Weekend

[x-psylocke.livejournal.com]

A session after the skating park, Elisabeth finds Alison in the Music Room.





Elisabeth: How was the skate park with Alex and Lorna?

Alison: *Alison looks up after a few monuments of strumming the guitar.* Alex and Lorna are cute. Lorna now wants my head on a pike though. * she grinning at the memory, but frowns at Betsy’s expression. *Did you manage catch up on your paperwork?

Elisabeth: *smiles grimly.* There was no paperwork. *she pauses, leaning against the doorway with her hands crossed over her chest.* You saw what Jono did to the grounds Friday...

Alison: And what he posted. Yes.

Elisabeth: *her eyebrows furrowed, reliving the events.* I felt him outside, troubled. And I went to find him. All I wanted to do was help him, to show him the balance he needs, Alie. It only worked for alittle while, before I couldn’t keep my balance around him any longer.

Alison: Maybe next time you’ll be more prepared.

Elisabeth: *shaking her head.* No, it was stupid.

Alison: *nods* Next time, plan in advance. Since you know it worked a bit...

Elisabeth: *her expression darkens* "Like I said, I don't think I'll be planning anything for quite some time. *she takes a seat on the floor * His emotions are so strong, it overwhelms me, and nearly did so." * She bows her head at this * "I don't think I'll be any good to anyone for a bit."

Alison: Alison sighs and sits down next to her. "If you quit on the first try, no you won't be." She winces but doesn't take it back, knowing straightforward is the best path to take with Betsy. "You actually did something there - you know for sure that it has to do with his own selfcontrol and is tied into his emotions. No one was sure or maybe even knew that before. Seems to me like that was a pretty big step."

Elisabeth: "I haven't been normal for a while." *In an already vulnerable state from the events of the past week, she shakes her head at Alison's words, continuing with the thoughts that have been running in her head all weekend.* "What happened with Jono shouldn't have happened, if I wasn’t so worn out." She turns away, irritated with herself and her circumstances. "I haven't been sleeping." She stops, her shoulders slumping with each word, weighing upon her in exhaustion "No, I can't sleep, not any more. And I'm tired, so damn tired."

Alison: *listens calmly, making sure to try and keep her own thoughts as calm and soothing as possible for the frazzled telepath - discreetly locking a few doors down as Betsy's lessons have taught her, and keeping an even hold on her mind.* "Something's been keeping you from sleeping," she says, leaving it at that to let Betsy speak on.

Elisabeth: "It takes so much from me to keep the separation, to keep these walls up. When I sleep, I can only keep the gap between my thoughts and everyone else's apart for so long. And after awhile, I just can't, and I start..." she pauses, clearly uncomfortable, "to see things."

Alison: "No one should have to stand aside all the time," is the calm reply. "I can't stand not being around people myself - though in my case, it's almost a dependency, really." She curls up on the sofa, leaning on the sidearm to look at Betsy directly. "So you're keeping away from people because you're afraid of seeing too much from their thoughts when you sleep?" She wonders, having only begun to get a glimpse of what it means to be a telepath for Betsy.

Elisabeth: It wasn't this way before....but now, I've become more susceptible. Essex believes it may have to do with how my body may have tried to adapt against my blindness."

Alison: "Sort of how sometimes it's the mundane senses that become sharper, such as hearing or smell. Only this time, it's your mutant ability that's trying to compensate?"

Elisabeth: "Yes." Thinking of where Essex may be now, Betsy doesn't fully respond.

Alison: "Sooo," she ponders, glad she has some minor idea about all of this from both Emma's classes and the tutoring she's had with Betsy. "So, essentially what worked before for you in terms of shielding isn't doing it anymore, because your abilities are trying to compensate for the blindness. You told me that the shielding you were teaching me was one type of shielding... couldn't you try and shift your standard shielding stuff to something new instead to go along with that? Wait. You probably already tried that, right?"

Elisabeth: She drops A smile creeps into her somber features as she responds to her friend's query. "You are a bright cookie, aren't you?"

Alison: A surprised chuckle answers her. "It's been a while since I've been called that. Bright cookie." She grins, the memory of an elderly man bending over a flowerbed smiling down at her fondly shining brightly in her mind. "Nuncio used to call me that when I was little. He was our gardener." The image fades from her mind as she returns her attention to Betsy, still smiling faintly. "So, if the change of shielding isn't working... did you try to rebuild them from scratch? Or just shifting them around? I'm going with Star Trek concepts here, bap me if I'm being too out there."

Elisabeth: * unconsciously bending forward and rubbing her temples, she continues,* "I've tried many techniques and have even talked to Emma about other tactics, but as my mind learns to rebuild around this defect, I'm relearning how to use my gifts. *She smiles at the last part.*

Alison: *nods.* "Like relearning to play the guitar right after breaking your arm and being in a cast for weeks." She tilts her head, pondering. "Have you thought to ask Hank if he could gimmick something up for you to help you with the shielding at night? Not a power dampener, but something that'd just help with keeping things under control while you sleep? Seems to me if you could at least get some sleep, then you'd have more strength to at least concentrate when you're awake, right?"

Elisabeth: "I don't think I'll bother Hank, yet. I might have another solution. But I'm not sure."

Alison: Alison nods and leaves it at that. "Ok, then. But make sure you won't corner yourself with it? It's always good to have more than once choice to make," she points out gently, letting her concern show in both her thoughts and her expression.

Elisabeth: "I rarely make rash decisions. " Betsy turns to Alison and smiles. "Usually."

Alison: Alison smiles back and nods agreeably."I'll probably still worry, mind you. It's the fussy
streak in me." She tilts her head, still smiling. "That and it's been a while since I've been in one place for so long. It's nice to be able to worry about the same people for more than a few weeks."

Elisabeth: "I won't hold it against you. Alison, will you keep this between us, for now at least."

Alison: She nods gravely, not taking any offense at the question. "I will. If I see you truly not
being yourself though, I would like the permission to tell someone. A person of your choosing? Just in case?"

Elisabeth: "Why would I act differently?"

Alison: Alison gives her a wry look. "Overtired. Strained. Unhappy. If you're like that for too
long... I can be concerned, right?"

Elisabeth: * smiles beside herself * "Definitely. And if you have to go get help for me being obstinate, look for Scott or Emma, they both have a way of cutting me down a peg or too.”

Alison: * nods, relaxing slightly in relief at knowing the gesture is approved of. * "Will do, ma'am!" she snaps off a fake, rather sloppy salute, and chuckles. "Now - may I suggest we trot ourselves down for a late snack downstairs? The kids ought to be in their rooms so there shouldn't be anyone. And if there is, we can grab and retreat back up here."

Elisabeth: "I'm game. There are some benefits to being an adult and walking the corridors at night should be one of them.