mcckingbiird:

    _{^{❝ who says it can’t be both ? ❞·}}

  _{^{an eyebrow arches, thumbs hooking into the belt loops of her worn jeans.
  she’s gotten that comment a few times, been told that she’s too pretty to
  be a SCIENTIST, and really, it irritates her, but she also understands that
  being underestimated or misjudged is a key part of succeeding as a spy.}}

     _{^{❝ mmhmm ——— is it because i’m a woman ?  because i’m not forty-plus
       years old ?  i’ve got the lab coat, the phd and a couple of chemical burns
       to prove it. ❞·}}

               _{“ both? “}

          _{sarcasm seldom goes hand in hand with any sort of genuine compliment;
          not when the words are directed towards him, at least. even the way he
          asks seems dismissive, not fooling himself into believing
          whatever she’s trying to spin.} 

               _{“ i’ve been tossed around & manhandled by women
                 both half & twice my size. so it’s definitely
                 not the whole you-being-female thing. “}

          _{cue his roguish smile, hugging his lips with an infuriating amount of
          confidence. “ being around certain kinds of people gets you used to 
          ‘em – makes people like ‘em easy to spot. & you seem like you
          could almost kick my ass. so i’m left wondering where that
           slips in between all the beakers & periodic tables. “}