Speaking of the movie and the muse... Sky Captain was so underrated.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

So friends of yours were talking about it and that made you remember me? Gee who does that remind me of?

Look don't worry about me, I'm sure I'll keep myself busy with a story, you go do...whatever it is that you do.

Comments

[ihearyouthink]

A story? [Charles looking at her for a moment before smiling] Ah, you're a reporter. That's a busy job, especially for a woman.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

The name's Polly Perkins, of The Chronicle.

Some would say women make the best busy bodies.

[ihearyouthink]

[He offers a handshake with a smile.] Ms. Perkins. Charles Xavier. A pleasure to meet you.

You are in a profession that is mostly men, is it not? One would wager you work twice as hard as the others to make your mark in it.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

[The hand shake was met with the firm grip of a woman who was used to having to flirt, compete or fight her way in for the story.]

Why yes, Mr. Xavier it is primary occupied by that particular gender but I find that talent, drive and devotion far out weigh a tiny little thing like chromosomes, don't you?

[ihearyouthink]

[He did appreciate ambitious people. At least, at this point in time, he does. He's young...and still has his legs.]

I feel I ought to defend those supposed tiny little chromosomes. Without them, we would not exist as a species at all. Surely they cannot be discounted completely?

Suppose we discover a few years from now that drive and devotion are also caused by our own DNA?

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

You know, I never did great in biology, I was too busy finding out why the janitor kept sneaking off to the tool shed. He was an alcoholic, I broke that story.

[You'd think she was born with a note pad and camera wouldn't you?]

So, seems to me you have an opinion on that topic. Care to enlighten me and my readers?

[ihearyouthink]

[Charles wouldn't doubt that in the least.]

[He chuckles] Ms. Perkins, I think you will find most are not nearly as interested in the human genome as I am. [There's almost a teasing interest behind his eyes, as if seeing if she really does want to know more.] Your readers may want something a little more topical.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

The readers would read funny pages all day if you gave it to them. No insult to them but half the people out there don't know news until you point it out to them, that's the trouble. They sit back and accept things without questions or digging, that's what I do what I do. They might not know what news is or what may mean something later on, but I have a good eye for a story. You strike me as a story worth reading.

mun is THIS close to adding the Hulk after Beast down there for more color lol

[ihearyouthink]

Mm, true. Very true. [He did like her spunk, definitely.]

I happen to be a professor of genetics so this is really my specific field of study. More notably, genetic mutations. For instance, did you know all blue eyes stem from a single mutation, thousands of years ago?

LOL mun is a clever bugger with a sense of humor, I like

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Oh really? So my lovely eyes are just a genetic hiccup from the early cavemen?

[She smiles prettily but those pretty blue eyes are sharper than most he might ply that line on.]

[ihearyouthink]

[His own blue eyes smile back] One that has been refined over the years into the stunning blues they are today. If I may say, Ms. Perkins, you wear your mutation well.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Well they take good pictures, so I can't complain. I suppose that makes us both mutants doesn't it?

[ihearyouthink]

Indeed it does. Technically we are all mutants after a fashion. Some more pronounced than others. There is a curious thing about the mutation of DNA however. Every few millenia, evolution leaps forward. We are quite due for another leap very, very soon. Our species could find itself changing in new and incredible ways. [How true he knew this to be already.]

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Now that is a story! So tell me Professor, [She purred the title and leaned in, hands pulling the notepad and pencil from her purse.] What sort of leaps are we in store for? Something more dramatic then pretty eyes?

[ihearyouthink]

[He leans easily against a counter, watching her eagerly taking out her tools of the trade.] Much more dramatic. I've written a thesis on the subject at Oxford for my dissertation. Things like human flight, changes in pigmentation of the skin, adaptability to any environment, telepathy, telekinesis, invisibility...

I'm not going too fast, am I? [Those were big words to be writing down all at once at a clip.]

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

[She had one hand flying across the page with a flury of motion, her eyes however remained on him. When he questioned her she smirked and titled her head.]

I've kept up with people intentionally trying to leave me in the dust. It's my own short hand, though some of these concepts I'm pretty sure I'll be looking up later. Do you really believe people will be able to fly unaided?

[ihearyouthink]

[He adds] I can give you a few scientific terms and names to look up if you do wish to research it further.

It works for birds, why not? There's nothing preventing our DNA from adapting that far. Only time to do it.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Ready when you are Prof. The more information I have the better, I could make this into a series.

[ihearyouthink]

Perhaps we could talk about it over drinks. I know a place... [Charles knew many pubs in the area really.]

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

I bet you do, in fact I bet you know some place with the right lighting, soft music, great drinks... [Yep he was the type, but she wanted the story so why not? Not like he was hard on the eyes or anything, and not like anyone else was burning out the soles of his shoes looking for her.]

I just need to phone my editor and I can be ready to go in say...five minutes?

[ihearyouthink]

Certainly, Ms. Perkins. I'll be here. [He's very polite and patient for his age.]

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

[He's a whole lot of things for his age. Polly popped off with a smile, made a quick call and was back right on time]

All set, so where is it we're headed?

[ihearyouthink]

[Charles has been waiting patiently on the corner for her to return. She was definitely an interesting lady to talk to.

When she returns, he offers the crook of his arm like the gentleman he is and points at a pub across the way.]

This direction will do.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Well, a real gentleman and everything.

[Polly smiled and threaded her arm through his. She followed his lead and quickly stepped for the pub across the street.

It was warm and friendly with all the charming old world woodwork of a place that truly earned the name pub.]

This is cozy.

[red_right_hand]

What kind of story are you lookin' for?

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Something good enough to make the front page, I don't mind the leg work to get it either.

[red_right_hand]

The best stories would never make the front page. People'd be too scared to know. Still, gotta appreciate your spirit.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

People shouldn't be scared of the truth, they should be scared of what they don't know. I mean you for instance, ok large red fella with hooves. Normally that would be something that might send someone running, me? I figure if you had something diabolical planned you would have pulled it already.

[red_right_hand]

Do you believe in things that man wasn't meant to know?

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

I think I've even dated some.

[The retorts were second nature...and maybe even a dig at someone in particular. Bitter? Maybe.]

But after all I've seen I've come to realize the word impossible is pretty meaningless.

[red_right_hand]

*He smiles at that.* Yeah. Sometimes it just takes someone with a thick enough head who doesn't know any better.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

I guess it's lucky that I am just that sort of thick headed person to go after that kind of story.

[azure_intellect]

[There is a blue fuzzy guy right in front of you]

Well, there are plenty of stories out there, so long as you are thorough and observant. Something that I am certain you have the ability for.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

[ohhhh kay. Red guys, blue guys, hooves and fur...this was turning into an interesting night.]

That's always been my credo, you don't get to be a top reporter as a woman without being about the best reporter on the block.

[azure_intellect]

So it would seem.

[There is a smile. Hank did have a slight weakness for lady reporters.]

But where are my manners? My name is Henry McCoy. But you may call me Hank.

[Have a large furry hand held out in a handshake]

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Hank McCoy, pleasure to meet you. Polly Perkins with The Chronicle.

I think you found your manners just find, better in fact than some men I know.

[She shook his hand, the fur was different but there was no fear reaction in her.]

[azure_intellect]

Then I would hate to think the kind of men you have run into before.

[Hank thinks for a second]

The chronicle...the Chronicle...may I ask which Chronicle you work for? there are a few that I am familiar with, most on the East Coast.

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

We're not the biggest paper in New York but we have impressive numbers for circulation.

[azure_intellect]

Ah, yes. New York is a town I'm very familiar with.

[But if memory served, didn't the New York Chronicle go out of business in 1967?]

So, Ms. Perkins, what do you specialize in? Are you world news, politics, possibly headlining?

[intrepid_girl_reporter]

Makes sense, you look the New York type. [Meaning of course that New York welcomed everyone, it only grumbled about it under it's breath afterward. Welcome to the Big Apple, just avoid the rotten core.]

I specialize in front page news, the stories other reporters are too scared or too dumb to go after. My by line runs by more news print than Saks Fifth Avenue ads. Politics, scandal, science, war, technology, medicine, world events...you name it and Polly Perkins is there.