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]

Unfortunately, for a moment, Alisa was going to have to deal with the Hellfire Club, because it was Brooke Wyngarde who threw open the doors to the Institute. She paused, taking in Alisa, the prosthetic leg, and her outfit, momentarily comparing it to the one she wore that day, and smiled.

Brooke always liked it when she was the best dressed person in her current surroundings.

"Well, well, well. Look what the Catseye dragged in." She raised an eyebrow. "What does Alistaire Shaw's bionic little sex moppet want here?"

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Sex moppet? Really, chere?" Her face went flat as she looked at Brooke. "I'm here to drop off some t'ings for de continuing Education program. By de way, I like de shoes."

She did not look like she was going to punch Brooke, slap her, or hang her from a flag pole. She was letting what Brooke said go, and even went on to compliment her shoes. Perhaps she really did change some.

"Where did you get dem, if I may ask?"

[hellfire_empath]

"Saks," Brooke replied. "I'm sorry, continuing education program?" That was the same program that Brooke herself was part of. In fact, she was the first ever continuing education student. As with all trends, she'd started this one.

Which meant that she was at the top of the pecking order here. Again, as always.

"Besides, it's not as though you were ever Alice's equal partner in anything. What, he kicked you out so now you're trying to become a better mutant? This isn't Betty Ford for those with the x-gene."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I was de one who cut de ties wit' Alistaire, chere." Alisa did her best to remain as neutral as possible. "I found a good guy, started to change my life for de better after losin' my leg, an' after an attack in my own apartment... I realized I don' want any part o' de seedy section o' life no more. I deserve better, an' I'm gonna work for it."

Alisa pushed some strands of her own hair out of her face as she started to walk in the door. She took care not to bump into to touch Brooke in any way.

"I know dis place ain' "Betty Ford". I only want to get a grasp on my own powers an' do better. Is dat so hard to believe?"

[hellfire_empath]

"Oh good. So you do have some sort of sense in you after all," Brooke said. She still hadn't stepped away from the door and raised her chin as Alisa tried to enter. She narrowed her eyes at Alisa. That reason - to grasp her powers better - had been exactly the reason she'd first sought the X-Men out.

Still, Brooke had been under no one's thrall but her own, and Alisa did have ties to the Hellfire Club - though in a more subservient way than Brooke did.

There was also the matter of all that was going on with Stephanie.

"And it is. Maybe a little. Don't get me wrong, I came here for the same reasons myself. But I'm not a snake hiding in a rosebush." Her lips twitched darkly. "You very well might be, given what's been going on with certain factions of the Shaw family." She stepped aside then, finally. "But no matter, Alisa. Whatever your true intentions for being here, Rachel will suss them out."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Don' you t'ink for a second I am here wit' ill intentions. An' don' you t'ink I know dat Rachel can see right t'rough me? I'd be pretty stupid to come in here wit' bad intentions if I knew dat." Her eyes finally narrowed at what Brooke was telling her. She was doing her very best to keep herself in check. "I'm bein' honest. Not jus' wit' you an' dis school, but myself."

"I am not some monster, chere. So don' you DARE treat me like one when you don' know me from atom." Alisa spoke a bit sternly. "I may 'ave made mistakes in de past, HUGE mistakes. But unlike some people, I learned from dem, an' I learned quick. De Hellfire Club is not somewhere I ever wanna be. You go in 'ead first, you leave feet first. Me? I plan to live a long time, so you can bet I won' be in contact wit' dem anymore."

"Now, we might as well make de best o' dis an' start off on a fresh. No sense in bein' bitchy to one an' oder when we got de same goal in mind." She finally offered up a smile. "Maybe we could even become friends."

[hellfire_empath]

"Friends?" Brooke laughed a cold, short, sharp laugh. "Don't hold your breath. I'm going to be a Queen in the Club one day. I'd never be friends with a low-class, nouveau-riche, hideously dressed Cajun guttersnipe like you. At best, you'll forever be my inferior. At worst? Less important than a mote of dust." She switched her handbag from one arm to the other. "But don't worry. I'm learning how to be civil to others less fortunate than I. I'll be sure not to let you feel your inferiority all that often."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Awww, dat's so cute!" Alisa continued to smile. "Let me tell you sumt'ing, chere. What you want, bein' Queen. It ain' worth it. You'll climb over a pile o' bodies to get dat status. An' when you do, who's left to enjoy your reign? You destroyed so many people to get in dat throne, so many innocent lives... all for a silly title an' lousy chair in some Club."

"An' while you are all alone on dat t'rone, who will protect you from t'ose who wish to pull you down? T'ose who will poison your drink an' spit in your food. People will only be your friend for de status, for what you can do for dem. You'd be no better den some whore in de end... givin' people what dey want an' for so lil' in return."

Alisa gave a small smirk, her prosthetic blade tapping on the ground for a moment before she spoke again.

"Me? I'd rather live like de common folk, wit'out all dem headaches an' heartaches. I'd rather live for me an' not some legacy. So fine, see me as a piece o' dust, see me as inferior. But while you are sittin' in dat club, unsure o' who your true enemies an' allies are... I'll be havin' fun an' livin' my life on my own terms, wit' real friends. Shame it took me losin' my leg an' nearly gettin' killed in my apartment to realize all o' dis."

[hellfire_empath]

"I'm sorry, but you seem to be forgetting one thing. I'm an empath. My father is pretty much the Professor Xavier of empaths (no matter what the Frost sisters might claim about Cordelia). I can feel what those around me are feeling." She smiled thinly. "And if I need to? I can sway their emotions about me. I've done it before, after all." And she was tempted to do so to Alisa in an attempt to humiliate her, but Brooke was all too aware that Rachel wouldn't stand for it.

"My becoming Queen is me living for me. It's what I want, what I've been groomed for my entire life. And when I'm there, sitting on my throne, it'll be with the comfort of knowing that status is actually everything. Why else do we worship celebrities, political figures, and other people in power? Why else were the Greek tragedies about people who had important stations in life? You can talk up your pitiful existence all you want, but you were also part of the club once. And unlike the acts that you accuse me of one day having to commit, you actually were someone's whore. That's how desperate you were for power. Remember, Alisa, point one finger at me, and three more are pointing back at you."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

That actually got a laugh out of her, a big one. She nearly had to place her hand on the wall to steady herself because of it. She was being called a "whore"? That was hilarious!

"You t'ink I slept wit' Alistaire for pay or status? What 'ave you been snortin' ?" She wiped tears from her eyes. "I was never 'is whore. I loved de bastard at one point. Problem is, I don' agree wit' what 'e does no more. I won' stand for 'im ruinin' people's lives for 'is personal gain, or dat o' de Club."

"An' point all you want. I know what I done. I know what I was, an' I know what I am, now. I can own up to everyt'ing about me." Alisa grinned a bit. "But you contradicted yourself, Chere. You said bein' a Queen is livin', yet you said you been molded an' groomed for it from day one. Is it truly what you want outta your life? Or is it what was programmed into your skull?"

She folded her arms under her chest, shaking her head.

"My whole life, I was groomed to be a replacement for someone. When dat fell t'rough, I was groomed to be an "enforcer". I never questioned it, I t'ought dat was what I wanted an' what I was to do. An' by de time I got smart, it nearly killed me. It wasn' anyt'ing I wanted. I don' wanna hurt good people. I don' wanna break bones because I'm ordered to. I want to find myself an' be me. To find what makes me 'appy. An' in order to find dat, I gotta start from scratch... dat includes admittin' I was a t'ug, a bully, an' a complete asshole in de past. Now, I'm gonna figure out 'ow to use my powers to 'elp people... den I'm gonna forge my own path in life."

"So hate me all you want lil' girl, it doesn' bother me none." Which Brooke could tell was true. Alisa's readings were coming off as though what Brooke was saying her did not bother her in the least bit. "But I'm warnin' you. You keep on dat path you want, you gonna be a very lonely gal. Learn from de mistakes o' someone who's been dere an' forge your own path before it's too late."

[hellfire_empath]

"I don't partake in recreational drug use," Brooke said in an icy tone. "But then I'm classy like that." She shrugged off Alisa's comments then. "Whatever. You're boring me, and I really don't need to justify myself or my life choices to you. But, let me give you a piece of advice. Just because you're here to start fresh? It doesn't mean that you'll be able to. You're a continuing education student, not an X-Man. There's a chance you may never be an X-Man because of who you were, and what your affiliations were. I mean, it's nice that you want to turn over a new leaf - and I really do wish you'd tried to get a better wardrobe while doing so - but people here have a hard enough time liking or trusting me, and I was never really all that evil to begin with. But you? Honestly, you'd probably have an easier time becoming a nun or something. But hey, it's your life."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"Dey let de future 'ead o' de T'ieves Guild become an X-Man. 'ell, dey even let former terrorists join! So if I wanted membership, I got a shot." Alisa shrugged her shoulders. "Might be nice if I did become one, I'll admit dat. But dere are places in de City dat could use my 'elp more. De X-Men can' be everywhere at once. Nor can any oder team."

"As for my wardrobe, chere, unless you wanna go on a shoppin' trip wit' me for new duds... it's gonna stay as is." Her face softened a little. "Look, I don' wanna be an enemy, Brooke. I know I gotta work 'ard to earn people's trust here. But it ain' gonna deter me. I'm jus' gonna work hard like I should. An' ... I'm sorry we got off on de wrong foot. I really gotta work on dat, too."

[hellfire_empath]

"Actually, Mulitple Man probably could be," Brooke said off-handedly. "And Rachel, if she'd ever use the Phoenix to its full potential." And then, she redirected her full attention back to Alisa and smiled. "You might not want to be an enemy, but as far as these people are concerned, darling, you are one. As far as your story is concerned, I still don't entirely believe that you aren't under Alice's thrall somehow, and that you're not going to stab us all in the back when we least expect it. But the Institute is all about giving everyone a chance, and I suppose that extends to you as well." She beckoned Alisa down the corridor that would take her to Rachel's office, a path that Brooke knew all too well. "But let's get one thing clear. You carnally warmed a bed with something as disgusting, pretentious, and pompous as Alistaire Shaw. You and I? We'll never be friends. Even if you are now dating that model boy from the Freaktastic Four."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

"I didn' tell you de full name o' de boy I'm datin' now. 'ow did you know?" She blinked a bit as she walked with Brooke. "An' I won' deny I carnally warmed Alistaire's bed. I jus' ... He was my first, you know? I spent my entire life workin' an' doin' whatever some ancient order told me to do, dat I never experienced such t'ings. In retrospect... I regret it. I foolishly believed dat maybe Alistaire could change an' he can' an' won' change for no one. He's turnin' into Sebastian Shaw an' it's makin' me sick!"

Alisa had a bit of a hurt look on her face. "He may 'ave saved me at the Soiree, sure. But what he told me dere, I want no part o' what he plans. I won' protect 'im from 'is foolishness. Besides, I don' like bein' treated like someone's "property". Ryan, he treats me wit' respect. Treats me better den anyone ever treated me."

"If it's worth anyt'ing to you, Brooke, I won' be goin' back to Alistaire Shaw. EVER. No amount o' honeyed words will make me go back wit' 'im." She shook her head once more as they walked.

[hellfire_empath]

"Because it appeared in a gossip column," Brooke said drily. "Trying reading something once in awhile, why don't you?" She raised an eyebrow and added, "Don't compare Alice with Sebastian Shaw. One's a real man, and the other's less of a man than a Ken doll." Besides, Sebastian had sort of been a mentor to Brooke, once, however briefly before his death. Brooke wouldn't stand to have him insulted. "And honestly? Not really interested in hearing about your relationship with your latest boytoy. It's nice that you're not BDSM-ing it up with him like you were with Genderless Asian Bishōnen Barbie Boy, but I really don't need or want to hear the details of your pathetic, Not-So-Pretty-Woman dating life."

[alisa_lebeau_v3]

It was clear Alisa did not understand her "Pretty Woman" reference. She just raised an eyebrow, before looking away.

"I don' got time to read de gossip column. I'm too busy workin' at de art gallery, volunteerin' at de shelter, workin' on my own art, continuin' my education at dis school, an' spendin' time wit' Ryan to bother." She flinched a bit at Brooke's words. How did all of this stuff get out?

"It don' matter. I want nuthin' to do wit' Sebastian Shaw OR Alistaire Shaw for dat matter. An' are you done insultin' me, chere?"

[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."