It was unsurprising that Melissa had not yet heard of the MRC, since there were New Yorkers who had no idea there was a division of police that dealt with mutant crime. If she was going to establish herself as a mutant bar, she would probably get acclimated with them rather quickly. "Mutant Related Crimes. It's a police division."

Nate laughed at Melissa's joke; it was rather bad, but Nate was also notorious for jokes of that quality. "But then you'd have to start pouring whiskey into saucers."

As a new girl in the city, there was plenty of beauty to behold before time numbed her to it. "I'm sure a pretty young thing like yourself could surely find a nice gentleman to show her around," he assured with a wink. He was fairly certain Melissa was going to have an easy time developing a social life in New York.

It made sense, some mutants could be very dangerous if they chose to be, their was no shortage on History channel specials on criminal Mutants. Their various powers giving them a leg up on many measures set to guard against the average criminal. It was also now a bigger risk for her she considered not having many means other then the proposed Adapted, but she would have to weigh that option later on by getting a feel for how people might think of it.

"Might be a pain to proof the cat anyway and i'm sure i'll have enough cat fights without them" she said. Sure she was sure the joke was not much better then the first, but he had followed up on that and so she continued the humor. The idea she might encounter a cat based mutation entertained her mind briefly, as she imagined charging to dangle string.

She blushed slightly at being called pretty. She was sure she could find someone to show her around as well. "Your probably right, I might have even met a few like that already" she said. Still she knew the bar still demanded far to much attention to leave it for long, not to mention she habitually slept till noon.

As sexy as the cliche of the catfight was to a man, the idea of a mutant catfight sounded like a situation that would throw New York City into DEFCON One. "For this block's sake, I hope you can keep the mutant coeds behaved, or at least have a mutation that'll keep the peace," he teased. At this point in the conversation, it had to be safe to assume that Melissa was a mutant.

It was also safe to assume she was a flirt and maybe even a tease. He slow-clapped, chuckling at her use of the word "few" opposed to maybe "one." "Well done. Nice to see a cute gal like yourself is keeping her options open." He had respect for the hunt that came with the single life; even he had his eye on two girls before choosing Quin. (It might have been more if the other women he met had not been taken, crazy, cold, and from his past, in that order.)

"You would be surprised how well bribery work's on a bar drunk, but no my power can do little to stop a fight" she said shaking her head. She at times wished her mutation was more useful. Some mutants could level buildings, others could fly, she could make liqueur. Well it had gotten her out of trouble before but it often meant the person was expecting the hand out again, and so it usually only worked well short term.

She laughed at his slow clapping and smiled. "Not hard to do here, the real trick is finding the one's who are nice when the booze flows and when it stops" she said honestly. Some men and woman were nice when drunk, some when sober often times not both.

"I did choose a relatively abandoned block and had the place made with thick walls for a reason" she said honestly. She had considered the very idea of the block going up in flames, or whatever else a mutant might have as their power.

Melissa had a good head on her shoulders, which was necessary; a naive bartender could find herself in a lot of trouble if she was not careful. There was certainly a challenge finding someone who was just as nice after they stopped, drinking, but... "I'd think it might be a more rewarding challenge to find the guy who's honest while it is." Alcohol split people into two camps: those who became honest, and those who's loosened tongues let slip lies, as Nate knew all too well.

It was comforting to know the bar itself was prepared for the worst case scenario. Nate was gaining a lot of respect for the young business owner. "So what is your gift. I'm assuming it's something more than just those piercing green eyes?"

Tone it down, Nate reminded himself internally. There was something about a woman who had her wits about her and a bottle of liquor on hand that left Nate far too compliment-prone.

"You may be right" She said considering his words. She did not work in the best business for romance and was in a bar long enough where she rarely liked to be in one when she could get away."Honesty mean's a lot as well of course both in business and in love" she said honestly. Love was a complicated business perhaps more then the one she was in.

He had a way with word's had he not mentioned he was taken, Melissa might have decided to be more aggressive. Rather then to entertain the idea, she decided to answer his question. Although nearly for the first time since they started talking she broke eye contact for longer then a few moments, looking slightly embarrassed. She then looked around the bar and confirmed it was still empty. Once recovered she gave a smile from her moist pink lip's. "Your right, but were not nearly close enough for me to show you that" she said jokingly even puckering her lips slightly.

"Actually....well....I turn Water into wine so to speak." she said quite nervous about actually revealing her power. She did so only quietly with people who seemed trustworthy. Nate seemed like a good enough guy, but she knew their were those out there who might try and turn their own profit from her.

Nate was not the only one equipped with the ability to flirt or be suggestive, apparently. This girl was clever, and now Nate had to hush his imagination, which was curious about any "gifts" Melissa was implying. He had done nothing wrong, but he was already feeling guilty for the content of his thoughts.

Hesitantly, Melissa did indeed share her mutation, and it was quite a unique one. Nate's eyes widened as he held his hands up jokingly. "The messiah!" He smirked, lowering his arms and returning to his drink. "At least to us drunks."

Nate looked across the bar, wondering if Melissa's gift was diverse enough to be responsible for any of the bottles on the shelves. "Compared to that, manipulating my shadow seems a little plain..." he muttered sarcastically as a nonchalant way of sharing his own mutation.

"I might be, still it can be annoying" she said honestly without trying to go into more detail. She assumed every Mutation had it's draw backs but she wished her drawbacks could be slightly different. She heard and considered Nate's mutation, manipulating his shadow. Though mentally she had trouble grasping just what that power could do. Her mind provided her with an amusing image of shadow puppets.

"Does your come with an off switch?" she asked looking more serious, her green eyes looking into his, realizing for the first time, that they were a very nice and odd color of grey. "Mine does not" she said shaking her head. She had learned to somewhat get around such issues but she longed for thing's like a normal shower and being able to drink water easily.

"What can you do with your shadow, if you don't mind" she asked curiously. Unable to form much beyond the image of him using shadow puppets, she was drawing a blank.

"You want another drink?" she asked politely as he glanced at the bottles behind her. She really hoped he was thinking she used her powers to make them. Knowledge of such a thing could get her shut down as the more special bottles were less then regulated verity's.

Nate was lucky that he was in control of his own mutation. Melissa was not the first mutant he had met with an inconvenient ability that was constant; Sveta was a prime example. It was not something he could relate to, but he was sympathetic to it.

"I'm lucky enough to have control of the on-off switch, but yeah, my shadow..." It was always easier demonstrating his mutation rather than explaining it, so his shadow crawled up the side of the bar to the bar-top. "I can control it's movement.." the shadow began to take physical shape, emerging off of the counter as a dark grey tendril, "...and give it shape."

The tendril brushed Melissa's cheek with it's velvety form. Nate was always curious as to why his shadow had the texture of velvet regardless of shape, hardness or force, but it was not a concern, so he let it remain a mystery.

His shadow returned to the two-dimensional plain and retreated back to its natural position. He contemplated another drink, but it was still too early in the day to move to a third drink. "Sadly, I think I'll have to decline. It's too early to stumble around New York," he joked.

Nate stood up and smiled. "It was nice meeting you, Melissa. I'm sure you'll see me again." He waved but kept himself from winking before he walked away. He had to behave himself, but if he could manage that, he would not mind Melissa as a new friend. If nothing else, he might get a few great drinks out of it.