Opening Day [OPEN]

[astonishing_xmods]

WHO: EVERYONE
WHAT: Mingle/Figure out Room Assignments/Meet old friends again
WHERE: The whole campus.
WHEN: September 1st, 2018
WARNING(S): None. If anything goes into warning territory, please create a new log for it.




For all of the newcomers, welcome to Professor Xavier’s Institute of Higher Learning! For all of our returning students and staff, welcome back! Once Professor Xavier’s welcome speech wraps up, it’s time for everyone to get themselves situated in their dorms and, more importantly, get to know your fellow mutants! Even if you’re not sharing rooms, you’ll still be sharing the same campus with each other, so don’t be afraid to get used to all of those new faces! Or even catch up on old ones! You have options; don’t be afraid to use them.

[[ ooc: This is the general mingling post for all of our characters to get settled into their rooms, get to know each other, reminisce with old friends, all that jazz. The log will be split into multiple locations. ]]

Comments

[frigokinetic]

Blast and damn. Elsa never was the best strategist, she knows this, but she thought that her plan was really going to go off without a hitch this time. She does catch notice of someone trying to get her attention, and looks over to find a young man with long black hair trying to speak to her. Subconsciously, she rearranges herself for social interaction.

"I appreciate the offer, sir, but no," she responds, trying to sound as pleasant as possible. "I wouldn't expect anyone to be able to offer their assistance."

She pauses after that. Should she invite him to sit down? She doesn't want him to sit down. Or should she? Does she not want him to sit because she just wants to hide in her isolation corner again? Even though she is still looking at him, Elsa's expression seems to glaze over a little bit from all the thoughts bouncing around in her lovely little head.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

...okay, he raises an eyebrow at that answer. After glancing about to ensure they have at least a modicum of privacy, so as not to make her any more uncomfortable, he kneels so as not to be looming over her, and offers his most reassuring smile--well-practiced, equal parts sympathy and confidence, but no less sincere.

"I'd suggest that would depend on what the problem is, Miss. And if there's any place where assistance can be offered, I imagine this is it. I don't wish to pry, of course... but if you could tell me what troubles you..."

He trails off at that, since the implication is obvious, and it's occurred to him that he ought to introduce himself--partly because it's good manners, and partly to offer her an non-confrontational escape route from the topic of whatever's bothering her, if she's not ready to talk about it just yet.

"Mm, my name is Alric. I'm new, here, myself."

...she's damnably familiar. He knows he's going to kick himself when he figures it out. At any rate, he keeps up that comforting smile for her sake; the sooner she's set at ease, the sooner he can find a way to help resolve whatever's worrying her, or so he hopes.

[frigokinetic]

Yes, she is... definitely not ready to talk about it yet. (And to be perfectly honest, she's not sure if she wants his help; he is being very forceful about it, and she tends to distrust anyone who extends such intimate assistance to complete strangers.) A certain Bigby Wolf already tried this approach and she shot him down; the long-haired man will be no different.

She scoots a little bit further away from him when he kneels down, suddenly feeling uncomfortable. Between his apparent disregard for Elsa's (admittedly massive) personal and emotional space, and the fact that she really cannot shake the feeling she's seen that face before, this whole situation is getting more than slightly weird. Elsa finds herself wishing she could just make a break for it... but she's not going to do that, because that would be rude.

Still, she is grateful when he offers his name as a different conversational topic.

"Elsa," she says quietly, frowning thoughtfully at him. "I'm sorry, but... that name is familiar. Do I know you?"

[knighterrantofthedragon]

He's a little surprised at just how skittish she is, and subtly adjusts his posture, leaning back a little to give her a bit more room without making a show of doing so. He does look a little more concerned and less confident at that reaction, although he regains his composure quickly.

"Ah... it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Elsa." Tick. "...Elsa. ...not..." He trails off again, stopping himself from leaning any closer, although he does duck his head and quiet his voice to avoid being overheard. "I-... ...Queen Elsa of Arendelle?"

[frigokinetic]

Praise. The. Gods.

She breathes a minute sigh of relief. Part of her wonders if she should apologise for being so-- well-- awkward, but he's already talking now so moving right along.

...uh.

There's a long pause as Elsa registers what he just said, and mention of the word queen jogs her memory. She knows who he is now.

"Yes," she says awkwardly. "That's me."

[knighterrantofthedragon]

"I..." He trails off briefly and glances aside, with a sheepish chuckle at himself and a hand raised to scratch at the back of his head; he doesn't know what she knows, so he's not really sure what to make of that response, but he continues--still in hushed tones to preserve her privacy in case she doesn't wish to identify herself just yet to anyone who doesn't pick her out on their own.

"..ah.. well, I imagine you might not remember me at all, of course. It must be... ten years ago, I suppose, perhaps more... er, nonetheless, my sincerest apologies for any, ah... untoward familiarity, Your Majesty."

His smile certainly seems sincerely contrite; if anything, somewhat out of proportion to what he explicitly apologized for. Clearly, at any rate, he's got more on his mind that he said, but just as clearly, she doesn't need to be bombarded with someone else's concerns, at the moment.

[frigokinetic]

Preserving her privacy is, in fact, exactly what Elsa wants to do. She isn’t sure if Alric would understand that, since she didn’t exactly know his stance on his status as nobility, but she is pleased that he’s being respectful to her about it.

“You are forgiven,” she says, waving a hand in a calculated display of dismissiveness. Now that she knows she’s speaking to another royal, her demeanour changes entirely, once again the composed queen instead of the lonely girl. It is slightly harder to be classy, however, when she has to think long and hard about what to say in English. “I am also sorry for my rude responses. I did not mean to insult you in any way, and I don’t think any less of you for it.”

Of course, they both have more on their mind than they let on — they’re royalty, after all.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

His smile broadens a little, although clearly still restrained, as she relaxes--if only slightly. In fact, he's caught off guard, momentarily, at the magnitude of that transformation, but composes himself quickly.

"Ah... I- no, not at all, Your Majesty, you need not apologize. I can understand well how... great an adjustment this must be." His smile grows rather more contrite, almost fading entirely as he goes on. "...and I... wanted to apologize. Had I not been occupied with affairs of state, I would have surely been in attendance at your coronation, and... ...well."

Ahem. He revives the smile, although more sheepishly, realizing how much it had slipped.

"...it would have been an honor to stand in defense of a friendly monarch, even if it proved unnecessary. ...but, I am glad that the matter was resolved as fortunately as it was."

[frigokinetic]

"I am flattered," Elsa tells him with an even tone -- an even tone that she is fighting hard to maintain. Her response is clipped and not at all comfortable. "But as I said, it is understandable, and now I think it would be best if you stated your business or left."

She doesn't take kindly to people walking up to her and blabbing about the incident where she nearly killed everyone at her coronation and then ran off into the wilderness, thank you. This whole conversation is too much for her; even if they knew each other in passing, that does not mean he has any right to probe into her personal life until she specifically asks.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Oops.

He raises his hands, just slightly, in a soothing gesture, obviously at least little surprised at how poorly that was received. He understood it had been a traumatic event for her, of course; but he'd clearly failed to comprehend how much so. Reaction, though, if not what he expected, isn't exactly unfamiliar.

"I-..." He catches himself, quickly collects himself, and puts something of a smile back on, as a conciliatory gesture--definitely more formal, courtly, and practiced, this time. "...ah. Yes. You did. Please, pardon my foolish rambling. ...with respect, Your Majesty, I'd noticed you seemed... ...troubled... and hoped that perhaps I could be of some help. ......which.. ah... it seems I am not doing particularly well, so far. But if there is anything I can do to rectify that, please do not hesitate to let me know."

He moves to stand--somewhat slowly, and not moving toward her, since she's clearly already on the defensive--a hint of withdrawal to give her a little more space, and soothe her seemingly rather frayed nerves.

[frigokinetic]

"I will. I appreciate your consideration, Alric, thank you." Elsa is using her queen voice too, now, except it is very noticeably shaken. Awkwardly, she stands up and brushes nonexistent dirt off of her dress. "If you don't mind," she says, "I need to do some tasks before classes begin."

And also hyperventilate in her dorm room. There's that, too.

[knighterrantofthedragon]

Really it's all he can do to stop himself from bowing. ...kneeling near her, okay, a little unconventional, but not out of this world, but if she's trying to avoid drawing too much attention-

"..ah.. yes, of course, Your Majesty." He nods politely, as a compromise, and calmly steps aside to allow her a path of least resistance to make an escape. Having had a moment to compose himself, he smiles a touch more warmly and reassuringly, once again, although also somewhat concerned.

The last time he saw someone so rattled, they were not in a good state, internally; but as much as he hates to leave a problem floating, she's clearly not up for resolving anything right now. Kicking himself for not picking up on that sooner will have to wait, though.

"I hope that you settle in well."