Fragility of the Mind

Alevon closes his eyes and sighs, placing his hand on the floor to stabilize himself, and after a pause, says:
"I will work with the intent of leading the group safely to it's goal of eliminating the Masterminds. Your opinion is welcome, TK...however...there some things I simply must do, on my own, for my own sake as well as for the sake of the group. I don't expect or demand that you trust me or accept what I do, but some things must be done."
He stands up and looks down at her, into her eyes

He then turns to Gabrielle and nods
"As you wish, Gabrielle"

Ariel glanced at Gabrielle with tired eyes, wondering about how to answer her. She decided to be blunt about it because everyone would find out soon enough.

"Ah, that..." she started. She sighed before saying, "That wasn't me per say..." She grabbed her right arm and stood still, looking at the floor in embarassment.

"Was it Leana?" Gabrielle asked. "You told me she was gone, but it appears to be the only logical explanation." She chuckled, studying her skinny knuckles.

"Welcome back, anyway."

Alevon looks back to Ariel
"Yes, welcome back Leane, I'm glad we have you with us again"

Ariel ignored Alevon but turned to face Gabrielle.

"Yes, it was Leana," she answered, "But I really don't know why she's back... And I'm sorry for what she did, I...can't control her." Ariel tried to seem confident and hold eye contact but she glanced away. She wasn't sure if Gabrielle was upset or indifferent on the matter, though she hoped that she wasn't angry.

He turns back the the mess and continues cleaning

"Oh, no no...I'm not leading the group"
He says

"I'm saying that I have some priorities of my own, and that I intend to tend to them"

"Yes, lead being to go with, inform you all what I know, that sort of thing. I assume you to be the actual leader...I am a guide, if you will"

Gabrielle let her eyebrows drop and smiled sheepishly. "It's okay, Ariel, I liked it." Anger wasn't even close to what she was feeling. She was happy, thrilled to have Leana back. She was also caught off-guard by the kiss, but at the same time she loved having somebody more assertive than her finally step into her life.

She then turned to TK. "Yes. I'd rather not to back to France." she paused for effect. "I mean, I thought this through. At first I thought 'okay, gonna see my old country again', but then I realized I simply am not cut for--"

She interrupted her speech, and looked down, rabbing her head with her hands. "Oh, who the hell am I kidding." She looked up. "Of course I want to. I'd love to. I'm just making up silly excuses for trying to stay away from you."

She barred her teeth, a little self-conscious for having let that out. "Remember when I told you I'd never give you in? Well, basically I just contradicted myself. I'm not leaving."

Alevon looks at Maya
"Oh? Alright, as you wish, Maya. Please stay safe while we're gone. That goes for everyone else as well"

Ariel smiled and sighed in relief, glad that Gabrielle wasn't upest with her. She thought about talking to Leana concerning what happened, but now she saw that there was no need for it. Suddenly, said girl finally spoke up.

'Ariel...?'

Ariel blinked in surprise, but answered quickly. 'Do you need something?'

'I would like control of the body. ...Please.'

'Alright. Just...don't do anything rash.'

It was strange for Ariel to concede like this, though Leana had missed out on ten years of her life. She had to be reacquainted with her friends and be filled in on what had happened so far. She closed her eyes for a moment and felt a shiver go through her. She felt herself almost fade into the background as Leana took control once more.

"Hey guys," she said timidly; that was quite uncharacteristic of her.

"Hey"
Alevon smiles at her

Gabrielle stood up, estimating that it wasn't fit for her to be sitting around trying to convince TK she wasn't trying to be... "I'm sure it's nothing personal," she started, afraid of stuttering and messing up.

"I'm just afraid. Scared for my life. I'm also afraid of dragging you down, since I haven't done anything to help since I got here." She bit her lip. "Like I said, I think I'm staying. I'm coming to France with you. Just... please." She motioned with her hands, tongue-tied as to what to actually ask for. "I mean..."

She crashed down on the bunk again, defeated by her own conscious. "I don't know what to say... Just... I don't want to lose your faith in me." She chuckled lightly. "Notwithstanding how awkward that sounded."

Alevon nods to himself, agreeing with TK, but deciding to stay quiet, as to not disturb the moment.

He gets up and goes back to Maya's side
"How are you feeling?"
He asks her

Alevon softly embraces Maya, holding her gently and stroking her soft hair

Gabrielle rubbed her eyes and sighed, glad that she hadn't said something irreversible. "Thanks." She was sorry for making an attention hog out of herself, but decided to keep that last bit personal. She put her head down on the bunk's hard surface. "Man, I miss being lazy..."