He didn't make a habit of going to the Sanctuary. Ever since that job, he had avoided the place. That wasn't entirely on account of the robots and explosions on the Sanctuary's doorstep. Sure, they had a reputation. Some less than savory criminal types had once made their home here, and some still did, but that wasn't why. The fact police didn't make a habit of hanging around all that much wasn't the reason. It wasn't that he was afraid of mutant camaraderie. He wasn't a mutant. Why would he be afraid of people wanting to be his friend (trust issues, notwithstanding). No, it wasn't any of those reasons. It was actually quite simple. He had kissed a girl, and he'd liked it. And he had been avoiding her. Don't judge.


She was tall with soft brown shoulder-length hair, freckles, brown eyes, and ears exactly 1cm too large. Her power was hearing. Her name was Wanda. And she had kissed him. It hadn't been something he had felt he had earned. He'd only tried helping protect the Sanctuary from an onslaught of Police Robots. The Beacon he'd kicked away had not been destroyed, though, so they just kept coming until Wanda had  wandered off with the teleporter, Bamf, and his friend, Boots the phaser, and used her super hearing to find the beacon so they could break it. Those were the nicknames Elliott had given them. He wasn't sure what their actual names were. He only really recalled the Obsidian lava guy, Ted, and Rocky, the guy who turned into a giant boulder. Oh, and Harley the Werewolverine, Lead Keytarist in his band, Weapon Sex. Weapon Sex was another reason he had been avoiding the Sanctuary, come to think about it. Their music was undefinable, and their band was so large he couldn't figure out how it all worked so well. The cohesion the mutants brought to the table from the mess of disorder they existed in... felt like one huge metaphor. He hated huge metaphors. 

It was time, though. Time to get a number. He HAD helped out, even if he'd been more a hindrance than an aid... he really hoped that someone had managed to get the city to fill the craters all the fire elementals and exploding people and rock men had left.

Elliott approached the golden doors head-on. There was no need to hide himself here. Still, he wore a hoodie to cover his face. The residents might not care, but if a cop was lurking and saw him... even if the Sanctuary generally killed cops that hung around and did stuff like that... people could start pinning him to the location, and making assumptions. You know what they say about asses and assumptions.

His hands were stuffed in the pockets of his green and black striped skater hoodie. Patches on the arms made the hoodie look rugged and rough. He himself didn't look rugged or rough. The whole lack of body hair made looking rough difficult. 

What would he say to the girl? He'd light that candle when he came to it. For now, he went in through the front doors.

Lisa the receptionist was sitting at the front desk. She didn't smile at him. The look she gave him was eerie not because of her eyes, but more the knowledge there seemed to be behind them. It was an entirely knowing look. "Uh." He began.

"Is Wanda here?" She finished for him.

%^&*, he thought. Was he that transparent?

"Yes." Elliott said.

"She's probably in the rec room with the others," Lisa told him. "With her friends." She added, as if to say men who don't call girls who kiss them are not friends at all. Ouch. 

Elliott nodded, hunched his shoulders, stuffed his hands deeper into his pockets and timidly followed her directions to the rec room inside the Sanctuary. 

The Rec Room may once have been large but it had quite a few pieces of furniture now. A few sofas, a number of tables, and quite a few chairs for lounging and games were scattered around the room. There were two TVs for video games with the donated systems, though neither a PS4 or an XBone were found between them. Of course two large pool tables, two foosball tables, and a number of shelves containing boards games and other supplies filled the rest. There was moving space around the tables but there wasn't much else.

Of course it was presently filled with quite a few mutants. Some were playing pitch, a few were playing mario kart on the Wii, two were playing pool, while others bounced from game to game including foosball. Devon was at the pitch table with Davey, Drew the Screw, and Ted. He didn't know them or the others in the room well, but he'd met each in time. Davey was human but good friends with Drew, who had minor telekinetic abilities, mostly good with small items like screws and nails. Devon had asked him to help with some repairs around Sanctuary. Ted meanwhile had some sort of terran based ability; Devon had never seen it.

No one seemed to mind that Devon was more volunteer than resident, but by now he figured most had heard he was a mutant too. Sometimes he enjoyed hanging out with some games too after all. He was here more and more lately, thankfully getting a small stipend too so he didn't have to push as hard with the temp work. He enjoyed working at the news station for now when he didn't have school work.

His eyes did noticeably raise from the game when the red-eyed, green-skinned man came in. He had two large antennae that came up from his forehead. Of course the simple shirt and jeans made it all so normal. Devon was pretty certain he hadn't met this guy before, though he did momentarily think of the green-skinned Rachael.

Those he was playing with as well as the others around the Rec Room all took notice as well, glancing up and over at the one some knew to be-

"Elliott," came the thick-skinned though somewhat scrawny Rocky. "Where ya been?" he said half-concerned half-playfully.

At some point, he had pulled back the hood. Walking through the sanctuary like that made people look shifty as hell. He didn't want that. Look shifty to the wrong person and you can wind up six feet under. He'd unzipped his hoodie to show off the white tee underneath, and walked nice and even-paced. Some people weren't afraid of the sanctuary. Some people didn't know better. Maybe someone was trying to change the image in the mind of the public, but such things would take time. So much damage had been done. The Sanctuary was still infamous, at least in Elliott's eyes. And he was relatively new to the city. He could only imagine how long-time New Yorkers might feel.

He hadn't given out his real name to anyone in the Sanctuary, really... except maybe Wanda. Because she'd kissed him, and giving fake names to girls that kiss you is GENIUS, but rude. So the fact Rocky called him by his true first name momentarily put him on-guard.

Elliott had not really worked too hard to befriend anyone at this place. He'd attempted to help them out. Apparently, they'd decided the attempt was a good step towards earning their trust. He was okay with that.

The green-skinned man returned a friendly jagged-edged smile. "Hey Rocky. You see Wanda recently?" He glanced around. She wasn't immediately apparent. Maybe Lisa had been mistaken.

Rocky shook his head, and rumbled "No. But I think Drew and Ted saw her recently. Maybe go ask them."

"Thanks," Elliott said. He turned, and walked up to the people at the pitch table. "Hi. Name's Elliott. I'm looking for Wanda. Anyone see her?" Since Rocky knew the name, he might as well stick with it, he reasoned. He looked to Devon, who he didn't know. He didn't know Drew, either. "Are you Drew?" He asked Devon, oblivious to the fact he was looking at the wrong guy.

Elliott apparently knew Wanda, whom Devon had met a while ago one day during a large meeting of Sanctuary residents. They'd met again post the attack in Odessa when all had gathered to discuss safety, education programs, night watches, and more. Devon was certain now he hadn't met Elliott before, but it was clear he wasn't human so they were likely in safe company.

Still, he couldn't help but hear E.T. saying the name Elliott slowly in his mind.

"Hi Elliott," Devon replied quickly, his brow a little deep over his blue eyes. "I'm Devon, that's Drew," he pointed across the table while keeping his cards closed in hand. This game wasn't a game for powers but he knew it was hard for mutants to resist playing with them sometimes, and Drew's talent for small telekinetics seemed perfect for cardplay. "I haven't seen her today though, you guys?"

"Nope," said Ted with a gravely tone. Devon picked up on the edge in his voice, though he wasn't sure why.

"Yeah, she's been around," Drew nodded, glancing from Devon to Elliott and then back again. They rested on Elliott with an appraising look. "Why you looking for her?"

Oh, the guy wasn't who he'd thought. He was a guy named Devon. A moment of embarrassment got replaced by a small smile and a nod of thanks. He appreciated the correction. If they'd let the misunderstanding continue, that would have been bad for everyone.

He pointed out Drew, asked around the table. This Ted hadn't seen him. Neither had Devon. But Drew had. He seemed like he was assessing some sort of risk, almost cautiously, with all that glancing around. Or maybe Elliott had read too much into the look.

"I wanted to talk to her." He shrugged. "Maybe invite her out for a cup of coffee. No big. Never thought to get her number after we stopped those robots on your doorstep. Do you know where I could find her?" He asked, then nodded at the cards on the table. Smiled politely, without opening his mouth. "I don't want to bother you too much during your card game. If you've got an idea, I'll check it out and be on my way."

Maybe Drew had heard he hadn't called the girl back after she had kissed him. Maybe he was playing the big brother role and being overprotective of little sis with the sensitive ears. It hadn't entirely been his fault for not calling back. He hadn't actually gotten her number that day... and maybe he had also been reading too much into the kiss. It may have just been a 'thank you' kiss. He hadn't really received that many of those in his lifetime, so the notion was strange to him. It seemed more a myth.

"...we stopped those robots on your doorstep..."

Devon quirked a brow. That was interesting and the second time he'd heard open mention of the event. He was happy to get what information he could before having his one on one meeting with the police representative about the META bots.

Drew shrugged, "She might be back tonight. I could tell her you came by if you want." He glanced back at his cards and smirked, "Maybe you could leave a number for her this time?"

Devon stared back at Drew. Clearly there was a story here he didn't know if Drew was being this cagey and even sort of sarcastic. Glancing over at Ted, Devon could see he was a little amused at the whole interaction.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" Devon asked cheerfully. "All are welcome. If you want we could leave a message for Wanda at the front desk or her email?"

"And leave your number," Drew said again with a sigh but a grin.

Devon chuckled, "And that apparently. Mind if I show you over to the computers in the library? I'd like to ask you something too." He looked to the players, "Excuse me gentlemen. Count me out zero or whatever." He stood and gestured out the door.

To paraphrase, Drew had said "If you care enough to leave a number, and I don't think you're a jerk, she might get the number and maybe call you back. And she may be back tonight. She may not. Are you going to be a good enough guy to risk me thinking you're a jerk and give me a damn number. Or am I going to have to smirk and nose around and be vague and unhelpful some more." Or at least, Elliott read it that way.

Elliott shrugged at Drew and his grade a smirk. "Yeah." Maybe he would.

He had a burner phone. She could reach him. Theoretically. If she even wanted to. His reply and resulting body language of a shrug just might have seemed cagey... But Drew was nosing in way too much.

The Devon guys offer took him by surprise. That was right. Some sanctuary folks were actually decent and didn't have some sort of game they were playing to run him around and make him give out personal details like candy on Halloween.

"Oh. Yeah. All good options." He blinked.

Dinner at the sanctuary. Strange idea. Dinner with people. Stranger idea. He hadn't really made friends since before he had moved, and-- hmmm. He hadn't really worked too hard to bother. Outside of Tyson, and a small handful of others. But he hadn't really been able to be his true self then, had he? Or had he? Who knew? He hadn't dwelled too much on what he was doing. He'd just done more of the same. Yet somehow, amid the crime, he'd also done, what? Good? Disgusting. He had no idea what side the sanctuary fell on now. They'd all seemed nice enough to him. Yet still caused property damage. A conundrum wrapped in an enigma wrapped in--

"And leave your number." Drew cut in, interrupting his train of thought.

Devon seemed like he wanted to be more helpful than Drew. He could follow that to find out why. "And that," he agreed. "I can give that stuff to Lisa. She can probably tell her."

He moved away from the table to follow Devon. "And thanks. You all were really helpful." He said without one ounce of sarcasm in his voice. When they were far away enough that the table couldn't overhear them, Elliott asked Devon. "So what's up?"

Devon led Elliott out into the hallway. When they had gone a few yards across the foyer toward the library, Devon stopped. Lisa Wilson sat at her desk closer to the golden door but it was fine if she overheard. She seemed to know everything that was going on at Sanctuary.

"Sorry, I figured it was getting a little awkward in there and I don't particularly want to encourage that sort of back and forth at Sanctuary," Devon said with slight frown and a shrug. "All are welcome. As much as I understand wanting to protect a friend, leaving a message or sending someone a note isn't exactly dangerous activity," he chuckled briefly.

"So whether you leave a note for Wanda for Ms. Wilson," he gestured down to her desk, "Or use the library and shoot her an email, that's up to you." And Devon meant it, his faint smile encouraging to the green-skinned mutant. "Then you can indeed stay for dinner and stay longer if you want. We're encouraging both the shelter and community center aspect. I'm a mutant but I don't have an obvious physical manifestation so I won't presume to guess at what you must experience day to day."

"All that aside, I wanted to ask you about this META bot attack. I'd heard about that but haven't yet met one on one with the police department regarding the Odessa attack. I'd like all the details I can before I do so," Devon nodded slowly. "What could you tell me about that? And we can head into the library or my office if you want to talk privately, 'sup to you."

Since this Devon character was acting way nice, and seemed to be in some sort of charge here... Elliott... Didn't trust him.

Yes, it had been getting awkward. No, he would not have picked a fight with Drew. Was that what this guy was hinting at? Did he think that was who he was? The guy had thought he was shifty and didn't trust him. Drew might've been being a dick, but at least he was a dick with clear motive. Protecting a friend. What was the motive for this guy who seemed to have some sort of position within the sanctuary? It couldn't simply have been "being nice".

Funneling him to the secretary or funneling him to the library, then funneling him to dinner. Fun. Devon was giving him all the options, like he wanted to show Elliott he was free to do whatever he wished... Which of course made Elliott feel like he was getting stripped of options by being told his options. He felt like he was being set up.

The sanctuary had historically been a mutant shelter, yes. But also a home for mutants down on their luck... Or criminally motivated. So what could they see in setting him up?

Shelter. And. Community.

He was a mutant so he couldn't presume, couldn't fathom, how someone, some mutant, with such an OBVIOUS mutation, had to deal with every day. According to This Guy. Couldn't PRESUME. Seemed to Elliott that he'd presumed too much.

Elliott had been more than happy to accept this Devon guy when he'd been simply been a mildly helpful guy playing cards. But now, he didn't know.

And he was asking about robots and talking about police stations. And his office. And talking about talking in private. All of which only added to Elliott's paranoia. Elliott went from accepting to mildly paranoid to fully paranoid to full on upset.

"Okay, first off." Elliott snapped. "Back off. You're being inhumanly helpful and it's creepy. Thanks for trying, but it's making me uneasy. Secondly." He took a breath, then moved on. "How do you not know about what happened on your own doorstep. If you're in charge in some sort of capacity here, you should know more about that than anyone. It happened before Odessa. Has nothing to do with it. Stop being confusing. Please. Thirdly." He looked at Lisa hopefully. "We're talking here in front of a witness. No office. Fourth. I'm not a mutant. Christ. Why does everyone assume that, just because I'm green? Doesn't anyone believe in aliens. Lisa?"

"People believe in aliens." The secretary neither took a side nor remained unhelpful.

"Thank you." Elliott said. "Look. If you just wanted info on the guy who picked a fight with a robot and wound up bringing an army, I'll tell you. But really. Just call it quid pro quo and get done with it. Don't hide it behind a helpful guise. It's weird."

Genuine helpfulness was something he could neither get behind or understand.

One moment Devon was offering Sanctuary's usual assistance and asking about the META bots involvement that Elliott had mentioned, and then in the next Elliott was pissed off. His quick snapping comment to back off drew a surprised, wide-eyed retreat of Devon's head, hands, and even his feet as he stepped back.

Inhumanly helpful and creepy? Well he'd never heard that before. Had he become the Doctor that always annoyed him, prodding and preening to study the sickness only to throw more drugs at? he didn't think so but apparently Elliott had an issue.

The ranting continued and it would have been amusing if it didn't cause Devon to feel suddenly a mixture of apologetic and annoyed. Perhaps this was why Drew and the others were so guarded, almost antagonistic with the query about the girl Wanda.

"If you're finished..." Devon started slowly though there was clear indignation in his voice. "I'm sorry to have put you on guard as you clearly have a problem with me. I'm rather new to Sanctuary, volunteering-" he stopped and started again, "Well I was, but I'm here enough they're giving me a stipend at this point. It's not my doorstep, it's theirs."

Devon gestured back to the rec room. "And so I'm trying to figure out what did happen to them. When you mentioned it, it's only the second time someone's openly talked about it in front of me so I figured that was a good opportunity to ask. So my apologies for being pushy, Elliott," he paused and exhaled slowly, "Feel free to talk with Ms. Wilson. "

"Mr. Hadden-" the secretary began in a querying tone.

"I'm sure she can help you," Devon interrupted. "Please let her know what you need whether leaving a note, food, or a room for the night. Sanctuary is open to anyone who needs it. Should you ever wish to talk again, Ms. Wilson can provide you with my contact details here and I'll be sure to make time."

Devon smiled broadly, gave a slow nod, and then turned to leave.

"Hey. Wait." Elliott found himself saying. Why he was saying it, he hadn't a clue.

"Look." He went on. As he started talking, the heat died right out of him. Apparently, that reaction had been real enough to dispel some of the paranoia and hostility that had built up. "I've heard rumors about the sanctuary being this criminal front. Someone told me about the sanctuary massacre where they killed a bunch of cops, and that's just one of the stories they tell. So you trying to be helpful just didn't read."

What was he trying to say here? He still found himself talking. From the guys reaction, his own reaction had been about as diplomatic as the Cuban missile crisis. He had tried politely paranoid, but politely paranoid went about as far as he could throw rocky. Which wasn't far.

"Since I came here, I've kept expecting the other boot to drop. But mostly, people have been really cool. So I got paranoid, okay. And then you started asking me all these questions and set off all the warnings. I was already on guard, so I got pissed. I'm really not used to people being helpful. They usually want something. " he said. It was easier for him to understand using someone and tossing them aside than it was the other thing.

"I'll talk to you. Just. Understand where that came from. You're new at the sanctuary so here's a heads up. To most of the city, you guys are scary. I see the street outside got fixed. They filled all the craters your guys left when they were blasting robots. Something tells me the craters didn't get filled without a little persuasion." He didn't say it outright, but his message was glaring. Someone had threatened someone to get it done. "If you really want to help the community, help them with their image. Because it'll take a lot to repair."

Devon stopped, glancing over his shoulder and then pivoting back to let Elliott explain. Devon was explicitly trained and training in behavioral response as well as treatment. Sometimes when someone perceived you as pushing, you had to retreat as they had told you. Most times, it made them feel guilty if they came off too harshly. Devon certainly thought Elliott had been rude, but it didn't matter. He didn't know the green-skinned alien so whatever he needed - even if that meant backing off - then he would.

Still, Devon was glad instead they could continued talking. As it turned out, he'd heard of the criminal activity. More and more it was becoming clear to Devon that the Ghost stories were true. He's glad she had told him finally, but it was straining some interactions. Devon nodded slowly as Elliott spoke.

With a slow inhale, Devon began. "I've recently became aware of some of those stories of Sanctuary actually," he explained, "Though it seemed more you were paranoid and upset that I was offering assistance than really what Sanctuary might be, and is no longer. It's a difficult job ensuring people you want to help, let alone getting an organization that should be dedicated to helping those in need to live down the exploitation of a malign few. I can promise you we are not associated with those people. You are sure to meet many fine individuals here and while I can't promise they're all for the greater good of all mankind, I can say they all need help and are looking for it."

Devon smiled, "Some just need it to be a bit slower and less insistent help than others, eh?" He chuckled good-naturedly but grinned warmly. "I apologize for putting you on edge, Elliott. Not my intention at all. Yes, the street outside was apparently fixed some time before me, but I and other volunteers are working hard to clean things up, set up rec events, talk groups, ensure meals, teach first aid, even help with training people in self defense while running a neighborhood watch. There's a lot we want to do and it will indeed take a lot to repair with the community."

He paused and gave Ms. Wilson a small nod, who had initially stood to help Elliott but resumed her seat now. "Thank you," Devon said to her briefly before returning to Elliott. "None thus far have been open or forthcoming about the META bot attack though I've heard things. I figured you might be more willing to discuss with me what you'd seen and heard, but choose to do so when you wish. My questions to you, if you recall, were mostly about what you wanted and needed and thus are still my priority."

Devon had recently become aware. So he wasn't 100% in the dark. Well at least he had learned something. Elliott was frowning. And as for assistance... he really didn't need assistance. The probing questions were the real problem. The 'I'm asking a lot of questions because I want information about you and something else' thing. Without any real justification for why. And the volunteering help with no catch thing from an evil organization... yeah. He'd been justified. But whatever.

The guy sounded like a informational pamphlet. Elliott let one shoulder rise and drop as way of neutral appeasement.

Devon apologized. Another shrug. Talked about repairing the community. "Sounds nice," Elliott said noncommittally. It didn't feel like his kind of place. Funny enough, the den of thieves and murderers had felt more 'at home'. What did that say about him? Probably that he preferred self-interest and chaos. Establishing order in a vacuum was tough. At least this guy was doing more for people than the X-men had.

Again, Devon came back to the old 'help' topic. What were his wants. His needs. "Well." He said. "What you're doing will take some work. Sounds like good work, though. I don't really need any help. I'm doing fine. Thanks." He felt like that had come off coarse again, and rallied. "I just wanted to leave that message. Which I can leave with Lisa after I've spoken with you about that." And now he felt like he was talking too much, so he lapsed into silence for a few seconds.

"You know, that's not the first time a robot has attacked in the area?" He said conversationally. "I tried to help a little old lady, to keep her from falling. And I got attacked. And then here. One was sniffing around, and that fire mutant with the obsidian skin, Ted. He blew the robot up. But he left the beacon. So more came, drawn to it. And more. And more. Finally, everyone banded together." Literally, in the case of the wolverine man's band. "And handled it. I don't think there was actual ill intent behind the robots. Or maybe they were malfuctioning. But that's the story, in brief."

This was his third shrug of the conversation. He made it count. "So there you are."

Devon sighed as Elliott fell into his silence, "Thanks, we're trying." He continued into a nod, seemingly letting the 'I'm doing fine' comment stand. If he didn't need anything, then Devon wasn't going to push. This conversation had exploded already over the alien's paranoia. Devon had no wish to feed into that.

Then he learned about the robot attack. Either there was poor programming and a series of unfortunate events or something more had happened. Considering the Order warning and the different groups at play, Devon was worried the coincidences were too great. Those details at least would help him with further investigation. Devon's attention remained on Elliott as he spoke, lips half pursed and half smirking in thought. He nodded again at the end.

"Thanks, that's all I was hoping for, some background. It seems hard to get details from people, so I appreciate that. They're scared. I'm sorry to come off so intensely or anything," Devon said, his tone far more familial and relaxed now. "I kind of took on more than I realized," he nodded slowly.

"But yeah, you can leave that message," Devon looked over to Lisa, "I'm sure Ms. Wilson can handle that for ya. Thanks." He smiled at the secretary.

"Yeah," Elliott agreed. "It is a tall order." No pun intended. "But you seem like the type who won't let that deter you." He smiled weakly. An attempt at a compliment. At smoothing things over. If this guy wanted to change things, power to him. The old reputation needed dispelling if those people didn't live there anymore. And if they came back, well then. That would be for him to handle.

"This place is like a halfway house, right? A place for mutants in need. That's a good thing. God knows I've met mutants in other cities who could have used a place like this." Reputation aside. "Good luck." He added.

Devon smiled at the secretary. Elliott nodded. He walked over and left a brief message with a phone number, so the girl he was trying to reach could call him back.

"Thanks," He nodded at Lisa and Devon.