![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
xp_loa posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
xp_logsMarius interrupts Alani and Namor at work in the chapel with a different branch of work before life interrupts and puts a stop to the meeting.
CW: sudden death of a relative, emotional distress
Alani had been trying to get some work done in her office, before Namor had walked in and she'd set down what she'd been working on to help with what he was working on. Which meant the map on her wall was getting pins stuck in it. "Wayfinding did not make flat, paper maps more understandable to me. Do you... you would tell me if I was making a fool of myself, and you already knew something you'd share it, right?" She questioned the king.
Namor adjusted the projector that held the third lense crafted downstairs to mimic the Atlantean artifact's view of a long lost sky. The science of iteration was something that the King knew was a process that he knew no outside pressure could expedite. Light spilled onto Alani's map, painting the world with a vision of the world seen from the sea and not the land.
"You are correct," he said with authority as he reached for another pin. "I would never belittle you by sparing your feelings in this quest toward greatness. It would insult us both. Humility is a valuable lesson."
There was a polite rap on Alani's open door.
"One which must often be learned several times, in my experience."
Marius was standing in Alani's open doorway, not the least bit self-conscious at interrupting a conversation. He gave Namor an amiable nod before turning a smile on Alani. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I judged it better to intrude than eavesdrop, and it was my hope to make Ms. Ryan's acquaintance in person."
Namor's posture had gone rigid with annoyance from the first familiar sound of the Australian, but as the man kept talking he couldn't decide where to focus. His eyes, squinted, traveled between Marius and Alani as if to gauge the meter of their relationship. Back. Forth. Back. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"No." His official royal judgement.
"Namor." Alani sighed, long-suffering but powering through.
Turning to Marius she offered a slight smile before motioning him to take one of the chairs that had been pushed to a side of the room so she'd stop catching herself on it. "Please, have a seat if you'd like, Marius. Oh! Is this about my resources? It's on a sticky note on my desk, but I do have to finish putting some names on it." She carefully set the pins back down to find the bright pink piece of paper.
Marius slipped into the room, meeting the Ruler of Atlantis' glare with a cheerful obliviousness so concentrated it could have been used in the construction of a nuclear bunker. "Your resources, yes, but I also wanted to make a general introduction," he explained as he dropped into a chair with insouciant ease. "A passing thought whilst on a morning stroll. I do prefer to put a face with a name when possible, and of course you come highly recommended by Sooraya in matters of mutant health."
"It does help," Alani agreed as she rummaged. A few flips of paper and the click of a pen. "Yeah, well, this is me at one of my three and a half jobs, and if Sooraya gave you my name that must mean we do a lot of similar work." She flashed an amused grin.
"And a clinic in DX will be nice. We actually have a grant writer who works with the Centre sometimes, though I'm sure someone must have mentioned that to you already. Sorry, I'mma talker, could go on for ages and get off task easy, which does not make work productive sometimes. Because I know it's important," she stressed the statement back to Namor.
The once-king was, for all purposes, positioning himself in as aggressive of a flanking position behind Marius's chair as he could manage. He did pause — that stress and that tone was the familiar language of subtle correction the Atlantean had come to expect from Alani in her element. Naturally, he did what he always did and sloughed it off.
"Important," was noted with a scoff. He was in Marius' personal bubble now, like he planned to toss the man and his chair out the door at the first available opportunity. "Pressure may create diamonds, Alani, but it destroys what was there before. You have too many tasks of great import."
"I wouldn't presume to ask she helm this venture," the Australian demurred, aware of Namor's proximity but curiously unbothered by it. The lack of a readable x-gene really did lessen interpersonal tension. "I ask only she share her expertise with me. Providing she has the time and inclination, of course," he added, flashing Alani another smile. "I am merely a financial backer. Ideally any community service should be shaped by those within the community."
“It could offer some vital help for our underserved folks in DX,” Alani reasoned as she took out her phone to pull up her recent texts. “And it would be really nice to be able to point some people to a close by, trusted clinic.”
She paused to watch them idly, before grinning at Namor. “Aww, you called me a diamond, I think, or carbon, which is true. I promise not to get too distracted but you have to admit it’d be nice to have an actual medical clinic for the area. If only because it would probably make my job count drop down to three and a quarter.”
"I have to do nothing. Do not presume." Namor did, however, gesture to Marius that he could continue.
A smile at Namor, quick as a fish flashing a fin beneath the surface of a pond, and Marius turned his attention back to Alani.
"I've already reached out to several contacts provided to me," the Australian explained, "but I am told you have taken a particular interest in health services through the Community Centre. Currently I seek to narrow the area of focus. If a service already exists through the Centre I would not presume to overlap. Likewise, if there is a service you feel would be better served folded into the purview of a devoted clinic I would be pleased to hear your input there as well."
Alani exhaled slowly through her teeth as she sat down, firmly. The pen clicked a handful more times before she tapped the tip against her desk and met Marius’s gaze.
“I hope that if you’ve spoken with Sooraya, she shared that while I do a bit of everything I have central focuses. I’m currently a psychology student and hoping to get a local clinic to do work within the Centre, but I also teach sexual education and would love to have resources available in both places, honestly, so that they’re accessible. Aside from the condom company, a lot of the current expenses for making sure people who utilize the Centre to get the packs we’ve been putting together are out pocket, unfortunately, and Plan B and rapid STI tests are not cheap to keep on hand. Additionally, obviously specialized pediatricians would be something I strongly recommend at the beginning, as if they’re willing to work with mutants, they likely won’t use crass language in referring to them and encourage keeping up with their health check ups. I would think that there may be some theoretical science labs in New York that would love to test their crafting ability that can work for some mutants specialized physiology.” She stared at him for a moment, brows furrowed before clearing her throat and continuing seriously. “And, because this clinic would be in District X, I would strongly recommend being pragmatic and looking into installing a surrender station.”
The older man's eyebrows jumped like startled caterpillars. "Ah, that's right -- you have Safe Haven laws here. Every few years a policy to enact similar goes 'round Australia. We've got the opportunity to surrender through social services, but no anonymous option as of yet. An excellent suggestion." Thoughtful, Marius raised a gloved knuckle to his chin. "Psychology student, eh? Does the Centre currently have any affiliation with behavioural health organisations? Mutant-friendly treatment centres or groups which specialise in our particular sort of minority stress, for example."
This got a strained smile from her as she raised a hand to wave it noncommittally. "There are some people who came through, though it's hard to keep up in some cases. The clinic that I have my externship through was the clinic we were in the works with, but, uh, due to the past couple of months in which DX has suffered some rather significant damage that's... that's been put on hold. Though they have kept open their offer for accepting referrals. I think working with treatment centers would be really beneficial."
The mass of muscle behind Marius shifted just enough to remind the man that he was still there. Listening and ready to intervene.
Marius' expression barely twitched at the mention of property damage he had personally inflicted upon the area in question. The comment had been circumspect enough that Alani was surely being polite. Fortunately when it came to ignoring awkward realities Marius had a lifetime of practice behind him -- and, of course, Namor as well. The Atlantean's presence did have a rather focussing effect.
"I thought to ask if the neighbourhood would tolerate on-site OUD treatment services, but preliminary discussion indicates that might be asking a bit much. I foresee less pushback in proposing a partnership with an existing clinic -- transportation provided to ensure easy compliance, if possible." Marius drummed the fingers of one hand against his thigh as he worked his way down his internal checklist. "What are your thoughts on a needle exchange programme and naloxone distribution? Would we find much resistance with those options?"
"Unfortunately there's still a lot of pervasive anti-drug rhetoric going around that makes people feel it's not a good idea in the current climate to have them, despite the need," Alani offered in explanation. "I do think a partnership could go a long way for some people, there are facilities not far from DX, but with the belief that users bring more drugs, mixed with fear of the mutant... I think you might run into some people stalling the building process potentially long enough to tire the community out or deplete funds. Starting to plant the seed of a better area will hopefully lead to programs like you're describing following."
"I think if we can start with these blocks, it'll give us a big step forward."
"Pity," Marius mused, immune to the concerted effort on Namor's part to accomplish trepanning through stern gaze alone, "our population particularly could benefit from support for substance use, even to the more limited extent of harm reduction measures. Ah, well. Have you any other observations on critical needs we might address?
"Sad but true," Alani agreed with a sigh. On the topic of anything else, she let herself think. "How do we even describe 'critical' when we have such an underserved community that have been largely ignored by-"
A melodic chime emitted from her phone and a sheepish smile formed. "Sorry, I, uh, I," her eyes traced something on the screen, smile dipping with her brows for a moment, mouth trying to form words as she stared before looking back to smile brighter, "I- I really, um, I think we have a lot of things we need, and, and it, we could talk all day about them, honestly. I'd love to, uh, love to reach out to some people and make sure I'm not missing anything." Her words had tightened, shallowly breathing through her mouth though she continued to watch Marius, setting her phone face down on her desk.
There was a shift in current in the room as the imminent threat of Atlantis suddenly ebbed from its previous laser focus — Namor's attention had snapped solely to Alani. Blue on black eyes met her own with a silent question.
"If you have the time I'd take it as a favour," Marius said, oblivious to the sudden change in the air. "Terry offered a few names, but I find it more productive to have members within the community make the initial overture. The response is often more honest than what is elicited when talking to a stranger-"
The Atlantean's brow furrowed.
"Marius Laverne," and Namor's tone was ice, "you are no longer welcome here."
The Australian blinked. "Excuse me? What have I . . ."
The protestation trailed off. With his official spiel interrupted Marius now had a chance to notice the glassy, frozen look on Alani's face. His brow furrowed.
"Everything all right?"
Marius' view of Alani was suddenly blocked by six feet of solid muscle as Namor placed himself between the two. "Invaders will not be tolerated," he said flatly, "you are not owed an explanation."
Namor did not wait for a response.
The chairs that furnished the chapel's first floor might not have had wheels, but that did not stop the super strong Atlantean from idly lifting Marius's seat, with the man with it, and placing both in the hallway.
"We extend eXcalibur's full hospitality," was all the Australian got before the office door was shut.
"Sorry," Alani started but stopped when her attempt to push herself to her feet by bracing was followed by a pink light as her fingers fell through the desk, "I, uh... my grandma died."
Interruption successfully averted, Namor did not respond as he closed the distance and lowered himself, crouching, to be at eye level with his friend. He placed a hand on the desk, at least as close to actual touch as he could given her current corporeality. An offer of comfort. "Our condolences as she returns to the embrace of the sea, Alani Ryan. Her song will be remembered."
There were a handful of stalled attempts for her to say something, hands interlocking on her lap as she forced herself to not fall into panicked breathing. With a jolt she seemed to finally notice that Marius was no longer in the office. "Yeah,” Alani finally mumbled, looking at Namor in a daze.
Tears welled, her lip quivered, and very suddenly the King of Atlantis found arms thrown around him, forehead pressed against his shoulder. “Sorry, I’m sorry, I’m a crybaby,” she apologized thickly, “I should- I should go lie down.”
"No," Namor replied with an uncharacteristic softness. He was remarkably steady. A mooring in a storm. "I said I would never belittle you, and you are exactly what you should be right now. I will not accept any more apologies. Just be."
An attempt to laugh off the emotions turned wet, as Alani began to sob against her friend.
CW: sudden death of a relative, emotional distress
Alani had been trying to get some work done in her office, before Namor had walked in and she'd set down what she'd been working on to help with what he was working on. Which meant the map on her wall was getting pins stuck in it. "Wayfinding did not make flat, paper maps more understandable to me. Do you... you would tell me if I was making a fool of myself, and you already knew something you'd share it, right?" She questioned the king.
Namor adjusted the projector that held the third lense crafted downstairs to mimic the Atlantean artifact's view of a long lost sky. The science of iteration was something that the King knew was a process that he knew no outside pressure could expedite. Light spilled onto Alani's map, painting the world with a vision of the world seen from the sea and not the land.
"You are correct," he said with authority as he reached for another pin. "I would never belittle you by sparing your feelings in this quest toward greatness. It would insult us both. Humility is a valuable lesson."
There was a polite rap on Alani's open door.
"One which must often be learned several times, in my experience."
Marius was standing in Alani's open doorway, not the least bit self-conscious at interrupting a conversation. He gave Namor an amiable nod before turning a smile on Alani. "Forgive me, Your Majesty. I judged it better to intrude than eavesdrop, and it was my hope to make Ms. Ryan's acquaintance in person."
Namor's posture had gone rigid with annoyance from the first familiar sound of the Australian, but as the man kept talking he couldn't decide where to focus. His eyes, squinted, traveled between Marius and Alani as if to gauge the meter of their relationship. Back. Forth. Back. He crossed his arms over his chest.
"No." His official royal judgement.
"Namor." Alani sighed, long-suffering but powering through.
Turning to Marius she offered a slight smile before motioning him to take one of the chairs that had been pushed to a side of the room so she'd stop catching herself on it. "Please, have a seat if you'd like, Marius. Oh! Is this about my resources? It's on a sticky note on my desk, but I do have to finish putting some names on it." She carefully set the pins back down to find the bright pink piece of paper.
Marius slipped into the room, meeting the Ruler of Atlantis' glare with a cheerful obliviousness so concentrated it could have been used in the construction of a nuclear bunker. "Your resources, yes, but I also wanted to make a general introduction," he explained as he dropped into a chair with insouciant ease. "A passing thought whilst on a morning stroll. I do prefer to put a face with a name when possible, and of course you come highly recommended by Sooraya in matters of mutant health."
"It does help," Alani agreed as she rummaged. A few flips of paper and the click of a pen. "Yeah, well, this is me at one of my three and a half jobs, and if Sooraya gave you my name that must mean we do a lot of similar work." She flashed an amused grin.
"And a clinic in DX will be nice. We actually have a grant writer who works with the Centre sometimes, though I'm sure someone must have mentioned that to you already. Sorry, I'mma talker, could go on for ages and get off task easy, which does not make work productive sometimes. Because I know it's important," she stressed the statement back to Namor.
The once-king was, for all purposes, positioning himself in as aggressive of a flanking position behind Marius's chair as he could manage. He did pause — that stress and that tone was the familiar language of subtle correction the Atlantean had come to expect from Alani in her element. Naturally, he did what he always did and sloughed it off.
"Important," was noted with a scoff. He was in Marius' personal bubble now, like he planned to toss the man and his chair out the door at the first available opportunity. "Pressure may create diamonds, Alani, but it destroys what was there before. You have too many tasks of great import."
"I wouldn't presume to ask she helm this venture," the Australian demurred, aware of Namor's proximity but curiously unbothered by it. The lack of a readable x-gene really did lessen interpersonal tension. "I ask only she share her expertise with me. Providing she has the time and inclination, of course," he added, flashing Alani another smile. "I am merely a financial backer. Ideally any community service should be shaped by those within the community."
“It could offer some vital help for our underserved folks in DX,” Alani reasoned as she took out her phone to pull up her recent texts. “And it would be really nice to be able to point some people to a close by, trusted clinic.”
She paused to watch them idly, before grinning at Namor. “Aww, you called me a diamond, I think, or carbon, which is true. I promise not to get too distracted but you have to admit it’d be nice to have an actual medical clinic for the area. If only because it would probably make my job count drop down to three and a quarter.”
"I have to do nothing. Do not presume." Namor did, however, gesture to Marius that he could continue.
A smile at Namor, quick as a fish flashing a fin beneath the surface of a pond, and Marius turned his attention back to Alani.
"I've already reached out to several contacts provided to me," the Australian explained, "but I am told you have taken a particular interest in health services through the Community Centre. Currently I seek to narrow the area of focus. If a service already exists through the Centre I would not presume to overlap. Likewise, if there is a service you feel would be better served folded into the purview of a devoted clinic I would be pleased to hear your input there as well."
Alani exhaled slowly through her teeth as she sat down, firmly. The pen clicked a handful more times before she tapped the tip against her desk and met Marius’s gaze.
“I hope that if you’ve spoken with Sooraya, she shared that while I do a bit of everything I have central focuses. I’m currently a psychology student and hoping to get a local clinic to do work within the Centre, but I also teach sexual education and would love to have resources available in both places, honestly, so that they’re accessible. Aside from the condom company, a lot of the current expenses for making sure people who utilize the Centre to get the packs we’ve been putting together are out pocket, unfortunately, and Plan B and rapid STI tests are not cheap to keep on hand. Additionally, obviously specialized pediatricians would be something I strongly recommend at the beginning, as if they’re willing to work with mutants, they likely won’t use crass language in referring to them and encourage keeping up with their health check ups. I would think that there may be some theoretical science labs in New York that would love to test their crafting ability that can work for some mutants specialized physiology.” She stared at him for a moment, brows furrowed before clearing her throat and continuing seriously. “And, because this clinic would be in District X, I would strongly recommend being pragmatic and looking into installing a surrender station.”
The older man's eyebrows jumped like startled caterpillars. "Ah, that's right -- you have Safe Haven laws here. Every few years a policy to enact similar goes 'round Australia. We've got the opportunity to surrender through social services, but no anonymous option as of yet. An excellent suggestion." Thoughtful, Marius raised a gloved knuckle to his chin. "Psychology student, eh? Does the Centre currently have any affiliation with behavioural health organisations? Mutant-friendly treatment centres or groups which specialise in our particular sort of minority stress, for example."
This got a strained smile from her as she raised a hand to wave it noncommittally. "There are some people who came through, though it's hard to keep up in some cases. The clinic that I have my externship through was the clinic we were in the works with, but, uh, due to the past couple of months in which DX has suffered some rather significant damage that's... that's been put on hold. Though they have kept open their offer for accepting referrals. I think working with treatment centers would be really beneficial."
The mass of muscle behind Marius shifted just enough to remind the man that he was still there. Listening and ready to intervene.
Marius' expression barely twitched at the mention of property damage he had personally inflicted upon the area in question. The comment had been circumspect enough that Alani was surely being polite. Fortunately when it came to ignoring awkward realities Marius had a lifetime of practice behind him -- and, of course, Namor as well. The Atlantean's presence did have a rather focussing effect.
"I thought to ask if the neighbourhood would tolerate on-site OUD treatment services, but preliminary discussion indicates that might be asking a bit much. I foresee less pushback in proposing a partnership with an existing clinic -- transportation provided to ensure easy compliance, if possible." Marius drummed the fingers of one hand against his thigh as he worked his way down his internal checklist. "What are your thoughts on a needle exchange programme and naloxone distribution? Would we find much resistance with those options?"
"Unfortunately there's still a lot of pervasive anti-drug rhetoric going around that makes people feel it's not a good idea in the current climate to have them, despite the need," Alani offered in explanation. "I do think a partnership could go a long way for some people, there are facilities not far from DX, but with the belief that users bring more drugs, mixed with fear of the mutant... I think you might run into some people stalling the building process potentially long enough to tire the community out or deplete funds. Starting to plant the seed of a better area will hopefully lead to programs like you're describing following."
"I think if we can start with these blocks, it'll give us a big step forward."
"Pity," Marius mused, immune to the concerted effort on Namor's part to accomplish trepanning through stern gaze alone, "our population particularly could benefit from support for substance use, even to the more limited extent of harm reduction measures. Ah, well. Have you any other observations on critical needs we might address?
"Sad but true," Alani agreed with a sigh. On the topic of anything else, she let herself think. "How do we even describe 'critical' when we have such an underserved community that have been largely ignored by-"
A melodic chime emitted from her phone and a sheepish smile formed. "Sorry, I, uh, I," her eyes traced something on the screen, smile dipping with her brows for a moment, mouth trying to form words as she stared before looking back to smile brighter, "I- I really, um, I think we have a lot of things we need, and, and it, we could talk all day about them, honestly. I'd love to, uh, love to reach out to some people and make sure I'm not missing anything." Her words had tightened, shallowly breathing through her mouth though she continued to watch Marius, setting her phone face down on her desk.
There was a shift in current in the room as the imminent threat of Atlantis suddenly ebbed from its previous laser focus — Namor's attention had snapped solely to Alani. Blue on black eyes met her own with a silent question.
"If you have the time I'd take it as a favour," Marius said, oblivious to the sudden change in the air. "Terry offered a few names, but I find it more productive to have members within the community make the initial overture. The response is often more honest than what is elicited when talking to a stranger-"
The Atlantean's brow furrowed.
"Marius Laverne," and Namor's tone was ice, "you are no longer welcome here."
The Australian blinked. "Excuse me? What have I . . ."
The protestation trailed off. With his official spiel interrupted Marius now had a chance to notice the glassy, frozen look on Alani's face. His brow furrowed.
"Everything all right?"
Marius' view of Alani was suddenly blocked by six feet of solid muscle as Namor placed himself between the two. "Invaders will not be tolerated," he said flatly, "you are not owed an explanation."
Namor did not wait for a response.
The chairs that furnished the chapel's first floor might not have had wheels, but that did not stop the super strong Atlantean from idly lifting Marius's seat, with the man with it, and placing both in the hallway.
"We extend eXcalibur's full hospitality," was all the Australian got before the office door was shut.
"Sorry," Alani started but stopped when her attempt to push herself to her feet by bracing was followed by a pink light as her fingers fell through the desk, "I, uh... my grandma died."
Interruption successfully averted, Namor did not respond as he closed the distance and lowered himself, crouching, to be at eye level with his friend. He placed a hand on the desk, at least as close to actual touch as he could given her current corporeality. An offer of comfort. "Our condolences as she returns to the embrace of the sea, Alani Ryan. Her song will be remembered."
There were a handful of stalled attempts for her to say something, hands interlocking on her lap as she forced herself to not fall into panicked breathing. With a jolt she seemed to finally notice that Marius was no longer in the office. "Yeah,” Alani finally mumbled, looking at Namor in a daze.
Tears welled, her lip quivered, and very suddenly the King of Atlantis found arms thrown around him, forehead pressed against his shoulder. “Sorry, I’m sorry, I’m a crybaby,” she apologized thickly, “I should- I should go lie down.”
"No," Namor replied with an uncharacteristic softness. He was remarkably steady. A mooring in a storm. "I said I would never belittle you, and you are exactly what you should be right now. I will not accept any more apologies. Just be."
An attempt to laugh off the emotions turned wet, as Alani began to sob against her friend.
