Ezekiel sighed as he walked into his classroom. He had not had very much time to meet any of his students and he was kind of anxious for the opputunity. After the students came in and were seated, he would begin a lecture on Chinese worship. The class was meant to be more informational than convincing, trying to explain to the students what the people of the world thought about life and death and the afterlife.

Zeke took a leather chair behind his desk and sat down quietly. He glanced over the notes he had brought and then stared at the textbooks which sat on the student's desks in the first few rows. Then, he reached his hand down into the desk drawer and pulled out the book that he had retrieved from the library only a few days ago. Opening the front flap, he stared inside at the contents...

The book was hollow on the inside, with a small safe like deposit, with a digital combination entry. Typing in the correct sequence, the little safe whooshed open, and Zeke reached his hand inside. Pulling out a small device, he took a careful look at it. It looked like any ordinary miniature cookie, but it definitely was not that. No, this was a tracking device, security system, and weapon all in one. Zeke liked to call it the Aerotight-Influxor, because of its amazing engineering capabilities. This might come in handy in the mansion later on.

Zeke smiled and thought of how awesome a job his friend did to get this peice of technology into his hands. Plenty of money and knowing the right people could get you anything these days.

Thoughtfully, Zeke replaced the device and shut the safe, then closed the cover of the book and slipped it back into its slot in the desk. Then he looked up at the clock. Five minutes to class starting time... the students should arrive any minute.

Eaen popped his head in the door noticing the same man from the library sitting behind the teacher's desk. Within the folder given to him by Tricity he saw a course list, and figured since he was at the mansion he might as well sit in on a few classes and try and learn something. Readjusting his messanger bag over his shoulder, and making sure he was at the right room, he took a deep breath and entered the classroom.

"Um, this is World Religions right...?" Eaen walked over to a desk near the window and placed his bag down on the floor leaning up against the chair. "My name's Eaen McCormick, I'm um, new around here, and I haven't gotten around to registering for classes yet... Is that okay, or should I go take care of that first?"

He smiled lightly, fidgeting with his sleeve as he stood waiting for Glare's response.

Zeke looked up from his desk and stared at the new arrival. He hadn't been in the class before, but probably figured now was as good a time as ever to jump in, and he was probably right. Zeke stood and walked over to the boy, glancing at him from the feet to his forehead. He was the one that Zeke had seen in the library, no doubt about it.

Zeke said somewhat seriously, "Hi Eaen. I'm Professor Ezekiel White. Yes, this is World Religions. I teach this class every day except Friday through Sunday from 2 to 4, and each student has to attend atleast twice a week. I trust you can make that schedule. No need to go immediately to the registration office. You can take care of that after class, as we will be starting soon." Zeke turned and walked back to his desk and took a seat. He stared harder at the boy and figured he was a little wild, maybe uncontrolled. In any case, Zeke felt uneasy about this boy's mind. He could sense it.

He drew a water bottle from underneath the desk and opened the cap, then took a long sip of the water. He preferred Scotch. Definitely Scotch. But with the students around he had to learn to drink water, rather than his normal drinks. He put the bottle on the desk and open, he was always cautious of new people. If any new mutants came into his class, he was always careful to place his water strategically. Never know who or what was the threat to him... considering his history. Someone wanted Nightdream, and someone wanted Zeke. It was only a matter of time before they showed up.

"I'm sorry we haven't met before now," he said addressing Eaen. "but I've been a very busy man. I hope that you enjoy this class. I'm an easy teacher, and give out info that will help you learn. If you want to learn, you will do well in this class. You've missed a few assignments, but I'll let it slip by..." He would go easy on the newcomer, as he always did.

He sighed and looked up at the clock. Getting closer to starting time and there were very few students in the class. He spoke to Eaen once more, before returning to his notes, "If you have any questions, don't hesistate to ask."

Eaen smiled at Zeke once he had finished talking. Any nerves that had effected him earlier, slowly melted away, he seemed like an easy going guy. He nodded before saying, "Yeah, I'll go register after class!"

He slipped into the desk next to him and glanced over at a girl sitting a few rows past him. She had blonde hair that was a little past shoulder length, and it fell arond her face in big, loose, curls. She was chewing on gum, somewhat obnoxiously, and seemed to be writing in her notebook.

Eaen looked around at the few other students that had also showed up early to class, and noticed a boy who was bald and had the most unusal skin Eaen had ever seen. They boy's skin was tinted slightly green and had, what looked like, runes etched allover. The boy's eyes were dark, nearly black, and he smiled at Eaen when he realized he was being watched. Eaen blushed, hoping he hadn't offended the green skined teen and moved on to inspect the rest of the class.

A pair of girls had also just walked in, one had an obvious mutantion while the other didn't. The girl who looked human had straight red hair that was pulled back into a low pony tail and had lots of freckles. The girl she was energetically speaking to was a girl who looked maybe a year or two younger but Eaen couldn't tell. If you had seen her from a distance you would have guessed she just had really shiny skin, which is weird on it's own, but from where Eaen was sitting, it looked like the girl had an exo-skeleton, and had incredibly wirey, long, white hair.

At that point a muscular teen walked by the girls and waved at them before taking a seat next to the mutant with green skin. He had fair skin, and was blonde but his hair was a darker shade than the first girl and it was cut real short, spiked up with gel or some other hair product.

Eaen then turned to the front of the class, realizing if he spent any more time staring at his fellow students they probably wouldn't recieve him very well at a later date.

<"Staring won't harm anyone! Take another gander at that chick with the curls, she was hot...">

Eaen frowned slightly. 'I will do no such thing... If you want to check her out, do it yourself!'

<"Did you really just say that?">

Eaen blushed lightly, realizing he had just made a crack at Miguel not having a body of his own. It was going to be rough attending this new school, but it was going to be a down right miracle if the gentle, personable Eaen survived with his cousin the womanizing, sadistic Miguel still inside his head.

((Ah, hope you don't mind, but I thought I'd create some NPC students for you to use in your class! =P I think they're pretty fun and shall put them up in the NPC section so anyone can use them. =P))

deathstar walks into the classroom with her headphones on her head listening to rock music on her ipod, the music was so loud it took over the attention from the professor onto deathstar, she walks slow but interupting the class, she sat behind Eaen, in which he was the only one she clicked with so far while living in the mansion..

Oh1..hey pro, sorry I'm late, I can explain but I don't feel like it, So I'll tell you after class... she says towards aguy that she met in the library oh!!, I met you before you that guy in the library, This should real interesting she leaned back on her seat with her feet propped up desk, while her arms behind her head, listening to what the professor has to say...

Eaen smiled despite himself as Deathstar entered the classroom. Her enterance was just so... so... It was just so Deathstar. He glanced over his shoulder and smiled at the younger girl, giving her a small wave before realizing she hadn't pulled out a notebook yet. Stopping for a second, he figured what the hell. What's one more chance at trying to get to know Deathstar better going to do?

He pulled an extra pen and a pad of a paper from his bag and placed it on Deathstar's desk next to her feet and winked at her. At the top of the pad it said, "I'm not going to keep notes for the both of us all semester! Glad to see a familiar face. =) Maybe we can grab some food after class?"

He straightened out his back, and looked up to the professor when he heard a dark skinned boy with bright green eyes make a comment to a girl with short brown hair done up in pig tails.

"Who's the new kid?" He whispered to her, before the girl just shrugged.

Eaen sighed, remembering that he's still new at the mansion, before turning his attention back to Zeke. He was excited about this class, he always found religion a fascinating topic. He just hoped he had the spine to participate in class, it usually took him a while to warm up to a group of people, especially since he was just reminded of his status as the "new kid".

<"I could take care of them if you want.">

'Miguel, shut up.'

deathstar sat up on her seat and reach for the notebook an pen, she nodded her head towards him as he smiled back at her, thanks I owe you one,...lunch is on me. she said in a whispery voice so the professor couldn' hear her *pis*...*pis* she whisperes trying to get his attention, how bout we go downtown for lunch, I know this bangin new place, we can grub at!! she slowly slouched down in her seat, waiting for his reply....

she heard the student ask the other one who's the new kid, she turn towards the skinny boy hey!!, none of your business..and if i hear you talk about him, I swear I will she rudely answered his question and threatens him, in fear they were going to insult and embarass Eaen...all this commotion got the attention of other students..deathstar once again put in the spotlight

Eaen turned a deep crimson color when Deathstar spoke out against the kid to their right. He had to smile a little bit though, much like her enterance her latest actions were very much Deathstar. Trying to ignore the rest of their class, and their now bewildered looks, Eaen turned around to face Deathstar, smiling at the girl.

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea." He said in reference to where they were going to eat, and he pointed to Zeke sitting at the front of the room. "And if he didn't like us already for what happened in the library..." Eaen chuckled a little. "He definetly doesn't like us now."

Turning back to face the front of the room, he smiled apologetically to Zeke. He was looking forward to hanging out with Deathstar, he felt it would offer much needed insight into the mind behind the actions. If what he thought was true, Deathstar was a good person deep down, and he had decided to make it his mission to somehow get her and Fade to get along.

Smiling to himself slightly, he wrote the date at top of his current sheet of paper and continued to watch Zeke.

Zeke looked at the clock again and realized it was time to start. It looked like Deathstar had just walked in. The girl was annoying and controlling. She really didn't belong in this place... but then again... no mutant belonged anywhere. Zeke just decided to accept her for who she was and move on. Suddenly, she and Eaen made some sort of disturbance with the boy in the next row. Of course, it was Deathstar being the loud one.

Zeke sighed. This was going to be a long session, and every session would be with her here... "All right, that will be quite enough." Zeke said requiring the attention of everyone in the class. He was a kind teacher, but he was going to be firm in this instance. He would not allow a student to disrupt his lecture. He walked around to the front of his desk and stared down quickly Deathstar, and then Eaen and the other boy involved. "Please pay attention... we will begin now."

He took the bottle from the desk and took a sip, and then began. "For those of you who a new, my name is Professor Ezekiel White. I'd prefer that you call me Professor if you are under 19. I teach World Religion here at this school. Many of you are already halfway through this class, and I'd like to inform each of you that we will have an exam Thursday based on the lecture I give today. Listen closely and take notes and you'll do fine. I'm here to help you. You can call me on my cell phone at any time if you have any questions."

Zeke walked over to the whiteboard and quickly put down his number, then turned back to the class. "I'm availible quite often, and if I'm not there will be a message there explaining why. All right, let's begin shall we?" He took a breath and then began.

"For thousands of year people in China have been worshipping... can anybody guess who or what they worship?" Zeke scanned the room to see if anyone would answer.

The boy in the front with a particular sense of humor replied, "Your Aunt?" The room errupted in laughter.

With a chuckle Zeke came back quickly, "Not too far from the truth. The Chinese have been worshipping relatives for as long as anyone can remember. Now, we don't really have an official word to call this religion. You have Islam, Christianty, Scientology, etcetera, but there is nothing to call this. There are other Chinese religions, but today we are focusing on the Ancient Chinese religion, which is quite common in the inland portion of China. We call it the Chinese folk religion." Zeke put special emphasis on the word folk.

He continued, "They worship their deceased aunts, uncles, fathers, mothers, grandfathers, grandmothers, second cousins twice removed on their fathers side, their great-great-great-great-great times 167 greats grandfather. That's what they do. They figure that if they treat the memory of their ancestors well, then they will be recieved kindly in the afterlife.

The second form of worship is animal worship. They are very heavy into the idea that your run-of-the-mill dragon (or snake) is a god. They'll worship a lot of different animals. They draw principally today on the neolithic worship of old. If you don't know what that word means, you may want to look it up. The definition from Webster's dictionary will be on your next exam. Anyways, back to the ancestors."

He leaned up against the desk and looked seriously from face to face, "They worship certain gods and goddesses that we call 'folk gods'. These gods are somewhat similiar to the ancient gods of the Greeks. Each god or goddess serves a particular function within the system. A few principle gods you should remember for the exam are here..."

Ezekiel walked over and wrote on the board, after wiping his phone number clean:

Bairen Zhang - King of the gods
Guan Yu - Forgiveness god
Kuan Yin - Immortal and merciful god
Mazu - goddess of sailors

He turned back around to face the class. "Those are a few I woudl recommend you study from you text." He took a pencil and tapped on the unopened book on the nearest desk. "I suggest you use this as a tool. You will want to know all you can of these four. I'm sorry we don't have enough time to go over these in class. Study and you should do well. It should be easy enough."

He walked over to the left side of class this time. "An interesting god is Zao Shen. He is the kicthen and behavior god. Actually, on the Chinese New Year it is said that they give him some sticky rice so that he will have trouble speaking at the festival. He is supposed to report to the rest of the gods on how each family is behaving.

One final form of worship is worship of the elements . In short, the Chinese folk religion brings the sun, moon, stars, earth, and skies into their worshipful perspective. Be able to name those five things they worship of the elements on the next exam."

Zeke glanced down at his clock. It was time to end. "All right class, you're done for today. A short lecture, but I expect each of you to take some quality time to study this section in your book, chapter 2. Let me know if you have any questions. You are dismissed."

Zeke turned and sat back in his chair, and waited for the onslaught of students that would typically rush to his side.

deathstar tapped Eaen's shoulder soon before class was over.. did you get all that because i haven't, this dude must not have no life, or love life for that matter deathstar giggled to herself, obviously not liking the professor impression of her, hey pro!!!, good lecture, that will change my life, it might even cure the worlds deadly diseases talking out loud, she was obviously getting on the bad side of things, trying to make a fool out the professor, for some she thought professors and teachers always think their better than everyon else...

Ay!!..come eaen lets go eat, I missed breakfast and I am hungry.. she begin to gather her things and stands insisting that eaen stands up from her desk and leave with.. We're going to go downtown New York, maybe Madison Square Garden, Just follow me I'll show around!!.. telling eaen where the place to eat in which she hope he would accept her offer for leaving the mansion grounds

Eaen took a deep breath once Zeke had finished with his lecture and looked over his notes to make sure they made some sort of logical sense. He was familiar with quite a few different types of mythology, particularly greek, norse, and egyptian, although he did know a bit about the japanese and more main stream chinese mythology. As far as more modern religions went, he barely knew anything about christianity, islam or judiasm, however he did have quite a healthy knowledge regarding some Native American legends and rituals.

He could never wrap his mind around the more realistic religions, although he wasn't a follower of any of them, he prefered the flair and characters of the dead religions. They appealed to his creative side as opposed to his spiritual one, and as far as he could tell, that was just as good of an effect as any.

Packing up his stuff into his messanger bag, he flashed a single finger at Deathstar whispering, "one sec, I'm just going to talk to the Professor real quick. Oh, and no worries, I got all the notes! I can let you copy them sometime before the exam! I'm definetly pumped for some food, promise this will only take a second."

He made his way past some of the other students in the class, but got caught behind the kid with the green runes on his skin who was talking to the short haired gum chewing girl. It wouldn't have done him any good getting beyond them anyways.

Eaen caught no less than four of the girls in the class crowded around Zeke, and listened on as the red-headed girl flirted heavily with the professor.

"So tell us more about those ancestors..." she said airly, sending her and her companions into a fit of giggles.

Eaen couldn't help but crack a smile. 'Are you serious?'

<"I'm better looking than he is.">

Eaen contained his amusement with Miguel's jealousy and waved at the Professor, trying to get his attention. He managed to squeeze by his classmates and stood to the side of the pack of teenage girls.

"Hi Professor," he stuck with that title seeing as even though he was over 19 he felt he should respect his teacher. "I know you said that all of this material will be on the next exam, but I was just wondering what other sections in the book will be on there as well?"

Immedietly recieving dirty looks from the gaggle of girls, Eaen blushed lightly hoping that his nerd-like need to do well in class wouldn't damage his chances of making friends at the mansion.

Zeke glared at Deathstar and her rude comment. It was quite obvious the girl had little respect for anyone except herself. And to further the attrocity she suggested going off campus. "Deathstar, you need to speak with Tricity before you go to downtown New York..." then, he ignored the girl and began answering the flirty girls which were at his side in an instant. Zeke loved being a good looking young and availible Israeli teacher.

Looking up he saw Eaen shoving his way through and then waving. As Eaen got closer he distinguished a question. "Yes, only the information in chapter two sections E and F will be on the exam Eaen. That's all you have to worry about. I'm sure you'll do fine." He turned back to the girls. After speaking with them, he led the group out of the class and locked the door, and then waited outside to see if anyone else would speak to him. With any luck, Severity might even come by...

((dun da da dun, what a coincidink!))

Evie had been walking around, trying to gifure out what classes she wanted to take. After all, how was she to find out unless she saw what kind of classes they were. She didn't want to go to some computer graphics class and learn about the wrong kind of computer graphics...gah, that was confusing. Evie decided to just stop thinking things through so much and she continued to walk. However, she stopped dead in her tracks, hearing a familiar voice. Her eyebrow raised as she attempted to put a face to the voice. Yeah, it would have been easier if she just looked at who it was, but she didn't want to, she wanted to see if she could figure it out first.

Finally, she couldn't help herself any longer and, frustrated because she couldn't tell who it was, Evie turned to find Zeke. A smile shown brightly through her white teeth and she walked over to him. "Hey Zeke, almost forgot you taught." Since Evie was a fairly outgoing and fearless girl, and since she already felt comfortable around this guy, even though they had not spoken too much, she added something to her hello. "I'm so used to old, grungy teachers that smell funny. It's nice to see someone young and, well, hmm..." she paused as she attempted to make what she was trying to say make sense and come out the way she wanted it to, "that smells good. Did that come out right?"

If there was one thing Evie was good at, other than cheerleading, it was messing up a sentence and making it sound offensive, she just hoped she did not mess up her conversation with Zeke. She liked him, he was something else, not like the other teachers, and just something about him came across as soothing and comfortable.

Zeke smiled as he saw Severity turn the corner and head towards him. It was always good to see a familiar face around, and Zeke like this girl a lot more than any of the other single mutant females that stayed at the mansion. This girl was pretty, kind, and humorous. Exactly what Zeke liked. He drew Felixar from his pocket and hummed into the computer: "Message on... I'm busy... won't be availible for the next few hours."

The computer hummed back to him, "Yes sir." and then with a whir turned off. Zeke flipped the phone shut and replaced it into the pocket of his black silk suit jacket. He turned to speak with Severity and listened as she greeted him. "Yeah, I teach here. Sometimes I forget that myself. Good to see you once again!" He smiled at her.

When she commented about his youth and smell, he chuckled, "Yes, I guess I am different from a lot of Profs. I'm young, handsome, and smell good I guess. It's okay... kind of funny actually." He laughed again. "Want to go out to the swing and talk?"

Severity chuckled lightly before mumbling "Good smelling, hansome, young, yup, basically got it. Thank God you got what I meant, sometimes people take them way different. I don't mean it to be weird, but of course, dumb people can make it seem that way." She watched him place his...well...whatever technology he had ust spoken to in his pocket, completely intrigued, what was that? She couldn't talk to her phone, so why could he?

When he offered for the two to go out on the swings and talk, she smiled. "I'd love to." She then made a loop with her elbow, you know? She was offering to link arms with him. It just seemed like her outgoing personality felt even more comfortable around Zeke and she enjoyed the feeling. She loved this mansion, so far, so good.