Working Hard (Brotherhood Recruitment)

[fierysoul90]

"Come on. You said you’d pay me fifty to flyer the damn street," Shay said to a large man reclining behind a counter in dilapidated pawnshop. He had been hired, or so he was told, to put up flyers advertising the place and that it was now offering bail bonds. The whole place was shifty, and he didn’t need his abilities to know that. The knowledge of hidden weapons and a small time drug operation were just beyond obvious in the unpleasant shop. But he needed the money, stealing was really beginning to come down on him, and he couldn’t keep it up.

"Yeah, well I changed my mind, kid," the man stated rather nastily, a look of contempt for Shay who had been foolish enough to think that he would be paid for his hard work. "Now get out."

The frustration of this was getting to be too much. Silently muttering to himself, he stood regarding the man for a moment. "I’m not going to leave until you pay me. Maybe I should get the police involved," he spoke, though did not sound specifically confident, he was bluffing. Calling the police would be the last thing he would do.

"Sure, you do that kid," the man spoke with a sneer, "I recognize you. You’re the little punk that broke out of the loony bin a while back. Now get out of my store, or I’ll call the police, nut job!"

At this Shay’s frustration broke into fury as so many memories and dreads flooded into him and before he knew it he was screaming, "Do not ever call me that! Never! I’m NOT!" Simultaneously everything with a speaker in the store blared for an instant and was then silent, every display screen crackling out, all surveillance equipment fried, and the man grabbing at his face and falling to the ground.

Fury just as quickly bled into panic as he realized just what he had done. He stood perfectly still, closing his eyes to better take in his surroundings. So many things in the shop were damaged beyond repair. The man wasn’t dead, but he was injured. The noise he had created had only drawn a few looks from the scarce number of people in the area, but it might not be long before real attention was paid. He walked briskly out of the shop, trying to move as quickly as he could without looking suspicious while coming out. As he walked, he kept repeating a similar mantra softly: "Electric hum, smooth crystalline sweetness, dead hair, waves of music and horn, iron, so much iron…"

[vampyremelayah]

Mason had been in a pawn shop a few stores down, testing out one of the radios that was being offered. All at once, it screamed at him. Simultaneously, all the TV's broke into static, some of their screens bursting. Mason shoved the radio back onto the shelf in a panic. His powers had never manifested themselves like this. He delt with space, not with electronics.

He could hear the manager shouting profanities from behind the counter, stopping mid-transaction to come over and inspect the television sets. Taking this as a sign, Mason hastily made his way out the door. He had already been eyes suspiciously, the last thing he needed was trouble. Especially since he had snuck out of the Tower for a bit of freedom.

Mason let the warm breeze caress his face, keeping his hood down today instead of hiding within it. That would only draw more suspicion and if it had been mutant powers that caused the EMP - what else could it have been - then he didn't want to be pinned for the deed. As he passed a shady looking store, he nearly bumped into some blonde kid beating a hasty retreat.

At first, he was going to say something to the kid, but the way he was dressed interested Mason. There was a very good possibility that this guy had money on him. If Mason could get close enough, he might be able to pick-pocket this guy and make a run for it. He could feel his heart beating faster in excitement as he neared the blonde, reaching his hand out gently towards the young man's back pockets...

[fierysoul90]

"God, I really blew it." Shay muttered quietly to himself, as he continued to move onward. Upon further surveying the area around him he found that he had caused a great deal more damage than he originally thought. This was going to draw attention quickly, and he had to get out of the area just as fast. He was immensely upset; he lost control of his abilities because of his foolish anger, something he should be able to control. He continued muttering quietly and angrily to himself as moved along, he closed his eyes and became awash in his senses.

He was thinking about how it might have been a good idea to steal the fifty dollars from that man, but theft always left a nasty taste in his mouth. As he was facing both his own personal moral dilemma, and at the same time looking to get away from the place as quickly as he could without attracting suspicion, a man began to get noticeably close to him. The older man almost instantly made him nervous, conjuring images of what he thought a mugger would look like. He could feel his heart start to race, with him paying so much attention to the man his heartbeat was like thunder in his head.

Then his anxiety was realized, as the man began to reach out for his pocket. What was he to do if the man became violent? "Please, don't. I have no money, I really don't," he said just quiet enough for only the two of them to hear, not bothering to turn around. He gave no indication he had even heard Mason, much less even seen him.

[vampyremelayah]

"Please, don't. I have no money, I really don't."

Mason balked. Not only had there been no way of knowing that he had been following this kid, but he had been careful not to make a sound. He wasn't sure if it was the sincerity in the boy's voice that made him withdraw his hand, or if it had been the plain and simple fact that he had been caught. Mason sped up, moving to walk beside the young man.

"How did you know I was behind you? And if you've got no money, why are you in such a rush to get out of the area?" He waved one of his hands as if surveying the dump around them. Litter clogged the gutters, graffiti plastered itself obnoxiously over storefronts, back alleys, and benches.

Mason noted the boys worried expression. He had begun to come to terms with the fact that there were others out there with 'special' abilities, and a small question hung in the back of his mind: had this boy caused the EMP that was strong enough to shatter the television screens? But what would being able to put out energy have to do with sensing Mason's hand or his presence. He was perplexed, but he wouldn't openly bring up mutant abilities to the youth. After all, it wasn't polite to just outright accuse someone of that sort of thing. The way people reacted made the process too much of a risk.

Mason frowned, wondering when the kid had last eaten. He hadn't been much older when he took to the streets himself. It felt funny, actually being charitable. Mason had never really considered it in his nature to be considerate of others, but something about this boy... Perhaps the vague hint of innocence that still clung to the boy's face.

[fierysoul90]

Shay had hoped the momentary surprise of catching the man in the act would startle him enough so he could get away; he sure seemed to be startled for a second. But that moment of potential relief was not realized, as the man picked up his pace to catch up with him. Great, Shay thought, now who knows what he's going to do to me. His anxiety began to rise as the man started to walk next to him. Now what might have been a simple pick-pocketing looked like it was about to become a mugging.

"How did you know I was behind you? And if you've got no money, why are you in such a rush to get out of the area?"

Shay gave a moment of consideration, he had never been shy about what he was, and considering that it was some random thug, "I'm special. That's how I knew. I'm in a hurry because I broke some things. I hurt a man. I hurt him badly," Shay added the last part, trying to intimidate the man into leaving him be. Kind of small guy, a bit filthy looking and appearing to be lacking in both sleep and food, the effect would probably be lacking.

[vampyremelayah]

"I'm special. That's how I knew. I'm in a hurry because I broke some things. I hurt a man. I hurt him badly"

Feigning fright, Mason placed his hands on the side of his face. "Oh, please don't hurt me! I don't know what I'd do!" He folded his arms in front of his chest, frowning. "Look kid, I don't know who you think you are, but you're not intimidating. Not as run-down as you look." It was obvious now that the kid had been on the streets for an undetermined amount of time. He had originally thought the shirt cleaner, and therefore nicer than it had proven to be.

But something the kid said had struck him. Broke some things... Perhaps he was the cause of the exploding TV's? "Special, eh?" Mason tilted his head.

He grabbed the boy's wrist, dragging him into a nearby alleyway. Nodding to a hotdog vender at the street corner thirty or so feet away he whispered, "See that?". Mason focused on the few that the man had made, sitting in a glass case on top of his cart. It would be easy to reach his hand in there. He focused on one of the hotdogs, reaching out his hand which simultaneously disappeared into a rift in space. He felt the intense warmth of the glass box, grabbing and withdrawing a hotdog fast before receiving any burns or drawing attention. "Is it anything like this?" Saying so, he handed it off to the boy.

Deciding that he was a little hungry, he snagged one for himself. The vendor might have noticed this time, or at least seen something out of the corner of his eye, for he made frantic searching movements. Mason happily took a bite out of his prize, savoring the all-beef flavor.

[fierysoul90]

"Oh, please don't hurt me! I don't know what I'd do!" He folded his arms in front of his chest, frowning. "Look kid, I don't know who you think you are, but you're not intimidating. Not as run-down as you look."

Shay looked away from the older man as his face burned with embarrassment. His ploy had been thrown back in his face, and not only was he probably going to be mugged, he was being mocked. He was honestly hoping the man would be frightened of him, but with a good half a foot on him, how did he believe he was going to frighten him. "Things aren't easy," he spoke softly to the 'run-down' comment, amidst almost silently muttering to himself.

Then the man grabbed his wrist and Shay really began to panic. Try as he might to yank himself free, the man had better leverage and he couldn't help but to be drug into the alley. "I'm not lying, I don't have..." he stopped halfway as the man indicated a hot dog cart. He pressed himself against a wall as all sorts of unusual input came from the man casually reaching across space and snatching a hot dog. He really did not like that, he hated surprises. "Stealing is wrong," he muttered, until he was offered the food. He wolfed down the hot meal, not having eaten anything significant in a few days.

"Mutant?" This wasn't the first time Shay had seen another being like himself. But this was this was the first time he had interacted with one, first time being forced to do so as well. "No, it's not like that in the least. It's kind of hard to explain."

[vampyremelayah]

"Stealing is wrong," he muttered, until he was offered the food. He wolfed down the hot meal, not having eaten anything significant in a few days.

Mason swallowed his mouthful of hotdog, pointing and chuckling at his companion. "Wrong, huh? But I bet it tastes so right!"

"Mutant? No, it's not like that in the least. It's kind of hard to explain."

"So you are one!" Mason said, his eyes widening. He tried to keep his voice down, realizing that this wasn't the best subject to be discussing in public areas. Shoving the rest of his food into his mouth, he wiped his hands on his pants. "What's your name, by the way," he grunted between bites, "and what exactly is it that you do?" He swallowed, wiping his mouth. "Give me a demonstration if you can't explain it. Isn't it EMP based? I mean, you were able to interfere with the radio transmission and made all those TV's explode!"

[fierysoul90]

"Comments aside, it is wrong," he spoke, mustering a little more confidence now that he had been fed and was a little less concerned that the older man was going to hurt him. "That’s something I've not experienced before, you pulling that over here. What's that like? How do you do that?" He was a little curious, because it was a rather unusual thing to sense a thing being moved like that.

Shay watched the man with his poor manners with some distaste. He gave it a moments thought before trying to answer him, apparently staring off into space. He didn't refocus on the fellow as he began to spoke, his gaze a bit distant as he simply kept a sharp 'eye' on the man with his abilities, "Imagine an atom. Imagine that you could see that atom in perfect detail in your mind, from every conceivable angle and every distance that holds any meaning. Now, picture that, but with every single atom for I don't know how far. And everything made from those atoms. All the way up. I do that. Not just with sight either, but everything. Smell, touch, you name it. All of it."

He suddenly turned his head back, focusing on his company. "You're the first person I've ever explained that to. As to my other...gift, I don't really know how it works. I kind of just project what I'm sensing and it makes stuff like televisions and radios break. I can do it to people as well."

[vampyremelayah]

"Comments aside, it is wrong," he spoke, mustering a little more confidence now that he had been fed and was a little less concerned that the older man was going to hurt him. "That’s something I've not experienced before, you pulling that over here. What's that like? How do you do that?"

Mason harrumphed. "It's not wrong as long as it keeps you alive. If you're on the streets, laws no longer abide to you. People around here aren't exactly charitable." When asked how his powers worked, he gave a perplexed frown. "Until I joined this group of people who are like me, I never gave it much thought. But I either see or imagine the exact placement of an object and then, "he faltered here, "I just reach in and it's there for me. I can make these er... portals, I guess, from any angle." He looked up, reaching out his and which subsequently came straight down from one of the window overhands. Withdrawing it, he continued. "It tingles. And kinda feels like someone cut off my hand, but without pain. It's kinda cool. I can push my upper body through, but I don't think I can actually get in all the way. Then again, I never tried."

The idea of possibly being able to teleport intrigued him. But not so much as the young man's explanation of his powers.

"You're the first person I've ever explained that to. As to my other...gift, I don't really know how it works. I kind of just project what I'm sensing and it makes stuff like televisions and radios break. I can do it to people as well."

Mason winced slightly. "Eesh, that sucks. Do you have to concentrate to do it? Or does it just happen?" He wasn't entirely afraid of this kid, but the idea of being able to sense everything around him in such great detail was a little frightening. How could anyone not go crazy with all the information coming into their brain?

[fierysoul90]

"It's not wrong as long as it keeps you alive. If you're on the streets, laws no longer abide to you. People around here aren't exactly charitable."

"I just..." He really was having a hard time with this argument. He had struggled through most of his young life for reasons he could not really understand, and theft was an easy way out as far as he was concerned. "Maybe a job? I can get honest work, get myself..." Shay sort of stopped midway through his point. Finally, he added meekly, "But, laws make the world work."

Shay listened intently to him describe his abilities. It was also the first time he had heard about another mutant's abilities, and it was wonderfully interesting. He didn't say anything to the effect of it, but he found the explanation a tad, unrefined. He watched, thinking that it was a bit of a flashy display for an ability. "Why haven't you tried? Sounds like a great way to get around. What's this group of people like you like?"

"Eesh, that sucks. Do you have to concentrate to do it? Or does it just happen?"

"The whole sensing thing happens without my control. The only time it ever really stops is when I'm asleep or dr..." he stopped himself, slipping into the dialogue he realized that choice of words might raise unwanted questions, "...unconscious. It makes it really hard to sleep most of the time. The projection is under my control, for the most part."

[Lee]

Articuss had been cleaning his room (in accordance to the mighty law of the tower that Articuss was the cleaning b*tch), specifically his bedroom window. There were enough rooms that everyone had their own, but with more and more mutants coming in, they would soon have to share rooms a most unpleasant thought to the sound based mutant. As he tried to carefully clean the stained second floor window, he looked out, seeing Mason walking down the street and out of sight. Articuss was sure the Cassidy men had said that no one was to leave, but if Mason was leaving, maybe they had lifted the lock down. Then again, Tom or Sean would have told everyone that they could leave IF they had lifted the lock down. This only meant one thing, Mason was sneaking out. Mason hadn't struck Articuss as the kind to do such a rude (pronounced: fun) thing. Quickly, old blue eyes threw on a tank top and snuck out via the fire escape ladders down the hall. He could hear everyone in the Tower still talking or cleaning when he was on the ground outside, which told him no one had seen or heard him.

Articuss walked down the street, keeping his ears more so locked on what sounded like Masons shoes and walk pattern. The sounds of his walk stopped and went down to only a step every few seconds, chances were that he had entered a store and was browsing. Browsing through what, Articuss could only guess electronics, by the growing sound of TV's and radios. As he made his way down the street, there were several electronic stores and pawn shops, making it difficult to choose which one Mason had wandered into. Not to mention the different frequencies, high and low were giving Articuss a growing headache. Then the worst of it came. All the TV's and radio's began buzzing and surging, a few car alarms blaring, some people screaming from pain and some small explosions. Articuss covered his ears, stumbling into the nearest alleyway where he collapsed onto the floor curling up and trying to block it all out. Try as he might, he could only make the volume in his mind less mind numbing. This was another one of those times that he envied that Sean Cassidy. Articuss could only wish that a later ability of his would be that he could shut off this cursed hearing of his.

Thankfully, his ears weren't bleeding this time albeit his head was throbbing. When he finally regained control he stood up and walked out the alleyway, seeing Mason walking with a rather small boy. Suddenly, Mason dragged the boy into an alleyway. Articuss almost stopped, surprised. Mason didn't seem like the mugging type. Articuss quickened his pace, walking by the hot dog vender who seemed to be looking for something rather intently. While he was busy looking, Articuss swiped a hot dog and napkin, continuing his walk at the same speed. He slowed down as he got to the alleyway, a friendly head nod at Mason as he seemed to not be mugging the kid at all, but rather talking...in a back alleyway...to a minor...a MALE minor...

Now THAT was a rather shifty situation to walk upon. Was Mason out for some queer prepubescent nookie? Again, he didn't seem like the type, so Articuss opted to just smirk and stay there offering a hand shake to the kid. His head was still throbbing from the earlier noise, so he hadn't been especially focusing on Mason and this boy. All he could remember were a few choice words, words which didn't give hint if this was a recruitment or just some good ol' fashion wooing going down on Masons part.

It suddenly hit Articuss that he was a good foot taller than both of them, practically towering over the boy. The comedic thought of trying to scare the kid entered his mind, but with his shaggy hair, baggy shorts and tank top, Articuss looked more like a surfer kid than an intimidating 6'5" man. Articuss wouldn't talk unless he knew this kid wasn't going to freak out at his voices, this was something everyone in the Tower would have known, so he stood there, hands shoved in his pockets and his back slightly hunched as he watched the two.

[vampyremelayah]

"But, laws make the world work."

"Oh yeah, " Mason asked bitterly, "and what about the laws they try and make to put us down? What then?" Mason tried to quell the increasing anger within him, anger at the world, his father, everyone. It wasn't fair what his father had done. But now, being part of the Brotherhood, he could rectify that.

"Why haven't you tried? Sounds like a great way to get around. What's this group of people like you like?"

Mason shrugged. "I just never thought about it. I never really used my powers much until joining the Brotherhood. It's a ragtag bunch of mutants with different powers ----" He was cut off by Articuss's appearance.

He slowed down as he got to the alleyway, a friendly head nod at Mason...

"Articuss, " Mason muttered, shocked. "You're not going to tell on me for leaving are you?" He noted that his teammate was unnaturally silent. Nodding to the kid, he added, "He's a mutie too. Not sure of his name though - he made some radios freak out and TV's explode! Think he could be of use to us? He's got some crazy-cool sensory powers."

Then Mason had an epiphany. What if he could utilize this guy to aid in his own powers. Turning to the boy, he put his hands on the kid's shoulders. "Hey! You can see everything right? What's right behind me, inside the wall. Gimme detail."

[fierysoul90]

Shay gave him silent consideration as Mason spoke about laws to exterminate mutants. He really hadn't given thought to it, and had not paid any attention to the news in basically the past six years, but it did not sound unrealistic at all. "They couldn't, we're people too," but he had read enough history to know that this was not unlikely, whatever age it was. He felt despair and resentment rise within him. Having escaped into a possibly hostile world. "I just, honestly don't know."

Shay was aware of the approach of the new man as soon as he got close enough, but overlooked him until he blocked in the alley. He watched the one-sided interchange between Mason and Articuss, wondering why the second was silent and why exactly Mason would be concerned about being able to leave. Maybe the two of them belonged to some kind of weird mutant cult, and now who knew what was going to happen that two of them were around. The fellow that was immensely taller than him seemed a touch bit more proper in that he at least offered a handshake before trying to do anything to him.

Not wanting to be rude, Shay took the other mans hand and gave him a firm handshake, not even trying to bother with eye contact. It would have been troublesome, a bit embarrassing, and essentially pointless. He found great distaste in being referred to as a 'mutie'. "My name is Seaghdh Aren, but please call me Shay," speaking in a formal manner always made Shay feel a little more at ease. Not much, though, considering at the moment he was wondering if he was about to be abducted by a mutant cult because he had been foolish enough to draw attention to himself.

"Hey! You can see everything right? What's right behind me, inside the wall. Gimme detail."

If there was one thing Shay did fairly well, it was respond to orders when he felt threatened by the people giving them, and he took a deep breath before beginning. "There is nothing of interest inside the wall aside from some piping and electrical wiring. The room behind the wall, however, is the store room for a used book shop. It is approximately 12' x 10', and is lit by three fluorescent light fixtures The door is about three feet from the left wall, your left that is, and is currently closed and locked. There is a stack of cardboard boxes, six boxes exactly, in the right corner closest to you. All of these boxes are full of hardbound books, averaging twelve to a box. An old set of encyclopedias is directly to the left of it, missing both the 'Q' and 'A' books. Three moderately sized bins are scattered around the floor, each full of paperback books. The first is next to the door, the second is in front of encyclopedias, and the third is directly behind you. There is a storage shelf that takes up half of the right wall with six levels to it. The bottom has a small vacuum and a feather duster on it with assorted cleaning products. The other shelves hold magazines and old periodicals. The room is painted green, and the floor is carpeted, I think gray but it tastes awfully dirty so it might be white. The light switch is directly next to the door, and looks more like a button than anything. There are two electrical outlets in the room. A large roach nest is thriving off the paper and cardboard. Sorry I can't give you more detail."

[Lee]

"Articuss, You're not going to tell on me for leaving are you?"

Articuss looked at Mason confused by his thoughts of Articuss ratting him out. Did he honestly think that Articuss was the type to be so mean too his roommates. He of all people should know that Articuss isn't exactly best-buds with the Cassidys, meaning while he was loyal to them, he didn't like them or especially feel the need to help them keep track of their 'recruitments'.

"He's a mutie too. Not sure of his name though - he made some radios freak out and TV's explode! Think he could be of use to us? He's got some crazy-cool sensory powers."

"Thank god man, I hate doin' the MUTE THING."
Articuss said, slumping backwards and sighing in relief. "Kid, you wouldn't believe how annoying that crap gets." he said, motioning heavily with one hand while the other rested on Shays shoulder.

"My name is Seaghdh Aren, but please call me Shay,"
"Seaghdh Aren. Bit of a mouthful...glad to hear Shay is acceptable." Articuss said, his name and nickname sounding like Shay himself had said it. Then Mason asked for detail and the kid wrote a novel. Halfway through, Articuss grew bored of his talking and decided to lean against a wall and listen in to a couple a few blocks away. The man was being a total idiot yelling about some milk man. Then the girl screamed, something he couldn't understand but the man fell silent. Every so often Articuss would hear a 'squish'. Then the girl began freaking out, her footsteps running around frantically, stopping only to be followed by the sound of running water. Ah, the sounds of a murder downtown, sweet music Articuss had heard many a time. When he came back into the convo, Shay was just finishing up.

[vampyremelayah]

Mason listened intently to Shay's reply, bewildered. So the guy wasn't exaggerating. However, he did note something in the boy's voice that was probably akin to being snide. Shrugging it off, Mason closed his eyes, imagining the room with Shay's spoken details. Figuring he would attempt to take the featherduster - not that he had any real need for one - to test whether or not their abilities were compatible. He had no doubt that it would work, given the sheer amount of data Shay had divulged. On the wall to the right, bottom level of shelving which takes up half the wall. He could have used a height to gauge where the duster was, but this was enough for right now. The last thing he needed was the possibility of Shay giving him measurements in centimeters or some other obnoxious increment.

He pictured where he thought the featherduster was, reaching his hand out into space, feeling his hand tingle and the familiar dismembered sensation. His hand touched the wood of the shelf, inching his fingers forward . Books. F*ck. He was too high. He pulled out his hand, closing the portal and tried again. This time he aimed a foot lower. Again, he felt the wood of the shelf, and then a small handle. He grabbed hold of it, pulling it through to examine it.

The featherduster was one of those awkward looking ones with dark green, shimmery feathers instead of the ugly brown ones that most stores offered. That didn't matter, as his assumption had proven true. "We did it, " he cried, shaking the featherduster in both Articuss' and Shay's faces. "I knew that your power could be used with mine! Imagine what we could do, the things we could get. We could make it so that we'd never have to live on the streets again, or could be more powerful than some of the richest nations in the world because we've taken their secrets, their technologies. What do you say, you think we could work together?"

Mason turned to Articuss, taking his comrade's silence in regards to the question of turning him in as a negative. He had only seen a few interactions between Banshee and Replay, the majority of them were not good. Or at least, they weren't entirely friendly.

[fierysoul90]

Shay looked shocked, if not a little horrified, when Articuss began to speak and he was assaulted with a mishmash of voices. Now he fully understood the silence. It was immensely surprising to say the least and one thing he had come to hate over the last couple years was surprises, but when you could sense like he could being caught off guard was unusual. "My god, what is wrong with your voice?" He was a touch bit uncomfortable with the towering man having his hand on him. He could only guess what this man did, and was honestly a little nervous about finding out, with a voice like that. "How do you do that? Why do you do that?"

"We did it," he cried, shaking the feather duster in both Articuss' and Shay's faces. "I knew that your power could be used with mine! Imagine what we could do, the things we could get. We could make it so that we'd never have to live on the streets again, or could be more powerful than some of the richest nations in the world because we've taken their secrets, their technologies. What do you say, you think we could work together?"

Shay cringed away as Mason shook the feather duster at him, honestly expecting to be hit with the thing. "I..." he was considering it, thinking things over. He was completely alone in the world, neither friends nor family that would take him in. He was being sought by the police, and he knew he couldn't run forever. He couldn't find a good way to make money honestly, and he was all but starving on the street because of it. But one word kept coming to mind, above all other thoughts and hesitations. Extermination. "I don't know. Maybe? Stealing is...I just don't know." Not going hungry again sounded great. "What would you need of me? Expect of me?"

He looked questionably for a moment, and turned his attention to Articuss. "Are normal humans really trying to restrict us? Are they harming mutants?"

[Lee]

"My god, what is wrong with your voice? How do you do that? Why do you do that?"

Articuss was a little taken a back by the first question. "What wrong? Nothing is wrong[/b] with MY voice."[/color] the 'my' being purposefully exaggerated. "I don't have my own voice, I was born mute. So I use other peoples to compensate for my loss." he replied, almost snarkily. "I do it by speaking like you do and I do it because[/b] I would like to talk, beats livin' as a mute. Any more questions from the peanut gallery?"[/color] Articuss said, a disgruntled look on his face. When Mason mercilessly attacked the two with his feather duster, Articuss swiped at it, trying to get it out of his hands but to no avail.

"I knew that your power could be used with mine! Imagine what we could do, the things we could get. We could make it so that we'd never have to live on the streets again, or could be more powerful than some of the richest nations in the world because we've taken their secrets, their technologies. What do you say, you think we could work together?"

"World Domination much?"Articuss said under his breathe, then amused himself with the thought of Mason in some horrible costume like that of a villain in a poorly written comic book. Bright colors and spandex yelling about his plan to take over the world, enough to make Articuss smile and almost giggle...almost.

"Are normal humans really trying to restrict us? Are they harming mutants?"

"Geez, do you not watch the news[/i]? HeRe, listen..."[/color] Articuss said, taking a professional stance and holding up a rolled up magazine like that of a microphone. "Thanks Trish. I'm here outside the rally in Illinois being held by Senator Kelly, this rally, like many of his others, trying to get the citizens to vote for mutant registration. If approved, this law would force all Mutants to register with their government with descriptions of what they are capable of along with name and other details which have yet to be disclosed. Let's listen in..." Articuss cut this segment off there, not wanting to repeat the bullsh*t Kelly would spew forth from his face hole everyday. "I have a mutant being tortured also recorded from a couple years ago. That answer[/u] your questions?."[/color] Articuss asked, his body relaxing again.

[vampyremelayah]

"I don't know. Maybe? Stealing is...I just don't know." Not going hungry again sounded great. "What would you need of me? Expect of me?"

"I can take or replace things in an area of up to about two miles. But if I don't know the layout of where things are, say a blueprint, then I'm useless. You can see what I can't in the right amount of detail that I need. I bet you could even figure out the combinations for locks! We're the perfect team. You'd just have to tell me what you see so that I can do what I need to do." Mason placed his hands on his hips, looking self-assured. "We could set you up with a place to stay where there's food and shelter." He didn't want to say "And safety" because, truth be told, he didn't really feel safe anywhere.

His confident smile grew even wider as Articuss relayed to the boy the broadcast. "You see? They hate us! So why not come back with us and make them pay for everything they've ever done to you? We can make it so that they are the ones who become outcasts, not us!" He offered his hand to Shay, his eyes bright with a mixture of conquest and passion.

[fierysoul90]

Shay looked shamed after Articuss answered his questions, pointing out the defects of the disabled. He had been raised better than that. "I'm sorry, that was rude of me." He said quickly after Articuss had finished explaining to him. But still, he really did not like the way the tall man was speaking. It disturbed him immensely.

"I can take or replace things in an area of up to about two miles. But if I don't know the layout of where things are, say a blueprint, then I'm useless. You can see what I can't in the right amount of detail that I need. I bet you could even figure out the combinations for locks! We're the perfect team. You'd just have to tell me what you see so that I can do what I need to do." Mason placed his hands on his hips, looking self-assured. "We could set you up with a place to stay where there's food and shelter."

"So you'd like to use my abilities." Shay was suspicious of Mason and his supposedly beneficial offer. "In exchange for food and shelter. You want me to steal? To overcome your own limitations. Aside from the things you've listed, what else can you offer me? If I'm going to help you, what will you do for me?" Shay was trying to keep himself from being drawn into a situation that would only benefit Mason.

"You see? They hate us! So why not come back with us and make them pay for everything they've ever done to you? We can make it so that they are the ones who become outcasts, not us!"

"That’s horrible. How can they do that to us?" Shay was not so much shocked by the idea of anti-mutant legislation, but a flicker of anger began to take hold in his mind. He would not allow that to happen if he could, he would not be put into confinement or worse. The idea of getting revenge on those that wronged him throughout his whole life sounded quite appealing, though he had taken care of most of them already. He grasped Mason's hand firmly, "I'll join you."