Issue 1 Downtime

A new telepathic presence was on campus. The car that dropped her off in front of the dorms had seem much better days. At least they stopped long enough for her and her duffle bag to get out. To be honest, they were glad to be rid of her and she was glad to be rid of them. They have such small fears, she thought as she shut the door of the car and the car took off. She had obviously made an attempt at being neat and tidy in her dress, but her outfit, a pair of old ratty jeans and a top that looked distinctly 'hand-me-down', indicated that her options had been limited. She set the duffle bag down and began fishing in it for the admission packet she'd been sent.

((Open))

A large brown wolf wearing what looked like a harness or something trotted up to the new arrival and sat down, shifting into human form before her eyes. The harness, it turned out, was a training uniform

"Hi. Sorry if I startled you. I'm Stephanie."

Robyn had been startled, and said something potentially impolite in a language that sounded somewhat Gaelic before she managed to gather her wits. She continued, but the lilt in her accent was still present, "S'alright. I'm Robyn. Pleasure to meet ya. Do all new arrivals get this sort of welcome? "

"Just ones that show up while I'm running around," she smiled.

"Do you need a hand with anything? Happy to grab a bag and help you get settled.

"I've just got the one," she said self-consciously. "I just need to find my papers. They had my room number on them." She fished in the bag again, pulling out a folder stuffed with all sorts of papers that looked a little the worse for its travelling conditions. A quick look produced her housing sheet, "Maybe you can show me where this room is?"

"Happy to carry it for you if you like," she smiled, gesturing for her to follow towards the buildings ahead.

"Well, I won't argue with a werewolf," she said, stepping to the side so Steph could grab the bag. She followed closely, but not too closely.

"Smart gal," she grinned, grabbing the bag.

"Welcome to Mutant U. Mind the occasional drama that comes with bottling up a bunch of mutants including hormonal high schoolers. Beyond that though, it's a pretty great place."

"So they said. And I'm used to drama. My family was large and very prone to it before they kicked me out. They're probably still prone to it, I just don't have to deal with it anymore. Though the boarding school had it's share of drama too I guess. So I'd wager drama is normal."

"Sorry to hear," she frowned. "Plenty of people like you here though, myself included. Haven't seen or heard from my family in the better part of five years."

"I'm better off really. If I'd stayed, I'd probably be married and have kids by now." She shuddered at the thought. "So how does a body earn a little spending money around here?"

"Yeah. sometimes things work out for the best. Jobs? Maldon is a quick bus or can ride away, and honestly isn't an awful walk or bike ride if the weather is nice. So lots of options there. There's usually both odd jobs and part time work around campus too. Cafeteria, groundskeeping, records and admissions, medical center...you can even get a little compensation for tutoring academic stuff or power control, depending on what you can do."

"I can put you in touch with the right people on campus. You'll get more money off campus though, certainly."

"I think it would be better to start on campus maybe." The thought of being around habitually unshielded minds... now that's frightening.

"Can't argue with the commute," she smiled.

She would find, if she looked, reasonably good mental defenses for a non-telepath. (That is to say at least she wasn't mentally shouting.)

"You've seen my trick--what's yours?" she asked, making small talk as they headed towards the dorms.

"I... well... I can make a thing that looks like something someone's afraid of. Not something I really like to show off with."

"Useful in a fight," she nodded. "You ever think of joining the X-Team?"

"Not really. When I do it, I sort of start to disappear. It's kind of frightenin'."

"Putting yourself into what you make...?" Steph trailed off in thought.

"Sorry. I teach power control to the high schoolers, so I'm a bit of a nerd about that stuff. Don't mean to be overly inquisitive. We do have plenty of opportunity to practice in controlled environments, though so, feel free."

She held the door to the dorms open for the new arrival.

She slipped inside, even though the door was held open for her. "I got a handle on it while I was in school, but I terrified quite a few people and the ones I didn't terrify didn't like where I came from."

"I think you'll find all of us here a bit more welcoming," she smiled.

except Regan...between that girl and Cal I'm going to go insane before the end of the school year.

"Who's Regan?" She asked, distracted enough by the surroundings to not realize immediately that Stephanie hadn't said that out loud. She covered her mouth quickly, "Oh, I'm so sorry."

Stephanie tensed up uncomfortably, and while she didn't say anything aloud, a low growl echoed in her mind that Robyn would be able to pick up on.

"It's okay. I must have been shouting. I usually try to be better about that..."

"I'm really sorry. Can I make it up to you? Emotions like that are easy for me if I'm not careful. I'm usually better about it."

Steph forced a smile, even though her wilder side was still on edge.

oh pipe down, it was an honest mistake.

"It's fine. Accidents happen. Apologies if she is growling at you. If you feel the need to do something, buy me a drink sometime or something, but it's totally unnecessary."

"I owe you a drink then. Collect anytime."

"Sounds like fun," she smiled finally looking more relaxed.

"There's actually some pretty attractive guys who live in town, so there's usually eye candy at the very least," she chuckled.

"None of the guys at the boarding school were really all that interesting to look at, but bless them, they tried."

"There's plenty of good looking fellows here too... but more and more of them seem to be getting snapped up lately," she smiled.

"So, here's your room. We're almost neighbors, I'm right down the hall. Shall we drop off your stuff, then continue the tour, grab a quick bite?"

"Sounds good. I bummed a ride and they weren't real interested in stopping for food."

"You gotta work on the puppy dog eyes. Maybe I'm better at that because I turn fuzzy," she laughed.

"Never been particularly good at them," she acknowledged. "And you do probably have an edge there."

"Just takes practice. You're gorgeous, I'm sure you can."

She shrugged, "I won't find anyone here on the isles at any rate. Once they find out where I'm from, they'll be gone."

"This some UK thing that a Yank will have trouble understanding?" She smirked.

"Oh most certainly," she said, tossing her bag into an empty bedroom. "How familiar are you with the Pavees?"

"On a scale of one to ten? Probably a one."

"They're also called Irish Travellers... and gypsies by people who don't know what they're talking about."

"That sounds more familiar. From the other names then, sounds like you have an undeserved reputation."

"Some deserved, some not, but usually the name conjures up enough in most people's minds."

"Well I don't think it will bother any of the American boys at least," she smiled.