Your Shadow

[Erika Bellefonte]

Raising her eyebrows in amusement, Erika snorted. "Wow," she breathed. "Yeah, okay, I don't think that'll be happening anytime soon." Mostly because she rarely ever cooked for herself. Then again, she didn't really need to when going to the academy. Besides, it wasn't as if she didn't have the money to order food whenever she wanted. Perhaps the guy was onto something though; She wouldn't burn down her house, but maybe she needed something drastic to happen for her to truly learn what her calling was.

She noticed how awkward her poor attempt at derailing the conversation made him, though, decided not to pay any attention to it. In fact, she was actually kind of thankful he didn't pry. "It's alright," she shrugged. "I'm not much of a picky eater, so I'm probably not the best person to ask whether a dish is truly spectacular or not," she added with a sheepish shrug. "You're a former student then, I take it?"

Sketching the lines of the water, the brunette shrugged her shoulders once more. "Yeah," she nodded. "I've spent a lot more time at the academy than what I care to admit." Starting the process of shadowing the mountains, the telekinetic pursed her lips. "Before I got my powers, I used to roam the halls in awe and sneak peaks on the older students training." Now, though? She wasn't all that impressed anymore. Probably because she was used to it.

[Everett King]

"Probably for the best," he agreed with a chuckle. Honestly he'd exaggerated a little bit. It had only been the kitchen he'd set on fire, but the accident had motivated him to do better, be better. And he had. Or at least he hoped so. There was still a long way to go though before he could be satisfied with who he was. It wasn't something he often let himself worry about though. He was on his way and that was what was most important.

Everett hadn't been expecting a full-out rendition of the menu, but he was still curious as to the food they were serving. It didn't seem like Erika was going to be too much help in that department but he wasn't so bothered. After all, the detail he was hunting for could only be given by someone that really knew food so it had been kind of a lost cause from the beginning. "Yeah, graduated a few years back. Went to a culinary academy instead of sticking around for college though." He hadn't been meaning to imply he disliked his time at Bellefonte. It had been pleasant, if not particularly memorable. He'd breezed through rather peacefully, just a fly under the radar.

So Erika had spent a lot of time at the academy? She even spoke of exploring before her mutation had emerged. That had to mean she had some kind of family tie to the academy, or in the very least she belonged to a family with a line of mutants, who had known what to expect. He found either idea interesting, but decided not to pry. It seemed safe to assume the small blunder before had been trying to hide something, so he was keen to avoid any personal questions for a while, to make sure she was comfortable. "That sounds kind of....magical." He coughed, covering his hand to hide a bashful smile. "Which sounds kind of stupid when said about an academy of mutants, but whatever." It really sounded like Erika had spent basically her whole life around Bellefonte. There was something about the image that was comically innocent and fitting with Erika's image. Still, it wasn't a life he could imagine. So closed in. So lacking in change and diversity. "Will you ever leave Bellefonte?" He asked quietly. Apparently forgetting his 'no personal questions' policy. "Do you want.....more?"

[Erika Bellefonte]

Sometimes Erika envied those who graduated and then left. She briefly wondered if he'd had nothing or no one to hold him back, but decided it was really none of her business. "I probably would have too if my entire family wasn't situated here," she shrugged. Having two twin brothers, an older brother and her younger sister as well as her grandfather and parents made simply leaving rather difficult. Her entire life was here - her family and friends. Everything she knew.

Leaving suddenly sounded very scary.

Smiling, the brunette chuckled. "Nah, I get what you mean," she said, head shaking lightly. "I think it's sort of different when you grow up surrounded by mutants than when suddenly finding out you are one." Now, Erika didn't know if he too came from a long line of mutants or not, though her remark was still valid regardless, even it didn't apply to him. The sudden question had the brunette's brow furrow and she fell silent for a moment, mulling it over.

"I think part of me really wants to leave," she began, chewing on her bottom lip. "Though, another part of me also feels obligated to stay." She didn't know how else to put it, though perhaps she was simply making excuses for herself. "Or maybe I just haven't had a reason to leave yet," she quickly added with a sheepish shrug.

[Everett King]

Everett nodded, slightly envious of Erika and her situation. He had a family too, but had never had the drive to stay close to them. Perhaps he was simply selfish and driven to lead his own life, and he hoped that didn't make him a bad person. Erika's commitment to her family was definitely enviable. "That makes sense," he agreed, wondering if he would have felt the same if he'd had a normal upbringing. "Family isn't often something you want to leave behind."

He found himself nodding along with Erika as she spoke, chewing on his bottom lip thoughtfully. "I agree," he eventually murmured. He'd found out completely by accident, accidentally pulling a drawing straight off the paper and hurting himself in the process. He still had that scar too. "For me, finding out was definitely a shock. I had to leave my whole family behind to come here." He tried not to make the words sound too sombre but wasn't entirely sure if he'd succeeded or not. He had no desire to pile his regrets or troubles onto a practical stranger.

Actually, he had no part in asking such serious, personal questions either. Ever resigned himself to not receiving an answer, feeling it was perfectly justified. When Erika actually began to speak though, he found himself blushing with surprise, her willingness completely unexpected. He felt guilty, almost as if he'd taken advantage of her somehow. Still, her honesty and openness deserved at least equal from him, and Everett met her with a completely sincere, broad smile, warmed by her supposed trust. "Everyone leaves eventually, in one way or another. It's the way of life." He offered a sincere shrug and glanced down at the drawing in her hands. Had she ever wondered what it would be like to draw other beautiful places around the world? "It's the ones who come back that have learned something."

Everett had never been one to trade philosophical quips with a stranger, but then, he was a sucker for firsts. Besides, he and Erika had met twice now, did that still qualify her as a stranger? Whether it did or not, he didn't want her to be. She was intelligent and charming, and certainly interesting to talk to. If the opportunity came to him, he'd enjoy speaking with her again and again. With an action in mind he reached for his pad of paper. "May I?"

[Erika Bellefonte]

"Want or can't." She wasn't so sure which of the two she belonged to, but figured it didn't matter. The end result was the same one way or another. Still, Erika couldn't quite help feeling trapped in her own life. She wasn't in a position to complain, really. She could always leave. That was always an option.

She watched him as he spoke, interest sparking in her eyes. Talking to him felt... Easy. Conversations didn't usually come easy to the brunette. Especially not ones that bordered on personal. "I wish I could relate," she said, looking down at the paper once more. "Though, that seems to be the case for most of Bellefonte's population." It was sort of a sad system, though, it couldn't be avoided. How many families had her name broken apart? Was that something for her to shoulder? Wasn't she part of the problem then? Quickly, she tossed the dark cloud above her head away and bit her bottom lip. It was a painful reminder, if nothing else.

Pen lifting from the paper, Erika offered the paper he'd requested with a simple nod. Once again, she found herself riddled with curiosity. Holding the pen up questioningly. she arched both brows.

[Everett King]

The impulsive, very intrusive part of Everett wanted to caution Erika about letting her sense of duty define her. Thankfully he stopped himself, knowing he was making assumptions and very nearly inserting himself into private parts of her life that he had no business being in. Unlike most people, Everett was open in most of the aspects in his life, not really caring to keep much hidden. It rarely occurred to him that sharing details about himself could make others around him comfortable though.

"Probably a good thing I did," he admitted with a shrug. "I was a lazy shit. Leaving made me take care of myself." He'd always been distant after that and hadn't spoken to his family in years. He didn't blame Bellefonte for that, but it was a shame, and on some quiet nights he missed the noise of his old family home. For whatever reason Erika seemed slightly downed by the notion, which Ever supposed he could understand; but he felt the opposite. Moving to Bellefonte had brought a whole new family for him to cherish.

The man accepted the drawing gratefully, glancing it over. "May I keep this?" He asked, hoping it wasn't too impulsive of him. He quickly flipped back a few pages to his drawing of Erika and tore it out. He quickly lifted up a corner away from Erika and in faint pencil sketched his phone number onto the back before folding the image over and offering it to Erika. "I'll trade you? As thanks for the memorable conversation."

[Erika Bellefonte]

She supposed that made sense. She couldn't really relate, though. Having her family so close, always present didn't leave a whole lot of room for growing independent. She envied him that, really. But it was moot. Instead, the brunette chuckled. "I think most males are, so try not to feel too special," she teased effortlessly.

At his question, the young telekinetic could only shrug. It didn't really matter to her. The drawing was only a sketch - and she had little use of it. Her attention was however drawn to his hands as he started scribbling something down. Eyebrows furrowed slightly once he handed her the piece of paper with his number on it. "Who knew drawing some mountains could get you someone's phone number," she mused. "Gotta remember that." She accepted the number with a smile.

"Though, you do realize," she continued, fishing her phone from her pocket and giving it a little shake. "There are easier ways to do that."