3620/Recuperative Therapy

Recuperative Therapy
Date of Scene:	29 September 2020
Location:	Great Jones Day Spa
Synopsis:	A spa day turns into a family feud, but nothing a good hug can't solve.
Cast of Characters:	Janet van Dyne, Vivian Vision, Nadia Pym-van Dyne

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Janet van Dyne has posed:
"This is the great secret to long-term mental wellness, girls," Janet informs Nadia and Vivian. A hand reaches out, her eyes covered by cucumbers, and a mimosa's placed into it. "Work hard, play hard, relax hard."

This is one of the spas that caters to the ultra-elite and wealthy in New York. Naturally, Janet owns a small share in it. It's enough that doors always open and there's never a waiting list to be seen. No less than three attendants are on hand for each girl, and two extras in case any whim for food or drink is desired. It's manicures and pedicures for Nadia and Janet, along with skin care, massages, hair stimulation, and heating pads for sore muscles.

Vivian is certainly not left out; two technicians wearing medical scrubs are doing a careful cleaning and overhaul of her various joints and articulation points while a third operates debugging software to clear and cache fragmented files. Only Janet could convince a handful of Pym engineers to come in and do their jobs at the spa like this, but as far as relaxing care and maintenance goes, it's pretty close to what Janet and Nadia are getting.

Vivian Vision has posed:
In theory Vivian doesn't need anyone to clean her joints, a quick phase and all the dirt drops out, and after recent events she's not entirely comfortable letting anyone poke around inside her software. But it's very rude to turn down an offer from a family member who just went through a traumatic experience. So she's compromising by letting the debugging program clear through the vast collection of catmemes that just seem to constantly fill up space.

Naturally the poor Pym engineer monitoring this is probably finding it terribly boring. But hey the pay is good right?

"I suppose now is as good a time as any to confess I faked a sick note from you Janet," she informs with a sense of gravitas that playing hooky doesn't deserve. Not compared with Russian spies and Siberian combat missions. "Although any logs will show I'm currently in my dorm room 'recovering'." She glances at the engineer. "There should be a work-around on my monitoring program that you may undo. If you can that is. I enlisted a supergenius to subvert it so it might be beyond you..."

She glances back to Janet. "It would be best not to ask what I was doing while unmonitored for.. ah.. legal reasons."

Nadia Pym-van Dyne has posed:
"Wait aren't cucumbers for eating? Janet why am I wearing vegetables on my eyes again?" Nadia is laying back on the massage table getting a facial while two other attendants are taking care of her fingernails and toes in ways that she has never experienced before. For a girl that grew up in a spartan Soviet Bunker the entire experience is completely surreal.

She is full of questions, too, not just about cucumbers, as her inquisitive scientific mind attempts to make sense of it all. "Janet why does this orange juice taste fizzy and make me feel tingly?" She asks after sampling a Mimosa that she probably never should have been brought but really who is going to say no to Janet van Dyne?

Janet van Dyne has posed:
"Thanks for telling me, Viv. You're grounded, but we'll commute the sentence to time served," Janet tells the synthoid. "And don't worry about your monitoring program. Confidential data is protected against search and seizure by the First Amendment, and you're registered to Pym Technologies as a mobile data server. I can't be compelled to unlock you and I don't think anyone who *can* crack your lockouts is going to go running to the government about your whereabouts."

She bites the straw between her teeth and sips more mimosa. "And Nadia, honey, just relax. Cucumbers help with puffy eyes, and the orange juice has a splash of sparkling wine in it. Just pace yourself, sip it slowly, and don't tell you dad I'm facilitating the delinquency of a minor."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Oh I am not worried about that. I've made a... contact with access to the State Department," Vivian says cheerfully. "I don't think the Attourney General will be able to eat a blini without my knowing about it. It should prevent unwelcome surprises in the future. I just thought it would be best for you to hear from me in person."

The whole Spa process of towels, dressing gowns and so on doesn't really work for her particular set of treatments. So the teenage synthezoid has opted for a green strappy top and some yellow shorts. It's probably the first time anyone has confirmed she actually has legs somewhere under the cargo pants!

"I also had to re-route some money through a few shell companies. There is.. I am unsure if I should tell you this before I tell Doctor Pym but... I have located Nadia's mother and taken the liberty of putting the site where she is buried under constant drone surveillance. I thought the Avengers might be able to repatriate her remains for a proper funeral service..?"

Nadia Pym-van Dyne has posed:
Nadia is trying to relax, she really is, though it can be challenging when she is simultaneously absorbing all of these new sensations, but she does at least lay there and let the attendants do their thing. "Cucumbers on my eyes, mud on my face, I'm like the swamp queen. Relaxation Swamp Queen!"

"These are much better than the Vodka." She adds when Janet explains the Mimosas, probably appreciating that they don't taste like burning, the fact she isn't attempting to gulp them like a glass of water probably helps, too.

At Vivian's words Nadia visibly tenses, she doesn't sound thrilled at all. "Let her rest. Get your drones away before they detect you, and they will." It is an uncommonly severe reaction from her.

Janet van Dyne has posed:
"Girls, no fighting in the spa," Janet remarks with a distracted air. "Nadia, Viv's just trying to do you a favor and help you in her own way. Viv, remember to *ask* before you start doing that sort of thing, and yes, please don't get caught by the Russians."

"Charles, another mimosa, thank you dear," Janet calls over, and waves her empty glass at whomever's nearby. It's replaced quickly with a freshly chilled and filled flute.

"Speaking of funds, where are we at on the reclamation project for Nadia's friends?" Janet inquires of Viv. "I'd like to break ground on the therapy center as soon as possible. I'm sure SHIELD's already getting tired of babysitting thirty child soldiers."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision rolls her eyes. Without pupils it's hard to detect at the best of times. With cucumber in the way? Probably impossible. "The last few weeks have proven I can't allow myself to sit around waiting for permission," she points out. "And don't worry I ensured the drones are operating as a legitimate commercial concern. They're land surveying for a movie shoot. It just so happens the drones have aftermarket camera upgrades that let me 'peek' at the target."

Plus she doesn't care if they know she's watching.

"Anyway I will forward everything for the Avengers and if you decide the surveilance needs to end after reviewing it... That's fine." She doesn't quite flinch at the poking as an engineer tries to remove a bit of Soviet throne from her shoulder joint. "Reclamation project? Do you mean the medical procedures? The process was completed. It's rather quick when you have a Kryptonian assisting. Whoosh and it's done. By the end there was barely any.. unwanted excitement."

Nadia Pym-van Dyne has posed:
Nadia sits up suddenly in the bed surprising the attendants as the cucumbers fall away from her eyes and her hands are pulled away from the attendants. Her usual joking manner seems to have completely disappeared, "Viv, I love you, you're my favorite Great Niece. But I want you to stay away from that place, and give me all of the data you have on Maria Trovaya and then /delete/ it from your memory afterward." Maybe it's being tugged around by the strings of her mother for weeks, maybe it's coming face to face with the Maria-bots, maybe it is other mental traumas endured during her stay in the Red Room, she seems very very serious.

Janet van Dyne has posed:
Janet lifts one cucumber away to watch Nadia bristling at Vivian. On the one hand, fighting is bad, right? On the other hand, mimoas and cucumbers, and something about letting kids define their own relationships without parental something something.

Also, fresh oil fragrances are being brought over, and Janet sniffs them. "Ooh, I want the mango papaya for my footrub," she informs the masseur. "And I think we're ready for lunch, whenever the girls stop fighting figure out what kind of pizza they want."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision glances at Janet. "I don't really eat food," she points out. "Unless I know I'll be in a low light environment for an extended period and need to build up a chemical energy reserve."

She pouts at Nadia.

"I will provide copies of the data if you give me your word you won't run off by yourself again. As for asking me to violate my memory it's... I'm sorry but just because I /can/ adjust my memories doesn't mean it's fair to ask me to do so. Where do I even stop? Make myself forget you asking me to forget? Forget ever knowing?"

"In short. No. If that puts me in danger so be it."

Nadia Pym-van Dyne has posed:
"Just forget about it, lock it away, don't access it, whatever." Nadia takes a deep breath trying to calm the emotional reactions cascading through her endochrine system.

"I want to let her rest. She doesn't need to be dragged into this and she will be. Mother is still out there, there is no psychological trick she won't use, nothing she won't do. If you remotely care about my feelings and wishes, just give me the data, lock it away, and let me do what I have to do." There is a pause, "I won't run off by myself again." There is a small glance towards Janet, "I learned that lesson the hard way."

Janet van Dyne has posed:
"Yeah it's crazy, it's almost like running off on your own and insisting that 'you've got this handled' completely undermines the point of being on a team and having a family," Janet observes from her chair. She has barely stirred during the argument.

"On the other hand, Nadia, there's something to be said for like, tact? Viv did you a favor. If you lash out at people for doing you favors the wrong way, their response wont' be 'oh I'll do it smarter next time'. They'll just stop doing you favors entirely. So like, y'know, try coaching your response a little more diplomatically," she suggests.

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision looks sheepishly at Janet. "I am sorry for spoiling the mood," she says in a small voice. "But I thought it would help you both relax to know the legal troubles from before are no longer an issue." She spends a few seconds chewing at the inside of her cheek. "May I suggest a compromise? We will go through all the files together, you may present your case for what you wish to be deep archived after seeing precisely what information I have obtained, and then we can decide what needs to be in the hands of the Avengers or SHIELD. Perhaps even the Titans if you feel it helpful. Strictly personal information I will treat with the same level of security as a I do secret identities I have discerned unintentionally."

She nods to herself.

"But the files will unlock if something happens to you or if an active member of the Avenger directly requests full disclosure due to a significant threat." No mention is made of SHIELD, likely intentionally. Who knows if the Red Room have agents  infiltrating SHIELD after all! "We can agree on the precise definitions of such a threat after we have grouped the information up." She brushes her hair back behind her ear. "I just hope you will understand that 'Because this information might put you in danger' is not a reason I shall be accepting. It was far more painful and harmful to me having you both run off and be captured or kidnapped than any personal risk this 'Mother' could ever put me in."

Nadia Pym-van Dyne has posed:
Nadia visibly flinches as if Janet's words twist a knife in a wound. Distress is evident in her demeanor. There is a moment where it seems she might actually bolt, as counter-productive as that would be. "Sorry." Is all she can manage in response to Janet. "Sorry."

Both hands come up to the sides of her head almost like she is trying to physically calm the torrent of thoughts and feelings churning in there. "I just want the files on Maria Trovaya." she says slowly, quietly, specifically invoking her name, "That's all. You can give the rest to whoever you want."

Janet van Dyne has posed:
"Nadia, honey." Janet rubs her temples. "Viv was trying to do something nice for you. Hug her and tell her you appreciate it," she instructs the Waspette.

"Viv, Nadia's emotional and really worn out. She's not compartmentalizing well. Hug her, tell her you love her, and just drop the topic for now," she suggests.

"You two have got *years* ahead of you," Janet reminds them both. "The Titans, the Avengers maybe, life after that. Nothing's more important than keeping that relationship stable and happy. You're family. Fighting's OK, but grudges aren't."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision actually seems a little relieved to be free from the Pym engineers treatments. Taking a few awkward steps towards Nadia. "I did not intend to start a fight and have no intention of holding any grudges," she assures. "I am sorry for upsetting you Great Aunt Nadia and I hope you can forgive me for being so.. inconsiderate."

She doesn't actually initiate a hug herself, rather she moves her arms so that if Nadia wishes she can step in for a hug and step back out again easily. "I've only been outside of my virtual creche environment since near the start of this year and for the most part it was not.. it was not good for me. Discovering I had a new member of my family was the best thing to have ever happened to me in this world. And I promise you will never have to face anything alone so long as I still draw power."

Nadia Pym-van Dyne has posed:
Nadia's hands come down from the sides of her head and eyes open. A hugger by nature, even in her emotionally tossed state it is a natural reaction to lean in and give Vivian a hug, squeezing her tightly. "I could never stay mad at my favorite Great Niece, I'm just... not myself. There is a lot I need to figure out after the last two weeks, about myself, who I am, what I've been doing. Thank you for your concern and trying to help in your own way."

The hug last for over a minute before Vivian is finally released, "Sorry." She says again, somewhat calmer, this is directed as much to Janet as it is to Vivian. She hops back on the table, "I don't want to ruin spa day, let's Swamp Queen it up. The rest can wait."