Okay, so Tses still hadn't worked out all the kinks of her "turn into light" power thing. While she had the spontaneous falling through furniture mostly under control (okay, somewhat under control), there were some new problems she had to sort out. Like, hanging onto objects when turning into light. Clothing seemed to stay with her, thank goodness, but stolen objects...she was sort of working that out.

It wasn't anything big either, you know, your typical pair of earrings. But when she tried to take a short cut through the nearest wall in a well planned getaway, the earrings decided to...not.

Instead, she found herself a glowing green flicker of energy cussing up a storm outside the mall, randomly starting bystanders with her appearance.

"You live in New York, idiots. Get used to it." She snapped. "Just a mutant. Move along." Most took the hint and stepped away. But before she could go back for the earrings, she noticed someone.

"Awe, hell..."

It was shaping up to be one of those kind of days.

From the time Kyle had awoken this morning, things had been hectic. First, there had been one of his neighbors banging on their door, threatening to do things to the woman inside if she didn't do as she was told. A jealous ex who hadn't gotten the clue. Kyle would normally have let it lie...except the man had a knife in hand. So Kyle had put him down as gently as he could and warned the man not to come back for his own good. The man got the picture...broken fingers tend to help there.

From there, Kyle ended up spending some of this day dealing with smaller crimes and mishaps. He came close to being rammed by someone who thought it was okay to cut off a motorcycle. Turned out the people inside were fleeing a bank robbery; Kyle calmly put energy bolts into their tires before leaving them to the mercy of the half a dozen police cars following them. Then he clothslined a man who tried to steal a woman's purse, as casually as breathing, after buying some items to make for dinner. He had to go visit the mechanics after, to get a new tire for hsi bike as during his travels, one of them had gotten a flat.

Kyle was just wondering how else the day could get busy when his answer came, at the mall of all places. He had stopped in it after getting his tire replaced for a quick bite, planning on heading to Sanctuary to get some training in...and his next problem all but popped out of nowhere before him.

Like literally. One moment he was walking, the next, Tses had suddenly appeared from the wall in front of him, much to the surprise of many others who etierh gaped or fled. When she snapped at them, even more of them bailed out. Not Kyle though...not after glancing at the nearby mall and putting two and two together with her appearance. And when she saw him, he noted with a small sense of satisfication that she pailed just a little bit.

"Hell? You're about to wish it were that easy Tses. Power down before someone gets hurt. I'd rather not have to give you another lesson today...its been bull enough." The words were delivered matter of factly more than anything else...but the threat was there.

Tses had some bad run ins with this hot head before. Mr. "I have powers so I can be bosy and make people mend there terrible criminal ways". Ha, like being a vigilante wasn't technically legal itself. The costume tended to make her opinion less of him too. Flashy people in their silly costumes gave mutants a bad name. Even more so than stealing, in her eyes.

And then he told her to power down. Like she would do that now. The advantage of having a light form was the whole "incorporeal" bit. If she were younger, she would have stuck out her tongue and declared "na-na-na. can't touch me."

Since she was more mature than that, she just stuck out her tongue and walked through him.

"Yeah, try to make me." Okay, so goading him hadn't always gone the best in the past. "Do you see anything with me? Technically, I haven't done anything wrong yet. So go find some other unfortunate street kid to pick on." She hissed, starting down the alley. Mentally, she was already calculating how much energy she had saved. The last thing she wanted was to sputter out in front of him. She was between moon phases, which did limit things a little.

Tses. The first time he had encountered her, he'd taught her a lesson about stealing the hard way. She'd been sent off with a brusied ego that day. The last time he had encountered her, however, had gone a much easier path. For him at least. Seeing she hadn't learned her lesson that day, Kyle had opted for the best way to show her where she belonged if she kept doing things like stealing from the little guy.

He'd thrown her into the sewer. And yes, he had done it without a second thought.

And now here she was again, her attitude no less different then before. It was looking like he was going to have to give her another lesson when she did something that took him by surprise.

She walked right through him.

That was new. As she passed through him, Kyle turned to watch as she contined on, her newfound ability giving her a new level of confidence as she rattled off her mouth. For a moment, Kyle took a second to see if he felt any different after being walked through...but other then a light tickle, the experience hadn't seemed to do any harm to him. Interesting.

"Well well, look who learned a new trick to help in her petty little crimes. Tell me, did you learn that randomly...or did you learn it to get rid of the stink of the sewer? If that's the case, maybe I should throw you into one more often. It is, after all, the proper place for a thieving rat." Out of curiosity, he lifted his fingers and fired two bolts her way, aiming them at her torso...either they would miss and go through her or they would connect.

And if they went through, well..that fountain that was in her direction would take the bolts rather nicely too. And make things very wet very quick.

The thing about having a light form was learning not to react when people attacked you. While she knew he couldn't hit her, having a bolt of energy pass through you was never a pleasant experience. Unlike a punch or a kick, the energy had a slight twinge to it. Not enough to really hurt, but it felt different than other attacks. She didn't have long to consider it though as the fountain took the bolts instead, and started spurting water everywhere.

"So tell me, how does destroying public property fit into your whole vigilante thing? Because I think you just damaged more than I ever tried stealing from this mall." Tses remarked, crossing her arms and glaring over her shoulder at the guy. She kept walking through, trying to think of the best place to regroup. She couldn't hold the form forever, and didn't need that next bolt hitting her in the back.

As his bolts passed harmlessly through Tses, Kyle noted two things.

One was that the rest of the people still lurking about either retreated entirely now, afraid of being around when two mutants got into it, especially one that could fling what looked like energy blasts from tv shows around. Those that remained likely stayed for the same reason that the others fled...although notably farther away then before. Kyle couldn't less what they did; so long as they stayed out of the way and didn't get involved, they could gawk all they wanted.

The other thing he noted that was Tses flinched every so slightly when his bolts passed through her. Nothing too major...but it told him she felt the bolts, in some way. Something to note down for later. Unconcerned, he started following her, his mind wanting to know more about this new ability of hers.

"Accidents happen. You think the X-Men don't wrack up a huge bill during their battles? I just don't have to are about it so long as it isn't people most the time." The water turned off rather quickly after that anyway, someone clearly doing their job elsewhere. "I hardly believe that...besides, all you seem to steal from are the less forunate than you...because you're a petty little brat. What? You're untouchable now and yet you still flee at the sight of me?"

He smirked at that. "Clearly I left a good impression then."

She kept walking, but his comments kept stinging at her back like the energy bolts had. She looked over her shoulder and glared at him. "You don't know who I steal from. You don't even know why. So don't judge me when you know nothing about my situation. As petty as you seem to think I am, you have an ego that dwarfs everything. Go get a real job." She snapped, turning another alley and trying to put some space between them.

She wasn't going to admit why she was trying to get away. The clock ticking in her mind told her it was a bad idea to stay around exchanging insults.

"Although, maybe I should feel sorry for you. You obviously have a boring life if the only thing you can do is bother street kids." She rolled her eyes. "I am clearly not this cities worst problem."

Kyle had learned, through trial, error and much experience, that words were just as powerful as any fist. Say the right thing, in the right way, at the right time and you could inflict damage to a person that was much harder to heal then any physical damage a fist could do. Now, Kyle didn't like using it that way, to harm a person at their very core unless he had too. He used it to gload the people into action, into striking first...people in a rage were much easier to counter and fight.

Which is what he was trying to do to Tses on some level...gload her into action while trying to get through her thick head about her actions. It was a two-fold strike..so yes, while his ego was needed for it, it wasn't the only thing driving it.

"Hard not to judge otherwise when that's all I see you do. And seeing as you're not sharing why, I have to make my own suspicions. Oh and I have a real job, by the way. And it pays much better then stealing petty cash ever will. Maybe YOU should try it sometime."

She kept trying to get away from him and he kept up with her without much extra effort. She would tire long before he did, especially if this was the extent of their chase. Which left him plenty of time to continue probing as he studied her.

"Please...this is the most boring thing I've done all morning. Dealing with brats always is. And while you're not the worse problem, no, you are a problem. And one I rather enjoy trying to solve."

It had been a long month for Tses. A long year in fact. Having Ty land in a coma, dealing with his cockroach boss, trying to sort out her own life, dealing with a power growth... all her personal problems made petty things like stealing and getting money seem small. She did what she could to keep the apartment from getting taken away, did what she could to make money like normal people. But for someone without a real identity, it was hard to exist in normal society. Not that he would understand that. Not that she wanted him to.

"There aren't real jobs for people like me. Trust me, I've looked. Sometimes survival has other plans beyond moral obligations." She scoffed, turning another corner and looking for some stairs. Most of the ones around here were thin and rickety, which didn't seem to work well with her powers. She never fell through the floor, or regular stairs, but fire escapes? She was pretty certain they would act like the furniture at home.

"Why bother if I'm boring? What am I going to do, steal a cheap pair of earrings? Not exactly New Yorks most wanted." This was ridiculous. Why wouldn't he just leave? It was taking more effort to concentrate on her powers now.

She hadn't been wrong earlier, when she'd said he didn't understand why she was doing it. He truly didn't. He knew bits and pieces from things he had heard here and there but bits and pieces of a 1000 piece puzzle didn't really help figure out the whole picture. Especially when its was just the fringes.

What he did know was that with her power, she could be doing far, far worse. She wasn't. And that part intriuged him and told him one more thing; she wasn't nearly as bad as she could be. She wasn't a bad person...per say. Merely one crafted by her experiences. And as Kyle knew, it only took the right step and a bit of luck to change everything.

"You'd be surprised. Both the mansion and Sanctuary provide for people like us, if you'd bother to try. It would be far better then stealing tiny things hoping to survive that way."

He could see her seeking a way out, the place they had come across filled with rickety stairs mostly...and the fact that she wasn't making for them suggested her power might not been so beneficial as it seemed. At least, not yet.

"Why do police issue tickets for speeding? Because eventually, the cost of it will be far more trouble then doing the right thing is. So even if you are boring, per say, I deter you enough and eventually I won't have to deal with it again. One less pain in the ass, so to speak."

Tses grumbled slightly at his suggestion. She pushed her hair from her face (or tried to. She couldn't really tell if she did anything since her light form was sort of...light) and glanced at him as she turned another corner.

"What is it with people and thinking that your little mutant manors are going to solve everyone's problems? What makes you think I haven't tried the mansion. As for the sanctuary, I'd rather shoot myself than get any closer to the place. Dumb *** cockroach hanging around is bad enough as it is." Another corner, another turn. She wasn't loosing him fast enough. She was starting to feel tired, and wasn't too inclined to getting punched in the face or something as soon as the energy wore out.

"And I think it's less of a "speeding ticket" problem, more of a city fine issue. You know, some cities charge people for not having their lawns taken care of. But say it's an elderly person who can't get outside to do it. They get fined, and can't afford to pay someone to take care of it. Then get fined again because they haven't. More money goes towards paying someone's 'deterrent', and there is never enough money left to actually solve the problem. Justice only goes so far. You break someone's arm so they can't steal, and then they starve to death. You can deal your own brand of justice but I don't think you ever consider the consequences." She snapped.

Her light form flickered slightly, but then held again. The brief on/off switch bought her a little time, but she couldn't keep it up forever. She just wanted to be left alone. He was worse than the cops.

"I never said it would solve your problems. Nor did I suggest that you have or have not been to the place. I was answering you're claim that there are no jobs for people like us and that's wrong."

It was amusing, personally, to see Tses try to get away from him without actively doing so. He was half surprised she hadn't tried bolting alright or using her explosive energy on him to create a chance to escape. It likely wouldn't make much of a difference but that tiny percent could have made all the difference. A few reasons for that prowled about his mind but without evidence to back it up, all it was was speculation. For now.

Her sudden tirade caught him actually by surprise, enough so that his expression changed for a moment in response. He half expected to be attacked that time, so passionate was her voice about the matter. At the end, for a brief second, her form seemed to flicker, the light fading as she seemed to become solid before glowing bright once more. Kyle noted that for later.

"That's assuming the cops don't investigate why they are issuing tickets to the same person multiple times. But I digress, you're not wrong.

It's true, I deal with things my own way. I deal with the people the cops can't touch, either due to fear or corruption. And yes, compared to them, you are small time. But you have the potential to either be a real threat or a real assest. And right now, all I see is someone going down the path that leads..." he lifted his arm and blasted one of the fire escapes, one that was pratically going to fall anyway, with a blast of energy. A full powered one.

The rusted frame could not handle that sudden strike and it crumpled to the ground in front of her...not on top of her but it would sure look like it was coming close from her view. She had flinched to his attack earlier...it was time to test how confident she was in the ability. Truthfully, he didn't know why he was persisting to this degree...he'd just blame it on the poor mood he was in.

Yea...that made a heck of a lot of sense.

This was pointless. She grumbled and hissed under her breathe. "I didn't say people like us, I said people like me. The only thing we have in common is being mutants, and that is the only problem I have a handle on." She snapped.

She glanced around where she was, mentally considering other ways of avoiding him. While she disliked the chance of randomly walking through bathrooms or something awkward, a straight shot might be the easiest way to loose his tail. So long as the light form held out...

"Whatever. Threat, brat, call me whatever you want. I don't know why I bother talking to you. You've got your head so far up your--"

She took a turn and shot into the nearest building, startling a number of patrons as she appeared in the back wall of a clothing store. Scrambling forward, she weaved through a number of other stores, hunting for a stairwell. Once she reached one, she started for the roof, temporarily releasing the energy form to recharge until she got outside.

"Oh please. I know former convicts who were able to get jobs and live like normal people. It's not that hard a thing to do."

Kyle was beginning to wonder if he wasn't wasting his time. Intially, the plan had been to teach her a lesson again, like he'd done before. After seeing her light form, the plan had changed to observing her new ability, to see what it could do and what weaknesses it might have. After all, he couldn't thwack her upside the head until that ability faded. So he played for time with words, trying to convince her to do the right thing while waiting and watching.

But other then that brief flicker that could have been triggered by rage, there was no sign her ability was going to be stopping any time soon. And from her words, she surely wasn't up to listening to his blunt but no less true advice.

He decided he'd give it one more shot before he simply gave up for now and left, knowing that he could track her down later if he had too. "You're one to talk...I swear, you could probably break through a break wall with that..." As Kyle turned the corner she did, he suddenly found himself talking to...nothing. She was gon...NO...she was running into the building. Through the wall. "stubborn...head of yours. Dammit."

Luckily, the entrance to the building wasn't far and it wasn't hard to follow Tses's trail. All he had to do was follow the sound of people shouting and ask which way she had went. Most pointed to the walls of the next store...but one pointed to a nearby stairwell to the roof. A stairwell with a swinging door. That someone had had to open to go through.

Kyle was already moving, taking the stairs two at a time as he followed after Tses to the roof, a smile on his face. Ah, now the chase finally begins. Let's see if you've learned anything since last time.

Tses knew it wouldn't take Forte long to catch up, so she tried to make the best of the head start she had. Up the roof, a jump across a building than some more climbing. She listened for the sounds of a pursuer. Meanwhile, she waited to shift back into light form. She wasn't going to waste it, but she wasn't too keen on getting an energy bolt in the back.

Down another fire escape, and back into foot traffic. Hopefully, that would work as another deterrent. The guy didn't seem like the type to randomly shoot pedestrians, so she tried to mingle with the crowd. It helped that she could walk through people if the need presented itself. Meanwhile, she bit her tongue and tried to think of snotty replies for his accusations. Convicts getting jobs was one thing... getting a job without an identity...

That seemed to be another problem entirely.

She wondered if it was as easy as he made it out to be. Trying to fill out an application without being able to really read or write deterred her most of the time. She talked with businesses from time to time, and her abilities with computers were useful, but not many people wanted to pay someone under the table. Well, not many legit businesses. And then it just ended up back at the pick-pocking.

She glanced over her shoulder, resisting the urge to pocket anything for now.