Alison & Xavier: Initial Meetings (Backdated to April 17th)

[xp-dazzler.livejournal.com]

In which Alison meets the big man, and finds herself hopeful for the first time in a while. Plus, Folder5.



Charles didn't have much warning before the tentative knock at the door broke the serenity of his office. He looked up from the paperwork he was pushing through, reaching out just a bit to ascertain who was on the other side. The mind wasn't one he recognized. Someone new, then. "Come in," he called, leaning back in his chair.

Behind the door, Alison swallowed. She hated admitting she was nervous, but, dammit, she was definitely nervous. Okay, she thought. This will be okay. Just... be honest. Be smart. I can do this. Mr. Taco said there was a spot here for me.

She slowly opened the door, and stepped inside.

"H-hello. Ah... I'm Alison Blaire. Nice to meet you."

Alison Blaire. Well that was...interesting. Charles smiled reassuringly, waving Alison in. "Please, come in. Take a seat. My name is Charles Xavier."

"Thank you..." Alison averted her eyes, instead looking at all of the decorations and shelves and books and things in the room. It was a nice room. "One of your associates... said that you could help me. To–to control what I can do. I need help, I think." Her voice was steady, but soft.

She seemed rather nervous, Charles noted as he watched her eyes flit about. He reached for the tea pot, pouring her a cup and sliding it across the desk. Sometimes idle hands needed something to keep occupied with. She seemed like she would benefit from that. "We can help you here," he assured her. "What can you do?"

Alison smiled. "It would probably just be easier to show you." The upturn in her voice was noticeable. She gestured towards a pocket. "Do you mind if I...?" she trailed off.

He nodded, giving her an encouraging smile. "Feel free." Probably nothing that would cause explosions, then, if she felt safe demonstrating inside.

Alison pulled a small, rectangular speaker/music player combo out of a pocket. It had been a gift from Anna after her first audition with her current record, back before she'd made it big. Top of the line, expensive as heck, and very loud. Alison never went anywhere without it.

She set it from the desk, and it blared to life. Alison had intentionally chosen a high octane, pop-y Eurobeat style song from Japan, with a solid beat and lots of energy. Perfect.

She loved Folder5.

And from the first note, the room was full of light. Every color, every intensity. Flashing, pulsing, strobing and lingering in time with the music. The room was a miniature stage, and Alison was in her element.

Her smile, more than her powers, lit up the room. Her eyes glowed with an intense happiness. Just staring, and smiling, in wonder at her own powers.

Charles raised a hand to shade his eyes as he watched the lights fill the room. He already knew Alison's powers, of course, but it would look suspicious if he said as much. He smiled at the easy expression on the young woman's face - she seemed more comfortable in this moment than she had since she'd walked in the door.

Alison held it for just a moment longer than she needed to before clamping back down. The lights faded away, and turned the music off. "That's what I do."

The man gave a nod. "I assume the sound has something to do with it?" He tapped the music player.

"Yeah," Alison nodded, pulling the player back a little quickly. "I turn sound into light. The louder and more rhythmically driven the better. I... can also overload it, a little bit, if I try."

"Let's avoid overloading you for now," Charles said as he pulled his hand back, suspecting she didn't like that he had touched it. "You seem to have some control over it, though."

"Yeah, well..." Alison stopped clamping down, and began to glow a soft yellow. "When you are a giant glowbug by default, you tend to learn how to shut it down real fast. There's noise everywhere. Sound of the wind; the tick of your clock." And indeed, she was pulsing slightly to the faint ticking of the clock. It was almost like a heartbeat. "I convert any sound, if I'm not careful. And of course, accidentally blinding anyone that tries to talk to you isn't great either. Doesn't bother me much; I can't convert any sound I make personally for some reason." She looked him in the eyes.

She then quickly remembered that was possibly a bad idea and looked him in the nose. "And if it's too loud, I'd overload it anyway." She was suddenly somber. "Too much and the human brain can't take it. That's what they told me. It overloads something inside you and starts messing with your balance, and your senses. You smell metal and start tripping over your own feet, before falling unconscious.

"My aunt used to joke that I have three settings: Off, Entertain, and Stun. Before I figured out how to control it as well as I did, there was no off, and almost no entertain."

Charles nodded silently as she spoke, still noting the fact that she wouldn't meet his gaze. That was a bit odd. "Three setting is certainly a start," he said after a moment, watching the light pulse in time with the clock. "I'm sure with time we can help you add a few more to that list."

Alison nodded and clamped back down on her powers. "Thanks," she said softly. There wasn't any need to tell him about the other night. It wasn't likely to come up again. ((Famous last words))

"I just... needed a new start. I was hoping I could find that here."

"There's certainly enough room here," Charles said with a small smile, taking a sip of tea. "Why don't you tell me a bit about yourself?" He was curious about how she had ended up here. Usually they had some warning before a new student came.

"Well, you already know my name," Alison said. "Up until recently, I've been a music idol. I... recently decided that it was time to do something else, though. I eventually found my way here after a..." Alison blushed slightly. '...a meeting with one of your students. She pointed me this way." She shrugged. "That's... basically it."

Charles raised an eyebrow. Something about her reaction told him it was more than "a meeting" but he wouldn't push it for now. "A music idol?" He decided to go down that route instead. Pick your battles.

"Uh-huh!" She nodded, sending her pigtails flying all over. "Singing and dancing, big crowds and my name up in lights." She paused, and shook herself. She was done with that. That was fake. "I'm... honestly surprised you haven't heard of me. It seemed like everyone else has."

"I'll admit I haven't been keeping up with pop culture as of late," Charles said, folding his hands on the desk. So it was safe to assume she was well known, then. "Part of living here includes going to the local high school for classes. If you wish, we can provide you with an image inducer so you won't be recognized."

Alison nodded. "I think that would be for the best, I think. I'm not even supposed to be in New York right now." She smiled slightly. "I can't believe I get to go to an actual school again."

"We'll work on getting you set up with one, then," Charles said with a nod. "Do you have any questions?"

"Actually, yeah. Is it possible I could get my own room?" She started glowing faintly again. "When I'm asleep I'm kind of a giant nightlight," she laughed.

"I'm sure we can arrange that," Charles assured her. "Although believe it or not you're not the first person to end up glowing in her sleep." His voice was dry. "If you did have a roommate I'm sure they wouldn't mind."

"This is a weird place, isn't it?" Alison asked, thinking of Mr. Taco.

Charles smiled a bit at that. "Not weird. Just a little bit different."

Alison smiled. "Different is nice. I can't wait."

The man gave a small nod. "Shall we get you settled in, then?"

Alison stood, eyes glowing (without the use of her powers, even). "Please, lead the way, Professor." She bowed slightly.

Tacos, mutants, a long hot shower, new school... today was the best day ever, as far as Alison was concerned. She'd deal with whatever happened later, later. Right now, everything was looking up.