Log File 2017.07.29

The following morning did not sit well with Max, having to deal with what was perhaps his first hangover during training. He must have managed to do passably well this morning during the session, but it had still been rough on him when he'd slipped back in to grab more water to reyhdrate himself. Alys was already there at the kitchen table eating, and observing Max as he entered, seemingly oblivious to the presence of anyone else for the moment.

After a long moment, she finally asked if he was okay since he hadn't popped outta thin air or greeted her as he'd normally do. Max promptly stated that he was dealing with his first hangover, vaguely recalling coming home last night and seeing Veronica. He hadn't suspected there was alcohol in the drinks he'd consumed and it given the young man his first binge drinking session. Alys had to wonder if that counted as a TUI since he wasn't driving...and she'd only ever seen him teleport from place to place to get where he wanted to be when traveling. She'd offer the suggestion of drinking something like Gatorade to help his system, and he promptly turned that idea down, calling it disgusting...and noting that he'd had more than enough crackers in his system since last night.

He turned the conversation to the fact that Alys was working on some training of her own. She hadn't been working with the others...just some one-on-one with Ruby as she wasn't comfortable being around people. He'd probably caught her as she was slipping off to leave as he begin a session with the rest of those that currently resided at the estate. As far as she knew, there weren't many there...but she'd made the effort to come and go in passing like a ghost on the estate grounds. Max confirms that Ruby is a good one to have helping Alys-- she was around to grow up seeing all kinds of powers being developed and used so had a good range of references.

That statement brought a frown out of Alys, noting that while she was learning something...she was different. Then wonders aloud about what Max said about the 'next thing to come along' looking for better understanding. He explained that what the X-Men do was more than just finding and helping mutants, they also stop those that would threaten humanity...if if that threat came from other mutants. The idea was to show mutants were not a threat, that they didn't need to be feared. Though there were those like Apocalypse that could display actions contrary to that effect. She didn't recognize what he was talking about in full, asking for clarification...because in what he'd just said...they dealt with the end of days kind of stuff. Plus...she'd thought of Max as a bit more experienced and came to find he was mostly a trainee and not quite like Ruby.

Max explained briefly a bit about Apocalypse, the other mutant that was old beyond their time currently. Also how his reference to War had actually been him when that ancient mutant controlled him...and there was the weight of shame at the memory of what he could recall during during that time. He pushed that aside to state that while he'd only been on a couple missions, his second was to help Alys herself. She wasn't exactly certain how to react to that at first, he probably wasn't looking for a true performance review at her aid back at the LaGuardia airport but another question overrode that statement-- wondering if that thing that had pushed him to be War was gone now. She recalled that look he'd given her that night when her power had touched something within him...something scary...and deadly.

He admits that the incident on the estate grounds after bring Alys from the airport had made him relive the most painful thing he'd been through or might ever go through-- The creation of War. The thought was unsettling to Alys, to know that what had happened couldn't fully be removed or rest back to what counted as normal. She asked, perhaps a bit to confirm for herself something about Max, that he was making the choice as to what he was doing here in the now. She'd tried to comfort him, seeing how some of what she'd asked had disturbed him...but he retained that distance and pulled away from her attempts while explaining his thoughts to her.

Alys didn't want to be sold on a dream, she just wanted people to be honest with her. Perhaps that's what gotten Max into the situation he found himself in prior-- Apocalypse had sold him a dream and he'd embraced it almost unquestioningly. She admits she didn't know exactly yet what she was doing here in this place other than surviving herself...her own worst enemy. It'd been a work in progress. Max states that what he did took a lot more control than he admits...listing the things he could do and pointing out he lacked fine motor control, like when he had been upset and nearly crumpled up Kevin. The other X-Men had usually been the one to check in on him after emotional outbursts...and one time it had gotten bad. He'd come a long way, showing off a little with her water bottle how he could lift it into the are but started to have difficulty in pulling it closer without potentially damaging the object.

It was back and forth at trying to understand how Max had discovered what he could do with his abilities, while Alys' mind was contemplating on how she might be able to apply what he'd discovered for herself. It got to the point where he decided to show her something he'd been working on...a little green vortex...at which he urged her to toss her water bottle at for a demonstration. Alys hesitated for a moment before doing so and watching the bottle of water get sucked in and getting stuck in a loop of teleportation at the merge of telekinesis and teleportation abilities merged to create this effect. It was interesting...a bit curious and something to mull over in her own thoughts about her own abilities.

With all the talk about what he'd learned and how he was looking to be different and push himself to do more with such a common ability...it drew Max to ask Alys about what Ruby had said of her own powers. That left her feeling at odds, Ruby didn't know about her powers...even the things the other woman had witnessed that might remind her of Alys' abilities were only similar. Though most of the work they'd been focusing on had been control right now, to help her feel more comfortable. Max called her unique and seemed to admire that more than having a common power that Ruby did recognize. This just upset her more, she didn't want to be unique...she just wanted to be able to live a normal life. Something that was now out of reach and leaving her to learn how to live with this new life.

Max's attempt to console her that while her life wouldn't go back to the way it was...there was much she could do once she learned to control her abilities. Part of her wanted to cry more as he kept talking...he just didn't seem to understand why this upset her so much. It'd been a hard pill to swallow that her life now involved dealing with these abilities that could hurt people. It was about this point when Max took a break to go back to the fridge looking for food...and almost as if summoned by that very thought, Veronica entered the room with a couple of pizzas and soda for everyone. Alys politely declined, having only finished half her sandwich from prior and after the conversation...had lost most of her appetite. It did smell good, but not enough to tempt her into having a slice. Instead she asked for someone to hand her a water, as Max had crushed her other bottle in that green vortex during his demonstration of new abilities.

The young man seemed oblivious to the request as he dug into the pizza and thanked Veronica for the help last night. The other woman handed Alys a bottle from the fridge and proceeded to help herself to some of the pizza she'd brought in for everyone. Casually asking if anything fun had happened in her absence. Nothing in particular of note, Max had survived training with a hangover and Alys has spent some time walking out around the garden. Then of course Veronica had to mention the very topic that had made Alys just recently uncomfortable. Inquiring about her abilities. She took a moment and stated there wasn't anything known exactly about her abilities...she was unique. Granted the other woman couldn't have known unless she'd overheard or peeked into either of the two's minds...but the timing was just not good for this.

Max couldn't wrap his mind on how Alys continued to wilt as she did...but then again he'd wanted a lot of what Alys never sought out in the first place. Veronica didn't seem phased by the lack of knowledge, trying to be reassuring that they'd figure it out, they were problem solvers after all. Alys didn't seem to like that term, nor the term of 'puzzle solvers' that Max offered up in turn. His attitude had started to shift to be a bit more cold, just stating things bluntly as he withdrew. He couldn't help but be more on the mental defense with Veronica in the room.

That didn't help alleviate any concern or distress Alys was experiencing right now, even though no ill intent was meant. He put it bluntly to Veronica that she was poking at the very same topic they'd just been speaking on as the uncomfortable silence was descending upon Alys. He added that while he understood what she was going through, behaving as if she were on a deserted island wasn't going to help. Wrinkling her nose in distaste, half torn between childishly sticking her tongue out at Max or just frowning...she eventually tosses similar words between them with a past conversation about still being there. If she'd had a mind not to try at all in the first place, Alys pointed out she'd have left when he'd told her she was free to do so. She'd had enough of the conversation and chose at that point to end it, excusing herself for the night.

Leaving the other two to speculate on their words. Max realizing that he'd upset her...not meaning to and in the end doing so...he disappeared and left to find rest himself for the night. Leaving Veronica to herself as she puzzled out the exchange that had just taken place. Then, seeing as no one else was around, finished her own meal and cleaned up before calling it a night herself.

#MaxwellWinters #AlysNikkole #VeronicaDobson