003; video

[beathach]

Who: Charles and Hank + You Losers
Broadcast: Video
Action: SS Blameless
When: Right Now

[two old nerds appear on screen, unboxing a large colouring create with "Congratulations On Your One Year Anniversary!" written on the side in big, bold letters. Inside appears to be plushies of DNA, antibodies, and other related paraphernalia.

Of course, while doing this they're sharing the popular "rumors" about them out loud, for their own amusement. Or bemusement, either or]

Let’s see . . . 'Aliens stole Charles' hair.' I can’t say that’s wrong.

In a manner of speaking, sure.

What else . . . 'Hank is a beast in bed'. Hank, you sly devil.

—No comment.

Hmm. 'Hank and Charles are the perfect couple'. I think our students got a hold of this one.

Huh. I just read one lamenting our divorce.

Hold on, what’s this?

[ Charles pulls out a business card ]

Well now . . . I guess I’ll be keeping this.

[Hank's response is to burst into laughter. What a helper]

Comments

[ladybro]

And, hey, I'd like to think I did pretty well going toe-to-toe with him for...y'know, someone without a power to her name.

[ in this case 'doing pretty well' means getting some hits in and not breaking any ribs. she's chuffed. ]

[axiomed]

That is impressive. You should be proud.

[ladybro]

[ it helps that (old man) logan wasn't going for the kill at the time -- and that captain america showed up in the eleventh hour to ease some of the tension.

even so: ] Oh, I am. Wolverine owes me two bows too. Futzing claws.

[axiomed]

[ Okay, that merits a look of confusion. ]

Bows?

[ladybro]

[ she raises both arms and mimes firing an arrow. ]

I shoot.

[axiomed]

Interesting. You don't see that very often these days.

[ladybro]

You're right; you don't.

[ it's usually just her and clint -- though there are, on occasion, others. back home. ]

Not that I can't shoot other things. Great aim is great aim, after all. But when you know what you're doing, arrows can be more versatile than bullets.

[ and (placebo though it might be) she likes to think it's easier to avoid outright killing a dude. ]

[axiomed]

Jean is rather fond of archery. Though she cheats.

[ Being telekinetic and all. ]

[ladybro]

Wait, seriously? I never knew that. [ maybe the one in her world isn't, of course. though it's not like kate's ever met her in anything but passing. still, she'd figure clint might have mentioned something... ]

If she does cheat, then I don't envy ever going up against her. [ friendly competition only, of course. ] I need to keep my edge where I have it.

[axiomed]

That's fair. I doubt she'll take it into battle. She has other powers at her disposal after all.

[ladybro]

I'm sure she does. [ if she's anything like the jean grey she's heard about. ] Which I suppose means I can keep my working title of world's greatest marksman. [ ... ] Well. Joint.

[axiomed]

I doubt anyone else will lay claim to the title.

[ladybro]

Yeah. Tell me about it. It's a little niche.

[axiomed]

But on the other hand, I doubt anyone is going to sneak up and steal the title.

[ladybro]

Oh, I don't know. I'm not averse to some young ingenue popping up someday and tagging along. I'm not the first Hawkeye. I hope I won't be the last.

[axiomed]

[ He smiles. ]

I suppose I wouldn't be either.

[ladybro]

I'd hope not. [ ... ] You've got a helluva legacy.

[axiomed]

[ His expression flickers and he looks . . . doubtful. ]

So I've been told. I would prefer it if it wasn't so . . . overwhelming.

[ladybro]

Look at it this way: you're you. The legacy, the life, the X-Men? It'll unfold how it's gonna unfold because of who you are.

[ not destiny -- not exactly. more like: ] Whatever hard work it's gonna take? You're already on track to be that person.

[axiomed]

I've seen it. And just seeing it was overwhelming. It convinced me to keep going but it is frightening to know this entire legacy hinges on me.