xp_logs | Kurt and Alison; Kurt and Wanda

Early Sunday morning, Kurt and Alison meet in the greenhouse and talk about Madelyn, Foley and Nathan.

The light slowly illuminating the room was low and warm, yellowish tints reflecting on the glass of the windows and the greenery in the attic. Ororo had asked Alison to come up to the greenhouse to 'visit' the plants, leaving tea behind for Alison while being conspicuously absent. Plant therapy. That's so Ororo. But Alison was smiling a bit as she radiated light for the plants, breathing in the scent of the growing things surrounding her.

Kurt, as was his habit, had come to find refuge in the greenhouse from what was going on below. He paused as he came through the trap door, realizing immediately who must be there: there was too much light for it to be the sun, and only one person in the house could do what he was seeing.

"Hello, Alison."

"Morning," she replied softly, leaning over a bit from where she was sitting to peek at the trap door leading to the attic. There he was. "I'm doing the sunlamp thing. I can be quiet if you wanted to hide
out..." Alison knew this was Kurt's refuge from the rest of the world, and something about the way he was moving showed he had rather weighty thoughts on his mind.

He shrugged, walking slowly over to sit beside her. "I do not mind. I think perhaps talking might be good."

The light she was radiating was low, only visible thanks to the grey skies outside keeping the green house from being as bright lit as it normally was. "Talking is good." It was also good to be able to return the favor every now and then, considering Kurt gave so much of himself, always supporting those around him. "I'm listening."

He nodded and paused for a moment before he started to speak. "You know, of course, what happened on Nathan's rescue mission. What they found."

Alison swallowed heavily, the light wavering into the visible for a moment before steadying again. After Tournai, she knew only too well what Nathan had found there. She'd seen it herself. "Yes. I know." Kurt hadn't read her report yet, which was fine. That's not what this conversation was about.

"I was... downstairs", he continued quietly. "I went to... give the only help it is not yet too late to give. And I spoke with Madelyn. She... well, to understate it, she is not taking this well."

Well of course she wouldn't. "That's understandable." Alison didn't think she'd be managing the calm she was now, if it hadn't been for having someone to lean on upon her return. "Did talking with you seem to help her a little bit, at least?"

"I do not know", came the rather helpless answer. "I think perhaps... she allowed herself to break down, more than she might have done alone. The anger, the grief, and I think some fear as well."

"Mmm." Well - she knew what Kurt seemed to need, just now. "And that's a start, yeah? It won't tide over all at one." Maybe never, at that, but that wasn't the most comforting thing to tell him. "She'll probably need to have someone to lean on some more, y'know? Maybe find a way to get her out of the medlab more often too. She spends way too much time in there."

He nodded, with a very faint wry grin. "This is true. Although she has been the only doctor, recently, and with Illyana and then Doug and Marie-Ange, and now Kyle... It is not easy for her to leave her responsibilities, even briefly."

"Well, if she goes with you it'll be fine. Just keep within a good 'porting range and she can be on call. Moira won't mind covering for her and all." And hopefully people would know better than to get hurt on purpose - wait, was she setting up Kurt to take Madelyn out on a date? Hrm. "Harry's is within distance, no?" Why not?

He nodded. "Yes, it is - we have been there before. And as things stand, now Kyle has moved into the main part of the mansion, she will have much less responsibility for now..."

Oh ho! Had they now. "Well, you should take her again, then. There's that other place too, not much further off..." She trailed off, pausing a moment to concentrate and adjust the light a touch - there,
that would do the trick. Only Ororo would think to use her as a glorified sun lamp in an effort to give her a moment's calm in the greenhouse.

Kurt was enjoying the light as much as the plants undoubtedly were, and found himself relaxing a little. "Where is that?"

She would be going restaurant hunting later today, she decided. Maybe Lorna would have some recommendations too - Alison had no doubt her room mate would enjoy helping out in this. "I'll email you addresses and stuff later, if you like. And there's the ice cream place," of course, "which can be fun even if it's cold outside."

He nodded, though a slight suspicion was forming in his mind. This all sounded very familiar from a time over a year ago, involving Lorna and Alex. Or perhaps Jamie and Kitty... "I would like that. Thank you."

"You're welcome," she answered, smiling a bit. "How was she doing when you left her?"

"She seemed better", he answered, a little uneasily. "But so many people here are so good at that... and it did not seem an issue that would be settled by an hour's crying."

"No." How right he was there. "She'll probably need to be reminded she can lean on someone, now and then." Alison's words had nothing to do with any consideration at nudging Kurt along - she was simply worried about her friend. "Maybe I'll see what I can do when I take breakfast down to her this week."

"I think that would be a good thing", he agreed. "The more people offering for her to lean on them, the more likely it is she will take it."

"Well, waffle duty is already all mine, so she won't notice a thing there," Alison winked conspiratorially. "And Madelyn is the sane sort. Don't think she'll need the need to do the hide in a closet and pretend everything is ok until her head goes boom routine." There was a touch of wryness to her voice as she spoke.

The wry grin returned. "I would hope not, but it can sometimes be hard to tell. Especially when the person has responsibilities that - they feel, at least - no one else can carry out."

"Hank will be back soon, though. And Moira can help in a pinch, hold the fort down and all that." Alison stretched her arms out, the light and faint heat fading. A faint cracking sound was heard as a joint popped and she grinned a bit sheepishly.

"And that will help, I think", he answered. "Perhaps when Hank returns, she can finally take that holiday she has been talking about."

"See? Proof that she's sane. She actively wants to take a holiday. Cabana boys and all. That is very sane and wise and we should enable that as best we can, as soon as possible." Alison chuckled, leaning
back, one of the wider leaves from a nearby treelike plant weaving lightly as she brushed against it.

He nodded. "That sounds like a good idea. Will you be going with her?"

She might have said yes a week ago. Her lips quirked and she didn't blush at all as she shook her head. "Naw. I think I'll have other plans. Means there'll be more cabana boys left for her, is all."

Kurt shot her a wicked grin, letting himself forget his worries of earlier and just enjoy the banter. "Oh? And what other plans might those be?" As if he had no idea.

His question was greeted with a coy look, Alison not entirely surprised that Haroun's suite mate had a good idea of what was going on, even though she didn't think they'd been unsubtle about
things. "That would be telling!"

"Does it involve a trip to somewhere sunny?" he asked innocently. He was good at the innocent questions.

"Who needs the sun when you've got me around?" she answered, in equal amounts of innocence, before snickering lowly. "Actually, that sounds like a good idea. Still not sure where though. S'been way too long since I've traveled just for the sake of it."

Kurt nodded, suddenly realizing something that had escaped him in the chaos of the last week or so. "How does it feel to be free?" he asked softly. "No more looking over your shoulder - the one you were afraid of is out of the way now."

The smile faded and Alison looked down for a while in silence. "It's… odd." She shrugged a bit, looking rueful. "I'm still used to keeping the inducer with me all the time. Looking at the roofs, just in case he's there - still a habit." Doug hadn't died, she reminded herself. "And then sometimes I don't think about it at all and I can go out now without putting anyone in danger unless another crazy decides to take his place and - yeah."

"It will take some adjustment", Kurt agreed quietly. "It has been how long, now? Two years that you have been afraid of him?"

Alison winced a bit, covering it up by looking down again. She really wished Kurt wasn't unknowingly putting the emphasis on her fear of the man so much - not that she could contest it. She had been afraid of him, for the longest time. "Over a year. Started a month or so before I came to the mansion." She knew the exact day and length of time since, too - but why go into specifics?

Kurt noticed, and stopped. He didn't really know what to change the subject to, so he settled for reaching for Alison's hand to squeeze it briefly but warmly in an attempt at reassurance.

She smiled at him, the expression a touch tired but entirely genuine. "I'll be fine, Kurt. It's over now - just need to get used to that, oddly enough." And there were other thoughts to keep her busy, after all.

There always were. He smiled back, with the same note of weariness. "Yes. You will be."

"Hey you." She leaned over, patting his cheek lightly. "Madelyn will be fine too. She has you to worry over her, and that means she's pretty much doomed for being fine."

Kurt chuckled wryly, looking at her with gratitude. "I hope so. I try." He paused, then asked, "How is Nathan's friend?"

Not trying to kill himself outright was not the answer Alison wanted to give Kurt, of all people. "I don't know." That was honest, really. "Not as bad as it could be. Time will tell, really."

He nodded thoughtfully. "He is in the best possible place. With time..."

"I'm not sure he'll be staying here forever. This is still a school. But for now this is the best place." Alison shrugged a bit - she was rather glad she'd get to keep an eye on Foley. "And when he's ready, I think Nathan has something in mind."

Another nod. "Until he has found his feet a little better, at least. And I am sure Nathan would not let him go from here without a place as good or better to go to."

"Papa bear." The explanation said it all really - Alison hadn't been joking on that one. "Even if real male bears are just as likely to eat their young. Gah. You know what I mean." She facepalmed at that,
shaking her head.

Kurt chuckled. "Yes. I know what you mean. And it is something that... I am glad our children here, and Nathan's friend, have a chance to know."

"Yeah." Even if some of them insisted on not taking it into account most of the time. Gah, she was being unfair, she knew - but still.

On Sunday evening, before the group leaves to go clubbing, he visits Wanda and becomes the first to see her costume.

Early on Sunday evening, Kurt made his way to Wanda's room, mostly to see how she was doing. He knocked and waited for an answer as usual.

The knock on her door startled her slightly and Wanda wobbled just a bit. "Come in!" she called over her shoulder as she wrestled with the purple, thigh length boot. The body suit was already in place, along with the stockings and now the boots. Just the mask, gloves and cape were left to put on. She shoot a glance in the mirror and shook her head. It had to be put down to a matter of science how she had managed to fit all of her into this costume.

Kurt opened the door and very carefully didn't stare at her costume when he walked into the room. "Ah. You are going out with the children, then?"

She beamed at him. "Yes. Scott asked me to keep an eye on the ones going to the club. For the price of his motorcycle, I agreed. And, well, I was planning on going out anyway, so this makes it much easier." Moving carefully, the boots cheerfully knocked Wanda into the 6'0" range, she started to pull on the gloves. "And you?"

He smiled. "No, I will be staying here, I think. I am not much one for nightclubs."

"That is a shame, the dancing is a lot of fun." Sitting on the bed, she glanced at him, head tilted. "So what are your plans for Halloween, Kurt? Going to help with the small ones?"

"If I am called on, certainly. I understand they will be trick or treating, which means they will be sugar high before the end of the night."

"Oh yes, this is the night to let them go at their top speed, I suppose. Makes me glad that I will be out for most of it, then."

He grinned wryly. "I would not speak too soon. Are you the only chaperone for the night?"

"Touche," she said, laughing. "I believe I am. Scott did not mention anyone else going and he said he had a difficult time persuading the others to go. And teenagers on a sugar high can be worse than smaller children at times."

"Indeed. Not to mention harder to catch", he answered, deadpan.

Wanda covered her face at that one in mock horror. "I am suddenly grateful that I am taking the motorcycle and not riding with them."

"That is probably a good thing, yes. How are they getting there and back?"

"I am assuming one of the vans. There are some going that have their driver's license, I assume. Or they'll be getting there by teleportation. Scott left out a few details, perhaps because he didn't know them. Or that he was simply grateful that someone had agreed to do it."

Kurt laughed. "Ah well, it is better not to try to plan in too much detail. It never works out as planned."

"So I've noticed. Is it always the case here?"

He shrugged. "It seems to be. It keeps things interesting, at least."

"Always on our toes, that is for sure." Laughing softly, she stood back up and hefted the cape, eyebrow raising sharply. "This is going to be interesting to ride with on the bike, that is for certain."

Kurt studied the cape. "Well, you have the choice of letting it fly, putting it back on when you get there, or pinning it down somehow."

"I might have to pin it down, mainly to keep myself warm on the bike until I get there."

"That is a good point. It will be windy, on the bike."

Wanda pointed at the rest of her costume and said, dryly, "And this will not exactly keep me warm. Comic book costumes are never very practical, I've found."

"It would seem not", Kurt answered in amusement. "Did you make this one yourself?"

"Oh, if only I could sew that well." She pointed to the cape and the pointed, purple mask. "Those, yes. The rest of the costume I managed to find at a costume store and simply had them colored differently. It is amusing to find someone in a comic book with the same basic build and looks as I have."

He grinned. "I do not think that is likely for me, somehow. Perhaps next year, I will program the image inducer to look like a comic book character."

Wanda looked amused at that. "Oh yes, we'll have to see what we can come up with. Halloween is not just for kids but it's a chance to let loose, really."

"We have plenty of time to think of something good", Kurt answered, warming to the idea. "Not for tonight, but for next year."

"And plenty of material to work from as well." She still had Pietro's and her's comic book collection at home, she mused. "So many options, as well."

He smiled. "This is true. With forty years' worth of characters, there is certainly no shortage."

"Goodness, no." With a twist of her hands, Wanda swung the cape over her shoulder and fastened it onto the shoulders of her costume. "Can you hand me the mask?" she asked, trying to get the last thing snapped into place.

He looked around and saw it, stepping over to fetch it for her. "Here you are."

"Thank you. Oh, this glue is going to take forever to get off tonight." Within a few seconds, the mask was secured in place and she grinned over at Kurt. "How do I look?"

"You look very good", he answered honestly, if... limitedly. "I hope you are taking a camera, to record the reactions from the male students?"

Wanda simply smiled and patted the belt that contained a few items. "But of course, this was too good to pass up."

He tilted his head curiously. "What else are you taking?"

"Not much but this costume does not exactly have pockets and I need to put the keys to the motorcycle somewhere. Or Scott will kill me."

He nodded. "Oh, yes, of course."

"Unfortunately there is no room for a phone in case something happens." Wanda shrugged, the cape rippling in response to the action. "But apparently the bike comes equipped for one and I am hoping that nothing goes wrong."

"I believe the children have phones, anyway", he pointed out. "I am sure at least one of them will have theirs."

"Oh good." A look of relief passed across her face and then she smiled. "Well, I need to go make sure the bike is ready to go. Care to walk with me?"

"I would be happy to", he answered with a smile. "How could I pass up the chance to see the reactions of any students we may pass for myself, after all?"