I wish I had dressed warmer.. Moss was rubbing his hands together, trying to get a little bit warmer. No-one had told him that New York would be this cold. You see, back in Louisiana, where Moss's from, it's a lot warmer this time of year. If I'd known, I would've brought a sweater or something.

Moss had been walking through the suburbs of New York, trying to find a boarding school of some sorts a friends had told him about. It all began two months ago.

--

He has just started out collage, a little later than usual, but he managed to get his grades up and finally started his first courses.
It was 02:07 AM when Moss looked at his alarm clock. He had been trying to fall asleep for six hours now, but for some reason, he just couldn't. It didn't really bother him, he had gotten used to sleeping only for forty-five minutes a night. It's the new surroundings... he assured himself as he sat up in his bed and looked around him. His eyes had already adjusted to the darkness and his dorm room looked a clear as day. His room mate was sleeping in the bed next to him, quietly and incoherently mumbling in his sleep. Moss smiled a little and then got up to get a glass of water from the water purifier outside of his room. He softy opened the door, not wanting to wake his room mate, and left it open.
The little plastic cup was filling with ice-cold water when Moss heard people yelling a few room away. It sounded like a couple fighting over something. He was just walking back to his own room when a door behind him opened and a girl ran out. He was crying as she passed Moss. Her boyfriend soon followed out of the room, but didn't pursue her. Instead he started yelling some more.
- "Ye'd better run, Mutie! I'll call the cops if y'ever show yer face here again!" Only when he finished shouting some more anti-mutant phrases, in the cheapest Austrian accent Moss had ever heard, he noticed Moss and walked up to him.
- "Sorry brotheh, hope I didn't wake yeh. Just can't be too careful these days. Mutie's everywhere, ey!"

Moss just smiled and nodded as he returned to his room.

After the Australian guy had left, Moss chased the girl and eventually found her hiding beneath a staircase. She was sobbing violently until he noticed Moss and crawled back a few feet.
- "Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you!" he said, also backing off a bit. The girl must've felt relieved to see a friendly face, because she just stood up and ran toward him, hugging him tight.
- "I, I just wanted him to know.. I love him so much, and I wanted him to know..." she said between sobs. Moss, not really knowing what to do, just held her.

They talked for about an hour until Moss remembered his room mate would be waking up soon.
- "I'm sorry Alice, but I need to go. Are you staying somewhere? Maybe we could talk some more later?" The girl, who had recovered from sorrow for the moment, shook her head.
- "Hell no, I'm getting the first train out of here. I heard there's this place. Wait, I thought I had it with me..." She picked a few craps of paper out of her pocket. "Here it is. This place is supposed to be a safe haven for people like us, for mutants. Were supposed to be safe there, against people who want to hurt us. I'm going there." She gave the paper to Moss and smiled at him. "If things ever get too weird or difficult, please, come here. I'll feel better knowing you're safe as well."

--

The cold was freezing Moss's fingers, even though he kept on rubbing his hands together. He stopped at a big gate and looked at the piece of paper in his hand. "I guess this is it."

Juka was just returning from the Mansion after a long night of patrolling the streets of New York. Yes, patrolling the streets because for the first time he was starting to get what it really meant to be a proper super hero. Being a proper super hero was so much more than just glory and presige, it was helping those in need and punishing those wicked people that deserved to be punished for their deeds. Unfortunately, understanding or no, he still hadn't quite gotten the hang of actually finding those innocents that must surely need saving. He wasn't sure if he was just looking in the wrong places or maybe his night vision needed a magical improvement, but this night, at least, he didn't find anyone in need of amazing Juka rescue. No, and most sad night it was that his first night of patrolling the streets of New York could be such a failure. Sad day indeed.

Juka didn't have time to wallow in too much self pitty, however, as as soon as the Mansion was once again in sight (he was floating towards it at moderately great speeds as per usual, 4 anvils rotating around his bubble in mini-bubbles of their own), he saw a stranger far below him on the ground and looking just a little lost and confused. Perhaps he was just the innocent that Juka was looking for and even if he didn't appear to be in any immediate danger (quite a shame that he wouldn't be able to display just how much better he had gotten at confronting danger in recent weeks), he still might need help and Juka mmust surely be the one to help him. If for no other reason than he appeared to be the only one around at the moment.

"Greetings most helpless stranger. What can the most valiant and brave Juka Miami do for you?" So maybe the stranger didn't look all that helpless. And maybe valiant and brave were overstating things just a little. But he did have to get into the whole super hero mindset didn't he? Juka landed his bubble in front of the stranger, straightening the wrinkes in his skirts. "I'm guessing you're new here?"

>>>"Greetings most helpless stranger. What can the most valiant and brave Juka Miami do for you? I'm guessing you're new here?"

Oh my stars... Moss was just going to ring the doorbell when a, well something, dropped in on him out of nowhere. He knew that there would be characters in New York, but this person really surprised him. 'Flashy' would've been an understatement for this guy. At least, Moss thought he was a guy... All the orange kept distracting him... He suddenly realised he had been staring at 'him' for quite some time and 'he' had been looking back with a penetrating look. "Uhm hi there. I'm Moss...," he said as the tried to sound as relaxed as possible, "Do you go here?"

Juka saw the rather baffled look he recieved and couldn't help but preen happily. He almost did a spin in order to best display his fabulousness from all angles but barely managed to restrain himself and instead opted for a bow. This was about being helpful not showing off. Ok, well maybe it was a little about showing off but mostly it was about being helpful.

"A pleasure to meet you Moss. If by go here you mean do I go to classes here then no. If, however, by go here you mean sometimes live here then yes. He grinned, divining that the stranger probably wanted to go here himself and here Juka was in the pefect position to help him inside. The grin, however, was quickly followed by a frown because Juka had neither the code to the the gates to open nor any kind of a key. What need the magical floating bubble boy of a key?

"Um...I'm happy to let you in if you'd like but, er, the way in might be a little...unusual. You aren't afraid of heights are you?"

Afraid of heights? What's this guy going to do?

On one head, Moss wanted to run away. This guy was obviously a mutant, he had to be, and most likely was going to use some sort of 'unusual' power. In his head, Moss got irritated. Why is it that every mutant has to use his powers for the most easy things..
On the other hand, he needed to get inside. If not to find Alice, it was to get out of this cold.

Instead of running, Moss just answered him: "Not afraid of heights.." He looked at this Juka person and wondered what he was going to do.

ooc: Thought I'd pop in too if you'd like to float a teachers way...

Ic:
Raina was in her office when she happened to notice Juka float by. She'd seen him do it a couple of times now so the shock was mostly wearing off. Mostly. She shook her head and gave a laugh. She watered the plants in her office and opened the blinds to get a better view of what was going on.

Juka was talking to someone new. By the look of him he was a potential student. She smiled. It had been a while since she'd been able to do any official greeting and registration. Mainly she'd been playing catch up since returning from her trip.

She turned to her desk and rummaged around looking for the map of the mansion as well as the registration pack. When she found it and had it all neatly arranged on her desk she opened the window and yelled down to Juka.

"Hey Juka!" she said with a wave. They'd met a few times now and he knew she was a teacher here and doing her job. "Why don't you two meet me up here. I'll give you some things and you can take a tour!" she grinned implying that sure, she'd register him, but Juka would be showing him around the school.

Juka nodded his relief when the newcomer affirmed that he was not afraid of heights. It was good because Juka had no other way to get inside than to float over the gate. "You see, I have a bit of a problem," Juka said in embarrassment. "I don't exactly have a key to get inside. I usually just kind of float inside." Juka unbubbled, his anvils landing on the ground beside him. He would pick them up later, after all who was going to steel an anvil, let alone four of them? He then extended a hand out to Moss. "If you take my hand I can bubble us and we'll be safely over the gate in no time then I promise I'll put you right back on solid ground."

It was at that moment that Juka heard Raina's beautiful voice from up in a window. "Raina! You're voice is angelic music to my ears as it always is! We'll be up in a moment." It didn't occur to him at that moment to ask Raina to open the gate for the two of them thus avoiding potentially freaking out the poor newcomer although it probably should have. He really did need to work on his practicality, though even that much he didn't quite realize at that moment. He turned back to Moss, expecting him to take his hand so they could be in the Mansion and getting him registered.

What school let's you live in it, yet not attend? Moss was starring at the woman who had told Juka to come on in. She was still looking down form her window, yet seemed a lot more, well, normal. She smiled at him, making Moss feel a little more at ease.

He turned his attention back to Juka, who had extended his hand. Moss looked at the anvils, which were scattered around Juka. It has to do something with his powers.. "So.. Uhm.. You need my hand huh..?" Very hesitantly Moss grabbed hold of Juka's hand. What am I getting myself into...
"So, do you know anyone here called Alice?" He expecting an answer, but something else happened that he didn't expect.

Moss seemed to be nervous about taking Juka's hand but at least he consented to take it. Once taken Juka stepped a little closer to the newcomer and re-bubbled, this time the bubble encompassing both himself and Moss. "Hold on," he cautioned before rising up and over the Mansion gate. For once he opted not to show off as was his usual way; given how nervous the guy seemed it seemed best. Instead he went up, nice and slow and over to the window leading to Raina's office.

"Hello beautiful Raina," he greeted, stopping in front of her window. He bowed shallowly to her, still holding on to Moss's hand. "Do you mind if come in?" He grinned at her, hoping that his passenger wasn't too frightened by the entire experience. Was this a bad way to introduce someone to the Mansion, putting the whole mutant thing out there so blatantly right from the beginning? There was no way to know, after all, just how comfortable he was with mutants and their many powers. Well, if need be he'd apologize later.

Raina grinned again as she watched Juka approached. What a funny guy. It was hard for her to remember he'd had his own struggles when he was so vibrant. It was infectious. "By all means, please come in." she pushed the drapes open as far as they'd go and propped open the window. It was a big window so she felt sure both guys would make it through.

"I've been meaning to chat with you about that musical idea anyway Juka. Perhaps when you're finished with our new friend here you can come by?"
She offered her hand to the new young man.

"hi, I'm Raina. Resident music teacher, administration, and guidance!" she helped them in and offered them both seats. "What's your name?"

ooc: sorry a wee bit short! Next one will be meatier.