It was such a beautiful day that Derek decided that he would head out to where the recreational area was on the Mansion ground and mingle. He finished restocking the closet for Xavia's lab and made sure that the animals were fed in the greenhouse and now had some down time.

Wearing a green tank top and a pair of khaki shorts, Derek decided that he would go sit by the poolside and watch everyone swim. When he got there, Derek noticed an older man practicing his powers. It was very interesting to watch because his moment was so fluid -- no pun intended -- and full of power. The man clearly knew what he was doing.

Clearing his throat, Derek decide to watch him further. It was honestly inspiring.

Practice. Despite the fact that he was much older and had his years for several, several years now, Jorge never allowed himself to slack off. Others had suggested that he should cool down, that he should stop working so hard, maybe consider a bit of downtime, even the dreaded “R’ word (retirement) had been tossed about. But the truth was that Jorge couldn’t allow himself to pull the trigger on something like that. He wasn’t a homebody and he certainly wasn’t the type to sit around in gold pants, wondering what the rest of his day, week, or year was going to look like. He needed to be active, he needed to be ready, and most of all, he needed to be an X-Man.

It was one of those rare calm days. He didn’t have to be at the station until much later and there were no swim classes for him to oversee for the time being. Therefore the detective contented his lust for something to do by focusing instead on honing his abilities.

A year ago, Jorge came back from spending four years adrift in the ocean as nothing but particles upon particles of water. That was a state of being that Jorge never wanted to be in again. The only way to ensure that it never did happen (aside from never setting foot in water again) was by instead keeping on top of his abilities. Practice, focus, and time, and Jorge could hopefully keep his control over his abilities from now own. It wasn’t a guarantee but it was the only thing the man could do.

That was why, on this particular day, Jorge found himself standing in front of an empty pool. Most of the other students, upon seeing him, gave him a nod and excused themselves. Before long, the man was the only person here, and it was better for the most part. He enjoyed the silence and the focus and the ability to concentrate on what he needed to do.

Standing at the edge of the pool, Jorge closed his eyes as he reached out with his senses. Hands out to his sides, rings of water could be seen as they began to wrap loosely around his wrists. He was dressed quiet simply in jeans, sneakers, and a simply black t-shirt over his toned frame. Despite his age, Jorge managed to keep himself fairly well fit, especially considering how thin and frail he was when he had first returned to the dry land. But his clothing wouldn’t be the first thing people would notice.

As the water in the pool began to undulate and churn, the older detective with the black and silver beard and hair, stepped forward. One would have expected the man to fall through, but the water itself seemed to strengthen, holding him up as he stepped onto it. Another step and another foothold of water sprang to his attention. Over and over this repeated until Jorge was standing in the middle of the pool, his eyes closed in strict concentration.

Lifting his arms, Jorge summoned the water to begin to lift him higher and higher. A column of water beneath his feet pushed him up as the rest of the water began to reach upwards, towards him, in arched tendrils. They swilred and churned about him, wrapping around his body before shooting outward and curling into themselves to fall back into the water before. The watermancer was the picture of serenity as he turned and move, his arms fluidly moving as he turned, causing the water to react to him. It corkscrewed around in midair, serpentine patterns forming, beautiful, almost geometrically, as the detective bent the water to his will.

However his concentration was soon interrupted when he sensed a bit of water from another individual appearing by walking up to the side of the pool. He couldn’t exactly see who the person was with his eyes closed, but he could sense them with completely clarity. A small smirk on his lips, Jorge continued to focus on manipulating the spiraling towers of water around him and addressed the person without looking at them.

”Sorry if I am interrupting your pool time,” he said with light humor in his voice. ”You can try, but I wouldn’t recommend it just yet.” With that he finally opened his eyes and turned in the direction of the younger man. He towered above him, the water holding him up and spinning around his body. ”Afternoon…” he greeted lightly.

Derek had snapped out of his staring at Jorge perform his powers to look respond to the seasoned gentlemen in front of him.

"Oh, sorry, sir. I didn't meant to stare or anythin' like that. I was just...watching you. You're very good at it." Derek slowly stood up from his seat. "I would've clapped, but, uh, yeah." He ran his hands on the side of his shorts. "Good afternoon. I'm Derek Menes." He introduced, taking a few steps toward him to offer him a handshake.

"You're very powerful form what I've seen. It must've takes years to perfect your powers."

Jorge did what he had to in order to keep his skills honed and ready. The side effect of such a regiment meant that he would often have meetings like this. The mansion was surrounded with mutants, all of which were special in their own particular ways; but that didn’t mean that the mean didn’t get stares every now and again. To be able to move one of the most abundant resources on the planet, to be able to manipulate it with the skill and power that Jorge Cervantes possessed, well, it could be an awe-inspiring sight. Not that Jorge ever thought of himself in such an arrogant manner but he understood why people stared and didn’t hold it against them.

He knew that the person was staring. When he turned to greet them, the man smiled in his usual, soft way. He started the conversation lightly, assuming that the much younger man was there to use the pool and commented that it wasn’t the best time for such things. However, he would be proven wrong when the other would actually apologize for his abrupt staring.

>> "Oh, sorry, sir. I didn't meant to stare or anythin' like that. I was just...watching you. You're very good at it… I would've clapped, but, uh, yeah."

Jorge smirked. He nodded his head to the man and offered him a greeting. A turn of his wrist and another step allowed Jorge to move forward, stepping down off the tower of water in a sort of haphazard staircase. Once he reached the last one, he stepped off of the last column of water and onto the hard concrete that lined the pool. As he approached the man, he gave him a friendly smile and saw his hand was held out towards him.

>> "Good afternoon. I'm Derek Menes."

Jorge nodded. Reaching out he took Derek’s hand and firmly shook it. ”Derek. Nice to meet you.” he said before introducing himself. ”Jorge Cervantes.”

He must have been new to the mansion. Though Jorge didn’t know every single person within the walls, he knew them well enough to know when a face wasn’t familiar to him. This Derek he didn’t know but he seemed like a nice enough guy. Retracting his hand, he placed them on his own hips as he breathed in the spring, going onto summer, air.

>> "You're very powerful form what I've seen. It must've takes years to perfect your powers."

”Something like that,” Jorge said with a nod. He reached out with his hand and quite easily summoned a sphere of water to rise up from the churning surface. Causing it to float towards him, Jorge sighed as he casually made it float from hand to hand, as if he were toying with a softball. ”It’s just a lot of practice.” He gave the man a friendly grin. ”You must be new-ish to the mansion. I don’t recognize you.”

Derek returned the firm handshake. "Nice to meet you too Mr. Cervantes." He didn't how Mr. Cervantes preferred to be greeted so Derek decided to do the most respectful one. Mr. Cervantes slightly taller than Derek by a few couple of inches and had a solid build. For some reason, the god Neptune popped into his mind. The mutant in front of him certainly could pull off the deity. All he needed was a trident and a crown and Mr. Cervantes was good to go. Derek retracted his hand when the more seasoned mutant did and stuffed it into his pocket.

His eyes followed the sphere of water that Mr. Cervantes was effortlessly moving from hand to hand. "Uh, yes. I came here about a week ago." Derek's eyes looked up at the man's face. "I'm a mutant, obviously." Derek chuckled, "uh, anyway, I was wondering -- I'd love to be as skilled as you are with your hydrokinesis. Is there a method or style of training you do?" What Derek really wanted to know was if Mr. Cervantes could train him, but he didn't impose on the man. Plus, he seemed like someone who's busy.

>> "Nice to meet you too Mr. Cervantes."

Jorge smirked and nodded his head as the much younger man greeted him in a respectful manner. Mr. Cervantes was not something you got all-together used to over the years. Many times Jorge corrected others, assuring them that they could just refer to him as Jorge and that little else was required. However not everyone listens to these words and still end up referring to him by his professional and respectful moniker so why bother?

Ah well, he may as well continue on with it.

”Just ‘Jorge’ is fine,” he corrected. ”No need to speak on formalities with me. Unless I’m wearing my badge, of course,” Jorge beamed.

Manipulating the sphere of water was a simple enough activity, sort of a cool-down exercise, like when you stretch after an extensive workout. With a few simple gestures, the perfect sphere of water rolled in the air between his hands, following his movements with ease, swirling about his wrist, up his arm, and across his shoulders. It was a bit of a flashy show but it was not done to brag, more to just continue practicing his control over the element.

When asked about his abilities, Jorge honestly answered that it was a testament to practice, practice, and more practice. From there the detective inquired after the young man, assuming, of course, that he was a new arrival here at the mansion.

>>"Uh, yes. I came here about a week ago…I'm a mutant, obviously…uh, anyway, I was wondering -- I'd love to be as skilled as you are with your hydrokinesis. Is there a method or style of training you do?"

Jorge smirked appreciatively. He always loved to see the mansion family continue to grow. It helped him to know that they were doing a good thing, that they were actually making a difference in someone’s life. However long young Derek decided to stay, one day, one year, it wouldn’t matter because at least he would know there was a place out there that cared. The detective only hoped that Derek would take advantage of this opportunity.

It was then that Derek revealed his purpose for watching him – he wanted that kind of control. He wanted to be able to hone his abilities. Jorge grinned a bit humbly; it was always nice to know that others assumed he had this magical control over his powers but it really wasn’t anything special – he just practiced a lot. Still, he had helped others so why not this young man?

”First of all, welcome to the mansion,” he greeted. ’Second, my ‘style’ is just a sh*t ton of practice.” He gave the man an impish grin but then nodded to him. ”If you don’t mind my asking, what can you do?”

Derek nodded his head. From then on, Mr. Cervantes was Jorge. He could do that, though it felt weird to Derek to call the man old enough to be his father by his first name. But Alas, if it was what Jorge wanted, then it was something that Derek would have to provide.

"Thank you. It's good to be here." Derek smiled. Derek had never been in a place that was so mutant concentrated. It was both a learning experience and a place where he felt safe. The latter was the most important to him.

When asked about his powers, Derek lit up a bit. "I can influence the behavior of animals and communicate with them." He answered with a grin. "So far its been more of a supplementary power than a offensive or defensive one."

>> "Thank you. It's good to be here."

Jorge was thankful for the mansion. It offered so much to people who didn’t have any at all. Students like Agnes Nicholas, a young woman who had been tortured by her parents and lived in the muck and bile that the caked the city streets. She had seen the worst that humanity had to offer and still she managed to make a life for herself, one that she could have never guessed at having. Jorge was proud of the woman that she became, especially because she became a testament to how this place can change one for the better.

He didn’t know what Derek’s story was. It could be just as tragic or it could be thankfully mundane. Whatever the case, Jorge hoped that the young man would find a place here, for however long he decided to stay.

But it was down to business. Derek had stated that he wanted to learn like Jorge, to have the control over his abilities that he witnessed the man have. While that was a nice goal, the truth was that powers were different across the board. If the kid had elemental powers, sure it would be easier to train him, but it not, Jorge wasn’t exactly sure what he could do. But rather than turn him down to block him with a wall of I-Don’t-Know’s, he instead started with the simplest question.

>> "I can influence the behavior of animals and communicate with them…So far its been more of a supplementary power than an offensive or defensive one."

Jorge nodded, watching the younger man a bit more closely know. He stated that his abilities, so far, involved influencing the behavior of animals. He nodded his head, understandingly. Derek seemed to already guess that his abilities didn’t have a lot of offensive or defensive capabilities and Jorge had to smirk a little. Truth was that powers could be utilized in so many ways that it was far too early to make a guess as to that.

”Impressive,” he said with a nod. ”But I wouldn’t discount your abilities yet. Powers grow. And half the time, practicing is all about discovering exactly how you can use your abilities in a way that would be beneficial.” His expression grew a bit more sage-like. ”To what it would benefit,” a shrug, ”That will be for you to decide.”

"Well I would like to be useful whether it be for the X-Men or...the Haven." Right now, Derek was torn between which "faction" he wanted to be officially associated with. Either way, he'd have to have a lot of training in order to be a true asset. The African American mutant took in a deep breath and studied Jorge's seasoned face. He must've held a lot of wisdom behind those eyes. And years of experience.

Derek thought for a second. "...I have noticed a change with me since I got here. My powers are slowly growing. Whenever I'm sitting out in nature whether it be in the greenery at NYU or here, small animals like to come and sit by me. I just want to, y'know, go all Snow White in that third Shrek movie. Minus the singing." Derek joked. "Seriously, though. I want to sharpen my powers. Would you mind...assisting me?"

>> "Well I would like to be useful whether it be for the X-Men or...the Haven."

Jorge tilted his head. Haven? That wasn’t an organization that he was familiar with. He would make a mental note to ask about that later on. To be fair it was probably nothing, but to have the young man compared the institution to something like the X-Men. That made the man pause, especially since this wasn’t a group that he was all-together familiar with. Still, he wouldn’t question Derek on it for the moment and instead would just file that information away for later.

He wanted to learn more about his powers but from his description he didn’t all-together really know what use he could be with them. Truth was that powers varied and possessed all sorts of uses. They weren’t just for fighting evil but could be used to help in all manner of ways; he just had to find his purpose. Considering his age and the fact that he was at the mansion, it just proved to Jorge that eventually he would find where he belonged.

>> "...I have noticed a change with me since I got here. My powers are slowly growing. Whenever I'm sitting out in nature whether it be in the greenery at NYU or here, small animals like to come and sit by me. I just want to, y'know, go all Snow White in that third Shrek movie. Minus the singing."

Jorge nodded, listening closely to what the young man was saying. He explained that his powers had been slowly growing. Being out in nature, it seemed as if animals were coming to him. At his joke about being like Snow White, Jorge cracked a smile and soft chuckle.

”That would be a sight to see,” the man said with a smile.

So his powers were indeed already growing. Jorge wasn’t surprised by that. He was in his forties and his powers were still growing. Evolution was a strange and unpredictable thing but Jorge knew that there was no fighting it. The most that could be done is to sit back and, hopefully, roll with it.

>> "Seriously, though. I want to sharpen my powers. Would you mind...assisting me?"

Jorge chewed on the inside of his cheek for a second as he looked closely at the younger man. He wasn’t exactly sure what he could teach him since his abilities weren’t really comparable to his own. Then again, there was nothing wrong with learning a few basics, maybe use that to help guide him to the path that he would want to take. So…he would agree.

”I can give you a few pointers,” Jorge said. ”When would you like to start?’

"Now? Is that possible?" Derek asked cautiously. Again, he didn't want to impose on Jorge especially since he just finished training. "That is if you aren't busy or have to cool down after what you just did."

If Jorge would decline, Derek would simply go back to his room and possibly take a nap before dinner. If he accepted, Derek would be prepared to follow Jorge's instructions to the "T". The last thing he wanted was to waste the man's time.

From the description of the kid’s powers, Jorge wasn’t exactly sure how he could help him, but help him he certainly wanted to. It was just a matter of seeing what the kid could do, how he could utilize his abilities, and be able to adjust his training regiment for the younger man. However, out here, in the world, there was too many factors. They needed a place where it would be easier for them to control the environment and keep the both of them safe.

There was only one place that came to mind. He inquired when the kid wanted to start and Jorge had to admit, he wanted to chuckle at the kid’s eagerness.

>> "Now? Is that possible? That is if you aren't busy or have to cool down after what you just did."

Jorge took a breath. That much water manipulation did take some energy from him as he could already feel the thirst beginning to take root. It wouldn’t take long for him to get back to feeling one-hundred percent but he still would need the time. He wanted to make sure he had access to his abilities so that he could either protect himself or Derek should the situation call for it. Given that he didn’t full know the scope of the man’s powers, he wanted to be sure that they were covered on all fronts.

”Give me a few hours,” Jorge dipped his head with a smile. ”Meet me this evening in the mansion kitchens. I know a play where we can train and I can see what you can do. So…maybe relax for bit, okay?”

An encouraging smile. This was going to be interesting…

"Right, okay. That works. Thank you so much, Jorge. It really means a lot." Derek gave the member of the X-Men a head nod and smile of gratitude. Finally, he'd be able to hone his powers and abilities. Although, this was so much more than that.

To Derek, being able to control his powers meant that he was worth something to the cause. Right now, he just felt like a kid who was in the way of the grownups; the ones actually help. With Jorge and training, Derek could grow up and be helpful.

"See you then, Jorge." He gave him a small wave before turning around and heading back into the Mansion for a nap. He wanted to make sure he was well rested for his first official training session.

A few hours later...

After watching the first episode of the new season of Bold is the New Stripes, Derek finally fell asleep. There was nothing special about it other than the fact he kept making noises in his sleep. After about three hours, Derek rolled himself out of bed and freshened up in the bathroom. He then went back into his bedroom to change his clothes.

Once he was dressed, he came downstairs and into the kitchen wearing a black tank top and gray sweatpants.

"Jorge?" He called as he peeked around the corner.

Jorge merely dipped his head to the younger man, watching as he turned and left the scene. His head cocked, he watched him for a few moments before turning away and facing the pool again. Could he really do this? There had been a few others that he had helped in the past, but the majority of the time it was done simply as a one-time, favor. This kid, he seemed to be more looking for a mentor than anything else. Did Jorge have that ability? He did, after all, spend several years floating in the ocean because he lost control of his abilities. Who was he to teach anyone?

He sighed, stepping up to the pool. Lifting his hand, he started to manipulate the water again, this time less intricate and more just for the sake of doing it. He wasn’t entire sure how he was going to help the kid but he was going to do his best. That was all he could offer.

---

Hours had passed and Jorge used the time to get back to his peak performance. A short power nap, some food, and a lot of hydration were exactly what the man needed to feel like he was at his most fit. Once he felt better, the man was all poised and ready to go. Not long before he was supposed to meet the kid, Jorge occupied himself in the kitchen, making himself a small snack of an apple. The watermancer only got a few bites into it when he heard footsteps that drew his attention.

>> "Jorge?"

He found Derek peeking in, surveying the room. He called out his name and the man smirked, giving him a nod of his head. ”Over here,” he said, taking another bite from his apple. As he crunched the piece of the fruit, Jorge swallowed and approached.

The man’s attire had changed slightly. He was not clearly dressed for a workout, in loose tank top and deep, slate-gray sweatpants and sneakers. Stopping in front of Derek, he gave him nod, agreeing to his choice of wear.

”Good. Dressed to work. Come on,’ he said as he put the apple in his mouth, holding it there as he grabbed a bottle of water. ”Les guuu…” he said through the apple before moving on past him. Taking another bite from the apple, he chewed it thoughtfully as he exited the kitchen and moved to a small pantry door. Inside he tapped a hidden panel that a hidden door open, leading down into lower levels. Finishing chewing his apple Jorge began to move down the steps. ”Come along. The Danger Room awaits…”

Derek turned his head toward the familiar sound of Jorge's voice and made his way toward him. He found the man eating an apple and grinned. He was feeling a bit puckish himself, but decided that he would grab some fruit after his training session with Jorge.

"Hey," he greeted politely as he made his way over to him. He stopped a good two feet away just in case they had to exit the same way he entered. Derek laughed a bit at Jorge's and followed after him.

He was happily walking behind him until Jorge mentioned the Danger Room. He had heard about that place, seen it once, but never actually participated inside of it. Chewing on his lip, Derek quickened his gait.

"Jorge? Uh, how am I supposed to use my powers instead of the Danger Room? I'm practically useless indoors." Derek admitted hugging himself and slightly hunching his shoulders over.