mk robinson wants to be a star. (hitjackpot) wrote in doorslogs, @ 2012-11-06 20:32:00 |
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Entry tags: | belle etoile, mary jane watson |
WHO MK and Val
WHAT reunited and it feels so goooood.
WHEN today!
WHERE the comic shop.
WARNING none!
Val thought this whole journal business was a lot cooler now that she knew some people that were on it. It was definitely a blast from the past kind of thing, but she could dig it. Didn’t mean she was going to stop referring to people as So-and-So Journal. She laughed quietly to herself as she picked through the displays, gathering up her favorite Mary Jane Watson comics like she’d promised she would for Little Robinson. It was crazy to think that she was all grown up but time passed for everyone the same way, didn’t it? It got her to wondering how Gina was, if the old number she had for her best friend still worked, and all that fun stuff. She’d just ask MK since she wasn’t so sure Gina would be receptive to contact after all the years of radio silence. Sometimes people just drifted apart and sometimes they came right back together. Val smiled softly, thinking about Adam for a moment before she snapped herself out of it. The comics she collected went into a Marvel Spider-Man themed gift bag, along with a bag of goodies for MK. It was crazy to think she was some kind of addict, but Val didn’t judge. Out of the two Robinsons, she figured it’d be MK to go that way, instead of Gina. She paid for the comics (and the drugs) out of her own pocket, but it’d be worth it. She could start charging the next time around and it’d be great. Seven would be happy he’d acquired her and hopefully not ask about the French lady’s voice in the back of her mind. The door opened, the little bell clanging the way it usually did, and Val looked up to see who it was. Instead of the familiar faces she usually saw at The Comic Shop, it was a tall redhead that definitely looked like she could be a supermodel. Val whistled and then grinned. “You weren’t kidding about being all grown up, Baby Robinson. Guess I might actually have to start calling you MK.” To MK, Vegas was turning into a revolving door of ghosts of the past. First, of course, were Wren, Luke, and Simon when she first arrived. Then, Adam, and that Ainslie, and now Valentina Moretti, her older sister’s childhood best friend, managed to get a journal and a key and a voice in her head. MK was one hundred thousand percent sure that the universe was fucking with her at this point. That she, Maddie Kate Robinson, was the personal joke of whatever deities or higher power resided in the cosmos up above (not that she believed in either of those, of course). And she absolutely hated it, a hate that left a funny taste in her mouth and caused her to reach for the bottle over and over again since she left Adam that night at their -- his -- apartment. She wanted to wash out feelings, any and all of them, and any thought of the vigilante doctor who stole her heart. He was angry at her for letting him fall for her? Well, she was livid for allowing herself to do the same. So, it was distractions as usual. Clubs and bars and pills and blow and whatever else she could manage to clasp in her tiny fingers. Today, she was making a call to the comic shop Val owned just off the strip, and she almost left her hotel room with a clean system. But, she stumbled on pictures of Adam out and about, and she couldn’t handle it as usual, so a flask of whiskey followed along for the ride. She downed most of it before even stepping foot into the store, and though she certainly feeling nice, it wasn’t a visible problem yet. Still, she strolled into the shop with sunglasses still on, high-heeled boots to make her appear taller, and a wide smile on her face. “People might disagree about the grown up bit,” MK said, strolling over to where Val stood, taking off her sunglasses. Her eyes were only slightly red-rimmed from the tears cried earlier over that ex-boyfriend, and she was chewing gum to mask the stench of the whiskey. She looked, for all argument’s sake, straight out of the tabloids that she covered on a weekly basis. Completely out of place at a comic book shop. While Val was generally pretty good at reading people - something she’d started to pick up on back when she’d first became friends with Adam - she didn’t really pay much attention to it on a daily basis. She wasn’t the kind of person to manipulate people or try to work angles to her advantage. She’d always been a very honest person, and honestly clueless half the time even if the skills and knowledge were there. So she noticed the redness and the gum chewing that was new, but she didn’t comment or care all that much. MK was her high school best friend’s little sister. Wasn’t her job to comment or criticize. “Dunno. I guess if they haven’t seen your boobs? Unless you’re talking about the partying thing, in which case you just have to remind them that you’re in your 20s and a fucking supermodel. People have like, unrealistic expectations of other people and it’s just stupid. Let people live their lives how they want, that’s what I say.” Val shrugged. “And hey, if you bring some camera happy stalkers around, I get some publicity for the shop. It’s like a win-win-win, I guess, yea?” She grinned and leaned forward on the counter. “So how’s the fam? Haven’t talked to Gina since I started college way back when.” MK laughed, a gigglesnort that seemed unfamiliar to her own body after the past few days of doom and gloom and consuming, though the smile never quite reached her eyes. It hadn’t, really, in a long time. “They might’ve seen my boobs. Who knows, I can’t keep track anymore. There are only so many fucking posts I can read about myself on TMZ saying the same stuff, y’know.” She flashed Val an appreciative smile because most people would tell her to clean up and get her act the fuck together, twenty-something model or not. “People always judge. It’s society’s thing, isn’t it? To like, judge and shit. Whatever, right. I totally promise to bring cameras next time.” The question about Gina earned a soft smile. “Gina’s great now.” Now being the operative word, of course. “She’s still in Queens. She’s got a daughter -- eight and absolutely beautiful. Dark hair, Gina’s eyes.” MK sighed and told herself maybe she should call her family. Talk to her baby niece and see if that would help things at all. “Gina got pregnant when she went to college,” MK continued as a way of explanation for a daughter that old for someone as young as her older sister. Val laughed at MK’s ridiculous snort giggle whatever. God that was stupid and funny all in one, a combination that never failed to amuse her. “I give you credit for even looking. I mean, those have got to be some pretty unflattering pictures. It’s like their goal in life, yanno? But whatevs, I take totally awesome unflattering photos so yea, bring em in.” It was Val’s nature to never look at the gossip rags or pay attention to celebrities local, national, or global. Sure, there were hot actors that she’d go see movies for - Daniel Craig, case in point - but she didn’t like, stalk Entertainment Weekly trying to figure out what the man was up to. That was just creepy and even more stalkerish than the paparazzi. She didn’t like stalkery anything. Ever. It was downright creepy in the worst kind of way. Not the funny, wow that’s dumb kind of way like those ‘horror’ movies Hollywood put out these days. “I dunno. Apparently these voices are the new thing too. I want to get the shop in order before my free time disappears behind this mysterious door I’m hearing so much about.” Val thought the whole concept was a little trippy, but also pretty fucking awesome so she was definitely curious about checking it out. She leaned forward on the counter, elbows propped up, chin in her hands, as she listened to MK talk about Gina. “Fuck, a kid? No way. Probably the sweetest little thing, isn’t she? Well. Not so little if she’s eight. She move back in with your aunt or get a new place?” She pause for a second, as if she was done talking, but then she remembered about that storm. “How’d she do with Sandy?” MK leaned on the counter too, one elbow bracing her body, and she tilted her head to rest it idly on her hand. The alcohol made her head woozy, just a little, but she liked woozy a lot more than heartbroken and panicking. It let her be out and about without breaking down in a corner every five minutes. It made it easier, too, to smile and play along and be normal because it didn’t feel so much like faking. “She’s got her own place. She left her husband a couple years back, and she’s kicking ass at the single mom thing.” Who knew, when MK was eighteen and Gina was pregnant, that the older Robinson would be the one who had it all together. Beautiful daughter, steady job, a home. The question about the storm had MK darting away from Val’s gaze with a guilty look. “I, uh, haven’t had much of a chance to check in. But I’m pretty sure she’s fine. She would have called if she hadn’t.” Yeah, definitely needed to call her sister later. She would flip over the idea of Val being around. A low whistle escaped her when MK said Gina had gotten married. “Wow, I can’t believe I missed that. I wouldn’t expect anything less from her. She always had her shit together, better than the rest of us. Probably why it sucked so much when you guys left.” It was water under the bridge, a fact not an accusation or anything of the like. “Course she would’ve. My parents are still there. They didn’t do so bad, just lost power and got a bit of flooding in the basement. Nothing Dad isn’t jumping at the chance to fix. I swear, there’s something about old men that just make them into handymen once they reach a certain age. Grandpa was the same way and it was just the dumbest thing ever.” Val shrugged and pulled back. “Oh, before I forget. Here’s the goodybag I promised you,” she added, presenting MK with the bag she’d grabbed from the back. Inside were a dozen comics, three perfectly rolled joints, and some pills she’d gotten from a friend of a friend. Not the stuff she got from Seven, but it’d do for the girl. “I think that’s just a New Yorker sort of thing, honestly,” MK said with a smile. She missed home, and she missed the rough and tumble people that rolled with each and every punch. Definitely one of the qualities she wanted most in life. To be able to just carry on, even if the world crumbled around her. “Y’know, pick up quickly and do everything yourself.” She brightened up at the sight of the bag, taking it when offered and inspecting its contents. She saw the joints, which would help her come down tonight after the pills, and she had to fight the urge not to pop some right then and there. “Oh, this is perfect,” she said, looking up with bright eyes and a wide smile. This was just a supplement to the things she found at bars and clubs or through her other dealers, but she could always use more. “Perfect. You’re perfect. What do I owe you?” “It’s entirely possible. Whatever, let them do what they’re gonna do. Man’s too stubborn to get talked out of it anyways.” Val shrugged. She loved her dad anyway so it didn’t matter. It was always nice to do things for a friend and while she’d put herself in the hole over the gift, it’d be worth it to make sure MK kept coming back to her instead of the numerous other dealers in the area. Seven would be proud. Not that she cared or anything, of course. But still. Val prided herself on being good at her job. “Course I’m perfect. I’m a New Yorker.” She grinned and waved off the question of price. “Consider it a...I don’t know. It’s a gift, late Halloween, early Thanksgiving bullshit or some such, I don’t care.” She grinned. “Least I could do for Baby Robinson.” MK laughed again at Val’s reasoning and nodded. “Yup, you’re right.” But the offer of the free goodies earned a quirked eyebrow and a disbelieving look. Being who she was, MK got a lot of free things -- free drinks, free drugs, free whatever. Getting it handed to her in such a neat little package was a little jarring though. “Seriously? Then our first bar crawl is totally on me, Val.” She still wanted to see how her big sister’s high school friend would measure up to her lifestyle. “If you can keep up, of course. I’ve gotta tell you most people can’t, especially lately.” A vague stab at all of her ‘friends’? At her ex-boyfriend? Perhaps. Val grinned. “Seriously. If you like the stuff - which you totally will - we can work something out, for sure. That work?” She didn’t expect a negative answer so she just kept on going. “I’m down. I’m free mostly whenever after like 10:30-11.” Val actually laughed at the idea that she couldn’t keep up. “Okay. A - I think I can keep up. B - Have you been partying with a fellow New Yorker? Because I think the answer is no if no one’s been keeping up with you. I mean, I know you’ve got a reputation and all,” she was teasing, “but seriously? Bitch please is all I’ve got to say to that.” Val was smirking, all of it in good fun. “Sweetheart, party doesn’t even start till like, twelve in this city. At the earliest. You’re in for a loooong night with me. Make sure you don’t have a morning shift or whatever.” Morning shift? What was that? MK hadn’t worked normal 9 to 5 jobs in years, and thank God for that. “Tell that to all the people I know then. I should record you saying all of this and then send it to my ex. I’m sure he’d love the idea of someone encouraging me to do all the stupid shit I do.” Thinking of Adam caused her head to ache, and her fingers itched for the flask in her bag. She shrugged. “Thank God you’re here then.” Val grinned. “The perks of running this place is I can pretty much do whatever the fuck I want.” Not true, but she sure as hell could sleep in or take a vacation day. Besides, she had Adam now so she knew she could count on him. “It’s all subjective. Doesn’t necessarily have to be stupid shit. Still your choice, your body, whatever. Where’s that New Yorker backbone, lady? We’re gonna have to get you back in touch with the tough bitch I know you can be.” Val was definitely looking forward to that. “Always, Baby Robinson,” she added, bopping the younger redhead on the nose. She pulled a business card out of the holder on the register and flipped it over, writing down her cell number. “Here, you can get in touch whenever. I can be fabulous without a moment’s notice.” MK wrinkled her nose when Val bopped it, both irritated and amused by the other redheads insistence on treating her like a little kid. “Not Baby Robinson anymore, okay? No one calls me baby.” Except maybe Sam, but that seemed to be the blonde’s thing. She could deal with that. The business card got tucked away in the pocket of her jeans. “I’ll be the judge of that, Val.” But it was good, really, to have friends in Las Vegas that weren’t aware of all her drama and bullshit, and one that might not be wrapped up in bullshit of her own. She could deal with being treated like a little kid for that, then. At least until she could prove how grown up Baby Robinson really was. |