[Relationship] We Just Might End Up Crashing

[Narrator]

Some hours after the encounter in Maldon, Isolde's phone rings with a phone number that the caller ID shows as being the Raven's Crest.

[Isolde Schwarz]

Isolde frowns, and picks up.

"...let me guess, you're about to blackmail me into bringing her by again.

[Erica Carlisle]

"No, actually," Erica's voice responds, "I'm calling to get you to come pick up your charge. She stumbled in here about an hour ago and promptly fell asleep. While I appreciate her trust, I do need to open my club at some point today."

[Isolde Schwarz]

Isolde's eyes widen, and then her frown deepens.

"...I'll be right over."

[Erica Carlisle]

"Might bring her a change of clothes. I don't know what sort of uniform she's wearing, but I'm guessing it's some weird X-Man thing."

[Isolde Schwarz]

There's no response before Isolde hangs up, which might well mirror some of Erica's frustrations with their prior relationship.

[Erica Carlisle]

Erica rolls her eyes and hangs up, glancing over at Wanda dozing on the couch in one of the VIP booths. She walks over to the door, "Harold, there's a woman on her way here, dark hair, distinctly German. She'll be very tall in height and very short on temper. Just let her in and don't argue with her, please." The man nods, it obviously wasn't the strangest request he'd ever received from his employer.

[Isolde Schwarz]

It's not very long before Isolde makes her way in, a bundle under her arm.

[Erica Carlisle]

Wanda is still curled up on the couch, dozing quietly, still dressed in her X-Men uniform. Isolde's sense of her is just a feeling of exhaustion. Erica looks up from reviewing something at the bar, "She doesn't seem to be ill and I checked for curses and the like, because the last thing I need is one of those taking root here. She doesn't seem to be under any of those." Erica's tone is business-like, as if she's hyper-aware that Isolde might be in no mood.

[Isolde Schwarz]

"She was on a mission. She told me not to worry..."

[Erica Carlisle]

Erica shrugs, "Do you want my professional opinion or will that be unhelpful?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Depends on what profession you feel the need to speak for today."

[Erica Carlisle]

Erica sighs, "This would be the practitioner part. This has the feeling of a working gone a little sideways. Being a conduit is... a strain."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"Then what am I supposed to do when she wants to go off on these things? She's not a hermit like the earlier ones."

[Erica Carlisle]

"Well, I can't say, exactly." Erica looks thoughtful, "I mean, I could teach her a few things, maybe lessen the likelihood that something like this would happen again..."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"It'd have to be her choice."

"Still... why did she come here? I would have kept her safe..."

[Erica Carlisle]

"You'll have to ask her that," Erica shrugs, "I didn't manage to get much out of her before she passed out. And you know she's going to ask you what you think if I offer to teach her."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"So you want me to soften her up."

[Erica Carlisle]

"I'm not asking you to do anything. I'm making an offer and warning you to anticipate the question, because I know you don't trust me and so she follows your lead in that regard."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I just... want her to be alright. I'm sure she's got her head set on this hero nonsense."

[Erica Carlisle]

"Some Children do and my research seems to indicate they don't last long. That earthquake in Dover in 1580 was quite possibly one of them. And that's without setting up house on a ley line nexus. Of course, they also didn't have a Guardian like you either." Was that a compliment? She collects her documents, "I'll adjourn to my office and let you have your space."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I don't influence her as much as you think. She's... rather firm when she thinks something needs done."

[Erica Carlisle]

"Maybe, maybe not," Erica says as she heads towards her office, "Hard to say what a bond like that would send back and forth."

On the couch, Wanda begins to stir and Isolde catches the first hints of her drowsy waking.

[Isolde Schwarz]

Isolde's attention snaps to Wanda, and she makes her way over.

[Wanda Johansson]

Wanda yawns, raising up, eyes still not quite focusing yet. "Is... Isolde?"

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I'm here. How are you feeling?"

[Wanda Johansson]

"Tired," Wanda said, slowly sitting up, "I was... checking out the area, trying to be useful, but I guess it all caught up with me and I didn't think I could get back to the school."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"So you went... here," she glances over her shoulder.

[Wanda Johansson]

"It was close," Wanda said, "I was running low on options..."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"You don't need to justify it to me. I'm just glad you're alright."

[Wanda Johansson]

"I just didn't know what else to do, I was just so tired. Maybe it affected my judgment."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"...I should have been there," she sighs.

[Wanda Johansson]

Wanda reaches out and touches Isolde's face, "There wasn't a lot I could do except stall. I'm the one who shouldn't have been there."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"I mean I should've been there for you, Wanda."

[Wanda Johansson]

"Please don't beat yourself up over it. You're here now." She smelled like stagnant ocean with hints of ozone and torrential rain.

[Isolde Schwarz]

"You ah... want to go get cleaned up?"

[Wanda Johansson]

"I probably should. The water that thing was throwing around was... unpleasant."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"It was nature upended. I'm not surprised."

[Wanda Johansson]

"It was just... a lot. Not necessarily out of the flow, but too much for the flow. I'm not sure how else to describe it."

[Isolde Schwarz]

"You don't have to. I know it must have bothered you, or you'd have let the nitwits in spandex deal with it."