Clyde began to wonder if he was ranting too much about mutant-human relations. Alex did not have anything more to say about the subject, and maybe it was an uncomfortable topic for some.

Instead, Alex was inquiring about the thief's name. It was funny he would ask. “I honestly don't know,” Clyde replied flatly. “I've seen him use both Griff and Carrick.” There was no telling if either of those were even his real name. Really, it was just like thieves to take other monikers.

“But seriously, watch out for him,” he continued. “He even tried to use me to start a riot just so he could get away. He's just a bunch of bad news.” And Clyde was going to emphasize that as much as he could.

“I honestly don't know, I've seen him use both Griff and Carrick.”

So two names, not entirely unheard of. Both could be fake or one could at least be real. "It's something to keep in mind at least. An alias for a mutant isn't exactly uncommon. I've had one myself to be honest," he shrugged. Though he was sure it wouldn't be wise to use it again. Rebirth was from when he had been a thief himself and had been used sparingly since then.

“But seriously, watch out for him. He even tried to use me to start a riot just so he could get away. He's just a bunch of bad news."

"I'll keep an eye out. Rather keep out of trouble to be honest." He had enough of running to last him a life time. For once life seemed to be stabilizing. He was safe here and he could only hope that it would last. That his bad luck would stay in the past like it was suppose to.

What Alex said was true. Criminals or not, mutants would often choose a second name that suited their powers. “Right. I guess I nevah caught onto the trend myself,” he responded with a shrug. Clyde found the practice a little unusual, as he didn't see the point in choosing a new name when Clyde worked just fine. Plus, he couldn't think of any good monikers for an age shifter.

As far as Clyde could tell, Alex was considering, or at least pretending to consider, his advice. He didn't care too much either way, but he liked to get his side of the story in first. “So, how long have you been heah? You new?” Clyde hadn't recalled seeing his face before, though given his lack of a social life, that wasn't saying much.

“So, how long have you been heah? You new?”

He tilted his head in thought, "Not too too long. A couple of months I guess. I usually don't hang around here for long." He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling the already messy fluff, "I have a tendency to wander about." Though with the increasingly cold weather he's been sticking closer to the mansion. It was better than walking and freezing all the way to and from the park. Plus he was able to work on bigger projects, like the one buzzing behind him.

Thinking back on it he was honestly surprised how long he had been here with little happening from the day to day. It was kind of nice, he was worrying less and less about survival. Less about where his next meal would come from, where was a safe place to sleep, where danger may come. Hell he's been able to sleep in, instead of waking up at first light.

"What about you?"

A few months? So Alex was new, but not that new. Clyde was sixteen when he came there, so that meant it had been a while. Funny how time flew by.

“A couple of years. I couldn't stand being at home, so I ended up heah.” Getting away from his dad's anti-mutant discrimination had been good, but he now kind of regretted running away from the rest of his family. His mother was probably worried, and Bryce, well, he probably was worried too. They might not have been very smart, but they were good people, and Clyde hoped they were doing all right.

But at least the Mansion's inhabitants were, for the most part, tolerable. And he couldn't deny that the occasional mutation-induced weird occurrences kept things from becoming boring. “I guess I was glad this place existed.”

“A couple of years. I couldn't stand being at home, so I ended up heah. I guess I was glad this place existed.”

He gave a small hum of agreement, looking back at the house. He was certainly glad that this place was around. He didn't think he would have had the chance to stick around if Gawain hadn't found him when he did. Still, perhaps it was the paranoia speaking, but he couldn't help but think something awful was going to happen to drive him away.

"Yeah, just hope this lasts."he said with a small shrug, more to himself than Clyde. He was liking this place, he was making friends, things were working out. He wanted it to stay that way.

Clyde took a chance to look the mansion over as well, having to tilt his head far back just to see the higher parts. The height he was at made it all the more intimidating when he'd first arrived, but now, the sight of it was just part of daily life.

“Don't worry, I'm sure this place will be around for a while. I've nevah heard anything about those in charge struggling to keep this running.” Which brought up an interesting mystery. “I sweah, I don't know where they get their funds. Maybe they've got a precog that plays the stock market or a mutant that $#!^s gold and diamonds. Or something,” Clyde deadpanned. It really didn't matter to him, as long as they weren't stealing anything.

Alex laughed and nodded. Though, that wasn't his meaning, Clyde did bring up a good point. Just where in the world this place got it's funding was beyond him. Perhaps a few of the students had family that actually payed for the school to take care of them. He knew he was here basically on scholarship and from what he guessed, plenty of other students were too.

Still perhaps he should make clear what he was talking about. "Heh, true. But, I was kind talking about myself. I kind of have bad luck when it comes to finding places to live. Or at least making those places work for a long period of time." An understatement considering his past and just how much trouble he seemed to attract.

“Oh.” Alex had been referring to something else entirely. His earlier statement implied a history of wandering around, which was quite different from Clyde's own. Sure, Clyde had questions, but they were likely ones he should not ask someone he just met.

“Well, they haven't kicked Birdbrain out yet, so I suppose as long as you don't do worse than him, yo good,” Clyde assured him, a hint of contempt for the winged mutant present in his voice. This was the Mansion, a place where the staff was understanding of social problems and power incontinence. Clyde doubted that they would boot residents out for minor offenses.

“Well, they haven't kicked Birdbrain out yet, so I suppose as long as you don't do worse than him, yo good.”

"I hope so." He wondered how Clyde would treat him if knew about his past, what he's done to survive this far. He tried to push those thoughts back, focus on what was in front of him. No point in letting pull this conversation in a negative direction. "Anyway, if you don't mind me asking, how old are you anyway? 'Cause I've met an age shifter before and he was practically ancient."

Now that he thought about it, he wondering how the old man was doing. He should hate the guy but time and distance softened the abandonment. That first group he fell in with couldn't be blamed for moving on. It was in their natures. He tried to keep from frowning at the thought of them, pushing the old memories back once more.

Normally, Clyde would have questions about this other age shifter, but the question had him a little distracted. And maybe just a bit annoyed. “Eighteen, and I don't look like this by choice. So, if you have any rude remarks, urges to laugh, or inappropriate questions, please get them out of yo system ASAP,” Clyde answered in a very serious tone.

Alex didn't strike him as a mean person, but Clyde was prepared for all the worst case scenario reactions he could think of.

“Eighteen, and I don't look like this by choice. So, if you have any rude remarks, urges to laugh, or inappropriate questions, please get them out of yo system ASAP.”

"Wouldn't dream of making your life any more difficult." He found it strange that Clyde didn't take any interest in the fact that he mentioned another age shifter. In his experience that was the first thing people tended to gravitate toward. Then again maybe this whole 'don't make fun of me' attitude was a bit more important to Clyde. He wouldn't blame the guy either. He was sure such a power was ripe for bullying, unfortunately.

“Good,” Clyde responded, relieved. It wasn't every day that he got past that explanation without a snicker. Now that those worries were out of the way, he was free to indulge his curiosity.

“So, you've met an age shiftah before? What was he like?” The funny part was, Clyde once met another teen that had powers that looked a bit similar to Alex's. Comparing notes could be interesting and maybe even useful. Though, knowing his own luck, the old man's age-shifting capabilities were probably superior to his.

“So, you've met an age shiftah before? What was he like?”

He blinked at the question and thought about it. He really hadn't let the memories of that old man in his head in a really long time. "Ancient, like I think he was born in the 40s or 50s, hell maybe even the 30s. Smoked like a chimney too. Apparently he regenerated every time he shifted so he never had to worry about cancer or anything like that. But..." And there always was a but, "He didn't really have control either. His age was determined by the time of day. Young by night, but by day his true age. So every day was a battle to survive till the sun went away."

Now that he was thinking on it, some sad thought struck him, "I don't even know if he's alive any more or if age finally caught up." BD and Olive dealing with that alone, without Herbert to lead them...

“Oh... Sorry to hear that.” That was heavy – well, about as heavy as hearing about the possibility of a man he'd never met being dead could get. Some mutations had a way of torturing their owners.

“Kind of reminds me of something I read about. A book in the library had a few articles about mutants. There's one that talks about the curse and blessing attitudes towards mutations. Like how some would be cast out from a church for possessing powers granted by the devil, while others would become the object of worship themselves. It was interesting.” And actually the good type of interesting, from Clyde's point of view.