Scott was quiet for the length of a couple painful breaths, though that wasn't why. He was thinking.
Then: [color=#0096FF]"How about a walk right now?"[/color]

After a second, Jean smiled.

Together they set off for a section of the Grounds further from the school, where there was a pond and dotting of trees.
One in particular they liked, for the history they had there.

[hr]

Xavier was a shrewd man, and suspected Ryder knew more about the Vibranium than she was letting on. What he didn't know was why she chose to keep whatever properties it had to herself. It definitely wouldn't be for any reasons of loyalty towards Umbra, so it had to be something she valued for herself.

But that could be reasoned out later. Xavier didn't dedicate another moment of thought to that piece of the Ryder puzzle.

As she decided to lead her own way, Xavier had actually smiled and thought to himself: [color=#7393B3][i]'She doesn't require this tour, does she?'[/i][/color] though the smile soon faded. 
She was always many steps ahead, figuratively -and right now, literally. Keeping on top of her surroundings, making what seemed instant yet were surely calculated decisions.

A master of domain in a world out to subdue her.
A fearful being snatching courage everywhere she knew to find it?

[color=#7393B3]"There are some chopped vegetables in that one, to the back,"[/color] Xavier commented, non-judgmentally, of one of the cafeteria's refrigeration units. Just ahead of Ryder posing her question. 

[color=#7393B3]"Right now isn't one of the scheduled mealtimes, and while it's certainly common to find foragers in-between,"[/color] he said with some fondness of the growing youth under his care, [color=#7393B3]"many of our students are currently taking advantage of the school break. Though others are here year round, their dorms are for their privacy."[/color] he added as an explanation for why Ryder might not've seen them if she were going by cameras alone. Xavier stated it simply, yet there was an assurance there: here, the children were not monitored like lab rats. [color=#7393B3]"However on a day like today, I should think most are out on the Grounds. Which is where I imagine you'd prefer to be as well than on this stuffy tour. We'll head outside after we're through here."[/color]

He had wheeled over to a sideboard where coffee or tea could be made, and went about fixing the latter for himself and, without asking, a cup of black tea was made for Ryder as well and set down in front of her. [color=#7393B3]"You may want something to aid your digestion, since your stomach hasn't had solid foods since you arrived."[/color] Medically, they had been meeting her nutritional requirements.