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[x-dazzler.livejournal.com]

Set during Monday night ~ in which Alison gets a visitor during the night...

What dreams might reveal...
Monday, during the night

Alison peeked from around the ebony of the piano, an impish smile on her face. Her cheeks were still round with baby fat, eyes bright with delight as she leaned, hands still drifting over the keys, black and white and every single note in between.

"Alison! Play our song, darling!" The warm voice resonated through the room and the sunlight beamed all the brighter as it streamed through the windows, as though reflecting the loving undertones as Alison's grandmother made her request.

"Yes, grandmother!" Her child's voice rang clear and true across the room, clean as a bell, and she sang out three notes, knowing how much that would be appreciated, before launching into a rousing version of Chopsticks, complete with trills and every single variation she could think to add to make the tune that much more complex.

The room was very beautiful, Askani thought, sitting on the delicately-made chair and watching the child at the keyboard. A beautiful room, a beautiful child... pure joy here, and a sense of deep warmth. It was very soothing.

When the child finished playing, Askani smiled. "You started early, little sister," she said softly.

Curls flounced as the girl turned her head to look around, gazing at Askani for a moment before smiling at her. "Oh! Hello! I hadn't seen you there. Are you a friend of Mama's?" she asked politely, fingers sliding along the ebony wood edging the keys without her even realizing it. "She said she wanted me to play for some friends of hers and Papa, but I thought that was for the party tonight." She grinned impulsively, eager to show off what she had learned. "Is there anything you'd like to hear?"

Askani tilted her head. "I am... a friend," she said firmly. "Play as you like, little one. I am content to listen. It lightens my heart."

A bright smile of pleasure was the answer to that and Alison gave her a conspiratorial smile. "Mama says I'm not supposed to play anything but the great composers, but Grandmother taught me this," she stage whispered, and a warm chuckle was heard from the other room as the first few notes were played. "It's her favorite!"

She settled her hands on the keys for a moment then launched into the song for real, voice high and pure.

Fly me to the moon, and let me play among the stars
Let me sing among those stars
Let me see what spring is like
On Jupiter and mars

Askani sighed softly, in wistful appreciation. As the child finished the song, she smiled. "My brother loves that song," she said quietly. "Very much. I wish he was here to hear it."

"I can sing it for him!" The offer was instantaneous and without reserve, although it was followed by a short pause, the girl looking towards another door, one which seemed to lead towards a more shadowed hallway. "I could if you asked. Mama never says no if people make requests - it's nice when they ask for something else than the classical stuff. Something I like too." She grinned mischievously, then looked a bit worried. "I like the stuff Mama wants me to play. Just... I like other things too." She shifted weight on the seat, legs swinging in the emptiness for a moment, brightly polished black shoes gleaming in the sunlight.

Perfect little girl in a bright yellow dress, curls up in ribbons. "What do you like?"

Askani picked at the sleeve of her robe. "Do you know the Winternight anthem?" she asked measuringly. Nathan's telepathy was at a low ebb, of late - she couldn't tell whether Alison was aware of her presence here in the dream. "What we sing to welcome the light? Do you remember me teaching it to you, little sister?"

A childish frown answered her as Alison tried to remember, falling deep in thought. A small kitten ran into the room, chasing a stray butterfly, falling comically head over heels before racing out again, meowing in indignation. I meant to do that! it thought out at those in the room, even as it disappeared in the doorway.

"I think I know that. I sounds familiar." The fact that up until now she'd never met the lady didn't seem to bother her and she turned to the piano, chewing on her lower lip before picking a few notes. "It wasn't made to be sung with a piano. But that's all right." She gave Askani a dignified nod, before giggling. "We'll improvise! That's what Grandmother always says to do!"

And with a stream of notes, slim fingers dancing over the piano keys and feet pressing down on the pedals, Alison sorted out a base melody, eyes gleaming with delight. Improvisation was the best, the very brightest and happiest sort of music. 

Welcome the sun, greet the dawn, hold in the light in your hands
the night retreats, the shadows fade, hope returns to the land

She faltered for perhaps a second, hesitating over a note before going on as though everything was all right. Only one thing changed.

~Our hearts rejoice, in the face of the light
Bright is the morning, renewing the world~

"Alison," Askani said very softly as the child finished the hymn. "Can you... be as your older self? I would not intrude, but..." Her voice wavered a little. "I would welcome your counsel, if you care to give it. If not, we can remain here, as we are." She smiled as steadily as she could. "I would listen happily to your music, if that is what you choose to give me."

The girl looked at her with a smile, then suddenly through her instead, looking a little lost until that beloved voice called out to her from the kitchen again, making a request for another song. The music poured from the room, warm and lively and happy, keeping the little girl cocooned in an oasis of safety.

"Why don't we go into the gardens?" A hand rested on Askani's shoulder and an older Alison, wearing leather pants and a sheer, silk-like shirt looked down at her. "The windows are open and we'll still hear the music from there." She nodded towards the open window, wicker chairs artfully arranged on the patio outside, lemonade sparkling in the tall glasses waiting for them.

Askani rose, following Alison out to the patio. The smell of flowers rose to greet her, and she smiled faintly as she sank into a chair. "Your dreamscape is a beautiful one, sister," she said, lifting one of the glasses and sampling the liquid within. Tart, yet sweet. Very unusual. "I ask your forgiveness for intruding. There is still a connection between us, after I shared the battle language with you. It was easiest to come here, when I slipped from Nathan's mind."

"It's all right," Alison smiled at her, clothing shifting to something different as she sat down as well, jeans and a red snug t-shirt, the same shade as the roses surrounding them. She looked a bit older now, than the Alison who had just suggested they leave the room. Their surroundings were bathed in light, the colors so crisp and intense they were almost too much to look at. "My best childhood memories are in that room. Maybe next time you can actually meet Grandmother."

She reached for her glass, a bittersweet smile on her face after she sampled the liquid. "She made the best lemonade." A sigh and she set the glass down, focusing on the woman sitting in front of her.

"That makes sense," she mused, nodding slowly. "I got a 'bigger' download in a way, than the others did." A rose bloomed nearby, the drone of the bees oddly comforting as music drifted from inside the house, occasionally paused as the child within laughed merrily.

Askani's gaze moved over their surroundings, taking in each and every detail, savoring them. "His beach is dark," she murmured. "Clouds cover the stars, and the water no longer reflects light. I wish I could have brought him here, but the defense Xavier taught him is more than adequate."

"He's not ready for here anyway," Alison murmured, looking up at the stately house in which she had grown up. "He wouldn't want to be here. He wants to be on that dark beach, alone and in pain. Penance. Doesn't matter that it wasn't his fault... he still blames himself for what happened." She sighed a bit, looking at a droplet of moisture condense then slide down the glass slowly.

"I feel selfish," Askani whispered, staring at the flowers. "Stealing away... but he will not listen to us. We are there, hands outstretched to him, but he does not hear us." She looked up at Alison, smiling very slightly. "You drew me. Your music. I spoke truly when I said it lightened my heart."

"He doesn't want to hear," Alison said softly, smiling a bit at Askani. Sadness edged with relief at being able to be there for her, though she'd not expected that in the least. A bee flew by the table in lazy patterns, landing on the pitcher in the centre of the table, attracted by the drops of lemonade still lingering near the rim.

"I guess... it's easier to stay hidden where he is now, than to try and fight your way out again and expose yourself to seeing yourself responsible for more pain. Even if you weren't, not really." She didn't know when the him had changed to me, or maybe it was them. It didn't matter, really. "We're stupid that way." Humans, she meant. No matter what they could or couldn't do.

Askani peered at the bee with a flicker of real interest. A fascinating creature, she thought. "He is waiting," she said simply, raising her hand, palm facing upwards. The bee flew down to land on it and she folded her hand around it, carefully so that she didn't crush the insect. It buzzed, agitated, and after a moment she opened her hand and let it go. "It reminded me of the firewalkers," she said suddenly. "Those Canaanites who came to our cities and walked among us dealing death, believing that their own lives were spent honorably. I never did determine how that did not contradict their faith... but they were hardly consistent at the best of times."

"The attack, you mean." She didn't think there was anything else Askani could mean, really. "Well... sometimes, people would rather fool themselves than to see things as they are. And the truth is only dependant on what people perceive, right?" It hadn't been so long since she'd been thinking about morality and what was right, her old classes in law still close in her memories. Her clothing flickered briefly - a short shirt and neat white blouse, with a crisply cut suit to finish the ensemble. The image didn't last long however - that had not been a significant part of her life, beyond the break it had brought about.

"What is he waiting for?" She pushed back the limo driver's cap she was now wearing, tugging the tie of her uniform loose, leaning back in the chair to stretch out of her legs. The smell of roses permeated the garden, always present but never cloying.

Askani watched Alison's clothing shift with the same interest she had devoted to the bee. Such clear, fluid thoughts, yet there was a rare clarity about her mind as well. "Punishment," she said, lifting the glass again and sipping.

Penance and punishment. Of course. Alison blinked, and for a moment a cold wind swept across the garden. A heartbeat later the sun blazed down on them, warm and comforting. "For not being good enough. Just like when he was a little boy." The leather of her suit creaked as she shifted and the buzz of the bees grew louder for a moment. "Action and reaction. He's still stuck in that pattern."

"He would deny it, if you asked him, but yes." Askani smiled humorlessly. "He would be much more content if someone would blame him for what happened. Or so he believes..."

"Expiation of your sins, pound of flesh for a pound of flesh..." Alison sighed, looking to the side. Hoarfrost shivered over the table for a moment, temperature plummeting - but only for a heartbeat, before sunny and warm was the norm again. The bee dropped on the table with a light 'tink', frozen and unmoving.

Askani waved a hand over the bee. And it moved, rising off the table with a buzz and flying away. "Sometimes, guilt is easier. Easier than forgiving yourself." She looked up at Alison, managing a slight
shrug. "I am somewhat hypocritical, perhaps. I have my own guilt, my own sense of failure. I should not attempt to advise him on his... yet I cannot help myself."

"Wanting to heal, nurture. They called you Mother Askani. How could you not want to help? It's been set within you from the expectations of your people." Alison shrugged a bit, the soft cotton of her short sleeved shirt moving over her skin slightly. She looked down at the green stuffed Tonberry now in her lap, and patted the top of its head carefully. "You sense of failure and guilt give you an understanding of his."

"Those like him... those reclaimed from the other side... they were always particularly dear to us, in the Clan." Askani looked curiously at the Tonberry.

Those reclaimed from the other side. That said so much, in so few words. "It belongs to Miles. Marie-Ange gave it to him." The Tonberry leapt off her lap and ran around the chair once, before hopping towards the garden where delighted giggles greeted it in welcome.

"He can't live in the past if he wants to help shape the future." Alison's voice was calm and even as she looked towards Askani. "And he cannot move into the future while his past still reaches out to claim him," Askani said simply. "It is a battle still unfinished, for him." She gazed after the Tonberry, shaking her head. "What a lovely mind you have, sister," she said, sounding completely sincere.

A sidelong look towards the house revealed a jagged crack in the walls - a mar in the apparent vision of idyllic perfection. A second later however Alison looked back at Askani and the crack had disappeared, as
though never there in the first place. "Appearances can be deceiving," the little girl said, pigtails gleaming in the sunlight. She hopped down the chair, setting an huge multi-colored lollipop directly on the table where it started to melt slowly in the sun, and walked over to Askani. "But faith manages." She reached up to give the woman a hug, smiling innocently.

Askani was about to respond when she felt Nathan awakening. "So I've been told," she said, very tentatively hugging the child back. "I must go now," she said, and slipped back out of Alison's mind and into Nathan's before he could register her absence.