Work Text:
“Timing is everything
When I’m with you
I need to sing”
“May?” came a voice from the opposite end of the door.
Mayday dropped the hairbrush she had in her hand, the one that substituted for a legitimate microphone, and dashed over to turn the knob and open the door to reveal her mother, who was holding a tray of delicious white crust-free sandwiches
“Just thought I’d give you a treat before you head off to the club” said Mary Jane, smiling brightly.
Mayday grinned and swiped the sandwiches off of the tray.
“Thanks mom, I’m famished” she said.
“Mind your carb intake sweetheart, everything in moderation” said MJ.
“Mom, its Wes who’s diabetic” Mayday replied.
“And that to me was a wakeup call that this family needs to prioritise their health” MJ insisted.
“Well, a lot of care and attention will get him through another day, of that you don’t need to doubt” Mayday continued, throwing off her night shirt and heading over to her cluttered clothes drawer, pulling out a black top and scarlet skirt.
Mary Jane put down the tray and sat on the edge of the bed, watching her daughter put on her clothes for the day, she picked up the hair brush.
“Practicing again were we?” she asked, taking note of Mayday’s singing.
“I swear this time karaoke afternoon will be a lot more manageable” said Mayday.
Mary Jane smiled, and took a look at one of Mayday’s stuffed toys, a brown bear with a missing eye; she playfully rocked it back and forth.
“I don’t suppose you’d like to donate this to F.E.A.S.T?” she asked.
“I used to be pretty against giving up any of my little cubs, but that was before I began considering a little one of my own” Mayday replied.
Mary Jane’s eyes widened, dare she hope?
“Give me the good news, I need it today” she said.
Mayday slapped her waist softly, “Nothing just yet Mom”
Mary Jane’s smile faded, she got up from the bed and looked out the window.
Mayday could sense something was troubling her mother, she walked over to her.
“Hey, why so glum?” she asked.
“It’s just…my friend, Tasha, she quit a really good job she had a year ago to pursue filmmaking, and within three months, she lost all interest in the hobby, and she doesn’t feel like going back to her old one because she feels she accomplished everything too early, she’d see a return to her old ways as a step back” Mary Jane explained.
“That sounds a bit abrupt of her, surely there are challenges involved in filmmaking that require you to push harder and harder, that’s the challenge of it” Mayday added.
“The filmmaking required the use of A.I” Mary Jane revealed. Mayday’s face turned pale.
“Oh Mom, that IS a concern”
“There’s so many arguments for and against A.I consumption and output…so much noise, ignorance on both sides, but even those who embrace it just end up feeling hollow after one or two months of use, it helps them achieve their dreams, ticks so many creative boxes, yet it’s not a real collaboration you know? You’re only in love with it for so long before you realize it doesn’t truly love you back”
Mayday didn’t quite like how the topic of conversation was turning to existential merit, not when she had a whole Saturday ahead of her with Wes and the gang at the Cat’s Eyes club.
But she had a sense of responsibility, one that compelled her to encourage and inspire the people and family around her.
“You can always tell Tasha that these things happen for a reason” she advised, “That there’s a journey to undertake, you can’t just crack Hollywood by taking a crack on your couch. Time to pick up a pencil, or a camera, maybe outbox a celebrity, but do something very human and, more importantly, something very honest”
Mary Jane smiled, and gave her daughter a big hug.
“Thanks hotshot, even when my friends aren’t here in person, you treat them as if they’re right in the room with us, and I promise, that message will be delivered”
“Think nothing of it mom, nothing better than talking shop on how to best deal with the dismay of slop” said Mayday.
As Mary Jane left the room, Mayday spotted another of the sandwiches laying on the dresser and slowly reached out for it.
“Carbs dear” uttered Mary Jane’s voice from the hall, Mayday smiled and left the sandwich alone.