Hurucan halted in the street, and breathed deep. There was something about the air here; not just New York specifically, although it was a prime example. He couldn't quite place what might cause it: perhaps it was the taste of pollution in the air, or the tang of the near twenty million souls and their electrical appliances buzzing away around him. Even in this backward suburb the sensation was strong, a constant thrum of late night TV, refrigerators, telephones, computers; all set to the throbbing base pulsing through the cables that draped between the power poles above.

On a whim, Hurucan rose a hand to the street lamp; the bulb burst, protective cover melting away as an arc of icy blue electricity arced direct from the mains supply and into Hurucan's fingertips. He rolled his fingers for a moment as the lightning disappeared, watching them with interest as a familiar tingling sensation danced up his nerves. With a slight smile of contentment he allowed his hand to close into a loose fist, and let it fall to his sde. Casting a casual look at the now darkened street lamp, he nodded to no one on particular, and continued on his way.

This was not his first time in America, nor his first in the Big Apple. The last time however had been strictly business; this current visit would be more pleasurable, if all went according to plan. It would also last somewhat longer. He allowed himself the briefest of smiles. New York was in for an awakening. Time would tell how rude an awakening it would be.

Hurucan's boots slapped against the pavement - sidewalk, he supposed, mentally correcting himself for the American terminology - as he walked. Despite the urge to hunch against the cold air, drive his hands deep into his pockets, and march on as swiftly as he was able, the rigid upbringing that sutured the few remaining strands of his sanity kept his posture straight, and his gait calm and steady. It wouldn't do to seem rushed and hurried; it was better to arrive later and appear like you meant every minute of it than to hurridly arrive on time and advertise your lack of forethought in out-of-breath gasps.

Not that he had anywhere to be, of course. And being late to anything would have been quite an irony, considering the abilities that his mutant genetics had bestowed upon him. His brief smile returning, Hurucan unleashed a deep, hearty chuckle as the thought tumbled around inside his mind.

The laugh faded away into stark silence as he heard, felt, sensed a presence. It wasn't his mutation this time; just years of honed instincts and hard-earned experience. Gradually, he slowed his pace to an easy stop, and forced his hands to relax, arms ever so slightly held away from his body to better show that he was unarmed.

"Hello there," he called calmly over his shoulder.