Jean and Hank, Thursday afternoon

[xp-beast.livejournal.com]

Jean gains a new lab monkey - almost literally.

Lost in thought, Jean made her way into the one of the lab areas on the hunt for a microscope. The one she normally used was missing and she knew they had kept extra ones in one of the labs. Stepping through the doorway, Jean reached around the wall looking for a light switch, but found herself distracted when she banged her shin on something in the dark.

"Ow!"

"Are you okay?"

The voice came from within the room - and above her. A moment later a dark shape had unfolded itself from the ceiling and dropped to the floor in a crouch, though it didn't move towards her, perhaps sensing that might be a somewhat surprising (not to mention menacing) thing to do. "The light switch is approximately 1.28 metres up the wall - but I would appreciate if you could wait until I can return my reagents to their dark chamber."

The sudden voice in the otherwise completely dark room didn't help much and Jean jumped back. She had been focusing on the nice large bruise now forming on her shin, hopping around around on one foot, not expecting someone to be there. There were generally multiple people around her at the mansion at all times, and she hadn't been actively trying to sense someone, narrowing in on one particular person.

"Um....sure. I'm sorry, who are you?" she said curiously. He sounded young, and she thought she knew most of the sciencey types. But more people were coming to the mansion everyday.

"I'm Hank," he offered, moving to tidy up the various tubes he had left out on the bench. "Hank McCoy? I'm new here." That much was probably obvious.

Jean laughed. "Seems to be a popular state of being these days," she said. There were so many new people coming more and more each day. It was...nice to know more people but somewhat worrying that the harshness of the world had likely driven them there.

"I'm Jean. Jean Grey. I'm one of the doctors," she added, turning to where she had heard him speak and sense his presence. Now that she was aware he was there it was easier to focus on him. It was still dark.

"So what's your experiment?"

"I was just trying to streamline the tests for erythrocyte protoporphyrin detection," he said, sounding as if he was telling her about something as mundane as a bike ride, "given that the protocol really hasn't been interrogated for some time. You can turn on the light now," he added then.

Flicking on the light switch, Jean's eyebrows rose at the words coming from a man who looked barely out of high school....or perhaps still in it.

At this rate we'll be able to qualify for our own MENSA chapter... She smiled to herself, then laughed.

"Well, that's considerate of you. And how's that going so far?"

His shoulders slumped a bit. "Not well. Maybe there's a reason the protocols haven't changed in so long."

Jean hopped up on the counter, glancing over the lab. "Doesn't hurt to try," she said with a smile.

"The world would never have gotten as far as it has without scientific curiosity."

She was a bit biased, however, in that viewpoint. Science had had always held her interest.

"So are you interested in becoming a doctor? Or strictly a scientist?"

"I'm not entirely sure," Hank admitted honestly, giving a shrug. "At the moment research interests me more, but there's no arguing with the fact that being a medical doctor would allow me to do more immediate good. On the other hand, any significant breakthroughs I might have could easily be beneficial to mutants or even the population as a whole, so when weighing the decision on the respective merits of the professions it becomes a rather uncertain guessing game."

Jean nodded, falling silent for a few moments before speaking. "Well, I think you've got a little time to figure out what you want to do," she offered.

"But here, it's pretty easy to eventually be able to do both. I do," she said, then shook her head.

"Though, admittedly, being a medical doctor takes more precedent."

"Do you have a lot of cases here? I suppose with so many young mutants you must..."

"More than most, " Jean confirmed with a laugh. "Between here and Muir Island we've become the foremost experts on mutation after..." Her eyes grew distant before she glanced back over with a smile.

"Anyway. Have you ever been to Scotland? I go to the UK sometimes to visit my parents and stop off at Muir to say hello to Dr. MacTaggart. You're welcome to join me."

She could see the enthusiasm in his eyes, the curiosity. It spoke to something in her, like she'd found a kindred spirit.

"That would be an incredible opportunity," Hank told her when he had regained the power of speech. He had heard of Muir Island and Dr MacTaggart - who hadn't? Okay, a lot of people, but still. "I don't have a job yet but once I've got one I'll start saving up for tickets right away. Maybe next year, if you're going then, I'll be able to accompany you. I'd love to speak to Dr MacTaggart, I have so many questions to ask her..."

Jean tilted her head, curious as a broad smile crossed her lips. "Did no one tell you? We have our own private jet," she said, absently grabbing a nearby pen to tap against the counter.

"So you're out of high school, then?"

He was still marveling at the 'private jet' revelation and so his reply was perhaps a bit belated. "Hm? Oh, yes, I graduated a few years ago and I'm starting college in a few weeks' time. I'm hoping to convince them to let me double major but for now I'm studying Molecular Genetics."

"You seem more than capable. I don't think anyone would stop you if you wanted to double major," Jean said with a laugh.

"What would be your other field of study? I studied genetics myself. My medical fellowship has a heavy component in the applications of treating mutants. The field is somewhat lacking, but I'm hoping to change that."

"I don't know," he said in response to her query. "I was thinking literature, actually, or maybe political science."

Jean fell silent, thoughtful. "Hmmm. Tough one. Maybe you could take a couple of classes on both, see which one you like better? I seem to remember both areas being part of basic requirements."

She paused after a moment. "So...what have you been doing all these years, if you don't mind me asking? You said you graduated a few years ago."

"I did. I... was working. In a lab. But," he rushed to add, "it wasn't very interesting and I'm very glad to have ended up here. It sounds like this is the place to be for cutting-edge research and treatment."

Jean was curious about the attempt to course correct but didn't say anything for now. She wasn't sure if this was something he didn't want to talk about for whatever reason. "Seems like," she agreed.

"Though a lot of what we do has to stay in house due to the nature of our work and the occasional injury in pursuit of that effort. Regardless, though....I'm occasionally in need for someone to help with my research. If you were ever interested..."

Hank's face lit up. "Yes! I mean of course I'd love to help, however I can. Do you... let me just clean up here and then I can come by and you can tell me about your work. Or if you're busy, just let me know when you'd like me to come in, my schedule's pretty flexible most days..."

Jean laughed. "I can get pretty busy working at one of the hospitals in the city so my schedule is sketchy. But I'm free now. There's a place in town that makes great coffee or tea if you wanted to go get some? My treat."

"That sounds like an excellent plan," he said enthusiastically. "I'm looking forward to hearing more about your work, Dr Grey."

Hopping off the counter, Jean smiled. "Please, call me Jean," she said as she went to grab the microscope she was originally looking for.

"I'll be down in my office whenever you're ready."

He shot her a grin and moved to tidy up his remaining supplies. "I'll be there in two shakes!"