Roomies

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

The Institute was unlike any place that Rasputin, or Nikkolas now, had ever been to before. It was a stable place for his unstable mind. Nikk had yet learned to control his powers completely, though the private sessions with Jake and Josh really helped out a lot; he could stay in one mind set now at least instead of falling victim to all of his new found emotions.

Nikk was up in his room sitting. He hadn't yet met his room mate, which wasn't a totally bad thing because he wasn't exactly the social butterfly. Besides his language barrier, Nikk wasn't exactly 'friendly' looking. Russian people were not known for being hospitable. Besides sneaking out to the bar at night time and meeting a few people there, he hadn't really met anyone. Out of all people he hadn't met, he hadn't met his room mate.

Nikk wasn't sure if his room mate would take kindly to him because some of his more 'unusual' habits. Tonight Nikk decided that he was going to stay in his room, and just take it easy. He laid down on his bed, and began to slip off into space.

[Tempero]

A new room? A new roommate?

It seems that everyone on the Institute has been essentially against getting new roommates, but not this one mutant. He has been avoiding his old room with the vigor of fan girls running to meet their favorite pop star as he played live in their very own little town. His uncle had asked specifically for it to be big, but this also somehow ended up being a single-person room, something very unwelcome.

Still, he has progressed a great big deal since he came. To think that just two months ago he preferred spending his nights outside on the institute grounds and that he would go through a mental breakdown whenever he would finally conclude he was alone. And now claustrophobia was almost no issue whatsoever, and the other...problem.... has been decreasing steadily. At least now he had no problems as long as he remained in the lounge, reading his books. That way, the traces of people using it, and the necessary occasional bathroom break by the younger students, kept Danny sure that he was not all alone.

Now, that he knows he will be sharing a room with someone else, everything seems to be promising improvement. He is smiling, something that is almost a permanent state of facial expression for him, and enters the room quickly.

And then he sees his new roommate.

OK, maybe not the most welcoming of faces, but I'm sure he's not half bad. he thinks, and then goes over, slumping onto the free, and apparently his, bed. "Hey there! I'm Danny." he says, hoping that it is a friendly enough, yet not overly imposing introduction.

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

Nikk snapped to life almost instantly when his, what seemed to be, room mate came in and greeted him. He sat up on his bed and looked at Danny. He didn't expect to meet his room mate until the morning, but it looked like they'd get acquainted tonight.

"Hey there! I'm Danny."

Nikk stood, brushing himself off as if he was dirty. His English wasn't great, and speaking through telepathy would have been easier for him, but he wasn't sure how Danny would react. He'd been instructed not to use his telepathy in the Institute by Josh because it was considered rude without asking. "Hello. I Nikkolas." He tried to smile, but Danny could probably tell that it wasn't natural for him to do so. "You may call me Nikk if you vish." His accent was very heavy, and very apparent.

He extended his hand toward Danny, to do the customary American hand shake. "You are room mate?" He looked at him, awaiting his response. Nikk was very nervous, he wasn't good at meeting people or breaking the ice. So far, Danny looked like a nice guy, someone that he could be friends with.

[Tempero]

Daniel notices straight away the "foreign" label on the other's whole demeanor, which actually causes him to smile an even friendlier, more encouraging smile.

>"You may call me Nikk if you vish."

"Whichever suits you. My real name is Daniel, but most people simply call me Danny, so you can suit yourself as to which one you prefer. Now, let me guess..." he trails off, as if analyzing the situation, when, in fact, he simply trying to place the accent. The physical features of his roommate make it allot easier, however. "You come from Russia, right? Sorry if I messed up, Slavic languages are not my forte." he laughs pleasantly, and accepts the handshake.

>"You are room mate?"

However bad Nikkolas might be in breaking the ice, Daniel has more than enough social grace to cover him. "Yep, I'm afraid you got stuck with me." he says, and then laughs a bit more, slumping back on his bed, ending up in a lotus position, leaning against the wall. "So, when did you come here?" he asks, showing genuine interest, perhaps unlike some of the others on the institute. Then again, there are people who really are nice... he thinks, looking around the room. It is nothing humongous, but it is sufficiently big.

His green eyes go up and look at Nikkolas, and then they close as he concentrates. Soon enough, he sees it. A light blue set of lines intertwining across the other's body. He opens his eyes and sees the world normally once more. "Sorry if this sounds intrusive or something, but...do you have a mind-related mutation?" he asks, hoping that his guess is right. That would once more confirm his suspicions.

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

Nikk is a little taken back by Danny's kindness; he hadn't met anyone at the Institute this nice. It was a breath of fresh air, maybe he would enjoy this more then he had originally thought.

"Whichever suits you. My real name is Daniel, but most people simply call me Danny, so you can suit yourself as to which one you prefer. Now, let me guess..."

Nikk nodded his head in compliance, "Daniereiel". He was attempting to say Daniel, but it didn't seem to roll off of his tongue easily. "Danny." Now Danny was a little bit easier to say; when he said it, it sounded like 'Dah-ni'. He would get a better grasp on English...eventually.

"You come from Russia, right? Sorry if I messed up, Slavic languages are not my forte."

Nikk watched as Danny tried to guess where he was from by his accent and looks alone. Finally, he guessed and was right. "Yes, I am Russian. Let me guess, you American?" He said with a smile, lightening up a little.

"Yep, I'm afraid you got stuck with me."

Nikk chuckles, "I am afraid, you are stuck with me." This seems to be going well. "Is zhis[this] first year at Institute?"

"So, when did you come here?"

He didn't really remember how long exactly that he'd been in America. With the whole chain of events that led up to him coming to the Institute, he couldn't remember. "Vell, about year or so." That was the best answer he could give now, Jake and Josh still weren't finished helping him sort out his mind.

"Sorry if this sounds intrusive or something, but...do you have a mind-related mutation?"

Nikk eyed Danny when he closed his eyes, he wasn't sure what the kid was doing. Then when his attentions became clear, he thought of only one way to respond to his question. <Yes, it's totally mind-related. I have about the same mutation as the late Professor Xavier. I can communicate much more effectively with others using telepathy by using the person language center. I'm guessing yours is of the mind as well?> He smiled at Danny, hoping that he wouldn't be offended.

[Tempero]

>"Is zhis[this] first year at Institute?"

"Well, not exactly, actually. I'm not quite sure anymore...so much stuff has happened that I really can't remember..." he laughs a bit, feeling stupid for not being able to remember something like that.

Still, he settles on giving that answer, having nodded a confirmation as to what nationality he himself is.

<Yes, it's totally mind-related. I have about the same mutation as the late Professor Xavier. I can communicate much more effectively with others using telepathy by using the person language center. I'm guessing yours is of the mind as well?>

He is a little startled, not having expected, despite everything, that Nikkolas would engage in a telepathic conversation immediately. Still, he smiles and listens, or rather receives out everything he has to say, displaying perhaps a bit of awe, seeing as how he compares himself to professor Xavier. At the last bit, the question, Danny has to stop and think a bit, perhaps a bit of his confusion rubbing off on the telepathic link.

<Well, you see, it's not quite that easy to explain. I do have some amount of telepathy, yes, but it is merely the ability to link with others' minds. The minor telepathy comes hand-in-hand with my other mutation, which would be the ability to strengthen, weaken, copy, and boost control over other people's mutations. You see, I fist need a telepathic link to the person. Then, after that, I can either sever the link or keep it going, after I have attached my mind to the person's actual mutation. After that, I can choose to boost its power, diminish it, and/or copy it. I can also add my own willpower in the combination, and help the person have better control over their power.> he replies finally, and then sends Nikkolas a sheepish smile.

<Sorry, I tend to go off on rants sometimes...> he finally says, still smiling that, slightly guilty it would seem, smile.

<So, how old are you?>

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

"Well, not exactly, actually. I'm not quite sure anymore...so much stuff has happened that I really can't remember..."

They were so much alike, from what Nikk could see, that it was more then coincidence. They're powers were very similar, and it seemed that they'd be teaching each other some very valuable tricks. Danny's ability to encourage, or strengthen a power could prove very beneficial for Nikk. While on the other hand, Nikk may be able to show Danny a thing or two about furthering his telepathic reach. <I know exactly what you mean, things have been pretty crazy for me as well.>

<Well, you see, it's not quite that easy to explain. I do have some amount of telepathy, yes, but it is merely the ability to link with others' minds. The minor telepathy comes hand-in-hand with my other mutation, which would be the ability to strengthen, weaken, copy, and boost control over other people's mutations. You see, I fist need a telepathic link to the person. Then, after that, I can either sever the link or keep it going, after I have attached my mind to the person's actual mutation. After that, I can choose to boost its power, diminish it, and/or copy it. I can also add my own willpower in the combination, and help the person have better control over their power.>

Quite the explanation and quite the power. <We have a lot in common. It almost seems, that our powers compliment each other in one way or another. You can offer stability with your power to those like me, who lack it.> Nikk looked down toward the floor in slight embarrassment. It wasn't very Russian-like to admit you had a weakness, or hint around it any way.

<Sorry, I tend to go off on rants sometimes...><So, how old are you?>

A smile crept across Nikk's face, <No, you are very interesting to listen to.> He bit the side of his cheek, as if he had to think about his age. <I am 18 years of age, what about yourself?>

[Tempero]

<We have a lot in common. It almost seems, that our powers compliment each other in one way or another. You can offer stability with your power to those like me, who lack it.>

Danny, having been playing the social tango for a long time, noticed the tinge of embarrassment, but was not quite sure how to proceed about it. <There's a lot of people who don't quite have the grasp of their powers, so don't worry.> and for a moment, a memory springs up in mind, and he chuckles about it. <At least you knew you had a mutation as soon as it became active. I myself didn't find out that I had a mutation until I was in High School, and had a fallout with this girl who is an empath.> and then the memory completes itself within his mind, and he shudders visibly upon the slightest of mental glances in that small, dark locker. He is not sure whether some of the image went through the link or not, not yet having control over the flow of his emotions through telepathic links.

<No, you are very interesting to listen to.>

Danny returns with a smile of his own, one of those welcomingly friendly ones. <I'm glad you think so. Although, if ever I become a pest, do tell me, alright?> he replies with a small laugh, and then waits for the age-related answer.

<I'm seventeen.> he responds, still radiating the joy that he finally has someone sharing a room with him. Now I can maybe get some sleep and don't have to worry about my problem. he thinks, not realizing that he did, in fact, send the last bit through the link.

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

<There's a lot of people who don't quite have the grasp of their powers, so don't worry.>

It wasn't that he couldn't control his powers, except he couldn't completely it was that he just couldn't control himself. His powers and his emotions were supposed to be two different things. Nikk had trouble controlling his emotional state because he had, before he fought Josh and Warren, many mental blocks blocking his undesirable emotions. He wasn't used to feelings like fear, embarrassment, or sadness. His up bringing was very complicated.

But perhaps Danny was the answer to his problems. Perhaps it was destiny that they be room mates, perhaps it was luck, but whatever it was, Nikk was liking it. <Well maybe you...could help me with some issues at a later time, with my mental state.> He didn't want to spill his whole life to Danny on their first meeting; he didn't want to seem needy or annoying.

<I'm glad you think so. Although, if ever I become a pest, do tell me, alright?>

Nikk laughed at his comment. <Don't worry about that, Russian people are known for our bluntness. But please tell me if I am doing something to be a pest or doing something out of the ordinary. I am adjusting to American customs.>

Nikk listened as Danny revealed his age. <Seventeen? You're around the same age as me. We are a lot alike.> As Danny finished his thought, Nikk kinda had the feeling he didn't intend to send that. But, that was the risk of having a telepathic link. "Vell, I sink ve should get sleep no?" [Well, I think we should get sleep, no?]

[Tempero]

<Well maybe you...could help me with some issues at a later time, with my mental state.>[/color[

Danny moves his head to the side, much like a parrot in wonder would, trying to think up what issues could he possibly have, but then decides against probing further. All in its own time... he reminds himself, and then shrugs and smiles widely. <Sure thing, anything I can do to help, feel free to ask.>

<Seventeen? You're around the same age as me. We are a lot alike.>

Except that you most likely did no freak out and want to jump out of your skin after entering even a movie theater, and didn't have mental breakdowns by the pool... he thinks to himself, this time successfully keeping everything within his own private thoughts, and then just widens the grin. <Perhaps. Only time can tell about that.> he laughs a bit, slouching a bit more on his bed.

> "Vell, I sink ve should get sleep no?"

He blinks a bit at not hearing the words over the link, caught off-guard. Still, he says nothing, and anything other than the blink is completely absent as a reaction, and so he shrugs. "You go ahead, if you're tired. I myself haven't slept in weeks." he says with a light-hearted, and almost painfully untruthful laugh. He reaches over to one of the two bags he has brought with him, and pulls out a book, holding it up to Nikkolas. "These saved me many a night." he laughs.

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

<Sure thing, anything I can do to help, feel free to ask.>

Nikk bowed his head in compliance to Danny's offer. <Thank you, it's nice to finally have a friend. You feel free to ask me anything as well.> He smiled, and yawned a little, it was getting late. He had been up doing various mental exercises with Jake and Josh, it was just time to retire for the night.

"You go ahead, if you're tired. I myself haven't slept in weeks."

<You haven't slept in weeks? You should *yawn* try tonight. Do you want me to help it along?> Nikk could always use his meld, if Danny permitted, to sync their minds into a deep sleep, like hypnosis. Nikk laid down on his bed.

[Tempero]

<Thank you, it's nice to finally have a friend. You feel free to ask me anything as well.>

<Thanks.> he replies, and then tries to remember where he had stopped reading his book, only returning back to reality when Nikkolas sent another message.

<You haven't slept in weeks? You should *yawn* try tonight. Do you want me to help it along?>

<Thanks for the offer, but I think I just might manage to fall asleep on my own tonight. It's just a...thing... that I have...and it should not pose a problem tonight...> he replies, still reluctant to reveal everything.

It was, indeed, fear that had kept him up at night. Somehow, falling asleep while alone seems to mean certain death to him, and now he already feels allot better, safer, that Nikk is here. After all, it means that if he starts choking or something, there will at least be a chance for him to be saved, right? This is getting way out of hand...I'll have to try an get rid of the fear... he thinks.

<Oh, I almost forgot. I do not have full control over my mutation, yet, so I don't know how it will act if I fall asleep and have a nightmare...It wasn't a problem when I slept alone, but now, it would be good if you have some way to block me out while sleeping?> he explains, relieved that he remembered.

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

<Thanks.>

Nikk nodded at Danny's kind reply. <No problem.> Nikk felt a special connection with Danny, one that he had not yet experienced. They were so similar in so many cases, it was just weird. Their powers seemed to compliment each other; this would be fun.

<Thanks for the offer, but I think I just might manage to fall asleep on my own tonight. It's just a...thing... that I have...and it should not pose a problem tonight...>

Nikk shrugged, and laid down facing Danny. He listened to Danny send him the message. He didn't want to inquire on what Danny's problem was because he didn't want to seem nosy. For this being their first meeting, things went well. Nikk didn't usually act so kindly to people. There was something Nikk liked about him. <Well if you're sure...>

<Oh, I almost forgot. I do not have full control over my mutation, yet, so I don't know how it will act if I fall asleep and have a nightmare...It wasn't a problem when I slept alone, but now, it would be good if you have some way to block me out while sleeping?>

Nikk was just about to doze off into dream land before Danny sent this alarming message. Nikk was unstable as it was, and if Danny sent some sort of negative energy, or some sort of mental distress into Nikk's fragile mind, things would turn nasty. Now he hasn't had an outburst in a while, but he's had no stress in a while or strain on his mind. <Danny, I don't know what you know about me, but right now my mind can't take much. If I enter any real mental distress, the results could be devastating if my mental blocks re institute themselves.> He takes a breath, looking wide eyed at Danny, <Sorry, but what do you think will happen if you do?>

[Tempero]

<Danny, I don't know what you know about me, but right now my mind can't take much. If I enter any real mental distress, the results could be devastating if my mental blocks re institute themselves.><Sorry, but what do you think will happen if you do?>

Danny reacts quickly to this, but does not react fast enough to stop the worry. Damn...I didn't need to worry him...

<No, no, nothing would happen to you, but it might so to someone else. You see, if my powers were to somehow backfire when I am asleep, I might end up accessing your mutation and copying it onto myself...or, I might end up supercharging yours, so if you had a bad dream or something, it might manifest. Nothing would happen to you, or most likely me, really, it's just that I don't want my mutation messing with yours when I don't know what's happening.> he says, offering a warm smile of encouragement.

Finally, he sighs a bit. <Tell you what, you just go back to sleep, and I'll go on reading my book. That way we don't need to worry, eh?>, his tone, even though telepathically so, is cheerful, warm, caring as always, never missing a beat. It is obvious that he is being honest.

[Nikkolas Blagetovich]

<No, no, nothing would happen to you, but it might so to someone else. You see, if my powers were to somehow backfire when I am asleep, I might end up accessing your mutation and copying it onto myself...or, I might end up supercharging yours, so if you had a bad dream or something, it might manifest. Nothing would happen to you, or most likely me, really, it's just that I don't want my mutation messing with yours when I don't know what's happening.>

Nikk's worries are put down with Danny's comforting reassurances. <Well due to my history of mental blocks, I'll have to talk to Josh or Jake to see what they think of this situation. They will know what to do, I'll see them in the morning. I don't want to do something to regress my condition.>

<Tell you what, you just go back to sleep, and I'll go on reading my book. That way we don't need to worry, eh?>,

Nikk nodds from his pillow, <Ok, I'll see you in the morning. Good night..> He yawned, and closed his eyes.