xp_logs | Matt & Alani

xp_loa posting in

Alani joins Matt on a morning run into Salem Center, despite the weather, and they talk - about her interest in Excalibur, fighting, winning, and some misconceptions.

Winter at the mansion had been in full swing for at least two months, but in Alani's opinion it had been a lot longer. It was winter the moment snow started being a possibility in the weather forecast mix as far as she was concerned. So that she was outside, even if it was for some needed training, was not something she had agreed to happily. Turning to face Matt, she squashed down her unrelated weather feelings and tried to focus on the task at hand. "So now... what? Do we practice fight? I'll be honest, from what I've been read, it seems like Excalibur gets into wild situations that can go any which way," she admitted. "But, you've gotten me outside in the dead of winter, so please understand how highly I am regarding this."

Matt grinned under his knit cap, dressed for the cold in black winter workout wear and boots. "I just thought we'd go for a run," he said, stretching and moving to warm himself a little. "Maybe head into town," he'd buy her a latte or something for this.

"Just a run?" She asked quizzically, trying not to let on to how relieved that made her. When it wasn't below 50F, she'd run outside most mornings, before moving indoors as it got colder. "A run into town, I can definitely do. Ooh, are we racing? Or are we being like those neighborhood jogging mom packs, because I am ready."

Reaching info his pocket, Matt pulled out a length of rope knotted securely with a loop on each end, "You're sighted guide," he explained, then indicated his folded up cane strapped to his thigh. He had no doubt that Alani could do this run in warmer weather very easily. It was barely above freezing though and the air was different.

"I- sighted guide," Alani repeated the phrase slowly like it was from an entirely foreign language she was hearing for the first time. Then, it clicked and she covered her face with her hands at her own stupidity for a heartbeat before collecting herself. "Because you're blind, right. Okay, well, I still have faith that I can do this- that we can do this." She corrected, testing her shoes before taking the offered end. "And, I'm still ready. You?"

He didn't actually need a sighted guide to run on the city streets, but if they were getting coffee after, then yeah. He needed his cane and a cover because there was no way to hide that his eyes didn't track. Plus, he felt naked without his glasses on, just out of habit. "It's not complicated. You hold one end, I hold the other, we run. I promise not to accidentally run into a tree," that didn't mean he wouldn't on purpose though.

Not complicated, just holding ends and running into town. That was good, clear and to the point were the kinds of instructions she needed. They left no room for second guessing herself or situations. She rubbed a little warmth back into her legs as a wry chuckle left her lips. “And I promise not to lead you into any trees, to the best of my ability, of course.” Puffing out a breath, she tightened her grip on her handle. “If you need to jog, just tell me, and I’ll do the same, yeah?”

If he didn't have his powers then it would be more complicated in that they would need to work together more to match pace, she'd have to be in the lookout for debris or things in the road, etc. Matt had his powers though, this was just for show. "I am sure that if I run into a tree, it'll be my own fault," and likely intentional. Matt wasn't going to say it wouldn't happen though, he'd done dumb things for worse reasons. Slipping his hand through the loop and getting a grip, he asked, "Ready then?"

"Ready," she affirmed with a nod before she let out a bit of an awkward laugh, as she realized most of her cues were visual. She would need to work on that. Of course, she would need to work on a lot of things being on a team. She started to jog slowly, holding her loop like a lifeline as she examined the path as quickly and surely as she could, leading Matt and praying she didn't hit any compact snow and take him with her if or when she ate shit. "Can I ask you something?"

Keeping pace with her easily, his own loop around his wrist so he could hold the line itself, Matt nodded, "Sure," he agreed. "What's up?"

"Why do this?" Alani's exhale came out harsher as her lungs began to feel the burn of cold air. "Not, this, I mean. I try not to look into anyone hardcore before we meet, but, from what I know you've been involved with some pretty, uh, wild missions."

That was one way to put it. "Not sure I understand," he replied, feet crunching the snow, "Why am I training with you? Or why am I on the X-Men?" technically, he was moving to Excalibur, but things were still fluid.

Alani slowed slightly, fighting the urge to comment that both were actually something she'd want an answer to. "The X-Men," she decided. "Not that I disagree with them, Sooraya's an X-Men — an X-Man? — but I just...am nosy, I guess." Which might be a little bit of an understatement, but she was out running in the cold, so the least she could do was talk while feeling her cheeks take the sting of the freezing air.

Alani was a nice girl. A kid. Maybe over 18, but still a kid, at least from his perspective. "I like the fight," he replied simply, timing his words with his breath. "What I'm fighting for is important, but... at the end of the day, you can't solve every problem with words. The justice system falls short. Sometimes it takes alternative methods."

"It is," she agreed, working to regulate her breathing in a way that didn't hurt and coming out in more of a huff. "The cause, I mean. And I'm no stranger to the failings of the justice system, so I understand the need for, eh, alternative methods you called them?" She did her best not to bristle at the fact that words weren't going to fix where they were at, because of course she knew that was true and pushed on. "I'll try and get behind them, I guess? My self-defense skills are finally losing their rust, but I'm working on it."

Just as violence wasn't the answer, neither always were words. You couldn't reason hate away, though the lawyer in Matt would love it if that were possible. "Nothing wrong with defense," he pointed out. Self defense, especially. "My dad, my bio-dad, I mean, was a boxer. And I figured out later, sometimes a mob enforcer to help make ends meet. But he didn't want that life for me, even before I went blind. But," he shrugged, making the rope they were both holding, wobble, "The world is a harsh mistress to those that are different. Being able to protect yourself is important, but that's completely different from enjoying the fight."

The wobble had made her panic for a moment, before Alani righted herself and pushed on, finally finding a rhythm that worked with her exhales. "Do you enjoy it then? Fighting? Not just the fight but fighting as an activity?" There was no judgment, just pure curiosity as she began to pick some speed back up. She wasn't naive, it was perfectly understandable for some people to like that adrenaline, that rush. It had just never appealed to her, even now.

Matt nodded, though he didn't know if she was looking to see it, "I do," he agreed, "Grew up with it, I guess. When you're poor, when you're disabled, when you're different, things that are nothing to most people become a fight, even if it's not physical. You're competitive because that's how you survive. Even when it got easier, when things changed, it's hard to break those habits, they're ingrained subconsciously. I got where I am today by fighting, whether it be with my fists, my brain, my words, whatever. So, yeah. I enjoy it. Nothing better than winning," and he didn't care if it was in the court room or the battlefield.

Alani didn’t say anything for a moment, focusing on her breathing, her steps, what he’d said. When she’d been a surfer, winning had been everything, a connection to her roots, money, prestige, possibility. Then it had all been taken away and her accolades had been stripped from her, which was still a sore spot that she didn’t like to think of in that way. Especially after she’d learned about her second mutation. But remembering the thrill of victory right there still brought back a pleasant tingle. “Yeah, there really isn’t.” She agreed finally. “Winning is the peak, everything else is kinda subpar after you’ve won once, huh? Alright, I can definitely understand it when you put it like that.”

They fell into the rhythm of their run on the quiet country road leading from Xavier's to Salem Center. It wasn't until they reached the town that Matt began to slow, shifting so that they were running nearly shoulder to shoulder. "How're you doing?" he asked, "There's more obstacles here," not that he was concerned for himself.

"I wanna lay down in a nice hot bath forever after this. But, obstacles here we come. " She was breathing heavier, and didn't even care to try and cover it. Instead, she followed his lead and had begun to slow her pace. "Are you alright? Doing okay?" Usually she'd stop entirely to check or offer some physical touch, but held back, unsure if it'd be appreciated.

"Will a coffee work instead?" Matt asked, huffing now after running a few miles, "Or other hot beverage of choice?" he was fine, this was a fairly easy run.

“God, yes, I could kiss you, coffee is more than acceptable.” She laughed, more to herself than anything. “I had two cups already, but what could more coffee hurt?”

"Ah, spoken like someone from Xavier's," Matt joked, leading them through the streets of Salem Center until they reached a little café. It was already reasonably busy and he stopped near the door, pulling his cane from its holster and unfolding it with a solid tap on the ground. "And I always accept kisses."

Adjusting things, he took the rope back and shoved it back in a pocket, then reached out to take her shoulder carefully. "Don't worry about leading me. But you're also going first."

"And a grad student to be, thank you very much." Alani snorted a laugh, using the moment he took the rope to flex her hand and roll her shoulders to loosen up any stiffness she'd allowed herself to settle into. "Ah, in case I absolutely biff it and you can have a good chortle with the other patrons, I understand. Well, I guess, I could also tell people to get the fuck outta our way."

Inside the coffee shop was a familiar cacophony of coffee machines, people on their computers and phones, chit chatting and of course, the smell of coffee and baked goods. Matt loved it. It was a very specific sort of ambience that he found relaxing.

Waiting their turn, he ordered himself a large dark roast and a cranberry muffin, "Whatever you want," he instructed Alani. "And why don't you find us a table? I'll bring things over.

"But you're-" She stared at him, gears turning slowly as her face heated up. Clearing her throat to cover up her embarrassment, she turned to the barista and flashed a smile. “I’ll have a double shot latte and a pistachio muffin.”

She clapped Matt on the shoulder as she moved past him. “One table coming up, boss man.” And even though she wanted to be a petty little gremlin, she tried to find a somewhat nice table out of direct earshot from anyone else.

Getting their food and drink when the batista called his name, Matt headed to the table Alani find with little difficulty, cane tucked into the crook of his arm. "I'm what?" he asked, a slight smirk on his face.

“Blind,” she mumbled sheepishly. Of course there had to be more to him, she knew he’d done some missions, but her brain had veto’d any possible thought on a power that could allow that the moment they’d started their run. “And I’m an ass for making assumptions. How about you?” Her tone quickly returned to its regular cheer, more eager to learn about what he could do than any sore at her own foolishness.

"That I am," he agreed cheerfully, setting things around the table, "the white cane isn't just for show. I'm guessing you don't know my powers then? Or that blindness can mean a lot of different things?"

Alani reached down to pick at her muffin. "I don't, honestly. I try not to dig into people’s powers without talking to them. To your other question, of course, part of my brain does know that there’s different types of blindness. But I — it went out my head entirely.” She laughed at herself without shame. “Is it rude if I ask about what your blindness is?”

Interesting. Maybe it was because of the nature of his powers, but Matt often felt like he was unintentionally invasive, at least sometimes. He just filtered things out. "I'm NLP," Matt answered easily. "That means 'no light perception.' It's also what most people think of when they hear 'blind.' I was in an accident as a child."

"Ooh," Alani sat up a little straighter, tapping her fingers against the lid of her latte. "So since childhood you've been no light perception blind, and then," she wanted to ask about his powers, but a coffee shop with people in it hardly seemed like the place without making her nervous, so instead she made a humming sound. "And now you're here, fighting the good fight. Is that about the size of it?"

"The long end of the short of it, yeah," Matt agreed, taking a sip of his coffee now that it had a little time to cool. "My powers compensate," translation? She was never actually guiding him on their run. Nor was she leading him now. He was just fine. "It's sort of a family joke, actually. My brother's powers also partially affect his eyes. And our dad's are forever bemoaning that it's because of this that we're both fashion disasters." They weren't really that bad when it came to fashion, but it was not their forte.

It seemed like most of this day was Alani laughing at herself, if not out loud then in her head. Well, making notes on how to approach things in the future. Especially if this whole team thing was going to stick. "Would love to hang out with more fashion disasters. I'll get us matching crocs and T-shirts."

Laughing, Matt couldn't help but shudder at crocs. Horrible plastic things. "So, then why are you interested in Excalibur?" he asked, curious.

"I want to help," she started, offering a small shrug. "But, I'm also most comfortable with research. It's kinda my comfort activity since I helped my parents with theirs for a while after I got outed. Well, and I was there when Avalon did what it did. That's made me pretty interested in keeping an eye on what it does next." While she wanted to take another drink of her latte, she didn't want to use it as a conversation crutch. "I know I have to work through some things, and my powers don't make me incredibly useful, but I'm willing to learn whatever I need to."

"Your powers are likely more useful than mine," Matt pointed out, not bothered by that. It was all about how you chose to use them. "Not that you have to fight, there's always multiple ways to contribute," and monitoring and researching Avalon was a top priority. "Still, I think it's good that you're learning at least some defense."

Alani fidgeted a bit then, realizing that she’d have to tell someone where she stood eventually, and it seemed like a good idea to be upfront. “I’m mostly defense, I’m a pacifist,” she paused, going through any reasonable explanation she could offer in their world. “With wanting to help, I know it’s not exactly easy for those around me, but, I think it’s something you should know, well Excalibur should know. I’ll defend myself and others, but that’s about as far as I’ll go, if I can help it.”

Sitting back in his chair and smiling, Matt had no problem with that, "Good. More for me then," he commented.

"Oh thank god," she sighed. Yes, it was likely a little dramatic, but Alani hadn't known what to expect. With the way the world was it was entirely possible that that could have been a deal breaker. "Yes, I will give you my serving even and support you as best I can while doing so."