Breaking Ground

Posted on Thu Jan 9th, 2025 @ 8:25 by Claire Cavendish & Andrew Hallows & Jacqueline Myers

Chapter: Besieged
Location: Avalon Institute
Timeline: February 1st, 1993
2408 words - 4.8 OF Standard Post Measure

So much of Jackie’s journey to New Cresthill and Avalon had been driven by a single newspaper clipping featuring the Institute’s headmistress. Occasional radio soundbites had reaffirmed that this was the place for someone like her. She seized every opportunity to move closer, hitching rides with anyone willing to take her another step toward *home* and beyond.

Along the way, she had found rest, cleansing, food, and clothing. Generous offerings from various staff members, including the companion she’d gravitated toward for most of the day. The taste of normality, however, was difficult to swallow. The absence of direction, rules, or restrictions felt alien. Choice and the presence of so many people were overwhelming, though the flinches and tenses that plagued her had begun to ease as the day wore on.

Now, in the quiet corridor during lunch, Andrew and his newfound pale green shadow waited for admittance to see the Headmistress. “I don’t even know what to say… how formal do I need to be?” Jackie hushed to the man not far from her side, constantly shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

A crooked finger found its way to her lips, brushing over a small blemish. A remnant of her mistreatment and a source of soothing pressure. “How are you not sick of me yet?” Even as she asked, there was still a genuine fear that she was a burden, that everything being done for her stemmed from pity. She knew it was unlikely, but the guilt of surviving and now having this opportunity felt like a weight she had to check constantly, fearing it might drag her down.

Her question brought him back to present day, being in front of the door leading to Claire's office, it made him think of how she and Phoebe had found him in Manchester and had kind of blackmailed him into taking a position at the school. "I would say either call her Headmistress Cavendish or Mrs. Cavendish, either a curtsy or a bow could be used, but shouldn't be needed." He wasn't an overly formal person, respectful yes, having been a soldier, he understood the chain of command. That being stated he would show such with the respect they had both earned and deserved.

He hadn't even thought about it, but he truly had acquired a pale green shadow. If he could hear her thoughts, he would tell her that she wasn't a burden, there was no pity anywhere in his mind. "I am a soldier turned teacher, my instinct is to help people, it gives a purpose to my life. On top of all that my father was a constable, he and my mother taught me to help people when I can."

"Mrs. Cavendish," Jackie repeated, still pacing slightly. "A curtsy? Like Diana?" With her newly shortened and less matted hair, she dipped her knee far more extravagantly than necessary. "You've helped so many people, I don't doubt. You still are." A quiet Jiminy whistle escaped her lips as the door swung open, the fine points of thorns reappearing with a frustrated sigh.

"Perhaps, if it would be more comfortable, simply show her a sign of respect."

It hadn't exactly been a quiet afternoon, but Claire had kept mostly to herself for most of it. The first day of the new law. Everyone wanted something from her. When Jhanvi rang the intercom to let her know somebody was there to see her she had to take a moment to mentally prepare herself for inviting them in. Slowly she got up from her desk chair and made her usual round around the room to switch on the different light sources before coming to the door.

She took in a breath, then her hand found the doorknob, she let the air escape her lungs and conjured up a smile before pulling the door open. "Mister Hallows, good afternoon. Please do come in." She stepped back inside the room, allowing room for them to do the same. She then motioned for the corner that held two chesterfield chairs and a complimentary chesterfield three seater around a small coffee table. "Can I offer you some tea?"

In an attempt to tidy her appearance, she smoothed out her new clothes. Better fitting than the oversized tracksuit but still modest enough. By instinct, she tucked herself back alongside him, fingers brushing his cuff, letting him lead the way as she hoped for the larger seat. "Please," Jackie nodded with quiet interest at the distinctly purple Mrs.—Lady Cavendish.

He inclined his head to Claire as she opened her door and bid them entry. "Afternoon, Mrs. Cavendish. I come here to introduce a new individual seeking refuge at the institute. This is Jacqueline Myers," he went onto the explanation of how Andrew found Jackie as well as what he had done for her. He felt Jackie's light touch and smiled, it showed how she trusted him.

He led Jackie over to the chesterfield as he figured she would feel more comfortable there. "Tea would be wonderful." He allowed Jackie to sit first before taking a seat near her. "It seems that she has not had an easy time getting here and Alastair was a help as well.

"I never married." Claire remarked at being called missus by the P.E. teacher. She took three cups, the sugar and milk, and put it on the tray with the teapot. Making her way over to the seating area she placed it on the table and poured tea in all the cups, then proceeded to add milk and sugar to her own cup before sitting back and allowing her two guests to do the same. "I'm glad to hear my staff has been welcoming, Miss Myers. As you can imagine, we are facing a bit of a situation seeing the recent developments in our Kingdom's legislature."

The formality of the office felt overwhelming, the grandeur a stark contrast to Jackie’s recent reality. She hesitated, taking a moment to sweep her hands along her legs to ensure she wouldn’t inadvertently scratch the leather of the Chesterfield. Finally, she settled on the left side of the larger seat. Her gaze dipped to the floor as Andrew lightly recounted how she’d arrived at the Institute, before finally lifting to meet Claire’s.

“They’ve helped me so much already.” Her voice was quiet, and though she spoke plainly. Jackie hadn’t fully confronted the weight of what she’d endured, even as she gave brief glimpses of it now. Her glance flicked to Andrew, the shadow of a smile crossing her lips before fading away.

“I’m not registered,” She began, each word feeling heavier than the last. “But they… they know about me, or someone does at least.” She faltered, her gaze dropping to her hands as they traced the intricate studs of the Chesterfield, grounding her in the physical while her mind threatened to spiral.

“I need help,” she said, her voice breaking as if the admission itself was a weight she had been carrying too long. “But… I think I might be able to help you too. The Institute.” Her eyes flicked upward, searching Claire’s face for something—understanding, maybe, or reassurance that she wasn’t making a mistake by speaking.

“They… they took everything from me. And I can’t… I can’t just sit here and do nothing. I need to—” Her voice cracked as she did her best to articulate the nature of her situation, and she pressed her lips together, fighting to regain control. “I need to do something.”

Claire carefully sipped her tea, nodding along with what Jacqueline was saying. "We endeavour to build a community here. I'm sure if we play to our strengths we can help each other." She then leaned in, "it does seem like all they know is how to take and destroy." She shook her head, "Not everyone is like that, you know. There's plenty of people out there looking to build. To evolve. To thrive together." She then pointed at Andrew, "When we tracked him down, he was beating up street punks. Now he's helping the next generation of kids fend for themselves. Building their confidence. Introducing them to healthy habits."

Claire may not be married, but it seemed to Andrew that she was married to the institute and the care of both the faculty and students under her watch, however he wasn't going to say that out loud. When she offered the tea to them as well as the sugar and milk, he took a sip first and then added half a spoon of sugar. Andrew had never had much of a sweet tooth, and in all honesty due to his time in the military he preferred coffee, but tea was a good substitute.

He remained silent while Jackie began talking, he knew he was there primarily because his presence seemed to help ground and calm her. When Claire brought up how they had found him, leaving out the information regarding M13, and Jackie bringing up how she was unregistered he decided to speak. "You are not alone there, Jackie, I am known, but unregistered myself, part of the reason may stem from having been in the military, but I can't be certain of that. Also, I have also been offering classes to the faculty as well." He went back to listening and slowly drinking his slightly sweetened tea.

Jackie nodded softly as she listened to Claire. “I know I can help… I have skills that might be useful. I’ve got a farming background, and I worked for the Forestry Commission just over the border.” She tried to sell herself, though the atmosphere made it clear it probably wasn’t necessary.

There was so much she wanted to say, but the words caught in her throat, tangled with the weight of her memories. “They… brought me in as a test subject. For genetic resilience, or—something like that.” She paused, her fingers finding the creases of the Chesterfield again. “It was… some kind of secret organisation. I don’t even know how many of us there were, or—what they were really doing, I know it wasn’t good.” Her gaze dropped to the tea tray again, as if the untouched cup might provide the right words she couldn’t seem to find.

She leaned forward to add two sugars to the cup and a hint of milk, a quick stir was enough to put things right. “That doesn’t surprise me from what I’ve seen and heard so far.” She smiled faintly, the thought of training meant the prospect of fighting or protecting. She knew she could do things beyond her normal means when things got tight, but, it was evidently not enough. “I’ll have to take you up on that when you have time.”

"That sounds like quite the traumatic experience. We have a duo of counsellors here at the institute, I think it would be prudent for you to visit them." Claire carefully sipped her tea again. Sitting up straight, very prim and proper. "As for helping us, I think the best thing you can do right now is make sure you're back on your feet. You can't help anyone without helping yourself first."

Jackie took a sip of tea, feeling its warmth spread through her. Her tense shoulders relaxed slightly as she nodded. “I’ll make sure to introduce myself to them,” her was voice quieter now but steady. The message seemed clear, she needed to focus on simply being, on healing. It was something she’d heard from earlier that day and a skill she’d have to relearn, “I’ll do my best,” she added taking another mouthful from her cup.

"Is there anything we can offer you, aside from room and board, that will help you with that?" Claire knew that people needed more than just shelter to be able to heal. Bedrest and food only went so far. Getting out in the world, connecting with things that someone was passionate about. Those were the things that helped the healing process.

Andrew now felt he understood Jackie's obvious PTSD a bit more after listening to her explanation of what had happened to her. There was an almost imperceptible eye-twitch and a flexing of a fist, which was a sign of anger from the PE Teacher. To calm his inner turmoil, he took another sip of tea. It sounded as though, Jackie would become his shadow for a bit longer as she was given time to heal and possible learn to work through the turmoil.

Jackie took another sip of her tea, letting the faint sweetness settle her nerves. Claire’s question lingered, the possibilities turning over in her mind. Peeling potatoes in Valjean’s kitchen or helping Magali through her day came to her first, simple tasks that felt achievable. But the words stayed unspoken. Instead, she gave a faint smile, her gaze moving between Claire and Andrew. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice carrying a note of sincerity. “Thank you both.” There would be time to ask later when the day wasn’t so heavy with everything new.

"If our roles were reversed, I'm sure you would've offered nothing less." Claire assured her as she finished her own tea. "Now, I don't mean to be rude, but I do have some other business to attend."

"Thank you for the amount of time you were able to offer us, Miss Cavendish." He finished what was left of his tea before speaking again. "Before my next class starts, I will see about finding Miss Myers a place to lay her head. I will also see about introducing her to some of the other faculty, to aid further in the welcoming as well as pointing out the councilors."

A lot of tea remained in Jackie’s cup and she decided against chugging it down. There was clearly no shortage of tea here. “I would.” She answered Claire’s sentiment with a hint of a smile. “Thank you for your time Miss Cavendish, I won’t keep you any more.” The cup was returned to the tray and she smoothed out the fabric against her legs. Her smile widened at Andrew’s offer it seemed he wasn’t too eager to get rid of her yet.