Xavier wasn't afraid of heights. Maybe that had something to do with an innate knowledge that one day he would be flying. Maybe it was just his general fearlessness toward most things. It didn't really matter, though. He had a feeling he would be doing the same thing he was doing right now even if he was afraid of heights.

What was that?

Offering free window cleanings to office buildings, of course! Why? Because he needed to touch them! Why? Boy, you sure are asking a lot of questions! It was for reasons! So here he was, anchored securely via a mountain climbing rappelling line, squeegie in hand, moving along the third skyscraper today in order to give them a good old fashioned scrubbing! He smiled, and wiped sweat from his brow as he reached a hand down, and let go of the squeegie, sending it down to the soapy water tub below with his power. With a splash, it hit, and he smiled, reaching out to call the tool back to his hand again, maybe making a Farwars sound effect to himself while he did so.

What? No one was listening! Freshly soaped up, he started cleaning once more, a big smile on his face. Sure, it was hard work, but it felt nice to know that he was making his city that little bit prettier, and in the end, it would help him be a better hero!

He imagined rocketing through the skyline like PowerMan and let out a content sigh before getting back to work, practicing his Heroic quips as he did. "Ah-hah! It is I, from the Sky! One in a Million is here!- no... One in the Million, Swooping in to safe the day!" Oh, he would have to workshop that one...

The shifter flew through the city oblivious to where he was going. He had somewhere to be and somewhere important but he got distracted by a drone that bumped into him first then he decided to chase it. The decided to break it after he followed it to some ladies penthouse. Carrick ‘noped’ out of there pretty quick after breaking the drone. He was no longer a minor and was already put in awkward situations. Last thing he needed was getting in trouble for following a drone.

He flew passed a skyscraper and quickly performed an aerial maneuver not to get smacked in the face with a squeegee. Instead he just got hit with a few suds. Wiping his face he looked into his reflection in the window and smirked. The pride of his Gryphon form shining through. He looked good flying. Carrick realizing he got distracted again heard ravings of a lunatic talking to himself. Unless he was talking to the Irishman.

Flapping a few times he stopped behind the guy ”Be more impressive if ya swooped in with wings than a rope. That just make ya tarzan.” he said summing up the quip. ”Most people prefer not to be rescued by someone in a loincloth... speaking from experience.” he said simply.

Carrick moved over to the rope then looked down. ”You know most people use a lift to clean windows.” he said. ”Not a daredevil are ya? If you were it be more impressive to clean the windows without a rope.” Carrick caught hiis reflection again and eyed his tail which was swishing behind him.

He heard a voice as she pointed his squeegie up like the sword of endless force from the Farwars Series for a moment before he heard a voice behind him, and he jumped, dropping the window cleaning implement in surprise. "Oh! Yikes, you scare me mr... woah..." He was a griffon. Like, straight out of medieval myth and heraldry. Neat!

"YOU LOOK SO COOL! Holy cow, a Griffon! And you can talk!" He watched as the creature flew in front of him, displaying its majestic wings. He said something about Tarzan, and Xavier took a half second to realize he was joking. "Oh, hah hah! Yeah? Well, fresh out of loincloths, myself! I'll have to work on those wings, then!"

He watched as it perched above, and he reached out to make his squeegie fly back up to his hand before it hit the ground.

"Hah! Maybe some day soon, sir! For now, I need the rope. That's sorta why I'm here, actually!" He didn't provide any context to that for now, instead option to use his power to pull himself up the wall, and to the edge, where he could climb up and sit on the ledge. "I'm Xavier! Nice to meet you!"

He smiled brightly, seemingly not at all nervous to dangle his feet over the edhe of the building, even without wings of his own.

The Irishman knew he looked cool, he always knew even on bad hair days. Between his tail and his wings he always had somewhere to redirect the eyes of onlookers. The thoughts of his Gryphon form accepted the compliment though and Carrick had to stop himself from purring at said compliment.

”I got a guy if yer looking to buy.” he said offhandedly. Pretty sure Zek stole quite a few loincloths from the circus before it allegedly went up in flames. Though he had nothing to do with that... allegedly.

Carrick blinked after the sir. It wasn’t a sarcastic one like he used either. Was he older than the tall blonde guy? He’d seen him before around the mansion. He was a giant and hard to miss. Was this his job? ”Carrick.” he thumbed his chest feet kicking off the side of the ledge and wings folding behind him.

”You don’t have wings... oh don’t need them? Fancy.” he said looking to Xavier’s back making sure he didn’t. If he did Carrick was going to challenge him to a race. He had to be the fastest. His Gryphon form demanded it and well that was the form Carrick got along with most so it made more sense to please the big guy. ‘Fight!?!’ the other voice chimed in the back of his mind and he ignored it.

”Day job? Luck of the draw. Would have taken ya for a basketball player.” he said commenting on his height. Carrick was always the shortest growing up so most tall people he had a tendency to not like. ”Think I’ve seen ya at the mansion.” he said thinking about it.

"a loincloth salesman. Huh. It's a living!" He smiled as he looked away to scan the skyline for a moment. He really did like it here. Over the course of this year it had started to feel more like home than... well, back home. "Carrick. That's a cool name!" Why did it sound familiar.

"Nope! No wings! Though, I am working on a little something that is kinda close!" His eyes caught the wings once more, and he couldn't help but gawk.

"Does anyone ever tell you you look like an angel?" I mean, man with wings on his back. Then again, traditional angels didn't look like that. They were more terrifying, by far; hence why they always had to open with conversations by telling people not to be afraid. Carrick, on the other hand, looked perfectly friendly!

"I do play Basketball, among other things. This, though, is a way to make the most people happy! I found out I can fly to places I've touched before, sorta. It's more complicated than that. But, I don't want to just... rudely touch everything without permission. So, I offered window cleanings for the opportunity to mark this whole building! I have four more lined up as well... It won't be too long until I am able to access most of the city!"

His eyebrows lifted as Carrick mentioned seeing him. "Ohhhh! That's why your name sounded familiar! You're also from the mansion! Gosh, how have we not been introduced yet! Well, it's really nice to meet you! What brings you out into the sky on this lovely afternoon?"

He dangled his legs a little more. He had most of this side of the building left before this one was completed, and looking at the time, it was the last one he would get done today. The tall ones took a long time to get done!

Carrick agreed, it was a cool name. Despite everyone constantly getting it wrong. It didn’t bother him though just made it easier to make everyone feel bad about it... except for Zek. Zek was impervious to his guilt.

He didn’t have wings but was working on something kinda close... did he flap his arms? The shifter looked back after the angel comment and he suddenly felt uneasy. Last time someone mentioned he looked like an angel they asked him to accompany him to church... it wasn’t a church more of a gathering of crazies. He enjoyed the attention till they tried to ‘free’ him so he could go back to heaven.

His tail flicked at Xavier, ”Only when they want me to forgive them for something. Or they want something.” he smirked, ”If yer asking me to forgive ya fer something, it’ll cost ya.” he said before scooting away from Xavier as he went into detail about how he wanted to touch things.

”At least yer asking fer permission.” he scratched his head that was better than just touching... the buildings? ”Can’t remember. I know I came here with a purpose but... he spotted something shiny reflecting from below and his eyes zeroed in on it. His tail flicked behind him and he fought the urge to figure out what it was.

”So you clean every window on the building? Instead of just touching it?” he asked curiously. He patted the ledge he was sitting on. ”Do I need permission ta sit here? Must have a lot of free time.” Carrick grinned.

Xavier's expression shifted to confusion at the statement about people wanting the young man to forgive them for something. At the statement of forgiveness costing him, Xavier reached up to scratch the back of his head in thought. "Well... to be honest, I can't think of anything I would need to be forgiven for." He shrugged, and poked his temple for a second. Unless running in the halls of the mansion was a sin... Megan seemed to think it was.

Xavier watched as the winged man's attention shifted, and he turned to look down at what he was focusing on.

He turned back when Carrick asked him, essentially, why he didn't just touch all of the buildings and get it over with. "... Well, I could just go and touch everything, I guess... It just wouldn't feel like it was the right thing to do." He smiled kindly and nodded.

"I think everyone should always try to do the right thing, and it's not fair to think that if I don't do it myself, right?" At the comment of free time, Xavier laughed.

"Not really! I have a pretty full schedule all of the time... I cleared up some time for this, though. In the end it will save me tons of time." He brightened up, as if he'd just gotten an idea. "Oh! I could show you if you want!"

The shifter raised an eyebrow to the afterschool comments that Xavier was spewing and he couldn’t tell if Xavier was just messing with him. No one thought like that right? ”Never found a tenner on the ground and kept it fer yerself? Never not held an elevator door fer anyone?” he shook his head in disbielf.

”Easier to ask fer forgiveness then permission.” he said motioning the ‘father, son and spirit’ then shrugging. ”Don’t think anyone would notice ya touching buildings all over the place.” he tapped the building under them and pushed himself up and started to walk on the ledge wings snapped open as he balanced himself.

Carrick walked away looking down below at the people his eyes picking up more than the average human gaze could produce. ”Shame no one else shares yer sentiment though.” he said turning on his heel then leaping to a hand stand. It truth it was more difficult with his wings open. He almost lost his balance for a moment then righted himself. ”Sounds like yer playing with half a deck.”

”Oh? Ya could!” he looked up at Xavier still ‘standing’ with his hands while his tail flicked between them wondering what was about to be shown.

The winged man asked him some questions about his morality. He replied so quickly, and without a second of hesitation, that he could only be telling the truth. "I find a local police officer, if the owner isn't around. I always hold the door, and if they have a bag, I carry it for them if they would like." Oh, that was it? Just two scenarios? "Gotta do the right thing! The better you are, the better the world around you is."

"I think they both have their place." He shrugged. "I mean... It's not about whether or not anyone would notice. The right thing to do doesn't stop being right because no one is looking." He smiled and locked eyes with the other man for a moment to let the point settle in.

Carrick told him no one else felt the way he did. He tilted his head a bit. "Some don't I suppose. I think the majority of people really want to do the right thing all of the time, sometimes other things get in the way... fear of violence, fear of loss, time. Me? I am not afraid of those things, and I have plenty of time." The bird man put out another euphamism, and he smiled brightly as he began to perform acrobatics to a pleasant golf clap from his one person audience.

He thought about the angel's words for a moment, and nodded to him. "It's not such a disadvantage..."

He stood on the edge of the roof, and turned toward his new friend. "All I play with is royalty." He winked, and leaned back, disappearing over the lip of the building.

If Carrick looked down after him, he would see the tall blonde lingering in the air next to the building, laying in the sky with his hands behind his head as if it were the softest comfy couch.

No one was that good. No one. The shifter didn’t trust it. All of his life he had known good people even those people would occasionally keep the money or let the doors shut. Xavier had an angle. Carrick wasn’t sure if he cared enough to figure it out yet.

The shifter’s gaze turned from Xavier’s not wanting to make eye contact for long. Was he challenging him? The voice in the back of his mind stirred, ‘Fight?’ Carrick ignored it like he always did. Fighting up here and with someone in the mansion wouldn’t help anyone. That and the guy was easily a twice the size of him. At least that’s how he felt.

Time... Carrick had more than most, having deaged he got a do-over on a lot of stuff. He however thought he could always use more so he could enjoy the little things, like sleeping on the grounds watching the clouds overhead next to the Princess. His tail flicked and he fought the purr that started to echo from his chest as he focused on the golf clap. At least Xavier knew a good show when he saw one.

”Oh? Something we have in common then!” he grinned his face turning a little red at the thought of her.

The shifter watched as Xavier vanished and Carrick looked over the edge following suit and let gravity take his legs over the edge. The shifter rolled off the building and snapped his wings open and flapped a few times so he could see Xavier lounging in the air. ”Ya know, some would argue yer wasting time with stunts like that.” he moved closer in the air and waved his hands behind and under Xavier to see if there was anything holding him up. Years of working at a circus made him skeptical.

”So how’s it work then? Ya touch something and ya float around it?” he smirked, ”What happens when the building changes due to renovations?” it was pretty common in the city. Carrick looked out and could see at least two cranes in the skyline.

Oh, if only Carrick knew just what a good boi Xavier was!

He floated there for a moment, smiling as the winged man followed him, flapping away to match him in flight. He didn't catch the meaning of the commonality comment, just figuring he was saying he also played with half a deck that was only good cards.

Carrick mentioned he was wasting time, and Xavier smiled a bit. "Everyone needs to take breaks! Productivity actually tends to fall a bit if you just try to power through." Also, flying was fun! He needed all of the practice he could get, too, considering he'd only had this ability for a week and a half.

He did the mental math to rotate himself in place to end up sitting upright in the air, and stroked his chin as Carrick asked some questions. "Well, it's more like I am picking a place between point A I hae touched, and point B I have touched, and choosing to be there." He nodded. That was sort of how he processed it, at least.

"As for renovations... I suppose I would have to touch the new parts! More window cleaning!" He smiled and lifted himself up high enough to reach up a hand and call his squeegee to himself once more. Break time was over~

He started up cleaning the last remaining wall, same rig in place to hold him. "The street is actually a more difficult part to hit, because there is always traffic. I have to hurry across... I even had to get permission from the local authorities to Jaywalk. Being a trainee helps a lot when it comes to those things, though!" Not to mention that people Jaywalked in the city all of the time, depending on the area.

"How do you like the mansion?" He called out as he squeegeed another window.

Was someone telling Carrick he needed to take breaks from being productive? He flashed his pointed teeth in a grin and then agreed he needed to take more breaks. ”Ya should have a conversation with me teachers then.” he said with a little laugh his tail flicking behind him as he was still trying to figure out how Xavier was flying without wings.

Carrick’s body bobbed up and down as Xavier rotated midair. ”So if I give ya a fiver you can fly between me and whatever else you want? Or would I be carrying you around as well?” he asked wondering if it was similar to Raine’s powers. ”I’d win in a race...” he said puffing out his chest a little bit. While his human side and beast side didn’t really care who was the fastest flyer in the city his Gryphon form demanded everyone knew. So said the annoying voice in the back of his head.

The Irishman grinned more when it was clear that it was going to be a never ending process for Xavier. What was the story about the cricket pushing a bolder up a hill?

Carrick gasped, ”Ya got permission to Jaywalk!?!” he tried to look offended. ”and a trainee no less. Some could argue yer abusing yer power.” Carrick shook his head and flapped twice till he landed back onto the ledge where he sat again.

”Second time around’s a bit easier even got me a girlfriend this time around.” he had one last time but this time around he was almost ninety percent sure the Princess wasn't going to take off like Liz did. She even told him as much. ”Rules pretty much the same too.” he said kicking his legs back and forth over the ledge. ”Makes it easier to ignore them.” he smirked.

”You?” having a feeling what his answer would be.