Alison & Matt: Followup (Slight Backdate)
May. 1st, 2015 02:34 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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xp_logsMatt catches up with Alison by the pool a few days after their last meeting. Alison's been having a rough time of it, but it all seems to work out
Alison had taken to relaxing by the pool, thinking. Her most recent trip out with Marie-Ange had been interesting. Marie-Ange seemed to know what had been up with her recently, and there had been discussion on the topic between stores. It wasn't the happiest news, but it was something she could live with.
She was under strict orders (enforced by the terrifying horror of a threat of forced doctors visit) to take it easy for the next few days. No trips to New York for her until it was cleared by Doc Reyes. So lounging by the pool in her oversized shades it was.
It wouldn't be such a bad way to spend a day, really, if her system wasn't flooded with adrenaline constantly. According to Dr. Reyes, her adrenaline levels were astronomical, even while resting. As a result, she was always anxious and energized.
She heard someone approach, and looked out over her sunglasses. "Oh, hey Matt.”
Matt found Alison by the pool and headed over, taking a seat on the next lounger. "How's it going?" He asked, he hadn't really spoken to her since their last unfortunate encounter and they needed to discuss a few things.
This wasn’t going to be a fun conversation. Alison could already tell. She was just ready for all this to be behind her. “What's up?"
"Just came to check on you." His own sunglasses looking perfectly at home by the pool. He didn't wear swim clothes, but he was at least casual in a pair of shorts and a broken-in, button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. "You almost passed out the other day. Did you see a doctor?"
Alison tipped her shades up, looked directly at Matt, then flopped back in her chair. There was only one instance he could have been talking about. "I totally knew it. It was you." Well, mostly. She had a guess. She had been maybe… 60% certain.
Maybe.
"No you didn't," he disagreed, he had heard her heartbeat shift though. That wasn't an exact science, she wasn't entirely lying, even if it only meant that he confirmed her suspicions.
Alison closed her eyes, beneath her sunglasses. "I do now. Thanks again for that, by the way."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Matt replied, "and neither do you." He was a lawyer, he knew how to play things, "You were confused in the attack and then almost passed out. Not sure why you’d imagine I was there. You didn't answer my question though."
"Of course not," Alison agreed. "Even if I did, I wouldn't say anything. The Masked Man saved me, even if I didn't think I needed it at the time.” She paused; trailed off really, replaying that night in her head.
"But yes, I saw a doctor." Well. Technically. Marie-Ange knew what was up, and a trip to the mansion's infirmary confirmed it. "Adrenaline addiction." Alison shrugged. "It's why I haven't been able to sleep recently.”
That did explain it. "There a cure? Or a fix or whatever?" Matt asked, unsure just how to combat something like that. "Or it is like Non-24?"
Alison shrugged. "Dunno, really. In theory, my body will eventually figure things out and lower my adrenaline levels to something more normal. But that could take months, or not happen really all all. Honestly, it's not that big a deal. I didn't pass out because of adrenaline that night. Well, not exactly."
"Will sleeping medication help? Or meds to calm you down?" He wasn't a doctor for good reason and hated taking medication, but Matt had to admit that there were times when he needed it, especially when his Non-24 was acting up and he was backwards.
She grinned at him, then realized she was making a lot of gestures he couldn't see. She shrugged. Then felt really stupid.
"It's helped over the past few days, so here's hoping. The sleeping thing is pretty well covered, though. I've slept great the last few nights. I just have to be careful in high-adrenaline situations.
"That's what happened that night, by the way. I ended up passing out because I hyperventilated. Didn't control my breathing, and well... down I go. Now that I'm aware of it, it shouldn't happen again."
At least, that’s what Dr. Reyes said. Mostly. She was just glad performing took such a strict breathing regiment, or she’d have passed out on stage long before now.
Interesting. "Ever consider meditation?" He asked. Matt did it almost daily and found it helped him quite a bit. "Or yoga? Both have specific breathing patterns to them as well. I use meditation more, but both have helped me focus."
"I hadn't, no..." she trailed off. Now that she was thinking about it, it certainly seemed like a good idea. At the very least, it might prevent her from fainting the next time someone accosted her in an alleyway.
"I'll look into it... I haven't really done yoga in forever, though. Not since I was 14 or so."
"So what, last week?" Matt teased. "I took a class one semester, but I prefer meditating over yoga. Still, whatever works for you."
"Hey!" She fake-pouted at him, and then remembered again that he couldn't see her. So she put all of it into her voice. "That was mean." She let the silence hang for a second. "Besides, I'm terrible at yoga. My manager tried to get me to do it for like a week before he gave up. Turns out the attention span of a 14 year old trumps even old age and treachery. Or something."
Did that make sense? She didn't think that made sense. That metaphor got away from her a little bit. Still, maybe she should pick up yoga again? Little older, little less prone to falling asleep due to boredom...
"And you tried it three years ago," Matt pointed out, "you're not the same person. It might not work, but thinking you were terrible at something when you're 14 isn't the same as actually being terrible at it," he paused thinking back to being 14. You know what? He did not need to repeat that time of his life. Nope.
"You know, it's funny. I was just thinking the same thing."
"Great minds," Matt agreed. "Anyways. You're here to explore yourself and reinvent who you want to be, right? Do it. Try new stuff."
That sounded like a good idea. "Yeah... you're right. I'll definitely have to see about making it happen again. I wonder if my old teacher is still around?" She'd been nice. A little weird, but nice.
"I thought you were trying new things?" Matt teased. "Old teacher, old tricks."
"Well, in that case, um…” she trailed off. “How can I get in touch with you again? But I mean… the… other? you." Was that how she wanted to phrase it? What was she even doing? Oh this was going to end poorly. But hey, both feet, right?
Fishing a cell phone from his pocket, a burner phone he had specifically for his alter-ego, Matt handed it to her. "Put your number in here," he instructed. There weren't many names or numbers in it, the first was labeled 'A,' followed by ‘C,’ 'LB,' 'SM,' and 'Nurse'.
Well. That was certainly easier than she thought it was going to be. She was expecting... well. "You're not even going to ask why?" she asked, idly taking a half second to punch her own information in under the name 'AB'.
"Nope," Matt answered cheerily, "I figure, if you call it, you have a reason. I won't call you." Not from this phone anyways. He could from his personal phone.
Oh. Well. "Okay then…” She stuck her tongue out, concentrating. She’d feel better knowing she had a way to reach him. Both versions of him.
”Done!" Oh well. He didn't want to know? He could find out later. "Here's your phone back," and she let amusement tinge her voice.
Taking his phone and pocketing it again, he smiled, "Then feel better and I'll see you around, Alison. Stay out of trouble."
"I always do," Alison said, watching him go.
...once she was certain he was completely out of earshot, Alison quickly pulled out her own phone and inserted the only number she'd managed to memorize from Matt's, the one marked 'LB', before she forgot it. She marked it with a note of 'SUPER EMERGENCY ONLY' in all caps. She had no idea who’s it was, but after that night… she didn’t want to be without a direct line to help again. "I always do..."
Better safe than sorry, at least.
Alison had taken to relaxing by the pool, thinking. Her most recent trip out with Marie-Ange had been interesting. Marie-Ange seemed to know what had been up with her recently, and there had been discussion on the topic between stores. It wasn't the happiest news, but it was something she could live with.
She was under strict orders (enforced by the terrifying horror of a threat of forced doctors visit) to take it easy for the next few days. No trips to New York for her until it was cleared by Doc Reyes. So lounging by the pool in her oversized shades it was.
It wouldn't be such a bad way to spend a day, really, if her system wasn't flooded with adrenaline constantly. According to Dr. Reyes, her adrenaline levels were astronomical, even while resting. As a result, she was always anxious and energized.
She heard someone approach, and looked out over her sunglasses. "Oh, hey Matt.”
Matt found Alison by the pool and headed over, taking a seat on the next lounger. "How's it going?" He asked, he hadn't really spoken to her since their last unfortunate encounter and they needed to discuss a few things.
This wasn’t going to be a fun conversation. Alison could already tell. She was just ready for all this to be behind her. “What's up?"
"Just came to check on you." His own sunglasses looking perfectly at home by the pool. He didn't wear swim clothes, but he was at least casual in a pair of shorts and a broken-in, button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. "You almost passed out the other day. Did you see a doctor?"
Alison tipped her shades up, looked directly at Matt, then flopped back in her chair. There was only one instance he could have been talking about. "I totally knew it. It was you." Well, mostly. She had a guess. She had been maybe… 60% certain.
Maybe.
"No you didn't," he disagreed, he had heard her heartbeat shift though. That wasn't an exact science, she wasn't entirely lying, even if it only meant that he confirmed her suspicions.
Alison closed her eyes, beneath her sunglasses. "I do now. Thanks again for that, by the way."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Matt replied, "and neither do you." He was a lawyer, he knew how to play things, "You were confused in the attack and then almost passed out. Not sure why you’d imagine I was there. You didn't answer my question though."
"Of course not," Alison agreed. "Even if I did, I wouldn't say anything. The Masked Man saved me, even if I didn't think I needed it at the time.” She paused; trailed off really, replaying that night in her head.
"But yes, I saw a doctor." Well. Technically. Marie-Ange knew what was up, and a trip to the mansion's infirmary confirmed it. "Adrenaline addiction." Alison shrugged. "It's why I haven't been able to sleep recently.”
That did explain it. "There a cure? Or a fix or whatever?" Matt asked, unsure just how to combat something like that. "Or it is like Non-24?"
Alison shrugged. "Dunno, really. In theory, my body will eventually figure things out and lower my adrenaline levels to something more normal. But that could take months, or not happen really all all. Honestly, it's not that big a deal. I didn't pass out because of adrenaline that night. Well, not exactly."
"Will sleeping medication help? Or meds to calm you down?" He wasn't a doctor for good reason and hated taking medication, but Matt had to admit that there were times when he needed it, especially when his Non-24 was acting up and he was backwards.
She grinned at him, then realized she was making a lot of gestures he couldn't see. She shrugged. Then felt really stupid.
"It's helped over the past few days, so here's hoping. The sleeping thing is pretty well covered, though. I've slept great the last few nights. I just have to be careful in high-adrenaline situations.
"That's what happened that night, by the way. I ended up passing out because I hyperventilated. Didn't control my breathing, and well... down I go. Now that I'm aware of it, it shouldn't happen again."
At least, that’s what Dr. Reyes said. Mostly. She was just glad performing took such a strict breathing regiment, or she’d have passed out on stage long before now.
Interesting. "Ever consider meditation?" He asked. Matt did it almost daily and found it helped him quite a bit. "Or yoga? Both have specific breathing patterns to them as well. I use meditation more, but both have helped me focus."
"I hadn't, no..." she trailed off. Now that she was thinking about it, it certainly seemed like a good idea. At the very least, it might prevent her from fainting the next time someone accosted her in an alleyway.
"I'll look into it... I haven't really done yoga in forever, though. Not since I was 14 or so."
"So what, last week?" Matt teased. "I took a class one semester, but I prefer meditating over yoga. Still, whatever works for you."
"Hey!" She fake-pouted at him, and then remembered again that he couldn't see her. So she put all of it into her voice. "That was mean." She let the silence hang for a second. "Besides, I'm terrible at yoga. My manager tried to get me to do it for like a week before he gave up. Turns out the attention span of a 14 year old trumps even old age and treachery. Or something."
Did that make sense? She didn't think that made sense. That metaphor got away from her a little bit. Still, maybe she should pick up yoga again? Little older, little less prone to falling asleep due to boredom...
"And you tried it three years ago," Matt pointed out, "you're not the same person. It might not work, but thinking you were terrible at something when you're 14 isn't the same as actually being terrible at it," he paused thinking back to being 14. You know what? He did not need to repeat that time of his life. Nope.
"You know, it's funny. I was just thinking the same thing."
"Great minds," Matt agreed. "Anyways. You're here to explore yourself and reinvent who you want to be, right? Do it. Try new stuff."
That sounded like a good idea. "Yeah... you're right. I'll definitely have to see about making it happen again. I wonder if my old teacher is still around?" She'd been nice. A little weird, but nice.
"I thought you were trying new things?" Matt teased. "Old teacher, old tricks."
"Well, in that case, um…” she trailed off. “How can I get in touch with you again? But I mean… the… other? you." Was that how she wanted to phrase it? What was she even doing? Oh this was going to end poorly. But hey, both feet, right?
Fishing a cell phone from his pocket, a burner phone he had specifically for his alter-ego, Matt handed it to her. "Put your number in here," he instructed. There weren't many names or numbers in it, the first was labeled 'A,' followed by ‘C,’ 'LB,' 'SM,' and 'Nurse'.
Well. That was certainly easier than she thought it was going to be. She was expecting... well. "You're not even going to ask why?" she asked, idly taking a half second to punch her own information in under the name 'AB'.
"Nope," Matt answered cheerily, "I figure, if you call it, you have a reason. I won't call you." Not from this phone anyways. He could from his personal phone.
Oh. Well. "Okay then…” She stuck her tongue out, concentrating. She’d feel better knowing she had a way to reach him. Both versions of him.
”Done!" Oh well. He didn't want to know? He could find out later. "Here's your phone back," and she let amusement tinge her voice.
Taking his phone and pocketing it again, he smiled, "Then feel better and I'll see you around, Alison. Stay out of trouble."
"I always do," Alison said, watching him go.
...once she was certain he was completely out of earshot, Alison quickly pulled out her own phone and inserted the only number she'd managed to memorize from Matt's, the one marked 'LB', before she forgot it. She marked it with a note of 'SUPER EMERGENCY ONLY' in all caps. She had no idea who’s it was, but after that night… she didn’t want to be without a direct line to help again. "I always do..."
Better safe than sorry, at least.
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