A stroll, (open)

[Mach 2]

Walking through the gardens in the back of the mansion was something of an escape for a lot of residents, and Dawson was no exception. His arrival here had been filled with uncertainty and confusion, and it had not been aided by the growing number of other students around him. They seemed to be growing daily, and it was not uncommon to see new students' suitcases in the entryway.

The back gardens were carefully maintained by Ororo Monroe, a mutant with the power to control aspects of nature via the weather. She was a calm and graceful woman, and he had spent a moment or two speaking with her since his arrival. He had met also Emma Frost, a a blonde bombshell with no regard whatsoever for telepathic ethics... while that bothered him, he couldn't say that he disliked her commanding attitude. It was kind of nostalgic, really, and reminded him of his family.

In the heat of late summer mid-day, he soon found it necessary to take refuge from the sun under a large and expansive sycamore. He curled up, opened a book that he'd been carrying, and began to read.

It was a gorgeous day, but the sheer heat seemed to be keeping most students either inside or at the pool. He didn't know too many of them yet, though, and thus decided to keep to himself. For now, learning to control the monsters in his mind would need to be his greatest focus.

[Lylithix]

Heat wasn't something Myles was overly keen on and the stress of the increasingly busy mansion wasn't exactly indusive to calm. Unfortunately it was a little difficult then to stop himself from shifting, particularly after a small incident in the corridor. His eyesight wasn't that good and Bennet du Paris had been in something off a hurry. Myles had more or less rebounded off the telekinetic shield, only to be spoken at in a mixture of French and Latin. Shock causing him to suddenly shift into his other self, he'd quickly retreated with Bennet hurling exclamations about him being an infernal loup garou.

Now Vivisector had headed outside, wanted to get far away from any angry psions. His clothing was pretty torn up from the shift, the werewolf's larger and burlier form meaning his shirt was hanging in shreds and his trousers were more shorts. Still he was covered enough to be decent and with the fur and the heat, it was maybe a blessing. Still Vivisector needed to get into the shade, preferably somewhere secluded he could wait out until he could shift back. Spotting the large sycamore tree, he hurried over, catching the scent of another but feeling there wasn't much choice about that.

Reaching the tree, Vivisector tensed his muscles and leapt into the branches, causing enough of a disturbance that he'd probably alerted the reader under the tree to his presence. Stretching himself out along a sturdy branch like a large cat, the werewolf's yellow eyes gazed down at the stranger. He didn't recognise him by scent, figured he wss someone he hadn't met yet, perhaps one who kept more to himself. Vivisector was quite content to leave him in peace, just so long as he didn't mind the werewolf sharing the tree.

"Okay, firstly I apologise if I've disturbed you...or my appearance is a little alarming. I'm just here for the shade and most likely I'll go to sleep for a while. Hope you don't mind and I'll try not to disturb you if you'll try not to disturb me. Capiche?"

[Mach 2]

Dawson, normally quite the composed young man, visibly started at the sight of the were-wolf man above him. He shook his head slightly as the mutant spoke, then pretended to go back to reading. Unable to concentrate, however, he soon glanced back up at the form hovering directly above him.

Alarming though he was, there was something kind in the yellow eyes. Dawson closed his book and stood, staring up at the other. Finally, he extended his hand to within his reach.

"My name is Dawson... well, that's not my full name but it's what you can call me. I'm pretty new around here." He paused, not sure what to make of the were-wolf's short tone. "It's nice to meet you. What do you call yourself?"

[Lylithix]

It was only mildly disappointing to Vivisector when the other young mutant was visibly startled. It had been just the same when he'd first met Jubilee and Theresa. Though at least this time he wasn't feeling awkward himself which at least made a change. He wssn't going to be left quietly alone, since it was plain from the scent that the young man wasn't able to concentrate. Eventually the book was put down as the other mutant stood and stared up at him. Vivisector gazed back steadily, not a belligerent glare though he didn't immediately react as a hand was extended up within his reach.

Finally he did shake the hand, not too vigorously and hopefully he didn't dig his claws in. He listened as Dawson spoke and nodded, memorising the name and deciding to be polite, treating the other mutant as he treated him. "Dawson it is then. As to myself, well I apologise if I was curt just a moment ago..just the heat and a certain psionic. As to my name..my human name is Myles, though this form I prefer Vivisector. Though use either according to your preference."

With an easy jump, the lycanthrope was out of the tree and landing beside Dawson. Semi-crouched he sniffed at the air, analysing Dawson's scent a little further and then cocking his head slightly to one side. "Interesting scent..kind of like when the thunderstorm has just passed." Stretching to his full height he stood quietly, yellow eyes watching Dawson intently as he waited to see what the other mutant would do next.

[Mach 2]

Dawson squinted his eyes slightly, listening as the other spoke. His ears perked up when he mentioned the word 'psionic', and he scratched his head in amused embarrassment when he was sniffed. He wasn't sure if Myles' description was a compliment, but he decided to take it as such.

The handshake was a bit half-hearted, but Dawson didn't know this young man at all and wasn't sure about the subtle implications of that. Different actions meant different things when performed by different people, and though Xavier's blocks made Dawson capable of keeping other voices from his head, he still picked up enough stray thoughts and pictures to gather that this young man seemed a bit at odds with his powers... and perhaps somewhat afraid of what he could do.

A notion that Dawson understood all too well.

"A psionic, you say? I'm... also one of those.. in a fashion. Though I doubt anywhere near on the calibre of whichever of the ones that you had a run-in with."

He paused. "Interesting that you should describe my scent in such a way, Myles. I feel kind of like a thunderstorm has just passed... or that I've somehow averted disaster, if just barely. It's complicated, but I think I would have lost my mind if I hadn't gotten help from the Professor," he bit his lip, "I'm quite indebted to him."

Meeting the yellow gaze, he gave a slight smile. "So... you can transform like this? That's your power? It's much.. different than others I've seen."

[Lylithix]

Myles narrowed his eyes only slightly when Dawson mentioned the word psychic, though he didn't sense that the young man was lying when he said he wasn't near the calibre of the others. He didn't have any personal animosity towards Dawson, just that he wasn't sure he entirely trusted telepaths. While some like Xavier seemed to be principled, he wouldn't have trusted Emma for a second. However he decided he would trust Dawson, at least so long as he was given no reason to change his mind.

He did empathise though with Dawson's story, feeling himself if it wasn't for Xavier he could easily have fallen a long way. As it was he knew there was a part of him that was growing stronger, the wolf having a darker side waiting to be unleashed. Hopefully Xavier could help him learn to control that or he was worried that sooner or later he was going to kill somebody. What worried Myles more was when that happened he might not even be capable of feeling remorse. Listening though he waited until Dawson turned the subject to his own power before replying.

"Yes I can transform though it's easier to make the shift to this form than to always reverse it. Got to wait until I'm completely free of tension and you know how difficult that can be. I'm..Xavier termed it lycanthropic transmorph in response to strong emotional stimuli."

Myles returned the slight smile, displaying sharp canines.

"Aside from that I'm not that unusual as mutants go, a feral I think is the word. Comes with what you'd expect, heightened senses, strength, agility, claws and fangs and I heal pretty fast. There's another one here, Logan I think he calls himself. Short, gruff, nearly as hirsute as me..,probably better to keep out of his way."

He paused a moment before shifting to another subject. "It is different around here now, more students like us arriving. Though aside from you, it's really only been Terry and Jubilee I've gotten to know. Still though I suppose it was a little awkward at first, hopefully we should have concordant relations."

[Mach 2]

"It is different around here now, more students like us arriving. Though aside from you, it's really only been Terry and Jubilee I've gotten to know. Still though I suppose it was a little awkward at first, hopefully we should have concordant relations."

"Terry... I did meet her last night. Redhead with the accent, right? She seemed nice enough. I met a woman named Emma as well - she was psychic as well. Her psionic waves were flying everywhere - like she didn't expect anyone to notice that she was intruding on everyone's thoughts. I'd watch what you think around her."

He paused, then looked back at the lycanthrope. "You know, even non-psionics can be trained to block telepathic intrusion. It doesn't do any good against Xavier's level, but against psions like Emma it would at least be a distraction." He shrugged. "I'm surprised the Professor doesn't teach it to all the students with people like her running around."

He looked around the expansive lawns and sighed. There really wouldn't be much to do until the following Monday, when classes would start. He looked back at Myles.

"When you de-transform... do you look just like anyone else?"

[Lylithix]

"Terry... I did meet her last night. Redhead with the accent, right? She seemed nice enough. I met a woman named Emma as well - she was psychic as well. Her psionic waves were flying everywhere - like she didn't expect anyone to notice that she was intruding on everyone's thoughts. I'd watch what you think around her." Myles nodded,knowing that his own personal opinion of Emma wasn't something he wanted her listening into. He might have shared it with Dawson, although maybe when he knew him a little better. Suffice to say it was probably a little unfair, dogs possessing somewhat more nobility than Emma in his opinion.

"You know, even non-psionics can be trained to block telepathic intrusion. It doesn't do any good against Xavier's level, but against psions like Emma it would at least be a distraction." "I'm surprised the Professor doesn't teach it to all the students with people like her running around." Vivisector considered that a moment, "Yes, that would be a useful idea. I had thought of concentrating on mathematical and scientific formulas, running some piece of poetry or song through my head. Something repetitive and annoying o put them off. Or maybe just some image like...oh say Hillary Clinton playing bondage games with Dick Cheney."

"When you de-transform... do you look just like anyone else?" Myles looked at Dawson, narrowing his eyes slightly and gritting his teeth as he attempted to will the shift. He wasn't quite there though, most likely having to wait at least a while longer. "Yes, pretty much so..a ways shorter and thinner I admit. That's one thing about my power, not sure where the extra mass comes from..though shapeshifting in and off itself, probably got some wierd stuff going on in that..hmm, X-factor gene we have."

[Mach 2]

Dawson watched as the lycanthrope's wide range of emotions crossed his face, bemusedly wondering at the nuances that this feral apparently possessed. He seemed a profoundly biased person, but even more profoundly just intelligent. His mutation was an ironic embodiment of a much gentler, more intellectual soul.

"Hillary Clinton and Dick Cheney... one image that I most certainly do not need in my head. Ever."

He nodded as Myles mused on the X-Factor. It was indeed a mystery - some of the gifts it gave defied scientific explanation. This, to Dawson, was a scary concept.

"It's true... for instance, what makes a mutant develop ferally, like you? Or psionically, like me? What separates mutants like Xavier and myself, similiar in type of power but worlds apart in amount and application? There are so many theories but so few answers... I wish someone would find them."

He paused, smiling. "You'd think that with all the energy that they put into trying to find a way to suppress us, they'd figure out what causes this. I'm still trying to figure out if it's a gift or a curse."

[Lylithix]

"I would imagine that in the end whether it's a gift or a curse is down to us. I mean, aside from a difference in our genes, I'd say we're still human. Myself, I wonder if it's just evolution taking a twist, trying out thousands of different combinations and seeing which if any are viable. As for whether someone will find the answers, I'm going to look for them," Vivisector's grin stretched far back, his sharp canines gleaming and there was an almost manic glint in his eyes. He'd made the decision in that moment, spurred on by Dawson's questions. A mystery wasn't so frightening to him, at least not to the wolf part of him, possessed of curiosity that in Myles was normally tempered by caution.

The lycanthrope though forced himself to calm, concerned that he might be alarming Dawson. He had decided he liked the young man, though whether he'd fully trust a psionic would take a little longer to determine. It was still hot though and he wasn't really feeling like resting now, not since his enthusiasm had been spurred. There was the library indoors and he might go there and check out some of the books. That was the best place to begin his research and devise his theories.

"Anyway Dawson it has been nice meeting you and thank you for the talk. I think though I'll leave you to your reading. Well no doubt we'll see each other again and well, I might be my..more mundane self. Though you might find me a little easier to get along with then." Giving Dawson a nod, he turned and slowly began walking back towards the mansion, giving him a final wave of a clawed hand in farewell.