Fast Forward (Open.)

[Odion Martins]

Hammel was nothing like Kocher, and Odion was starting to come to grips with that. The young man was very nervous to be here – it showed in the way he walked. Really he was just shy, but to any adult it might have looked like he was up to no good. He had peeked into every training room before entering it to make sure no one was using it. Once he did find one, he shut the door and slid to the floor, sitting against it. Moving to America had taken its toll on the time manipulator, and Odi just needed a second to breathe.

Taking in his surroundings, Odi decided to treat this self-taught training session like he would treat pickpocketing someone. Access the situation, take in the information given, and do the most you can with it. Odion stood from his spot and walked across the floor. He wasn’t really sure how he could practice speeding up time with the various items in the room, so he sat upon the empty table in the room and stared at the clock, concentrating.

The red head struggled, watching the second hand tick by, his eyes never leaving the clock. He was concentrating hard to make the second go by faster, literally, but nothing was happening. Odi could start to feel a pang in his head and he blinked hard, looking down at his lap. Maybe his powers were lopsided now due to how often he slowed down time, and how he never sped it up. How come he could never get this particular side of his power to work?

He knew he was probably going about it the wrong way, but it was the only way he knew how to go about doing things – carefully, with purpose. Odi sat on the table, glancing back up at the clock, the second hand ticking by, mocking him. “There will be a day for your doom,” he said under his breath, staring at the clock sadly. Of course he would be here to try and figure out a different side of his power, and not develop the one he was good at. Yes there were two sides to time, but speeding things up just wasn’t what he liked to do.

When pickpocketing, Odi would rather enjoy the moment, than quickly get it over with. Speeding things up just didn’t seem useful for the boy, and he was frustrated with trying to get that part, to work.

[Alice Halifax]

Alice had just happened to be out and about at this particular moment of this particular day. Why she was pulled to the training rooms was beyond anyone's guess, even her own. It wasn't like Alice spent a lot of time in the training rooms as her power could be safely used in any open environment. Being able to hypnotically control and seduce others with nothing more than her voice was a rather brilliant and thrilling ability to possess, but in the end it left Alice has a manipulator only instead of an actual actress in the play of life. That was fine with the young woman as getting her hands dirty meant she was at a bigger threat of being caught when she chose to pursue less than legal matters. With this said, taking a trip to the training rooms was indeed odd for the young miss Halifax.

Sometimes Alice had these odd little desires to do things which would either make sense to her or not. She couldn't explain why she had felt the urge to walk about the training rooms, she just had. It was fun sometimes to sneak a peak at the progress of others here at Hammel, especially if their powers were of the more unique variety, those such as her sweet angel Isabella possessed. So, armed with nothing more than her beauty and voice, Alice moved through the training rooms, stopping and listening at each door in turn.

She was dressed in a brightly multicolored skirt and black satin top which dipped dangerously low in the front, with long largely flowing sleeves which half hid her hands. Around her neck, Alice wore a thin silver rope necklace with a locket which held Isabella's picture within. Small silver hoop earrings adorned her ears which matched the hoop bracelets which dangled and jingled at her wrists. Sandals completed Alice's outfit, which might have seemed rather formal for some but was casual for her. Her hair was slightly curled and bounced around her face with each step. The soft pink which she wore on her lips drew attention to help further increase her ability by making anyone who was listening to her, focus on her lips a bit more. Alice left nothing to chance and used every ounce of her beauty to help enforce the allure and sway of her vocal ability.

Stopping outside one particular door, Alice just stood there, staring at it. No sound came from the room behind, just silence, but something held her there none the less. She tilted her head to the side in thought, wrestling with the idea of what to do. Hesitantly, she reached out and opened the door, only to reveal an innocent looking ginger lad staring at a clock and threatening it with some soon to be coming doom. Alice quirked an eyebrow at the boy, who seemed to be near her own age, but maybe a year or two younger. He had this sweet look about him, but Alice knew better than anyone to beware of such looks. "Curiouser and curiouser," she said, her eyebrow still arched and her head slightly cocked to the side.

[Odion Martins]

Still trying to focus on speeding up the time, Odi was seriously caught off guard when someone was suddenly standing in the room with him, just by the door. He hadn’t even noticed the clicking sound of the doorknob. He could feel his face flush a little as she called him curious. And then it happened, his heart caught in his throat and instead of saying something charming, he simply slowed down time.

His eyes darted around as the girl before him seemed to be frozen in time. Odion took a breath and time returned to normal, a hand of his going to scratch the back of his neck. He had only stopped time for a moment or two, so hopefully whoever this was, wouldn’t be angry with him.

“Sorry for doing that, you caught me off guard,” he said, hopping off of the desk, looking sort of past the girl instead of directly at her as he spoke. All the boys here seemed overly flirtatious – Odi was not of this variety. It was a more subtle kind of flirting if it happened at all. “Did you have the room booked for training? I didn’t know if it was free...” He was rambling, a small smile replaced his voice.

The girl’s lips were highly visible, and he had to wonder if this was done with a particular reason in mind. She also looked very done up – getting ready for a date perhaps? Odion had always been taught to be observant – it had its payoffs. A crooked smile graced his face, did this girl often spy on other people training?

“Uh, name’s Odion,” he said, trying to be polite and inviting.

[Alice Halifax]

The young man had manners, much to Alice's surprise and enjoyment. It was hard to find others with proper manners these days. The young man was far from the refined background Alice came from, but the smile he wore and the respectful tone of his voice made up for that. With Alice, it was all about respect and knowing one's place in the grand scheme of things. However, behind the facade of a gentle face and polite words, the boy wore something sly and cunning. It was hard to con a con artist and even hard to out lie a liar. Not to say it offended Alice, but more or less intrigued her. It seemed the reason for being guided out here to the training rooms by that odd gut feeling she got sometimes was now starting to make some sense.

Meeting new people was generally a fun moment for Alice and while most turned out to be your everyday livestock, there were a few here and there who stood out as something extraordinary. Isabella had been a breath of fresh air for Alice and while Odion was no where near on par with Izzy, he was something different and as such, worth a small chance meeting with Alice. Much like her father, Alice knew the importance of having a vast network of acquaintances with whom could help propel her own private plans and desires. She knew absolutely nothing of Odion, save he had some manners and a sweet face which was worth her time.

When Odion had noticed Alice at first, something had seemed to happen, an odd feeling but something Alice couldn't quite shake. She felt different in an instance but normal at the same time. It was like deja vu but not at the same time. A hard feeling to describe and one which left Alice with a sense of disorientation. She put her hand to her head and blinked her eyes rapidly for a moment, weakly smiling as Odion went on to apologize for whatever it was he had done. Looking up to Odion, Alice took a few steps into the room. Being the quick girl she was, Alice took another quick glance at the clock and then had an assumption. "No....the room is open, I was just being nosy," she said circling behind Odion, looking him over, "I do hope you'll forgive me for my intrusion," she said stopping at the table he had been sitting at practicing his power.

"Odion is an odd name for an American to have, so I'm guessing your an overseas transfer," she said, digging a bit into who this young man was and why she had not seen him before. Then with a small giggle, Alice shook her head, "Sorry, it seems I've forgotten my manners. I do apologize. My name is Alice," she said, offering her hand to Odion, curious as to how much of gentleman he was.

[Odion Martins]

Odion was mentally kicking himself for not having better control over his powers. Some days they just seemed to come so naturally, others it was like breathing – involuntary, but very useful. He made a mental note of not making a habit out of freezing those he was just about to meet. First impressions were everything; hopefully he hadn’t blown it with this lovely blonde girl.

“So it would seem the curious one here, is you,” the red head quipped happily, glad to sneak in a little bit of charm. Odion wasn’t in the business of winning friends, but surface value conversations he could handle. At least the girl was being honest about being a snoop – Odi appreciated that. His dark blue eyes tried to follow her as she circled around him, like he was some kind of trapped animal. Should he be worried?

Odion was seventeen and had never dated anyone. That part of his life had only opened up in the past year or so. Having to live on the streets made food and shelter a number one priority. Emotional wellbeing, personality development, and having a love life, just wasn’t in the picture. Odi had every day down to a routine: wake up, eat whatever was around from the day before for breakfast, pickpocket, use the money found for more food, try and pawn the rest for money in order to buy essentials, try to find a place to sleep, and finally pass out from exhaustion. Finding that perfect someone seemed like it was important now that his basic needs were cared for, but he was in no rush to get there. Rushing was not a word Odion would use to describe himself.

“You’re forgiven,” he said carefully, wondering if Alice made a habit out of spying on others. “Is this how you make friends?” He asked with a small smile, curiosity written on his eyes. “Transferred from Ireland actually,” he said, despite his lack of an Irish accent. It was the country where he was born, but he had spent his life traveling most of Europe. It was a dream most American teenagers had, and Odion secretly wondered if any of them would be able to survive the way he had in unknown territory. Odi was street smart and very cautious, with every move calculated and well placed. He couldn’t afford mistakes.

Shaking Alice’s hand gently and graciously, Odion smiled brightly, the freckles on his cheeks dancing around his eyes. “Didn’t I say you were forgiven already?” The red head released the girl’s hand, stuffing both of his into the pockets of his jeans. “You’re the first person I’ve met at this school, Alice,” Odion said, saying her name in order to memorize it along with the face it captured. Was that too much information to share right off the bat? Was it making him look pathetic? Most kids had learned to not care about what other people thought of them, but it was all Odion cared about. If she was the first person he met here, she in turn held some weight on her shoulders when it came to how Odi would decide how he fit in here - or not. First impressions mattered to him. He was a loner, always keeping people at an arm’s length, but that didn’t mean he wanted to be a hermit. Gaining a few people’s trust without bearing his soul was a good thing, a small nugget of good he had learned from his hard life.

[Alice Halifax]

Odion had charisma to go with his manners which made for a devilishly sly personality. Alice would have to watch her footing around this one or she might end up a victim of some sorts. Not that she feared Odion, it was just she knew what a sweet smile and quick soft words would get you in life. Still though, nothing about the boy irked Alice and so, he would be sparred her venomous words and critical eye. For Alice, it could be the way a person dressed or just the way they looked at you which would set her off. She was very judgmental of others, sometimes in a good way but most often than not in a bad way. First impressions were very critical with Alice Halifax and Odion was passing his test with flying colors.

"Friend is a such a strong word with all sorts of attachments implied," Alice said quite boldly, not hiding her view of the word. Not just anyone got close enough to Alice for her to label them as a friend. She had many associates and connections, but friends were far and few between. Sharing herself in such a private manner was an honor to be bestowed, not something to be tossed about like a loaf of bread. Smiling she continued to stare down Odion, studying him him you will. "Your not the first person I've interrupted like this though, you do have me there. Its a nasty habit I admit, but I never was one to just sit idly by in the presence of something which interests me." Alice spoke in such a casual and bold manner at the same time, as if she were in command of the moment. How Odion would react to her view of friendship would be interesting.

"Ireland," she said, closing her eyes for a moment, recalling childhood memories of spending time there with her family on vacation, "Such a beautiful place," she said, opening her bright blue eyes again, "I used to vacation there with my family when I was younger. The countryside was so open and calm. It was almost like you were living in a world by yourself," she went on, smiling a bit now. Sure, Alice was a city girl at heart, but she appreciated beauty when she found it and while she was no farmer, the countryside had an alluring peace to it all the same. "I'm from California myself, San Diego to be exact," she offered, clasping her hands in front of her now, "My father deals in precious artifacts and different pieces of art so I've been to Europe quite a bit. What area of Ireland are you from, maybe I've been there before?," she asked Odion, still digging deeply for all the information she could.

[Odion Martins]

An apologetic smile spanned Odion’s slender face. “My apologies, I suppose I should have asked if spying on people is how your friendships start,” he said, his right hand making a waving motion as he spoke. It must have been a European thing. The red head usually didn’t walk with his hands, but he knew it make other find him more trustworthy, almost more childish. Everyone had their quirks, Odi was careful to select his. “Friendships requite a lot more work than simply becoming someone’s stalker.” His tone was serious but the smile on his face said he was amused, and intrigued by his company. She, admittedly, found him interesting.

“And what’s so great about a boy sitting on a desk, staring at a clock?” He asked, playing the devil’s advocate. He tried to put himself in her shoes and find what was so interesting about the picture he imagined himself in. It looked rather boring.

Odion smiled along with Alice as she recalled her memories. “Yes, I know the place,” he said politely, the contrast of his hair and eyes making his face appear pleasant. But her words had hit home for him more than she knew. Living in a world by yourself. It wasn’t just Ireland where he lived alone. If only she knew the half of it. But he had never told anybody about that, and the only person who knew even a small amount about his life, was Rhett. They were truly in the same boat.

There was something about Alice that captivated the boy though, and he was truly thankful she hadn’t asked about his parents. Scratching the back of his neck, Odion looked down at the floor and sighed. “Honestly, I don’t really know which part,” he said with a small smile, looking back up at the girl to hold her ice blue eyes. She was very intriguing, although he was a little bit suspicious about her. Why was she interested in him anyways? Odion had grown up in a harsh world, and he knew that most people were nice for a reason, not because the trait was innate.

“You have lovely eyes,” he said, rather plainly, like how one would say ‘two plus two is four’. It was obvious and a nice thing to say, hopefully something she wouldn’t take the wrong way. It was a pretty big change of topic. Maybe he would get lucky and she would pin it on his testosterone going into high gear - which was fine by him. A small smile passed his face and he was looking at the clock once more. Maybe she would figure out for herself why he hadn’t really sought anyone to talk to at this school.

[Alice Halifax]

Odion's answer about not knowing anything of where he was supposedly from sent a red flag up in Alice's mind. Such a weird answer to give, but perhaps maybe he was dodging the answer because of something traumatic in his past. He might have been ashamed of where he was from and was just playing it off, but then again, he really could not have any idea of his birthplace. Then again, a nomadic lifestyle might have been the answer. Whichever it was, Alice was intrigued and cautious at the same time. Odion appeared to be carrying some sort of issues around with him, but many students here at Hammel were full of emotional baggage. Alice was fortunate in her life as her parents where very liberal with how they treated their daughter. True, she did wish they showed a bit more interest in her, gave her a bit more love so to speak, but they did make sure she was very comfortable with her life. It was hard for Alice to relate to those with rough pasts or those who were more down to earth and aware of how the real world operated.

Alice began to call Odion out on his ignorance of where he was from but before she could make a sound, Odion was already shifting the conversation and spotlight back to Alice. He commented her eyes, rather genuinely. That smile of his and his handsome features, made Alice blush. She might have been a grand manipulator and rather intelligent to boot, but like all people, she did love to be praised and complimented. Vanity was perhaps her biggest flaw and while Odion had not pulled her into his web, she was off balance. "That's very kind of you to say," she said in response with a soft laugh. "I have to admit your quite the charmer," she added, brushing her hair back from her face in a nervous manner. Alice was loosing her composure and she needed to regain it quickly if she wanted to find anything out about her mystery companion for the moment.

His gaze seemed to be drawn back to the clock on the table, and Alice had her suspicions as to why. All alone in this big room with just a clock to keep him company. He wasn't waiting for a particular time she surmised, but seemed more intent on making time wait for him. She remembered the odd feeling when she first interrupted Odion, like something was out of sync. Being the sharp girl she was, Alice was putting things together more quickly now that Odion had lost his momentum in his distraction by the clock. "Your power? Are you some sort of time manipulator? I mean, you seemed awfully interested in that clock just a few moments ago....and now as well," she asked and said, arching her eyebrow inquisitively. "Please I would so like to know what your meta ability is," she said, pushing her power onto Odion to get him to open up. If was relaxed around her enough, her power would work, making her voice sound appealing and alluring, like something he could trust.

[Odion Martins]

Odion looked back at Alice, admitting she was far more interesting than the clock he was trying to speed up. "It's quite easy to be charming about the truth," he said sweetly, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he smiled. How often did this girl hear compliments? She seemed a little strong, like she had a domineering personality. Perhaps people were too afraid of her reaction to even try and be honest with her. Odion wasn't afraid of much, but girls were definitely something he didn't fear. They were rather intriguing, and Alice was especially interesting. At first she was prying, and now she was shy. The red head noted that he could have the desired effect on her if need be.

Alice didn't need to butter Odion up with her powers in order for the boy to tell her what they were. To the boy, it was like sharing which classes he was taking and where he enjoyed eating when he wasn't at school. Some things were valuable information, and to Odi, everyone had powers here. It wasn't like Alice would be able to harness his gifts right? Still, he gave the information a little easier than normal, and that raised some questions in his mind. "Yes, I can manipulate time to be faster or slower and move through it at whatever speed I choose," he said, simply and bluntly. There was nothing special about his power to Odion, it had always been like a sixth sense to him, an asset.

"And you my dear," he said, looking the blonde up and down, "have a way with words." Odion was being vague, but that's just how he operated. He wasn't trying to be mysterious, but that often became the most attractive part of his personality. He could've been complimenting her, but really he was alluding to her powers. However she chose to interpret what he said was up to her. What was her game though, seeing as she seemed more interested than anyone should be in what Odion was all about.

Odion placed his hands in his pockets, glancing at the door, assessing his escape. If Alice was going to keep questioning him, Odi worried that eventually she would ask something he would regret telling her. The boy glanced at her with questioning eyes, wondering what was her aim. It would literally take him a second to escape the situation, and he wanted to be ready to take that opportunity if he needed to.

[Alice Halifax]

Odion's will crumbled under Alice's words, just as everyone else usually did. However, Odion might not have been too eager to hide his ability, some students weren't. Alice's ability was known to quiet a few at the school as she never was one to hold back in using what fate had so kindly dealt to her. Odion would just have to figure out what Alice could do on his own, he seemed like a smart boy...perhaps smarter than Alice was giving him credit for. It wouldn't be the first time Alice had underestimated someone and while she tried not to, her elitist upbringing and perfectionist nature generally led her to make more mistakes than she would ever admit. Alice was human after all, and despite all her boasting and prancing, she was as vulnerable as the next person standing in line. Alice tried to make up for this by being several steps ahead of the competition, hence her aggressive attitude.

As Odion gave a brief description of what he was capable of, with his meta ability, Alice stood there, listening to every little word. She was impressed, very much so and the smile on her face would tell that. Time manipulation had all sorts of advantages to it, but Odion probably knew more of those advantages than Alice could dream up. She understood the concept being the power, but really understanding it was beyond her. She tried not to put so much effort into figuring out the powers of others, but instead concentrated on honing her skills with her own. "Truly fascinating," she said as Odion finished his explanation, and as a world of ideas flooded her mind.

Alice giggled again as Odion remarked of her skill with words. He had already figured her ability out and she mentally applauded his quick mind for that. The boy had street smarts it seemed and that was worth its weight in gold. "Vocal hypnotism if you want to give it a fancy name," she said, making no effort to hide what she could do. Odion deserved an honest answer in reward for impressing Alice as impressing her wasn't something easily accomplished.

Alice smiled and caught the quick glance Odion gave toward the door to the training room. "Your not worried are you Odion? Afraid I might make you do something embarrassing?," she asked with a giggle. "Seeing how your so cute, I'll spare you my wickedness," she said, giving a mocking scary face and putting her hands up like she was some monster before busting out into laughter. Keeping Odion calm was key here as Alice had some plans in mind for him. The group she was putting together was still small, but growing and while Alice still knew next to nothing about Odion he was a very positive prospect.

As her laughter died and she dropped her hands to her side, Alice gave a soft sigh. "Tell you what Odion, question for question. Will that make you a bit less tense around me? You answer my questions, and I'll answer yours....Promise," she said with a wink and another sweet smile.

[Odion Martins]

It was strange to have someone like Alice so interested in him, and Odion could feel himself blush as she called him fascinating. Odi was not in the business of being in the spotlight, it made him uncomfortable. He was good at playing in the shadows, he was good at getting away with things he shouldn’t be doing, as in his mind, anything was legal if he didn’t get caught. Being under the scrutiny of a very beautiful girl, however, was not something Mr. Martins could deal with without fidgeting under her stare.

Odion’s lips quirked up into a smile as Alice began giggling. Was this a show or was she sincerely interested in him? And if so, why? The red head held his smile, glad to be affirmed of his suspicions. He might not have known what her powers were before, but he certainly knew now. “It sounds like a very satisfying power,” he said, his eyes holding hers, “better than reading minds, since you have the person admitting to everything you need instead.” It would also be great to have people hand over their possessions than stealing them... Odion had a smile on his face that could be labelled as wicked, but it soon disappeared. He couldn’t have her thinking he was some kind of loon – unless it would be to his advantage.

Odi smiled, giving Alice another once over. “I’m always worried around those who I’m unfamiliar with, however, you don’t seem very wicked.” It was just another reason to get a better look at her, which served several purposes. He did suppose that she could be wicked if she wanted to be. Besides, if she was wicked, then right at this moment, she would think she was gaining the upper hand in convincing him of her very innocent act, which she was playing very well. “You are just as cute as I am, Alice,” he said, a wink sent her way. He didn’t want to figure her out, he just wanted to stay in the darkness.

The boy considered the deal, and in his mind knew that he would be able to slow down any request he didn’t feel comfortable with once he realized what she would be asking. “Alright, then I suppose it’s my turn,” he said politely, as this seemed to be working between them. Alice surely would be careful with her words, or Odion would be gone before her pretty eyes. He would play her game until he decided to quit, and she wouldn’t be able to stop him.

“What will you gain from talking to me?” He asked, leaning against the table he had been sitting on, taking a more relaxed stance. Odion didn’t let his eyes stray from Alice, lest she caught on that if she tried to con him, he would be gone in a second.

[Alice Halifax]

Alice hadn't planned on meeting Odion but she was glad she followed her gut instinct today and wandered aimlessly into the training rooms. Odion hadn't looked like very much at first, but the more he spoke and interacted with Alice, the more useful he seemed to become. Unlike some of the other guys around Hammel, Odion wasn't some immature Neanderthal who went about snorting and farting with his buddies. He had charm and a pleasant attitude and the way he interacted with Alice told her he was a bit of a con artist. She couldn't pin down what gave her that feeling or why she knew, but she just did. She saw mannerisms similar to hers in the way she talked to those who had something of interest to offer her and that meant Odion needed to be watched closely.

Oh yes, Alice didn't seem very wicked at all, at least not now, but then again, Odion could have been sarcastic in his statement. To those who found favor with Alice, she was more lenient with, showing them patience and a tad bit more understanding than she did with the average student or teacher. There wasn't one particular action one could take to put themselves in Alice's good graces, it was just something which struck her. She did prefer to be in the company of more socially elite people, those with lots of money in particular. Just because she preferred the wealthy did not mean Alice avoided the middle or lower class, it just meant she had style and class. Financial standing did mean something to her, but Alice also knew that other traits and skills were just as important. Skills like knowing how to blend into a crowd or how to be a successful thief.

The offer which Alice had put on the table was accepted and while Alice had intended to start the questioning, Odion manipulated the situation and beat her to the punch. Alice gave him that small advantage, not expecting Odion to jump to the question he asked her, but she had anticipated something similar. She could have lied to him, but Odion was too smart to believe anything other than the truth. Alice was taking a chance in attempting to bring Odion into the inner circle she had been working so hard to establish, but this was too much of a grand opportunity to pass up. "The world," she said boldly, plainly and rather cryptically. It wasn't exactly an answer but at the same time, it summed up her plans nicely. "I believe you have many useful skills Odion. Skills which paired with the skills and resources of other people who share similar vision could be used to bring anything within our grasp," she went on to answer, feeling she might need to be a bit more forthcoming to satisfy Odion. If he could manipulate time as well as he alluded to, then Odion could be gone in a blink of an eye...literally.

"My turn," she said, not giving Odion a chance to speak up or show any other feeling, "How far are you willing to go to have your heart's desire?," she asked him, leveling her gaze upon Odion, locking eyes with him, showing her seriousness in the moment.

[Odion Martins]

Odion hadn’t planned on meeting anyone today, especially Alice. She was interesting and playful, and even though he felt like he was walking on eggshells, he knew there could only be a good outcome from meeting her today. He liked playing this game with people, and Alice was quite good at it. Boring would never describe her, she was intellectual and Odion liked the challenge.

Watching the blonde carefully, he waited to see if she would lie about what she wanted from him. There was a true reason why Alice was so interested in him, and he was determined to find out. Odion raised a thin eyebrow, the smirk disappearing from his face. She couldn’t be serious, could she? He was about to say that he could never give her the world, but then he realized she was matching him in mystery. To say the boy was interested would be an understatement, and it showed in his body posture. He was hooked.

From what he could piece together, she wanted him to be a part of a group, for what he wasn’t sure yet. Alice didn’t know this, but Odion loves to figure things out for himself, and in speaking so cryptically, she would likely end up having him wrapped around her little finger in no time. He had been craving some kind of group for a while now, like a dog seeking a pack. He was no leader, nor did he want to be, but he knew he could prove useful in someone else’s hands. She hadn't exactly answered his question, but it was too late to mention that.

His thoughts were interrupted when Alice spoke up once more. As her eyes captured both his eyes and mind, Odion couldn’t help but think the question was a little... vague. “As far as my powers can take me,” he said, glad she hadn’t asked what his heart’s desire was. “I break the law on an almost daily basis.” Odion’s eyes grew wide in surprise, his face flushing as he looked down at his shoes. He didn’t really want to volunteer that information, but a hopeful smile spread across his face when he finally had the courage to look back up at the girl before him.

“Are you going to turn me in for that?” He asked, a charming smile passed his face, absolutely no worry in his eyes. He could just be playing the bad boy part, or he could be telling the truth. It was a waste of a question, but maybe what he had said before was what the blonde wanted to hear. In essence he was asking what side Alice was on – that’s what really mattered.

[Alice Halifax]

Odion appeared to show a large interest in Alice's offer and while that was a plus, it also brought about a feeling of doubt and caution. It was Alice's goal to turn Odion to the group, but usually it took a bit more coercion than this. The group was still fresh and technically wasn't fully assembled yet, so the notion of someone wanting to snuff it out prematurely was ridiculous. Perhaps Odion was looking for something to fill a empty space in his life. It wasn't unusual for families to toss out children who developed meta powers and while the notion was odd to Alice who had been encouraged in her own ability, the fact still remained that some families felt meta children were a drain on them instead of a blessing. If Odion was indeed looking for some sort of family setting, then Alice would be more than courteous enough to oblige him. She wasn't taking him in to guide every step of the way, but she would use him and give him her support as long as he wasn't working against her. It was a fair trade and Alice wasn't heartless, she could play the role of supporter if need be.

More clever and sly words poured out of Odion's mouth and Alice smiled in approval. This one she would keep close to her side. He shared similar traits with her and while he appeared to be a bit more rough around the edges, he would be a worthy associate in due time. Odion knew how to talk to people and his charming looks only sealed the package. He would make a fine edition to the fledgling group of up and comers.

Odion readily admitted to breaking laws on a daily basis and Alice had little reason to disbelieve him. The laws her broke however, were probably little more than misdemeanors with a little to no amount of real punishment. This of course wasn't a set back, it just meant he needed a push to move onto more grander and aspiring events. Why settle for pawn shop trinkets when you could have top line models? "And what would be the point of turning you in? Why smother such aspirations?," she asked him, her eyes looking him over very slowly, "Besides, I never agreed to the rules society has laid out before me. If the powers that be have decided to give you and I these marvelous abilities of ours, then would it make sense to allow a bunch of nay saying hand wringers to put shackles on us? No, my dear Odion, you have so much to offer. It would be a waste to see you sitting in a corner somewhere collecting dust," she went on, letting Odion know just where she and the others of the group sat when it came to the rules of the authority. "So Odion," Alice said, stepping closer to Odion, albeit slowly, "Are you ready to follow Alice into wonderland?," she asked him, putting a little spin on a childhood story she was so very fond of.

[Odion Martins]

Odion’s fine lips turned into a smile – so they were thinking along the same lines. The way Alice was looking at him made him nervous, like he was something she wanted to steal. Holding his bicep (or lack thereof) nervously, he couldn’t help but envision the scene of him sitting on a shelf even more clearly as she spoke of him collecting dust. He wasn’t some kind of raggedy Anne and while he wouldn’t mind making some new allies, he wasn’t going to be anyone’s bitch. He’d sooner be a lone wolf than used for his abilities.

He watched her approach carefully and after she spoke her offer, Odion stepped a little closer to the girl. He was naturally shy, but he could play any part well if he so chose. He slowed time down and moved through it like a hot knife through butter. His hands reached around the blonde’s neck, unclasping the pretty, shiny silver necklace around her neck. Both the trinket and her skin were soft against his rough fingertips, and she would realize what happened as soon as he allowed time to return to normal. “Alright love, let’s see what kind of use you can put me to,” he said, dangling her silver necklace in front of her, a playful, winning smirk on his face.

Taking her hand in his, he returned the locket and chain and wrapped her fingers around the keepsake, returning his hands to his sides. His dark blue eyes showed confidence, something he knew she was looking for. “Although, I’m sort of into shackles,” he said with a grin, unable to be serious after saying something like that. He had his European charm with him and he didn’t mean anything by the comment. Being a flirt and shy at the same time often caught him by surprise, saying things he was merely thinking and being bold when he least expected it. It made him interesting.

Alice wouldn’t have a hard time getting Odion on her side; he was taking to her nicely. Gaining his loyalty however, would take some time.