17826/Redheads and Hulks

Redheads and Hulks
Date of Scene:	01 May 2024
Location:	Recreation Lounge: Triskelion
Synopsis:	Betty Ross returns to New York after two years away trying to cope with what she's become. But people come iwth it stress, and talking opens old wounds. And thus Red She-Hulk comes back.
Cast of Characters:	Mary Jane Watson, Betty Ross

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Mary Jane Watson has posed:
It's a quiet afternoon over in the Recreation Hall. Mary Jane is sitting at a table, wearing an off-duty uniform with a fresh set of bruises over her face. Slung over her back is a rather large baton with shock prongs on one end and a series of rubber handgrips over it. She's watching television offhandedly while occasionally nibbling on a plate that's filled with junk food.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross pauses before she approaches Mary Jane. She's been gone for two years and has rehearsed this moment a thousand times. However, she still doesn't know what to say, so she's going to 'wing it', as she has often done before. Two. Years. The weight of that time feels heavier on her now than it ever did before. She tries to stifle her negative thoughs as she approaches MJs' table slowly, stopping a few feet away, "MJ?" She doesn't know what else to say before her friend reacts to her sudden reappearance..

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
As the sound of someone approaching her rather timidly, there's a sudden shift around. Then a squee. Betty is very likely not used to being met by a squee. "Betty!" MJ goes to whip around over to give Betty a hug. Not a super tight one - she knows that can come across uncomfortably or agitate folks. "IT's great to see you! You been okay?" No asking of what the other woman has been up to the last couple years.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross doesn't know how to react at first, her arms stiff intitially, but she does return the hug, her arms wrapping around MJ firmly. She expected anger, confusion, some reprimand.. what is this?

Betty exhales before replying, "I.. I don't know where to start. Aren't you pissed off at me? I was gone for two years.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "Not in the slightest. I figured you were on a long term assignment, trying to figure out your life.. Or you'd just gone on some sort of bender and were time traveling or going through alternate realities." Betty was a Hulk, those sort of things happened all the time after all.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross blinks, patting her friend's back as she releases the hug, "No.. no nothing like that. I.. I ran away." She sits down, slumping a bit, the stir of Red She Hullk causing her to tense, but she exhales a bit, releasing the anxiety that -could- lead to anger.

"I ran away because Bruce and Jennifer found out.. about me. They found out that I'm not dead. They found out that my casket is empty.."

She breathes in, breathes out, wringing her hands, "I panicked.. I drove to the nearest port, found a cargo ship, snuck on, and found myself in China. I made my way to India by some miracle, avoided people, stole food, slept in the rain."

She manages to relax a bit as she continues, "That's where I've been mostly, in India, where I could just hide. I've been in isolation for two years, trying to sort out what I've done, how I helped The Leader.. and all the horrible things that happened because of what I did. I was afraid of facing them."

"I don't really know Jennifer, I just know that she's Bruce's cousin. It's Bruce that I'm so afraid of facing. He managed to control himself after.. becoming like this. I can't control myself, I can make an effort, especially when I don't have to encounter people much. In India that's what I did, I didn't make any friends, I managed to do some off the books work, small stuff just to buy food. I lived in a shack."

"Then I decided to come back, so I found some Albanians who were about to leave India, do something probably illegal in the US, and paid my way onto their boat. I kept to myself, ate my meals, slept.. it's a miracle I haven't caused anymore chaos."

"I.. I haven't been -her- for two years MJ.. two years.. and it just feels like she's about to burst most of the time. I don't know how I did it, I just avoided anything that could even potentially piss me off. The nightmares though.. it was like the other side of me was trying to break out through them.. so many nightmares.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Well, you're allowed to. Your life has been really rough. You're allowed to take some you time. Both of you are really. For figuring things out and getting to sort things out. I don't exactly think you've ever had any real space in your life." Among her dad, her degree, her job, Bruce, and everything else that ever went on in her life that drove her. She never really had, in MJ's mind, the time to actually do things of her own initiative or feel like things were dragging behind her shoulder.
    "And I get it. You were in a really bad place at the time. You made up for it. You also were just trying to make things better for you and for your friends. It's a mistake a lot of us made. But I don't think anyone really knew what he was at the time. So it's okay. You're forgiven and you don't need to ask for it."
    She would shrug. "And I don't know her either beyond reputation. And I'm not sure a lot of that is accurate or not. And you had a chance to figure htings out?"

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross nods slowly, "I never expected anyone to be this understanding.. I am used to people yelling at me, telling me I didn't do good enough, telling me that I'm.." She breathes out again. No. No not now. This is -not- the time or the place.. damnit CALM DOWN.

She shudders and clenches her fists, and manages to keep it all down, "It's just so hard.. I don't know how Bruce does it, feels all these things, and doesn't just flip out.. and Jennifer? She literally transforms and manages to stay sane in that form. What is wrong with me MJ? Why can't I do that?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would laugh, "Well.. I think I can dfinitely sympathize on that end. And I get it." At least Sonja does. And Sonja respects Betty's other. She would go to slide on down over. "Jennifer's different. I mean.. The way psychology is for you guys is a bit beyond my ken. I can tell you what I've read but I think you already know that. And good to have you back no matter what."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross can't help but stare at the table in front of her, "I know.. and I can't even imagine how much harder it would be if I didn't know anyone else like this.." She pauses, uncertain of her next words..

"But.. I need to get this out too. I like being her, I like being Red She-Hulk. That's her name right? Red, female, a hulk? I like being her.. that makes it so much harder to resist. But I can only do it if I'm not around anyone for long. Inevitably someone is going to piss me off, I won't be able to stop it from happening, and I'm going to wreck everything around me.."

"When I'm her? I have no regrets, no inhibitions, I love myself completely, and I feel like nothing in the world can stop me, judge me, or hurt me ever again.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod at Betty. "Well.. Then have you considered that it might be worth it to shift to her? It's going to happen anyways, and it's getting harder. Now that you're with people it's as you said inevitable. So letting her out when you want to means that you get to decide the circumstances of it. It might let you adjust some and it might let you both relax a little bit and get to know one another better." She's flippant, but she does have someone else in her head, even if it's not quite that bad for Betty.

"You get to choose the time and place. You have some control."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross slides her hands across the table, "You're encouraging me to just.. let her out? Definitely not here.. but that's a given." She looks around with worry, "I mean what do I do then? I let her out and then what? What if I do something else that I regret? I know I can't just ignore this part of myself but.. but I want to.. do better now. I don't want to help anyone else like The Leader.. ever again.."

"When I'm her? I'm not Betty anymore, at least not entirely, I'm someone else. Someone else who just.. doesn't give a fuck anymore. I become the woman I've always wanted to be, but couldn't.. it all just gets released. All of my rage, my pain, my scorn..."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shrug, "As you said, she's going to come out, Betty. You're worrying and getting agitated. THe more you hold back, the wilder it's going to be when she takes control. If you can do it in a controlled environment hopefully you can make it smoother. And.. She's just you, but uninhibited? She's still got your moral core. She's not going to do anything specifically to harm someone that she cares about. Sure, she might break a few thinsg and not care about it.. But you're not going to go on a rampage and hurt people that aren't trying to hurt you first. And you won't hurt civilians around."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross frowns, "I want to believe that MJ but.. but if that's true? Then why did I help The Leader? Why did I do those awful things? Why did I cause people to get hurt? I just worry that there's a part of myself that wants to do those things.."

"Right now? I know that I don't.. but what if that happens again? What if I lose control? What if I just want revenge on all the people who hurt me?"

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to take her finger up and poke at Betty's shoulder. "Yes, but you were tricked and manipulated. And when it came to that you helped stop him. You were afraid and went along with it. That doesn't make you a bad person. It doesn't make her one. It meant that when you figured things out you made the right decisions."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross sighs and nods, "But I could be manipulated again.. even when I'm her? I know you've never been.. me like that. I know that everyone has their own problems, everyone has to deal with other people trying to convince them that their way is the right one. It's just life.."

"But for me it's different, because if I choose the wrong side, innocent people could get hurt. When I'm her? That line isn't always so clear if someone is telling me that I'm doing the right thing. It's just so hard to tell sometimes. I know that we learn from our mistakes, I know it won't be as easy now, but it could still happen."

"That's what I'm worried about. I want all of this rage to be channeled against villains and monsters who deserve it.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would go to hug over Betty again. "Wlel, that just means you and her have to be on the same page. Uh.. I'm nto making it worse by referring to you two as separate things, am I? But you have to be able to trust yourself and be comfortable. Because mind over matter and if you are afraid of what will happen it's going to. You have to be aware that things iwll happen and you can't hate yourself. Because if you're already loathing it and terrified of it going into things.."

She would take her hand out to squeeze Betty's. "I know you don't necessarily have a lot of folks you're close to, but pretty much everyone you do know I bet can take it."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross smiles, "First of all I want to thank you.." She recieves the hug and returns it tightly, "Secondly.. and I don't know if this is too soon but.. maybe I should talk to Bruce? I know he can help me. I know I have a lot of explaining to do since he hasn't seen me since.. well he hasn't seen me as Betty for a long time."

"But his experience as.. this.. is more similar to my own experience, versus Jennifer who seems to have few problems at all. Yeah I envy her, but that won't get me anywhere. I need help.. and I can't be.. so afraid of asking for it. I know he's not going to berate me like my father would. He might be pissed off, but he's not going to go too far with it. I need to face him at some point anyway.."

"And you're right.. I need to let myself release all of this.. two years worth of restraint. It can't be healthy.. not for someone like me. I have to transform again. I could go somewhere isolated, like the desert, in Nevada, or somewhere around there. Lots of rocky structures to punch.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "I really don't know. I don't know Bruce and this is a lot more of a personal thing than I feel like I can give you feedback on. I hate to be the person to say it but that's something you have to figure out on your own." She's being very honest with her limitations and what she knows and doesn't know.

"ANyways.. If you need it you can do it with me. Whenever you go out. You can go tot he Asgardian Embassy. They love boozing and a brawl. You can go to the Themysciran Embassy. They know how to help find internal peace and train. It's really a lot of what you feel is a good outlet. And I know that you're not going to smash me up that badly, even on accident." She got along reasonably well with that other persona.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross thinks and then smiles again, "Themysciran Embassy.. that's a lot of badass women for sure. Maybe they would understand better than most. You know what? I think that's the best place to do this. They're skilled warriors, durable, and know what it's like to be filled with rage. I know they aren't like -me-, but they are certainly more capable of keeping me in check than some random hiker in Nevada.. yeah probably better to do this there."

"And as for Bruce? You're right, I know you're right, but he's going to find out where I am. Especially if I contact Themyscria. Wonder Woman knows him I'm sure. I wouldn't ask her to just keep a secret like this. I don't even know her.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Yeah, and the Asgardians will enjoy it if you try and drink them under the table and make a huge brawl of it. Uh.. I guess less try. They probably can keep up with it. And the embassy probably gets leveled pretty often." She would quip over and move to take her hand up and over to lightly squeeze the shoulder of Betty again.

"Approach Bruce if you feel like it's a good idea. Or don't. Also remember you don't have to make a to-do list and commit to it right away."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross sighs, "With Bruce I just feel like it won't be better, or worse, to do it now, or later. It just needs to happen and it's going to gnaw at me until I do it. He believed that I was dead for so long.. and I didn't want to tell him. Then he found out that my casket was empty. It doesn't necessarily mean that I'm a live, but I'm sure that caused him to feel.. a lot."

"At the very least, he knows what I am going through, and I don't think that he wants me out there, out of control. I know he's not going to be happy that I just.. disappeared like that. But there's no way he wouldn't understand why I did it."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "It will happen if it does. I don't know how or when if it does. You can choose the time nad place. And I'm sure that if you don't initiate it he'll give you space. Or at lesat check in and make sure you're okay. I don't know the history between you two though. So don't necessarily expect me to be right or anything. And.." Her lips would twitch upwards a bit.

"I do think it's kind of adorable that you're so worried about him and what he's going to think. It's really cute." She's teasing. Hopefully enough to get a laugh from Betty.

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross sighs, "I tried to help him when he first became the Hulk. We are close, and there has been.. attraction. But that was a long time ago.. and I can't say that I even care about romance at this point, I have too much in my head, and in my soul. He's a good man who handled this much better than I did."

"So I hope that satisfies any curiosity you might have.." She raises a brow, then grins, "I mean I get it.. anyone who knows me as well as you do, definitely would be wondering. But no we aren't in a relationship like that. But we do understand each other.. and that's something that I need.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Well, it's good to know that you have someone who understands you there if you need it. Or if you don't. Hopefully that's reassuring for you to know." She would go to take her hand out to squeeze Betty's. "And I also think he knows what it's like to be afraid of yourself better than about anyoen else in the world. And I think that he's probably stronger than almost all of us in the world for being able to forge ahead."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross nods with a smile, offering her own light squeeze, "Yes and that's why I need to see him again. I hope that he can.. teach me somehow. He's been at this longer than I have, many years longer in fact, and he hasn't destroyed the planet. In fact he's done a lot of good. There's.. something that he's learned, something he understands, that I don't."

"MJ I don't have control, I just transform, and then I'm her. I change completely. I know that we're the same person, but it's as if there are two minds inside of me. We influence each other regardless of who is in control, but when I'm her? I'm not the Betty you know.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod, "Do what you think is best. And I first met you when you were her, Betty. I've spent more time with her than I have with you. So it's okay. She's not a stranger. And honestly? I know I'm sabotaging this by saying it out loud and karma's gonna bite me, but you're far from the freakiest person I've spent time with. Don't give yourself that much credit. There are way, way more over the top folks out there."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross sighs again, struggling with her thoughts, "I know.. but this is me as I've been my entire life, just without the risk of my rage causing me to transform into something that I wouldn't have ever believed was possible, until I saw Bruce transformed. My father introduced me to him, at first it was just about research, then the accident happened.. it was so stupid to think that a gamma bomb was going to make the world a safer place. But that's the military for you.."

"That's when my world changed forever. I was just a woman who wanted to use science for good. I've always had mental health issues, for a lot of reasons, but being Red She-Hulk just.. makes these issues more prominent."

"I just want you to know that I am Betty Ross, and no matter what I do when I'm transformed.. I'm Betty Ross in my soul. I am -your- friend and I am just so glad that you are here in my life."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would smile, "THen I'm here for you. So long as you'll have me. And youd on't have to worry on freaking me out or hurting me." Her best friend was bitten by a radioactive spider. She's met clones. She's met people from other times. Other realities. She's run into a lot of things. This doesn't phase her.

"And rmeember also that when you are her you're -also- Betty. And that in the end seh might not have inhibitions, but she's also not gonig to do anything that you wouldn't. She's going to still be you. And she's not going to hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross nods, "I still struggle with my father wanting me to help Bruce with his research on the gamma bomb. That was the start of it. The accident with that bomb is what turned Bruce into the Hulk. Very few people know that, but I'm just so tired of it being a secret, because he didn't deserve that. I know he's done a lot of good, but that shouldn't have ever happened."

"My father is not a good man. He's arrogant, selfish, and has a lust for power that is just.. sickening. My mother's death broke him and he couldn't deal with it. I had to watch him turn into this.. and now he's the monster he always wanted to be."

"If I meet him again transformed? It's going to be more than words.. he'll be able to soak the punches but my words will cut him to the core. I know I've said a lot of things to him already.. but at this point? It's just not enough yet.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "Your father's an asshole. And he has the power to do a lot of scary things. He has done a lot of scary things. And he's not going to listen to anyone other than himself no matter how wrong he is or the circumstances. And he'll go through it no matter what or what the collateral damage is. And he'll hve no regrets on it. You can't reach him. It's okay to still love him. Or to not. But what he is is on him. It's not your fault. It's all on him. And the regrets are only him."

She would go to move to give a hug over to Betty. "Then accept when you see him again you'll likely be punching him in the face and he deserves it."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross laughs and squeezes MJ, fortunately not having supernatural strength, "You're so right! I'm going to beat him over.. and over.. and over.. he's going to wish it could end. But it can't.. we can't kill each other. It's just not possible.. it's just like how neither Bruce or Jennifer could kill me, and I couldn't kill them. We have the same powers.. mostly."

She releases the hug, "I can absorb energy, but I don't know if it works on my father, or if he can do the same thing. I assume he can, but it's not like we've had a discussion about it. Bruce can't do that, neither can Jennifer I assume." She sighs again..

"Gamma radiation is unpredictable. If my father can do all the things I can do? Bruce might be in trouble.. my father hates Bruce with a passion, all because we were attracted to each other, and he felt like Bruce was a 'weak man.' It was pathetic.."

"Regardless of anything else? My father is no doubt plotting to kill Bruce. He's been trying to do it for years and he's never going to stop. Now that he has the power to challenge him personally? It's just a matter of time before that battle happens. And it won't be pretty.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would nod a bit, "Well.. You can always just pass around that he's just a large sentient mustache. I mean, we know everyone wtih goatees are evil. So you can just spread that around.. Or tell epople he's gone bald and uses a toupee. And sneak in at night when he sleeps and shave him and draw on his face. I'm pretty sure you could sneak up on him that way. Or hack a broadcast he's doing where he's ranting and make bunny ears on his head. You can at least try and take some of your edge off. And if people see him as not an all powerful guy who can do and get away with anything.. Then that might make them less prone to listen to him. And give him a bit less overwhelming authority to work with."

She would think over. "Or you could just ask the army why the're listening to a stupid air force general, don't they have any pride? And do they really want to let the guy wtih wingnuts tell them what to do? What's next, doing j-pop dances for marines?"

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross laughs, "Yeah.. that would be hilarious.. but MJ I.. I don't want to prank him. I want to hurt him.. I want to beat him to a pulp. And it's like fate has made it so that I can.. but he won't die. It's as if my family has this.. destiny that has been in the making for so long. We have to beat it out of each other and there's no other way. My father doesn't know any language other than violence."

"I am going to have to fight him. And then we are going to have to capture him and keep him locked away forever.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would sigh, "I don't know what to think on that. I don't know what to say. But I also don't have the right to judge on it or to say what's right or what's not. That's something I don't feel like I have the right to make a statement on. I odn't know if I'd support you on it if you tried to do it." She's honest and up front.

Which may or may not hurt Betty. But being honest and direct is what MJ feels is the best thing. "And I'm not going to change my opinion of you for that, no matter what."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross frowns, "I know you may not see things the way I do.. but he can't be allowed to freely do the things that he wants to do. He wants to kill Bruce.. do you think he will stop there MJ? You don't know my father like I do.. he sees 'threats to America', and then he makes those people his personal enemies. He never stops hunting them. And now that he has this power? It doesn't matter that his career got ruined, he'll keep doing it. He might even tell himself that he's doing it for the good of the country, but it's just his sadism."

"He needs to be locked away just like so many other villains with that kind of power. He's not the only one, I know he isn't, but this is one villain I can get to easily.."

Mary Jane Watson has posed:
Mary Jane Watson would shake her head, "I don't know him. I know what he wants to do. That's also part of why I don't think I have the right to say either way. Because I don't know him. I know what he's done, but only with the perspective of someone watching it on the news. So I don't have the right to say either way."

SHe moves to take Betty into a gentle hug if allowed. "And breathe, Betty."

Betty Ross has posed:
Betty Ross does accept the hug, but she's shaking, tears are forming in her eyes, she can hardly take it. Any. More. It's going to happen, she's just too angry. Betty Ross cannot stop thinking about her past, about her father, about how that damned gamma bomb research turned what was already a downward spiral in her life, into rift current of existential crisis. Indeed a black hole that she feels she can never escape from. Her hatred towards her father, in this moment, overrides any love she might have ever had for him. Two years of pent up, restrained emotions claw their way out of Betty, and manifest as yellow eyes..

Betty breaks away from MJ, her skin starting to turn red as she buckles a bit, her knees quivering as she nearly kneels as muscles grow, bones lengthen..

And then she roars, screams, no doubt causing anyone else nearbye to panic. Red She-Hulk immediately turns away from MJ once the transformation is complete, and charges through the nearest wall, and begins to make her way towards her father.. or at least she believes that she is. In truth? Red She-Hulk has no idea where she is going. She just wants to find her father..