sixwordstories | (no subject)

Talk to me.

( As she slides a cup of cocoa across the table, despite it being August. )

(EVEN BIGGER SIGH)

UGH Gweeeeeennnnnn.

(Takes deep breath)

Harry keeps trying to basically buy my affection...it's so irritating. I get that he wants things to move further and for us to become..."exclusive," (MJ has a look on her face that looks like she smells something bad) that's his word, not mine, but like...you can't get me to be your "girlfriend" through jewelry and flowers. I don't even wear jewelry! Ugh!

( Gwen sits down with her own mug, weather be damned. She will have her cocoa. )

Does the problem lie in the gifting? Or is it because of the exclusive suggestion?

Because, I mean, that wouldn't be the worst thing. Speaking from experience.

(MJ takes a big sip of her cocoa, she needs it. She is briefly distracted by the deliciousness of the cocoa. Gwen's dad sure knew what he was doing in the sweet beverage department. As the taste slips away, she's brought back to reality)

Um...I....I mean...

(Obviously Harry's suggestion of being exclusive is the problem, but the last thing MJ wants to do is discuss her trust issues. And what she really doesn't wanna do is discuss how much she really likes Harry.)

I just think he and I are great right now, why should we change things?

(Just the suggestion of change makes her need more cocoa.)

( Gwen listens with pursed lips, not quite seeing the full picture just yet, But she is a sharp girl. She will catch on eventually. Committment is nothing for her to fear, especially since she and Peter so easily fell into relationship land so early in his courtship.

And, honestly, dating a superhero is a trust building exercise in and of itself. Once you know their secret identity... )

There's nothing wrong with taking another step, MJ. I don't think you can fault him for wanting a little more commitment?

Edited (YEEEP.) 2012-08-05 04:06 (UTC)

NO. No, I can't fault him, that's the problem.

(She adds more marshmallows to her cocoa with a small pout because she knows she's gonna have to talk about feelings. UGH.)

It's just...what if becoming this...couple thing changes what we have? I guess...I really don't wanna end up hating him someday...

(Mom and Dad have showed her that not all unions end in happy endings. Not everyone can be Pete and Gwen...)

( Gwen taps her chin with her folded hands, thinking on this. )

But, isn't that that point? Making the leap? You know better than most that taking chances is, well, the stuff of life. Nothing would be accomplished if we didn't jump.

(She knows Gwen's right...)

I...yeah, I guess. (MJ thinks a bit more...) I guess I'm just so cautious because last time I "took the leap," it didn't turn out so well. And...well...(She can't believe what she's about to say)I like Harry a lot more than I liked that guy. So if something went wrong it would feel like way worse, you know?

( Have a Look, MJ. )

Seems to me that you're already setting yourself up for the worst.

(MJ is momentarily taken aback by Gwen's bluntness.)

Yeah. I know. I do that a lot. It's just people can be so...disappointing, I guess is the word? And I don't know what will disappoint Harry more: me refusing to be his girlfriend or me being a bad girlfriend.

( Gwen, though not the most eloquent, has moments of utter clarity and this is one of them. After all, she is still a sensible lady. )

I think the first. It's better to give it a chance than to never have tried at all. ( The real phrase concerns love and loss, but this conversation is not about scaring MJ off. )

(Gwen's short sweet piece of good sense feels familiar to MJ. Whatever it reminds her of, as always, she knows Gwen is right. She snuggles into the comfy chair in Gwen's room.)

...I'm making this way too difficult for myself aren't I? Did you feel at all like this when you and Pete were in relationship limbo?

No one ever got anywhere by just sitting still, after all.

( She hates using cliches, but it works in this instance, and her advice seems to be taking effect on Mary Jane anyway. ) I think we both just really liked each other and things fell into place naturally.

Okay...I guess Harry and I are in the natural pace of things...(Suddenly MJ has a thought, why didn't she ask this before?)

Gwen, I know we're different people and whatnot but...do you ever feel, like, stifled or something in your relationship? Like, do you feel you can still be you even though you're part of a pair?

{ The very concept is such a foreign thing to Gwen, changing herself to fit a relationship. She's always been her own person, with quiet confidence and keen patience. Peter liked her for who she was to begin with, so why change? )

Of course I feel like I'm still myself! I mean, compromise is something you just -- have to get used to sometimes, but coming to agreements are healthy when you're dating.

Boy Probs? Should we get Icecream?

(MJ thinks for a minute. The concept of losing yourself in a relationship hadn't even occurred to Gwen...so what was MJ so concerned about?)

Okay...so like, if I wanted to pursue this...thing with Harry, I fee ridiculous even telling him so after giving him the runaround...

(Ugh, it's always something with you, Watson.)

( Gwen just lifts her hands in a half-frustrated gesture before leaning in and speaking in slow, quiet tones, a picture of patience once more. )

Come on, Mary Jane Watson, stop making a big deal out of a little thing.

(MJ suddenly looks really uncomfortable.)

Okay. Fine. I'll admit it.

(MJ says the next part quietly.)

I wanna be Harry Osborn's girlfriend.

( Gwen just grinny grins from behind her mug. )

A-ha.

(MJ feels both liberated, thrilled and impotent/out-of-control at the same time. So she does the only thing she knows she can do in the moment and takes a bite of one of the brownies Gwen's mom brought in a while ago.)

Shut up.

(MJ silently hopes Gwen knows that's her way of saying "thank you" for making herself open up.)

No. The boy's not the problem, I'm the problem. And thanks, but I'm pretty sure ice cream can't solve me.

(SIGH)

Boys are always the problem. And Ice Cream can solve everything.

(MJ gives a small laugh.)

Ha. No seriously. It's me. Do they have ice cream that can defeat one's pride? If they do maybe that would work.

Blue-Chew will do that. It's blue raspberry with fizzy rainbow sour candy bits.... Best thing for Pride, and if you burn the top of your mouth with hot pizza sauce.

( Mary Jane doesn't need to say anything, really. Gwen takes the thanks in stride and waits for MJ to set the brownie on the plate again before tapping her nose with her forefinger, reaching to repeat the gesture on her friend's nose. )

Yup.

(MJ permits and accepts Gwen's boops. Something Pete and Harry still don't understand. Reality of her confession sets in and she begins to twist her lips around.)

Okay...now what?

Blue-Chew, huh? Good to know. I'm more of a white chocolate person myself, but maybe I'll try it sometime.

It's totally the most amazing ice cream. If you let it sit for a bit, the rainbow fizzy candies sort of melt and get chewie. Hence the blue 'chew' part.

Spring it on him, spur of the moment. I think he'd like that, maybe.

It's better than leading him in for a sit down and a talk. That might make him nervous, you know?

(MJ tries to map out the scenario in her head.)

Okay...so when we see them tonight I'll just like...grab him and let him know what's what?

Well, you don't have to physically manhandle him, but I wouldn't have a huge build up.

Keep it natural, but casual.

(MJ playfully rolls her eyes. You're so literal, Gwendolyn.)

Well I was joking but maybe now I'll do it just because you said that.

(MJ gives Gwen an eyebrow wiggle)

No! That wasn't what -- I -

Well, I didn't mean you should -

Never mind.

Relax, Gwendolyn! I was kidding.

I'll keep it classy. Harry and I are a classy pair. Some experts say we're a classier couple than you and Peter.

(MJ then catches herself, she decides to make the distinction before Gwen does)

Well...okay except that one night last Halloween when you and Peter left me in an empty Osborn mansion with Harry, wine, and horror movies. I admit that was not one of our classier moments. It was sweet, but not so classy.

(MJ isn't actually at all upset with Gwen and Pete over that situation, she can just hold a pretend-grudge like its no one's business)

( Gwen looks at her with the Most Pointed Expression in her eyes. She emphasizes this further with a point of her index finger. )

What --

Okay, you two clearly wanted us out anyway. Peter and I had things to do in the morning, so it was just ... natural. ( Also Peter so owes her money about what transpired that Halloween. Money or a brownie. She'd be content with either. )

(MJ admits her memory of that evening is a bit...hazy but she does not remember wanting them to leave. She does remember how good Harry looked dressed up as James Dean but that's beside the point.)

UhhhhWHAT? What sign at all did we give you that showed we wanted you to leave? You know what I think? I don't think you had things to do the next morning, you guys wanted to leave to go have some fun of your own! And because of your absence events just...transpired between me and Harry.

And if Pete buys you a brownie because of that night, I want half.

(Play-fighting with Gwen was one of MJ's favorite things.)

( Gwen wrinkles her nose. ) You want me to give you a detailed description? Because body language reveals more than we could possibly want to reveal about ourselves. For example - I can tell that you're really not upset with me or Pete for what happened.

And yes, that's fine. I'll ask him for walnuts.

I have no idea what you're talking about. I think you and Petey just wanted to go...play house. Though I admit what I remember from that evening was fun, I will not say "thank you." Except to Harry, but only because he was very helpful in nursing my hangover the next morning. (Lightweight MJ)

How did you know I'd want walnuts?

( Gwen shrug. Sure, sure, Watson. )

I am the all knowing Gwen Stacy. That simple.

(MJ nods and shrugs vigorously)

Good. All-knowing. Then that means you know you and Pete left me and Harry to go do some experiments with each other that night...

What like -

( Gwen almost asked a really dumb question, but at least she stops herself from saying something she might regret. ) Oh, I don't want to hear about that, MJ.

(For an intellectual, Gwen sure is famous for her fragments, thinks MJ. She's still gonna press her. She wants some girl talk. Isn't that what you're supposed to do with the girl who's dating your soon-to-be boyfriend's [using that word is still weird for MJ] best friend?)

You don't have to hear about it but let's talk about it. Girl talk, let's go! You and Pete have fun, right? It's only fair you share, you guys seem to have all kinds of ideas about Harry and I.

( Gwen can do most areas of girl talk. She can be normal sometimes, after all. But talk of more intimate scenarios is still something she prefers to dance around. )

We -- have good times. ( She at least sounds certain about that. Peter and Gwen hadn't crossed that threshold until much later in their relationship. ) Yes. Good times. That is what we have.

(MJ sighs. She knows she and Gwen are different in this department. Not that MJ is a fast girl. She really isn't. But there was wine, and that asshole was wearing a leather jacket. That's what she kept telling herself whenever she asks herself "How did I let that happen?")

Good times are...good. Keep your secrets, Gwendolyn.

l(IDEA TIME, MJ)

Let's surprise the boys tonight, let's do something.

( They're not really secrets - and she has no idea what MJ might even be picturing at this point - Gwen just doesn't know how to talk about it. She can talk about genetics and biochemistry but this? This is something else.

She raises her eyebrows at the suggestion. )

Like - what kind of surprise?

I don't know I was hoping you'd fill in the blank.

(Technically MJ already had her surprise for Harry)

( Gwen makes a few empty gestures before fluffing her bangs to the side, coming up with absolutely nothing. )

I'm coming up short.

(MJ starts to think, her eyes narrowed.)

We cannnn...........make them pancakes! Boys like pancakes.

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Gwen is the smartest ladybro

Top of her class, man.

Re: Top of her class, man.

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O_o Omg self, the spelling.

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