Welcome!

[Harry Osborn]

It was true what they said; there really was no place like New York. Having spent all his time recently traveling as far around the world from it as he could Harry Osborn could attest to that personally. Even a small little coffee shop like the one he was currently waiting in line at was like no where else. Sure you could name about any country in Europe and they would have shops half the size of this would serve you better coffee for a better price.

But only in New York could you find this kind of crowd. People hustling about to get their drink and go despite the fact they were willing to wait for half an hour in order to get that drink. The sophisticated young consumer ordering some elaborately named drink with speed and articulation not as much for the drink but to show off the status that they ordered it. The average Joe trying to figure out how to explain that all they want is a cup of joe. Tables covered with personal laptop computers and their owners somehow finding the atmosphere in here better for writing what ever meaningless drivel they had to type out then anywhere else they could chose to be. Groups of friends crowded around booths drinking cup after cup of coffee as they share inane gossip and laughs about their lives.
Yes only in New York could the simple process of wanting to get a cup of coffee turn into this madness Harry thought.

After moving to the front of the line and ordering his large latte Harry glanced around at the newsstand placed next to him. Here he found something else he could not find at any other coffee shop around the world a copy of the Daily Bugle. The daily rag with its obligatory photograph of Spider-Man plastered over its front page. Harry glared for a moment at the image feeling a sudden rage building up in him as his fist clenched tightly. The sound of the coffee shop clerk holding his drink out to him pulled Harry from the quick emotional black out.
Taking the drink in one hand Harry reached into his pocket and paid the man with the other. As he turned to move out of the line Harry reached over with his free hand and took that copy of the Daily Bugle.

Looking around the place Harry quickly found an empty to seat table right next to the window. Sitting down his drink and paper on the table to claim it Harry lifted the tail of his trench coat and took the free seat on the right. Picking up his cup Harry had a drink as he looked out the window. There was one other thing this shop had that no where else on Earth did, an excellent view of the Columbia University campus.

Putting down his cup Harry picked his newspaper up in both hands holding it up to read. As he read through the paper he continued to glance out of the corner of his eye out the window. Harry was not sure why he was watching the campus. He did not know what he was looking for or what he would do when he saw it. All he did know was who he was looking for.

[Lorna Dane]

TGIF indeed, Lorna mused as she headed towards her morning Mecca. If she could get an IV drip for her coffee, that would be ideal. As it was, she was sure one huge-ass cup wasn't going to do it for her before class.

She could barely wait for the week from hell to end. She figured at this point there was very little else that could happen to make her life more of a cluster fuck than it had turned into since Saturday night. Which meant it could only get better from here on in, right?

God, she hoped so.

Pushing open the door and stepping into the coffee shop, she inhaled deeply, as if hoping beyond reason for an air-born caffeine kick. It wasn't her favorite coffee place, by any stretch, but it would do. Its proximity to her first class was cause enough for her to pay it a visit.

No latte for her. That was for later. She needed a stronger kick, so instead she went for a flavored brew. Much to her disappointment, there was no urn with VANILLA proudly labeled on it. So she made do with hazelnut. Moving aside, she added milk and sugar, and clicked a lid in place.

Satisfied after a careful taste test, she headed once again for the door. Trying to juggle her coffee and her book bag, Lorna paid very little attention to her surroundings. Which was why she didn't notice the muffin wrapper on the floor until it was too late.

Her heel set firmly on the piece of muffin-crumb-covered paper, which acted every bit the part of a banana peel under foot. Eyes widening in surprise as she felt herself starting to fall, she flailed slightly, her book bag acting as an anchor dragging her down. With a squeak of protest as she went down, she landed hard, right on her butt. Her coffee cup exploded, the lid popping off, drenching her jacket - and, she realized, the trench coat of the guy sitting at the table next to her spot on the floor.

At least it only landed on clothes, not skin. The coffee was definitely hot enough to hurt like a bitch.

It seemed like every eye in the coffee shop was on her now, some critical, some mocking, some sympathetic. Cheeks burning, Lorna ducked her head slightly to inspect the damage. Her jacket was soaked down one side. And the weather had change with the coming of November - it was cold out. Her options were pretty much to go to class in just her sweater (which appeared to have escaped unscathed), or wear her wet, coffee-stinking jacket.

It looked like she'd be cold.

After briefly taking stock of her own damages, she looked up at the young man whose coat she'd shared her coffee with. She grimmaced at the mess and graced him with her most apologetic look.

"I'm so sorry," Lorna offered helplessly as she tried to gather herself and her wits enough to scramble to her feet.

[Harry Osborn]

Harry’s focus was half on the newspaper he held in hands and half on the view from the window of the Columbia campus. That was until he heard the falling whale of a young woman next to his table. Harry’s head turned just in time to see a flash of motion as the lady fell flat on her butt.

On hitting the ground the coffee cup in the woman’s hand erupted spilling out all over herself and onto the side of Harry’s jacket. Harry glared down looking over the hapless fallen female. He could see the slip causing muffin wrapper still attached to her shoe. He could also see the embarrassment radiating off her as everyone in the little coffee place to the time to stop and watch her hit the ground.

Trying to regain he sense the frazzled lady looked up at him apologetically.
"I'm so sorry,"

With a bemoaned sigh and roll of his eyes Harry had no choice but to just let it go. Setting his paper down on the table he got up from his chair.
“It’s alright,” He leaned down to help the woman gather herself back up to her feet. “It’s not your fault this place has lousy service.” Harry gave a small joking smirk trying to help ease the lady’s nervous embarrassment over the whole incident.

“Here this should help.” He said reaching over to the table and getting a hand full of napkins from the dispenser. He handed her the napkins so she could soak off at least some of the coffee that had covered her jacket.
“And who do you have to SUE after an accident to get a new cup of,” Harry checked the color of the stains and the smell of the coffee that was on their cloths. “Hazelnut coffee!” He called out loudly to make sure the busy employees could all hear him.
Hearing that key threat of a lawsuit the manager behind the counter quickly put one of his clerks to making a new cup of coffee to bring over to them.

Harry grabbed some napkins from the table again this time to get the damage done to his own clothing, soaking up the liquid before the stain could set in anymore then it already had.
“I’d get in touch with a good lawyer anyway, who can’t use some extra cash.” He tried to joke with the unfortunate fall victim fighting very hard to keep the cost of the ruined trench coat in the back of his mind.

[Lorna Dane]

Looking up at the young man she'd drenched in her coffee, Lorna had a bad feeling about things. He had a hard, cold look in his eyes at her apology, and looked extremely put upon by the whole situation as he pushed his chair back and stood.

“It’s alright,” he said, though not entirely convincingly. He did, however, help her to her feet. Which maybe meant he wasn't too pissed off. “It’s not your fault this place has lousy service.”

The smile he gave her didn't reach his eyes, though there was a hint of crinkles there that implied he'd once smiled fairly freely. She got the distinct impression, though, that it had been a long time since he'd smiled sincerely.

“Here this should help.”

Lorna accepted the proffered napkins with a crooked smile. "Thanks. And I really am sorry."

“And who do you have to SUE after an accident to get a new cup of,” Harry checked the color of the stains and the smell of the coffee that was on their cloths. “Hazelnut coffee!”

Green eyes went wide as she looked from the young man next to her to the poor coffee shop manager, who looked horrified.

"Oh no," she protested with a shake of her head, smiling reassuringly at the manager. "No, it's okay, really. I'm fine."

When she looked back at her companion in coffee showering, he was trying to mop up the growing stain on his, what upon closer inspection appeared to be a very expensive trench coat.

Wonderful.

“I’d get in touch with a good lawyer anyway, who can’t use some extra cash.”

Lorna shook her head and wadded the sodden napkins up in a ball before tossing them into the garbage. Her jacket was a mess. Shrugging it off before the coffee could soak through to her sweater, she folded the jacket so that the wet was to the inside. Tucking her hair behind her hair, she offered a crooked smile. "It's not their fault someone dropped their garbage and I was klutzy enough to slip on it," she shrugged. "It's the busiest time of day for them. It's hard for them to keep up."

One of the baristas, a tiny blond girl, hurried over with a replacement cup of coffee, which she handed to Lorna with burning cheeks. "Here. I'm so sorry. Are you okay?"

Lorna nodded with a warm smile. "I'm fine. Embarrassed and wet, but fine. Really. It's okay."

"Are you sure?" she asked, big, blue eyes almost pleading. Apparently, Lorna reasoned, it had been this girl's responsibility to sweep the floor. The poor girl.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Lorna smiled again. "Thanks for the refill."

The young girl scurried off after giving Lorna a grateful smile, and Lorna turned back to the young man whose coat she'd soaked.

"Can I cover the cost of your dry cleaning, at least?" Lorna offered. "And if that doesn't do it, can I replace it for you?"

[Harry Osborn]

It seemed this young woman had no anger about her slip and fall, blaming only herself for this simple mistake. Harry found it very hard to be mad at someone like that. One of the employees came with the refill of her drink and apologizing for the accident.

Hearing the brief conversation between the two Harry was surprised by how, annoying it sounded to him. He didn’t know why but the first thought that crossed his mind when hearing the apologetic employee and the embarrassed fall girl was the word weak. Harry fought back those thoughts reminding himself that this was nothing to waste his energy to become angry over.

With her new cup of coffee in hand the lady turned towards Harry once again. He had finished soaking up the coffee from his jacket the best her could. It was a little damp and the stain still showed but it was no real loss.

"Can I cover the cost of your dry cleaning, at least? And if that doesn't do it, can I replace it for you?"

Looking this lady over he seriously doubted that she had the money for either. It didn’t matter he had dozens of coats like this and could buy dozens more. Harry wanted to just let it go and to be nice. After all she was beating herself up about just fine without his help, that was more then enough retribution for a little coffee on his coat.

Shaking his head he mustered up a smile at the lady. “No don’t worry about it really, it was an accident that could have happened to anyone. Besides I think the coloring matches up well enough don’t you?”

Harry crumpled up the wad of napkins still in his hands and placed the trash ball down on the table. He offered the now empty hand to the young lady to shake, and more properly introduce himself to her. “My name is Harry by the way.”

[Lorna Dane]

Again, he gave her a smile that didn't reach his eyes. There was definitely something about this guy that left Lorna feeling vaguely uncomfortable - which wasn't usual for her. Perhaps it was his lack of warmth, the attempts at being polite and friendly that seemed decidedly forced. Somehow, he just seemed to lack sincerity.

“No don’t worry about it really, it was an accident that could have happened to anyone. Besides I think the coloring matches up well enough don’t you?”

Well, at least he wasn't being an asshole about his coat. And Lorna did genuinely feel bad about dumping her coffee all over him. She'd have gladly paid for the cleaning, or a replacement, no matter how expensive an item it appeared to be.

"Who knows, maybe we'll start the newest fashion trend," Lorna theorized with a small grin. "Coffee chique. It'll be all over the Paris catwalks next season."

Quite to her surprise, the next thing she knew he was extending his hand towards her. “My name is Harry by the way.”

After quickly wiping her hand on her already ruined jacket, she took his hand in hers. "Lorna," she replied with a smile. Taking her hand back, she considered her companion. He hadn't needed to introduce himself. He could have simply gone back to his paper and dismissed her.

Maybe she shouldn't have been so quick to judge him.

"So what brings you here this morning, Harry?" she asked, head canted slightly. Something told her he wasn't a Columbia student, which was the standard clientele for this particular coffee shop, which made her curious. Lorna smiled again. "Just felt the sudden urge for an assault by coffee by the hand of a random stranger?"

[Harry Osborn]

"Who knows, maybe we'll start the newest fashion trend, Coffee chique. It'll be all over the Paris catwalks next season."

Harry let out a small smirk of a laugh at her little joke. Having actually seen a few model laden catwalks the idea was actually not hard to picture. Harry went a head and offered his hand out to this young lady properly introducing himself to her.

“My name is Harry by the way.”

He watched her wipe off her hand and grasp his in a brief shake.

"Lorna,"

She said to him with a smile, which Harry liked to see. He liked seeing any pretty girl smile. Harry wasn’t sure if he was just getting better control of himself but that initial anger he had towards Lorna was subsiding making him wonder why he was so mad over a little spill in the first place.

"So what brings you here this morning, Harry? Just felt the sudden urge for an assault by coffee by the hand of a random stranger?"

Harry laughed lightly at her suggestion. “No but if I ever do in the future I now know where to go.”

Harry reached over across the table next to them picking up his latte in his hand. He took the moment to think about what to tell her in serious answer to her question. “Actually I was just in the neighborhood, thought I’d stop in to have a drink and enjoy the view of the campus here.” He admitted truthfully despite hiding all his motives which even he was not sure of. Harry had a sip from his cup before returning turning to Lorna and questioning her in return.
“What about you Lorna, I take it you’re a Columbia student?”

[Lorna Dane]

Well, at least he seemed to be loosening up a bit. Some of the tightness was gone from around his eyes and mouth, making his face rather pleasant.

“No but if I ever do in the future I now know where to go.”

She grinned, this time quite genuinely. "Best place around campus for it."

Harry took a sip from the cup sitting on the table, and Lorna took a tentative sip of her own replacement coffee. It was black and bitter, and she couldn't quite help but pull a face. She needed her coffee sweet, and tasting as little like actual coffee as possible.

It was almost blasphemous, she knew, but she didn't really care.

“Actually I was just in the neighborhood, thought I’d stop in to have a drink and enjoy the view of the campus here.”

Lorna nodded, looking out the windows to appreciate the view in question. It was a nice view of the campus, really.

“What about you Lorna, I take it you’re a Columbia student?”

"Guilty," she confirmed, smiling crookedly. "I'm in my third year."

Giving Harry a considering look, she figured that he was somewhere around her age, give or take a year. She assumed he wasn't in school, and there was something about his demeanor that indicated he came from a very comfortabe life. Perhaps it was his immediate reaction to sue for a simple accident, rather than forgive. It was stereotypical maybe, but it made sense.

"What about you? School? Work? None of the above?"

[Harry Osborn]

"Guilty, I'm in my third year."

Harry nodded his head listening to her answer. It was not really that hard to tell she was a student, she had a somewhat innocent sense Harry thought. Or perhaps it was just the way she had been so fast to apologize for her earlier spill and so forgiving of the irresponsible staff of this place.

"What about you? School? Work? None of the above?"

“Actually I used to go school here, for about a semester. I even still have a few friends who go here. But I had to leave in order to start working at my family company.” Amazing how the death of a father can change your life plans Harry thought to himself.
“I believe my title right now is executive board member in charge of new business acquisitions or something like that.” Harry informed her with a sincere sense of modesty. Harry knew all to well that his title and position in the company was little more then a token gesture by the board to keep the heir of the Oscorp family in the company. While they had tried to give him a real opportunity to prove himself and Harry had made a go at the business life the best he could the colossal failure of the Doctor Octavius project had destroyed any chance of respect he had with the board. Now Harry just agreed to stay out of the public eye as long as the board continued to keep Harry with his wealth and privilege.

Looking back over at his table the was still empty he decided that it seemed rather foolish to keep standing and risk the chance of another spill or accident in the busy café. “If you’re not in a hurry to get to class why don’t you sit down and join me.” Harry offered already sitting back down in his chair at the table. He pushed forward the little trey of sugars and creamers towards Lorna having noted the bitter look she had for a second on tasting her coffee.

[Lorna Dane]

“Actually I used to go school here, for about a semester. I even still have a few friends who go here. But I had to leave in order to start working at my family company.”

Lorna nodded silently, letting Harry talk.

“I believe my title right now is executive board member in charge of new business acquisitions or something like that.”

Dark green eyebrows climbed at that. Huh. Sounded awfully impressive for someone so young. Her theory of Harry coming from a life of privilege seemed pretty accurate after all.

“If you’re not in a hurry to get to class why don’t you sit down and join me.”

As if not expecting her to even consider saying no, Harry was already sitting back down at his table, nudging the much-needed additions to her coffee towards her. Lorna glanced at her watch and nodded. She could spare 10 minutes or so.

"Sure, thanks," she agree with a smile as she slid into the empty chair. Setting her bag on the ground, she quickly doctored her coffee to her liking, and took a sip. Muuuuch better.

"So what were you studying before you go dragged off into the wonderful world of business?" she inquired, the smile curling her lips somewhat wry, indicating she wasn't a huge fan of business as an institution. She knew it was a necessity, but it wasn't for her. The thought of having to get dressed in a suit and sit in a cubicle like a veal all day, every day, made her want to run screaming in horror.

Digging in the dirt was so much more her style.

[Harry Osborn]

Harry watched Lorna check her time in response to his invitation to join him at the table. In the end it didn’t really matter to Harry if she did or did not sit with him. A small conversation with a pretty girl would simply be a nice reprieve from his own thoughts.

"Sure, thanks,"
She answered sitting down across the table from him. As she set about sweetening her drink Harry picked his newspaper up pushing it to the side of the table in order to clear off the area.

"So what were you studying before you go dragged off into the wonderful world of business?"

Harry had to think for a minute to remember what classes he had taken. It seemed like so long ago now.
“Well I hadn’t really set a major or anything I was just taking some general classes. I think before I dropped out I had gotten through some beginning courses in calculus, chemistry, english literature, and of course the class in business.”

After answering the question Harry took another drink of his latte. As he remembered his life before the death of his father Harry couldn’t help wonder what paths he would be on now if Norman Osborn was still here. Would he still be in school? Would he have wound up on the path to a business carrier anyway or would there have been another life calling to him.

Harry stopped himself from thinking too much about those what ifs before his mixed emotions took him over. Putting his cup back down on the table he turned his focus back on the young lady across from him. Giving Lorna a little wry smile of his own he tried to turn the conversation off of himself and onto her.

“Now what about you? Obviously the university’s programs has pulled your interest in far more then it did mine. So what field of study have you been dragged into?”

[Lorna Dane]

Harry was silent for a moment, and Lorna took a sip of her coffee as she waited.

“Well I hadn’t really set a major or anything I was just taking some general classes. I think before I dropped out I had gotten through some beginning courses in calculus, chemistry, english literature, and of course the class in business.”

Lorna nodded. Sounded like a fairly traditional first year course load.

“Now what about you? Obviously the university’s programs has pulled your interest in far more then it did mine. So what field of study have you been dragged into?”

Setting down her cup, Lorna leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. "Well, I'm sorta going into the family business, too. In a way, at least," she grinned. "I'm studying archaeology. That's what my dad does, and he brought me up to love it, so..." Lorna shrugged a little helplessly, "here I am. Following in his footsteps."

It could have been a much worse field to get urged towards, she reasoned. And she loved it. She couldn't imagine how it must suck for kids who are expected to do something they have no passion for. It must suck the very life out of them.

"What kind of business is your family in?" she wondered, cocking her head slightly as she regarded her companion in coffee. She was guessing something very conservative and boring. Banking or investing, maybe. The kind of place that would have her climbing the walls within a day if she tried to work there.

[Harry Osborn]

"Well, I'm sorta going into the family business, too. In a way, at least," she grinned. "I'm studying archaeology. That's what my dad does, and he brought me up to love it, so..." Lorna shrugged a little helplessly, "here I am. Following in his footsteps."

Now that was a rather surprising answer Harry thought. He’d never met an archaeologist before or a studying one. Oscorp sponsored several museums and his father was an extensive collector of certain tribal or warrior artifacts but Harry had never bothered to learn much about them or the people who had found them. He found the fact that she considered it a sort of family business interesting. The difference that the way a person was raised could have on how they saw the world and who they became always surprised Harry. He could never imagine growing up with a family that’s life was not centered around business. Yet following in a parent’s footsteps by choice or not was something Harry understood all to well.

"What kind of business is your family in?"

“Our business does a lot of things but primarily our company is into industrial development and manufacturing. You may have heard of it, Oscorp Industries. We make and sell just about everything from arms deals to well I can’t think of anything that we make that starts with Z but you get the idea.” Harry informed her a small smirk on his face. He always liked seeing the reaction on people’s faces when they learned someone like him was the major owning of one of the top ten corporations in the world. While his actually control and participation in the company was minimal his name alone carried enough clout there that he could call Oscorp his, just as it was once his fathers.

[Lorna Dane]

“Our business does a lot of things but primarily our company is into industrial development and manufacturing. You may have heard of it, Oscorp Industries. We make and sell just about everything from arms deals to well I can’t think of anything that we make that starts with Z but you get the idea.”

Lorna stopped with her cup half-way to her mouth, and just blinked. Oscorp was his family business? That meant he was...

"You're Harry Osborn," she stated, not quite making it a question. "You dated MJ a few years ago."

One of MJ's many exes. Wonderful. It seemed like she couldn't escape her former best friend, no matter what.

[Sorry for the shortness!]

[Harry Osborn]

"You're Harry Osborn, You dated MJ a few years ago."

Now that was not a reaction Harry was expecting to get. Of all the people to run into on this campus he found the one that happened to know his ex-girlfriend well enough to know that they had even dated. If you could call it dating, now a days Harry could only think of it as a bitter betrayal experience. When Harry thought about how he had been so used by those he cared about most it made him sick to his stomach.

“Yes that’s me. You know Mary Jane?”

Harry asked Lorna with less shock but still the same questioning tone she gave him. This was actually a fortunate turn of events. Harry did not know how close Lorna was to MJ but for her to have mentioned him he imagined it must have been well, why else would Mary Jane have mentioned something she had thought so little of as dating him.
If Lorna really knew Mary Jane then perhaps he could find out all he wanted to about MJ’s current status through her. She may even be able to give him some information on Peter too. Perhaps a new jacket would be a very small price to pay for this chance meeting after all, as Harry was now very interested in talking with Lorna.

[Lorna Dane]

“Yes that’s me. You know Mary Jane?”

Lorna snorted out a laugh as she lifted her cup to her lips. "Not nearly as well as I'd thought," she muttered before taking a sip.

She let the hot, sweetened liquid sit in her mouth for a moment before swallowing. Her friendship with the redhead was dead and over, there was no question. MJ hadn't even bothered trying to contact Lorna since Tuesday night - not to apologize, not to offer and explanation, not even to fess up.

It broke Lorna's heart to lose her best friend, especially in such an unforgiveable way.

Not to mention the absolute mess of an aftermath MJ's actions had caused.

"She was my best friend until she tried to seduce my boyfriend the other night," Lorna admitted finally, setting her cup on the table and keeping her eyes downcast as she spoke. Forcing a smile, she looked up at Harry, her smile traced with an uncharacteristic bitterness. "So no, I don't know her anymore."

[Harry Osborn]

"Not nearly as well as I'd thought,"

Harry watched Lorna say with a light laugh before taking a drink of her coffee. Now that was interesting response that required more detail. Which Lorna freely gave him as she continued.

"She was my best friend until she tried to seduce my boyfriend the other night,"

Lorna looked away from him casting her eyes down at the table to hide her face but Harry did not need to see it. She had a look he knew all to well. Harry had seen those feelings in himself far to many times not to know. He could tell she was feeling betrayed and hurt by someone she thought she knew someone she thought she could trust.
How many hearts did Mary Jane intend to break in her life. She and Peter really did deserve each other because every life the two of them touched they managed to destroy.

"So no, I don't know her anymore."

“I’m sorry, believe me that is a story I know first hand with her.” Harry said with a small sigh. “I was hoping maybe she had changed but it sounds like she is up to the same old tricks. I know she came from a crappy home life with a worthless father but that is no excuse. Everyone who has ever been a real friend to her the people who care about her show her love compassion and treat her right. She has never returned the favor to any of them. Mary Jane has always just turned on them. Hurting people without ever giving a reason or explanation. She left an astronaut who is really one of the nicest guys you can meet at the altar without even telling him. I don’t know what the girl is looking for in life but she sure does not mind burning bridges to find it.” Harry fought hard to keep any bitterness or anger towards MJ out of his voice talking only with remorse and a bit pity.
“So I’d say it’s probably a good thing you don’t know her anymore.” He said condolingly as he took another drink of his latte.

[Lorna Dane]

“I’m sorry, believe me that is a story I know first hand with her.”

Lorna studied Harry's face for a long moment. There was pain clearly there, along with...anger? Well, that would make sense, really.

“I was hoping maybe she had changed but it sounds like she is up to the same old tricks. I know she came from a crappy home life with a worthless father but that is no excuse. Everyone who has ever been a real friend to her the people who care about her show her love compassion and treat her right. She has never returned the favor to any of them. Mary Jane has always just turned on them. Hurting people without ever giving a reason or explanation. She left an astronaut who is really one of the nicest guys you can meet at the altar without even telling him. I don’t know what the girl is looking for in life but she sure does not mind burning bridges to find it.”

Three days ago, Lorna wouldn't have believed a word of that. Mary Jane had always been the sweetest, most caring and loving friend Lorna had ever had. She'd truly been her sister at heart.

But now? From what Harry was saying, it sounded like that MJ had just been an act. Perhaps MJ's best performance ever - one so convincing that it had had Lorna complete fooled.

Never before had Lorna felt so stupid, so betrayed. She'd always considered herself to be a good judge of character. She'd been careful about who she'd allowed herself to get really close to. She'd always had a lot of casual friends, but very few close ones. MJ had been the closest friend she'd ever had, and it seemed that Lorna had been deceived the whole time.

“So I’d say it’s probably a good thing you don’t know her anymore.”

"Probably," Lorna agreed, then took a sip of her own coffee.

Dan really had been right, about her inability to see the truth about people. Or maybe she just hadn't wanted to. She'd never realized the extent of Michael's affection for her, just as she'd never realized MJ had been playing her. She'd seen them as she'd wanted to see them - both simply loving friends for whom she'd gladly lay down her life. She'd still do that for Michael, however (perhaps even more so now, since she knew she'd eventually have to face him and hurt him horribly).

Setting down her cup, Lorna forced a smile. "Wow. Call me a mood killer." She shook her head and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Sorry. I swear, I'm not usually like this."

[Harry Osborn]

"Probably,"

Harry watched Loran as she sat with her coffee, the wheels in her head clearly turning. It seemed that what he said was making her think deeply about something. Harry felt a bit of self-satisfaction at this. If he had helped put any nails into Mary Jane’s relationship with someone else then this was time well spent.

"Wow. Call me a mood killer."

Harry watched as she spoke making nervous gestures to try and pull the conversation and her thoughts off of the subject.

"Sorry. I swear, I'm not usually like this."

He just smiled and shook his head lightly. “No I’d imagine not, you seem the type who would much rather smile then talk about heartbreak and betrayal and other gloomy subjects.”

Harry took another drink from his cup finally finishing the last of his latte. Setting the cup aside he looked back to Lorna trying to be as lighthearted as he could remember to be. “So to revive the mood watch me pull a quick segway out of my hat, you say your studying archeology? What field are you aiming to specialize in cultural artifacts, animal fossils, environmental studies, historical research or what?”

He truly had no interest in what ever the woman was planing to do with her studies or carrier. He’d have much rather probed her further for any information about Mary Jane. However something told him that Lorna could be a useful contact to have. Even if it was for nothing more then to get more information out of her later. So now was the time to be friendly. Use that old Osborn charm and be a friend to help replace the one she is losing.

[Lorna Dane]

“No I’d imagine not, you seem the type who would much rather smile then talk about heartbreak and betrayal and other gloomy subjects.”

That was true enough. All this angst in Lorna life recently was decidedly draining for someone who was so used to being light hearted and happy. It had caused her bubbly nature to pop, and she desperately wanted to reclaim the real her. Gloom and doom didn't suit her. It just... didn't.

And she'd dwelled on it long enough, Lorna decided. Time to let go and move on.

(Although there was still the Michael issue to attend to. And she was quite convinced that just might destroy her. She'd rather cut off her right hand than hurt him, but it seemed like she didn't have any choice in the matter.)

“So to revive the mood watch me pull a quick segway out of my hat, you say your studying archeology? What field are you aiming to specialize in cultural artifacts, animal fossils, environmental studies, historical research or what?”

Lorna smiled. This was a subject she could happily talk about for hours. "My area of specialization is ancient Mediterranean culture, with an emphasis on Greek and Roman civilizations. I dabble in other areas of the region, but those two are my main focus."

She could feel herself relaxing as she talked, smiling more easily and more genuinely. "There's just something about them that I feel drawn to. Maybe it's that I spent so much time living there growing up, or that George would tell me the stories of the Greek and Roman gods as bedtime stories instead of reading me Aesop's Fables. I don't know." Lorna grinned and shrugged. "It just feels like what I was meant to do. I'm not questioning it."

Taking a sip of her coffee, Lorna cocked her head curiously at Harry. "What about you? Do you feel like your family business is your calling? Or is there something else you'd like to be doing with your life?"

[Harry Osborn]

"My area of specialization is ancient Mediterranean culture, with an emphasis on Greek and Roman civilizations. I dabble in other areas of the region, but those two are my main focus."

So Lorna was interested in Greek and Roman civilization. That was good to hear as Harry could think of at least a handful of ways that he could use her professional goals to get further contact with her. Like all science fields archeologist may be looking for better understand of knowledge but without someone to pay the bills all they were doing was digging in the dirt.

"There's just something about them that I feel drawn to. Maybe it's that I spent so much time living there growing up, or that George would tell me the stories of the Greek and Roman gods as bedtime stories instead of reading me Aesop's Fables. I don't know. It just feels like what I was meant to do. I'm not questioning it."
Her happy sentiment made part of Harry feel sick, especially when he realized how envies he was of her. Despite whatever problems or faults Lorna had she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life and was taking steps to do it. He had to admit he both admired and hated her for that.

"What about you? Do you feel like your family business is your calling? Or is there something else you'd like to be doing with your life?"

Harry stared blankly at her for a moment. He could not believe it but that was truly the first time anyone had ever asked him about what he would want to do with his life. His father had always pushed him to follow in his footsteps even though Harry had never really had any natural talent for science of business. When his father died the board of directors just wanted to give him a title with the company and keep him out of trouble. No one had ever thought about what Harry would like or what would make him happy, even himself.

“I…don’t really know…” Harry admitted solemnly rubbing his fingers over his left temple. He was having sudden sharply pounding headache.
“I hate to admit it but I’ve always just done what ever was expected of me. It wouldn’t have mattered even if I had my own dreams or ambitions for my life I never would have been able to see them through. So I guess I just gave up and never thought of any for myself.” Harry confessed speaking as the realizations came to him. He had never thought about this stuff before, and doing so was giving him a major headache.

[Lorna Dane]

“I…don’t really know…”

Lorna's brow knit in confusion. How could you not know if you were doing what you really wanted to do? It seemed pretty straightforward, really - either you loved what you did, had passion for it, or you didn't.

“I hate to admit it but I’ve always just done what ever was expected of me. It wouldn’t have mattered even if I had my own dreams or ambitions for my life I never would have been able to see them through. So I guess I just gave up and never thought of any for myself.”

Pausing mid-sip, Lorna looked at her companion, surprise clear on her face. She had to remind herself that Harry was from a completely different world, where familial expectations trumped all. It wasn't something she could wrap her brain around at all, though. Yes, George was thrilled she was going to be an archaeologist. But if she'd decided to study... law, for example, he wouldn't have cared, just as long as it was where her passion lay.

Harry's situation struck her as decidedly sad.

"Maybe you should give it some thought," she suggested with a gentle smile. "You've got your whole life ahead of you. That's a long time to be doing something if you're not passionate about it."

[Harry Osborn]

"Maybe you should give it some thought, You've got your whole life ahead of you. That's a long time to be doing something if you're not passionate about it."

Harry smiled nodding at her suggestion. “You’re right that is something I’ll have to really think about.”
Though he did not think he would ever have the time or chance to truly find what he wanted out of life. Right now the only passion he had was for revenge. Getting back at those who had hurt him and his father. It was the only way he knew to make since out of the madness his life had become. Spider-Man took his father and everything he wanted in his life all Harry felt he had left of his life was his vengeance. Once that was satisfied he knew he could go on with his life. He would have finally done something his father would have approved of. Peter and Mary Jane would pay for their betrayal of him and their pain would take away his. Then Harry could move on and find out what he really wanted out of his life.

“So Roman and Greek civilizations? You know I have some artifacts in my house that my father had collected from that era. Weapons and warrior armor things like that. You’re more then welcome to come have a look at them. Actually I’ve been meaning to have them appraised for a while now so if you feel like getting some hands on experience the job can be yours.” Harry offered her casually. Of course it was really just an excuse to forge a contact with someone who knew his enemy. He didn’t need to have the artifacts looked at, at all but it made for a great excuse to speak with her again. Plus it would put Lorna in the weaker position of seeking out him giving Harry the power in the relationship. Control and Manipulation, his father would be proud.

[Lorna Dane]

Harry smiled nodding at her suggestion. “You’re right that is something I’ll have to really think about.”

Lorna was relieved that he didn't seem irritated by her intrusiveness. In fact, he was turning out to be much nicer than she'd originally thought he'd be. Maybe it had just been the circumstances - having coffee dumped on you could make you less than cheerful, after all.

“So Roman and Greek civilizations? You know I have some artifacts in my house that my father had collected from that era. Weapons and warrior armor things like that. You’re more then welcome to come have a look at them. Actually I’ve been meaning to have them appraised for a while now so if you feel like getting some hands on experience the job can be yours.”

Predictably enough, green eyes lit up at the mention of the artifacts. It wasn't everyone who had a personal collection. To have the opportunity to examine them, up close and personal, was an awfully exciting prospect.

"I'd love to see them," Lorna assured with a grin. "Thank you. I'm not qualified to appraise them, but I'm sure if I asked around the department I'd find someone who could do it."

Reaching into her bag, she pulled out one of her notebooks and a pen. She quickly scribbled her name and phone number on a page and tore it from the book. Sliding the slip of paper across the table, she smiled. "Whenever you have some time and wouldn't mind me coming by, give me a call. That's my cell. I've got it with me all the time, and only usually off when I'm in class."

[Harry Osborn]

"I'd love to see them," Lorna assured with a grin. "Thank you. I'm not qualified to appraise them, but I'm sure if I asked around the department I'd find someone who could do it."

“Ohh that’s fine I’ll trust your judgement either way, you just have an honest face. Plus you didn’t even want to sue anyone for a slip and fall accident in a chain store if that’s not honest I don’t know what is.” Harry joked complimenting Lorna on what he had seen of her character so far. She really did appear to be an honest and nice girl. Harry wasn’t sure if he admired that or was sickened by it.

"Whenever you have some time and wouldn't mind me coming by, give me a call. That's my cell. I've got it with me all the time, and only usually off when I'm in class."

Hook, line, and snicker Harry thought with a small smile as he took the piece of notebook paper off the table. Now there was a reason to meet with her again and a chance to find out exactly what she knew about his former friends. He had thought for a moment about asking her if she did know Peter or not but resisted. Harry did not want to seem like he was prying for information into something that was obviously a sore subject for Lorna at the moment. There would be other chances now he would make sure of that.

Slipping the notebook paper into his inner jacket pocket Harry removed a business card and slid it across the table to Lorna in return.
“In case I miss you or you need to get a hold of me. It has my business and home number. I’ll more likely be at the home one hah I guess that does give some insight into how passionate I am about my work.” He joked offering her the card. That question was actually much more complicated to Harry then he was letting on. The thought of choosing something to do with his life that would actually make him happy was something he simple could not comprehend.