Kyal read the news paper slowly, he had to make sure news about him hadn't followed him here from Boston. New York was a bigger city so it was easier to hide in. Taking a sip of his coffee he scanned the last few pages and gave a small sigh of relief, nothing about him. Since the news had nothing to say about his exploits he had to work on his next problem, finding a place to stay. Looking around the cafe he gave up any hopes of asking for help, not counting himself and the two girls working there the place was empty. Leaving the paper on the counter he walked out and headed towards some old apartments he'd seen earlier. If he was lucky there would be some open rooms, if he was really lucky he wouldn't have to pay any rent in advance. If not then he'd sneak into someplace and spend the night that way.

He didn't even realize he was crossing the street until he heard the car's horn blaring. Out of instinct Kyal fell backwards and shifted into 2D as soon as he hit the ground. Three seconds later he realized his mistake as a crowd started to form around him. He had a few choices, sit there like an idiot, stay in 2D and run, or get up and try to run through the crowd. The problem was that he couldn't see which way gave him the best chance of escape if he ran, but he couldn't tell how many of the people were mutant haters and what would happen if he stayed. One thing he did know, this was NOT how he wanted to start the new year.

The vehicle that nearly hit Kyal screeched to a stop several feet past him, a black Hummer H2 Limo. It stayed there as the crowd started to gather, its occupants not yet exiting the limousine to check on the person they nearly hit. Whoever was in the back could almost clearly see Kyal.

After several seconds, the vehicle backed up a few feet so the read passenger door could open to face Kyal. As it backed up, a large bumper sticker on the rear of the Hummer would read 'Mutant Rights!' in bright red if Kyal noticed. The right rear passenger door of the chauffeur-driven limousine opened slowly so as not to hit any of the bystanders amongst the crowd.

From the depths of the dark interior, a feminine hand extended.

"Do you need a ride?"

A gentle, but strong Chinese accent. A combination of clouds, angle, and the dim interior of the luxury car would render Pompei's visage completely shadowed. It wouldn't be until Kyal moved to take her hand or enter through the limo door (if he chose to do either) that he would be able to see his potential savior, a uniquely-dressed Pompei Yuen.

Get up and walk away seemed like the best idea. Kyal reached up, his arms shifting back into 3D from the pavement and he pulled himself back out. He heard several gasps from the people around him but he ignored it, they'd find something else to stare at by by tomorrow. As he looked around he noticed the Hummer limo that ran over him slowly back up through the crowd.

>>"Do you need a ride?"

Kyal turned towards the voice, female, Asian possibly Japanese, and strong. He stared at the open door of the limo for a moment. Once again he weighed his options, take a free ride from a stranger that almost hit him or force his way through the now shrinking crowd. The ride was coming from someone in a hummer limo which meant money, and that was always helpful.

"Um, sure if you don't mind."

He took her hand and stepped into the limo. He blinked a few times adjusting to the dim interior then looked at the woman who just helped him. He swallowed as he stared at Pompei Yuen, the famous mutants right activist, someone who he could get help from without breaking the law. Luck was on his side today, although in an odd direction.

"Thank you, I'm sorry for not checking and causing a scene."

He winced slightly as his voice bounced off the inside of the limo. Hopefully she wouldn't say anything about it.

Pompei gave Kyal a smile, and gently shook her head.

"No apology necessary. If my driver had been paying attention to the road, and not me, he would have seen you in time to slow down and stop."

She shot a look to the privacy divider, already raised up. The chauffeur couldn't hear nor see them, but she had probably already scolded him for his poor driving and instructed him to close the divider before she had even opened the door.

Placing her hands in her lap, Pompei turned her full attention to Kyal.

"I am Pompei Yuen. Perhaps you know of me?"

Though she was something of a celebrity, Pompei did not suggest he might know her out of personal self-satisfaction. Rather, she knew she had some popularity and hoped that she wouldn't have to unnecessarily explain who she was and what it was that she did.

Thankfully, though, she had a very recognizable figure.

The car started moving forward. It was likely, especially in that she did not react to it beginning to move, that she had already told her driver to drive before inviting the mysterious mutant inside. So she, at least, had a destination. In fact, she was headed to Trump World Tower, where she lived.

"Is there somewhere I can take you?"

It was often that the rich were portrayed as snobby, rude to others and stingy with their money. Pompei was a shining example of the exact opposite. A highly charitable woman who, with this being a perfect example, would give a ride to a complete stranger without asking for anything in return.

>>"No apology necessary. If my driver had been paying attention to the road, and not me, he would have seen you in time to slow down and stop. I am Pompei Yuen. Perhaps you know of me?"

Kyal sat there for a moment, did he know of her? She just finished a huge mutant rights rally in time square, half the country had been watching her. That wasn't important at the moment though, not messing up an opportunity to get some help from a powerful person was.

"Y-yes I have. I'm just a little shocked to meet you in person, especially right after the rally you held. My name's Kyal, I kind of just moved here."

Realizing that he had no idea where they were going Kyal fell silent. While it was fine to accept a free ride it might have been better to think of a destination first. His previous ideas for finding a cheap apartment didn't seem like a worth while choice anymore, considering who he was with. At the same time if he tried to ask for a favor the wrong way he might come across as trying to make a deal to keep quiet about being run over.

>>"Is there somewhere I can take you?"

A question that relates exactly to what he was thinking; was she a psychic? While it would explain her success in the political world Kyal didn't see her as some one that selfish. In any case If he didn't think of an answer they would eventually arrive at her destination and he would end up walking to the apartments anyway.

"Well, not exactly, since I'm new in town I haven gotten a place to stay yet. And being short on cash only makes it harder. Apartments cost money and jobs require an address, which leaves me stuck."

[OOC: I accidentally modified my previous post instead of posting a reply. Thankfully, I could change it back, so I did.]

Pompei smiled and turned to look out her window, possibly blushing.

"I always feel so flattered when I'm recognized..."

She still was not used to the celebrity factor that came with being a political-styled mutant rights activist. She knew what she was doing, and although she was used to being disliked back in Hong Kong, she was still unfamiliar with the feeling of being liked by so many others.

When she heard his response, she turned to face him.

"Oh? Why don't you come stay with me, then? I have plenty of events planned this week, so the apartment will be mostly empty. You can stay there for now, and I can find you a place. I'm sure I can get you a job, as well."

Pompei reassuringly placed her hand on Kyal's knee.

It was nothing like a charity case, or her taking pity on him. It was genuine generosity, allowed by the fact that Pompei had enough money and connections to do something like this any time she met someone who needed her help.

"I don't mean to pressure you into this, however. If you would prefer to do things on your own, I understand completely."

Did he hear her correctly? She had just offered to let him stay at her apartment. Was she trying to cover for her driver? It didn't seem like it, she was too calm for that. On the other hand did she realize the repercussions of having someone living in her apartment? No, whatever her reason or thinking was he couldn't accept that offer.

"No I couldn't intrude like that. I would feel awkward being in someone else's house like that."

He shifted uncomfortably when she touched his knee. In truth he had broken into houses to spent the night before but he never let the owners know. It was simply too weird living with someone, even temporarily. Especially if that someone was famous Like Pompei, it would cause a lot of issues for her if the press found out.

>>"I don't mean to pressure you into this, however. If you would prefer to do things on your own, I understand completely."

He relaxed slightly at this, she was understanding, that was good. Since she did want to help him though he would let her. Help with a job was also offered, that he would take up. As for a place to stay he would just deal with something cheap and easy, if she wanted to help with that as well then he wouldn't object.

"Thank you, but just helping me get a job or my own place would be enough. I don't have much experience but I can catch on quickly if you had any place in mind that is looking for employees. As for a place to live, somewhere that doesn't need any rent up front would be fine."

There, that should be ok. If he did things right he would be getting some cash and a place to live in one situation. That would save him a lot of time and effort. He still felt like he was slightly taking advantage of her generosity but right now he didn't want to deal with internal moral issues.

Pompei took her hand from Kyal's knee and touched her lower lip in thought.

"Well... if you don't mind helping out, I just recently purchased a small five-story apartment complex in a part of the city that has fallen into disrepair. You could stay there for free and at the same time earn a pay by helping to fix the place up."

The place she had in mind was in the midst of an area which consisted primarily of apartments and office buildings. Most looked run down, though the look was clearly caused by some sort of battle or attack that had happened in the area. As such, most or all of the former tenants were not likely to return.

Pompei had bought the place cheap, and it only had a few tenants (all of whom were mutants she had put up there with the same offer) so far. It was currently without a landlord, as well.

"I also have openings for factory workers and office staff in other buildings, if you prefer. At the apartment, however, you would be able to work at your own pace."

>>"Well... if you don't mind helping out, I just recently purchased a small five-story apartment complex in a part of the city that has fallen into disrepair. You could stay there for free and at the same time earn a pay by helping to fix the place up."

Kyal rested his chin in his hand and though for a moment. The situation was turning out well. He now had a decent offer for both a place to stay and a job renovating the building. Of course he had no idea what state of disrepair the building was in but as long as it was still livable he would be fine. As for working on the place he would expect Pompei to fund the renovations, though to be fair he'd try to stay on the lower end of the price range. Also he would defiantly need help, fixing up a five story building by himself was impossible.

>>"I also have openings for factory workers and office staff in other buildings, if you prefer. At the apartment, however, you would be able to work at your own pace."

Factories and offices were not something he'd likely do well in. Not to mention there would be no way to tell when or how the apartment was being fixed. He had helped out his neighbors back in high school when they were remodeling so he would know what he was doing if he went with the apartment job. The ability to work at his own pace was nice as well since he was still trying to get acquainted with the city still.

"Well, the apartment sounds fine and i wouldn't mind working on it. Like I said I don't have many skills so a factory or office job probably wouldn't fit well. The only question I have is how would I pay for any renovations I made? Other than that I'd be ready to move in and start working whenever I can."

"Oh, well... you don't have to worry about that. I have someone to handle that side of the renovation. All you need to do is the actual work."

Slowly, the limousine would come to a stop in front of Trump World Tower. The Tower was a residential skyscraper, with seventy two floors. It was where she lived, though the specific floor she lived on was not known to the general public.

Across the street was the United Nations headquarters.

"This is where I live. If you like, the driver can take you to the apartment building. You can pick out a room and get settled in. I don't drop by often, so unless you come looking for me, this is probably goodbye, Kyal. Do you have any questions before I go?"

Before asking him if he had any questions, the driver had opened the door and she had put her leg out of the car, ready to get out. She gathered her designer handbag, ready to leave.

>>"Oh, well... you don't have to worry about that. I have someone to handle that side of the renovation. All you need to do is the actual work. This is where I live. If you like, the driver can take you to the apartment building. You can pick out a room and get settled in. I don't drop by often, so unless you come looking for me, this is probably goodbye, Kyal. Do you have any questions before I go?""

"Nope that covers everything. Thank you for the ride and the apartment."

As the limo pulled away he let out a long sigh. He hadn't expected things to get started for him this easily and wondered if the limo really had hit him and he was just dreaming. After several pinches he gave up that idea and just enjoyed the ride to the apartment building.
The room he picked was pretty empty, bare plaster walls, cheap tile and carpet on the floors. It wasn't much but it was home. It was a strange feeling, he had never spent more that three days in one place for the past two years. He wondered what his parents would think if they saw him now. His mom would worry about rent while his dad...no. He couldn't let himself get homesick. The registration act was gone but he had still broken out of jail and would be arrested if he ever went back.