Alec kept one of his hands on the steering wheel while the other was slightly tapping against his leg. Occasionally, his head would also tilt from one side to another according to the music that was coming from the audio system. So loud that it could have been considered harming for many, however, for the 20 year old man it was perfect. Also occasionally his mouth would open to sing along with the music but quickly closed back, reminding to himself that he wasn’t such a great singer after all. And he had learnt it the hard way, in a karaoke bar. Since then, he promised himself he would never go to a karaoke bar again. Until now, he was faithful to his promise.

The young emotion-manipulator, as Jackson called him, was heading now to the most popular place mutant world could have known. Xavier’s. Also known as the Mansion. He did not need to be reminded the reasons that had brought him to this place. The events were still fresh in his memory, still poking him in a harsh manner but years of practice have taught Alec how not to care. He never imagined himself joining a group of well known mutants but at this point of his life, the ideals Xavier’s school was promoting seemed to coincide with his own goals in life. He always thought himself as a peacemaker, even though he killed for it. He wasn’t aware he was killing innocent people. Sometimes, he felt like their blood was weighting tones on his hands and nights weren’t always relaxing. Especially when seeing ghosts reaching out for him, wanting revenge.

“Come on Al.” he said to himself in a mocking manner as he shook his head. “You’re losing your mind.” he added with a laugh. Well, considering that now he was talking to himself in the third person… The Mansion came into view and Alec grinned. He knew this was a challenge. But he loved challenges. His sleek black Audi R8 was closing now the mansion’s opened gates. He was happy that he was cold thinking person. Because after finishing up his discussion with Jackson , he had quickly moved all his money into new accounts. He didn’t want his father causing him trouble in the financial area. He loved being independent and now he felt like he was being more independent than ever. No orders to follow around, no harsh figure waiting him whenever he was coming back from a mission. His car had just passed the Mansion gates when he began to slow down. It was a fast car after all. His baby. He knew there were faster cars out there but no one could compare to his black beauty. Alec stopped his car in front of the Mansion’s door and got himself out of the car, a satisfied grin on his face while he was scanning the huge building from up to down and from left to right. Where the heck was everyone? Why weren’t girls in bikini greeting him yet?

Tricity clipped her small radio on her hip as she passed through the hallways and headed downstairs after Johnathon gave her the news of a visitor pulling up outside. She tied her long, wavy hair in a ponytail at the base of her neck and pulled open the large and intricate double doors leading to the front of the grounds.

As she went down the steps, Tricity noticed the young man beside his very nice car and approached him with a smile. "Hi, welcome to Xavier's. My name is Tricity," she began, offering her hand for a welcome. "Is there something I can do for you?"

Well, there weren’t girls in bikini after all. The Mansion doors opened letting out a young woman that only moments later presented herself as Tricity. Alec took the hand she was offering but instead of shaking it he slightly kissed it with a slight bow and a polite smile on his lips. “Alec James is my name.” he said, letting go to the young woman’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” he added as he let himself to lean on his car in a relaxed manner.

His eyes checked the Mansion building again, and a hand raised to gesture toward it. “I would like to join the Institute.” he stated as his hand went down again. His eyes refocused on Tricity. “You can help me with that?”

Tricity was slightly taken aback by the kiss on the hand as the visitor introduced himself. She smiled a little shyly and nodded at him. "Nice to meet you, Alec and yes, I can help you along with that process. I'm the Headmistress here, so if you ever have any questions, feel free to contact me."

She gave a head nod toward the mansion and started backing up to head inside. "Care to come inside? I have some paperwork for you and I'll be happy to give you a tour and find a room and everything. I'll have to ask you a few questions though... Standard procedure. May be a little personal, but I need to make sure everyone inside the Institute is as safe as possible."

Tricity pushed open the door and then turned to face Alec after grabbing a newcomer's packet from the front hall table. "So, can you tell me about your mutation? Be as descriptive as possible. Lots of details. The good and the bad. If it's dangerous to anyone else or yourself."

The statement that this young female was the headmistress of everything that he was seeing here made his mind wander for a bit to fantasy land and the girls in bikini welcoming committee. But only for a bit. He mentally chuckled at his idea as he nodded at the idea of a mansion tour. Smiling a bit, Alec pushed himself off his car and opened the passenger door. From the seat he retrieved the small grey travel bag where all of his important belongings were. He didn’t have the time to get everything from his apartment, nor he wanted to linger that much in that place. He was starting a new life here at the Institute and old clothes surely wouldn’t mind being replaced.

Closing the door, he pushed a small button on the small remote to lock the car and followed Tricity inside the mansion. He acknowledged her latest words with a slight nod and a half-hearted smile. He hated paperwork but he couldn’t say that it was something unexpected.

The question about his powers put him in difficulty. How could he answer detailed when only a day ago he found out what his powers exactly were? He and Jackson didn’t have the opportunity to discuss everything over a glass of whiskey and comforting armchairs. Alec shrugged. “As far as I know, I’m an emotion manipulator. I don’t see how this could be dangerous for me since I can’t use it on myself and I don’t read any emotions of the people I manipulate.”

Alec looked around himself then to Tricity with a confident smile. “And I highly doubt that it can be dangerous to someone since I actually have to touch someone to alter its emotions. I’m totally harmless.” he said painting an angel’s halo above his head.

Tricity stopped walking through the hallway and turned to face him after his very brief explanation. "You manipulate emotions, but you can't read the eomtions of the people you touch?" This confused her and she gave a look to him in response that said it. "I'm not really sure I understand what you're saying. In fact, some of the most powerful mutants I've ever known can manipulate the emotions of those around them, causing them to bend to the mutant's will."

She stepped a bit closer to him and offered her hand out, palm up. "You'll have to be a little more specific than that," Tricity replied with a smirk. "Show me."

Alec let out a laugh at seeing her confusion and hearing her words. It was a laugh directed at himself, he was awful trying to explain what he could do. He fully understood how his powers worked when he was using them, but even Jackson’s explanations were hard to understand. He looked at her hand as he continued to smile.

“I’m sorry if I’m confusing you. And I can’t show you this way.” he said gesturing toward her extended hand. Alec took a deep breath as he looked around. At spotting two other mansion residents, a boy and a girl flirting a few feet away from them he gestured toward them. “I need two persons for my powers to work. I can alter how someone feels about another person.” His head turned back to watching Tricity as he smirked and winked. “Can’t use them on myself either.” he said looking at her hand again then turned back to watching the flirting pair.

“But let’s take them for example. If I’d go and touch them for a few seconds, they wouldn’t need flirting anymore. By tomorrow they’d be madly in love with each other if I chose them to be. If they already like each other it would happen even sooner. ” he smiled and focused back on Tricity’s face. “And no, I can’t feel if they like each other or not. But if I want them to love each other and they are lying about what they feel, my powers wouldn’t work properly. Makes a great lie detector, I guess.” he said with a shrug, and hoping that this time his explanation was better.

Tricity nodded slowly, glancing at the couple and then back to Alec. "Hmmm.. Well I suppose that makes more sense now." She smiled and nodded toward the stairs leading the way up. "That's quite some mutation you have."

As they reached the second floor, Tricity turned toward the guys' hallway and headed toward the end where the vacant rooms were waiting for new residents. She unlocked the door and pushed it open, stepping aside for Alec to pass. "If I may be a little nosey," Tricity began, "How did you discover your mutation?"

Alec nodded at Tricity’s comment about his mutation. He was unsure to believe about it when his mutation was responsible for so many good and bad deeds. He had used it for bad things most of the times but he always comforted himself with telling to himself that he didn’t know. But that didn’t wipe out the blood, his conscience said in a reproachful tone. But that was why he was here, to pay for his mistakes, to do good to wipe out the bad.

Unknown to Tricity, the happy and pleased face disappeared for a moment or two as he was being led to the stairs but Alec made sure it was back whenever Tricity was looking. As she opened the door, he glanced at it from outside. “Ladies first, please.” he said in a polite tone and let Tricity enter first. “And I’m not sure how I discovered my powers.” he said with a chuckle. “I realized I had a mutation when the mutants became public. Till then I just thought it was a mere coincidence that people I touched were feeling what I wanted them to. Some friends called me Cupid cause if I wanted things to work out between two persons they did.” he added with a shrug. “I found out more about my mutation not long ago when I met an old friend. He can tell anything about the powers a mutant has. I thought it was the best to leave home and come here. It suits my needs and my ideals.” another shrug as he lied Tricity about his past looking straight into her eyes and not even a gesture giving him away. Years of practice, he told to himself with bitter amusement.

Tricity nodded with a smile and folded her arms over her chest. "Well," she said with a sigh, "If there's anything you need, my office is at the other end of the hall. Please feel free to come and see me whenever you'd like."

She reached for the doorknob and turned back to him. "There's a map in the paperwork I left to help you better understand the place. The kitchen is downstairs and to the left if you're hungry. We have certain times for meals, but there's always something to eat in the fridge and cabinets." Tricity smiled again.

"Welcome to the mansion." She winked and closed the door behind her.

Alec nodded in reply. Yes, he will visit Tricity, he didn’t want to be a simple Mansion resident. “Thank you Trictity.” he smiled back as the headmistress was closing the door. For the first time he looked at his new room and gave an approving nod. It wasn’t exactly what he was used with but it would do until he got the chance to do something with it. Alec threw the small travel bag he had been carrying from the car and let himself to fall on the bed. “every end is just a new beginning, Alec.” he muttered as he looked once again around the room.