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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 13

"It was amicable." A mostly true statement. She had asked for the seperation. She had known for a long time that she'd been using Luke as a crutch for her own bad mental health and trauma. That was unfair to him.

It didn't make it hurt any less.

"I see him on weekends, when I pick up Dani."

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿. @thwipthatthwip.bsky.social · Aug 13

"Oh. Right."

He had almost forgot about the whole thing between her and Luke. A pause, he searches for words.

" ... Have you talked to him? At all?"

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 13

That almost illicits a chuckle from her. Unfortunately, she can see his point.

"Yeah, well. If you figure out an answer for how to actually talk to people again after being in a long-term relationship, let me know. I'm not much better."

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 13

That almost illicits a chuckle from her. Unfortunately, she can see his point.

"Yeah, well. If you figure out an answer for how to actually talk to people again after being in a long-term relationship, let me know. I'm not much better."

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿. @thwipthatthwip.bsky.social · Aug 12

"I was!"

He chuckled softly –– lightly biting the inside of his cheek.

"When you've been committed to a long term relationship like I have, you ... uh –– kinda lose all charisma," A beat. "Funnily enough."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

"Were you?" She mused, trying to add a playful tone to her voice.

She pushed all those hurt feelings deep down. She respected Peter too much to let that hurt affect the friendship. But it still hurt.

"I'm having trouble seeing evidence of that."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- "/I'm/ not even cruel enough to crush his ego like that again. Call the Spider."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- day, that.

"Well. You have my number." It was a promise, one Matt would know she wouldn't give to most. He'd done right by her for so long, she'd never turn him away, no matter what he needed.

"But if it's Scorpion or some shit, you're on your own. I beat his ass the first day I flew. -

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- say you're worried makes me think shit's going to fall apart tomorrow." She sighed at that. She wasn't a superhero. She didn't ever want to live that life again. It wasn't for her, it never was. But she still put on her boots, when friends needed her. When Luke--

Conversation for another -

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- years ago. Add onto that years of alcoholism and depression, and she was certainly an expert on pushing friends away or hurting their trust.

She couldn't judge him. And he'd always done right by her. Maybe that was because they were kidnred spirits, in that respect.

"Great. Hearing you -

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Thing is, Jessica understood. She'd been in that hero shit long enough to be churned over and processed by it. It wasn't her life, it never could be again. But she understood it better than most. Life... falls apart, around it. Hers still does for being tangentially related to it, all those -

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- always been able to see through her, ironically more than anyone else.

"Yeah, Matt. I'll stop by." She should probably tell him, if he hasn't heard from Danny or Luke yet. But not here, not now.

"I'm free during the week. Office hours, or?"

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

She didn't really know how to respond. She knew he was reaching out to her in a really genuine way. She also knew him well enough to guess that he could discern through her inflections or her dismissiveness, he had that kind of sonar for people, it was why he was so good at both his jobs. -

𝑴𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒘 𝑴𝒖𝒓𝒅𝒐𝒄𝒌 @fearlessddaredevil.bsky.social · Aug 12

Matt was a patient guy. He could sense every tiny hint of doubt in people's small gestures. A slightly more even breathing, a slightly faster heartbeat. He was good at listening and respecting that moment of reflection.

"My office is always open for you, Jess."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 9

She didn't reply immediately, her head turning to the side in thought. It was a... nice gesture. And during the week, she had precious little going on now that... well, now, anyway. She detested saying it aloud, but seeing Matt would be nice.

"Yeah." She said, tone even. "Maybe."

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

"Leadership?" She mused, batting off high praise in order to avoid the emotions that were born from them. "That's certainly something I've never been accused of being good at."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- could get through this morning without some kind of caffiene IV."

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Jessica's order was even simpler, just a black coffee. She didn't really drink it for the taste, she just need a shot of caffeine right through her body in order to keep her going, especially as she neared a full twenty-four hours without sleep.

"I appreciate it. Truthfully, I don't think I -

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Well, he did call her an alcoholic. Fair, but not the best conversation starter.

"It's fine." She replied, batting away his apology. "I'm sure you've had a long day. And... it's good to see you too."

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

"Were you?" She mused, trying to add a playful tone to her voice.

She pushed all those hurt feelings deep down. She respected Peter too much to let that hurt affect the friendship. But it still hurt.

"I'm having trouble seeing evidence of that."

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿. @thwipthatthwip.bsky.social · Aug 12

"Yeah, of course. That was ... dumb."

Him and his big mouth.

Let it die.

" ... Man. I used to be 𝙨𝙤 much better at talking to women than this."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Her reaction to him phrasing it like that was akin to a hammer blow atrop the temple. She wanted to walk into the ocean.

"It was a long time ago, Parker." She replied, pushing an edge into her voice, one that wasn't natural, and more protective. "Best to just let it die there."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- but it happens."

She doesn't like to leave New York. Really, she doesn't like being in moving vehicles. But, a job is a job. And her work tended to bring her into enough storms, this one was just... farther west than she was used to dealing with.

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

"Yeah, well, what can I say?" She gave a half-hearted shrug. "I've never really had the best timing, as evidenced by our meeting."

She gave a small wave to her in appreciation for opening the door, then stepped inside, returning the favor. "It's for work. Don't usually take jobs out of town,-

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

She wants to die.

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Her reaction to him phrasing it like that was akin to a hammer blow atrop the temple. She wanted to walk into the ocean.

"It was a long time ago, Parker." She replied, pushing an edge into her voice, one that wasn't natural, and more protective. "Best to just let it die there."

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿. @thwipthatthwip.bsky.social · Aug 12

" ... A little? It's mostly fuzzy."

Most memories seem foggy and almost dreamlike.

"All I really 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 was you watching me." A beat. "A 𝗹𝗼𝘁. Honestly, if I never knew you had a crush on me ... "

He stops himself. Yikes.

" ... N –– Not that you were, y'know, uh ... "

Shit.

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- "Not from the job, mind you. I'm shocked you remember me being a hero at all. I mean... school."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

|| Hey, take your time! I just want to make sure I don't leave anyone hanging, because I know some notifications have fallen through the cracks and not appeared for me at all!

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Reposted by Jones.

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 11

|| Hey, if I owe you a reply, please let me know! It's come to my attention that I may not be getting all my reply notifications for some reason, and I don't want to leave anyone hanging!

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- paying any more attention than you were. Long night, and I'm an out of towner."

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Jessica gave the woman a small nod of the head, sticking her hands into her pockets and joining at her side.

She was nice - nicer than Jess might have deserved. She didn't react especially well.

"Jessica." She replied, finally taking the woman in fully. "It's fine. It's not like I was -

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

Jessica didn't respond immediately, but her chin did tilt inward, her eyes blinking in one, very very slow motion. Her reaction bordered on shock; Peter, with a joke like that?

The years really had passed by.

"I like you, Parker. So I'm going to give you a pass on that."

"One pass."

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Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

- "Not from the job, mind you. I'm shocked you remember me being a hero at all. I mean... school."

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 12

"And 'Spider-Man' was better?" She huffed, eyebrow raising. "If you think it is, I think it's only because the mythos surrounding it. At least I knew my names were shit."

After a pause, she looked away, moving a strand of hair out of her face. "Do you... not remember me?" She asked. -

𝗣𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿. @thwipthatthwip.bsky.social · Aug 11

“My high school years were surprisingly my most tame.”

He chuckled softly — he glanced at her, almost eyeing her.

She was almost impossible to read as a person — he could never quite tell when she was being sarcastic, snarky or just bitter.

“I, uh, actually almost ran into you a couple times —>

Jones. @aliasjones.bsky.social · Aug 11

- "Besides, it's not like you didn't have your own shit going on."

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