Welcome to Gaia! ::

There was a new person in the halls today. her presence was almost glaringly bright, like she burned with fire within. That fire scared him. He let go of his control, and faded from the senses of those nearby, and an intangible field of electro-magnetic energy radiated outwards. He couldn't help it. Why had no one told him there was going to be a new person. Any second now, the field would start to take a hold on her, and she would begin to feel watched, anxious. As softly as he could, he moved to a dark corner, one shadowed from the light, or as shadowed as it could be, and crouched, hugging his knees to his chest.

Garnet eyes tracked her advance through the hallway, forever wary, and watchful, as though he had chanced upon a large snake, and could not decide if it was poisonous. Her hair burned the same color as she did, a fiery crimson red that almost looked as if you could burn yourself by touching it.

Hiding seemed like the best option, till it was established that this new person didn't mean him any harm. He hoped one of the instructors would come by soon. He hated not knowing.

She was afraid... or was that because of him? He stuck his thumb underneath his mask, and chewed on the tip. The instructors kept telling him he had nothing to fear from anyone at the school, even new people, so working up what little courage he had, he regained control, and the field dissipated, and he materialized in his corner, dark baggy clothes bunched up as he continued to hug his knees. Garnet eyes peered out from behind a plain skull mask. He was happy to remain silent, but the professor would want him to atleast say something.

"...sorry.... they never... tell me when... new people are coming..." he rasped dryly. The words felt strange as they came off his tongue. his apology felt forced, but given that he rarely spoke to anyone, let alone a very new person, it would have to suffice. Atleast when she had been in his field, her fear had not turned her into an angry person. Angry people got violent. He didnt want that.

She introduced herself. Craig glanced around the area, just to see if she was the only person. "...Craig..." He rasped. Not the most impressive or illustrious self introduction, but it was all he really felt was needed. When she mentioned the mask, he reached up and tapped his fingernail against the hard plastic, a solid thuk echoed off of it.

" Thank you...Xavier says I dont have to be afraid... but I cant help it. People scare me.... does that bother you...? he asked. Surely she had noticed that his self defense mechanism to hide from the things that scared him was to scare them in return. He began to rock back and forth on his feet, knees still hugged to his chest. It was yet another action brought on by his idleness.

She was the first person he had met here at the school, who had not been immediately uneasy around him. Either he was gaining better control, or she had seen nightmares of her own, that had stitched themselves into her mind. " Im...always afraid... so I hide..." he tapped the mask once more. She said that people scared her too. it felt good to know he wasnt alone. " The professor... he is a good man.... I may live in constant terror.... but the things he does.... for all of us.... I've never known a better man..." he nodded. " Even that man.... Logan?.... he respects the professor... and he doesnt respect anybody..." Craig laughed hoarsely.
"but you dont have to talk to me... most people dont want to... I scare them...afraid or no... you will be safe here... Ive been safe here for a long time... did you get that injury bandaged?.... I can smell the blood on you... Sorry... Im rambling." He coughed.

" Good...voice...I dont buy it..., but your opinion is yours..." he nodded. " I havent had much reason to go see.... the good doctor... but I've heard he's good..." Craig shrugged. He wasnt used to conversation, and this was by far the longest one he'd had in months. " Im sure you'll come to like it here.... it really isnt so bad... least we don't have to worry about being hunted here..... and the food... well.... the food is ok I guess..." He joked.

He had now held his position for a good long while, and his muscles were starting to burn, but he quashed the desire to move. Kali was an unusual occurrence, someone who not only did avoid him like he carried the plague, but who actually enjoyed talking to him, which he found odd, as he never had much to say in the first place.

" Like I said... you wont have to run here... unless you need the exercise... so take a load off, and get a little rest before you go taking off... I can see you've had a long road to get to where you are..." Craig shrugged.

he thought about her question. He had arrived when he was nine, and he was.... what... Seventeen now? " eight.... eight years." he nodded his answer. When she asked if he wanted to walk with her, he saw no reason he couldnt, and simply nodded mutely before he rose to his full height, hands stuffed into the pockets of his jeans. He didnt question her desire to keep moving. He rolled his head, the joints in his neck cracking and popping, and said simply "... Lead on...". He could guide her wherever she wanted to go, but he didnt know where she wanted to go, so he simply awaited her decision.