The riots had finally ended, but Evelyn found herself without a real plan on what to do. After finding her apartment in such a state of disrepair, she dreaded returning to the building and sorting through what was left. It gave her a queasy feeling just to think about it, so she decided for at least the day she would stall that inevitable event.

Curious by nature, Evelyn finally planned to use the time to explore the school grounds. With the lock-down she hadn't seen much of the outdoors, other than a glimpse or two when she was trying to evade the schools security and get to the city. You didn't really stop to admire the planters when you were worried some alarm would go off any moment... That was behind them though. Doing her best to fix her hair and look presentable, she set out into the sunshine.

It seemed unnaturally bright today, but the warm sunlight felt good on her skin, with the exception of the few places she had been sunburned earlier in the week. Pushing her pale hair from her face, she skimmed the grassy lawn and started towards a more forested area. At least the trees would provide some shade, and she did enjoy the scent of the forest.

Stepping lightly, she didn't get far when the echoes started noting another presence. Scanning around, she tried to pinpoint another figure. She had met few people since she took shelter here, and was grateful for that. Her normally composed appearance was beginning to look a little on the disheveled side again...

The sun was warm and he had just got done doing a few laps around the city meaning Carrick now was tired and when Gryphon shifters are tired they either eat or nap and seeing Carrick was Carrick it was a good time for a nap. Laying down in some thicker and colder grass due to the shade Carrick let out a big yawn and stretched out on the grass both wings had been fully spread for some time now just absorbing the rays of the sun. His wings were nice and warm while his body was nice and cold from the shade a perfect combination.

It was a really nice change of pace from the previous weeks chaotic cluster of stuff that had been piling up. Between the lock down at the mansion and the city streets of New York turning to chaos Carrick didn’t have much time to sit around and do nothing. One of the few things he enjoyed doing or rather in this case… not doing.

The lock down meant he was being watched constantly and any chance he had to steal away it seemed his girlfriend wanted to tag along which was nice but he actually had to go shopping at one point. With his eyes closed he shuddered slightly and rolled over onto his back so more of his body was still in the shade. He didn’t like shopping.

One thing he licked less than shopping was school, and that was another reason the lockdown sucked. Sure a few classes like self defense were cancelled due to the professor running into the city constantly but the other classes were still all going on. Meaning during the lockdown he actually was forced into class and the option of skipping and going to the city was usually out of the question. Another reason why he was especially enjoying the sun today on a Thursday in the middle of the day when he should be in class, not outside sleeping in the grass.

The echoes finally honed in on the other figure, the rusting of wings quiet but evident once she knew what she was looking for. In the middle of the grass a teenage boy was stretched, large golden brown wings spread wide and what looked like a lions tail less visible in the grass. Evelyn felt a small frown spread across her face, scanning her head for the time. Most of the other students would be in class around this hour, but this lone figure seemed to have other plans.

She moved closer, stretching her arms and then folding them behind her head as she glanced up at the sky, then back at the figure she had walked up to. "I take it your either not the studious type or have a serious nap planned that you just couldn't miss." She remarked lightly, and let her arms drop into a light fold across her chest. She was close enough the fading perspiration from the work of his flight was evident, and she wondered if she should just let him nap.

Well, that would be the polite thing to do. Curiosity had other ideas though.

The foot steps he heard first his eyes still closed and the face in the direction of the sun Carrick hoped who ever they belonged to would just go away. A low rumble resembling a growl exited his throat for a second before he realized that he was doing it. He opened his left eye and found the face belonging to the voice. Carrick’s grey eye fixed on the girl’s figure fist then to her face then her white hair. His tail twitched slightly and he looked back up to the sky closing the grey eye.

”Yes.” was his initial response to bother her questions his accent light on the word due to it only being one. His accent didn’t really flow till he formed full sentences. Opening both eyes and still looking up he continued, ”Went to school all last week, didn even tak’ a day off.” he paused and his tail thudded in the grass again, ”It was hell, almost as bad as shopping which I did last week as well.” Carrick mocked a chill down his spine and his whole body rustled in the grass including his wings.

”Take it yer’ the curious type.” Carrick said this time turning his head so he was fixing both colored eyes at her. It wasn’t a question but rather a statement, ”Gonna go tell someone I’m not where I should be?” he asked this time not really adding much concern in his voice. If she was a snitch she’d tell on him and then another one of the students or better yet a teacher would walk all the way out here to find the outline of an angel with a tail in the grass.

Yes

Well, that didn't exactly answer the question completely. It sort of hinted towards the fact it was a mixture of both, evident by the low growl that seemed to escape his throat. Evelyn smiled slightly, watching as first one eye, then the other turned to face her. They were different colored, but she wasn't sure if it was another part of his mutation or just natural. It was pretty in it's own way. She wasn't going to admit that aloud though. Most men tended to get their feathers ruffled when you called anything about them 'pretty'.

As if on cue, the fake shudder the teen created rustled the grass. "Shopping and school: I'll make a note to never torment you with either." She smirked slightly, and leaned against a nearby tree. The shade felt nice: just warm enough without feeling painful. "And no, I'm not going to tell on you. I've done my fair share of being where I shouldn't, and you don't tell on someone unless you want to be told on, as a general rule of thumb." She glanced up at the sky and breathed deeply. "Besides, the day is too nice for kids to be cooped up. I'd say you're taking a mental health day." Goodness knows they could all use one.

Suddenly Carrick was happy for the company of the sane… adult? Carrick’s eyes looked her up and down again and he mentally nodded, she had the body of an adult though the way she made it sound she wasn’t one. ”My girlfriend likes it when I do both. School and take her shopping that is.” he still wasn’t used to saying girlfriend even if they had been dating for a few months. ”Both usually end up being more painful than ‘here worth.” he lied about the last bit he was just lazy and didn’t see the point of being in one spot for a long period of time and both seemed to force him on a schedule.

”Everyday is a mental health day,” Carrick said smirking as he looked back up to the sky to see a cloud passing over head that resembled a rabbit. His stomach growled, he wasn’t hungry for rabbits he was just hungry though he wouldn’t put it past his shifted form to dine on some rabbits. Rodents were something that Gryphon enjoyed to eat.

Turning his head he looked to the white haired girl who was leaning on a tree, ”I’m glad there is at least one sane adult here, everyday is too nice to be cooped up inside.” Carrick’s tail swayed back and forth rustling the grass in the process. ”Ya hiding out ‘ere?” Carrick asked curiously shifting his weight causing one of the golden wings to retract slightly. ”Carrick.” he said looking back up to the sky.

"I take it she's the studious sort then." Evelyn mused. She momentarily wondered what it would be like having a boyfriend. She's seen enough relationships, but with Jensen nosing his way into everything, even a successful date had been out of the question. To be young and in love... That was a mystery she wasn't sure her or her favorite detective could have solved. Many in their profession considered love a weakness.

Was it? She hadn't decided yet.

"Sane..." She repeated slowly, and gave a light laugh. "To be honest, I don't often hear that phrase when it comes to descriptors for myself. My mutation usually makes people peg me as the crazy sort." She gave a slight smile so hopefully he didn't jump to any conclusions. It was a nice wish.

"My name's Evelyn. And yeah, I've been staying here this week. My apartment kind of got trashed and I haven't had the heart to go back and take a look at the damage." her smile flickered, faltered and fell for a moment, before she shrugged and sighed. "But that's kind of what happens sometimes. I just hope the museum fared better. I got in a scuffle with more than one group of people and I would be understating it if I said I'd be unhappy if one of those paintings was ruined." Her words were wandering, and she let them cut off.

Another cloud passed by this one a bit darker than others though he didn’t pay much mind to it seeing as how blue the sky still was. ”Kinda an understatement.”Carrick said shrugging his shoulders moving his wings by extension. ”Though, my grades have jumped up a bit since we started dating.” Carrick yawned, ”Guess, I can blame her for that.” she was the reason he still went to class, nagging teachers had nothing on an upset Elizabeth.

”Well, are you crazy?” Carrick asked the girl when she doubted his comment about her being sane. ”Doesn’t really matter what others think does it?” his tail flopped in the grass again as he pulled his other wing closer to his body when it was getting too warm from the sun. ”My mutation usually pegs me as an angel.” Carrick lied his tone not trying to hide it at all. He yawned again and put his hands behind his head elevating it slightly.

Carrick turned his head slightly, ”You do look like the artsy type.” Carrick said looking on Eve with mismatched color eyes, ”Sorry about your apartment though, bunch of Eejits in the city if ya ask me.” Carrick said his tail flicking with irritation when he thought about the riots and what had transpired. ”Buncha cafflers, Eejits and Apes.” Carrick laughed, ”sometimes it feels like I’m the only one with any sense, which is saying a lot.” he paused and looked back up to the sky, ”Pretty sure there isn’t a time limit to your stay here. Everyone here is all happy n’shit.”

Evelyn nodded, looking up and watching the clouds lazy progress across the sky. [Stratocumulus cloud.] Her echoes chimed at one of the pale cottonball like objects in the sky. She turned to Carrick before the echoes got too carried away trying to analyze shape and possible distance. "Never went to public school, but I saw you guys in the classrooms a few times. Can't say it looks like the most exciting place in the world."

She chuckled at his question and glanced away for a moment then back. "I don't think I'm crazy, but there are times I wish there were an off button on my powers." She studied his figure for a moment, the tail, wings, and the personality. He was like a cat in the sun. "Besides, I wouldn't peg you for an angel necessarily. Gryphon seems more accurate."

She nodded in agreement at his statements, and felt somewhere between happy and sad as he spoke. "Yeah, the city is full of Eejits. I can fix the apartment, but can't get the art back. I just hope things calm down soon." She chewed her lip slightly at his remark, crossing her arms and sighing. "I guess there's not a time limit but I don't know if I'm so great at living with a bunch of other people..."

”Wait, you’ve seen me in a class room?” Carrick asked tilting his head to the side with a mock grin on his face. Must have been one of the days Liz dragged him to class. Not physically drag him but just give him the look saying she knew what was best and if he wanted to do what’s best he would go to class. Luckily those days were few seeing as he didn’t have a ton of classes with her. Just the super boring ones like chemistry.

”A lot of people want off switches, but that’s like saying you only want to be different some of the time.” Carrick shrugged his shoulders never wanting to have the ability to turn off any of his powers it was what made him different and that was something he wasn’t willing to give up. A small chuckle exited Carrick’s mouth when she called him a Gryphon. ”I thought those things were just of legend, and don’t Gryphon’s have to be part Lion and Eagle? Never heard of a human one.” the girl must have heard about him and his powers to shift into a Gryphon, which only meant people, were talking about him.

Carrick smirked and nodded his head glad he was still a topic of conversation he loved the attention. Tail now swaying in the grass Carrick turned the conversation back to Evelyn, ”One way to find out, about the living here thing. I wasn’t big on it either but the rooms here are better than the trailers we had in the circus. Sure I share a room here but that is nothing compared to a few people living in a tiny trailer. Then again I only had to do that a few times. it wasn’t as bad as it sounded in fact Carrick remembers those nights fondly it was like having a party all night with a bunch of your buddies. Those days were behind him however since he moved in to the mansion.

”I pegged ya for the artsy type. Can’t ya just paint some new ones?” Carrick asked never really being the artistic type at least his definition of art and hers would be very different.

This kid was amusing, more than some of the other students she had run into. He was a bit of a smart mouth, but there was a manner of intelligence to him. Sure, he avoided school, but she wondered if it was more out of boredom than anything else. She wondered what he could do if he put his mind to it. It seemed hard to pinpoint where his potential lied though. Bird wings, cat-like behavior. Maybe something athletic? Hard to say.

>>"A lot of people want off switches, but that’s like saying you only want to be different some of the time."

Evelyn considered that, and shrugged a little. "I guess so. If I really am 'different'. Maybe I just feel slightly less than normal...If that makes any sense." She didn't think it did, but it was hard to really explain how her own abilities made her feel. Not quite mutant, not quite human. Without really knowing how to utilize her echoes she just pretty much had voices in her head.

Even around mutants, talking to yourself was a little on the odd side.

>>"I thought those things were just of legend, and don’t Gryphon’s have to be part Lion and Eagle? Never heard of a human one"

"Not sure they really have a term for when you mix eagle and lion characteristics with human. I don't think people expected for that to be possible anyway." She noticed there seemed to be a sense of pride in Carrick's behavior. He seemed to enjoy talking about himself, which she found to be a very feline mindset. Cats were proud creatures, but they loved being in control of when people paid attention to them. She could only watch and see how far that mindset went with the teen.

"I've never actually been to a circus, but I'll have to take your word for the trailer size..." Athletic seemed to be more likely as he spoke about his past. She resisted asking more though. If he wanted to talk about it, she was sure he would at this point.

"As for the art, I'm sure I can... That's the nice thing about not being able to forget, the pictures will always be in my head, it will just take awhile to get on paper... There were years worth of pictures, and the art room could use some new supplies here... I don't know. Sometimes I feel like it would be nice to stay but then someone makes me feel like it may be best if I didn't." She mused to herself. She sun broke through the branches of the tree she was under, and she closed her eyes slightly, letting the warm light hit her face. It was nice, and took away some of the stress.

Carrick smirked and shook his shaggy hair in the grass while keeping his eyes on Evelyn, ”Not a lick of sense.” Carrick let out a small laugh and looked back up to the sky, ”Why would anyone want to be normal anyways?” Carrick lifted his arms up and pushed them down as he kicked his legs up then landed on them in a crouching position before standing up straight and yawning. ”Normal has been done before and it is boring.” Carrick said sure of what he was saying. He was different and loved every minute of it.

”Shame, circus is usually fun. I was the star performer for a while though I did have to change faces for it otherwise I was just the kid with wings.” Carrick smirked and snapped open his wings then quickly closed them after they were fully extended. He enjoyed seeing people’s reactions to his wings. ”Griff was also a nickname there as well.” he said shrugging his shoulders again.

When she started to talk about the lack of art supplies and the time it would take to re-paint most of the works Carrick suddenly felt sorry for her. It was clear she valued her paintings and the thought of having to re-paint them all was a thought she didn’t like. He didn’t give her a smart remark for that only a sympathetic look. ”Guess there could be worse things.” he said simply enough before sitting back down this time facing her letting her know he was enjoying the conversation.

”It’s a big place, I’m sure there are tons of people who don’t want me here.” Carrick said nodding his head and counting a few silently on his fingers, ”Can think of a dozen students off hand and most of the teaching staff.” Carrick flashed her a toothy grin revealing his elongated canines and then added, ”But you shouldn’t care what others think. Do what ya gotta do right?” he paused for a second, ”You seem nice enough. Whose the Eejit who doesn’t wantcha to stay?”

His question caught her off guard. Perhaps it wasn't so much what he said but how he said it. Why would she want to be normal? Maybe so she didn't get mugged during riots... maybe so she didn't have to be afraid to sleep... Maybe... there were a lot of maybes. "Lots of reasons, really. I guess the bigger question is why would I want to be different? Normal may be boring, but I'm not sure I could handle much more excitement..." He was like a cat preening in the spotlight though. It was clear he enjoyed what he was. But she didn't really feel the same. She felt by what she was. Or what she wasn't.

Then he spread his wings and she smiled, analyzing the wingspan for a moment and giving a nod. It was an impressive sight, with the sunlight making the veins stand out and leaving shadows where the feathers overlapped. She wished she had a sketchpad. It would be fun to draw, but she could tuck the image away and do it later.

"See, your powers are impressive though. You have wings. Has to be...heck, over 15 feet?" She glanced from wing tip to the other. The echoes were good at guessing distance but it was hard from where she was sitting. "Bet you can even carry someone huh. I can't really do anything useful with my powers, unless you want a therapy session. I can hyper-analyze the secrets out of you..." She shrugged again. She did appreciate his understanding about her paintings though. She didn't remark but gave a little smile to show she appreciated the sympathy. Then it melted into a chuckle at his remark about the people who didn't like him.

"Well you know you could always try going to a class or two. Some of them aren't super bad. In fact, I bet some could actually be useful. There is a bit of math involved to flight and heck, if you're ever into sports there is physics and stuff in that. The key to surviving school is to apply it to things you like." She said casually. She didn't want to offend him by acting like the rest of the adults in his life. "As for people who don't want me here, I don't think I exactly made the best impression on Mirror when I arrived. They threw me in the danger room the first day to prove a point... And let's see. This kid named Persi got the wrong end of my Echoes... probably thought I was a shrink or something... Got Talon's jaw busted up by Sara who tried to turn me into a scratching post... I have a unique ability to set people's fuses off..." There was a sheepish shrug and she shook her head.

Shrugging his shoulders Carrick didn’t really know how to answer that question. ”I guess being different isn’t for everybody.” Carrick kicked his legs up and leaned on them placing his chin onto his knees as he tried to recall the words of inspiration his Da told him when he was being made fun of at school before he had wings back when he was just a runt. ”It takes a strong person to be different, not physically strong but strong in character.” Carrick shrugged, ”What me da told me at least. He’s a telekinetic, one of the strongest in Ireland.” Carrick said making his voice reflect the pride he had for his father.

Kicking his legs back out and opening his wings when he was sitting he felt his weight try to pull him back slightly tensing his stomach muscles however and he didn’t budge, ”Something like that. Think they grew a bit from the last time I measured them.” Carrick said looking from one end of the golden brown wing tip to the other. ”Imagine two of someone yer, size.” Carrick said looking her up and down slightly trying to guess her weight but not saying anything. ”I move slower and harder to maneuver but me other face can handle the extra weight with no problem.” Carrick’s wings shut behind him as his tail swayed in the background.

”Don’t really ‘ave to many secrets.” Carrick said trying not to think much about his inner-city activities like pick pocketing, fixing card-games conning people out of their money and what happened with Shade. Carrick’s tail betrayed his thoughts and flicked with irritation. ”I mean, I don’t tell me Da or Ma I skip school on occasion or that I ran away from the last school they tried to send me to in the states to join a circus… but ya know…” Carrick shrugged again and then laughed, ”Pretty sure me mother be mighty pissed bout that.” Carrick shuddered to think what would happen if his Mother did find out about that.

His enthusiasm about the subject of schooling became rather clear rather quickly as he quirked an eyebrow as his tail flicked with more irritation behind him. ”I know how to fly…” Carrick said with in a serious tone not fond of the insult. ”The trick to surviving school is not being stuck in it. How often you use physics or chemistry?” Carrick asked curiously figuring he already knew the answer to it. She was starting to sound like everyone else… boring.

When she mentioned the names however two came to mind almost instantly, there was the gender shifter who people called mirror and then there was Sara who was supposed to tried to turn her into a scratching post. ”I met Mirror in detention… he didn’t seem too bad though. Sara doesn’t live here. She was the one who first brought me to the mansion… Cat…” Carrick said as if the term ‘Cat’ was an insult. An old habit he found hard to forget for a time he despised all cats because of his bird like features.

The next statement caused Carrick to roll onto his back and start to laugh before he hopped to his feet again and pointed his thumb to his chest, ”I have the same ability though I’m pretty sure mine is more direct and intentional.” Carrick said with a smirk. ”I don’t think you’d be a very good shrink though.” Carrick said his tone a more serious one until he cracked another toothy grin, ”You talk too much to be a shrink.”

Shifting his weight on his back foot Carrick added, ”It’s a big place and it is easy not to run into people you don’t like. Prime example.” Carrick said pointing to himself.

Evelyn was quiet for the moment. The statement was simple enough, but it had a large amount of meaning for her current position in life. Maybe he was right. It took a strong person to be different, and she hadn't always been strong. She was brave, sure, almost to a point of being careless. But strong? She always relied on others for that. Jensen protected her, her parents gave her money. She was spoiled and naive about it, and put herself in danger because she felt invincible. That didn't really feel like strength though. It felt like arrogance. Maybe she was just finally getting knocked down a few notches and being forced to decide what was important and hold onto it. She rejected her mutation for a large portion of her life. Just now she was learning to accept it, and maybe some day she'd embrace it like Carrick.

"Your dad seems like a smart guy." She said honestly, and kept those thoughts for later.

The kid seemed to think her guess was close enough, although she wasn't going to grab a tape measure and test it. She gave a little nod, and tried to imagine what it would be like carrying two people. She had tried carrying just Mirror the other day and all she could do was drag him awkwardly. "Stronger than I am. Most I really carry is some of the statues across the museum, nothing super heavy. Some of the swords have a bit of weight but I don't mess with those much..." He mentioned his 'other face', and she guessed that must be another form. Considering the information she already knew, she figured it was likely a gryffon given the features he already had.

"I'd say you have plenty of secrets..." Evelyn noted, watching his tail move, and his eyes flicker back in memory. "I'm guessing skipping class and joining the circus aren't the worst things on your list, but I'm not going to call your parents and tattle on you. I think people keep secrets for a reason." She left it at that. The echoes started making guesses, trying to figure out what trouble the catlike mutant could get into, but curiosity had gotten the better of her enough in the past week. She needed a break from it, and from the pain it seemed to cause everyone, including herself.

And, they were back to the tail lashing. She shouldn't have tried talking the whole school thing, but she did smile a little and chuckled. "I may not exactly use chemistry, but things I've learned in school I never would have learned anywhere else still. Like non-dairy creamer is extremely flammable and makes brilliant fireballs. Laundry detergent doesn't actually clean your clothes, it just increases the cleaning power of water. Most fast food flavors are chemically manufactured because the freezing process kills the natural flavor... Physics can help you with trajectory calculations... I'm not saying all of it is useful. I don't know when I'll ever need to know the scientific names for chemical compounds... but if you get forced to learn, all I'm saying is learn what interest you."

She was glad the conversation migrated before she could irritate him more. At least, she was glad at first, until she realized they were talking about some of her current least favorite people. "Mirror is just confusing." Enough of that. "Sara could be alright I guess, but she's got a temper I don't want to cross again."

Then he was laughing, and she couldn't resist smirking a little at the image. "Well, mine isn't intentional. I'm accidentally annoying. Maybe if I tried to do it on purpose it would be better. You seem happy enough." Her eyes flickered as she smirked at that remark. Then she stuck out her tongue when he said she talked to much. "I'd think that'd make me a better shrink. Less for you to do. I can just set someone down, tell them their problems and send them away. Problem solved!"

Then Evelyn chuckled, and shook her head at him. "It's a big place, but you overestimate my luck. If there is someone I don't want to see, somehow they will be the first person I run into. Heck, had one of them barge in through my window the other day." She cringed at the image. Thank goodness she was dressed.