Ever since the run-in with the weird cult-y people, Carrick had been on Mirror's to-do list. The guy had been de-aged, and was a teenager again, or rather, an adult now, but still acting like a kid. For the second time around. The implications made Mirror's head hurt, but not as much as the random roaring in the middle of already sleepless nights. Carrick needed some training, and his days needed structure. So, Mirror signed him up for regular DR sessions.

This morning Maya was already done with the first two cups of coffee. Iris was having a baby devil day, which meant she was still sporting the red skin and the tail and the horns from handing the baby off to Becca in the morning. They were going to fade soon, but for now, at least her looks matched what was no doubt Carrick's opinion of her as a teacher.

She just hoped he'd actually show up to the DR.

Why was he up this early? His tail thrashed behind him as he stumbled down the hallways barefoot. With a hand he pulled up his ratty jeans. His other hand brought up a tall mug of coffee he blew on it and took a sip. It was dark in the mansion, given the night before and his powers it was too bright, hence his sunglasses. He was hungover and found himself in the Princess’s bed again which was why he probably smelt like her perfume. He sniffed arm and started purring, yup he smelled like her.

Why was he walking into the danger room? He eyed Satan waiting for him. Must have been a great... he got paid for the gig last night as well. It was a good night! Why did he have to die. Granted he wasn’t too surprised he was being greeted by the devil. He didn’t say anything but walked closer and sipped his coffee.

After a moment he snapped his wings open and mocked bowed one he used when putting on a show for the Princess. ”Lady in Red, got to say I wasn’t expecting ya fer a few years at least.” he stood tall and folded his wings behind him taking a sip of his coffee.

”If were about ta duel fer me soul I want a guitar of gold.” he sipped his coffee. ”I’m just gonna need ta grab me guitar first.” he said smirking. Why did someone sign him up for this?

Carrick finally sauntered in with coffee, and made a mocking bow to Maya. The smell of the coffee reminded the mirrorwalker that she should be awake and teaching, but it was obvious from the get-go that her energy level was not going to match the griffin rogue's today.

>>”Lady in Red, got to say I wasn’t expecting ya fer a few years at least. If were about ta duel fer me soul I want a guitar of gold. I’m just gonna need ta grab me guitar first.”

"That devil should have challenged the guy to fist fight and seen how that worked out" Maya noted, folding her arms. The griffin's tail twitched, and so did hers. She was never gonna get used to that. "We are not here to deal with my mutation, we are here to deal with yours. So that everyone in this damn building can get a good night's sleep."

The shifter eyed her tail as it mocked his. Did it want to fight? Carrick looked back to his lazily and sipped his drink before responding. ”Ya can’t solve everything with violence!” he said feigning shock by touching his chest and scoffing.

”And I wouldn’t dream of challenging a more powerful being to a fist fight.” he mocked another bow. ”Ya got the years on me and that puts me at a disadvantage.” he sipped his coffee trying to hid his smirk.

”No?” he looked around wondering whose they were here for. Clearly he didn’t have to worry about it. He had his under control. He might have blushed a bit after her comment and then looked into his coffee like there was something interesting. ”Yeah, heard the roaring as well. Someone should sound proof their room.” he nodded trying not to laugh.

”So why we here really, Bezzy” he asked curiously stifling a yawn.

Carrick seemed intent on making all this as difficult as possible. Obviously. It was something to be expected from most students, but Maya did not have the same level of energy to handle it.

>> ”Ya can’t solve everything with violence! And I wouldn’t dream of challenging a more powerful being to a fist fight. Ya got the years on me and that puts me at a disadvantage.”

She leveled a look at the caffeinated griffin.

"Kid, I could have taken you when we were the same age. And now I'm a mother. Don't push it."

>>”No?... Yeah, heard the roaring as well. Someone should sound proof their room. So why we here really, Bezzy”

"I don't care what you are doing with whom, as long as it is consensual" the pointed out "But the roaring needs to stop. And the random shifting. I have been briefed about the things you have been through, even before the weird coult we fought. So. You are back to being a kid, and you need to train your powers all over again. That's why we are here."

Carrick had seen that look before. It was a look his mother used to give him when she was letting him know the ice was about to break. His smirk turned to a smile making sure not to make eye contact with the devil. ”Got the mother thing down.” he said into his coffee.

His face turned a shade he hid it by taking another ‘slurp’ of coffee. Consensual was the only thing he was sure about in the bedroom. The Princess seemed pretty good at giving directions, in fact he was pretty sure she just like bossing him around. ”Working on it....” the first time was probably the loudest. After that he was doing his best not to turn the Princess deaf. How would he serenade her if she could hear.

”I mean, ya could have asked and I could have told ya. Lizzy tell ya or was it Serena? Both were there the first time I went all,” he puffed up his feathers and made it look like he was about to have a seizure but stopped himself in fear of losing the coffee ”Beast mode.” he still wasn’t sure if that was the name for it. Headache seemed more accurate.

”Young adult” he corrected feeling the difference was important, he would no longer be tried as a minor if he did get into anymore trouble thankfully the Mom’s got it covered... at least for now. ”Fine.” he said huffing and slamming his coffee.

”Should I just strip n’ shift or ya have something else in mind? Cause I usually charge fer a show.” his tail flicked as he set the cup down already feeling the caffeine.

>>”Got the mother thing down.”

I wish.

At least Carrick was not arguing the general point. Or trying to leave the DR. Maya was not sure she would have had the energy to track him down and drag him back in. Even with a two-coffee advantage she was not in the best possible shape.

>>”Fine. Should I just strip n’ shift or ya have something else in mind? Cause I usually charge fer a show.”

"No. Definitely no stripping." Maya held up a hand "Our goal is for you to not shift, unless you want to. And you should not want to unless it is absolutely unavoidable."

Maya rubbed the bridge of her nose. Right. Training.

"So... what sets off your... beast mode? Usually? Do you have triggers?"

”No stripping? No shifting?” Carrick parroted back trying to wrap his head around the idea. ”But I thought this was a control thing?” how did you control the shifting without shifting? Carrick’s tail flicked again and he debated picking up his coffee but just put his hands behind his head. ”Yer in charge here Bezzey.”

”But Gryphon form’s nice why can’t I shift ta him? Long as ya don’t piss ‘em off he’s just a big bird cat thing with a razor sharp wit.” he was going to say claws and beak but he decided not to. Carrick was trying to point out some shifts were okay. He couldn’t not shift the rest of his life right? That was the problem before, he lost control and the beast form showed up.

”Where ta start, attractive women and he gets all, ‘Let’s mate!’ bit of a perv that one.” he said chiding his other form before adding, ”He tries ta step in when I get into fights, or into danger. Usually he’s a bit more aggressive with the take over. Or...” Carrick said trailing off and closing his eyes. He snapped them open and his pupils turned to cat like slits as he tried to start his adrenaline up, ”I can work meself up a bit and it he will think there’s danger.” Carrick said boasting as his hair started to stand on end.

‘Mate? Fight?’ his eyes focused on Maya who was red and he averted his eyes so no form had a visual on a target. ”Mostly fear or irritation.” he said honestly summing it all up with a wave of a hand.