Hank & Mel | Hello Hello
Sep. 6th, 2024 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsOne last swim at the lake before summer’s end.
Sunlight was something Hank had been deprived of for far too long.
His skin, already practically translucent at times, craved the sunshine, craved the vitamin D and thankfully, it was summer -- there was no short supply of this. Adding to that was a dock, and a pier where he could sit and let his legs dangle down into the water.
Going swimming would require him to show off more skin than he was comfortable doing. Even though he had used his time in space effectively to build muscle tone, that in itself was awkward. How does one take their shirt off, knowing they are physically fit and not flaunt it? He was proud of the effort he'd put in, but he didn't want it to come across as over confidence.
It was so warm though. The heat wave wasn't helping things, and the idea of having his shirt on .. difficult at best. Taking a deep breath, he took his shirt off and placed it next to him, feeling slightly elated that he made a decision. And stars, did the sun feel good on his back.
Another apparently felt the call of the sun and the water, as Mel floated towards the lake, towel in hand, intent on a swim. She was in a green bathing suit, skin tanned and freckled from many lazy summer days already spent outside. The breeze of flying only did so much to quell the oppressive temperature, and more than that, swimming reminded her of similar days in the river back home. A cure for homesickness and this godforsaken heatwave.
Her flight slowed to a stop as she reached the beginning of the dock, watching the stranger on the other end inquisitively. How had she not met everyone here by now? How many people could fit in one house?
“Hi!” She called out with a grin. “I don’ think we’ve met before, mind if I join you?”
The voice caused him to instantly look over his shoulder. His eyes widened slightly. He had no idea who this girl (woman?) was, but he was glimpsing more of her than he'd ever expect at a first meeting. He sat there, staring a bit, until he realized she'd asked a questin. "Oh! Yes. You are more than welcome and invited to join in. I do not have any ownership over this body of water, nor of nature itself. I am simply dipping my toes." He glanced down, remembering that he was topless. "I can put my shirt back on if you'd prefer. I have no desire to make you feel uncomfortable."
Landing, Mel padded over and set her towel down. “Don’t worry none ‘bout it. M’hardly modest myself right now.” His concern was cute all the same, and Mel wasn’t one to complain at an opportunity to check out some abs. She slid into the water, trying not to splash him, and gasped at the chill as she surfaced. Floating a small distance away from the dock, she glanced over at the man with another smile. “I’m Mel, by the way. You been ‘round here long?”
"No," was his immediate reply followed by a correction. "Well. That is to say. This time, yes I've recently arrived but well... I was here before." Her accent was more apparent the more she talked, and as she lightly floated in the air, he could see her top slightly riding up, showing a bare sliver of skin on her stomach. This was probably the closest he'd been to an attractive female in quite some time.
A very long time.
"My name is Hank. Hank McCoy. I am a scientist."
Another dip into the lake, and this time Mel treaded water slightly to keep afloat. She drifted to a sunnier spot, vaguely wondering if Namor might be lurking somewhere nearby.
Soaked curls clung to her face, and she pushed them back gently. “That’s neat. What kind of science, Hank?”
"Laboratory work. Physics. Biology. Chemistry. Science." How was he completely forgetting how to speak? This was not his best moment. He cleared his throat and shook his head. " I have my Bachelor's in Science, followed by my dual Master's in Chemistry and Biotechnology. I will be starting my PhD in Physical, Theoretical and Technical Chemistry this fall, along with finishing my post-graduate certificate in Quantum Physics. I find comfort in the scientific method and its logical processes." He allowed himself a smile, an actual smile. "For the last few years, I was focusing more on astrophysics and astrochemistry, looking at the impacts of zero-gravity and such. I was in space."
Though she giggled a little internally at Hank’s initial rambling, Mel’s eyes soon grew wide. “Actually in space? Like space space?”
"Correct. Space....space." Hank gave a shy smile. "It brings another meaning to the terms 'isolated' and 'remote'. Fortunately the time, well, flew by."
And how it did.
"I had much to be focused on; however, I enjoyed the view or lack thereof. A truly remarkable place, although we still don't know enough about our own planetary body to even begin to know about the vastness of the universe."
He dipped his toe in the water. Cold but not unbearable. "And what is your field, Mel?"
It was Mel’s turn to be a little sheepish. “Oh, I never went to college. Flowers, I guess. I work at a florist.” She was proud of her job, but it felt silly compared to Hank’s.
"To be a flower, is profound responsibility." Now he gave a bigger smile. "Emily Dickinson. So I can only imagine that whom cares for said flowers must also have a measure of responsibility. That sounds like a lovely job."
She felt her face heat up, though it was hard to tell under the beating sun. “Yer awful sweet.” A few lazy kicks steered her closer to the dock. “It’s nice, I like it a lot. Hard to be in a bad mood when yer around beauty like that.”
The girl looked up at him now with a grin. “You sure ya don’ wanna come in? Must be gettin’ a-mite warm up there.”
Hank hesitated for a moment, before deciding she was right. It was getting warm, and he was already half-way naked. Before he could talk himself out of it, he placed his glasses on the dock next to his shirt and he jumped into the water, shorts still firmly on. When his head breached the surface, he gave it a shake, water droplets splashing around him as he lazily floated. There was almost no effort, considering how muscular and fit he was now. It was a nice change. "It is colder than I anticipated although considering my body temperature was already elevated, it only makes sense that the change would be drastic." He cleared his throat and smiled. "You didn't even seem to feel it was cold. Are you used to freshwater swimming?"
Mel blinked away the water from the splash, smile only getting wider as he talked. The way Hank spoke was different, if not endearing, but she supposed that could be said about her own vocabulary. “Yeah, used t’ all the time back home, ‘specially when it got like this. Ain’t nothin’ better than a swim on a hot summer’s day.” She adjusted her top slightly and asked, “Where’d ya grow up, Hank? Surely there was swimmin’ or somethin’.”
"Illinois. West Dundee, specifically." He was skulling the water lazily, and enjoying it. Sometimes, he forgot how athletic he was becoming now. This was effortless. He might have to include swimming in his regimen. "A small village in Kane County, about an hour northwest from Chicago. The winters are cold, and the summers are hot but I never felt very comfortable swimming in public. Or really, doing anything in public." A wry grin crossed his face. "I am, as you can see, very awkward. I am aware of my faults, and choose not to inflict them on others if I can help it. I tend to be more ...introverted than otherwise."
“Ah, well m’glad you decided to today. It’s been real nice meetin’ ya. You can inflict yerself on me anytime.” And then she winked, for the hell of it, cause that was probably top ten in cringiest things she’d ever said.
The cringe was completely lost on Hank. As someone who normally pushed people away, this was a nice statement and he said as much. "I appreciate knowing that. Thank you, Mel. Please don't splash me though. I can already barely see without my glasses. Having water enter my eye would make it worse."
Mel laughed lightly. It felt good to laugh after the month she’d had. “I’ll try my best.” She laid back and basked fully in the sun. “Tell me, what’re you plannin’ on getting up to now that yer back?”
Sunlight was something Hank had been deprived of for far too long.
His skin, already practically translucent at times, craved the sunshine, craved the vitamin D and thankfully, it was summer -- there was no short supply of this. Adding to that was a dock, and a pier where he could sit and let his legs dangle down into the water.
Going swimming would require him to show off more skin than he was comfortable doing. Even though he had used his time in space effectively to build muscle tone, that in itself was awkward. How does one take their shirt off, knowing they are physically fit and not flaunt it? He was proud of the effort he'd put in, but he didn't want it to come across as over confidence.
It was so warm though. The heat wave wasn't helping things, and the idea of having his shirt on .. difficult at best. Taking a deep breath, he took his shirt off and placed it next to him, feeling slightly elated that he made a decision. And stars, did the sun feel good on his back.
Another apparently felt the call of the sun and the water, as Mel floated towards the lake, towel in hand, intent on a swim. She was in a green bathing suit, skin tanned and freckled from many lazy summer days already spent outside. The breeze of flying only did so much to quell the oppressive temperature, and more than that, swimming reminded her of similar days in the river back home. A cure for homesickness and this godforsaken heatwave.
Her flight slowed to a stop as she reached the beginning of the dock, watching the stranger on the other end inquisitively. How had she not met everyone here by now? How many people could fit in one house?
“Hi!” She called out with a grin. “I don’ think we’ve met before, mind if I join you?”
The voice caused him to instantly look over his shoulder. His eyes widened slightly. He had no idea who this girl (woman?) was, but he was glimpsing more of her than he'd ever expect at a first meeting. He sat there, staring a bit, until he realized she'd asked a questin. "Oh! Yes. You are more than welcome and invited to join in. I do not have any ownership over this body of water, nor of nature itself. I am simply dipping my toes." He glanced down, remembering that he was topless. "I can put my shirt back on if you'd prefer. I have no desire to make you feel uncomfortable."
Landing, Mel padded over and set her towel down. “Don’t worry none ‘bout it. M’hardly modest myself right now.” His concern was cute all the same, and Mel wasn’t one to complain at an opportunity to check out some abs. She slid into the water, trying not to splash him, and gasped at the chill as she surfaced. Floating a small distance away from the dock, she glanced over at the man with another smile. “I’m Mel, by the way. You been ‘round here long?”
"No," was his immediate reply followed by a correction. "Well. That is to say. This time, yes I've recently arrived but well... I was here before." Her accent was more apparent the more she talked, and as she lightly floated in the air, he could see her top slightly riding up, showing a bare sliver of skin on her stomach. This was probably the closest he'd been to an attractive female in quite some time.
A very long time.
"My name is Hank. Hank McCoy. I am a scientist."
Another dip into the lake, and this time Mel treaded water slightly to keep afloat. She drifted to a sunnier spot, vaguely wondering if Namor might be lurking somewhere nearby.
Soaked curls clung to her face, and she pushed them back gently. “That’s neat. What kind of science, Hank?”
"Laboratory work. Physics. Biology. Chemistry. Science." How was he completely forgetting how to speak? This was not his best moment. He cleared his throat and shook his head. " I have my Bachelor's in Science, followed by my dual Master's in Chemistry and Biotechnology. I will be starting my PhD in Physical, Theoretical and Technical Chemistry this fall, along with finishing my post-graduate certificate in Quantum Physics. I find comfort in the scientific method and its logical processes." He allowed himself a smile, an actual smile. "For the last few years, I was focusing more on astrophysics and astrochemistry, looking at the impacts of zero-gravity and such. I was in space."
Though she giggled a little internally at Hank’s initial rambling, Mel’s eyes soon grew wide. “Actually in space? Like space space?”
"Correct. Space....space." Hank gave a shy smile. "It brings another meaning to the terms 'isolated' and 'remote'. Fortunately the time, well, flew by."
And how it did.
"I had much to be focused on; however, I enjoyed the view or lack thereof. A truly remarkable place, although we still don't know enough about our own planetary body to even begin to know about the vastness of the universe."
He dipped his toe in the water. Cold but not unbearable. "And what is your field, Mel?"
It was Mel’s turn to be a little sheepish. “Oh, I never went to college. Flowers, I guess. I work at a florist.” She was proud of her job, but it felt silly compared to Hank’s.
"To be a flower, is profound responsibility." Now he gave a bigger smile. "Emily Dickinson. So I can only imagine that whom cares for said flowers must also have a measure of responsibility. That sounds like a lovely job."
She felt her face heat up, though it was hard to tell under the beating sun. “Yer awful sweet.” A few lazy kicks steered her closer to the dock. “It’s nice, I like it a lot. Hard to be in a bad mood when yer around beauty like that.”
The girl looked up at him now with a grin. “You sure ya don’ wanna come in? Must be gettin’ a-mite warm up there.”
Hank hesitated for a moment, before deciding she was right. It was getting warm, and he was already half-way naked. Before he could talk himself out of it, he placed his glasses on the dock next to his shirt and he jumped into the water, shorts still firmly on. When his head breached the surface, he gave it a shake, water droplets splashing around him as he lazily floated. There was almost no effort, considering how muscular and fit he was now. It was a nice change. "It is colder than I anticipated although considering my body temperature was already elevated, it only makes sense that the change would be drastic." He cleared his throat and smiled. "You didn't even seem to feel it was cold. Are you used to freshwater swimming?"
Mel blinked away the water from the splash, smile only getting wider as he talked. The way Hank spoke was different, if not endearing, but she supposed that could be said about her own vocabulary. “Yeah, used t’ all the time back home, ‘specially when it got like this. Ain’t nothin’ better than a swim on a hot summer’s day.” She adjusted her top slightly and asked, “Where’d ya grow up, Hank? Surely there was swimmin’ or somethin’.”
"Illinois. West Dundee, specifically." He was skulling the water lazily, and enjoying it. Sometimes, he forgot how athletic he was becoming now. This was effortless. He might have to include swimming in his regimen. "A small village in Kane County, about an hour northwest from Chicago. The winters are cold, and the summers are hot but I never felt very comfortable swimming in public. Or really, doing anything in public." A wry grin crossed his face. "I am, as you can see, very awkward. I am aware of my faults, and choose not to inflict them on others if I can help it. I tend to be more ...introverted than otherwise."
“Ah, well m’glad you decided to today. It’s been real nice meetin’ ya. You can inflict yerself on me anytime.” And then she winked, for the hell of it, cause that was probably top ten in cringiest things she’d ever said.
The cringe was completely lost on Hank. As someone who normally pushed people away, this was a nice statement and he said as much. "I appreciate knowing that. Thank you, Mel. Please don't splash me though. I can already barely see without my glasses. Having water enter my eye would make it worse."
Mel laughed lightly. It felt good to laugh after the month she’d had. “I’ll try my best.” She laid back and basked fully in the sun. “Tell me, what’re you plannin’ on getting up to now that yer back?”
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Date: 2024-09-09 01:19 pm (UTC)