It was a cool and cloudy day, to the point where rain could begin to fall, but somehow you knew that it wouldn't. Mark had left his apartment earlier looking at the sky and wondered the fact of whether he should bring an umbrella or not. The weather lady yesterday had said that it would rain cats and dogs, and Mark laughed. Cats and dogs! The day it rained animals, he would take cover and hide. There was the chance that the dogs would get splattered all over the ground while the cats landed on their feet, but that was besides the point.

Like a man, Domingo, he had met a few days back, Mark had printed a Google Maps page of the location of the mansion. He didn't know quite what to expect other than the possibility that there were more people like him there. If that was true, then he'd get the chance to meet others, not just Domingo and the three from his past...

With his hands over his head and a piece of gum in his mouth, Mark approached a large brick wall, probably too tall to climb, but he wouldn't risk it. He followed the wall to a gate, a little too fancy to Mark, but it didn't matter. How to pass this gate...? Mark wondered. He could break it open, but wouldn't have climbing the wall earlier been a better decision then? A short sigh and an inspection, Mark noticed two things, a buzzer and a security camera. By now, someone probably knew he was here, but not who he was, but what the hell.

Ringing the buzzer, Mark became slightly nervous. He rang the buzzer a couple more times as he swallowed his gum while staring at the camera not too far away. The tension grew as Mark wanted to leave more and more, a few drops of sweat racing down his face, but he waited. If there were others like him, who had abilities like him, there was the possibility that he would be able to get something from this.

"Take THAT!!"

Oh, he took it. Right to the face. Presented that evidence right in his face!! Oh, Mr. Edgeworth. You are going... down. Shin glanced up from the DS resting on the table, stylus in his left hand. A man was positioned in front of the gates on-screen. The DS flicked off, and snapped shut as Shin rose from his seat to greet.

He'd been off his game lately with basketball. Probably due to the cast on his right arm. And his training had gone slacker to encourage the healing process he needed to undergo. That was why Shin had recently picked up a game system to play while on-duty. To keep his mind focused on something other than the fact he was getting out of shape while he healed. He'd taken on a few suggested games as he worked his new DS's battery to its limits. Nintendogs (which was awesome with the puppies), Animal Crossing (which was awesome with the squirrelgirls), Pokemon Leaf Green (Which was awesome with the Blastoise), and Phoenix Wright (which was awesome with the hair). As he approached the main gates, he began to realize someone else that day was awesome with the hair. And it wasn't Shin's perfectly coiffed do that was epic.

"Hey!" Shin waved as he approached the iron gates. He rushed up and pressed in the code, opening them for the kid. "Welcome to the mansion. What's your name? I'm Shin."


((OOC:Timeline-wise, this is a few days prior to Freaky Friday plot for Shin, which means that a few days after this thread occurred, certain people within the mansion started acting oddly because their minds were swapped. Two weeks after this is fair game for things being back to normal, though.))

A man greeted Mark shortly after he had rang the buzzer, someone he hadn't expect. At first, Mark thought that some awkward voice would emanate from a speaker outside the gates asking who he was and why his presence was necessary. When this man appeared and opened the gates, Marks had become nervous as he greeted and introduced himself. He went as Shin, a name easily remembered. He didn't look like anything Mark had expected; he thought if a man were to open the gates it would a butler of some sort wearing a suit and holding a plate with some cups.

"Mark. My name, that is." Being the nervous type, it was always a wonder at why he seemed to pull through and manage during court cases. This man was nice, well, at least that's how it seemed, but there were always those people who stabbed others in the back as soon as they turned around. From his greeting though, Mark felt as though he could trust him.

Mark stared at Shin's arm, noting the cast the wrapped around his right arm. A horrible experience it must have been, a fall from a ladder? Did a bus run over it? The possibilities were endless! Mark had never had the need for a cast, not did he ever want one. The thought of the pain gave him goosebumps ranging all over his arms.

Shaking his head, he noticed he had been slightly rude, staring at an injury. He wanted to ask Shin about it, but questions about the mansion seemed more important. Taking a few steps forward and extending his left hand to suit this meeting, Mark had quite a few questions he needed to ask, and no doubt would more arise as the day passed.

"Shin... it's a pleasure to meet you!"

"... Er..." Shin couldn't help but notice the guy's fixation with his cast. That was fine, really. Coffee-stained casts usually did turn heads. Especially when they got to wondering what cruel fate brought about shattered bones and blue slings. Perhaps this guy had his own problems with casts, and could relate...

Or was it something Shin was wearing? He glanced at his pants just to be sure.

>>"Mark. My name, that is." The brown-haired boy stated nervously. Shin smiled politely, letting him get the frazzled nerves out. A bit of head-shaking, maybe some staring, squirming... pipes of squeal? "Shin... it's a pleasure to meet you!" The guy finally concluded. He struck out with his left hand for a shake.

Shin met him with his own left.

"Nice to meet you… are you feeling alright? You seem a bit… jumpy... it's okay. I have that effect on all the newbies at the mansion. No need to worry. We here at the mansion are friendly folk. Not lions. For what do I have the pleasure of entertaining your company this morning, Mr. Mark?"

"Nice to meet you… are you feeling alright? You seem a bit… jumpy... it's okay. I have that effect on all the newbies at the mansion. No need to worry. We here at the mansion are friendly folk. Not lions. For what do I have the pleasure of entertaining your company this morning, Mr. Mark?"

The two shook hands and Shin had comforted Mark, ensuring him that he was and would be surrounded by friendly folk this entire day, that is, if he met more. Mark swallowed his nervousness as he usually did while under pressure as he prepared a reply.

"Thanks Shin. Well, a couple of days ago, I met someone, a nice fellow if you ask me, who told me of a place. I think he meant this place. He didn't say much about it actually, but he did say something about the residents, I think."

He didn't want to say too much about his mutation as many people have proved their discrimination against mutants before. This fellow didn't seem to be a mutant himself, at least at first glance he didn't. Maybe this place was a home for paraplegics or child prodigies or something and Domingo was mistaken? He had already felt like he had testified to this man, maybe another sentence or two wouldn't hurt?

"So, I was wondering actually? What is this place like?"

Age-old story. Man meets guy. Guy talks about mansion. Talk is good. Talk is cheap. Man decides to see exactly how cheap, comes to mansion under guise of investigation. Murder erupts. Other man needs defense attorney. Finds world is more screwed up than he bargained for. Turnabout occurs. Other person, found as culprit.

Shin had really been playing too much Phoenix Wright today, hadn't he? Nodding along, Shin followed Mark's trail of logic bread crumbs. Finally, they arrived at the same fork on the path.

>>"So, I was wondering actually? What is this place like?"

"Welcoming," Shin replied. "We accept others for who they are, be they mutant or human, and do our best to school students at the mansion, teaching them the skills they need to survive in life. We've got a pool, and basketball courts. The living quarters have been described by some as 'very swank'. Our teachers are top notch. Our students are world class. So, any further questions?" Smile, smile, bragging smile. Grin.

He glanced up at the ever-churning clouds in the sky. "Maybe we should take this indoors if the conversation's going to be a long one. I could show you around?"

"Welcoming, we accept others for who they are, be they mutant or human, and do our best to school students at the mansion, teaching them the skills they need to survive in life. We've got a pool, and basketball courts. The living quarters have been described by some as 'very swank'. Our teachers are top notch. Our students are world class. So, any further questions?"

Welcoming, the only word needed to hear to make a fair opinion of this place. There were many things in Shin's response that answered many of Mark's questions, but there were only a few that he "truly" needed to know. By now Mark had realized that from what was said, mutants were allowed to move freely as well as humans. There were also "Teachers" and "Students," meaning that yes, this was obviously a school of a sort. Everything else was just icing on the cake.

Smiling along with this new fellow, Mark began to grow suspicious. Maybe it was because he was a lawyer and was used to not trusting everybody, or maybe it was because this man was a little too friendly. Even for "friendly folk." A bit more into the conversation, Mark threw away his cautious assumptions, maybe.

"Maybe we should take this indoors if the conversation's going to be a long one. I could show you around?"

How Welcoming! Mark thought to himself. He did want to take a look around. The weather was also unfitting for a long conversation as well. This mansion might at least have heating and cocoa and waffles! Delicious waffles with syrup and pretty women! Pretty... women... With like... bikinis and stuff... Shin did mention a pool. Women, bikinis, a pool, and some waffles... and maybe a Wii... That would be prefect...!

Mark's face blushed a light red a little as he considered the offer, quickly agreeing after a moment's notice. He had noticed that he was beginning to feel a little... awkward and didn't was Shin to take any offense or anything.

"Yeah, yeah. Let's go. You first?"

A minor head tilt at blushing from in invite within. Did Shin misspeak, or do something to embarrass a member of his karass? Nice, Nice, very very nice, that was not. Shin had been rereading Cat's Cradle that morning too. Man, his thoughts were all over the place. How was he to know the thoughts running through Mark's head when he himself was focused on equally-conflicting ideas.

Like tea. Peach tea. He suddenly had a hankering for his drink of choice when introducing folks to the mansion. Shin smiled, and did his best to make Mark feel at home.

>>"Yeah, yeah. Let's go. You first?"

"Sure." With a nod, he turned to lead. Past the gravel driveway and the greens of the grounds, beyond the sparkling bird bath of effervescent charm that stood by the nice bench of solitude. Shin held open the massive brown doors of the mansion for the spikey-haired individual, then followed him inside. "So, as you can see." He nodded towards the chandelier, the painting of Charles Xavier, and the two staircases that sloped up on either side of the main hall. "The Mansion is a very nice place to live. Aside from the garden, the basketball courts, and the pool, we've got a three-floor library, an infirmary, a kitchen, and a living room. The living room has a brand new Wii," He noted the last part with a smirk. Shin had gotten quite good at playing Super Mario Galaxy with the Wiimote controller since he'd been playing with his cast. It was a game one could play fairly well with one hand. The toggle of the analog stick was easy enough to use if he pushed it with his cast. One would think a single-handed individual would have more trouble controlling an intergalactic plumber, but nope.

"Speaking of the kitchen, how about some tea while we talk?" He, again, led the way.

The kitchen was nice and professional, with double-sinks, a large fridge, and cubpoards that lined the upper half of the room. Spaced around the area, rounded tables rested. In-between sink and dining area, a black countertop stood. Shin walked over to grab a pitcher of peach tea from the refrigerator, then set it down and ventured off for glasses.

"So, tell me about yourself." The Asian queried as he went about his work. Maybe a little information from the boy would help him in understanding what he saw in the mansion, and what he hoped to get.

The two had moved from the front of the mansion into the deeper innards of its majesty. It wasn't like anything Mark had expected. Before entering, it was easy to believe that a place like this would be boring based on its shell. Nevertheless, Mark was proven wrong upon seeing the beauty that lay within its walls.

"The Mansion is a very nice place to live. Aside from the garden, the basketball courts, and the pool, we've got a three-floor library, an infirmary, a kitchen, and a living room. The living room has a brand new Wii," Shin would say as he gave Mark the grand tour of his home. It was truly amazing to be sure. The two would walk through the mansion and eventually move into the kitchen where Shin would place a pitcher on a surface, scurrying away, probably to get a few cups. "So, tell me about yourself."

Mark's eyes opened slightly as this was asked. It had been a while since he had talked about himself, and whenever he did, had kept it to a couple or so sentences. When the cups arrived and the drinks poured, a couple of sips were taken and Mark would finger around its rim as he thought up some up words.

"Well, let's see. My name's Mark, I live with m-my dad... He's a lawyer, and I guess you could say that I'm one too. I don't have a business card I could hand you, but I could write a phone number on a napkin or something."

Okay, doing good so far.

"I came here from overseas, London. It's been a long time since I've been there, I kinda miss it, kinda. Let's see, oh, yes, I'm also a... mutant, and I like chocolate-er." Mark felt that was all he needed to say for the moment. He had passed the ball into Shin's court and would wait for it's return.

"So now Mr. Host guy Shin, tell me about yourself. I mean, I told you about me so I only think it's fair."

"Oh, a lawyer? I've got a friend training to be a lawyer. Nice guy. So, I take it you're still starting out in your career. That's fine." Shin nodded. Spiky-haired lawyers... Capcom couldn't make this stuff up.

Shin had never liked lawyers outside the video game world... something about real-world lawyers being too-focused on trivial cases, and too many bad examples of good lawyers on TV. A glass clinked down in front of Mark as Shin wheeled around the table. He set another down in front of his seat, and poured himself a glass.

Shin scanned Mark's face as he told him his story.

>>I came here from overseas, London. It's been a long time since I've been there, I kinda miss it, kinda. Let's see, oh, yes, I'm also a... mutant, and I like chocolate-er."

It wasn't a particularly long one. Shin focused on what mattered. "I like chocolate too."

So, this boy was a mutant lawyer from London who had a sweet tooth for justice... Shin noted each detail as he stirred his tea. He wondered what mutation Mark had. For the moment, he'd avoid asking. He looked up as Mark asked a question of his own.


>>"So now Mr. Host guy Shin, tell me about yourself. I mean, I told you about me so I only think it's fair."

"Alright. I'm 21, I'm from Kyoto, Japan. I'm an Aquarius, my favorite food is curry, and I create triangular barriers with my mind. I'm a mansion greeter here at Xavier's sister school. Back to you. You say you're a mutant. What can you do?"

"Alright. I'm 21, I'm from Kyoto, Japan. I'm an Aquarius, my favorite food is curry, and I create triangular barriers with my mind. I'm a mansion greeter here at Xavier's sister school. Back to you. You say you're a mutant. What can you do?"

The drinks continued and the two's conversation got deeper and deeper. It truly seemed as though the two would get to know more and more about each other as time progressed.

"What can I do... Let's see." Mark licked his upper lip, taking in thoughts about how he would describe himself. "You ever watch those cartoons on Cartoon Network, what was it now, the Teen Titans? I'm like that one girl, Terra, but a really bad version of her. Heck, no matter how much I practice in my backyard, I can't do anything like what she does. But yeah, I move rocks and earth and junk."

Oh yeah, moving stuff! If only I could do it freely, I could get to the office in a matter of minutes! Stupid traffic, always holding me, making me late and stuff!

"So, you say, you create triangular barriers with your mind? I can't create anything, so I can't demonstrate, but perhaps you can?"

Mark wanted to see another mutant work their magic. It had been a while since he met another, no, knew another mutant whose power he witnessed firsthand. That was a long time ago though.

>>"You ever watch those cartoons on Cartoon Network, what was it now, the Teen Titans?"

Never ever. Shin wondered where this example was headed.

>>"I'm like that one girl, Terra, but a really bad version of her. Heck, no matter how much I practice in my backyard, I can't do anything like what she does. But yeah, I move rocks and earth and junk."

Towards the earth, apparently. Shin took a quick sip of his drink, then nodded once. "Neat." An earth manipulator. That was interesting. Useful, too. If the mansion needed any landscaping done, that is. The possibilities of an earth elemental were actually pretty limitless... well, unless you lacked earth to manipulate... or lacked imagination. Sadly, Mark was a victim of the former. Shin's face fell a bit in disappointment.

Aww... And now he was asking Shin to do a demonstration of his own. Shin started slowly, glancing around the kitchen. "Well........... ah, I know!" His eyes had fallen on an apple. Delicious, red, in a bowl. That would work. He rolled up his sleeves (though the cast's arm required no rolling!) "Watch and be amazed as I make yonder apple levitate, and become more than one!"

With a flick of his wrist, a trio of red shards sprang up in the space between him and the bowl of fruit on the counter by the sink. They hung 4 feet above the ground, twirling. With a crease of Shin's brow, and a near-effortless hop of the imagination, the trio of shards formed into a triangular scoop. The scoop drifted in towards the red apple, and wedged itself underneath. Then...

The apple rose into the air, on a floating wedge of shard. This was child's play, really. And the next part... he pulled the apple over to land on the table, in-between Mark and himself. The trio of shards slipped out from underneath, and snapped back to their old three-inch blades.

"Become more than one! Screen Divide!! Shin swung his cast-arm down like Colonel executing his brutal sword slash. The shards sliced the apple neatly in-two, then vanished. With an air of smugness, Shin plucked a slice of apple up off the table, and bit in. That... was what he could do.

Watching as the man across the table demonstrated his power, several small red shards would appear. The were spawned four feet above the ground, levitating as their creator waited not so far away. The shards rotated, and Mark wondered where this was going. As soon as that thought entered, it would as quickly be answered as Shin announced his objective. The cutting of an apple.

I really hope he doesn't destroy that apple...

Performing the trick of moving towards one another to create a triangular shape, the shards would not be the only floating abject. The apple stated previously began to float as one of the shards carried it up. It would then be sliced neatly in half with Shin picking one of its pieces and bit a chunk out. Amazing.

Mark, sitting in one of the chairs around the table crossed his arms as he watched the other end of the apple. Thinking about how Shin's ability and its possibilities stirred in his mind. His first thought after the murder of the apple was assassination. What if this man was an assassin!? What if Mark had been led into a trap!? What if he didn't lock the door as he left the house this morning!?

"Hey, Mr. Shin, I was thinking, how many people live here, and what would I have to do if I wanted to be a tenant? I mean not an actual tenant. But you had excellent control of your ability, and I kinda want that too. Heh heh, I tried knocking down this beehive hanging from this tree a while ago, but I only managed to push it a little and anger the bees. It was soo horrible...!"

Mark did want control of his ability. He had horrible aim when it came to launching rocks and his rock pillars weren't anything special either. He wanted what Shin had. Maybe if they to the back they could witness what Mark could do. Then again, there was a possibility Shin would accidentally get hit. Even though Mark had been practicing on his own, there was still so much he could learn.

>>"Hey, Mr. Shin, I was thinking, how many people live here, and what would I have to do if I wanted to be a tenant?"

"I'd set you up with what you needed, be it a room, or someone to help you train." Shin replied simply, ducking the question about how many students the mansion held. 'Too many to count' was the old refrain. You know, it was kind of strange an institution like the mansion couldn't keep track of how many students it had at a given time... but that was fine, really. It wasn't unprofessional or anything. Nope.

Shin raised an eyebrow and gave Mark a friendly laugh about the 'bee thing'. "I guess you got the point of their message pretty quickly, then?"

He took a quick sip of tea, hiding a faint smirk. He slurped down the rest, then set his glass down with a click. He locked eyes earnestly with Mark, eyes all a-twitter with curiosity. "So. If we went outside, do you think you could give us a minor demonstration of your skill?"

Heh heh, I thought you'd never ask.

Something in Mark's mind ticked. This was now going to be his time to shine. Excitement filled his body as well as fear. He had to now show this Shin what he could do, what he could lend as a fellow mutant. It was most likely nothing, but to Mark, this was like an application to an online roleplay site.

"I'd be glad to, but on the condition that if I destroy wherever we're going that I am not held accountable for damages!" Mark smiled as he licked his lips. He then sipped some more of the delicious tea that Shin had served. He felt he had to say what he did because, to be honest, Mark was down in the dumps for money, and a lawsuit was not something he needed.

There were many places around the mansions that the two could go, and maybe Mark would meet some lovely young lady on the way. Aside from that, he wondered. Would there be an audience? Probably not, but you can't stop hoping, especially if it allows you to show off!

"So, where're we going, Shin?"