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It was late, or early, depending on how you looked at the time. The sun was neither coming nor going, the skies dark and the streets an even more eerie black. As Evelyn made her way down the sidewalk, she felt herself reconsidering the decision to leave her apartment at this time of night. But after the long events prior, she wanted nothing more than to get back to the mansion and get some sleep.

Sleep. It was a rare thing when she was ready to rest. But getting chased through the sewers, thrown about and almost getting devoured tended to do that to you. Exhausted was an understatement for how she felt, and even the short walk to the corner store didn't deter her. With her cell phone dead, and no way to call a cab, she had no choice but to sneak through the darkness and try to find a payphone. It seemed a simple enough task at the time.

That was until the echoes flickered in warning, and an arm slammed into the side of her head sending her reeling backwards in pained surprise.

As if the night couldn't get any worse.

"I thought it was you, you worthless little mutant."

[Avery] The name flickered through her mind even as Evelyn stumbled back into the alley. Memories flickered through her mind momentarily as her brain threatened her with playbacks from the blow, and the silver haired mutant felt that unnatural sensation of fear rising back to the surface for the second time that night. The individual in front of her was a familiar figure at the museum not too long ago. But after his failed attempt to organize a kidnapping during the riots, he had been fired. No thanks to her and her favorite mirror-walker. It didn't look like he took too well with loosing his job.

Before she could stammer a reply, she was forced to dodge another swing, left arm raised to deflect the attack. What advantage the echoes gave her warning of the movements mattered little when she was too tired to respond fast enough, catching the next hook in the stomach. Doubling over in pain, the next fist connected with her face and she landed hard on her side, the already formed bruises from her chase in the sewer stinging with new injuries to her pale skin.

"I lost my job because of you! My house! Barely stayed out of prison, you dumb little--" His string of profanity was lost to her as he grabbed her by the front of the shirt and slammed her back against the wall. A scream for help was frozen in her throat as she stared helplessly at the figure in front of her. It didn't feel real. It had to be a memory. This couldn't be happening.

The echoes scrambled to push her into action. She had to defend herself. She had to fight back.

Her foot lashed out, kicking the man solidly between the legs. With a snarl, the attacker dropped her, and she made a desperate crawl to get away. Her mind was disoriented with the chaos. She couldn't form words, couldn't form thoughts, was only focused on getting away. She wasn't expecting the boot that came crashing down on her ankle.

The scream she couldn't muster of fear resounded through the alley in response to the pain. The sound resounded in a haunting way, and she could only hope someone else heard it...someone willing to help.

Evelyn was a little surprised by the sewer mutant's responses. He was quiet, but when he said something more often than not it held a level of wisdom to it. Although it was hard to hear him speak through all the muttering, she couldn't resist a slight smile at his answer. She wondered if the reverse was just as true. Could someone who lived in the light have little understanding of the darkness?

After her analysis, though, his behavior changed slightly. He laughed. The noise revealed a bit about him; somewhat surprised, perhaps, somewhat accepting. There was a little fear, too, which was almost comical in this situation. All she could do was analyze people's behaviors. She didn't feel like that was something worth being concerned over. The sewer mutant's fangs, claws and tail...that was worth caution. "Well, I don't think you have to try very hard to be on my good side at least. It takes quite a bit to get on my bad side..." She remarked quietly. Even after being attacked by the kid, she was still having a casual conversation with him.

Perhaps her sense of danger wasn't entirely broken. Perhaps it was so acute that she put herself in risky situations because she felt she could predict the outcome, calculate the risks. She learned, adapted. While Sylar himself was not what she'd call dangerous, his inner 'monster' was. Learning which face was Dr. Jekyll, and which was Mr. Hyde, and realizing the difference between the two would be the balance to staying alive. Perhaps Sylar himself was not a monster. He just carried one around with him.

"My luck, I probably will be the one to find you..." She said aloud, and wondered if by them she could understand that darker side of him as well. Memories flickered through her mind of the voice that chased her through the darkness. She wondered if he could sense the flicker of fear that moved through her like an echo of emotions. She was still calm on the outside, but she was more aware of the danger that 'it' possessed. It had been one situation she was fairly certain she couldn't have talked her way out of.

Using her powers selfishly had a certain appeal. Evelyn wouldn't deny that. There were ways to use her abilities for good, and for ill, but she never really did much with either. It didn't mean she hadn't thought of it. "In another life, Mr. Holmes, you would have made a excellent criminal." She recited with a small smile. Her smile wavered slightly at his last question. "I don't know quite what I am. Perhaps somewhere in between the two. You know those silly sayings like 'I'm no devil, but I'm not an angel?' I guess that's sort of where I fall. I don't create trouble, but I don't always stop it. Sometimes I understand too much for my own good. I want to do the right thing, I guess. But sometimes I wonder whose definition of right that would be?" She leaned back against the counter slightly as she considered it. Right and wrong changed depending on whose viewpoint it was. She saw a lot of 'viewpoints'. The question was, which was her own?

Welcome to MRO! Excited to see you on the forums!

Sylar's emotions managed to show through the mask he typically kept in place. It was a rare moment, at least around him. It was clear he related to the newly blind mutant, and like the little girl, that connection brought the human element out of him. Evelyn didn't have enough in common with the mutant to really make him relate. She wasn't as kind as Serena to become his friend. But she could read him, and while he may not relate to her, she could understand him. She always felt odd when she felt that level of connection with others though. It was like she was seeing something private her companions wouldn't approve of. So she tried not to let herself linger too long on his normally hidden feelings.

"I think it's hard to just a group by the actions of a few. I've seen humans beat up other humans. But I've seen them step in and aid people who are being mistreated. In the same sense, I've seen mutants who reach in to help others, and seen mutants who just enjoy violence. Some people embrace their darker tendencies, others right them." She shrugged. That was just her opinion on the matter. She didn't see anyone as truly 'evil' or 'good'. Everyone had a shade of grey in the middle somewhere.

Wishy-washy. Maybe she was. Maybe she focused too much on the shades of people, and it made it hard for her to really pick a side. "I guess I could see that...." She mused quietly, then looked up slightly at his question. She gave a nod, and looked at him for a second before answering. "I think I understand your point of view. I think you've had a hard life. You've been picked on, treated like a monster, and in many ways, became that monster. You didn't have your parents there for you when you and had to go through the changes you faced alone, and while you try to be tough and act like it doesn't bother you, it shows through your compassion for others. You step in when you see someone who needs help, because you don't want them to go through what you have. I think you have been in the dark, in more ways than one. You've struggled and you've been alone, and probably afraid. But rather than letting it beat you, you let the darkness shape you and it's become your strength.

"You're a predator now, though, and you know you can never really be 'human', and can never really be 'normal'. You know you have an animal side of you and when it's in control, it doesn't matter how compassionate or caring you would be otherwise. You'd hurt someone just as easily as you'd save someone. When you're hungry, that drives you, so you try to do what you can to keep it at bay. Your morals are sort of in the 'lesser evil' sort of viewpoint. You don't mind stealing, or breaking and entering, because taking what you can would prevent you from attacking people and killing them. At the same time, i think you have a level of resentment for people who have mistreated you and other mutants. If they're going to attack you, why does it matter if you take stuff from them? You're...lonely though. You don't admit it, and don't want it to show, but it sucks living in the sewer and being by yourself. You do it because you feel you have to, not because you necessarily want to. Letting anyone close is dangerous. If they aren't hurt by you, you'll get hurt by them. As much as you are a monster, part of you is still human, and that shapes you and makes you somewhere in between the two." She bit her tongue slightly to stop herself from continuing. Getting the pizza created enough distraction, and she watched as he ate, nodding slightly as he tore into the pizza.

"I'll be fine. The mansion has plenty of food so I'm not worried." She focused on securing the bandages to her arm. They were quickly staining red but hopefully now that the cuts were sealed they'd be able to clot and stop bleeding.

So, I got sick. At first it was mostly "seems like allergies, wait for it to pass", then we hit "well, looks like a cold, take medicine." But this morning I reached full flu, can't move and typing takes much effort to accomplish. I will try posting when I have blips of feeling ok still, but at this point can't promise what will happen. I'll most likely be lurking in the cbox, trying to sleep it off.

Evelyn nodded quietly at his remark, the echoes picking up on the slight hint of confusion before he spoke. That was fairly typical around her though. He picked up the remote and then waggled it in her direction.

Evelyn felt a chuckle slip out of her mouth. "Oh, I don't mind at all. I'm used to drawing with distractions around." As if that wasn't completely an understatement. Trying to do anything with the echoes was troublesome. Heck, they criticized how she tied her shoes a time or two. Television was just minor background noise compared to them. "There are at least two court room shows, one painting lesson, two cooking demonstrations, a news broadcast and if we're lucky an old movie to pick through on the local channels. I'd recommend turning on the satellite." She shrugged and continued her drawing.

Evelyn wasn't sure what to make of Syn's expression. It wasn't disappointed, there was a flicker that almost looked offended, but mostly the returned expression was challenging. Determined. Syn was someone who wasn't deterred by rejection, and Evelyn's cautious nature didn't seem to bother her. She was good at keeping her cards close to her chest, and even the echoes had a little trouble finding the subtle body language hidden by the contained female.

[Gets what she wants. Confident.]

That little reminder of Syn's abilities moved through her mind, keeping her from becoming too comfortable with the situation. She wasn't going to be won over by just pretty words. But acting without a full understanding of the situation was even less advisable.

"What about you? How would you handle someone disagreeing with you?" Evelyn responded finally. She let her eyes lift from the cd in her hands and she kept her expression blank. No sign of challenge, no sign o fear. A simple question, one she doubted she'd get a straight answer to.