driftfleet | it's not our fault it's an april mingle

[She probably could have warned him, but she didn't laugh, so even?] It's a prototype, but the design is like the one Magneto made for me at home. I normally wear one on each arm made with adamantium, but something a little more durable than brass will do.

Adamantium? [that's not a metal he's familiar with] I guess they took those from you when you got here? Your - original weapons.

Yeah, Erik hadn't heard of it either somehow. It's a super strong alloy. It's what Logan's bones are fused with. At least at home. [His question gets a nod.] Except they were replacements too because the prison took them first and I had an alchemist help me recreate them.

Ah . . . the Logan I know didn't - have that, as far as I could tell. [hell, as far as Hank knew, his power was regeneration and the bone claws] That seems a little silly to me, but I've never understood these places taking away things like that.

Hmm. [She wonders about that. Maybe it was a good thing for him.]

You mean when they don't bother taking powers? Yeah.

Mm, exactly. [he shrugs, huffing out a noise] But I try not to wonder too hard about those sort of things. [out loud, anyway]

The other place we were in took our powers, in a manner of speaking. But even when we got them back, I know I wasn't nearly as strong or fast as I normally am.

I feel pretty normal here, but I'm not sure I'm unchanged. Erik thought he was being limited.

Why not wonder? Because we'll never know the answers for certain and it will just drive you crazy?

So did Charles. [he nods] I feel normal myself, but I haven't attempted to test that.

[he huffs again] Pretty much.

The only thing I've done that didn't act normally was on the augment and who knows what normal is for that. I haven't tried short circuiting a ship's systems because...why would I? But would they just leave me with a way to do that?

I don't think they would leave a way for that - it seems too easy.

Kind of what I think. Sort of hard to check without doing some possible serious damage though.

Mm, and that isn't worth the risk. [he blows out a sigh] Are you good with technology?

[That gets a smirk.] It's kind of my thing.

My power is just also really bad for technology.

[both eyebrows go up]

Your thing? [he tilts his head, but he's genuinely interested] Are you the go-to, then?

I guess I am. Why? [What is that look?]

[he shakes his head and smiles a little lopsidedly]

I'm good with tech, but - you know, 70s tech. It's good to know who knows what they're talking about in case I decide to start building things here.

I don't have the augment for engineering which can make things tricky if it's Atroma tech, but... What would you be building? [Sorry the suspicions and nerves aren't going away juuuust yet.]

[he understands the suspicion. He answers easily, honestly]

If someone [Erik] hasn't already beaten me to it, something to make it easier for Charles to get around. His chair back home was motorized. [and he shrugs] After that? I don't really know. Nothing . . . worth worrying about, though.

[She nods, looking away for a moment. She doesn't like the suspicion and caution she feels when these things come up. She knows it isn't fair to him, but trust is hard enough for her with no obstacles in the way. After all, she trusted Piotr more than anyone and he... Well, there's a reason she's dead back home.]

Yeah, that would be a good thing for him to have. I know some people with engineering augments too who would be willing to help I'm sure. Winn, Vision, Kirk. [Maybe she just collects engineers.]

[he watches her, then finds himself speaking up. As bad at it as he is sometimes, Hank has always been defensive. Not overly so, but . . . in this case, it's a little more warranted. And he wants to put her at ease] The last thing I really built that wasn't - uh, a necessary rush job was the set-up in my office. I had it so it could monitor all the main television channels and record what came through. [he smiles a little, poking fun at himself] I might hide from the world, but I try to keep up on what's happening.

[he files away those names with a nod of thanks] Winn is - Kara's friend, right? [there's nothing wrong with collecting engineers though] Thank you, I'll keep them in mind.

[She might not be able to show it yet, but she does appreciate how hard he's trying when this is really just her problem. Sure, there is a suspicious part of her saying that could be a ploy on his part, but she doesn't really think so.] It sounds useful. Should be a little easier here with the network. [She watches it pretty intently herself.]

He is. They're from the same world. It sounds like you and Kara really hit it off.

It's already easier. I don't need to set up a bunch of television monitors to know what's going on. [and he's incredibly glad for that, because his office was a mess.

He lifts a hand to rub the back of his neck, a little awkwardly] Mm, we did. She's - very nice. We spent a while talking when I first arrived.

She is. And she was very quick to defend you when I reacted terribly and childishly to her suggesting you help Winn and I out.

[oh my god Kara]

That seems to be going around . . . [everyone defending him. He winces a little] Sorry.

I'm pretty sure that's supposed to be my line.

You didn't do anything wrong, remember?

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