It didn't take long for the auditorium to empty itself out, with most students eager to get out and get some food, and Alistair took that as his cue to approach. He spoke like he had rehearsed it, no stutters or pauses. Showed that he had either thought about it for a long time, or was simply a natural-born valedictorian. The rag-tag boy spent his words, but apparently gave no thought as to why the heir of a company that wasn't even headquartered in Vytal chose to go to Beacon the first place, when, culturally, another academy would have fit better. It revealed his inferiority complex, if nothing else. Does anyone here even know that he was a miner's son? If he made it to Beacon Academy, would anyone even care, outside of the one person that he beat in the combat exam? After all, it wasn't like Alistair was one of those mangy half-humans.

Arara smiled slightly at his reveal about the cynical part of his mind, that of believing that she wanted to have him as a puppet, that there was some grand scheme she had in mind to take over the school, and would start by recruiting a student who had angered a rich person. Interesting. The girl wondered if he had experienced something like that in the past, but spoke nothing of it. Judging by his tone of speech, they weren't close enough to be inquiring on the darker sides of each other's pasts.

Yet, he also seemed to object to the existence of a give-and-take relationship, in which Arara was certain that was how friendships worked on an objective level. To be a friend, you offer friendship and help to another, and that relationship continues until one person starts monopolizing the 'take' part while neglecting the 'give' part.

In the eyes of the poor, it seemed, that give-and-take relationship wasn't how things worked. A small, inaudible sigh left Arara's lips. It's going to be annoying, having to figure out the social norms not only of a new kingdom, but of the multiple economic classes within that kingdom. If it wasn't for the fact that it would be a necessity, she wouldn't have bothered.

And then, there was that self-esteem-beating part again, where he thought of his opinion as something that didn't matter much. Seriously, Arara was trying to keep a stoic, listening face, but it would be nice if he just spared her the small bits of melodrama and self-pity, and just said it. She didn't need an explanation, didn't need the 'why'. She just wanted an answer, but it seems like laconic wit was an art long lost to the world. Not that she was one to talk.

At least he was finally getting to the point by now. Extending her own hand and shaking, Arara said, a coy smile on her face, [b]“Now will you accept my offer, Alistair?”[/b]

Without waiting for an answer, she walked off towards the buffet. Seems like there will be a bigger table needed, if Alistair brought his own friends along. But that was good.

A large group was useful.