8677/The math of magic

The math of magic
Date of Scene:	15 November 2021
Location:	Lobby - GIRL Headquarters
Synopsis:	Viv & Val catch up at G.I.R.L and talk about science, magic, family & very briefly about dating.
Cast of Characters:	Valeria Richards, Vivian Vision

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Valeria Richards has posed:
Valeria seems to run on her own schedule, based primarily upon when the caffeine in her system runs out, interstellar and universal time zones, and supply deliveries. Sometimes she's at home at Four Freedoms, but today she's made her way back to the labs at G.I.R.L. to pick up on a project that she's not one hundred percent sure her parents would approve of.

In leggings and an oversized t-shirt, with her hair in a lazy braid over one shoulder, she's got an iced latte in one hand as she makes her way into the building. "Anybody home?" she calls out, giving the place a look around.

Vivian Vision has posed:
While Viv isn't quite all seeing and all knowing she does have most of the G.I.R.L campus under at least idle observation. Just enough awareness to flag up an intruder, offer help to someone requesting it or in this case just to know when to say hi.

Not with her voice though. That's what the intercom is for. "Good day Valeria. I'm currently running some simulations based on the data from the recent space ship tests. You are welcome to join me if you would like."

There's an accompanying bleep of an SMS message with the lab ID and, if required, the directions.

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Yeah? Sure, sounds like a good start." Valeria makes her way over to the indicated lab, taking a sip of her latte as she comes inside. "Hey Viv," she greets cheerily, raising the cup in salute. One of the many nice things about Vivian being Vivian is that Val doesn't particularly need to feel guilty about not bringing any extra coffees.

"How're the numbers looking?" she asks.

Vivian Vision has posed:
Indeed Vivian doesn't need sleep let alone coffee. Besides if she really wanted some she could wirelessly activate any coffee machine in the building! Or just simulate the effect. "They seem adequate. Clearly there are things we can still improve, but currently I am not seeing anything more than incremental performance changes. Slight shifts to better balance life support and power systems. Things which seem to be taking more wear than expected and will need replacing. Experiments might find more suitable materials but it's hard to say."

She turns and gives a little wave of greeting.

"I imagine more dedicated specialists will be able to pick out things that didn't occur to me though. But then that is why I'll be making all of my formatted datasets available for everyone involved to examine."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"See Viv, that's what I like about you. You understand the importance of tracking the data." From someone else it might sound like a joke, but from Valeria...it's high praise.

She comes over to get a look at the data herself, lips pursing as she makes a few calculations. "I wonder if there's a way we could convert energy from anything striking the ship or any shields into power //for// the ship," she muses. "You know. For longer trips."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision laughs. "Well, in a way everything is data."

The synthezoid teenager chews her lip for a moment, then adds "With the use of vibranium in some of the ship parts that's not outside the realm of possibility. Still I think we'd be better served having point defense lasers to stop objects striking us in the first place."

Her glowing yellow eyes blink. "That being said it couldn't hurt to have redundancy in our defensive systems." And finally she shrugs. "I do apologise for being rude, I have not yet taken the time to ask if you are doing well and if there is a reason for your visit!"

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Nah, it's cool," Valeria replies, looking over with a crooked smile and a shrug. "Pretty much how I'm used to things anyhow. Building spaceships is //way// more interesting than how I'm doing."

She drops into a chair, letting it wheel back across the floor a couple of feet before giving it a spin. "I just wanted to play around with some of the different materials here," she admits, head tipped back to look up at the ceiling. "I've been trying to perfect a few designs. You know, just...so I'm not stuck in the ship while everyone else does the cool stuff."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Any materials in particular?" Vivian wonders. "I suppose vibranium is tricky to get hold of even with your family connections?" A portion of her mind idly does an inventory of all the weird and wonderful substances G.I.R.L has in storage. At least the ones she's cleared to know about anyway. "I had idly thought about constructing myself a synthezoid pet dog."

"But then I got very involved in my study of Human culture via the medium of art. I've been sketching people to try flex my artistic skills. It's harder than it seems."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Vibranium's an option, maybe. More here than at home," Valeria admits, straightening up and giving her chair another idle spin. "Not that we couldn't, probably, I just don't want to overstep. And here it's at least already, you know. Here. For testing purposes."

Restless, she stands up only sit cross-legged and backwards on the chair, her arms folded over the back. "I've been trying to a while to get some sort of shield generator, something that works kind of like Mom's powers. And I //had// been working with sound, so you know, the vibranium would theoretically be a good material match."

She folds out one hand. "But now I'm kind of thinking about hard-light generation, which is a completely different direction, of course."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision nods in agreement. "I can offer what information I have regarding regular holographic generation. But I expect the hardware aspect would not really be beyond what you already have designs for."

There's a slight grin. "The software for creating holographic systems that can mimic your surroundings and hide you from danger on the other hand..." It is after all something Viv does all the time. As easy as breathing.

"You do want to combine sound systems into a holographic system. There's no point creating an image based disguise if it doesn't sound convincing."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"I...was thinking less of the invisible part and more of the force part," Valeria admits, smile crooked. "Invisible's not too hard. Even the military's got at least rudimentary stealth tech." And if the military can do it obviously anyone can!

"But it's a new idea," she shrugs. "I want to try some new things. Different things." Tilting her head, she considers the other girl. "Can you keep a secret?"

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I am able to encrypt my memories so even I am unaware of them unless certain conditions are met," Vivian notes, idly disabling all the monitoring devices within the lab with a thought. "Is it a technical secret or a personal one?"

"I would note that not getting shot is often preferable to withstanding an attack. So keeping the 'invisible' option open would be sensible."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Slightly less urgent than that," Valeria replies with a laugh, holding two fingers about an inch apart. "Just, you know. Maybe don't tell anyone else. I don't want a bunc hof people knowing or taking it the wrong way or...whatever."

She drops her chin onto one fist, blue eyes serious. "I want to learn more about magic. I think...I think there's more science to it than the magic people want to admit. I think it's a new frontier. I think maybe a new way of looking at things..." She trails off, looking down at her hands as she gestures to the air between them. "I think there might be other answers out there."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision blinks a few times. "You know... I think my Great Aunt Nadia has mused things along those lines before," she eventually states. "Likely while we were visiting Themyscira. Perhaps the two of you could engage some of the more magical Titans for some controlled testing."

Not that testing on Terry is likely to yield consistent results!

"For a moment there I thought you were going to confess that you'd met another 'bad boy' that you liked."

Valeria Richards has posed:
Valeria snorts, though there's something of a laugh in the sound as well. "First of all, 'bad' is a relative term," she grins. "Second of all, I'm kind of avoiding getting into that sort of thing for a little bit. I let-"

She pauses, smile fading into a thoughtful expression. "I wasn't fair to him because I was mixing up personal feelings for him with other feelings I was having toward my family, and it made things complicated in a way they didn't have to be if I'd just approached all of it rationally in the first place."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Is that a complicated way of saying you dated someone your parents wouldn't approve of just to annoy them?" Vivian muses, then there's a very telegraphed wink to indicate she's teasing. "Now that I think about it I have never even talked about dating with my father. We do not really interact that often. Between all the superhero teams we're in, his overseas work and my boarding school schedule it only really leaves time for long distance communications."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Yeah, pretty much," Valeria agrees ruefully. "Except it wasn't //just// to annoy them, and I wasn't honest with myself about that to start, which made it keep getting more complicated."

She tilts her head, considering. "I feel like there's probably less to worry about for you dating. At least as far as the things my mom worries about goes. You're probably not going to get pregnant or catch any STDs. Do you and your dad talk about boyfriends and feelings and stuff?"

Vivian Vision has posed:
"Oh. I am not really... you know... interested in boys," Viv admits awkwardly. "But no we rarely talk about anything. I submit the occasional school permission slip but other than that... No not really. I probably see Janet, Doctor Pym or Great Aunt Nadia more often. And when I need personal advice I sometimes turn to some of the Titans."

Valeria Richards has posed:
Valeria quirks a brow slightly at Viv's first statement, though she doesn't push. "That..." She starts, then stops herself, choosing a different tack instead. "How do you feel about that? Your dad, I mean. The Titans are a whole different thing."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"I've always been fully capable of living independently," Viv points out. "And with my organic family members, friends and teammates around I've never felt lonely. I don't know that I feel much of anything about the situation. It simply is what it is."

She sits back on the chair she was working from earlier.

"As for the Titans. Some I like more than others. But that is largely to be expected from any large group."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"I've pretty much always done everything with my dad," Valeria admits, folding her arms over the back of the chair again and resting her chin on them. She lets one leg fall to the side, just enough to let her chair twist from one side to the other. "I don't know who I'd be if I hadn't. But I guess...as long as you have someone."

"The Titans are a whole different thing," she admits, smile quirking again. "I don't think I've got room to call anyone else 'cheesy' given my personal family history."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision nods. "I have plenty of people to speak with. And that is not even counting that I can duplicate my personality thousands of times to discuss matters and review research materials. Online searches are especially good for many personal issues although in most cases citation is needed."

She blushes slightly.

"And as you are aware the Avengers do monitor my online activity. So certain search terms are not... you know... an option. No-one would wish Captain America to stumble upon web searches regarding personal matters."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Hold up!" Valeria sits up straighter, brows rising. "Like...//all// of your online activity? That's nuts, Viv. Even my parents don't monitor all my online stuff." Or at least if they do they've had the sense not to tip her off about it.

A slow smile starts to spread. "I bet we could find a workaround. You know, in the interest of freedome of information, of course. Captain America can't be against freedom."

Vivian Vision has posed:
"It's really intended to stop me breaking the global financial system or getting taken over by Ultron," Vivian says casually. It is after all a situation that she's used to already. "AI don't actually have any legal rights in the US. Functionally I'm classified as the property of Janet van Dyne."

Of course given how many AI the FF have come up with this is probably not news to Valeria.

"I can work around it by simply typing manually into a computer like a Human would. It just slows me down and gives typical cyber security measures a fighting chance."

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Unless you did it at my place." Valeria grins, arching a brow. "Look, I'm just saying if there's stuff you want to look into and you don't want to have to explain it to Captain freaking America, I think Four Freedoms can probably give their measures a run for their money, and if anyone asks, then it was my search."

She shrugs, wheeling her chair back over to the monitors to reclaim her latte and take a drink. "In the meantime though, I wanted to look at some of our anamalous readings. I want data before I go digging into where magic meets science."

Vivian Vision has posed:
Vivian Vision giggles.

"Thank you for the offer," she replies. "Although that could result in some awkward conversations with your parents if they /do/ monitoring your online activity still."

Her brow furrows for a moment, then another SMS arrives on Valeria's phone. "I've uploaded links to every recorded incident I've been involved in that contained magic or associated phenomenon. Tagged based on the type and source of magic when known." The list includes suspected demon summoning, Amazon magic, Atlantean magic, mythical creatures (including vampires) and all sorts of other strange encounters. Or as they're called in the FF. Just another typical Tuesday morning.

"There is quite a lot to get through. So I'll leave you to your study, but if I can be of any help in the future please let me know!"

Valeria Richards has posed:
"Will do," Valeria promises, already leaning forward to get to the scrolling. "Same goes for you," she adds with a grin over her shoulder. "I think after the whole 'bad boy' thing we've at least readjusted the bar for where concern starts." She winks, then turns back to the monitors, searching for truth.