Elise stared at the mansion across the street. Her hands were stuffed deep into the pockets of her military jacket and she looked unsure, almost cornered. After several months of considering the school as an idea, due to her brother’s insistence, Elise had finally decided to finally come and look at it. Of course, looking at it was all she had planned to do, for several more months, at the very least. The school however, had continued to haunt her and today was the third time this week she had come to stand and stare at the mansion. It was huge and filled to the brim with mutants. At least, the is what Elise thought, and for some reason that thought didn’t comfort her. It only made her more nervous. New people, new ideas, new expectations, and quite frankly, Elise didn’t know whether she actually wanted to deal with all of that. It would just be so much easier to keep everything the way it was, even if she was unhappy with her current situation.

“We degenerate into hideous puppets, haunted by the memory of the passions of which we were much afraid, and the exquisite temptations that we had not the courage to yield to,” so said Oscar Wilde, and the playwright’s words echoed in Elise’s head. That was what Xavier’s School for the Gifted represented to Elise, an exquisite temptation. Her hidden hope of not having to run her life around hiding the fact that she was still practicing her instruments, because she was scared about what others would think, of how they would react, seemed like heaven come down to Earth. Taking a deep breath, Katy lifted her eyes from where they had been scrutinizing her sandaled feet. Time to yield to temptation. Elise twitched her simple white dress into an acceptable draping and crossed the street.

She stood and stared up at the mansion gates, now directly before her. Was there a call button she was supposed to press, because she was definitely not seeing a single one? A porter? She didn’t think so, but she could also just be missing what was right in front of her eyes. Elise felt frustration beginning to rise from somewhere near her stomach. Right when she finally built up the guts to actually go to the school and ask about admission and what not, she was foiled by the simple fact that she had no idea how to get in, who to ask, and what to do. For a moment, she felt like cursing loudly but repressed the urge. It wouldn’t look good if someone was listening. Instead, Elise leaned over and peered through the gate’s bars, trying to see if there was anyone nearby.

Streak had been watching the girl from his cozy little seat in his security room. Things had been mostly quiet even though it was the beginning of summer and more kids were out of classes and playing in the open expanses of the mansion grounds. Of course not all students stayed at the mansion year round there were plenty of them that went home and visited their parents and other family members. For those lucky ones it was just another boarding school where they wouldn’t get persecuted for their powers. However, there were many more that were still residing there during the summer months while school was out. This also seemed to be the time when they got a larger amount of people into the school. He zoomed in on her as she made her way across the street and to the gate.

He waited for her to push the button but that time didn’t seem to be coming any time soon. Maybe she was still debating if she wanted to come in or not. Shawn didn’t think that it was hard to find the intercom button. As soon as the girl stopped at the gate the silvermancer was out of his chair, through the front door and heading to the gate. Once he was close he waived and mentally put on his mansion greeter’s hat. As he got closer the thought occurred to him that he hadn’t actually done a tour of the mansion in quite some time. That was a bit strange but it was something that was in his job description and he was glad to be able to get out in the sun and get some fresh air. “Hey.” Streak said as he smiled and waved at her. she seemed unsure enough as it was and he didn't want to scare her away.

Elise smiled and waved back at the man. She felt herself relax a little at the sight of his smile, and straightened as she stepped away slightly from the gate. There was no need to crowd the thing. “Hey,” she called back, tucking her hand back into her pocket and fingered the harmonica, trying to calm herself down.

“Is there a button or something I’m supposed to press? I didn’t see one on the walk over, but…oh,” she said, her words trailing off when her eyes landed on a button that seemed to be attached to a likely apparatus. Brilliant, now I look like and idiot. A blush crept up her cheeks, and Elise’s eyes pointed upwards for a split second before she looked back at the stranger. “It’s that one, isn’t it?” she asked, pointing to the device and biting her lip in embarrassment.

Koga padded up next to her, he had just gotten offthe bus as well, he liked being there we new people arrived, one, he was impossible to offend, two if they were going to get used to seeing the exotic side of mutants he was good for getting them past the ah! factor. He faded to a nice bright shade of orange, his hair bright green, giving him an odd carrot like look. a lizardy carrot. his scales, spikes teeth and eyes are were fairly harmless when he smiled. (and made himself look like a carrot)

" I jumped the fence my firssst day, they hide it in plain sssight I tell ya! Koga walked up and nodded motioning for her to push the button. Ryuichi Koga, Nice to meet ya! Koga was normally up beat, but today he was extra pumped he gave in to his coffeemania and had two double shot vente frapachinos one in the cafe and one on the way home. "Ssso, you here to stay, or are checking the place out?"

Sssorry Silver! didn't mean to to cut in on your tour!

Elise jerked around when she heard someone say something behind her, only to apparently freeze mid-motion with a comical expression of surprise painted across her face. Her already widened eyes continued to widen to an almost ridiculous proportion as she took in the mutant she was now facing. He was green and orange, very bright orange. He was also scaly, and were those horns on his head? Her eyes moved to land on the top of his head, with the leafy green hair that made the rest of the boy have an uncanny resemblance to a carrot. A snort of amusement escaped from her, and in horror, Elise found herself laughing.

“I’m sorry… I don’t know… what’s gotten… over me,” Elise managed to say between bursts of laughter that had completely unfrozen her and now had her nearly bent in double. “It’ the hair… ya know... Asians… black hair… hard to dye. How did you get it to be that kind of colour?” was all she could manage out in explanation, her cheeks blushing once more from embarrassment, her speech was continually halted as she gasped in as much air as possible between the gentle chuckles that continued to wrack her body.

“Goodness, I’m sorry. Look, I’m Elise Bredson, thanks,” she said, finally calming down and pressing the button as she held out her hand for the other mutant to shake. Elise felt absolutely awful. She had probably hurt the guy’s feelings, which was pretty darn terrible considering he was being so nice. “I’m taking a look around, but hopefully I’ll be back to stay pretty soon,” she added glancing over her shoulder at the first guy that had come over. All Elise could hope for now was that she hadn’t just ruined her chance of ever joining or of ever seeming like a nice person ever again.

Koga bit his forked tongue in a musement. “Really itsss the hair? I’m impressssed that one you bothered to cover and two, you noticed I’m asain! Ssso many people don’t bother to sssee it anymore. You don’t have to be sssorry. At leassst not to me.” He grinned and listened as she proceeded to apologize again.

but You gotta work on that first impressssion though, ya sssee I can change colorsss, that’s how I take care of that dark asssian hair, but a lot of people in hair don’t have the luxury, and you might either make them a little sssad or a little mad.. a lot of people especially usss teensss are sssensitive about our looksss, ssso try to be careful with eeverybody elssse. Me, you can laugh at all you like. he switched his hair to a bright red and made the rest of him look like a clown with silly face paint for a moment and then to his born slightly yellow pale skin and jet black hair. I like the name Elissse, anything you are particularly interested in, Elisssse?

He moved forward through the gate as it rolled out of the way. He glanced for any baggage but assumed there wasn’t any as she was just here for a tour.

(ooc: sorry guys my eyes are finally allowing me to look at a computer and read things)

Streak was about to say something when a bus pulled up with one of the students. He’d seen this kid around before, then again how could you miss him with his color changing but they’d never really met before. This new girl who introduced herself as Elise couldn’t seem to stop laughing at Koga’s current choice of colors. He did find that Koga seemed to possess a remarkable resemblance to a carrot. That had to be planned. There was no way someone would do that on accident. Streak had a bit of trouble not laughing with her as well. But he opened the gate anyways. He was planning on it to let her in and since Koga seemed to have a better reputation building with her.

Koga had been here a while so Shawn was pretty sure that he knew his way around the mansion. “Well, it looks like Koga here is offering to give you a tour of the place. So I’ll let him show you around if yall are cool with that.” Streak said just about ready to leave them to their own devices. “My name’s Streak, by the way… just let me know if ya need anything.”

(OOC: No problem, I’m just glad to see you’re up and about again and that the surgery is having no ill effects.)

"No, no, I don't usually laugh like this. I swear! It's just such an amazing colour, you were smiling that way, and I don’t know. It just short-circuited my brain or something. I won’t laugh at or with anyone unless they want me too. I swear,” Elise said, obviously trying to reassure the two mutants that she really wasn’t that insensitive. Usually was the picture perfect politically correct person. No really, she was.

Turning to the older mutant, apparently called Streak, Elise managed a smile. “Nice to meet you, Streak and thanks for letting me in. Um, is there any paperwork or anything I should fill out?” she said glancing around the grounds. They looked bigger, now without the gate blocking her view. Elise could feel her self beginning to relax.

After a long pause, Elise glanced over at Koga once more. “Do you guys have a music room here?”

Koga took his turn at cracking up. “laughing isss fine, jussst fair warning isss all.

Koga walked forward toward Streak and nodded his ascent to the procured tour from streak. “Ssstreak, there isssn’t anything that sssaysss we both can’t ssshow her around, though if you are busssy I am good with it.” he looked back to the female and nodded. “yeah, we can ssstart with the musssic room, what do you play or do you sssing?” Koga paced slowly making sure that the new girl could keep up, streak could easily out pace either them at a moments notice if he wanted. But still he wouldn’t have to work if he was going to come along.

"Both, I sing and play couple different instruments. You can never play too many, ya know?" Elise replied with a glance in Koga's direction, as she strolled amiably at the other mutant's side. She then glanced back at the older mutant seeing if he would join them. It would be nice to have someone that might perhaps know the structure of the building better come along. Although Koga probably knew the basics and had a better understanding of student life, Elise thought it was more likely that Streak would know whether the music room was sound proof, and other such small details that mattered to her.

"Do you play anything?" Elise asked looking over at Koga once more. It would be nice to have some fellow music lovers at the school.

Streak followed behind the two younger mutants after he closed the gate Neither of them seemed too opposed for him joining them so, since he was originally going to give her a tour he decided to tag along. Shawn didn't have that much work waiting for him that he needed to get back immediately. Taking his time and joining them wouldn't be such a bad idea. He didn't play any instrument; however, he did like to listen to music.

The silvermancer thought that this would be a good time for him to comment. "We've got a music teacher here and a dedicated music room. As far as I can tell there's plenty of students here that play some type of instrument." He didn't know if Koga could play anything but it was a good chance that he did. Speaking of the music teacher he hadn't seen her around for a while. He'd have to see what she's up to when he got a minute.

Elise paused for a long moment after the Streak's comment. A music class would be so nice, and playing with other students even better, but still, it wouldn't be possible. Glancing over at the older mutant Elise hesitantly asked, "Um, this is probably a weird question and all, but is the music room sound proof?"

Feeling as though the question warranted some sort of explanation, Elise quickly added although much more hesitantly than even the question before was asked, "It... Um, has to do with my mutation. It's... Ah, better if people can't hear me playing." A blush crept up her cheeks, once more. At least for Elise, the whole explanation felt incredibly awkward. The number of times she had ever mentioned her mutation could be counted on the fingers of one hand. It felt even odder, to say that she even had a mutation.

At least, now with her explanation, it didn't sound like she was searching for some silent room to do creepy things in, like murder people. She didn't want to go to a school where people thought she was a manic killer. That would be so incredibly awkward, even more so than she felt right now.

Koga walked along as they sought out the room in which the jam sessions happened. Yup, I play Violin, before all thisss. gesturing to himself My parentssss insssissted I got invovled and anything and everything that would benefit my chancesss at getting into Columbia U. He then sighed lightly luckily for me and them, I am a workaholic with a thirst for study and a nuerosssisss for perfection. he was in a n odd mood, dropping parental junk on a new kid.

He snapped out of his daze again and chimmed in yet again. Sssoundsss interesssting. a glance at her cheeks and he tried to make it easier. with time you'll laugh about ever being ssshy about your abilitiesss, atleassst around here. before she could even attempt to deny it he pointed to his forehead and attempted a new trick he'd been toying with. in bold black capitail letters across the word PROOF was written.

Elise visibly perked up at Koga saying he played the violin. "Ah, the violin! It's a such a beautiful instrument. It has such range," she said her eyes seeming to look out somewhere else when she spoke, a small smile splashing itself across her lips.

She came back into focus when she boy mentioned his parents. "Yeah, I gotcha," she said sending a knowing look at Koga. "My dad, he's a bit of a pusher too. He would prefer music, but as long as I do very well at whatever I choose, he's happy. If it isn't very well, though..." she said, mockingly pointing a finger gun at her head and dropping her thumb as though to fire, a role of her eyes added emphases to her joking tone.

Her blush managed to inch up a bit higher on her cheek bones when Koga looked over and told her she would laugh about being shy. “I hope so,” Elise replied glancing around at the campus. It seemed huge. "How do you guys keep from getting lost in here?" she asked,her eyes focusing on the building they were quickly approaching..

"Indeed it doesss, I have been dabbling in modern musssic, and accompanying cd's."

Koga chuckled as Elise's finger gun cocked back. " don't do it!" he sexclaimed with feigned worry. "I am pleased with who they encouraged me to become, but my lord am I glad I live here now."

[b"]Give it a month and, I'll tell you I told you ssso."[/b] he smirked and stuck out his forked tongue." The lay out isss extremely sssensssible, it isss like it was desssigned with a certain intuitive feel. If nothing elssse, getting lossst is fun too, there issss always sssomeone around if you really need to get where you are going, a quessstion will get you back on track." He opened the front door for Elise and let her in.