"Done a bit of reading about that time, for history classes, like." Aedan mused, and then something occurred to him. "One of the blokes in my group's from around...82, I think. Irish, which means he's seen...a lot of shite in his life, from what I've learnt."
Not that he'd done it in an actual school, but read it for online coursework instead. He hadn't been allowed to do that, then. Criminal records at the time could DO that for you.
Aedan blinked at the rest of that. "Oh wow. that's...quite the girl stuff. I thought my sister trapping me in a magic cage and setting a room on fire was emotional." He shook his head a little. "Most of the time, her magic just...spilled over sort of, but that one..." He whistled. "Da was PISSED. Only time I've seen him actually mad at Ellie. She's the good sibling." he explained, rolling his eyes. "Or boring, depending."
And he grinned at the last.
"Aye, well that's what I did before I came here. Or...part of it. I had a few lines of work, but thieving was one of my mainstays at home and I kept it up here for a time. Still do, when it's to steal something needed. I'm no bad at it, really. Only got myself caught when I NEEDED to get caught, here if you get what..."
"Not on purpose getting caught, exactly." Aedan clarified. "There's no one in their right mind wanting to invite that sort of trouble," He added, rubbing his palms absently, and wincing at the memory.
"But, you ken how it is when...having someone notice you's just what you need, even when you don't like or want that." His grin was a little rueful with that one. "And then, a lot happened but I met...I thought he was a friend who pointed out how the thieving could help me in doing other work that needed someone small and sneaky and quick with their hands. He drew me into his group and was going to train me as his apprentice but ditched me for another of them to train instead. Still, I'll always be grateful he pitched the chance to me."
"And it depends on what everyone can do. The ones who did the work at home, some of them have this special strain of DNA. It gives them super sight and the ability to know what's happening where. Shaun, our leader...he wasn't born with it but developed skill in that one, so he's taught those of us who're nothing special how to work with it. And then we've also got a vampire...sorry, upir, and the antichrist and a jedi among the others. And...funny you mention mutants. Erik's one of those."