Issue 1 Downtime

There were a number of things Veronica had to do today, but this was first on the list. Stepping into the building, she kept her notebook handy and looked around. She didn't quite know who she was going to ask about this, but she was sure she'd be able to find the answer somehow. Taking a seat on one of the chairs, she waits for...well...anyone. It was really a hit or miss as to who would be able to help.

Sergei, though just walking through, stopped to regard Veronica.

"Something you need miss?" he asked.

She stands as he regards her. "Yes sir, I suppose I do not know who to ask about such a topic, but I am looking for information on zee Muir facilities."

He frowned a little but suppressed it

It just keeps coming up.

"What about them?" he asked, failing to truly hide all of the tenseness he felt.

"Someone mentioned to me zee fact zat zere are mutants sent zere. Zat zey are possibly treated. I was wondering about if zey receive visitors, or are allowed to. I am sure eet may come off as odd, so let me explain. I am majoring in psychology, and speaking and learning about people interests me heavily. I also have a heavy interest in zee general well-being off osers. Zis being said, I haf an interest to volunteer zere in zee medical facility." She pauses for a moment.

"From what I understand, volunteering at a normal hospital or any sort off place like zat will not be...particularly smart considering I am unsure most normal medical facilities are open about mutants. Zat is why I am not looking into volunteering in zose places. I suppose I just need more information off if helping out zere is even possible. I admit I do not know much about zee place at all, only a few statements I haf heard from zee osers here."

"I'm not sure if they take volunteers, even in the non-criminal wing, but it's definitely not a place for the faint of heart."

She nods. "And zat is part off zee reason I feel zee need to go zere. I am assuming zee mutants zere likely do not receive visitors. Zis being said, zee sings zey are dealing wis and zee soughts in zere mind day to day are happening alone. I feel zat is not acceptable. I speak specifically about zee non-criminal wing."

"The non-criminal patients are allowed visits, once their deemed safe to be around. But... you're right most of time. Even the friendliest doctors don't exactly count as solid human contact," he said, a subtle haunted look in his eyes.

"Exactly. Zat is my point. Do you know off someone I can get into contact wis over zere zat may be able to tell me for sure if eet is possible?"

He thought for a moment. "Try Doctor Bill Ferguson. I think I still have his office number somewhere," he said, taking out his cellphone to look.

She dips her head in appreciation. "Sank you so much. Maybe eet sounds a bit silly, but eet is just an idea I hope will help."

"I don't think it's silly at all."

"A college student wanting to spend zere off time at a hospital? I belief some would see eet as very silly." She says with a bit of a chuckle.

"You're heart's in the right place, and it is the most advanced center for mutant medicine in the world. Where better to learn?"

Veronica smiled. "Oh! Where are my manners, my name is Veronica Glarette. And you are?"

"Sergei Tereshchenko," he answered.

"I take it you're new here too."

"I am. Originally from Nice, France. So...I really do not know much in way off zis place at all besides what I haf read." She chuckles. "Are you from around here? Your last name is...very different." She asks, then quickly adds, "Not zat eet is a bad different, I meant no offense."

"None taken," he chuckled. "I'm from London, but my great grandparents came here from Russia."

"Haf you ever visited? Eet is one off zee places I would love to see one day."

"Never have and don't intend to," he answered.

Veronica does press the issue, she just gives a nod. "You are a professor here, non?"

"Do I really look like a stuffy academic?" he chuckled. "While I will be teaching a weekly lecture on Criminal Psychology, I'm not a doctor of anything. I'm mainly just Campus Security."

Veronica looks rather interested when he mentions the lecture. "Is eet an open lecture?"

"More or less. Which suits me fine, as the last time I taught anybody anything was quite a while ago."

And it was how to ride a bike.

"What time do you plan on having zees? If eet would not be too much trouble I would love to attend."

"Thursdays from four to five."

She looks to be thinking for a bit. "Hm...I belief I should be able to make eet."

"Just don't judge my thoroughly amateur teaching skills too harshly," he answered with a wry smile.

Veronica waves a hand dismissively. "I would not dream off it. Zee fact you are willing to share knowledge is very admirable. Eet takes very special people to instruct and take zee time to teach osers."

"You're much more optimistic than I."

Veronica chuckles a bit. "Eet is just zee way I see sings, I suppose. Are you working only wis zee security here? Or do you work at a station as well?"

"Just Campus Security. My detective days are behind me."

"Eet must have been hard work. I haf read many stories and..." She thinks for a moment. "As you say Muir is, I suppose zee job off a detective is not for zee faint off heart eiser."

"No. It really isn't," he said matter-of-factly.

"You haf my utmost respect." She says softly, meaning it completely. "Zee sings you all haf to see at times," Veronica trails off for a moment. "Your hard work is appreciated, Monsieur Tereshchenko."

He just looked at her for a long moment.

"Sorry. I... just don't get that very often."

"Zere are not many zat see what eet is you have to see. If zey did, I sink you would hear eet a lot more often." She says.

"I've told myself that very thing."

"Zough at zee same time, I sink eet is best zey do not haf to see, non?"

"I agree completely. We deal with things the average person is better off not seeing. Not so different than the X-Men... just, you know, trade superpowers for paperwork and supervillains for defense attorneys."