A Small Yearning (Open)

[isamina]

There was a cold bite to the wind that teased her hair, undoubtedly creating a stubborn knot in the process. A small yelp escaped the mouth of a young boy that slipped off one of the many swings. The others giggled at his fall. Tara watched on in envy as the local children went about their normal lives, emphasis on normal. Another gust of wind caressed her bare skin, causing the earth mover to place her hands into her coat pockets so that they could find some warmth there.

I used to be like you too, you know, all happy and innocent, she wanted to scream at the kids. But with parents nearby perhaps that wouldn't be the best course of action. Though, that didn't stop her from glaring at the opposing kids that played in the sandbox. A horrified scream tore through the playground, as one of the young girls began to sink into the sand, crying for her mother all the while. Tara gasped, she concentrated a moment relieved as the sand returned to normal. "Oops," she breathed hoping that no one noticed how her hands gained a brief gold aurora.

[aerialace]

Central park -- a place that screamed nostalgia for Vinny when the good ol' days was still the good ol' days, before the mutant dilemma and nonsense changed his life. He remembered walking along those very paths in the park, being chased by his older sister in the green pastures and wrestling with his younger cousin in the sandbox (she always getting the upper hand). Now, it was just Vincent walking around the park meeting with an old friend who happened to make Vinny's hot dogs just the way he liked them -- clean without a chance of mess. He smoothed his hair back and looked at his surroundings, believing the place to be so surreal. The world could be at war with mutans versus humans and he still could find a safe haven at the park.

Vincent was so immersed with the park that he walked where the children played, unaware of his mistake. He would have turned back, had there not been people that way flocking already. He really didn't like kids, since they got so messy and dirty. Instead, he decided to take a seat on a park bench next to a familiar person... he just couldn't puthis finger on it.

As he ate, he happened to look at some kids beginning to cry. The kid didn't worry him too much, rather, how the sand moved and how the girl reacted. To any other person, it would seem out of the ordinary yet forgotten, but with Vincent's new world, things like this wouldn't be alien anymore. He raised an eyebrow and carefully tapped her on the shoulder.

"Don't be so scared, nobody noticed. Well, nobody except me but I won't rat you out, we're like family in this world." He said. He thought for a moment and shook his head. Wow, he sounded like a creep with that sentence.

"Well, maybe you would feel comfortable if I did this.." He said. Vincent extended his arm and a faster breeze of wind pulled in next to the mutant, fluttering her hair in the wind. Keeping his mouth shut, he let out a smug smirk and shrugged.

[isamina]

Tara jumped when she felt someone tap her shoulder. She hadn't noticed that someone else took the empty spot next to her on the bench. Shows how observant I am, she thought. Tara quirked an eyebrow, this guy was familiar, at least a little bit, but Tara couldn't remember from where exactly. She was relieved as he stated that no one besides him had seen her little "mistake". "Well that's good, I guess," she said. We're like family? I haven't heard that before, Tara thought.

"Well, maybe you would feel comfortable if I did this.."

"What do you-" Tara cut herself off as a sudden gust of wind came out of nowhere, her hair whipped in the wind. She ran a hand through it, trying to untangle some of the strands. "So you're-, well obviously,then I guess it's a good thing it was only you that saw, err, that," she said indicating towards the sandbox now abandoned.

[aerialace]

Vincent nodded and placed his hands up. If he was another person -- or the Vincent from so many years ago -- he would have made a commotion on the mutant's powers and probably tried to stay away from her, considering her as a freak, being hypocriticl to the fullest extent. Now, however, he had matured into a fine young man who could bite his tongue and tolerate what the mutant girl had to offer. He had seen a majority of people in the mansion, her included, though he hadn't said much to anybody. The life in the mansion could have been hard, it would be wise for Vinny to make a friend to show him the ropes.

"I've seen you around the mansion, I believe. Name's Vinny, real name Vincent but... you get the idea. So what's your name and power?" He asked. Vincent looked around to make sure nobody else was listening to them.

"But let's not announce it to wandering ears, huh?"

[isamina]

Tara twirled a piece of hair around one of her fingers, a nervous habit that she recently acquired. Before, she really had no reason to be nervous or fidgety. All part of the process to coming to terms with her new life, that's what she had been told. The pieces in her mind snapped into place as he stated that he was from the mansion. Of course, that was the only place that made sense. A smile flitted across her face, well, she hadn't had the chance to talk to anyone from the mansion until now.

"It's nice to meet you Vinny," she said politely,"My name is Tara and I can," Tara paused, What can I do, she pondered for a moment. "I can manipulate the earth, ground that is, you know cause earthquakes, move rocks." she gestured towards the playground, "And make regular sand into quicksand apparently" she was careful to keep her voice low, just in case anyone could overhear her. "I just came to the mansion a little while ago actually,"

[grace3]

A tall muscular man wearing a black, white pin-striped business suit was standing near a tree. He watched two people talking with each other near the kids playground. He was very quiet and he simply stared ahead, almost looking like he was watching his kids. He seemed to have something on his back, a long sleek sheath that was under his business jacket. It wasn't really noticeable, but anyone ever confronted him about it, he could simply send them away with telepathy. That was the good uses of his mental powers, he could make others go away by putting random thoughts into their mind. Probably something humans thought was put into their mind by their inner conscious.

The muscular man was named Viator. He walked towards the two sitting down on the bench and started to speak. "Mutants... such an unfitting word for people with gifts. Mutants are more like gifted people from God, given a specific task in life," the business man started to speak to the two. Viator could sense the powers within people, so he knew who the mutants were very easily. On top of that, he just watched them demonstrate their powers to each other. "My name is Viator, it is a pleasure to make the company of two fine young gifted children," Viator said with a kind smile. He was hoping for a positive response.

[aerialace]

Vincent stood and surveyed the ground, looking at Tara. So, she could manipulate the ground to do all type of ill tricks -- that was pure awesome! It had taken some time to get used to, but Vinny loved his powers. Sure, some people saw him as just creating a simple breeze, but that's where the appearance lied hidden behind the main attraction. Vincent was far superior, in his mind, than most people. He hadn't controlled his elemental ability to the fullest yet, however, he believed that with some due years he could create hurricanes and tornadoes to wipe away his foes.

"That's awesome, you rock my world!" He said. Wow, how corny that line was. Seriously, that was worse than what Vincent would say as his catchphrase, 'blow you away'. For some odd reason though, he couldn't -- and wouldn't -- stay away from puns. "Seriously? Me too! I got lost my first day on orentation and I'm still trying to get the limbo with my rooms and schedule, but the mansions' cool. What's up with your experience?"

At first, Vinny didn't notice the guy marching behind him (well a quick glance to see the behemoth) but when he sat down n the bench, a chill went down Vinny's spine. Had he talken too loud and attracted attention? Oops, he would need an orderly to help him with this situation...

The new guy started to preach about how mutants were, basically, diamonds in the rough. This raised some concern with Vinny, although he believed in everything this guy was saying.

"You let off more than you can chew man, talk. Unless you had a real good eye and ear, how in the hell do you know we're... you know?"

[isamina]

Rock my world she mouthed the words silently. That, well, that was pretty cheesy, she had to admit, but it was also pretty funny. "I'm glad that you think that way," she laughed, this was nice, no negative emotions, thus complete control. Her mood took a slight dip as Vinny asked about her own experience at the mansion, she only hope he didn't see her small wince. "A few days in I got to meet one of the members of the Brotherhood, that was fun," she replied thinking about the shape shifter Luna taking form of the Professor mocking her. "And I may have destroyed the garden," she added as an afterthought.

Tara whipped her head up as someone she didn't recognized began to speak to them. A small wave of fear swept over her but was quickly replaced by curiosity. What does he know about mutant abilities? Her gaze flickered over to Vinny as he questioned the man, voicing one of the questions that was running through her own mind, then turning back to the stranger.

[grace3]

Viator looked down at the two younger mutants and only kept his positive smile. It seemed the younger boy was much more paranoid and jumpy than the girl. "Now now, calm down there, I am not a thread to your existence, unless you decide for me to be," he said, scratching his back. The sword he constantly carried made it a little annoying for him in the tight business clothing. "Well, lets see... you guys are the infamous students of Xavier no? I heard you guys talking about the 'Mansion', I can only assume you guys are talking about the youngin's school," Viator said. Wait what? Did he just call Xavier a youngin? Clearly, this man was at the most in his 30's and earliest his mid-20's. He purposely did not answer the question of the boy's, until now, "Well, people don't sink into the sand at the park, and a large gust of wind doesn't blow through a city with tall skyscrapers all over it on such a beautiful day as today," Viator said, avoiding telling the children about his powers.

Viator looked at the two as he then looked at the bright sun and then back at them. He could see the shining youth as if it was a sun in front of him. Viator wondered where their paths would lead to. "Anyways, I'm curious about you guys... mutants are all over the world, but I've never seen an institution that cares for their students like children. Is Charles Xavier's Mansion a blessing as I hear?' the Immortal started to speak. It seemed this man was very knowledgeable and knew something about Xavier.

[aerialace]

Vincent was on end, he was so defensive that he could picture himself as a gazelle being corneredby a mighty lion, looking for a way out. This newcomer could prove to be a threat or a great ally, but still, he felt like he had to keep his guard up. Being a gentleman, he also felt the need to protect Kayla (Also he believed that it washis fault).

"No need for that guy, I'm not looking for any threats. Especially when there's all these people looking, I think a commotion would be the last thing we're looking for." He said tapping his foot. He had to admit, he seemed a bit adjectated. Vincent took his foot and nudged Kayla's leg, shifiting his eyes to point to the newcomer's appearance. Basially he wanted Kayla to be ready in case anything went wrong.

"Professor Xavier a young-un? We're still talking about the mutant, right?" Vinny hadn't been in the mansion for long but he knew that wheels wasn't young to a dinosaur even. Some people... Vinny rubbed his hair and created a larger wind, causing heads to turn and a bigger smirk on his face.

"I can make hurricanes appear in the most calmest places. Now, you want to know about Xavier's place? I've been there for a couple of hours to tell you the truth, but based on what others said, it's a pretty good place. A necessary place." Vinny tapped his chin and wondered. Yeah, the mansion was a safe haven for the mutants.

"Why, planning on staying there? Though... I think you're a bit old and, well, that's a bit Chris Hansen-ish, eh?" He asked, holding back a giggle. Oh what a kidder.

[isamina]

Threat? Nowadays wasn't everyone a possible threat after the whole cure fiasco? Tara leaned herself back into the bench a bit more, something catching her eye. A slight bulged, not very big beneath his clothing, moving slowly she resumed her previous position. That was probably something that she didn't want to know. Tara looked over at Vincent as he nudged her leg, receiving the message. If Viator pulled anything, she'd know what to do.

"It's an alright place," Tara murmured off her own reply. Her first few days there was more than likely not the best experience to base an opinion off of. "Are you, well, you know?" she asked not daring to say 'mutant' aloud, she already knew the possible answer but it was best to ask to make sure.

[grace3]

"You would be surprised by my age, yes we are talking about Charles Xavier, the mutant, who supposedly passed away, but I hear that man is back now, how interesting," Viator said, his suspicions confirmed by the two students. "That's an interesting ability you have there boy, making hurricanes out of nowhere eh?" Viator commented. "How about you young lady?" Viator asked, "Don't worry, no one is paying attention to us," Viator assured the children. He had used his telepathy to create worry, and stress among the humans about their children. They would be too concerned that their child might get hurt playing, or something, that they were watching their kids intently.

"Oh wow, don't get me wrong now, I do not plan on staying there, I have my own house in different places to stay at," he simply said. "Correct! Yes I am what you think I am," he replied to the girl. "So If you dont mind me asking, what are the names of my new acquaintances?" Viator asked. The male was a very cheerful, happy guy it seemed. It would almost seem fake, but it wasn't.

[isamina]

Viator didn't look very old, but how he referred to the Professor and by merely stating that she and Vincent would be surprised by his age just added to the mysteriousness that seemed to radiate from him. Her eyes scanned the area, seeing everyone in the park were concentrating on the playground rather than anything else. She also saw a rock about the size of her fist a few feet away, she looked around once more before her hand glowed with a gold tinge. The rock lifted and shot into her now open hand. "I can manipulate the ground," she replied, her eyes studying the rock.

She couldn't honestly say that she was surprised that Viator admitted to being a mutant, if he denied it, then she would have been surprised. Tara didn't lift her gaze from the rock right away, her hand glowed once more, the solid rock turned to dirt in her hand. He asked for their names, she was hesitant, but he didn't seem to want to cause trouble, what harm could there be? "My name is Tara," she answered dumping her handful of dirt then dusting her hands off. "If you have your own house, why are you hanging around here? If you don't mind me asking," she added the last part quickly.

[grace3]

Viator watched the demonstration of her powers and nodded slightly with a grin. "That's a new power, haven't seen anyone who could control the ground and its element," Viator complimented the girl and smiled. "Tara, huh? I see..." he simply said as he looked at her. "Nice to meet you by the way," he said, as he was taken by surprise by her question. It was an odd question to be asked.

"Well, why would I want to stay at home all day? Home is only fun for resting, or unless there are others around," Viator explained, sadly for him he did not have family. He would outlive his family, and they would simply pass away. After many attempts trying to have a family, he would only end up in pain of loss. Viator learned to simply live by himself and go traveling. He only had all of time to do what he wanted. Viator reached behind his back and took out a long black, stick. Though it wasn't a stick, but it looked like one. Viator rested one of his hands on it as he put it down next to him like a cane. He stretched his back out from having it held there too long. Not many people would realize it was actually a sword, since it did not have the hand guards most swords have. It was simply a straight, sheath and a designed hilt.

[aerialace]

Vinny looked at Tara control the rock using her ground element power. Vincent had to admit, that looked pretty damn cool. So cool in fact, that he began to think of all the combinations that could happen with his high wind power and her ground control. But, coming out of his mind euphoria, he eyed Viator and drummed his fingers against his leg.

"So, now that we spilled about us, it's only fair that you should give us a tidbit about you, since you want to be fair and whatever. So, what's your power, if you have one, place and... well, I've been dying to ask you this, age." He said. Was that in bad taste? Did he step overboard asking the guy about his age? He did call Charles Xavier old, before Charles's demise, so it would only rise somebody to ask his real age.

Especially since he took out... a cane. Oh, his curiousness rose higher.