Casey Carlyle listened to the rain belting down on the roof of her light yellow 1963 Opel Cadet as she made her way to New York city, hoping she would be able to get one night music gigs there, to get some money in her pocket.
She strained to see the dark, empty road ahead as the windscreen wipers struggled to keep up with the down poor, “it’s decided”/i] she thought to herself , “I don’t know where I am”[/i, not like that was anything new to her lately. Since leaving England 3 months ago, Casey had seen more “welcome to ... Please drive carefully” signs than she could remember as she drifted aimlessly through America.
Her tired eyes catch sight of a church up ahead and she decided to pull in, for the night if possible.

Casey abandoned her car and made a run for the grand church and got completely soaked in the short distance it took to get there.
Once inside Casey just stood there for a moment looking like a drowned rat, stray bits of brown hair clung to her face, hanging over her angelic, deep blue eye’s, while rain dripped from her black leather jacket onto the lovely stone floor.
She scanned the empty church, one lit candle was the only sign that anyone was or had been there, “Hello?”, Casey called receiving no response. She took a seat in one of the empty pews and looked at her watch, it read 12:47 and Casey was filled with gloom, “this is going to be another long night” Casey was almost ready to cry at that thought, she slumped forwards and buried her face in her hands and began to pray silently. Knowing she could take everything to God in prayer was the only thing keeping her going at this stage in her life, and being in such a beautiful church right now gave her some small but welcome comfort.

A senior, African-American man emerged from a room in the back with a mop and bucket, completely oblivious to Casey’s presence he began to wash the stone floor, “Hello” Casey said looking up after he began to whistle a pleasant tune. “Hello. Sorry, I didn’t see you there” the man said with a friendly smile, “I get that a lot” Casey said in a low voice, “Is that a British accent?” the man asked, Casey nodded in response, “I’m English, my names Casey” she said introducing herself out of politeness, “I’m caretaker. Well Casey from England, we don’t get many people come in here at this hour, and the ones that do are usually very troubled, or they are looking for something, which one are you? If I may be so bold” the man asked warmly. Casey knew the answer was probably both, but she was not going to admit it, “I came in to get out of the rain” Casey replied, “Sure” the man answered not wanting to press the issue, “Do you think it would be alright if I stayed her the night? I don’t think the rain is going to ease up” Casey asked humbly, the man looked round the empty room, “I don’t think it will bother anyone” he said with a little humour in his voice. Casey smiled at the amusing comment, “Thank you” she said softly but with sincere appreciation. she lay on the hard pew and closed her heavy eye’s and caretaker left her in peace. Shortly after she actually managed to fall asleep and the night hours began to roll around.

The call he had received from his aunt Phoem, the previous afternoon, did not sit well with Lance, “Dear, the memorial service for your uncle Matthew will be held tomorrow. Matthew was close to your mother when they were still in Manila and he was there during your mother’s wake...” Yeah, remind me about my mom’s death, why don’t ya. his inner voice commented, mirroring the irritation he was feeling at that moment. “I want you to attend the service tomorrow,” his aunt added. ”But, aunt Phoem, you know I don’t like going to funerals...” Lance protested. Ever since his mother died, Lance had avoided going to viewings and funerals. The ceremony only served to remind him of his own loss and he was not yet ready to face that. “Your mother would want you to go in her place...” Oh... she’s good... very good. ”Fine. Fine.” Lance finally agreed in defeat.

Lance left the premises early that morning, foregoing his usual jog around the park across the school. The address was carefully scribbled down on a piece of paper and tucked into the breast pocket of the gray button-down shirt he wore just for that day. The sky was slightly overcast that morning, so he brought a jacket with him just in case it rained.

The bus ride took the most part of the day and it was past lunch when Lance finally arrived to the place where the viewing was being held. There was a large group of people there condoling with the family. The mass for his uncle was to be held late that afternoon.

Lance had the strong urge of hightailing it out of there. Since his mother’s untimely death, he had never been comfortable going to viewings or funerals.

Unfortunately for him, one of his mother’s relatives had noticed him standing at the back of the crowd and made her way over to where he was. What followed next was a profusion of introductions to relatives who had taken time to attend the viewing.

The mass was officiated by an elderly priest and had an air of solemnity befitting the occasion. It took all of Lance’s self control to keep the feelings he had been hiding all these time from overwhelming him during the service.

Several relatives and friends of his uncle offered high praises for the life his uncle lived and the many lives he had touched. The impromptu necrological service lasted until late in the evening.

It was almost midnight when, after the service, Lance offered his personal condolences to the family of the deceased and at the same time bade them farewell, as he had to return to the mansion. He didn’t tell anyone that he would be gone for more than a day. He had done what his aunt wanted him to do. Now all Lance wanted was to go home.

The same brooding feeling followed him all the way to the bus stop. Since it was already past midnight, Lance wasn’t sure whether there will still be a bus en route to New York City at this time. Then it happened... a streak of lightning lighting up the night sky followed by a deafening clap of thunder and then the rains fell. It was a strong downpour and the teen was literally left out in the rain.

Lance was really feeling miserable now. Out alone in the middle of the night, in the middle of a downpour, in the middle of who knows where.

In the middle of his self inflicted misery, Lance spied upon a church in the distance. The other houses in along the street have turned off their lights and gone to sleep. Only the church glowed with an inner light.

Pulling his jacket around him and the hood over his head, Lance made a dash of the church. The teen obviously underestimated the distance between the bus stop and the church, because he was thoroughly drenched by the time he got to the entrance.

The doors of the church were left ajar and soft light was emanating from the opening. Lance slowly made his way to the entrance and looked inside. The interior of the church was obviously well kept. It was grand but not ostentatious in any way. The interior reflected the grand exterior, but it exuded a warm, comfortable and inviting feeling. A single candle near the altar was the only source of light, but the crystals hanging from the central chandelier and from beneath the light scones set along the wall of the church, spread the soft light to every corner of the church’s interior.

Lance slowly shouldered the door open. He did not know if the doors had been left ajar accidentally or intentionally to welcome those out in the rain into this sanctuary.

The right door opened emitting only the smallest of squeaks. Lance quietly entered the church. It had been quite a while since he had gone to church, the last one was during his mother’s funeral.

Memories of how his mother never failed to remind him to attend Sunday service at their local church suddenly flashed in his mind. And for the first time in a long while, Lance did not stop the tears that suddenly welled in his eyes.

He simply sat on one of the pews and prayed... totally oblivious to the woman sleeping on the other end.

Ooc: Thanks for rping with me ;D.

Morning rolled round and Casey had managed to sleep the night through, though it had not been a peaceful sleep.
Casey had spent most of the night shivering and dreaming, dreaming about the murder she had witnessed, dreaming about her family...dreaming that a terminator from the future had come back to assassinate her old high school principal?

The warm morning sun shone through one of the beautiful stained glass windows, braking into coloured beams of light that shone directly into Casey’s face.

Casey’s eyes slowly fluttered open, she groaned as the vague memories of last nights upsetting and peculiar dreams floated round her head before they disappeared completely as she came into full conciseness.

Casey pushed off the blanket that had been placed over her in the night by the kind old-ish man she had spoken to, it was a small mercy that gave Casey a much needed reminder that there where some good people out there.

Casey slowly swung her legs off the hard pew and sat up, she rolled her shoulder in attempt to loosen her stiff body. She slumped forwards as she yawned and checked her watch, 6:52am, not bad, lately she was normally up and about at 5:30am or sometimes sooner.

She rubbed the back of her neck and as she flexed her head to the side she noticed a young man at the end of the pew with a blanket of his own.

Looking through half blurry eyes Casey could not tell if he was asleep or not, “are you awake?” she asked quietly so as not to disturb him if he wasn’t. But the young man turned his head to face her, “G’day” she said, not sure if she had woken him or not.

Casey noticed the smart clothes the young man was wearing, so she smoothed down her now dry clothes and long plaited hair, in attempt to make herself look more presentable, considering where she was. With her hand she brushed the stray bits of hair out of her face, just to have them fall right back again, “Did you get caught in the rain as well?” she asked the young man who seemed to look as miserable as she felt lately.

Casey wondered what the fine dressed young man was doing spending the night in a church, “Maybe he is a runaway” she thought as she folded the blanket and laft it on the pew for the old man.

Lance did not know how long he had been sleeping. Neither did he realize that he had fallen asleep after pouring out his heart in prayer during last night’s downpour... nor had he realized that there was a woman who slept not more than a few feet from where he sat. That was until a feminine voice spoke.

“are you awake?”

Lance tilted his head in the direction of the voice. A curly, blonde-haired woman with a beautiful pair of deep blue eyes was looking at his direction. She seems to have just recently woken up as well.

“G’day.”

”Good morning,” Lance responded to the woman’s greeting, as he gathered the thick, comfortable blanket and placed it down upon the pew.

“Did you get caught in the rain as well?”

The teen slowly nodded his head in response to the woman’s question. By the way she looked, Lance surmised that the woman had also been caught in the rain and was forced to spend the night in the church.

Lance stood up and stretched himself to remedy the bumps and aches that he was now feeling from sleeping on the hardwood pew.

“Good morning... I hope you two slept peacefully last night?” the senior African-American caretaker greeted the church’s two guests from a side door near the church’s altar area.

”Yes... Thank you.” Lance answered the kindly old man with a smile. ”Thank you for the blanket too.” he added as he began folding the blanket.

The old man simply smiled. “Come. I have prepared breakfast,” he invited Lance and the woman. He stepped out of sight through the same door near the church’s altar.

Lance looked and smiled towards the woman as he started to head in the direction of the side door. ”Nothing sets a day right than a good breakfast.” he said to the woman, with a friendly smile. He stopped near where she was sitting, waiting for her to accompany him to the breakfast invitation of the kindly caretaker.


(OOC: It's my pleasure, Casey.)

Casey had now woken fully, though she was still tired, and her eyes had properly focused .
She could now see the teen at the end of the pew clearly.

“Good morning”.

She watched him nod slowly in response to her question before he rose to his feet and enjoyed a good stretch.
She was about to ask the youth his name when caretaker appeared from the door near the altar.

“Come. I have prepared breakfast,” he offered, then disappeared before Casey could respond.

Casey was a little taken aback by the stranger‘s generosity, she was grateful for just being able to have taken sanctuary for the night, she really did not expect to get fed as well.

”Nothing sets a day right than a good breakfast.” the teen said.
He looking a lot happier than he did upon awakening as he waited for Casey to follow behind.
Casey smiled back at him, it was a small smile but it was a genuine one.
The prospect of a good breakfast and the prospect of not having to eat it alone lifted Casey’s mood, it had been a while since She had, had either of those things.

Casey looked up and whispered “Thank you”, some of last nights prayers where already being answered.

Casey followed the teen into the small kitchen where a plate of hot scrambled eggs on toast with a side of bagels awaited each of them.
“Sit, help yourselves”, the old man said placing some orange juice and coffee on the table for the pair to drink as they pleased.

“Thank you, this is very kind of you” Casey said taking a seat.

“I’m caretaker by the way” he said introducing himself to the boy.

“I’m Casey” she said while the intros where going on.

“what brings you two out here?” the old man asked the pair trying to make conversation.

“I’m a musician, I’m heading to NYC to try and earn some money... I don’t suppose either of you know anywhere I could get some work?” she asked casually as she enjoyed her eggs and juice...and the company.

Lance followed the elderly man through the doorway, stopping briefly to invite the woman to join them.

The kitchen beyond the doorway was well lit though sparsely furnished. The table at the center held a plate of hot scrambled eggs on toast with a side of bagels for each of them.

“Sit, help yourselves,” the man offered to the two strangers, placing some orange juice and coffee on the table for their consumption.

The woman thanked the man for his generosity as she took her seat, with Lance echoing the same sentiment as he bit into the toast and scrambled eggs.

“I’m caretaker by the way,” the elderly man said, introducing himself to his two guests.

The woman introduced herself as Casey.

”Lance.” the teen said by way of introduction.

“what brings you two out here?” the caretaker asked.

“I’m a musician, I’m heading to NYC to try and earn some money... I don’t suppose either of you know anywhere I could get some work?”

”I attended the service for my uncle, yesterday. The heavy downpour last night stranded me in town.” Lance explained, flushing down his breakfast with the orange juice. Tilting his head towards Casey, he flashed her a small grin. ”What a coincidence. I come from New York City...”

Casey was enjoying her breakfast, it had been a while since she had enjoyed a decant cooked meal, her eldest adoptive brother was a chef and he did most of the cooking back home in England, but Casey could hardly cook to save her life.
She had been living on cereal, fruit, take out or even just skipped meals lately, which was why she had dropped a few pounds.

”I attended the service for my uncle, yesterday. The heavy downpour last night stranded me in town.”

“I’m sorry for your lose” Casey said offering her sympathies, Caretaker offered similar words of condolence.

”What a coincidence. I come from New York City...”

“Really?... Do you have a way of getting back there or do you need a lift? I haven‘t got anywhere specific to go so I can drop you home or wherever?” Casey offered then drained her glass of juice.

“I’ve never been to New York, is there anything you recommend I should see, do or got to?” Casey asked offhandedly, with a smile.

After everyone had finished their breakfast and conversations, caretaker washed the plates and began to bid them farewell.

“I wish there was some way I could repay you” Casey offered the kind old man.

“Oh, there is no need for that” he said with a smile, “I should be getting home to my lovely wife now, Is there anything you need before I go?"

“I’m fine” Casey replied.

“Then I trust, you can see yourselves out?” he said and then wished the pair a pleasant journey to wherever they where going.

“Bye, God bless” Casey said as he headed for the door.

Ooc: if your not done with the npc I can edit or something

(OOC: That’s all right Casey, the nice caretaker can go home to his lovely wife.)


“I’m sorry for your lose”

A nod... a half-smile... and Lance had said his thank you to Casey. It had been an old belief in their family that to say “Thank you” to words of sympathy or condolence was to invite more deaths to the family. Personally, he didn’t really believed in the efficacy of that belief, but you can never be too sure now-a-days.

“Really?... Do you have a way of getting back there or do you need a lift? I haven‘t got anywhere specific to go so I can drop you home or wherever?

Casey’s reaction to Lance stating that he lived in New York City were a series of questions fired off one after the other. The teen answered the first question with a nod. The second question needed more than gestures to be answered, ”There’s the bus to the city that I missed last night... But it’s kinda boring to take the half-day trip solo... Why, you have a car with you?” Lance asked Casey.

Duh! Well of course she has a means of transportation... she offered you a lift, right, genius?

Ignoring the mental monologue, Lance smiled at Casey as she offered to drop him off at home or wherever.

“I’ve never been to New York, is there anything you recommend I should see, do or got to?”

Lance stopped for a moment before answering Casey’s question, ”There are a lot of tourist attractions scattered all over New York City. I guess it just depends where your interests lie.”

“I wish there was some way I could repay you” Casey’s offer to the kind caretaker drew the teen’s attention towards the man. It seems that during the question and answer portion between him and Casey, the man had begun washing the plates they had used for breakfast.

The caretaker politely refused Casey’s offer and in turn asked if the two of them needed anything else.

“I’m fine.”

”Same here,” Lance answered with a smile.

“Then I trust, you can see yourselves out?” the caretaker asked as he made his way to the door.

“Bye, God bless”

As Casey bid the man farewell, Lance stood-up, ”Tell you what...” he started, turning to Casey. ”Why don’t we start the road trip to New York? I’m sure the caretaker would be able to fully enjoy the company of his lovely wife knowing that the church is secured, right?” Lance asked, turning towards the kind caretaker who was just about to leave.

The man smiled and nodded his agreement.

Lance moved towards the open door, where the caretaker stood awaiting them, stopping briefly to let Casey catch-up with him.

”Tell you what...” Lance said to Casey. ”Why don’t we start the road trip to New York? I’m sure the caretaker would be able to fully enjoy the company of his lovely wife knowing that the church is secured, right?”
“Yeah, sure” Casey agreed wanting to get going herself, she pushed her seat in and then followed Lance and caretaker out of the kitchen and then out of the church, dropping some money into the donation box by the door as she left.

Casey led Lance over to her small, adorable car as caretaker made his way to a house across the street.
Casey unlocked the car and quickly began tidying a few things inside it, she also began to quickly hid some of the tell tale sings that indicated she was currently living in it.

"There's not a lot of leg room I’m afraid" she said with a smile as she moved out of the teens way so he could sit in front passenger seat.

Casey got a roadmap from among the guitar and duffle bag that was on the back seat before she got behind the wheel and started the engine.
"Here, incase we need it" she said passing the map to Lance.
Once the pair where buckled in Casey pulled away and headed towards New York.
"So, where abouts in New your do you live?" she enquired, partly to make small talk, but mostly to find out where she needed to be heading.

Ooc: just to led you know, Casey has gone from blonde to brown hair, so the pic and description match

(OOC: Noted.)


The three of them exited the kitchen and then eventually the church, with Casey adding to the donation fund of the church.

The caretaker, whose house was just across the street from the church, bid the pair goodbye as he crossed the street.

Casey led the teen to the light yellow car parked in front of the church.

Now why didn’t I notice that last night? Lance wondered.

Casey unlocked the passenger-side door of the car and quickly grabbed several things from the front passenger seat, dumping it unceremoniously in the back. A few seconds later, she motioned for Lance to get in as she moved towards the driver-side of the car.

"There's not a lot of leg room I’m afraid."

The interior of the car wasn’t really that cramped, but it showed telltale signs of having been lived in.

Lance put on his seatbelt as Casey rummaged through the back seat, eventually producing a road map that she handed to the teen.

"Here, incase we need it"

Lance took the map without question, although he felt that they will not need the map since he was quite familiar with where they will be going, but as Casey had pointed out... in case they needed it.

After she had buckled herself and checked whether her companion had safely buckled himself in, Casey drove off towards New York.

"So, where abouts in New your do you live?"

Lance was not able to immediately answer Casey’s question. He had completely forgotten that she will inquire where he was staying as she offered to drop him off there and so he had no ready answer to her question. After a few seconds of silence, ”Upper Manhattan...”

Why don’t you just tell her about Xavier’s... the mental monologue began. I’m sure she will understand that she is sharing a car ride with a mutant... it added in a sarcastic tone.

”You mentioned earlier that you’re a musician, right?” Lance asked, trying to swing the discussion away from their present subject of his place of residence.

While waiting for Casey to answer, an idea was already taking shape in the teen’s mind.

The sun was shining bright in the clear blue sky above, making it a lovely worm, or even hot climate to be in.

”Upper Manhattan...” Lance eventually replied in response to Casey’s question.

”You mentioned earlier that you’re a musician, right?” he asked trying to casually lead the chatter into another direction.

“Yeah, well after a fashion anyway” Casey replied
“I’m not a professional or anything, it’s more a freelance thing. It’s just something I can do to pay the bills” she said modestly, she was more talented than she realized.
“But I do love it. Music is such a wonderful thing, I meant there is a song for just about any...” Casey began with passion coming through in her voice and expressive eyes, then she realized she felt like she was opening up to this fairly new acquaintance, and she couldn’t have that now could she? No.

“What about you? She quickly asked, believing the correct response to someone asking what you do for a living was to return the question, after answering it.
“Are you still in school, college?” she asked casually, assuming he would probably be attending one or the other, judging by how old he looked. All the while unaware that the cogs where turning in Lance’s mind while she was ramble on.

When Casey offered Lance a ride she did not think about the fact that they would end up talking, talking about the usual things; the weather, occupation, interests...“family, home” Casey though to herself, “That usually comes up” her own inner voice began as she waited for lance to reply.

These where universal topics, but they where ones Casey really did not want to start on, given that she had left her home and family with the aid of the witness protection program.
During all the these proceedings the whole subject of mutants had not even entered Casey’s mind, it didn’t even occur to her that Lance might be one, or that she maybe should have told him that she was, before she offered him that ride...if he knew she was a mutant with the ability to merge into walls and the like he may have had different feelings about the matter, some people are funny like that.

The weather showed no signs, whatsoever, of the monstrous downpour it dumped on the town the previous night. The sun was cheerily shining amidst a blue field of a sky. The morning looked promising and Lance hoped that it will remain that way for the rest of the day.

“Yeah, well after a fashion anyway. I’m not a professional or anything, it’s more a freelance thing. It’s just something I can do to pay the bills… But I do love it. Music is such a wonderful thing, I meant there is a song for just about any...”

The teen sensed the sudden change in Casey’s demeanor. The passion she had for her music was showing in her words. He smiled. Lance liked music too. He loved dancing... and what is dancing without music, right?

"What about you? Are you still in school, college?"

”High school,” the teen replied. He considered talking about Xavier’s Sister School, but decided against it in the last minute. He wasn’t sure if his companion has heard of the school or is aware of its nature. Better not risk it... She might be anti-mutant... It’s a long walk to New York City... his inner voice advised him.

”So, might I interest you in a gig, then?”

”High school,”, Lance replied. Deciding at the last moment not to say the name of the high school he attended.

”So, might I interest you in a gig, then?”, Lance offered much to Casey’s surprise.

“Umm. yeah” Casey replied a little unsure, “What did you have in mind?” she enquired.
“I do all styles of music, except rap and heavy metal, they give me a headache” she said with a smile.
“I play the guitar as you may have noticed” she said referring to the encased guitar on the back seat, “I also play the piano and harmonica…and sing” she said listing her skills to help Lance decide if he wanted her services.

Casey paused to let Lance answer as she concentrated on driving safely. “Breakfast, sunshine and a possible job offer, this looked like it could be a good day for a change” Casey dared to think as she came to a red light. “So…what’s going to spoil it?, her negative mental voice began, and that thought began to niggle in the back of her mined, as her patience for the red light began to disappear as fast as the residue from last nights rain.

“Umm. Yeah… What did you have in mind? I do all styles of music, except rap and heavy metal, they give me a headache… I play the guitar as you may have noticed… I also play the piano and harmonica… and sing...”

As Casey enumerated her many musical talents, Lance listened... and the more he listened, the more he became convinced that Casey will be of great help to an old acquaintance of his. The teen’s mind-eye had already envisioned their next destination... The Tap, a diner/bar/grill establishment situated at the corner of Tratman Ave. and Rowland St. The place exudes a homey, familial appeal and the clientele are neighborhood regulars, although the regulars have a habit of bringing in a friend or two, thereby expanding The Tap's clientele base.

Lance had worked there as a kitchen helper and sometimes as waiter, on a part-time basis. The owner, Samantha Robertson, a kind elderly woman and her son, Bradley, treated their staff like family. He found himself unintentionally smiling as he reminisced his experience working at the diner.

”I might just have the right place for you to showcase your talent, Casey...” Lance replied, the smile not fading from his lips. “And they might be able to accommodate you in one of the units above the diner, too.” the teen added as the car stopped on a red light.

I might just have the right place for you to showcase your talent, Casey...” Lance said with a warm smile.
“And they might be able to accommodate you in one of the units above the diner, too.” he added

“Sounds promising” Casey said with hope, but she did not put too much weigh in what Lance was saying.
She had no reason to not believe him, it was just a friend of a friend thing doesn’t always work out, not that she had known Lance long enough to class him as a friend.

After what seemed like half an eternity the lights finally changed to green.
A silence seemed to fall upon the car as the pair made steady progress to their destination.
Casey eventually switched on the radio to try and prevent the silence from becoming uncomfortable, “Put it on whatever station you want” she offered Lance, assuming that he might not want to listen to the news station the radio was currently tuned to.

“So, I know you ran into the church for shelter, but do you normally go to church?” Casey started, enquiring about Lance‘s faith, or there lack of in attempt to strike up a convocation.

A while later Casey turned her attention to the hourly traffic update, all seemed well on the roads heading to Upper Manhattan, “That’s good”, then something else caught Casey’s ear, “an anti mutant protest group are having a peaceful demonstration in New York today...” the news reader began, he went on to say how they had moved their protest to New York after things turned violet at their previous location a few days earlier.

Casey shook her head an sighed quietly “What’s your problem?” she thought, “why can’t we all just get along?” she knew that was a cliché but she didn’t really care, she sincerely meant it.

“What do you think about the whole mutant thing?” Casey asked her passenger, trying to sound as casual as possible as she tried to find where he stood on the subject.