A new day...A new experience...A new home...A new world...

Cecelia walked around the grounds of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. She had just arrived from her home in Sicily to the school. Xavier had welcomed her happily, giving her a tour of the school then leaving her to wander the grounds by herself. She wore her favorite outfit, her sketch pad under her right arm. She looked at the beautiful flowers and lush garden. After walking a little longer, she found herself at a large fountain. The water was crystal clear and it made a crisp sound as it fell from the top to the pool below.

The Italian siren smiled and walked to the edge of the fountain. She sat down and slowly reached her left hand out to touch the surface of the water. Her fingers sent ripples across the water and she pulled her fingers away from the chilly liquid. She shook her hand, getting rid of the remaining waterdrops. Cecelia let her eyes glide over the beautiful water's surface. The sun gave the water a gorgeoua shine that could entrance most any artist.

Without a word, Cecelia moved to rest her legs on the edge of the fountain and set her sketch pad on her lap. She flipped to a blank page and pulled her pencil from behind her right ear. She glanced at the fountain and then began to draw. Her pencil brushed over the surface of the paper in long, flowing sweeps. As she drew, she pursed her lips and began to whistle a tune. She didn't know the tune but it seemed to just flow through her lips.

Then her pencil left the paper. She stopped whistling and smiled. A giggle escaped her lips. She held up her drawing and admired it. She had drawn a picture of the fountain, almost an exact copy of it except in black and white. "How wonderful. A new tune for a new home."

People were busy at the new school, she could sense them going in every direction, she was unsure of what to do. It was moments like this that made her miss being blind, how could normal people stand to be in a place where there was so much visible movement? Perhaps they got used to it, either way, Eleki had left her mother with Tricity to wander the grounds, she could figure out where the buildings were tomorrow, right now she needed to escape the crowds. She walked around and found a fountain, more by ear than anything else. There was an obvious human precense there, it radiated with feeling, Eleki just hoped that the person was in a good mood. She tapped her way over to the fountain and sat down a couple feet from the person. She took off her shoes and socks, rolled up her pants, and dipped her feet in the water. She turned to the person and smiled. "Hello, may I ask what are you doing?"

Cecelia heard a light tapping coming her way and turned just as someone sat down nearby. The person dipped their feet in the fountain. Cecelia smiled and set her sketch pad on the opposite side of her. "Hello. I was just drawing the fountain and humming a new tune. What brings you to the fountain? Are you new here or one of the many people who have been here for years?"

She laughed a little. "No, I'm new, my mother is with Tricity getting shown around, she's going to be here for another day or two, so I'm not too worried about it. I had to get away from all the motion here, there's a lot more people than what I'm used to." She moved her hand along the edge of the fountain until she felt the sketchpad. She rubbed her fingertips over it gently. "I used to sketch things once, a long time ago, when I was just a little girl. What is your sketch of?"

"The fountain. It was so beautiful I just had to draw it." Cecelia said, watching the girl feel her sketchpad. She had figured that the girl was blind but she didn't feel sorry. The girl looked like she was used to being blind. She removed her shoes and did the same as the girl. She dipped her feet in the fountain, loving the feeling of the cool water encasing her feet.

She let out a little sigh, returning her hands to her lap. "I've always liked water, swimming is my favorite. It always seemed to put me on an even playing ground with everyone else, no one can see underwater, unless they cheat and wear goggles." She laughed a moment, then turned back to the girl. "So where are you from?"

Cecelia laughed as well. She could see the girl's point. "I'm from Italy...Well, actually I'm from the island of Sicily but it's part of Italy. Where are you from?" She sat on the fountain, now kicking her feet in the water, splashing a few drops in random directions. She laughed and covered her eyes to hide from a rogue waterdrop.

She felt some stray wetness splash against her and krinkled her nose, closing her eyes until the barrage was done. "Italy, that's a long ways away," she said. "I'm from Pennsylvania, I live in the city now, in Philly, but I used to live in a little town that was sort of by a National Park or something, it's called Ohiopyle. It was fun, they had all this stuff you could do, I never got to go white-water rafting, or on the rock slides, but I did a lot of the hiking, I even helped lead a hike once or twice." She paused a moment, trying to think of something. "You know, both my parents are from Hungary, it's why I talk kind of funny, is that further than Italy? I've never been very good with geography."

Cecelia listened intently. She nodded. "Well, I'm not so good at geography either but I believe it's in the same area. I can't be quite sure." She then turned her attention to the water in the fountain. She smiled down at her reflection then moved her foot, sending ripples through the water. "Maybe you and I could go for a hike one day when we're both settled in. I think it would be fun."

"Perhaps," she murmured, sensing the ripples flow from the girl's feet. How amazing it must be to see ripples, Eleki thought. She heard her mother calling her name in the distance. "Well, I should get going now, my mother is looking for me." She got up and found her shoes, putting them back on slowly. "I'll see you around, maybe once I get a room or something." She picked up her walking stick and began tapping back the way she came, trying to find the source of her mother's voice.

"Alright. I'll talk to you later. It was nice to meet you!" Cecelia said, waving to the girl. She then went back to gazing at the fountain.

Raphael came out of the backdoor of the mansion, out of one of many backdoors in the large house, and made his way to the fountain. He had spent much of his early days either here or in the gardens, and both places had suited to calm his mind at times. And as the gardens still held such fresh memories of Victoria, he decided to go to the fountain instead. He had not expected to meet a cute young woman in pink.

"Mornin'." He stated, walking towards the fountain still, he sat on the edge and dallied a hand in the cool water. A pleasant sensation for such a hot day.

Cecelia looked over her shoulder and saw the young man. She waved and smiled. "Good morning to you as well. I'm Cecelia Montarou. It's nice to meet you...um-" She held out her hand for a handshake and waited to learn his name.

He reached out and took her hand in a strong shake as his other continued to dally in the water. His mind wandering and wondering why everyone declared it a 'good' morning. He gave an internal shrug, and figured that if she were a telepath she would answer his question for him, and if not... then she would not.

"Raphael Sevresch." He answered her. "Pleasure's mine. What brings you here?" He asked, though would seem a bit distracted by other things on his mind, and almost would seem to be making simple and honest small talk to be polite.

"I'm just here, getting used to being on the grounds. I just got here from my home in Sicily."

She then moved her feet around again, watching the water ripple around her ankles. She then started to hum, a little bit of her mutant ability slipping out and putting a hypnotic feel in the air.