Alison & Moira // Alison & Wanda...

[x-dazzler.livejournal.com]

Alison and Moira sit down to chat and catch up. Set last week, before the wedding proposal. A quiet weekday afternoon...

But that's okay. You have us considerably less older folks around to help you up and down stairs and all that stuff.

Sporting a cup of coffee and a book, Moira headed outside for some sun and to get away from the buzzing of the equipment in her office.  To her surprise, she found Alison parked on the steps of the porch as Miles ran in dizzying circles a few feet away.

"Sugar 'igh?" she guessed, grinning as she settled herself beside her friend.  They hadn't had the chance to chat in a good long while, she realized, and hadn't realized how much she had missed that.

"Naw, not even." Alison chuckled as Miles threw them both a wide grin before concentrating on running another circle through the few dead leaves on the ground, making what was definitely airplane like sounds. "I think he's enjoying the change in weather and season." His first fall, really.

She couldn't help but snicker at Miles' antics.  "Cannae say I blame 'im.  Summers' a 'orrid season in this country."  She gestured with her cup.  "'avenae chatted for a bit--'ow's everythin' goin' wit' ye?" She had seen Alison for a brief time the past week, but that had been when she had shown up and sang Nathan's little poem.

"Oh, he's not been complaining about much, really," Alison murmured, watching as Miles determinedly starting chasing a butterfly – it seemed to have missed its chance at migration and it would be far too cool for the creature to survive soon. "Everything's good, really. Same old, same old. You know how it is."

"Enjoyin' everythin' as much as 'e can?" Moira guessed, watching as he shrieked when the butterfly got brave and landed on his hand.  "Lord, 'e's delightful ta watch."  There was an ache there but she would always have it, she knew, and it would not get in the way of her enjoying children.  Not now, not ever.  She looked slyly at Alison. "Everythin's th' same, aye?" she asked, remembering back to the night of the dance and grinning as she took a sip of her coffee.

"Everything's still all new and shiny and bright to him. Puns unintended," she added after a moment, smiling a bit sheepishly. "We're finding one new thing for him to eat every day still." She stretched out her legs a bit, leaning back on the porch to watch Miles doggedly pursue the butterfly. "Yep. All the same. Training, take care of Miles, teaching, more training."

"Miles is goin' like a weed, an' verra 'appy, under yer care an' love."  Moira resisted the urge to reach over and poke her.  "Nothin' at all?  Like at th' dance?"  She gave Alison a pitiful look.  "I love Nathan ta deat' but I need ta talk 'bout someone else for a wee bit."

But he'd never have the height a boy his age should have, and always be far shorter. But Alison knew that Moira was very well aware of that herself. "Well, men tend to repeat themselves after a while," she said as though it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I'm kidding." And blinked. "The dance? It was fun." Jeez, go to one dance…

"Ye know I'm mostly kiddin', aye?" she said, grinning.  "We 'avenae talked in a while."  Miles went screaming by, apparently very intent on capturing that butterfly.  He reminded her of Kevin on his stronger days.  "Aye, th' dance was fun...an' for a good cause, at tha', couldnae beat th' combination."

"It had been ages," Alison stated. "I hadn't realized how badly I needed that. It was just plain fun. And hey, did you see Paige and I create our own mini-scandal?" Alison winked at Moira, grinning cheerfully. "I'm going to try to get her in my dance class. Maybe extra credit or something as a bribe."

Moira snickered.  "Paige, turn down extra credit?  Ye'll soon 'ave tha' girl eatin' out o' yer 'and if'n ye offer tha'."

"Well, at least in dance class, I hope. She's getting wise to me," Alison replied mournfully, before chuckling lowly. There was something to be said about quiet afternoons like this, without worry the world would fall around you ears without notice.

"Ye dinnae say?  Losin' yer touch, Ali, guess ye'll 'ave ta try 'arder."  She leaned back against the porch railing and relaxed in the sun as Miles came screeching up to them.  The butterfly had flown away but that did nothing to diminish the boy's excitement.

There was a brief lull in the conversation as Miles rushed up the steps and sidled closer to Alison, waiting until she'd leaned over to whisper something in her ear. "Sure, go on ahead," she grinned at him, the little boy running off into the mansion without further ado. Returning her attention to Moira, she pondered the last comment pensively. "Well, you know. Must be slipping in my old age."

"If I wasnae so relaxed, I'd kick ye.  Old my Scottish arse.  Ye jus' need ta work at gettin' yer way wit' some o' these kids.  Scary bright...but we're older than they are."  She nodded sagely.

"Some of us older than the others," was the angelic response, Alison cautiously preparing herself to make a run for it if the comment meant she was getting things thrown at her on grounds of pure impudence or something of the sort.

Moira raised the coffee mug thoughtfully and sighed.  "Yer lucky I left me koosh balls inside th' bloody 'ouse.  I may be physically older but...well...okay, but nothin', I am older."

"Old and crumbly," Alison agreed cheerfully, settling back in comfortably, looking entirely too pleased with herself. "But that's okay. You have us considerably less older folks around to help you up and down stairs and all that stuff."

"Why thank ye so verra much.  I'll remember tha' th' next time I need ta do yer physical."  She brightened at that prospect.  "I already 'ave a collection o' instruments in th' freezer for several people."

"That's okay. By tomorrow you'll have forgotten all about this," was the purely angelic reply, Alison making a mental note to only go see Madelyn for the next while and wasn't it handy to know the schedules of all those working in the medlab by heart, yes.

At that, she did reach over and poke Alison in the side.  "Me an' me poor, aging' mind," she said dryly but laughing quietly.  "I'll be needin' a cane before ye know it.  Better ta 'it people wit', so I 'ear."

Alison nearly pointed out she had a cane she could lend her, but refrained – she wasn't sure the thing was still around, now that she thought about it. "They're dead useful for whacking people upside the head with, that's for sure!"

"Oooo.  Nay, wait, I'm a doctor, cannae do any lon' lastin' damage.  'Tis why I bought koosh balls.  I can throw them, they get th' message an' nay any one gets 'urt!  Most o' th' time, anyway."

"Sure," Alison drawled, smirking at her – and there was more than just a little bit of smugness there. "But by the time you get to the koosh balls I'll be long gone, slowpoke." She really was aiming to get in trouble. Madelyin it would be for quite some time.

Moira eyed her thoughtfully and sighed.  "Bloody 'ell woman, an' ye arenae even ticklish so I cannae get me revenge on ye jus' yet."

Well, Moira sure didn't need to know where Alison was indeed ticklish. "And by the time you'll have thought of something, you'll have forgotten all about the reason why." She sighed happily. "My life is good."

"I may be old but I never forget!" She paused and grinned over.  "Or I'll remember jus' lon' enough ta write meself an e-mail 'bout it."

"Gah! Doomed!" It was the only suitable retort, really.

~*~

Last week. Wanda and Alison meet for the first time, and gossip is exchanged over tea and cookies.

Scott is with Betsy and I have to deliver the usual 'go near him and I'll break your legs' warning there. Want a cookie with your tea?

Wanda nearly tripped as a small blur ran screaming past her, darting into one of the rooms.  Her mouth twitched slightly, especially when she realized that in the small boy's flight he'd managed to lose a shoe.  Reaching down, she scooped it up and trotted after him.

The door was open and shrieks of giggles, both young and slightly older, came from the room.  Politely, she knocked after a few seconds. "Hello?"

"Hey! The new girl on the block!" A shriek echoed over the rest of what was said, followed by protests of unfairness. "Of course I'm bigger than you are, sillyhead! And come on in!" A thump ensued, followed by quick footsteps. "Ack! Kidlet on the loose, watch it!" barely came out in time to announce the blur that dove out of the doorway, determined to make a break for freedom.

Deftly, Wanda reached down and scooped up the young boy in mid-escape, very much used to enthusiastic children.  What she was not used to was the sudden prickling feeling at the back of her neck.  Her mind, stressed from the week and not having had the time to get in some good mediation, had been frazzled with the attempt to reign in her powers. It was suddenly very quiet and peaceful.

She grinned, surprised, over Miles' wiggling head.  "Well, _that_ was unexpected.  Wanda Maximoff.  I would shake your hand but I believe someone would attempt to flee again."

"That he would," Alison agreed, snickering as Miles screeched gleefully, not wriggling too hard to get free while sneaking looks up at the pretty woman holding him. She didn't have the heart to admonish him – not when he was clearly only putting up a token effort and was clearly curious about the new arrival. "I'm Alison. Welcome aboard," she grinned crookedly.

Wanda beamed.  "Thank you.  It's nice knowing that I'm getting a warm reception."  She glanced down at the bundle in her one arm and grinned at him.  "Hello there.  I believe you lost something in the hallway."  She held up his shoe and wiggled it at him, grinning even wider as his giggles got worse.  "Mind if I come in?" she asked, looking at Alison.  "I'm being nosy and curious about everything, it seems."

"Mmm. Gossip central is what you were looking for, huh?" Alison rose to her feet, giving Miles an amused look. "Put that shoe back on young man." Miles grinned at her innocently, holding up both hands in a 'but I'm a prisoner!' way.

Chuckling, she tilted her head slightly, Miles giggling as a cascade of hair tumbled down on him.  "In part, maybe," she teased gently, crouching to release the young boy.  He gave her a look, looked at his mom and then at the hallway behond Wanda.  She raised eyebrows.  "_She_ is bigger than you but I am bigger than she is," was the cheerful response to the look.  Wanda grinned again at Alison.  "Part gossip, part getting to know people.  Helps stablize me."

"Stabilizing is good. Glad to know you're that sort, we need more of 'em here, heaven knows," Alison snorted, waving at Miles lazily. "Go run. But put the shoe back on if you're going outside, baby." With a yelp of delight Miles raced out once more, calling out Artie's name as he exited the room. And somehow Alison managed not to add that even if Wanda was bigger, Alison would be far nastier where Miles was concerned.

Wanda caught a bit of a look and raised her hands slightly.  "The mothers in the caravan have that same look to people they do not know all that well.  It is best to tread softly where a mother is concerned."  She stood, knees popping softly, and smiled.  "Besides, he was absolutely adorable.  It has been far too long since I was around children that age.  All the children I know are at least in their teens by now...I am old."

A pause, and then Alison snorted in laugher. "Sure, try that one on someone else, you old crone you." Wanda in fact, bore whatever age she was extremely well, in Alison's fairly expert opinion on the matter. "And I get creaky too. S'not age, it's what you do with it." She grinned innocently at that, moving to clean up the snack she had on the counter of the small kitchenette she and Lorna shared.

Wanda trotted after her, laughing quietly.  "30 will be here soon enough, I'm afraid.  And your right, it is what you do with it."  She paused and watched Alison for a second, before a light bulb clicked on.  "Your hair's different, that's why I didn't recognize before your name."  She grinned at the other woman's smirk and shrugged.  "Even in the wilds of Romania, they have whi...okay, now I am simply making that up.  You were very popular in London."

Alison looked down at the counter studiously for a moment – when she looked up however, there was only quiet amusement in her expression. "So I guess I can't make any claims about being over the hill myself, mm?" she said, wrinkling her nose, one hand automatically going up to run through her hair, not to much effect. "It got chopped off in Asgard. I was vexed. Coffee or tea?"

"Tea, please, coffee is only for the morning after a night of fun.  And no, you cannot claim being over the hill, though I suspect you will continue to look as fabulous at fifty as you do now."  She leaned against the counter and thought for a second.  "Asgard...some country in Africa?"

Taking the compliment in a matter of fact way, Alison considered -  tea was a good idea for herself as well, really. She started to prepare the kettle, giving Wanda a sidelong look. "You should ask on the journals. It'll give you a lot of interaction with people too. And fun explanations."

"Oh, something fun.  I try not to miss out on fun when I can help it.  It makes up for too much leadership and working with stuffy scholars."  She thought for a second and then asked, gently, "What is it that Miles does?  When I picked him up my mind--it has been very chaotic lately, my powers were starting to thread a little, too much stress and the inability to unwind.  I am still not where I should be but it is much easier to think."

Alison stopped moving entirely, looking down a long time at the mug in her hands before she slowly turned to face Wanda. "You live here. I understand this means you will find out, sooner or later. Sooner as the case were. Understand – this isn't to be spoken to anyone else but those who live in the mansion." The change from casually cheerful to dead serious was absolute.

The playful attitude dropped from Wanda just as quickly and her eyes sobered.  "I may be an open woman, Alison, but I keep others secrets more tightly than my own."

"He neutralizes the active powers of other mutants," Alison said bluntly. "Permanent physical mutations usually aren't affected. Latent or active type powers always are. He has a range though," she sighed, continuing – and a hint of pride glinted in her eyes. "He's got his field down to almost a one foot range now, nearly all the time."

"Hence the reason he didn't turn my powers off when he simply ran by me," she murmured, thinking.  Her eyes met Alison's.  "Now I can see why you would be worried--not only with a power like his, but with a father like mine."  Wanda's mouth tightened slightly.  "A secret for a secret then.  If you have any fears that I might contact him or let him know--there is one reason why I would never do so.  Not out of loyalty or promises to anyone but one person.  This...great headache, has been explained.  I understand that Professor Xavier was the power behind it.  But when my fa--Magneto turned it against the humans--my mother was very sick.  She suffered a brain anuyrism from the strain of the power and died.  Maybe that will ease the worry some."

Alison looked stricken, shaking her head as she tried to find a way to find a way to apologize that would still be consistent with her lack of regret for the blunt statement. "I didn't mean that you'd purposefully tell, Wanda. God, I'm sorry. I meant that even a silly slip might be enough. A random comment..." she sighed, and turned the heater on, wincing a bit. "But I think you know what I mean." And that was that. "Mint is good?"

"Yes, I do."  Wanda took a deep breath and soothed her mind a little.  It was easier now that Miles' mutation had done it's trick and she quickly settled back down.  "And yes, mint is perfect.  And so...onto something much lighter.  I seemed to have embarrassed Scott rather a great deal...do you think you could help me figure out who is single in this mansion?"  There was a teasing tone again, she was good at flipping back and forth between serious and fun.

"Ooh! The settling in gossip! I might be able to help a bit there, with the adults anyway. Kids you can find out about on your own – they're fun that way. Being kids and all. And well, Scott is with Betsy and I have to deliver the usual 'go near him and I'll break your legs' warning there." She grinned amiably. "Want a cookie with your tea?"

There was no hesitation after the cheerful, not so veiled threat.  "Ooo, cookie, yes, please.  And I like my legs the way they are, thank you.  Scott is very nice to look at, and amusing when flustered, but I learned my lesson before.  Men that are involved should be stayed away from on that level.  Very, very far away."

Taking out a plate to set out more than a few cookies, Alison smiled sympathetically. "Learned it the hard way, mm?" She went on however, not fishing for details. And certainly not bringing up Wanda's parentage at all. "Tea should be ready soon. Now, let's see... Lorna and Alex. Moira and Nathan." At that, Alison smirked just a bit. "Should I go on or do you want to find out on your own for the rest?"

Laughter greeted that remark, and with the tea soon ready both women settled down for some serious gossiping.

Comments

[x-havok.livejournal.com]

And well, Scott is with Betsy and I have to deliver the usual 'go near him and I'll break your legs' warning there.

Alex is protesting that Alison stole his line.

But very cute. I reeeeeally like Wanda!