Raina stood outside on the mansion steps letting the wind blow through her hair. It felt soothing against her clammy skin. Despite it being full on fall now Raina still felt too warm these past few weeks.

... and weeks it had been since her botched surgery and her trip to the infirmary with the healing mutants. Not everyone knew what had happened though rumors were flying. She'd spent a week in the infirmary healing and keeping to herself... then she'd spent a week in her room.

She felt embaressed, and ashamed, and moreso she felt hopeless. She knew now there was no cure for mutation no matter what anyone promised. She'd forever be the fishy chanter and she couldn't run from it any longer.

As she drew in another breathe of cold October air her thoughts drifted. She'd need to get back to her music class soon. She didn't want to upset Neena by throwing the opprotunity to teach away.

She just wasn't sure she knew her purpose anymore... the drive to get rid of her mutation was what kept her going since getting out of the camps. Now she was faced with that emptiness her friends has faced months ago.

She sat down on one of the benches and watched the students walk by.

Garrett was glad to see Autumn's arrival. The summer had been hot and all too eventful. The cool, crisp wind was blowing leaves away, dead parts no longer needed in preparation for the chrysalis of winter. He hoped he could find solace in these times. He couldn't tell who he was now. He was no longer himself, yet he was no longer the demon. He was some new creature. He had found a new aggression and vitality in the change, but it came at the loss of his gentler nature.

He hadn't signed up for any classes. He wondered even if the Mansion was the right place for him. Perhaps it was before the virus, but now? Was there anywhere he could call home? His survival instincts instructed him not to be foolish and find himself squatting in the winter. How could he justify staying without being a student, though? So many questions, so few answers. The crisp wind blew over his head, as if to soothe him. He closed his eyes as he turned.

Opening them, he saw Raina sitting on the front steps of the Mansion. He hadn't seen her sine the day that had changed his life forever had occurred. He had never been able to thank her for saving him, rather helping him to save himself. He approached her carefully, yet with purpose, seeing she apparently was not in the greatest of moods. "Hello, Raina. It's good to see you again. Many things have changed since the fateful day that you handed me that pamphlet. I just wanted to thank you for saving me from the streets."

Raina had her eyes closed thinking to herself when a familiar voice jogged her from it. She opened her eyes and looked up to see a man looking and speaking toward her. The fall sun was behind him and it took her a few moments to focus and remember who it was.

"Garrett." she said with a lop sided smile. "I remember you." there was something different about this Raina compaired to the one he would have met. This one seemed to have lost a little of that spark to be replaced by something else. "I'm glad you're here." she added. "I hope the mansion has been of some help to you?"

Garrett saw a familiar look in Raina's eyes as she spoke to him. The look of loss. He had seen it himself every morning since the virus. Raina's question wasn't a loaded one, she seemed to just be naturally curious of his well-being. The answer was rather hefty though. He took a seat near her on the steps. Not too close, but not far enough to indicate a reason not to sit close. He seemed to pore over the question a bit prior to answering.

"Help? Indeed. It's been an interesting month or two. Having somewhere to call home has been good. I met Maya, you may know her as Ghost. She and I have become very close. I've learned quite a bit in the realm of control as far as my gift is concerned. I'd completely agree and sound incredibly sappy and grateful, but of course, there was the little incident a few weeks ago. I didn't think I needed to mention anything as you had probably been awoken with shards of pain yourself. Judging from your pleasant approach, I must assume you were not here at the time. Many here now have a look of distrust in their eyes now when they see me."

That had been quite a servo he had unloaded on her. He really needed to talk to someone who was out of the loop, it seemed. Someone who had not been touched by the demon's glance. He remained silent for a moment, allowing a childish grin to appear on his features." Other than that, it's been great. How about you?"

Raina listened intently as Garrett spoke to her and tried to practice her listening skills. "So you're sort of seeing Ghost?" she questioned with a smile. "I don't know her well but she's been here longer than me and I hear great things." she listened to him hint at what had been happening.
"You're worried the others are looking at you differently then because of this incident?" she looked ot him for confirmation. "Sorry, I was having my own incadent so I didn't hear about yours." she gave him a sillier friendlier smile. "but I can imagine you feel as if this place is a little hostile as well as it being your new home. Confliction, confuision. It must be agrivating." she thought a moment. "Though I can tell you that everyone here has had an 'incident' and probably several- so people may look at you in awe for a while... but very quickly they'll back at themself. It's likely you remind them of their own weakness. But hey- that's the joy of living in a mansion full of mutants." she winked.

"I've been... not myself." she admitted. "Honestly I guess I don't know who she is. I tried to make her someone else for a little- maybe it was a reaction to the camps, or maybe to a boy, or maybe several...." she laughed. "but I made some stupid decisions and I guess I'm right back where I was to finding myself..."

"So you're sort of seeing Ghost?" she questioned with a smile. "I don't know her well but she's been here longer than me and I hear great things." Garrett responded with a smile. " Make that definitely seeing Ghost. Everything is going quite well with us. We complement each other very well, thank you." Talking about Maya quickly and naturally led to thinking about her, easily one of Garrett's favorite pastimes. A natural smile returned to his features, as if it had been hiding out.

Raina began speaking of her own experiences and those of others who lived at the Mansion. It brought a good bit of solace to him to know that he wasn't the first nor would he be the last to have an 'incident.' He nodded and listened to her fully, absorbing her wise advice. Perhaps he had been too quick to think of leaving. The place was not only economically perfect but there were just as many people here rooting for him and watching his back as those whispering and running. He needed to look at things from both sides at the same time.

"I've been... not myself." she admitted. "Honestly I guess I don't know who she is. I tried to make her someone else for a little- maybe it was a reaction to the camps, or maybe to a boy, or maybe several...." she laughed. "but I made some stupid decisions and I guess I'm right back where I was to finding myself..." It seemed it was now time for Garrett to attempt to return the favor as far as doling out proper advice." Well, don't be too hard on yourself. Apparently, we mutants are on the top of the list in the mistake making department of life. The most important thing is that no matter how many times you fall on your face, you get up, dust yourself off and go for it again. I certainly believe in you, if no one else does."

Raina grinned. "You're a smart guy." she said to him playfully while a familiar spark hit her eye. "I'm glad you're settling in. Even if people don't stay at the mansion I think it's important they know it exists and that there are others like them." she thought back to when she met him. "I wondered whatever happened to those other guys we saw. Wasn't one a politician?" she thought on it a moment and looked to Garrett to see if he could remember. "kinda charmer wasnt he?" she laughed.

Garrett was glad to see Raina's perspective and mood changing. There were plenty of things to be upset and worrisome over in the world, one's own place in the evolutionary cycle wasn't one of them. There wasn't much to do about it and better yet, why have pain and sorrow over a gift that humans would die to possess? Sh was mentioning the politician that they had met that day in the streets." A charmer. Yes, I suppose he was. However, I've not heard much of him since then. There is a large difference between talking about change and evoking it. A great deal of courage and an edge, perhaps called insanity, perhaps called will, is required to see change through until it becomes reality. "

He didn't mean to go on a sermon of sorts, but he wasn't only speaking to Raina, but himself as well." I am a Taoist by nature. I believe that everything occurs for a reason. It is fated in a special way. Not by a bearded man in the clouds nor by the alignment of celestial bodies. The flowing stream of life, the Tao, runs with our personal energies. Every choice we make is an individual choice, yet it is also one that we must make as we are the river. Whereas I had lamented my gifts and felt a desire to spurn the urges inside of me to use it, I cannot. My skills will be used. Where? Up to me. Also not up to me."

He put his hand on her shoulder in a friendly way. " Perhaps your own gifts have been waiting for their time is all. Had you been able to shun them or be done with them, you would have. Since you have not, they exist for a reason. Let's find it." Garrett and the demon were in perfect harmony.

Raina thought to herself about how Taoism reminded her of Gaea. How all energy streamed from one point and would eventually return to it. She was Christian by nature and another day may have argued that God was a bearded man... but she could only smile to herself at how much their true beliefs really held in common.

"I'm Christian." she stated. "Catholic to be specific. Many native people in my ansectory are because of the Acadians- the settlers who came and married into the native groups in Canada. But my catholism goes hand in hand with my native legend. People think religion divides... but I think when you look at the heart of it it's bring us together." she smiled at him. "It's refreshing to chat with someone about it. I'm not sure there are many who could be considered spiritual here... though I could be wrong."

She felt the warmth of his hand on her shoulder and smiled. "In my land before we knew of mutation my mutation was considered a gift that held a duty; one only the chosen could perform. It's just different in the modern age I suppose."

She stood up and dusted herself off. "you've got a calming precense. Thanks"