Lesson with Alanna

[balancingminds]

Charles isn't quite certain of what to expect from his lesson with Alan as their last meeting was complicated.

Sallie and Tyler both had good senses of what they knew and what they were hoping to get while Alan seemed more fearful and uncertain along with armed and angry.

The note wasn't too specific about time, so he has a mug of tea and a one of his scientific journals to read.

Comments

[the_lioness]

"The house?"

Alanna grasps on to that in an attempt not to imagine the devastation. It hurts to think about her friends in similar circumstances.

[balancingminds]

"My family owns a rather large estate with many servants to work inside and outside. During the war all of those of age left or had family who did. I was eight when the war ended and the house always seemed emptier and a little scarier without them all around,"

It made it easier to find people but everyone who remained was full of fears and sometimes awful nightmares and memories.

[the_lioness]

"My brother and I used to feel like our keep was empty," she tells him. "Not because of war."

There were servants, of course, but it was only Coram and Maude, in the village, who were really there for them.

"My father buried himself in books."

Nothing else mattered.


It wasn't a warm house. It could be scary. Alanna looks like she might understand.

[balancingminds]

"No, big houses can feel empty so easily. When my sister found her way, the house felt if not full more like a home,"

Neither of his parents were terribly warm but other people were and he found a way to make the mansion a home.

[the_lioness]

"Your sister?" she asks, a touch too eager. The expression is quickly masked. "Is she like you?"

Is she someone else Alanna must guard against?

[balancingminds]

"Yes and no, she's another mutant but not a telepath. Her name's Raven and she comes here,"

He won't tell Alanna Raven's secret as that's Raven's to decide when its told.

[the_lioness]

"Raven."

She smiles a bit.

"Like the armory. I think we met."

Beat.

"But I think she was having me on at the time."

[balancingminds]

Charles considers that memory and frowns, "That's not my sister, she's blonde."

[the_lioness]

Alanna frowns.

She'd forgotten to block harder. Charles is nice, she believes him when he says he won't use anything he hears against her, but there's no way she will ever be okay with that.

"Ah." Beat. "I think for your sake I'm glad. That Raven was very confusing."

As Tricksters are.

[balancingminds]

He also perhaps shouldn't have looked but the memory didn't feel like it fit with his sister,

"My Raven can be confusing too but in a different way. She's more herself. Here, I'll show you what she's like."

Then he projects a memory of time together with Raven around Oxford and their flat.

[the_lioness]

Blinking, Alanna turns around so he can't see her face and, once he's done, focuses on keeping up those walls he'd help her put in place.

She doesn't want him to know that memory kicked her in the gut with jealousy.

Thom is her twin. She loves him. But he feels so far away now, in so many ways.

They weren't ever like Charles and Raven, she thinks.

[balancingminds]

When she turns away he frowns as he got a slight feel of that jealousy,

"I'm sorry, that was presumptuous of me to share that memory that way. Would you like to stop for the day? Then you can practice more and we can meet again to keep strengthening and improving your walls."

[the_lioness]

Yes, but she doesn't want him to think she's giving up. Pursing her lips as she thinks, she eventually turns around and nods.

"For today," she stresses. "If you don't mind, I'd like to stay here for a little while longer. To practice."

And think.

[balancingminds]

He doesn't think that at all as this session was rather more than he expected, "Of course, leave me another note when you're ready for another lesson."

That seems fair as this is a space that's meant to be comfortable of her and he offers her his hand with a smile, "Until next time and thank you for letting me be your teacher."

[the_lioness]

She eyes his hand before shaking it, unbending enough to smile a little.

"I always want to learn."

It's meant as a thank you, but he probably knows that.