I mean, if it worked for Captain America, why not you too?" Betty wonders. "Though I don't know that it's the type of role you want. Or what they'd want you to do."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would huh, "I hadn't thought about it honestly. It's just.. A lot of time. A lot, lot of time. Being in ar ole is going to be a full time job, eight to ten hours a day five to seven days a week. When the show's closer to premiereing it's going to be like full time crunch job in programming."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Not a lot of time to do two careers like that, SHIELD and acting. Do you do modeling or stuff that takes less time?" Betty wonders.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would lean back, "Modeling does not take less time." She would grin, "Let's say I'm working on a commercial. Thirty second one. For toothpaste. That's a week of work, nine, ten hours days. Photo shoots take more time. Get up at three am to get to the location and do makeup. Hold the same exact pose for three or four hours. Go through the routine for another angle. Rinse, lather, repeat."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Really? Huh. I just thought it was one shoot or something but different poses." Betty admits. "I guess they want to get as many shots in as they can though to get just the right one for whatever they're advertising."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "No. If you need to take a photo from dawn exactly to get the sun going up, if you don't get it right over that thirty minute spready ou have you go back and do it the enxt day. And those two days will have a couple thousand pictures taken."

Betty Ross has posed:
Pursing her lips, Betty nods in understanding. "Right, outdoor shots. I guess I was thinking of interior ones where the lighting is artificial. Three to four hours of the same pose is unreal, I'd get so bored."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Yeah. So those you still have several thousand photos taken of you. And they always last multiple days. And the makeup for those is -way- more intense and involved. Much less the way the outfits are managed. The fluffer is there to pretty much make sure the double sided tape and spines holding things in stay at the exact centimeter."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty nods as she listens. "Huh. So you get paid by the time, or by the outfit? Orrrr by the picture?" she says, grinning. "It sounds pretty rough. I'm not surprised that it's really hard to balance doing that and doing something like SHIELD."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Oh, generally by the job. At the end of the day, you tend to make a litlte over minimum wage. And remember, you have the easiest part of it. You just mostly let other people tend you, dress you, and pose in a position. You're not someone having to take several thousand photos, hold up a lamp, tend to the makeup, the outfits.."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Really, only minimum wage?" Betty says, frowning. "I mean...you're bringing the looks and the hard work. Not like they can pull just anyone off the street who has your looks? That whole girl next door look going for you...."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would click her tongue, "Yes, and I'm one of several dozen if not hundred girls who will be auditioning for a role or trying to get it. You work your way up in the business, Betty. You take shitty jobs. You make contacts. You network. You get references. Same a lot if you're an actress. If I was being one I'd finish up my drama or theatre degree, then go and get parts as 'Extra Number Twelve' for a toothpaste commercial, or queen's maid for three or four years."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty tilts her head curiously. "So how long have you been doing this so far? I mean, sure, lots of pretty girls out there wanting to be actresses, but you've got the, uh...' She gestures vaguely towards MJ, thinking. "You're vivacious. You have a lot of energy and smiles."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Thank you. And once I figured my life out and I'd moved in with my Aunt Anna, I decided I wanted to act. Didn't realize what it involved. Was figuring out everything right around the time when I touched a sword and it made me cry."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go on, "And now I contain the spirit of a barbarian from tens of thousands of years ago and am a secret agent. Not th eway I expected to live my life."

Betty Ross has posed:
More frowns at the crying involved, but nods slightly. "So now you have to figure out what you can realistically do with both paths. I don't envy you straddling the line there. Graduate school was rough, but at least I only had one path to follow." She frowns. "Though considering how many tenure track positions have evaporated, kinda at the same spot for a while there, just I was scrabbling for fellowships and visiting professorships to avoid having to go home to dad and admit I couldn't do it myself.

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Hey, it's nothing. For now.. Well, this part of my life kind of has priority. I run out and still try to get auditions just to keep myself fresh. And also it's fun. IT's myway of letting things be normal for awhile. And it's just a different way of life. Any job has it's shitty phases. I'm sure that I'd have thought that being a scientist is easy as hekc. You sit down, tkae notes, plomp your butt at a computer and type."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Fun, huh? Well, I guess it can be fun, yeah." Red allows. "And SHIELD is definitely a place where a girl carrying a barbarian from ten thousand years ago can fit in at least." She grins. "Well, yeah, but that's the relatively easy part; to really get anywhere, you have to prove you can do new research, especially for tenure. And write books between teaching far too many classes usually. I don't miss that part, but I sorta went straight into nonprofit research thanks to wanting to avoid my dad forcing some military research job on me." She frowns. "I should have kept to that honestly, instead of trusting him this last time. But it really did seem like I could make a difference for people affected by gamma radiation."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile over at Betty, "Exactly. It's nowhere near like I imagined it. What I thought would be easyand lazy is really, really involved, tkaes a lot of time, suffering, effort, and lots of failures along the way. I think this is what we'd call a learning moment." She would tease over at Betty and then listening her go on, nodding gently. "I'm sorry."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Eh, it's done. At least the data was saved, so I can build on it maybe. If they let me near a lab, that is." She purses her lips. "For some reason they seem more interested in the big red version." she adds dryly. "But that's fine. It's been freeing, I mean. Being this me."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "That you should talk to Simmons on. He's the nicest terrifying guy you'll ever meet. Just ask him about lab access and he can run it up the chain and whomever will listen to him. He's the one who made my sword."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Is that the guy who tried to shoot me in the kneecap?" Betty says curiously. "Oh, wait, you mean the guy I accidentally clobbered in the lab..." She hmms. "I'm not sure. I don't know what I want to do there. I like being like this. I should be more worried about it, but I'm not when I'm like this."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would huh, "That's interesting. Uh, I.. That sounds complicated. how exactly you work this way, and what the difference is uh.. NEver mind, I'm digging my grave deeper, aren't I?" She would chuckle.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty flashes a grin. "It's fine. I'm aware of how I change." she says, reaching over to pat MJ's thigh comfortingly. "I mean, I know I got less filters like this. Less discipline. But I like it." She cocks her head. "The pathology of Hulks, you know? Changing brings out things we bury down normally. I don't worry so much like this, I leave that to little Betty." She rolls her eyes a bit. "I mean, I am still Betty, just more...highs and lows, y'know? I'd only really be worried if I ended up like Bruce...like the Hulk.' She frowns. "All anger and rage and not much room left for thought."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would look attentively. "That.. Bringing the filters down? That's interesting. And makes sense." She would purse her lips over. "And you should totally do a self help book. You could tell people they'd need to buy copies of it or Betty Smash." She would tease back and listen. "Bruce, I.. He sounds so miserable."

Betty Ross has posed:
    BEtty snorts. "I'll leave that for someone like Jennifer, she can deal with all the contracts and writing." She tilts her head, inhaling and letting it out in a long breath. 'Yeah. He is. I think cutting people off like he did for so long, it wasn't good for him. His monster is different than mine or Jen's. Not sure why. Maybe he just has more traumatic stuff repressed than we do."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "I.. Hope that whatever circumstance he's in is one that whatever it is can help himself find some level of.. Peace." Not that he'll get to keep it for long. "But, first time I have a jar of pickles I can't open, I am totally calling you."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty laughs out loud at that, shaking her head. "Sure, no problem. I'll come to your rescue for pickles."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "There we go. I know when I can call in my favor that you so totally owe me. Deal?"

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty grins. "Deal." she says, nodding. "Whatever you need. Well, within reason." She pauses. "I mean, unless it's to sub in on a modeling job."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Well Betty, if I ever have a modeling job that needs a woman of your tlaents, we have a deal."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Bah. Go get Jen, she likes the girly dress up stuff like that. Enough that she actually has outfits for it." She sniffs. "I don't even have a bikini or whatever they want you to wear these days."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would pff, "Exactly. You'd also probably scare most of them away. But there is a target audience for that sort of thing. I don't know, you could sell bikes."

Betty Ross has posed:
Another raised eyebrow. "What, like Harleys or something? I guess I could juggle some or something.' Betty says, a bit doubtfully. "I'd probably do better at a charity wrestling event or something though."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "I think it has more to do that if you tell someone to buy something, they're going to buy it as you ar ea very big, scary, and intimidating lady, Betty. I'm sure if you did a charity wrestling event you would have people lining up out the front door."

Betty Ross has posed:
"Hah! Well, that'd definitely be the hard sell." Betty says ruefully. She looks over at MJ curiously. "Do you find me intimidating?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would look over at Betty, "I do. Sonja doesn't. I happen tot hink you are amazing and also very, very scary." Her tone is teasing, relaxed.

Betty Ross has posed:
"Huh. Amazing, really? Scary I'm used to, but don't get called amazing often." Betty admits. She pauses. "Wait, what does Sonja think of me then?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would consider, "I think that Sonja would consider you a friend. She likes women of destiny that have the power to destroy cities and conquer them."

Betty Ross has posed:
Another chuckle escapes Betty's lips, her white teeth flashing. "Ooh, I like that. Women of Destiny. All caps." She mms. "I...would like to consider her one too. I already do for you MJ." She scratches her cheek sheepishly. "I'd have done a lot worse here without you."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would blush over and smile, "Thanks." She would cock her head, "And it's a privilege to be your friend. Sonja considers you someone that she would trust to watch her back while she was carousing."

Betty Ross has posed:
"That's high praise." Red says, perhaps more seriously this time. "Well, if we ever go out drinking sometime, we'll find out, won't we?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "Yup. Just no deciding that you're going to carry the entire bar back with you. And take care." She would stretch out and stand up.

Betty Ross has posed:
"I don't drink THAT much. That I know about." Betty says, standing as well. "Thanks for the talk though..nice just to have someone listening sometimes." She steps a bit closer, then more hesistantly leans down to press her lips briefly to MJ's cheek like the other girl did earlier to her. "I'm off to another classroom...take care, I'll see you."