Shrugging at the relief from Serena it wasn't like she'd throw the key back in her face. "I mean, it's not like it could be any other way. You've kind of made it clear you're my family so it's not like me thinking of this place as home should be much of a shock right?" Being as in touch with her feelings as Serena tended to make her was a fairly uncomfortable experience still. The hugging was one thing and she was certain she'd get over her own hangups pretty quick but actually feeling like a family? Kind of vulnerable around someone, and not in a bad way, just because they could hurt you so much.

It was weird.

Oh shit. That was one way to bring down a mood. Mention an ex, one who it hadn't ended well with and it was bound to make the atmosphere a bit grim but she wasn't quite as bad. Must have been a pretty messy breakup or something to have left a mark that big. And cause her sister to go a little AWOL for a while.

"Fair enough," was about as much as she could muster after the finality of Serena's statement. It's not like she could add anything and if she did, she felt like it would only make things worse. Plus, seeing her sister get broken up over someone that much did hurt. More than a little.

"That's one way to put it. And it's fine sis, endearing even. Just don't make decisions for me and we'll be good." Over protective was fine. Controlling her wasn't. She'd lived under one thumb for a long time and she would go quite far to make sure that was never going to happen again. If she had to. "You mean well, which is awesome."

Why were most of Serena's interactions since coming back so emotionally draining? It was basically just her chats with Mirror that hadn't been, even if those had been heavy topics she was nowhere near as emotionally invested as she was with Alice. "I..." she paused. How did she word this without getting all teary eyed again. "I suppose it's mostly just that I know how I feel about you, but I'm a lot more used to having a sibling than you are, even if that was long ago." 8 years, christ.

"And I know that you can't have had an easy upbringing, as you've mentioned. I just... Grandmother is family, your mother is also family. But if I was with them it wouldn't feel like this? This is different. And this feels like home to me, all of this. The city, being around you, the X-men." The amused little smile broke out on her lips.

"I guess my repressed anxiety is just relieved to hear that you feel more or less the same." Self reflection was weird, accepting that you might have issues and understanding what areas the weirdness took part in.

Serena did her best to pretend that topic never came up, never happened. Denial was fine and dandy thank you, she would be sticking with it.

"Alice, that's not-" Working over another lump in her throat. "You know I'd never do that to you right? I value my freedom of choice, I'd not want to take that away from any person, least of all the most important person in my life." The words had just spilled out of her like a tidal wave. God, she really was out of practice with family.

"I'm sorry for being so awkward. I just want our relationship to work." She murmured, thinking of the awkward silence with her dad.

Nodding, she kind of assumed Serena had a least a little more of a handle on how this was meant to work feelings wise. But it was still new to Alice and she was kind of just assuming everything that was happening was as it should be and if her sister was acting a certain way around touchier subjects, well that's just how it was. "Well, you're doing good. I think."

"Yeah, I do so tell that anxiety to shut the f**k up. We're Rivers, in a city where that means more than some stupid rich family from England. It means us." Yeah it sounded a bit weird saying but her sister was starting to work herself up about if and buts. Needed something a little bit more than just a 'me too'. Well that and it was kind of true. "Home is you for me here. I've not really put down the kind of roots you have but I feel like I can. I'm moving starting uni, moving into my own place and I've even done a little bit of training although honestly I'd more interested in that rooms tech than what goes on in it."

"I know, I know but, I've had to many people do it in the past for it to be unsaid and sometimes wanting to protect someone can slip into taking away a decision they should take." Her mum had done it a few times, although she was getting better at it, and her grandmother did it in a twisted way. A very creepy, twisted, selfish way.

Of course it worked. They mostly just made each other emotional at the moment because they were getting through all the weird stuff at super speed. "I mean, it does. In a shocked and stumbley way but we're kind of there." Taking a quick drink and joking, "just have a stock of cider around and we'll get there even quicker."

Another smile crept across Serena's lips, it was much more timid than before though. "thank you, I'm glad to hear it." She rolled her eyes. "God I'm so dense. We should have done all of this two years ago." She muttered, more to herself than to Alice.

Serena snorted. "It's funny, I'm glad to hear you don't hate having the last name. I've always loved it, but my association is quite different." She did like being Serena Rivers. "Honestly, I think you'll love University. Even here it's so much more about independence and what you want to do with yourself than other people's expectations, You will fit in very well."

She choked out in laughter a little. "And there are many rather attractive girls for you to chat up. Though I'm sure you don't need much practice." Oh yes, Mirror had said they'd been training Alice. "It's really quite fascinating, isn't it? Recently I appreciate it much more for the work out." It was probably one of the only places in the country that Serena could actually cut loose, both physically and with her power.

Serena nodded slowly. "I understand Alice, I do. I didn't grow up with them, but dad had his own problems and It took me a long time to find my own assertive self. By the time Grandmother turned up and tried to 'help' with my life I'd already been an orphan for nearly 3 years, understandably I informed her to not let the door hit her rear on the way out."

"I value freedom of choice, a lot. The only situation I might ever override another person's is if their life was in danger, but that's very different from what you're talking about." It was funny she was a member of the X-men now. She'd intervened in so many life threatening situations by now.

"I feel like liberally applying alcohol fixes most of my awkward problems, but I do enjoy a clear head. You're welcome to drink whenever you're here though, just don't go spreading it around the mansion." She lowered her voice for that last bit.

"No shit, but it's done now." And she was back, so Alice finally had her sister around. Alice had learnt to be a little cling of family after her mum had started working again and sure, it might no of been the healthiest approach, but Serena going a little AWOL for a year or so hadn't exactly tempered that impulse.

"I have piercings, bright blue hair, wear geeky t's and am a lesbian. If that doesn't scream uni life I frankly don't know what will." She was also a rich white girl which kind of put her in another stereotype box but she chose to heroicly ignore that side of things to focus on how much fun it would be to learn while not being treated like a child. "Can't wait to tear into some complex circuits and build my own, been wanting to design some stuff for years now but I never had access to the kit. Mum didn't think giving me a solder iron would be a good idea for some reason."

Yes, pretty girls. A lot of them. None of which were her friends, at all. "Yep, plenty smooth that's me. And yes, the training isn't too bad. Some of it's basic self defense which is kind of boring but exercising my powers pretty cool." They'd already learnt some interesting and strange interactions her power had with others and some of the limitations hers had in high stress situations.

It was different, very different but it had needed to be said. She'd escaped one gilded cage, she wasn't living in another.

Giving her sister a guilty look, "Well, little late for that to be honest. Already been caught a couple of times but it's not like I was bringing it into my room or anything." She had totally had some in her room but she wasn't admitting hat yet. Or the smoking. Definitely not the smoking, she was already doing enough to give a bad impression of her activities so it was best to maybe drip feed that stuff. "And cheers," she said raising her can, "glad to know there's someone here who isn't insane about drinking. Good to know I can come hear when I need to."

Only for a social drink of course, she'd save the heavy sessions for when she was going out with friends.

Nodding softly Serena felt a little more of that passive weight on her mind lift. She was so happy beyond words that her little sister didn't hate her for having a breakdown and just disappearing for years on end. "Okay."

"It screams edgy nerd, my dear." She teased, taking a sip from her drink again. "And I get your point, but it's not quite what I meant. I mean pursuing things that nobody else is pushing you into, things you are truly, honestly passionate about. It's special." She reminisced a little, daydreaming.

It was funny, she'd gone into university with the intention of understanding biology and mutation in particular, and had come out of the experience with more passion for writing than she would have ever thought possible. Odd how those things worked sometimes.

"Also you're not going into this with the typical US student's mindset, goodness you're not even going into University with the typical English student's mindset." Serena kind of had. She'd been to public school up until her power activated, her mansion education was a lot more tucked away than her public school experience had been. She was very thankful that the mansion staff were so good about her having issues.

"It's important to know though, especially if you're living in the city. I'm confident you know how to take care of yourself, because you're smart. But it can't hurt to know how to actively protect yourself regardless." There was an edge of concern to her voice, obviously. Serena wasn't losing anybody else to crime. Ever.

"I had forgotten how much I missed the Danger Room, cutting loose is such effective stress relief." Nothing like killing a hundred vampires to shut up your inner demons.

"That's now what I meant, Alice!" She chuckled. "I mean don't go telling people around the mansion that I'm giving you alcohol, please. My reputation is held together with string there enough as it is."

"You'll be 21 soon enough, The fact that you can drive years before you drink here still blows my mind. As long as you're smart about it, I really don't see a problem with anyone over the age of 16 partaking." Of course part of the problem might have been that 16 year olds didn't have the maturity to handle it, but some of them definitely did.

Shrugging at the comments, "I guess. I've just always seen uni as just another step that I was going to inevitably take." It had always seemed like just another fact of life, well most peoples life. Hers had nearly been hijacked by an old witch with an arranged marriage but other than that is was kind of natural.

"Well, yeah I get being a little older might help but I really don;t know how my mindset is any different. I want to study, party and get a degree. Hopefully I can net some good internships if I do alright." Her plan was not fully a plan. Yet. She kind of wanted to apply the danger room tech to gaming, which she still couldn't believe wasn't a thing, and maybe work on R&D with a company. If that wasn't an option she did always have an in with POW bloc party who she imagined could always do with more qualified techies about.

Had nothing to do with wanting to hang out with viewtubers all day.

"I, OK so that is handy but, I don't know, it's not really me. I don't think I'm a fighter. I'd rather be in a command chair having an eye over everything," it kind of spoke to the inner gamer in her to act more as an actual arm chair general, "shame my range is too low for that kind of thing."

The danger room. The holy grail of nerddom. "I just want to know why m,ore games haven't been programmed into your actual damn holodeck. Or like live in a movie. That is a serious oversight and if they ever let me get my hands on coding rights I would fix that damn quick." She could just imagine playing games like Dark Souls or The Witcher in full 3D. That would be epic.

"Worried your friends will think you're corrupting you dear sweet sister?" she  asked with a smile, "Because I doubt anyone would believe that."

"Don't forget getting married and join the military. Can even buy a gun before you can booze. What kind of country has it that way round?" Truly, America was a weird and wacky place. Some of there things were so forward thinking and yet there was so many backwards ideas mixed in. Made no sense to her at all.

And yes, sixteen. That was when she started drinking. And smoking. Certainly not sooner.

She nodded in understanding. “I thought of it that way too, initially.” Her life plans had kind of gotten thrown up pretty high in the air when her power manifested and she moved into the mansion, but she’d gotten there in the end.

“Alice, I’m sure you’ll do excellent. And if you ever struggle, you ever need support of any kind, or even just to talk or vent about it, I’m right here and I’m not going anywhere. I promise.” Serena took promises very seriously, she would not flake out on her sister, she was going to be a good older sister.

Nodding Serena agreed. “I didn’t think you were a fighter either, besides that, training digs into gaming and girl flirting time, a little too much for you, I reckon.” little sisterly teasing could not do too much harm.

“I can imagine it would be an insane amount of work. I have a few rudimentary game styled training programs I run, It helps me focus on them.” Serena might not have been as much of a gamer as her sister, but she was still a nerd through and through.

“I’m sure my friends know better.” She murmured, absentmindedly dreading knocking on Rebecca’s door. Or Sams. “However some of the faculty might, and they’re seeing a lot more of me than they used to.”

Serena had lived here for a long time, but that didn’t mean she wholly agreed with all the laws. “Nowhere is perfect, I suppose. New York definitely has it’s amazing features though.” She admitted.

"Thanks Serena, I'll keep that in mind." Having someone to talk to would be pretty useful, especially given her sister had completed uni not that long ago. Her mum had some useful advice but most of it was a little dated and didn't quite match her own preferences to say the least.

F**k yeah it took up too much time but apparently her protests had so far fallen on deaf ears. Alice suspected some meddling from her mum to 'keep her safe' but she hadn't been able to prove it. That or Maya/Gawain was just bad at taking no for an answer when it came to stopping teenagers getting hurt. "Damn right it does. Barely had the time to one hundred percent my last couple of rpg's and I've still not done my placements in Hall of Hero's."

Sure it'd be a lot of work but given some of the things they already had in there it didn't seem like much of a stretch to her. She also wasn't much of a coder, most of her stuff was pretty basic and made to run electronics so nothing complex. "Still, I'd love to get my hands on it, play around with some programming in a closed system to figure out how it rigs things up. Oh and checking out the guts of it. You have to swing that the next time they're doing maintenance. I have to know what makes it tick."

"Oh come on, I'm sure it wouldn't be that bad." Yeah, supplying a minor with alcohol wasn't a real crime, like stealing or murder. And America was stupid with their laws and weirdness, "besides I am many things but stupid isn't one of them. I think I can keep booze unwraps for all of the month or so I have left living in the mansion."

"Definitely, I mean the people are kind of a plus and access to some of the best gay clubs in the world has to be near top of the list." So many clubs. So many girls. So much bad flirting to do. "I get why you like it here though. Feels kind of alive, the city I mean."

Serena nodded firmly. “Good, And I really don’t mind what sort of thing you want to talk to me about.” She really did want them to be able to talk about almost anything, maybe once her relationship drama sorted itself out, or she just got over it, she could discuss Ami with Alice. That’d be a bit though, she needed time. She was also very aware that she’d not shown Alice her power at all.

Alice’s reaction had been pretty much as expected, leading to a short burst of hearty laughter. “Well it’s all well intentioned. If they’re ever being too pushy with it, or you’re uncomfortable confronting them let me know, me and Mirror are on excellent terms.” She admitted. Even better these days, really.

“I’m sure you would, I wouldn’t mind learning a bit more about how it works, but I have no idea when things like that are done with it.” She admitted. The first time Serena had seen the room used, she’d actually thought it was magic. Silly, really.

Ah. This was a good time to bring up Serena’s news, she supposed. “Oh yes. Uhm. About that…” Serena was actually sort of glad Alice was moving out of the mansion come to think of it, she wouldn’t have to pick up on Serena’s train-o-holic behaviours. “I sort of, joined the team when I got back. After I hung out with you, Mirror and me had a talk.” She didn’t really know of a better way to bring this up.

“I’ve been very nervous about bringing this up with you, but as I’ve said, I’d like to be honest and not keep secrets from you.” She wanted this to work, she needed this to work. Serena silently pleaded that Alice be okay with this.

“And yes, the city is always lively, always new experiences and people to experiment with.” She murmured, almost absent mindedly.