Akshay had to admit, he didn’t always like his abilities, but when they upgraded a little a few years back, they were just a bit cooler (no pun intended). Being able to craft words from thin air, embodying properties as he understood them was pretty interesting. Again, not the most useful, but still something that made him smirk in thought, especially as he wondered where else his powers could go from here.

Then again, maybe what made powers “cool” was just the perception. After all, the way Andrea looked at his abilities, it was almost as if she were looking at something as interesting as the powers that he coveted. She didn’t say much, other than marveling after the uniqueness of his gift and vaguely musing after its applications. It was enough that Akshay smirked, watching her expression, until she blushed and set the word back down. It didn’t matter where she put it, eventually the word would just fade away into nothing.

”I once used a word to balance a wobbly drawing table?” he added with a shrug and a laugh. ”Don’t tell anyone but very, very briefly I thought of being a vigilante.” He shook his head, chuckling at his younger self. ”Lasted one night.”

He rather not think on that night. Or the fact that he had barely survived it. Needless to say, it was enough to prove to him that the superhero life wasn’t for him. He would rather draw or write about lives in peril than actually be caught in the middle of it. Safer that way. Though, according to Andrea, just living in New York meant being caught up in the craziness so where did that leave him?

However it would seem that Andrea had more to show than just her wild looks. As if truly stepping out from the pages of mythology, Akshay watched as she pulled a glove from her hand, held out a small flower and pressed her finger against it. He watched in awe as the item began to shift and change color, moving from something more vibrant to a dullish gray. Before long she held it out to him, which he carefully took between his fingers.

Stone. It was stone! It wasn’t that when she first pulled it out but now it was actually made of stone! Like a real gorgon! He smiled wide, thoroughly impressed, trying to find the words to say before he looked upon her in awe. He shook his head chuckling before he gulped and soundlessly apologized.

”Forgive me for saying, but that is just the epitome of cool,” he grinned. He then looked at the gloves she wore and a thought crossed him before his smile turned more sympathetic. ”You always have to wear gloves?”

Balancing table legs and a brief courting of the idea of being a vigilante. She laughed, but not in any kind of mocking way. She knew where those ideas came from, even if she hadn't ever thought of trying herself. She was much too soft at heart.

"Thank you." And she meant it. While it was still a struggle dealing with her power set on a daily basis, she appreciated any positive reinforcement she could find. Anything at all to lessen the fear of her own power. The loneliness they caused.

She fiddled with her glove, making sure it was on correctly, and smiled at him. It might have been just a touch sad.

"I do." She started. "It is a safety precaution. While my power does not affect me, it affects everything else organic."

Not many things in modern life could survive if she decided to ever go without her gloves. The very idea was ludicrous!

"I do not mind much anymore, however. I would rather wear them than face the alternative. They are part of who I am now."

The myth of the Gorgon. It was truly a living, breathing entity in front of him. As he sat there, observing the petrified flower he held between his fingers, he found himself marveling at the sight of it. So interesting, so powerful, it was both a thing of beauty and of intense fear. What made this all the more marvelous was that Andrea could easily use her power for malevolent purposes -- but she didn’t. She was a nurse. She was a nice person. And all of it truly didn’t paint the picture of a “gorgon” as he was used to it.

She was full of surprises. He gave a small, understanding smile, and inquired if that was why she wore the gloves. Her power was always active? She was comforted by his appreciation of her gifts and confirmed that indeed was the reason.

Partially he felt bad for her. To be stuck always wearing gloves, unable to feel things with her own hands lest she turn them into stone. But he wasn’t going to say anything that would sign like pity. Pity wasn’t what she needed to hear right now. She confirmed that she was used to her gifts, that they were a part of her and something that she accepted. He knew a number of people who still fought their mutations, himself included, but Andrea here had reached a level of harmony that he could only dream of.

”That is amazing,” he said in reply. ”I hope to have your level of understanding in the future.”

He smiled as he looked her over. He was certainly glad that he came out today. Though he didn’t know truly how she felt about meeting him, he was certainly hopeful that she didn’t view it as a one-off mistake that she wouldn’t have to look upon again. As a matter of fact, Akshay wanted quite the opposite from her.

”You know, I really should get back home,” he explained. ”I have a couple of phone conferences that should attend...but…” he gave her another look, as if trying to gauge how she would react. He didn’t want to embarrass her but Akshay had learned a long time ago that not many people appreciated a verbal beating around the bush. So, he proceeded. ”...if you’re willing, I’d like to see you again. Up to you, though,” he said in a well-meaning manner. ”No pressure if you just want this to be a one-time thing. I get it.”

She blushed a little darker. He gave her too much credit, really. Her acceptance of her powers had been a long time coming, and she still struggled it it occasionally like any normal person would. Still, she appreciated the sentiment. "All I can do is try, no?"

She listened as he wrapped things up, leaning to grab the strap of her bag again and get herself ready. It had been a really nice chat. She had enjoyed his personality immensely, and was glad to have met him, but she certainly couldn't hog up all his time, right?

But then he asked if he could see her again, and two entirely different parts of her brain jumped up to fight over what exactly that meant. See her again in like... a friendly manner or, see her again in a date kind of manner?

... Had this been a date!?

Suddenly she looked a little awkward and was blushing furiously and at a loss for words momentarily. He was certainly attractive, and smart, and charming... but what if she was looking into things the wrong way?

"I would.. I would love to see you again." She struggled for a moment. "It was really great meeting you and talking like this, so I think that could be just fine." She moved to fish her phone out, just a tad stiffly. "It is not often I get to go out with anyone I don't work with, anyway. So it would be a fine change of pace!"

The more she talked, the more she felt like she was wedging her own foot in her mouth. Really? Did she have to get so fixated on a simple date?? She prepared a contact in her phone for him, waiting for an exchange of numbers, and stewed silently in her own horror at the internal battle going on in her brain.

Truly Andrea was adorable. When he asked if he could see her again, the darkened color that swept over her cheeks made him smile. He considered this a fairly easy, friendly meeting but he would be lying if he didn’t admit that he was enchanted by her. Still, he didn’t make presumptions and when he asked if he could see her again, he was as vague as possible, on the off chance that she wasn’t as interested as he was.

Though, judging by the stammering and the blush, it seemed accurate that there was some kind of a spark there.

”Excellent,” he smiled in relief. ”It was great talking with you too.”

She joked that she rarely got to go out with anyone who wasn’t in her line of work. Seemed understandable. The medical profession seemed like a very closely knit group. After all the hours that they work and remain in close proximity, it’s no wonder that relationships end up being mingled among themselves. Akshay honestly considered it a privilege to be able to join such an exclusive club.

”Shaking up the status quo can do amazing things,” he admitted.

After she took out her phone he gave her his number and name, watched as she tapped all the information in. He then pulled out his own and took the same information from her. Saved to his contact list with a little heart emoji next to it, he nodded, satisfied, and slipped the phone into his jacket pocket. With that he offered his hand to her gloved one.

”Well, Ms. Andrea, again, it was lovely to meet you. I’ll call you Tuesday? Should be done with most of what I need to have done by then,” he smiled brightly. Then, an idea struck. ”OH! Give me one moment…” he turned away and whispered into his cupped hands “Rose-scented Rose”. When he turned back around, he had one of his magically produced words, shaped with elegant font. It simply spelled out “Rose” but had a lovely, flowery scent to it. Holding it between his fingers, he held it out to her. ”You have amazing ideas, Andrea Gordon.”

She took the offered hand and shook it gently, already working on fighting back the treacherous color from her cheeks. "It was lovely meeting you as well, i'll look forward to Tuesday, then." She was a little proud of herself for managing not to flub the exit up.

She paused as he paused, a question in her expression and on her lips as she watched him whisper into his hands.

She was unprepared for the word he gave her, or for how it smelled. Her whole face lit back up in an instant as she took the word from him. She couldn't even meet his eyes. "Th-thank you."

Crap, she was squeaking. She heard her friend let out a bark of laughter from across the restaurant and just knew it was because of the blush. "That is very sweet of you!" Too sweet. She was going to die!

Tucking the word in close to her chest, she shifted on her feet and glanced toward the door, before sneaking a peek of him again. Good lord, there was probably steam coming from her ears.

"Maybe you can choose where we go next?" She offered, trying to distract herself, as she headed slowly toward the door with the hope that he would follow her as she left. It would be awkward if she just.. took off and left him there, wouldn't it?

"Until then, Akshay. Good night!" Once outside, she gave a little wave and would turn to head off in her own direction... still holding that word to her chest.

Once she was far enough away, she might have giggled a little, like a schoolgirl with a crush.

She couldn't say for sure that