"That's bloody amazing, I pumped as much energy into that as I possibly could and you made it set in like, five minutes. It might not be fully back to normal, but that sure is impressive."

Juka visibly puffed up at the compliment, eminently pleased that he had so impressed Alchemist. He seemed like the type not to be easily impressed. Besides, few people seemed to be very impressed with his bubbles, calling them soap bubbles. If he'd been the type to be easily insulted then certainly such a comment would be worth getting insulted over. Soap bubbles! Gah! His bubbles were so much more than that.

"Let’s try that again, hey? See if you can reproduce the results."

Juka nodded his agreement. "I'm don't think I can do that too many times though. It kind of takes a lot out of me." He wasn't about to give up though, especially not now that he was finally making some progress on figuring out exactly what was happening with his powers. He waited for Alchemist to give him another cup full of molten metal.

A bird chirping in the background momentarily distracted Juka. Maybe he should try to experiment on living targets once he figured out more of what he could do with his bubbles.

Cafas melted the metal in the centre again, trying to not burn his eyes out on the glowing metal. It was very bright. He handed it back to the tendril and continued his training. Slash shop stab. He threw in a few parries and double handed swings. The snow on the ground he had missed had turned to ice from being so thin a layer. It made the grass underneath rather slippery. There was more than once that he almost slipped. Slipping with a sword in hand was bad; one could skewer oneself rather painfully were one not careful. "Come to think of it, melting metal takes a lot out of me, ironically not as much as heating it. But there you g, I just fool around with elemental properties. Heating is a pretty complex system actually; you have to be really careful about it."

'No he doesn't...'

It was in fact Cafas who required to be careful when heating metal, it hurt his brain once the energy supply started to run low. It was bad for him too, because his mutation drew straight from his body's energy supply, so using his powers too much tended to result in the need to sleep for extended periods of time. He continued to train, firing off small grunts of exertion whenever he had to pull up a swing. The force behind some of them was quite intense. He figured it had to do with the added weight of the sword. After all, it was solid steel. Steel was one of those metals it was hard for Cafas to work with, something about the carbon content. That and alloys were the most difficult metals to work. You didn't come across many pure metals in the modern age however so he considered alloys and steel normal.

'As normal as mutations go anyway.'

Carefully Juka extended his tendril to once again take hold of the container of melted metal, listening as Alchemist described the difficulties of his mutation and how it worked. It all sounded rather interesting, although in truth he only understood about half of what was being said.

As Alchemist continued his training, Juka concentrated on trying, once again, to make the liquid metal go solid again. This time he paid special attention to what he felt as he tried to force time to affect the metal differently. Slowly the metal began turning red and this time he was aware of the energy passing out of his body, into his bubble, down the tendril and into the metal within the cup. It was a bizarre feeling. He was also aware that this time it took more out of him to solidify the metal, likely due to the fact that he was all ready feeling drained from the last attempt. Finally, some minutes later, the red turned back to dull silver.

Returning the now solid piece of metal to Alchemist, Juka swooned for a moment, feeling faint from the expenditure of energy. "I think that's all I can do," he said apologetically. At least it was a start.

Cafas took the actually rather heavy piece of metal and considered what to do with it. He decided his best use for it would be to put it back as a pole in the gate, but for some reason he felt that would be boring. Then he spotted the security camera and sighed. "That's fine, I'll be right back." Cafas jogged over to the gate and melted and solidified and worked with the metal until it at least resembled what it once had been enough to be passable. He walked back to Juka feeling rather drained. He still needed to finish his work out though. He didn't particularly think that the few minutes he had spent on his sword work were enough but whatever, he had learned from movies and practiced for years, one day off wouldn't kill him.

'Or will it? Dun dun duuuun!'

Cafas jumped back into the little circle of cleared out snow. " Sorry, I just don't think the staff would have been too happy if one of the bars was missing when they came home. I don't even know where they went, they just sort of jumped ship and went on holidays. It's probably somewhere nice." He hadn't been keeping up with international news. Had he been he might have known where they were. Cafas launched back into his kicks, he only had a few to go. He finished off with some knees and stopped, out of breath. He didn't suppose Juka seemed like the fighting type. Not enough to spar with anyway, he had seen the boy in action before, it seemed he relied on his anvils.

'Sort of like I rely on my brute force. Neither seemed that effective versus a giant piece of clay.'

Juka floated just above the ground, utterly exhausted. He was thankful for the time to catch his breath and didn't do much but watch Alchemist as he took the piece of metal and once again melted it and then reformed it back into the bar that it had been originally. No harm done it seemed, and their little experiment would go unnoticed. As his partner in crime returned, he couldn't help but notice that he also seemed to be rather drained from the whole experience. Well, at least Juka wasn't the only one then.

" Sorry, I just don't think the staff would have been too happy if one of the bars was missing when they came home. I don't even know where they went, they just sort of jumped ship and went on holidays. It's probably somewhere nice."

"No I guess they wouldn't," Juka agreed with a good natured chuckle. "And Jewely and Ghosty never told me where they were going, just that they had something important to do. I hope its warm and nice where they are. Jewely never did like the cold. So, how about we go inside and find us some nice hot chocolate?"

It didn't seem like either of them were going to get much more done during the day, so finding something warm and sweet seemed like the best idea for the moment. "And later I can certainly take you to go find you and anvil."

Jewel? Never heard of her, Ghost he'd heard of. Yeah, warm was over rated though. Hot chocolate on the other hand was not. "Hot chocolate sounds brilliant. As for anvil shopping, Let's just say I'm glad you can lift it with your bubble because those things weigh crazy amounts given their size." Cafas laughed and picked up his stuff. He wouldn't mind changing his pants or something but that didn't seem like the proper thing to do when one had company. He would just have to hope they dried quickly. The air inside the mansion was fairly dry though so that didn't seem like it was totally out of the question.

'I don't want to be sitting on wet jeans all that much.'

Alchemist started off walking toward the Mansion door. The snow crunched under his feet in a very satisfying way as the legs of his pants absorbed more and more water. He was lucky not to have snow in his boot as far as he was concerned. The doors loomed closer as he trudged towards them, leaving large holes where his feet fell. Once at the treacherously slippery and icy stairs he began to take care, going relatively slowly. He had already met the marble once, he didn't fancy meeting it again. Once inside he found himself quickly at a comfortable temperature. He parked himself over one of the heating vents and could practically feel the relief spread from his feet up his legs and torso. Or maybe that was the hot air?

'Yeah at this temperature the heat ought to dry my pants some time soon.'

"Hot chocolate sounds brilliant. As for anvil shopping, Let's just say I'm glad you can lift it with your bubble because those things weigh crazy amounts given their size."

"You know, I've never discovered just how much I can bubble," Juka said thoughtfully. "My anvils don't take any energy at all to carry." For the first time he truly wondered exactly how much he could carry. It just hadn't seemed terribly important in the past. Why should a rock star need to carry heavy things anyway? But now that he wanted to make some sort of difference, it seemed more important to be aware of his limits. The question was, though, how would he test it? While he didn't know how heavy and object he could carry, he did know how large an object he could carry and his anvils were close to the limit in terms of size.

"You get yourself warm and dry and I'll find us some hot chocolate," Juka told Alchemist, walking into the Mansion doors. Upon entering he de-bubbled (with a thrill of joy that he even could) and walked towards the kitchen. There were a few people around but no one that Juka knew personally. The Mansion really had been quiet lately with everyone gone, wherever it was they had gone. He hoped his Ghosty and his Jewely were ok.

It didn't talk long for Juka to make 2 mugs of hot chocolate and a few minutes later he returned to Alchemist, hot chocolaty drink in hand. He sat down beside him and handed him a drink. "There, now I'm sure that we'll both feel better.

Cafas accepted the warm drink thankfully. One only noticed how cold they were once they got into a comparatively warm room. The seat of his pants was relatively dry by this stage. Taking a sip he nodded to Juka and smiled. "Thanks. Geez. Hey Juka, do you know much about the X-men. I hear all the kids talking about them, but I have no idea what it's about. Don't get me wrong I know about the X-men but I don't get what it has to do with the mansion." Juka was the first real mutant in his general age bracket he'd had a chance to talk to. Actually he had no idea how old Juka was but he assumed. Either way he hoped the guy knew more about the topic than he did. He really hadn't been paying much attention over the months.

'I mean they really talk it up at meals.'

Alchemist moved away from the vent, which was actually making him sweat uncomfortably and sat in a chair. Chairs were good and comfy, especially when you don't have a wet bum. He considered asking more but he thought it would be best to find out if Juka knew anything before making and idiot of himself. It was a reasonable assumption that he would if everyone else did, after all he was the socialite pop star wasn't he? The one he couldn't escape the name of but months before. Well, at least not when he wandered too close to an anime convention or manga comic shop. Brain dead fan girls lapping up anything their idol threw at them.

'Ah well, he's much humbler in person than I remember being implied.'

"Thanks. Geez. Hey Juka, do you know much about the X-men. I hear all the kids talking about them, but I have no idea what it's about. Don't get me wrong I know about the X-men but I don't get what it has to do with the mansion."

Juka took a very contented sip of his hot chocolate before replying. While he may no longer have to eat or drink, strictly speaking, there was just something satisfying about hot chocolate. He could live off the stuff, something truer as of the last few months than it ever had been in the past.

"The X-men live here," Juka replied. "I don't know as much as some, but my Jewely has mentioned them now and then. I know they do good things, protect humans from dangerous mutants, try and help mutants to live peacefully alongside humans, that sort of thing. Once they return I plan to petition to join them. I want to do good in the world and I think they'd help me do so." It felt very good to finally have a purpose in his life.

"How about you?" Juka asked. "Any ambitions to join the X-men or anything else for that matter? I'm sure they could use your skills."

Cafas took a mouthful of the hot chocolate before answering. "I'd thought about it, yeah. I don't know how to go about it though, makes it difficult to apply really." He laughed and looked around the room. So that's what the older mutants were, X-men. Well, that was news to him. It made their absence all the more worrying. He'd hear the X-men were trying to save the world, and if all of them disappeared, well, it wasn't a good sign to say the least. Cafas rubbed the back of his neck and frowned. "I hadn't really been worried by the absence of all these mansion people before now. Oh well. As for using my skills, well, my skills are in violence, not diplomacy. I thought the X-men were more of a non-violent group."

'Meaning I would be all but useless to them.'

He rocked back in his chair and leant against the wall. He really didn't understand why but it was far more comfortable. Odd thing about rocking in chairs he guessed. He dropped his stuff off to the side. He wouldn't need them any time soon. He sipped some more hot chocolate and wondered how his life had gotten him to living quite so well. Good things coming to those who are patient didn't really seem to cover it. All of a sudden he had friends and a really big living place. With a pool. A pool that was looking tempting even in the freezing conditions. He wondered if he'd die from it. It seemed somewhat likely.

'Stupid thermal shock.'

"So what inspired you to join the X-men then?"

"Thanks. Geez. Hey Juka, do you know much about the X-men. I hear all the kids talking about them, but I have no idea what it's about. Don't get me wrong I know about the X-men but I don't get what it has to do with the mansion."

"A little," Juka answered, taking another sip of his hot chocolate. "I know Ghosty and Shin and they're both part of the X-men. At least, I think Shin is. And my Jewely recently started training to become one. They live here and I think they help train the younger mutants." Juka shrugged. He wasn't entirely sure of the details either, to be honest. All he really knew as that this was where they were housed and that only a few people who lived at the Mansion were X-men or X-men trainees and that one day he wanted to number among them.

"I hadn't really been worried by the absence of all these mansion people before now. Oh well. As for using my skills, well, my skills are in violence, not diplomacy. I thought the X-men were more of a non-violent group."

"Oh they are," Juka agreed emphatically. "But that doesn't mean that they don't sometimes have to use violence. Take Cthulu, for example. Surely if the X-men had been here they would have used violence to dispose of the monster just like we did, but they weren't so it fell to us. And then there are the evil mutans like Aura who have to be stopped." He couldn't help the mention of Aura. He wasn't sure that he would ever be able to forgive her for what she did to him.

"So what inspired you to join the X-men then?"

"Me? An X-man?" Juka laughed. "I'm afraid I'm not an X-man yet. Soon, once the X-men come back. But not yet." And now that he was really thinking about it, they had been gone an awefully long time and he coudn't help but feel a little concerned. What if something had happened to his Ghosty or his Jewely? Oh, if only one of them had told them where they were all going and if only he could go and engage in a grand heroic rescue.

Cafas nodded, he had no reason to doubt anything Juka was saying, and it seemed rather appropriate of the rumours that they would help train younger mutants, he didn't pursue the subject further however, it seemed that would be all he'd get, so he let it slide past without further question. He was still left mystified as to who to talk to about joining however. Alchemist rubbed his eyes in that way tired people do. He didn't really have a reason to be tired, but he was. Maybe it was the combination of comfortable temperature and hot chocolate. He decided he didn't care. He was just in that sort of mood. Exercise did that to him, made him happy, runner's buzz as some called it.

'I'll have to ask about it again less subtly...'

Oh so they were a diplomatic group, just with violence as a back up. Well that he could certainly do. He tried to get the name but missed it in a momentary lapse into thought. It was unfortunate really, He'd like to pay said evil mutant a visit. As for bringing up Cthulhu, well that had gone from one fiasco to another rather quickly. He wished violence had been more effective there though, apparently the most effective method would have just been to ignore it until the rain washed it away. "Well then I guess my talents might be useful then." He smiled at Juka and drained his chocolaty warmth. Mmmmm Chocolaty warmth.

'Damn wandering mind missed the name. Can't ask without giving away that lapse in attention...'

It was now Cafas' turn to laugh. "No no, you misunderstand me, I mean why do you want to be an X-man. Sorry That was likely my poor phrasing." He smiled at Juka and reached over to put his empty mug on the desk. For a moment he wished he knew where the rest of the mansion residents were, it was rather empty around without them. If what Juka said was true, and they were X-men, it could be very bad for the entire world. Well, according to the (pro mutant) news anyway.

'Yes, a bit of tolerance would be nice on other stations...'

"Well then I guess my talents might be useful then."

"All talents are useful," Juka agreed sagely. Actually, learning to fight more effectively was fairly high on his list of things to do. After all, if he ever wanted to become a proper super hero he would need to know how to fight. What if he got stuck somewhere and someone had the power to make his powers stop working? That wouldn't be good at all. Or, even worse, what if his powers stopped working on their own. He had all ready gone through the rather unpleasant experience of having his bubble refuse to disappear by his command, how much worse would it have been had it refused to appear at all?

"No no, you misunderstand me, I mean why do you want to be an X-man. Sorry That was likely my poor phrasing."

"I want to help people," Juka answered, in a rare moment of complete authenticity. Not that he ever really lied, mind you, but he wasn't always so serious. "When Aura almost killed me I had a sort of revalation. I realized I wasn't doing anything important with my life and I had been given this great power that I should do something good with. Performing is one thing, it makes people happy and I love to make people happy, but what is a momentary moment of happiness when compared to the prospect of saving someone's life?" The words were said with true feeling.

"I'm hoping to learn how to fight soon. Just in case my anvils and my bubbles fail me." No harm putting out that sort of feeler, right? "How about you? Any future plans or prospects? What do you want out of life?" Oh, such a heavy question to ask.

Cafas had a feeling that he was witnessing someone opening their soul to him and he really wasn't ready for that. Juka's story received about as much attention as it would have if it were a mosquito on the wall, absently listening while not actually hearing it. He picked up on the words almost killed and thought the appropriate response would be to wince sympathetically. Other than that it was all just nodding as if he understood. When silence again fell for a moment he zeroed back in on Juka. He had to wonder what an appropriate response to the entire monologue would be. In no time at all he was using TV's social etiquette of being completely passive about it. "Yeah, fair enough." Teenage conversational skills were fun to have.

'Truly you are a charismatic person.'

Cafas actually became interested when learning to fight was mentioned. Well, he could use someone to hit. He corrected himself. Train with. "Well I can help with that if you fancy kick boxing. I tend to favour weapons but I still have quite a bit of experience in it, enough to teach you a more effective form anyway." He had skills of use! Well, his charisma needed work if he was to teach, but at least it was a start. Then came the question to reverse their previous roles. "I wouldn't mind Equality with humans. Or an awesome car. I'd like to be able to return home and find my parents, tell 'em I forgive 'em. That's what I plan to fight for anyway, a world where I can do that. Also I wanna learn how to fly planes and skydive." Cafas intentionally tried to lighten the tone a little with the lat part. He really didn't expect any more attention from Juka than he had payed him. If he got it it was simply a bonus.

'What have I got that is attractive to people? I never was this popular back in Australia.'

Juka had the distinct feeling that he was making Cafas vaguely uncomfortable and that confused him just a little. Weren't they supposed to be friends now? Isn't talking about the important things in life what friends did with one another? Then again, for all the casual friends that Juka had, he didn't have much in the way of true friends. So many were either out for his body, or because he was a musician and played in a band or just to absorb a little bit of the spotlight that tended to fall upon him. His old band, now they were true friends, but they were thousands of miles away, back in Japan and he, well, wasn't. He had made a promise to his parents never to come back. It was depressing to realize just how few people he had in his life that would really stand up for him.

"Well I can help with that if you fancy kick boxing. I tend to favour weapons but I still have quite a bit of experience in it, enough to teach you a more effective form anyway."

The words brought Juka forcibly back to reality and the realization that, even if Cafas had no interest in his personal motivations, he was still a good person and didn't seem the type to be trying to absorb his ever-present spotlight. "Thank you so much for the offer, dearest Cafas." He thought about giving the man a hug and then thought better of it. Something told him that Cafas wasn't the type to appreciate hugs from other men, even men as beautiful as he.

"I wouldn't mind Equality with humans. Or an awesome car. I'd like to be able to return home and find my parents, tell 'em I forgive 'em. That's what I plan to fight for anyway, a world where I can do that. Also I wanna learn how to fly planes and skydive."

"Oh, I can help with the skydiving part," Juka answered with a mischievous grin. The joys of being able to float in a bubble. "Just dawn your parachute and you can jump out of a bubble!"