'I've gotten knocked around a bit myself,' Masque answered.  The tone of his skin darkened slightly as his mind involuntarily went back to some of the less pleasant things he'd been through over the course of the last years.  Mostly it was petty thugs and thieves that he was able to defend himself against but petty or not, it was never a pleasant experience.

'I think its important to follow your dreams.'  His skin colour once again brightened to his previous hue.  'What's life worth if not for the things that bring you joy?'  Before he had been to concerned with survival to consider his dreams, but now that basic needs seemed taken care of it was time to refocus.  'You shouldn't let anyone dissuade you from them.'

Paige nodded, propping her feet up as she listened, her blue hoodie doing a poor job at concealing the purple tank top right now. She noted the color change as he 'spoke', linking it to some sort of past pain. But she still found it to be a really cool mutation.

"My dream was always to become some world-famous guitarist. But right now I find myself stuck playing in the park or in some shady bar on a Tuesday night. I wish I could find a band to hook up with; you know, other mutants like me. Take New York--then the world by storm with our mad skills and occasional controversy." She gave a small sigh. That would be amazing...

'Its sounds better than sitting on the side of the street at least.  That's what I've done for years just to survive.'  Even after the short time Masque had spent in The Mansion the memories felt less bitter than they had when he was living them.  That had to be a good sign, right?  Maybe it was even the case that many aspiring artist went through those struggles, maybe many more than he had originally assumed.

'How about you become a world famous guitar player and I'll become a world famous artist and we'll share stories of our glory one day."  Masque grinned and nodded at the thought.  Maybe it was just a pipe dream but sometimes pipe dreams were the most fun.  'I'll bet the world has never seen anything like either of us.  They just won't know what to do.  We'd make the tabloids for sure'  The sudden thought of tabloids was vaguely terrifying.

"Maybe...when I lived in California I thought I was all that. But I get here and realize I was just some spoiled brat with rich parents who got everything she wanted on a silver platter." She sighed, but then chuckled at the suggestion.


Hey, that's not such a bad idea. Maybe you can paint stuff for me and I can turn around and use them as album and poster art. Give you a cut of that on the sides too. Heh...tabloids...that may not be such a good thing," she finished with a small smile.

'There was a time when I was something of a spoiled rich kid myself,' Masque wrote.  Of course he had been nothing more than a kid at that time and all of that ended when he, and the rest of the world, discovered he was a mutant.  'That ended kind of abruptly.'

'I would love to illustrate your album art!'  The letters appeared bold and bright, a sunflower above them.  If others expressed their emotion in their voices than Masque expressed his emotion in how his words appeared.  'I think its easy to pursue your dreams when you have others around you doing the same.  Moral support.'  Something he had all to often been lacking in.

Paige nodded. "Yeah, same here. I chose to move to New York after my family was harassed on account that I was a mutant. Then I got a reality check real quick..." A smile crossed her lips as he seemed to like her idea. She loved how excitement was just as readable in his writing as it was in people's voices.

"Yeah. I feel ya there. It's good knowing you're not on your own. And hey, we can help achieve each others' dreams, in a way."

It was quite sad to know just how many mutants suffered for no other reason than the fact that they were mutants and thus a little bit different from the humans around them.  Many mutants weren't even dangerous; he certainly wasn't and it didn't sound like Paige was much of a public danger either.  'It doesn't seem fair does it?' Masque asked with a sad shake of the head.

The prospect of following dreams was one that seemed much more positive and that was what Masque decided to dwell upon.  He tried to shake some of the darker thoughts of his mind.  'You know, I bet there are others here who would be willing to help.  You've got the music, I've got the art now we need networking.  I'm sure someone around this place would be able to point us in the right direction.'  It was an exciting prospect.

"It's really not," she replied. "But that's how it goes. We're different, and the humans treat us badly. Some see us as inferior. Some claim so, but they really see us as a threat. Regardless...I think most of them are afraid of the unknown, or jealous of it." She shrugged.

"Ya know...maybe you're right. Become like an openly mutant organization. Music and art that gives our kind a voice. Backed by other mutants. I mean, if the humans can do it, why can't we?" A small, crazy smile flashed across her face.

It was sad that mutants were something that so many humans feared and saw as a threat but it was something Masque understood.  There were some mutants that he feared as well, given the fact that his power was something largely non-violent and non-dangerous.  'Sometimes I don't blame them.  The best I can hope for with my power is to punch a bit harder than usual and I'm afraid of some of the more violent mutants.  I can imagine how I'd feel without any powers.'

'I love it,' Masque replied with a grin.  'Art and music are the keys to the soul.  What better way to reach people and extend a message of mutant tolerance and acceptance?'  The idea struck chord in the core of his soul.  Perhaps this was the reason he had been compelled to come to the Mansion.

"Yeah...all I can do is turn into random crap, and I can't even do that right the majority of the time...Though...I can't imagine my life without it. Even though it's not particularly intimidating...it's who I am, and there's a confidence that comes with it." She smiled lightly, nodding.

"Exactly. I think we're onto something here."