Paige & Hank | One Night Stand - BACKDATED
Sep. 6th, 2024 03:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsPaige and Hank run into each other on the bus and have a conversation about chemistry.
Summer was finally over and Paige was honestly looking forward to getting back into a routine just to have something to focus on. Getting up early in the morning to start the commute to school wasn’t exactly pleasant, but with enough coffee she would survive, rough as the first day always was. It was on the way home that she noticed something different about her commute. There was someone who seemed to be traveling along the same route as her. There were a few mansion residents who were connected to the university, but she didn’t recognize this new guy.
Looking him over more seriously this time, she noticed that he was reading what looked like a science textbook. Wouldn’t be her first choice after a long day of classes, but she could respect it. He was cute, too, with floppy brown hair and glasses. The bus back to the mansion wasn’t crowded, Paige could go over and say hello. Not wanting to interrupt his reading if he was really focused on it, she opted for moving over to a seat closer to his.
Hank was still so undecided. He'd met with the medical faculty, discussed resuming those studies but it honestly seemed like he would have to start from scratch again. It wasn't that he minded, per se -- the pursuit of knowledge was always fruitful, and ultimately in his best interests. It was more that he wasn't sure if he wanted to dedicate his education to biology when physics and chemistry were true passions of his. Of course, was it more out of necessity? After all, all that time in the lab focused his pursuits and scientific endeavours. Sigh. It was much to think about.
In the meantime, he was focusing on his organic chemistry class; an elective he took simply because he enjoyed it, not because it was needed. Fiscally irresponsible, perhaps, but it would help with the routine order of things.
When the pretty girl sat down near him, he noticed briefly but only because he felt he needed to move his legs closer together. Hank was very aware that his body was larger and more gangly than others -- he didn't want to make anyone feel umcomfortable. Instead, he looked up, gave a shy smile and murmured an apology before resuming carbon conjugations.
“Oh, no worries,” Paige said in response to his apology. “What are you reading! Anything interesting?” If he was willing to look up and apologize to her, maybe he was willing to hold a conversation.
Hank held up the book awkwardly so she could read the title before realizing this was probably an attempt at conversation. "Uh, it's advanced organic chemistry. I find it relaxing. Chemical compounds have to follow certain paths and have strict guidelines to work within." He paused for a moment, looking down. "I at times wish life was as simple."
Paige nodded. “Yeah. I can definitely understand that.” That was an understatement. Her life had been nothing but complications recently. “I’m auditing a chemistry class this semester. It looks like it’ll be interesting.”
He looked at her curiously. "Why audit? Would it not make sense to simply get the credit if you are required to do all the work?"
"I'm getting my PhD in psychology, the chemistry is more of a side interest." That and her advisor wouldn't let her add another class on her schedule. Something about not taking on too much at once. "Is that what you're studying? Chemistry?"
That definitely caught his attention. "You find chemisty intriguing enough to want to learn about it on your free time." This was framed as a statement, not a questinon. Putting his textbook on his lap, he gave her a smile, and fixed the bridge of his glasses. “That is wonderful. There is not enough female representation in STEM. I appreciate seeing your interest. And yes, I am studying chemisty ... well, more quantum physics and chemistry; however, once upon a time, I was focusing on my medical degree so I'm unclear truly what my journey should be. It's been a difficult time for me."
“Seems like everyone’s having a bad time lately.” Paige started to pick at the ends of her hair. At least her shoulder was back to normal now. “What made you switch from medicine to quantum physics? That’s not a usual switch.” Realizing she had forgotten her manners, she quickly added on, “I’m Paige, by the way. Paige Guthrie.”
"Hank. Hank McCoy." He also had forgotten his manners, nor did he really rectify by extending a hand. Handshakes were patriarchal and only added assumed value to a person's self-worth. As he already had none, it made more sense not to bother with it. "And my mentor -- former mentor -- was more on the theoretical side of science, and I wanted to follow in his steps. Laboratory work is much more exciting than pathology," he said, in an attempt of a joke. "More life to the chemical reactions, as it were. In addition, we know so little about quantum mechanics in general. I wanted to rectify that. So I switched. And I enjoyed it. However ...recent events have made it that my own body has changed in ways I do not truly understand, and with that comes the realizations that there are so many unknowns when certain ...factors are introduced to a human body." He hesitated. "Does that make sense? I hope it does. You're the first person to ask me this."
Paige have a small attempt at a laugh for Hank’s joke. “Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I started auditing physics and chemistry classes to understand what’s been happening to my body a bit better. I’m still pretty new up here, so trying learn as much as I can.” She gave him a quick glance up and down. “Maybe we could study together? Helps to have a partner sometimes.”
Hank looked at her for a few moments, wondering if she was teasing or not until he realized she was serious. A slow smile crossed his face as he nodded enthusiastically. "I would love that."
Summer was finally over and Paige was honestly looking forward to getting back into a routine just to have something to focus on. Getting up early in the morning to start the commute to school wasn’t exactly pleasant, but with enough coffee she would survive, rough as the first day always was. It was on the way home that she noticed something different about her commute. There was someone who seemed to be traveling along the same route as her. There were a few mansion residents who were connected to the university, but she didn’t recognize this new guy.
Looking him over more seriously this time, she noticed that he was reading what looked like a science textbook. Wouldn’t be her first choice after a long day of classes, but she could respect it. He was cute, too, with floppy brown hair and glasses. The bus back to the mansion wasn’t crowded, Paige could go over and say hello. Not wanting to interrupt his reading if he was really focused on it, she opted for moving over to a seat closer to his.
Hank was still so undecided. He'd met with the medical faculty, discussed resuming those studies but it honestly seemed like he would have to start from scratch again. It wasn't that he minded, per se -- the pursuit of knowledge was always fruitful, and ultimately in his best interests. It was more that he wasn't sure if he wanted to dedicate his education to biology when physics and chemistry were true passions of his. Of course, was it more out of necessity? After all, all that time in the lab focused his pursuits and scientific endeavours. Sigh. It was much to think about.
In the meantime, he was focusing on his organic chemistry class; an elective he took simply because he enjoyed it, not because it was needed. Fiscally irresponsible, perhaps, but it would help with the routine order of things.
When the pretty girl sat down near him, he noticed briefly but only because he felt he needed to move his legs closer together. Hank was very aware that his body was larger and more gangly than others -- he didn't want to make anyone feel umcomfortable. Instead, he looked up, gave a shy smile and murmured an apology before resuming carbon conjugations.
“Oh, no worries,” Paige said in response to his apology. “What are you reading! Anything interesting?” If he was willing to look up and apologize to her, maybe he was willing to hold a conversation.
Hank held up the book awkwardly so she could read the title before realizing this was probably an attempt at conversation. "Uh, it's advanced organic chemistry. I find it relaxing. Chemical compounds have to follow certain paths and have strict guidelines to work within." He paused for a moment, looking down. "I at times wish life was as simple."
Paige nodded. “Yeah. I can definitely understand that.” That was an understatement. Her life had been nothing but complications recently. “I’m auditing a chemistry class this semester. It looks like it’ll be interesting.”
He looked at her curiously. "Why audit? Would it not make sense to simply get the credit if you are required to do all the work?"
"I'm getting my PhD in psychology, the chemistry is more of a side interest." That and her advisor wouldn't let her add another class on her schedule. Something about not taking on too much at once. "Is that what you're studying? Chemistry?"
That definitely caught his attention. "You find chemisty intriguing enough to want to learn about it on your free time." This was framed as a statement, not a questinon. Putting his textbook on his lap, he gave her a smile, and fixed the bridge of his glasses. “That is wonderful. There is not enough female representation in STEM. I appreciate seeing your interest. And yes, I am studying chemisty ... well, more quantum physics and chemistry; however, once upon a time, I was focusing on my medical degree so I'm unclear truly what my journey should be. It's been a difficult time for me."
“Seems like everyone’s having a bad time lately.” Paige started to pick at the ends of her hair. At least her shoulder was back to normal now. “What made you switch from medicine to quantum physics? That’s not a usual switch.” Realizing she had forgotten her manners, she quickly added on, “I’m Paige, by the way. Paige Guthrie.”
"Hank. Hank McCoy." He also had forgotten his manners, nor did he really rectify by extending a hand. Handshakes were patriarchal and only added assumed value to a person's self-worth. As he already had none, it made more sense not to bother with it. "And my mentor -- former mentor -- was more on the theoretical side of science, and I wanted to follow in his steps. Laboratory work is much more exciting than pathology," he said, in an attempt of a joke. "More life to the chemical reactions, as it were. In addition, we know so little about quantum mechanics in general. I wanted to rectify that. So I switched. And I enjoyed it. However ...recent events have made it that my own body has changed in ways I do not truly understand, and with that comes the realizations that there are so many unknowns when certain ...factors are introduced to a human body." He hesitated. "Does that make sense? I hope it does. You're the first person to ask me this."
Paige have a small attempt at a laugh for Hank’s joke. “Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. I started auditing physics and chemistry classes to understand what’s been happening to my body a bit better. I’m still pretty new up here, so trying learn as much as I can.” She gave him a quick glance up and down. “Maybe we could study together? Helps to have a partner sometimes.”
Hank looked at her for a few moments, wondering if she was teasing or not until he realized she was serious. A slow smile crossed his face as he nodded enthusiastically. "I would love that."
