OOC: Mirror, let me know if this needs editing.

Mariusz emerged from the bathroom at the end of the hallway. It was the one furthest from his room in the Mansion and, in truth, wasn't his first choice for cleaning for exactly that reason. Still, when he had come in from his afternoon workout he had discovered that all of the bathrooms, except for the one at the farthest end of the hall were occupied. His feathers were still a bit damp, it was rather hard to get completely dry with just a towel.

He padded down the hall clad in a pair of shorts, still rubbing the water from his head and not paying super close attention to where he was going. At least he wasn't paying close attention until he bumped into someone. He quickly pulled the towel from his head to see who it was that he had walked into and spotted Maya.

"Terribly sorry Maya," he said quickly, offering her a hand up if she needed or wanted it.

Maya had enough on her mind without soggy bird-men running into her in the hallway.

Then again, some days just could not get any worse anyway.

The mirrorwalker landed on her butt with a thump and glared up at Mr. Tall Muscular and Feathery.

"Watch where you're... you know what, nevermind."

>>"Terribly sorry Maya,"

"Whatever." she accepted the hand and stood, tugging on her shirt and pants to give herself something to do other than stand by awkwardly "What's the hurry anyway? Is everything okay?"

Because another Mansion emergency was just waiting to happen.

"In answer to your first query, everything is fine I was just drying myself and the towel was over my head. I did not see you," Mariusz said a bit sheepishly, tossing his towel around his neck where it draped over his shoulders for the time being.

"As for your other question about everything being alright... I think that the best answer would be yes, and at the same time a huge and resounding no. A confusing answer, is it not," the Czech man asked, shrugging his shoulders. It was the truth though. On the one hand there was nothing that was truly wrong. On the other hand time was slipping ever further away for him to find a date for the Masquerade Ball. Still, perhaps Maya would be the one to help him out.

>>"As for your other question about everything being alright... I think that the best answer would be yes, and at the same time a huge and resounding no. A confusing answer, is it not,"

Maya blinked. The bird man had always struck her as weird, but this answer made less sense than usual.

"Um... okay?" she scratched her neck, wishing he would say something more specific than that. Obviously the Mansion was not under attack. Great. On the other hand, something was up. Well, something was always up when the Mansion was concerned. Asking for one quiet day was usually too much to ask for on the X-team...

"What's up?"

"I have told you in the past in the Danger Room that my father is the Czech Ambassador to the United States," Mariusz began, speaking a bit carefully. "In a few weeks he will be hosting a major party for the Embassy. A masquerade ball, everyone is invited. I am told that the President might even show up." He paused for a moment to allow the words to sink in.

"Of course I must attend this event. Ordinarily, that would not be any cause for concern. I am well mannered and versed in all the appropriate behaviors. The problem is that I have been told I have to bring a date. I am not seeing anyone at the moment, otherwise the problem would be easily fixed. However, it has proven more difficult than you would expect to find someone willing to go. I do not suppose you might want to attend a fancy party with me?"

Maya blinked. Czech Ambassador. Right. She had that filed somewhere in her office and also in her mind, but did not use that information lately. Still, it was good to know at least one important political figure was still on the mutants' side.

"Um, well" she smirked, folding her arms "I'd love to, but believe me ya don't wanna bring me along as a date. Best case scenario it's gonna be a Gawain day. Worst case, it's gonna be a Maya day and if I don't Cinderella out before midnight ya'd be stuck with Gawain in a dress..."

Yeah. Maya didn't usually do official parties.

"I mean... ya can't be that desperate for a date, right?"

"You might be surprised... wait, who is Gawain," Mariusz asked, arching an eyebrow at Maya. What could she possibly mean by 'Maya Day' and 'Gawain Day' and why would someone named Gawain wear a dress in the first place? Of course, he'd seen a lot of interesting things sine he had moved to New York. Like that Naked Cowboy guy. That was disturbing.

"Also, I think I should clarify that I do not mean date in the strictest sense of the word. Not date as in courting but more date as in..."[/color he trailed off for a moment, trying to remember what the right phrase was, "hang out, I think that is the phrase you Americans use, yes?"

>>"You might be surprised... wait, who is Gawain,"

"Oh." Maya blinked. She'd forgotten about that part. She had slowly gotten used to the idea that everyone in the Mansion already knew about the shifting. She gave up keeping it a secret a long time ago. "Uh. Um.."

>>"Also, I think I should clarify that I do not mean date in the strictest sense of the word. Not date as in courting but more date as in... hang out, I think that is the phrase you Americans use, yes?"

"Yeah, no, I get that." she shook her head "Um. The thing is, I'm a gender shifter. That's my second... well, it's my first mutation. I'm Maya for a day, and Gawain the next day. Same person, same brain, different genders. It makes... going out to official events kind of difficult. But thanks for asking..."

"Ah, I did not realize that your gender changed every day. I certainly see how that might present a problem for late night events that are... gender specific," Mariusz said, nodding his head a few times as he spoke. Obviously a late night event like the masquerade ball would be problematic for someone who might begin the night as a woman only to end the night as a man. Wardrobe malfunction would be the gentlest way to describe it. Of course, if the excuse had come from anyone that Mariusz did not know was a mutant he would have dismissed it as a lie, but since he was living in a place that was a haven and school for mutants he accepted the pronouncement from Maya as being fact.

"I can understand your reasons for declining the offer then. I would imagine your more male half would rather not be caught in a formal gown in public," the avian man continued, shrugging his feathered shoulders. "I do not suppose you would know anyone else that might be interested in going?"

>>"I can understand your reasons for declining the offer then. I would imagine your more male half would rather not be caught in a formal gown in public. I do not suppose you would know anyone else that might be interested in going?"

Maya snorted, very un-lady-like.

"My female half would not be caught in a formal gown in public..."

Maya was somewhat of a tomboy, which was kind of understandable, given that she was a guy half the time. She had worn formal dresses before, but mostly on missions, and it was not her favorite kind of attire.

"Oh, I'm sure there are girls around who would wanna play Cinderella for ya" she smiled encouragingly at her teammate "At the same time, if you need some extra security, let me know. Events involving mutants can get a bit... out of hand lately."

"I am sure you are right about finding someone, still luck has not been with me so far," Mariusz said, shrugging his shoulders which caused the ends of the towel around his neck to bounce slightly.

"I suppose there is still plenty of time though. If you would like to come along in a different capacity I imagine that could be arranged though I should point out that security will be stringent and you will not be able get a weapon in."

"Still, there are some weapons that cannot so easily be confiscated," he continued, holding up his taloned fingers to help make the point. With the shower out of the way it was time to find a snack since it was still a bit too early in the afternoon to be seriously thinking about what to eat for dinner.

"If you will excuse me I think I will head to the kitchen and find myself a snack, unless of course you would like a snack as well."