OOC: This is the thread where Tarin and Glare will happen to meet. It's closed for the time being unless you can give me a legit reason to enter. Possibly Lee could join little later on if she wants, it may work in. In any case... enjoy!

A long hard day had left Ezekiel White exhausted. It wasn't all the time that he felt so tired, but tonight he did. The constant dodging of eyes back and forth to check up on people, and the mental stress of avoiding capture, had led to his extreme tiring. And Zeke never liked being tired, it stole from his awareness... which was of paramount importance in a world that hated mutants.

Ever the able and thoughtful, Zeke adjusted his security system around his hide-away to make up for the day's adventures. His visit to the city always left him open to being followed, and he changed to security to match the parameters of the places he had been that day... with most likely threats given higher importance on the security sweep.

Basically, a visit in the vicinity of a police station raised the possibility of an officer following Zeke, so if he had been near one, officers went up on the list of priorities to sweep for. But in general, everything was covered. No one could get into the flat without Zeke knowing, just some things had better jumps on him than others. Hopefully, he wouldn't guess wrong.

He flipped a switch enabling the anti-gravity-distortion field around the building. After spending some time with Severity he had learned how vital this little security tightener was. With it in place, no one could alter the gravity in the room, or around it, without Zeke pulling it down first. He put it on every night, hoping that it wouldn't come into play. If it did, that likely meant Evie was back, and wasn't herself... mad maybe?

He slipped into some comfortable clothes and hopped into bed, flipping off the light. He screwed the top of a water bottle that sat on his dresser, ever ready with the water if someone should attack. He always wanted to be able to use the full of his abilities at any time, so he needed water. Someday I should just fill a bowl and leave it there... as long as it doesn't evaporate...

That was his last thought before he drifted into a deep, dream-filled sleep.

-----

Standing on the corner of New York City was common for Zeke. Standing there in his underwear was not. He noticed it about two seconds after he realized that he was standing here. A most unusual occurence. The sun didn't seem to be up, but it wasn't dark either. In fact, it was pearly white, very bright. The sky glistened with a white sheet.

Dangit... I'm dreaming again. He always saw the white sky in his dreams... at least, almost always. They were fairly typical in Beth's illusions he was coming to realize. He also was learning that she herself was typically in them in some form.

Sure enough, he heard a voice behind him and spun to see her there. Standing there brilliant looking as always, affecting his mind in the ways she could, touching his dreams and breaking his heart. "Sorry about Evie."

Zeke was confused. "I'm sorry?"

"I said, I'm sorry about Evie... you haven't heard from her have you?"

His frown became forward in his mannerism. "No."

"I'm sorry..."

And she was gone. Disappeared into thin air just liek always. He turned back around to find himself in a crowded New York City, but sky was still white. He was still dreaming. Something was going on here. He walked slowly down the street looking for something critical to learn, though he had no idea what it could be. He saw a fleeting shadow and a chill ran down his spine. Black?? He kept walking at a quicker speed. He didn't want his nightmare to be a reality.

He slipped into a art gallery and looked at some of the pictures... but they were all gray. Solid gray. Very very weird. He had no idea what this meant, and he didn't think he wanted to know. Keep moving.

He stepped out of the gallery and onto the street again. Suddenly, he spotted a man standing there with blonde hair and smile. He had no idea who it could be, but he was shining for some reason. Why? As he stepped forward, the world began to swirl...

A voice screamed in his mind, "FIND HIM!!!!"

------

Zeke woke up in a cold sweat, Beth's voice ringing in his mind. He got up and quickly dressed, then headed out the door. He walked straight down the streets until he found the art gallery in his dream. He stood outside all morning... waiting for the boy to show.


OOC: Basically, he saw Tarin in the dream... not quite sure why that's signifigant, but I guess it brings our two characters together. You could just have Tarin walk by the gallery and Zeke will accost him or something like that.

Tarin was feeling a little suffocated in the shop...the last week and a half had been ridiculous. People were milling in and out of the shop...not people...mutants, over and over again this week he'd been 'outed' for what he was. Only once to a human...a sympathizer, but a bigoted one...it was frustrating, and he felt like he needed some space. Not from Lee, Tarin never wanted any space from Lee, but he needed some time by himself...just for a while. So Lee watched the shop, knowing what to tell people if they came by for a reading.

Out of the shop Tarin went, down the street at a brisk pace, enjoying the slightly warmer weather of the day and taking in the sights of New York, something that he hadn't done in a long time. There was an art gallery, and there was an exhibit, New York in Black and White the banner dubbed it and Tarin stopped to look in the windows. He didn't want to go inside, but the pictures from the outside made him smile. For someone who hadn't had a home and had suddenly found one in New York, there was no such thing as too much of it.

Ezekiel stood there waiting for what seemed like an eternity. Reguardless of what happened, it was vital that he find the man in the dream, and he didn't even know why. The standing strained his legs and he took to sitting on the concrete after a little while. A pizza place accross the way caught his attention, and he thought about grabbing a bite, but caught himself, realizing that he might miss the man.

Just then, the man stopped in front of the gallery. The very one! Zeke hopped to his feet and stepped up to him promptly. "Excuse me, I don't think you know me... and honestly I don't really know you. But there's something I really need to discuss with you, can we grab a bite or something?" He motioned to the place accross the street. "Please, it's very important."

Tarin was still looking at the pictures, there was an extremely good one that had obviously been taken at the top of the ESB. Tarin had such fond memories of that place, he smiled at the memory of his first night in New York, the first spirit he'd met, and what had happened sense, this little trip down memory lane was just what he needed, he was feeling better already. It was nice to be someplace where nobody expected anything of you.

Tarin turned to walk away, feeling considerably lighter when he heard a bit of commotion. Someone was running away from the outside of the gallery, calling for someone. Tarin turned from side to side, being just the slightest bit nosy and attempting to see who the guy was waiting for. Then the man stopped...right in front of Tarin.

Eyebrows rising in complete surprise, Tarin listened to what the man said before he opened his mouth to say a word. It figured, just when he thought he'd gotten away from everything, someone completely sought him out. Someone he'd never even met before...but apparently knew him by sight. Immediately Tarin thought of some undercover agent of the government, out to expose him as a mutant and slap a collar on him. Not a chance.

"I'm sorry...I don't know how I can help you...." Tarin said, shaking his head slowly, "Or where you got the idea that I could."

It was time to go, Tarin prepared himself to walk around the other man, "I wish I could help, I really do. "

Zeke ensured that his fake wristband wasn't seen by the man. He was obviously a little worried about being approached so suddenly and gave the tell away that he was a mutant... or at least, to Zeke that was a good guess. He would have done the same thing himself. What could convince this man?

He shook his head when the man replied. He tried his best, "Look, how would I know you if I wasn't telling the truth." He decided to let it all go, "Look, I'm a mutant." He spoke under his breath. "And I know you are too, though you're pretty darn good at hiding it. I can see dreams sometimes, another person I feel like merged with me permanantly when she died. At least, I think permanently, she hasn't gone away yet. She gives me dreams sometimes, and in my dream last night I saw you, and she screamed for me to find you."

He rocked back and then forth toward the man, "I don't know who you are or what your importance is here, but I know you have one. So please, can you help me? There's a pizza joint right there. Can we talk?" He was basically pleading with the man.

OOC: It's actually pretty crazy how the merged spirit thing (which I've been using ever since I created Glare) deals precisely with your power. I think the dream has a purpose now. With your mutant ability, you would be able to sense Beth's spirit with Zeke, and maybe tell him more about what's going on? Idk... just an interesting way to bridge the gap.

Tarin still wasn't sure about what was happening out on the street. This guy was a complete stranger and he wanted Tarin's help. Now he was whispering in his ear about being a mutant...about knowing that Tarin was a mutant. What the hell?

Tarin backed away from the guy again and gave him an appraising look. There was a spirit with him, but that wasn't unusual, there were spirits with loads of people. This one was a woman...just like the one that the guy had explained about. He was practically being begged for help and it really wasn't in Tarin's nature to back away from someone who needed badly enough for all of that.

Frowning slightly at what he was about to do, Tarin cast a look at the pizza parlor that the stranger was trying to lead him into. The only real problem was that agreeing to go into the shop was as good as admitting that he was a mutant. Tarin wasn't sure that was something he wanted to do.

Sighing as his resolve started to crumble, Tarin frowned and nodded his head slowly, stepping closer to the man and lowering his voice. "All right. I'll hear you out. Lead the way, but before you tell me what you need from me I want to hear more about this woman you're merged with."

OOC- Go ahead and take them in to the shop and make your pitch. Tarin is

OOC: I'm thinking that the entire purpose of this meeting is as follows: 1. That Tarin informs Zeke about why he is recieving dreams from someone who is dead. 2. That Zeke and Tarin form a sort of friendship.

Let me know if you have any ideas or want to modify that.
IC:

Zeke smiled knowing that he had won this man over to his side, at least for the moment. The fact that he allowed himself to follow Zeke in this strange moment was proof enough to Ezekiel that he was a good guy... or at least trying to be one.

Zeke turned and walked to the pizza parlor, motioning the other mutant to follow him. He entered the building and took a seat in a booth near the far right corner. He liked to be in obscure places where no one else could hear or observe him. Zeke was far too cautious these days to allow people he didn't know to understand that he had a mutation. Not taking chances, Zeke figured the far corner, where no other human soul was within thirty feet, was probably the proper place to hold this conversation.

He looked up at the other mutant with an inquisitive set of eyes. He didn't know whether to tell this man the whole truth, or simply a part of it. Then again, he could be a telepath and already know the truth, trying to test Zeke to see if he could trust him. Zeke decided to just let it all out.

He lifted his hand to shake the man's accross the table. "My name is Ezekiel White. I'm a mutant from Israel that can manipulate sulfur." Thata boy Zeke, just tell him your life story why don't you?? That was probably the best course. "Let me start at the beginning." He sighed. "Up until two years ago I wandered around the cities of Israel trying to avoid the man who aided in killing my parents. In the process I met a young girl named Elizabeth. She was a mutant with the abilities to affect people's dreams."

He paused here and looked up at the waitress who was approaching his table. He considered ordering a beer, but he wasn't in the mood for something that wasn't scotch. Besides, he hadn't touched a drop since Evie had vanished. He couldn't start drinking now. Instead, when the young blonde girl came and asked for the order he simply ordered a large cheese pizza and two waters.

He turned back to the man, "Needless to say, I fell for her. We came to the states and were going to start a new life... when out of the blue another mutant killed her. I tried to stop it." He winced thinking of the awful attack in the alley. A dreadful moment. "I couldn't. She died in my arms, and as I've said before... I can still feel her there, in my thoughts even, in my dreams. I can't explain it and don't know why... but last night I dreamed that she told me to find you. For what purpose I don't understand... but I know there's a reason."

He stopped talking as the waitress brought over the pizza and water and set it down between them. He took a piece and took a bite. Delicious... right in the middle of a heartfelt story of my life... dang I'm so messed up. He set the bitten slice down on his plate. "Sorry... I'm talking too much. I don't even know your name."

As Tarin followed the other man across the street and into the pizza parlour, he wondered exactly what it was he was doing with his life in the present. The events of the last week had been anything but conducive to staying hidden. There was so much going on in the city though, how could he not help where he could? Besides, this guy seemed to genuinely think he'd seen Tarin in some kind of dream.

They sat in a far back corner of the shop and Tarin raised an eyebrow as the guy ordered for them. The pizza was fine, but Tarin didn't really want anything to eat, the drnik on the other hand, reaching out and catching the waitress, "Actually, give me a Miller Light..." Yes. He drank light beer. So sue him...it had fewer calories.

The waitress was back in a snap with the beer and Tarin took a long draw on the bottle before setting it down, not missing a word the other man was saying.

Tarin shook the hand he was offered but didn't have a chance to slip his name in. The guy was too interested in sharing the intimate details of his mutantism...and his life. The girl was apparently a lost love and as he took another long drink of his beer, Tarin couldn't help but feel a pang of sympahty for the kid. He couldn't imagine what it would be like for him to lose Lee, it wasn't something he planned to spend time thinking about either.

So where did he fit in, besides the fact that the lost love who Ezekial saw in his dreams told him that Tarin mattered somehow. Apparently his eating companion didn't know either, becuase he said as much. The kid was done with his monologue though and he apologized for talking for so long.

Tarin waved a dismissive hand and took one more swig of beer, "It's fine. I'm Tarin Brooks." he said. Leaning forward slightly and resting his forearms on the table as the kid ate pizza Tarin looked at him closely before speaking again, "I see spirits." he said simply, not wanting to go into the huge tirade...the kid would be curious...people always were. He'd just leave it at that and let curiosity take its course.

Zeke saw the man order a Miller Light and suddenly wished he had changed his mind and went with some sort of drink. Sadly, he held to his convictions and tried hard not to pay attention while the man sat there drinking in front of him. Right now, he couldn't drink. Maybe when he got home, but not right now.

The weariness of being up since very early in the morning started to attack Zeke moments after he finished his ramble. His eyes started to hurt and his brain started to wallow. [[OOC: Is that a word?? If it isn't in this context it means his thoughts are random]] He started to think of how much he loved the color of his sulfur, a greenish yellow. Then he started to wonder when the last time he had used his power was... and he couldn't remember. Then he wondered where Evie was. And his head started to hurt.

Then when the man took another sip of the Miller he was brought straight back to reality. Focus Zeke, finding out what is going on here is a priority. You're not a boy anymore. You're a 23 year-old man with a lifetime of pain behind you and likely ahead of you too. You need to focus or that pain will just exponentially increase. I wonder if they sell coffee here?

You're wallowing again. His new little word for thinking way too much about random things was amusing him way too much. He focused. The man introduced himself as Tarin Brooks and Zeke nodded in a 'hello' like manner. He continued to eat pizza while Tarin leaned in, then told him the truth about his mutation.

Zeke almost gagged on the pizza. He wasn't scared by the power. He wasn't suprised that the man had a power. He wasn't even worried that this man now knew he had a power. Instead, he was shocked that the man's power somehow related to his dreams. If he could see spirits, he obviously could see Beth's! Could he speak with them, Zeke decided to ask.

"So, you can see spirits," he spoke after swallowing a much too large piece in his mouth too fast. He set down the rest of the slice. "can you also talk with them? Can you tell me if hers, is with me right now? Her name is Beth..."

OOC: Maybe you could talk with Beth, if you can do that, and I'll roleplay as her, with Zeke being sort of a bystander while the conversation goes down? Don't know though, your call.

This kid had all the promise of youth shining on his face. He wasn't nearly as young as the kid Tarin had stopped from being exposed in the middle of the street, in fact he was probably about Lee's age, but as most people he met who were Lee's age he seemed much younger.

Tarin wondered if he'd been that way in his early 20's he didn't really think so. He'd finished college by then and was living the nomadic life he'd grown so accustomed to before making his way to New York. He'd grown up fast living that way, having to make ends meet, he was luckier than some. He had his powers to fall back on for money. Tarin wondered how this kid was making ends meet.

Obviously he didn't realize that discretion was probably the most important thing that a mutant could possibly posess at this point in time, especially in New York City. He was sitting here, in a public place, asking Tarin if he could communicate with the spirit. The spirit....Tarin hadn't thought about it since he'd first met the kid on the street. Tarin looked now and sure enough, found a female spirit, probably the one that the kid was talking about. There was no way he was going to try and talk to her here though. NO way. Even if he was more laid back about it than Lee was, Tarin didn't fancy a trip to the camps any more than Lee did.

"I can..." Tarin said softly to answer the kid's question about talking to spirits and he simply nodded his head in answer to the queston about the spicific one. "I assume she's the one you're talking about. She's with you." he said, the frowned, "Look..." he said simply, "This is not the time or place for this. It's way too...obvious. If you want to talk about this more, you're going to have to stop by my shop sometime."

As he was talking, Tarin was reaching into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet and fishing out one of his cards. Removing it from the wallet, he held it out to the kid. "The address of my shop is on there. You can stop by and we'll talk more about it there. For now, why don't you tell me more about you. How did you get here...and how have you managed to dodge the camps so far. It seems to me like you're a little more careless than most of us who are hiding out."

This confrontation with Tarin wasn't exactly going as Zeke had planned, but then again, Zeke really hadn't planned anything. The normally over-cautious Ezekiel White had been transformed into a reckless Ezekiel White... and all because of a dream. Chances were good in a short time he would revert to his old self. Dude... you're being reckless. Look at you, no caution whatsoever. They're gonna catch you for sure. Maybe this whole thing isn't worth it?? Did you ever stop to think that Beth may want you in the camps?

He fought the notion in his mind. No, Beth could never want me there. She wants me out here, helping people. Finding others like me and aiding them... and staying safe. Well, this sure ain't the way to do it. You've gone way too far out on a limb this time bub. It hit him. He was being ridiculous here, begging another mutant to help with his abilities, and showing his hand to someone he didn't even know. This was totally out of character for him.

And all because of that stupid dream. He decided the time to switch gears was now. His caution won over his need to know. He could find out the truth of this later, now he needed to stay safe, and while this particular pizza place Ezekiel knew was fairly safe in the public eye, he couldn't gamble on the unpredictable. Timetables and projections could only do so much, a certain ammount of life relied upon randomness.

"Thanks for letting me know she's with me, that answers a little..." he trailed off, then took a bite of pizza. "Look, I know you think I'm reckless. I am. Not normally, but today's been a weird day. The dream has really affected me... changed my mindset for a second there." He shook his head to try and clear it. "No longer."

His attitude now became much mroe serious, as the old Zeke returned and the reckless Zeke diminished. He took the card Tarin offered and glanced it over. A medium shop. While he didn't exactly believe in this kind of stuff, he figured there had to be a chance. He pocketed the card and then turned back to Tarin to answer his question, "I'll come by shortly." He sighed and took a sip of his drink.

"Tarin, I'm certainly more careless today than any day since the Registration." His voice was lowered and soft. He couldn't risk being overheard, and he kept an eye on the waitress on the other side of the parlor. "The dreams affect my mind, almost force me to do things. I've never been wrong when I followed them." Another sigh. "I'm sorry I bothered you, I won't waste any more of your time right now. I'll see you around."

His initial openess to Tarin scared him now, as the realization of how truly reckless he had been set it. He couldn't let it stay that way. He had to go before he did anything else stupid. Standing, he walked to the register and paid for both their meals and drinks, and then turned back to the table where Tarin was sitting. He made eye contact, then wheeled on his heels and left the parlor.

OOC: Zeke just scared himself, and his reaction was to take off. He was basically disabling himself from being any more careless. That explains his abrupt leaving. Could we start a thread of him swinging by the shop soon?