"Thank you,As did I. But really, once you get past the fact that you're thousands of miles away from home, it's not really that different. I suppose it varies wherever, whenever you are. For me? I just appreciate the fact that I'm getting an education."

"I see, I guess so. Out of curiosity, which boarding school do you go to, as come to think of it, I was not aware the New York had any. You don't have to tell me if you would rather not."

To Richard, boarding schools were something that one read about but never encountered, and had a somewhat mythical quality about them. Hence the questions.

"I do enjoy a good hike,"

Wait, hold on a minute, what? Did she just pose him a challenging question and then evade responding to it? Richard mentally smiled, "not so easily Margo" he thought to himself. Smiling inwardly he casually asked.

"Perhaps we should go hiking sometime, or have a picnic, there is much of New York that I have not seen, I hear that there are some beautiful mountains in parts of New York. But back to your excellent question" Richard smiled slightly cheekily. "So Margo how about you? How do You feel about the growing mutant population in New York, come to think of it, what do you think about mutants?"

Her answer could affect how far this budding friendship would go, especially if Richard's suspicions about himself were confirmed.

"I see, I guess so. Out of curiosity, which boarding school do you go to? As come to think of it, I was not aware the New York had any. You don't have to tell me if you would rather not."

"Saint Xavier's," Margo said, with a slightly bemused smile. Once upon a time, believe it or not, that was what the Mansion had been known as- she'd read it in some pamphlet she'd found in the library. Who knew, information was always useful...especially in situations like these. And it wasn't like Richard was going to find anything out based off that tidbit.

"Perhaps we should go hiking sometime, or have a picnic, there is much of New York that I have not seen, I hear that there are some beautiful mountains in parts of New York. But back to your excellent question..." He said, smiling rather cheekily, "So, Margo, how about you? How do you feel about the growing mutant population in New York? Come to think of it, what do you think about mutants?"

It was funny, how everything suddenly seemed it be leading to the topic she least wished to discuss at the moment, wasn't it?

"You know," the girl said, raising an eyebrow, "when one deliberately avoids further exploration of a topic, it usually means something." But then she continued, all seriousness, "Anything I might have had to say on it, you already said, and much better than I could ever say it." She paused for thought anyway, though. "I don't have any particularly strong feelings about a growing mutant population in New York, I guess. It's led to a lot of conflict, and it's going to lead to a lot more conflict in the future. I don't get why people make such a big deal of it- mutants are people just like we are- I guess history repeats itself yet again. Like, the latest news story is always about some psycho mutant with actual powers, like that ever happens, being made an example of. Then it's all 'Mutants are a threat to society' and 'All mutants are evil!' I think it's dumb, to be honest. If only the world were as good as you are." She sighed. "Hiking or a picnic sometime sounds fun."

"You know, when one deliberately avoids further exploration of a topic, it usually means something."

"That is quite true, but to be fair, you brought it up." Richard said as he smiled. He liked being cheeky now and then.


"Anything I might have had to say on it, you already said, and much better than I could ever say it. I don't have any particularly strong feelings about a growing mutant population in New York, I guess. It's led to a lot of conflict, and it's going to lead to a lot more conflict in the future. I don't get why people make such a big deal of it- mutants are people just like we are- I guess history repeats itself yet again. Like, the latest news story is always about some psycho mutant with actual powers, like that ever happens, being made an example of. Then it's all 'Mutants are a threat to society' and 'All mutants are evil!' I think it's dumb, to be honest. If only the world were as good as you are."

"Aww, you are too kind, I am not, you know.." Richard shrugged his shoulders "that amazing or anything, I am just, well human..." He was getting slightly embarrassed. One thing Richard had picked up for his time in England was how a lot of British react when receiving compliments, they then to shuffle their feet, and get slightly embarrassed, Richard was no different.

"...mostly" He whispered that last word under his breath. He was still trying to work out, what would happen if he was a mutant? Would that change who he was? What would that do to him as a person? What would change? What would stay the same? Would perhaps his new found friend who seemed to agree with him on viewing mutants and humans alike, if she knew that he might be a mutant, would she truly be so accepting? In the few hours since they had met Richard had began to grow fond of this young, long haired, cute yet relatively mature girl called Margo. He liked her. She was one of the few warm and friendly people he had met since coming to New York. The city that is eternally rushing about, filled with people who seem to spend the entirety of their waking hours rushing from one crisis to another. Hmm Margo was young enough to be like a little sister. Richard has always wanted younger siblings, hmm perhaps.... Naaa he was dreaming! He shelved that happy daydream along with the other gloomy uncertain thoughts about the X gene and returned to the present.

They had been sitting in silence for a while, he wondered what was going through Margo's mind. He was just enjoying the quiet, the trees, the walk.

"Hiking or a picnic sometime sounds fun."

Richard smiled, here was something happy to contemplate. "Why don't we go sometime? We could go by car or motorbike! What are your plans for the rest of today? I have none other than to poke around and explore, but I understand if you have other things to do."

"Aww, you are too kind, I am not, you know.. that amazing or anything, I am just, well, human." The embarrassed Richard protested.

"Oh, will you just be quiet," Margo said, grinning and giving him a small nudge. "No, but seriously, don't ever say that. Because you are amazing and all of that, and I'm, well, terrible. You're making me feel terrible about myself. Just accept the compliment when it's given."

Because really, her new-found friend was amazing. And as dumb and cliche-d it might sound: he was the big brother every girl wished for in her heart of hearts.

"...mostly."

She heard his whisper, his finish.

She said nothing, coward that she was. She pretended she hadn't heard.

They sat there for a while in silence, soaking in the sunlight and the relative peace of that moment. Finally, Richard asked her about her plans for the rest of the day. "I don't particularly have anything to do," she said, "but, um, I'm thinking I should probably get back soon. And, definitely, yes to the hike or picnic. Whenever."

"Oh, will you just be quiet, No, but seriously, don't ever say that. Because you are amazing and all of that, and I'm, well, terrible. You're making me feel terrible about myself. Just accept the compliment when it's given."

Richard dropped his head slightly and made some small unintelligible noises, he was feeling slightly melty inside. "Fine.... ok" he mock sighed with a smile. He really liked Margo, and as much as she was embarrassing him slightly and teasing him, he had to admit that he was enjoying it. She was acting like a little sister, a thought that made him feel slightly more melty inside.

At least she had not heard his whisper, he though as his thoughts turned to less happy matters, but he firmly pushed them aside. He delighted in enjoying the presence of his new found friend.

"I don't particularly have anything to do, but, um, I'm thinking I should probably get back soon. And, definitely, yes to the hike or picnic. Whenever."

So she wanted to meet again, that sounded promising for the continued friendship.

"I understand," said Richard getting up and offering to help her up, like any brother would. "Here is my number, let me know when you would be free to go on an outing, or even if you just want to talk."

This was not an offer he made to anyone, only those Richard considered friends.

"So... I guess it is a farewell then." He paused, not quite sure of what to say, it was not as if farewells came easily to him. "I very much enjoyed meeting you and our little excursion." Drat it he was becoming formal again. "I look forward to hearing from you." He stopped, unsure of what to say next.

"I understand," said Richard, getting to his feet and offering to help her up, "Here is my number, let me know when you would be free to go on an outing, or even if you just want to talk."

"Thanks," Margo smiled, taking the offered help (how sweet was that?) and getting up as well. "I will."

"So... I guess it is a farewell then."

Darn, now it was getting awkward. Again. She really sucked at goodbyes. Then again, she hated them- you never knew when the last one would be.

"I very much enjoyed meeting you and our little excursion. I look forward to hearing from you," Richard finished.

"As did I, as do I," she said, a little sheepishly. "Adieu."

She waited until he was out of sight, then turned to go back to the Mansion, in a sunny mood. Who knew, perhaps this time she'd found her soulmate?