New York - Upper East Side - Lockwood Family Home

[Hollywood Heidi]

Lockwood Family Home

Located at 55 74th Street in Upper East Side, New York. Under the sole ownership of Jayce Lockwood after his parents' passing.

Occupants

Jayce Lockwood	Alison Lockwood
- husband -	- wife -

[Ariel]

*** Vye and Logan enter from the X-Mansion***

The silver car rolled into a slow stop in front of the lavish looking New York style townhouse. It was strange being back in her old neighborhood in the present. It all looked the same for the most part, but also felt different at the same time. She didn't like that feeling one bit and had started to grow rather anxious knowing they had been getting close to their destination. 

"Well, here it is. Jayce's parents house," Vye announced with slight hesitation in her voice. She didn't even know if anyone would be home, let alone what had even become of Jayce. The nerves began to creep in, and so did the doubtful thoughts. Still sitting in the car, Vye froze in hesitation as she stared at the house, before turning her head to face Logan, "Was this a mistake? What if something bad has happened to him? I don't even know if I should be here...," Vye began to ramble on, growing flustered with anxiety.

[DarkSideCookie]

As much as Logan was known for being not exactly an empath, he could sense Vye's nerves stretching with each mile they got closer to the location. When she stopped the car then, parking it right in front of a townhouse, he turned his head in her direction after all, saying nothing though. He was no one to press for stories one might not want to tell, especially when he felt they was none of his business, not affecting him at all. This woman, however, had asked him, a stranger, to accompany him in a private affair, very private as it seemed. So she deserved a bit of interest from him.

"Well, here it is. Jayce's parents house,""Was this a mistake? What if something bad has happened to him? I don't even know if I should be here...,"

"Just to be prepared for what's gonna come," Logan voiced this interest rather casually then, simply his way, "Is this about a long-lost family member or rather an ex-boyfriend who happened to end up with stuff from you that you'd like to collect now?" He hoped she wouldn't feel offended by his way of asking for more information. Logan was just not the type of person who would concernedly ask if she'd be alright going in there.

[Ariel]

"Just to be prepared for what's gonna come," "Is this about a long-lost family member or rather an ex-boyfriend who happened to end up with stuff from you that you'd like to collect now?"

"Uh..," Vye stuttered, as she did not know entirely how to explain the situation. It was complicated, to say the least. And yet, she had to remember that Logan was like her. He understood...unlike most that would hear her story. She was sure that her experience was a light sprinkle upon what he knew existed. And yet, she still felt rather silly explaining it all, "Yes ... and no," Vye interjected as she allowed a rapid exhale escape from her chest, "Jayce and I, we're together. A team, really, since 1960 something...I've lost count of time," She admitted as she shook the stray locks around her jaw in anguish, "My most recent memory of him is in the past, which I visit. Again and again. That's all I know." Vye allowed Logan in on this information, a piece that she did not advertise. Except for in this moment. Logan had to see the picture. She wasn't sure why exactly. Perhaps she wanted some comfort, in case the mission went haywire? And yet, she trusted her drive along companion with this information, as she would with her life.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Uh..,""Yes ... and no,""Jayce and I, we're together. A team, really, since 1960 something...I've lost count of time,""My most recent memory of him is in the past, which I visit. Again and again. That's all I know."

Which she... visited? Logan remained unchanged on his features, listening, then pondering her words in silence. "How- do ya mean a past you visit again and- again?" he gave voice to the one question that twirled around his mind over and over again after all. If she really was able to travel into the past somehow, seeing memories in a different sense than people would say when they meant usual remembrance... Did it mean that she would also be able to see anyone else's memories of the past, scenes that one didn't remember himself even? No, this was not about him but only about her, so Logan would keep thoughts regarding his own problem to himself, for now at least.

[Ariel]

"How- do ya mean a past you visit again and- again?"

Logan was one of the many people both surprised and intrigued by her slightly complicated gift. As long as the other person was understanding and validating, Vye honestly did not mind sharing her capabilities. It was only the few strangers she had encountered as well as hospital doctors and nurses that thought she was either crazy or simply revisiting memories during her comatose states. However, Vye knew that it was much more than that.

"I'm not sure exactly when it all began, and I'm still learning what triggers my gift other than traumatic stress. My consciousness can teleport me to past events in my life, present events that are unfolding now, and on an occasion or two - future events that have yet to have happened. But most of my experiences have been with past me, past Vye," Vye explained as best as she possibly could, her gaze panning from Logan and back out the car drivers side window, "Ever since Charles found me and I wound up at the school, he's helped me get my trauma under control, which is great - but I can't remember the last time my gift was triggered. Or the last time I've seen Jayce. And it's eating me alive." Her voice slightly broke with emotion as she looked back at Logan, "I just know that I have to do this. I have to see him...and what's become of the man I love." Vye waited for Logan's response as if she was searching for some sort of validation or assurance in her decision to follow through.

[DarkSideCookie]

"I'm not sure exactly when it all began, and I'm still learning what triggers my gift other than traumatic stress. My consciousness can teleport me to past events in my life, present events that are unfolding now, and on an occasion or two - future events that have yet to have happened. But most of my experiences have been with past me, past Vye,""Ever since Charles found me and I wound up at the school, he's helped me get my trauma under control, which is great - but I can't remember the last time my gift was triggered. Or the last time I've seen Jayce. And it's eating me alive.""I just know that I have to do this. I have to see him... and what's become of the man I love."

Logan was, by far, not the best to serve with words of comfort and comfort at all - or maybe he had simply unlearnt over the years of isolation - but, for some reason, this woman seemed to think that he was. Or, more likely, she just had nobody else to rely on. Still, Logan felt like the wrong person. However, her words did something to him, like scratching at a memory that was there, somewhere deep inside of him. A memory of a lost person. Could it be that he hadn't been alone all along? That there had been someone once who he could trust and... love even?

"What happened?" Logan asked a simple question then. A question that would leave it open for her to share whatever she felt she was willing to share. But, especially, a question to show he was interested in her story.

[Ariel]

"What happened?"

Vye had tried to repress her memories of the fateful night from her mind for so long, that it had been since meeting Charles that she had last talked about her past. The last true, real time memory she had before everything went dark for very, very long time. Her body language pulled away from Logan in slight discomfort, but she knew that she had to be real with him. Perhaps that's what she wanted, even though she felt like she could shrink to the size of a bug and just fly away in this moment, "Oh you know, the mob invades your home, kills your father and almost kills you kind of situation. I was out like a light for years, until one day I just...woke up," Vye explained as she stared out of the windshield with a melancholic half frown, "Maybe I developed these powers when I was in my coma, perhaps they came after I opened my eyes again for the first time in years. All the nurses told me was that my mother visited me to give me medicine for a little while, until she was taken out too. It remains a mystery." Vye exclaimed with a sigh.

[DarkSideCookie]

When Vye pulled away from him a little, obviously starting to feel even more uncomfortable, Logan wasn't so sure anymore if it had been the right thing to show interest in her story. Maybe she was just like him, or a bit at least, and didn't like talking about it but, instead, simply needed a helping hand in this, someone who didn't ask questions. Just when Logan was about to wave his question off, sending her back to ease, she took a breath to tell her story anyway. He closed his mouth shut again, for some reason, actually interested to hear more.

"Oh you know, the mob invades your home, kills your father and almost kills you kind of situation. I was out like a light for years, until one day I just...woke up,""Maybe I developed these powers when I was in my coma, perhaps they came after I opened my eyes again for the first time in years. All the nurses told me was that my mother visited me to give me medicine for a little while, until she was taken out too. It remains a mystery."

Logan remained silent for some seconds, then asked another question hesitantly but not shyly. "If it wasn't for your powers... What gave them reason for hunting you and your family down?" Maybe he didn't approach this the smartest, or rather, the most empathetic way, but Logan was just Logan, always true to himself.

[Ariel]

"If it wasn't for your powers... What gave them reason for hunting you and your family down?" 

"My father owed some bad guys money and didn't pull through when they required it back. So they took his life, and almost took mine." Vye was quick to answer, as she knew that what had happened back then was not her fault. Her father made some incredibly stupid mistakes that put his life and the lives of his family in danger. He had been in deep with the mobsters for a very long time, so Vye had never given it much of a thought while growing up. It felt like yesterday, but also felt like it happens eons ago all at the same time, "Who knows what life could have been if my father didn't play such stupid games." Vye pondered out loud.

[DarkSideCookie]

"My father owed some bad guys money and didn't pull through when they required it back. So they took his life, and almost took mine."

For some reason, this made him think of a drug dealer kind of situation, which most probably would be a completely wrong guess. Eh, it didn't matter anyway. He didn't even know why exactly he had asked this in the first place. Getting to know others by asking them questions that weren't truly of importance for the matter at hand was rather unusual for him. Had all those students made him become soft already?

"Who knows what life could have been if my father didn't play such stupid games."

"Well, there ain't any use in pondering about that," Logan shrugged her thoughts off and instead went back to the matter at hand. There was a reason she had asked him to come along, hence to be here with her, in front of that estate. "So, what's the plan?"

[Ariel]

"So, what's the plan?"

"Plan?" Vye stuttered, as she came back to reality and realized again where exactly they were. She stared out the window at the door to the Lockwood residence that was waiting for her to come up and knock on it's perfectly curated wooden surface, "Well, not much of a plan really. I was just gonna go up and knock, maybe Jayce's parents will answer. Hopefully they'll be able to give me some answers. I just know that I can't live with myself in the present not knowing what had become of him," Vye admitted that, though she did not want to admit more into her fantasy than she led on. She was in hopes that she would reunite with Jayce, he would sweep her off of her feet and they would live happily ever after, just as they were supposed to.

[DarkSideCookie]

"Plan?""Well, not much of a plan really. I was just gonna go up and knock, maybe Jayce's parents will answer. Hopefully they'll be able to give me some answers. I just know that I can't live with myself in the present not knowing what had become of him,"

"But you don't ask someone for support for no reason," Logan made her wonder with a casual shrug, simply matter-of-factly. "Especially when you don't know that someone at all. He shrugged again before explaining what was his idea of why she had asked him for his support or didn't exactly mind him accompanying her at the very least. "I'm aware of my intimidating look and feel. You ain't feel safe here, right?" Logan guessed because there would come no other reason to his mind. He surely didn't look like a mental crutch.

[Ariel]

"I'm aware of my intimidating look and feel. You ain't feel safe here, right?"

Vye looked at him, surveying his features for a mere moment before coming up with a witty start to her reply, "I mean, you look a little scruffy, and definitely look like you know how to handle yourself," Vye inwardly chuckled, her nervousness subsiding for a second, "But I like your energy. We might not know each other well yet, but I felt comfortable asking you to come. You were there, and you said yes. You being here is more than enough." Vye said, thankful for his generosity even if he might have something better to do than this, "Well," Vye turned her attention back to the house that they were parked outside, "Here I go. Wish me luck - who knows what I'll find." Vye spoke in a nervous tone again as she mustered up the courage to finally pull the handle on the door and allow herself to step outside.

[DarkSideCookie]

"I mean, you look a little scruffy, and definitely look like you know how to handle yourself,""But I like your energy. We might not know each other well yet, but I felt comfortable asking you to come. You were there, and you said yes. You being here is more than enough."

The usual hard expression on his features softened at her words, first changed into a slight chuckle and then a sincere smile, although it wasn't more like the hint of it, lifting up the corners of his lips only a bit. Also, usually, Logan didn't give a damn about how others were looking at him, but this time, it felt strangely good to hear that she found comfort in his mere presence.

"Well,""Here I go. Wish me luck - who knows what I'll find."

Logan's smile faded, and instead, he tried a gaze of comfort. However, as soon as he realized this felt even stranger, he got rid of that again, giving her just a silent nod to assure her that she could do this. Still, Logan wouldn't take his eyes off her while waiting in the car. He would scan the person opening the door for her, in case anyone was there that was, and be ready for also physical comfort if needed.

[Ariel]

Vye shimmied through the half opened gate and made her way up the stairs. She carried herself step by step as she escalated up closer and closer towards the front door. There was no going back now, as nervous as she was about what she would find out. For her, it had merely been a small amount of time since she had last seen her high school sweetheart. But to them, it would have been years by now and she knew that she had to remember those facts. Vye stopped in front of the closed door. It daunted her slightly, but she decided to swallow her nerves and with a deep exhale, Vye raised a closed fist up to the door and gave the wood a few raps. She waited...and waited. A few seconds went by, which felt like eons to Vye. Was anyone home? Did anyone even live here anymore? A weird sensation crept in, and Vye wondered if she should even be here in the first place. Yet, before she made the decision to turn away, the door finally opened.

"Hello, can I help-...Vye?!" The person at the door began to speak, suddenly overcome with complete shock. It was a woman, someone that Vye instantly recognized even though the years had aged her slightly. Alison, Vye's best friend, suddenly lunged forward and immediately embraced her in a hug, "I thought you were dead!"

"A-Alison?" Vye stammered. Out of all of the people to answer the door, she least expected to come face to face with her best friend, "What are you doing here? is Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood home?" Vye loaded Alison with many questions. Alison slowly broke away from the hug, her facial expression changing from excitement to awkwardness as she seemed rather hesitant to answer Vye for a moment.

"I'm so sorry, Vye. Mr. and Mrs. Lockwood have unfortunately both passed some time ago," Alison said with condolence before continuing the conversation at hand, "We just gained ownership of the property and moved in last week."

"We?" Vye said with confusion, "What do you mean we...," Vye looked down at Alison's hand, which dawned a beautiful diamond ring. Vye's dream ring, one she had envisioned Jayce to propose to her with in the future, "...Oh." Vye said, unaware that her voice was stricken with a sudden pang of disappointment. She suddenly felt sick to her stomach, looking back up at Alison who was looking apologetic.

"Would you like to come in? I just put the kettle on for tea," Alison offered to Vye, who began to decline with a sheepish shake of her head.

"No, no - thank you. I shouldn't have come." Vye said, immediately turning around and running down the steps.

"Vye-," 

Suddenly, Vye tripped over a crack in the sidewalk just outside the gate. Tears streaming down her face, Vye quickly picked up the spilt contents from her purse before getting back up and throwing herself into the car.

[DarkSideCookie]

Logan watched the whole scene with tension, not even realizing how his teeth worked hard in his jaw. He couldn't hear what they were saying, but the conversation seemed not to work out so well for Vye, or at least not like expected. This shouldn't bother Logan at all, as it was none of his business except for having promised to step in if needed, but it strangely did, bother him that was. This girl seemed so pure and full of hope. He didn't like to see that hope getting crushed in an instant.

Then, when he saw her turning and running down the steps, stumbling to the ground, Logan made movements to get out of the car himself. He had only opened the car door, however, when Vye threw herself back into it, tears still streaming down her face, reddening her cheeks. Logan remained quiet at first, granting her some space and time to recollect. He probably shouldn't ask her any questions anyway, because - remember - this was none of his business. Still, Logan couldn't help but look at her with slight concern every now and then of this silent moment between them. Then, eventually, he just asked: "Want me to drive the car back?"

[Ariel]

"Want me to drive the car back?"

Vye's chest was raising up and down rapidly as she was trying her best not to fall into a complete panic attack. This whole situation felt like a nightmare, and all she wanted to do was to wake up. But no matter if she even tried to pinch herself, she knew that this was all very real. She turned her tear stained complexion to face Logan, who's eyes connected to hers with dire concern. Vye nodded wordlessly, letting out a squeaky, "Yeah," for she feared that if she spoke too many words in this moment that her whole world would fall apart. She quickly made the seat change with Logan. Now sitting in the passenger seat, she looked out the window and away from Logan as tears continued to fall down her cheeks. Her true love now belonged to someone else, and it broke her heart into a million pieces.

[DarkSideCookie]

Logan was acting completely normal as they changed seats to have him drive back the car. He would not go into questioning or advising her even. No, he was self-reflected enough to know that advice from him would be of no help to anyone anyway. They would only help a person like himself, in peace with their solitude and grief. Or so it always had been, at least. Things had started to feel different very recently, as little as he liked to admit that to himself.

Logan drove them back in silence then, noticing but actively ignoring his passenger's tears. She will open up to him if she wanted to. And if not, that was fine with him as well.

*** Logan and Vye exit to X-Mansion - front yard and front door ***

[Ariel]

*NPC POST for Alison and Jayce played by Ariel*

"Who was at the door?"

A curious voice came from inside the door that Alison slowly moved to a close in front of her.

"You won't believe it," Alison said in an audible whisper that managed to capture both awe and fear. Awe of her best friend still being alive, and fear that the love of her life was soon to be taken from her.

"Who was it? Alison?" Emerging into the foyer, Jayce circled around to the front of his wife who looked as if she had seen a ghost, "Talk to me...,"

"...It was Vye."

The current demeanor of Jayce completely changed as his jaw dropped to the floor. The shock settling in, Jayce immediately reached for the doorknob and swung the front door open. He ran as fast as he could out onto the street.

"Vye!" Jayce called out to the getaway car that was now out of his reach. Panting through his shock and disappointment, an object on the ground caught his eye. A business card of someone named Charles Xavier and his School For Gifted Youngsters.

*************