8641/Homeschooling

Homeschooling
Date of Scene:	11 November 2021
Location:	Living Quarters - Four Freedoms Plaza
Synopsis:	Ben and Valeria discuss new things to learn.
Cast of Characters:	Valeria Richards, Ben Grimm

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Valeria Richards has posed:
Another day, another science experiment. There are always a few going on at Four Freedoms, and if Reed isnt running them then Valeria is. She's been working on a few different things, and lately most of them have been spaceship related, but it seems like she's wrapped most of those up. And that means that she's ready to get into something new.

It's yoga pants and oversized t-shirt time, with a pair of headphones around her neck, as she rummages through the fridge in search of something inspiring. "Well, that's an ecosystem now," she says as she lifts a tupperware container that's equal parts food and growing things...and then puts it back.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm comes walking into the main door, carrying a cardboard box. It seems the rocky one had looked into the fridge earlier and found it wanting to. So the smell of food from one of Ben's favorite delis waft through the living room. Ben knows his family and so has gotten enough to feed plenty knowing chances are at least a few of the first family of heroes would be about and if not, he could always put it in his personal fridge where life does not evolve into new life forms.

Valeria Richards has posed:
Val perks up at the smell of new food, stepping back from the fridge and breaking into a grin. "Uncle Ben!" she exclaims at the sight of the box, abandoning the fridge in favor of more fertile fields. "See, I always knew you were the real hero of the family. What'd you bring me?"

She's already over at his side, pushing up onto her toes to get a look inside the box.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm chuckles a bit and says "Oh I see how it is, at least it's not unca ben and the eyes." He jokes a bit and says "I got your favorite." He admits, and it is true, most times, when he gets food it might be random for the adults, but the niece and nephew always get either their favorite or if he has heard them mentioning wanting something recently that. He will lower the box to let her see a moment, and says "Go get you and me a drink and meet me at the table."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"That's why you're the cool uncle. Don't listen to Uncle Johnny." Valeria winks, stepping back into the kitchen to grab a pair of bottled sodas from the fridge. She twists off the caps, sparing Ben that particular complication, before bringing them back to the table.

"I'm starving. I was wrapping up some stuff in the lab, and then I got to thinking about other things and...suddenly it was way past lunch time."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm looks to her and reaches over to ruffle her hair "Why am I not surprised little big brain." He calls her, and says "So, what you working on in there anything your poor old uncle would understand?" He asks her sitting out the food there are extra sides, and extra food still in the box.

Valeria Richards has posed:
"The stuff I //was// working on is mostly science stuff," Valeria laughs, wry. "So I //could// go one about it, but you'd probably just get bored. Besides, you could listen to that from Dad," she points out."

She passes one drink over to him then starts to help with the food. "But I //was// thinking that as much as I like the science side of things, it's kind of...I mean, a lot of it's just honestly not that much of a challenge. And there's new stuff I could learn, you know?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm chuckles and will take the drink, taking a sip of it. "Well, not sure if your up for the monthly poker game." He jokes a bit and says "So what you wanting to work on learning, pretty sure anything you set your mind to you will do and do well."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Well I've got a couple of thoughts," Valeria admits. "But I was thinking, with as much trouble as we all get into, maybe it's time I learn a little bit more about, you know. Self-defense."

She does her best innocent blue eyes at that, sliding into a seat at the table. "You know. Just in case. For emergencies."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm hmms and raises a rocky brow looking at her, and says "For emergencies..." He smirks a bit and says "Well my fighting style may have changed a bit over the years, but I did know a bit about throwing hands." He says considering he grew up on Yancy street, and was in the military, yea he knows some about fighting even non car throwing fighting

Valeria Richards has posed:
Valeria slides her sandwich over in front of herself, unwrapping the reuben. "I don't need to be an expert. I just want to know that I'm not a liability. Sometimes it seems like everyone I know either has powers or has built themselves something that lets them fight. And...I mean, it's not that I'm //looking// for a fight, it's just that I don't want everyone else to have to worry about me, you know?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm smirks a bit and says "Well first off know people are going to worry about you if ya know how to fight or have power or what not. I maybe able to lift a bus but even I get aunt Petunia says am always worrying her. " He nods in thought eating some of his sandwich and says "I can teach you a few things but keeping a few gadgets on hand would not be a bad idea." He hmms "I think your dad might have a forcefield belt around here somewhere from when our powers were abit funky."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"I've been thinking about working on some things," Valeria nods, picking up one half of the sandwich to take a bite. "But I've been thinking about other things. I don't just want to copy someone else. I want to make something new, something that's...mine."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm nods a bit and says "So what you been thinking of, I would say use the belt with what ever else you have maybe modify it to be more, but make sure ya have some type of defenses.

Valeria Richards has posed:
"I've been playing a little with hard light generators," Valeria admits. "It's kind of like what Mom does, but a little different. I also did some things with sound waves. Which...I mean, if I really want to go down that path, I should probably talk to Shuri. If anyone knows about things dealing with sound, it's Wakanda."

She takes a bite, chewing slowly for a long moment. Eventually she turns a sidelong glance on her uncle. "I was also thinking of finding out more about magic. It's the last frontier of science, right?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm frowns a bit about the magic, and says "Now, I don't know about that Val, I mean magic and science, thought they were more opposites than a different kind of the same thing." HE hmms a bit in thought and says "But if your wanting to do it, you thought about talking to Dr. Strange?"

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Oooooor..." Valeria swallows her food, washing it down with a drink. "I mean. There's always Uncle Victor. If there's anyone who's looked at where science and magic intersect, you know it's him."

It's not that she doesn't know it's not going to be a popular idea. She's too smart for that. But if she's going to bring it up with anyone, Ben's a good place to start.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm frowns as he hears that and makes a face as if he has lost his appetite. "That crumb bum, you know I don't trust him, he has been nothing but problems since he roomied with you dad in college." He will lean back in his chair. "And he won't think twice about using you to his benefit."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"I don't know about that." Valeria takes another bite, pensive. "He's not- He's got his own stuff, you know? And I know he's got his stuff with Mom and Dad. But he's never been anything but kind to me. Weirdly kind sometimes, maybe. But I think he needs someone he's allowed to care about. I think he knows that too."

For all she got her father's brains and more, Valeria's been lucky enough to get some people skills from her mother too. "Anyhow, I don't know. He's probably busy too, it's not like he doesn't have a country to run. But I //am// curious. I don't think magic can be all that different from science. It has rules."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm hmms and says "It always seemed more like it was all about breaking the rules." He hmms and says "I wonder if Agatha is busy." He says of the woman who used to look after Franklin when he was younger. So got any specifics your trying to figure out with it?"

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Not yet?" Valeria lifts one shoulder in a shrug, thinking it over as she chews. "But it's new. And it's different. I love science, I just kind of feel like I miss the //learning// part of it sometimes. The discovery is still there. There's always more to discover. But there's also more about the world to see, and I don't want to not see it just because I didn't try."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm hmms and nods a bit and says "Well just promise me if you go to Dr. Dumb you will go to at least another person to make sure what he is telling you. I will feel better if I know ya double checking him.

Valeria Richards has posed:
Valeria snorts back a laugh, grinning over at him. "I'm gonna do us all a favor and not tell him you called him that," she snickers, shaking her head. "But yeah, of course. Magic or science, that's just good methodology. Never get everything from one source."

Her grin broadens as she arches a brow. "You didn't think you were the //only// one I was going to ask about self-defense, did you?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm looks over and smirks a bit "Well only if you were wanting to learn from the best." He jokes a bit and says "Seriously though, makes sense I would say talk to Jen, but her fighting style is a lot like my own. Might be able to talk to Natasha for you."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Yeah, no offense, but you guys have kind of got the tank thing going on," Valeria grins, leaning over to poke him with one finger. "I'm a little bit more delicate." Which is no doubt why anyone who really takes on training her will probably just start her with a whole lot of exercise and training that has nothing to do with fighting in general, of course.

"But like I said, different perspectives. It'll help me see what to look out for too, right?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm nods and says "Well, I will show ya a bit of boxing, but your going to have to come to the gym right at eight in the morning, and we will go for a run to start your training." He watches her reaction to this and starts back on his food.

Valeria Richards has posed:
Valeria wrinkles her nose at him, taking another bite. "I see what you're up to, Uncle Ben," she shakes a finger. "Trying to chase me off with early mornings and runs. I'm on to you!"

She chews for another moment, considering, then nods. "But I'll at least give it a try."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm looks to her, and says "If you want to do it, you have to put in the work. Trust me when I was training, I did not want to be up at 6 in the morning, but I am letting you sleep in some at least." He tells her.

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Okay, but where exactly do you go to run these days?" Valeria asks, quirking a brow. Of course, that immediately sets wheels spinning. She //was// just going to tease him, but why tease him when she can instead come up with an invention?

"Ideally you'd need something with give, that would still give you enough resistance for effective running. Something like a trampoline would have too much bounce, but stone would just take damage, same with grass..." She takes another bite, pulling a pencil from her pocket and sliding over the wrapper from her sandwich to take some notes.

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm looks over to her and says "Well, I would head out to one of the old warehouses ya dad has a treadmill in, but I said you would be running, I never said I would be running." He smirks a bit at her.

Valeria Richards has posed:
It's too late now though. Valeria's got another project in mind. And she's sketching it out. It's never good when a Richards starts sketching things. Ben's been around long enough to know that.

"Mmhmm," Valeria hums absently. "Limited anti-grav, that's also an option..."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm looks to her and sighs a bit and says "So, what you thinking you going to make me Air Benji's?" He asks holding his foot up "I take a size 20 extra wide."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Oh, I was thinking a belt for total gravity, but now that you mention it, that's also an option!" Valeria declares, raising her pincil as she takes another bite of her sandwich. "Probably an easier one. Shock absorption from the shoe."

She laughs at something that's occurred to her, shaking her head, then puts down the pencil. "Sorry, just wanted to make sure I got the thought down before I forgot about it. Anyhow, what've you been up to, Uncle Ben?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm shrugs a bit and says "Not alot, working on one of the ships, ya dad is planning a trip to check out an asteroid, so I need to make sure the ship is ready. I have been thinking about maybe finding a bit more to do around here.

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Well I know how that feels." Valeria takes a sip of her drink, looking around. "Finding more to do, that is. Also making sure ships are ready, of course. What've you been thinking about? I'm guessing it's not magic." She glances over at the fridge. "Maybe chef school?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm chuckles a bit and says "You saying your uncle Ben's chili needs work?" He jokes a bit and says "Na, I aint sure, yet, thought about maybe getting into some restoration work on old aircraft, but pondering if I can do it and them not get blown up."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"More like Mom won't let us order in every night but she's too busy to cook and we all know we don't want Dad doing it," Valeria grins. "Restoration sounds like fun though. Not that we can ever promise anything not getting blown up. I believe you can work on them without blowing them up!" she exclaims.

"I just don't trust that something else will make them blow up," she admits. "But the tinkering is half the fun, right?"

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm nods a bit and says "Pretty much, think it would be more I would have to either sell them off or ship them to some base where I woulc not see them much after I finished them. You could always make us a robot chef."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"I could, but if there's anything I think science can't always do best, it's cooking." Valeria finishes her sandwich, brushing her hands off against each other. "Baking, now that's mostly chemistry. That, you could get a robot to do. But good cooking is hard to quantify because a lot of things change individually so there's just...well, there's taste to it."

Ben Grimm has posed:
Ben Grimm nods a bit and says "And thats why I have about a dozen places on speed dial." He says of the food.