Xaviers!

An expensive black car drove up to the front of the gates, stopping in front of it while idling it's engines.

A man in a suite and chauffeur's cap exited the front, walked around to the back, and opened the door. From there, a man dressed in royal blue, outlined and adorned with golden detail work, and wearing a short cape, emerged, squinting for a moment as he looked at the entrance to the university.

He briefly reached back into the car, and brought out a bundle of roses. And then, with the air of someone who was used to the seas parting in front of him, he strode through the gates and started up the walk.

((open))

A winged shadow that belonged in a fantasy novel soared overhead and turned back towards the unsuspecting fancy-lad. It descended and its owner touched down with seamless grace.

"You know, you'd think there'd be more capes around here," the dragon mused.

The man was briefly taken aback by the presence of the dragon.

"And you would be whom, then? The guardian of this institution?"

"Perhaps someday I will be the guardian of something," he answered proudly, "But for now I am but a totally awesome looking student."

"Mmm, I see. And then, you are the one greeting the people at the gates as the come in for what purpose, then? Credit in your courses?"

"Merely to satisfy my curiosity. It isn't every day someone shows up who dresses like Prince Charming."

"Aha, ha, no. Not Sharming," he said, mispronouncing the name. "Sablinova. House Sablinova. You know of it, I am sure."

"I'm afraid they didn't teach Eastern European noble houses in Genosha, your lordship," he said in a way that it was hard to tell if he was being sarcastic or If it was just his peculiar mixed accent.

"Well, it is a good thing that you have attended a higher institute of learning, then.

Now, you will take me to the Princess' chambers, yes?"

They don't teach it here either buddy.

A scaley eyebrow shot up. "The who now?"

"The princess. I require to see her, at all due possible speed, thank you."

"Yeah, sorry, but I don't know of any princesses."

"Then you are of little help to me, I am afraid, my friend.

But I shall not be deterred. I have spent many months attempting to find Princess Katarina, and I shall not be deterred at the gates."

"Wait, wait, wait... Katarina is a princess?

Okay, I can actually kinda see that."

"You mean you did not know?"

"It's not common knowledge and I've only actually talked to her once. So, no. No, I did not."

"Well, lack of world knowledge aside, you do know where she is, yes?"

"Yes. I can show you to her room anyway," he answered.

"Fantastic," he said, reaching around in his pocket, and pulling out a 20-pound note. "That will be most satisfactory, thank you."

Drake pocketed the payment without hesitation. Because what kind of dragon turns down money?

"Well then! Right this way, your lordship," he said cheerily, leading the way to the dorms.

Alex followed Drake, observing the surroundings with a mixture of curiosity and polite feigned interest. "It is an interesting old house you have here."

"Yeah, it's a legit British mansion that the owner is X-Corp use. Sir Brian Braddock, Captain Britain himself grew up here. Which is likely why the locals aren't all that shaken by the weirdness around here."

"Well, it is a fitting locale, then. Even for somewhere out in the relative middle of nowhere."

"I'm actually grateful for the relative seclusion. I don't have to worry so much about frightening the locals when I'm flying around. Though the occasional cow is terrified," he chuckled with a grin.

"Do you have any....other dragon qualities?"

"I can breathe fire and it is my life's goal to have a Scrooge McDuck money bin so I can swim in gold."

"And your feeling on princesses?"

"Well, I have no interest in kidnapping or eating any if that's what you mean."

"It was what I mean, yes. That is good to hear."

"Of course, stealing one's heart is not out of the question," he said with a roguish smirk.

Alex tsked and shook his head. "I somehow doubt that you're quite in the league of our princess, but I admire the pluck."

"I'm going to assume you mean because I'm not nobility. My human shape is a handsome devil if I do say so myself," he said pridefully.

"The princess sees underneath the skin, I am sure," Alex said, adjusting his cape. "She is, after all zlatna djevojka."

"Yeah, I speak more than one language but that isn't one of them."

"The Girl of Gold, I believe is how you would translate it, yes?"

"So, gold at heart as well as in body? A fairytale princess in the flesh," he remarked, appreciating the romantic notion.

"That is the idea, mostly, yes," Alex nodded.

"So..." he said, draconic eyes resting on the flowers, "You're courting her?"

"I found her," he nodded. "I shall prove my worth."

"Are you sure showing up out of the blue in a place she's trying to keep ignorant of her princessness is the best way to win her affections?"