Betty Brant

Personality
Elizabeth "Betty" Brant can be best described as a woman who's tough of nails and wishes she did not have to be. While maintaining the youthfulness of her age, she has a subtle wariness that makes her seem and feel older than she actually is. Growing up with a more irresponsible older brother, Betty has often needed to push herself to be responsible and reliable to ensure her own affairs and thus often appreciative of when people help her out. She gained this attitude out of admiration for her mother, Eleonore, who was a single mom who balanced work with raising her two children. As such, she sought to provide and grow that inner strength for herself, to overcome any adversity like her mother did.

At the same time, this front of responsability and reliability masks her own insecurity and wariness. Additionally, her poorer background and having been forced to drop out of college has given her additional anxieties when it comes to her social life, especially in dating. As such, she's drawn to organized and responsible individuals and there is a part of her that longs for a stable relationship with a responsible man so she wouldn't have to feel so burdened and put down upon. She doesn't have much patience for what she perceives as shannigans though this at times makes her come off as insensitive to the hidden troubles of other people. Ultimately, she is a woman who had to grow up faster than she desired to and looks for a means of stability if burdened by her own misgivings and underestimating her inner strength.

Birth and Maturity (1976 - 1992)
Elizabeth "Betty" Brant was born on September 4, 1976 in Philiedelphia, Pennsylvania to a single mother, Eleonore Brant. Betty did not know much of her father though her little memories was recalling him of a strong father figure. She was only 3 (and her brother was 7) when Mr. Brant died, leaving the family without a breadwinner though Mr. Brant did leave the family a good sum of money to assist in their endeavors without him. Eleonore Brant would use the money to establish them over in New York City, which was a goal of her and her husbands'. She is able to find a job as the adminsitrative assistant to John Jonah Jameson Jr and becoming a good friend of his over the years. Established in Manhatten, the family tried to live a normal life for themselves. However, with Eleonore having to work often, the two were often latchkey children. Initially, Betty was quite close to her older brother Benny, who went to a lot of lengths to keep his younger sister happy and content.

Unfortunately, the conditions of them being lower-middle class weighed on them and Bennett began looking toward more... questionable means of making money. Namely gambling. While not a gambling addict and surprisingly capable with his money, Bennett's preference of the risky behavior to earn questionable income led to a growing chasm between him and his younger sister. While he often won quite a fair bit, he also ended up in trouble because of it with her having to bail him out. This escalated to where after Bennett moved out of the house to keep his bookies or sore losers from coming after him, it forced Betty to step up and drop out of school to help her ailing mother with the bills.

Joining the Bugle (1992 - present)
Fortunately, J Jonah Jameson, who had grown close to the family, offered Betty her mother's old job while working to get her the proper medical care and assistance. Betty eventually taught herself everything she needed to know for the secretarial work needed in her new life. She was grateful for the opportunity to try and work for money to stabilize herself though she also became aware that having to do so was a reflection of how tiring everything her life had become. At the same time, she did appreciate having people to help her, especially the younger staff such as Ned "Leeds" Lee, who she gave the nickname for him. However, her life would change when she would meet the newest member of the Daily Bugle, a young freelance photographer named Peter Parker. She couldn't help but ask why someone of his age, not even out of high school and intelligent enough to excel in it, would even come working here, especially under the conditions presented. Peter confided in her wanting to help provide for his aunt with his uncle's death, a notion that striked a strong chord with her and Betty found herself becoming close with Peter. She also felt a bit more optimistic regarding the problems of the city with the new costumed do-gooder going around in New York.

Trivia

 * She is a fan of the Philadelphia Phillies though she also becomes a fan of the Mets, in part after Peter took her out to see one.


 * She would get her GED a few months after Peter joined the Daily Bugle, with Peter tutoring her while her expenses were covered by J Jonah Jameson. The latter even encouraged her to go to college when she had the money.


 * While is pretty close to the people of the Daily Bugle, she does have particular fondness for JJJ for assisting her family, Ned for showing her the ropes and Peter for helping her out.


 * She also is the most computer-savvy team member of the Daily Bugle, which she attributes to her experience in administration. She later confesses this was because she noted Peter was reading a magazine on computers while waiting for Jameson and sought him out for assistance.


 * While her time within the Daily Bugle is out of prior experience and her mother, she does confess that she has a legitimate interest with reporting.


 * Betty also visits her former hometown of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at least once a year for nostalgia and has considered moving back there when getting her life back together.


 * Betty also is surprisingly knowledgable in several card games, likely due to having observed her own brother practice back in their younger years.