Betsy & Reed
Mar. 6th, 2019 08:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsReed is excited because Science! Betsy just wants to get some sleep.
Betsy had chosen the smallest of the mansion’s rec rooms on the basis none of the other residents were likely to want to use it at this hour, and with luck she could nap for a couple of hours before the light from the large double windows woke her up. Her favourite thing about this particular room, she had decided, was the especially large hammock chair she had settled herself in. She may have given up on getting any proper sleep in her suite tonight, but that was no reason not to be as comfortable as possible. She reached out to kick the wall with one foot to make the chair swing gently, then leaned back and tried to relax.
Without even knocking, Reed barged into the room, muttering to himself as he held a barometer in hand. After clicking his tongue, he stretched his arms up, along with his neck to check some readings at the top.
It wasn't until he'd gotten back to normal that he realized someone else was there. "Does it feel more humid in here than anywhere else to you?"
As drowsy as she was, Betsy didn’t notice the unfamiliar psi-signature until the commotion roused her fully. She bolted upright, the quick movement setting the hammock swinging wildly, and blinked several time at the interloper while her brain registered that he had just asked her a question. “…Hmmuh?,” she replied eloquently.
"The humidity," Reed responded patiently. "Does it feel more oppressive in this room than others? I'm doing my yearly check of the air, water, pressures, etc, and I wanted to ensure that there are no structural issues."
Betsy blinked a few times. “I can’t really say I have noticed that. I haven’t really spent much time here before now, mind you. I only came in tonight because I thought it might be a nice quiet place for a nap.”
"Oh you were sleeping." Reed hadn't noticed at all. He felt slightly bad, if only because he knew Sue would give him heck if he brought it up. "I probably should apologize for disturbing you, even if it is early in the morning and everyone else is awake." This was not even said in a condescending voice, since Reed was just stating the facts. She was the only one asleep, as far as he knew. "Can you not sleep during the night?" And now he was overly curious, but hey, that was also Reed.
“Well, I was attempting to,” Betsy sighed. “It’s a public room though, so no need to apologise. Is it really morning already? It was only about five or so when I came here.” She actually wasn’t too sure as to what time it had been, but five sounded about right. “And no, unfortunately I have been suffering from some insomnia lately. Have you discovered any new issues during your check?” Asking people about their interests was usually a good way of distracting them.
"No, not really. Everything appears to be the same. Did you say you had insomnia?" Reed's normally placid face light up. "I have been wanting to talk to someone more about that and the effects. I have been branching my reading out towards biochemistry, even though Hank is really the expert in that field. Why can't you sleep? Is it your dreams? Your powers? Your body? Have you tried no caffeine? Overstimulation is as bad as understimulation. There's also a matter of a routine and various other things that I'm sure you've tried but I'm asking regardless."
Betsy stared at Reed for a moment, then decided he couldn’t possibly make the situation worse. She leaned back in her hammock and set it swinging again. “Yes, I did say that. It’s not my dreams or my powers as far as I can tell, and there doesn’t seem to be anything physical either. I don’t usually drink much caffeine anyway but I even tried going without tea for a bit, and that didn’t make a difference. Having a set routine helped a bit but that went out when I had to fly back to the UK for the holidays. Umm, and I may have been sleepwalking a bit as well."
"Sleepwalking? Somnambulism is fascinating. So many theories behind it ....at least it's not sleep paralysis. That adds a certain level of terror which probably enhances the desire to stay awake." Setting his gear down, he decided to sit across from Betsy. It was only until this moment that he realized he had no idea who she was. "Who are you, by the way? I'm Dr. Reed Richards."
“I’m glad you find it so interesting,” Betsy said with a lopsided smile. “I do consider myself rather lucky to have missed out on the more terrifying sleep disorders so far.” She held out her hand for the stranger to shake. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Richards. I am Elizabeth Braddock, although most people tend to call me Betsy. I am here for powers training with some of the mansion telepaths, but haven’t had much luck with scheduling yet."
Another telepath. It took him a second to realize that she had extended her hand, so he stretched his arm rather than lean foward. "Yes, nice to meet you." He still had a firm shake, for a rather elongated limb. Retracting his arm, he settled better into his seat. "Betsy. I apologize for the lack of tact earlier. I have been told that I really need to think before I say things which isn't as easy as one would think. My mind moves faster than most. Would you like me to leave you alone? I won't be offended if you say yes.”
“I guess I don’t need to ask about your powers, then.” Betsy raised an eyebrow and nodded towards Reed’s arm. “And no need, I suppose I am awake now. By the sound of it I should be, anyway. So, you do research here in the mansion then? On any particular topic?” Her curiousity was getting the better of her as she hadn’t had the chance to speak to many of the resident scientists yet.
"Well, I do the majority of my own research here, yes, on any number of topics. I have three doctorates, and am currently debating furthering my education with another one. Lately, the concept of astrophysics and robotics has been calling to me. My partner, Sue, she is an expert on robotics and I would like to be able to match her in her field." He tilted a head and thought a bit more. "I am currently employed at her father's company, where I design weapons and other such items. It is busy work, and one that I don't particularly love, but I have been there several years and will continue to remain there as long as I am wanted. I have free reign of my designs, you see, and full control...that is not something I wish to give up, and yet more companies would retain proprietary licensing..." He trailed off. "What is it you do?”
“Full control of one’s work is a rare freedom nowadays, and one that would take a lot of time to achieve elsewhere I imagine,” Betsy agreed. "As for me, well, I am doing very little, really, at the moment. As I said, in principle I am here for further training, but scheduling with the other telepaths has been something of a challenge so I have made less progress than I would’ve liked. Additionally, my position back in the UK was... Inconvenient, from a business sense. My brother is working hard to regain control of our parents’ company and it will be easier for him if I’m not around for a while.” She shrugged. It was (apparently) too early in the day to explain all the ways she was an abject failure of a once proud bloodline, so she decided to steer the conversation back to Reed instead. “So, what kind of overlap would one find between astrophysics and robotics? Largely better imaging and research equipment and such?”
Thankfully, Reed was easily distracted. "Are you sure you want to know? I mean, it would probably inadvertently cure your insomnia." It wasn't a joke. He could talk for hours about his work, and go into such details that even other scientists would be easily confused.
Betsy snorted. “Well, I can’t say I would complain if that happened either.” She yawned. “I would be happy to listen if you have time, although perhaps I should fetch a cup of coffee just in case."
Well, that was the permission that Reed needed. "It's actually fascinating, especially when you consider the advances and strides nanotechnology is taking. I mean, the Japanese are doing things that no one can even imagine..." He started droning on and wasn't about to stop anytime soon. This was probably as authentic a meeting with Reed that would ever happen. It would be several hours before he would stop chattering on.
Resigning herself to the lack of coffee, Betsy reclined in her hammock and let Reed’s monotone voice wash over her, making the occasional ‘uhhuh’ to encourage him to keep talking. The excited technobabble reminded her of home, she thought drowsily. Sleep may have eluded her this night, but with luck she might still have the chance to get some rest.
Betsy had chosen the smallest of the mansion’s rec rooms on the basis none of the other residents were likely to want to use it at this hour, and with luck she could nap for a couple of hours before the light from the large double windows woke her up. Her favourite thing about this particular room, she had decided, was the especially large hammock chair she had settled herself in. She may have given up on getting any proper sleep in her suite tonight, but that was no reason not to be as comfortable as possible. She reached out to kick the wall with one foot to make the chair swing gently, then leaned back and tried to relax.
Without even knocking, Reed barged into the room, muttering to himself as he held a barometer in hand. After clicking his tongue, he stretched his arms up, along with his neck to check some readings at the top.
It wasn't until he'd gotten back to normal that he realized someone else was there. "Does it feel more humid in here than anywhere else to you?"
As drowsy as she was, Betsy didn’t notice the unfamiliar psi-signature until the commotion roused her fully. She bolted upright, the quick movement setting the hammock swinging wildly, and blinked several time at the interloper while her brain registered that he had just asked her a question. “…Hmmuh?,” she replied eloquently.
"The humidity," Reed responded patiently. "Does it feel more oppressive in this room than others? I'm doing my yearly check of the air, water, pressures, etc, and I wanted to ensure that there are no structural issues."
Betsy blinked a few times. “I can’t really say I have noticed that. I haven’t really spent much time here before now, mind you. I only came in tonight because I thought it might be a nice quiet place for a nap.”
"Oh you were sleeping." Reed hadn't noticed at all. He felt slightly bad, if only because he knew Sue would give him heck if he brought it up. "I probably should apologize for disturbing you, even if it is early in the morning and everyone else is awake." This was not even said in a condescending voice, since Reed was just stating the facts. She was the only one asleep, as far as he knew. "Can you not sleep during the night?" And now he was overly curious, but hey, that was also Reed.
“Well, I was attempting to,” Betsy sighed. “It’s a public room though, so no need to apologise. Is it really morning already? It was only about five or so when I came here.” She actually wasn’t too sure as to what time it had been, but five sounded about right. “And no, unfortunately I have been suffering from some insomnia lately. Have you discovered any new issues during your check?” Asking people about their interests was usually a good way of distracting them.
"No, not really. Everything appears to be the same. Did you say you had insomnia?" Reed's normally placid face light up. "I have been wanting to talk to someone more about that and the effects. I have been branching my reading out towards biochemistry, even though Hank is really the expert in that field. Why can't you sleep? Is it your dreams? Your powers? Your body? Have you tried no caffeine? Overstimulation is as bad as understimulation. There's also a matter of a routine and various other things that I'm sure you've tried but I'm asking regardless."
Betsy stared at Reed for a moment, then decided he couldn’t possibly make the situation worse. She leaned back in her hammock and set it swinging again. “Yes, I did say that. It’s not my dreams or my powers as far as I can tell, and there doesn’t seem to be anything physical either. I don’t usually drink much caffeine anyway but I even tried going without tea for a bit, and that didn’t make a difference. Having a set routine helped a bit but that went out when I had to fly back to the UK for the holidays. Umm, and I may have been sleepwalking a bit as well."
"Sleepwalking? Somnambulism is fascinating. So many theories behind it ....at least it's not sleep paralysis. That adds a certain level of terror which probably enhances the desire to stay awake." Setting his gear down, he decided to sit across from Betsy. It was only until this moment that he realized he had no idea who she was. "Who are you, by the way? I'm Dr. Reed Richards."
“I’m glad you find it so interesting,” Betsy said with a lopsided smile. “I do consider myself rather lucky to have missed out on the more terrifying sleep disorders so far.” She held out her hand for the stranger to shake. "Nice to meet you, Dr. Richards. I am Elizabeth Braddock, although most people tend to call me Betsy. I am here for powers training with some of the mansion telepaths, but haven’t had much luck with scheduling yet."
Another telepath. It took him a second to realize that she had extended her hand, so he stretched his arm rather than lean foward. "Yes, nice to meet you." He still had a firm shake, for a rather elongated limb. Retracting his arm, he settled better into his seat. "Betsy. I apologize for the lack of tact earlier. I have been told that I really need to think before I say things which isn't as easy as one would think. My mind moves faster than most. Would you like me to leave you alone? I won't be offended if you say yes.”
“I guess I don’t need to ask about your powers, then.” Betsy raised an eyebrow and nodded towards Reed’s arm. “And no need, I suppose I am awake now. By the sound of it I should be, anyway. So, you do research here in the mansion then? On any particular topic?” Her curiousity was getting the better of her as she hadn’t had the chance to speak to many of the resident scientists yet.
"Well, I do the majority of my own research here, yes, on any number of topics. I have three doctorates, and am currently debating furthering my education with another one. Lately, the concept of astrophysics and robotics has been calling to me. My partner, Sue, she is an expert on robotics and I would like to be able to match her in her field." He tilted a head and thought a bit more. "I am currently employed at her father's company, where I design weapons and other such items. It is busy work, and one that I don't particularly love, but I have been there several years and will continue to remain there as long as I am wanted. I have free reign of my designs, you see, and full control...that is not something I wish to give up, and yet more companies would retain proprietary licensing..." He trailed off. "What is it you do?”
“Full control of one’s work is a rare freedom nowadays, and one that would take a lot of time to achieve elsewhere I imagine,” Betsy agreed. "As for me, well, I am doing very little, really, at the moment. As I said, in principle I am here for further training, but scheduling with the other telepaths has been something of a challenge so I have made less progress than I would’ve liked. Additionally, my position back in the UK was... Inconvenient, from a business sense. My brother is working hard to regain control of our parents’ company and it will be easier for him if I’m not around for a while.” She shrugged. It was (apparently) too early in the day to explain all the ways she was an abject failure of a once proud bloodline, so she decided to steer the conversation back to Reed instead. “So, what kind of overlap would one find between astrophysics and robotics? Largely better imaging and research equipment and such?”
Thankfully, Reed was easily distracted. "Are you sure you want to know? I mean, it would probably inadvertently cure your insomnia." It wasn't a joke. He could talk for hours about his work, and go into such details that even other scientists would be easily confused.
Betsy snorted. “Well, I can’t say I would complain if that happened either.” She yawned. “I would be happy to listen if you have time, although perhaps I should fetch a cup of coffee just in case."
Well, that was the permission that Reed needed. "It's actually fascinating, especially when you consider the advances and strides nanotechnology is taking. I mean, the Japanese are doing things that no one can even imagine..." He started droning on and wasn't about to stop anytime soon. This was probably as authentic a meeting with Reed that would ever happen. It would be several hours before he would stop chattering on.
Resigning herself to the lack of coffee, Betsy reclined in her hammock and let Reed’s monotone voice wash over her, making the occasional ‘uhhuh’ to encourage him to keep talking. The excited technobabble reminded her of home, she thought drowsily. Sleep may have eluded her this night, but with luck she might still have the chance to get some rest.
