Penelope Pepper was really growing to like the Sanctuary. Though she was scared when she first visited this place, she had also met the nice Princess Syn and was really growing to appreciate seeing all the different types of mutants that were everywhere. They were so variety, so different, so unique, scary, beautiful, odd, normal, wonderful, that Penelope didn’t feel like an outsider anymore. When one was surrounded by outsiders, it was much easier to feel a sense of normalcy.

It was only after a careful talk with her alter ego, Jezebel, did Penelope finally feel comfortable enough coming to the Sanctuary on her one. Though she of coursed wanted to see Princess Syn again, she was more than happy to just wander the halls and meet the various people. So far no one really seemed to bother her and Penelope was glad; she liked the place too much now for her vision of it to be tarnished.

Walking down the halls of the Sanctuary, Penelope hummed to herself as she listened to the music that poured out of the headphone tucked into her small ears. Occasionally her voice would ring out as she sung along, but it was not too obnoxiously loud. Instead it was low enough to not bother people (so she hoped).

Dressed in her normal attire of jean overalls, a tie-dyed t-shirt and bandana, Penelope was a colorful mess that was hard to miss. Thankfully, though, no one seemed to bother her.

“Oooooh! Shooting at the walls of heartache / Bang Bang! / I am the warrior!!”

She giggled to herself as she continued to stroll. While in most cause people would probably seeing a 10 year old wandering around by herself, Penelope didn’t see a problem in it. People were nice when they usually stopped her and asked if she was okay or lost, but young girl always smiled, shook her head, and continued on her merry way. She truly was a free spirit.

Peeking around a corner, Penelope’s eyes went wide. She found TVs, games, even vending machines that looked like they had cans of soda available. A quick glance to make sure that she wouldn’t be disturbing anyone, Penelope sung to herself as she strolled into the room, dark eyes turning and roaming over ever feature and facet of the room. It really was pretty. Whoever these people were, they did a lot for mutants!

Just like mom and dad.

Smiling to herself, she stepped into the room and wandered, looking left and right at all the pretty things that she saw. This place was infinitely cool. What else would she find?

bumf

CLACK!

The white, speckled cue ball collided with the brown-striped fifteen, sending it into the side pocket on the pool table. Kaitlyn’s lips curled into a grin. She was winning.

Except… now, the cue ball was headed for the corner pocket. The corner pocket that had the eight ball sitting right in front of it.

tink

The eight ball went into the corner, before its time. Kaitlyn had just lost. “Aw, come on,” she moaned, turning her gaze to the floor. “I suck at this now.”

Jack chuckled and shook his head, the fire that constantly engulfed his head reducing itself to a dim, blue flame. He reached over and ruffled the girl’s hair. “Hey, I thought you did pretty well. You sure had me on the run.”

The redhead shrugged. She knew that Jack had been going easy on her.

“Want a rematch?” His smile was warm, and only slightly melted.

“Maybe later.” She handed him her pool cue.

“Alright. Take it easy, Kaitlyn.”

Just as she began to leave the pool table, she saw something rare: another girl her age in the Sanctuary. It took the redhead a moment to comprehend what she was seeing, and to be sure that her eyes didn’t deceive her.

Another girl her age, in the Sanctuary! A girl her age who knew what it was like, who really knew what it meant to be a mutant living on the streets in the dangerous part of New York City. After her time at the Mansion, Kaitlyn was starting to fear that she was the only one of her kind.

“Hey, kid,” Kaitlyn approached the taller, more colorfully-dressed girl. “You new around here?” She put on a friendly smile.

Penelope barely heard anything around her. Though she knew how important it was to remain conscious of her surroundings, at the same time, she didn’t want anyone to think that she was staring at them. Penny knew that she didn’t like it when it was done to her and she would have hated to make anyone else feel that uncomfortable. And such an idea could definitely happen here with all the physically mutated people wandering around. She liked them, but she doubted that sentiment would have been conveyed.

So, the young girl wandered aimless into the rec room of the Sanctuary, looking for nothing in particular except to satisfy her insatiable need to explore. She liked this place and she had to admit that it was the first place that Jezebel ever took a liking to and Penelope did too. It was rare but appreciated.

Coming to a stop next to one of the tables, she tilted her head as she watched a couple of mutants playing chess. She knew OF[/b] the game but her parents never taught her. They were too busy trying to save the world from “evil” humans. In silence she watched, not wanting to disturb the nice people or their friendly game.

>> “Hey, kid,”

She blinked as she turned her gaze up. She was spotted? But…how?! She was sure that she was quiet enough and that her clothes were the perfect camouflage.

Turning to the left, then to the right, the young girl spied for the source of the sound. Maybe it wasn’t her being addressed? But she quickly caught sight of the advancing girl who was around her age. Penelope was a little shocked by this! She hadn’t seen many kids around her age in the Sanctuary so far (granted she had only been here twice) but the idea of it was still a little startling. She wondered if that meant this girl was a mutant too.

She beamed her brightest and whitest smile in response to the girl’s smile.

>> “You new around here?”

“Hi!” she announced with as much energy and enthusiasm that she always seemed to possess. “Yes! I’m visiting. I’ve, ugh, only been here once before. I didn’t get to explore much, though.” Instantly she stuck out her hand to other girl. “I’m Penelope.”