log: amara and lex

[x-volcanic.livejournal.com]

Backdated to the night of the celebration, Amara is drunk and encounters Lex. There is some friendly banter before she tells him the full story of her power manifestation and the reason for the celebration, and then makes him dance.

Amara might have usually been a polite, restrained young woman, but put her amongst the remainder of the girls she'd grown up with at a celebration like this, and she'd gotten... well, giggly was putting it politely. Part of it also might have had something to do with remembering Lil's advice, and her usual reluctance to drink too much had been easily swept away. She would firmly deny that she was drunk (but then didn't all drunks?), but walking in a straight line was a little too much for her right now. She'd decided that it was time for her to have something more to eat, which meant she wandered (almost skipped) over to where a large haunch of meat was sitting, or at least the remainder of it. There were numerous slices left for people to help themselves, which is exactly what she was planning on doing. As she leant over to carefully pick at the slices to transfer them to her plate, she caught sight of a familiar face, and her face lit up with a broad smile as she let herself be distracted by the person.

"Lex!" She said brightly, and a little louder than her usual voice. "Hello! Are you enjoying the food? I hope you are, after I talked so much about it, I would not want you to be disappointed!"

Taken aback by the assault of words coming from Amara, Lex stared for a moment before recovering. "Yes, I'm enjoying them plenty. I think I've eaten more since we arrived than I've any right to." He smiled and looked her over. He could tell she was drunk, or at least very tipsy, but she had an energy that seemed to fit her very well. "Would you care to share some with me?" he asked, reaching past her to put some of the fine meat on a plate. He'd noticed her long before she called out to him, and he wanted to see that she got some food in her.

"Oh good!" She grinned. "It is okay, I have eaten faaar too much as well, I am going to have to spend so much time in the gym when we get back so I can keep up in training. Ugh." She sighed, momentarily pouting a little before brightening again. "Oh yes please, thank you!" She looked at her rather empty plate a little sheepishly. "I think I got distracted from actually... getting food."

"Well, we should definitely rectify that situation." He handed her the plate and pointed towards where he'd been sitting earlier. "We can talk about what happened, if you want, or we can just enjoy the atmosphere." He smiled and walked away from her, leaving the plate in her hands. He wondered if she'd actually divulge her past, or if her lack of self-restraint was only on the surface.

"Thank you!" Amara might be quite tipsy, but heaven forbid she forget her manners. Ever! She hurried a few steps to catch up with him, before glancing up to him. "I will tell you, if you would like to hear the story." Perhaps it was the drink, perhaps it was the atmosphere, but right now, the story around her power manifestation didn't feel quite as awful as she'd always thought it was.

"I'd enjoy that," he said, trying to keep himself from talking too much. Lex looked at her and smiled, he wanted to hear her story, not just because it was something unique to her, but also because it might provide him with some perspective. "It'll make this trip even more memorable than it already has been."

"Have you been enjoying yourself?" Amara asked very earnestly. She wanted everyone to be having a good time, as well as trying to pack in as much time with her friends as well. A few days was really not long enough for a trip home, but she did have to be back to prepare for college. "I know Nova Roma is very different to America, but I do not think it is so different that people would find it too strange." She'll get to the story soon, she promises.

"Yeah, this has been amazing beyond what I could ever have imagined from your brief description." He smiled, breathing in the unadulterated air. Lex knew he could get used to living in such a simple setting, with a tight-knit community supporting one another, but he was also ready to get back into the action. He was barely reaching his prime and there was still a lot to do. "I'm glad it's different than America, it makes it so much more..." He couldn't find the word, but he knew it was positive.

"It is much more simple," she said with a soft smile, settling down and picking a little at the plate of food. "I have often thought of returning here, especially since my powers are under control. It is so... uncomplicated, nothing like the life at the mansion." She shrugged, not quite eating yet. "But I am enjoying my studies at the college, and being part of the team. I am not ready to give that up as yet."

"Neither am I, though I think I'm going to be looking for a place like this if I ever make it to retirement..." He said with a smirk, he imagined settling down with a good woman. He looked out over the people gathered around and found himself completely at peace for a moment, thinking about how great it'd be to have a small cottage in the midst of a small village. He could disappear from the radar, be free from all his baggage, and just relax. It was a pleasant fiction, but he knew he wanted to shape the world before he indulged in such idealistic fantasies.

Amara giggled at that, looking over to him. "I think it would be very difficult to find a place like this! I have not heard of any other. And we are very secretive, shhh." She pressed her finger against her lips, looking a little mischievous. "But if we still know each other then, I will put in a good word for you with the leader of Nova Roma. We are very close, he and I." Now she was just being silly. "But one day, I would like to come back here. Now that I know I can face everyone."

Lex had to wipe his eyes to keep himself from crying. He would never have been able to imagine Amara like that without seeing it with his own eyes, and he had to admit he found it quite enjoyable. "Well, if you can talk to him for me I'd greatly appreciate it," he said with a wink. It was good to know that she had faced her demons and won, it gave him hope that someday he'd be able to do the same.

"I will do this for you," she replied, attempting to be solemn but... not really managing it. She finally picked up a piece of meat and ate it, chewing it thoroughly before swallowing. "But I promised you a story, didn't I! I am not usually so easily distracted, I apologize."

"Don't worry about it," he said with a smile, "A bit of playful banter is always good for the soul." He took a swig from his cup, a strange local liquor, and his face quirked slightly. It was no whiskey, but it hit the spot. Lex moved into a more comfortable listening position, making sure to keep himself in an open position so she'd know he was being attentive. "I'm ready for this story when you are."

"Okay." Amara settled herself down as well, rearranging the draped folds over her legs. She didn't need the protection from the slight cooling of the night, but Amara was not at all drunk enough not to protect her modesty. "During the ceremony, you would have heard many mention of a goddess. She was -- our goddess. We worshipped her, we feared her, and she was supposed to protect us. But really, it was her we needed protecting from." Her gaze shifted to the ruins of the temple for just a moment, before tearing them away to look back at Lex. "Nova Roma's history is littered with tales of women disappearing, never to be seen again. They were taken, by her priests, and sacrificed to the dark one. My mother was one of them. I remember so little of her now, except for the times we spent in the kitchen together. She taught me so much..." She took a deep breath, glancing down. "Three years ago, something... different was planned. I do not know why, and I do not want to know, particularly, but a mass sacrifice was planned. Many of the young women were kidnapped and taken to the temple. I was amongst them." She stopped once more, for a moment flashing back to how terrified she had been, how terrified they all had been. She took a hurriedly mouthful of her drink, trying to cover her brief moment of distress.

Lex understood what she said from an objective level, but knew he'd never comprehend how she felt. To be a sacrifice, it didn't make sense to him. He reached out, gently, and took her free hand in his. Looking her in the eyes he said what he truly felt, "That sounds absolutely terrible." Her distress made him regret pushing her into telling him, but she'd already started and it would only make things worse if he stopped her, "Please, go on."

"It was," she said simply, the corners of her mouth turning up slightly when he took her hand. "What people will do in the name of religion... I have learnt much about it since then, and there is such horror to be found there." She took a deep breath, squeezing his hand slightly. "We were pushed into the lava of the volcano. My friends died. I... did not. My powers saved me. The volcano... I caused it to erupt, and was carried away by the lava. People died, homes were destroyed, but... thanks to the X-Men, Selene's cult was destroyed. That is when I left, to go to Xavier's. Leaving my people to rebuild." She looked out into the distance, where there were still young people dancing by the fire. "I did not realise how much they valued being free from Selene."

Sitting there, in stunned silence, Lex simply held Amara's hand and smiled. He knew at that moment how much returning home meant to her and he didn't want to cheapen it with words. He looked at the people dancing happily around the fire and wondered what it would be like to have that kind of faith. It was a terrifying thought, being so empowered by something intangible, but he understood its importance. It was a way to cope with terrible tragedy, and though Amara may feel guilty for causing so much destruction she should be proud of how much she influenced their lives.

It was awhile before Amara said anything, simply content to sit and watch the dancing, thinking. She did not usually tell the full story of what had happened, but tonight was not a night to hold such stories back. She would always carry what happened that night with her, but slowly, she was starting to let go of the guilt. She could, perhaps, forgive herself, as long as she did not forget. The music picked up it's pace, stirring Amara out of her reverie.

"But tonight is not a night to sit and linger on terrible things. We are celebrating our freedom, and I would very much like to dance."

"Well, as long as you don't mind leading... I don't think I know the steps," Lex said with a laugh. She had pulled him out of his introspection so quickly he barely had time to think of words to say before they left his lips. He stood up and pointed to the crowd, "After you."

"That's alright," she said with a slightly mischievious smile. "At this time of the night, I think everyone is making them up as it is." She took his hand once more before starting to move, just because she didn't entirely trust herself to not fall over as she walked. She was definitely not as steady on her feet as she usually was.

Lex took her hand and pulled her close as they moved towards the dancing. He didn't want her to take a spill, especially if she took him down with her. "Well, I think I might be good at making up the moves," he said with a carefree wink.