The leavers weren't Philadelphia, they're still mostly at another table. But a good table empty is a chance to be safe, without them. Theun jumps on it. He dithers a bit and leaves his fancy shield holder visible - it doesn't shout 'enclaver' but does imply he has resources, which seems fine to advertise a little.

"Is this seat taken?" asks a girl.

"Free as anything, I'm looking to meet new people. Theun Jansen, I'm doing languages."

"Aadhya, artificing."

"I'm going to try to do artificing as a - minor? My affinity runs to books, and I think it's more useful in the library, but I'd rather artifice than alchemize. You know yours yet?"

"I hadn't figured out what the pattern was before coming. It should shake out soon, I think sophomores basically all know."

"Yeah, the school knows even when we don't, my parents told me. Who knows how they built that into the place, but good job them, I guess."

"Do you suppose it'd tell me?"

"I think you just have to guess from what it sends you when you ask the void, and the assignments it hands you in shop, and maybe lab. Probably not in the first month there, I think it will have us all on basics for a while."

"Basics, that will be nice and gentle as these things go, I suppose."

"I've heard it's... a little too gentle, in some ways. Standard first shop job is an enchanted knife, but by midterms it's not really enough of a weapon for safety. They were clever planners, but they didn't count on-" ...he shrugs.

The maw-mouths, probably. But those are not dinner conversation, even here.

"Rather. But one can do extracurriculars, I think. During the same session if you get the knife out of the way, yes?"

"Sounds right? I think I took notes for my parent's lectures about it, but they were so not worth the weight. We'll find out soon, one way or the other."

Aadhya nods. Tries the food. It is not popcorn or soda or curry food, sort of. She will eat it.