A quick glance at her backpack made her long for her old room back so she could just run up real fast and drop it on the floor, but she took everything with her and had been gone for so long, it was maybe about >.00003% she had the same room. Oh well, she could bear the weight until the kitchen. Once inside the kitchen, she dropped the bag on the ground, ignoring the loud "THUD" that sounded. Even though the keypad said she had to see the Gatekeeper immediately, she was a little too occupied and lazy to go inform him or her or who ever it was. Hopefully, no new X-Man would stumble upon them and not recognize them. It would be horrid to be viewed as a threat before she got a bite of her mac'n'cheese first.

As if on autopilot, she opened the fridge and grabbed a soda, passing one to Mettaliar. "Hope you like soda, I have heard of healthy people that refuse to drink it, but I think that the carbonation tickles," She smiled before opening it and taking a sip. Her fingers wrapped around one of the cabinet knobs and she rumaged around until she found the mac'n'cheese. A little search here, a little rustle there, and she had a pot and a fork. Carefully reading the back of the instructions, it was a little embarassing. Since she had never really attended school after she gained her powers, she never quite kept up with reading, so she struggled to make the words out, silently. In hopes that she wouldn't be obvious that she had a kingergardener's reading skills, she rubbed her eye as if the reason that it was taking her so long to read was because she got something in her eyes. Well, she did it after a long battle and turned on the stove top to begin making the mac'n'cheese. "I think it makes two servings."

A small thought crossed her mind, even though they had just gotten back, Friday was coming up, and going to clubs alone was never a fun thing. No no no, he's a good kid. Prolly never even...maybe just a movie. "So Friday is coming up, care to go do something? Like see a movie? Or...um...bowl?"

Mettaliar slinked into the kitchen and sat in one of the chairs. He let out a little sigh of relief to sit in one of those chairs again, as simplistic as they were. It just felt like home again. He really remembered sitting in the kitchen having a conversation one other time, so it felt nice to sit back and relax while Fade did her own little thing. Surprisingly he was able to catch the flying soda can out of the corner of his eye and smile as he grabbed it. Looking at it, he sighed. Wasn't Mountain Dew, but it would due. He cracked the can open and took a nice long sip of it, chuckling as Fade talked about how awesome the carbonation of soda was. He knew what she was talking about. And she was right; it did tickle.

As he finished his sip, he caught glimpse of Fade preparing some mac n' cheese. Nice choice, he thought. He hadn't had it in a while, yet he could remember the nice taste of the cheese from the last time he did. As he was starting to drift off into his own little mac n' cheese dreamland, he noticed Fade looking at the packet a bit funny. She was obviously looking for directions on cooking it, yet she seemed puzzled by it. Were those mac n' cheese needed to be cooked strangely? He guessed not. He also noticed her scratching her eyes a lot. It was still strange as to why she was taking so long to read the instructions. Feeling compelled to help he raised his arm and offered, "Need help with some-" Before he could finish she quickly undid the packaging and started cooking. He didn't finish his sentence. He was too embarrassed to.

As he sat, a bit slumped down due to the whole embarrassment thing, Fade talked to him about Friday plans. If there were any red on his face, it grew. Deffinatly grew. He felt weird inside. Is she asking if she... wants to do something with me? That thought made him happy and nervous at the same time. He figured he should answer. What should he answer with? YES DAMMIT!!!! His mind knew best. "Ummm... sure! That sounds cool with me. Where would you wanna go?" He figured it was best to let her choose. He was ok with anything, yet he was always nervous for choosing plans other people wouldn't like.

For a moment, she heard him pipe up but the way she quickly ripped open the mac'n'cheese. She did not mean to cut him off, but she was fairly embarassed of her lack of reading skills. Her vocabulary was fine because she would watch TV, but she never knew how to spell any of the words. She turned to him and watched his face grow red. Now if he could channel the color from his face into the rose, it was be quite passionate. It only made her smile though. Living out on the streets got her accustomed to cold hearted men who wouldn't blush, smile, or think about anything she said.

"I dunno, maybe do something, you know? Mini golf... uh... movies... a club... bowling... kar-" she stopped, no way was she going to sing in front of anyone, so she wouldn't even mention it. But how to cover up the word? "-rying...um...logs?" Carrying LOGS? Wtf, Jenny? Who the hell wants to carry around logs? Well...then again, he is a wood carver...? No, it was still stupid. Horrible coverup. "I dunno, what sounds good to you?"

Deathstar just arrived from the store, she just came from picking up a few items from the list that was posted on the fridge earlier that day, walking toward the kitchen arms hugged around bags of groceries she can't help but overhear a conversation in the kitchen area. She suddenly stops in place so the sounds of her footsteps won't interfere with her hearing, I know this can't be..., she asks herself mentally when she recognized a familiar voice, she slowly begins to walk again toward the voices overheard from the kitchen.

Deathstar stops again before entering the kitchen slowly noticing a familiar red-head and a stranger ."Fade?", she asked with a confused look on her face while interrupting the couple friendly conversation, hoping the red-head woman would become the lost friend she hasn't seen in a longtime.

He smiled as she started to throw out some ideas on what to do on Friday. Most of those ideas sounded very good. He especially enjoyed the idea of a club, as limited to what he could legally do in one as he was. He hadn't really been to a club with anyone, just for the sake of going when there's nothing else to do. It would be interesting to go to one with someone besides himself. What was even MORE interesting was that he imagined his first clubbing partner would be a guy. NEVER would he imagine he would go to a club with a girl. His low self-esteem showed no mercy to things of that nature. However, maybe this time could be one to prove that all wrong.

After chuckling at her interesting save with "carrying laws," he thought about it for a while and then answered, "Well, those sounds like great ideas. I'm kind of stuck on the ideas of mini-golf or... club." He was kind of shy to admit he wanted to go to one. Mostly cause he didn't know how Fade would react when he admitted it. Maybe she was just saying it for ideas sake. Maybe she really doesn't wanna go to one. His mind was at work again. It was times like these that he wished he could not think at times. Doubts were to abroad in his thoughts to be necessary. If only he could turn his brain off without in turn dying. Would be interestng.

Suddenly he heard another girls voice coming from the doorway. He shifted his eyes towards the voice and raised an eyebrow. Another familiar face with no name. Wow, two people showing up he could barely remember. Was his memory just that bad? It didn't matter, though, as the girl was more focused on Fade's arrival than his. He sighed and decided to let the girls interact and wait for a response.

So, she had met another interested in a club...interesting... for lack of better words. "Club it is..." before she was even able to finish her sentence or even a thought, a voice interrupted her. Just a simple voice, but it held quite a bit of complexity. "Well well well, there was no way I'd ever enter the Mansion without hearing that haunting voice," she joked with a laugh before turning her attention to Deathstar.

Although the thoughts of Deathstar were dear and close to her as well, the sight of her rebel friend caused a smile that had been long repressed. Quite frankly, she couldn't help it, and she hoped Deathstar wouldn't mind. Fade knew how boxed in Deathstar was and how she kept everything straight on their thoughts of her. But, the sight, the old friendship, the regret that she left suddenly flushed itself into Fade's arms as she opened them and embraced Deathstar. With a slight mousy voice, Fade whispered "don't kill me".

When she let go, she just smiled and then began to speak "Oh my...you have NO idea how much I've missed seeing you and Glare argue into the night!" She laughed, remembering the days when they tested the X-Men. Feeling bad that she left Mettaliar out, she moved out of the way to introduce the two. "Deathstar, meet Mettaliar and the other way around.

As the red-haired woman turned to around revealing herself to be Fade, Deathstar mouth hit the floor out of shock, its been a while since she has seen the clawed-lady. Deathstar knew from Fade's gesture she was coming in for a hug, Deathstar drops the groceries on the floor, threw her rebel pride away and gives her red-head friend a lethal bear hug, "I knew you would come back someday", Deathstar said smiling as she released herself from Fade's embrace.

"Oh my...you have NO idea how much I've missed seeing you and Glare argue into the night!"

"Well!, alot has changed since you been gone" Deathstar changes the subject not wanting to make their first encounter a negative one, "I am glad your back home, ever since Raph left you haven't been the same, so I can understand you leaving to find yourself, I didn't know he had a hold on you like that", Deathstar sat on a nearby stool to catch up on her long lost friend.

"Deathstar, meet Mettaliar and the other way around"

"Nice to meet you met?..metti?...whatever your name is", holding out her hand for a handshake Deathstar laughed as she attempted to pronounce his name correctly, "Are you inquiring about becoming and X-man?, or are you here with Fade?" Deathstar said with sinister smirk knowingly making the situation awkward for the both of them.

Mettaliar remained seated as the women caught up on old times. It was obvious Fade would have many people she knew her, being as she was part of the X-Men. As the girl, who was introduced to him as Deathstar, went to sit down, he tried to recall the name. He figured he just saw her around the mansion a bunch of times and never got the chance to talk to her. He shrugged as he reached his hand out and shook hers. He smiled as he figured she was nice, and laughed at her failed attempts to pronounce his name. He shrugged at it, as it wasn't the first time it happened. As he retracted his arm, he heard a question that caught him off-guard.

"Are you inquiring about becoming and X-man?, or are you here with Fade?

His face turned a bit red when she asked that, yet tried to hide it with his hair. He chuckled a bit and responded. "Haha, no. I just happened to come back here at the same time she did. And yeah, I was a bit curious about joining the X-Men. They seem like an awesome group from what I've seen since I've lived here, which has been for over two years." He relaxed a bit and stretched his legs out and relaxed. Hopefully that answer was helping hide his blushing face.

Well, some things never change. Deathstar had aways been amazing at making people feel awkward. The questioning on her and Mettaliar being together didn't make her feel awkward at all, it was quite expected, being close friends with Deathstar for so long...then again, would that year count? Psh, it counted. The only thing that made her feel awkward was the mentioning of Raph.

It wasn't that Fade was the kind of girl to run after a long lost...ok, so maybe she was. He was her first boyfriend and... oh man, that was a pretty pathetic thing to do. ((BUT CYCLOPS DID IT!)) Quite frankly, it was more of an excuse to test out her old life, her old habits, her old mask. Pathetic how it took her a year to finally realize that the mask didn't fit. "Oh, just had to clear my head, but I'm back now, that's all that matters," she smiled. Speaking about Raph was like speaking about... uh... Raph... Maybe one day.

"No need to be shy Mettaliar, Fade is....ooh!, I said your name correctly this time, 2 cool points for me eh!" She jolted her fist in the air as if accomplished a big goal by pronouncing Metta's name right. "Like I said no need to shy, Fade is a very sweet girl, don't know how she is behind closed doors, you may just get lucky", Deathstar said jokingly hoping to not offend Fade on her first day back.

" I just happened to come back here at the same time she did. And yeah, I was a bit curious about joining the X-Men. They seem like an awesome group from what I've seen since I've lived here, which has been for over two years."

"Well you know being an x-man is a very serious job, you must put other lives before your own, are you willing to die for a stranger even though he did something cruel to you or the world? are you willing to put your life on the line for your teammate?, are you willing to follow orders even though you don't particularly agree with them?, think about that, it's an serious decision", Deathstar didn't mean to barricade Mettaliar with questions but she wanted only the best to be on her team.


Fade on the other hand seemed reserved when asked about her former flame Raph, but Deathstar didn't proceed with interrogating her about him, she didn't want to offend or revive any ill feelings so she dropped the subject hoping she would tell the full story whenever she's ready."Once again I'm glad your back, it's been hell since you been gone, we had intruders, kidnappings, and oh yea registration camps who can forget about that, but why no calls?, no mail?, not even a bird message?, we were worried sick about you", Deathstar emotions began to slowly resurrect from the dead.

"Dammit" Deathstar shouted rising from her seat to quickly pick up the groceries she dropped when she hugged Fade,"don't tell anyone I drop the groceries, or else...", even though she seemed like she joking she was giving a serious vibe to the others in the kitchen.

Mettaliar smiled as Deathstar celebrated calling his name right. And, as always, blushed and hid into his proverbial shell by ducking his head down when she brought up Fade as if she were trying to get him to be with her. Boy does she love to say the darnedest things. He chuckled to himself at that thought but kept it quiet as to not allow the other girls to hear. Which brought another point to mind. Why are woman so interesting when they talk to you in groups of two or more? Talking to one is fun; talking to three may be amazing or awkward. This is why he sometimes was glad most girls found him unattractive and stayed away from him. He wouldn't have the most awkward of friends.

As Deathstar got serious while discussing the principles of the X-Men, he ran through his mind all of those possibilities. Like a check list, he went through the criteria she listed off. He would of course give his life for others. It wouldn't be the first time he did, so why change now? He followed orders like any soldier would. It was a part of being a member of any team, you be able to lead and follow; both are essential and necessary. Since he figured that he had made the decision without going back. He simply answered, "Yes." After that he allowed for the girls to talk, not saying another word.

A slight smirk crept across her face when Deathstar went on about what it means to be an X-Man. She couldn't help but add something: "Mettaliar, what the real question that you should consider before becoming an X-Man is: can you fight beside Deathstar?" She joked before letting out a good laugh. "But seriously," she changed her tone, "X-Men require a lot of compassion, even for humans that hate us."

"I didn't have a homing pigeon. Tell you the truth, I was a little embarassed by my disappearance. Think about it: Hi my good friends, just to let you know, I'm an alcoholic loser girl chasing after a boy that will never come home, cya soon. Love Fade. Not quite a good message," she shrugged before bending down to help her friend pick up the groceries.

"AH CRAP! THE MAC'N'CHEESE!" she yelled before saving them in the nick of time.

Deathstar admired someone like Mettaliar, he doesn't care how the job gets done just as long as he makes a difference for humans and mutants alike. Why can't the world see things the way he does, he must had a rough a life to give up his own so quickly she thought. Fade added an important piece to Deathstar's questionnaire, throwing a little humor in their as well making Deathstar hide her face with her hands as she laughs silently, but it was a perfect example of teamwork the x-men shared with one another.

She was quite suspicious on why Mettaliar was so reserved and quiet, which made Deathstar question his motives, revamping her thoughts. "Your not apart of an evil faction are you?, If your intentions is to infect poison within my team, then we have a problem, and believe me I'm the last person you would want to see pissed off", Deathstar couldn't keep her doubts in her head, in fact she was known for being blunt and outspoken, a trait that will never fade it seems. "I don't mean to be vulgar but this place here is all I got left, I can't afford to let anything slip under my nose that will jeopardize our safe haven", Deathstar face was stern as her words, she was serious and meant it. "I can't say I trust you just yet, you must earn it, but your off to a good start, even with my darling Fade, break her heart, I'll break a bone", Deathstar kneels down again to pick up the rest of the groceries. "Sorry Fade, I seriously don't mean to kill the mood, I just don't wanna have you leave us again", She says while opening the fridge putting the milk she bought in the refrigerator.

"AH CRAP! THE MAC'N'CHEESE!"

"Umm!, those are for Nightlight, If you want them your going to have to ask her, and I don't think she'll be in the mood to share with you", Deathstar said jokingly, but instantly getting back to serious mode. "I didn't know you went through all of that Fade, that is what we are here for, I know it may be hard admitting your addictions, but its harder going through hard times alone, now where is my graham crackers, Oh no!, don't tell me I left it at the store", Deathstar said while wiping her face with her hands out of frustration. "Oh well, I guess I'll snack on Cold Steel's stuff, I know he wouldn't mind".

Mettaliar chuckled lightly at Fade's attempt at Deathstar-like humor. He sighed and nodded his head at the true question behind the joke. That was another trait to be held on a team. Lucky for him, it was another trait he possessed. He valued the people around more than him all the time, so it seemed obvious that doing so in battle wouldn't be a problem. A real test, though something he was sure he would pass. His eyebrow raised suddenly as Deathstar began interrogating him out of no where. He understood her motives, yet it was very surprising how out of nowhere the questions came. He nodded as well and thought well to answer the questions.

"Well, if I were a double agent, I don't think living here for two years doing nothing but getting into interesting situations would be the best way to accomplish a mission. I understand why you would be convinced to not trust me too much yet. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to prove that I'm willing to serve. This place is my only home as well, and it took my a while of walking and drunken nights in bars to figure that all out. You have all served me so well, it is only customary to exchange my services to your team. That is, if you choose to accept me." He had to be sure he was ready to try-out. It would be quite embarrassing to lecture as a professor than not follow up on your craft. He rested his head on his chin and pondered it over while the other girls talked.

Night Light? Who the hel-ohhhh, the little one. "There's plenty of mac'n'cheese. No one thought to get me my brownies. In a Mansion full of mutants, you'd think one could read my mind that I was coming and say 'Get Fade some Brownies'!" She joked again, then contorted her face when Deathstar began an interregation. Where the... oh come on! I'm gonna be hounded for the broken heart thing for a while, it seems.

"Yeah, I know this place was able to help, but I think I needed to breathe on my own for just a little bit first to realize I couldn't do it," she shrugged before turning to Mett, who spoke about his drunken nights. Well it is definitely good to know that there is someone else who went through some rought times and has a tender care for alcohol. Hmmm...gotta stop thinking like that, she mentally slapped herself. "We'll just have a food raid, and then blame it on...uh...Whitmore...? I don't know anyone here anymore! Is Tricity still Headmistress?"