Serena felt really bad for Evelyn as she spoke, she sounded like she had a really rough time with her mutation when it manifested. Not that Serena hadn't had a hard time with her mutation... Hers was dangerous, and seemed to put a rather large strain on her body. But as Evelyn had put it, she dealt with it.

Serena was about to smile, that is when Evelyn spoke again.

Flashes of memories blurred through Serena's mind, like pieces of a broken picture floating around, she remembered a loud bang, a gun? And blood. Lots of it. But she hadn't been injured.

Yes, now she remembered, her brother, the gun, the serial killer. It was still rather fuzzy. The bang, the spray of blood, a young girls scream (Which she assumed was hers)

Serena nodded slowly to Evelyn. "It's all a little bit fuzzy to be honest, I think I must be repressing the memory or something." She said quietly, not showing hurt or anger at Evelyn's comment. Just sadness.

Suddenly it hit her like a freight train again. The spray of blood, her brothers death. That feeling, of losing the only person you had left to lose.

The blondes hand shakily lifted a hand, holding a tea cup and took a slow sip of tea. Was that water on her face? Had she spillt?

That couldn't be a tear. She had already dealt with the death, she'd already been through all of this.

Sometimes, Evelyn disliked her mutation. It let her see the transformation take place in peoples expressions, the flicker of pain, the burden of memories. She could watch the confusion take place, and the gradual transition towards clarity. But there was something else...A resistance maybe to what the girl was remembering? Maybe subconsciously, she didn't want to remember. Without knowing what the girls powers were, she could only imagine what happened. And part of her had a feeling it might be better left forgotten.

There were things she wished she could forget. She wouldn't deny someone else that bliss. "I...Envy you. I can't suppress my memories. I can't forget... If the memory is fuzzy, for now, enjoy that. But I think part of your sleeplessness won't go away until you come to terms with that. It's...a trade, I guess." She finally said.

Serena wasn't crying. She couldn't be crying. She had already used up all her tears over this, how could there be more? Where did they come from...

Serena tried to smile at Evelyn, she did smile slightly at her comment. But she was clearly in tears. "I don't know if I'm ready to come to terms with it... I miss my brother, so much, but I've been so busy I haven't really had time to do something to let go."

Serena wondered what it was like to not be able to forget anything, it must have been both a gift and a curse, on one hand, never being able to forget anything, like you could hold so much knowledge, but on the other hand, you remember EVERYTHING.

Her tears began to flow more "I haven't even planned his funeral yet... I'm an awful sister, aren't I?" the young blonde was very upset, and getting worse.

She took a small sip from her cup, it was little comfort.

Evelyn nodded slowly, and sipped her tea as she tried to think of a good response. She knew ways to handle stress and bad memories, but she also knew how much she wished she didn't have to. She wasn't going to take that opportunity from this girl. But what could she do to help with her problems thinking and dealing with it?

"I think you'll know when you're ready to deal with it. Sometimes, you need something stable to stand on before you deal with troubles... You're still finding your place here, your strength to fall back on. Then you can morn and grieve, and bounce back. I think your brother would forgive you for not having his funeral worked out. He seems like he would be the sort of person who would be happier knowing that you were ok and happy."

Evelyn smiled at the girl, and then she started sifting through her pictures on the floor. Finally, she picked out a picture with a small bird drawn on it. It looked like it was holding onto the invisible 'wall' separating the viewer from the bird. Tiny little lines where the claws held onto an invisible cage were drawn in delicately, and the feathers looked soft and real. In the top corner, a poem was written:

"Hope" is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I've heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.
Emily Dickinson

"Don't worry too much about tomorrow, or the future, or whatever will happen from here. Focus on today, and just deal with what you can. Whatever you went through, whatever you lost, that doesn't matter. Just find a place inside you, somewhere happy and somewhere warm, and let that get you through it." She wasn't sure if that would be enough to cheer her up. But maybe it would at least make her feel a bit better.

Serena smiled to Evelyn through the tears. Even if she was a little... unorthodox. She had tried to cheer Serena up, and at the very least it had made her smile. She wondered how Evelyn dealt with things like this... Serena just pushed it to the corner of her mind and let it stay there.

However Evelyn did have a point. "You have a point... I... I guess I've just pushed it to the corner of my mind and let it sit there until I feel strong enough to deal with it. There is definitely some truth in that." She wiped her hand across her face.

The tears flowed off of her face and onto her arm, evaporating rather rapidly. She took a gulp of tea and then reigned herself back under control. Eager to change the subject... Serena spoke up. "So, Evelyn, how long are you planning on staying at the mansion for?"

The girl was genuinely curious, Evelyn's level of perceptiveness could make her an excellent psychiatrist... And she was very nice, even if she did have a slightly different way of dealing with things.

Evelyn took a deep breathe and let it out, glancing around the room as she considered the question. Finally, she gave a little shrug of her shoulders. "Honestly? I have no idea. Maybe until the end of the riots. Maybe longer. I just... I'm not exactly great at being in a place with so many people. There are some nice things here, and I guess I could adapt... but... I don't know." She readjusted her drawings and sipped her tea with another shrug.

"I always kinda just pretended to be normal, and living here makes me have to look closer at myself. Figure out my mutation and try to be more independent... It's not a bad thing, but in the meantime I feel like I could just cause problems. I feel nervous trying to sleep because I'm worried I'll wake everyone up in a panic... There are things I still have to work through as well." She mused quietly.

Serena smiled. Oh yes, the riots. Caused by that bloody idiot Maxine. Serena wondered how exactly Evelyn had gotten caught up in the riots, had she been found as a mutant and persecuted at her place of work? By family? Or did she just get caught up in violence by accident and end up coming to the mansion to use it as a safe haven.

Serena looked directly at Evelyn for a moment when she mentioned the screaming. Well, she assumed she meant by waking everyone up in a panic. It was not a look of interest, nor one of fear or worry, but one of utter sympathy.

"I wouldn't worry about waking people up, you get used to dealing with it... Well I have, I nearly wake up every night, screaming, most of the time I can stop myself, besides they must have to deal with more sound problems, especially from those with sound based mutations. I'm sure they could work something out."

Serena gave Evelyn a completely sympathetic smile.

Evelyn listened and considered what was being said. It made sense, honestly. If they had other mutants here with powers that were, frankly, still a bit beyond the student's control, then they must have a way of dealing with those powers. She had heard a few strange noises at the night while she was awake, but mostly the mansion was quiet. Maybe they had a way of muting sounds so the screaming didn't wake people up, for students like Serena?

It was a very odd thing to consider, and somewhat unnerving in a way. "I suppose it's worth checking into. I just would hate to make a long term commitment if it meant being a problem to someone else. Most people I know aren't as... understanding about mutations. I guess I'm a little skittish after growing up that way." She remarked with a little shrug of her shoulders. She sipped her tea some more and the temperature was a little cool against her lips now.

Serena gave Evelyn a reassuring smile. She knew what nightmares were like, but from the sounds of it Evelyn had direct memories when she slept. For one thing, it could be awful to have to recall something traumatizing, to the exact detail. But, on the other hand it could be better than having warped nightmares based around a mutation of blood which involved countless deaths and guilt.

"Well I grew up around someone who was very sympathetic towards mutants, of course, he never really had the chance to find out I was one, and since then I've been here... So I haven't really had too much of the bad experiences that come from being a mutant. Other than the whole... accepting that you have a mutation thing and learning to deal with it."

Serena felt like giving Evelyn a hug, and just reassuring her that everyone here was understanding and that she didn't need to worry, she could stay here and be safe and accepted. "I have to say though, I'm sure you'd fit in fine here. You seem really nice, and I think my teacher Sam, the self defense instructor, would really like you." Serena gave Evelyn a grin.

Evelyn gave a soft smile, and finished the last of her tea. Her companion was trying rather hard to reassure her about staying here, she just wished it was that easy. Committing to be in a house with other people was something she couldn't do lightly. During the riots she had an excuse. Long term...

She avoiding thinking about it for the moment, and moved to the other side of the conversation. "Sometimes, the person who has the hardest trouble accepting a mutation is yourself. I thing it's difficult to understand and deal with, whether you start with a mutation or you grow into one." She remarked as she finished, and gathered her drawing into a pile, setting them on the end table.

Then Serena mentioned Sam, and Evelyn let out a slight laugh. "Oh, I know Sam. Him and Mirror were the first people I met from the mansion. Sam is ok I guess, he's changed a bit since I saw him last. And he's a shameless flirt." She shook her head slightly at the memories she had of him. He wasn't a bad guy, really. Just overflowing with confidence and a hidden need for redemption.

Serena smiled. "Yeah, haven't seen him much recently. But he is a very good teacher and a nice guy." She gave a light giggle. "I had no idea that he was a flirt though, he came across as amusing and caring to me." she gave Evelyn a sincere, yet tired smile.

She then continued. "I haven't met Mirror before... Who are they? I assume Mirror is like a nickname or something. Unless they had very cruel parents..." Serena giggled.

Her mood was improving now that the topic had changed to a more light hearted one. She wondered if she would be okay if she went back to sleep. Nightmares didn't seem to persist if she was tired to the point of not caring. Which was why she normally stayed up for a while after the initial waking.

Serena pondered asking Evelyn her mutation. But then she realised that it would mean she would probably ask about Serena's in return, and then Serena would need to refuse to tell her about it... Which was bad at the best of times, but worse when the person in question was already covered in blood.

Evelyn smiled slightly and chuckled, shrugging her shoulders. "It's probably a good thing you didn't know he's a flirt, considering he's your teacher. He is caring though, and I'm glad he's at least made a good impression on you." She shifted and stood, stretching as she did.

"Mirror can travel through Mirrors, pretty much. It's a code name, but it's easier calling them Mirror since they gender shift. I met Mirror as Gawain, next day as Maya. It gets complicated." She shrugged. She glanced at Serena, the echoes watching her expressions, and she felt one side of her mouth tilt, starting back towards a smile then down again.

"I have hyper-awareness. It pretty much means I just notice lots of little details in actions, places, people... You don't have to tell me your mutation, I just figured it's easier to warn people that way they don't think I'm getting in their head. I am going to start coming up with witty replies when people ask me if I'm a mind reader I think... More fun than just denying it." She joked, hoping it would help cheer the girl up a little.

Serena's eyes opened. Wide. Gender shifting? Firstly, Mirror walking was a really interesting mutation. Definitely an unusual one. Serena had seen physical mutations, ice manipulation, blood and even explosions. But if someone had asked her to guess their powers, she never would have guessed mirror walking.

"Gender shifting..." Serena said aloud. She had no idea what that would be like. She was still having trouble getting her head around it if she was being honest with herself.

"Well, that's one I've never heard of before... I can't imagine what it must be like." Serena decided to stop trying. It would just confuse her or, possibly give her a headache.

Then Evelyn gave an explanation of her mutation. That made a lot of sense, hyper awareness... Well, Serena did have a sneaking suspicion that Evelyn was good at noticing things, she just didn't know whether it was related to her mutation.

She also noted how Evelyn seemed to be trying to make Serena feel better. That was really nice of her. Serena liked her. And she felt compelled to tell Evelyn about her mutation, now that she had been told of Evelyn's.

"I figure I should tell you about my mutation... Considering you seem to have experienced some... odd mutations already. I think there will be a much lower chance of you freaking out. Basically, the reason I was a little apprehensive of you is because I am a Haemokinetic, and you are sorta... Bloody. I don't have very good control over it, and it can be quite dangerous. But I am tired and calm, so I figured I'd be okay around you, turns out... I am. she smiled awkwardly to Evelyn.

Serena's surprise at Mirror's powers was evident in her expression, and Evelyn let the echoes wander while she tried to grasp the concept. It was certainly a different mutation, but I guess if you grew up with it, it wouldn't feel as odd. Evelyn grew up with her echoes, and any time they got quieter she felt both relieved and afraid. Sometimes, your mutation was just part of you. She straightened her hair and listened as Serena spoke again.

She had an expression somewhere between concern and a smile in response.

"Well I'm... glad you're calm. I don't think you need to be that nervous about talking about your powers. I think any mutation can be harmful or helpful, it all relies on how it's used. I may be cut up and covered in blood, but I'm no more afraid of you than I would be around an glass manipulator when I'm standing next to a glass vase. You may not have very good control, but you have the judgement to be able to know when you can be around someone, and when you can't. That's a start." Evelyn smiled, and gathered her drawings in her arms.

A Small smile reached Serena lips. Then she looked to Evelyn again. "Well, it's nice to hear that you aren't really scared of me, but I get the distinct feeling that a lot of people would be far less scared of a glass manipulator than a Haemokinetic..."

It was sad but true, a lot of people tended to prefer mutations like glass manipulation to things like Serena's own particular gift... Blood manipulation was, in a word, creepy.

Serena smiled awkwardly to Evelyn more. "To be fair, I don't give myself enough credit, I have gotten much, much better at control. You should have seen me 5 months ago, I didn't even know how to activate it on purpose."