Reed and Artie -- Awkward conversations aren't always bad

[xp-fantastic.livejournal.com]

Mandatory time off was frustrating, to say the least. He was in between projects at Storm Tech (only because someone had complained that he'd been sleeping in the labs again, leading to HR kindly suggesting he take some vacation leave) and Hank was in the middle of something in their shared lab space.

This left him no other choice but to work on his 4D device in the main rec room. All his pieces were strewn across the table as he tried to make a working prototype. He was so disappointed to see that both Google and Samsung were making strides into the VR world. He'd had these ideas for years. One day he'd remember to patent his inventions.

You'd think the mansion would be quieter at this time of night but no. Artie gave a huffed sigh of disappointment and looked out at the mess on the table, taking in the half assembled headset. He tapped the table, floating a question mark over it and then a schematic of a cartoon figure wearing it.

Reed looked up with a start, confused by the person in front of him and the subsequent image in the air. "I believe it's safe to assume I'm not hallucinating, so is this visual image a part of your mutation? I wonder..." he tapped his device. "I'm trying to work on a 4D device. Interesting. You have a way of tapping another realm of reality. Who are you?"

He gave a bland, closed lip smile in response, a red and white name badge appearing on his chest. 'Hi! My Name Is Artie!' and then, because hell, sometimes you had to roll with things like this, Artie held out a hand, concentrating on the mist of glowing light that gathered around his fingers, gradually coming together in a realistic-looking headset. Shadows played across his fingers adding weight and depth and he curled his hand around it, giving the illusion that he was holding it. Another realm of reality? He'd give ... Reed? He'd give Reed that.

Reed watched with wide eyes, fascinated by this person in front of him. Without thinking, he reached out to touch the image in front of him, almost frowning when it slipped through his fingers. "How can I achieve that but with the added illusion of feel, Artie? A true 4D experience adds all senses. It's ruined now that I know it only works with sight. Or can you add other things?"

Artie didn't roll his eyes but only just. He held up one finger and tapped at his phone for a moment. "People are really visual," he said at last. "Not being able to touch it breaks some of the illusion, sure, but the key thing is to keep it away from them. If they can only look with their eyes and not their hands - if they never have the option to touch it, they'll accept that almost anything is real, as long as you can can make their lizard brain accept it."

Reed mulled Artie's words over. "It's true enough that our brains can trick us of anything...but I want a full immersion experience." Setting aside his device, he cleared his throat. "I'm assuming you're mute from the way we are communicating. Is this a result of your mutation or does your mutation help your innate self?"

Most people didn't ask directly any more in the mansion. Artie considered a handful of replies before simply shrugging and opening his mouth to hiss softly, tongue visible. "As far as immersive experiences go, have you looked at the danger room? Or... or... think this," he gave an image of an holodeck from Star Trek. "Get rid of the goggles and go for a contained environment instead."

"I have no interest in something that's already been created or invented," Reed said, waving the ideas off. "I'm trying to create something portable, but really, I'm simply killing time and keeping my hands busy. Can I see your tongue again? How does it all stay in? You must have a large jaw."

Artie blinked, sighed and stuck his tongue out. A green, blinking 'really?' appeared next to him.

Reed looked again, taking greater note of it. He hadn't had much chance to witness physical mutations other than his own. After a (probably) uncomfortable amount of time, he gave a sharp nod. "Interesting. I have many questions but I've suddenly remembered that I'm not supposed to be rude. Thank you for indulging my ecentricities."

"Different jaw structure. Any other questions?"

"Yes, but I really should stop. The scientist in me comes out and I detach myself furhter from societal norms. Therefore, I should stop. But," Reed added suddenly, "you can ask me anything. That would things fair."

Artie paused a moment before asking "why are you here?"

"Because I was homeless and Sue said I would be welcomed here," Reed answered honestly. "She was tired of me sleeping in my lab, and I blew up my old apartment.". He squinted as he tried to remember the exact details. "Oh and I had no money." A pause. "Yourself?"

Artie winced. Ouch. "I grew up here. I'm a visible mutant and it was about the safest place to put me. My mother," call her that. Why not? "Wasn't able to cope, so I wound up here."
"You grew up here? What a strange environment for a small child."

He gave a bland smile. "You have no idea. The chaos here now is nothing to the old days. But it was a lot better than foster care would have been."

Reed didn't have anything to say back to that. "Yes. I can imagine that. I can always go back to my parents' basement. I guess here, this IS your parents' basement."

"Oh god, does that make the prof really my dad?"

"Then you're in for a great inheritance."