![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_adrienne posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsEmma gives both Tandy and Garrison some time with Adrienne on the astral plane before essentially shutting Adrienne's brain down.
For their meeting on the astral plane, Emma had constructed for Adrienne and Tandy a replica of the Meridian board room. Adrienne was grateful for that. It was easier to stay professional when they were sitting in the board room.
~Hey, Starlet,~ Adrienne said with a smile when Tandy's avatar was brought into the meeting room. ~Did Emma or Garrison tell you what's going on?~
Could astral avatar's cry? Tandy wasn't sure but she felt like she was. ~Yes. A bit. Emma mentioned that she had to shut you down. Power overload of some kind.~
~Basically,~ Adrienne confirmed, sitting down at the head of the conference table and gesturing for Tandy to take her usual seat at her right hand. ~I think it's something like, that kid's power is to amplify other peoples' powers? So for me that means Reading everything, even dust. And not just with my fingertips. Any particle that touches my skin. That in itself might be manageable with a special suit like Rogue's, to make it so nothing else touches me, but because I also get the history of whatever touches me, the images aren't stopping. I can't function this way.~ It was hard to admit that she couldn't carry on, couldn't fight through it, but she wasn't going to hide the truth from Tandy. ~It's going to be... like a coma, I guess.~
Tandy drifted over and took a seat next to Adrienne. She listened and hesitated with her next question, fearing the answer. ~How long?~
Taking a deep breath and blowing it out again, Adrienne shrugged. ~Until the smarty-pantses here at Muir figure out how to stop it,~ she responded wanly.
Her lip began to tremble, ~But, you are my favorite adult. What is going to happen to your company? To the XFI?~
Adrienne stared intently at the desk. She couldn't look at Tandy. If Tandy started crying, Adrienne would start to cry. And no one wanted that. She didn't want to talk about Meridian, either. Not right now. ~XFI will be fine. Warren'll be fine. Don't tell him I said that.~ Except... ~Okay, fine. Do tell him I said that. Tell him I said that I know the cool boss will do a... good job, and that if the business tanks I'm holding him entirely responsible. Fuck.~ She huffed out an exasperated breath. ~I said I wasn't gonna do this. This 'tell so-and-so this from me' crap. That's not me. I don't do goodbyes.~
~Everyone needs a little closer before they go away for a little bit. And it isn't forever. Amanda will think of something. Professor X will think of something. And then you will be back and we can go for sushi again. I'll even buy you tickets to Taylor Swift.~ Tandy said, wiping at her eyes.
~I think you mean closure,~ Adrienne smirked, glancing over at Tandy. ~And I'm gonna hold you to that. I don't know what's up with her shenanigans on twitter, but you know it's gonna be something good.~
~Yeah, that.~ Her brain and mouth were no longer syncing up. ~I'll send you all her new songs~ And then Tandy couldn't help it as she started to cry ~I am sorry, I told myself i wouldn't~
~Don't don't don't don't aw fuck.~ Adrienne wiped at her own eyes and pulled Tandy in for a hug. ~You're the worst.~
~That is because I learned from the best.~ She gave Adrienne a tight hug. It was like losing another parent and Tandy knew about losing parents. ~Please come back okay.~
~That's the plan,~ Adrienne responded after choking back a sob. ~But until then, you're my heir, you know that, right?~ She straightened up. If she stayed in the hug, she'd never be able to stop crying. ~It's all legal and shit. I'm in a medically induced coma. Emma has power of attorney over my medical... stuff, but you have power of attorney over my money, and the shares in Meridian. And my proxy with the board. They're going to have to nominate a new CEO.~
Tandy nodded, ~I'll keep a good watch.~ This really felt like it was goodbye forever. Wiping at her eyes again, ~I am sorry. I feel like if I didn't invite you and Garrison to the shelter, none of this would had happened.~
~Oh, Christ,~ Adrienne scoffed, tossing her head. ~Don't do that. We're not playing that game. You didn't force us to go to the shelter. We go there all the time. This isn't your fault. It's not that mutant's fault. And you know I'm not putting the blame on myself,~ she chuckled, ~cuz I never do anything wrong. I hate being fatalistic, but this is just something that happened. It's just the next shitty thing in the neverending lineup of shitty things that happen to us, and the people we know.~ She took Tandy by the shoulders to emphasize her next point. ~The thing to remember is that, no matter what shitty thing is happening, it alwa... almost always works out. Someone we know always saves the day. These brainiacs are going to fix this, at some point. It just might take them a while. But it's going to happen. So you'd better make sure I'm still filthy fucking rich when I'm back.~
Tandy nodded and by the end of Adrienne's last sentence she was smiling a bit. ~You got it.~ It wasn't her fault, but she couldn't help that she was involved in someway. If she did something better, maybe it would had been different. Wiping away at her eyes again, ~I'll make sure your properties are taken care off as well.~
~Thanks, Starlet.~ The boardroom around them wavered and flickered. Time was up. ~I think Emma's gonna punt you out of here and bring Garrison in for some mushy stuff,~ Adrienne told Tandy, wrinkling her nose. ~So I guess this is it for now. Stay out of trouble, hey?~
-What kind of ward would I be if I stayed out trouble.~ Tandy gave her one final hug, ~Don't keep my waiting for too long.~ Before pulling away and wiped away a tear.
Emma had built them a nice little place to meet on the astral plane. She'd pulled out all the stops. It was a perfect replica of the stadium at Fort Meyers, one of the places that meant the most to Adrienne, because it would always make her think of Garrison. The diamond was perfect, the weather was perfect, the fans in the seats were perfect. They weren't authentic baseball fans- Emma had dressed them all in haute couture. Several of the designers and models Adrienne had idolized growing up were in the seats. The food vendors were from Garrison's favourite restaurants. And the players... Adrienne didn't think Emma knew anything about baseball, but she'd gathered avatars of some Red Sox and Blue Jays greats throughout history in a wacky Field-Of-Dreams-esque tableau.
In a way, Emma's attention to making this the perfect place for the two of them, while an incredibly kind and loving gesture, just made this whole thing stand out even more as the nightmare situation it was. Fuck.
~Hey,~ Adrienne said when Emma had opened up the place for Garrison's avatar to come through ~Nice outfit.~
~Hey.~ He wasn't surprised he was in his red serge. Adrienne had always appreciated when he had needed to go out in his uniform. ~This is... some ballpark right now. Interesting group cheering on Pedro right now.~
Adrienne gave a wan smile as she turned to look at the crowd. This was great. She didn't have to look at him if she was looking at the crowd. She didn't want to look at him, or she knew she'd lose the painstakingly constructed barriers she'd put up around herself. ~Yeah. Emma knows how to send someone off in style.~
~Don't say that. Moira's people are the best in the world. She said it herself. Your powers could correct themselves tomorrow on their own."
~They could,~ Adrienne agreed, still smiling sadly as she watched Pedro strike out Joe Carter. Garrison's inherent optimism was one of the things she loved most about him. ~And then maybe I'd be able to actually Read dust. That would be pretty fun. I'd be the greatest detective ever to walk the earth.~
~Yeah. And even if not, Moira's bound to find a solution. I think your sister got a little surprised when she vowed to spend whatever it took to get the best minds on your case, only to be told that they already had the best mind on it. It was kind of sweet.~ Willie Upshaw was coming to the plate. He didn't expect that kind of detail. ~They can't use a nullifer on you, because the input has also jacked up your nervous system. I guess the potential complications are... well, let's just leave it at they can't. But this crowd knows more about mutant powers than any. I figured I could help rope in some of the geniuses at the school, become a kind of go-between for your case-~
~-Please don't do that,~ she interjected, finally turning to face him. She bit her lip to help keep the emotion out of her voice. ~I... I don't want you to do that. Spend all your time on this. Don't get me wrong,~ she added with a smirk, turning back to the ball game, ~it's pretty fucking flattering. Having all these people spending all this time on me, giving me their attention. It's what I've wanted all my life. But... not you. I don't want you getting obsessed with this. I don't want this to consume you.~
~Hey babe, we're a team. We'll get through this.~ Garrison said, his jaw clenched. ~You know better than to think I'd just walk away.~
Adrienne fiddled with the lighter- or the astral projection of one, she supposed- in her pocket. ~That's what worries me. That... if the brainiacs here can't figure something out... that you're going to hang on so long and... I don't know... miss out on living. I don't want you to do that. I...~ She huffed out a nervous breath. This was such unfamiliar emotional territory, and she loathed even thinking it, but she knew she had to say it. ~I want you to know it's okay. If you move on. I mean, not right away, obviously-~
~You want to break up if they can't find a cure in a timely fashion? C'mon Adri...~ Kane huffed, slumping back in his seat. Maybe he was trying to ignore the fact that it might take years if at all to cure her, but they'd been through so much together. They'd lost each other before. So do it willingly?
~Hey, I'm trying to be noble here! C'mon!~ she chuckled wryly. ~And I'm not saying we break up. Believe me. You'd better not find anyone who actually means anything to you, cuz when I'm cured we're carrying on as we have been. We didn't both work so damned hard on this thing to scrap it. I'm just saying...~ What was she saying? ~I... I want you to be... happy?~ Wait, why did that sound like a question? ~Yeah. I guess that's what I'm saying. I want you to be happy. And if that means... y'know... whatever it means. I can deal with it. I will deal with it. We can deal with anything, is I guess what I'm trying to say?~
~You know how other couples fight about stupid shit? I think that's our next goal: fighting about stupid shit instead of you stuck in a mysterious powers coma while we trying to figure out if it should be an open relationship.~ He rubbed his face with his hands, distraught enough to miss Ted Williams stroll to the plate. ~Alright, I'm not going to martyr myself... but I'm not giving up on you either, babe. Which means you need to fight like hell in here to get control over this. After all, we already have Spring Training tickets for 2018.~
His last three sentences finally broke her, and she buried her head in his shoulder in an unsuccessful attempt to muffle a sob.
~Hey, you and me, babe.~ Kane said, resting his forehead on the back of her head. ~You and me.~
~I am going to fight this,~ she promised, still against his shoulder. ~Harder than I've fought for anything. And, christ. I've fought for lots of things. But I love you more than anything else. And when I beat this I'll actually say it out loud. Probably. Maybe even where other people can hear it.~
~Damn right. We're wearing out the padding on the sound proofed fun room as is.~ The images around them started to flicker. Emma had warned them there wouldn't be a lot of time.
~More incentive to fight,~ Adrienne smirked, pulling back from the embrace to watch the flickering. ~The first day I met you,~ she began with a sly grin, ~you were pining for a woman, hiding in your room listening to Air Supply, driving everyone crazy. Promise me you're going to torture them even worse this time?~
~I have the Greatest Hits album now.~ Kane grinned. ~And then you showed up in the damn Boiler Beach in a bikini and that was that.~
~Well, you showed up with beer and a ball game on tv,~ Adrienne grinned. She forced herself to keep smiling even when the images flickered again, then disappeared, leaving them alone in the vast white expanse of the astral plane. ~I love you. Keep a beer cold for me. And use my box at Fenway. You can even cheer for the Jays. Just don't have sex with anyone else in there.~
For their meeting on the astral plane, Emma had constructed for Adrienne and Tandy a replica of the Meridian board room. Adrienne was grateful for that. It was easier to stay professional when they were sitting in the board room.
~Hey, Starlet,~ Adrienne said with a smile when Tandy's avatar was brought into the meeting room. ~Did Emma or Garrison tell you what's going on?~
Could astral avatar's cry? Tandy wasn't sure but she felt like she was. ~Yes. A bit. Emma mentioned that she had to shut you down. Power overload of some kind.~
~Basically,~ Adrienne confirmed, sitting down at the head of the conference table and gesturing for Tandy to take her usual seat at her right hand. ~I think it's something like, that kid's power is to amplify other peoples' powers? So for me that means Reading everything, even dust. And not just with my fingertips. Any particle that touches my skin. That in itself might be manageable with a special suit like Rogue's, to make it so nothing else touches me, but because I also get the history of whatever touches me, the images aren't stopping. I can't function this way.~ It was hard to admit that she couldn't carry on, couldn't fight through it, but she wasn't going to hide the truth from Tandy. ~It's going to be... like a coma, I guess.~
Tandy drifted over and took a seat next to Adrienne. She listened and hesitated with her next question, fearing the answer. ~How long?~
Taking a deep breath and blowing it out again, Adrienne shrugged. ~Until the smarty-pantses here at Muir figure out how to stop it,~ she responded wanly.
Her lip began to tremble, ~But, you are my favorite adult. What is going to happen to your company? To the XFI?~
Adrienne stared intently at the desk. She couldn't look at Tandy. If Tandy started crying, Adrienne would start to cry. And no one wanted that. She didn't want to talk about Meridian, either. Not right now. ~XFI will be fine. Warren'll be fine. Don't tell him I said that.~ Except... ~Okay, fine. Do tell him I said that. Tell him I said that I know the cool boss will do a... good job, and that if the business tanks I'm holding him entirely responsible. Fuck.~ She huffed out an exasperated breath. ~I said I wasn't gonna do this. This 'tell so-and-so this from me' crap. That's not me. I don't do goodbyes.~
~Everyone needs a little closer before they go away for a little bit. And it isn't forever. Amanda will think of something. Professor X will think of something. And then you will be back and we can go for sushi again. I'll even buy you tickets to Taylor Swift.~ Tandy said, wiping at her eyes.
~I think you mean closure,~ Adrienne smirked, glancing over at Tandy. ~And I'm gonna hold you to that. I don't know what's up with her shenanigans on twitter, but you know it's gonna be something good.~
~Yeah, that.~ Her brain and mouth were no longer syncing up. ~I'll send you all her new songs~ And then Tandy couldn't help it as she started to cry ~I am sorry, I told myself i wouldn't~
~Don't don't don't don't aw fuck.~ Adrienne wiped at her own eyes and pulled Tandy in for a hug. ~You're the worst.~
~That is because I learned from the best.~ She gave Adrienne a tight hug. It was like losing another parent and Tandy knew about losing parents. ~Please come back okay.~
~That's the plan,~ Adrienne responded after choking back a sob. ~But until then, you're my heir, you know that, right?~ She straightened up. If she stayed in the hug, she'd never be able to stop crying. ~It's all legal and shit. I'm in a medically induced coma. Emma has power of attorney over my medical... stuff, but you have power of attorney over my money, and the shares in Meridian. And my proxy with the board. They're going to have to nominate a new CEO.~
Tandy nodded, ~I'll keep a good watch.~ This really felt like it was goodbye forever. Wiping at her eyes again, ~I am sorry. I feel like if I didn't invite you and Garrison to the shelter, none of this would had happened.~
~Oh, Christ,~ Adrienne scoffed, tossing her head. ~Don't do that. We're not playing that game. You didn't force us to go to the shelter. We go there all the time. This isn't your fault. It's not that mutant's fault. And you know I'm not putting the blame on myself,~ she chuckled, ~cuz I never do anything wrong. I hate being fatalistic, but this is just something that happened. It's just the next shitty thing in the neverending lineup of shitty things that happen to us, and the people we know.~ She took Tandy by the shoulders to emphasize her next point. ~The thing to remember is that, no matter what shitty thing is happening, it alwa... almost always works out. Someone we know always saves the day. These brainiacs are going to fix this, at some point. It just might take them a while. But it's going to happen. So you'd better make sure I'm still filthy fucking rich when I'm back.~
Tandy nodded and by the end of Adrienne's last sentence she was smiling a bit. ~You got it.~ It wasn't her fault, but she couldn't help that she was involved in someway. If she did something better, maybe it would had been different. Wiping away at her eyes again, ~I'll make sure your properties are taken care off as well.~
~Thanks, Starlet.~ The boardroom around them wavered and flickered. Time was up. ~I think Emma's gonna punt you out of here and bring Garrison in for some mushy stuff,~ Adrienne told Tandy, wrinkling her nose. ~So I guess this is it for now. Stay out of trouble, hey?~
-What kind of ward would I be if I stayed out trouble.~ Tandy gave her one final hug, ~Don't keep my waiting for too long.~ Before pulling away and wiped away a tear.
Emma had built them a nice little place to meet on the astral plane. She'd pulled out all the stops. It was a perfect replica of the stadium at Fort Meyers, one of the places that meant the most to Adrienne, because it would always make her think of Garrison. The diamond was perfect, the weather was perfect, the fans in the seats were perfect. They weren't authentic baseball fans- Emma had dressed them all in haute couture. Several of the designers and models Adrienne had idolized growing up were in the seats. The food vendors were from Garrison's favourite restaurants. And the players... Adrienne didn't think Emma knew anything about baseball, but she'd gathered avatars of some Red Sox and Blue Jays greats throughout history in a wacky Field-Of-Dreams-esque tableau.
In a way, Emma's attention to making this the perfect place for the two of them, while an incredibly kind and loving gesture, just made this whole thing stand out even more as the nightmare situation it was. Fuck.
~Hey,~ Adrienne said when Emma had opened up the place for Garrison's avatar to come through ~Nice outfit.~
~Hey.~ He wasn't surprised he was in his red serge. Adrienne had always appreciated when he had needed to go out in his uniform. ~This is... some ballpark right now. Interesting group cheering on Pedro right now.~
Adrienne gave a wan smile as she turned to look at the crowd. This was great. She didn't have to look at him if she was looking at the crowd. She didn't want to look at him, or she knew she'd lose the painstakingly constructed barriers she'd put up around herself. ~Yeah. Emma knows how to send someone off in style.~
~Don't say that. Moira's people are the best in the world. She said it herself. Your powers could correct themselves tomorrow on their own."
~They could,~ Adrienne agreed, still smiling sadly as she watched Pedro strike out Joe Carter. Garrison's inherent optimism was one of the things she loved most about him. ~And then maybe I'd be able to actually Read dust. That would be pretty fun. I'd be the greatest detective ever to walk the earth.~
~Yeah. And even if not, Moira's bound to find a solution. I think your sister got a little surprised when she vowed to spend whatever it took to get the best minds on your case, only to be told that they already had the best mind on it. It was kind of sweet.~ Willie Upshaw was coming to the plate. He didn't expect that kind of detail. ~They can't use a nullifer on you, because the input has also jacked up your nervous system. I guess the potential complications are... well, let's just leave it at they can't. But this crowd knows more about mutant powers than any. I figured I could help rope in some of the geniuses at the school, become a kind of go-between for your case-~
~-Please don't do that,~ she interjected, finally turning to face him. She bit her lip to help keep the emotion out of her voice. ~I... I don't want you to do that. Spend all your time on this. Don't get me wrong,~ she added with a smirk, turning back to the ball game, ~it's pretty fucking flattering. Having all these people spending all this time on me, giving me their attention. It's what I've wanted all my life. But... not you. I don't want you getting obsessed with this. I don't want this to consume you.~
~Hey babe, we're a team. We'll get through this.~ Garrison said, his jaw clenched. ~You know better than to think I'd just walk away.~
Adrienne fiddled with the lighter- or the astral projection of one, she supposed- in her pocket. ~That's what worries me. That... if the brainiacs here can't figure something out... that you're going to hang on so long and... I don't know... miss out on living. I don't want you to do that. I...~ She huffed out a nervous breath. This was such unfamiliar emotional territory, and she loathed even thinking it, but she knew she had to say it. ~I want you to know it's okay. If you move on. I mean, not right away, obviously-~
~You want to break up if they can't find a cure in a timely fashion? C'mon Adri...~ Kane huffed, slumping back in his seat. Maybe he was trying to ignore the fact that it might take years if at all to cure her, but they'd been through so much together. They'd lost each other before. So do it willingly?
~Hey, I'm trying to be noble here! C'mon!~ she chuckled wryly. ~And I'm not saying we break up. Believe me. You'd better not find anyone who actually means anything to you, cuz when I'm cured we're carrying on as we have been. We didn't both work so damned hard on this thing to scrap it. I'm just saying...~ What was she saying? ~I... I want you to be... happy?~ Wait, why did that sound like a question? ~Yeah. I guess that's what I'm saying. I want you to be happy. And if that means... y'know... whatever it means. I can deal with it. I will deal with it. We can deal with anything, is I guess what I'm trying to say?~
~You know how other couples fight about stupid shit? I think that's our next goal: fighting about stupid shit instead of you stuck in a mysterious powers coma while we trying to figure out if it should be an open relationship.~ He rubbed his face with his hands, distraught enough to miss Ted Williams stroll to the plate. ~Alright, I'm not going to martyr myself... but I'm not giving up on you either, babe. Which means you need to fight like hell in here to get control over this. After all, we already have Spring Training tickets for 2018.~
His last three sentences finally broke her, and she buried her head in his shoulder in an unsuccessful attempt to muffle a sob.
~Hey, you and me, babe.~ Kane said, resting his forehead on the back of her head. ~You and me.~
~I am going to fight this,~ she promised, still against his shoulder. ~Harder than I've fought for anything. And, christ. I've fought for lots of things. But I love you more than anything else. And when I beat this I'll actually say it out loud. Probably. Maybe even where other people can hear it.~
~Damn right. We're wearing out the padding on the sound proofed fun room as is.~ The images around them started to flicker. Emma had warned them there wouldn't be a lot of time.
~More incentive to fight,~ Adrienne smirked, pulling back from the embrace to watch the flickering. ~The first day I met you,~ she began with a sly grin, ~you were pining for a woman, hiding in your room listening to Air Supply, driving everyone crazy. Promise me you're going to torture them even worse this time?~
~I have the Greatest Hits album now.~ Kane grinned. ~And then you showed up in the damn Boiler Beach in a bikini and that was that.~
~Well, you showed up with beer and a ball game on tv,~ Adrienne grinned. She forced herself to keep smiling even when the images flickered again, then disappeared, leaving them alone in the vast white expanse of the astral plane. ~I love you. Keep a beer cold for me. And use my box at Fenway. You can even cheer for the Jays. Just don't have sex with anyone else in there.~
