ColdSteel was hard to get along with? That earned an eyebrow and a bad joke. "Aww, did he give you the cold shoulder?" ColdSteel was in fact, one of the most decorated names on the list. Just about as decorated as Serena was.

"You know, I don't have a code name noted down for you. I know you just said you're new to the team, but have you chosen one yet?" Spencer tried to be not so obvious as she drew lines between Serena and Mirror and Serena and Becca with a scribbled OT3?

And thus far, Serena had neatly dodged explaining what her own views were. It was time to get direct because the courteous way just wasn't cutting it any more.

"What, in your opinion, makes the X-men so important? What do they stand for, in your eyes?" Symbolism? Seemed to Spence, that there was a hell of a lot of real world application happening with those that were supposed to be symbolic.

Serena snorted derisively at the pun. "He wishes." Serena didn't exactly hide the fact she was gay, but she didn't broadcast it either. "Actually, puns aside I don't know how many women he's given the cold shoulder, I imagine not many at all, but he'd definitely never have the opportunity with me." Even if she wasn't a lesbian, Sam and her had more of at student teacher relationship than a coworking one, and it had developed over the years into a friendship. Serena was very grateful to him for all he'd done for her, but at the same time all of that history made his problematic phases more agitating.

"I have, the others helped me. Well. Sort of, I accidentally outed myself on Rebecca's livestream and she helped me pick one on the spot. It's Sanguine." That had been a whole ordeal. She'd also accidentally outed a pregnancy in the process, that was definitely a low moment. But it had led to a super fun hang out with Becca, so she wasn't exactly mad.

Serena didn't really mean to dodge the question, but now that it was asked directly she went straight into her answer. "So first, I think all the super hero stuff is amazing. Helping people is admirable, on any level. Fire fighters, doctors, cops. All of it. I'm all for doing good in the world." She was building up some intensity to her voice, emotional weight.

"But what I think is really important isn't necessarily the acts themselves, but that the X-men are a team of mutants, consistently seen doing good. They are an example to the public of some of the best mutant kind has to offer..." She stammered a little before continuing. "They have the potential through their actions, to change the minds of people afraid of mutants, of people that hate them. Someone might see them on T.V and think 'hey, they're not all bad. They can't be all bad if the X-men are like that.' and change their way of thinking. Even if it's just a handful of groups changing their thinking, it's a good thing."

She glanced down at her feet sheepishly before looking back up to meet Spencer's eyes. "And the reason I feel that way, is because that's exactly what they did for me. I was scared of mutants, scared of myself when I became one. Now I love them." Serena realised she was staring quite intensely into Spencer's eyes after a few moments and blushed, looking back down at her coffee before taking a sip and gathering her somewhat disorganised thoughts.

Eyebrows extended into telescopic mode as Serena enumerated ColdSteel's problems. Ohhhhh. The issue wasn't being spurned. It was being hit on. Juicy, juicy sekuhara. She had to invent a whole new decoration to add to ColdSteel's name. A skirt. For skirt chaser. A self-congratulatory internal high five was in order as well since the rumors of skirt mandation revolved around him.

Also, outed on Becca's stream? As a teammate, surely, but Spencer made a note to go look for it. Watching through a super vigilante's youtube channel had allll kinds of potential.

"Sanguine evokes a really positive feeling. I'd say that matches your personality quite nicely." There were many pitfalls she could have fallen into with so primal a power. Not to mention being a girl and all that came along with THAT. Spencer didn't envy these heroes one bit.

Consistently seen doing good. That went in the notes. As well as the best mutant kind has to offer. She was banging someone on that team. No ifs, ands, but maybe a few butts. Spencer had to refrain from adding sassy faces that might give her skepticism away. It wasn't exactly professional to draw a raised eyebrow face. It was hard enough to stay patently positive and neutral as it was.

It was just... if people were thinking that after seeing the x-men on TV, then that must have been someone's only exposure to mutants.

"Fear's a weird thing." As was embarrassment. "The less exposure one has to something, the more she might build it up in her head. In that way, I guess I agree. More exposure, especially of the positive kind, is a smart way to normalize mutations." Unfortunately, Spencer had scratched beyond the shiny veneer of the face of the x-men. There was no going back to believing in what was shown on television anymore. Not for her.

"That sounds exhausting, being scared of what you are." The table hit her mid-torso, but it felt like a moment that deserved some confirmation that Spencer, at least, was not afraid of her. She leaned forward and put her hand on top of Serena's, enjoying the solid attention of a beautiful, if naive and self-conscious, girl. There was a lot of promise in eyes like Spencer's.

"You said you're more open now...?" She let that one dangle to be interpreted as Serena might before continuing. There was something so delicious about making people squirm. "Could you share something about your awakening? Your," blast she had to break eye contact to check, "manifestation, as you called it. Of your powers."

Serena just... couldn't stop the blushing. She hadn't really heard much one to one feedback on the name yet, just Rebecca and Mirror's responses. "Thank you. I really do appreciate that." She really had struggled with a name, her power wasn't really the pinnacle of easy PR or naming conventions. And she definitely didn't want something aggressive sounding, that was for sure.

Serena nodded. "I honestly do view it like sexuality in a lot of ways. Compare people's thoughts and feelings, at least the publicly aired ones 50 years ago on gay couples, to now. It's normalised. It's in the media, it's no longer demonised. It's not listed in the DSM as a mental disorder..." Serena clearly had strong feelings and passion on the topic.

"Of course, I do encourage that people try to understand that the X-men are people too. I suppose I'm saying we should do more interviews, especially if they are as lovely as this." she chuckled nervously.

An involuntary shiver ran up Serena's arm when Spencer touched her. There was something reassuring, and exciting about the words followed by actual human contact. She looked up and met Spencer's eyes nervously.

A simple nod was given in response to the question of openness. "Uh-" She paused. She was not discussing that, if that was what Spencer was referring to. "If you're referring to my power, that's not something I'm willing to discuss. But you can ask me anything else."

She waited a beat before adding. "I'd definitely like to continue." God. Spencer's eyes were so pretty.

Ahhhh and there was a nerve. Considering that Spencer wanted to continue this interview, she left that nerve alone. Exposed, but alone. She was even kind enough to not take a note about it, though that may have had something to do with the fact that she'd captured Serena's eyes and did not want to let them go. If eyes could talk, Spencer's were whispering things that'd make a sailor blush.

"That's fair." Her refusal was polite, but explicit. No talking about Serena's powers when they started, or now. It was only fair because of the mutation manifestation stories, some were graphic. And this was still, technically, a book tour interview.

"What would you say is your interesting writing quirk? Every writer has one, right? Kafka famously would write through the night? Truman Capote would never start or end his writing on a Friday, I hear."

Spencer did, eventually, reclaim her hand from the top of Serena's. She had to write down whatever the answer was.

Serena definitely had a thing for intense eye contact, there was just something about staring into another person's eyes. Again, it was probably the romantic, poetic side of her personality. Serena nodded gently, not breaking eye contact. "Thank you for understanding." She replied softly, before very quickly adding "Sorry."

Interesting writing quirks? The funny thing is, she was right about one thing, every writer Serena had talked to had some weird thing they did that apparently increased productivity. Serena wrote pretty much every day of the week.

"I think if I was to pin something down, I'd say that my most intense bursts of inspiration and productivity always come between midnight at 6am? Always while I'm asleep, I just wake up and have the urge to start writing. It's weird. I can't settle back down to sleep until I at least have some thoughts down." She admitted.

"I just wanted to say thank you for taking it easy on me, this has actually been really really nice." She exclaimed, smiling timidly at Spencer. Golly, she was pretty.

Spencer took dutiful notes, slipping a little tid bit about trauma for the genesis of Serena's mutation. Blood was primal and integral to life. No doubt, she could make up something really sensational around that, should she need to massage the interest-factor of the story. She checked her phone as Serena thanked her for taking it easy. There'd be plenty of time to piss her off later. In the beginning, honey was best. Keep them happy, keep them happy, and when you can't keep them happy any more, destroy them.

"You've been more than helpful and downright cooperative which is more than I can say for others I've interviewed." Spencer beamed at Serena, in truth, everything she'd been given was a decent fluff piece. She'd hoped for more, but more came when you dug deep. Today a scratch on the surface. Besides. Surface was all the big bosses wanted. It was just Spencer who always wanted more... "I'd be honored if we could do it again, some time."

They should probably wrap this up...

"Do you have any parting words for your fans?" Spencer dragged her pen across her bottom lip and out of the way so she could finish her question. "Maybe a tease-?" The pen drooped along the side of her neck and dipped lower. "-for next time?" And lower. "A promise for more, maybe?" The hope in her eyes was for Serena's answer whatever it may be.

Serena felt an immediate wave of relief that Spencer didn’t appear mad, or crestfallen at all over her refusal to answer a question about how she manifested. She just… wasn’t ready to discuss that with close friends, and as easy as Spencer was to talk to, They were hardly close, they’d just met.

An eyebrow was raised. Was Serena more forthcoming than most people? She hadn’t really said that much, had she? “Why would people be uncooperative with you? Are they intimidated by you or something?” Serena tilted her head. “I guess I could see someone being jealous, but you’ve been so nice.” she exclaimed, simply confused.

“I would… really like that.” She murmured, gazing longingly into Spencer’s eyes. Gosh, She was just, unfairly attractive. Serena’s eyes did not totally follow the pen, nope not at all. God. Dammit. “I-uh.”

Her gulp was ver y nearly audible. “I-Er-I suppose I’d tell them not to be too afraid of interviews. Your interviewer could turn out to be drop dead gorgeous, and really lovely.” Her mouth moved much faster than her brain, and before she could remotely stop herself. “Try new things?” She added onto the end, Before clearing her throat.

“I-Uhm-You-” Serena was trying to get her words out, and failing pretty badly. “I think my brain has stopped working.” she finished.

Were people intimidated by Spencer? The thought was laughable. "Ahhh-heh. Yeah more like, no one seems to take me seriously. I’m more likely to get asked to help someone find the closest restroom or fetch the coffee.” Which she had done without complaint here, but she was hosting an interviewee. It was different when they were in the bullpen and pitching article ideas. Author interviews were not exactly the hard-hitting investigative type. But this one, at least, was proving to be fun.

And Serena would be honored to return. Another thing Spencer didn't hear all too often. Her face softened as she teased the woman. There were absolutely several other reasons why Spencer wasn't taken seriously. Like her antics with the pen.

And Serena's answer was just perfect. So satisfying. Spencer reached for her phone and stopped the recording before laughing and lowering her eyes demurely when she felt anything but.

”I think that’s enough for the article, but you seem a little flushed. Can I help you get some fresh air? A tour of the building, maybe? Or, I dunno. Lunch?” She was casual, so casual, as she pocketed her phone and stood with a hopeful smile. The poor blonde seemed totally brain steamed. Spencer knew a few tricks to let off the pressure… She doubted she could get there with such a good girl, but no one would blame a girl for trying, right?

Serena couldn't really get her head around that concept. "I don't quite understand, why would they not take you seriously? You've been so professional!" The thought did cross Serena's mind that it was possibly because Spencer was an attractive woman, and some people took issue with that. Stupid people, obviously. Maybe the thought crossed Serena's mind more than once.

The laugh was just. It wasn't like she was making fun of Serena, or being crass or anything, it seemed sort of merited in the situation, Serena was behaving like a total airhead. It actually cut through her nerves a little. That, and was a nice laugh. People smiling and laughing was just one of the things Serena enjoyed, and while she couldn't really get a solid read on Spencer on account of feeling a bit lopsided, she did get the impression that Spencer probably knew how to enjoy herself.

"I-er-" She took a breath. "Sure. Walk sounds good, lunch sounds.." She forced a smile and tried to calm down the little flutter of awkwardness. Why were pretty woman so pretty? "Lunch sounds good." She stood from the chair and found herself supressing a giggle. How did this go from an interview to a lunch date? Was this a date, or was she reading too much into things?

She surprised Spencer by agreeing. The brunette had figured that Serena would steam up and fluster about until she escaped out a window or something, but she actually managed to keep it together. Not only together, she agreed to more. The X-men had training on how to keep cool under fire, no doubt. Spencer would bring the heat. Hopefully not enough to send the good girl packing.

Yet.

Spencer grinned enough to flash her gums, an honest and full smile more than she typically allowed-- She hated her gums.

"Excellent. And just to be upfront, I'm paying. My invite. My treat." Spencer knew that Serena had infinite dollars compared to hers, but Spencer enough class in her little toe to know that people probably didn't offer to buy lunch for a rich young miss if they knew her means. Spencer knew. And her credit card wasn't yet maxxed out. This was worth the investment. Serena was worth it.

Spencer packed up her papers and pen, sorted her phone, and found herself smiling again. Oh this was gonna be fun.

"I've just got to drop this off. Do you have any preferences? Vegetarian? Steak? Brunch?" She breezed past Serena and motioned for her to follow her to her desk.

Her desk was one of many in the bullpen, a busy area that was set two steps down from the rest of the floor. Spencer's desk was an oasis in the chaos. Not that it wasn't chaotic. It was. But it was beautifully chaotic with a shiny stapler and a hairy, green cactus in a yellow pot. Papers were everywhere, but mostly in stacks, and never too wrinkled. The same could not be said of the other desks.

She deposited the notes in a stack and picked up her purse. Just like that she was ready to escape to lunch.