Catseye and Professor X

[x-catseye.livejournal.com]

Catseye goes to the Professor to ask him for a favour.

"Hello, Professor," Catseye greeted demurely as she opened the door to Xavier's office after knocking and being told to come in. "Thank you for meeting with me. I brought cookies." She held out a Tupperware container of cookies she'd just made. "White chocolate cranberry, and snickerdoodles." The Professor was always offering people tea, after all. She figured the cookies would pair up well with the drink.

"Thank you, Miss Smith. That is most considerate of you. And the perfect complement to Earl Grey tea." Charles indicated the low table before the fireplace, where the obligatory tea set was arranged. "Would you like to join me?"

"Yes please," the catgirl grinned, though she was clearly nervous. She wrung her hands together as she sat down and bobbled the container of cookies as she took the lid off the container. "Professor? Do banks like you?"

"Banks do indeed like me," he replied, pouring tea for the two of them. "But I have had a long time of working with them, so they know what kind of financial investment I am. I take it you're finding the opposite?"

"Yeah. Banks don't seem to like me at all," she lamented. "I mean, I know that I don't have a lot of money, but I have a credit card and I had an apartment in Tel Aviv and one here for a little bit, and I have a pretty good credit score, because I'm good at looking after the money I do have. My student loans aren't too bad, what with being able to live here at the mansion instead of in residence. And it's not like I'm an irresponsible teenager! I'm a college graduate! So I thought getting a loan would be... not this hard. But I've been to every bank and credit union in Salem and a lot of them in the city, and no one will give me a loan for a restaurant. Not by myself, anyway," she added, staring into her teacup as if she felt ashamed for even saying it.

"Unfortunately, the financial situation in this country has meant getting started for young people such as yourself is that much harder." Charles radiated calm sympathy. "But fortunately, you do have resources."

Catseye pouted at his comment about the financial situation. "The financial situation sucks," she muttered irritably, tail swishing. But, he was right about the resources thing, which was exactly why she'd wanted to meet with him. So she brightened up and smiled at him. "Yeah, I'm veryvery glad I have people I can ask for help. I'm lucky. It makes me embarrassed to ask, but only a SillyKitten lets embarrassment stop her from being awesome, and I just know my restaurant can be awesome. So... can you help me? Please? Co-sign a loan, I mean?" she clarified, to make sure he knew she didn't actually want money, just the use of his good financial reputation.

"It would be my pleasure, Sharon," Charles said with a smile, approving of her feline practicality - her directness sometimes caused issues, but it would also stand her in good stead in her adult life. "I created the Institute to help my students for their lives beyond school, and I am pleased you have found your calling."

"Really? ReallyreallyREALLY?!" Overwhelmed by the Professor's generosity, Catseye jumped out of her chair and hit the older man with the full weight of a hug. "Thank you! Thank you thank you thank you! I won't cause any trouble with the loan, I promise! I'll pay it all myself on time all the time so you won't have to do anything, I swear! Oooo! Thank you!"

The hug knocked the air out of him, but Charles still patted Catseye briefly on the back. Even important world figures in mutant politics liked to get hugged. "You are most welcome, Sharon, and I have every confidence in you. All I ask in return is a seat by the window in your restaurant on occasion," he finished with a chuckle in his voice.

Catseye echoed his chuckle as she returned to her seat. "Of course! I think I'm going to name something on the menu after you, too," she grinned. "Maybe a sandwich! Do you like sandwiches? What's your favourite kind? What bread do you like? What's your favourite sauce? Or maybe a soup! Do you like soup?"

"Maybe perhaps a muffin?" Charles suggested. "Tea-themed, obviously."