Xaviers!

Basil hated how he had to share a room here unlike practically every other uni in the UK, but was somewhat excited by the prospect of a new room mate. Curiosity sprung eternal, and so not knowing who it would be was making him anxious. He hadn't let his excitement get the better of him just yet. He had however made sure everything was neat and tidy for the new person.

At the moment he was lying on his bed reading a book and trying to contain his anticipation.

There came a knock at the door. Shane has some manners.

Practically bursting at the seams at this point, Basil leapt to his feet to answer.

What Shane would see is a disembodied dress shirt and tie, sans blazer.

"Hello!" It greeted cheerily.

Basil would see a green boy dressed in jeans, a Wolfmother t-shirt, and a leather jacket that was conspicuously expensive looking to anyone who knew what to look for.

"This room is going to be super British isn't it?" he commented jokingly.

Basil's grin was spreading into his voice.

"You act like that's a bad thing!" He exclaimed, throwing the door open.

"Come in, come in! Do you need help with your things?"

Somebody certainly took their uppers today.

"No, I've got it," he answered, wheeling in a portable luggage cart carrying two suitcases and a guitar case.

Basil's collar tilted with his head, surprised by how little the other student took with him.

Basil's side of the room was looking rather like a Japanese apartment.

"So, Shane is it?

I'm Basil, Basil Oliver Benson. Though if you've ever used the library you might already know that I suppose..."

"Oh so you're the 'book ghost'," he smirked. "Good to meet you, Basil. Love the initials." It was one of his rare moments when it was impossible to tell if he was being sarcastic

Basil hadn't necessarily picked up on Shane's sarcasm, but since it was British policy to respond to all things with sarcasm to deflect having actually to take a compliment.

"Apparently so did my parents." He quipped back.

"That's a smart jacket you've got there. Feel free to throw it on the other hook on the back of the door next to my shabby slobbo one." He commented, flopping down on his bed unceremoniously.

For the record, his trench looked perfectly fine, though it didn't help dispel the idea he was flashing people in his off time.

Shane winced. "Bloody hell. I was hoping nobody would notice the irony of how much I actually pay for this look."

Basil chucked. "Can't pull a fast one on me mate, I'm probably one of the few students here who's family can't qualify for school assistance. I know expensive things when I see them.

Your secret of bad boy chic is safe with me however."

"Good to hear mate. Now I don't have to kill you," he joked.

"Tough luck, you're gonna hafta queue up on that one." He stated back, keeping up the game of barbs that was normal in British society.

"So what're you in for mate? I mean other than a verdant hue."

"Plant-based shifter. Though 'in for' seems a harsh choice of words. Granted, I don't exactly have anywhere better to go."

Exactly. Basil thought, but refrained from commenting. Instead he said -

"Interesting. Do you need to eat anymore or do you use photosynthesis?"

"Both. As far as I know anyway. I haven't actually tried not eating. The sun feels pretty bloody awesome though."

"Is winter hard for you?" He asked. Shane might not be aware but he was slowly getting pulled into Basil's chain of twenty questions.

"I haven't even had a chance to find out. My current vegetable state is a secondary mutation."

"What does that mean?" Basil asked. Basil learned as little about the X-Gene as possible because he wanted nothing to do with it. And while secondary mutations weren't unheard of, they were an uncommon possibility in a group of uncommon people.

"I was pretty high on painkillers when it was explained to me. But basically it's a change in mutation; usually in response to physical trauma."

The phrases 'pain killers' and 'physical trauma' steered Basil to the assumption that whatever caused this to happen to him was outside of the normal boundaries of polite British conversation.

So he didn't ask about it. Instead he asked -

"So can you make flowers and the like then?"

"I probably could, but I don't much like bees."

"You always ask this many questions?"

"Yes," He replies, sounding amused.

"Sorry, I find asking the questions easier than answering them, but I suppose it's fair play if you want to grill me about something."

He tapped his chin in thought. "Only one comes to mind really. How do you shave without bloody mangling yourself?"

"I can see myself in reflections, so same as you can." He chuckled.

"And recently I've been... blinking in and out. Can't quite figure out what is causing it."

"Maybe you're starting to get control of it? On some level at least."

"Maybe... but if I can't figure out the trigger that's going to be difficult. Not sure in and out is better than actually invisible, Eh?"

"Buck up mate, you'll figure it out. Everyone's first in and out is the hardest," he said with an amused grin.

"Oh I don't know, mine was a little easier than I expected." He quipped back.

"Speaking of, you have a lady friend?"

"Not... at present," he answered with some injured pride.

"That's fine enough, just needed to know how frequently I'm going to need to clear out." He mused. Basil didn't mention whether or not he did after picking up on the tone of voice Shane used.

"Anyways, your room is the one by the window at least, so that might be good. And I don't think I have too many annoying habits. Sometimes I play music but I tend to keep that for when you're out."

"Probably for the best that I don't find out you like Country Western or something," he teased.

"Perk of rooming with a fellow Brit, I don't know anything about that beyond Johnny Cash.

But, I mean, if you're into it then I do know a girl who probably spends all her off time in a honky tonk back in the US."

"Exceptions could be made for the right reason," he smirked boyishly.

"No promises mate, but I can find out if she's busy or got another boy if you'd like."

"No offense. I'm not quite desperate enough to try and get set up with someone I've never laid eyes on."

The sad part is that he actually rather was that desperate. Not that he would ever admit it.

Basil's dress shirt shrugged as he folded his arms behind his head and laid out on his bed.

"That's fine, but I wouldn't think of it as desperate were the situation reversed. Loads of people are single because they just haven't met the right person yet. You can't meet people without introductions."

"I... well, okay, you actually have a pretty good point there."

"If we're roomed together long enough you'll find that a nasty habit of mine." He joked.

"Playing matchmaker? Should I be worried?" he teased.