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xp_logsMiles finds Maya holding vigil at the former site of the Askew World portal.
Maya glared out at the oval where she'd first seen the kid who'd led her to the other world - a place Topaz and Amanda had explained was like a bubble just slightly to the left of theirs.
Of course, there's also been talk of shielding - something to protect her from her will subjugated again. There'd been a lot of words, and mentions of contacting her Grandfather. Frankly, she'd have preferred to hide the complete fuck up but it didn't look like she was going to be given a choice in the matter.
Snow still covered the Bayville campus. A thin layer, not much, but enough to keep most students from spending their free time outside. Under no circumstances would Miles Morales — or for that matter, any of the students at Xavier's — be considered "most" students, though. Definitely not after their trip to an alternate world to save a bunch of teenagers abducted by some actual living urban myth.
This excursion was the reason Miles had come outside, too, the snow crunching under his feet as he made his way to the small clearing where the portal had been. He was no magic expert, but if there was any chance of the portal reopening, then his spider-sense would pick it up. And he'd be ready this time.
While Maya always wore the outer parts of her implants while at school, she still had difficulty hearing anything that wasn't directly and clearly said to her.
Thus it wasn't until she turned around to head back that she noted Miles's presence.
"You don't want to be here," Maya warned him, uncertain right now if the places the Slender children had inhabited were really sealed off. "I mean, it's not safe and all."
"Maybe you shouldn't be out here, either, then," Miles suggested mildly, though he knew that even in the best of times, neither of them would withdraw just because the other said to. "I heard about what happened on Friday. I just wanted to come see it for myself. Are you okay?"
"Glad we sorted that out then," Maya replied, giving him a wry smile. "And okay depends on what position your viewing it from. I'd say from the point of view of one of our classmates, I'm just fine."
"And from your own point of view?" Miles countered. "I mean, you hardly care what other people think, right? So." He offered her a small smile to show he meant the comment in good humor.
"I'm Captain Kirk watching Spock die," Maya replied softly - her expression almost anguished. "Only there's no Genesis planet because we blew it up."
"Huh. I did not take you for a Trekkie." Miles casually walked up to her, hands at his side as if to show he meant no harm. There was no telling how she'd interpret his presence, if he would trigger something. An absolute worst-case scenario, he realized, but really, last Friday had itself been a worst-case scenario. "Sorry I wasn't there with you guys," he half-lied. "I don't know if I could've helped, but . . ."
She eyed him suspiciously, something about the way he moved was familiar but she had to take a moment to realise it must just be her memories pinging off other times she'd seen him at the mansion. She watched people a lot, it was better then talking to them most days, less chance of them making her angry and then it always went downhill from there.
"Why? What could you have done that any of the others couldn't?" she asked finally, glaring at him before turning back to stare at the clearing. “And I'm not a 'Trekkie', if I'm anything, I'm a 'Trekker'."
Miles shrugged. "I dunno. Another person there maybe could've helped things be done more quickly. Maybe Rahne wouldn't've had to punch you in the face to get you out." He shrugged again. "Everyone's losing their minds about these monsters that smell like old eggs. I don't like to see my friends so upset, you know?"
"I didn't smell anything," Maya responded, but then she supposed she'd been unconscious at the time. "I guess Rahne feels pretty badly about that?"
Maya hadn't talked to her suite mate yet - it wasn't out of fear or anger, she simply didn't know how to get across that she didn't care. Rahne had done something necessary to their survival, but there was also the...small longing to go back. She'd been told it would fade over time and distance.
Right now it was quite strong.
He shrugged again. "I haven't really seen her much. I guess she's still pretty freaked out. Bobby told me most of what happened." There, that should satisfy the unasked question without incriminating himself. "If you wanna talk about it . . ."
"What would be the point?" Maya replied bitterly. "Talking doesn't change any of the facts, and it wouldn't take back the fact Rahne had to attack me."
"It's not about changing anything. Just, you know, sometimes talking makes you feel better. Helps process things. I dunno. Just saying." He turned his head to look at where the portal had been and his vision briefly went gray, as if he had been quickly shunted back to the joyless mirror world. A trick of the mind, he reasoned, but that didn't stop the shudder from running down his back. "I'll leave you alone if you'd rather . . ."
“Do you normally leave vulnerable people to their own devices?” Maya asked, raising on eyebrow at him. “Not particularly heroic of you, is it?”
She was being an arsehole – she knew she was, and even though she knew it, the desire to somehow break Miles was strong. Why should he be okay when she never was?
Except…was that really what she wanted? Haller had asked her to think about what she really wanted, and she did try. Sometimes that was harder said than done.
“Sorry. I meant, I’d like you not to leave.” Maya quickly explained, raising a hand as if it would stop him from simply walking away. “I’m not always good at not being an arsehole, and that is an excuse but it’s also a reason and I’m trying. I’m sorry, anyway.”
"It's not that hard," Miles muttered. But he let it go. He had no energy to be mad at her. "So does Topaz or Amanda know why the Slendermen" — he still couldn't believe he was talking about this meme like it was real — "got you so good but not anyone else?"
“And you’d know, how?” Maya demanded, glaring at him for a moment before getting her irritation under control. “They’re working on it, we’re not entirely sure why yet – something to do with magic and the fact I can sense spirits and I’m more…here for them than other people are.”
"Is this the first time you've, you know, sensed spirits or whatever?" Miles asked, waggling his fingers in spooky emphasis. "Nothing seemed to happen to Stephen or Clea, and they're the actual magical types. At least that's what Bobby said."
“No,” Maya responded, looking around at the woods surrounding them, a smile finally gracing her features – it made her seem almost approachable. “I can sense the forest right now, sort of, and it feels uneasy but it’s starting to go to sleep again. Most of the time I don’t sense anything unless there’s something wrong. My mėšémé is a Shaman, he sees more clearly than I do, I think Topaz and Amanda are trying to get in touch with him now.”
Miles blinked. "Your who is a what now?
“My Grandfather is a…I’m not sure what term you’d understand. He walks the healer’s path, and is strong in his self,” Maya replied, trying to explain what had always simply been to her. “I’m not so strong, I’ve never had to be before.”
The extent of Miles's shamanic knowledge ended with his orc in World of Warcraft, and he thought better of bringing out any of those references when talking about someone's real cultural background. "So he can help I guess dispel whatever's still lingering with you?"
“If there’s anything still lingering, yes,” Maya replied, giving Miles another, more searching look. “So why is all this so important to you? Most people don’t take it on themselves to come guard a random clearing in the middle of the woods, and they especially don’t do it when weird, crazy stuff has happened there. Aren’t you afraid?”
"Maybe you should look up 'sympathy' in the dictionary." The retort came out sharper than it sounded in Miles's head, but he wasn't here for his good intentions to be questioned. "I care that a bunch of my friends" — he emphasized the word — "are hurting and I want them to not hurt. Even if I was scared, which I'm not, I'd get over it for your sake. And Bobby's and Rahne's and Nica's and everyone else."
“I’m your friend?”
It was not what she’d been expecting, and she stared at him in confusion for a moment, and not a little bit of surprise. Nica seemed to like her, although it was still too early to tell if she’d be able to tolerate Maya once she had to live with her. But she’d not thought that anyone else at the mansion might actually be able to get past, well, basically everything.
"I'm everyone's friend," Miles said, not a little bit proud that he'd managed to stun her, "Because I'm such a nice, fun, good-looking, smart person. Also I think I might legit be allergic to people not getting along."
“I might give you good looking, fun will need to be tested,” Maya replied, a smile like a particularly bright lightbulb suddenly gracing her mouth. “I don’t think they’ll come back through here, if it helps. The woods wouldn’t be going back to sleep otherwise.”
He almost needed sunglasses. "You forgot nice and smart," he admonished her. "But that's good. No more kids being kidnapped. They should all be safe now."
“I prefer kind to nice – nice is just lying with a smile,” Maya replied with a shrug. “Come on, let’s show how smart both of us are and go back in, you can buy me an ice cream.”
"Oh, I can, can I?"
Maya glared out at the oval where she'd first seen the kid who'd led her to the other world - a place Topaz and Amanda had explained was like a bubble just slightly to the left of theirs.
Of course, there's also been talk of shielding - something to protect her from her will subjugated again. There'd been a lot of words, and mentions of contacting her Grandfather. Frankly, she'd have preferred to hide the complete fuck up but it didn't look like she was going to be given a choice in the matter.
Snow still covered the Bayville campus. A thin layer, not much, but enough to keep most students from spending their free time outside. Under no circumstances would Miles Morales — or for that matter, any of the students at Xavier's — be considered "most" students, though. Definitely not after their trip to an alternate world to save a bunch of teenagers abducted by some actual living urban myth.
This excursion was the reason Miles had come outside, too, the snow crunching under his feet as he made his way to the small clearing where the portal had been. He was no magic expert, but if there was any chance of the portal reopening, then his spider-sense would pick it up. And he'd be ready this time.
While Maya always wore the outer parts of her implants while at school, she still had difficulty hearing anything that wasn't directly and clearly said to her.
Thus it wasn't until she turned around to head back that she noted Miles's presence.
"You don't want to be here," Maya warned him, uncertain right now if the places the Slender children had inhabited were really sealed off. "I mean, it's not safe and all."
"Maybe you shouldn't be out here, either, then," Miles suggested mildly, though he knew that even in the best of times, neither of them would withdraw just because the other said to. "I heard about what happened on Friday. I just wanted to come see it for myself. Are you okay?"
"Glad we sorted that out then," Maya replied, giving him a wry smile. "And okay depends on what position your viewing it from. I'd say from the point of view of one of our classmates, I'm just fine."
"And from your own point of view?" Miles countered. "I mean, you hardly care what other people think, right? So." He offered her a small smile to show he meant the comment in good humor.
"I'm Captain Kirk watching Spock die," Maya replied softly - her expression almost anguished. "Only there's no Genesis planet because we blew it up."
"Huh. I did not take you for a Trekkie." Miles casually walked up to her, hands at his side as if to show he meant no harm. There was no telling how she'd interpret his presence, if he would trigger something. An absolute worst-case scenario, he realized, but really, last Friday had itself been a worst-case scenario. "Sorry I wasn't there with you guys," he half-lied. "I don't know if I could've helped, but . . ."
She eyed him suspiciously, something about the way he moved was familiar but she had to take a moment to realise it must just be her memories pinging off other times she'd seen him at the mansion. She watched people a lot, it was better then talking to them most days, less chance of them making her angry and then it always went downhill from there.
"Why? What could you have done that any of the others couldn't?" she asked finally, glaring at him before turning back to stare at the clearing. “And I'm not a 'Trekkie', if I'm anything, I'm a 'Trekker'."
Miles shrugged. "I dunno. Another person there maybe could've helped things be done more quickly. Maybe Rahne wouldn't've had to punch you in the face to get you out." He shrugged again. "Everyone's losing their minds about these monsters that smell like old eggs. I don't like to see my friends so upset, you know?"
"I didn't smell anything," Maya responded, but then she supposed she'd been unconscious at the time. "I guess Rahne feels pretty badly about that?"
Maya hadn't talked to her suite mate yet - it wasn't out of fear or anger, she simply didn't know how to get across that she didn't care. Rahne had done something necessary to their survival, but there was also the...small longing to go back. She'd been told it would fade over time and distance.
Right now it was quite strong.
He shrugged again. "I haven't really seen her much. I guess she's still pretty freaked out. Bobby told me most of what happened." There, that should satisfy the unasked question without incriminating himself. "If you wanna talk about it . . ."
"What would be the point?" Maya replied bitterly. "Talking doesn't change any of the facts, and it wouldn't take back the fact Rahne had to attack me."
"It's not about changing anything. Just, you know, sometimes talking makes you feel better. Helps process things. I dunno. Just saying." He turned his head to look at where the portal had been and his vision briefly went gray, as if he had been quickly shunted back to the joyless mirror world. A trick of the mind, he reasoned, but that didn't stop the shudder from running down his back. "I'll leave you alone if you'd rather . . ."
“Do you normally leave vulnerable people to their own devices?” Maya asked, raising on eyebrow at him. “Not particularly heroic of you, is it?”
She was being an arsehole – she knew she was, and even though she knew it, the desire to somehow break Miles was strong. Why should he be okay when she never was?
Except…was that really what she wanted? Haller had asked her to think about what she really wanted, and she did try. Sometimes that was harder said than done.
“Sorry. I meant, I’d like you not to leave.” Maya quickly explained, raising a hand as if it would stop him from simply walking away. “I’m not always good at not being an arsehole, and that is an excuse but it’s also a reason and I’m trying. I’m sorry, anyway.”
"It's not that hard," Miles muttered. But he let it go. He had no energy to be mad at her. "So does Topaz or Amanda know why the Slendermen" — he still couldn't believe he was talking about this meme like it was real — "got you so good but not anyone else?"
“And you’d know, how?” Maya demanded, glaring at him for a moment before getting her irritation under control. “They’re working on it, we’re not entirely sure why yet – something to do with magic and the fact I can sense spirits and I’m more…here for them than other people are.”
"Is this the first time you've, you know, sensed spirits or whatever?" Miles asked, waggling his fingers in spooky emphasis. "Nothing seemed to happen to Stephen or Clea, and they're the actual magical types. At least that's what Bobby said."
“No,” Maya responded, looking around at the woods surrounding them, a smile finally gracing her features – it made her seem almost approachable. “I can sense the forest right now, sort of, and it feels uneasy but it’s starting to go to sleep again. Most of the time I don’t sense anything unless there’s something wrong. My mėšémé is a Shaman, he sees more clearly than I do, I think Topaz and Amanda are trying to get in touch with him now.”
Miles blinked. "Your who is a what now?
“My Grandfather is a…I’m not sure what term you’d understand. He walks the healer’s path, and is strong in his self,” Maya replied, trying to explain what had always simply been to her. “I’m not so strong, I’ve never had to be before.”
The extent of Miles's shamanic knowledge ended with his orc in World of Warcraft, and he thought better of bringing out any of those references when talking about someone's real cultural background. "So he can help I guess dispel whatever's still lingering with you?"
“If there’s anything still lingering, yes,” Maya replied, giving Miles another, more searching look. “So why is all this so important to you? Most people don’t take it on themselves to come guard a random clearing in the middle of the woods, and they especially don’t do it when weird, crazy stuff has happened there. Aren’t you afraid?”
"Maybe you should look up 'sympathy' in the dictionary." The retort came out sharper than it sounded in Miles's head, but he wasn't here for his good intentions to be questioned. "I care that a bunch of my friends" — he emphasized the word — "are hurting and I want them to not hurt. Even if I was scared, which I'm not, I'd get over it for your sake. And Bobby's and Rahne's and Nica's and everyone else."
“I’m your friend?”
It was not what she’d been expecting, and she stared at him in confusion for a moment, and not a little bit of surprise. Nica seemed to like her, although it was still too early to tell if she’d be able to tolerate Maya once she had to live with her. But she’d not thought that anyone else at the mansion might actually be able to get past, well, basically everything.
"I'm everyone's friend," Miles said, not a little bit proud that he'd managed to stun her, "Because I'm such a nice, fun, good-looking, smart person. Also I think I might legit be allergic to people not getting along."
“I might give you good looking, fun will need to be tested,” Maya replied, a smile like a particularly bright lightbulb suddenly gracing her mouth. “I don’t think they’ll come back through here, if it helps. The woods wouldn’t be going back to sleep otherwise.”
He almost needed sunglasses. "You forgot nice and smart," he admonished her. "But that's good. No more kids being kidnapped. They should all be safe now."
“I prefer kind to nice – nice is just lying with a smile,” Maya replied with a shrug. “Come on, let’s show how smart both of us are and go back in, you can buy me an ice cream.”
"Oh, I can, can I?"
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