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So, I'm working to get book edits and art projects done over the next month, and I may not be around as often. I will likely still be posting, but my actual cbox presence and such may be limited. If anyone needs to get a hold of me honestly the best way to do that is to IM nudge me or PM me. <3

Evelyn wasn't exactly big on the whole 'Halloween' thing. Having voices in your head sort of took out all the fun of it. It didn't matter that she already knew the costumes were fake and people were dressing up, but the echoes felt the need to point out every flaw, every stitch, every fake blood splatter. (Then there was one year they pointed out a few real ones. She was somewhat skittish at that point.)

When you lived in the biggest mutant hub around, there were bound to be some real monsters lurking about. That didn't make her feel relieved. It just made her feel somewhat drained listening to the constant feed of information, waiting for the one tidbit that was useful. It was like tapping a phone line, knowing she had to pay attention whether it was interesting or not. As soon as you hung up, you'd miss something.

Not that she could really hang up on her powers.

This year though, she at least had something to do. The Historical Preservation society was working with the Fire Department, putting on some 'haunted house'. Evelyn was recommended to help because of her work with the MET. While most of the staff was on hand acting, she was there mostly to keep an eye on the building and see it didn't come to harm. She sort of had a knack for that sort of thing. Plus, the fire department knew her relationship with the x-men, which was just a bonus. So maybe she could have been doing something more fun for Halloween, like maybe trying to convince Mirror to go out with her to dinner or something. But at least here she could let the echoes be useful instead of just nosy.

Guests were gradually starting to arrive, and Evelyn drifted from room to room keeping an eye on things. Pale white hair, tattered white dress and natural pale skin, she had been volunteered quickly for the role of ghost which allowed her to 'drift' without looking out of place. So far, so good. No one needed to warn her she was a terrible actress, so she didn't even try. So long as she didn't spend much time with customers, she was fine. Somewhere between rounds, the echoes gave an interesting heads up though. One of the figures who just arrived was one of the x-men she trained with over the summer. Even in make-up, they could make out the face. Maybe she should say hi...but she resisted for the moment, not wanting to spoil things for the kids he brought along.

The echoes took careful notes during the interaction, even at the point where Evelyn's balance was tested, and she was focused on other things. It took effort to keep her feet under her, especially when a kick and a shove sent one leg awkwardly off to the side. Sloppily, she caught herself, but at least she wasn't sitting on her butt. That was always an awful way to make a first impression, and she tried her best to avoid it when possible now.

>>"Again."

Righting herself, Evelyn circled back, and tossed one sai up, then the next, lightly, catching each by the point. Fingers gripped with the points towards her forearms, she would have more force to hit with at the base of the weapon, and the pointed end to strike with on the back swing. With someone as fast as Saphirus, catching him at all would take a double strike of some sort. It made her wished she watched more movies. It would be easier to think of ways to fight if she had something more to go off of.

A dart, a swing with the right hand to try to connect with the crowbar and deflect it out of the way. The main force went into a left handed hit, aimed once more for his left side. [Lack of reaction towards strikes on right side. Protecting left.] The information verified what she suspected in the beginning. But knowing wasn't necessarily going to give her an advantage right now. Somehow, he moved reflexively when she attacked, crowbar almost effortlessly pushing her attack away. She needed a way to combat that.

She needed to keep her stance braced though. He was already aiming for her legs, and she braced herself so she wouldn't get knocked down again.

Watching someone watch you watch them created an interesting mental tango. It was like a stand off, each sizing up the other. Not that Evelyn could stand toe to toe with him at this point. He was a full x-men, she was a trainee. But mentally, she could play that game. If he liked intimidating people, then he might find her harder to keep on edge. Because she would know if that was what he was doing, read it in his actions, tell when it was a game. And she didn't like when people messed with her.

At the same time, this was someone she had to train under. What he thought about her could reflect on Gawain, and if she was a pain in the ass, they might regret taking her in as a trainee. She needed to do her best, regardless of the impression she was getting.

She stayed focused, tucking away his reactions to storage.

Her answer didn't seem to impress him. Maybe she should have said something about the good of all, using her powers to save people. While she wanted to help, she wasn't going to lie and act like she was starry eyed with the whole hero gig. She felt things were more complicated than just being a hero. There was responsibility, justice, tough choices that were more than saving people. There was also paper work. She had dated Mirror long enough to catch him working on paper work from time to time.

"I've trained a bit, and felt like I've been learning... Locke worked with me, Gawain and I have trained. I feel like I've learned to use my powers better and have a better idea of what they can do." She remarked. She decided not to mention her training with Kyle. Anyone who wasn't an x-man might not be viewed in the best light by Saphirus.

>>"What would you say the responsibilities of the X-Men are?"

"Use their powers to help maintain peace. Stand up for those who can't stand up for themselves. Be both heroes, but also being a force for justice. I guess responsibilities could include a lot though... you guys train students, go on missions. Work with the police..." She said thoughtfully. Was there a right answer? Was there a wrong answer? She wasn't sure at this point.

Evelyn had never met Saphirus, but she wasn't unfamiliar with what he looked like. At the mansion she had at least caught glances of most of the x-men, and faces were rarely new to her. Personalities though, that was something else entirely. She knew very little about the other mutant and knew even less of what to expect when she got the note for the training session in the Danger Room.

There were always rumors though, and she considered those as she made her way down the halls. Saph was tough. Saph had a temper. Saph put Aiden in the infirmary. Although that one she didn't give too much thought to. After all, her first danger room session ended with her passing out.

She didn't too much. Or at least, she tried not to.

Evelyn didn't exactly have offensive powers though. And sometimes she felt like training sessions were a huge stretch for her. The tryout had focused on her mental strength, but put her against something physical, she was still just human. Training couldn't make her unbreakable. Training couldn't give her control over elements or something equally useful. Training would only make it easier to evade and maybe better with her Sai.

So whatever Saphirus thought he could accomplish with her had a sense of foreboding. She entered the danger room and tried to put her concerns away.

>>"Artwork...well. We'll see."

Evelyn wanted to protest, but there was little time to argue with Forte when painting subjects were squabbling and fighting on either side. At least the ceramic pieces were untouched by the powers, but a few got thrown in the arguments quickly escalating. It took a second to process the questions over the echoes, and Evelyn rubbed her forehead turning a corner.

"He has glowing yellow eyes, jeans, t-shirt with what looked like red-paint splatters on it. He touches the paintings and they just come to life. The only ones that should be alive are the ones he's touching, so if we follow the trail--" She dodged out of the way of one of the sculptures pushing it's companion off the pedestal, hitting the ground with a thundering crack. "Let's just hope we stop him before arms and armory."

A painting jumped into the path, and Evelyn ducked under it's punch, sending a kick to the back of it's knees. At least this time she was feeling more confident with herself, but her confidence only went so far. She didn't want to break any of the paintings, so her fighting was somewhat restrained. She hoped Forte would keep it together.

Then again, they just needed to catch the guy faster.