5498/But what's normal, anyway.

But what's normal, anyway.
Date of Scene:	08 March 2021
Location:	Main Room - Titan's Tower
Synopsis:	Irie and Viv run into each other in Titans Tower. They chat about weird families and Viv sends Irie's details to GIRL.
Cast of Characters:	Irie West, Vivian Vision

---

Irie West has posed:
The newest addition to the Tower is spending her night vegging out on the TV. The problem with being from the future is that no matter what you watch, everything is a rerun. Fortunately, tonight has one of her favorite old shows on it: Speed Racer!

Irie is watching this upside down, her legs kicking idly in the air, and her head nearly resting on the floor. She's got a glass filled with juice sitting beside her head, which she'll occasionally reach out with her lips to sip at it with a straw. She giggles occasionally at some of the more ridiculous aspects of the anime, otherwise she's just watching it with a huge grin.

Vivian Vision has posed:
You can generally tell when Vivian Vision is visiting the Tower. Typically because all of the chores that no-one else really wants to do get finished without anyone having to ask. Or because there's something unusual cooking in the kitchen. She might not be the prolific baker that Caitlin is but part of her attempts to understand Humanity are through the varied forms of cuisine found across the planet.

Besides the various members of the Titans are much less likely to become sick than her classmates at Happy Harbour if she serves something that doesn't quite work out...

She slips into the kitchen already wearing an apron and carrying a grocery bag filled with assorted ingredients. "Oh, I was not expecting anyone to be up at this hour. You don't mind if I make use of the kitchen facilities do you?"

With her green hair, glowing golden eyes and pinkish red skin Viv is clearly a little unusual even by the standards of a teenage superhero team. But that's really because no normal teen would wear canary yellow cargo pants along with a green t-shirt...

Irie West has posed:
Irie bends her head to see who it is that came in. "Oh, hi Viv. Go ahead." Then she realizes her mistake. "Uh. I mean. Hi stranger who I have definitely never met before." She winces. She has *got* to get better at this if she's going to preserve the timeline.

She slowly rotates until she's sitting straight up in the couch and turns around, resting an elbow on the back. "Hi! We haven't met yet, I promise. I'm Iris! But everybody calls me Irie." She might even have enough of a reputation for being the newest addition to the Titans family already to be known for what she is: A speedster from the future.

"Whatcha going to be making?"

Vivian Vision has posed:
"There is a human saying that a stranger is just a friend you have not met yet," Vivian notes with a shrug. "Although this does not account for all the times when a stranger is a supervillain or evil spy intent on causing chaos." She blinks a few times. "Most sayings seem to favor inaccuracy over being more catchy. I suppose if they were not easy to say they would not be sayings."

She glances around the kitchen area and finds a spot to put the bags down. "My Great Aunt Nadia is throwing a... I do not know how best to describe it... a science sleepover? Anyway the members of the Genius in action research lab, or GIRL for short, are meeting up soon. So I am preparing healthy snacks and dips."

She begins unpacking a big bag of root vegetables. "It is a pleasure to meet you Irie." A portion of her mind reviews the freely available info about the newest Titan. "I hope you are feeling welcome at the Tower? If there is anything I can assist you with don't hesitate to ask."

Irie West has posed:
"Yeah. Sayings are like that," Irie agrees. "Some of them I don't even understand. 'A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.' Why are there birds? Why are they in bushes? I would think that if, like, you had a chicken in the hand or two chickens in a bush, you'd rather have the two chickens because then you'd get more eggs."

"Oh! GIRL! I know GIRL! It really turns..." claps her hands over her mouth before she can say anything. "What I mean is, I always thought they were cool with all the science and everything." She turns all the way around so she can fully face Viv, resting her arms on the back of the couch. "I always wanted to hang out with them, but you kinda have to be a genius to do so, and I'm not." She laughs lightly, "Can you imagine a speedster being a genius? I'd be putting all sorts of gadgets together like /that/." she says, snapping her fingers.

"Everybody's being super nice and super helpful," Irie says, resting her chin on her arms. "They gave me a room here since I really don't have anywhere else to go." She pouts a little, "Though they /are/ making me go to high school."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"But if you are hunting birds for meat you would be better served by one you have caught," Vivian points out with a solemn nod. "I don't think Great Aunt Nadia is /only/ recruiting genius level scientists. Strictly speaking I would not classify myself as a genius for example." She moves around the kitchen fetching chopping boards, knives and various trays & bowls.

"You could always ask about becoming a member?" she notes. "I would say knowledge of the speed force and time travel would qualify you to at least visit. Just please promise that you won't tell anyone at GIRL how to time travel. I can't rule out someone deciding to give it a whirl just to see what happens."

She starts to thinly slice the vegetables, rapidly for someone without super speed, with mechanical precision. "High school isn't so bad. I might be the first AI to have the priviledge of attending a school alongside humans."

Irie West has posed:
"Oh," Irie says in finally understanding the idiom. "So /that's/ what it means." She looks thoughtful for a moment. "Do you think they could use a plucky sidekick? I could be a plucky sidekick. I'm full of pluck." She shakes her head holding up her hands. "Don't worry. /I/ don't even know how I ended up time travelling. I think it has something to do with my weird biology. I wonder if they can help with that." She wonders, silently, if that's even a good idea.

She watches Vivian chop for a while before getting up off the couch. "Do you want help with anything? I need something to do or else I don't get much sleep. I mean, I could go for a run but..." She sighs, "The last time I did that I ended up in the past. I don't want that to happen again."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision beams a smile. "Oh if you have weird biology they will /love/ to have you visit. Right now we are helping someone who is exhibiting strange powers possibly as the result of alien interference," she assures brightly. "Although I think sidekick is perhaps not the right term. Lab assistant would be more accurate. If you need I can send you the location details for the lab? Alternatively Great Aunt Nadia is often in the labs here at the Tower."

Each thin slice gets spread out onto a tray with a drizzle of oil, salt and pepper.

"If you don't mind helping that would be great. I'm just making home made chips right now." The air shimmers as Viv projects a hologram into the air. Fully detailed recipes for everything she plans on preparing. "Once they are oven baking I will make dips and other nibbles."

"Heading further back in time does seem... problematic." A frown. "If that is still a concern I'd certainly speak to my Great Aunt."

Irie West has posed:
"Really?" Irie says, all excitement, her eyes shining brightly. "You can do that? I'd /love/ that. Right. Lab assistant," she says all seriously now. "Would I get to wear a lab coat, though? I've always wanted to wear a lab coat. And glasses. That would make me look /super/ smart."

She wanders over and peers at the recipe. "I don't mind helping at all! My mother always lets me help in the kitchen. Well. Most of the time. She won't let me stir anything anymore since the Pancake Incident." She hastens to add, "But I learned my lesson so if you need something stirred I could do that!"

"I think that'd be a good idea," she agrees. "I don't know how much she knows about the Speed Force, since that's really what's doing it." She scowls a bit, getting all the bowls and utensils they might need for the next recipe out in the blink of an eye. "I mean. I don't know how much you want to know, but I was gestated in the Speed Force and that seems to have affected my biology in 'new and interesting ways' as my mother put it."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I can arrange interviews, mail directions and all sorts. Providing I am not in space, deep under water or underground... Well I have an inbuilt internet connection. It makes it very easy to peform administrative tasks," Vivian explains earnestly. "Nadia has final say over any new members and there might be some SHIELD vetting. But at the very least you would qualify as a client in need of help." A pause. "You can wear a labcoat if you wish. There is no law restricting who can wear one after all."

Some of the dishes will require mixing, but it's mostly cold dips.

"I am unsure if /anyone/ knows a lot about the Speed Force." She keeps methodically working away at her recipes. "Or if they do they aren't sharing the information with anyone else. Currently at GIRL we have some of the smartest people on the planet as members. So if anyone can figure it out.." She blinks a few times. "Gestated in it? That seems very complex from a logistical standpoint. Was your Mother there in the Speed Force with you too?"

Irie West has posed:
"Built in internet," Irie asks. "Cooooool." As she talks she helps out with the recipes, doing her best to keep things at a normal pace. It wouldn't do to have food be flung all over the place, like the Pancake Incident. "Well, I mean, yeah. I /can/ wear a lab coat whenever I liked, but it's not always appropriate."

At the last question Irie bites her lip to keep from saying the first thing that pops into her head. "I can't say," she says quietly. "If I did, that might make people do something to try to stop it which would keep me from existing." She looks up apologetically, "Sorry."

"What I /can/ say is that she was only pregnant for 18 hours before she had us. I mean, me." She sighs, frustrated at trying to keep all the secrets secret. "And I'm only five years old. But my body is sixteen, or somewhere around there. We're saying it's sixteen. It seems about right." She looks up, grinning, "Speed Force really messes with everything, doesn't it?"

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I am a synthezoid after all," Vivian points out with a shrug. "It would be weirder if I didn't have an internet connection. Still it is very handy. I can access the sum of all human knowledge, well most of it, and store things securely. Like back-ups of my memories." Her head tilts to one side. "If you ever feel you need to talk about it... Well I can always encrypt my memories so no-one can read them. Not even myself."

"That's not a very long time to prepare for a new baby. But anyone who is involved with superheroics is probably used to making big decisions on short notice." She turns and fires up the oven, getting it to a suitable temperature. "As for being five. That's pretty old. At least in machine or Speed Force years. My second birthday was only in January this year."

She flashes a smile. "I would not say it messes them up. Just makes them different. Although I suspect I have an unusual perspective on the situation. My own family is rather unconventional after all."

Irie West has posed:
"True," Irie concedes to the wifi point. "I think that's kinda like this trick that I picked up. I can read books real fast and usually retain most of what's in there. I only learned I could do it after I aged up to this, and found out I had super speed powers like my dad. Before that the only thing I could do was phase through objects. Which is still cool," she hastens to add.

"You can encrypt your memories," she asks, her interest piqued. "Have you done that before? Does it feel weird when you do it? I bet it'd be weird to come across a memory that has a big ole' ACCESS DENIED stamped right on it."

"Yeah. Given who my father was and the circumstances surrounding my birth it really wasn't that surprising what ended up happening." She smiles when Viv mentions her own age. "Thanks. That actually makes me feel better. Between you and Bart it's nice knowing that other people have had the same kind of experience I have. Well. Not /quite/ the same but close enough."

"Yeah. I know about the Visions. It's kinda cool how weird families are just as tight as normal ones." She laughs lightly, "But what's normal, anyway."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I can phase through objects and read very fast. At least compared to a human. So we have that in common," Vivian points out brightly, phasing her hand through the counter to demonstrate. "I suspect via very different means though."

She brushes her hair back behind her ear. "I have three encrypted memories. One is fully locked off so that all I know is the list of people able to unlock it and that it will automatically decrypted in specific situations, presumably life or death related. And the others are locked for data protection reasons. One secret identity I uncovered and the other is... well... judging from the context I think I must have seen some... personal measurements I should not have."

"I think normal is probably overrated. If you consent I will upload our recent discussion regarding your situation to Nadia. That way she will be able to look into the Speed Force a little before you talk." Providing she reads her emails anyway.

Irie West has posed:
"Oh that's neat!" Irie exclaims as she watches Viv phase. "I do it by vibrating my molecules /just right/ so they kind of shift off to the left a little bit and don't hit the things that they're interacting with. Like this!" When she phases her hand through the fridge, however, it's accompanied with the telltale electrical arcs that always seems to come with using the Speed Force. "How do you do it?"

She nods along when Viv talks about her locked memories. "Yeah. That makes sense. Do you ever get curious about them? Man, if I had those kinds of things it would drive me /nuts/."

"Could you?" she asks. "I mean. I consent. I'd tell her to call me, but I don't have a phone. Future Dad wouldn't let me have a cell phone," she pouts. "Hopefully I can get one without having to get Today Dad's permission."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision takes a little step back at the electrical arcs. "I reduce my density by shunting matter out of this dimension via a process similar to the Pym reaction. At a certain point I barely exist within this universe and can pass through solid matter. That's the basic gist anyway. The more complex way to explain it is dreadfully tedious and even I don't really understand it fully. Not yet anyway. I think it's one of those things I am supposed to learn as I get older."

She starts loading the oven with trays of seasoned chips to be.

"Curious about them? Yes and no. The secret identity and other secret I know I must have had a good reason to lock. So I don't wonder about those.. and the other." She makes an awkward little coughing sound. "Might have involved someone I am... curious about. But we only met recently so it is too soon to say if the feeling is mutual."

"It's already done. If you would like I can also order you a pre-paid smartphone and any other essentials you require. For delivery to the Tower." A holographic browser comes up with various online stores. "School supplies, clothing, shoes and any assorted toiletries. I'm sure the Titans have made arrangements for your immediate needs but if there's anything they have forgotten..." She blinks a few times. "Oh and don't worry about repayment. I have almost no need for money and what little I do need I can obtain my mining crypto currencies."

Irie West has posed:
Irie nods in understanding. "Yeah. I don't really understand how the Speed Force works and lets me do all the tricks I'm able to do, so you're not alone there."
She also nods at the mention of a potential special someone. "I think Future Dad and Today Dad would kill me if I even /thought/ about dating somebody. Not that I've ever really had a chance to think about it."

"Thanks! I appreciate you sending that email. I don't know how I would load time onto a prepaid phone. I don't have any way to make money, and there's no way I'm going to ask Today Dad to pay for one. He's got a lot on his mind as it is when it comes to me. I don't really wanna be a burden to him." When the offer comes to buy just about everything that she needs she shakes her head, looking uncomfortable. "I don't know if I can accept that kind of help. I mean. Maybe a few outfits, sure, but all that? I dunno. Even if money isn't an issue."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"You can always swap the sim card for another one later one and use the same device," Vivian notes matter-of-factly. "And trust me when I say money is no issue. I'm technically the 'property' of Janet van Dyne and her net worth is numbered in the billions of dollars. This would not even register as a blip on the accounting books. Anything under five thousand dollars would not even register as money to her."

"But if it really bothers you we'll just get the things you need to start school." She sets an internal timer for her cooking. No point using the one built into the oven itself! "And while these are baking in the oven you can at least get an idea what our retro styles are like for later."