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After the poster session had gone so unexpectedly, Sue and Heather have opted to skip out on large portions of the conference to convene in the hotel bar. Sitting right at the bar, awaiting the arrival of a waiter to take orders on libations, the pair manage to almost fly under the radar. Business attire not in her Fantastic Four colours actually seems to give Sue a BIT of anonymity. Thank goodness for the ever-class little black dress.
Her ankles cross and her head lulls lazily to the side. "I knew Victor would be here, but I would've thought he'd just stay in his corner. Peace is an effort I'd assumed he'd have interest in. Evidently I was expecting too much…" her lips twist to the side reflectively.
*
"He doesn't come across — ever — as the type to want things peaceful," Heather points out. "And he plays dirty. He worries me — I'm used to men who play rough, but mean? He not only doesn't like any of you, especially you, he wants to hurt you. Preferably publically. It's disturbing. Deeply. And it takes a lot for me to say that." She finally gives the waiter such a look that the poor fellow pales and rushes over.
*
Sue's expression flattens at the thought, and her fingers tap lightly against the bar as she considers the rather complicated history the Four have had with Victor Von Doom. "To be honest, he hates Reed," her hand lifts almost dismissively. It's then that the waiter steps towards the woman, and Sue orders a whiskey sour. It's not as hard as some would like, but harder than her usual fare.
When the waiter, leaves, Sue leans forward and lowers her voice, "I think he thinks he's being charming." Her eyes roll dramatically. "And it's not that," her eyes turn away from heather for a moment, "he's genuinely attracted to me. It's," her throat clears, "that Reed is." Her eyebrows lift. "Once upon a time, Victor and I were actually almost friendly. Not like friendly-friendly, but… collegial."
*
"So is he possessive? It sounds as though you and Johnny are just a way to hurt Reed. Or to compete with him. That makes sense but it's very unpleasant. I prefer personal grudges to being the proxy — at least if it's personal the other party sees you as, well, a person." Heather winces at that. She's been in that position, or close to it.
*
"Maybe I'm wrong, but I suspect the jealousy seeps over onto us," Sue replies quietly. "Maybe." Her eyes trail back towards the bar. Where are those drinks that they JUST ordered? She needs to be way tipsier for this. "And, I think we're means to prick a hole in Reed in some way. Maybe." Her lips hitch up on one side, "Or," and this is a big or in Sue's mind, "he's actually harbouring a weird attraction to me." Her head shakes. "Honestly, all these years I've been inclined to believe the former. Even though Reed and I are only just together now. We've been dancing this dance a long time."
*
"Attraction takes a lot of forms." Heather hesitates while the waiter brings them their drinks — white wine for her, she's trying to avoid too much of a hangover this time. "You make a good partner for Reed, you'd make a good partner for Victor. You'd certainly make him more powerful. And a man his age, in his position, needs to think of things like that and beyond. A wife. Children. I would put money on it being both things. All four of you have a bond few people have and Victor? I'm guessing he has to pay for his sycophants, one way or another."
*
"Maybe," Seo replies as she presses a hand to her forehead. "Maybe it's just the attraction of having someone, but then why is he so insanely obsessed with it being me?" Her eyebrows lift expectantly as she takes a gulp of her drink. It burns going down. Which means it's working, right?
"In the few minutes I had with Victor…" her cheeks flush "…he was rather… adamant that we should spend more time together." Her eyes roll emphatically. "Evidently he's moving to New York. So. Things to look forward to~" the sarcasm in her tone is unmistakeable. Her lips purse together lightly, "I had thought of mentioning the whole Reed thing happened, but I'm not sure… it's not exactly public knowledge, not that it's… and it probably would've incensed Victor more…" She cringes.
*
"I think you should go public with your relationship with Reed," Heather says, and it's not the wine talking — she hasn't had enough. Yet. "If the two of you are going to pursue this, then let it be in the society papers. Especially if Victor is moving to New York. It doesn't shift your value and vulnerability much and it gives you some positive press ahead of Victor's arrival. The timing is negotiable, but it can be a good move."
*
"Maybe I'm ridiculous, but it's weirdly new," there's almost a question after the word, "I guess?" Sue hums as she ponders hat fact. "It's this weird mixture of everything was always this way and simultaneously not. You know?" Her lips twist to the side. "And maybe — " her eyes turn down to the drink " — you're right? On one hand, with something being new I just want to be in it, and enjoy it. And let it just happen the way it wants to happen. The moment it's announced, there's like two images. And as much as the society pages likes a couple, they also like to speculate problems with a couple — " her eyebrows lift.
*
"True, but people will speculate regardless. Just keep it in mind. It can be a tool to make things clear if Victor insists on arriving in New York to turn things upside down." Heather looks thoughtful, then finishes her wine. "I don't blame you at all, for wanting to keep things private. Privacy is a luxury, especially if you're public figures. Don't hold onto it so long that you can't use the revelation to your advantage." Heather gestures for the waiter again. "I'm being mercenary, I know. But whatever might keep that man further from you is something I can't ignore."
Seo finishes her drink. "I have to admit," she muses towards the now-empty glass, "I have a perhaps-not-valid fear that it could have backlash." Her lips twist to the side, "I'm an unmarried woman living with three men, only one of whom I'm related. Then," she lifts her finger, "one of them becomes my boyfriend." Her teeth toy at her bottom lip, "I'm not sure, but I feel like that could, potentially pose a problem." Her head cants to the side, "Or I'm overthinking it." Her cheeks flush red.
*
"You four are special, Sue. That gives you some special privileges — and it is nineteen-sixty-three. People are more likely to see it as romantic, especially if it gets put out there by someone sympathetic." Heather beckons to the waiter to take their glasses and bring another round. "If people are going to disapprove, they already disapprove. But there's a lot of people out there who respect and support you — you four don't seem to obey the laws of physics. Who's supposed to judge you for not getting hitched?"
*
"Besides my very Korean aunt whom I have not told?" Seo raises her eyebrows. She inhales a long laboured breath. "But you're right, it could do well to keep Victor at bay. Which I very much DO need. Assuming he would heed some basic human boundary." Her lips press together tightly. "Believe me, it's not code for try harder." She sucks n the inside of her cheek, "A message I think many should consider. Like… the poster session. Talk about a meet market."
"Well, if nothing else, it'll give you some justification for mopping the floor with him?" Heather winks at Sue, then goes back to drinking because, seriously, it's been a few days of stress. "You know, I was just telling David how fortunate I've been to work with the men I did all those years. Since Mac died and I came to New York it feels as though I have "grab me" printed on my backside. Good thing there were so many pretty people already at the session, I escaped unscathed."
*
The remark causes Sue to emit a chuckle. She hasn't laughed at the ridiculousness that is Victor in a long time. "Well, And, I suppose it would be useful to have him at least know where the lay of the land is without me, you know, having to tell him." Because that can't go badly.
Sue cringes at the notion of New York. "Oh believe me, I know. I really do know." A frown tugs her lips downwards. "I'm protected in terms of employment, but school," her head shakes, "is a different story. I know I react badly when I get referred to as the secretary. But that's only because, well," she blushes, "the other parts that make me angry aren't things I need my family to worry about."
"One of my managers is very fortunate David doesn't know his name. I wouldn't have brought it up if I thought it would make him that stormy." Heather can't help but laugh a little. "It's strange to go from being Mac's right hand to being another office girl but, really, people always thought that's all I was. I suppose it was a blessing in a way, it let people underestimate me and I didn't mind so much… or, I did mind, I just used it to my advantage. But the groping and the grabbing is beyond the pale. My friend Liv, one of our translators, says I need to work on my 'murder walk'."
*
The story about Heather's manager prompts Sue to lift her eyebrows. "Well. I think things ar the way they are. We don't have to like them, exactly, and we can object, but it's not going to change things over night. Only slow moving consistent plugging in does that." Her lips purse lightly. "Heather… as one friend to another, what does David intend to do to Stryker when he finds him?" It's an odd question, but one that's definitely been on Sue's mind. "I gathered," she chews on her bottom lip, "he's seeking a rather permanent solution to the problem."
*
"I'm not surprised," Heather says, measuring her words. She's not going to confirm or deny anything. "Whatever David does, I trust his reasons. He's not an impulsive person by nature. Sometimes people have to be stopped — their influence is too strong. But if you have a good argument as to why Stryker would be an asset alive as opposed to a thing of the past, well. I'm sure you could make the case. Or try. He's not selfish or irrational, either. But this has to be his choice, or their choice, whoever else is in this with him. I said I would do whatever it took to help David recover. I meant it."
*
There's a small nod of Sue's head. "Right." She'd not sure what to say beyond that. "I don't doubt David has his reasons, I just… am not really excited about… final solutions to problems." Her eyebrows draw together sharply. "That is out of our… purview. The Four. It's not what we do. We do a lot of things to defeat enemies, but justice doesn't… we don't…" She shrugs.. Her head cants to the side. "And I believe you. Who else is in this with him?"
*
"Other people who were in his position, he's spoken to some of them, I know that much. I don't think he'd disregard them entirely — most of them are young, though. But, Sue. Sometimes permanent solutions are called for — and that's not what you and the other Four do, that's fine. This isn't something you all set out to do, you had it put on you instead. Sometimes, an awful thing is still something that needs doing. Justice is a fickle thing and Stryker is not likely to see it. He will always be an asset to someone powerful out there. Don't think I would endorse something like that lightly or that I'm satisfied that it's the only right choice." Heather drains her second glass of wine and sets the empty glass aside before looking Sue in the eyes. "But if I truly thought it was the right thing, the best way to save more people from what David and the others have been through — I would do it myself. And if I truly thought it would cost more lives, or that it would hurt David in some way, I would stop him any way I could."
Seo sighs softly. "I'm a scientist. I've always been a scientist. We may have the resources to help find Stryker, but, I think, we need to discuss our position on the matter. I'm… rather unsettled and unsure of the ethics of telling someone something that you know will result in…" She lifts a hand. "But I don't deny hat final solutions are perhaps… the only solutions from time to time."
*
"It's not an ideal option, no. But…I can think of more than one person who would shelter Stryker and use his work for themselves. Ethics are all well and good, Sue, but people are suffering." Heather shakes her head slowly. "You're a scientist, yes. But Stryker is using children for his work. Babies. He's taking people's mothers and fathers and their children, he's making weapons out of people. No matter your feelings on the last step of things, surely stopping that has to come first. Let's discuss it. Certainly. But I could lie to you and say 'of course David wants him to stand trial, so do I!' and you'd feel better. I won't. I want him to stop. I would give my life up for that. David might die trying. Is it somehow right that preserving Stryker's life should be a priority over all that?"
*
"Because what sets people apart form monsters like Stryker is precisely the thing I'm trying to preserve. We make decisions about allowing our humanity to be lost in stopping monsters or we make a decision to become them." Sue's eyes lid lightly. "I'm not looking for reassurance, I'm looking for honesty. After which," her jaw tightens, "I can make my own judgments. I know you think I'm an idealist, and maybe I am, but when systems are broken we fix the system. We call it out for what it is. We upset power and destabilize it. But we maintain our humanity where we can. Saving people, Heather, is something I've devoted my life to. So we're not on different sides here. I reassure you. I just struggle… I have to wrestle with it. Think about it."
*
"I know it's not easy, Sue. And I'm not saying I like it. I don't want David to do something that's going to leave another mark on him. If I'm being honest, I'd rather do it myself, because I'd rather carry that weight. He has enough to bear, so do the rest of you. But Stryker picked this path to walk." Heather reaches across the table for Sue's hand. "Let's never forget that. He made his choice, and has made it again and again, for years. We have to protect people, no matter what choice we make. Our obligation is to anyone in his path."
*
"And we have to live with those choices," Sue agrees softly. "Not just live with them, look in the mirror, hopefully, at least, once a day. If only for everyone else's benefit." She manages a stitch of a smirk. "We're scientists, we never aimed for any of this, you know. I was supposed to be doing chemistry, not going after bad guys." Her eyebrows lift expectantly.
"So. How do you feel. After Canada, I mean…" her eyes turn back to her still-empty glass. She's going to need another.
"Ready to go to work, and I don't mean at the UN." Heather taps her foot and gives the waiter a meaningful look that suggests she has a way to set his hair on fire if he doesn't hurry up. "Other than that… I miss Mac. I still do, I don't think I'll ever not miss him. It's stupid but I want to talk to him about David." She laughs at that. "I can guess what he'd say, but I wish he could say it."
*
"You knew him well enough that I think you have a strong facsimile of what he would actually say," Sue offers with a wry smile. "Don't forget that." There's a long pause, "And David… where…are things alright with the two of you? I felt rather… bad the other night…'
"
"Things are fine." Heather blushes a little and hates that she does. Being a red-head is the worst sometimes, everything shows. "He's moved out but… I don't think it'll be permanent. I'm going to miss him when I get back. I liked having him around, and I was worried that was what it was, that I liked having him around. But it's more than that. I like him."
*
Sue hums quietly. "It's okay to like him," she reaches out to squeeze Heather's hand. "You know that, right? I mean, honestly okay to like him. Not just kind of okay. You're single. You can have another slice of happiness." She manages a brighter smile. "And I feel like Mac would want you happy. He was a good man who wanted the best of everything for you. That includes now." She inhales a long breath. "I know you're the marrying type, and that we've discussed this before, but it's okay to be a bit unconventional too. Even a bit. Not that," her eyes turn up, "your marriage was what I would call conventional." She lifts a hand, "It was very Korean, save for all the spy stuff…"
*
Heather can't help laughing at that. "I don't think I'll get married again any time soon," she admits, squeezing Sue's hand in return. "Somewhere, my mother has a terrible feeling about what I'm going to say next and she's running to light a candle for my soul. And I don't intend to wait to get married for anything, either." Hot cheeks. Again. "I would be hypocritical after encouraging you, wouldn't I?"
*
"Oh, I needed no encouragement there," Sue's cheeks are now the ones flushing. "I… could be the Storm that's incorrigible." Her lips turn up into a sheepish smile. "Don't tell Joon. Please. Ever." She actually manages a nervous chuckle JUST in time for the next round of drinks to show up. FINALLY. Her throat clears, "It's nineteen-sixty-three, right?"
*
"It is." Heather will raise a glass to that. "It's a new era." Thanks in no small part to modern pharmaceuticals. Thank you, science. "Let's enjoy it, even if things are burning down around our ears."