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"Is she?  Yes she is beautiful." Nolan closed his eyes with a pleasurable look on his face.  "To find someone with beauty inside and out is such a treasure.  I admire her for all her qualities, I really can't believe I am around her.  My thoughts always dwell on her. But I really wish that she would look at me with more serious thought as a partner rather than a friend.  I don't know how to do it. I know her work is important to her, but I do wish she felt the same way towards me."

For once, Henry looked at Nolan critically. He wore the typical college student uniform. He had on a loose zip up hoodie half zipped up with a polo shirt underneath with his university logo. The boy hadn't even bothered to iron either item so they looked freshly plucked out of a hamper after a missed laundry load. The hoodie was a puce color that made him look even more vampiric. It wasn't a color that really suited him. To add to the unsuit of the student, Nolan had slicked his hair with so much hair gel that Henry wondered if he touched the mass would it be a slime ball. It looked more greasy than gel, like he hadn't washed his hair in over a month. He did have nice symmetrical features like his sister with good high cheekbones like a catalog model, but in his current getup no one would see anything beyond a sloppy student stuck in the middle of finals week.

"If you don't want for Dr. Wu to treat you like a student, you shouldn't look like one. Everything you have is just like you belong on campus. This is true, you are doing your masters and are a teaching assistant.  We need to face the facts."

"Excuse me." Nolan looked like he was considering storming out again.

"I don't mean that you are still an undergraduate student. You are wise beyond your years but the outside needs to reflect that too. I know Ellie used to work out vigorously but in such bulky clothing you look really small. No woman is going to notice you if you remind her of her grandfather. I understand you want to be comfortable, but you need to consider if comfort comes before your new goals."

"Should I carry a briefcase and a lectern with me wherever I go. Maybe bring all my beakers and the triple beam balance in the lab cabinet." Nolan said sarcastically. "That sounds like you want me to change who I am. I always prefer function and comfort over following trends. I am sure that no matter what partner I choose they would be as uninterested as I in those things.  My relationship with Wu isn't because of her makeup routine and haircare, it's because of her beautiful heart. Anything otherwise is illogical and rude to the intellect present in our exchanges."

"Listen, Nolan I'm not a scientist. I have a very basic understanding of a lot of things in which you specialize. But, I am a man. I conceptually agree with you. If you want a lasting healthy relationship with a person all your points are good points. But we do have visual stimulation. You can't tear out your eyes or hers. We are at our core still very much attached to superficial things. I am sure for the many hours that you spend lecturing students that they won't spend the same amount of care with that material. When it's break the ladies will go talk about celebrities and outfits and makeup. The boys will go make small talk with them about bus routes and team sports. It's open to any types of small talk and you can't say it isn't nice to talk to someone who smells like they showered and took care with a mint or two. Wearing clothing that fits well and having a clean appearance just adds to the enjoyment of having good conversation. Wu doesnt come to you covered in guts and blood. She has an interesting bag or accessory to use as a conversation starter." Henry paused as he remembered that Ellie did this as well with insect brooches and pins. He really liked to wonder how she would look everyday before he saw her. It was refreshing.

Nolan groaned. "Maybe. That doesn't sound too harsh an assessment now that you have explained your thoughts." He raised his eyebrow as he pointed to Henry's verdant green bathrobe. "You are being a bit critical when you yourself are dressed as such. But now that I look more closely. Everything matches. It was probably Michael. I wish I had a Michael. I could never rock such a bold color to teach."

Henry slid out of the robe to reveal the jersey shirt underneath which had a prominent designer logo worked into its hem. His pants were as well monogramed and now that he considered it quite loud indeed. "True, but this is loungewear, not to be seen by anyone outside of my reclining room. I wouldn't wear this to the office or on a date. Everyone has style preferences. Ours may be different."

Nolan wrinkled his nose with a look of suspicion.

Henry wondered aloud. "Do you not try because your doing lab work or is it because your scared to be outdone by people with better skills so you'd rather not try at all?"