Log File 2017.07.28

It had been a month since Layla had left the home she'd made for herself in New York, traveling halfway across the world without a word to anyone. She'd just left with no note or message to anyone at the estate. Now, she was back...but she'd come back different. The first place she went, barely even on the estate grounds for fifteen minutes, was the subbasement where Mal lay. He was still comatose and hooked up to machines where he still lay since the events at the Pyramid over the Mediterranean Sea.

Ruby found her first, or perhaps Layla already knew she would, unimpressed and asking what she expected to find upon her return. It seemed she expected to find Mal still in bed as he was now, if he were awake...he would have stopped her from going through with the concoction Rand had administered to her. When asked about Mal's state and if there were any changes, there hadn't been any outside of some minor activity a couple weeks ago before returning to the status quo currently seen now. Perhaps better than Layla had expected. After a moment she apologized for her absence to Ruby, knowing she'd left everyone but at the same time explaining she had to go-- so that next time she wouldn't just end up watching as everything falls apart...

A lot of emotions stir up for Ruby at those words, she kept it controlled, not wanting to yell in front of Mal. Listing all of the responsibilities Layla just shucked off and left on Ruby's shoulders. It left her with the question to ask where 'did' Layla go that was important enough to leave Mal here like this. Apologizing again, she stated the went to a monastery in Tibet, to see one by the name of Ethan Rand. No sooner had the name left her lips did Ruby exhibit a stronger reaction of dread in her eyes. The name was not unfamiliar to her...in fact it was the name of one that had cost her family much before she'd been born. She asked what Layla had done...it made Ruby feel sick to know how close she was to Mal, but that name...

Layla stated she'd done what was needed to help her unlock more...to be better and stronger. So that next time if there was something she couldn't predict, Layla could actually handle it... Ruby didn't know what to say about that, or what to make of it... After an uneasy moment she asked what Ruby had been reading to Mal since she'd been gone-- a copy of Lord of The Flies. Another moment later, Ruby also thought it best to note that whatever Layla had done to her...there wasn't anything that would stop her from protecting Mal. Considering that Ruby had traveled hundreds of years just to get to him...she wasn't about to let any new abilities Rand could have opened up for Layla to prevent her goal.

Elsewhere on the estate, Veronica was sitting in the gym working on her meditation. Opening her eyes briefly to see if by chance Max would make good on his promise to just stare at her the next time when he'd been caught practicing one night by Alys and herself. Not finding him there, she returned to her meditation, but it wasn't long before that quiet was interrupted briefly as Alys makes her way inside the gym. Seeking a place herself to practice a bit on what Ruby had been teaching her, she hadn't expected to find Veronica there this late at night. She politely starts to excuse her self until the other woman invites her over to meditate with her.

Perhaps she was a bit more exhausted than she'd thought from the day, taking Veronica up on the offer. It was still an odd experience to see that mindscape and even odder to see Veronica floating. She didn't last long to ask other questions, dosing off as another interruption to the former silence of the gym drew attention. Max had managed to teleport into the gym, but it seems that hadn't been intended. Which given the scent of alcohol and tobacco on his person along with the slurred speech-- he'd had a bit too much handle that night. Moving over to Max, who appeared to be confused why he wasn't in his room at the moment but cognitive enough to realize that fact, Veronica asked him how his day was...noting perhaps a long day at the office.

He openly stated that he didn't like it...as he was attempting to tap into his powers and teleport to his room. It wasn't working. Veronica pointed out he'd had a bit too much to function properly let alone utilize his abilities as easily. Apparently this was Max's first experience with binge drinking, he wasn't familiar with the term of being 'hammered' as Veronica put it... Max apparently had fun, explaining when asked about the black-light room where everything got painted-- he just wasn't familiar with the drunk side of things paired up with the experience. Somehow his mind came to the conclusion that it might be late for Veronica to be in the gym and asked what she was doing there as well-- basically just meditating and showing Alys a bit before the young woman had left herself to rest for the evening.

Apparently now was food time for Max, finding himself hungry after the party. Veronica followed him out towards the kitchen, seeing as he wasn't able to vanish and reappear so easily in this state...it wasn't very difficult to do. Of course by the time his walk led him into the kitchen, Max found his body telling him that food would not be a very smart idea right about now. Veronica pointed out he might want to eat some bread or crackers, something light that would be less likely to make him throw back up the alcohol that he'd consumed earlier throughout the night. His experiment that night had gotten a bit out of hand, but the idea for crackers and water had been a good suggestion to help. He'd make it back to his room reasonably well before the churn of his stomach forced Max to spend a bit of time in the bathroom to alleviate the discomfort and showering after before bed. Hopefully recovering enough before morning training.

#LaylaHarper #RubyLarkin #VeronicaDobson #AlysNikkole #MaxwellWinters