As Iesland walked into the New York Mandir that had become his home, he sighed. Although he had been met with open arms, Iesland still hadn't brung himself to ask for a room at the mansion. His time in the Mandir had allowed him to stay free, but maybe it was another type of imprisonment. While he had been hiding out in the Hindu temple, the mansion residents had been in the mutant camps, and now they were obviously closer together than ever. He, however, was an outsider. He couldn't bring himself to try to penetrate their tightly knit group.

Iesland smiled as he passed a sanyâsî attendant of the Mandir, and nodded his head in greeting. Dressed in simple clothes and with no ornamentation at all, sanyâsîs were men who abandoned all material possessions except the essential and trusted in God to lead them to survival in search of higher spirituality. Giving to a sanyâsî was considered an act of the greatest kindness, and Iesland always made a point to pull a roll out of my pocket as they passed.

"Thank you once again." Iesland had never learned this old man's name, but he had always been a man of few words.

When Iesland joined the few people chanting devotional Mantras in the Mandir, he realized how long it had been since he had chanted a Mantra other than at the daily times of worship. Bowing his head, he chanted in hope that God would give him the courage to join the mansion.

(OOC: I am not actually a Hindu myself, so most of my knowledge about it is from research, not experience. Feel free to correct me on any mistakes I make. I do not want to offend anyone.)

When Ghost had visited the metropolitan library she had picked up a flier that had interested her. A local Hindu temple was having a special day to honor their primary deity: Ganesha. Maya knew only really knew about the Buddhist version of Ganesha called Shoten-sama. But after retrieving her ihai and receiving the oracle from Garrett, visiting Shoten-sama seemed like a good idea. He was a deity of removing obstacles and of new beginnings as she remembered it. Even if he wasn't the deity of those things going to visit a Mandira would put her at ease for various reasons.

She decided to visit at midday. There shouldn't be a formal puja happening until it was later in the day according to the flier. She didn't want to draw attention, she just wanted to visit Shoten-sama.

She broke down and dressed in some of the nice, new clothes that Otieno had bought her: a long flowing teal skirt and a decorative blouse that sported tiny white polka dots. She wasn't sure why, but she really enjoyed polka dots. She scraped up her bus pass that the mansion had been kind enough to pay for. She really felt that she owed them so much already.

The last thing on her list before she left was an offering. She didn't have an offering as she knew was customary to bring, but she had seen some wild, blooming brush when she had helped Garrett with the wall. The flowers were red and that was Shoten-sama's favorite according to legends she had heard so she hoped they would suffice.

She rode the bus and it was hot just like usual. By the time she reached the stop for the Hindu Temple she felt slightly wilted much like her little spunky wildflowers had wilted. She hoped they would be okay.

It was comforting and familiar even at the doorway. She removed her shoes and tucked them into the provided cubby, washed herself and entered the actual temple.

The bell was ringing constantly as the mantra were being recited. Ghost quickly approached the pedestal that held the icon of Shoten-sama and deposited her somewhat wild flowers among the more beautiful and appropriate offerings. She returned to the carpet and folded herself onto her knees and folded her hands in her lap. She did not understand the verses being spoken, but she understood the sentiment at least. It was all very melodic and soothing in its familiarity. Silently she wished that Shoten-sama, kami, or whoever was out there would help her begin anew.

As he was chanting mantras for bravery and courage, Iesland remembered the special day that today was. It was a holy day of Ganesha, remover of obstacles. This day was one of his favorites. Ganesha was not prejudiced, and he had an elephant head as well as four arms. That made Iesland feel a little better about himself.

A woman wearing a long flowing dress with polka dots on it kneeled down behind Iesland. (sorry ghost, but women ar always put behind men in the Hindu culture). She obviosly wasn't a regular at this Mandir, as Iesland would already know her. She was also not a Hindu, as she was saying her prayers in English.

Iesland stood up and made his way to kneel in front of her. He hesitated for a second, and then drew her attention to him with a slight hiccup. He then pulled out his pad and pen and wrote "What brings you to this Mandir?"

Ghost hesitated when a man approached her during the prayers. Had she done something wrong? She read the pad of paper and looked back at the man. Was this typical to write and pass notes during a prayer? And... did he really have four arms? She looked around to make sure that she wasn't crazy. Multiple arms in Hinduism was a sign of deity.

She didn't want to even try to talk over the constant bell ringing and she figured this was why the man was writing notes. She motioned to borrow his pen and scribbled in a loose but neat hand writing her answer to his question.

Ganesh.

But shouldn't that be obvious? She re-folded her hands in her lap wondering if she had popped a gasket in her brain somewhere on the way here. Maybe she had fallen asleep on the bus and the heat was making her dream strange things. There was no way that she was casually scribbling notes to a god.

Iesland frowned a bit at the apprehension on her face. Had he done something wrong? Her reply puzzled him at first, but then he realized she must be here for the sacred day. He then wrote "Why are you here? We do not mind, but I am a bit curious. This is one of my favorite days."

One of his favorite days? She looked the multiple armed man over again. She didn't see any of Ganesha's tell-tale signs. No rat or spear or... elephant head. She realized she was being ridiculous. This man must be a mutant or something, though she had never seen a mutation quite like his. If he was a mutant, it made sense that he may hang out at a Mandir. Gods were respected here.

She borrowed his pen again. He really had no business asking why she came to worship, but she would give him an answer anyway. She hated to be rude.

I thought that Shoten-sama Ganesha might help me make a fresh start. My mother used to bring me to various religious places as a child and Sh Ganesha was a deity of a honden in Nikotama, near my previous home.

It was more information about her personal life than she had given to anyone in quite some time. She didn't entirely mind. After all, it was nothing incriminating.

Iesland frowned as he saw Ghost look at his arms again. He thought maybe she was one of those who were scared of mutants, but then dismissed the thought as stupid. If she was scared of him she wouldn't be talking to him. Well, she wasn't talking, per se. He wondered why she was writing on the pad. Maybe she didn't want to disturb other peoples worship.

"My name is Iesland. Iesland Mujave. What's yours?"

"My name is Iesland. Iesland Mujave. What's yours?"

Iesland. She mouthed the name to herself, trying to figure out just how in the world she was supposed to pronounce that one. Why was she always meeting people with really hard to pronounce names?

Just then the bells stopped ringing, signifying the end of this particular time of prayer. Ghost nodded to Iesland and got in line to receive the red powdery mark on her forehead. When She turned around he was still still there. She felt silly for thinking that he wouldn't be. Now that the bells weren't being constantly rung, there was no need for her to write anymore.

She bowed slightly since she wasn't sure which hand to shake. "My name is Ghost. It's nice to meet you Mr. Aiisurandu." She tried pronouncing his name.

Iesland blinked a little as she gave her name. Ghost... That sounded sortof like a codename. That meant that she must be a mutant. That solved a lot of problems. There was one thing that Iesland had to know about someone in order to judge their character as a mutant. He didin't know how to make it eloquent so he just wrote it down, blunt as it may be.

"Were you at the ca the registrations camps?"

"Were you at the ca the registrations camps?"

Ghost read the paper as he held it out to her. Her name was pretty suspicious and she didn't have anything more to hide about her mutant self.

She looked up at Iesland again, he still had not spoken. Perhaps he was mute? She shuddered to think of trying to interpret 4 hand's worth of sign language.

"I was confined at one of the camps, yes. And before you ask... I am an air elemental." She dipped her head in further greeting. It was only fair to fully reveal herself since his gift was so readily apparent. It reminded her of Sara, the were cat-woman she had briefly met on the street.

And as long as they were being blunt, "Are you hiding, Mr. Aiisurandu?"

Iesland knew that it didn't matter whether she was in the camps or not. She would ask him the same thing. And an air elemental? That had some interesting applications.

"Yes, I lived in this Mandir during the registration act. Although they were violating the constitution already, they wouldn't break it any more to come and get me."

Iesland paused, and searched her face for a sign of contempt. He knew many that would view him as a coward.

"Would you like to get some coffee? There's a nice place just a few blocks down."

"Yes, I lived in this Mandir during the registration act. Although they were violating the constitution already, they wouldn't break it any more to come and get me."

So he had escaped that place. "Thank goodness," she breathed, "I'm glad that you did not have to suffer there."

"Would you like to get some coffee? There's a nice place just a few blocks down."

She wasn't in the habit of accepting coffee invitations from strange men. On top of that, she knew that just walking down the street could be a hassle for one who could not hide. She would possibly have a hard time too simply by associating herself with this man, and she was also unsure of why he was still writing when it was just as easy to speak now that the noise level had dropped considerably. She was suspicious to be sure, but the fact that he had been hiding and now was wiling to leave this place and go some place public...

This person seemed anxious for something... forgiveness? acceptance? Maybe he just needed to talk to someone that in some small way could relate. In any case, she could not think of an excuse that did not leave a bad taste in her mouth.

"I'll have to get water because I didn't bring any money." She warned him. "Other than that, lead the way."

Iesland winced at her apprehension. He should have expected it, of course, he was a random stranger she hadn't known five minutes ago, but it still stung. Her reply to his hiding almost floored the conversation right then and there, he was so surprised.

"Well, if you will just follow me." Iesland wrote, casually gesturing towards the door. the only sign that he had been the least bit unnerved was that his lower pair of arms fidgeted nervously.

Walking down the street, Iesland decided to tell her about his tongue, or lack of one, be as it may. It didn't hurt him at the mansion, so he figured she wouldn't be too alarmed. "I continue to write my words down out here, where we can talk freely, because I have no tongue. Haven't had one for quite a long time. The shop is just around the corner, then about three blocks down."

(OOC: I was hoping you could know a time-saving detour through a heavily cliche'd and conviently placed dark alleyway. If you don't then I'll just wing it.)

Ghost followed Iesland, falling into pace beside him easily. She fell silent, just watching the people and their reactions as the pair passed. Some people appeared not to notice while others just let their jaw drop shamelessly. She guessed that she didn't blame them. Some things you just never expected to see walking down a small side street - even if it was New York. Iesland's extra set of arms fidgeted, but Ghost couldn't help but smile. What a pair they must look.

He scribbled another note. "I continue to write my words down out here, where we can talk freely, because I have no tongue. Haven't had one for quite a long time. The shop is just around the corner, then about three blocks down." Ghost's face blanched as she read and re-read the words. She thought she might have a heart attack, but the fact that his tongue had been ... gone for a long time meant that it wasn't cut out by anyone she knew. Nothing he wrote even suggested foul play. Was he born with extra arms and no tongue?

She attempted to swallow the lump in her throat before offering her condolences. "You surprised me. I wish I could help, but writing is fine. It's easier to understand, I guess." She wouldn't apologize. He probably had enough apologies in his life. She vaguely wondered if he had seen a healer or if a healer could do anything for him. There wasn't much she could do, but she thought about bringing it up later.

Before she realized, they were turning toward a building with large plate glass windows and a large coffee mug painted across the door. "This must be the place."

((ooc: feel free to post in the other thread now. i can link it back to this one or edit if oyu wanted more walking time. let me know.))