Jiri had lived in New York his whole life. New York City? Not so much. He'd come here a few times with friends, but his mom and dad both hated the place.

It's like Dublin, but without any character.

Jiri, my boy. If there is one thing New York City does not need, it is a man with an Iranian passport.

He'd been at Xavier's for about a month now, and it had finally hit him: school was starting soon. Orientation was at the end of the month. His free time was rapidly running out, and the city was right there. There was a bus stop right down the block from the Mansion that went downtown. He'd, ah, ridden it once, in a dream.

The seats weren't any less sticky in real life, but looking out the windows as the skyscrapers loomed was a lot more fun. Central Park was way more fun without people dragging him through it, shopping was more fun when he could wander into anything that looked even remotely interesting, people were fun when he had time to just sit on a bench and watch them go by. Everything was fun.

...Not so much the going to pay for his tea, and realizing his wallet was gone. Not so fun.

Umm.

It wasn't on the counter. Or the floor. Or the sidewalk, or anywhere as he back tracked and asked at every place he'd taken it out or thought he might have taken it out or--

It was a long time before he admitted to himself that he hadn't dropped it. By then, he was leaning on a railing overlooking the wharf, watching the boats come in. 

He'd just been mugged. At least it had been a polite mugging. Very discrete, very not-to-spoil-your-day-but...

Jiri sighed dramatically, flopping his head on his arms. Ways to get a new ID while not tipping off his mother as to how he'd lost it were dancing in his mind when--

--whoa that was a lot of arms. Like a lot. Like if he saw that in a video game, there would be no question in his mind that he should be killing it.

Jiri starred. Jiri stared with his eyes wide, and a certain instinctual urge to run that was being counter-acted by an instinctual urge to not attract attention. It was no a very polite stare.

Victor almost hated being the one his aunt and uncle turned to when they needed some alone time. Almost. His cousins while just as loud and messy as any children, were to him at least, a perfect little troupe. The older of the bunch helped him keep the younger two in check and the older of the younger two would watch the youngest.

Plus, it made people less inclined to start shit when they saw he had kids with him. So that was always a bonus. But it didn't stop people from looking, watching his hands and horns and teeth very carefully. He looked like a big old monster after all, he could suddenly snap and eat them. That's what he supposed they saw when they stared for so long.

So when they finally got to the wharf to watch the boats and enjoy ice cream while the weather was still warm, Victor knew the teen was watching him. The youngest girl was perched on his neck, holding his horns to keep herself steady, her face already smeared with ice cream. The middle child boy, a little older than the on his neck, seated on his upper pair of arms, popsicle mostly gone now. So he couldn't really move. But the third and oldest, about twelve, was staring back at the rude teen, something akin to rage in her face.

"What are you starin' at, cabrón?!"she shouted, stomping her foot. Victor glanced down at the girl, careful no to pull his horn out of the youngster's grip. "Hey, language. Where'd you learn a word like that?" Victor murmured, trying to keep the growl out of his voice. "I heard you talking about Mel."the girl stated and Victor couldn't help but chuckle.

It took him longer than it should have to process the three mini-humans in attendance on the beast. Not gonna lie: his first impression was of Mr. Bubbles and Little Sister. But once his heart stopped trying to tear its way out of his chest, and he got in a deep breath, he had a little less trouble thinking with his frontal cortex again. The guy was giving him the look. The same look the more obvious mutants at the Mansion gave him, when he was... well, staring. Like this. 

It had become a pretty normal look in his daily life. And while "pretty normal" still wasn't what his brain was screaming at him when he looked at this... guy? Pretty sure it was male but he'd been wrong before? Yeah sure guy he'd just go with that for now. While his brain was still trying to flip out, Jiri did his best to take in steady breaths and act casual. Especially when it chuckled at something the girl said, and sounded a heck of a lot like an oncoming freight train.

Jiri turned around, and set his elbows on the railing behind him.

"I," the teen said, with the gravest of dignity and just a little bit of a I-dare-you-to-call-me-on-this eyebrow raise, "was staring at your friend. Here I'd been, standing around, working through an extremely difficult grown-up problem. 'Cause you know what I was thinking? I was thinking, ma'am, that those empty crates over there would make the best fort ever, but that a whimpy little shrimp like me couldn't possibly lift them. And besides, you can't make a fort by yourself. That's a rule. So I was just about to give up when..." He flared out both his palms, taking in the giant orange elephant in the room. "Voila. All my problems were solved."

He sighed, very dramatically, letting his hands go limp again. "But of course, you're way too old to make a fort. Five year olds can make forts. Eight year olds can make forts. But you're, what, thirteen? Heck, language like that, you're probably fourteen. No way you'd want to sit around while the rest of us played. So I guess I'm back to square one." 

Jiri turned back to facing the water, with a visible sigh, and an overly obvious still-watching-from-the-corners-of-his-eyes look their way. His eyes were still sort of sliding away from looking directly at the big guy, but he had a grin for the kids. 

Victor had to hand it to the teen, it was a nice save. Enough to catch the younger two's attention and give the third pause, "I'm twelve thank you very much and I know how to build a fort without anybodies help." The oldest pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest. "Side's still wasn't nice to stare like that. You like every jerk on the bus."

The youngest patted his head to get his attention, "Abajo, Victor!" Victor looked up at the little girl, "Majo, no, no estamos haciendo un fuerte." The eight year old in his arms now whined, wriggling to get down, "Víctor, me defraudó, quierooooo!" The large beast of a man was having greater difficulty keeping control of the littles. He sighed before finally giving in before their crying could get any louder.

He ducked his head so Sophia could grab Majo and he set David down. "Alright, let's go make a fort." he sighed, giving Jiri a look that said 'look what you've done'. Clearly they hadn't been planning on messing with abandoned crates and every instinct was telling him it was a bad idea. But now the kids were set on it.

This would be his cue to leave. The big guy was giving him the stink eye, but it was a normal, my children are monsters and it is all your fault look. 

So.  Big guy distracted, kids' chaos contained and directed. Good time to slip out. Especially since he couldn't understand half of what they were saying. 

Despite the protests of his hind brain, Jiri edged closer to the multi-armed dragon... thing. And closer. And now he was in arm's reach but it would probably be really obvious if he tried to back off so he got up his nerve and took another half-step into Normal Social Bubble range.

It boggled his mind that this guy could fit on a bus. Wouldn't it be easier for everyone if he just picked the bus up and carried it?

"Umm," he kept his voice pitched so that the playing kids wouldn't be bugged by him, unless they came close. "Sorry about the staring. Because I was. Totally staring. Which was obnoxious of me." He knew it, the guy knew it, all three of the kids knew it. Might as well 'fess up. "Also for siccing your kids on the crates. This is why I'm not allowed to pick my sister up from daycare anymore. I'll, ah, just see myself off--"

That plan lasted as long as it took for the youngest to grab his hand, and drag him towards the growing fort. 

"Or not," he laughed, trying to project a don't smash me vibe to the lizard-thing while keeping his grin in place for the kid. Apparently his efforts were needed in making the fort taller. There was only so much height the kids could do on their own. 

Victor couldn't help but grin as Majo got her tiny, adorable hands on the teen, leading him over to the abandoned crates he had pointed out. "Heheh, it seems Majo had determined that you're perfect for this job. You did after all say that you wanted to build fort. So let's build, gringo." That last bit came out more as a growl than he intended to. But the kid's hadn't noticed so it was okay.

First thing was first. He had to makes sure the crates where okay to use. Wouldn't do to have them break under the stamping feet of children. With Sophia's help he was able to determine that the crates were indeed safe to stamp on. He using what extra wood they could find to build makeshift ramps and a little roof they could all hide under. He made sure to clear away rusty nails and wood with sharp splinters.

They found an old blue tarp to throw over the roof. It wasn't magical but to the kids it was enough to make their imaginations flare. And of course they ran wild. "You're staying right here and making sure they don't hurt themselves."he stated to the teen.

Jiri kept his grin as lizard mountain growled at him. It was a wide terrified grin, but it was still a grin, so it counted.

The kids were entirely missing what was passing between them. Except maybe the oldest--she might not look anything like the many-armed tangerine, but when she practiced her stink eye, the family resemblance was unmistakable. The fort building commenced after a responsible product-testing phase. And Jiri... Jiri stuck around. Because Majo had bonded to him with the impulsiveness some little kids had, and making Majo cry seemed really, really bad for his health. 

He tried to have fun. He did have fun. But he'd have had more fun if the guy had made any move to accept his apology. And was less hulking. And standing behind him. And occasionally making growling demands. Was he doing the growling on purpose, or was that just Jiri's inner racist, making that assumption? 

Case in point: watch the kids.

"Ah. Okay?" It was the only answer that would end in someone crying. Jiri was reasonably certain the someone wouldn't be twelve or under. He didn't ask why. Or what for. These were questions an angry orange might take offense to. But there was one very important, very responsible person watching your kids question that he had to know: "When should I expect you back?"

Victor huffed at the teen's question. "I'm not going anywhere. But an extra pair of eyes is helpful where jumping children are concerned." He pointed his own singular eye. Since the mutation happened, his depth perception has been off.

So far he's been able to compensate with guessing and judging by size and overlap. But sometimes he got clumsy. Which is why they went for a walk to get ice cream and watch boats, inside of going to the park where the jungle gym was.

Building a forts was the last thing he wanted to do. But the stranger forced his hand and now he had a potential hazard on his hands. So he wasn't about to let the teen wander off and leave him to deal with this all alone.

"What your name anyway?" The stranger probably already knew his name because of the kids and the kids names because of him. But they hadn't thought to ask the stranger what his name was.

The guy wasn't going anywhere. He just wanted an extra set of eyes. That was simultaneously both more and less anxiety-inducing. If he'd been left alone with the kids and one of them got hurt, he'd have been a dead man. But if the guy stuck around, then Jiri had the Lone Eye Of Judgement turned on him.

Not that he intended to argue with the guy.

"Fair enough," Jiri sat himself down on one of the extra crates. If he was going to be a midget next to the
purple red people eater, he was at least going to be a comfortable midget. With well-rested legs. Just in cause.

"Jiri." He stuck out his hand before he'd had time to really think about what he was doing. When his brain caught up to him, he exerted a conscious effort to not jerk it back to safety. He'd done that with a girl, his first day at the Mansion. He'd had a distinct need for counseling, after his first day at the Mansion. But he couldn't help the little tremor that went through it as it hung in the air, incredibly small next compared to the scale this guy was working off of.

"Sorry. Still working on turning my self-preservation instincts off." That had sounded a lot funnier, and lot more tension-diffusing, in his head.

Victor allowed himself to yawn, closing his one eye in a moment of relaxation. Boy was he going to need a nap after this. Perhaps in the backyard under the sun, just sunbathing in all that warmth. It was a nice thought, something to look forward to. He hoped his aunt and uncle were having a good time to make this worth it.

When the teen offered his hand in introduction, he took it in one of his own carefully. Not too hard, not to gentle, just the right amount of firm. He had practiced with his family on multiple occasions. Majo insisting he use her dolls to practice too. It helped, he was just the right amount of gentle. He knew he could break things without thought. He mere size was telling enough. The teen had guts enough to point it out.

He did his best not to look offended by his nervousness. It was fair and he hadn't exactly been playing nice, letting growls slip into his voice and all. "I used to look normal you know."he pointed out. He didn't always look like a monster, deep down he was still human. He wasn't going to let go of that.

...Watching this guy yawn was like watching a lion prepare to swallow the sun. Terrifying, in the epic sense of the word. 

Yet just as contagious as always. Jiri stiffed his own, and turned his attention back to the kids. Mostly back to the kids. 90%, with a 10% eye out for the tangerine monster. He stood up, just to be on the safe side. Stretched a little to make sure he was awake, before sitting back down.

The hand shake was so deliberate, so measured, that it kicked his brain out of he-is-predator-I-am-prey mode into this-is-a-guy-who-had-to-practice-handshakes. Presumably so he wouldn't crush unsuspecting hands. Which was a testament to a lot of time and care taken, only to be wasted on a jerk like Jiri.

The teenager flushed a brilliant red, and met the guy's eyes for the first time.

"I used to be able to sleep." He brought one of his legs up to his chest, dangled an arm off it. "Sorry. For the thousandth time. This mutant thing is really new, and I kind of wish it would just go away, you know?"

Looking like he did, Jiri bet the guy--Victor, might as well use his name--Jiri bet he knew exactly what he was talking about.

He blinked at the teens admittance, apparently he was a mutant too. Jiri just seemed to be one of the lucky ones whose mutation didn't outwardly mark them. In general Jiri was...passing. He was jealous but he couldn't really hold it against him. Jiri didn't decide what he looked like nor more than he did. He could only hope that future drugs could cure him of this form.

"It's alright, you aren't the only one. I was probably your age when it started for me and I can tell you right now, handling the mutation is the easy part. It's all the other baggage that comes with it that makes it harder." he said, it wasn't exactly encouraging but it was the truth. It took him a lot let time to get comfortable moving around and regulating his own heat than it did getting used to people staring.

Joining conversations casually was difficult, using objects too small for his hand to hold. He couldn't even get a cup of coffee because the styrofoam crushed too easily in his hands. Standing in line to get his items rung up, ignoring people whispering behind his back. Normal everyday things were just out of reach.

For Jiri though it might be other things, not so much physical but mental. At least with this form he wasn't hiding who he was. Jiri did, the strain of which must be hard on a teen. "Does your family know?" It might have been inappropriate to ask but the kid needed at least a support system.

>> "I was probably your age when it started for me and I can tell you right now, handling the mutation is the easy part."

It was a well intentioned line that opened up a whole new world of horror in Jiri's mind. Victor's former words sunk in with a whole new meaning: he used to look human. And he'd started changing. Around Jiri's age.

Jiri had a sudden urge to ask exactly how the guy's transformation had started, and what warning signs he'd had, but he managed to stop himself. Putting his sudden I might look like you someday paranoia on display would probably be offensive.

"I've been starting to notice the baggage," the teen admitted instead, tucking in his shoulders. The thing with his roommate and how he'd met his roommate was still the worst, but unless he figured out a way to get some real sleep, he was afraid it wouldn't remain the worst. His mutation was clearly keeping him alive despite the lack of sleep, but alive and sane was harder, some days.

He relaxed a little, sat up a little straighter, when Victor asked about his family. "Yeah. I've been lucky there. No freaks outs. A little concern, but no freak outs. My friends not so much, but whatever." To be fair, he hadn't reached out much to his old group of friends. They back in Warwick, an hour and a half away, being regular kids still. The last they'd heard of him, he'd got psycho in the school cafeteria, gotten interred at the psych ward at the hospital, then shipped to mutant boarding school, all before any of them could blink. They'd probably be able to work things out, if he talked to them.

But they hadn't really reached out to him, either.

"I'm guessing your family knows, huh? How did that go?" He still wasn't sure on mutant etiquette, but if they guy had asked Jiri first, then it couldn't be too sensitive of a topic. He turned his attention back to the kids, then raised an eyebrow Victor's way. "Are they yours?" It was hard to tell age on a giant one-eyed salamander.

"I've been starting to notice the baggage, yeah. I've been lucky there. No freaks outs. A little concern, but no freak outs. My friends not so much, but whatever."

He hummed and nodded in understanding. Many of his friends didn't stick around either. Though his parents were understandably much more freaked out by the transformation. Four arms and orange skin was not something one would expect on their child. But here he was, living proof that impossible things could happen to your kids.

"I'm guessing your family knows, huh? How did that go?"

He nodded absently, "Yeah, they know. My mother witnessed the whole thing. It came on like a fever with more fire than should ever naturally happen. It was terrifying for all involved, my siblings won't even talk to me." He shrugged one set of shoulders, letting the second pair cross over his stomach. He absorbed some more heat from the air letting it soak into every portion of his skin.

"Are they yours?"

Victor gave a barking, hard, laugh. As if anyone would do that with him. He was sixteen when the change happen and he certainly hadn't had three kids at that point. "No, ha, no, they're my cousins. I'm just watching them while my aunt and uncle sharing some alone time."he chuckled, shaking his head. That was a funny thought that any woman would ever let him get that close. Funny and...kind of pathetic.

It was a little weird to hear a man that size hum. It was a deep, rumbly sound, a lot richer than a normal human chest could have produced. ...It was kind of cool, actually.

It sounded like Victor's family hadn't been quite as cool about things as Jiri's. He didn't miss the present tense used: my siblings won't even talk to me.

Jiri tilted his chin towards the playing kids. "Weird how younger kids are so much better at accepting this stuff, isn't it? My sister thought we were just playing when I, umm," possessed her. "Used my power. She liked it. I don't even like it."

Victor's power made him big and scary to look at. Physically intimidating. But it wasn't all that hard for Jiri to see how terrifying his own power might seem to other people. It was, like, one of the most stereotypical villain powers he could think of: You are mine! Mwahaha! It wasn't much of a stretch to think that some people would find him more scary than they'd find Victor, if they knew.

He'd rather not find out if Victor was one of those people. His subject change was anything but subtle.

"You know, if you want to get your cousins off the wobbling stacks of rickety boards, all you need to do is say the words ice cream."