14168/After the Aftermath

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After the Aftermath
Date of Scene: 17 February 2023
Location: Triskelion and The Braddock Penthouse
Synopsis: Alexander touches base with Elizabeth after the attack on the Triskelion.
Cast of Characters: Betsy Braddock, Alexander Aaron




Betsy Braddock has posed:
The news was filled with the information about the attack. Though there were not a lot of details at this point, the images had been shared on the television of the battered Triskelion. The area was being patrolled by armed Quinjets in the air around it and all ways in and out had been closed down with no word when they might open. To say there were a lot of theories going on was an understatement.

Betsy was at home when the information popped up on her phone. She turned on the television and switched to a news channel for constant coverage. After about fifteen minutes from the time of the attack, she tried to call Alexander. There was no answer. She tried to call other agents she knew as well and nothing. Then she focused on Alexander. Every three minutes, she called.

After the third attempt and voicemail expressing her concern and wanting to be sure he was okay, she walked to the windows of the penthouse and looked in the direction of the Triskelion, though she could not see the building itself. No smoke rising into the air indicating what had happened. It just looked like a normal day from where she was standing.

It wasn't even close.

But Betsy had other means of communication. Though they would depend on if the Triskelion had barriers up preventing them. She reached out with the telepathic powers, the purpled butterfly glow appearing around her eyes as she didn't bother hiding it. She pushed her power out that distance and began to scan rapidly. There were a lot of screaming minds, lots of anger, lots of panic. Yet she focused and found the minds she was looking for. Then she tightened in on one of them--Alexander Aaron. She allowed her presence to be felt, if she managed to reach him. Like a warm hug.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    It was roughly a half hour after the attack when he felt that contact. Alexander had been helping clear some of the debris in the stairwell. His black SHIELD uniform was a little torn, and he seemed a bit ragged. When she touched his mind she could feel that... not exhaustion... but definitely a mental weariness.
    << Hey. >> She could hear the 'tone' of his thoughts, the warmth of his mind. He stepped away from the crew that was working on the debris. All the survivors had been found, so now it was just grunt work. He could afford to take a small moment.
    << Sorry I didn't call. But we can't. Not yet at least. Everything is... alright. >>
    A pause then she'll feel his thoughts as a hint of memories touch his mind, << Now. >>

Betsy Braddock has posed:
She didn't push. No prying. No trying to determine what had happened from his viewpoint. That could wait. For now, Betsy was focused on him which was far more important. <<I understand. I was worried. I wanted to make sure you were safe. I wasn't certain I would be able to reach you this way, if the psi-barriers might be in place. I am glad they were not.>>

Now that she knew he was uninjured, she moved to sit on the couch. Or more collapsed into it. It was good he wasn't here to see it. That would've bothered her for some reason. Which was just silly, of course.

<<Do what you need to do. I will be here when you get home. Anything you need, I will keep a quiet link open with you mentally so we can communicate without prying on what is happening. Just think my name and I'll focus in at that time.>>

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    She could 'feel' his smile in that mental connection and he nodded even as he turned back toward the stairwell. He took a deep breath, << I will. Hopefully I'll be home tonight. I don't know what's going to go down. But... we'll see. This is... going to lead to something else. >>
    As he says that he then adds quietly, << I'm glad you're not here you'd... >> He pauses, then she'll hear him complete that thought, << You'd be bored. >> He says instead of what he likely was thinking at first.
    << It's just clearing debris right now. I'll talk to you soon. >>
    And with that she felt the connection ease. Still there, but now muted, in the background.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Bored. Betsy had to smile a little and shake her head. She knew better than that. There was no chance anyone was bored at that moment. But he was trying to make light of it, to reassure her and help keep her from worrying so much.

<<Agent Knoll appreciates you getting that beam off him. He didn't get a chance to say it before he was carried off to triage.>> And she leaves it at that.

The contact is still there, ever so lightly. But she is leaving him to his privacy. Even as she continues to monitor the news for any changes or additional attacks that might be forthcoming.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    It's another four hours, the sun has set, the chill of the Winter has set in. It must be terribly alone at the Penthouse without either of the roommates there. Alexander's mental contact is still there, however. Just that small contact to let her know that he's alive, that he's conscious and functioning.
    After a time there's the sound of her cellphone trilling, signaling an incoming call from Alexander, with whatever tone that she had assigned to him. In the same moment she'll feel that slight tug on the mental touch as his thoughts contact hers and he says quietly.
    << Elizabeth, it's me. >>

Betsy Braddock has posed:
The ringtone was an older song but that didn't matter. Betsy had very eclectic tastes. Even as she felt that little tickle of him thinking her name in his mind and was about to reach out, the phone began to play "The Fear" by The Score. It had a heavier beat but it was less more about personal strength which appealed to her on a personal level in addition to that tie to him being who he was. It seemed to fit when in a relationship with an actual Olympic god of Fear. Demi-god, god, either way!

At one time she'd set it as Don't Fear the Reaper but that seemed a bit morbid and had led to a few odd looks from friends when she mentioned it was her boyfriend before answering. It wasn't like she could explain the link between the two so she'd changed it.

She picked up her phone and pushed the answer button. "Good to hear from you. How are you holding up?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Just..." Alexander says quietly into the receiver. She can hear the sound of cars around him, he's likely standing out somewhere in public. There's a chirp from a police vehicle in the background, then the sound of an ambulance siren. He must be off Triskelion grounds at this point for the cellphone to be working.
    "It's going to be a tough time. For people." She can tell these moments, when he becomes too neutral. When he says things without saying anything. When he commits little of himself. That distance is there.
    "I called you first. I talked to Monica already. She was in lock down with me." She can hear him shifting the phone to is other ear, then he speaks again quietly. "Gotta call my dad. He's... no idea how he's going to react." There's a small sour laugh.
    "Will probably be annoyed I didn't have a better showing."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
"Or he might declare war on whoever did this for putting his son in danger," Betsy says, giving that other side of things. "Which on one hand terrifies me but another little part of me would like to see him in full action. I think that's the other side of me though, not the me me." More Kwannon, not Betsy. But again, one never knew. They were so blended, she wasn't really sure anymore where one ended and the other began.

"I don't see him being disappointed in you. You worry about that too much, for someone who has no fears." Which honestly, she wasn't one to point fingers. Considering her own personal doubts all the time. Less these days thanks to that other influence on her mind.

"You on your way home? Want me to order in food or something?" She didn't ask a lot of questions. Mainly because she was sure he could only answer so much and he likely would share what he could when he could. She also didn't pry into his brain, giving that respect to his privacy.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    A small exhaled breath is heard on the line, she could likely imagine his smile, could even feel it gently across that mental link. "Not worried. More... predicting the future." His head turns and she'll hear him now in some sort of covered area, the sound of his footsteps are heard.
    She asked if he was heading home and he said quietly, "Yeah, yeah that might be a good idea. I'm not hungry right now, but I probably will be. Soon." There was a slight hint of a smile in his words, "Was hard to read Monica. When something like this happens she goes into that... Widow mode. You know? Calm. Collected. All business."
    Perhaps intimating that she might need a call too.
    "How are things going with you? What's the word from the real world?" He asks, considering the 'real world' being what people perceive from outside of SHIELD.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
"The news is running on the attack constantly. No real details released, just that there was a missile attack on the facility."

Betsy considers a moment and shrugs, then realizes how he can't see it and that was rather silly of her. "Theories abound from terrorism to aliens. The people online are going absolutely insane and I believe most of the preppers in the city have taken their ...what are they called? Bug Out Bags? They have taken those and fled the city for parts unknown, I suspect." Which while he described his father as a prepper, she knew that wasn't exactly right. It was just a way to explain how his father was so different from the average American Dad.

"I'll order in some Thai for us. And I'll be sure to reach out to Monica and make sure she knows we're here for her. When she's ready."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    There was a pause, then his voice was heard again. "Alright, alright that sounds good." He says, "Hey. Elizabeth. Thanks." Though he doesn't say as to why. He just lets that word hang there, perhaps wanting to say something else. Then he repeats it. "Thanks."
    Then the phone clicks.