"That's a pretty good affinity! Mine's for...durability, as far as I can tell. I can do spells that boost other people's spells to last much longer with the same total mana input, and I can make things like books or artifacts or even clothes or furniture last for ages without any wear and tear. But all of that's on other people's stuff, right - I can't cast almost anything mana-efficiently just on my own." Fortunately he has an enclave and a power-sharer, but still. 

"Oh, wow! That's actually really cool." 

"Yeah, that sounds like a good one, given the givens. Having other people with different specialties around is so important." (Her own power-sharer is on her ankle, where it can be protected from miscellaneous mayhem by her eight-inches-hemmed-up pants being tucked into her socks.)

"It really is!" 

Approaching the table, someone clears his throat. "Raleigh? Any space left at this table?" Going by his height, muscled shoulders, and faint shadow of facial hair, he's probably at least a junior. 

Raleigh twists around. "- Tristan? What is it - I thought I saw you sitting with Sacramento...?" 

"I was, but," sigh, "Larisa's gone to finish her project, and I've got study group now. And Vanya, um, had something upset him again. I don't want to leave him there alone." 

Raleigh's shoulders are tensing and he looks kind of squirmy. "How about Cassie or Justin?" 

"Already headed out. Sorry." 

Raleigh sighs. Squares his shoulders. "Right." He turns to Bella. "Um, is it okay with you if one of the Sacramento sophomores sits with us too?" 

"...without all that leadup it would be an 'of course I don't mind' but now I'm... concerned?"

Tristan sighs as well. "Vanya is very quiet and polite and he won't start a scene. He just...had a bad time of it last term, so we're, um, trying to look out for him." 

An upperclassman who wants to sit with the frosh? Is he looking for minions or do his yearmates not want him or is he weirdly interested in Raleigh in particular or--he's got some kind of incapacitated squadmate, okay. Well she can hardly blame him for trying to look out for this Vanya person even if she might still blame Vanya for something.

"I'd like to know what his deal is but if he's not bad company I'm fine with him."

"It's - complicated." Tristan does not look at all as though he wants to discuss it. "There - was a really bad row between two minor enclaves, and Vanya was caught up a bit in it. Just in the wrong place at the wrong time, really, but he - lost a friend, and took it pretty hard." 

"Poor guy. Yeah, he can sit with us."

"Thanks, guys, I really appreciate it." 

Tristan leaves, and comes back ushering a younger boy by the arm, carrying the kid's tray in his free hand. The tray was clearly filled by one of the seniors during their initial run on the food line; he has a helping of almost everything, excluding the brussel sprouts. It's also barely picked at. 

That's kind of pathetic but it's not like Marcy has ever actually lost a friend such that she can compare her own reaction. And it's good that Sacramento hasn't decided he's the weak link and abandoned him; says good things about the prospect of building a relationship with them. She smiles reassuringly.

Vanya is small and very thin, almost frail; he's clearly not eating enough. There are dark rings around his eyes. He walks with his head down, sort of dragging his feet, and doesn't look at anyone. 

"Vanya, these are some of Raleigh's new friends," Tristan says, with forced cheerfulness. 

"Hi Vanya. I'm Bella."

"Nice to meet you," the kid mumbles, without actually looking at anyone. 

This is really awkward and Raleigh is not at all sure how to handle it! Also wow Vanya looks terrible. He probably weighs less than he did during his induction. 

"Vanya, this is Shannon. She has healing affinity. I think you'd get along." 

Mumblesomething. Vanya sits down, in a way that only looks slightly as though he's slowly collapsing like a building in an earthquake. 

"I'm Marcy." What the fuuuuuuck dude do you want to die or something.

Tristan is still hovering, looking worried. "Vanya, eat your food. There's applesauce, you like that."