Rᴏʙᴇʀᴛ Mᴏɴᴛᴀɢᴜᴇ Rᴇɴғɪᴇʟᴅ (insects) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2017-08-19 14:46:00 |
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It had been some time since Hank had seen Emma - not since she and Jean had come out of that whole ‘cosmic entity’ debacle, which was very touch and go there for awhile. However, Hank was too stubborn to give up on a good friend - he kept at it, wanting to help in someway. Even a small way, just to ease her suffering. Things had turned out alright though, and he could breathe a long sigh of relief. Without the stress of the planet-eating Phoenix bearing down on them, they could focus on the usual shenanigans brought about by living in Orange County. And catch up on things. Hank, personally, had finished his dreams for the time being - they stopped at a strange spot and he didn’t necessarily like the ending, but unfortunately it felt like one to him. For now, anyway. Then there was the jet Katherine was going to help him acquire so he could build it up in a replica of the Blackbird - the designs he’d received were carefully tucked away for when he could begin this very intense project. Planning to go over this (plus potentially discuss some trials with Cerebro), he put together a wine and cheese platter for Emma’s arrival - a snack meant for entertaining that was nothing short of delicious, mind you. One soft and creamy cheese (brie), one firmer (cheddar), and one grating style such as Parmigiano-Reggiano. With that there was a bread that contained walnuts, and fresh fruit - grapes and strawberries and such. He was just popping the work on the wine, a nice Chardonnay (he didn’t drink often but he knew his wine pairings), when he heard the knock. “Emma! Come in! It’s so nice to see you...as you.” Since the world was no longer in imminent danger of being incinerated, or worse, Emma was feeling rather more herself. Her telepathy had calmed to what was mostly normal, although she was feeling a little fritzy from time to time. Given the way her powers were in her dreams, she was counting that just fine. Visiting Hank, while feeling far better herself seemed appropriate, given his assistance in allowing her and Jean enough control to oust Phoenix from their collective. Relaxed and settled for the first time in what felt like months, Emma was looking to regain some normalcy in life again. Which meant a slightly more adult afternoon with Hank was the perfect way to spend some time. The welcome was bright enough to have Emma grinning in return, “It’s nice to be myself again, darling. Thank you.” It was good to be able to concentrate her on friends again. “Come in, have a seat!” he encouraged; his living room was spic-and-span, all set to entertain guests. “I’ll pour wine.” And indeed he did, giving them both a generous amount in their glasses - the elegant snack was arranged on a tray on the coffee table, and Hank made himself comfortable on the sofa. “You and Jean are still well, I hope?” he asked, since their relationship seemed to have been on quite the roller coaster lately. She didn’t mind if she did, with her seat and her wine it was time to take a load off and relax for a little while in the company of a dear friend. “Oh, we’re much better now, thank you.” Having just the pair of them in the connection was so much more simple, neither got overly enticed to violence just as easily without Phoenix goading them on, and it was pleasant to just have Jean’s presence with her. “Things seem to be aligning as they were before, and we cannot thank you enough for every little ounce of help you offered.” Maybe they’d never know just how to fully protect themselves from that cosmic life wrecker, but for now it seemed like Jean was able to fully give her the boot. Hank was glad to hear it, because he liked Jean - and he especially liked Emma. They seemed very happy together and he wouldn’t have wanted that rude cosmic life ruiner to come in and turn everything upside down. “You’re welcome, of course,” he nodded, though in his opinion thanks were not necessary between friends - he’d do just about anything to help, in this case. “At least it’s at a more manageable level now. And you’re with me, the Emma I know - you have no idea how much I’ve wanted to discuss advances with Cerebro with you, and potential tests, and also the jet...” He realized he was rambling, and grinning with those sharp canine teeth flashing, but he just had a lot to go over. And he tended to go on a mile a minute anyway. So he took a sip of wine to settle the roar a little bit. Ahhh. Emma couldn’t help the soft laugh, honestly she wasn’t surprised that Hank had gotten to the point of wanting to dive into the technology that their world opened up. Cerebro was one of Charles greatest tools, and throughout the years it was both a weapon and a salvation for their entire world. “You know, I wondered how long it might take you to bring up Cerebro.” She was pleased to note that her estimate of ‘not long’ was about correct too. But Hank was far too polite to have broached something while she was facing uncertainty with Phoenix. Far too charming. “Are you intending a reproduction, or a smaller outlook?” After all, he had designed Cerebra, far more portable that one, less power yes, but it did the job in a pinch. Besides, Emma used that on missions to keep in touch with a far flung team, not to contact all known mutants in the world. Charles always did like the grandiose. “And the jet.” She could ask which one, but reason stood that Hank had his mind on the Blackbird already. “Well, both - a reproduction and then a smaller outlook for the jet,” Hank admitted, settling back in his seat after he’d grabbed a slice or two of cheese to nibble on. “I have the designs and plans for the version of Cerebro I dreamed of, this was back in the 1960s - “ Where he did remember an Emma, but it wasn’t this Emma. How strange. “So of course using that as a model and then incorporating technological advances from this century would be ideal - I haven’t met any other telepaths besides you and Jean, of course, and if you’re willing I’d love for you to help me out with some tests.” He needed to assess capabilities and range, and the only way he could do that was with a telepath. Someone unable to read minds couldn’t use Cerebro - not without going into a coma from an overload of psychic feedback. “As for the jet, I’ve received the designs for that too and my...Katherine...my girlfriend - “ It was still strange in a good way for him to say, “..is acquiring a baseline jet for me to upgrade. That will be in a hangar at my place of employment.” And, oh, of course this would be the Blackbird. Of course. Sipping her wine, snacking on the treats provided, Emma considered the advances that came with technology and how that could further advance any plans for Cerebro and how to construct it in this world. “Well, I can’t speak for Jean,” she probably could, butt into whatever Jean was doing with the question, but she didn’t think it was quite so urgent, “but I’d happily assist with any of the trials you needed to run.” The years of Charles’ tools meant that Emma was versed in Cerebro, the uses and drawbacks of it. But the mention of his Katherine had Emma smirking around her glass. “Darling, why are we talking about jets and mind reading devices when you haven’t told me about your Katherine?” Especially as his Katherine was acquiring a jet to do up with stealth technology and subsonic speeds. “We really need to look at your priorities in gossip.” “Oh. Well!” Hank blushed quite a bit, because it was in his nature - shy, bashful, a little flustered when it came to the idea of amore and all the perks of a relationship. Because technically it was his first ‘real’ one. He had been, shall we say, inexperienced before Katherine. “She is a model. Perhaps you have seen her on a reality-based television program?” America’s Next Top Model or something. She won the season she’d been on, probably by ripping the other contestants to shreds with her manicured nails. It made him oddly proud. They were an odd match though, on the surface level. “We met through the dream forum. She, of course, experiences them as well.” He wouldn’t reveal her vampirism, since she didn’t exactly broadcast it and he would respect that, but if Emma rooted around in his head surely she’d see that part. It was something the animal side of Hank, the predator, rather enjoyed. “Well, aren’t you two just a fairytale match?” Because the Beauty and the Beast jokes were oh so easy to make. But the reactions from Hank were rather adorable all by themselves. Emma wasn’t one to overtly rifle through friends heads, it was just impolite, but she made her own mental notes to poke a little into this particular marshmallow pillow. “At least there’s not going to be confusion as to just how you happen to turn blue and furry on occasion then, hmm?” It undoubtedly had to be hard to match up dreamers and non-dreamers. Explaining things that happened out of the laws of reality and what not, that likely would not be fun. “And you’re happy, right?” Because that was the most important portion of things, whatever the dreams and whatever else, happiness was one thing that actually made this nonsense worth it. In some ways, Jean and Emma’s deep feelings for one another, feelings that Emma still found it difficult to put into words, saved them from Phoenix getting too close to tipping point. “Katherine knows about your fuzzier issues?” Admittedly, he hadn’t even thought much of the Beauty and the Beast comparisons - but he supposed that was true, in a way! How funny. And of course Hank was still blushing. “She does know about my...other self,” he stated carefully. The monster, the fur and the claws and the craving for flesh to sink his teeth into. Somewhat feral, though it could be a lot worse - if Hank lost control of his humanity completely, well. It wouldn’t be pretty. Similar to what would happen if Katherine gave into those vampire instincts completely. “She actually doesn’t mind it? She likes it, even.” Perhaps that was odd to say, but true. And he didn’t even have to think about whether or not he was content. That answer came easily. “Of course, very happy,” he smiled. “I am sure that outsiders don’t really understand why she could choose me, when she could obviously have anyone. But what we have works.” She likes it even. Emma wasn’t going to go into the more primal of attractions with Hank, undoubtedly his dear girlfriend would fill him in on all those matters. And it was a good thing, for Hank to understand that the other part of himself wasn’t unattractive, that suppressing it to be able to fit in wasn’t always required. “Outsiders don’t have to understand, darling. She might be able to have anyone, but she has you. And you are just as deserving of a rewarding, wonderful relationship as anyone else. Fuzzy and blue or not.” Nerds were attractive, competence was attractive, intelligence was damn right sexy. Even without his more primal side, Hank was a catch. “But I’m so glad you’re happy darling, and Katherine sounds like quite the lady.” And personally, Emma would rather anyone aside from Abigail Brand, the woman was still only in Emma’s dreams and managed to annoy her still. “However, as to your pursuits with the jet and Cerebro, of course I’ll assist in any manner. And should you require any monetary backing for either, just let me know, I’ll drum up an expense card for you.” Because around here, a version of the Blackbird might prove exceptionally helpful. Or just good for Hank to take his darling off on wild and far adventures. “Oh!” Well, Hank wasn’t expecting that. His big blue eyes blinked owlishly behind the (admittedly, unnecessary - his vision was sharp, ever since his mutation evolved) spectacles. “That is very kind of you, Emma. I don’t - “ he stammered, unsure of what to say that would properly convey his gratitude for her offer. “I am at a loss for words! But while I am more hesitant to accept monetary backing, do know that I appreciate your support and will also be appreciative of any help you can give testing Cerebro.” Indeed. He needed a strong telepath to be able to go in and look at the functions, make sure the device was working properly. That would be helpful, and so would a jet. He planned to do good things with it in times of crisis but also fly Katherine anywhere she wished to go, for work or otherwise, and fly around friends as well. “And anytime you need a lift in the Blackbird, I am at your disposal,” the scientist grinned. “Darling, money is but a tool with me, anything you need, at all, just say.” She had more than a single human would need in numerous lifetimes, more so since she assumed full control of her father’s entire estate following his tragically untimely death. Well, untimely for him, perfect timing for her. “And my mind is yours. A Cerebro device would pose a significant asset with potential turmoil here.” Since Emma was far less concerned with the same ethics and morals as Charles and imposing mind control on enemies. If it saved people, she’d lobotomise the enemy. “Next time Jean and I go away, maybe you’ll have it ready for us? She gets terribly stressed at work, needs to relax more.” Of course she had a private plane, but it was monotonous sometimes, and she’d hardly say no to joyrides. Hank sort of thought along the same lines as Emma - he wasn’t as squeaky clean as his ‘nerd’ image may project. After all, he’d tracked down the scum who broke into Katherine’s condo and murdered her - only for the unfortunate victim to be her first official meal as a newborn vampire. Someone with golden morals wouldn’t have done that, nor would they have agreed to their girlfriend exhibiting the vampire gift known as compulsion to even acquire the jet from the Navy, and keep Hank’s work on it in the hangar at his place of employment a secret. He wouldn’t mind telling Emma that. Jean, from what he knew of her, may have a few more issues. But alas. “Of course,” he promised. “I anticipate it being ready very soon. It’s kind of been a side project, when I’m not in my work laboratory. When you and Jean are ready to go, just give me a shout? I’ll make sure you get to where you’re going in style. Oh, and...” Reaching for his iPad (with a bajillion extra bells and whistles - he liked customizing his own communication devices), he pulled up the calendar. “When would be a good time for you to come in and test Cerebro?” At that, his eyes were practically alight with excitement. The sooner he could have something ready for the next OC disaster, the better. Ethics were a very grey area for Emma, in a fashion very different from most of her X-Men counterparts in her dreams. Charles had largely imposed his own morals and code on many of the team, although truly Emma would only look to Ororo as being the one who could fundamentally claim the high ground when it came to choices made. Things weren’t black and white, there was no absolute, and Emma understood getting a little bit dirty, a little bit marred for the sake of the greater good. One collateral casualty to save millions was a burden she would see no wrong in carrying. It wasn’t quite the same here, Emma could see that where her team mates were pious and rigid in their belief in the dreamworld, they were flexible and logical in reality. Jean did take the news of Emma arranging her father’s death oddly well after all. “Darling, whenever you are free, I will make myself free. But Jean and I have already arranged a trip to Monaco next week, so, any time after that I’m all yours.” The beauty of owning the company was basically scheduling things herself, and for Hank she’d push any meetings back anyway. The pursuit of a working Cerebro was far more important than smoothing ruffled board members feathers. “Monaco is beautiful!” Hank was delighted to hear that Emma and her partner were taking some time away for themselves - in a lovely vacation destination, no less. “Go and have a wonderful time. I expect to hear all about it when you return. We can say the weekend after, we’ll do some testing?” he suggested. “Just bring yourself, and stop by here. I have Cerebro in my home laboratory.” He wouldn’t dare have something like that in his work space - the jet was a different story, it was basically blocked off from prying eyes and even the enhancements he was engineering to be added weren’t detrimental. But Cerebro was a different story - its functions could not fall into the wrong hands. Hank would make sure of it. A vacation was generally a much needed break for people around here, even short ones. And Emma and Jean were absolutely no different there. Maybe Emma was more inclined to pull Jean off to recharge when things like this happened, complications from the dreams needed a break with whatever relaxing reality they could find. “No doubt it will be a delightfully uneventful week in the sun, with lazing around and hours of shopping.” Because Emma couldn’t not shop. “But I will be looking forward to returning to see what you’ve come up with.” She definitely didn’t doubt that Hank could make it work. If anyone could, it was Hank. |