"The Mansion is a good place to stay," Meld agreed, once again starting towards the subway. "If it doesn't work out there you can always move later. Those who reside there are, as a whole, rather accepting and easy to live with. And you don't have any pointy bits to scare the little children away." A dark smile followed the comment, though there was some humour behind it. It was a good day and Meld wasn't feeling particularly bitter. In fact, she might almost say she was feeling almost optimistic.

The Mansion was, in Meld's opinion, a rather niave place. Or rather, those who lived there were, by and large, rather niave. But it was also a safe place, especially for someone without an active mutation and sometimes safety was the most important quality. "What is your mutation, if you don't mind my asking?" Some people were so touchy about such things so it was better to be polite.

"The Mansion is a good place to stay. If it doesn't work out there you can always move later. Those who reside there are, as a whole, rather accepting and easy to live with. And you don't have any pointy bits to scare the little children away."
Susan smiled a half smile. Something about the way Meld talked tasted strangely familiar. She could feel that taste sometimes on her own words.
"I tend to scare people anyway" she shrugged, walking with her "I suppose it is not just about visible mutations."
She wondered how many children they were talking about. And what age. The image of cheerful pink-and-blue hordes of mutant toddlers flashed through her mind. She winced.
"What is your mutation, if you don't mind my asking?"
"Synestesia." she answered; this explanation was starting to become a routine. She actually developed two different versions: one for people with some affinity to science, and... a simple one. "I can switch my senses with each other. I can smell sounds, and taste colors, and things like that. I am not fully in control yet." she added "The changing eye color is just a side effect."

There was something about Susan that made Meld believe her when she said that she tended to scare people away. There was a sort of steel behind her soft human form, just beneath the surface. It may not have been as obvious as Meld's titanium limbs but it was nevertheless there, obvious for any who cared to look. And perhaps even obvious for those who didn't care to look, but for those that was what was so frightening.

Meld nodded thoughtfully at the young woman's description of her own mutation. "Never disparage the gifts you've been given. Even something passive can be of great use in the right circumstances." The circumstances that came to mind were those if spying and infiltration, but she didn't speak them allowed. It was too soon to know, yet, if that was something that a woman like Susan would even consider. She didn't want to leave her with the wrong impression.

Meld began walking down the stairs towards the subway that would lead to the Mansion. It was croweded here, as it normally was, but she managed to avoid reacting to the many disapproving and frightful looks that she got. This was the life she had chosen and sometimes that came with side effects.

"Never disparage the gifts you've been given. Even something passive can be of great use in the right circumstances."
Susan actually smiled at that. It was the smile of the teenage witch that had just turned the first annoying brat of a prince into a nice slimy toad.
"I am comfotable with being a mutant" she nodded "And synestesia allows for a unique way of perception."
Looking around, her eyes swam black as she looked at the flock of disapprovingly orange-and-grey murmurs surrounding their unusual pair.
No matter how you all stare, I can stare better.
"So, Meld is not your real name, is it?" she asked, turning back to the woman "Is it common among mutants to have names like that? I met one called Pluto. I am not sure that was his real name either. But since 'Susan Hyde' was given to me by my foster family... I am not sure how much longer I will use it."
Names. In many cultures they held powerful magic. Since she decided to start a new life in the mutant world, she might as well start with the name...

"I am comfotable with being a mutant"

Meld nodded her approval. "I'm glad to hear it. You would be surprised how many people are not comfortable at all with being a mutant." Because of human prejudice in Meld's opinion, but she refrained from speaking that particular thought out loud.

"So, Meld is not your real name, is it? Is it common among mutants to have names like that? I met one called Pluto. I am not sure that was his real name either. But since 'Susan Hyde' was given to me by my foster family... I am not sure how much longer I will use it."

"No Meld is not my real name. I have...some bad memories associated with my life before I discovered I was a mutant and choose to leave that life behind. Its common enough to go by a different name among mutants, but its completely up to you. Many choose to do so and many do not." She smiled warmly at the mention of Pluto, almost seeming to glow with it. "And Pluto is the name he chooses to go by. If he once had a different name would it really matter? How did you find him if you don't mind my asking?"

Meld walked onto the subway and awaited its departure. The people around the two of them gave them a wide berth but, thankfully, didn't try anything stupid or heroic. That was as it should be. She didn't really feel like killing any idiots or fools today.

"And Pluto is the name he chooses to go by. If he once had a different name would it really matter? How did you find him if you don't mind my asking?"
She did glow with the smile. It was a warm, copper-colored glow, strangely enough complementing her very being, and made Susan arch an eyebrow in mild surprise. What do you know.
"He saved me from my darling roommates who were trying to excorcise the demon that, according to their theory, had possessed me and made me say mean things about their intellectual capabilities." she smirked "They were clearly not expecting the demon to appear in front of them."
The subway started to move, and Susan swayed a little, one hand holding onto her suitcase, but she didn't reach with the other for support.
"He was the one who told me I was a mutant, and not a witch." she added, with an expression between a smirk and a frown. Too bad. Demon and witch could have made a great team. A witch with actual magical powers, that is.
Wishful thingking.
"So... you know him" she observed, looking at Meld "He's not one of the Mansion people, is he."

"He saved me from my darling roommates who were trying to excorcise the demon that, according to their theory, had possessed me and made me say mean things about their intellectual capabilities. They were clearly not expecting the demon to appear in front of them."

Meld smirked back, able to imagine such an occurance perfectly. And knowing Pluto, she was pretty sure that he had enjoyed their reactions too. She decided right then and there that she liked Susan. There was something practical and straight forward about the woman and she had a sense of humour as well, even if it was a little on the twisted side. That suited Meld just fine since her own sense of humour was a little twisted as well. How could it not be doing what she did in support of the mutant cause?

"He was the one who told me I was a mutant, and not a witch."

"That does sound like Pluto," Meld agreed. "And I'm sure it was a relief to find out you werent' a witch." She laughed and noted at least one nervous set of eyes turn her way at the sound. Was she really so frightening that even her laughter caused people to cringe in nervousness?

"No, Pluto is not a Mansion person." The subway stopped and Meld exited, leading Susan through the throngs of people. "Though I suppose he wouldn't fit in any less than I do and I still live there." A shrug of her shoulders.

"And I'm sure it was a relief to find out you werent' a witch."
Susan wrinkled her nose.
"For them, maybe. I personally wouldn't mind being a witch. It is a form of power based on knowedge and experience, not something you are born with... contrary to common belief." she added with a smirk.
There was a lot of that going around in poplar culture lately...
"... but I have to admit, in my case genetics make more sense."
Meld seemed to be in a close relationship with Pluto. It could be seen in the way her voice colored more bright, talking about him.
"...though I suppose he wouldn't fit in any less than I do and I still live there."
Susan tilted her head.
"Why did you coose the Mansion?"

"For them, maybe. I personally wouldn't mind being a witch. It is a form of power based on knowedge and experience, not something you are born with... contrary to common belief."

Meld nodded thoughtfully. "I can't say I've done much research on witches but being a mutant isn't all about simple genetics. You have to train your power, train your control in order to become everything you can. Sure, its a trick of genetics having the potential, but its up to you and your own efforts to live up to that potential." Maybe it was because her own power required such precision and patience to be effective, but it was something that Meld strongly believed.

"Why did you coose the Mansion?"

"I choose the Mansion because I didn't really have anywhere else to go." It was said casually and was, mostly, meant casually. "I used to live at Sanctuary but had a...falling out you could say with the people who ran it. Ghost was kind enough to accept me at the Mansion and I've been there ever since."

As the pair made their way closer to the Mansion on foot, the crowds began thinning out. There were less people on the streets to stare and cause potential problems and Meld had no problem with that.

Susan nodded at Meld's explanation about powers. That was an interesting take on being a mutant. Susan liked it. 'Training her powers' would mean a lot of work, wich was good, because nothing annoyed the witch like boredom; she was also fairly curious about what the potential of her powers could be.
She'll just have to try and see.
"I used to live at Sanctuary but had a...falling out you could say with the people who ran it. Ghost was kind enough to accept me at the Mansion and I've been there ever since."
Ghost. Susan stored that name in her mind for further inspection. They really did use codenames. How fascinating.
Approaching the Mansion, Susan couldn't help but stare. The setting itself was impressive, but not as much as all the colors she could see, smell, and taste about it: dozens of people, mutants, tudents, all in one place, it made her sixth sense tingle, even from this distance. Her eyes changed colors rapidly several times before she regained control, shaking her head.
"Hm. Impressive."

Meld noticed the awe that Susan displayed upon first setting eyes on the Mansion and felt a certain satisfaction in it. She might not feel the same attachment to the Mansion as certain others, but it was still home, as much a home as she ever had. A small tendril of doubt entered her mind about how long it would remain home but she shook her head against it. One day her violent antics might come to bite her in the ass and expel her from the Mansion's walls, but that day wasn't today. No use worrying about it now.

Meld walked forth, entering the security code at the gate once they arrived. "I'm afraid I won't be able to set you up with a room, but there should be someone around to help you settle in. Let me know if there's anything at all that I can do to help."

"I'm afraid I won't be able to set you up with a room, but there should be someone around to help you settle in. Let me know if there's anything at all that I can do to help."
So, here she was. In a Mansion full of mutants. A school. A new school. Boarding school. She wondered if she'd have roommates again. It was not a pleasant thought. Even though mutant roommates can't possibly be as stupid as the ones back in her high school. They just can't. Or Susan would have to call for help again. And after a demon and a woman half made of metal, who knows what would come to the rescue next time...
"Thank you" she looked at Meld, and tried her best to push the awkwardness that usually accompanied social interaction into the back of her mind "I really appreciate you coming to help me. I am sure we'll meet again soon."
It was really as simple as that.
The Witch moved into the Mansion.