First Night Jitters // Open!

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded. "Yes, he's quite dreadful. But there are quite a few trainers. There's one, he's, well, he's a little person, and his name is Guy Legrange. He trains my girlfriend, and she says that he's quite splendid," Zoe took another bite of her food, pausing for a moment as she chewed. It might not have been the safest thing to just mention having a girlfriend off hand. People could get rather touchy about that. not so much in Bellefonte itself, since the school pulled people from everywhere, but, well... Zoe just decided not to make it a thing if Elyse didn't.

"I'm quite certain that there will be several staff members and other students that will be welcoming," she continued, nodding. "I've a few friends here, and I haven't been here that long," though it might be rather had to actually prove that, as Zoe was technically sitting at a table all by herself. Well, her closest friend was her girlfriend, and said girlfriend usually cooked her own suppers (and often Zoe helped, but she'd decided that she needed to at least try eating in the cafeteria). She took another tentative bite, wondering if there was someone else she could mention. She knew only a few people, and she didn't think that most of her friends were all that popular...

[Elyse Blackery]

Quite dreadful? Well that sounded like the man was a bruit. Elyse doubted she would have any choice in that decision, but she could hope. Besides, how terrible could they be if there were still allowed to teach teenagers with volatile powers..? Surely, if they made students reacted badly, they wouldn't be allowed to teacher.
That was what she would tell herself anyway, else she would send herself into a panic. Or more of a panic than she currently was in, which was beginning to feel like her resting state. 
" Well I suppose I will have to keep my fingers crossed..." 

As for the girlfriend comment Elyse didn't so much as flinch. Jared may have given her a serious beating, but that had nothing to do with his sexuality and everything to do with Elyse poking her nose where it didn't belong - even if she hadn't meant it. Apparently that hadn't mattered, all that did was that she had seen it. Consider her lesson learned - her powers made people angry, she realized that now.

"I hope so. I suppose I will find out about trainers soon enough..." Elyse's lip found it's way to between her teeth again. nerves, that was all it was. There was no point on worrying about something she had no control over - though that was easier said than done.

"Your girlfriend, she's a student too right? Is she not having dinner here tonight?" Didn't all of the students eat here? Or was there something she was missing?

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded. She didn't think that they'd throw too many newcomers to Matthews. In fact, Zoe was beginning to suspect that she had been some kind of clerical error. There were far more accepting and easygoing trainers to send people to, that much was certain.

"They'll probably let you adjust a bit first, unless you really want to start training right away," supplied Zoe, nodding. They'd done something similar with her, especially after her first session had been nearly traumatic. Of course, Zoe now had a much stricter training regimen lined out for her. Again: certainly not something to unload on Elyse, who at least seemed to be adjusting a little better.

"What? Oh, yes, yes she is," said Zoe, nodding. "She just doesn't enjoy taking her meals in the cafeteria. Thinks the food is awful," Zoe looked down at her own food, now at least partially eaten. "I personally don't see any issue with it. But, um,' she looked back up Elyse. "You don't have to eat here if you don't want to. Some students cook in their rooms, some head out into town and eat there, and some just skip altogether," Zoe shrugged. "It's sort of how you want it. Though they're a little stricter now, with everyone knowing about us."

Zoe looked toward the door for a moment, as if expecting someone to appear. She shook her head and bent down to take another bite of food. It wasn't as though anyone was going to appear right away; the school was the safest place for them. Zoe knew that all too well.

[Elyse Blackery]

Would she have to train? The idea made Elyse squirm in her seat. Using her powers on someone? On purpose? No way, no way! People didn't like their inner most thoughts being experiences by some random teenager. They would hurt her again. Like last time, like Jared... He hadn't cared that Elyse's foray inside his brain - what would some do who knew she had meant it? 
No. It was easier for Elyse just to pretend her powers didn't exist. If she didn't touch anyone then she couldn't anger anyone. It was the only solution, or the only one Elyse could see anyway.
"No... No definitely not... Training would not be a good idea..."

Elyse glanced down at her own untouched meal at the mention of food. She really did need to make an effort to eat. Carefully she speared a few pieces of lettuce and reluctantly put them into her mouth. Either, it was tasteless or she just wasn't feeling the idea of eating.
"Awful seems a little harsh, or did I just arrive on a good day?"
As for the idea of town? Well that had a whole host of its own problems.
" The ton, know about us then? Or do they think we are just a boarding school?"

Zoe's glance to the caferiria door didn't go unnoticed. Was Elyse keeping her? She didn't want the student to feel obligated to to stay and keep her company - that wasn't her job. 
"If you're busy, or need to leave, don't stay for me..." Elyse forced herself to take another bite of her dinner although it did seem to have a little more flavor. 

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Well, you'll want to train eventually," said Zoe, not wanting to deter Elyse from training. "I mean, to get a better understanding of your abilities and all," she flushed. She really wasn't one to promote training, considering her abilities and situation and all. Still, she didn't want to discourage her.

Nor did she want to do so involving the food. Though she could at least chuckle a little at Elyse's comment. "Yeah, I never really thought it was that bad. she likes to eat meat though," Zoe shrugged, taking another nibble at her own salad. Zoe just preferred lighter foods herself, hence her own plate, which contained mostly food that a rabbit would feel comfortable eating. "I know there are some students who eat every meal here, and they don't seem to mind."

Zoe ate here more often than not. She didn't exactly have the funds to choose otherwise. She took another nibble, still glancing, only to flush. 'What? No, I don't--I mean, I'm not staying for you; not that I wouldn't," she flushed, sinking down a little. "I just, um, uh, I'm nervous, I guess. Um, you just got here then?" she looked up, trying another shaky, nervous smile. "Do you like it so far? They were quite nice with me when I first arrived..."

[Elyse Blackery]

Elyse tactfully ignored the mention of controlling her powers. Sure, control might be nice but for that she would have to practice, for practice she would have to touch people and touching people? No way in hell. People didn't want Elyse all up in their business and most would react badly to her trying. More to the point, Elyse didn't want to see inside people's minds, their memories, their secrets... Why would someone?  
What would happen if she saw someone breaking the law? What if it was something serious? What would she do then? And more importantly, what would they do if they knew Elyse had seen? 
That was how people ended up dead. That was how Elyse would end in serious trouble. 
No, it was easier not to risk it. Just to herself to herself... How else would she be safe?

But Zoe was nervous? Why would she be nervous? Elyse thought back right to the beginning of their meeting, back to Zoe's first words to her. She was unpopular right now. Was she nervous of... someone?
Elyse opened her mouth as if to question further although was sidetracked by Zoe's questioning.
"New, yes... I arrived earlier today. They assigned me my rooms and left me to unpack, then I came down here..." As for did she enjoy it? Well that seemed like a loaded question. Elyse felt like she was frantically treading water, trying to keep on going when the environment was over whelming. Perhaps it would get better, but Elyse wasn't sure how hopeful she could be. 
"It's... It's just really overwhelming right now... I'm not sure how best to describe it..."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Just arrived, left her to unpack, and then she came down here. That sounded a little more hands-off than Zoe would have expected, but she supposed that not everyone got treated the same way. At least Elyse managed to find her way to the cafeteria, even if she had to follow a herd of students to get there. That most have been terrifying, given Elyse's power. Crowds still made Zoe nervous, even when she was as wrapped up as she was.

overwhelming made sense too, with Zoe nodding in agreement. "It's just so much," she said, though she felt it was repeating. "And it's almost worse when you see what everyone else can do," she looked around, again thankful that nobody was flinging fireballs or anything. She'd been present for that a few times; she still wasn't used to it. "It's like they got the ability to teleport or read minds, while we're stuck terrified to touch anyone..." Zoe trailed off, looking over at a person who she swore had just been glaring at her. she quickly looked back to Elyse.

"I'm sorry, that's, um," she lowered her utensil, then put her hands in her lap, "that's just what I feel most of the time. Like it's all just too much and that maybe I'll get to wake up and it'll all be just a dream..." Though an odd dream, one with both good and bad parts. were there really dreams like that, even?

[Elyse Blackery]

Perhaps it was surprising, but Elyse hadn't given as much thought to the other students as one might expect. Perhaps it was self absorbed, but she'd been preoccupied with herself and her own powers. Honestly she hadn't thought too much about those she would meet here, well beyond Zoe, who she'd already met. 
"Its... Worse when I meet other people?" Well that hardly comforting. Elyse swallowed, placing her cutlery down for a moment to run a hand nervously from through her fringe. Were the teenagers here worse than a regular high school? Well they had already outcasted Zoe, who seemed perfectly nice to Elyse. 
"Are they dangerous..?"

But Zoe explained herself. That did make sense. It seemed Zoe really did understand Elyse's current thoughts and feelings. She really did seem to get it...
"I suppose we pissed of whoever's upstairs." Elyse smiled, making a lame attempt at a joke. Not that she was sure about the whole God thing... Her parents had never given much mind to do, nor had her step father. Perhaps there was some, something, up above pulling the strings on Elyse's life, though if there was she would love to know what she did to offend him so. 
Seriously, she must have really angered him in some way because this? This wasn't fair.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Almost!' said Zoe, speaking quickly, not wanting Elyse to get a bad impression of the school or the people. "There are quite a few nice people about as well," like Zoe's girlfriend, or some of the other people she'd met who had befriended her or helped her along the way. "Well, yes, there is a chance that some people are going to be dangerous, but most of them are like us. Not exactly, but, well, they just got powers too," she fidgeted, feeling like she'd really botched the whole explanation. It didn't help that most of the people around them kept looking at her like she was some kind of social pariah. That didn't have anything to do with her ability; okay, well, not directly, at any rate.

Zoe sighed, looking down at her picked at food. She didn't really have any desire to dig back into it, at least not right away. She even had to force a little smile at the comment. "It does seem like Fate or some other higher power wants to torment us," she agreed, sighing. She managed a slightly more sturdy smile as she continued: "But there's good stuff here too. People who understand and people who care. Like Devyn, she's my girlfriend, or some of those teachers I mentioned."

Zoe couldn't help but feel like all she'd done was terrify Elyse still further, and she had to sigh again, feeling absolutely dreadful for that. She certainly was not good at cheering people up, that much was certain.

[Elyse Blackery]

Apparently this was something Elyse was just going to have used to. Everyone in the school was going to have some ability - or manifestation... That was why they were here. Why she was here. It stood to reason that some would be dangerous and others would be fun. Elyse wondered ideally how it might be different if she had a "fun" power - if there was such a thing. 
Would her friends have accepted her after her manifestation, would this whole experience be one big adventure? 
Well there was no point in worrying over it now. Playing the "what if game" would lead to nothing but problems. 
"They did say manifestation could happen at a variety of ages..."

Well, it was nice to know that there seemed to be people who were kind here too. Not that Elyse had met anyone who wasn't yet - but it was just like high school. There was bound to be a wide mix of people, but that was true of any school. 
" Did you meet your girlfriend at Bellefonte? How long have you been together?"

It was good that Zoe had found someone here, finding good in a bad situation. It must feel nice to have someone to lean on, especially if Zoe was as unpopular right now as she suggested. Elyse just assumed it was because of Zoe's power - that seemed to fit the situation. Hopefully her girlfriend would be a good person to lean on - it seemed right now that Zoe needed that.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe nodded. The manifestation of their powers could occur pretty much any time after puberty, from what they'd told her. Zoe knew there were some students her age who'd been at the school for years; others, like herself, had just arrived. Zoe ate a little more of her food while she thought about it, wondering how much to share with Elyse. It was likely that the school had already explained it all to her, and Zoe didn't want to bore the girl.

The conversation had already moved though, and to a subject that was a little surprising to Zoe. She actually had to stop and stare at Elyse for a few moments, blinking as her mind worked through it. The whole fact that she actually had a girlfriend to talk about was new enough to Zoe, even though she'd already discussed the girl before now. It was just that having someone directly ask made it feel a little more real to her. "I met her here," she said, nodding. "She turns into a shadow wolf, actually," Zoe wasn't sure why she shared that, and she shifted, feeling like it was odd. everyone seemed to introduce themselves with powers, considering that it was the one thing they all had in common, after all. "But we've been together for a few months now. We met---" in a bathroom, wow, was that going to be a horrible story to tell, "between classes," she tried instead. "Actually..." she dug into her pocket for a moment, pulling out her phone, "I have a picture of her... well," she flushed, "I actually have pictures of most people. I, uh, like photograph," she blushed and shifted, chewing her lip for a bit. She almost felt like she'd just overshared to compensate for something, and she was overcome with the desire to run and hide or something.

[Elyse Blackery]

Zoe seemed surprised.  Had Elyse misread the situation? Was that to personal for an ideal chat over dinner? Maybe there was something Elyse had missed, a extra layer to Zoe's relationship with her girlfriend which made questions difficult. 
An apology was on Elyse's lips, ready to spill out, as Zoe began to speak. Oh... Well maybe Elyse had just caught her by surprise.

The teenager listened as Zoe explained about her girlfriend - although she didn't give a name, only a power. Elyse couldn't help but wonder whether that was normal here - to identify yourself by your power. It was similar to any other school in some ways. You were the track star, or swimming champ or maths whizz. Here it was your power... It seemed like a weird idea, but really? It wasn't so different.

The story of how they met seemed sweet, and it was obvious from the way Zoe spoke that she cared a great deal about the other girl. It must be nice to have someone to lean on through the transition - Elyse was maybe the smallest bit jealous. Only the tiniest bit - she liked to think she wasn't that selfish.
The jealousy didn't last long though, not when Zoe seemed so sweet while talking about her other half. 
The idea of a photograph made Elyse smile.
" A picture? On your phone?" Elyse smiled, unconsciously pushing her plate away, done with the half finished plate of food.
"What's her name?"

Her neck crained, indicating she wanted to see the photographs.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Yes!" said Zoe. She flipped through a few pictures, not wanting to accidentally show Elyse more "private" pictures. Not that she had anything risque, but Zoe was willing to bet that Devyn wouldn't have appreciated the pictures of her drooling or sleeping or whatever. Fortunately, as Zoe had already noted, she had nothing if not dozens of pictures.

"Her name is Devyn," said Zoe. She pointed at the phone while moving it so that Elyse could get a better look. "Sorry, I probably should've led with that. I don't usually do that," she lowered her head again, flushing a little. 'I just think that my mind was stuck on powers or something. That happens here, as if we're all nothing but a collection of strange weirdness instead of people. It stinks, but maybe I'm just overthinking it," Zoe sighed, leaning back in her chair, leaving the phone in Elyse's possession. There really wasn't anything too scandalous in the selection of photos available, mostly shots of Devyn, a fairly handsome, androgynous looking girl, including a few that were clearly selfies taken with Zoe.

"Oh, here's an idea: what do you like to do?" zoe said, looking up. "For fun and such."

[Elyse Blackery]

Devyn, that was a sweet enough name.
Elyse lent forward to look at the photograph on the phone, although was careful to leave a respectable few inches between their arms. In light of their earlier conversation, it seemed both sensible and necessary.

These did seem to be a strange kind of reasoning to leading an introduction with a person's power. This school whole reason for being did center around powers after all. Even if Elyse would have just preferred to pretend hers didn't exist, it was clear the view was not held universally. Perhaps some people arrived at the school desperate to learn and practice their powers - maybe some here proud.
Either way, it was something everyone within the Bellefonte walls had in common - maybe using your power as a kind of name tag made sense... In a warped kind of way.
"You two look sweet together," Elyse offered, smiling a little before retreating to her side of the table.

The question set Elyse back a little. What did she do for fun anymore? In New York there were parties and shared bottles wine and giggling and... Well that had all stopped since the manifestation of her powers. Her friends had picked their side in the battle, decided who to believe, and it hadn't been her. After that Elyse had become a social black hole, attracting the kind of ridicule she'd watched her "friends" dispatch on a regular basis.
"Nothing exciting... I mean... Once my powers emerged I kind of..." Elyse swallowed, trying to decide the best way to put this.
"Well I preferred to be alone - I'm sure you get that..."

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Thanks," managed Zoe at Elyse's compliment, flushing a little. She had hoped that was true, but thinking that yourself and hearing it from someone else was something else entirely. It was just that people had been mean of late. Elyse wasn't though; she was sitting here, talking, sharing and everything, almost like they were completely normal, except that neither was going to touch the other anytime soon.

which seemed to haunt Elyse. Zoe nodded in response. "Yeah, you don't want to hurt anyone..." she sighed, looking down at her food. That was what had technically happened with her, but that was definitely not something you wanted to tell someone who had just arrived here and was nervous about things. "But you can still do stuff here; the same stuff you used to do, honest," Zoe smiled, a smile with a hint of truth to it too. "I still take my pictures and write my poems. Lots of people do lots of different things here. Our powers aren't everything; they're just, um, a part of us."

Zoe blushed as she said that, looking down at her food. "Sorry, that sounded really dumb and cliche. It's more or less true though..." Zoe shoved some more food into her mouth, figuring that she might as well do something useful and not stupid with that part of her anatomy for a change.