[h1][b][i][color=A2797E][center]Sabine Bassard[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019a36e6-ebc1-778c-86e7-1c5fc6c1d191.webp[/img][/center][center][/center][hr][center][color=A2797E][b]Location[/b][/color]: New Orleans: Hotel
[color=A2797E][b]Gear[/b][/color]: N/A
[color=A2797E][b]Skills[/b][/color]: N/A
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The jubilation slowly began to die down, as Max felt his phone go off. He wanted to ignore it, to stay in the moment, but as his kids made their way out, he fished out his phone from his pocket to see if it was important. After all, he was currently still a chaperone for some students who were currently on the field and Vision loved to text. He opened it up and noticed it was from Sabine. Panic set in at first, wondering if something happened after she'd been eliminated. But as he read the message that sense of worry turned into something more. He couldn't quite describe the feeling beyond…disappointment. Only days ago had they had a conversation about the importance of powers and consent. Sure cheating was a massive accusation and if she'd gotten whiff of it during the fight then that was ok. But now she was at his hotel and…he let out a sigh. [Color=aba400]”Be right back.”[/color] He said as he vanished in a black hole. 

He appeared in the lobby, spotting April and Sabine. Great. He calmly, but quickly, made his way to the pair of them. [Color=aba400]”Sorry April, I'm going to need to borrow Ms. Bassard for a moment.”[/color] Max said with a warm smile before turning to face Sabine.

Sabine felt less pressure when Max appeared. As he strode toward them her joy slowly turned to…not dread, but worry. But why would he not want April there with her? They were so close. Why did she feel a pit in her stomach now? [color=A2797E]”I have a feeling I am not going to like this, am I?”[/color]

Max gave Sabine a shrug. He wouldn't exactly know how she would feel about the news that she was about to receive, or about the potential talk they might very well be about to have. He held his hand out for Sabine to take, and once she did the pair of them vanished. Only to reappear a few feet away into a vacant room within the hotel. His hand waved lazily in the air and more locks were added so that they wouldn't be disturbed, an out of order sign appearing in front of the door. 

[Color=aba400]”Let's start with your concern about your powers. Someone was indeed blocking you. Me. As you know, telepaths form a great threat to my family, even those that we are close with like Ms. Frost, her children, and Reeva. New Orleans is under my watch, and as such is under several enchantments I command. One of which is the one you encountered. Telepathy is [i]not[/i] to be used within the streets or buildings of New Orleans. But now I must ask you, who and why did you target?”[/color] His tone wasn't angry, or irate, he sounded as if like a father concerned for the well being of his child wondering why they had done something so reckless and stupid. 

Sabine damn near forgot Max was a strong Sorcerer in charge of New Orleans. How could she have been so stupid? Of course her powers would be blocked here. [color=A2797E]”The front desk woman because I am trying to find evidence of the Hex Girls cheating. I only wanted to scan the surface memory to find their room number. That was it. I wasn’t going to change or alter anything or force her to tell me or do something against her will. If it didn’t work I would have done something else. They intended to hurt Leah by using her father to scare her before our fight. I know our team won, but I can’t just let them get away with hurting her like that with no consequence. That’s not justice.”[/color]

Max leaned against a dresser, hands planted to either side of him as he tried to parse his way through what Sabine was telling him. He took a deep breath, exhaling slowly as he closed his eyes. [Color=aba400]”Next time I would appreciate you, or anyone, not use their powers on my employees. Cheating is one thing, but hurting someone under my ward with family trauma is another. You say this happened before the fight, can you tell me more about it. What happened, where, any detail is important.”[/color] Max stood up, his gaze soft but focused. He clearly took what Sabine was saying seriously, but was divided by what she had done and what she was now presenting him with.

Sabine bit her lip. It wasn’t like she was going to hurt Astrid. Nor was she intending to hurt anyone. She only wanted the Hex Girls to face their actions. If nothing was done, then it was like they didn’t use performance enhancement drugs before a fight or intend to use someone’s trauma to mess with their head.

No, if she couldn’t find what she needed, then there was no point. [color=A2797E]”Ask Leah about it. She experienced it firsthand. I was only collateral damage.”[/color] Her tone wasn’t rude, but it was disregarding. She was slowly getting done with this conversation.

[Color=aba400]”She isn't here. You are. What's more, I ask because I have more than one enchantment placed upon this city. I know when, where, and what spell is being cast at any given moment. I am alerted to it when it happens, and I see to them personally. So if you are stating that she was being messed with by one of my students, then that would mean magic was involved. But I haven't had a single alarm go off.”[/color] For the first time, Max's voice went stern. The safety of his city meant everything, it was an extension of his family, and if someone was causing havoc within his walls he would get to the bottom of it. 

So she was a means to an end. Not concern for her or for Leah, but because someone possibly got through his wards. Typical. [color=A2797E]”Again, you would have to ask Leah. All I know is what I saw from her memory…”[/color] Wait a minute…[color=A2797E]”Wait a minute….I saw Leah’s memory. I did so in the hotel when it happened. If your wards were in place I wouldn’t have been able to do that. But someone made Leah’s father appear and threaten me. Vision was told about it too. He seemed to know who did it, but didn’t tell us.”[/color]

[Color=aba400]”I'll have to speak with Vision about what he knows then. You say he appeared and threatened you? Within the memory or in person? As for her memory, I assume you asked her for consent and she gave it?”[/color] It was a lot of information real fast, and if Vision had had to deal with just as much while supervising the kids all alone, chances were he compartmentalized and lowered the priority or something. His sternness turned to concern once more. 

Sabine rolled her eyes. [color=A2797E]”Yes, I got consent. I can show you the memory if you want, but as I said, repeatedly, Leah would be the best person to speak to as she had firsthand experience. And Vision, though I imagine he has his hands full right now. I only know what I saw in the memory and what Leah told me.”[/color] She was, quite frankly, done with this conversation. It was clear nothing was to be done about the Hex Girls cheating. [color=A2797E]”If that’s all, could we go back to April? If nothing can be done I’d like to celebrate my team’s victory before we’re thrown back to the wolves.”[/color] This time, her tone was more defeatist. Less thrilled with the win, more so like the victory was hollow.

Max snapped his fingers as something finally made sense. [Color=aba400]”That explains how you viewed the memory at least. Consent is literally key here, gain consent and your powers are yours to use. It's simple as that. As for what happened with Leah, I'll speak to Vision about it later if he also has the full story. I'd rather Leah not have to relive that memory of her father if she can help it. Especially not when she seemed so happy out on the arena when they'd won. To the end of the Hex Girls cheating, I'll see about ordering a secondary exam on them much like the one you all had to go through when signing in. Whatever magicks or other possibilities they may have employed will still be on their system or leave behind an arcane trace we can follow. If they did cheat, I'll have words with Agatha and see if we can't find a suitable repercussion for what they had done. Hopefully this will serve as a lesson to them than cheating never gets you a win. No matter how badly you want it to. But I think you're more than right, we shouldn't worry April and quite frankly you all are far too young to be having to deal with so much in so little time. Let's go celebrate with everyone, but know that I am actively working on everything you have just told me. If any more information or issue arise, please don't hesitate to contact me.”[/color]

Sabine had to be okay with that, at least. Something would be done, hopefully. [color=A2797E]”All right. Thank you.”[/color] She was right, she didn’t enjoy this conversation. But it was still necessary. It told her a lot. She stood and waited for Max to teleport her back. Hopefully, there would be some time for her to see the others. They had to get ready for the Young Avengers. If the Hex Girls were trouble, cheating or not, they were going to be even worse.