Chloe was trying to concentrate on what Mahmoud was suggesting. She had been a second away from asking the man to elaborate on the vague suggestion he'd just given them, and trying to ignore Jaden, when the kid decided he had the nerve to slap her. For a moment it passed her mind that it would be easier to deal with whatever shady things would happen if she decided to work for this guy. She narrowed her bright green eyes at Jaden, weighing her options. Why, that little... Then she realized that he must have had a reason to do it. What had she done? ...Her breath, that must be it. Even so, it had pissed her off. She didn't know chemistry well enough to know what would happen if she exhaled her chlorine, but it seemed they didn't have many other options.
Here goes nothing.
A steady flow of noxious pale green gas flowed from her nostrils, stinking up the room in a matter of seconds.

Dan was completely, totally, 100% done with whatever the fuck was going on. The one bitch had passed out and they all ran away, leaving him behind for some... Mediterranean mook in a cheap suit. But the man had just... Walked past him. Whatever the fuck any of this was, Dan had had it. They'd made their escape, however conspicuous it had been, and that was... That...

But Dan knew that wasn't that. Four super powered dicks in the middle of Shitsville Britain, being tailed by a guy who smelled of rotten eggs and cash... Dan knew that, no matter his personal thoughts, this was gonna be the most interesting part of his week. And with that, he stepped over the maimed shrubbery and followed the path of destruction that had been left behind.

Jaden gave a small smirk as Chloe got the hint, and then in a matter of seconds his Iron whip had gained enough friction from his hit against the metal grate of the fire to heat it and the spark filled the gas which seconds later had the man and themselves coughing. Aura looked to him and he shrugged as he grabbed Aria and their shoulders and dove out the window on the opposite side of the house - he was thankful that the people who had apparently been outside were now heading inside to find out what had happened and he took that as a chance to get far away from the house.

"I apologize again...I didn't want to do that!" he said as they began running. Aria slowly keeping up with them as they ran around corners of alleyways, and towards the main campus of Oxford University.

The girls questioned him but he nodded and they slipped into a courtyard in seconds before Jaden began searching. Having been here for a year had saved him a lot of trouble when it came to outsmarting people who chose to come for him - whether or not it was because he'd caught their attention, they didn't like his accent, or lack thereof, or they simply just felt like beating up someone, he had a knack for hiding within Oxford's thirty-eight colleges - he got their attention with a wave and they slowly headed over to a small building where they were left in darkness and capable of hiding in the hallway where two gothic windows stood.

Jaden looked them over, the three girls looked irate by now, but he didn't like the chances that were being taken and as he had said earlier - his original designation of his element was known as The Guardian therefore, he didn't quite have an excuse seeing as it was imbued into him from his Iron base element. He sighed and leaned against the wall next to Aria who was staring at him, her sister, and Chloe before fidgeting and Aura began to stare at him again.

"So....where were we before that guy popped up?" he gave them a weak smile hoping they would take the light hearted comment well.

Afterall, at this point if they didn't rely on one another he had a very bad feeling they wouldn't be surviving the night. Well, he could pray - there was a chapel down the hall. He crouched below the window and looked at the girls as they watched his odd actions as he quite cat-like crawled his way towards the Chapel.

"Just follow me - it has a latch with a strong door." seeing the direction he was heading the three girls glanced at one another and decided to follow the boy as he ducked and crawled along the floor so not to be seen from the windows.

Herschel just stared at Leo for a moment, as his eyes went into shock. "Progressives?!" His mouth was agape, as he held out his right index finger as it twitched a bit as he gave a scold wagging to Fargus and his crew. But he calmed down a bit upon realizing that Leo talked about proper conversion. "Whew, for a second there..."

Glancing over at Gunther he gave a slow nod, "Exactly. They don't seem to realize how good they have it. And -" He glanced back at Leo, "Those ones are just terrible." He shook his head as he made a tsking noise, "I expect you to show them on the proper path Leo, make sure they get their mikvah. And, I trust you explained how you don't mix meat and dairy?"

Sticking out his tongue he groaned a bit, before he retracted it back in. "It's a simple rule. Yet people keep violating it more, and more often. Eeech, what has become of society?"

Aria, as shocked as she was, had enough adrenaline to be more or less coherently thinking as she crawled, and she quietly said, "Um. I think that Aura was royally chewing you out about something." She forced a smile onto her trembling mouth. "I wish I didn't have to light everything on fire..." she mumbled. Her stomach growled and she realized that she'd not had a chance to eat at the cafe.
Aura glared at the boy again. "I'm perfectly capable of caring for my sister!" She snapped. "And if you would kindly quit dragging us all across the face of the earth, because my parents are looking for me, I'm sure!"
Her phone started ringing, and she answered, eager to prove her point. but on the other end of the line was just... silence. Finally she said, "Hello?"
"Don't say I didn't warn you about your curse. It'll only get worse and worse and worse, and soon you'll be freezing things. Ice to your sister's fire." The person hung up without another word... Aura looked at her phone, looking for the number. "No Caller ID."
"Okayyy. I'm scared?" She said softly. "Could I possibly... Well. I'm helium. I guess I have a colder liquifying point than any other element. But I can't have ice powers. That wouldn't make sense." She laughed. "I'm sure it's just nonsense."
Her phone buzzed again, this time a text from one of her music classmates. "Parts reassigned--You're the Ice Queen. Rachel just got the chance to audition bc she was sick yesterday. She got assigned fire and you got bumped to Ice. And Anna is livid that you pushed her out entirely."
Aura rolled her eyes. "This is too well-coordinated to be anything but a coincidence." she said softly, as much to convince herself of it as anything else. "It doesn't mean anything."

Gunther nodded sagely. "It's all gone to hell, man. Well, I think Leo and the rest of us have things to do. We need to prepare for Yom Kippur. We'll just have to see you later, old man!" Gunther turned back and headed over to Fargus and Peaches. Leo glared at him for a second, then turned to Fargus.
"Fargus, we're going to head down to my office right away. We've got to figure out what's wrong with your ribs."
Fargus gave Leo a brisk thumbs-up, and walked off with Peaches and Gunther in tow. "We're going to wait in the car, Leo. Finish up quick, and we'll get going, okay?"

Leo nodded, and followed Fargus. Before he got a few steps away, he snapped his fingers and turned to Herschel.
"Remember, Mr. Orenstein: our appointment is in three hours. Can you get home by yourself, or would you like some help? I'm headed down to the clinic, and I can probably take you home on the way."

"Well, you know...sometimes I wonder just what I get myself into as well....remember what I told you? The Guardian....yea...fun isn't it?" Jaden stated sarcastically.

He pushed open the door and let the girls go in first before he shut it behind him and latched it shut before going to sit in a pew where he looked at the large arches and paintings in the chapel alongside the pulpit and the cavernous appearance of it. He looked to Aria who was staring at him again while Chloe sat down on the pew across from him. Aura stood next to her sister and glared between the two of them while Jaden let himself think of what to do next. None of them had eaten since earlier that day, but there was a chance that in the morning the people who'd chased them were going to avoid making a scene - he glanced at Aria's little form, pixie in appearance and pretty in the dim light.

"She is really pretty....maybe....no!Do not go there...the Ice-She-Devil may send you to the newest Ice Age....but...she is....kind of cute..."

"So, we're not going anywhere for a while - does anyone have any ideas on what we can discuss until then? Personally, I want confirmation at long last on some stuff...hell...I don't even know the three of you, where your from, or what your last names are! I know your Hydrogen, Helium, and Chlorine - but that's hardly anything to go by! I caught your names briefly and decided I should probably remember them as we might end up sticking together at some point and look at what's happened! I think we need to take a few minutes to discuss this much because otherwise that Phosphorus nut-job is going to get us and we're screwed when he does....so please...let's try and be at the very least...acquaintances..."

There was a moment of silence and he knew this was going to be a very long night - luckily he could tell by the clock that it was already nearing midnight and that meant they had five hours to sunrise. Then they would be safe for a bit and could blend into the crowd. He looked at Aura who was seething as she saw him glance at Aria and faintly flush as the girl did as well before she fumed and grabbed Aria's upper arm and dragged her near the door. However, before she could start her rant he turned to look at them and then at Chloe.

"Well...my full name is Jaden Thurston, I'm fifteen years old and I originally came from Salem Massachusetts. I have no siblings, and....as of three months ago....I'm an orphan."

The entire room went deadly still. He knew then that the others weren't unsure - they were in shock at his statements.

Aura, after dragging her sister to the corner, leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Don't you even look at him!" she hissed. "Or you'll wind up dead in the gutter from that iron whip of his!"
"Shut it, Aura! You're just jealous!" Aria said. Then turned pink as she realized what she'd said.
Aura went pale. "You don't. You're not. You--No." Her eyes flashed icy cold, shooting murderous glances in the general direction of Jaden.
Aria stubbornly held her ground, "Why shouldn't I have a crush?", only to turn away from her sister at Jaden mentioning "being acquaintances."
"Don't you turn your back on me!" Aura whisper-shouted at Aria, reaching out and grabbing her wrist.... right over one of the burns. Aria yelped in pain and instantly Aura realized what she'd done and her eyes filled with tears. "Aria, oh god, I'm sorry!"
"Just leave me alone!" And Aria all but ran away, sliding onto the pew next to Jaden. Her wrist stung terribly... When she looked at it her blood ran cold, for over top of the burn... Ice crystals? She poked at the burn, only to hiss in pain. Not going to touch it any more.
She only half-heard Jaden, and then it took her a second to figure out what he'd said and another few to figure out how to respond. She reached her hand out to him slowly, not entirely sure of the gesture, and very quietly said, "Oh. I... I'm sorry." Seriously, though, how was she even supposed to respond to that?
Into the silence she said, softly, "My full name is Aria Marie Thomas. I'm fourteen, as of... five days ago. I lived until I was eight in a small town in Wyoming, until my father got a job teaching at Oxford University."
Aura glared at her and shook her head. Aria sighed. "And that is Aura Lynn Thomas who is sulking in the corner. She's my older sister. She is fifteen and... two hundred thirty nine? days old." She forced a giggle.

Chloe put her feet up and yawned, listening to the other three talk about themselves after the short-lived drama about crushes. Hah. Childish. She lay down on her pew and wondered what to say, if anything. Hi, I'm Chloe Harper and I'm suffering through a lot of guilt because I accidentally killed a potential rapist. Nope, that was too stupid and would raise questions anyway. I'm Chloe Harper and I fucking killed a man so you guys better keep your distance. Nope, too edgy. Besides, they were in a chapel. I'm Chloe Harper, and I'm not an orphan or a runaway. Maybe.

In the end she decided not to share a word about herself. Instead she just chuckled softly and said to Aura, "It's just a crush. Just chemistry." She reflected on the word chemistry. That could be interpreted in a number of ways given the current, unique situation. She lay down on her pew and stared at the ceiling. "Although I must say, it sucks to be a third wheel, for the most part."

"Are you hurt?" Jaden looked at the burns on her arms and she looked into his eyes.

If he didn't feel threatened he would have put an arm around her to assure her - instead he had reached out and brushed a strand of her bangs that had fallen into her eyes. Aria went blood red and he could tell Aura was seething and wishing to make him into a popsicle while he checked on the other girl's wounded arms. He remembered her doing that and frowned as he tried to figure out how severe the burns were. Thankfully, they didn't look to severe. Jaden glanced into the blue eyes of the girl in front of him and he smiled.

"Aria Marie Thomas...that's a really pretty name...yours too Ice Queen!" he called to Aura who suddenly gave off the sensation of her namesake that declared one thing - a slow demise if he hurt Aria. He smiled at the little pixie of a girl and looked to Aura as her sister yawned before she went stone faced as he pulled the girl close to him and let her lean on him as she started to doze off.

The girl seemed quite content to do so as she was soon fast asleep and Jaden couldn't help but place a gentle hand on her head. What was this pixie doing to him? She was so small, and warm...sweet in nature and she smelled like cherry blossoms and vanilla - something he actually liked quite a bit - and to top it all off Aria was far to cute to not like. He sighed as he realized the front he put up against the people around him was slowly coming down - the Guardian label suddenly suiting him all to well. He sighed and let the tiny girl snuggle up to him while he glanced to Aura who was still looking like she desired to kill him.

"Don't worry....I'm not going to hurt her okay? Why would I waste so much time helping you three if I was just going to kill you? I doubt any murderer would go through that kind of trouble...but....I just think its well...nice...." the two others stared at him as he shifted Aria to where he had an arm wrapped around her gently.

"I mean that its nice to know I'm not alone...for once..." he looked to Aura who was staring at him in questioning.

From the doorway of the chapel, Dan gave a listen. Aria, Aura, Chloe, and Jason. At least, he thought the guy had said Jason. So these bastards had names! Good, Dan preferred to hate people on a first-name basis.

"I'm Rad Dan, shitsticks," he chimed in, making sure they heard him, "But you can call me Rad Dan. Nice to break your acquaintance."

He took a short stroll into the main body of the chapel, approaching the youngest of the three girls, but staying several meters away. "Didja know it ain't polite ta light people on fiyah? Don't mattah who ya think they might be. It's jes' fuckin' rude, dig? And you..." He pointed a finger at Jordan (Jordan sounded right), "Don't evah pull yah sip on me again, less ya want it cut off, know what I mean?"

"Like I said - people like you make me want to go to confession....and I'm not even Catholic...and who are you again?" Jaden felt himself stare at the man as Aria stared up at him from his chest where she had previously been leaning against him asleep.

The person before him sounded like he came from somewhere similar to where he had - maybe Boston? He shrugged mentally and looked him over as Aura and Chloe kept up their guard preparing for a possible fight. The person was narrowing his purple eyes at him and he just sighed as he kept his eyes on the man before him. What did this idiot want now? Wasn't he the same one that went on about him doing things to the girls and yelling about rape? And now he was in a Chapel swearing like a sailor. Jaden signed and felt his bangle form into a whip. The person made a retort and in seconds he was wrapped up in it snug as it could be without cutting him. Another neat trick he learned while avoiding people who decided that he tickled their fancy or what not.

"So, I'm guessing your from the Boston area? I can tell by your accent. And also - I'd like for you to apologize to Airia and Chloe as well as Aura before she turns you into a Chipmunk...." Jaden watched the man struggle against the restraints and wince.

"Oh...I forgot sorry - that's Iron that's been set to chafe if you wriggle to much so...unless you want to potentially grate yourself to the bone I suggest you sit still and answer our questions....civily." without much question Jaden knew his eyes looked purely demonic at that moment and he couldn't help the sadistic side he had - it was just there.

"Oddly enough...this might be kind of....entertaining."

"Ya want civil, ya prick? It ain't civil ta tie up a strangah with a whip like some sorta fetish geah deal, ass! Besides..." A quick blast blew the horrible twisted bits of iron off of his body, scattering them upon the church floor. "I wouldn't pick that shit up if I was you, neithah. It's all irradiated 'n' shit."

He looked smug. This was certainly as interesting as he had hoped it would be.

Chloe sat bolt upright upon hearing the voice of another person. Unfortunately, it was a familiar voice, and she instantly recognized him. She narrowed her eyes. God, not again. My blood pressure's already set records today. Then there was this annoyingly protective fifteen-year-old, which she could maybe understand with Aria, who he was clearly head over heels for, but for herself? Not cool. Maybe a little endearing, but in the end it was just irritating.

She stood up, fixing this Rad Dan guy with a glare. "You know what's also rude? Telling people they're polluting the building with something they cannot help!" She quietly belched up a tiny cloud of chlorine, just enough to be smelled, just to either make a point or annoy Dan--Chloe didn't really know. "And you were the one following us after that outburst, you asshole!" Deep breaths. Deep breaths, now. Maybe it was best to let Mr. Angst take the heat. "If you really cared about people getting raped, maybe you wouldn't be following people around at night," she hissed softly as an afterthought. That part was barely audible, but the most angry conclusion to her retort.

The blast blew her back a little. Grunting, she ducked under the pew.

Jaden stared at Chloe momentarily before looking at the person before him - this just kept getting better and better - what joy had the world brought them this time? A Radioactive nut case that had nothing to do with the Imagine Dragon's song.

"Um...Iron absorbs radiation dumbass...and secondly its one of the most common elements in the world - I can make another one." Jaden looked at the rough iron candle holders and heard the person snarl as he jumped over the back of the pew and set foot on the ground as he walked over and grabbed the candle holder.

In a few seconds it reformed into a set of two rough iron and slim bands around his wrist where the other had previously been while he just stared at the person with a disinterested look. No matter how this guy looked at it, he could easily over power him when it came to access to his element. There was tons of it in this chapel and in the areas outside the windows - what did he think the windows were lined with? Lead and Iron. He stood there and put his hands in his pockets and looked at the person before him.

"You should try and not kill people with your powers....how would that look on those of us who are trying to live normal lives? Honestly, people like you have no control....why not just talk? No power, nothing - just talk okay?" Jaden really didn't want to fight this guy. Radiation verses Iron - that would just be a back and forth and ultimately they would more than likely kill several people or each other. Jaden watched as the person bristled and then stared at him in questioning.

Without question this was going to be a problem - but at least he seemed curious and that was a good start he supposed. Taking a deep breath Jaden took a few steps closer to him and watched him steadily. Unwavering as he is in his supposedly amazing poker face he didn't feel up to testing it with gamma rays. Therefore he stood not to far from the largest source of Iron at his disposal and looked at the Radiation Elemental.

"Can we talk? Instead of trying to kill one another?" he questioned.

Aria looked up sleepily, only to bolt upright at the sight of the scary man, feeling the fear-flame build up in her arms again. God, this guy again? "It's also not particularly good manners to break open doors! And since when is it acceptable to swear in a chapel?" She listed a few other things the man had done. "And I never lit you on fire. I just put up a screen so that we could get away and not get shouted at all the freaking time!" She raised her voice a little bit, bringing her hands up.
"Aria, no." Aura said.
Seeing the boy blow apart the whip, Aria raised her eyebrows, flexing her fingers. Planning on lighting the boy on fire again. But...
Aura pushed her down onto the pew again, stepping in front of her. She cupped her own hands, a pale bluish tinge on her icy fingers. "And you're disgusting. You're the kind of person who disgraces all of us." a shimmery liquid bubbled up in her cupped hands, letting off cloudy vapor. Her eyes were like ice too. "Catch!" she shouted, and threw the liquid, hoping it would hit Dan. Liquid helium that would quite probably freeze his flesh. At the least it would give him terrible pain and frostbite, assuming any of it actually hit him.

Herschel just stared at Gunther for a moment. There was something off about this situation, he could feel it. But Leo was quick with his words, "Three hours huh? He-ah, well really, if it wouldn't be too much trouble." Herschel moved his wheel-chair slightly, "It would be awfully nice for some assistance to get there. Especially considering how soon it's coming up."

Jaden looked to Aura as she threw the vapor at Dan and it hit his leg - he yelled and Jaden walked slightly closer as Aura prepared another dosage of the liquid Helium. At the very least they could momentarily disable the nut case. He crouched down before the person who was hissing in pain at the would on his leg and stared back into purple eyes.

"Care for that chat now mate?" a faint English accent picked up in his tone - only due to him hanging around Mason to much damn it all - and the person stared at him before raising an eyebrow as Jaden sighed and rested his arms on his knees, balancing percariously on the balls of his feet.

Well, getting into a staring contest with him wasn't going to do much was it? He looked at the person - Dan as he appeared to be called and waited for him as he attended to the pain in his leg where the liquid landed. Honestly, how was this guy supposed to be an Elemental? Jaden seriously wondered how sane any of them were and if what he thought was real - the periodic table playing a role in this - then they had a lot of crazies to deal with. Hopefully some peaceful ones existed like Chloe and Aria...Aura well, she could be peaceful but he wasn't so sure how serene the girl really was with her hostile nature. He looked at Dan once more and sighed.

"Do you want to talk now or are you going to let Aura freeze you over? I don't really care either way...."

He received a glare and Jaden sent him a glower worthy of a demon.

"You are not invincible - figure it out already before lightening strikes you," he stated. They were still in a chapel after all.

"Swearing in church ain't a problem foah me, seein' as I'm Episcopalian. Tendency ta live an' let l-- HOLY SHIT!" The last bit came as the ball of frozen shit came flying at him. He swung his bat in front of himself just in time, shattering both the icy helium and the bat. "You fuckin' nuts? Talkin' bout how I'm dangerous? I ain't the one who opened with a goddamn fiyahball, or iron whip, or toxic gas cloud, or icy blast a' God knows what! And I'M THE DISGRACE? Listen, Chloe theyah is a killah, too. Fuckin' gassed some prick. Saw it on the news, I think. Look, I'm fine with jes' talkin', but it's cleah you all don't feel the same."

"Oh no, we do - but we've been through some harrowing events tonight...so...introductions - I'm Jaden, and it would seem you know their names already....by the way you have some of that stuff on your leg still....the bat didn't do much did it now?" Dan hopped a bit and hissed at the pain while Jaden watched him.

He didn't seem like he was the kind of person they believed him to be and as for Chloe - who looked sufficiently cowed - he really didn't care. He looked at Dan and got a little close to the person as he bared his teeth in a faintly menacing way - his eyeteeth equipped with iron as he cast a rather mocking smile in his direction before looking him in the eye.

"if your so certain you wish to talk sit down and talk to us - stop giving us reasons to throw things at you okay?" he ran the tip of his tongue over the sharp points of the equipped iron as he stepped away from the other and felt himself shiver faintly - why did that still feel so odd? It didn't hurt, in fact he didn't mind it one bit, but he also didn't like the way Aria and Aura were looking at him and Chloe. He looked at the green eyed young woman and sighed.

"Oi...Chloe...you....aren't the only one....the person I hurt before I got here.....didn't make it....so..." he looked down in guilt and felt an intake of breath from Aura before he glanced at the sisters.

"This is going to be a long conversation on all our parts so let's get these things out in the open...what I did was to protect someone I cared for and she called me a monster...I killed that one person but it took a long time for him to die because it was a punctured lung. I didn't think it was a good idea to bring this up earlier because we didn't get a chance to really talk. So....can we try and find out what's so bad about each other? We probably all have something in common don't we? That has to deal with why we steer clear of humans?" Jaden looked at them and the group looked down and then to one another.

it was a start.