Cranes and Coffee

Alexis glowered at everyone telling him to be zen. He knew about turning your brain off to get things done. Or rather he knew exercising helped him turn off all his thoughts and he had been taught very recently that clearing his head could be very useful when doing something difficult or uncomfortable.

So he did just that. He stopped paying attention as Evan did his flexing for Cori. After a minute all the tension and frustration in Alexis' face and body language evaporated. It wasn't helping him fold cranes better, but being the epitome of calm did let him work through the process without losing his patience and giving up or forcing it.

"Not sure what working out has to do with folding paper, but you're right. I should have probably done this sooner," he said in his completely emotionless tone of voice.

Achlys frowned and looked up at the teen. "Alexis... isn't that going to...," she sighed and then patted him on the shoulder before getting back to folding. The sooner they finished, the less time Alexis would spend without his emotions. And the less severe it would be when they come back.

Spike eyed his partner's sudden change in demeanor and actions and shook his head. The boy was so stupid, but he had to admit it was working for him. The cranes were coming out a little better and he didn't look like he was going to explode and start flinging paper around.

Alexis continued folding even as he looked up at Evan to answer him, with the neutral face he now had and couldn't really change. Without emotions, there was no real need to express them in his face. "I turned off my emotions for a while. Zen, as you called it. I can't get frustrated and lose patience if I can't feel upset at anything," Alexis stated with a flat tone as even his eyes just seemed plain. No anger or disdain for the kind of challenge he was doing, but also no happiness at doing it well and no comfort from having his friend sitting next to him.

In turn, Achlys faltered in her folding work. She knew what he was going to be like once it was turned back on. She was still folding but she couldn't help but glance up at him every so often with a slightly worried look.

Spike though, could at least appreciate the perfection in having no emotion. No silly mistakes because you let the way you feel cloud your judgment. Didn't make Alexis any less foolish and stupid for abusing the power in such a way, but why would he expect the kid to live up to all his expectations? No one ever did. "Just get this done so you can return to being the normal pain in the ass you are. And i'm doubling how many laps you run this afternoon for having to use your power Alexis," Spike barked with a surprising amount of care hidden in his voice.

Achlys finally looked over at the others and shrugged a little. "Sorry if it's a little weird. I don't think he'll turn them back on until after we finish here though," she apologized and then leaned her head back on Alexis as she continued her folding.

He kept folding the cranes carefully as the others around him expressed how bothered they were by his use of his power. Of course he wasn't bothered at all. He literally couldn't be.

"I know this bothers people but it's just until I finish making these cranes," Alexis replied casually as he placed another one into the growing pile. "I know what you meant by zen, but this is better. My mind is very clear." Unfortunately having a clear mind only went so far, as it didn't keep him from being foolish. He might have backed off on using his power somewhat lately, in response to his friends' insistence that he do so, but he still used it quite a bit more than he should.

"You're not the first person to tell me this is harmful. But I was close to knocking over the table and angrily running out of here over not being able to fold paper right. This is better." It was such a weird feeling knowing that what he was doing was unhealthy. That it would suck so much after he stopped doing it. And yet he couldn't feel concerned about it.

Achlys bit her lip and focused on folding the cranes while they all talked. "I kinda hoped that power wouldn't be needed today. I thought it was going ok before...," she trailed off and sniffed a little.

At least both sides were getting close to finishing. It was a good thing they had decided to do 50 instead of 100.

He was right, Alexis wasn't capable of being bothered by the comment. He just looked up from the cranes and shrugged. "I might try some therapy but I have reasons for trying to focus on doing well here." Oh he had plenty of reasons. Some of his regalia were turning out to be close friends, while others were more like mentors in some way. Even the ones like Spike who were assholes. But they were all helping him to get stronger. More prepared.

With the quiet that fell over the table Alexis and Achlys worked to keep folding their cranes too. Everyone focused on the challenge and not wanting to bother with the awkward conversation now that Alexis was so flat.

Alexis looked up again when Evan spoke up and counted his pile. He shook his head. "I think 6 more left to make here so... I guess you win," he admitted. There was no way for them to catch up in the little time it would take Evan or Cori to fold one single crane.

Alexis placed the crane he had been working on down. It was actually fairly well done. With the constant practice and patience he had improved a lot. Achlys sighed, just glad that it was going to be over with soon. They'd have to go have a little chat afterwards while Alexis recovered.

Spike walked over and picked up the last crane Alexis made. He turned it over a few times and dropped it back onto the table. "It's ok looking. At least you improved some," he sighed and then just headed for the door, calling out, "I expect to see you at the track in an hour Alexis. Goodbye Evan, Cori." He'd see Alexis later. After Achlys helped with the fallout from using his powers, no doubt. He didn't want any part of dealing with extra-emotional teens if he didn't have to.

Alexis had just nodded and watched Spike leave before returning his focus to the table. Spike was his coach, not his friend. And despite his demeanor, despite both of their usual demeanors actually, he did ultimately know how to push Alexis in a good direction.

"I did say I might try some therapy. That wasn't a lie. Just not right now," Alexis flatly replied and then nodded at Cori. Who seemed annoyed at her partner for focusing so much on the therapy thing. It was just advice though. Probably advice that would have annoyed him normally but it was kind of just there when he was like that. Something to hear and reply to, even keep in mind for later, but that was it.

He stood up and looked at their pile of cranes for a moment before promptly throwing theirs away in the trash but leaving Evan and Cori's pile alone. Except for a couple decently folded ones Achlys hurriedly saved from the pile. Clutching those she looked at Alexis and then back to the others. "We should probably go... somewhere else now. Thank you for the challenge Evan and Cori," she sighed and then went over to start nudging Alexis towards the door.

"You don't have to apologize, he isn't bothering me. But yes. I need to go get ready and stuff. Good luck with the parent trap stuff," Alexis added as he headed for the door.