Betsy Braddock (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
om_psylocke) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
om_main2013-12-29 02:50 pm
om_psylocke) wrote in om_main2013-12-29 02:50 pm
Ali and Betsy (backdated to December 29.)
Betsy comes home from Christmas vacation in time for Felix's birthday party. She tracks down Ali to catch up on what she's missed.
Since they'd gotten back to the school shortly before the party Betsy hadn't had a chance yet to track down any of her friends and ask how their break was going. She knew that Ali intended to spend time with family (the good part of them), and was hoping that had all gone well. She went searching for Ali among the other students, listening for her at first, and then catching sight of her--radiant as always. Betsy could always trust her friend's taste in fashion. She headed her way, smiling warmly.
"Long time no see. How has your vacation been treating you, Ali?"
Alison smiled when she noticed Betsy approaching, and she gave her a friendly wave. As usual, she had a collection of small rainbow lights surrounding her body, lighting up the area around her.
"Pretty amazing, to be honest. I actually took Angelo back to meet my Aunt and Uncle--it went fairly well," she answered, and greeted her friend. Yeah, that had gone WAY better than when Angelo had met her father. "How about you, girl? Enjoying the vay-cay?"
"There have been confusing elements, but taking Warren home is always amazing. There's just something about having him there that... well. He fits. Very well," Betsy admitted, which to her felt like practically shouting her romantic intentions. She smiled softly. "Having the family that matters approving of your boy, and vice versa, sounds good to me."
"It does give you a good feeling, doesn't it?" Alison smiled fondly. Her family had never approved of her boyfriends all that much, so it was nice to have not only her aunt and uncle liking Angelo, but her cousin as well. When everyone got along and respected each other, it really made for greatness. Fighting was like wedge sneakers---totally out of style.
"I'm glad to hear you both enjoyed yourself," Alison admitted. "And that's all of your family that carries mutual approval for your boy? Even that lovely brother of yours?"
Alison hoped so. Like anyone needed avoidable grief on the holidays.
Betsy snorted softly. "Brian seems to have accepted that Warren is worthy of dating his sister. We've been having some... discussions... regarding his own dating status, which has led me to remind him he has no right to judge my dating status ever again. He's off at the beach right now, starting the next half of vacation ahead of us. With Lil. But they aren't dating mind you, they are just spending time alone on a private island."
"Well, I'm glad that he has gotten over himself," Alison said with a soft laugh. Really, no one needed to be telling anyone who was good enough for anyone else! Alison certainly never heard it from her own parents, and she wouldn't have if Benjamin had ever decided to think like that. It was so rude.
Then there was the mention of Lil, and....wow. "Your brother is dating Lil? I have to say, spending time on a private island is, like, probably twenty steps ahead of catching a movie."
Nope, nope, nope. Anyone who scooted away to a private island to be alone with someone was a) dating them, b) having a secret affair with them or c) totally married to them. There was no way around that.
"Brian is special," Betsy said, in a tone that implied she didn't mean unique. Her lips twisted with a wry smile. "Christmas was interesting. it went well, I think. Lil didn't quite fit in with the setting, but Brian was determined that she wouldn't spend Christmas without family, even if it ended up being our family. I'd suggest we just make it a field trip next year but that would certainly cut down on the chances for alone time."
"Mhmm, I always picture your home just screams style, class and sophistication--some people just don't mesh well with that type of setting," Alison had to admit. Though, she supposed it was noble of Brian to make sure someone didn't have to be alone on the holidays. Maybe she had never thought very highly of Lil, but that was still not a fun thing to feel, and she wouldn't wish it on anyone. "As long as you enjoyed yourself, though. I bet coming back here is almost a disappointment in comparison to your lovely alone time with Warren."
"Maybe I'll book the next private vacation," she said teasingly. "And you should come to England with me sometime. I know it's difficult, juggling the public eye, but I'm much better of navigating home than I am here."
"Now that would be fun," Alison had to agree. She imagined that Betsy's family had a nice house--maybe even nearly big as the school! Probably decorated in the way her own home had been. In style, chic and classy. "I'm sure you have your privacy, too. Do you live in the city, or somewhere more remote?"
"Somewhere more remote," Betsy said fondly. Alison was right--their property did rather rival the school. "We're about an hour north from the city."
"Nice and quiet, then," Alison commented with a nod. "I'm curious---so did Brian and Warren have any problems with paparazzi when you were all visiting home?"
"Fortunately we took extra precautions with our travel arrangements. The last thing I want is a speculative article with Lil and I tied to them. The first article I see that puts a photo of Brian and me together with any kind of romantic speculative theme, I will probably... handle indelicately." Betsy smiled wryly. "We were discreet, and once on the property it's no longer an issue. We've had very loyal staff all of my life. They are really wonderful, and they've handled the situation with Brian and I very well. I think anyone with an eye for scandal was ousted when we were little."
Dealing with Jamie was the first test. They were sympathetic for the twins, as they'd been for their older brother. The situations weren't an ideal comparison, but Betsy was actually okay with anyone that close to their family considering her situation equally 'troubled'. It felt pretty true.
"You're very lucky to have a staff like that. I know so many people out there who would just sell your story for big bucks, and it's so awful. That's actually a big reason I told the world I'm a mutant--to avoid something like that happening," Alison admitted. With Betsy's story, especially, she was quite fortunate. She wore a different face, and had a different body--yet no one had sold her out. "It's ridiculous how much a 'scandal' will sell for, you know? I swear, sometimes society forgets we're all people, too."
"They forget it very often," Betsy agreed. "I wish it was easier for me to come forward, but... circumstances. I miss having more control about my family's image."
"That would be complicated, and having little control really can't help," Alison had to agree, easily sympathizing with her friend. "Have you thought what you'd say if you ever stepped forward about who you are?"
Betsy's lips twisted with a wry smile. "Nothing constructive."
"Nothing at all?" Alison asked with a tiny grin. "Still, your story would blow all of ours out of the water."
"It's much easier to think of stories that will terrify the masses, than to think of a happy spin," Betsy admitted, levity still in her tone. "I want to stop hiding mostly for selfish reasons. I really shouldn't until I figure out a way that won't freak people out."
"Do you mind if I ask how exactly it happened?" Alison asked, just so she could get a better idea of the whole situation.
Betsy hesitated, glancing around quickly. They were at a party after all, and it wasn't a great subject for someone to overhear. Alison was a friend, and she trusted her. It was getting easier to speak about the subject, but Betsy was still concerned that it wasn't... well, a great topic to discuss. "It's complicated," she said carefully. "I probably shouldn't go into details with," she gestured at the room, "All the kids around. I was shot, and I took someone's body. Not in that order... but the girl, she was in a coma at the time. I think the shock of my death broke her tether. It was... well, it was mess."
No matter how Betsy tried to gloss over the facts, there was never a simple way to phrase that.
Alison nodded. She wouldn't make Betsy go into further detail than that. It wouldn't feel right, nor would it be polite with all of these people around. It was obviously something that caused her a great detail of anguish, and Alison wouldn't push. Just like she never pushed Benjamin about his own past.
"I understand how that would be hard to spin," she agreed. "But it's probably not something completely off the table, yeah? I bet Warren and Lydia could find a spin to put on it. A way to make it more....well, not appealing for the public eye. I don't think it's impossible to imagine it going well---you just need the right way to make the announcement."
"We'll figure something out," Betsy said carefully. "When the time comes. There's no easy way to go about it, but... it's possible. I don't want to kill all of your good PR while I'm at it."
"I can't see you doing that. When the time is right for you to come forward, it'll be totally perfect and glam--you won't step out a second before you're ready to," Alison assured Betsy with a warm smile. No, Betsy didn't seem the type to just jump into something without thinking over the consequences. She was smart, and she wouldn't jump into this public thing until she was completely confident and ready to say what she needed to. "You're a very smart person, Betsy. You've totally got an eye for this stuff."
Betsy smiled softly at Ali. "When the world rights itself, we should do an event together. Something charitable and glamorous."
"Held at an exquisite location," Alison agreed with a small nod. She'd always wanted to do something like that when she got older. "I bet we could pull off not only an amazing party, but raise millions for whatever cause we so choose."
"We absolutely could," Betsy agreed.
"Until then, you're more than welcome to attend any release parties I get invited to," Alison smiled. "You shouldn't be deprived of the glam."
Betsy smiled. "I'll invest in some new sunglasses until I can be more forward with my family name. That reminds me--I did reach out to some of my old modelling contacts in the city, under the guise of a family cousin. If you need any special occasion outfits, please come out and play dress up with me. We are overdue a shopping trip."
"We are. I think we could make a shopping trip that's titled 'future special occasion outfits', because that's totally a worthy cause," Alison mused. "We don't have to just wait for one!"
"Oh, absolutely. I'm all for reasons to extend my closet space."
"Then, sweetheart, we're doing it," Alison told her firmly. "Needing to extend closet space is what I call a fashion emergency--you just can't have that bare, now can you?"
Since they'd gotten back to the school shortly before the party Betsy hadn't had a chance yet to track down any of her friends and ask how their break was going. She knew that Ali intended to spend time with family (the good part of them), and was hoping that had all gone well. She went searching for Ali among the other students, listening for her at first, and then catching sight of her--radiant as always. Betsy could always trust her friend's taste in fashion. She headed her way, smiling warmly.
"Long time no see. How has your vacation been treating you, Ali?"
Alison smiled when she noticed Betsy approaching, and she gave her a friendly wave. As usual, she had a collection of small rainbow lights surrounding her body, lighting up the area around her.
"Pretty amazing, to be honest. I actually took Angelo back to meet my Aunt and Uncle--it went fairly well," she answered, and greeted her friend. Yeah, that had gone WAY better than when Angelo had met her father. "How about you, girl? Enjoying the vay-cay?"
"There have been confusing elements, but taking Warren home is always amazing. There's just something about having him there that... well. He fits. Very well," Betsy admitted, which to her felt like practically shouting her romantic intentions. She smiled softly. "Having the family that matters approving of your boy, and vice versa, sounds good to me."
"It does give you a good feeling, doesn't it?" Alison smiled fondly. Her family had never approved of her boyfriends all that much, so it was nice to have not only her aunt and uncle liking Angelo, but her cousin as well. When everyone got along and respected each other, it really made for greatness. Fighting was like wedge sneakers---totally out of style.
"I'm glad to hear you both enjoyed yourself," Alison admitted. "And that's all of your family that carries mutual approval for your boy? Even that lovely brother of yours?"
Alison hoped so. Like anyone needed avoidable grief on the holidays.
Betsy snorted softly. "Brian seems to have accepted that Warren is worthy of dating his sister. We've been having some... discussions... regarding his own dating status, which has led me to remind him he has no right to judge my dating status ever again. He's off at the beach right now, starting the next half of vacation ahead of us. With Lil. But they aren't dating mind you, they are just spending time alone on a private island."
"Well, I'm glad that he has gotten over himself," Alison said with a soft laugh. Really, no one needed to be telling anyone who was good enough for anyone else! Alison certainly never heard it from her own parents, and she wouldn't have if Benjamin had ever decided to think like that. It was so rude.
Then there was the mention of Lil, and....wow. "Your brother is dating Lil? I have to say, spending time on a private island is, like, probably twenty steps ahead of catching a movie."
Nope, nope, nope. Anyone who scooted away to a private island to be alone with someone was a) dating them, b) having a secret affair with them or c) totally married to them. There was no way around that.
"Brian is special," Betsy said, in a tone that implied she didn't mean unique. Her lips twisted with a wry smile. "Christmas was interesting. it went well, I think. Lil didn't quite fit in with the setting, but Brian was determined that she wouldn't spend Christmas without family, even if it ended up being our family. I'd suggest we just make it a field trip next year but that would certainly cut down on the chances for alone time."
"Mhmm, I always picture your home just screams style, class and sophistication--some people just don't mesh well with that type of setting," Alison had to admit. Though, she supposed it was noble of Brian to make sure someone didn't have to be alone on the holidays. Maybe she had never thought very highly of Lil, but that was still not a fun thing to feel, and she wouldn't wish it on anyone. "As long as you enjoyed yourself, though. I bet coming back here is almost a disappointment in comparison to your lovely alone time with Warren."
"Maybe I'll book the next private vacation," she said teasingly. "And you should come to England with me sometime. I know it's difficult, juggling the public eye, but I'm much better of navigating home than I am here."
"Now that would be fun," Alison had to agree. She imagined that Betsy's family had a nice house--maybe even nearly big as the school! Probably decorated in the way her own home had been. In style, chic and classy. "I'm sure you have your privacy, too. Do you live in the city, or somewhere more remote?"
"Somewhere more remote," Betsy said fondly. Alison was right--their property did rather rival the school. "We're about an hour north from the city."
"Nice and quiet, then," Alison commented with a nod. "I'm curious---so did Brian and Warren have any problems with paparazzi when you were all visiting home?"
"Fortunately we took extra precautions with our travel arrangements. The last thing I want is a speculative article with Lil and I tied to them. The first article I see that puts a photo of Brian and me together with any kind of romantic speculative theme, I will probably... handle indelicately." Betsy smiled wryly. "We were discreet, and once on the property it's no longer an issue. We've had very loyal staff all of my life. They are really wonderful, and they've handled the situation with Brian and I very well. I think anyone with an eye for scandal was ousted when we were little."
Dealing with Jamie was the first test. They were sympathetic for the twins, as they'd been for their older brother. The situations weren't an ideal comparison, but Betsy was actually okay with anyone that close to their family considering her situation equally 'troubled'. It felt pretty true.
"You're very lucky to have a staff like that. I know so many people out there who would just sell your story for big bucks, and it's so awful. That's actually a big reason I told the world I'm a mutant--to avoid something like that happening," Alison admitted. With Betsy's story, especially, she was quite fortunate. She wore a different face, and had a different body--yet no one had sold her out. "It's ridiculous how much a 'scandal' will sell for, you know? I swear, sometimes society forgets we're all people, too."
"They forget it very often," Betsy agreed. "I wish it was easier for me to come forward, but... circumstances. I miss having more control about my family's image."
"That would be complicated, and having little control really can't help," Alison had to agree, easily sympathizing with her friend. "Have you thought what you'd say if you ever stepped forward about who you are?"
Betsy's lips twisted with a wry smile. "Nothing constructive."
"Nothing at all?" Alison asked with a tiny grin. "Still, your story would blow all of ours out of the water."
"It's much easier to think of stories that will terrify the masses, than to think of a happy spin," Betsy admitted, levity still in her tone. "I want to stop hiding mostly for selfish reasons. I really shouldn't until I figure out a way that won't freak people out."
"Do you mind if I ask how exactly it happened?" Alison asked, just so she could get a better idea of the whole situation.
Betsy hesitated, glancing around quickly. They were at a party after all, and it wasn't a great subject for someone to overhear. Alison was a friend, and she trusted her. It was getting easier to speak about the subject, but Betsy was still concerned that it wasn't... well, a great topic to discuss. "It's complicated," she said carefully. "I probably shouldn't go into details with," she gestured at the room, "All the kids around. I was shot, and I took someone's body. Not in that order... but the girl, she was in a coma at the time. I think the shock of my death broke her tether. It was... well, it was mess."
No matter how Betsy tried to gloss over the facts, there was never a simple way to phrase that.
Alison nodded. She wouldn't make Betsy go into further detail than that. It wouldn't feel right, nor would it be polite with all of these people around. It was obviously something that caused her a great detail of anguish, and Alison wouldn't push. Just like she never pushed Benjamin about his own past.
"I understand how that would be hard to spin," she agreed. "But it's probably not something completely off the table, yeah? I bet Warren and Lydia could find a spin to put on it. A way to make it more....well, not appealing for the public eye. I don't think it's impossible to imagine it going well---you just need the right way to make the announcement."
"We'll figure something out," Betsy said carefully. "When the time comes. There's no easy way to go about it, but... it's possible. I don't want to kill all of your good PR while I'm at it."
"I can't see you doing that. When the time is right for you to come forward, it'll be totally perfect and glam--you won't step out a second before you're ready to," Alison assured Betsy with a warm smile. No, Betsy didn't seem the type to just jump into something without thinking over the consequences. She was smart, and she wouldn't jump into this public thing until she was completely confident and ready to say what she needed to. "You're a very smart person, Betsy. You've totally got an eye for this stuff."
Betsy smiled softly at Ali. "When the world rights itself, we should do an event together. Something charitable and glamorous."
"Held at an exquisite location," Alison agreed with a small nod. She'd always wanted to do something like that when she got older. "I bet we could pull off not only an amazing party, but raise millions for whatever cause we so choose."
"We absolutely could," Betsy agreed.
"Until then, you're more than welcome to attend any release parties I get invited to," Alison smiled. "You shouldn't be deprived of the glam."
Betsy smiled. "I'll invest in some new sunglasses until I can be more forward with my family name. That reminds me--I did reach out to some of my old modelling contacts in the city, under the guise of a family cousin. If you need any special occasion outfits, please come out and play dress up with me. We are overdue a shopping trip."
"We are. I think we could make a shopping trip that's titled 'future special occasion outfits', because that's totally a worthy cause," Alison mused. "We don't have to just wait for one!"
"Oh, absolutely. I'm all for reasons to extend my closet space."
"Then, sweetheart, we're doing it," Alison told her firmly. "Needing to extend closet space is what I call a fashion emergency--you just can't have that bare, now can you?"