#verse 01

Ally is sat with River at a restaurant, mediocre singing blaring behind them as karaoke night rages on. It's late into the night, and Ally has school in the morning, but River is looking at her with those puppy dog eyes and she feels her resolve crumbling quicker than she'd like to admit.

"One more song, okay? I can do one more. But then I really have to go. I've gotta be up at seven in the morning tomorrow."

Send 💞 for me to describe 5 ways my muse says ‘I love you’ to yours.

This might be universal for all of the people Ally loves in her life, but cooking/baking. Ally loves baking for the people she knows and loves, and will do her best to include their favorites if she knows they are going to be around. Human food isn't really necessary for Evvie anymore, but Ally still bakes her what her favorites are to provide a sense of normalcy, a inclusion into a very human tradition of providing food for those you love.

physical touch. Ally is a very physical person, and that continues into the way she loves her people. She is a hugger, a squeezer, a stand close and bump hips-er. For Evvie specifically, following that sisterly vibe, she loves braiding her hair.

girl's nights. Ally is a very busy lady, but she will always make time for Evvie. Their girl's nights are so important to her; she loves when they get to show up at either one's apartment, dress in ugly sweatpants and shirts, and just veg out together.

inviting her to Xavier's. Ally loves to talk about Xavier's to anyone who will listen. She is so proud of her alma mater, and is so proud of the students she now teaches there, but not everyone gets an invite. Xavier's is sacred ground. It is a safe haven for mutants with nowhere else to go, and Ally would never jeopardize that, so only those who have won her full trust get the invite to see it for themselves.

Ally leans back in her chair, the computer in front of them loaded up with Photoshop and a slew of photos Eleanor was in the middle of editing. "Yeah, I'm interested. I don't mean to come off as snooty, but I, honestly, don't have time for things I'm not interested in. Unless it's a kid talking; then I'll listen all day. But you're my friend. Of course I'm interested in what you do."

It was a given that when Pepper went on a trip--for business or for pleasure--she was coming back with a treasure trove of gifts for everyone in her life, Ally included. She had tried many times over the years to tell her she didn't have to, but it seemed to bring Pepper so much joy and who was she to try to deny her joy?

This time, she was handed a gift bag that weighed little, and when she opened it there was a beautiful silk scarf and a bundle of post cards wrapped together with a piece of twine. "Ooo, Pepper!" She pulled the scarf from the bag and laid it around her neck, the rich purple color a wonderful compliment to her skin tone. "I love it, thank you. So soft. Where in Italy did you go again?"

"Not to sound like someone else we know, but I feel like I'm always angry recently. And the usual coping mechanisms aren't working and I don't want to be angry anymore. I don't want to be sad. I don't want to be angry. I just...want to go back to feeling like myself."

Ally didn't go on many dates lately, so the idea of going on a blind date was even more surprising. But, her friend swore this guy was cute and sweet and not a waste of time, so Ally decided to go for it.

Ally stood at the other end of Pepper's small office at the cabin, body in a completely neutral position with her hands at her sides, feet not even shoulder width apart. A weight settles in her chest as she watches her step-mother lose her cool--something she rarely does--but Ally gets it.

Everything Pepper says is true. Tony's death was unexpected, unplanned. He had time to make that little message for them before the Avengers went back in time, and that was it. Yeah, he had a will, but that didn't think of everything. That didn't account for time moving forward, for the half of the world's population they lost to all suddenly come back at once, causing economic fluctuations and stock market swings and corporate migraines that Ally could barely wrap her head around.

"Pepper...You are doing everything you can. I get that. But you have to take care of yourself too. Running yourself into the ground is not the answer. Not for you, not for Morgan. Your husband died. Forget about him being Iron Man or whatever else. He was your husband. And you're allowed to take time to grieve him. I can help- I can step up. I want to. I have to learn, but I know I can. You don't have to do this alone. That's all I'm trying to say."