Wanda and Medusa

[x-scarletwitch.livejournal.com]

Wanda covers a class for a sick professor and discovers that someone she's heard about is taking it. She and Medusa hit it off like a house on fire.



Medusa settled into her regular seat at the front of the classroom, notepad carefully opened to a fresh page with several pens in a variety of colors beside it. She didn't normally color code her notes but it was about the only thing that kept her awake in this class. It wasn't that the subject matter should have been boring, it was just the professor's monotonous voice that made the lectures almost unbearable.

There was a faint murmur of voices outside of the door before it swung open. Wanda shook her head at the person on the other side, smiling as she shooed them away before she fully entered the room. Her smile widened as the college students grew quiet.

"I have some good news and possibly some better news," she said to the class, dropping her bag on the desk. Some of the students had obviously had her before and laughed. "Your professor is out sick, possibly from being completely boring. And I will be taking over his lesson today. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of my company, my name is Wanda Maximoff. You may call me Ms. Maximoff or Wanda. 'Baby', 'sweetheart', or anything similar gets you tossed out of the window."

Medusa's green eyes blinked in surprise as she offered Wanda a cautious smile. She recognized the dark haired woman from the journal system and a picture she'd glanced at briefly. What kind of coincidence could it be that Pietro's sister and one of Mark's coworkers was taking over for her professor? Perhaps class would be a little more exciting than she had originally anticipated.

Picking up a folder, she flipped through the names on the list, pausing at one point. Wanda glanced curiously up and scanned the rows, finding Medusa easily. She returned the smile the younger woman gave her warmly. Pietro had mentioned the sisters in their talks before but she had not expected to have her as a temporary student. Making a note to catch her after class, she closed the file with a snap.

"Let us, as you Americans say, get this show on the road. Let's talk history..."

---

Medusa slipped her notebook into her bag, taking her time to gather things up as her fellow classmates drifted out of the room. The lecture had been much more interesting than usual - more a discussion than a lecture, which was probably why Medusa had felt more engaged than she had during any other week of the class. "I do not believe we have been formerly introduced," she said holding out her hand. "Though we are both obviously aware of each other's identities."

Reaching over as she rounded the rounded the desk, Wanda took the offered hand in a firm shake. "Though considering how my brother has filled me in upon his return..." And after the apology. "I feel as if I already know a small bit about you and your sister, Lady Medusa. Wanda Maximoff, just to say that yes, we have actually traded names in person."

Medusa smiled again, a ripple running through her hair. "Pietro has been very kind to both of us," she said. "I believe we have both heard a little about you, though I admit I know more about you from the journals than your brother. I did not even realize that you occasionally worked at the university. I seem to always be surrounded by multi-taskers."

"Yes, the mansion does tend to bring that out in people," Wanda chuckled, leaning her hip against the desk. "I mainly do research at the university. I am...on loan, as it were, from Cambridge University. If I provide some coverage for professors, they allow me full access to records, papers and materials I need for my project for my supervisors back at Cambridge." Her smile grew. "And I am glad you have found a friend in my brother. He can be a little trying at times."

"That sounds like a rather conducive arrangement for both yourself and the university. And I am also glad that Crystal and Pietro have been able to form a friendship - she has not had the easiest time here." Medusa set her bag down on the desk. "What is your research concerning? Is history the subject you prefer?" she asked.

"It is one of them," Wanda said with a smile. "I am an anthropologist, so history is never far behind in my studies. My main study, however, resides with cultural and historical information regarding moving cultures. My people, the Rom, for example and the nomadic tribes of the desert."

"I must admit, I do not know much of your people, but it sounds like a very interesting subject to study," Medusa replied, smiling back. "My own studies have centered on languages and I always enjoy learning about the culture and traditions of the countries where the languages initiate.

"What languages do you study?" came the curious question. It was always nice to find another language lover among the group from Xavier's.

"Crystal and I were both raised to be multilingual, though I have studied a wider variety of languages than she has. I speak English, obviously, and also Portuguese, Spanish, German, French, Russian, Japanese, Greek, Latin, Dutch and two varieties of sign language. I also recently begun studying Arabic with Nathan and will hopefully begin working on Mandarin as well, when time allows." Medusa's smile widened and her hair visibly relaxed. "I am somewhat of a language enthusiast, though I admit the program here at Columbia does not allow me to study all the languages in the way I had hoped."

"I am impressed," Wanda said. "And pleased that you and I can converse in at least four languages. With Pietro and I growing up moving all over Europe, I picked up quite a bit of their languages. And, thankfully, with some if you know another language you can bluff your way through some others." She nodded at the door, really meaning the University at large. "Ah, yes, I share your dismay at that. It is expansive in somethings but not in others. Though if you ever do wish to study more, I do know that Doug Ramsey enjoys the odd bit of tutoring here and there."

"He works at Snow Valley as well, correct? I believe I have heard Mark speak of him and I vaguely recall something he posted on the journals." Medusa shrugged. "I must admit, I do not follow the interworkings of the journals as well as others do. It is an intriguing system for contact, but rather bothersome and exposed at times."

That got a small laugh. "I agree. I much prefer personal contact, phone or at the very least email." Wanda grinned. "Much to Doug's suffering, computers and I do not get along well at times. But yes, he works with us at Snow Valley. His power is fascinating. He can speak any language that he comes into contact with, fluently. Though it's uses stretch beyond that. And he is a good young man, makes for a wonderful teacher."

"Any language?" Medusa said, feeling a bit envious. "What a remarkable ability. Language fluency would be such a useful skill." She would definitely have to get in touch with Doug.

"I try to avoid playing Scrabble with him," Wanda laughed. "And it is very useful." Her eyes wandered to Medusa's hair and her smile grew. "And I have heard quite about your mutation, if you do not mind me saying. Speaking of fascinating..."

Medusa allowed her hair to flare out before having it settle around. "I have absolutely no complaints," she said with a smile. "It is far more useful than most would imagine and far more fun as well." Another flick of her red strands and Medusa's smile broadened. "Though luck is not a bad skill to have on your side."

"Your power is prettier." Oh, she liked this one. Since leaving the mansion, meeting the newer people had been a bit hit or miss. It was nice to know she could still connect with people over there. "And my power is...similiar to luck but...hrm. Jennie's powers, with the good luck and bad luck? In a nutshell, the bad luck is the power I can tap. A butterfly in China..." Leaning forward, she whispered, "I broke a great deal of things growing up. Pietro and I were simply hellish to each other."

Medusa's smile widened at the compliment, as she quite heartily agreed that her hair was indeed prettier. Her smile grew slightly wicked at Wanda's last statement, emerald eyes glinting. "I shall have to tell my mother she got off light with Crystal and me. I can only begin to imagine you and Pietro..."

Glancing at the clock, Wanda got an idea. "I have to stop by my office to get some research," she started, "but after that I am free for a while. Would you care to join me for lunch? There is this fantastic little Greek place that I go to and we can share stories about our respective siblings."

"I would very much enjoy that," Medusa said. "Lunch would remedy my afternoon that was sorely devoid of any interesting plans." Widening her eyes innocently, her serene smile didn't falter. "Whoever cannot top the other's story picks up the tab."