Naveed was a pretty annoyed that his sister hadn't been answering his calls. Of course, he couldn't have known she was in an important meeting with one of the students. But he'd had a bad dream. Yes, her big over bearing oaf of a brother was actually unsettled by a bad dream about their dead parents and wanted to talk to Raina about it.

He hadn't really seen her since Canada which had unsettled him as well- his Father the great bear and all.

So now he was awkwardly making his way around the mansion pacing. He couldn't get in the front door, it was locked and required someone to open it for him from the inside. He knew Raina wasn't around or she'd be answering her phone but if he at least hung out at the mansion he'd run into her.

Maybe he should go back to that medium shop. That guy, what was his name? Tarin. Maybe he'd be able to make contact with his parents. Find out if they were trying to contact him through his dreams

Naveed completley believed in the spirit world. He'd made contact with his father himself during their past visit to Canada but without undertaking a vision quest- something his body really didn't want to do right about now- he wasn't sure of how to contact him.

So he plunked himself down on a bench by the mansion pond looking rather oversized and out of place. He wondered how Raina could stand living in a place like this. All these kids running around...

It was a nice day out and Ted decided to spend it outside. Since there didn't seem to be any classes going on all he had was free time. Free time was something he liked having now and then because it gave him time to practice his favorite thing. His powers. The young boy walked out of the mansion doors and onto it's spacious grounds. If it was nice out Ted liked to practice outside. He spotted someone else outside. They seemed bothered as they were sitting on a bench near the pond.

Ted walked over to him. He was a big guy. A lot older than himself and a lot taller too. This guy was someone that he'd never seen around the mansion. Did he go here? Was he new? Was he a friend to someone here? All these questions and no answers yet. There was only one way to satisfy the 14 year olds curiosity. "Hey. How's it goin?" Ted began. He didn't know if this guy was going to brush him off or not but he did think that he could be able to at least find out who he was and what he was doing here.

First workday. Martin was-contrary to what one might think of an old person like him- quite exited about starting at a new place of work. His innards had grumbled all night -that being the hours during which it was dark outside-, while he tossed and turned on the bed. Maybe it was the workplace in itself. A school filled with young mutants who practiced their powers freely. A school which was staffed with mutants. A school that offered protection and free housing to anyone who happened to have an Xgene and came by. Maybe it was the fact that he was just still not sure about the reason for them doing things the way they did. Their intentions remained a mystery to him, their thoughts alien and inhuman. Nobody sane could be so altruistic. Nobody sane could be so idealistic as to support the place. But they paid his price. In truth they paid more then the standard wage. Seeing that they asked for special qualifications for the job that was not a great surprise either. What he found surprising was that he had eve let his guard down enough to tell them that he fulfilled them. In a way this place was dangerously comforting. He promised himself that he would remain on his guard, look out for any oddities. He wrote down in the notebook that was lying near the lamp, just to be sure. Before the sun was even about to rise, he got up and went to a storage room in his apartment, pulling his equipment from it. He had surveyed what the school had and then decided on what would be most needed for him to fulfill his duties to his new employer. It was just a little. After checking the things of on a list, he showered and got dressed. Dressed in heavy duty jeans and a leaf-green long sleeve sweater as well as working gloves. It was time for work to begin.

What other people would consider several hours later, he worked in a flowerbed near a lake, that looked like students of the school had just wildly planted everything they thought looked nice in one flowerbed and then left it to grow wild. He suspected that to be the cause of the tangled mess of blooming weeds and rose thorns he had been confronted with, when he started to work at this particular bed -the reason for his choice being of course that it was nearest to the water of a small pond, which not only offered countless possibilities for planting, but was also enjoyed by him personally-. Now he was covered in sweat and earth that together created a sticky mixture that had covered his clothes much like camouflage specks. But at least the weeds had been dealt with in an all out war. A war he had won. Wiping the beads of sweat from his forehead, he walked out of the bed to rest a little, before deciding on which flowers and shrubs he would remove from the bed to comply with what he thought would be a nice theme for the near-lake bed. As he was musing about which flowers to put inhere and there, and how this or that arrangement might look once it was full grown, he heard voices. Startled he looked around, just to see that he had walked up on a pair of young students from behind.

This posed a dilemma, as talking to them, would not only create a distraction from what he was doing, but also might startle them. But oh well. He wanted to rest for a while anyways. „Good morning to you, might I help you?“ He therefore offered his first words to them with a friendly smile on his lips. And it was an earnest smile. Children were easily dealt with. At least that was what he had always thought up until now.

ooc: hehe Martin, you and Naveed are actually close in age

ic:

Naveed was actually starting to drift off- his cell phone in hand lying in the sun when he heard a voice. "mhm?" he jolted himself awake like a soldier caught off duty and looked around. He didn't see anything. Then he looked down at a young boy staring up at him. Couldn't have been more than 13 or 14. Naveed narrowed his eyes at the kid. How easy it would be to just use his powers and tell the kid to take a hike. "Fine." grumbled Naveed. "Just fine thanks." what was he supposed to say to get the kid to go away? he'd only asked him one question and already Naveed was annoyed.

That's when another one approached, a guy about his age actually. Looked like the gardener. This sissy looking thing couldn't possibly be a mutant could he? Naveed stood up much bulkier than the man in front of him. He wasn't that much taller but Naveed always gave people the towering over them type of impression.

"No you may not." answered Naveed in a monotone voice. It might have been mocking... but without the tone it just seemed like he was socially inept. Which was 100% true. Naveed for the most part could fake it but it was obvious to many that he was used to being on his own. He just didn't get those subtle queues from people. "I'm just waiting for my sister thanks." he added sitting back on the bench.

How easy it would be to just make eye contact and tell mr green thumb here to go back to his flowers, and the twerp to go ride a skateboard.

This gargantuan of a man was really shrewd. There was no need for that, or at least that's what Ted thought. His good time was seemingly disappearing with this guy here. When the man stood up he was surprised at how much taller he really was. Ted was actually surprised by the mans attitude. Maybe this guy just wasn't a people person. That would explain it. Or maybe he was just having one of those days where nothing seemed to go right. Ya that could be it. He just wasn't having a good day Ted decided. Although he wasn't going to give up. Maybe if he just talked to this guy more he'd be start to behave nicer.

Another man about the same age as the first showed up as well. He seemed like he was in a much better mood than the tall guy. The fact was apparent by his much nicer greeting that he put forth to this man than the answer he received. Ted didn't know many people around here yet, seeing as he was probably the newest student in the mansion. He didn't even recognize the guy that looked like the grounds keeper of the mansion. Ted thought this guy did a great job and so he thought that he should thank him for the work. The young boy turned to him and said, "I really like the work you do on the lawns and stuff. The place looks great." He could only imagine how tough a job that must be since there was such a large area for him keep looking so beautiful. "Who's your sister. I'm new here so I don't know a lot of people." Ted volunteered the information to the guy hoping that he'd be nicer with this answer. There was no guarantee but he could hope.

What had looked like a young boy earlier, quickly turned into a -he decided on callig him well sized for lack of another word- youth, that looked like he was about, well... He was certainly older then the young boy at his side. And her was not much older then his own body. Everything else? Simply dont call a timamancer if you want your age guessed at. Not if he doesnt live in your world anyways. And was it only his ineptness at understanding or had he just been refused quite impolitely? He could not restrain a puzzled look appearing on his face, as he was wondering, what the indegenious looking man might want to tell him. He then looked uo into the big mans face. "Most people would find your reply quite impolite." Most it really was. He was not most people. He offered, what he thought to be a helpful statement, but it was said more matter-of-factly then anything else. Martin could understand what he saw in those dark eyes. A sense of self sustainence developed in long hours alone. Caring for oneself. Trusting oneself. As for him: Could he trust hiumself? He did not know. Most of the time he was alone with flowers, though they were a poor substitute for the sea. "But if you want to be alone, I will go back to my work."

Turning to the young boy, he said "Most of the grounds were upkept by students for a long time. Im just barely scratching on the surface of the work right now, but I thank you for the appreciation of the garden anyways." He paused, maybe to see whether a reply would form in the mouth of the youth, maybe beacuse it was the ways of older people not to speak all too often, or all to clearly for that matter, and rather think about what was said and what was not said, but communicated in other means. As for nonverbal communication: Martins smile had returned upon placing his attention on the youth. Was it because he was easier to deal with in a way? Because he was more dissimilar to himself? Because he could be used? Not the last one. Not really. "And if you are new, might I ask, why you came here?" Youth was more easily dealt with after all. Or so Martin thought.

Naveed met with guys eyes with vacancy. He told himself in his head it would be mean as Raina put it to order the guy to leave him alone. Raina didn't like it when he used his power for trivial things. Come to think of it... Raina didn't like it when he used his powers. "Most people would stay outta my way." he said again without any tone or inflection in his voice. Almost robotic. Raina said he had to work on that, he could care less.

He shoved his hands in his pocked and cast his gaze around the school yard. The guy did do good work, Naveed would give him that- not that it would occur to him to say anything.

"My sister is your music teacher." Naveed answered. "Guidance counselor too I think." he scratched at his scruff "one of those x-men leaders." he added matter-o-factly as if dropping the ball that his sister was an x-men might get a rise out of these two.

"And what do you do?" he said staring down at the youngest boy. Not actually curious about his powers... just his best attempt at conversation. Naveed was a mutant, this kid was a mutant or he wouldnt be here. What else could they possibly talk about?

ooc: sorry for the delay guys, got promoted at work- been busy!

At the mention of his sister being a councilor he thought fora moment. "Oh Miss Raina is your sister? I like her. She's rePly nice." Ted replied to the man. She actually never seemed to be around much but she always seemed to be there whenever someone needed her help or advise. Ted hadn't been living at the mansion long enough to hear about the X-Men living at the mansion. His eyes lit up at the mention of the xmen being here. He'd always heard a out them being around the city but he never thought that he would end up living in the same place as them.

This guys answer told him that if she was one of hem here then there would be many more around the mansion. Although, finding this out didn't really chnge much. His powers weren't exactly made for fighting but he thought it would be cool to see them in action. The man then tried to make conversation so Ted decided to humor him. At least he's trying. Ted thought before he answered. "I can turn into stuffed animals. Any kind of stuffed animal."Ted responded. Teddy was never sure what people wanted whenever they asked him that question, so he always gave them a blanket answer. It always seemed to either peak some ones interests or satisfy their curiosity once they heard his answer. Ted waited to see his reaction. Ted also looked at the other man who was standing there to see if he got a similar reaction from him as with the first guy. The young boy then turned to the other man that as there. "I came here to get a better understanding of my powers." He answered simply. This answer was also something that sounded like a blanket answer but it was the truth and it was the answer that the other man was looking for, so he gave it to him.

=Im sorry its so short and useless; Edited greatly for your writing pleasure=

First came the boy-man. He seemed to not be used to conversation at all. As a matter of fact, his voice sounded more like some of those answering machines that tended to greet you whenever you called one of those troubleshooting hotlines. Strange. What was up with him? Wrong with him? Martin looked a little concerned at him. "Why is that?" He knew the statement might be considered rude. Especially by the second listener. If he had guessed right, the first one would not even notice, but still, he added: "Only if you want to talk about it." He did sound a little like a guidance counselor, did he not? The question was whether Martin would notice. Or care for that matter. His eyes wandered off to the flowers. He could already see them grow here. Liliaceae, Solanacae, Rosacae, Malvacae..... All those greening, flowering gifts of nature could be planted here. Would be sometime. He could look at this garden and see the possibilities. But not solanacae maybe. Nightshades had the nasty habit of being poisonous. Bad thing for young schoolkids. But a wall of roses might be able to..... His look trailed off to the flowerbeds, the greening grounds around him, only to snap back onto Naveed as he mentiones his sister being an Xmen. He might have to meet her then. He had heard of them, but met? That weas a different story. He hoped they had some sense at least in their love and caring for human-mutant relationships. Otherwise he would be quite hard-pressed to ever reveal his full powers to them. He would not endanger himself needlessly.

His listened to the youths energetic outburts, only to slightly shake his head. Turns into stuffed animals. Martin had almost turned around and left him where he stood. Turns into stuffed animals.... Is this a joke? Instead he looked at the boys face to see that it was earnest as far as he could tell. Turns into stuffed animals. Useless in fights. Useless in everyday life. Useless. Noted, filed and. Dismissed. But learning how to control powers, that was something that could be taught by others? It was interesting to see how the teachers were to attempt teaching him. He had always believed that to be a journed into the own mind, the soul. It prompted the question if there was anything that he still could learn about his powers. Foolish it was. There is always something new to learn. Always something new. A mantra it was. One of his. For without the new and unexpected, what would, even if he were very young, an immortal have in this world? Someday maybe. Right now, he simply gave an inaudible grumble.

::Grumbles that turned into mubles that turned into mutters as his eyes looked on the ground. Froze on the ground as the world froze. Come into my time/ behold/ see how life and world unfolds/... No? A simple larva he had found. A larva that every gardener east of the mississipi river dreaded more then a visit from their favourite mother-in-law. A rose-eating larva it was. And roses were- as everyone knew- the diamond of any well kept greenery. These Roses were threatened "Get yourself gone!"