( spending time in a science lab with beakers and microscopes tells wanda everything she needs to know. this man is a scientist, and the title of 'professor' probably stands to the extent of his education—though perhaps it is now a term of endearment used by his students in this school of his.

school for those with 'gifts', as he had said. )

Mhmm.

( wanda's hardly educated, especially not in comparison to someone like charles, so she doesn't want to put her foot in her mouth by saying something that would sound stupid otherwise. she does more of internal pondering, in a way.

abruptly, she says, )

Wait here.

( and heads back towards the store to buy them both bottled water. it's on discount, two for the price of one, so it's not like this is putting a dent on her current savings. when she returns with the bottles, she offers him one, and, in her walking there and back, she's figured what to tell him next. )

I stopped going to school when I was ten. ( she shrugs, wording this carefully, doing her best to not sound flippant. ) I don't know that I would have learned anything helpful if I did. You sound like you'd be a nice headmaster, though.

( he's kind, and seems patient enough with her, even if she's the one helping him out with food samples and a water bottle. )

...why the interest in genetic mutation, though? I knew some people who were. They weren't exactly — good people.

( hydra et al )