Log File 2017.06.30

Alys kept to herself mostly since she'd arrived to the estate, occasionally running into someone once in awhile. She'd tried to keep extra scarce after her encounter with Veronica. Outside of the initial meeting, she realized the other woman hadn't meant to upset her...it was all still too much to take in right now. Like or not though, she was going to have to adjust to change. She'd dared to go explore more of the mansion today, even finding herself back out at that garden Max had shown her earlier, trying to familiarize herself with this place. She couldn't dismiss the talk with Ruby...that map and all those people. Others also experiencing chaos and loss just like herself.

She hadn't paid too much attention to more than the water of the lake in the distance from the estate, lost in her own thoughts, and she hadn't noticed Max but he'd noticed her. A fact she found out moments later as he appeared out of nowhere beside her, dripping wet. Alys had kept isolated, so the use of his powers still startled her...she wasn't used to people having 'abilities' like that around her. He teased her in greeting, but she wasn't particularly in the mood. In the start of that exchange with him, Max had hinted he knew a bit about her outside of what she may have said in conversation.

That set her off balance a bit, part of her thoughts had been stuck on the life that was...and something she wasn't going to have again... Alys gave him a hard, unpleasant look but he continued to push. Questioning that why being a mutant meant she couldn't help people anymore, his sarcastic tone didn't help much. It angered her and all she could state in answer was the blunt cause and effect was that 'light' manifestation taking life in full view of those that had lived alongside her for years...worked with her...knew her...or she thought they did. The memory etched in her mind, the fear and anger. She'd walked away only a short distance, stopping when she recalled in the back of her mind that he could easily follow or block her...but he didn't, he'd backed off a bit in the hard tone. Trying to reassure her there was still a life ahead...and still people she could help.

Alys had a difficult time swallowing that idea. After what'd happened so far...there was no place to go to now. She couldn't bury herself in the passion of her former work. She couldn't go home. She was only there at the mansion still because she didn't know what to do...and for the moment it was the only place allowing her time to think. Even as the question of what could she do left her lips, Max had approached and taken one of her hands and held it...showing her a small glowing orb as he manifested energy from his power. He encouraged her to try and do the same, to actually give it a chance...to focus at manifesting her own power just a little bit.

Fear and anxiety flooded through her, the though of willingly drawing up that 'light' she'd seen kill and cause pain. Alys was trying to back away and reclaim her hand, but Max wasn't letting her go...he wasn't being rough at trying to keep her to stay, he was just trying to help. Her body felt warm and uncomfortable as the anxiety caused her heart to beat and almost feel like it's jump out of her body if given a chance. He did his best to calmly coax her to try...and after a several long moments, Alys did. She tried to calm the fear of her power and find some better emotion to draw out that 'light' within herself. She felt alone, and lost...and then among all the thoughts and conversations-- that same LED map Ruby had shown her days ago came to mind. So many others out there...like herself-- lost in the darkness and looking for hope. When her hand lit up with a glow, she squeaked out in surprise. Max let go to allow her a moment to take in what she'd just done, pleased. The glow winked out a moment later...a different kind of panic creeping in her now after this experience.

Max stated that this was a cause to celebrate, offering to get her whatever Alys wanted. She didn't really feel like celebrating, but as he vanished to retrieve his pants from the side of the lake-- blinking in and out of existence beside her, she finally decided on something simple. Ice cream. She didn't want to be rude and the cool treat would probably help with the warm flush she felt on her skin. He prepared a couple of bowls and sat them down between them. After a moment, as he'd waited for her to pick which bowl she'd like, Max inquired what thoughts were going through her mind now.

The only honest answer she had for the moment was that she wasn't sure. Nothing bad had happened this time. But her thoughts were still hung up on the past...what that 'light' did...and it was a part of her. If this was something she shouldn't be afraid of...why had it manifested like it did instead of the harmless glowing light. Max tried to encourage that she should focus on the future, but that was something she wasn't able to see clearly. There was nothing but time on her hands now...and currently each passing day was just another that she survived, not lived. He tried to reinforce by example of his own power over his bowl of ice cream that it could both protect and harm. Her power itself would be no different, she'd just had the unfortunate introduction of the harm it could do. Maybe she'd said something that upset him, or maybe Max just liked adding a touch of flare to be dramatic. Either way, after his parting words and example, he teleported away leaving her to the kitchen, alone with her thoughts. Alys had a lot to consider after tonight.

#AlysNikkole #MaxwellWinters