I8 - Just A Ghost In These Halls (Open)

[Nathaniel Davis]

Nate was dropped off on campus by a taxi. He stepped onto the Quad carrying a duffle bag over one shoulder and a garment bag over the other. He slipped his sunglasses on and looked around before pulling out his phone, pulling up a contact and dialing. After a moment, he spoke, "Yes, babe. I'm here... No, I promised I wouldn't and I won't... Yes, I know you'll kill me if I do... I'll get off-campus as soon as I can find a place, assuming they don't need me to stay on campus. I love you too. Talk to you later." He hung up the phone and slipped it back in his pocket.

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy crouched low in the bushes, watching the new person. She sniffed the air and shook her head.

As a rule, she didn't like new people. But on campus, it was kind of hard to just chase them off without getting kicked out. So she would just watch. For now.

[Aiden Mitchell]

Aiden flew a bit low over Nate's head before coming to an earth shaking landing on the quad.

[Nathaniel Davis]

Nate pulled his sunglasses down to look at the dragon, "I'm impressed. The security reports really don't do you justice, Mr. Mitchell."

[Aiden Mitchell]

The dragon's head turned towards Nate and gave him a toothy grin.

"They usually don't," Aiden said, "Dimensions on paper are generally fairly underwhelming. However, I feel that there would have been more circumstance around your arrival, Mr. Davis."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"I specifically asked for no fuss," Nate said, pushing his sunglasses back into place. "I'm just here to do a little consulting."

[Hannah Murphy]

Murphy crept along, trying to get closer so she could hear the two.

[Aiden Mitchell]

"An experienced X-Man is always welcome," Aiden said politely, "Lord Cassiel will no doubt be interested in meeting with you.

Your trip was uneventful I hope."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"It's a long flight even on one of X-Corp's jets, but yes, it was uneventful. I've heard that the same can't be said of things here."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"Since I have gotten here I've been transported to yet another universe, stopped riots, and saved a princess. Service in my universe was certainly less...eventful," Aiden said, "However, I have heard that it is the same anyplace in this universe where mutants gather in great numbers."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"We're weirdness magnets, among other things. I've done any number of things that I never thought I would. Keeps life interesting."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"Interesting is certainly not the word I would use for getting shot by an RPG," Aiden chuckled. "Though I will admit there is a certain amount of excitement in being able to preserve the peace."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Both statements sound like a reasonable attitude to have. I avoid getting hit with RPGs these days myself. Can't quite take it like I used to."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"I just recently recovered enough to be put back on the active duty roster," Aiden said then smirked, "Even the young do not take kindly to explosives."

"Have you decided how long you'll be staying in London?"

[Nathaniel Davis]

"That depends largely on two things. First, how long I'm needed. And two, how long it is before my daughter finds out I'm here and murders me," he said with a grin.

[Aiden Mitchell]

"I would offer you my protection, but I am afraid that I like my wings where they are," Aiden chuckled. "However, I do make an excellent distraction."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Yes, I expect she would put you through more pain than a high explosive. Speaking of, would you mind shifting down if it's not too much trouble? It won't be too much longer before someone wonders who the big dragon is talking to."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"I nap on campus and fly around London while in dragon form, so it would not go completely amiss but I will oblige," Aiden chuckled before he began shifting back to his impressive but less so human form. He was wearing his Acolyte uniform.

"Shifting back always makes me wonder which is my true form."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Speaking from personal experience, I would say something of both. But that's ultimately something every shifter has to decide for themselves," Nate said. "It's so vitally important that they spend a lot of time on it at the Institute."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"Something that I did not get to spend much time on in my universe," Aiden said, "In spite of my universes greater...acceptance of mutants."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Well, if you decide you want someone to talk to about it, you can hunt me down while I'm here." He reached into his wallet and pulled out an X-Corp business card with an e-mail address hand-written on the back and offered it to Aiden, "Or you can get a hold of me with the information on the back of this."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"Thank you, Mr. Davis," Aiden said taking the card and holding onto it seeing as he had no pockets at that moment. "I have been fortunate not to have the...typical feral shifter problems. No strong urges to steal and devour princesses or hoard gold."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Terribly unsatisfying being a dragon then, huh?" Nate said with a grin.

[Aiden Mitchell]

"I have managed to convince some farmers to let me steal their sheep and deer," Sean smiled. "I consider that an accomplishment of sorts since it involves fewer royal guards and far fewer fights with Captain Britain."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"You have to take what you can get these days," Nate said laughing.

[Aiden Mitchell]

"Not too long ago I would have said a dragon takes whatever it desires," Aiden said, "However, that is the benefit of having far too much power for your own good. I think I am starting to prefer it this way."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Yes. Far too much power for your own good tends to mean far too much power for anyone else's as well."

[Aiden Mitchell]

Aiden nodded.

"I know quite a few civilians back where I come from who would agree with you," Aiden said, "And quite a few nobles who would have said something about there being no such thing as too much power."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Power's blinding and the rush can be addicting. Back when I had my regeneration, I wasn't as careful as I should have been. Why should I be when it'll heal? Sure it hurts, but the danger brings the rush." He visibly shuddered, "There are times I miss it, but it's really for the best."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"The rush certainly does make it easier to chase an apc down a London street," Aiden said, "Not that a bit of caution is a bad thing, but it might not be so easy to head into combat without it."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"You learn to fight differently. The rush is still there, but you learn to control it and not let it control you. It's the proverbial tightrope of course, but it beats letting the rush control you. You do stupid stuff then. Like get hit with a shoulder-launched incendiary missile."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"I made choice between being perforated by small arms fire and taking the at that moment non-existent heavy weapons shot," Aiden smiled. "However, your point is valid. It is unfortunate when you rarely encounter things that can hurt you it raises your confidence a bit too high. You never think about the thing that is stronger than you, the rush of combat, the power of being nearly invincible, it all makes smart tactical decisions a bit difficult to make.

[Nathaniel Davis]

"And the bad guys, unfortunately, play for keeps. They don't pull their punches like simulations. So it's hard to prepare for."

[Aiden Mitchell]

"And the bad guys, unfortunately, play for keeps. They don't pull their punches like simulations. So it's hard to prepare for."

"Indeed," Aiden said, "Being an Acolyte allows me a bit more latitude when it comes to pulling my punches in actual combat situations."

[Nathaniel Davis]

"Indeed," Nate said, "Well, I should probably get my stuff stowed away and check in. Talk to you later, Mr. Mitchell?"

[Aiden Mitchell]

"We will," Aiden said, "Take care Mr. Davis and do watch your step. Would not want you to run into your daughter too soon."