Moira and Pym, via AIM

[x-mactaggart.livejournal.com]

GiantManPym: Hello there.

xMacTaggart: ...? Dr. Pym?

GiantManPym: Right on the first try! I told you that you were brilliant.

xMacTaggart: *dryly* Doctor, your last name is in your screen name...

GiantManPym: Well, there is that. So, how did you like the flowers?

xMacTaggart: Um...they were very...unexpected.

GiantManPym: So your man there doesn't bring you flowers? What a shame.

xMacTaggart: Well, no, he does other things. I meant I didn't expect them from you.

GiantManPym: He does seem to have a flair for the unexpected, I will give him that. It took me a week and an entire gallon of solvent to get the stains and the SMELL out of my lab.

xMacTaggart: *groans* I'm really sorry about that, I didn't know he'd done that.

GiantManPym: Oh, I figured. But it's water under the bridge. So...

xMacTaggart: So...wait, how did you get this AIM handle?

GiantManPym: A mutual friend at Hopkins. Told him I was collaborating with you on a new predictive genome sequencer.

xMacTaggart: *blinks* You lied to get my AIM handle?

GiantManPym: Not exactly... there's plenty we could be 'collaborating' on. Say, over dinner?

xMacTaggart: Henry, I thought I gave you my answer at the dinner.

GiantManPym: You gave me *an* answer at the dinner. I figured I'd give you time to re-evaluate your initial hypothesis.

xMacTaggart: God, you don't give up, do you?

GiantManPym: I prefer to think of it as being charmingly tenacious.

xMacTaggart: Why on earth are you being "charmingly tenacious" on my account?

GiantManPym: Isn't it obvious, doctor? I wasn't being insincere at the Tesla dinner. You're an amazing woman, one worth pursuing.

xMacTaggart: Even *after* the rather large, grumpy man I'm dating sent you that box?

GiantManPym: A minor obstacle, and one easily surpassed. I have a meeting in five minutes, so I hate to cut this short. But think about it, Moira. You, me, a nice dinner in the city, conversation that you don't have to use single-syllable words for. I don't need an answer right now, Moira. But I can't wait forever.
*** GiantManPym signed on.