Autumn in New York

[Locksmith]

The school year had begun smoothly enough, what with only a handful of fights so far, most caused by simple missunderstandings--teenagers. Classes went well, and the new cook was far better than the old one. Johnathan Parker had to admit that it was quite possibly the best school year yet, and he silently thanked the Lord that Ethan had finally figured out how to run the place.

It wasn't easy wearing so many hats, of that John was more than certain. He himself had to play the roles of teacher, father, friend, brother, disciplinarian, handyman, computer tech, and protector. And with each year that had past, leading up to what would now be his sixth at the school, John learned more and more about what it meant to be a mutant, and feel as an outsider. He had to laugh, even on a campus entirely consistent of mutants, he still often felt alone, being forty-three in a world of teenagers and young men and women in their prime.

Still, the rewards were enough to make up for it. Never having had time for a family himself, they had accepted him as one of their own, and he had to admit he rather liked it.

On a foggy Tuesday morning, his heavy boots thumped along the reinforced wooden floor of the second story, pulling a sour face every time he saw a patched hole in a wall, or replaced sections of floorboard--at least the ones he couldn't blame on students. No, oddly enough he had caused most of the more visible damage around the mansion. It wasn't his fault, though, being naturally clumsy he often tripped over his own size fifteen feet, and when one's mutant power is incredible density, well, he often found himself going through floors or walls. One student with amazing metallurgical powers had even mocked him with a gag gift--a sign which read "Caution, John fell again. Paint might still be wet." To that John had smiled, then made the boy help him with the next repair job.

There were good memories in the halls, and in light of them the rugged teacher smiled on his way back to the hangar, though he was in no particular hurry as his next scheduled class wasn't for another hour or so.

[Pan]

The large gates opened slowly onto a long road flanked by trees and freshly cut grass. A young security guard stepped out of his booth, he greeted the visitor with a smile and asked for his name.

"Duncan MacLaverty. I have a meeting with Mister--"

"It's alright, sir. There's no need to explain. Mister Daniels will be expecting you."

"Alright. Tah."

Duncan took a firm grip of his wheels and spun them, propelling himself steadily forward. The gates closed behind him and the guard called out.

"Hey buddy, would you like a hand or--"

"Nah, it's nay problem. I'll be there no time but cheers anyway."

The guard returned to his post and Duncan turned in his wheelchair and continued down the long road. A wind stirred the trees overhead and they rustled, shaking free a hail of brown and yellow leaves. The leaves twirled and danced in the air, slowly descending to the ground. Sat still, Duncan stared at the display with glee and closed his eyes when a leaf settled on his face. It suddenly turned lush and green until another chill breeze sent it spinng to the ground, yellow once again. He sighed and pressed on until the vast institute opened up before him.

There was a large flowery roundabout in the middle of the driveway before the school. There was no sign of life so he assumed the students must be busy in their lessons. A few stairs lead up the main entrance, next to which was a ramp. He backed away, then gained enough momentum to ascend the ramp.

Once inside, something stirred inside his jacket, he unbuttoned it a little and the head of a chinchilla popped out beneath his scarf. It glanced around curiously then wriggled free of the jacket and fell into his lap. It had grey fur and a white underbelly. He huffed.

"Warm enough for ye now, eh?"

[Uncanny]

The small, curious creature looked up with its large brown eyes and wriggled its nose at Duncan. The scruffy Scot knew that the little guy was warmer now. He also knew that the little guy could smell the varnish that had dried three days ago. The chinchilla hopped up as high as Duncans head, flipping backwards before landing once more on the thick tartan sheet.

http://www.plmccoy.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/chinchilla.jpg

[Batdude]

The thick shades were drawn in Marty's room. It was daytime. To everybody else, that meant business as usual. To Marty, it meant sleep. He lit a stick of incense, and leapt up to a steel bar that had been mounted in his dorm room, in lieu of a bed. From there, he could hang upside down and roost. His whole room had been redesigned to this strange habit. Even his computer was mounted upside-down, on his ceiling, The mouse had been a tricky problem, but eventually overcome.

Noshing on a half bag of cheetos, Marty logged onto his World of Warcraft server to briefly chat up with his guild before he crashed. In the background, Led Zeppelin's Battle of Evermore was playing faintly.

He could hear noises outside, but he chose to ignore them. Part of being nocturnal was to learn to deal with the annoyances of the day.

[Ethan Daniels]

Even on a gloomy day such as this one, Ethan Daniels stood out on the balcony of his office, just like any other day. Except that this was a special day, though a nightmare to others. It was the first day of school.

He gazed over the grounds with much fondness and pride. There were plenty of times in the past, that John loved to remind him of, when things were so chaotic and bleak after Dr. Cullen's death, that it seemed only a matter of time before the school was going to close. Ethan had always been a leader on the field, but in the classroom? The thought had petrified him. But Cullen believed in him and left him everything. The school, the X-Men, his research, and most importantly his dream. It was a dream he had died for but it was a dream that would live on through every student, teacher and hired hand at this school.

Ethan?

That was his secretary, Clara. She had been here for as long as Ethan was taking in as a student. It was weird having someone that you used to look up to as a mother figure for so long now working for him. That didn't change anything in her mind. She always tore him a new one when he was brooding too much and never had any qualms about throwing something at him when he was being thickheaded. Clara was the definition of the fiery redhead and age only made her increasingly feisty.

He stepped into his office and accepted the page. "What is it Clara?"

Don said a Mr. MacLaverty is on his way and should arrive at the mansion shortly.

"Good. Send him up immediately when he gets here."

Okay, and one other thing. The plastering to the west kitchen wall is done. We can open it up again for the students.

"Did we rearrange the furniture so John ..."

Yes. We're also working on Carlos' schedule so it doesn't happen again.

Carlos, aka Coyote, ability was radiating a bad luck aura. He can’t control it. At least not yet, but when you combine that with a 500lb naturally clumsy man, who could always increase his density, clumsy turned into a train wreck … through the kitchen wall.

[Pan]

"A smart Alec are we now? If you had so much energy in the first place, you could've bloody well pushed me, lad."

He flicked the little chinchilla on the end of its nosed. It sneezed so hard that it fell back on its hind quarters. He laughed just as a door to the side of him opened. A woman with red hair appeared in the doorway.

"Mister MacLaverty?"

http://www.andrew-milligan.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/xmen/disguise.jpg

"Aye, that would be me."

"Hello. My name's Clara," she smiled warmly and offered him her hand.

He took her hand and gave it a firm shake and returned her smile.

"Pleased to meet you, Clara."

"I believe you're here to see Mister Daniels. I'll take you straight to his office now, he will be waiting for you."

"So I've heard, please lead the way."

Clara held open a door as he passed through it and walked alongside him. She told him a little bit about the school and asked him about his travels and what he thought of America. She was a very pleasant woman and made him feel very comfortable prior to his meeting with the headmaster. Soon enough, they were outside his door. Clara wrapped her well manicured fingers against the varnished wood and a voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Clara opened the door and headed inside, Duncan followed.

"Mister MacLaverty is here to see you, Ethan."

[Jessa Mckenzy]

It was days like these that Jessa Mckenzy felt the most alive and well. It was days like these that made all troubles seem like mere memories. It was days like these that the disease inside of her ceased to exist; at least in her mind. It was grey and muggy outside, just the way Jessa liked it. No sun, just clouds. Dark grey clouds that promised a rainy day, much like the wind promised.
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A soft breeze blew loose strands of her blonde hair in a tousle around her face; it smelled of coming rain. The thought of it made her squirm with excitement; she loved the rain. The feel, the smell, the cleansing that was brought by God’s water. It was absolutely wonderful.
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Of course, it was the best way to start the first day of school. Having taught most of the early morning hours, Jessa now had a few hours to spare before her next class came in. Already she was making lesson plans for the next few weeks; if the weather shifted there was a high chance that her classes would be outside. . .that is if Ethan approved.

Although she didn't know much about the new headmaster; she liked how he ran things. Jessa, herself, had just started teaching at the school. It was definately an experience she never dreamed of. Especially after her own schooling was done; no she never went to this school for "gifted" children, but she had wandered for a while. Alone, so she could figure out her power. In the end it worked out just fine.

Putting her pen down; Jessa took off her reading glasses and placed her notebook on the stone bench beside her. She sat for a moment to enjoy the signs of what was to come. Calmly she smiled up at the sky, soothing was one of the many things that came to her mind.
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Mckenzy could see the rain had started a few miles away in a sheet of various light and dark water droplets. There was nothing she could say about the scene before her; it was all spoken for.

[Tess Abrahams]

It had taken only thirty minutes to wonder if this was all a mistake. Thirty minutes in New York had been enough time for her luggage to go missing, her wallet to be stolen, her favorite shirt to be drenched in soda, and her discman to break. She had managed to make it to the school without being raped and/or murdered, yes, but somehow that victory seemed very small indeed when all of one's clean underwear was somewhere between Milan and Alburquerque.

Tess Abrahams took a deep breath, pulling her chest up, and counted to ten as she slowly exhaled it. She did this three more times before she felt calm enough to actually enter the school, hands protectively clutching her cell phone and small carry-on; the only two things that had managed to survive the cross-country trek with her. She had no idea what she was doing and suddenly she longed for her mother, who knew everything, and her father, who didn't but could talk his way through any situation.

"Awesome." Tess said with more than a little frustrated sarcasm as she and her well-worn clogs took their first steps into what was to be her new home. The teenager took another deep breath and tried, very hard, to remember to stay open-minded and objective. "Awesome."

[Carlos Calaveras]

The school was humming with activity - literally in some places, with the distant sounds of mis-used powers crackling and whizzing. At any school, the first week of term is a daunting and often chaotic thing, but at a school of mutants its an entirely different kettle of radioactive fish.

One thing that the institute did have in common with your average high school was a welcome wagon. A peppy squad of young mutants, most of whom had been there more than a few years, roamed the school grounds, flashing their pearly whites at anyone looking lost. Somehow, through some fluke of fate, Carlos Calaveras had been drafted in to their posi-parade.

Carlos, or Coyote as he was known to most, stood in the main entrance hall, watching the new and old faces pass by. Behind him there was a booth that had been lovingly put together by one of the girls who had roped him into the project, featuring images of happy mutant students, with slogans like 'together we can do it' plastered beneath their grinning mugs. Beside the brightly-coloured display, he looked a little dour – his black sweater ratty at the edges, his Chucks scuffed and his hair mussed.

There was a pile of yellow fliers, with an advertisement for a student support group, on the table. He thumbed the stack idly, watching as the main doors swung open again. A guy in a wheelchair had rolled through a few minutes ago, with the distinct look that he was on a mission, so Carlos hadn't bothered offering him one of the pep-squads pamphlets. The next arrival, however...

“Hola.” He smiled, “Can I help?”

[Ethan Daniels]

Ethan had been shuffling through some papers on his desk when the knock at his door came. With a quick tap against the oversized calendar covering his desk, they were filed neatly in his hands. "Thank you, Clara."

He pushed out the chair and smiled while getting to his feet. "Good morning Mr. MacLaverty." Ethan held up an apologetic finger. "Just one moment, please. Clara, would you mind sending these off today?"

"Of course." Clara smiled down at Duncan and squeezed his shoulder before leaving the two of them alone.

"I'm sorry about that." He held out his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I hope your time here in America has been good so far?"

It was very apparant to Duncan that Ethan was comfortable around him. There were no signs of hesitation or discomfort coming from the Headmaster, just an earnest curiosity and welcoming attitude exuded.

[Pan]

Ethan had a firm grip and maintained eye contact. He was suprisingly quite soft spoken for a man of his size. He seemed as curious as Duncan. The fur of the chinchilla was smooth and comforting against his fingers, he tickled behind its ears.

"It's not like we've been here a long time but yeah, so far it's been a good laugh. New York is a hell of a place."

By now, Duncan had wheeled over to Mister Daniels's desk, behind which the headmaster took his seat. There were large windows behind him and below sprawled the vast school grounds. He glanced out of the window.

"I gotta admit, I was suprised to find a place as remote or green as this anywhere in New York. If you don't mind me asking, Mister Daniels, apart from the scenery, why build a school so far out of the way?"

[Batdude]

Marty couldn't sleep. It may have been the recent influx of new students, or open house, or whatever. That, combined with his ultra-sensitive hearing, sealed the deal. He hopped down from his perch, bare feet slapping the tile with a thud. He looked himself over in the mirror. He was awkward before the change. Now, he was awkward with style. His nearly-black skin met coal-black hair, seated between a pair of large, moveable ears. Seated around those were a set of black-framed glasses, of an incredibly thick prescription. In fact, he was nearly clinically blind, and only through those goggles could he even see three feet in front of him. He leaned toward the mirror to make sure he looked presentable, and wriggled a hooded sweatshirt carefully over his arms, and his folded-up wings, which were folded sheets of skin that hung below his arms and stretched out to elongated pinky fingers, which he bent inwards when not in use.

Such was the life of The Bat Dude.

He fired up the iPod on his "utility belt" and left his dorm in search of pizza or something.

[Ethan Daniels]

He had heard Duncan's question many times in the past. Perhaps not in the exact same word usage, but the meaning was not lost on the Headmaster. Duncan held a certain curiosity about this school that he wanted validated in person.

"It's the perfect atmosphere for our students here to grow as individuals and gain an appreciation for their studies in peace. The make-up of our student body leans heavily toward teenagers and they do enjoy their privacy. But most importantly, our school provides an environment rich with understanding and patience as our students discover who they are and are taught how to use their skills for the betterment of society. It's why we're selective with who we admit." Ethan always tailored his speech on the side of caution when meeting someone for the first time, but anyone that was a mutant could easily read between the lines of what he was really trying to say.

Just then, Duncan's furry companion leapt out of the warm tartan blanket and onto the Headmaster's desk, who merely smiled down at the Chinchilla. He really hadn't much experience with that sort of animal but could tell the little fella was very inquisitive. "Who's your friend?"

[Locksmith]

“Marty,” John greeted the young man who had come to be known as Batdude as he passed by in the hallway, then kept going. The first year among so many other mutants—especially those who had great difficulty learning to control their powers—had been hard on the aging machinist. But with time he learned to take things in stride, and he had become quite complacent even around some of the most freakish of appearances exhibited by the students.
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Yet, most of them never realized how much he did at the school, and away from ti for that matter.
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Since his first year, Back when Dr. Cullen had still been alive, Johnathan had been tapped to join the secret group at the school known as the X-Men. With them, he had seen things he never thought possible, and was finally able to use his powers for something useful. That, and fix all the machinery they broke on missions afterward. Many of the students didn’t even know of the X-Men, and those that did hardly thought that quiet, clumsy Mr. Johnathan Parker would be among them. Still, downstairs, in the sub-basement hung a uniform with his nameplate underneath it. Well, at least the name “Locksmith” which he had been dubiously entitled.
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Stepping into the service elevator, John decided to head downstairs and meet some of the new students. Hopefully some this year would actually take his classes because they wanted to, not because hands-on science was part of the standard curriculum. When the elevator stopped, he stepped out and headed back toward the main staircase, which he was unofficially banned from after an incident a few years back.
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Yes, the new students were arriving, and several of the old students were coming out to greet them. It was time to mingle and learn what new abilities had come in, and if there were any he should be wary of. Once Carlos came into view, John slowed his step. While he had nothing personally against the young man, the two had some to some serious words in the past, even though John knew what happened wasn’t Carlos’s fault.
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Still, when a water main bursts, it’s always handy to have a scapegoat. Enough of that, though, it was time for a smile, and time to make sure he two left feet behaved.

[Pan]

"Fluffy," he lied.

He watched the small creature patrol the desk, sniffing here and there. It approached Mister Daniels with apprehension. The headmaster held out his hand and at first the chinchilla backed off. Duncan stared intently. Slowly, it approached, it's nose twitched. Mister Daniels brought his hand gently down upon its head and its ears lowered. But when he stroked the little thing, it didn't move. It was perfectly relaxed. Duncan grinned and perked up.

"So, Mister Daniels, what you're really trying to say is that this is a school for..."

[Tess Abrahams]

He looked so... so transplanted amongst the neon-bright yellows and pinks that Tess caught herself staring at the young man, unsure if he'd actually said something or not. After half a minute or so it became evident that he had indeed been speaking to her and the girl flushed faintly.

There was something of ease in the tears of his sweater, a casualness in the way he was slouching that belied her frazzled nerves and reminded her, unmistakably, of a James Dean poster she'd seen once in a theatre lobby. Plus, he wasn't wearing leather like the cheery looking girl who had nearly approached Tess before he'd spoken.

"Um," she chewed on her bottom lip, teeth finding the familiar grooves caused from years of the habit, and walked over. When she got close enough she accepted one of the flyers, more because he looked stupid holding them than because she was interested, and glanced down at it.

"Oh." Tess frowned and held the flyer up, pointing at the bolded, italicised text. "You mean like, help-help?"

[Locksmith]

If there was one moment John was going to let Coyote's bad luck sabotage, it was that one. Pausing where he stood, the large man scratched his beard a bit before backing off, and seeing just where this was going to go.

[Carlos Calaveras]

“If you want,” Carlos shrugged, fairly noncommittal.

“Though I was thinking more along the lines of... carrying luggage, showing you where you should be headed.

“...You are new, right?” he asked, as the entirely unmissable shape of John Parker loomed into view. A run-in with the school grease-monkey would be more interesting than doling out fliers, but – smiling – he thought that escorting a freshman to the dorms had it's appeals too.

[Francoise Dupont]

Though it was still only the first week of term, classes were in full effect and although the young mutants of Cullen's Institute reveled in any chance to show off their powers or play rough and tumble, they were still obligated to undergone a normal education. When they weren't practicing self-defense with John Ree, they would be puzzling over algebra problems or trying not to blow up the chemistry lab.

It was important, Cullen had said, that they should receive a rounded upbringing. They were children, after all. Just not the normal kind. Normal teenagers, after all, generally don't burst into flames whilst giving a class presentation.

A wisp of smoke drifted up from Kieran Holmes' hands, dancing off of the ashes of what had once been a lovingly crafted piece of poetry. At the front of the classroom, a young woman smiled reassuringly. “Don't worry about it, Kieran,” she said, her accent a lilting French, “That was excellent.” At that moment, a bell rang, signaling the end of the class. One student, gifted with super speed, was out of the door in a nanosecond.

“The rest of you can give your readings tomorrow. Don't forget, our book discussion is this Friday, so I want you to have all read at least the first six chapters by then.”

The class all filed out one by one, many with mumbled protests, leaving Francoise Dupont alone. She glanced out of the window beside her desk, at the cluster of students loitering in the yard down below. Another class would be due to start in fifteen minutes. She had just enough time to grab a bite to eat from the kitchens. Gathering up her bag, she walked out into the hallway – only to be almost knocked to the floor. Someone, obviously in a rush, had barreled into her from behind.

[Batdude]

"Hey John." Marty acknowledged the mechanic in the hall as he scratched his tussled hair.

The halls were alive with students and activity, and it was all keeping him awake. He walked down to the lobby, eminating a faint click-click-chit-click sound as he went along. Even with his glasses, he could only see so far in front of him. Echolocation took care of the rest. Rapid, hypersonic chirps could paint the scenery around him and give him a view as sharp as any eyesight. No colors mind you, but he could see in blur pretty well, and use his imagination.

"Oh thats right, it's newbie day, eh?"

I looked to the side at Carlos, laying his best rap on the new scenery.

"Hola gorgeous, welcome to the freakshow."

I clapped a hand on Carlos's shoulder and gave her a grin full of sharp teeth.

[Dusk]

Samuel pushed shut the door of the taxi, adjusted the strap on his shoulder and took a step forward. Paying his fare to the driver, he gave his thanks and turned to face academy. The taxi drove off, and Sam stood for moment, regarding what he would now have to call "home".

Setting off forward, he made his way past the security gate and up towards the main entrance. His parents waited two years to send Sam to a place like this, a place to fit for a mutant son. Apperently he was here to become a reformed person. Having finished his secondary education back home in England, now seemed a good time to start fresh here.

At first he had been shocked to hear he wasn't the only one of his kind, but after a lot of thought, it settled in him comfortably. It was reassuring, as well as logical.

Pulling his shirt straight, he pulled on the main door, and before him was revealed his new home. Stepping inside, he gazed around at the entrance hall, looking over the bustle of students and teachers.

[Anja Drake]

She hadn’t even set foot into the building and she already had someone nearly run her to the ground. For some reason she knew it would be like this, especially with new people and them not knowing you or your ‘disabilities’. She supposed it was understandable for these people to rush around and not pay attention but still, for the love of all things holy she wasn’t even in the school yet. She managed to find the door and slip inside without much trouble, considering her near face plant moments ago.
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The moment Anja looked up she nearly gasped in shock, there were so many people that it made her head spin in frustration. Yeah, she was blind, truly clinically blind. No color ever existed for her, no shape, no texture…nothing. But for her, God worked in mysterious ways; she couldn’t see but she could sense. Sense the people around her, sense the objects; they were all white, black, or grey figures projected by her mind to sort of direct her. At least that’s what she thought it to be.
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Anja found herself staring in awe at all the busily moving images. Out of all of them there were mostly grey figures; all varying shades, some dark some lighter and at the corner of the hall a lightened figure stood, possibly observing. Anja pulled at the sleeves of her black leather jacket in nervousness; maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to come. She wasn’t willing to move until light grey figure bumped her to the side.
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“Guardarlo!” Anja hissed at the figure in her native tongue as she caught herself on the wall. Her eyes flashed blood red for a spilt second before returning to their normal darkened gold-brown color. She steadied herself quickly; there was no reason to get upset; she would just have to be more aware than usual.
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Drake put her duffle bag on the floor at her feet and leaned against the wall. She sighed as the sea of moving bodies hurried around the hall; getting used to this place was going to be hell.

[Dragon]

For John Rhee, running was meditative. It linked body and breath into a single, hamonious rhythm, enforcing discipline on the physical self while at the same time setting it free. It demanded effort without creating turmoil, determination without conflict. Meanwhile the vibrant redwood forest passing around him with its centuries-old sequoias reminded him that while life moved forward, it was also cyclical and eternal, and that he, too, was a part of it, as it was a part of him. There was wisdom in the wood, and it was when his body and soul were striving and unified that he could see it so clearly.

In fact, he was so deeply unified that he didn't notice for a moment when he was no longer running over dirt and pine needles but over seashells. He skidded to halt, nearly slipping in the surf that washed over his sneakers.

"What-- Max!"

A penguin waddled up from the water and looked up at him quizzically. Then a blizzard rolled over the beach like a tidal wave.

The Korean mutant clutched his arms fiercely and shouted over the wind, "Max! Something's not working right!"

Two figures garbed in ninja attire dropped out of the sky on either side of him - he barely rolled out of the way of a scything sword and, rising, laid the first out with a stiff blow to the solar plexus. He spun to kick the other in the jaw, but his foe flickered and his foot passed harmlessly through him. John tumbled off-balance back into the snow.

"Ha! I am too match for you!" the ninja crowed in a high, tinny voice.

"End!" John shouted. "Exit! Control-alt-delete! Something!"

Suddenly, the wind stopped and the ninja evaporated, followed by the snow, the water, and the sky. All that was left was a large, domed room with an observation window on one end. John, still wet and shivering, picked himself up off the floor.

"I think there's still some bugs to work out, Max," he said. "I got to go. Classes starting soon."

Five minutes later, John Rhee was riding the elevator up from the subbasement with a towel draped over the back of his sweatshirt. The elevator door opened to reveal a corridor already full of students - some were faces he'd seen before in his four-year tenure at the school; a surprising number were new. Ethan's influence was helping to get the word out about this place, and it showed.

John Rhee edged his way through the crowd until he came to someone harder to edge around - then he realized it was the other John. Johnathan Parker had been one of the first mutants he'd met after coming over from Korea, other than Ethan, of course, and the older man had always made him feel at home.

"Lots of new students this year," he said, coming alongside the school's caretaker. Absentmindedly, he rubbed some snow out of his hair.

[Tess Abrahams]

"Oh nonono, I don't want that kind of help--not that I have a problem asking for help or with people getting that kind of help, group counseling is a great tool--it's just that I don't need that kind of help." She laughed nervously before barelling on. "I just thought that you meant, you know, were offering and..." Tess closed her mouth quickly before she made herself look completely idiotic and placed the crinkled flier back on top of the pile, smoothing it with a palm. The coltish girl clasped her hands together and sighed.

"Yes, I'm new and I promise I'm not usually this... taxing. It's been a long day, my luggage--" The sentence slowed to a stop as Tess gaped at the... bat... boy.

Certainly she'd known she was going to meet some pretty surprising folk. Of course many of them would manifest physical mutations but it was one thing to see a scaled fellow-mutant on the 6 o'clock news and quite another to be standing not two feet away.

Hola gorgeous, welcome to the freakshow."

Tess nodded openmouthed and then smiled, grinned even. For the first time since leaving Portland she felt relieved. Not fitting in anywhere else was what made you fit in here. "Thanks. I'm Tess."

[Dusk]

As Sam scanned the hall, his attention was grabbed by an odd exclaimation.

“Guardarlo!”

Turning to face the girl, he eyed her over, looking down at her bag and back up to her unusual eyes. Taking a few steps to close the distance between them, Sam adjusted his bag-strap again.

"Some people, eh?" he said with a strong English accent.

He looked back down at her bag again.

"Say, you new here too? Any idea where we're supposed to go?"

[Locksmith]

John glanced down past his shoulder to see his friend, John, standing next to him. He swore, he could never hear that guy coming, and it sometimes creeped him out. Glancing back over the new crop of students, and the familiar ones, the larger John replied, “Yep, more and more every year. Your martial arts class is probably going to have a waiting list, I’d wager.” Then with a laugh he added, “I might get lucky and have a student actually voluntarily sign up for my classes. Danger Room running all right? Still having issues with the AC system cooling down the new computers, but I’m working on it.”
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A young lady apparently made up of shadows passed them by, and despite all the weird things John had seen, he still saw some mutations as absolutely incredible. Lowering his voice, the large man whispered, “See any potential troublemakers yet? Ethan wants us to keep an eye out for them, y’know, so things don’t get out of hand early on and whatnot.”

[Dragon]

John Rhee resisted the urge to comment on the Danger Room - he'd been skeptical since Ethan had shown him the blueprints Dr. Cullen had drawn up years ago. Technology had finally caught up with the old man's dream, and Ethan had poured substantial funds, substantial even by his standards, into the project to get it up and running for the school year. It was an impressive piece of hardware, but John couldn't help thinking of it as a shortcut around developing real training and teamwork.

"Hard to say from here," he replied, scanning the crowd. "Except of course... that one." He pointed very directly to Carlos and grinned.

But he looked over the students in earnest, feeling out the energies in the room - he was nowhere near as psychically sensitive as Francoise, but his ch'i still provided a reliable sixth sense about some things. There were two new students slowly making their way up from the entrance - a tall boy with long hair and a pale-looking girl - he sensed conflict in both of them. But then, that was nothing unusual. Many of their students had scattered backgrounds. Most of their teachers, too, for that matter--

He glanced back up at Johnathan. "Oh, sorry, did you say something?"

[Locksmith]

"No," John replied. "But I was about to suggest we remind them all that classes are going to start, shortly, and nobody likes tardy students, even on the frist day."

Pausing to look over all the teenagers milling about, John mused, "You know I had to hide my differences when I was their age. Mutants weren't really accepted and all that. Had to bulk up so that when I knocked something over, people just thought I was big. Would've loved to be like these kids, able to show others just what they can do, and not be afraid of it."

Suddenly clapping his hands together before him, the large man known as the Locksmith to some, spoke out the corner of his mouth with a slight grin, "Well, you want to do the all-call this year, or should I?"

[Batdude]

Hola gorgeous, welcome to the freakshow."

Tess nodded openmouthed and then smiled, grinned even. For the first time since leaving Portland she felt relieved. Not fitting in anywhere else was what made you fit in here. "Thanks. I'm Tess."

"I'm Marty, but youse can call me Bat Dude & stuff."

Marty gave Carlos's shoulder a squeeze.

"Livin La Vida Tongue-Tied over here's Carlos."

"Guardarlo!"

The sudden outburst made Marty grit his teeth and cup his hands to his oversized ears.

"Yo, I got no idea what the hell she just said, but somebody needs to tell her to put her library voice on."

Recovering, he looked back at Tess, and to Carlos.

"Any of youse hungry? I can't sleep with all this noise goin on so I say what the hell."

[Carlos Calaveras]

Carlos smirked at Marty's introduction. His eyes wandered a bit, wondering who had just given a yell, when he spotted John Rhee pointing right at him, a suspect grin on his face. When Marty proposed a trip to the cafeteria, Carlos breathed a sigh of relief. “Anything to get out of this.”

He abandoned the student group pamphlets, no doubt to a fate of becoming paper airplanes and crumpled projectiles, and motioned for the other two to start walking. “We can get you checked in later, Tess... I'm sure the staff won't mind, right, Marty?” Calaveras asked, as a young mutant he was passing tripped over himself and scowled in Carlos' direction.

[Maxine Flannery]

:: Max was still in the Danger Room, loading in the revised scenarios her duplicate had just given her ::

* Night of a Million Zillion Ninja
* Mars Attacks
* Zombies
* Destroy all Monsters
* Killer Clowns from Outer Space

"Killer Clowns???"

Max gave her dupe a dubious look.

"Hey, it could happen." the duplicate replied.

Max shrugged.

"I'll catch you later, I've got students to greet."

[Veritas]

Near the front entrance of the school, Henri was having his morning coffee and a cigarette, sitting on one of the large concrete steps leading to the front door. His walking cane rested nearby, near the thermos he brought his morning caffeine in. He watched the other students and potentials arrive, extending a curt "Bonjour" to the faces he recognized. The ones he did not, he made a special point to remember. At odds with Ion, Henri had expressed misgivings about being so open with new arrivals. The bigger a place such as the academy grew, the more risk was taken of infiltrators. It may have been his former police upbringing, but it was blunt-nosed pragmatism for Henri.

[Ethan Daniels]

"Fluffy," he lied.

He watched the small creature patrol the desk, sniffing here and there. It approached Mister Daniels with apprehension. The headmaster held out his hand and at first the chinchilla backed off. Duncan stared intently. Slowly, it approached, it's nose twitched. Mister Daniels brought his hand gently down upon its head and its ears lowered. But when he stroked the little thing, it didn't move. It was perfectly relaxed. Duncan grinned and perked up.

"So, Mister Daniels, what you're really trying to say is that this is a school for..."

'Fluffy' was so soft, and well fluffy, that it took Ethan by surprise. This was the first time he had ever pet a chinchilla. It was adorable. He also didn't want to scare the poor thing too much and backed off, allowing the little guy to roam about his desk freely to sate its curiosity.

"... People like you and me." The Headmaster picked up right where Duncan had ended. With the rumors and stories mulling about back in Duncan's home, it was obvious that he was a mutant. Gauging how comfortable around others with that fact had yet to be established, but Ethan was quite certain that the man sitting across from him was just looking for a place to belong.

"You don't have to hide anymore." His smile was one of understanding and empathy. Ethan knew how Duncan felt to a certain degree, but he would not be so arrogant to presume he knew exactly. Ethan could hide his mutancy easily from the public at large. The same could not be said for Duncan.

[Pan]

A broad smile stretched across Duncan's face. The man sat before him was special, he had to be, not just anyone can be the headmaster of a school for people like them. He pulled his hat off revealing to small horns.

"Well, when you put it like that, Mister Daniels, allow me to introduce meself a bit more proper like."

He pulled the blanket from over his lap, revealing a kilt and two furry legs with a pair of hooves. He stood up with an unmistakeable clip-clop.

"As ya know, the name's Duncan MacLaverty, although some people call me Pan. I don't know why this is but I am known to act the goat from time to time."

Now clearly amused, Duncan didn't hesitate and nodded at the little chinchilla which was now sat on the edge of the desk looking up at him.

"And this little fella is Robert Shaw, also known as Uncanny. Say 'Hello', Robert."

He threw the thick blanket into the air.

[Ethan Daniels]

His smile broadened as a deep chuckle rose from his throat, pleased that Duncan allowed to show his true self. The wheelchair was nothing more then a prop, which didn't surprise Ethan in the least. He had seen similar attempts of mutants hiding their features when arriving at the school. Seeing Duncan so relieved like this reinforced that the school was living up to its purpose.

"Well, I am very pleased to be meeting you and Robert properly. As you will learn, we encourage everyone to be expressive about their talents, however they take form. This is a haven for all mutants that want to walk around without fear and to learn how to use their abilities safely. I would welcome you to be a part of that if you wish, Duncan."

[Francoise Dupont]

Near the front entrance of the school, Henri was having his morning coffee and a cigarette, sitting on one of the large concrete steps leading to the front door. His walking cane rested nearby, near the thermos he brought his morning caffeine in. He watched the other students and potentials arrive, extending a curt "Bonjour" to the faces he recognized. The ones he did not, he made a special point to remember. At odds with Ion, Henri had expressed misgivings about being so open with new arrivals. The bigger a place such as the academy grew, the more risk was taken of infiltrators. It may have been his former police upbringing, but it was blunt-nosed pragmatism for Henri.


Francoise was on her way to the dining hall when she spotted a figure that made her face light up with a smile - Henri. Excusing her way through the busy crowd filling up the main entrance, she found herself at his side. “Bon après-midi, inspecteur.” She smiled, a little coyly. “Spotted any interesting new arrivals?”

[Veritas]

"Non."

Henri offered his compatriate his coffee as he exhaled smoke from his nose.

"A young woman with dark hair looking agitated." He said, in reference to Anja Drake. He shrugged the girl off casually.

"Nerves on a first day are nothing of consequence."

His brow furrowed.

"The morning is cold, and my knee is stiff. Are you comfortable Madame?"

[Dusk]

Dusk's attention was once again caught, this time by another woman. He watched as a red-haired woman came into the main hall from one of the many sets of doors.

"She looks like she knows what's going on..."

Looking back to the girl leaning against the wall, he gave a smile.

"Excuse me. I'll come say hi if I see you around."

Pulling on his bag again, he turned and strode off towards the red-head, his eyes wide and looking a little lost.

"Pardon me, miss. I'm one of the new students here, and I'm rather confused as to what I'm supposed to be doing. I don't suppose you could help, could you?" he asked politely, smiling.

[Tess Abrahams]

"Great, I'm starved." Tess made a face, "Did you know they make you pay for food on planes now? Not even hot meals, we're talking pre-packaged processed crap that's still half-frozen from the coolers. It's appaling."

The staff probably would mind if they took off and, judging from the overt looks that Carlos had been getting back in the foyer, would probably mind more than a little. At the moment it didn't matter because for once she was actually having normal interaction with two people her age that weren't related to her. The thrill of gallivanting around a school with a couple of teenagers was exhilerating.

Tess strode between Carlos and Marty, lugging her bag in front of her so that it padded against her knees softly with each step. "So," she yanked off her knit cap, leaving the top of her head fuzzy with flyaways, "You guys been here long?"

[Robert Shaw]

"And this little fella is Robert Shaw, also known as Uncanny. Say 'Hello', Robert."

He threw the thick blanket into the air.

As he did so, the chinchilla formerly known as Fluffy propelled itself through the air, thanks to a magnificent little set of hind quarters, and made contact with the tartan blanket. The creature then spun, wrapping the blanket around its little grey body. As it did so, its body seemed to swell and grow. This all happened very quickly, since there was nothing wrong with gravity in the office. After what was little more than an improvised somersault, a pair of human legs and a human body emerged from the blanket, which was now being worn as a kilt by a young man with black hair and a cheeky grin. He extended a hand out towards Ethan.

"Alright mate. Nice to meet you sir!"

[Ethan Daniels]

Ethan had his back pressed hard against the back of his chair, completely floored by this astonishing feat! He gasped, still in shock but was genuinely happy to see that Robert was another mutant.

"Well, then," he finally found his voice and stood up to shake Unanny's hand with a wide grin. "A pleasure to meet you for a third time now, is it?"

He released his grip and shook his head. “At least now I know why you didn't want me petting you.”

[Pan]

"Yeah, I thought that was odd, too," he grinned and added, "Rob's normally in his element when being petted by strange men."

Behind his back, Rob made an unsightly gesture at him but kept a smiling face for the headmaster. Duncan stepped forward and joined his half-clothed friend at the headmaster's desk.

"First and foremost, Mister Daniels, we both offer our sincerest apologies for the deception. It's just that we had to make sure that this place was for us. There's a lot of turmoil about mutants in America at the moment, and we just thought it best. I hope you don't mind."

[Batdude]

"Been here for a semester so far. It was either here or junior college for me. Some people can blend in with normal humans just fine, but I'm not exactly the type."

Marty shrugged, click-chirping as he walked to light the way.

"I guess I'll get the big question out of the way while we're at it. No, I don't drink blood. Red Bull's my poison."

He gave a toothy grin as they made their way to the self-serve line in the caf.

[Anja Drake]

Anja gave a slight wave as the boy left her. Heaving another sigh, she pulled her bag off the floor. Alone again, she thought as she pulled the strap over her shoulder. Hopefully, she’d be able to find someone to help her out.
<o =""></o>
Again she gave her eyes a minute to adjust to the crowd of people. She figured she would try the two white figures at the corner of the hall. They were the only two that really stuck out amongst the greyer bodies.
<o =""></o>
Drake managed to slip in and out of the crowd relatively well. She approached the two figures skeptically. As she got closer their builds told her that they were both male and she was hoping that they were teachers.
<o =""></o>
“Scusarme, sorry. I’m new here and I’m not sure of where I’m going. Could you possibly help me?”

[Robert Shaw]

Rob fumbled inside a rucksack secured to the back of the wheelchair. He revealed a black t-shirt and pulled it over his head.

"It's dead bad in some places back 'ome. The gangs by our house jump mutants, an' they usually get away with it. There's campaigns and things, so hopefully the council'll do somethin' about it."

[Ethan Daniels]

Ethan pursed his lips and waved his hand at the two of them. "No offense taken. Your situations are not unknown to me as there are a lot of students and teachers that have had similar incidences happen to them before coming here."

As Robert continued to get dressed, Ethan walked around to the front of his desk and leaned up against it informally. "As difficult as it may seem, we are afforded much autonomy here. Sure, the local and state governments have their suspicions about us but they leave us alone. We're far enough away from anyone incase there are ... problems with our students learning around their abilities. Salem Center is the nearest town to the school and we have a very good rapport with the townspeople."

[Maxine Flannery]

"Pardon me, miss. I'm one of the new students here, and I'm rather confused as to what I'm supposed to be doing. I don't suppose you could help, could you?" he asked politely, smiling.

:: Max turned to greet the new-comer with a smile ::

"Hi. I'm Maxine Flannery, but everyone here calls me Max. Follow me and I'll get you settled in."

[Dusk]

Sam grinned.

"Oh, thank you."

He cast his gaze back to where the girl had been leaning before, but she had gone.He looked back to Max, pulling out the hair that had tucked itself under his collar.

"I'm Samuel Hutchins, or Sam if you prefer."

[Pan]

"As difficult as it may seem, we are afforded much autonomy here. Sure, the local and state governments have their suspicions about us but they leave us alone. We're far enough away from anyone incase there are ... problems with our students learning around their abilities. Salem Center is the nearest town to the school and we have a very good rapport with the townspeople."

"I'm glad to hear it, that's a rare thing, whatever you're doing here it seems to be working, Mister Daniels. Which brings us to the point why we're here today."

He took a seat in front of the headmaster's desk.

"There aren't many places like this and we were wondering if you have room for two more? We want to make a difference, Mister Daniels, and it's hard to do it alone."

[Dragon]

“Scusarme, sorry. I’m new here and I’m not sure of where I’m going. Could you possibly help me?”

John Rhee was about to respond to his friend when the pale-looking girl he'd seen earlier approached. He turned to meet her eyes, only to find them distant and unfocused - she was blind. It only took a moment of cognitive dissonance to realize she had still picked her way through the crowd without difficulty.

"I certainly hope so," he replied, smiling brightly whether or not she could see it. "First thing to do is sign in at the tables on your right, and then you can go into the front office and pick up your room key and class schedule. I can help you through if you want."

[Robert Shaw]

Robert sat next to Duncan and began putting on his socks and trainers, being careful not to raise his legs too high.

"I'd love to be a part of this place. It's perfect. I mean I've got friends back 'ome who've never treated me any different because of my abilities but...well...you know what I mean!?"

[Carlos Calaveras]

"So," she yanked off her knit cap, leaving the top of her head fuzzy with flyaways, "You guys been here long?"

“And I've been here just a couple of months longer than Marty. Got transferred mid-semester.”

The tone of his voice and the way that Carlos looked away seemed to suggest that there was, predictably, more to his 'transfer' than he was letting on – but the lunch line wasn't really the place to discuss that.

With the exception of Marty, most of the kids in line looked pretty normal. Carlos eyed Tess curiously, without reserve.

“So what do you do then?” he asked, not so much as flinching as a girl up-ahead yelped as she scalded herself on a hot ladle.

[Anja Drake]

John Rhee was about to respond to his friend when the pale-looking girl he'd seen earlier approached. He turned to meet her eyes, only to find them distant and unfocused - she was blind. It only took a moment of cognitive dissonance to realize she had still picked her way through the crowd without difficulty.

"I certainly hope so," he replied, smiling brightly whether or not she could see it. "First thing to do is sign in at the tables on your right, and then you can go into the front office and pick up your room key and class schedule. I can help you through if you want."

Drake watched the light outline of his features spread out and widen; which she had learned over time represented either a smile or a sneer. Though, on this occasion she didn’t think her appearance was so repulsive that it was worth sneering at; she took his reaction as a good sign and casually smiled back.

“Oh, some assistance would be great!” Her smile began to fade as she paused a moment, moving her senses to the other man station beside the one to which she spoke. “ . . . That is, if you aren’t already occupied.”

Anja rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly with her free hand while her other hand pulled at the shoulder strap of her bag. “Uh, I really hope I didn’t interrupt something.”

[Ethan Daniels]

Robert sat next to Duncan and began putting on his socks and trainers, being careful not to raise his legs too high.

"I'd love to be a part of this place. It's perfect. I mean I've got friends back 'ome who've never treated me any different because of my abilities but...well...you know what I mean!?"

Ethan sighed, remembering how he was treated back home. He did not have the good fortune of friends that were willing to look past his mutancy. His parents were worse; kicking him out of the house for their own good, since the neighborhood was ready to revolt.

"Yes," he smiled thinly, pushing those old memories aside. "I do. And there's more then enough room for the two of you. You can move in right away if you want."

[Jessa Mckenzy]

Jessa strode through the cafeteria with long, precise strides. Her notebook and pen now attached to a clipboard hugged comfortably to her chest. New students and old presented themselves all over; most hungry after a long ride to the school. She felt to need to mingle amongst the new comers. Learn some faces and possibly even some names to go with them . . . although that was pushing it.
<o =""></o>
Mckenzy straightened her white silk polo shirt as she ducked in to greet a pair of new students. Their names were lost the moment they were said but the two of them were identical twins; in the end they would be easy to remember. Their powers however, would be learned later. Jessa modestly dismissed herself from the couple when she spotted two students that definitely made her classes a bit more difficult than necessary.
<o =""></o>
“Well, hello Marty. Carlos. How are my two favorite students?” Jessa remarked sarcastically with a grin. “Not causing too much trouble I ho-. . . ” She stopped herself as a different face caught her eye. She addressed the girl that Batboy and Coyote were accompanying with a larger grin.
<o =""></o>
“Hi, didn’t see you there. Welcome, I’m Ms. Mckenzy or if you want to call me, Jessa, that's just fine.” She laughed but before she could continue a clatter and a few half yells pulled her attention to the far side of the cafeteria. She smirked and quickly threw a suspicious glance at Carlos before excusing herself to see if anyone was hurt.

[Tess Abrahams]

The line was in limbo at the moment, with students up ahead stuck trying to decide between ravioli or turkey melts, so Tess took the opportunity to scope out the salad bar. To her great delight there was a lot of dark green; dark green made her very happy.

When Carlos asked his question Tess instinctively felt herself bristling. This was, after all, the same question that was used as an accusation outside of school walls; it was strange to hear it with no malicious intent in tow. Carlos and Batdude just waited patiently.

"I bend. Like a pretzel." She stared at the two boys unflinchingly, though she had to fight to keep her eyes from sliding away. "What do you--"

Before she could return the inquiry the trio were accosted by a teacher. She looks like McAvers, Tess thought, an image of the always-put-together-just-so tumbler judge. The sarcasm didn't go unnoticed and Tess narrowed her eyes at Marty and Carlos before smiling at the woman. "Hi, I'm Tess. Nice to meet..." a yelp and clangle furthur on down the line sent Ms. Mckenzy bustling off, an apologetic smile tossed in their direction--well, maybe not at Carlos.

Watching the teacher recede, Tess shook her head. "Why do I get the impression that neither of you are prime candidates for class president?" She glanced between the boys with mock surprise and then fixed Carlos with a playful stare. "So what, Carlos, you the heralder of Armageddon or something, 'cause that's like the eightieth dirty look you've gotten."

[Pan]

"Yes," he smiled thinly, pushing those old memories aside. "I do. And there's more then enough room for the two of you. You can move in right away if you want."

His knee-jerk reaction was to laugh but he choked it back and broke eye contact with the headmaster for a moment to share an incredulous glance with Rob. Duncan had not expected it to be so straight forward. A surge of relief washed over him; there would be no prodding, no probing, no questions, just acceptance.

"Well, well," he said and gave Ethan a broad grin, "I don't really know what to say, Mister Daniels, except 'Thank you'."

He glanced back at Rob, who appeared equally as thrilled; they had a new home, a home in America. He stood, trotted towards the headmaster, and extended his hand.

"Thank ya very much, Mister Daniels."

[Dragon]

Anja rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly with her free hand while her other hand pulled at the shoulder strap of her bag. “Uh, I really hope I didn’t interrupt something.”
"No, not at all!" John Rhee nodded toward Johnathan. "We were just sizing up the new victims. I mean, students. John, I'll see you later. Oh, and, Max wanted to talk to you about putting in another circuit. Something about the power draw from the... the new computers downstairs."

The Danger Room wasn't common knowledge at the school - most of the teachers knew, but none of the students. Johnathan would know what he was talking about.

John turned back to Anja and motioned toward the sign-in table. "I'm John Rhee, by the way. I teach physical fitness and self-defense, and I'm also one of the mutation counselors here. So, if you ever need any help, don't hesitate to ask. And that's Johnathan Parker. He's the school caretaker, and he also teaches shop and science courses. He does so many things around here I'd say he has the ability to be in five places at once - but that's Max. Ah, here, we are. And your name is...?"

[Anja Drake]

She hesitated for a moment. There had to be something up with her, her senses weren’t focusing right. Maybe she was getting sick, stuff like this happened when her internal defenses weakened. Or maybe it wasn’t her, it could quite possibly be all these mutants; she never had been around so many at one time before. Whatever was up, Anja needed to focus, unless she wanted to be like every other blind person. Drake was able to make out a motion from John and she followed slowly.
<o =""></o>
“Anja Drake.” She addressed Rhee’s question. “A-N-J-A, the ‘j’ sounds like a ‘y’.” It was evident that she had an accent; although it was hard to decipher where she was from. Being born in <st1:state w:st="on">New Jersey</st1:state> and then moving to <st1 =""><st1:country-region w:st="on">Italy</st1:country-region></st1> could have affected her. She recalled a time when a classmate had teased her about being part of the Italian mafia.
<o =""></o>
Blinking her eyes numerously, she was able to focus a little. Her senses were in her head, which sometimes wasn’t always fun. Sleep was definitely something she had a problem with, she had never learned how to turn her senses “off”. Sure she could close her eyes like any person but there was no use in them. In truth, Anja hated her eyes; they were absolutely useless to her. She almost wished she didn’t even have any, if she couldn’t use them then what was the point of having them.
<o =""></o>
She turned her face to John Rhee; trying to keep her brow from pulling down in concentration. “This quite an amazing school.”

[Artisn]

The season of shades.

Red, yellow and green culminated in a majestic breeze across the lawn. The allure danced amidst the slight chill that wheezed through cracks and crannies. Autumn divulged a tantalizing dazzle of nature in it's raw form, leaving most transfixed with the absolute beauty.

People throughout New York were commanded in observation as the descending leaves floated to the ground in Central Park. Distances stretched by decorative mustard cars, glisten with shines to ember in the transcending day, as people sway across the canvas. Embedded in the delicacy was a bustle a long the side. Grey overcame the crowds as color flush the surveyors.

All of it was hidden. Left a secret gift behind a dangling cloth. Art had another portrait painted in his workshop back in the dorm, and all his hopes splash along the smooth wisp of his iPod stuck in his ears. One day he would press the painting on a mural that the world would see. A long the cars in the subway, or maybe even a section of the illustrious design could captivate the train. Any public demonstration would be a perfected reflection of the very city in disarray.

...or the artist of the city in disarray.

Either way, it was perfect for him. Everything had come together nicely, and despite the odds pointing in different humor he couldn't help but smile. Never before had he engross in a first day, even at the Academy he could claim to be a junior at. Unlike much of his class he had come within the semester, leaving him more an outcast than expected. The program projected mishaps and differences as simply unique, but he didn't. Instead he rather play to solitude and isolation before dropping into the crowds again for a displeased dismissal.

Even though all of them were mutants, that didn't make them friends...or even associates. None of them were alike, and he couldn't find to time to pick and choice in his seemingly sufficient schedule to care about any of his fellow students. The painting wasn't directed to any girlfriend, or admirer of any sort. No, it was for a teacher. They could be looked up to, unlike schoolmates who could only be looked at.

A sigh simmer his excited as his bag dangled at his side. The single strap slang over his opposite shoulder as he pranced happily through the polished halls. Squeaks accompanied him as he glanced effortlessly from side to side, following in unison with ever movement to the bebop jazz musicians provoking notes. The band splashed through the small cords, but he played it easy.

Jazz was just another one of his genre of music he couldn't get enough of.

In mid-step he caught his eye on the back of Mr. Rhee. The man wasn't too tall, had a distinguish look about him. Never before had he taken his class, but he had seen him around. No better time than the present to introduce himself. Before he could notice the newcomer, he was off to the races tapping the teacher on the shoulder. Introductions were necessary on the first day...at least he believed so. Home school didn't explain such things, but he expected it was...expected.

"Ay. Aint'cha Mr. Rhee?"

Few words, but it could be heard. He despised it, but he was like all of the students in many respects. Dialects weren't avoidable in the wide range of origination, and the Southern vernacular stripped the kid a few proper sentences. A smile could only void the trouble as he caught eye of John's face. Mistakes were dealt with, but believing one man for another could be a bit spotty. No one wanted to make such a simple mistake.

[Maxine Flannery]

:: Max led Samuel through the many halls to Ion's office, passing one of her dupes along the way ::

Max - "You going on a pizza run?"

Dupe -"That's what I was thinking."

Max - "Don't forget the ..."

Dupe - "Sesame shrimp, and extra cheese. Gotcha." ;)

:: The dupe disappeared around a corner as they reached Ion's door ::

[Dusk]

Sam stayed quiet as the other woman passed, and to be honest, was a little taken back by her being completely identical to Maxine, including the clothes. As she disspeared down the corridor, Sam found he had fallen behind Max a little, and so quickened his pace to catch up with her, coming to a halt outside room. Upon it was a plaque reading "Ethan Daniels".

"So, you're a twin?" he asked Maxine.

[Ethan Daniels]

His knee-jerk reaction was to laugh but he choked it back and broke eye contact with the headmaster for a moment to share an incredulous glance with Rob. Duncan had not expected it to be so straight forward. A surge of relief washed over him; there would be no prodding, no probing, no questions, just acceptance.

"Well, well," he said and gave Ethan a broad grin, "I don't really know what to say, Mister Daniels, except 'Thank you'."

He glanced back at Rob, who appeared equally as thrilled; they had a new home, a home in America. He stood, trotted towards the headmaster, and extended his hand.

"Thank ya very much, Mister Daniels."

Ethan shook his hand and placed his free one on top of their combined grip. "No, thank you for coming to us and allowing this school the opportunity in helping you achieve your dreams."

With a smile, he released the handshake and led Duncan and Rob across his office. "I'll just get you settled with Clara. She'll provide you with keys to your rooms and give you a brief overview of where everything is on campus."

He opened the door for the two of them and much to his surprise, he saw Maxine on the other side. His smile grew into a fond one. "Max! Is everything okay?"

[Maxine Flannery]

"Twins? Nah, I'm much prettier."

:: She turned to Ethan ::

"Oh, everything's fine. There's another student here to see you."

:: she stepped out of the way so Samuel could enter ::

[Dusk]

Sam suddenly realised where he knew the name from, and stretched out his right hand.

"You must be the head here. I'm Samual Hutchins, it's good to meet you."

[Dragon]

She turned her face to John Rhee; trying to keep her brow from pulling down in concentration. “This quite an amazing school.”

John positively beamed, though he wasn't sure whether she could see it. "Not to be immodest - but it really is. It changes the teachers' lives as much as it changes the students. Now, let's see..." He picked up a clipboard from the registration table. "Docker, Doe, Donnelly, Doubleday, Dowding, ah, here we are, Drake, Anja. Looks like you're on the second floor, room 202. So, what brings you here, Anja?"

That, he knew, was more often than not a loaded question. But he thought it was important to show that he was always concerned about the students' situations, however painful or bizarre they might be. He wouldn't say that nothing could surprise him, but, well, being surprised never really surprised him anymore.


"Ay. Aint'cha Mr. Rhee?"

He turned to find another student over his shoulder. John smiled and said, "Oh, yes. Just one moment please." He wanted to be sure Anja was all set.

[Damien E. Dervish]

The older cab pulled up to the school building. The climate was perfect, a nice light breeze flowing through the multi-colored autumn leaves. This was very different from the occupant of the cab's home in the south, a few miles from Charleston, South Carolina. Most of the trees there were evergreen pines, not these oaks. They were magnificent! Smiling at the wonderful landscaping, the occupant opened the door, and hopped out of the cab, getting his things together. Fortunately, he packed light enough that he, with his short stature, could carry his own luggage.

Landing with his gear, he stood just outside the school, listening to the dying hum of the engine as the cab drove away. A beautiful placard was on the brick walls surrounding the complex. It said:

"Doctor Cullen's Institute For Gifted Youngsters."

The occupant of the cab smiled even wider, his pristine, yet razor sharp teeth visible and gleaming in the light. He started up the walkway, finding it not so difficult to get to the front of the massive building. With his bags in tow, he made his way into the line of children, of varying races, sexes, mutations, and other backgrounds. He found one interesting fact: almost all of them were at least two to three feet taller than he was. He only smiled. This meant he would go unnoticed, which wasn't a problem. He could very easily get attention. But that wasn't needed yet. Rubbing the two, two-inch, black, pointy nubs that were his horns, Damien E. Dervish smiled, his tail whipping back and forth, his little black wings flitting as he waited.

The three-foot-six-inches black-furred, mutant eyed everything, his black eyes and red-slitted pupils taking in everything within the room. Less than thirty seconds later, Damien found himself bored, and slung his backpack in front of him. Reaching into it, his black, clawed hands produced a leather hackeysack. Smiling slightly, he tossed it into the air, and began to tap it back and forth. His hands were full of luggage; the furry, black, bifrocated, and prehensile tail patted the little hackeysack around, as his clawed toes, through sandals, tapped to the rhythm of the hackeysack as he tossed it about behind him. Giggling lightly, Damien relaxed. He loved hackeysacking; not only was it soothing to him, but it gave him a chance to show off his extra appendage and his mastery with it. Nevermind how many years it took for him to master such moves.....

[Sidney Burns]

<i>"Barf, another flock of newbs."</i>

Sid had a love/hate feeling about the first day of the new school year. She hated the actual "school" part, and loved the fact that it was so hectic that she could disappear into the background. Which was normally difficult for a purple girl made out of an acidic substance.

She pushed her way through the line that seemed to run the entire length of the lobby, passed some weird little black ...thing.

"Excuse me"

[Damien E. Dervish]

Damien looked up to see a purple woman pass him. He got a faint whiff of acid, and saw how her skin shimmered, light passing on it. It looked like.....Jello? Huh, acid Jello.....Damien had heard of partiers, but this one took it a little too seriously. He smiled, stepping to the side, not even breaking his concentration on his hackeysack. Coming from his mouth came a high-pitched, almost squeaky voice.

"Hi. I'm Damien."

[Batdude]

"I bend. Like a pretzel."

"Killer."

He just let the appraisal hang in the air, as something any juvenile young guy would.

Instead of the salads, Marty found some neglected pizza under a heat lamp. Putting three slices on his plate, he followed up with three bags of Doritos and a big bowl of ice cream. Hardly nutritious at all, but Marty had to fight to gain weight anyway. That, and he was famished.


Watching the teacher recede, Tess shook her head. "Why do I get the impression that neither of you are prime candidates for class president?" She glanced between the boys with mock surprise and then fixed Carlos with a playful stare. "So what, Carlos, you the heralder of Armageddon or something, 'cause that's like the eightieth dirty look you've gotten."

"Hahaha, yeah that's about right."

I shot Carlos a knowing glance as I looked back to Tess.

"You ever play D&D? This guy makes everybody roll snake-eyes."

About that time, a dribble of ice cream slipped off the bowl and onto Marty's shirt.

"Ah, dammit. My last clean shirt."

[Anja Drake]

John positively beamed, though he wasn't sure whether she could see it. "Not to be immodest - but it really is. It changes the teachers' lives as much as it changes the students. Now, let's see..." He picked up a clipboard from the registration table. "Docker, Doe, Donnelly, Doubleday, Dowding, ah, here we are, Drake, Anja. Looks like you're on the second floor, room 202. So, what brings you here, Anja?"

That, he knew, was more often than not a loaded question. But he thought it was important to show that he was always concerned about the students' situations, however painful or bizarre they might be. He wouldn't say that nothing could surprise him, but, well, being surprised never really surprised him anymore.

Anja bit her tongue trying to find a simple way to explain her journey in getting to this school and the reason behind that. It wasn’t hard to explain but it was hard to make others understand and plus it was too lengthy of a tale for just this small talk.
<o =""></o>
“It’s too long of a story for right now. The short version is that I have a temper problem and that causes severe ‘alterations’ with me. Even with my family being practically all mutants, they decided to send me somewhere to learn how to control my changes.”
<o =""></o>
She purposely stated her answer with out actually telling her major power. The first day was too soon to tell these people. Even if they were teachers, she wanted to get a feel for them. She could already tell that in the future, her and Mr. Rhee would be speaking quite a bit.
<o =""></o>
“Thank you for your help Mr. Rhee. I’m sure I can find my way around. I’ll leave you to the others.” She addressed her last comment toward the young man whom she had sense approach early on. She slightly bowed her head in dismissal before departing down the large hall.

[Artisn]

Artist keyed into the world, listening and watching carefully for elements that they found adequate. Artisn was no different than other of artistic value. He peered at the two as they converse, an eyebrow raised as mental notes were scribed. The girl was peculiar, and even her simple movements were awkward. Something about her peeked his interest, and before the dialog ended he had already decided his fate.

A smirk pressed his lips as he responded with her rushed exit with a wave to Mr. Rhee. There was a bundle of new students, and if Art wanted to get his year off on the right foot he felt an introduction was needed. He had already played his cards impolitely by intruding, so making it up could leave him at least balanced for the day.

At least that was how he saw it...

Switching in his feet, he followed behind Anja before tracing himself to her side. A smile lifted his features as he looked down.

She was...kinda...well...pretty.

"You don't gotta walk down these ol' scary halls 'lone. I'll help ya.

Where is ya firs' class?"

[Anja Drake]

She didn’t have to turn to know the young man from earlier was there, but still she would humor him and act like a normal person. Shortening her stride a little, Anja slowed her pace. Her senses focused in on him before she even made her eyes turn to him.
<o =""></o>
Like everyone else, there was always something that made a certain person unique in her world of blindness. Normally, finding an alteration of some kind is easy on a person but with this guy it was kind of hard to pin point what is difference was. By the way her senses told her to lift her had when she addressed him, told her that he was tall. And his accent was very hard to place; much like hers was.
<o =""></o>
Different people always had different figures; shades, shapes, builds, and vibes. This guy was odd; it wasn’t his shape or shade that interested her . . . it was his blend. In every other person she noticed their figures were solid and sharp; with the exception of lighter shades to accent physical features. But this boy, he was almost smudged, blurred together. Like a piece of artwork, it definitely was unique.
<o =""></o>
She made her hazy eyes and senses focus on his face before she grinned up at him.
<o =""></o>
“I haven’t checked my class schedule yet; I kind of want to settle into my room first.” She readjusted her duffle bag strap to sit comfortably in a new spot on her shoulder. “You don’t have to escort me, unless you wanna look for your room too.”
<o =""></o>
Her grin grew into a beaming smile.
<o =""></o>
“What floor and room are you in?”

[Carlos Calaveras]

Carlos smirked and shook his head.

“I don't do it on purpose, you know? Bad luck just follows me around.”

Marty gave him a look that suggested otherwise.

“Fire is my big thing, though. Kind of... normal, really. Seems like half the school can shoot fire or ice out of their-”

He caught himself, remembering exactly who he was talking to. The pretzel.

[Artisn]

Art watched carefully, her motions become more typical and humane. Despite the evidence, his mind became derailed in her allure. Rarely did he quickly introduce himself, and the very thought probed his mind even as he walked with her.

The absolute hilarity of it all nearly threw him into a stupor, but he remained in pace. Instead he withheld the sense of stupidity, and placed on a smile. She was new, and he was new to her. There was much to learn, and a lie could push him in the right direction.

At least he thought it would.

"Room..."

Before another word could trickle from his tongue, he rummage through his memory bank. A few classes from last years blasted across his eyes, memories of the horrible first day flashing back. All the bumps, accidental class entrances, and troubles were too hard to forget. He would make the day worth something, because a few too many classes weren't his that he found himself stumbling into.

"Room three, 'n floo' two.

What bout you?"

[Anja Drake]

“I’m in room 202. So I’m guessing room two on floor two.” Anja stated simply as she finished probing her memory for the number Mr. Rhee had told her. It was one of the perks to being blind; once Anja heard or sensed something she could never forget it. It was glued in her brain, just in case some things got jumbled.
<o =""></o>
Anja hesitated when she sensed an area where several grayish figures when up; indicating a stairwell. With a carefully calculated step, she began to work her way up the stairs; her hand found the rail as her other hand steadied her bag. She sensed the boy still close to her; maybe she would make a friend the first day. It would be a first for her.
<o =""></o>
“Oh le fesserie, I’m sorry I didn’t introduce myself.” She let her mother’s tongue escape her in a rush to correct her rudeness. Her voice portrade a certain calm presence as she started to introduce herself. “I’m Anja Drake and you are?”

[Artisn]

Art was a stickler for detail. He noticed her accent earlier, but as the rumble of feet diminish in the distance the words were more accentuated. The beauty of her tongue brought an eloquence rarely found within the hostility in the halls. Chaos ensued always as mutants banged against one another, or ran hectically to class. All of it was a bundle of confusion, which was to be expected at any secondary education. The kids weren't kids anymore, and weren't exactly adults. Maturity level was somewhere at belt-high, and practical jokes seemed to become a mandatory in class.

Artisn had never been on the on any side, but the observer wasn't exactly as fulfilling when a kid was falling face-first in a pie. All the events of the first day vary, but he definately didn't want to leave Anja open for any of the troubles he saw.

Digging into the depths of his pockets, he reserved the thoughts and listened on. One step at a time, the two spiraled up the stairs with Art's eyes jumping from the windows to Anja. Autumn had certainly casted it's ways across the world. The leaves continued to blow a long in all their vivid, charred colors. Hopefully he could get out later.

Maybe with Anja...

"Oooh! Yea--fo'get too.

I'm Artisn. Most people just call me Art tho.

So, whatcha first class?"

[Anja Drake]

‘Damn!’ was the only word that came to mind when Artisn asked her again about her first class. She hated being asked to read something or having to look up answer to a question; it was the major reason why people noticed she couldn’t see. Sure, she read books and many prints in braille but for those articles where there was no braille she had to, what she called, ‘finger read’. Which she had developed over the many years of not being able to see.
<o =""></o>
Praying that he wouldn’t notice; Anja lifted the sheet of paper, that Mr. Rhee had handed her, from her side but not before secretly sliding her index and middle fingers over the page. Her finger reading only worked on some occasions; mostly on a piece of paper that had been printed on. Over the years she had taught herself how to identify what the different raised up letters/characters read on that particular page.
<o =""></o>
Anja pretended to study the sheet before letting her arm fall to her side.
<o =""></o>
“History with Mr. Bertrand.”
<o =""></o>
It seemed as though her hand had reached the end of the railing just as she finished. That stairwell was definitely longer than she had sensed.

[Artisn]

"History, eh?"

Art glanced over at her paper nonchalantly. The fluidity of her motions had left him to forget the peculiar conversation previously. She captivated his senses more than she knew, and it was best kept that way. Artisn never was big for feelings, at least without a canvas, and the conversation was going well enough to avoid sporadic evasion.

Keeping the secret this time wouldn't be too hard.

Times had changed since Atlanta. Social happenings were endeavors that his whole family had embodied. Community service, conversation with neighborhood girl, all of it cumulated into a social highway that the family networked from. They weren't perfect, but they knew how to interact. Artisn had melded into the mold perfectly, but the mutation was beyond him.

He didn't understand, nor would anyone else. At least he believed so.

Artisn changed in a matter of days, and the "special school" didn't have the spin to 180 his life around. Life had become far different than he imagined, and even simple interaction took a toll on his security.

"Well," he began, fidgeting his hands in his pockets needlessly. "My class is right by there.

Maybe we...can get somethin' to eat after...class?"

That didn't fit.

Artisn despised that feeling. Whenever he become conscious about his acts, they never came out right. A slight thought, and the brush stroke didn't provide that fluidity he loved. Before she could realize, he demanded a calmness that he had been acquainted with since birth. He didn't have to play the part, he was the part, he could do it.

"Betta' yet, you should check my artwork out. Ya want to?"

[Anja Drake]

Long slender fingers halted abruptly when they reached what she felt to be the outline of a 202 at about her shoulder height. Anja had stopped at the same time as Artisn had asked his question; what the heck was she going to say? Possibilities slid in and out of her mind, she could try telling the truth, but she had been there only for about fifteen minutes; why spill her guts now?
<o =""></o>
In a slow, calculated movement; Anja let her hand fall downward to grasp the handle of her door. Her mind was still chewing on Art’s question and still propelling answers at her, she didn’t what to decline, truthfully she loved other peoples’ artwork; but the problem lay in the person who created the art would allow her to get her hands on it. Even without sight, a piece of art or in general anything was amazing; the different textures and shapes that you don’t noticed with the ability to see. Really, she did want to see Art’s work.
<o =""></o>
Without any further delay, Anja pushed through the door and into her ‘room’. A normal person would have probably gawked at the room; like so many people did when they entered a new place. She knew what was there; she sensed it, although there was a high chance that she was missing the beauty of it. Instead, Anja found the empty bed, out of two, closest to the door and ignored the rest of the room.
<o =""></o>
Anja tossed her bag on her bed and twisted back to look at Artisn, biting her tongue on what to say.
<o =""></o>
“I would love to, Artisn. But…” Well here it goes. “I really don’t have an eye for art. I guess I can’t appreciate as most people would.” It wasn’t a lie since she really couldn’t appreciate any sort of detailed thing. The way it sounded was just so mean. Anja really regretted not saying anything something else; like the truth for instance.
<o =""></o>
She turned her head away, darn her guilty conscious. Biting her lip as added…
<o ="">
</o>“I would definitely still go with you if you want me to see it.”

[Artisn]

"Um...

Yea."

Art gazed for a solid moment. She had sudden turn awkward...bizzare, but he would have to play it ignorantly. There was no room for dropping back into isolation without some hope to hold back on. Friendliness never could be classified as a wrong, and any chance of a smile to grace his path was worth any bizzareness.

"Then it's a date."

[Anja Drake]

“Sounds great!”
<o =""></o>
Anja glowed with delight; maybe just maybe this would work out. She moved quickly to unzip her leather jacket, spending all day on a plane had made her relatively hot. Tossing the jacket on her bed, Anja reached up slowly to remove the chopsticks in order to release her hair.
<o =""></o>
“So, what kind of art do you do?” Flipping her dark hair over her shoulder, Anja slipped the sleek beaded chopsticks into her back pocket of her jeans. “Are you a painter? A sculptor?”
<o =""></o>
Drake spoke and glided out of the room at the same time, straightening her cashmere sweater in the process. She paused momentarily to shut the door before starting up along side Artisn again.

[Artisn]

She seemed excited.

Artisn hoped for genuineness in it all. Betrayal was troublesome to swallow, and Art wasn't acquainted with it enough to grasp it's impossible anguish. Relationships he carried never held such decrepit ties that could falter under the slightest weight and tear his heart out. Despite the thought, he could only smile.

He liked talking...again.

"Graffiti..."

From observation Art acknowledge she wasn't exactly normal. Anja had a voice on her that blossom on her tongue, and could not be ignored. Graffiti was world renown, but she didn't carry that charisma that knew it to well. Although he was far too prepared to explain the culture, he grabbed up another topic. There was much to talk about--the two had only met.

"Soooo, whatchu doin' er?

[Anja Drake]

‘Crud.’ Anja really needed to find a good way to explain her powers.
<o =""></o>
“Uh, well. I have a problem with controlling my powers when I get . . . upset.” She was off to a good start; now she hoped it would stay that way. Things that ran in her favor rarely lasted long. “I come from a family of mutants and my mother thought sending me here, like they sent my uncle, would help me.”
<o =""></o>
The tone of her voice dropped but not greatly. It wasn’t because speaking of her family made her uneasy, it was explaining her power. . .maybe powers if anyone found out her blindness.
<o =""></o>
“I didn’t disagree with them, although I was skeptical about coming here. I want to understand my powers just as much as my family does.”
<o =""></o>
It came out a lot better than she thought; never stating her powers until they need to be stated. It was her safe area, she would never understand why it was.
<o =""></o>
“What exactly is it that you do, Artisn?”

[Artisn]

"They are....complicated."

Art would leave it at that. Over the years he had conformed to his abilities, they became apart from him. No longer did he embody the irregular attributes, but the skills had created a dominion over him. Life was a struggle with such an absurd mutation, but he managed.

At least in servitude to the craziness created.

"You'll see eventually....," he added, throwing his eyes off into the bed room. The dorm was a bit different than his. A light illuminated the room dimly, but he couldn't help to differentiate the subtle coloration of the wall and the vacancy of character.

His room was a bit...different.

"...Wells, imma take off. I'll catchu afta class, ay?"

[Anja Drake]

Nodding in agreement with him, Anja shoved her class sheet in her other back pocket. Her stomach growled again; the idea of heading to the cafeteria was starting to sound better and better. She was pretty sure that her History class didn’t start until later this evening.
<o =""></o>
“Sure, I will see you later then.” She grinned up at him before backing down the way they had come. “If you want to find me, I’ll be around anyplace that has food.”
<o =""></o>
Anja snickered quietly and brushed her dark hair out of her face. She stopped mid-step and flashed her teeth at him.
<o =""></o>
“Oh, and Artisn. It was very nice to meet you.” She continued down the hall but not before giving him a slight wink.

[Bernard Bass]

Bernard walked around the grounds of the school by himself for almost an hour. He needed time alone, time to accept his new situation. He was not ready to be “just another student.” He had never been just another student. In the classroom or on the football field, Bernard was far from ordinary. He was gifted even in beating cancer.

Bernard excelled at everything he did. But for the first time in his life, he was unconfident and scared. He was now an average student. Bernard wasn’t sure how he would handle being average. There was only one way to find out.

Bernard Bass nervously walked to the doors of the Dr. Cullen’s Institute for Gifted Youngsters. He knew that opening the door would change his life forever. The doors slowly pushed open and Bernard Bass stepped into his new destiny.

[Tess Abrahams]

Tess frowned at Marty's heaping tray as she listened, shuffling some spinach from her salad bowl onto his napkin. "Say no to scurvy, Batdude." The girl twisted off the cap of her water and took a long swallow before placing it down and nibbling on the end of a carrot stick.

"Bad luck, huh?" Tess shook her head. "I dunno Carlos, maybe I'd better just stick with Marty here, I don't want to start off on the wrong foot." Although her teasing grin suggested otherwise.

"So, hey, what're the classes like here?" There was more than a little curiousity in the question; The only group-interaction Tess had ever had was during training, and she severely doubted that tumbling around in leotards was a daily activity at Cullen's. Much to the boys chagrin, no doubt.

[Damien E. Dervish]

The purple girl didn't seem very talkative. Damien merely shrugged. He tried to be nice. If she didn't play nice, then he wouldn't waste his time......

"Okaaaaay. Have a nice day."

Damien turned back to the line, and continued to bounce the hackeysack back and forth.

Thirty minutes later, Damien got the proper paperwork. After getting himself signed in, and assigned to a room, Damien carried his things up to the room. He decided to settle in, picking a bunk and putting his belongings in the assigned dressers. Once done, he looked at the schedule, the hackeysack still bounding on his tail. He saw that the first hour or so was dedicated to touring the grounds, groups being assigned either by alphabetical order or by a first-come-first-serve basis. Irregardless, he was ready to get situated, and then get rustle up some grub.

Rubbing his large, felty, and pointy ears, Damien left the room, bouncing the hackeysack from his tail to his head, off of his wings, and back to the tail again, smiling widely. Damien had great plans for this great place and time in his life......