"Rand Industries, how can I help you?"
"Hello, my name is Peter Parker," he said. "I was just calling to follow up on my application to one of your entry positions that I put in a couple of weeks ago. Is there anyone that I could speak to about that?"
"Hold on one second, Mr. Parker," the woman, likely a secretary, replied. Peter continued down the street towards the Bugle as he waited, the typical "on hold" music playing through his phone. After what he guessed was just shy of twenty seconds, the woman spoke up again.
"Are you still there, Mr. Parker?"
"Yes ma'am," Peter replied, ever in keeping his manners, especially in talking with a woman.
"I spoke to our hiring manager, and, unfortunately, we actually just filled the position earlier this morning," the secretary explained.
"Oh... well, thank you," he replied, trying not to sound too dejected.
"I'm terribly sorry," the woman said; her tone sounded as though she genuinely pitied him. "If you like, I can give you a list of some similar positions that you may be interested in?"
Though he was feeling kind of jaded towards the company at the moment for not even bothering to get back with him on his application, Peter appreciated the woman's heart, so he replied in the affirmative. She rattled off a few other entry positions pertaining to robotics and engineering, which he took note of on his phone.
"Thank you again, ma'am," he replied. "I really appreciate it."
"No problem, Mr. Parker," the woman said, "and good luck!"
"Thank you," he replied, wishing her a nice day before hanging up. It was just as well, as he soon turned the corner to end up right in front of the Bugle building a mere ten seconds later. He entered the building, greeting a couple of people he knew before heading to the elevator, pressing the button to head to the top floor.
Once the door opened, he strolled in, heading straight for Jonah's office. However, upon arrival, he realized that he might just have to leave his pictures with Betty to pass along, as the editor-in-chief himself as well as Robbie appeared to be in a very important business meeting with who Peter had come to recognize as the Bugle's shareholders. From the looks of things too, it seemed especially like something he did NOT want to sit in on, and it wasn't because it was boring.
"Hey!" Betty called out; Peter hadn't realized how close to her desk he was when he'd stopped.
"Oh, hey," he said. "Looks like a good time in there."
"They've been in there for over an hour already," Betty remarked.
"Oh wow, that's not good," Peter replied. "Jonah can't stand meeting with these guys longer than a half an hour at most, so they must be talking about something really important."
"Honestly, I just hope Jonah's blood pressure is okay after this," Betty said before gesturing to the pictures. "You can leave those with me if you want."
"Thanks," Peter said, setting the pictures on her desk as she took out a check to make out to him.
"You know, most people by now would make something like this direct deposit," she said. "Especially people our age."
"Yeah, I know," Peter remarked. "I guess my aunt and uncle's old-fashioned nature rubbed off on me a little too much. I'll probably change it to that when I get something steadier though."
"How is that going, anyway?" Betty asked. "I remember you applied to a ton of places recently."
"Still haven't been picked yet," Peter replied. "Looks like I'm heading towards the next round of the draft."
"I'm so sorry," Betty said. "I would keep telling you that something's going to turn up, but I'm guessing that probably doesn't help much these days."
"Not really, but the sentiment is still sweet," Peter assured her.
Suddenly, the doors to Jonah's office burst open, the man storming out in a fury, though he said nothing to Peter, Betty, or anyone else nearby.
"Wonder what that was about?" Peter questioned at one point.
A couple moments later, Robbie came out as well, the rest of the board passing by them all.
"What happened in there, Robbie?" Betty asked once the rest of the group had cleared out.
"The board showed Jonah and I our recent numbers, and... things got ugly from there," the man replied. "Long story short, we need a huge story to generate some serious numbers for us soon, or else they're going to force us to make some changes."
"As in lay people off?" Betty questioned quietly.
"They didn't use those words specifically, but I suspect it's not out of the realm of possibility," Robbie replied, his tone a little more hushed than before as well.
"I wouldn't want to be in yours or especially Jonah's seats right now," Peter said. "This is New York though; crazy things happen all the time, so hopefully something will turn up... just hopefully something that doesn't involve, you know, aliens invading or a hundred-year-old terrorist organization trying to take over the world for the millionth time."
Robbie let out a huff.
"The sad part is that those guys practically seem to WANT something like that to happen just so there will be something exciting again," he said. "That, or just follow our noses towards any remotely controversial story that will generate clicks."
Peter wanted to say something about how that seemed to be what Jameson had been doing regarding his alter ego for years now, but he held his tongue. Now was one thousand percent NOT the time. Instead, he opted for a simpler, but also much more complicated question:
"So, what do you think you guys are going to do?"
Robbie sucked in a breath, letting it out and shaking his head.
"I don't know," Robbie said. "The only thing we can do really is hope someone gets a hold of a good story that somehow both maintains our reputation while also pushing the numbers more in line with what the board wants. In other words, pray."
"I'll get right on that, and I'll try and keep my good camera extra handy too," Peter said. "Who knows, maybe carrying it around will invite a good story!"
"I appreciate the thought, Peter," Robbie said. "Alright, I better get back to it; you young people try and have fun; save the real worrying for old timers like me that know how to handle it."
"I mean, I don't feel that young, but I guess I have nothing to complain about next to you," Peter teased. "Good luck!"
The older man then walked off, heading back towards his office.
"Wow," Peter said.
"I know," Betty said, finally handing him his check. "Well, hopefully you do find something soon; that way, this won't be your problem anymore."
"I'd hate to be that guy that manages to bail off the ship while leaving everyone else to sink though," Peter replied. "I'm sure that trusty camera of mine can pick up something though."
"Seriously, how do you stay so optimistic all the time?" Betty questioned.
"Because I've been down in the dumps before too, and I hate it," Peter replied. "Better to at least go out smiling and laughing."
"Hopefully that spreads to same other people around here," Betty said, glancing around the room.
"It will, I'm sure of it," Peter replied. "I'll see you tomorrow."
Settling his jittery leg back down, Hobie continued to scan over his resume and practice answers. Mindy had spent most of yesterday evening helping him with some things he could be asked in the interview he had today, and he'd felt he'd done pretty well during their sessions, but now, all he could seem to think about was how excited he was. After all his hard work over the last 2-3 weeks, he'd finally, FINALLY landed an opportunity to really get in front of someone and make his case properly as to why he should be hired! It was the opportunity that he'd been waiting f...
He was interrupted from his thoughts by the secretary coming up to him. Hobie immediately stood to his feet in anticipation, checking over himself one more time to make sure his tie and jacket were straight.
"I presume they're ready for me?"
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Brown," the lady began, her tone tender and her face a bit fallen. "But I'm afraid that your interview has been cancelled."
"Cancelled?" he questioned. "There must be some mistake; I specifically had one scheduled for 2:30 this afternoon?"
"I'm terribly sorry," the woman replied.
Distraught, Hobie wasn't ready to back down just yet, and he moved past the woman, marching quickly towards where he believed the office of who he was supposed to interview with was.
"Sir, you're not allowed to go in there!" the secretary called out behind him, but he paid her no mind, marching into the office in question. When the man inside looked at him, he straightened up, trying not to appear as though he'd just stormed into the place.
"Sir, hello, my name is Hobie Brown," he introduced himself, his tone a mix of nervousness and frustration. He tried to correct that as he continued: "I had an interview scheduled for this afternoon."
"Yes, 'had' being the operative word," the gentleman replied, "that is, until we realized you had a record."
Resisting the sudden frustration rising in his body, Hobie spoke up again.
"Sir, I've made some mistakes, yes, but I've done my time; I paid my debt to society, and if I can just have a chance..."
"We have a reputation to maintain here at Rand Industries," the man insisted, "and that includes not hiring those who have seen the inside of a cell. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
Hobie's hand clenched into a fist, his nostrils sucking in air as his frustration only grew. He then marched up to the man's desk, slamming the contents of his hands onto it.
"Look! I have been preparing hard for this, because I wanted to work for this company," he said. "I know that I can be a valuable asset here, better than anyone else you can find for the job!"
"First of all, I highly doubt that," the man replied. "Second, my stance has not changed. Also, security is on their way, so you can make this easier on yourself if you just walk out that door and go back to where your kind belong."
His blood reaching its boiling point, Hobie snatched the man by his shirt, pulling him up to him. The man didn't appear even remotely phased, his expression only displaying mild annoyance. There was nothing more Hobie wanted to do more than wipe that expression clean off the man's face, but as the hard grip of two security guards came upon his arms, he settled down just enough to realize that this would only make things worse for himself, so he relinquished his grip and allowed himself to be escorted out, one of the guards giving him a good shove on his way out the door.
Angry and dejected, Hobie tucked his stuff against his side and walked away.
"Hello, earth to Peter?"
"Hmm?" Peter questioned, looking back at M.J. "Oh, sorry, M.J. I was doing it again, wasn't I?"
"You mean that thing you do where you're technically here, but your mind is actually off in a distant galaxy far far away?" M.J. replied. "Yeah, pretty much that. What's on your mind?"
"First of all, come on, you know I'm a Star Trek fan," Peter complained, "and second, I was just thinking about my stop at the Bugle today. I just wish there was something more that I could do to help."
M.J. shook her head, letting out a huff.
"You really are amazing, you know that, Tiger?" she questioned. "I mean, here you are, dealing with your own frustrations over not getting a job, and yet all you can think about right now is helping other people keep theirs."
Peter smiled; even after nearly a quarter of a century in this world, he was still learning how to not reject a compliment. Brushing past it tended to help, so that's what he did.
"It's strange, but the Bugle... it's kind of become like family in a way. Robbie, Betty, Ned, Ben Urich, even Jonah; all of them have been there for me in different ways. I'd just hate to see something happen to make any of them lose their livelihoods after all the work they've put into the place to make it what it is. Also, speaking of money related stuff, thanks for buying today by the way!"
"No problem," M.J. assured him.
"It'll be nice to be able to do more of this kind of thing for people hopefully once I have a real job," Peter said as he took another sip of his drink.
"You know," M.J. spoke up, "I know we've talked about this before, but have you given any more thought to..."
"Peter Parker!"
Peter glanced over to find none other than Norman Osborn approaching their table.
"Oh, hello Mr. Osborn."
"Peter, please," the man said. "How many times must I remind you that you're practically family to Harry and me? There's no need to be formal."
"Sorry, Norman," Peter corrected. Even after all this time, his heart still seemed to be a little faster as his nerves kicked in around the man, knowing what he'd once been...
"Pardon my interrupting though, of course," the man said, turning to Mary Jane. "Ms. Watson, isn't it? It's a true shame you and Harry didn't work out all those years ago."
"Yeah, well, I guess it just wasn't meant to be," M.J. replied stoically.
Norman then turned back to Peter.
"I don't suppose you have found a job yet, have you?"
Oh great.
"I have some prospects, but no, nothing official yet."
"You know, Oscorp would be proud to have you if you decided to come on board with us!" Norman boasted. "We have great benefits; you'd be cared for just like the family you are."
"And I appreciate that, truly," Peter said. "I just want to make sure that I find the right fit, and besides, I like to earn what I get, pull myself up by my bootstraps, so to speak."
Norman sighed, though a smile remained on his lips despite his obvious disappointment.
"I understand; I can certainly respect a man for his desire to blaze his own trail. Still, should you ever change your mind, you know where to find me. Also, I have received word that Harry is likely to be discharged within the next thirty days."
"That's great!" Peter replied enthusiastically.
"It'll be good for you to see him again," Norman said. "He's talked very highly of your letters to him while he's been... away. Thank you, Peter, for helping me get my son back."
"Of course; he is my best friend after all," Peter reasoned.
Norman then turned to Mary Jane, taking her hand and offering a gentle kiss on it, the woman seemingly a bit taken aback by the gesture as she chuckled somewhat nervously.
"I hope that we'll be seeing more of you as well, Ms. Watson."
After that, the man took his leave, Peter and Mary Jane's eyes both trained on the man as he walked down the street.
"Okay," M.J. said, turning back to Peter, "I was just about to ask if you'd reconsidered taking a job at Oscorp, but something about that guy still gives me the creeps!"
"Yeah, I know the feeling," Peter replied; more than she could ever imagine, too.
"Anyway, I have to believe that something will turn up, both for you, and the Bugle," M.J. encouraged. "Not that that means that much just to say that, but I do mean it!"
Peter let out a light huff, recollecting Betty's similar sentiments from earlier that day.
"Thanks, I'm sure you're right."
"Well, anyway, I promised Aunt Anna I'd be home in time for dinner," M.J. said. "Would you care to join us?"
"Thanks, but I think I'll stick around the city tonight," Peter replied. "You know, see if I can catch anything especially newsworthy on my camera."
M.J. shook her head.
"Ever the hero," she said as the two of them stood up. She then rubbed his arm a little. "Just... try to think of yourself sometimes, okay Tiger?"
"Eh, I'll do my best, but no promises," Peter teased. The two then threw away their empty cups and walked out to the bus stop just in time for it to pull up. Their eyes met briefly, and Peter leaned in, but went around her face to give her a quick peck on the cheek. When he glanced back at her again, M.J.'s disappointed expression didn't escape his attention.
"I'll see you tomorrow," he said, hoping to reassure her.
"Yeah," she replied before stepping on the bus.
Hope you're still enjoying it!
Continuing to pray for you all; stay safe and healthy!
"The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but gracious words are pure in his sight." Proverbs 15:26