capeandcowl | 23 ⊗ video ⊗ peeking his lionface back in

[Hank is walking through the halls of the Institute, on his way back to his suite. The video angle is from below, he's walking and talking.]

New communicators for a new Network? Check.
Vulcanus on the move again? Very well, then.
Preliminary signs of an imminent Skrull invasion? Marvelous.

Heaven knows we had a hard enough time of it last time, though I'm hardly in any position to begrudge a species the audacity to escape extinction. I know a very charming little Broodling who might agree.

[He reaches his door and fumbles for the keys, still talking as he gets the door open. He's still moving afterwards, like he's looking for something. His expression is growing increasingly distressed.] Seems it's been a rather eventful week while I've been away, and here I expected the most significant issue I'd face upon return was keeping my dates straight! It's not something that's easily resolved in the mind when you experience and entire year's worth of days twice! Just further need for compartmentalization, I'd imagine.

And Logan, in case I need to remind you, I get the big office in this universe.

[Finally he stops, frowning. He gives the room one more glance, then points the camera at the table, where one sole plate sits. The meal's half-eaten, and spoiled from being left out for more than a few days.]

Has anyone seen Amanda?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you, Hank.

But how are you doing? Alright?

[He looks far too worried to qualify for alright.]

I'd be better if I knew she'd been ported out. Rule out any other alternatives.

Do you want help looking for her? Or looking at the places she normally frequents to see if there's anything unusual?

The situation being what it is, if she'd taken action to coordinate, it's difficult to say where she'd base that maneuver from. Perhaps if we discussed it with her known colleagues?

Her office is another possibility, assuming she'd holed up there and just...hasn't been home in days... I suppose it's possible, she's a bit of a workaholic, that could have worsened in my absence.

Well, we won't know until we start talking and looking. Point me, and I'll do what I can.

Well, I think Spider-Man's been involved in her operations in the past. There's also a certain Mr. Sage, but I've not been acquainted with him.

Additionally, Peter Parker's a friend of mine employed at Global Dynamics under her. He's sure to have noticed her ab--

Oh, nevermind. I've just heard from him.

I didn't know you and Peter knew each other.

[ and she is so amused by these secret id shenanigans ]

We were children together, even!

[By which he means that they spent a week de-aged together. But it sounds funnier the other way.]

Wait, what?

[ she is just like THOSE AGES DON'T MATCH UP, HANK... ]

[HANK'S ONLY FOUR YEARS OLDER GOSH.]

Granted, we'd met prior to that, but yes. Suffice to say that May was a very odd month.

[ CAROL'S OLDER THAN HIM? ]

Oh, the Porter was messing around with things. That makes more sense.

[A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE, HE WAS BARELY OUT OF HIS TEENS DURING HIS FIRST STINT WITH THE AVENGERS.]

Though what she stood to gain from a City full of children for a week other than the threat of mass chaos, I'll never understand!

[ I DID NOT REALIZE THAT ]

You say that like the threat of mass chaos isn't enough.

[YEAH, HE'S ONLY THIRTY-TWO.]

Not if it served no ultimate purpose, especially if that threat was never realized.

[ HUH. ]

Could it have been something other than the Porter?

[STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL WHEN THE AVENGERS ASSEMBLED, BARELY TWENTY DURING HIS FIRST STINT AS ONE.]

I suppose it's possible, but who would ever do such a thing? Who here is capable?

[Well, Loki...]

I don't know.

[ pause. and now she's actually thinking about what he said in that post... ]

So what's this about a Broodling?

Complicated matter. Suffice to say he isn't a threat.

S.W.O.R.D. was experimenting with methods to extract Brood eggs from their hosts. Through...a very long progression of events, which I'd really prefer not to expound on, we found one little Broodling who was born disconnected from the Hivemind, and the rest...well, they hated him for it.

There aren't many Brood left, as you well know, and I wasn't about to condone the extinction of an entire sentient race, so we decided to take him in, out of some hope that he could serve as a template for the gradual evolution of those outlying survivors remaining.

He goes by Broo. He's a precocious darling and one of my best students.

[ so many unsure feelings... ]

And you're completely sure there's never going to be any Hiveminding happening?

Well, how many Brood are really left for him to interact with that way?

Of all the students at Jean Grey's with the potential to move in the wrong direction, he is the one I'm least worried about.

I'd thought they were all gone, but they keep showing up at inconvenient times.

Well... I'm glad to hear it. [ still unsure face ]

[Hahaha, and then WatXM #5 has more, and Broo does hear them in his head, sooooooooo...idfk. Him turning evil still seems unlikely, at least.

He's just giving her a knowing look.]

Carol, I won't let this one go sour, I promise.

I know, and I trust you, Hank. But it's hard to let go of history sometimes.

[ esp when she was the one to wipe out the majority of the brood... a w k w a r d ]

Yes, I expect it can be.

[Beat.]

On that topic, how's Bobbi holding up?

Remarkably well, given the situation. But it's difficult.

video, encrypted

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