14800/Why do I have to tell you anything, when you can just read my mind

Why do I have to tell you anything, when you can just read my mind
Date of Scene:	28 April 2023
Location:	Sion - Office
Synopsis:	Alexander catches Psylocke up on the Bauer case.
Cast of Characters:	Betsy Braddock, Alexander Aaron

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Betsy Braddock has posed:
It hadn't been a particularly crazy night being a Thursday. But the club was still busy, lots of bodies out on the dancefloor. They had a local band playing tonight which had brought in a few of their fans on top of the usual crowd. Profits were made.

After things slowed, Betsy had retired upstairs to her office. She was running numbers, checking the ordering, eyes locked on her computer screen as she sifted through the details of the week. Tomorrow was payroll as well so she would need to touch on that as soon as she finished with the ordering.

But her mind was somewhat open, keeping a mental eye on things below. Not actively listening but she should pick up anything out of the ordinary that the patrons might be about to pull since those minds often were louder than others.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    It was indeed quiet, and whatever reflection she might be having on the events of the night, on bills, on the tasks of running a club... she likely would still be able to sense the approach of the young Olympian.
    His mind was always a strange thing to feel, even in the distance. The subtle reverberation to his thoughts that made it seem as if his mind spoke in several voices, unified in thought yet like a hint of a chorus, though perhaps several of those voices echoed a half a second after his own. And there was that roil of power that came from even the subtlest contact with his mind. Not aggressive or even something easily harnessed. Yet it was there...
    Especially when he entered her sphere of influence and his thoughts were on her.
    The bouncers and staff knew him by now. He'd been there before, but then the owner of the club had taken a shine to him and he was present more often. He tipped well at least when he did drink, and he had never been trouble even when he came here just himself or with friends.
    He spared a smile for Ronnie at the door. He walked in as the man let him through ahead of the line.
    "Hey man, why does he get to go in?" One of the people outside in the small line said with a scowl.
    "Keep behind the velvet rope, sir." Was all Ronnie ever said.
    Inside he gave a wave to Raven over at the bar. There's always a Raven if you go to enough clubs. Always a Raven you don't think of as their spirit animal being a raven. Usually they looked more like... a Collie. Or a Ferdinand. Or a Steve. Though there was that one gal. On the Titans. She was a Raven that looked like a Raven. Was that her name?
    Alexander's eyebrows climbed a bit as he walked through the crowd, those thoughts drifting through his mind. Though soon the casual meandering of his mind returned to the violet-haired assassin he was about to see. He reached the steps leading up to her office and he nodded to the bouncer there.
    "Hey Demetrius, is she busy?"
    Demetrius touched a hand to his earpiece and likely said something quietly. Alex waited.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
As the alert came through, Betsy was already expecting it. She'd picked up that particular mind on his way inside. It was like a ripple, a disturbance at the edge of her consciousness when he entered that 'active' scanning area. Her range was miles but she was keeping this scan to a more limited space of the club. There was only so much noise a person could take when they were telepathic. That reason was why telepaths who could not shield themselves would go insane in no time. Not everyone that had been hospitalized or medicated for hearing voices had a mental issue. Sometimes it was just they could hear but not block the minds of others.

"Thank you, Demetrius. Please send him up. Also, have Raven prepare a rum and coke for him and have it sent up." Since that was often his order of choice but not always. Yet, she would give it a try.

She didn't shut down her computer but her attention was no longer on it as she rose to her feet, stepped around the desk and awaited his arrival.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    After a few moments he appeared, wearing those white sneakers and blue jeans, his black t-shirt was mostly hidden under his jacket though it had a zombie on the front apparently. That brown leather bomber jacket, he wore while it was still chilly, nicely flattered his physique though he was easing out of it as he paused at the entrance of her office.
    "Hey," He says with a smile, hanging that coat up on the rack next to the door. Then he walked across the distance, spreading his hands and moving to take her in his arms. It's a small moment shared, warm and loving as they share a small kiss, a hint of desire in the touch but then he eases back to look in her eyes. Those pale irises of his meeting her gaze he smiled.
    "I missed you. How has it been today?" He asks of her, his hands resting on her hips gently.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
She was dressed for the club. Today that meant a mini dress with a flouncy-bouncy skirt to it and a halter type top that left her back bare. Spike heels because of course they were. The shows were strappy though, showing off her feet and perfect pedicure.

The embrace was met with her own and she returned the kiss before taking that half step back so they could focus on each other instead of being too close and having to do that one eye or the other thing.

"It's been. Just was finishing up ordering. Have to do payroll then I'll be set for the night. How did the rest of your evening go?"

Since the last she had seen him was when she departed from a certain party after obtaining information for SHIELD through illicite means.

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "They picked up Bauer, interrogated him." Alexander smiles a little as he leans on her desk to the side, though holds her hand in his, running his thumb gently along the back of her wrist. He smiles slightly, "I only remember a part of it, I was focused on mainly... making sure my dad didn't flip out. But along those lines I think he's decided to trust we can handle it. He saw Daisy and Jess interrogate the guy, they handled it well."
    Then his eyebrows rise as he affects a hint of weariness, "But, he gave us a few more avenues to pursue. Bauer would've liked him dead, but there is also another guy. And possibly whomever is funding that person so... work to do."
    He shifts a little there, crossing his legs at the ankles and murmuring, "Hopefully before the union people decide to go through with the bodyguard thing. And if he does get someone assigned to him, dunno... hopefully they're a bit oblivious. We might need to turn to you to... sort of help them forget if they find something out."
    His eyes distance a little, "Though I hate resorting to that."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
She listened in that way that showed he had her full attention. Eyes on him, nodding here or there. Sometimes a little noise of acknowledgement without trying to interrupt.

When he got to the last, Betsy gave a small smile and squeezed his hand. "I understand. It is...distasteful. But to protect people, it has to be done at times. Yet it is such a violation really." Odd, she found killing people with a sword less problemantic than manipulating minds. Honestly, that's something she might need to analyze herself later.

"I'm glad he gave some information and hopefully yes, things can be resolved quickly. I don't like there being a danger to you or your father." And she had to grin, dropping her gaze a moment then peeking back up to him. "I realize the danger isn't /that/ extreme considering you're Olympians but it doesn't change that the concern is there."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Ehn..." Alexander answers succinctly, grinning a little after he just makes that one sound as if it encapsulated the entire situation. He looks down and away, resting his other hand now on top of hers, just enjoying that point of contact. He takes a deep breath, then murmurs. "It's made me think about things. About how there might be a time when my father has to head back to Olympus. What my life would be like without... that connection."
    He shakes his head a little, "There'd be a measure of... expectation I think that I'd go with him. But I wouldn't. Which is something I see I might have to deal with down the line."
    He exhales a little, smiling as he does so as he ponders the situation. "I'm too taken with my life here. Which includes you, and my friends, and my job crazily enough."
    A small shrug is given, "I like what we've built, and though I know things are tumultuous at times, I like that we have this connection."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Crossing her legs at the ankles as she settled her bottom against the edge of the desk as well, taking her position beside him, Betsy gave a little nod as she thougth about those words.

"It's all you've known. He's known life as a God. Being worshipped, having people dedicated to his cause. You have a different life experience and thus different viewpoints." Another little squeeze as she brushed her thumb over the back of his hand gently.

"In a hundred years, you might think differently. And perhaps if he does go back to Olympus, he will not expect you to follow? He knows you have your own life. I mean, he technically could deal with all this on his own but seems to be following the rules. For you."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Could be for himself too, to a degree. He seems to like his life as it is. He's been worshipped, but I think... like his work, his friends though he doesn't have many, they get along with him because of who he is, less the role he fills?" Alex grins a little, "Then again it might be telling that there seem to be more people who want him dead. So there's that."
    He makes a face, then shakes his head. "Hard for me to imagine still being around after a hundred years. I still think of people in their thirties as ancient." His lip twists a little, then he looks across the room. His nose crinkles. "Anyways, enough about my stuff. What's been going on here, with you?"

Betsy Braddock has posed:
"Literally nothing," Betsy says in answer to his question, giving a shrug with one shoulder. "Just been here waiting for you to finish up. Wasn't sure if I'd get to see you again tonight."

Since the whole thing with his work could've been hours. It could have been tomorrow before she saw him. She'd gotten used to his work sometimes demanding him at all hours of the day or night. It wasn't like an espionage slash law enforcement group had a day they were closed.

"Though I do need to be here tomorrow night. We have a new band coming in and I want to be sure of them and their crowd before leave the place in the manager's hands."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "Alright, we should grab some food on the way home. I don't think there's anything at the house to cook. Unless you..." He tilts his head to the side, "Did you hire a chef? I couldn't tell if you were serious or kidding about that."
    Which, to be fair, on one hand he thought it was a bit much. But on the other... someone else on call to cook? So nice.
    He stands up and steps in to give her another soft kiss to the cheek before he moves over toward one of the sofas in the room, "But in any case, get done what you need done and we'll mosey when you're ready. I have tomorrow off, but not the next day."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Betsy took that moment to nod and moved behind the desk, sending off the order she'd been working on and pulling up payroll. "Should be less than ten minutes," she told him as she focused there but still she was able to speak outside that.

"And no, I did not hire a chef. Because I wasn't sure we were comfortable having someone in our home during nine hours of the day. That's a big step."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "That's true, but you're all... British." Alexander says with a grin as he drops into the sofa, those pale eyes flaring with amusement. "Your ways are strange to us Americans with your lifts and loos and shed-yools."
    He grins and digs into his pocket for his cellphone, because he's going to have to wait while she works. "I'll see what's on the way home, maybe we can pick something up." With that said he swipes the phone to life and starts to ponder the various take out places along the route.
    His eyebrows rise, "Indian food? Or Thai?"

Betsy Braddock has posed:
Without missing a beat, Betsy responded to his commentary about her country and their languages. "I do not believe someone who doesn't actually speak English has a right to address my native tongue. You speak American. Not English." A glance his way, somehow giving that impression she looked down her nose at him. Then she's back to the computer. "Do remember that fanny-pack is never a term to use in polite company. And I don't mean because the waist bags are simply gauche."

She typed a bit more, scanning hours and people listed on her screen. "I think Indian sounds wonderful. A good curry would hit the spot. You want to order it? I'm almost done and by the time we get there, hopefully it will be ready."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    Alexander is already smiling, smirking, enjoying the hassle she gives back to him even as he flits through different restaurants on his phone. He gives a nod and narrows it down to Indian food, which gives him not as many options. Still a lot, just fewer.
    "Alright, I'll put in an order, and something for tomorrow in case we don't want to leave the house..." Which seems like a lovely idea really considering the last few days. He takes a deep breath then hits the order button.
    He puts the phone away and then looks across the distance at her while she's working. His thoughts drifting to focus more on her. She can likely sense the subtle touch of his mind even as those thoughts have that hint of harmonics to it.
    "Hey..." He finally says, and when she looks up. "I missed you." Those pale eyes eased down a little so he could look at her from under his brow, chewing a little on his lower lip. His thoughts drifting to more immediate concerns.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
That tone caught her attention and she glanced over at him again as he gave that /look/ with that tone. It was the Alex version of Joey's How-you-doin and it always amused her for that reason.

"You are silly," Betsy chides but there is no venom in her tone. She just sounds amused. "We just saw each other about eight hours agao," she continued. Her fingers were flying over the keys and she soon closed down the program. "Payroll is complete."

And she shut down the computer as she rose to her feet.

"Let's get out of here and you can show me how much you missed me."