Great Expectations (Xapham/Invite)

[Avalon Salabim]

So this was the infamous institute she'd heard so much about.  Avalon's gaze swept over the building and campus, making note of the area and if anyone was outside.  The knot that had been forming in Avalon's stomach the past few days tightened as her hands brushed at her skirt in a mild attempt to hide her nervousness.  It was hardly the same as Cabal's academy, or her home's, but it still brought bad memories to mind.

"It's quiet."  That was a relief.  Still, standing around outside wouldn't do her any good.  Taking a deep breath, Avalon took a final glance outside before entering the grounds.  It didn't seem difficult to know where the ministration would be in this place, but it was worth a quick look as she made her way forward.  It didn't seem to match any of the exaggerations she'd heard about the place, either, though that remained to be seen if the same was true for the headmaster.

[Xapham]

As Avalon made it inside it would be in between classes so students would be rushing about with an older student, probably a student teacher of sorts as they looked to be in their early 20's would be standing in the middle like a hall monitor if inquired about the Headmasters Office she would be directed forward and to the left. Once there she would see a double wooden door with a plaque saying 'Xapham's office'.

[Avalon Salabim]

Avalon did her best to stay towards the sides of the hall, working her way against the outskirt of the crowd if she couldn't follow the flow of traffic to get where she needed. Thanks to the older student's directions, she was able to make her way to the professor's office. Murmuring a polite, "Excuse me," if she got too close to one of the students, she took a moment to adjust her appearance before knocking on the door.

[Xapham]

"Come in."

A male voice would call from the other side of the doors. Once opened it would look like a book room more than an office as both walls seemed to be full of books, behind him a large window over looking the courtyard. At the desk Xapham would be sitting with a pair of eye glasses on as it seemed he was grading papers. His desk was covered in clutter of papers, pens, and books. It appeared that not only did he grade in here but he must also teach and research in here as well. Xapham would look up expecting to see one of his students when instead he saw an unfamiliar face.

"Oh! My apologies dear. Do come in and have a seat."

He would say with a warm smile and indicating she take one of the chairs in front of his desk.

"How may I be of service today, miss?"

[Avalon Salabim]

Avalon skimmed the room as the door opened, the scene one similar to home. It set her a little more at ease, if only just.

"Thank you, Professor Xapham. I apologize for interrupting your work. " She closed the door behind her, taking an offered seat with ease.

"My name is Avalon Salabim. I heard that this academy is the one that specializes in qi use?" Well, metahumans in this world, but it was all the same.

[Xapham]

He nodded.

"That is... one area of this school that does set it apart from any other in the world. But we are a school through and through, teaching this worlds history, math, science, language etcetera."

He would claify.

[Avalon Salabim]

For a moment, her polite expression gave way to a small smile, eyes lighting up at the clarification.

"All the better, then." Her shoulders eased as her hands folded in her lap. "I've been doing my best to teach myself since I've been here, but things have been...difficult after we arrived two years ago. I'm doing well enough in some areas, but others, not so much." If you counted "well enough" for college level calculus for a girl old enough to just graduate highschool. The other parts were remedial, though Avalon refused to admit to that word, instead gesturing to the world outside his door with a small motion of her hand.

"The fact that this place only has fifty territories - states."

Dear mana, please help.

[Xapham]

"I see, so are you looking to enroll here? I don't have a paperwork system only a face to face evaluation like this, and if you pass then we would just focus on putting you in the classes you need to study in."

He would say with a smile.

[Avalon Salabim]

"I'm sorry, I should have mentioned sooner." She nodded, a faint flush to her cheeks as she forced her hands to stop moving. It was strange to imagine the man didn't have a system set in place after all this time. It sounded as chaotic as his desk appeared. Enough so that she didn't think he meant it at first.

"What would I need to do?" Her brows knit together despite his smile.

[Xapham]

"Just sit here and talk with me. Answer a few questions, and let me get a sense of who you are."

He would say simply.

"You must understand most of these children I've raised as my own over the years and as you can imagine I'm rather protective of them, so I prefer to do one on one introductions."

He would stand up from his chair and walk over to another desk that had a tea set.

"Would you like something to drink? Tea? Water?"

[Avalon Salabim]

"Tea, if you please." Avalon nodded at the explanation, accepting it with ease. Answering questions was easy enough.

"It's quite understandable." Not that she didn't doubt Xapham had more than one means of protecting this place. The recent violence was only one example. But it still felt strange to her that the place had such a relaxed approach.

"I was surprised when you asked if I was enrolling when you knew I wasn't one of your students. Do you often get unwanted visitors?"

[Xapham]

He chuckled as he prepared the tea.

"Well, I guess that depends on your definition of 'unwanted' to date I have yet to have any unwanted visitors, only those that are curious, and I support curiosity it is need for the pursuit of knowledge and with it comes growth."

He would carefully pour to glasses of hot tea.

"Any cream or Sugar?"

[Avalon Salabim]

"No, thank no thank." She shook her head, far too familiar with black tea.

"Agreed. Things become stagnant without the desire to know or learn." Some of the fatigue left her face, replaced with actual relief at the mention of curiosity. It was something they could agree on.

"I'm glad you've only had curious visitors, then."

[Xapham]

"As am I. Though I'll admit that I had more curious visitors."

He sighed as he handed her a tea cup.

"For that means that there are more that are more scared than they are curious. Such is the world we now live in."

He would take a seat and take a sip of his tea.

"Ah, now, for my first question. Why would you want to join my institute here?"

[Avalon Salabim]

Avalon accepted the cup with a nod and a small sound of agreement. That was the way of less civilized lands.

"Then it seems the best we can do for now is show them we're not as terrifying as they think."

His first question was an expected one. She looked down into the tea for a moment, taking a small sip to test it before she looked up and answered.

"I was a student before we arrived here, and I've always loved learning. But I threw that away on what I believed was an act of patriotism at the time." She remembered standing up to her parents with her decision, then later wondering if they agreed because they believed Preston could convince her to return home. Their fight. The end.

"I want to further my education, not only about this world but about Those in it, as well." Her grip tightened slightly on the handle. "Too many have died on that Ark for me to throw the opportunity away again."