15722/Hello

Hello
Date of Scene:	26 August 2023
Location:	The Braddock Penthouse, Downtown Manhattan
Synopsis:	A phone call between the two about the crazy X-Men stuff going on!
Cast of Characters:	Betsy Braddock, Alexander Aaron

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Betsy Braddock has posed:
Things hadn't gone as planned in Washington. In fact they had gone about as wrong as they possibly could. Thus after the events of that night, when the X-Men were back in a safe location, Betsy had to make a choice. Remain with the X-Men in hiding or return home. The only problem was home involved her live in partner. While this would not be a problem typically, after all he lived there because they cared for one another, now it was complicated. He worked for SHIELD. And she was now on the wanted list.

She found herself a quiet corner and settled down with the burner phone. She wasn't going to chance her own phone being tracked in some way. It's why she hadn't brought it along on the mission.

First he got a text from the unknown number. <<It's Betsy. You somewhere private we can talk a few?>>

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    She got a single 'n' that was sent back to her in text. It would let her know he was likely not in a good place to talk and to hold on. After a few she'd get sent picture sent to her that had no text connected to it. Though if she took a look at it she'd see a series of menus set on a table and fanned out like a hand of cards. Nothing out of the ordinary though at a glance she'd see them spaced in a particular way that some of the prices were more prominent than others. And when the first number of each of those prices was keyed in...
    She'd get the number of another phone that when it picked up she'd hear him.
    << Hey. >> A pause as she might hear the faint shuffle of the phone as he got situated wherever he might be.
    << First thing, are you alright? >>

Betsy Braddock has posed:
It took her a minute to figure it out. But then she did and had to smile. Leave it to him to give her that out. She could've tried telepathy but she felt that might give away a little too much. Not her location obviously. More her emotional state. A state that was not the usual for the unruffleable Brit.

"I'm fine," she said as she sank a little deeper into the shadows, back to the wall. Her mental powers were on high alert, scanning the area constantly to keep track of who might be about. "Thank you for asking." As though this was a normal conversation.

"I do want to apologize for the situation I've put you in. It's why I knew I should keep my distance. I don't want to compromise your work." Then a hint of amusement as she smiled. "Nor do I wish for you to arrest me. It would be an uncomfortable situation for you and better avoided."

A pause then she asked, "How are you?"

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I'm fine, I think Daisy might know something is up. She's given me the side-eye but hasn't done anything official yet. But she knows about us." Alexander stands near the tall triple story window that looks out onto the city of Manhattan in that opulent penthouse they share. He rests a hand on the glass for a moment, then bites his lower lip and then wipes at the window with the sleeve of his shirt after a moment.
    "So don't worry about me or whatever. Besides you're a telepath, clearly you have used your feminine wiles and wicked mutant abilities to manipulate me." He says that with a slight smile upon his lips and it's heard gently in his voice.
    "How are your friends?" The X-People. "Sounds like a mess, I haven't read any of the reports."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
He'd hear that soft sigh from her, which for another person might be a scream of frustration. "It was a complete mess. We were setup."

She shook her head then realized how silly that was as he couldn't actually see it. So she continued. "I feel like the intel we acted on was bad but I usually don't question those things. I trust the team and do what is needed. Yet this time, we walked straight into it. We were trying to get more information on this legislation that would force mutants to be 'cured', like it is an illness or something. Or the medication itself. But in the end, things were so much worse."

A glance around the room she was in then a moment of allowing herself to close her eyes, thinking back on the events. "They baited us and we took the hook, line, and sinker." Then her eyes opened as she had to be watching the area right now. Not out of necessity as they were in a safe place. Just how her mind worked.

"Then Phoenix..." A slight break in her voice, a pause, then a clearing of her throat. Her voice was back to normal when she spoke again. "I don't know what is going on there. That was not her. Not normal. We are all a bit shaken and trying to figure it out."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I know you are attached to these people, but if this becomes a war it doesn't have to be your war." Alexander shifts the phone again to the other ear, his expression distanced a little. His brow knits then he murmurs, "I've read some of the things Magneto preaches and the whole Genosha thing. It's..."
    He pauses and seems to hesitate for a moment, before he adds. "There is activism, and then there's fanaticism. Just be careful. Though I trust your judgment."
    A faint smile then he adds, "In most things. You have terrible taste in men." His lip curls up a little further.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
That earned a soft laugh from her. She appreciated his ability to bring that out of her in such a moment. "Do I? Good to know."

Then back to the topic at hand. "Magneto tends to fantacism. The X-Men fight for acceptance and co-existence. I know that I have a choice, I could walk away. But I have my powers for a reason. I am what I am. I am not a mistake and I should not be forced into a box because someone else doesn't understand them."

And that was her stance, which may or may not be understood by her boyfriend. Though she added. "I suspect you would feel the same if someone wanted to force you to lose your gifts. Not if you chose to do it voluntarily, that would be another matter entirely. But forced to become human."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "I try not to let my mind wander that way, since it tickles the whole arrogance thing my people have. But I think you might be right." There's a pause as he tilts his head to the side, and she might catch that faint hesitation. For she has been in his mind before, she knows that he has that measure of self-doubt about his worth. About whether he is more his own person or if his only merit is in his bloodline.
    Yet he does not voice it now.
    Instead he murmurs, "Just let me know if there's anything you need me to do. I'll let our house guest know and if needs be we can take steps. Though I figure you and yours have it under control."
    A beat as he takes a deep breath. "Though I figure while you're gone I can remodel the place. Get rid of all this weird furniture. Replace it with stuff from Ikea. I know you'd love that."

Betsy Braddock has posed:
"You are more than welcome to redecorate," Betsy returns and he would be able to hear that she was smiling. Albeit just a little. But that was one of those things. Smiling in person often could be reflected in the tone of voice.

"I've told you it is your home as much as mine. Anything that came with the place can go. Except that one painting in the third guest room. I really like that. But my personal things? Those you had best leave alone or I might be a tad annoyed."

She fell silent as she thought things through then just closed up with, "Thank you. I appreciate that you trust me. It means... Well, everything."

Alexander Aaron has posed:
    "The one with the..." He says quietly, but then he says nothing and nods to himself before she hears his voice again. "Alright. I'm kidding by the way, everything will be fine when you get home. Just you know." He leans a forearm against the window and looks out across the way. "Get home."
    Then there's a slight lilt of warmth in his words, "Also if you need someone to be the cavalry I think you could call on worse people than me and some of my kin and maybe some friends from work." His lip twists.

Betsy Braddock has posed:
There was a long silence after he said that. Betsy pondered it deeply, the facts of what he could bring to bear on those that might hurt her and her people. But there was another reality she could not ignore.

"I don't want to ruin two lives with my choices. Or more. But thank you." A moment then she spoke again.

"I'll call again when I can."