Why me?...

Okay.
I can do this.
She is just a girl. Probably younger than me.
She is naive and curious.
She promised to behave.
She is okay.
I can do this.
She only kills humans.

Despite her better judgement, Maya was freaking out. She had to admit that, into her own face, staring into the bathroom mirror. Wtaer was dripping from her hair from holding her head under the cold water tap.
Because that always works.

She couldn't even begin to guess why Miss T would ask her and Ami of all people to babysit a child soldier. The child soldier. The girl she watched murder two people without a blink.

What was she doing in the Mansion anyway?

...

All right, so she was doing the same as everyone else. Safe place, second chances, attempt at a normal life, the whole deal.
She was supposed to spend an afternoon without killing anyone.
Having fun.
As teenagers do.

"Dammit to hell." Maya sighed, drying her hait with a towel before she walked into the bathroom mirror. On the other end of that walk there was Aura waiting. For Maya to keep an eye on her.

Fun indeed.

"You know, I've always been impressed by your power when they show you on the news shows. The pink glowing drills and whatnot. I've got to wonder... my power makes these sort-of-invisible hands. I know a guy who can make all sorts of things with his powers and his mind. I've tried and it's kind of difficult. Do you think I would have better luck if they were bright pink and more visible?"

A ghostly hand hovered in the space between the two of them on the couch. It clenched into a thumbs up, then turned downwards as Amelia tilted her head inquiringly.

"Yes? No?"

Aura mused to herself mentally that this was the first time she had simply been let into the mansion. The first time was in the body of a guy named David and the other was because the x-null herself had hit her with a car. She had been asked not to kill which was easy enough, the place was mostly mutants from what she understood, the only issue might be those who were less forgiving then the Null lady. Even then Aura only killed other mutants if ordered, at least on purpose.

On a couch she considered the first Mansion person she had encountered this trip. Aura smiled a bit as Amelia said she has been impressed by her powers and even mentioned her drill, one of her harder to maintain weapons. The other telling thing was the girl seemed entirely unafraid of her, even though the news shows she mentioned were rarely flattering of her. The terms monster and Criminal came up quite often and aura was very aware of her more public news days.

She considered the hand, which seemed transparent and even tried to touch it. "no, Nature has a path for each of us, our powers a clue to that path. Each is different in their incarnation as well as their limits. We are our powers and the more we practice the more we test our limits the more we find we can do. However it may well be that your power does not allow you the same things as your friend can and he may find the same. Their are many out there who can do more then i or who have more power. " Aura said unsure who Amelia meant. Not knowing her friend or Amelia's powers very well it was hard to say if it would help any. Aura knew her own limits pretty well and did not need to see her aura to use it.

>>".... I've tried and it's kind of difficult. Do you think I would have better luck if they were bright pink and more visible? Yes? No?"

Because nothing lights up your day more than finding your girlfriend having friendly talk with a psychotic murderer.
Maya stopped in the doorway of the living room. The girls had their back to her; she took a deep breath, trying to will herself to look calm.

>>"no, Nature has a path for each of us, our powers a clue to that path. Each is different in their incarnation as well as their limits. We are our powers and the more we practice the more we test our limits the more we find we can do. However it may well be that your power does not allow you the same things as your friend can and he may find the same. Their are many out there who can do more then i or who have more power. "

Fun thing is? Aura had a point. She had never been anything but friendly towards mutants, unless provoked. Maya knew that much. In fact, that was the only reason why she managed not to run.
Seriously, Maya, grow up. You are an X-team leader. One mutant girl can't scare you this much.
Here goes nothing.

"Heeey" she smiled with a cheerful voice and walked up to the girls "I see you've already met. Aura, this is my girlfriend Ami."

Better not be hitting on her, I'd have to fight you.

"Ami, this is Aura. She's a visitor in the Manison. So... what's the plan for today?"

Because we have a whole loooong day ahead.

Aura's hand slipped right through. It was a ghost hand, after all. There wasn't a ghost of a chance anything but clothing and clothing accessories could touch it. All it held dear was fashion. All the better, because if it had been the type to take critique by its peers seriously, it might have slinked away to its room in despondent shame. Aura had said 'no'. She didn't think it would help, if Amelia's mutation were the type not to do what others could do. Each power was different, and... unique. Yadda yadda. It was a fair comment. Logical. But still.

She opened her mouth to say something. Maya's entrance cut that something short.

Amelia smiled at Maya, a bit peeved by the interruption. It showed slightly in her eyes. "I know who she is, Maya. I showed her in. And I think I'll keep trying," she said, turning towards Aura with an unfaltering smile. "There are way too many tricks I could do with this power to simply give up on it just because things got tough. Maybe some day I'll even be able to make a clothing drill. Or a Zorro sword to slash up peoples' shirts in an A or a Z."

She let the hand vanish without a sound. She'd play with it later.

Aura's head swung around at the sudden new voice and she realized only a second later showed her nervousness. Aura was relatively uncertain of the powers of most who dwelt there and she was fairly sure they let humans walk around free in the place. Aura liked places where she at least knew what to expect. Reminding herself that most people here were Mutants.

She glanced between the two other girls, she had no real idea about what either could do, but was fairly sure both knew what she could do. Amelia obviously did and she caught the other girl's name in their exchange. It was likely the null told them or as Amelia had suggested News shows. SHe kept a lower profile these day's but every so often things happened. Either way, Aura thought to herself, the Null could have chosen far worse people for her to hang out with.

Aura could not help but imagine a drill made from a shirt. "Well if you want to take someone down....and not kill them....wrap the shirt or whatever around the neck and pull tight till the target passes out. With practice you should find the point between passing out and worse" Aura suggested, leaving out other tactics that she could think of. These were unlikely to be people who wanted to kill if even fight at all. She also did not know the extent of the girl power, but if she could form a complex drill or thought she would one day, knocking some one out, by not letting them breeze seemed like it could be easier in Aura's mind.

"Most of my usual plans are likely to violent to qualify. Most of what i know has to do with combat or training or...carpentry" she said recalling her old furniture. "And last time i was here i was mostly in the medical wing and Frosty saw fit to send me home" she said with a shrug. Aura considered relaxing more and letting her aura surround her but it was possible that might also cause trouble.

>> "I know who she is, Maya. I showed her in..."

And with that, Maya was out of the conversation before she even got into it. Ami seemed utterly and completely comfortale talking to a serial killer about drills and fighting...

>>"Well if you want to take someone down....and not kill them....wrap the shirt or whatever around the neck and pull tight till the target passes out. With practice you should find the point between passing out and worse"

... and strangling people with her powers.

Peachy.

Maya walked over to the couch and sat down on the back, putting an arm around Ami's shoulder in a clear sign of possession. If she was not going to join the cheerful girl talk, might as well loom in the background, keeping an eye on Aura. That was what she was supposed to do, so she would do it.

Damn right Sam kicked her out last time. He did not trust her either. Maybe she was just loopy and not actually evil; but that did not mean she was not dangerous.

>> "Well if you want to take someone down....and not kill them....wrap the shirt or whatever around the neck and pull tight till the target passes out. With practice you should find the point between passing out and worse"

Not quite what she'd been aiming for, but she made note!

"Too violent. Got it." She smirked. "Well, maybe I could just kick them in the head with their own boot to knock them out... Tons of options."

And there came Maya's arm, wrapping around her all protective-like. Was Mirror... worried? Or jealous? Maybe she was just uncomfortable with hearing her talk about powers and violence with the known mass-murderer.

Mass murderer... That was funny. Because hadn't the girl attacked a church, too? Mass... Murderer... Puns... a little graveyard humor there. Ha. Ha.

Maybe Mirror was right and she should be worried, but it was far more interesting being friendly and kind.

"So carpentry?" She latched onto a possible change of topic... to make Mirror feel less terrified or emasculated or worried about her, or whatever it was she was. "That's a hobby of yours? What do you make?"

"It was how i was trained to use my powers, it taught control and for me to sustain my Aura longer. I have made bed's, lamp shades, desk's, shelf's, chairs and more. However procuring the right material is tricky and draws for to much attention, so i have taken the simple route of buying my furniture. " she said shaking her head with obvious disappointment. She had stopped of her own accord but her choice had been influenced by her order to stay off the news.

"When i was taught the craft, i was still living in the forest, Material was everywhere and the quality amazing. Of course we were getting shot at much of the time" Aura said thinking back to the memory. SHe looked at the quieter of the two for a moment. She wondered how close the two of them were and it made her think of Allison and herself.

"So what do you two do all day? I train and work mostly" She said honestly. Curious to see what the mansion peoples life's were like. Sanctuary was a homeless shelter and even Aura knew that meant most people likely had poor pasts, but the Mansion was different.

Standing Aura stretched her back and as she did her Aura started to become visible, she then sat down and her aura lingered only a few seconds after before fading away. She would have kept it up longer but felt she might alarm these two as well as others in the Mansion. She did however reform her aura around her index fingers to sweep several stary black hair's from her eyes. "I figure leaving my Aura on might attract to much, negative attention" she said wth a shrug of her shoulders.

>>"Too violent. Got it. Well, maybe I could just kick them in the head with their own boot to knock them out... Tons of options."

Ami sounded cheerful and relaxed; everything Maya was not. She was talking about using powers in fight as if she had been talking about cooking muffins.

Or carpentry.

>>"It was how i was trained to use my powers, it taught control and for me to sustain my Aura longer. I have made bed's, lamp shades, desk's, shelf's, chairs and more. However procuring the right material is tricky and draws for to much attention, so i have taken the simple route of buying my furniture. "

The way she said 'material' made Maya have goosebumps on her arm. Carpentry, she was talking about making furniture. Of wood. Obviously. What else would she use?
Now I'm just getting paranoid.

>>"So what do you two do all day? I train and work mostly... I figure leaving my Aura on might attract to much, negative attention"

"Train and work sounds 'bout right" she nodded, just to join in on the conversation "There's also school, although Ami does more of that than I do" she smirked, glancing at her girlfriend. She was the one always telling her to take classes. Maybe one day she will. "Mostly, it's just waitin' for stuff to happen."

Materials. Forest. Not able to be bought in the city, so she just buys normal furniture like other guys. Otherwise, she'd attract attention. Oh. So like Ed Gein. Cool. Well, not really...

She chimed in a confirmation after Maya. "School and training, yeah. I'm helping out Kealey a lot in the library, lately. Certainly no Ed Gein carpentry funtimes."

As Aura stood, the girl's power became more pronounced. A pink glow. Not subtle. Then, it went down into two focus points, one on each index finger. She brushed aside her hair.

Amelia found herself flexing a psychic hand in front of her testingly, curious. She sure would love to be able to have control like that. "Definitely need to try colors..." She commented quietly, mainly to herself. Practice made perfect, after all. And if she could expand her repertoire... "Maybe I could even mimic you." She glanced up at Aura with a small smirk. She meant the power aspect, the control, not anything else, but... such a line could always be misunderstood.

School? It took her a moment but Aura recalled this was also a type of school. SHe had little idea of what they taught. She had never talked about it with her sister or ever really asked anyone. She imagined it had to do with seeing human's as equals. Though without recalling ever going to any school herself she had no idea if they were all like what she assumed this was. Resolving to see if her assumption was correct she replied. " What do they teach you here? I don't recall ever going to school" she admitted looking at Maya. She assumed she may have at some point, but she had know way to know.

Aura was unsure how to reply to Maya's word's about waiting around. Aura herself tended to take a proactive approach to things when she could or did have particular orders. If she had nothing else to do she trained or watched people enter and exit sanctuary, like an early guard in case something happened. "Sanctuary has a Library as well, though i am rarely within it, i don't often have the time for books" she said honestly. She did find herself wondering how different sanctuary and the mansion were from each other.

Aura's head looked at Amelia when she mentioned mimicking her. "It is best you do not mimic me, my new friend. I Live a very dangerous life that will likely see me laid low before my natural time. Plus i get shot at a lot and i am unsure how your power fares against bullets" she said trying a bit to discourage the other mutant's plan. She was not sure but had doubts the clothing manipulator was as bullet resistant as herself.

>>"School and training, yeah. I'm helping out Kealey a lot in the library, lately. Certainly no Ed Gein carpentry funtimes."

Maya winced again. The friendly smile on her face started to feel a little bit strained. Really, Ami? Really?

>>" What do they teach you here? I don't recall ever going to school. Sanctuary has a Library as well, though i am rarely within it, i don't often have the time for books"

Maya blinked that away too. Never went to school, of course she didn't, she was a blooming sociopath. Maya had been homeschooled all her life before the Mansion, and in a weird way, she felt herself relating to that. But before she could answer, the question of powers came up again. She watched Ami experiment with hers and muse about the possibilities.

>>"It is best you do not mimic me, my new friend. I Live a very dangerous life that will likely see me laid low before my natural time. Plus i get shot at a lot and i am unsure how your power fares against bullets"

Please don't answer that.

Maya cleared her throat. The conversation was going in a way she did not want it to go. Hanging out in a friendly environment would not the right place for discussing past murders...

"Answering your question" she smiled at Aura "They teach regular classes, Math, English, that kinda stuff, jus' like a regular school. But they also have training sessions for people to learn to use their powers better, an' get comfortable with their mutations. An' there is a lot of free time for... independent studies."

Such a nice blanket term.

>>>>" What do they teach you here? I don't recall ever going to school. Sanctuary has a Library as well, though i am rarely within it, i don't often have the time for books"

A shrug of the shoulders was the best answer she could give. Maya hadn't volunteered a better one. "I don't go to school here. At my school, it's maths and sciences, with some literature and English skills thrown in. And PE."

What they taught at the mansion was, at best guess, similar. There were probably also classes to train people in using their mutations. That sort of thing sounded like it fit.

Aura's reply to her comment about mimicking the power caused her to arch an eyebrow. Seriously arch it. Not a little, just a lot.

Maya came in to try and change the subject, confirming what the mansion classes were all about. Yeah, Amelia decided, Maya was definitely worried here. This Aura lady liked to misunderstand.

"I meant 'mimic' as in pretend to make a glowy pink aura, by the way." She cut in, smiling weakly. "Nothing worthy of getting shot at. I'm really more interested in playing soccer than getting into fights like that. Which I'd lose." Ami vs Gun was not a pretty picture in her head.

Again, she let the hand vanish. Though this time, it wasn't intentionally.

Aura only partly understood what the girl's said about school. She was sure she went to one at some point but had never given the idea to much thought. She knew Math and English, though these two already seemed to speak it well enough. Deciding to hold that question for another time she instead considered the idea of getting comfortable with ones powers. It was a process Aura did not recall or never had, of course she mused mentally, their had been other issues at the time.

Soccer? Aura's mind was blank on what it was but it seemed less dangerous then her own normal day. The other part she got however. She had been mistaken it seemed."I see, we all have our paths. what is this soccer however?" she asked. She was a bit relieved that Ami did want to imitate her lifestyle, but how her power worked. It seemed like an easier and safer option to Aura.

Aura mentally searched for something she might have in common with these to. Most of her stories seemed to heavy in death then these two preferred. Then Aura found a topic shined in her mind. "I have a pet cat, she's all black with a nice white stripe going from nose to tip of tail, do either of you have pets?" She asked. The two seemed so different to Aura, one seemed quite and distant and the other talkative and cheery.