Dawn
*The gardens are bitter cold, and though it isnt snowing today, it is cold enough to drive most people inside... Pythia is the one exception. He likes to spend time outside in the cold. It sent everyone else inside, meaning that for once the world was always clear and free of the darkness that surrounded everyone else. He is sitting on a bench, with a thick blanket wrapped around his body. Underneath he wore a heavy sweater and pants to keep out the chill. He may like the effect the cold brings to the world... But that doesnt mean that he likes the feeling of freezing half to death. He watches the gardens, tracing the falling of leaves with his powers. He watches their most probable future, a trail showing where it will be as it curves and swirls through the air. He has the blanket wrapped around his shoulders, his head burried in it so the upper half of his head pokes out. The rest of his body us curled up under the blanket, his arms wrapped around his legs. His snow white hair and skin stand out as his silvery eyes watch the gardens intently.*
Archie
Nikita had been walking the edges of the building, learning locations slowly. A bench here, camera there, overgrown grass, ways out. 
There was a solemn silence that had fallen calmly over the world, as though everything was being held in place. A soft breeze blew against Nikita. He knew it was cold, but there was no need to acknowledge it beyond his insulated denim jacket. It wasn't uncomfortable, and Nikita was familiar with the cold. It was always there for him when others were not. 

He listened to the sounds of his boots against the grass, enjoying the occasional crunch of leaves or frost. 

When he turned the next corner, a head of white stood out against the surrounding green. 

A student, he assumed. 

There was a short rush of energy, something telling Nikita that he should leave. But he was here to be better, and that has to start somewhere outside of talking online. 

The ginger drew in a deep breath, and exhaled as he began to walk. He didn't even know how he was going to do this, how in the world he could make a better impression than all the ones he had before. 

"Hi." He croaked, sounding weak. His throat ached from misuse with even one word, like it would close up and he'd never speak again. But he forced himself to continue, to not let the awkward air consume him whole. "It's a lovely day, but aren't you cold?" He managed, taking note of the boy who held himself closely, wrapped up in a blanket and warm clothes. 

There was some genuine concern, but it was mostly a means of conversation. 

Nikita began to fidget with a rock he had thrown into his pocket, using it to keep him sane during moments of silence.
Dawn
*Pythia heard the crunch of Nikita's boots in the snow and turned his head. Nikita would see that Pythia looked... In his direction, but he didnt look at Nikita directly. It was obvious that he was trying to, the way he fixed his gaze made that clear... But his aim was off by about a foot and a half, and he ended up looking above Nikita by a good few inches. It was a strange effect, to Nikita's eyes looking like Pythia could see... Just that he couldnt see Nikita.*

*Of course in Pythia's world it is a different story. He looks into the darkness, the cloud of thousands of possible futures which all overlap. It creates a constantly moving, swirling storm of silhouettes and paths that surrounded everyone. Pythia could collapse it, breaking the futures down to the few most likely... But that was taxing on his mind, and he just wanted to relax. His breath puffed out infront of him as he "Looked at" Nikita.*

*The other boy was... Like him? He knew how it felt to have your throat close up, the effect of not speaking for weeks or even months on end. It reminded him of a dark place in his life... A time of pure isolation, terrified of the futures that he saw, thinking his powers to be some disorder wreaking havoc with his mind. There was a moment of connection, between two people who had spent large swaths of their time completely alone.* "H... H-hi" *Pythia stuttered, his tone slightly similar to Nikita's. There is a long pause between them speaking.* 

"I... Like t... To see the garden w... When it isnt c-crowded. I... D... Dont handle crowds w-well. And... T... The garden cant be e... Enjoyed from a window. Y-you h... Have to me out among it. ... ... ... ... ... It... B... Beats the darkness" *He says softly, adding that last bit after a few seconds of pause. Finally he musters the will to activate his ability, wanting to try to see the other boy.*

*Suddenly, his eyes snap into focus on Nikita's. They stare at eachother for a moment, Pythia's piercing silver eyes curious, as he slightly tilts his head to the side. After a moment a small blush rises on his face and he looks down*
Archie
The sudden eye contact catches Nikita off guard for a moment, his dirty yellow eyes feel so small in comparison to the bright silver ones staring back at him. There was something captivating there. He wouldn't mind staring longer, but he watches as the boy turns away. 

Nikita can't hold back the soft smile that plays over the ends of his lips. He knew that feeling of timid curiosity far too well, thinking back to short moments of his childhood that held memories of two apprehensive children trying to become friends. 

Then, his attempts were always met with some kind of failure in one way or another. 

He can change that now, he decides. 

There's a kinship somewhere between these two, even dense Nikita can understand that. Only lonely fools would confine themselves these cold winter days outside. 

He takes no note of the silver-haired boy's broken and sputtering speech. Instead he looks out over the garden to admire with him. "I know that feeling." He says simply before turning back. His voice feels slightly freer, his tongue a little looser. A small surge of confidence, maybe. 

"I used to escape out into the woods as a kid. It felt like freedom, though I suppose I've always been free." He laughs a little at the end, trying to sound lighthearted. He fears he's already talking too much, sharing pieces of himself that this boy doesn't want to take. 
But he continues, pushing past the swelling doubt in his chest. "Pictures, distant looks, they're never as real as experiencing nature for yourself. This garden is pretty, too, so I get it."

He offers another smile, slightly more apparent than the last. It's a little forced, yellow teeth peeking from behind soft lips. "May I sit with you?" He points to the bench, swaying a little to one side.
Dawn
*Pythia smiles softly, listening as Nikita starts to speak. He had never done something like that... But he would be lying if he said he hadnt considered it... Running away, without people to blind him, it would be like a dream coming true ... Thankfully he realized how little he could care for himself on his own before trying, and taking that first step always proved impossible. He senses the kinship, what could easily become the start of a friendship. He nods in response to Nikita's question, scooting slightly to the left on the bench to give the other boy room to sit down.* 

"I.. Never did something like that... Well... I-i ran once, w... When it was the worst... But that w... Was a o... One time thing. Im... Not built f-for the wild. I like b... Blankets and beds far too much" *He says with a soft smile. Even though he still stuttered (half of it came from the cold, but the other half was still his anxiety), he found the other boy much easier to speak to than most. He looked over at him, and Nikita would notice something strange...*

*Sometimes he looked ahead of Nikita, particularly when he was swaying. His eyes wouldnt follow the boy as he swayed, but moved ahead of him... As if he could see where Nikita would be in a few seconds. Of course, to Pythia's eyes he actually could see this, and subconsciously flipped between watching Nikita's present and his future... Though as his head began to ache he needed to refocus on his powers.*

*Suddenly, he looses focus completely, his gaze breaking and drifting. Since he was looking at Nikita when it broke his aim is alright, but it quickly gets worse the longer time passes, and when Nikita moves Pythia's gaze has an obviously hard time following.*

*To Pythia's eyes the other boy exploded with shadows, and he was close enough that Pythia was engulphed. Around him he could see motion in the darkness, shadows racing past him, showing him everything the other boy could do. They were so blurred together that it was impossible to see at all. Sometimes he could get impressions from the shadows, like if a person was overwhelmingly likely to do something he could sense that... But such wasnt the case here. He saw everything overlapping so much he could see nothing, and he was used to it. Though the effect of him looking Nikita in the eyes before suddenly losing focus would be strange.*
Archie
Nikita couldn't stifle the snort that escaped him. "Trust me, I never strayed too far from my bed back home." He turned to sit beside the boy. 

Taking a few shy glances at the other's silvery eyes, he noticed what seemed to be some kind of delay. For the time being, Nikita decided he would chalk that up to bad vision and maybe ask later. He didn't want to be too intrusive, after all. He can understand that a lot of people here have different soft spots that he didn't want to disturb. 

He tried to play it off, not wanting the boy to be self conscious about anything. He continued conversation. "I'm Nikita, by the way." He said, looking away now to admire the winter scenery. 

This was supposed to be his time of year. Winters had always been fun, but this one he got sent to some strange school he'd never even heard of in a country he hadn't been to since he was a toddler. To say the least, it was all new and frightening. 
But he was grateful for the school's seclusion- he didn't have to worry entirely about normal people or society. This place was meant for people like him, so if he couldn't make a few friends here then where would he? 

Newton's Cradle was an opportunity to grow, so there he was. A boy who had pushed everyone so far away throughout his childhood that he was sent to some school for mishaps to learn to be a person; a boy who had built a life around solitude, was sitting on a bench trying to make a friend. 
Nikita might laugh if he truly stood back to grapple with the situation he'd gotten himself in, but he was good at ignoring things, and so he ignored the facts of his own life for the time. Maybe he could pretend he was really good at making friends, maybe that would make things easier. 
It wasn't like he was having a bad time, after all. Beside how awkward and forceful his words felt, he did enjoy the company he found himself at some base level. 
.

He took a few reserved glances at the boy still, trying to understand what exactly he was feeling. He was making sure to sit still, so that the other didn't have to strain to keep trying to follow Nikita with his eyes.
Dawn
*Pythia was totally blind now, and Nikita would notice from the way his eyes failed to focus on anything.* "M... My name is P... Pythia" *He says softly, putting the other boy's name to heart. He cant really tell when he is since he cant see anything, so he just looks roughly in Nikita's direction as not to seem rude. Nikita would probably think that Pythia had seen something over his shoulder, but again he isnt looking at anything. He had settled into the cradle a fair bit, though it was still overwhelming at times... He had been getting alot better. He settled down further into the blanket, covering his ears and nose with the blanket to stay warm. It slightly muffles his voice, but he can still be heard fairly easily.*

"S... So um... W... What can you d... Do?" *He asks* "I... I mean, y... You must have like... P... Powers of some kind t-to come here. Um... Y... You dont have to s... Say if you dont want to... A... Actually um i... Ill go first i guess" *He says, blushing slightly under the blanket, the pink glow barely visible to Nikita.* "I... See things. Futures, o... Or more accurately possible f... Futures. Things t... That could h... Happen. For objects i... Its easy. Unless i... Its something r... Really strange, their f... Future is decided by physics a... And they have only one shadow. Oh! Um... I see the futures as shadows... Silhouettes... Though thats not exactly accurate, it is more like their paths. B... But yea, objects just have o... One... Or maybe they have a... A ton, but they are all so close t... Together it only looks like one. I... Im not sure. People have a ton t... Though. You could do so many things in t... The next three seconds, a... And I s... See all of them. A single shadow... O... Or path of shadows... Is translucent, so it doesnt impede my vision t... That much. But you have thousands, m... Maybe hundreads of t... Thousands... ... S... So... Um, i cant s... See you unless I focus with my powers, collapsing them into the few most likely options."

_ _
*He takes a second to breath before continuing.* "I... I see p... People as clouds, and if I enter one i... Im blinded by it. I... I cant see right now, I... I just see a swirling d... Darkness.. Its fine t... Though! Im more than used t... To it now. I... It used to r... Really scare me. It is the reason I i... Isolated myself... My parents first t... Thought it was some kind o... Of condition like schizophrenia... E... Especially since I... I would freak o... Out whenever anyone got close to me." *He sighs softly... Then blinks in surprise as he realizes he was going into TMI territory, his blush deepening as he didnt really mean to trauma dump.* "B... B..But y... Y..Yea! T... Thats me!" *He says with an awkward laugh.*
Archie
Nikita tensed at the mentions of powers. He felt his jaw clench, his shoulders go stiff, and his eyes stopped their cautious glances over to Pythia. He had almost forgotten that part about the facility. It was a part he wouldn't mind forgetting. 

There was a rush of thoughts he pushed down. Memories too painful for the current calm of the moment. He focused, instead, on the second aspect of his powers as he prepared what he would say. 

He listened dutifully, thinking carefully about what he was going to say- as if he were under investigation. 
But his own thoughts slipped from him as he listened intently, softening more visibly when he realized the inconvenience he was causing. "If you're scared, or even a little uncomfortable, I can sit on the ground a few feet away? I really don't mind." He tries, making sure Pythia knows it's okay with him. 

He felt a little obligated to share, though there was one side he didn't mind people knowing about. He could share that much, at least. "And, uhm, I can change my internal temperature. Well, only to be colder. I can't heat up well. But it's fine! I don't really feel cold, either. So it works. Not that big a deal, really." Nikita blabbed, speaking almost too fast for comfort. His words stumble clumsily into each other, making it hard to read any tone behind his rambling. 

He wasn't ready to present the truth of his existence to anyone, not yet. When the boys back home found out, he was quickly seen as some kind of monster. He couldn't let that happen here. Nikita refused to be admired as an object of novelty and fear. He would be seen for the person he was, even if he was still looking for that person himself.
Dawn
"N... No you are f... Fine! I worked a... Alot with my therapist a... About being comfortable w... With the darkness. It.. I... It cant hurt me like sometimes I think it can, and it can actually be peaceful s... Sometimes... When I s... Stop focusing on the shapes and they all blend together, i... It looks like a swirling mirage right infront of my eyes. S... So im fine w... With you there. If I... I need to see I can focus" *He says softlly, before listening as Nikita explains his power. In the back of his mind he thinks that there must be more. His powers had a slightly more visible effect, and that was how the cradle had found him. It had to be more than body temperature regulation... But... He wouldnt pry. He may say some things without thinking, but that would be too far even for him. Nikita must have a reason for not sharing afterall. So he didnt mind, and the curiosity only picked slightly at his mind.* 

"S... So... You d... Dont get cold? D... Do you still get like... Frostbite a... And stuff? Or does the cold j... Just not even effect you?" *He asks softly.* "O... Oh! And how c... Cold can you make your body? C... Could you like... Freeze s... Something by touching it?" *He adds, contemplating the other boy's power.*
Archie
A little suddenly, there was an unexpected proudness in this power with Pythia asking his questions. He didn't feel like it was such a burden here as it had been in so many other places. People could freely express themselves here, after all. Nikita was sure some even liked to brag about their powers. 

He doesn't stop the smile growing on his face as he talks. "Nope, no effect at all! The only way to freeze me is in a big block of ice, and even then the cold wouldn't be the thing bothering me." He explains, almost excitedly. "As for how cold, I've never exactly tested the limits but I know it's cold enough that it can hurt people if I try. But I try not to use it for that. It's actually a fun party trick! I can freeze most alcohol, if that gives you any picture." Nikita leans back a little, shifting to get more comfortable. He says it's a party trick as if he's been to a thousand. In truth, he doesn't know how others would react to that. 
Obviously freezing liquids is easy, and expected of someone with winter related powers, so maybe it isn't all that impressive. But Nikita likes the idea of being interesting, an oddity people take a curiosity to. If he sounds more confident about his powers, maybe other people will like them too. 

But of course, he had his own questions. 

"But your vision, is it kind of like a fog? I think I can imagine it." He says, closing his eyes for a moment. He tries to think of swirling clouds and water. "I think it might be pretty, to see the world like that." He says this as a sort of compliment. Nikita hoped that Pythia took a liking to a power, hoped that he was a little better than him. "I'm glad it doesn't cause you pain any longer, for the record. How long have you been here?" He asked, trading questions with Pythia like a couple of kids. Nikita was genuinely curious how long the pale boy had been attending the facility. He had no idea how long he would be there, since each attendee was a case-by-case problem.

Maybe Pythia could give him an idea, a time frame. A few months? A few years? Nikita had no clue. Not that there was much to return to. But he wouldn't dwell too much in the future beyond simple curiosities.
Dawn
*He considers it, tilting his head slightly.* "W... What about magnets? Have you tried supercooling magnets? Y... Y..You may be able t... To make a... A lot of money d... Doing that. I... Is it limited to your touch or can you do it over an area?" *He asks, pausing for a bit as Nikita asks his own questions about his powers.*

"I... Its not like that. I... I can see j... Just fine... Its m... More like... Like i... Imagine a person, about t... Ten feet away from you. Now imagine a... A cloud of shadows, not spherical... Kinda flat ish.. L... Like a squished circle, was obscuring them... About... A... A five foot radius. Think o... Of that dark cloud swirling, so black you c... Cant see through it, and that is w... What my powers are like. W... When I focus on them they collapse back inwards, the cloud shrinking and r... Revealing the most likely future. It isnt always t... The true future... Particularly because o... Of this one trick. I... If someone sees how I a... Anticipate their movements, a... And then reacts to my a... Anticipation, then their future splits." *He explains in a quiet voice.* "O... Oh, and a few months... Though I... I spent most of that time in my r... Room its... Gotten too dark for me l... Lately" *He says quietly, with the slight hint at the darkness that resided in his mind.*

*The other boy was interesting... Maybe he wasnt hiding something. If he could freeze alot of stuff, then he could get caught pretty easily. Pythia imagined him sticking his hands into a lake and then freezing large sections of it... And it was easy to see how he could get caught. He probably wasnt hiding anything then. It was cool to see how both of them came out of their shells and talked alot more around eachother. Pythia was saying more at once than he had in his first few weeks at the cradle!.*
Archie
Nikita nods as Pythia describes his abilities. He thinks for a moment, before deciding what to say. Because what should he say? He never seemed to know, especially about the paranormal. "It sounds helpful, but difficult all at once." He says. Not a compliment, not an insult, an observation. He says it flatly, to not sound rude. 

"As for me, I've never tried freezing magnets- never thought to, I guess. And, yeah, it's only things that I can touch. Cups of water are fine, but entire lakes are difficult. Oh! But this one time, I was deep in the woods one day and I wanted to cross this lake to go further. Instead of going around, I froze the water under me as I walked. It was difficult, keeping balance, but fun. I ended up soaked, though." He reminisces, remembering a few dumb adventures of this nature. There's a smile he can't shake. 

He's never related to anyone his age, or many people for that matter. The list of people he got along with consisted of one person before today, now he was babbling on about himself like it was the last time he'd ever speak. His voice was sore from speaking already, but he kept at it without regard. He liked talking to Pythia. 

Maybe he liked talking. 

The thought was almost scary, being so open with people. He knew loss too well. He might gain a friend now, but how long until this happiness was gone? How long until Pythia decided he was bored of Nikita? Is companionship worth all the pain it comes with? 
The doubtful questions began to burn the more he talked. A silent urge to leave continued to creep closer to him. 
But he stood his ground against himself. This was the first person he had talked to outside of obligation in years, if he had to think about it. He wouldn't run, not when he was so close to something real. 

.

"So, what exactly do you do for fun? Any hobbies?" He hums, intrigue obvious at the back of his voice. If he was going to be friends with Pythia, he wanted to know what the boy liked to do in his free time so they weren't bored. 

That's something about Nikita. He can't stand boredom. He's always moving, always doing something. Though there is a more justified reason for his fidgety nature beside just being jittery. It was something the administrators referred to as a "Quirk", something inconvenient to most. For Nikita, it could get dangerous. But he had learned, or rather is actively trying to learn, how to better manage this aspect about himself. 
To do so, he needs to be active. But he'd rather do something that Pythia wants to, rather than his own hobbies that he was used to doing alone.
Dawn
"It... Is a boon a... And a bane, it is i... Interesting, and I love using it but... It makes t... Things hard sometimes. Im... Not sure if i would give them up now. In my youth, i... I would have gotten rid of them in a heartbeat but... I... I have gotten so accustomed to them it would be weird to not see the futures of objects." *He says quietly, a bit of melancholy in his voice.*

*Pythia listened with interest. They had spent a bit of time looking into things like physics, and knew that a supercooled magnet could do a lot of weird things... He listened to the story and smiled at it, feeling the smile in Nikita's voice. As Nikita asked about his hobbies, he took a moment to consider it.* "N... Not alot I guess. I like to read a... And stuff. Computers a... Act a bit weirdly around my powers, so I dont use them a lot. I like to do physical stuff sometimes... I... I have tried b... Boxing a bit... Mostly just this one piece of equiptment. It is a pole w... With a bit you punch a... At the top. I like w... Weaving around it, watching its f... Future. For that reason I also l... Like juggling, coin rolling, a... And pen spinning! I... I kinda cheat since i... I know where they will be, but its fun." *He says with a soft smile. Pythia doesnt really have a ton of plans for the future... That scars him but... He is okay just taking one day at a time, learning how to live as he goes. He doesnt know where he will go after the cradle, but he believes in himself enough to trust he will figure it out.* 

"W... What about you?"
Archie
"Juggling huh? That's one you don't hear often." He chuckled a bit. "Maybe you can teach me?" Nikita suggests half-heartedly. He'd probably just drop them all, in truth, but he wouldn't mind giving it a try. 

He nods when it's his turn to talk. "As for me, I'm a big nature guy. I usually explore the woods around here when I can, but it's a little difficult getting around." He shrugs, glancing over the frosted over landscape. He was glad for the lush scenery here that the rest of the world had lost for winter. He could pretend he was talking to the plants rather than a living person who could easily judge him. 
"When I'm not exploring, I'm drawing, writing, singing, all that jazz. I'd do just about anything to keep me occupied, which has started a lot of hobbies I never really knew I liked." He explains lightly, trying to relax his voice a bit more. 

"Maybe you would like guitar strings? Watching them vibrate and stuff. I've seen what they look like slightly slowed down, it's really cool. They wobble a lot more than I realize." He tries, not fully grasping Pythia's power but hoping he's being somewhat smart about it. Though brain power was never something Nakita really had, except for trivial knowledge that only he really needed.
Dawn
*Pythia nodded softly. He wasnt a big fan of nature... He liked modern comforts way too much to go into the woods for a long time. But he still understood the appeal of it, being able to go out into the wild and go anywhere, just kinda... Walking around. It seemed cool for those who would like it, though for Pythia just a garden was enough. The other hobbies were cool, he was particularly interested by singing. He liked to do it sometimes, but had never sang infront of people before, and didnt end tend to mention it since... Well people tended to ask more if you volunteered that kind of info.*

"A... All of those s.Sound really nice! And... I... Im not sure? If anything, t... Thats kinda like how my powers look. The slightly transparent shape is l... Like what my futures look like... Atleast i think. I... I cant see it without my futures, but it doesnt look like it changes it that much. S... So i think they look similarly." *He says with a soft smile.*

"How l... Long have you been at the cradle?"
Archie
Nikita nods, falling into the lull of conversation. It didn't feel so forced, trying to come up with things to say, and the silence wasn't so awkward. 

"I've been here three days now. I've mostly been keeping to myself when I can, but I'm trying to be more open. It's mostly the reason I came up to you, actually." He said with transparency, shedding a bit more light on his strange appearance next to Pythia. "It's been one hell of a trip, I must say." He says, sounding significantly more tired than he did a few seconds ago. 

"I felt like I hadn't slept for months, and everything was just going so fast. But now it all feels slow, you know?" He looks over to Pythia, knowing he can't really see him. He examines his features more closely and without much fear now. They're both of similar stature, with Nikita only having a few inches over him in height from what he could tell. Though, Nikita was significantly more toned. Where skin gave way to bones on Pythia, there was a defined amount of muscle over his own bones- lean like those of a cat. His time spent in nature was easily noticeable. 

He continues his sentiment from before, reflecting over the past week. "It really sucked, honestly. I thought I would hate it here. But now that I'm actually here I think I enjoy it. I don't feel so judged here. Like, I know everyone has issues and that just makes me feel a little less alone." He describes, trying to convey his feelings of both melancholy and excitement for days to come.
Dawn
*Pythia nods softly in response, understanding blooming in his eyes. His first few days had been really hard, he hadnt left his room for more than three minutes at a tine for like... A month or two. It wasnt before meeting Penelope that he started to come out of his shell a little bit, and since then he had met more and more people... Though some like Yari still made him shiver* "M... My first few days w... Werent the easiest... And the a... Anticipation of coming here had killed me. I... I spent the first three days in bed, l... Living off of whatever s... Snacks and stuff I had taken with me. After that i... I only left my room to grab food really. It took my therapist aaaaages o... Of talking on the phone t... To get me to go out to a... A public space, and w... We chose this garden." *He adds with a smile.*

"I... I hope you c... Can also find a... A space like that. It h... Helped me alot" *He says, his smile warm and genuine. Pythia was indeed scrawnier than Nikita, though he wasnt exactly skin and bone... He was pretty close. His "Training" Didnt really build any muscles besides his reflexes. Hell, in a true fight if Pythia was ever grappled he would be taken out almost immediately. His powers let him react before his enemies even moved, but if he couldnt dodge he was basically useless.*

"T... The people here are really nice. Um.. T... The only person i've met who im not sure about is... A s... Special case. But e... Everyone i... I have met o... Other than her is really sweet!"
Archie
Nikita let Pythia take his time, and allowed himself to recover and think in his own moments of silence. There was an ease that came over Nikita when talking to Pythia, something that made him feel softer, and the world felt gentler. 

But, despite his enjoyment, he felt the strain in his throat when he talked. He wondered if Pythia felt the same discomfort in his voice. 

Sure, Nikita often sang softly to himself, but the drawn out words and hums were much easier than this. It felt like there were almost too many syllables, too many changes being made all at once as he spoke. 

And then there was the subject matter. He found this a bit easier. His mind had been confined to loneliness, and it leapt from its imprisonment the moment it got the chance. Nikita's head felt full, ready to pour over and express all too much at once. But his throat and mouth were a filter that only let the important thoughts through. He was thankful for that, at least. 

"I hope I can find a space here with everyone. I don't mind leaving. In fact, I'd much rather be out. That's the problem, I guess." He shrugged. Nikita and Pythia were so similar, yet opposites in this. Nikita couldn't stay still, and it seemed Pythia had trouble moving forward. 

Nikita felt a twinge of anger poke at him at the mention of Pythia's bad experience. Anger was something unshakable once it caught on him; like a tick on a dog. It was unceasing, once it started. So he didn't let it get there. "I hope that person doesn't hinder your experience." He managed flatly. How could anyone be mean to such a pure being? 
But he pushed his thoughts down again, remaining level-headed. "At least the others you've met have been nice." Nikita nods, deciding to look at the cup half full.
Dawn
*Pythia didnt really feel discomfort in his voice. Sure it was sore sometimes after he didnt talk for awhile, but that usually faded... Thankfully he wasnt uncomfortable with his actual voice or he might never end up speaking. The two of them were similar in many ways, but they were still different people, and it shone in a few specific areas.*

"I... Im sure you will, a... And if you like b... Being out it wont take you any time to make way more f... Friends!" *He says with a smile. Then as Nikita adds that last part he looks a bit aghast.* "O... Oh! She isnt mean! I... It isnt like that a... At all... Yari is j... Just.. ... ... Different. I dont think she means t... To be strange... She has just acted... Weird when i... Ive been with her.. ... ... Though I guess i... Im also not the best judge of character..." *He adds with an embarrassed laugh, sinking deeper into his blanket.*

"Im sure y... You will make alot of friends, y... You seem really nice!"
Archie
Nice. Hearing those words spoken about him, said so surely, as if it could be true, made Nikita's heart ache. A sinking feeling settled at the bottom of his stomach. There was a brief wish to return to solitude again, a calling from far away. It felt like a gentle tug on the leash of a dog, pulling him back to his senses. 
Nikita shifted, pushing himself closer to the bench as if he could sink into it and stop existing. "Thank you." He muttered absently. He knew how strange he came off at that moment. The burning feeling in his face was proof of his embarrassment. He could feel a subtle flush over his cheeks. Nikita hated that people didn't know what he was, where he came from. 

He could pretend to be nice, but that didn't make it true. 

Nikita knew what he was, and if people at Newton's Cradle were as judgmental as the rest of society then where could he ever call home? Surely not with people, if that were going to be the case. Maybe he should let his impulses win and run off into the wilds to live as some kind of cryptid? 
But he managed to fight off his own nature of running away, decided he should stay and give normal life a chance- or try to at least. 

"I just hope you have a better experience with them in the future." Nikita said more softly, looking back to Pythia and managing a small smile that barely poked up the ends of his lips. He could disregard a few unfriendly faces for more people like Pythia, right?
Dawn
*Pythia meanwhile had no clue of the inner turmoil that Nikita was feeling. He couldnt see the soft blush over the other boy's face, or see the sadness and longing in his eyes... He could hear the tone of melancholy in his voice but... Well both of them were already deep enough in melancholy that he didnt really notice. He just smiled in Nikita's direction, trying to project the warmth he was feeling from the potential new friend. Nikita needed something... Though Pythia couldnt exactly guess what that would be. Maybe a friend? But it seemed deeper than that... Nikita was definitely hiding something, but probably in the same way that everyone was hiding something. Nikita probably needed someone to trust. Pythia knew how the darkness could eat at you from the inside, leaving you hollow... Someone had helped pull him out of that, maybe... Maybe he could help others the way she had helped him.*
_ _
*With that small life realization, Pythia sat back. Trust wasnt something you could ask to be built, it was made slowly. He let the silence draw out, not awkward any longer but peaceful. The world around them was so still, it was almost like time itself was frozen.*
Archie
Nikita watched as Pythia ease back into their shared seat. 
There was tension for a moment in Nikita's brain at the lack of reply, but slowly that feeling went slack and the air between them became a bit easier. He wondered why Pythia wasn't responding, but as he turned out to admire the garden those thoughts subsided. It was a beautiful day, and Nikita was obscuring that for Pythia. 

There were words at the back of his throat, ready to leap. 'Do you want me to leave?' He might have asked, if Pythia had not already answered before. He had said he had become comfortable in the darkness he saw around others. Instead, he said, "Just let me know if you'd like your peace." His voice was quieter, not so forced as the rest of the conversation, as if he had relaxed his words. It sounded almost lazy, as he said it. The words were slightly more drawn out, and there was less effort to sound gentle. His voice, really, was quite calm. It wasn't rough, or kind, it was like sleep. Nikita's voice sounded comfortably tired, like curling up in bed after a particularly long day. 

Nikita wanted Pythia to have some kind of out, a way to be alone if he wished Nikita gone. Nikita didn't want to feel like a burden, and he hoped that sentence was good enough to not feel so out of place. 

As he thought, he admired the facility, and garden with it. He liked the way ivy and moss clung onto the concrete, creating a softer effect on Newton's Cradle harsh edges. There were so many people Nikita had yet to meet, and Pythia was only one. 
Sure, maybe he wouldn't meet everyone, but he'd see and talk to more people than he's probably ever interacted with before. 
The thought both excited and scared him. 
These people were like him, on some level. This wouldn't be like the farm, or the city before that, this would be new. Nikita had to see it out, for however long he was willing to stay.
Dawn
*Pythia shook his head.* "N... No! I like having you here. It has b-been very nice to speak with you." *He says with a warm smile. Inside he hopes that the question wasnt just a veiled way for Nikita to leave. He did like having the other boy around. It was nice to be able to sit with someone, and he wrapped the thick blanket tighter around himself. An errant thought entered his mind, and he wondered if Nikita was cold. Afterall, the other boy hadnt really had much on to keep out the weather... ... But that was a silly thought, his powers kept him warm... .... Or did they just prevent him from getting cold? Sure Nikita wouldnt be freezing, but he wouldnt be warm. Pythia shook his head again, trying to center his thoughts. Nikita sounded tired... Pythia was tired too. There had been many days he had fallen asleep outside, wrapped under a warm blanket with the bitter cold inches away...*

*At that thought, Pythia yawned softly He hoped he wasnt being a burden to Nikita, in the same way Nikita hoped he wasnt being a burden to Pythia*
Archie
Nikita allowed the silence to continue after Pythia had assured him for the second time that it was, in fact, okay to be sitting where he was. 

He tried to not feel unwanted after that. 

People had the capability to be kind, and he had to remind himself of that sometimes. 

He glanced over at Pythia as he receded further into his blanket. He smiled lightly and looked back over the garden. The morning was peaceful, soft light blanketed the surrounding area and it all just felt *Right*. As if, for the first time, Nikita was where he was supposed to be. 

He wondered absently, a random thought really, what Newton's Cradle looked like during other weather. Rain, blizzards, sun-showers, thunderstorms, maybe even during an eclipse or something of that nature. 
Nikita had been so reserved to his part of the world he had never really seen *New* Surroundings, only an expanse on what he already knew. It felt like a new world he was eager to explore, dangers and all. 

He closed his eyes and thought about it, what things might look like if it was storming. The only storms that came to mind were of ones on the farm. How silence fell over their herds of sheep, the dogs grew uneasy, the forest seemed to hold its breath, and everything came to halt. The world always seemed to stop for storms, waiting for them to pass. 
Nikita then wondered how quiet things got here, in a building so noisy he had trouble sleeping, during rain. Maybe everyone quietly watched and waited for the storm to pass, like the sheep and dogs. 

Slowly his thoughts continued to drift, not quite forgetting Pythia's existence next to him. There was always a reminder of some kind. Nikita always just *Felt* When people or animals were nearby, even ones he hadn't known where there before. 
But regardless, he continued to float around in his mind as his thoughts ran wildly.
Dawn
*The thought still itched at his mind, so he finally asked it.* "You... Dont feel the cold, right? So... What do you feel? Do you feel like you are at room temperature, or can you tell there is a chill, you just arent as affected by it. Do miss warmth then? Or do you prefer the cold since it d... Doesnt bite" *He asks quietly, the thought having dug away at his mind. Now he doesnt even realize the possible subtext from asking a question like this, given that the closest warm thing would be joining Pythia under the blanket, and is painfully unaware of the things he may be suggesting. Pythia looks "At" Nikita in the same way he always does, not seeing the other boy but trying to act polite. His face was slightly pink, his nose and ears especially rosy from the cold... Though that could also look like a blush.*
Archie
Nikita tilted his head at the sudden onslaught of questions. They made him want to laugh, just a little, knowing that someone was so curiously concerned for someone who could freeze the things he touched. 

He withheld his chuckle, replaced it for a quick and lighthearted exhale as he began to explain in his softly lazy voice. "I can still *Feel* Cold, but I don't get cold. I enjoy the weather, though. And, I can get warm. I don't think I have a preference, though." He began to think of the hottest days back home, and he shook his head. "If I get too hot, I can cool down easily. And I never really feel too cold. Does that make sense?" He tries, hoping his messy explanation was enough for Pythia. 

"It's kind of like being in a room with a fan. You can feel the cool air, but you don't feel cold because it's just air. That's kind of what this weather feels like." He continues, thinking that by relating it to something he's sure most people have experienced they'd better understand. 

Nikita looked more closely at Pythia and his slightly reddened features. He assumed the cold was the only culprit. "I wish I could heat up instead. I feel like people would use me like a space heater, then." He laughed a little at the prospect of warming up a room of shivering people. 
Though he did wish there was a way to quickly warm Pythia so he could better enjoy the weather without need of blankets and thick clothes.
Dawn
*Pythia nodded softly, but he still couldnt really understand. He liked the cold, but nothing was better than being warm in a super cold environment... The clashing of temperatures felt like perfection to Pythia. Hell, if he could he would get a heated blanket with a huge extension cable to reach all the way out here, but for now his own body heat was enough. Even still, it felt strange that Nikita would be so comfortable in the cold. Logically it made sense, but it still felt weird to Pythia.* 

"A... Alright I guess... I dont know, I... I like the cold but I also like feeling warm inside of a cold place" *He says with a small smile.* "Y... Your powers seem really cool. Y... You could just like... Run i... Into a tundra and be fine, since you dont need to worry about the w-weather!" *He adds* "A... And... If you want to help people with temperature... Go somewhere w... Way too hot. I... Im sure you could work as like, a living air conditioner" *He says while grinning, though he prefers being warm in a cold environment to being cold in a warm environment, both of them are much better than a pure warm or cold environment.*
Archie
Nikita nods, never having considered such a possibility. "I've always lived in cold places. Here in Sweden when I was born, then to Russia, and now here again." He shrugs. "Maybe I'll move to the desert. Though I'm not sure I want people parading around me like a novelty." He said, somewhat half joking. It was, of course, a fake scenario. He never saw himself living somewhere so void of trees and snow. But the idea of people actually using him as air conditioning was certainly strange. 

He smiled, thinking about it. 

"I'm not really sure how that would work, since it only really works if I can touch an object. Would I just have to give a big hug to everyone who wanted to cool down?" Nikita found that prospect laughable. He'd given maybe four people hugs, and he's never really needed to cool anyone off, so it was far fetched. 

"What about you? Don't you think you might get sick staying out here too long?" He asked, mostly out of concern. Nikita didn't want the one person that he had the guts to talk with to freeze, after all.
Dawn
*Pythia nods, thinking it through more and noticing that yea... That would probably be sensationalized too much, and being paraded around like that wouldnt be comfortable... Plus you have to touch them, which would be a bit weird.* "Hmm... Yea... T... That would be awkward..." *He says softly, looking over in the direction of Nikita* 

"I like t... The cold too much to m... Move south. This environment i... Is ideal for me. A... And I think im fine for now, I... I have a few minutes l... Left in me atleast!" *He says with a big grin. Still, his mind is curious about how Nikita's body chemistry works... And he has a few questions. Obviously parts of the body need to be at certain temperatures or else you dont function... So is it like a surface level thing and his body is incredibly insulated, or is his entire body freezing and the power helps not kill him through that. In his mind he has a way to test that...* 

"T... This... Is a weird question b... But i um... C... Could I feel a bit of your s... Skin? I... I want to feel if it is like... Warm at all? L... Like do you still have any body heat a... And you are just super well insulated or a... Are your insides freezing too? A... And its okay if y... You arent comfy w... With that" *He says, shuffling a bit closer to Nikita. From within the blanket he sticks out a pale white hand, reaching in Nikita's direction but not towards anything in particular. It is obvious he is still blind, so doesnt really know where to reach, and will let Nikita take the initiative.*
Archie
Nikita's eyebrows furrowed as he looked at himself, then back to Pythia. He didn't quite understand the boy's thought process. 
It takes a lot of mental power for Nikita to accept Pythia's seemingly insignificant proposal. He didn't even like when family touched him, not after the years of isolation. It changed the way he felt touched. It was something foreign, something dangerous. It could be used against him, after all. His first instinct was to decline and sit in awkward silence, but at this point he had already come so far.

Before he speaks, he rolls up a sleeve and puts his wrist in Pythia's reaching grasp. 

"Right now, because I'm not using my power, I'm warm. If I were to use it, my wrist would progressively feel colder until you couldn't hold on anymore," He informed, voice changing slightly. He sounded slightly more tense with Pythia's hand on his arm. "I think my insides freeze too, when I do that. But it's like I was born to withstand it. Like, it doesn't really affect me." Nikita continued, deciding that a demonstration might be of help. 

Slowly, he focuses on the part of his arm Pythia has his hand on. He begins to cool that area until it feels about as cold as a clump of snow. Nothing Pythia couldn't feel, at least. 

His skin doesn't change color as so many others would at such a temperature. His blood flows easily, and his muscles are much too used to this. Nikita was cold to the touch, but he seemingly took no issue with that. 
There was an underlying pride, something small and confident, in Nikita. He knew his powers weren't always helpful, but at least he could say it was interesting. Or at least, this aspect of his powers were.
Dawn
*Pythia could guess at Nikita's desire not to be touched... Hell, he felt the same most of the times... But the few times he had been hugged here had done alot for him, and physical contact didnt need to be scary. He wanted to remind Nikita of that, and... Well this was his awkward and roundabout way of doing that. Pythia tensed a bit as he felt Nikita extend his wrist, and he gently grasped it. It did indeed feel warm, and Pythia smiled softly at that. He listened as Nikita walked through his powers, feeling the other boy's skin turn cold. Pythia held on for as long as he could, hoping that this small step could be helpful, before letting go and pulling his hand back under his blanket.* 

"T... Thats cool!" *He says, not realizing he made accidentally made a pun. Hopefully such compliments would help Nikita feel more comfortable, he wanted to be supportive. He knew better than anyone that one's powers could be a double edged sword, and could alienate you from your peers with ease. He hoped that Nikita had never experienced something like that... But some part of him knew it wasnt likely. Even nice powers could turn frightening and traumatic in the right... Or well... Wrong circumstances.*
Archie
Nikita watched Pythia, paying close attention to his subtle expressions as the white-haired boy felt his arm change and grow cold. 

Only when Pythia retracted his arm back into the comfort of his blanket did Nikita's arm feel suddenly cold. He lowered his arm to rest his hand on his lap as he waited for it to go back to normal. 

"Yeah, you could say that." He chuckled, acknowledging the pun he assumed was intended. "It hasn't really been useful, but it's a fun ability to play with." He shrugged, leaning more comfortably back and allowing himself to relax now that he was safe of unfamiliar contact. 

He wondered then, what did other attendants of the cradle think of monsters? If Pythia thought this power was "Cool", then what powers were seen as strange or unacceptable? 

He had always kept his other powers hidden, ever since that first time. Nikita couldn't stand the way people looked at him. But it would be nice to not keep it a secret, if he wasn't the only one. 

He opened his mouth to ask, or say something that he might receive insight on the topic in return. But his throat felt closed, like when he had first walked up to Pythia. He closed his mouth. 

Too soon, he thought. 

Nikita couldn't say anything too blunt, too obvious. He had to beat around the bush, at least for the time being. 

"What other kinds of powers do people have here? Any that are particularly strange?" He inquired. It seemed innocent enough to ask about other people's abilities, especially as a newcomer. It could also give him an idea about what kinds of things stood out to others, what to avoid. 


Nikita didn't want to be a black sheep, not again. He wanted to be like everyone else, and if that took having secrets then so be it.
Dawn
*Pythia considered the question for awhile.* "Uhm... I... Im really not the b... Best person to ask, seeing as I dont know a ton of people... But ill tell you about a few I do know!" *He says with a small smile. He settles back, subconsciously scooting slightly closer to Nikita as he looks up. He cant see anything but changing where he is looking is nice, and it is the kind of small gesture that helps you think.*

"U... Uhm, my first real friend... H... Her name is Penelope, she has the power to like... Control plants! She can use them to make different... Pheromones? Chemicals? Im not sure how they work, but t... They can sometimes help with like... Anxiety and stuff. She used it on me w... When we first met and it helped me g... Get over alot of the stress of meeting people. There is another boy called Connor, I think h... He controls gravity? Or like... Gravitational fields? It is kinda a... Above my head. There was a girl named D... Danny, she could like control puppets, but I think s... She may have left. A... Another would be Uriel, i... I havent seen them in awhile and I dont know much but I think t... Their power has to do with dreams. Theres... O... One that stands out as strange though..." *He says with a small sigh*

_ _
"Um.. Her name is Yari... Yari... Marel? I think that is her full name b... But im really not sure. I dont know alot about her powers but she can... Change her body? Like shapeshifting i... I guess. But it isnt what you are t... Thinking. It is more like, distortion. She w... Warps her body, like... Making her arms reeeaaaally long. The results are... V... Very grotesque but still like, neat? I... It is interesting at the very least. Im curious if s... She feels any pain from the process as it isnt e... Exactly pretty. She is pretty weird... And im n... Not sure if her powers are more horrific because thats w... What they were like naturally or if she made them thatway..." *He pauses for a moment, before blushes a bright crimson.*

"Either way, i... Its rude to judge. W... We didnt choose our powers, hell... F... Fate knows I most assuredly didnt. She is different b... But im pretty sure she has a few friends around the cradle... I think she is close to connor. Hell, i... I think she has more friends than I do" *He says with a slightly sad laugh.* "Her f... Future shadows are... Pretty weird, since s... She can change herself at any time and since she does it alot, m... Most of her futures involve some kind of transformation. Ive c... Concentrated on her sometimes, narrowing down possibilities more gently so I still see a handful of futures and... Well alot of them a... Are really out there in terms o... Of distortion." *He says all of this in a calm tone, and it is obvious that while he is slightly scared of Yari, it is more due to the spooky nature of her powers rather than her ability to transform. If anything, he seems curious about some of the mechanics of her abilities.*
Archie
He didn't mind how Pythia seemed to get closer. The space next to him had always felt empty, and it was nice to have somebody occupy that for a time. 

Nikita gave a curt nod at every name, every piece of information. But, as Pythia said, he probably wasn't the best person to ask. 

"The people here all sound really... Interesting." That was the only word that came to Nikita's mind to respond. They were just that, interesting. Nothing that truly caught his attention. 

The closest power to his own that was mentioned was this "Yari" Person, and Pythia didn't exactly seem keen on her powers. Even then, he didn't distort limbs. His power was closer to that of lycanthropy, on some level. Then there was an idea. 
"Are there any like... Werewolves? Vampires? Fantasy like shit." He chuckled a little, trying to make it sound almost like a joke of a question. "Or maybe cryptids? Like mothman, or those skinwalker things people talk about." He hummed, thinking. 
He would probably fall in the skinwalker category, if he had to think about it. Minus the cannibalism, obviously. 

Truthfully, Pythia didn't seem very judgemental. Nikita could probably share his "Secret", and it probably wouldn't affect his time at the Cradle at all, but it was a matter of trust- and Nikita couldn't trust someone he had just met, despite how nice they seemed. There were a million possibilities to revealing himself, most of which seemed impossibly miserable. He had been hurt before, and hurt others as well, he couldn't risk that at the cradle, at the last chance he has to be human.
Dawn
*Again Pythia considered it* "I... I mean, I... I think I remember Connor calling Y... Yari the cradle's resident cryptid but... No one comes to mind. However that is also... L... Like everyone I have met at t... The cradle so I really have next t... To no idea" *He says with a soft sigh.* "I... I wonder sometimes i... If stories like that are true. Early kinds of p... Powers being made into myth and legend. I... Im sure thats the common theory around here, but it is kind o... Of impossible to truly tell" *He comments, shrugging. In reality he couldnt tell how close he was to Nikita since he couldnt see the other boy, so he had no clue he war really getting closer.* 

"I... I think it would be cool if we had someone else w... Who could shift like that... M... Maybe ill have to a... Ask around and see if we already do. It would be neat t... To learn how their powers worked." *He said dismissively, more of an offhand comment he made to himself.* "I... Id ask Yari... W... Well m... Maybe I should ask her... Oh! T... The internet exists! I... I could do that" *He says with a small giggle at his own stupidity. He doesnt use the internet alot because his powers makes some stuff... Well harder*
Archie
Nikita dwelled on the topic. 

"Maybe. I think bigfoot was probably real. Just a guy who could turn into a big hairy beast, probably." He chuckled, playing off the fact that he wasn't much different. "Or maybe it was just a guy in a suit. Maybe we'll never know." He shrugged. 

"No need to poke around online. I was just curious." He muttered flatly, and that was that. He just got to the cradle, best to investigate as much as possible before showing one person and word getting out. 
Maybe people wouldn't care, sure, but there was that chance people would look at him the same way they did on the farm. If he played his cards right, he wouldn't have to deal with that. 

It was one secret he didn't mind keeping anyway, it just made his life more tedious having to leave campus for those small moments to himself. He could live with it. 

From there, his mind went back to its free roam. 

Other people, mostly. He thought a lot about Uriel, actually. Fin had mentioned that name, too. People, for some reason, didn't like Uriel- that's what Fin had told him, anyway. 
As much as he wanted to support Uriel, he feared his name would become the topic of discourse and discomfort. He didn't want to end up like that, people fearing him for his powers. 

Uriel's name felt like a cautionary tale to him, a fate to avoid at all costs. Maybe it would be better to bury his secret, though he knew how it worked. It would come up, sooner or later. 

He'd much rather tell people on his own terms, then have them find out through an ugly fit of anger. 

He looked at Pythia. 

There were so many ways something like that could go. He had said it would be interesting, though. Maybe Pythia could be his confidant? The boy didn't seem like the type to spill secrets, mostly because he didn't know many people. 

He opened his mouth again. The words found him swiftly. "Are you scared of monsters?" 

Nikita wished he could shove the words back into his mouth and swallow them down the moment he spoke them.

It sounded like such a stupid question, in hindsight, but it was a necessary one. Pythia's answer would dictate his actions moving forward. 

He almost hoped Pythia would say yes.
Dawn
*They were quiet for a time. Pythia's mind wandered to thoughts of Yari... He supposed it wasnt really fair to say that she was weird, werent they all weird... Even still she had just been a bit too much for Pythia in the past. He still shouldnt judge her. Maybe he had been too weird... But would reaching out be weirder? Talking to people was hard sometimes...*
_ _
*He wasnt really thinking much as Nikita asked his question, and it took him a bit by surprise.* "I... .... Hmm..." *He pauses, considering it.* "I... I guess it matters what you d... Define as a monster. When I... I was younger I thought m... My powers were monsters, invisible beasts surrounding people.. T... Things only I could see. If y... You use that definition, then I was when I was younger... But I dont see my powers as monsters anymore... I... If you mean like, storybook monsters... Maybe? I dont read a ton of scary stories, a... And the idea that some of them could be true is spooky... B... But I wouldnt say im scared of them. I guess i... I dont really know." *He says, letting the answer hang in space.*
Archie
Nikita was quiet after that, at least for a while. He was quietly considering how to respond. The silence felt uncomfortable, because it was his to break. It was his to decide what to say next. 

"I think a lot of us probably saw our powers as monsters when we were young." He decided finally, looking toward the building. Its frosted-over windows held more secrets than he could understand. He was only adding to that list. But he didn't have to keep it all to himself- it wasn't like he was some superhero with a secret identity. He was just another fucked up kid trying to find his place in the world, same as every other person there. 

He drew in a deep breath and counted. 

One, two, three, four. 

The band aid needed to come off. He was going to rip it off on his own terms. He'd be hurt regardless. 

He exhaled. 

One, two, three, four. 

His heart didn't feel so fragile in his chest, pounding violently against his ribs as it was moments ago. 

Nikita couldn't look at Pythia as he spoke. "Mine was... Scary." He began, unsure how to fully describe it. He had to remind himself Pythia had been nothing but kind. He didn't need to fear getting cut when he held no knife. 
"The other boys on the farm never saw it. But it haunted me." He drew his words out, picking them carefully. He needed to paint a picture with his words. 

"It looked like me. Not... Physically, not in form. But in attributes. The way the light hit its eyes, the way its fur felt. It was a beast, like a goat but... It hunted, it had fangs and claws, it looked built for the harshness of Russia. Stronger than a bear, soft as a lamb." He didn't know exactly where he was going, but his point needed to be made. 
He sighed, trying his best to sound serious. "That was my power. It *Is* My power. My monster. It's... A literal monster, I guess." He winced at his own wording. He didn't like calling himself a monster, but by all definitions he could be considered one.

He looked anywhere but at Pythia. Scanned the area for listening ears first, when he found none he admired birds and bugs, and anything that wasn't Pythia. Not until he knew the other boy's response would be good- or, at least, not bad.

Nikita had, in the time that he was talking, began to tense up again. His heart beat in rapid succession, almost painfully. The pit in his stomach had grown somehow emptier, feeling so void of anything that it ached. He wanted to bring his knees up, huddle further into the corner of the bench and let the world melt away. He didn't do that. He sat in awkward fear of Pythia's reaction, instead.
Dawn
*Pythia tilted his head slightly as Nikita spoke, listening to him and not saying anything just yet. He lets Nikita go through his small story. He listened, and tried to understand, picturing the ability in his mind... And how it would have made young Nikita feel. A beast, a form of power which invokes fear. Something that was you, but also wasnt you, living inside your body and mind. He shivered, the thought terrifying. His own powers made him fear others, seeing monsters surround the people he knew... What would it have been like if that fear was internal, and he was never able to flee from it...*

*Pythia didnt know what to do. He could feel Nikita's tension without even seeing him. He didnt activate his powers, wanting to give Nikita the small comort of not having someone looking at him, watching him, as Pythia knew how intimidating a person's gaze could be. So he closes his eyes, and did something a bit silly. He began scooting closer, though now it was intentional. When he felt Nikita's leg with his knee, he pivoted slightly so that they were side by side. He then opened his blanket and tried to wrap one of the sides around Nikita, though with his blindness the process was awkward... And he hoped for Nikita's help.*

*The blanket was warm, and feeling Pythia's body press against his side... It wasnt even a hug or a lean, it was just contact. Pythia hoped it could provide some comfort* "D... Dont... Call it a... A monster. Im sure you a... Arent one. We didnt pick our powers, w... We just have to live with them" *He said, pausing for a moment before continuing.*

"I... I want ro revise my answer. I... I think I am afraid of monsters... But t... The only true monster in this world is man.. The people outside, w... Who would seek to judge, t... To hurt, or to use us. Y... You havent dont a... Anything wrong, you a... Arent a monster" *He said in a quiet voice, trying to comfort the other boy.*
Archie
Nikita couldn't stop himself from flinching when Pythia made contact with him. 

Touch like this wasn't unwelcome, he had never truly been hurt by another's hand, but it was foreign. It felt like a strange language he was never taught how to speak. 

But he didn't withdraw. He slouched a little, pressed his shoulder closer to Pythia's and wrapped the blanket around his other shoulder so that they could both sit comfortably in the warmth. 

Pythia wasn't wrong. He enjoyed the soft plush of the blanket, clinging onto him like a warm hug. If the situation weren't currently so scary to him, he might have closed his eyes and started napping. 

There was a sentence that pricked at Nikita's throat, one he wanted to keep to himself. But it continued to scratch until it came up. 

"How do you know?" He felt like the words were suffocating him. *'You aren't a monster.'* Nikita wished he would have admitted all his sins, confessed his secrets so that he did not have to feel so guilty. 

How could someone feel so safe, being so close to Nikita? It was only because Pythia didn't know of his previous atrocities, he reminded himself. He had hurt so many people. Did he deserve forgiveness? Surely he didn't deserve a friend.
Dawn
*Pythia grabbed onto the other side of the large blanket, pulling it across their fronts so that both boys were now securely under the cover. The slightly compressive force pressed their arms, shoulders, and legs against eachother... Not a lot of contact, but more than either of them were used to. Pythia flinched a bit too, and he was shivering slightly... He noticed Nikita's hesitation... But since the other boy didnt pull away... He figured it was alright. The blanket was warm, and though it had cooled off after being exposed to the air, it was quickly heating up now since it had two bodies under it. Pythia's face shone a soft red, almost the same shade as Nikita's hair and looking even more obvious on his snow white skin.*

*Pythia considered Nikita's question, taking time to think it over. He finally shrugged slightly.* "I... I suppose... I... I cant know what you have done... But... ... I can t... Tell you are sorry a... About whatever it is. I... I think you h... Have punished yourself more than enough. Y... You may have done something wrong... But it sounds like you sincerely regret it. We a... All make mistakes.. .... We... We all h-hurt people in different ways. That doesnt make us monsters. The only true m-monsters are those who dont care about t... The pains they have caused." *He said softly, his thoughts returning to his family. He had hurt them, they had hurt him... Neither of them had intended it. He really should write to his mom sometime...*

_ _
"You are i... In a new place. I... It is o... Okay to leave some of the pain behind. T-to heal. And if y-you havent already, when you have healed enough y... You can go back to those you hurt and help make things right." *It is kinda obvious that some of these words arent Pythia's, but things his therapist taught him. Even still, the message is pure and filled with a kind of hope.* "It.. May not s... Stop hurting. I... I still h-hate myself sometimes f... For how I treated my family d... During... ... My isolation. But, someone helped me accept that w-we are flawed people, people who make mistakes... And we must forgive ourselves if we ever want to try to make things right." *He says with a small hopeful smile.*
Archie
Nikita is rendered speechless, so he just listened as Pythia went on. Every word stuck with him, clung to his mind as he thought them over. 

Of course he wanted to say more, to protest and argue that he was a terrible person. To somehow warn Pythia of his sharp teeth and long claws before he ever got too close. 

Nikita was sure he could only hurt people. It's all he's ever done. 

But he could sit in silent acceptance that maybe he wasn't so terrible. He could listen to someone, for once. 
He couldn't forgive himself, though. At least not when he tried at that moment. The only things that came to mind were fearful cries and blood, and a soft voice humming in his ear all of the terrible things he's done. 

He decided to ignore it, instead. Until he was ready to forgive himself, if that day ever came. Till then, he could enjoy his time at the cradle- until he was ready to move on. 

If Pythia was any example of people at the cradle, then Nikita would be just fine. 

He breathed softly, careful to not accidentally disturb Pythia. "Thank you." Was all he said in return, all he could say. He wasn't great with words. 
His voice sounded exhausted, more than he had meant it to. He normally sounded tired, his voice slow and drawl. But this sounded like he was about ready to pass out. 

Realistically, he was rather tired. The talking took a lot more out of him than intended, and so did regulating his emotions. He didn't talk after that, not for now. The silence felt comforting as he sat with Pythia, occasionally finding himself using Pythia as support to stay sitting upright. 

Boys in Russia were never like this. Acts like this were reserved for children and their mothers, never men. Men were strong, more so than harsh winters and unbearable summers. 
Nikita wasn't in Russia. 
People in Sweden weren't so rough, as he was quickly learning.
Dawn
*Pythia let the conversation lapse into silence. When he had first heard words like those he hadnt been ready to accept them. He had needed alot of time to come to the realization that he couldnt blame himself for the diagnosis, or some of the things he did to his family... So he gave Nikita that time. He tried to sit still, but like Nikita the conversation had taken alot out of Pythia. He was more used to talking, hell that was all you did in therapy... But even still it was never this heavy. It was never him helping others, and always his therapist helping him... It... Felt nice to try to help someone this way. He could feel the exhaustion from Nikita, and eventually his own body's tiredness overwhelmed him enough that he did something a bit silly.*

*His head fell to the left, and he leaned it against Nikita's shoulder. It took him a moment to realize what he did, and when he did his blush turned a shade deeper than Nikita's hair. Now that the heavier conversation had lulled, Pythia became hyperaware of how close they were... Had... Had he ever been this close to another boy before? He was frozen, if he moved it would call too much attention to it... And maybe Nikita would take insult to that, so he just stayed still... His heart hammering in his chest.*
Archie
Nikita closed his eyes at the weight on his shoulder. It felt grounding, reminding him of the present. He was there, in a place full of others like him. He was there, and everything would turn out okay. 

His head rested over the other's as he fixed himself a little to rest a bit more comfortably. 

Nikita never really saw displays like this, two people so close. He assumed it's what friends did, maybe. He could only guess, since there wasn't exactly a comparison. 
Friends. 
That word sounded nice to Nikita, like a trophy he had yet to claim. For others, it was as easy as a participation trophy. For him, he'd be receiving his more than ten years overdue. 

But he'd happily call Pythia friend, if he allowed it. He thought to ask, but his voice found no sound. He was too tired to even lift his heavy eyelids, let alone speak. 

In his daze, he felt the grasp over his powers slipping.
He knew that, in recent months, he would change certain parts of himself by accident in his sleep. Nikita wasn't exactly sure if it was a nightly occurrence, but his bed was already covered in fur to say the least. 

He didn't exactly want to change with the facility so close. He hadn't willingly changed on campus yet, he didn't want to change that until he was ready. 

In protest of falling asleep, he picked his head up- though being careful not to disturb Pythia- as he admired the garden. 

He'd let Pythia sleep, if they ended up doing so. 

Boredom was dangerous for Nikita, but there was no end to his internal wonder for the time being. As he admired their surroundings, he began to drift off mentally, letting his mind lead him in any direction it chose.
Dawn
*Pythia felt Nikita's head rest on his and he squeaked softly, his face beet red as he was* ***Painfully*** *Aware of how close they were now... It was his own fault, he had gotten them this close... And it was helping. Nikita seemed to be relaxing, his breath slowing... Meanwhile Pythia's breath wasnt exactly panicked... But it was tense. He had never been this close to another boy... His heart felt like it was pounding against his chest with a sledgehammer, his lungs were filled with butterflies. He tried to stay calm but he felt so nervous he could hardly stand it. His mind kept returning to Nikita, not wanting to disturb him as the other boy grew closer and closer to sleep. The cold helped him stay still, he felt like if they were doing this at his dorm his leg would be bouncing uncontrollably and his hands wouldnt stop fidgeting... Pythia lacked any kind of romantic experience, but he had read some stories and in the time he spent alone... Well, he had accepted his sexuality fairly easily...*
_ _
*As he was lost in thought, Pythia felt Nikita move. Seeing the opportunity, Pythia raised his head up. Their bodies were still pressed together with the blanket, but the extra bit of space helped calm his nerves as he tried to activate his powers.*

*And he felt them retreat. Even still, he glanced up towards Nikita, even though he couldnt see him the action was more instinctual. His face was bright red, near the same shade as Nikita's hair as he looked over the other boy's shoulder for a moment before looking back down. He pulled himself under the blanket slightly, only having his eyes and up poking out of the warmth.*
Archie
Seeing Pythia look up at him immediately filled him with a mild concern. Had he been making Pythia colder? He wasn't using his power, though. Yet, he was incredibly red. Did he have a fever? Nikita can only hope he had no part to play. 

"If you're cold we can go inside? I'll walk with you to your dorm, if you want." He offered, his voice dripping with concern. He sounded almost like a different person. His voice was more assertive, yet calming. 
Nikita, after all, had spent years herding sheep. He's perfected the perfect blend of authority and kindness for certain situations. If he ever had concern about someone or something he was quick to remedy anything. He even kept a first aid kit with him at all times. 

Despite his worry, he made no effort to move until Pythia did. He didn't want to mess anything up so soon. Pythia was his first friend at the cradle, and one of few he's ever called friend, so he wasn't about to do anything stupid. If Pythia didn't want to go, he wasn't about to force him. But he did have medicine if Pythia's condition got worse.
Dawn
*Pythia's heart thundered in his ears, and he could feel his blood pumping. He would snatch up the opportunity, and began shuffling forward so that he could stand up. Standing was... A bit awkward. They had to both stand at the same time so one didnt pull the other down, and the two of them managed to pull it off with Pythia only stumbling slightly. After standing Pythia reached out and wrapped an arm around Nikita's, holding him for support. He was still blind after all, and he didnt feel like pulling out his walking stick. It made his heart skip a beat but he knew if he tried using his walking stick his hand would be shaking far too much. He kept the blanket wrapped around them as they began walking towards the cradle. He didnt want to leave Nikita but... He needed time to balance his thoughts... He felt like he would be overcome with sensation at any moment.*
Archie
Nikita didn't quite realize Pythia was going to try to keep them together as they walked, not exactly that he minded. It was awkward, but he wanted to help. 

He had almost forgotten about Pythia's condition, but when he clung to his arm he realized why. 
Nikita took the lead, escorting Pythia through the garden. He figured the easiest way was through the gym, and at that time of day it would be empty enough that Nikita wouldn't feel strange walking through such an open room. 

He had to shuffle a bit, with Pythia so close, and as a consequence his boots squeaked as they walked- though the melting snow that was melting off the soles probably didn't help. 

Nikita was quick about walking through the courtyard. He always felt like people were watching him, there. 
When the pair entered the main dorm well, he realized he didn't know where Pythia's room was. 

He cleared his throat and leaned down, speaking somewhat quietly now. "What floor are you on? And which side?" He asked, still guiding them more to the sides of the room so that they weren't in the middle of the hall, taking up uncomfortable amounts of space.
Dawn
*They moved slowly, and to outsiders they may seem closer than they yet were. Pythia grabbed Nikita arm fairly tightly, needing it for support. His legs were weak, from the cold and from the fluttering of his heart... So having assistance was absolutely needed. He didnt know the route they took, it was hard to follow that in his mind and he didnt feel like activating his powers. It was hard enough to focus on walking. The two shuffled forward, making their way through the cradle and towards the dorms. In a small voice Pythia guided them forward, giving Nikita his room number and general location.*

*It wouldnt take long for them to reach Pythia's room, and even when they do he doesnt let go of Nikita's arm at first.*
Archie
The stairs were tedious, but from there it wasn't long to Pythia's dorm. 

Nikita didn't comment about Pythia holding on, but he did begin to remove the blanket from his shoulders and wrap it comfortably around the other boy, adjusting it where it needed. "You better stay warm, okay? If you get sick let me know, my username on the intranet thing is Venatici. I'll pick up anything if you need, I don't mind." When Nikita had people he cared about, he made sure they were well. 
He still remembered days whenever one of his grandparents was sick. He'd spend those days running around to get them anything they wanted, all with a worried smile on his face. 

"What is your username? I can message you now so I don't forget." He said quickly, pulling out his phone and fidgeting with a few buttons. 
Sure, it was to make sure Pythia would be okay. But it was also, in part, to be able to contact the other if he ever wanted to hang out again. He didn't want their meetings to be purely chance, after all.
Dawn
*Pythia let go of Nikita's hand as the taller boy wrapped the blanket around his shoulders like a shawl. He nodded at Nikita's comments, feeling slightly embarassed at how the other boy was offering to take care of him. A rogue, devilish part of his mind wanted to invite Nikita inside, but he beat that part of his mind down deep into his subconscious.* 

"M... My username is um... O... Oracle of D-Delphox... L... Like the pokemon" *He says with a thick blush.* "I... I have a hard time using c... Computers s... Sometime with my powers, I... I mostly have t... To use text to speech since... Well, I see the place t... The screen will be in a few seconds, so when I intend to scroll, it starts scrolling already. It is l... Like when I read a book and I can see the page turning before i... Im done reading. It makes i... It so that I need to stay still for a... About three seconds before scrolling d... Down but I... Ill try to t... Turn my notifications, t... Text to speech, a... And voice to text on for you!" *He says, maybe a bit too enthusiastically. He reaches out and feels for the door, grabbing his key and slipping it into the lock by feel. He opens the door and steps into the doorframe, but pauses and turns, determined to see Nikita's face again before the two part ways.*

*Pythia's silvery eyes suddenly snap into focus on Nikita's, and they look soft. He blushes slightly deeper as he looks up at Nikita... Neither of them were tall, yet Pythia was still a good half a foot shorter. He almost stared at Nikita, trying to imprint the other boy's appearance into his memory so that he wouldnt forget*
Archie
As Nikita looked up from his phone and their eyes met, he thought it was just a coincidence. But he realized that Pythia was, indeed, staring at him. His warm, yellowish eyes paled in comparison to the silver of Pythia's. It reminded Nikita a bit of snow, if he had to think about it. 

This time he offered a smile that Pythia could see, one more genuine than the first few. This was softer, less toothy. His nose wrinkled a little when he smiled, and he had a single dimple on his left side cheek. His snake bite piercings went with the curve of his bottom lip, making him seem slightly more dangerous- or stupid, if you didn't like piercings- than he actually was. 

He figured Pythia must feel terrible, especially using his powers while he was in such a state, so Nikita figured he'd get out of his hair. 

He waved. An awkwardly placed gesture, but he never exactly learned how to say goodbye in a literal sense.
Dawn
*Pythia smiled softly, a warm gentle smile as he also waved... Even though neither of them had walked away yet, and neither of them moved to do so.* "I... I um... G... Guess I will see you around?" *He says quietly, still softly waving his hand... The two of them looked like quite the pair of idiots* "I... Ill text y... You when i get i... Inside. I... I dont normally h... Have my p... Phone with me but Ill bring i... It with me alot more" *He says quietly, not really knowing how else to end the conversation. He both wants and doesnt want Nikita to leave... But he has to deal with these rebellious emotions first... So he supposed they would have to part ways.*
Archie
"Oh, you don't have to just because of me. I don't want you to go out of your way, it's okay." He insisted as he moved to take a few steps away from the door. 

He pointed down the hall, "I'm probably gonna take a nap so... Have a good day, Pythia." He said, his voice resonating and warm. 

When he turned to go, he felt surprisingly alone. Not lonely, just alone. The space where Pythia had held on to him felt empty. But that feeling faded the further he walked, the more he began to overthink. 
His own room wasn't too far, luckily. Though it felt like a million miles. 

Nikita unlocked his door and hurried inside. He needed time to think.
Dawn
*Pythia watched Nikita leave, until his powers faltered and the other boy was obscured by shadows. He watched the mass of shadows leave, and slowly retreats into his room. He closes the door and walks over to his bed, flopping into its warmth. He kicks off his shoes and wraps the blanket tightly around himself, holding it close as he wraps his body around a pillow, squeezing it tightly as he begins shaking. Feeling he hadnt ever felt rush through him, and he lets them run their course. He doesnt know how he feels about Nikita... But as soon as he has calmed down he grabbed his phone and texted the other boy, keeping the blanket they had shared wrapped tight around his body.*