Going Back to Basics (open to mansion folk)

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Alisa's head was still killing her after that Soiree. It pretty much confirmed she did not want ANYTHING to do with the Hellfire Club what so ever. Sebastian made sure she got the message by having Tessa play with her mind like a violin. Because of her own stubbornness, Alisa realized she could have died playing such a game. And for what? To keep some clients? It just was not worth it.

That being said, she did keep her word with Ryan. She got all the paperwork to enroll herself in the continuing education program at the Xavier Institute. She paid for her tuition in full (it was just a drop in the bucket for her), and now she was going to the Institute to drop everything off and perhaps meet with Rachel about what she was hoping to gain from this.

She pulled up to the Institute in her Cobra, careful with how she parked it, and obeying the speed limit. Alisa stepped out of the car, not dressed like the first time she came here. No, she reverted back to her white business shirt, red tie, suspenders, black and grey pinstripe skirt, and... well... her black prosthetic. No more pretending to be someone else. This was who she was, take it or leave it.

Alisa marched up the steps to the Institute and then gave the door a good knock to announce she had arrived.

Comments

[hellfire_empath]

It didn't get out. It was just easy to suss out. Besides, gossip traveled fast in the Hellfire Club.

"Not really," Brooke admitted. "But I'm never really done insulting anyone. Why should you be any different?" She paused for a moment, and then added, "But keeping yourself busy like that? Sounds like a woman - or an excuse for one anyway - trying to escape from something. I'm sure Rachel will have a field day with that."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Escape sumt'ing?" She raised an eyebrow. "You t'ink dat because I work 'ard everyday dat I'm tryin' to escape sumt'ing?"

Okay, now she was a bit confused by what Brooke was telling her. She never felt like she was escaping or running from anything in her life. Now she was wondering if there was some truth to what she said, or if Brooke was trying to play mind games with her.

"I jus' work 'ard for everyt'ing I got."

[hellfire_empath]

"Well, with everything you mentioned, you are keeping yourself rather ridiculously busy, aren't you? The gallery, the shelter, school, your own artwork - granted, I'm sure that your own artwork is good therapy for you. Lots of still life wrapped in leather and anger?" They passed the kitchen, and the scent of lemon tarts filled Brooke's nose. She smiled in contentment before adding, "I know. I work hard too. To become Queen. We each have our own goals. I'm sorry that you think mine will lead me down a path of darkness and loneliness, but I assure you that it won't. Maybe I just possess some survival skill that you lack. Let's call it class."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I've jus' seen it 'appen so many times, dat I'm concerned is all. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely." Alisa could smell the lemon tarts in the kitchen. They smelled wonderful, but Brooke was making her so anxious, now. "I don' paint leather an' anger. I do portraits o' people an' cityscapes, mostly. My older works were more fantasy and abstract based."

Admitting she was somewhat concerned with Brooke's ambitions to become Queen was something hard for her to do. But she did it, and now she felt a little better that she was at least heard.

"I've survived more den you will ever face. But dat don' mean what you survive is any less den what I endured."

[hellfire_empath]

"I corrupt," Brooke said simply. "I don't get corrupted." Which for her was the truth. If ever an infernal or cosmic force were to take a hold of her, Brooke was entirely sure that she'd be able to maintain control.

"And large, grandiose statements like that? About you facing more than I ever will? We don't know that for a fact. The future isn't clear, even to a mutant precog." Brooke shook her head. "You really are insanely self-important aren't you?"

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I'm not self important." She spoke firmly, yet again. "But de chances o' you gettin' your leg blown off, den nearly violated, den nearly strangled to death in your own office are quite slim, Brooke. Dat said... wouldn' wish any o' dat on anyone. Don' t'ink anyone sane would."

Alisa ignored her words about corrupting people. It was what Alistaire did and planned to do. It was why she wanted nothing to do with him. Now, she wanted nothing to do with Brooke, either. People were are not playthings. Lives are not toys to her.

[hellfire_empath]

"Well, no. That likely wouldn't happen to me. But, then again, I have a higher station in the court than you, far fewer enemies, and higher connections. After all, my father is the Red King. I'm not quite the target that you were." She paused. "I am sorry ou went through all of that, because really, no one deserves to go through that." She brushed hair off of her shoulders. "I can literally feel your pain. Please stop. It's getting tiresome."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Sorry, I didn' know I was projectin' dat." She honestly felt bad and tried to get her emotions back into order. It took Alisa a minute or two, but Brooke would sense very little emotion coming from her, now.

"It's jus' been rough, Brooke." Alisa's face went back to remaining flat. "Still no reason to project it out an' bother you. Again, I'm sorry."

[hellfire_empath]

"Mmmmhmmm." Brooke's reply was short, curt. They were in front of Rachel's office. Brooke knocked on the door - three short, tight raps. "I know you were here the last time that Rachel rejected you, but hopefully things will go better for you this time."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I'm sure t'ings will be different dis time." Alisa offered a smile. " 'sides, I didn' know dis place 'ad such a good art teacher. If I knew dat, I wouldn' 'ave tried to apply. An' ... t'ank you, Brooke."

[hellfire_empath]

"Oh, look at you. So optimistic," Brooke scoffed. "Please, stop. I'd rather not get Cajun-spice infused diabetes." She knocked again.

Where was Rachel?

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel was getting her short breads hidden away. Her steaming tea was left on her desk. When she was ready, the door opened.

"Come in."

[hellfire_empath]

"Oh, finally," Brooke snapped. "Cajun fried mental patient is your issue now. I have a thing to get to." She smiled demurely at Rachel before flouncing away.

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Once the door opened, Alisa straightened her back and walked inside. There was a small wave given to Rachel as she stood up in front of her desk, waiting to be asked to take a seat, before handing over all the paperwork that was needed.

"Hi, Mrs. Ramsey. Long time, no see." She offered a smile. "Brooke was kind enough to lead me back to your office."

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel quirked an eyebrow.


"Well, I guess less than a month is a long time to some people," she stated carefully. "How are you, Miss LeBeau? Please, have a seat."

The door to the office closed behind Brooke.

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

Alisa took a seat, carefully folding her right leg over her left before handing Rachel her paperwork in a nice folder. She arranged everything inside so neat and orderly...

"I could be better, no lie." She gave a shrug of her shoulders, keeping any of her emotions to herself and not projecting. " 'ow about you? You doin' well?"

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel had a serious sense of deja vu with this woman handing her paperwork in a folder. She took the papers and set them on her desk.

"I'm doing fine. I'll cut to the chase. Why are you here?"

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I'm here to enroll in de "continuing education" classes dis school provides." Alisa now felt a bit of a pit in her stomach. With how Brooke treated her, maybe she would not be welcome here?

"I filled out all de correct paper work an' attached a check for my tuition fees."

[nohoundsallowed]

Rachel blinked and then rubbed her eyes. Not that it would fix anything she heard, but it was her reaction.

"So, instead of being a teacher here, you want to be a student?" She was trying to suss out what was going on here. Even if it was tempting to just scrape out the answers she wanted mentally.

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I know, it's 'ard to believe." Alisa admitted. "But... sumt'ing 'appened, Mrs. Ramsey. It made me realize dat I need to learn more about my powers if I'm gonna do any good for myself or others."

She was going to guess what the next line of questioning was, so might as well get it out of the way.

"I got no ties wit' any illegal groups, anymore. Not de T'ieves Guild, not de 'ellfire Club, not even Alistaire Shaw. I've been volunteerin' at de shelter, runnin' my business, runnin' an art gallery, an' dat is it."

[nohoundsallowed]

She took a breath and let it out slowly. "We can provide training for powers."

She did that for Brooke and would have another continuing ed student come fall anyway.

"Before I even look at this paperwork, you must understand, your welcome here will be contingent on the fact you will not associate with the Hellfire Club at all. Nor will you have a conversation lasting longer than 'Hello, Goodbye" with either Alistaire or Sebastian Shaw and get to stay here. I have enough groups with people nosing around campus."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I understand, Mrs. Ramsey." Alisa nodded her head. "Frankly, I got nuthin' to say to either Sebastian or Alistaire Shaw. I want nuthin' to do wit' either one o' dem."

There was truth in what she said, as well as some anger when Alistaire's name came up. But Alisa did her best to prevent that from being projected.

"You won' 'ave a t'ing to worry about, Mrs. Ramsey. Dere will be no contact wit' any o' de above mentioned people or dat dreadful place."

[nohoundsallowed]

"Good. I will hold you to that. As a continuing ed student, I assume you have a means of commuting to the school." A pen floated out of the holder and into her hand. The file flipped open in front of Rachel.

She glanced down at the paperwork that seemed in order.

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I can drive to de school, no problem." She smiled a tad bit more. "It gives me a chance to take de Cobra out a bit more. But if worse came to worse, I could always rent an apartment near de school."

[nohoundsallowed]

"What are your powers exactly? So I can figure out the proper staffing for your training." She removed the check from the file and put it in her top drawer.