Betsy, Paige, some fittings

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Paige goes to see Betsy. She stumbles over words a lot and is generally terrified. Ends up Betsy just wants her measurements! Whoops. It's an endearing scene. They set up a date to chat again. I just hope there's no food that Paige can spill over herself involved.


Paige’s runners made the gentlest of noises as she entered the Training Room, squeaking slightly as she drew to a halt. She looked around the seemingly empty room, rubbing at her bare arms with some kind of trepidation. She’d been informed to be here at ten; it was eight before and now left to wonder exactly what she’d done wrong to be called here.

Betsy appeared from around the corner. She had measuring tape wrapped around her neck like a scarf and hadn't acknowledge Paige as she entered. Instead, she started shuffling through several stacks of paper, looking for a pen, pencil, crayon. Anything she could use to commit words to paper. And after a few minutes of searching, Betsy pulled back and absentmindedly rubbed her head. A disgusted sigh came from her lips, as she extricated the pen from her hair.

Clasping her hands behind her, Paige resisted the deep urge to hum nervous or shift her eyes around the room, instead, fixing herself on Betsy with a calm look she certainly didn’t feel. Something about her had always put Paige on edge; not from irritation but just a pit of the stomach sort of fear. Chancing a quick lick of her lips, Paige waited for Betsy’s instructions.

Betsy looked up from her list and laughed outright at the expression on the young girl's face. "Oh, Paige, please. Don't look so nervous. I'm only here to get your measurements." She unwrapped the tape from around her neck and threw it across to Paige. "You see, it's something I've promised Scott I'd do for ages now, but hadn't been able to make time for it. So, as soon as you're up for it. I'd like to get your measurements for your uniform."

“Oh!” Paige cried out, catching the tape only out of reflex. She stared at it a moment, dumbstruck, before trying a small smile. “Well. I’m already down here. If you want to. I really have no clue what I’d be measuring if I were to do it myself.” The mentioning of her uniform had caused something to well up in her throat and she cleared it away distractedly, turning the tape over in her hands.

Betsy walked over to Paige and reclaimed the tape, shaking her head in amusement. "That's why I asked you down here," she replied, tapping Paige's shoulder reassuringly. "With my handy list, I can get your measurements and we should get your uniform ready in a few weeks." She grabbed Paige by the hand and escorted her to the stepping stool. "So, if you would be so kind?"

“Oh!” Paige said again, finding herself blushing. “Sure. Of course. Since you’re not too busy that’d be great. Thanks. I appreciate it. Um,” she continued, stumbling, before finally just shutting up and getting herself up on the stepping stool. Maybe someone would kill her soon.

"Now, just stand still for me." Betsy started in on her work. After long, she offered a glance at the young girl, who remained still, almost statuesque. Betsy hid her smile from Paige and continued working. "You can talk, if you want. Whether you move your mouth really shouldn't affect your numbers. Take it from a has-been who's had her fair share of sit-ins."

Paige giggled nervously, darting her eyes around the blank walls. She should be struck by lightening by now, or fallen through a hole in the floor, what was going on? “Well. What should I say?”

"Anything that moves you." she said, gesturing her arms widely to illustrate. "We've never really talked before and well, Alison seems to think fondly of you...." Betsy looked down, trying to stop herself from fiddling too much. The child was obviously mortified of her. "Oh never mind, I'm only being silly. Besides, I'm almost done here anyway."

“No, I suppose we haven’t. But all I can think of at the moment is how much of an idiot you must think I am,” Paige replied, honestly but with a touch of meek. Betsy’s display had brought a little more colour to her cheeks, as well as a larger smile, although, still shy. “But, Scott is rather fond of you, and you seem to be fond of him, so maybe you could ignore my moment of absurd lack of dignity since I’m sure you do it often with the Captain and if there are tape recorders in this room I am a dead woman.”

"No, no. Definitely no tape recorders, at least as far as I know. I never got the chance to thank you for what you did for him a few months ago...." Betsy blurted out and then laughed outright. Paige's nerves were getting contagious. "With the horse, I mean. I was almost out the door when I sensed you coming up."

Paige grinned at her. “Good to know!” She raised her arms obediently as she continued, trying not to giggle too much at Betsy’s light touches under her arms. She’s not ticklish. Really. “Don’t mention it. I just happened to be at the right place is all. Anyone would have done the same, he means a lot to me- us! To us.”

"To us," Betsy chimed. She finished her last set of measurements and transcribed them to a pad sitting next to her. Betsy slowly began re-rolling the tape. "Right and I'm all done here. I hope that the next time we talk, it won't be because we've been forced into close quarters together."

“I wouldn’t mind that,” Paige offered shyly. This wasn’t going quite as badly as she’d thought. After she’d stopped chattering like an idiot, it was actually going well. “And we’re going to be doing the whole DR thing together, that’ll be good. And less Scott explosions that way. Helpful, since I have no idea how we’d get that out of the carpet.”

"Hmm, indeed." Betsy backed up and helped Paige down from the stepping stool. "I'll contact you sometime tomorrow to plot out some time in your schedule."

Paige nodded agreeably; for once not even minding that someone else had taken the initiative. She brushed down her pants, more a habit than necessity. “Sounds great. And helpful. And I’m babbling again. Darn it.”

"It's alright. I seem to have that affect on people. The babbling that is...." Betsy grinned. "I'll see you soon, alright?"

“Alright. Have a good day! Preferably filled with less blathering dorks!” Paige said in her normal, chipper tone, before heading down to the lockers area. If she was down here, she might as well train.

Betsy waved goodbye to Paige, as the girl descended down the staircase. ~You're not a blathering dork, dear. Far from it.~ Without another word, Betsy disappeared back into the training room to review her numbers and figure out exactly how to repay the young Guthrie for her kindness one fine day.