Nate was nervous, which was new for him. He found himself returning to the Mansion he had visited a month prior, this time dressed more formally. He had never been "nervous" in his suit, but every time he wore it previously, he was in his element, lying and conning. This was a legitimate job opportunity.

How did people live with this sort of pressure?

He had gone through the necessary channels applying for the position of art teacher at Xavier's Sister School, and he was directed to the office of Sam Johnson. With the Headmistress apparently away traveling, this was the man to see about hirings.

Nate was prepared with whatever paperwork might be necessary for the interview. Specifically, certain pieces which were made for Nate Holloway. The collection was thorough and vaguely legal; the identity was registered at "birth" and given to him by his old mentor (of sorts.) Nate was created almost three decades ago "at birth" and had the paper trail of a person who always existed.

Nate straightened out his glasses and brushed stray hair behind his ear with his hand. Taking one last deep breath before putting on a confident face, he knocked on the door of the office. "Excuse me, sir. It's Nathaniel Holloway, here for my interview?"

Sam looked down with his one eye at his desk it was for the first time in three months clear of all paper except for a note to remind him to call a few people regarding a promotion. Sam removed the yellow sticky note from his desk and smirked. It was long over do the promotion should have taken place a few months ago but it must have been buried away under the cluster that was his paper work. Drew needed a raise the bare desk was proof.

Pushing the sticky note into his front pocket Sam sat down in his chair and turned off his desk light that must have been left on from the night before. His office was clean now, something he wasn’t used to yet, he was all right with. The smell of lemon cleaner tickled his nostrils filling the room with a small glare from the light that reflected off of Sam’s desk. Sitting down in his chair he looked back towards the empty desk where Streak usually sat and he decided to give his office mate a call soon but for now there was some other matters that needed to be taken care of.

Due to the sudden increase in students and residents it was time to give the school faculty a helping hand. One of the art teachers requested his time be spent a little in his favored specialty in the art field which was alright with Sam just meant more class openings and less complaints when the students didn’t have an opportunity to sign up with the classes they wanted. Though in his opinion he shouldn’t have been complained to in the first place. However with Tricity and Neena sending kids to the school from around the globe it only made sense he’d help out when he could.

Looking at the computer off to the side of his desk the screen lit up when Sam moved the mouse. Now sitting Sam studied the screen and was happy the potential interviewer, Holloway checked out on the background check which meant he didn’t have to much to worry about. Now all he needed was to find out who exactly this person was.

The door was knocked on and Sam’s attention snapped to the door. ”Doors open!” Sam said as he removed a small binder from his top drawer and a pen from under the desk drawer. Clicking the top Sam looked up and smiled, ”Mr. Holloway!” Sam said clicking the top of his pen again and pushed himself out of his chair. ”Welcome!” walking towards him Sam extended his hand, ”Been looking forward to talking to you since I was informed about you.” Sam smiled and added, ”I’m Sam. Nice to meet you, have a seat and we can get started.”

>> ”Doors open!”

Taking a deep breath, Nate pushed open the door, entering the room he was invited into with as much confidence as he could fake or muster.

>> ”Mr. Holloway! Welcome! Been looking forward to talking to you since I was informed about you. I’m Sam. Nice to meet you, have a seat and we can get started.”

Nate responded to Sam's extended hand with a firm handshake. The man's friendly greeting did much to ease the tense applicant. What was more surprising to Nate was how young Sam seemed to be in relation to his position; for someone who served as Assistant Headmaster, there was no way he was further along than his early twenties.

Nate took a seat across from Sam, adjusting his glasses to be sure they sat comfortably on the bridge of his nose. "Thank you for meeting with me." There was no sense in avoiding going right into what he was there for. "To tell you the truth, since my tour of the school last month, I have been very interested in inquiring about this position. I've been impressed with the students I've come across so far, and they speak volumes of the quality of your work." Between Gina, Agnes and Drew, not to mention some of the older staffers, Xavier's Sister School had quite the reputation to Nate.

Going through the mental checklist Sam checked two off his list, firm handshake and presentable. A check on both accounts meaning only a few more to go and Sam would be happy to welcome him to the staffing department, however this welcoming would only be after the initial interviews and a few other important pieces of information was gathered such as the availability and other questions that Sam had mentally prepared for Holloway ones that would be answered with the current interview.

The ice-mutant was now sitting across from Nathaniel and before Sam could start off asking question Nathaniel directed the start of the interview with a statement about the tour and what he had heard about the mansion from others. Something Sam appreciated greatly not only did the students there talk highly of the school but the fact that Nathaniel seemed very enthusiastic about the position.

Hoping that the things he had heard were strictly about the school and not so much things said about his personal work such as his personality quirks or his teaching methods Sam continued on with the interview. Opening one of his desk drawers Sam removed a folder with the interview information such as questionnaire health benefits and pay scales. Looking from the folder to Nathaniel a smile ran across Sam’s face. ”I take it the tour and the things said painted a clear picture about what this place is really about?” Sam asked curiously before closing the drawer and setting the paperwork before him.

Clicking a pen and writing down some information on the paperwork Sam quickly asked, ”You prefer Nathaniel or Nathan?” Sam, asked not feeling weird at all he was indeed conducting the interview seeing as Nathaniel happened to be much older than Sam from the looks of it.

Nate scanned the office through his periphery vision, developing an awareness of his surroundings. It was an interview, so he was not going to need to create an escape plan, but there was no halting instincts. He kept his eyes on his interviewer, trying to assess him as well. He was young-- that was already noted; he was physically fit, to the point where he had to be in close to peak condition. That build was the reward of rigorous exercise.

Was Sam an X-Man? It was possible, but at this point, not relevant. Nate kept his composure to answer Sam's questions. "I've certainly developed an idea, yes." He picked the words he felt best summarized his overview of the school. "A safe place for mutants who want somewhere to belong and a chance to better themselves. Did I get the general idea?"

It was weird to be asked his name so professionally, but the Nate persona never spent much time in the professional sphere. Then again, his interviewer's name was Sam, not Samuel. "More often than not, I feel plenty comfortable with Nate, but if you prefer, Nathaniel is fine."

The words came out and Sam nodded slightly, ”More or less, we focus on improving the control of our students, so when they get out into the public they can control themselves. The reason why so many fear mutants is because what we are capable of.” Sam paused slightly and lifted his hand. He paused debating weather he should summon some ice and decided against it last minute. Lowering his hand Sam continued, ”We teach our kids here control how to coexist with others without being a danger to themselves or others.”

Sam looked from the paperwork in front of him then back to the one he would call Nate, seeing as Nate was comfortable with the name. ”Nate it is then. Feel free to call me Sam.” clicking the pen top Sam looked back to the paper work, ”Nate, why don’t you start by telling me a little about yourself, hobbies and where you worked before this place.” Sam looked through the information he had and kept silent jotting down some information when it was spoken.

Sam and the school had a good philosophy for people who wanted to create a world where humans and mutants could coexist. There were, of course, plenty of people on both sides of the coin that had no intention of integration, but it was comforting to know there was a place like this. Once, Nate had no intention of merging worlds with weak humans, but things changed, and sometimes so did opinions. "I would have loved to find a place like this when I was developing my powers, I can tell you that much."

And now came the interesting questions pertaining to his past. He kept this list close to true, with most of the lies being of omission. "Well, you could probably assume that painting has been a hobby of mine, but I'm also big on soccer and fencing, not to mention literature." Nate considered adding that he was a lock-pick enthusiast, but decided that a fact like that was a little too transparent.

"As for work... well, besides odd jobs in my youth," technically true, "I've really spent most of my life as an artist. Original works and recreations; really whatever I could do to make money while keeping artistic integrity. I've taken on a few students over the years and travels," technically true as well, "but I have reasons to settle down in one place for the first time in a while and I want something that will give me the chance to make a difference in this new home. Sharing with these kids feels like the right choice."

Sam made note of some of the stuff that Nate had said writing them down on the resume he had in front of him making sure to leave them brief notes so if any one else wanted to read them they would have a generic idea of what Nate liked to do. After all was said and done Sam nodded his head slightly, ”So I take it you have worked with kids before, you mentioned students but you never know if it is of the older variety.”

Sam paused and waited for a response before adding, ”The sister school herself is still somewhat new, though I can say I would have loved an institution like this as well would have made life a bit easier.” Sam said looking down at the resume, ”And what are your powers?” Sam asked knowing the topic wasn’t always an easy one to touch on for some people, ”Standard procedure, we like to know what we are dealing with when it comes to staff and students, any accommodations you need we will do our best to cover them.”

Sam raised his hand up and ice quickly formed over his hand, ”For example if I lost control of my abilities it could get dangerous, the fact that so many people know about what I can do makes it safer for the kids and staff if something should go wrong. It doesn’t happen often but we like to have all our bases covered.”

Lowering his hand Sam continued as the ice vanished from his hand, ”From what I can tell you are the best suited for the position, the fact that you have years of experience helps. As of right now we have an art teacher but his classes fill up quickly and due to the demand of kids wanting to take classes we decided to divide the department into molding and sculpting and then painting drawing and everything you said you have experience with. You’d of course be covering the painting, drawing and the like.,” Sam paused and scratched his nose slightly as he looked up, ”Apologies I don’t mean to group your talents into simple drawing and painting but when it comes to the subject I know next to nothing.”

Lowering his hand back down to the paper work Sam made a quick waving gesture,”Does that sound alright if you two run the classes?” Sam asked curiously hoping he agreed to the situation.

>> ”So I take it you have worked with kids before, you mentioned students but you never know if it is of the older variety.”

Nate nodded, telling him what was mostly the truth. There was that "lesson" with Alli, and there was his time in Florida taking odd jobs at elementary and middle schools while his con was forming. "A few younger classes, and a couple of college-age students."

The next question was about Nate's powers, which was expected, considering it was a school for mutants. He watched as the interviewer summoned ice above his palm, impressed. He could only imagine the possibilities of a power like that.

Nate returned this favor of demonstration, allowed his shadow to climb the side of the desk, over the ledge to the desktop. The shadow emerged from the plane, becoming three-dimensional double helix. "I can manipulate my shadow-matter."

He retracted the shadow. "It's a pretty easy power to control, and it might not be ice-manipulation, but it sure as hell helped with that Turkey Hell on Thanksgiving." It did not hurt to give proof that his mutation had its own uses.

Apparently there was another art teacher employed at the school, so Sam separated the arts into two categories, which Nate had no qualms with. He had experience sculpting, but he was more practiced with paint and pen anyway. "I take no offense. That works for me; whatever you need, I'm your guy." If you need someone to teach them how to sneak and pick locks, you'd love my qualifications.

Nate extended his hand, hoping to seal the deal. "I appreciate this opportunity."

Sam took note of all that was said and all that was shown to him. Smiling slightly Sam pointed his pen towards the shadow that quickly formed a double-helix before him, ”Interesting.” Sam said his thoughts shifting towards possibilities that Nate’s abilities would give him. Sam didn’t voice them however nor did he bother asking anymore on the subject. If Nate was as serious about the job as he sounded Sam had a feeling he would be seeing a lot of the man.

”Welcome to ‘Mutant Manor’ you have any questions or concerns feel free to voice them,” Sam stood and shook his hand, ”I look forward to seeing what you can bring to the table.” with that Sam closed the folder before him and gestured towards the door, ”Care to see where you will be working?”

Nate gave Sam a strong handshake and the deed was done: Nate Holloway was a teacher of art at Xavier's Sister School. He had a legitimate job and another thing tethering him to New York. Stephen Graves felt like a distant memory; maybe one day he would really just be Nate and nothing more. Maybe.

"I look forward to bringing what I've got." It would be interesting teaching the mutant youth. He was willing to bet the job would not be boring. "And I'd be glad to take a look around, thank you."

Nate took the basic tour of the classroom, which he had a vague memory of thanks to his tour with Drew. With everything finalized, he bid farewell to the Assistant Headmaster and left the Mansion to prepare for a date with Quin.