y Dderwen (IC)

[Quinn]

Morgan kept quiet, musing on historical possibilities on his branch. The breeze ruffled the end of his coat slightly, and he felt the material in one hand. Lot of things the girl'd said had resonated too; uncomfortably so. Brought back a lot of things he'd tried to put behind him on the training trip. The locked away image poked at the edges of his mind again.

He shook his head. No. Away with you. I am not for you. And you are not for anyone else. Ever again.

The teen returned his attentions to Cerys and Subito, just as Sube finished his series of questions (and noted the same argument - pound for pound, he favored Golbasto). Morgan, for his part, simply shrugged; kings did what kings did because they were kings. And if history classes were any indicators, it could've run the gamut for pretty much any or all of those reasons at once.

"Dad worked with the Freedom League once upon a time, so I've got that to live up to. And whatever the reasons, sword like that's a good reason to be honored." Grin. "My opinion? You'll do just fine here."

[Tiffany Korta]

“He was called the generous because he would allow anyone who wished to hold Dyrnwyn.†She waved the sword for emphasis “But no one did because the flame would only work for the noble or worthy man.†She thought of Morgan’s reaction “Or at least that’s what the legends say. It’s always worked for me, and I’m neither.†She gave a worried little grin.

With little ceremony she put the sword back into its scabbard.

“Rhydderch and a few others attacked Gwynedd because another Scottish King was allegedly killed there. The story goes that they were pushed all the way back to Alt Clut and my ancestor, Cerriggwaed, defeated Rhydderch in single combat but spared his life. So in return Rhydderch gave him Dyrnwyn as thanks, or possibly tribute, the legends a little vague on the fact.â€

[Semi-Autogyro]

John carried the two rucksacks along as he walked across the quad. He had been asked to assist Mister Archer in training some of the underclassmen later today, namely to properly inform them of the dangers and limitations of firearms before encountering them in combat situations. As he approached the tree that marked the center of the quad he noticed Subito, Morgan, and a female student he had not met. Not to mention the flaming sword.

He slowed his pace and stopped as he approached the tree. "Hello to you all." John stated and gave a short bow seeing as his hands were full.

"I might be late for our customary pizza night. I have been tasked with helping Mister Archer, so please go ahead and order my usual if I am not on time Morgan." He said to his friend in the upper boughs.

"Additionally, may I inquire as to why there is an incendiary device being used within the confines of a flammable area?" His sunglasses did not hide the quizzical arch of one of his eyebrows.

[Ari]

"Huh, I need to look this up" said the track-suited teen thoughtfully "this is a lot more..." he heard the approaching footfalls of the disciplined John Smith from long off, but gave no through to it before his crisp voice sounded. Turning to him quickly he said eagerly "Hello Mr. Smith! Glad to see you! This is the new student Cerys Pfer, and don't worry about the flaming sword, it only burns people, and then if they're not worthy to wield it" he glanced at it and added uncertainly "It seems to be okay with me. At any rate, it won't burn down the tree or anything" he looked with interest at the rucksacks, but surprisingly held his tongue. Questions about things like that would be answered sooner or later, often of their own accord.

[Quinn]

Morgan looked down with a raised eyebrow at the two rucksacks, shifting the questioning gaze to John before just shrugging. At the mention of John's usual though, he made a thoroughly disgusted expression, and shook his head.

"Sauerkraut pizza, yech. John, I have absolutely no idea how you can stomach that stuff, it looks like barf. Vinegary barf. Vinegary barf on cheese. It's a blasphemy to the title of pizza!"

This coming from the guy who wasn't happy without three or four different types of cheeses on his slices. Or had honey mustard sauce on his meatball sub sandwiches. Morgan knew he and his friends had some...irregular eating habits.

[Tiffany Korta]

The new arrival made her jump again, and her natural instinct again was to hide. But there was something about his demeanor that reminded her of some of her instructors, but he was just a student right? It was hard to tell sometime with the little she’d seen at this school.

“Like Subito said it isn’t dangerous, it normally doesn’t burn anything around it. This mighty tree, however dangerous, is perfectly safe for now.†She pushed the blade all the way back into its sheath, and given the tree and friendly little pat for emphasis.

[Semi-Autogyro]

John reply was a succinct "I see. Magic." Morgan had known John long enough that his friend accepted that as an answer, because John had long given up trying to figure out the minutiae of how exactly magic operated.

He shrugged at the mention of his pizza. "I have imbibed worse concoctions. I find that ones ability to stomach food is proportional to what they have had to eat before; my survival training before Claremont was comprehensive in that regard."

John had not missed Subitos' or Morgans' look at his bags. "Some of the underclassmen have taken a rather lax attitude when it comes to the dangers of firearms. As a result, Mister Archer wants me to give a lecture on them." He gave a nod at one of the bags. "If they do not take it to heart, I will be then directly assisting in their training by giving them a more practical demonstration."

Setting the bags down, he ended a friendly hand. "Welcome to Claremont, Miss Cerys. Call me John. My apologies for startling you."

[Quinn]

Morgan gave John a very flat look. A very flat look. About three-quarters of the Crow-Glare.

"J, no airsoft pellets to sensitive areas. You were lucky to get away with a noogie last time you did that."

Phantom pain came from those sensitive areas and Morgan's glare disappeared under a wince. One thing you could say about John Smith, he did not fight fair. Guy was Good with a capital G, and definitley heroic, but absolutely not fair. At Cerys patting the tree, however, he adopted a mock-disappointed expression, followed by a wry smile.

"Much to my chagrin, Cer. It'd be a right pretty bonfire...hey, you okay? You look a bit jumpy."

[Ari]

Subito had soon learned by proxy about the Myrmidon's devotion to combat efficiency, which truth be told hadn't really affected his earlier impression in the slightest. He admired John for his clear thinking, and while a little weirded-out by the fellow student's occasional single-mindedness, it didn't diminish that respect.

He had to scowl at the mention of not taking guns seriously "Really? People around here not taking those things seriously is pretty hard t'believe" he tugged off the sweatband, as the partial shade of the gradually warming tree made it fairly unnecessary, and wound it about his left arm. "Then again, lately there's been a lot of talk even from guys with less experience than me about how they could totally take several dozen guys with guns at once, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised" he rubbed his hair vigorously, a vague feeling of annoyance surfacing. it hadn't taken him long to figure out that his own powers were anything but really useful, and that he was improving them and their use with maddening slowness. It didn't show past his normal behavior though.

"Say John!" he called abruptly, eyes alight win an idea "Maybe we should show Cerys around campus? Show her the hangout spots, good places to find things she might need, usual stuff like that? Where should we start..." he scanned the nearby buildings, eyes narrowing against the light glare from the sun. Swinging a muscular arm in the direction of the library he asked Cerys "How about there? Lots of really useful things in there, not hard to find once you know 'em"

[Tiffany Korta]

“Well we I was being taught, to show the danger of firearms I was shot.†She quickly thought through the implications of her statements “It was a low velocity round, and I was wearing body armour…â€

She spent a few second examine her clothing, before looking up with a friendly, if slightly forced, smile on her face.

“Please to meet you John. And yes I think I would love a tour of the school. I was meant to meet some kind of guide, but I seemed to have somehow lost them…â€

She looked at them all hopefully.

[Semi-Autogyro]

John scoffed, remembering when he had ambushed the other Irregulars at some point or another and giving Morgan a sly grin. "You got off relatively easy. I had to use greater measures against Brian and Victoria due to their innate resilience."

He thought for moment at Subitos' questions, before he answered the brawny teen. "I surmise a large part of the problem is that powers can make one overconfident in the face of mundane dangers. In addition, popular culture seems to either gloss over, or grossly estimate the capabilities of such things. A pistol does not seem threatening if ones' only exposure to them is from video-games, movies, and television." John gave an appreciative nod over in Cerys direction after she mentioned her training. "Firsthand experience is always the best teacher." It also caused him to recall some of the more reprehensible parts of his training, but he pushed the errant thoughts aside.

"An excellent proposition, Mister Subito." John said as he offered a hand for Cerys to help her down with. "It would be my pleasure to aid in your Claremont orientation, Miss Cerys." After all, he could just drop off the bags with Mister Archer and return later. He still had over an hour and half before he was needed anyways.

[Ari]

With a slight thrill at being so addressed, Subito briskly said "Alrighty then! How about we check through the library, gym and auditorium, administration building, that kickawesome greenhouse thataways" he pointed at the distant glass and metal enclosure that had been built several months ago "then the cafeteria, the student supply store in the Matthias Cooke Wing, the infirmary in the Dr. Claremont building, and ending with the Honor Wall" he rubbed his hands, the slight chill of the recalcitrant winter still present "And, if you feel like it, the chapel. How's that sound?" he asked eagerly, leaping heavily down from his perch on the branch to the earth. He looked to Morgan "Wanna come along?" he asked suddenly "I bet you know a lot more about this place than I do, and it would be nice to have some people along who know what they're talking about"

To Cerys he called "By the way..who was your guide supposed to be? If it was another student I'll make sure this kind of thing doesn't happen again" he looked utterly serious about that.

[Quinn]

Morgan shrugged, then the impact of what Myrmidon had said made his eyes narrow, and he vaulted down from the branch. Despite his recent trip and a lot of reevaluations over his...issues...he still had his moments. Especially if it involved training regimens. Something that John likely knew all too well, given the sheer weight of the routine Crowe worked through every day. The teen strode up to John, poked him in the chest, and unleashed the full and unleaded power of the Crow-Glare directly at his (now in immense danger of a pranking streak) friend.

"You. Will ambush me with redoubled efforts. Stuff that'd make Bri and Vick sweat. Or I'll kick your butt up between your ears. Got it?"

He didn't wait for an answer, instead spinning on his heel and looking back to the others, the Glare replaced with a cheery smile. "Sure, I'm game for a tour; though today's stir-fry day in the caf, so can we start there?" The cheery smile was replaced with a mischevious grin.

[Tiffany Korta]

Her stomach rumbled at the thought of food she had eaten since she’d left Cardiff, she’d been too excited to eat on the plane. But what did Cerys eat? Her meals had normally been simple affairs designed to maintain her fitness levels. She’d been introduced to different foods, part of her training to infiltrate different targets, but not simply for the pleasure of just eating. Well one way to find out.

She grabbed her bag and gracefully tumbled to the ground. Landing deftly on her feet she put her rucksack on her back, carrying on as if the fall was nothing.

“Actually the canteen would be great I skipped breakfast.â€

[Semi-Autogyro]

John looked down at Morgan finger poking into his chest and then back at the shorter man. "Mister Subito would you please escort Miss Cerys to the Mess Hall? We will join you shortly. Morgan? A word."

Waiting until the pair started to the mess hall out of earshot he off his glasses and directed a frosty glare at his friend. "I will not perform or aid in no such action. Turning the campus into a battleground will not further your training. I will never inflict upon another the illegal and unethical regimen that was once required of me. If you respect my opinion at all, Morgan, then you will understand why I will not acquiesce to your demand." John retrieved the duffels and brushed past Morgan, heading to drop off the bags to Mister Archer before meeting the others in the cafeteria about five minutes later.

[Quinn]

Morgan gave John a mixed look as the other teen left, but didn't say anything. How could he? He'd let his pride get way ahead of him and brought up some bad memories on Myrm's part; something he hated doing. But on the other hand, he hated, absolutely hated being seen as less than or weaker than the others...which was true. He was the weak link in the group. And he knew it. No matter how tough he put the training level at, no matter how savage he made the Doom Room, he would always, always fall short of his friends.

It was a bitter pill to swallow. A glowing purple orb with tendrils of energy flowing from it and a core of raw power...

The teen shook his head, trying to squash the thoughts that plagued him - thoughts he'd tried to suppress during the trip. He was better than that. He knew he was better than that. And he couldn't be jealous of his friends - that sentiment was just wrong on so many levels...Morgan stayed quiet as he shoved his hands into his pockets. Although he did look behind him at the receding back of John. The teen lightly put a hand on his coat, and a voice murmured in John's ear as a breeze ruffled by. "...I'm sorry."

Crowe walked into the cafeteria a few minutes late.

[Ari]

"I had totally forgotten that!" exclaimed the junior excitedly when Morgan casually revealed the cafeteria's special offering. Stir-fry wasn't his normal choice, but the kind the cooks made had bore its way deeply into his heart. Turning to Cerys as she had descended he'd begun to eagerly explain why this was a big deal "They have really great sesame and rice stuff that they put on the-" he was abruptly interrupted by the short, and to his eyes bizarre altercation between John and Morgan, which saw him mostly flicking his eyes between them as they spoke, baffled by the event.

Giving a brief nod when told to lead her to the cafeteria, he rolled his powerful shoulders and beckoned silently, knowing depressingly well that he would still hear every word. "Sorry 'bout this," he muttered to the Welsh agent once he was out of the two's normal hearing range "this usually doesn't happen. People don't have much ill-will most of the time" he frowned at that and added "...pretty much never, as it happens. It'll blow over quick, is my guess" he declared more cheerfully as they stepped into the eatery.

He gave a slight wave around the well-lit and airy place, at the neat rows of tables, benches and the banks of food-serving outlets staffed by the largely cheerful staff of the extranormal teaching institute. "Not much to look at, I suppose, but the food's really good! Give it a try" he urged her smilingly.

[Tiffany Korta]

Normally Blodeuwedd was excellent at reading people, but the disagreement between the two went almost unnoticed, so much was she concerned with what she was going to do in the canteen.

The canteen itself wasn’t any less imposing than she had imagined, but at Subito encouraging she took a tray and looked over the choices of food available. Playing it safe she went for what everyone else seemed to be choosing. She then choose an empty table, near the door just in case.

The stir fry was nice but nothing special, she had tasted better in the past, but then it came to dessert.

By the time the other two arrived she was on her second dessert a wide smile on her face.

“You should try this jelly… sorry jello; it’s well its green…â€

[Semi-Autogyro]

When John had arrived he had sat across from Cerys, having a larger bowl of the vice that he had come to like at his time at Claremont. He gestured at his parfait made from lime Jell-o. "Indeed. If you would like to try different variants the servers are usually more than happy to help."

He didn't have stir fry, instead having a heaping portion of red beans and rice and a modest selection of fruits on his tray. Two full glasses of water completed his meal.

"Did you think of any further questions about the academy that you would like addressed?" John asked.

[Ari]

Subito proudly thumped down a plate heaping with the day's special stir-fry, and with a silent prayer and a bowing of his head began the daunting task of turning it into fuel. Between bites he affirmed what John had said "If you've got any questions at all, feel free to ask! I'm not wholly clueless about his place, and Mr. Smith here is a veritable" he enunciated every syllable of the word, though he knew it well enough to use it in everyday speech "ver-it-a-bull fountain of useful information. I got lost like every day before I decided to ask for directions from him, and I have never gotten lost since" he nodded sagely, seeming to remove a large pile of noodles and vegetables from existence.

[Quinn]

Morgan raised an eyebrow at John's parfait. That was...a lot of Jell-O.

For a moment, he wondered if Overshadow enjoyed Jell-O. Then his mind rebelled at the concept of one of the planet's worst supervillains sitting down to enjoy a heaping bowl of wiggling strawberry stuff and he promptly drowned it in stir-fry; his plate was piled high, as was his usual wont. Train hard, play hard, and eat hard. And this was some dem fine stir fry right here.

"Oh, John's good, but I can say with no small bit of pride that I know every inch of that courtyard out there nearly perfectly. From both a right-side-up and upside-down perspective." He nodded sagely and then snerked. "So Cerys, what classes are you taking?"

[Tiffany Korta]

She looked down at her now empty bowl and considered if she could get away with another bowl.

“Well any more of these and I defiantly need a gym, and I’d like to keep practicing with Dyrnwyn so a Dojo would be handy. I read somewhere that Freedom city has some off the most skilled sword welders in the world.â€

She was babbling, way was she babbling?

She paused and gathered together her thoughts

“As for my studies I’m quite sure yet. All this was a bit of a rush; I have to have done by next week. Do you have any suggestions?â€

[Semi-Autogyro]

"One of the benefits for being enrolled at Claremont is that one is never lacking for training if you so wish, Miss Cerys." John took a long drink from one of his glasses. "We have world-class facilities present here, providing yourself ample ways in which to improve ones abilities."

"But to answer your query, there are a few skilled artisans of the blade here. Along with other many other who have a high degree of martial skill and training." If she wanted to improve herself, well, he really only knew one person that he could consider an expert in swords. "Morgan and I have the pleasure of being friends with the finest fencer I have ever met and sparred with. I would be happy to introduce you to her."

If she is serious about being a swordsman, there was no sense in not assisting her. "Your curriculum will be based on your previous history prior to arrival on campus, creating a specialized studies path for you. There are numerous electives, and there is no harm trying ones that are interesting to you personally."

[Ari]

"Well, whaddaya want to do besides fighting that Evil your family beats up?" Subito asked "I'm gonna be a diplomat, so I need to learn about how politics and civil governments work. Just knowing that might make it a lot simpler to figure out what you'd like to take"

He slowed a little to match Cerys' speed, not wanting to finish eating before the others, though he couldn't have eaten nearly as fast as Morgan did. He listened with interest to the talk of a really good fencer, curiosity spurring him to the obvious(to him) question: "Who's the really good sword-fighter? I didn't know we had any besides mebbe Golbasto."

[Quinn]

Morgan winced, remembering the last time Etain and him had gone one-on-one in the Doom Room. It had been a straight-up fight, no tricks, so she had quite thoroughly trashed him. Pulling knives was his only equalizer (and even then, he wouldn't have given odds), but against Etain?

He wasn't doin' that anytime soon.

"Etain Maher. And John here's got the right of it; if I was placin' bets...Jack Of All Blades is the only hero I've heard of here in Freedom City who can top her. Her sword's wicked fast, and she knows how to use it. Fighting straight-up, half the time we get an edge she's already accounted for it and planned accordingly. I still got bruises." He shook his head, smiling. "Heh. Trust me, Cer - you won't be lackin' for teachers here. The professors know 'zactly what you need, and there's a ton of students who can teach you a few more tricks to help supplement. All you got to do is ask."

Crow grinned at Myrmidon. "Case in point - my planning's improved dramatically trying to beat this joker at chess."