[OPEN] Can the city forgive;

[mindbend]

Who: Wanda Maximoff & you!
Where: Training Center & Magic Training Room
When: 10/21
Rating: PG?
Summary: Slowly but steadily, Wanda is learning to trust herself and her powers as well as her teammates, but there's always room for more practice.
The Story:

[The morning of the 21st finds Wanda in the Training Center shortly after breakfast. It's still empty when she gets there, although she's sure it won't stay that way for long-- she expects people to trickle in throughout the course of the day, teammates and other Wonderland residents alike, but she likes it best when it's quiet. Over time, she's improved when it comes to working with her teammates, but she still feels safest when she has the opportunity to practice alone. She hasn't had any accidents since arriving in Wonderland, but she still doesn't quite trust herself-- or how much stronger her powers seem to be than she first realized.

She spends the better part of the morning training with the targets provided, flinging hex bolts of various sizes and strengths, testing and aiming to refine her control over distance and impact as well as aim. Steve was right when he told her that she would learn more when there was another party involved, especially when it came to having to think on her feet, but she maintains that there are certain things she can only do by herself, things that can only be properly tested and practiced in a controlled environment.

Late in the morning, one of her bolts goes rogue and damages one of the dummies she'd been practicing on more severely than she'd intended. Grimacing, she levitates the target itself from its post and detaches it, bringing it to her rather than walking over to investigate, turning it over in mid-air before she passes a hand over its body, focusing until the metal itself begins to bend itself back into shape, mending.

The rest of her training goes mostly without incident, and after lunch she dips into the Magic Training Room. While she doesn't have any lessons planned with Billy today, she's been meaning to take the time to spend an hour or two looking through some of the books in the collection he's assembled during his time in Wonderland. As it turns out, she ends up staying there for the better part of the afternoon, and can be found either perusing the shelves, investigating potion reagents, or sitting in front of the fire with one of the books she's helped herself to.]

Comments

action in the training center hi;

[radiopalkiller]

[ Philip goes to the gym. Not in the lifestyle sort of way, not- Christ, yoga, really? -- only in the fairly non-committal sort of way where you've got far too much time on your hands, and wouldn't mind punching a bag every once in a while. Or hitting the weights until your punch actually packs a- well, proper punch.

So, Philip goes to the gym. He never goes next door. Vaguely remembers the network post announcing the other room's existence, and filed it instantly away under things not meant for him. He didn't have much of a desire to peek, either, but he did approach the gym somewhat absent-mindedly that day.

Probably why he ended up walking into the room next door.

Huh. ]

Huh. Not sure why I was expecting there to be more lava.

yes hello <3

[mindbend]

[It's been some time since she's last seen Philip, let alone the real Philip, but Wanda smiles faintly as she puts her training on pause, inclining her head slightly as she turns her attention towards the door, one last hex bolt flying free and striking a target dummy square in the chest.

It had probably deserved it.]

I am still not certain there isn't lava. I suspect it could still turn up unexpectedly during group training.

[Who knows what Captain Rogers might pull on them to keep them on their toes.]

You have never been here before?

[radiopalkiller]

[ He watches the ball of energy hit its target, and quietly says goodbye to the three seconds of not feeling entirely out of place. Shakes his head. ]

I usually go next door. You know, the smaller place for-- [ He waves his hand at the thoroughly defeated dummy. ] --people who can't do any of that.

[ Not sure where he'd even get started with half of those things. Jesus. The climbing wall though? Can't help but linger on that one for a bit, it's sure got something more stylish than winging those exercises down in the caves. ]

training centre.

[araneidal]

[ Natasha comes here irregularly. She makes no routine nor plans with anyone, her sessions never take the same length of time. She doesn't announce herself when she enters, and leans against one of the pillars, observing openly but quietly. Steve'd mentioned Wanda. He didn't say she'd be so... young. ]

Natasha Romanoff.

[ She only speaks when Wanda makes eye contact.]

Carry on.

[mindbend]

[Likewise, Wanda had been made aware that Agent Romanoff, or some version of her, was present in Wonderland once more, though they'd had yet to cross paths. She's aware of another person's presence in the room even before she turns to examine them, but when their eyes meet and Natasha gives her name-- it's surreal, just for a moment. She's the same, and yet different.]

Wanda Maximoff.

[Even with the permission to return to her training, she frowns for a moment, looking her over.]

I was wondering when we might meet.

[araneidal]

[ Natasha is still, not to the level of predatory, but someone comfortable in their own space exerting command over her own small corner of the room. She's wary only because Wanda's abilities most certainly don't look like the hex magic she's used to, but something that could be garden variety telekinesis. ]

Am I late?

[Training Room]

[narcissistictendencies]

Wow, that's--You've been practising quite a bit here, haven't you?

[Tony's standing in the doorway with a device roughly the size of a soccer ball in his hands. 'Device' rather than just calling it a ball, because it seems to be made up of dozens of flat plains instead of rounded metal and spaced accordingly, one flat plate every so often seems to resemble the flight stabilisers in his Iron Man suit. He actually hadn't expected anyone he knew to be here, but he's also not going to just leave because someone was.]

You mentioned training, so I figured there had to be a training room. Thought I'd throw something together to help out for target practise. [He holds up the device to indicate it.] Here. Try this. It's less breakable. [He activated it and tossed it into the middle of the room. The device hums to life on its way and a static crackle encases the ball. About the time it begins to fall in a downward arc, the repulsors power up and the ball levitates. As it rolls, whatever repulsors face the ground fire to keep it in the air.]

I promise it won't try to wipe out mankind. It's a target dummy. I tried to replicate the field around the base where we met you. It should absorb energy attacks by dispersing them evenly along the shield and deflecting the diluted energy outward. It's harmless so long as you don't fire any point-blank or you might get a little recoil. It should theoretically work with your bolts, but I can't promise they won't just shred it. Your energy's kind of unique.

[mindbend]

[She tenses slightly when she hears his voice, nodding as she turns to give him her attention. Yes-- she'd been logging hours here whenever possible, testing her limits, trying to learn her powers from the inside out now that HYDRA no longer held her leash.]

Before I came here, I had not had much opportunity to test my abilities freely. They were put to use for all the wrong reasons. I want to ensure I know exactly how to use them for the right ones.

[It doesn't wipe away her past deeds, but it helps her to feel solid in the choices she's making now.

She watches the target he tosses into the center of the room with a skeptical sort of curiosity, frowning slightly.]

You have put a great deal of thought into this, haven't you. You are willing to risk my destroying it?

[narcissistictendencies]

Makes sense. You get to feel them out on your own terms, now.

[He doesn't say what he's sure they're both somewhat thinking, because he's been there. Perhaps not under the same circumstances, but he wanted to atone for past behaviours and the fact that he didn't bother to notice what Obie was doing behind his back. All those lives lost because of his designs. What did he think would happen when he went happily into the weapons manufacturing business like his father?]

If it's destroyed, I obviously didn't put enough thought into it, so it's pretty worthless. If it works like it's supposed to, then it's a success. [He shrugs.] It's to help you and the rest of the Avengers improve. It breaks, I'll build a better one. It lasts, I'll build a few more for the team.

training center

[thesamurai]

[Michonne'd liked her when they met. As far as quiet meetings go, it was one that didn't leave her with unease. Still, she likes to observe, get a feel for people, and she's been in the training center more than usual lately after finding out there's this area for special training. She may not have powers like some, or magic like others (magical katana aside), but there's still a sense of needing to see what people can do, to be prepared for it. Not only in the event someone's dangerous (like Zelena), but in case there's a need for a particular skill set.

When a dummy goes off the rails with a powerful burst of...whatever that was, Michonne pauses with her blade, watching it float toward Wanda.]

That's pretty damn useful.

[mindbend]

[Wanda pauses when the dummy is midway to her, offering Michonne a faint smile in reply. She'd liked Michonne upon their first meeting, as well-- she'd been straightforward, something Wanda both respected and greatly appreciated. She'd needed it then, considering the state she'd arrived in.]

The better I learn to control it, the more useful it has the potential to be. I'll need to start practicing with something larger, soon.

Magic Training Room

[hashtagging]

Enjoying yourself?

[ The magic training room is one of Loki's favorite places. For all her love of modern technology, there is a part of her the feels truly at peace in a place like this, surrounded by the gentle presence of magic and knowledge. When everything becomes a bit too much, she likes to retreat here, feel the comfort of an old book.

Seeing Wanda here really should not have been a surprise. If there was anyone here as magical in nature as Loki or Billy, it would be Wanda. ]

[mindbend]

[Magical in nature, perhaps, but still so new to it that she hasn't quite managed to dip into that potential just yet-- but lessons with Billy have the potential to change that. They can only assume that she might be able to do what the version of her he remembers can, but trial and error will be enough to prove it one way or the other once they get there.

She looks up from her reading at the unfamiliar voice, pursing her lips for a moment-- she's never seen Loki like this before; they don't know each other terribly well to begin with, but there's a sort of mutual interest there, curiosity and fascination alike.]

I like it here, yes. It's become a favorite retreat.

[A safe space, even if she feels like a lot of what's in it is still beyond her.]

You--

[She frowns a little.]

Loki?

[outofthebreach]

Brennan happens to have misplaced his mage for the afternoon, so the first place he checks for him upon coming in from his own daily training is the magic training room young Billy had provided. It's a favorite haunt of Dorian's, but today the room is quiet and all but empty, except for the young woman he spots as he steps inside to glance around for his lover.

When she looks up, he flashes her a sheepish expression. "My apologies, miss. I didn't mean to interrupt your studies. I thought I'd find my companion in here."

[mindbend]

She doesn't startle when he enters, remaining comfortably still almost as though she'd been expecting him, but she doesn't look up until he begins to apologize, offering him a faint, lopsided smile and a controlled shake of her head as she lowers her book, letting it come to rest in her lap with one finger carefully marking her place, just in case she decides to close it.

"This room is open to the public," she reminds him, "There is no need to apologize-- but I have not seen your friend, unless you are looking for Billy. I've been alone most of the afternoon."

Magic Training Room

[actualwizard]

[ The was a time in the last few weeks when this was one of the only places to find Billy, but lately he's been making himself get out more, see people. Still he likes retreating to this room, whether its empty or he is sharing it with another like minded individual. He feels at home here. Its not really surprising to walk in and find Wanda sitting on one of the couches reading, she'd spent plenty of time here in this room since she'd gotten there. ]

Hey. [He smiles walking further into the room. ] Reading anything good?

[mindbend]

[She smiles as she looks up at him, marking her place with her index finger so that she can hold the book up to display the cover.]

I thought it might be a good idea to read about the workings of alternate dimensions. It is a new concept to me, still, but I would like to better understand exactly how our situation has come to be.

[Not Wonderland, necessarily, but specifically theirs: Tommy and Billy both remember a Wanda Maximoff who isn't quite her, a mother that she can't remember ever being, and though she's had time to adjust, the idea is still overwhelming-- baffling, in fact, no matter how many times she's had it confirmed as truth.]

training center

[beatupgrass]

[Rocket's been observing her for awhile, having stopped his own practicing to watch her swinging all that weird magic around. It's not his thing- give him a gun and a few bombs and the end result is a nice explosion that's scientifically sound. Magic and cosmic bullshit are just... well, a little off-putting.

Which is hilarious since he knows damn well he's a little off-putting on his own. Freaks of a feather, he guesses, and the Avengers ain't short on freaks.

Once the watching has gone on for long enough that one of them has to say something and risk making it awkward, he clears his throat.] So what else do those fancy powers of yours do?

[he's genuinely curious- if he doesn't understand it, he might as well try to.]

[mindbend]

[There's probably some intensely-involved scientific explanation for what the Chitauri scepter had gifted her with, something that wound sound more cohesive coming out of the mouth of a HYDRA scientist than hers, but it's a good thing that they don't have any of those on hand at the moment.

She smiles faintly as she gives Rocket her full attention for the moment; as different as they are, he had left a strong impression on her after their first meeting. What they brought to the team was as opposite as night and day, but she supposes that diversity is part of what makes the Avengers what they are.]

I'm still finding out for myself. Some of what I do is not quite so flashy.

[Sometimes, people don't even realize it's being done until its too late.]

That part does not need this kind of training.

[sponsored]

[ what faith sees first is tenuous control. the way the girl moves, magic sparking from her very core, reminds faith violently of another magic user she'd only recently gotten to know better. for a little while, faith keeps to herself, hitting bags until they come down (or her fist breaks the seam) in an effort to stop thinking. stop chasing her tail.

but wanda isn't the only one destroying things, as evidenced by the way a dummy looses from its stand after faith gives it a good roundhouse. it arcs through the air in wanda's direction, and faith hollers out a warning. ]

Head's up!

[mindbend]

[Wanda is quick to react, despite the fact that both of them had been minding their own business until now-- she turns on her heel just in time to see the dummy hurtling towards her, throwing one hand up and immediately erecting an energy shield that just barely keeps the dummy from making contact, deflecting and dropping to the ground instead.

She exhales, lowering her hand and letting the shield dissipate, offering Faith a wry smile as she looks towards the spot where the dummy had landed-- thankfully, in a heap on the ground instead of on top of anyone.]

That was close.

[interspatial]

Oh!

[ jane stumbles in on wanda's studies, nearly smacking into the door with her face stuck in her tracker. a bit delayed, it seems she's missed the cause of the spikes in her readings. shame, considering the dark stain on her shirt that smells strongly of coffee. coffee she'd desperately needed considering she hasn't actually slept yet today. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to barge in-- [ thwack! she gives the little device a knock against the ball of her hand and scowls down at it. ] I was just following some weird... readings...

[ her voice trails off as jane steps awkwardly from side to side. the room is decidedly unlike any other she's ever set foot in, and for once jane foster is speechless. wow. ]

[mindbend]

[At first, Wanda isn't quite sure what to make of her, disoriented and distracted as she appears to be, and she furrows her brow slightly as she looks her over, gaze lingering on the device in her hands.]

Are you alright?

[First things first, considering Jane had nearly walked face-first into the door.]

What sort of readings are you taking?

Action

[wecandobetter]

Physical activity has become a key to Sam's peace of mind, not only back home but here as well. He jogs, he trains and he tries to work out the problems that are facing him and his friends in this new place. Some of the problems are the same ones they had back home, others are a lot more messed up, but at the end of the day problems are problems.

Being ready to jump into the fight, wherever it might be, is only part of it. It's the repetition and exactness that calms him. It's something they drilled into him in the army. A way of losing yourself that doesn't have anything to do with escape. He'll run until there's a stitch in his side. Fight until he's out of breath and then fight some more because when it comes down to it, he needs to be ready.

When he enters the training room, he walks in just in time to see Wanda levitating and repairing the dummy. He watches her as she works, shaking his head.]

You know, you'd think I'd get used to that after a couple of months, but nope. Still awesome.

[mindbend]

[She has to smile when Sam's voice breaks the silence; of all her new teammates back home, she thinks she might feel the most relaxed around him. He wasn't in Seoul or Wakanda, had not seen her at her worst, and though she knows he's aware of what happened during both of those encounters, she feels as though she has more of a clean slate with him-- a chance to build a friendship without preconceptions, something she's sure appreciates more than he knows.]

I am glad you find it impressive instead of unsettling. There seems to be a sharp divide.

[Though it's not the energy manipulation that tends to unsettle people-- it's the things she can do that can't be seen, the powers she's barely let herself touch since she arrived in Wonderland. She turns slightly to face him, one hand still extended to keep the dummy suspended mid-air.]

Are you starting to feel at home here?