Juka was determined to learn chess. Yes indeed, chess was the game that his ever inquisitive mind had set its sights on and chess was the game he intended to learn. Of course, he had been intending to learn the game for quite a few days now and it just never quite ended up happening. Either he'd be distracted by all sorts of interesting books in the library or practice or some evil-doer that he simply must stop right that moment. Sadly for him and sadly for Hunter he intended for him to become his ageless masterful opponent, he just wasn't making much progress.

Today, however, Juka intended to actually learn the game of chess. In order to best accomplish that goal, he had found himself some delicious chocolate, a bowl of popcorn and a very comfortable over sized chair in the middle of the Mansion living room. The tv was on in the background but of all the things that had a tendency to distract him TV was, oddly enough, not really one of them. In fact, he didn't even have a tv in his apartment simply because he didn't watch it. Now if only he had brought one of his kitties over to help him study, well, then things would be perfect.

Taking a handful of popcorn, Juka opened up one of several of the chess books Hunter had so helpfully given him. Yes, chess was the game he would start to master today. The popcorn was popcorny, the book was bookish and the news was talking about the burning of the main branch of the public library. What? Juka looked up, chess book completely forgotten and attention grabbed by the story about the poor library that some arson had lit on fire. How very sad. All those poor poor books.

Some people said that TV was mindless. Honestly, that’s what Kealey had been looking for when she’d made her way into the living room this particular Monday morning. It had been two days since the murderer had assaulted her with his feelings and found her outside of her room. It had been two days until she’d quite literally unloaded the emotional baggage of her early life on Shin. It had been two days since he’d taken it all in stride. Time went on even though all of these things had happened, but Kealey seemed just the smallest bit stuck. She was shaken still, and it just wasn’t wearing off like it should have been. Every time she had a moment to think, her mind drifted back to those feelings, or what they’d done to her dreams. She needed a distraction.

The television had done a good job, so far, and if Kealey was honest she absolutely loved the lack of emotion she felt from the people on the screen. It was a chance to focus and practice on what they were doing. It was easy, especially since there was someone else in the room who was bound and determined to be relaxed and concentrate. Kealey basked in the emotions, her tense body gradually relaxing into the plush cushions of the couch. This was much better.

The TV droned on and Kealey found herself drifting slightly as she watched. It was really the first time she’d felt completely comfortable and safe. At least since she’d left Shin’s room that morning to help him walk Thor.

The music changed suddenly on the TV, and Kealey’s half-open eyes widened, focusing on the news that was scrolling across the screen.

”WHAT?!” she exclaimed, shooting upright and grabbing the remote to turn the volume up. The library was on fire…her library. People were pouring out into the street, and Kealey recognized some of them, her former colleagues from the time she’d spent as an employee there. She tried to inventory them as she watched, but she didn’t know who was working and who wasn’t. A redhead too close to the flames got pulled away by a firefighter and again Kealey hoped that none of her friends were still inside. The library had sprinkler systems designed exactly for this kind of situation, but with as big as the building was…

Relaxing emotions completely forgotten, Kealey stared at the TV anxiously, craving information as details scrolled across the bottom of the screen.

Juka's poor lovely library, only so very recently discovered, was currently burning to the ground. He shook his head sadly, a tear at the corner of his eye. All those lovely, beautiful books and they were going up in smoke and flame, all those valuable printed words to become nothing more than ashes. Oh, what a sad day it was for books everywhere. He should have a memorial for all the sad dying books, yes indeed he should.

As Juka continued to watch the unfolding coverage of the burning library he came to the realization of two different things. First, it appeared as if this was live coverage, happening at this very moment. Second was the fact that not only were books in danger, but people were as well and as sad as it was that books were going to burn, it was sadder still that people's live might actually be at stake. A sudden undeniable urge to try and do something, to help like a proper hero should, came over him.

”WHAT?!”

Juka turned, realizing that he wasn't the only one interesting in what was going on and, judging by the woman's reaction and the expression on her face, she was taking things even harder than he was. "Are you ok?" he asked. Stupid question because it was so completely obvious that she wasn't ok, but he didn't know what else to ask.

Kealey flushed slightly when a somewhat disembodied voice asked if she was alright. It was hard to pull her eyes from the television screen. It looked like most of the people leaving the building were alright, and with the number of fire fighters streaming in, they had to have the fire under control soon.

Finally satisfied that the authorities were doing everything they could, Kealey pulled her eyes away from the screen and turned to give body and face to the voice. Kealey already knew that the emotions were the determined and relaxed ones she’d been enjoying so much a few minutes ago, but she really hadn’t expected what she saw.

Working in fashion, Kealey had heard the word ”Fabulous” applied to many things, and if there was a word for the way this guy was dressed…it was fabulous. Kealey nodded her head.

”Oh, yes, thank you for asking. I’m just concerned about the library. You see, I used to work there. I’m very sorry I disturbed your reading. I know you were very relaxed.”

Juka felt bad about how distressed the woman appeared to be. He might not have any sort of exceptional talent for sensing the emotions of others, but he had always been skilled at having at least a good idea what was going through their heads. Not that it was very difficult with this woman, he emotions were very clearly written all over her face and in her tone of voice. All he wanted to do was go over and give her a comforting hug to make her feel better but he was learning that not everyone liked to be hugged by complete strangers. It had made people uncomfortable in the past and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

He was very relaxed? Well that was an odd thing to say to someone. He gave her a slightly confused look before answering. "Dearest, you don't need to apologize to me at all. I wasn't getting much accomplished anyway." A glare towards the evil book in his lap that his ever distractable mind simply couldn't seem to focus on. "I didn't know anyone at the library but it was a lovely place and I'm sad to see it burning."

The statement was followed by another forlorn look at the news. At least it looked like the officers on the scene were competent and, so far at least, there didn't appear to be any casualties. "If you like I could bring you there. Juka, by the way." Juka got up out of his seat and bowed deeply to the lady, wishing he could do more to help.

He accepted her apology without reservation and Kealey glanced down at the book he was holding in his lap. She couldn’t see the title from her vantage point across the room, but he said that he hadn’t been accomplishing much. Kealey’s natural curiosity took over, and she found herself wondering what exactly he’d been reading and why. His expressed condolences for the library washed the curiosity away though and the blond turned her attention back to the television for a moment.

When she tured back, the man had rise and was taking a bow. Kealey simply had to stare at his outfit. For a design student, it really was something to see. Defiitely Avant garde…but it worked. At least for him. Juka gave his name, and Kealey repeated it mentally, trying to commit it to memory.

”I’m Kealey.” she said, skipping the formality of first and last name.

Kealey was surprised at the offer of transportation to the library and she glanced back at the TV for a moment thinking about the offer. It didn’t occur to Kealey to ask how they’d get there, she was in a house full of people who could do amazing things. Surely this Juka had a power that would help. The thought made Kealey frown, though. There had been one bad person living in the mansion under the guise of a student. Could this be another? Kealey didn’t think so, she really didn’t, and she hated how her trust and faith in the general goodness of the human race had been damaged by the encounter.


”No.” she said, turning on the couch as to not be rude while she was having a conversation. ”Thank you so much for offering though. I’m pretty sure I’d just be in the way.”

She was worried though, and would be until the flames were put out. Occasional glances over the next few minutes showed that the fire appeared to have been isolated to one section of the library. That was definitely a good thing. Not for that one section, but for the library in general.

Kealey turned back to Juka and eyed the book in his lap, ”What are you reading that is giving you such a hard time?” Distraction was what Kealey needed, hopefully Juka wouldn’t mind providing it.

"A pleasure to meet you," Juka replied. "Have you been at the Mansion long?" He couldn't recall having seen her before, but that wasn't entirely surprising given the fact that he was gone much of the time. The fact that he kind of had two homes combined with the fact that he probably kept the oddest hours of anyone there (well, he kind of kept all hours but who was counting) were probably the reason why it wasn't unusual for him not to have met everyone.

Juka wanted to be able to help out at the library just as much as he wanted to help Kealey feel better by bringing her over there so she could also help. Unfortunately, however, he had to admit that she was right about probably being in the way. "I wish I could do something though," he said with a sigh. "I hate to see bad things like that happen, even if I don't know the people personally. I hate not being able to do something." It was frustrating, sometimes, the lack of power to make a difference. But at least he could console himself with the fact that he continually did what he could through his nightly patrols over the city.

"I'm reading a chess book," Juka answered, glaring at the offending book. "Hunter suggested that because I have so much spare time on my hands I should learn. Something about mastering new skills or something. Unfortunately I keep getting distracted." It didn't occur to him that Kealey probably didn't know Hunter nor the reason why he had so much spare time on his hands. Even among mutants he didn't know of too many that didn't need to sleep nor too many that didn't age.

Kealey shook her head at Juka’s question, ”I haven’t.” she said mildly, weighing her other options for response, ”I don’t technically live here, either. I run the library and am doing some costume work for Sam. That and….a few other things…convinced me that taking a room would be a good idea.” There, that was enough. No matter how comfortable the reciprocal emotions were making her feel, Juka was still a stranger.


He commented on the fire at the library and how frustrating it was sometimes when he was powerless and Kealey nodded her head, ”Tell me about it.” she said, some of the dreary mood from earlier creeping back into her voice, ”I see all these people around here who can do such amazing things, and all I’m good at is getting myself I trouble.”

Kealey knew what all her friends would have said about that and her cheeks colored slightly, ”They all try to tell me otherwise, but I doubt any of them would pick me on their side in a fight.”

He was reading about chess. Kealey eyed the book, the activity was one that she’d never considered taking up. Things like that took too much concentration and her abilities would be too much like cheating. Like poker, another game Kealey always refused to play.

”I wish you luck with the chess.” she commented, wondering vaguely who Hunter was. Probably someone she hadn’t met, the mansion was so large. ”It’s something I never really had a mind for.”

Juka's ears perked at the the mention of costume work. There were to real passions that he had in life. The first was his music and the second was fashion. Was it possible that this lovely darling might have a talent for fashion as well? Only one sure way to find out. "You make costumes? Do you design them yourself or just put them together?" Nothing like asking directly to get the information desired.

Kealey seemed, at first glance at least, rather confident and capable so it was something of a surprise to hear that she sometimes felt powerless. "Well what are your powers anyway? I'm sure they must be something amazing. Everyone has their own talents." It didn't seem to be much of a leap to assume that she had some kind of power, given that they were in a Mansion filled with mutants.

Juka sent another glare in the direction of his evil chess book. Maybe with enough glaring it would start to cooperate and actually seem interesting enough to pay attention to? Oh, who was he kidding anyway. "I'm starting to think I don't have the mind for it either. Too scatterbrained." He grinned, perfectly willing to admit his own shortcomings.

”Both.” Kealey said in response to Juka’s question as to whether she did her own designs or simply made costumes, ”I’m about to be a second year design student at FIT. Sam hired me on for some new looks.”

As for the other question, the one about her powers, Kealey sighed, then spoke, ”Emotions. One of the students called me an…” she screwed up her face in thought for a moment, ”Emotionmancer. I feel them, change them…though as far as a talent is concerned, I’ll say it again. The only thing I’m talented at is getting into trouble and sticking my nose in where it really doesn’t belong.”

Juka didn’t seem to think that chess was going to end up being his strong suit either, and shot an irritated glare in the direction of the book. Kealey had to smile a bit, the conversation was nice, and a welcome distraction from the television. ”You seem to have quite the eye for fashion yourself. Who made your outfit?” she asked, the word fabulous echoing through the blonde’s mind once more.

"You simply must show me your work," Juka informed Kealey enthusiastically. His own costume was all ready done, of course, purchased and custom modified very recently but that didn't mean he wasn't curious to see what others came up with. If nothing else he needed to ensure that his remained the most epic of them all because he simply wouldnt' accept anything less than that. It wouldn't bee seemly for him to float around in anything less than the best, after all.

"Emotionmancy is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of." Of that fact Juka was quite certain. He could imagine how much a talent like that could help him while performing, being able to influence the crowd to be even more into the music than they otherwise would be and giving him that extra little boost above the competion. Of course he had no problem holding crowds in the palm of his hand, as a performer the crowd was his for the manipulating. Every chord, every word, every gesture was an attempt to get the crowed to react exactly as he desired and he knew he was good at it. But, one could never have too many tricks up one's sleeve, now could they? "And you most certainly aren't the only one with a talent for getting into trouble and butting in noses where they don't belong," he replied with a consiritorial wink.

"The base of my outfit was purchased, here and there. You'd be surprised how many lovely boutiques and second hand shops are around this city. Then I custom tailored the remainder of it myself, modifiying to make it perfect." Juka had always had a flair for fashion and for customizing his outfits but had never quite gone all the way to desiginging them from the ground up. Maybe, however, given recent developments in his life, it was a skill worth acquiring. Certainly it would be far more interesting than chess.

Kealey’s cheeks flushed slightly when Juka said he’d simply have to see her work. ”Oh, I’m just a student…” she said modestly, ”The things I make aren’t anything special, but if you really wanted I‘m sure I could show you my portfolio sometime.”

Ironically enough, Juka seemed to empathize when Kealey spoke about her powers. He also told her the same thing everyone else did, that her powers weren’t useless. Kealey nodded her head and smiled, ”Thank you for that. It sounds like you know what I mean, at least as far as getting in trouble is concerned. I’ve just got this terrible tendency to get curious….then I can’t stop myself.”

Juka went on to talk about where and how he’d put together his outfit and Kealey nodded her head in agreement, she knew of the stores he was talking about. If New York was good for something, it was hand-me-downs. A person could find the most incredible things in second-hand stores. With the number of designers in the city, and the amount of money that was thrown around, a person could walk into a thrift store and walk out with something that should have been outrageously expensive for a steal.

The most interesting part about Juka’s outfit, though, was that Juka had done all the modifications himself. Kealey looked at it again, with a much more critical eye. The work really was excellent.

”Well, it’s beautiful work Juka. It seems you’ve got a real talent. So tell me, how does one as fabulous as yourself find their way to the mansion?”

"Don't be so modest," Juka scolded lightly. "I can tell just by looking at you, you lovely angel, that you must have more talent than you know what to do with." Modesty was not a shortcoming that Juka had to deal with and in fact had been told on more than one occasion that he would do better to bring the ego down a little but, but when you're good you have to let the world know you're good. Or so was his philosophy anyway.

"Sometimes you just have to follow a whim," Juka nodded sagely. People had also told him that curiosity and getting involved in things that really didn't concern him was another of his shortcomings. "When something potentially fascinating is going on, how can any mere mortal be expected to resist the allure?" Too bad most people didn't seem to agree with that particular philosophy. Just because he was open about just about every aspect of his life, including his bedroom life if people cared to ask about it, apparently didn't mean that everyone else was.

"Oh, I don't live here all the time," Juka explained. "I've got a lovely little apartment near Central Park where my kitties live. First I start coming here for my Jewelly and then I just started making all sorts of friends that I couldn't resist coming back. Besides, when you don't sleep its just more interesting here than a little appartment." Sometimes the whole not sleeping thing really was annoying.

Kealey blushed at the sincere compliment from Juka. Surely she looked nothing like an angel, and his flattery, no matter how inflated, was meant with the best of intentions. Kealey shook her head, though, it was simply too much.

Juka’s reasons for jumping into things were a bit different from hers and Kealey digested what the finely dressed man said for a few moments before responding. ”I hate letting things happen to people. When I feel something bad going on, I have to help. I get hurt a lot and end up dragging other people into the problems…but I feel like I have to do something.”

People doing things with the best intentions often ended up causing some of the world biggest problems. It was a lesson Kealey knew she needed to learn, but still…. ”I have to do the best I can.”

Juka described his living situation and Kealey commiserated even more, ”I have an apartment in Manhattan too….though I haven’t been there in quite some time. One of those situations I shouldn’t have been involved in in the first place came back to haunt me and I’ve been staying here ever since. I also run the library now too, and with the costumes it’s easier.” There was more, there was lots more, and Kealey looked around at the other people gathered in the living room.

”The people too…they’re some of the best I’ve ever met.” she said, then paused as something Juka had said permeated her thoughts.

”You don’t sleep at all?”

Kealey, Juka decided, was a sweetheart. Not that he tended to have particularly negative opinions about many, but something about her was just a little more sweet and lovely than most and he figured she most be ones of those that was impossible to dislike. He certainly couldn't conceive of it.

"And I'm sure they appreciate you for it in the end," Juka assured her. "Even if they don't right away." He had been there and done that, although maybe not quite so often as she. After all, he didn't have that sixth sence to tell him when something really was wrong. All he had to go on with his intuition and experience with reading people which was sometimes fallible. Still, in his experience at least, in the long run people usually appreciated the help.

Juka giggled at Kealey's reaction to him not sleeping. "Nope not at all. My bubble appears to have transformed into a time control bubble. It kind of sleeps for me. And eats and drinks for that matter." He was ok with the whole not sleeping or needing to eat thing, that he had dealt with a long time ago and the only real disadvantage to that was boredom anyway. It was the whole not aging thing that was still an issue, an issue that still caused him major anxiety when he paused to think about it. Like now. He tried to banish the invading negative thoughts from his mind. Not much he could really do about it anyway, after all.