ArchivedLogs:Plans and Dreams

Plans and Dreams
And Ice Cream
Dramatis Personae Faelan, Mallory
In Absentia	2014-04-04 Discussion of dreams and plans of the future
Location <XS> Library
Xavier's librarian might hope the library is a quiet place to sit and study, but with a school full of teenagers that is not always the case. Nevertheless, it is certainly a treasure trove of knowledge, well-stocked with a wealth of books on its high shelves. Its reference section is vast, though its fiction is as well (much to the delight of many of its students.) The wide octagonal tables and smaller armchairs are often crowded with students, though the whispered conversations that often take place leave some doubt as to how much work is getting done at any given hour. Friday evening at the school library is about as dead as would be expected. Students have all weekend to work on classwork, and Fridays are for fun and excitement, or at least slacking off. But, someone must man the helm one way or another, and Faelan is taking that task. He's already put all the books back away, and things are arranged without any book forts or trouble at hand. Occupying himself, he has a few course catalogs for local colleges open in front of him, and he is making notes on the pages with a highlighter. With the stack in front of him, it looks like he has one from every college in the state at this point. Mallory had been away from the library for a portion of time this afternoon and into the evening, but she now makes her return to the library, her presence announced by the swift click of hooves against hardwood flooring. She has shed at least part of her professional attire from earlier, dressed in a dark grey pencil skirt and a cream colored silk blouse that might have once been tucked in to the skirt, but has since been tugged partially out in the back so the shirt tails flutter freely. Her long hair is similarly relaxed, allowed out of its neat braid, left to fall down her back in shining black waves. Tucked under her arm is a small stack of papers and folders, with at least one magazine that looks suspiciously like a wedding magazine peeking out between the school related papers. Initially, she seems intent on heading past the information desk on a beeline for her office at the back, but seeing Faelan, she pauses at the desk, eyeing his stack of work curiously. "Late evening? Or just enjoying the quiet?" Mallory asks, quietly breaking the reverent silence in the library. She leans against the desk, smiling warmly at her assistant, figuring she couldn't have spooked him too badly given her noisy approach. Looking up from his note taking, Faelan smiles and inclines his head to Mallory. "Oh, I just was trying to stay somewhere quiet where I actually would sit and look at these things. When I get to my room, I tend to spend my time reading other things." Tapping the catalogs, he nods abit. "It feels more professional sitting here at the desk and looking at things, so I can actually think and decide on stuff. I was just kinda inspired lately to start looking, and I mean I think I'm ready to try at least. The therapists said that responsibility has been good for my growth, and well College is a pretty responsible thing... It's just so expensive," he says with a frown. "I don't know if I'll qualify for many scholarships. And well, my registration record may make them decide not to." "Ah," Mallory chuckles and raises her stack of papers, "I'm here for similar reasons. If I return to my rooms, I'm just going to eat ice cream and read novels instead of actually grading papers." The stack of papers are waved demonstratively, though the magazine in the middle slips out incriminatingly. She tucks the papers back under her arm, looking down at Faelan's pile of catalogs with a sad smile, her tone sympathetic, "Ah, college shopping was a pain back when I applied. Can't imagine it's any more fun now." Leaning against the desk, Mallory nods, "College is an excellent step, Faelan. I'm happy to hear you're looking into furthering your education." Picking up one of the catalogs that had been set aside, Mallory smiles wistfully, flipping through the course catalog. "You likely qualify for a quite few," Mallory says, looking up at Faelan when he doubts his eligibility, "Academia can be stubborn and hidebound, but there are quite a few private scholarships offered for just about everything. I can assist you in researching if you'd like?" "I'd really appreciate any help thanks. I mean the counselors had career tests, and all sorts of things. But well, when I had been doing them it had been kinda when I was more skittish..." Faelan says looking embarrassed, and well aware he still is. "But I was looking into environmental science stuff. A lot of it seemed kinda neat, and well... I was kinda inspired in a dream. Like it just kinda made sense." He seems a little more confident as he smiles. "You learn about the environment, and climate, and ecology and animals and stuff. And well, I kinda like nature, I tend to feel safer out there than in cities after all." He looks a little embarrassed again as he looks down and swipes a highlighter across the page. "Its people that always gave me the most problems. Humans more than mutants, which I guess is kinda ironic. But I wont learn to not be afraid if I don't meet people after all." "Certainly. I had to do a bit of jumping through hoops, as it were, to get additional funding for my Master's degree," Mallory says with a shrug, returning the marked up catalog to the stack. "I'll see what I can pull up for you. You're looking for schools in New York state, yes?" Mallory asks, setting aside her papers to reach over the desk and grab a sticky note for making herself a reminder, "It changes the search a little bit, but I'll send you an e-mail of resources in the next day or so." Her hand hesitates in the note writing, and she looks up at Faelan, dark eyes flickering with fire in the low light, her expression suddenly clouded. "A... dream?" she questions in a hushed tone, leaning against the desk heavily for a moment, "Huh. Glad you've gotten some inspiration and confidence in yourself. You will do quite well, I imagine." The darkness in her expression fades as she listens more, and she smiles, "Environmental sciences? There are quite a few students with an interest in that, from what I have seen in my time here. You'll be in good company, I think." "Yeah in state for now. The tuition is less for instate anyway right?" Faelan nods and pushes the catalog off to the side. "And thanks for the help, I am pretty sure I wouldn't qualify for scholarships to study in England anyway. And well, even then I think I would prefer to stay close to here. This is home, I mean yeah I know I'll find an apartment somewhere else sometime, and grow up and get a job, and all the things like that. But well, this is the home I'd want to go to for the Holidays and such." He smiles, and tilts his head at her question about a dream. "Yeah it was a pretty cool dream. It was all secret agenty and I had all kinds of neat gadgets, but also ya know, having to head for classes," he smiles abit, glad of his awesome wish fulfillment type dream. "And well, I hope I'll do well. I really liked taking nature pictures. And well at least if I have to go and acquire samples of stuff, I wont be afraid to go traipsing through the woods in New York. I spent a lot of time with teachers out in them already... and only half those times were by accident." Mallory crinkles her nose at the thought of studying in England, offering a wry smile, "Don't study in England. I hear they're terribly stuffy and stodgy over there." She writes down a few things on her sticky note, nodding slowly, "I understand that feeling, completely. This is a safe place - it is comfortable, and I'm certain you would be welome back for visits, even after you have gone on to grander things." Mallory smiles at his description of his dream, chuckling quietly, "That does sound impressive. There seem to be some rather... interesting dreams going around right now." Running a hand along one horn, Mallory's voice hesitates at the discussion of dreams before continuing cautiously, "There is some discussion about predictive dreams, from several people. So perhaps there are great things yet to come for you." A quaver of a hopeful note to her statement, before she returns to the topic of academics, "But if you enjoy the subject, by all means, pursue your studies. I'd be happy to provide a letter of reference if you need it - I'm certain several of the teachers around here would do so as well." Faelan snerks at the comment of England being stuffy and smiles at Mallory. "I don't expect to do anything particularly grand. I just want to do something that I will hopefully enjoy." Nodding at the talk about the dream sounding impressive, he looks a little thoughtful. "Do you think its like the dreams earlier? With the snowmen and the superhero outfits? I didn't wake up with anything in particular different, I just was kinda inspired." He shakes his head about things being predictive though. "Prediction seems kinda weird doesn't it? I mean like movies and tv shows talk about it, but then there's guys like Nostradamus, and his predictions are all so vague they ascribe them to Anything." The offer of a reference letter brings a smile to his face. "Thank you, it would probably help abit having some recommendations. I mean, I didn't have the best of grades, since well, a lot of times I didn't really get participation points or anything." "Don't sell yourself short, Faelan," Mallory says with a resigned smile, "If you put your mind to something, you'll do just fine. And more important, doing something you love." Her gaze travels briefly around the library, her smile warming considerably, "It's worth it." An uncertain shrug of her shoulders answers his questions, "They might be. Though it seems considerably more widespread than those dreams." She hesitates, her hand briefly brushing against her stomach, though it is blocked from view by the desk, "These dreams sound considerably more... realistic. I can't speak from experience on the previous dreams, but these seem quite normal, without the usual dream logic. At least mine was to an extent." The last phrase is muttered, as she picks up her papers again, "No fire, for one thing. But I was drinking /herbal/ tea. That is... abnormal." Her nose crinkles at the thought, leaving out the unusual dream logic of it, "I am hesitant to call mine predictive, though." She shakes her head, clearing her thoughts and smiling, "Certainly. You have been an absolutely wonderful assistant here, I'd be happy to write a glowing recommendation for you. Grades matter, but additional work and experience can be helpful as well." "I don't know, those dreams were pretty widespread, or at least their effects were. I mean, I was hearing about the stuff in New York on the news. It seemed to be everywhere," Faelan nodded a bit. "But yeah, I mean, the dream I had was pretty realistic. Well aside from the fact I was doing those things, and well, I can't really do any of those. It was super brave, and the teleporting worked." Faelan nods abit then shrugs. "The herbal tea does sound pretty weird for you. You don't have any of that behind the counter at least." Blushing slightly at the praise, he smiles. "Thank you. I've been trying very hard. I hope that it matters for the admissions offices. I think there are a few that I can afford a semester or two on my own at least with what I've saved up so far. With scholarships it would be a lot more manageable. And well I've been trying to think of transportation, like what do I do with the commuting and such." Mallory nods in agreement, "These are even more so, though the effects are not quite as visible. Just on those who have them and remember them. Though they do seem to be shared, much as those were. And remembered by those involved." She shrugs again, smiling at Faelan's retelling of his dream, "That does sound excellent. And at the very least, gives you something to work towards, yes?" Leaning against the desk, Mallory looks wistful for a moment, sticking the sticky note to the top folder on her stack, "Perhaps this was just a taste of things to come. You never know." Chuckling at the assessment of her tea choices, "Even /I/ thought it was odd when I woke up. Though I don't expect to be changing my tea preferences any time soon." She smiles again, considering the transportation options, "You may want to look into a motor bike of some sort, though it isn't so helpful in foul weather. I find my little vespa is passable for getting around to reasonably nearby places." Nodding in acknowledgement of the thanks, Mallory continues, "I hope you'd consider continuing to assist as your schedule allows, but understand if you can't with classes. You are an excellent assistant," she glances at her watch smirking slightly, "But, Faelan, it is a Friday night. And if memory serves, your birthday as well. The applications and books can wait. Perhaps you should take the rest of the evening off and have some fun?" "Maybe. It was a really cool dream at least. It would be nice if it was prophetic. Maybe I should go and ask Kisha if she can actually make some of the stuff," Faelan says with a nod. "I might look into one. I mean if nothing else, I would be able to move it if I teleported to somewhere problematic. I wonder if any of the offroad vehicles are street legal, just in case." Hrming a bit as if to make a mental note, he nods again. "I was hoping to. But it will depend how far the school is for it. But I guess I'll figure it out when I have a schedule for the next semester. I should have enough time to be in for the Fall one at least." At the mention of his birthday, he lets out a resigned sigh. "I know. I didn't really have any particular plans or anywhere I would go. I mean, its a bit far to the city. Westchester has a Baskin Robbins I could go to for ice cream, I used to like the bubble gum kind a lot...but well I don't really like to remember back when I was with my parents." "Sounds like a good place to start. Might give her something to work towards as well, sort of a group project to work towards," Mallory says with an amused smirk, "I'm certain there is something that you can afford on a budget. Little bikes and such have become quite trendy from what I've seen." The resigned sigh earns an arched eyebrow, and Mallory looks at Faelan for a long moment, considering what to say, her expression gentle and understanding. "Bah," Mallory says at the lack of plans, dropping her stack of papers and such into a clear spot on the desk, "They have 32 flavors, from what I have heard. Perhaps you just haven't had the chance to try all of them yet." She nods, a friendly smile on her features, "The great thing about getting older is getting to make new memories, sometimes especially when the older ones aren't that pleasant. Come on. I think we could both use some ice cream." "I'll look at it. There are some sites you can look up used vehicle prices and all," Faelan says glancing to the computer. Looking back to her at the bah, he smiles slightly as she smiles. "That would be nice. I guess I could always try something different. Maybe cookies and cream. Or something with chocolate chips in it. Hrm, I think they have birthday cake flavor, well I mean, I don't know if they still have it or not. But it would be appropriate at least."