It’s Not What It Seems

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe didn't want to think about other people drooling over her picture or something. That sounded just awful to her, and she just wanted to bury herself further. Or possibly destroy the painting. Zoe did think that she could probably ask for someone to take the painting down and they'd do it, considering that it was of her and this was a student fair and all. That just didn't seem right though, even if Zoe did feel like she was pretty much being tortured.

Lingering didn't help that feeling, as Devyn insisted on holding for a little longer. Zoe heard the camera click and she let a squeal of protest. She also hit Devyn's shoulder again, this time slightly harder than she had before. The comment that followed had her looking severely at Devyn, who of course countered by kissing her cheek. It probably didn't help that a severe look from Zoe looked about as threatening as a kitten that had puffed up.

"Let's just get to the photography," she said. She flushed again, and walked a little faster. She did pause to look at a few other portraits though, and despite what she'd said, she ended up slowing down before passing more than another half dozen or so. Soon she was almost languidly walking through, admiring the artwork at nearly every other step.

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn didn't want to think about anyone drooling over Zoe either, and if fact if she heard anyone make a comment about the photo she was more than likely going to say or do something about it. Ogling or really only comment about Zoe was best kept in someone’s head because out loud they were just asking for Devyn to do something about it. Worse case she could just snag it off the wall and make a break for it. Sure she probably gets in a lot of trouble, but at least the photo would be down. Didn't someone have to have permission from the person in the painting before it could be displayed? Or was that right removed when Zoe said that it was okay for her to be painted? Either way Devyn wanted to meet this painted and let them know that next time they better ask if it was okay to put it in the art show and more importantly to ask Devyn if she was alright with Zoe being started at and painted. She was not.

Zoe let out a squeal when Devyn took a photo, but she simply smiled and stashed her phone away. She liked getting pictures of Zoe and while this was a painting, it was still of Zoe. She would have taken one of Zoe actually, but she preferred the surprise ones where Zoe didn't get a chance to pose. She was hit again, harder than the last and Devyn could not help but to smirk a little. "You are going to start leaving bruises on me at this rate." Devyn pointed out as she looked at Zoe who was giving her a serious look. On someone else it might have been threatening, but on Zoe it was just cute with a mix of hot. Hot cause who didn't like that look on someone’s face when they seemed to be angry with you. Well Devyn liked that face when she figured the person was not really all that angry with her. Plus she kissed Zoe's cheek and figured that make up for it but noted to keep her mouth in check a little better.

"Right." Devyn responded with a nod as she moved with Zoe again, looking at things here and there. Taking more so quick glances as her mind and eyes started to wonder around. Seeking out things that pleased her eyes as well as just wanting to find the photos that Zoe did when they would get to the photography section. Zoe did start to slow down a bit more, like she was really enjoying this all and Devyn could not help but to grin. "Now I understand how people can end up spending hours in these places." Devyn said, leaving out the whole 'because art fans move slowly through it while they are looking at everything.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe just gave Devyn another "severe" look that came off decidedly more pouty than anything else. She hardly thought that her few hits were going to end up bruising Devyn, considering that the other girl regularly wrestled and did other extremely active things for training and what not. And no, no the kissing did not help...

much.

They'd started moving, well, mostly. Zoe had stopped to stare at a few, only to give Devyn another smiling look. "I know, isn't it splendid?" She said, practically hopping. "There's just so much to see here, and you have to take time with each one to really get the true meaning and feeling of it," she nodded and looked back at the portrait, even leaning in. As far as Zoe was concerned, Devyn must be getting excited too. Possibly not as excited as her, but, well, certainly close, at any rate.

[Devyn Solway]

"Don't give me that look. You know I'm just teasing." Devyn said with a smile as she reached a hand out to poke at Zoe's side a little. She was a lot tougher than that and would not be so easily bruised by Zoe's hitting. She had worse; a lot worse and Zoe's hits felt more along the lines of love taps in Devyn's mind. The kind that girlfriends often did when they were upset with something or starting a play fight with you. The pout just added to the cute touch of it all and Devyn just kind of wanted to scoop Zoe up and carry her around. She didn’t but she wanted to, just she figured there was probably some rule about no carrying someone around art stuff or something.

She gave a small nod to Zoe's words about things being splendid. They were not the words Devyn would use, but it still meant the same thing that Devyn was feeling. No she was not super excited and having the time of her life like Zoe was, but she was enjoying herself. Looking at the art, taking in the feeling she was getting from the different art work, and mostly just enjoying seeing Zoe enjoying it all. "Maybe I'll become an art critic." Devyn said with a half tease, but did think about it a little bit since it was a job you could make money with. She did stop for a moment when a painting distracted her, something that she almost though was risky art work, but had just been looking at it weird and moved on. Letting Zoe lingered as long as she wanted and enjoyed things mostly in silence as she was thinking.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The poke made Zoe laugh a little, scooting and squirming as she did. Like Zoe didn't know Devyn wasn't teasing. Pretty much all Devyn did was tease Zoe. As punishment for the poking and teasing, Zoe actually released Devyn's hand, moving along to the next work of art and all.

"You would make an awful critic," she said teasingly, looking back at the other girl. She stuck her tongue out rather petulantly before turning once more. They were starting to leave the painted portrait section and entering the photography. Zoe knew she had a few landscapes and at least one portrait up. They'd opted to put the portraits first, and Zoe immediately recognized her fellow photographer's work. She paused to "ooh" almost immediately, locked in position, her attention fully on the work in front of her.

Which meant that yes, she was even ignoring Devyn, as impressive as that might sound.

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn smirked at hearing Zoe's laugh and how she squirmed away, making Devyn recall that one of these days she was just going to break out a tickle war on the other girl. Sadly for Zoe, Devyn was not ticklish; too many mental and physical trauma to her body for her to feel ticklish, but at least she felt all other things. So it was not like she was missing out on much, tons of people were not ticklish. Plus that meant that she would end up winning the tickle war and that was all good in her book. Devyn did pout however when Zoe let go of her hand and started to move along without her. Devyn of course moving to keep up with Zoe with ease; thank you long legs, and let out a whimper as she tried to give Zoe puppy dog eyes. "Aww Zoe, don't be like that. I'll be good." Devyn said as she was practically pawing at Zoe's arm to try and get her attention.

Devyn then put a hand to her chest at being told she would be an awful critic. "Ouch, all my dreams. Crushed." Devyn teased back, enjoying it when Zoe actually teased with her and made it something of a little go. Devyn did chomp her teeth at Zoe when her girlfriend stuck her tongue out at her, remembering that she really did need to teach Zoe a lesson abbot this whole sticking her tongue out at Devyn. They were in the photographs now, Devyn more so looking for Zoe's work but got caught up with Zoe zoning out basically. "Zoe. Did that like put you in a trance?" Devyn asked as she moved back over closer to Zoe, clearly being ignored as Zoe was completely zoned out. Devyn not really being the type to liked being ignored was already looking around to see if anyone was paying attention.

If Zoe was not going to be paying attention then Devyn was just going to have to get her attention. She leaned over closer to her girlfriend planning on giving Zoe's shoulder a quick kiss and then even going in to sneak a kiss to Zoe's neck if she could get away with it. "You really do smell nice." Devyn would whisper close to Zoe, hoping that she got a hold of Zoe's attention.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Be good? Zoe nearly let out a little "hmph" at that. Devyn had perhaps been good for about fifteen minutes total since they'd met one another, and that certainly hadn't been when they'd been trapped in the bathroom together (and yes, remembering that did still bring a slight flush to Zoe's cheeks; that was a completely humiliating way of meeting someone). She could feel the pawing and sort, and they both knew that Zoe was far, far more likely to break down than Devyn.

Even when she was able to tease and whatnot. Yes, Zoe had grown in those past few months, but that didn't mean she could hold out to Devyn. At least Devyn seemed pleased to hear the teasing. Zoe was tempted to extend the tongue, and perhaps she would have, had they not hit the photography section.

Yes, she heard Devyn, but sort of far off, like in a dream or as if the girl was in another room. She just kept staring at the landscape, admiring every bit of it: the light, the setup, the balance, the film selected, color saturation, it all just looked so splendid. Zoe barely even noticed as Devyn leaned over. She did sort of absently raise a hand, swatting at the other girl like you would a fly or something.

"What? Oh! I'm sorry I just---" she bit her lip, shuffling and moving away from Devyn. "It's just---it's a really good one and---I wanted to um, look at it, and stuff,' she looked down at her feet now, feeling like she'd obviously done wrong now. Shouldn't have ignored Devyn or whatever. Zoe had just... gotten caught up. Plus, she'd thought that Devyn was enjoying it too....

[Devyn Solway]

Alright, so being 'good' was not something that Devyn was actually good at but she could try. It was not that she was bad; at least she didn't think she was outright bad. She was just playful and wanted to have fun and enjoy her life while she could, they were only teenagers once after all. Zoe was eighteen, Devyn was seventeen, and Devyn knew soon that she was going to be turning eighteen years old soon enough. I need to ask when her birthday is again. Devyn thought to herself, pretty sure that she had asked before or at least knew and that she simply needed a refresher on it. If Devyn knew Zoe was flushing from their meeting way back in the bathroom she would tease her on it. Of course Devyn didn't forget the meeting either, but it was interesting to see just how much Zoe had changed over the months.

Zoe used to be so soft spoken, well she was still soft spoken and didn't really say much to Devyn in terms of what was going on but at least she talked and teased Devyn. Zoe even flirted and they touched. Touched and kissed, and had their own form of modified love making due to Zoe's powers. Months ago Zoe would not have done any of that and to think that it all started off in the girl’s bathroom with Devyn trying to take a nap because she didn't want to do math. Devyn let out a grumble when her attempt to give Zoe some kissed was swatted away. Zoe's body must have gotten used to Devyn's sneak attacks and naturally reacted to keep Devyn from doing what she wanted to do. They were public so Devyn was not going to fuss about it, figuring it was probably for the best that she got swatted away. At least it was not a slap away, just move of a hand hitting your face as if you were a bug buzzing around type of way. Did that make her annoying?

"It's fine. I was being bad." Devyn chuckled a little and gave Zoe her space, messing with the tiger she was still carrying around as she moved to go back and look at the art. Green eyes searching for Zoe's work since that was the main reason why she felt like being in here besides making Zoe happy. She did not like Zoe moving away from her again, but she just looked at Zoe for a moment before looking back at the photos. "Its fine, no worries. Good that you found something that really gets you to stop and stare." Devyn said, and meant it because who didn't want something they could look at for hours? Zoe could look at it however long she wanted to, Devyn did say that she just wanted to spend some time with Zoe and even if they were not holding hands and standing right next to one another they were still spending time with one another.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Devyn said it was fine, and Zoe relaxed slightly or at least, she tried to relax. Still, she couldn't help but feel like she'd messed up yet again. Her attention went to the tiger for a few moments, blinking, then flushing as she realized she'd all but forgotten about it. Good thing that Devyn had been carrying it. Then again, Zoe had been so entranced by the art that she probably would've dropped it if it had come to it.

"if you say so," mumbled Zoe, shuffling her feet. She probably should've said something more clever or flirty. Like, perhaps: You make me stop and stare. But she just didn't have it in her. She looked at the pictures now, and really wanted to stop and stare at them, admire the work and all that. At the same time, she was now convinced that doing so would slight Devyn somehow. So Zoe ended up shuffling slightly, caught and uncertain as to what to do.

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn did blink in confusion on why Zoe was flushing now since she didn't think she said anything that was flush worthy. There was the tiger that she did grab from Zoe when Zoe did start to zone out when they got into the art exhibit. She didn't mind hold it at all and now that she didn't have Zoe close to her and not holding her hand, the tiger was sort of her substitute for a moment. Letting Zoe do her thing and enjoy the work that she seemed to be glued to while Devyn moved on a little to the next couple of photos. She did start to wonder if it was just the skill of the pictures that Zoe was interested in or was it the person that took them. Who in fact had taken them? Devyn did casually move to try and find the name to the images Zoe seemed to be wrapped up in before moving back to looking at the other photos.

Devyn just gave a nod to Zoe's 'if you say so', not really knowing what else to say to Zoe on that. It was fine and even if it was not Devyn was not going to say so. She was trying to not be selfish and do things to make Zoe happy after all. Devyn glanced over at Zoe and noticed that Zoe was shuffling again, like she was lost on what to do. "You know you can keep looking at them right. Worse case we will just meet up at some other art work if my mind can't keep with a photo for as long." Devyn pointed out, still wanting to spend time with Zoe but knew that she very well could not just stand and stare at the photos, unless they were of Zoe or stare at Zoe herself. She could do that, but Zoe would probably be made uncomfortable by that.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

"Well, I don't...we're supposed to be spending the time together and---I could come some other time..." Zoe tried, fidgeting again. She looked over at a photograph and actually got distracted by it again. Another landscape, and one that she recognized. She hadn't taken this one: it happened to be in color and all, but she could certainly admire the way someone had perfectly caught the way the sunset hit the lake. she stared for a few seconds before seeming to realize that she was supposed to be having a conversation with Devyn.

"Sorry," Zoe blurted again, "I mean," she remembered everyone telling her she should stop apologizing for everything and it made her fidget, "I--I just---one of mine is right over here," still flushing, Zoe moved forward. She'd just seen it past Devyn when she'd looked, and she figured that would possibly help. So she walked past, snagging Devyn's hand to sort of pull/guide her toward the photograph.

It was one of the first Zoe took: of the school during a rainy day. You could see the water and the water clinging to the front of the building, and Zoe's neat hand had written a poem in the corner, one about how breathing in fresh rain as water washed away past sins and promised a new start. Zoe actually liked this particular one and thought that she'd done a very good job but, well, she didn't know what Devyn would think. Probably that it was dreary or something. At least her portrait should be better...

[Devyn Solway]

Zoe had a point that they were supposed to be spending time together and that Zoe could come another day. Still, Devyn did short of pop up out of the blue wanting to spend time with Zoe here. Yet even still, she wanted Zoe to be doing something that she would enjoy and have fun with. Devyn was still working through a few things so more than likely would not have even shown up here at all if it had not wanted to be near Zoe and to figure things out. Staying away helped only a little in terms of making Devyn realizes that she didn't want to be away. She wanted to be near Zoe, close to her girlfriend, and for them to have fun. More dates and times to spend together and try being a normal couple now that SPECTRE was out of the way. Zoe didn't need a guard anymore and Devyn learned her lesson so there would be no repeats of laundry room incidents. They could be almost like normal teenage girls dating one another.

"I just want you to do what makes you happy..." Devyn said with her voice trailing off at the end when she saw Zoe get distracted. Wow, it was like looking at a fun magazine with a hot guy or girl on it that you could not tear your eyes form. Well that was the best way Devyn could relate it in terms of looking at a photo. She did stand and wait for Zoe in silence, messing with the tiger and wondering for a moment what Zoe was going to end up naming this one. Maybe she should stop getting her stuff animals and try like jewelry for a change. Would Zoe like having some earring or maybe a necklace that spelled out her name? Devyn shook her head at Zoe's apology, not seeing it as necessary since she was just getting wrapped up in the moment. Zoe really did apology a lot, but it was something Devyn was used to. "Oh, awesome." Devyn said actually getting a little excited when Zoe pointed out that her photos would be coming up then.

She let her hand be taken and went along with the pulling that guided her to where Zoe's picture was. Green eyes looked for Zoe's name and then the photo that went with it. It was an image of the school and it was raining and Zoe had even written a poem with it as she so often did with the photos she felt were the best. Breathing in fresh rain and how water washed away past sins. Getting a new start. Those words actually hit Devyn deep as her green eyes looked at the photo and she suddenly felt really bad. Like she would ever actually get a fresh start, the rain didn't wash away the sins; they just soaked them deeper into your clothing and weighed you down. "I'm...certainly feeling...something with this one. It's really good." Devyn said as she swallowed and lifted up the tiger enough so she could get to her hand and rub at her eyes.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe it her lip for a moment as Devyn insisted that she just wanted Zoe to do what made her happy. Really? Then why did she keep distracting her or moving around or... maybe Zoe was just thinking too much about it, as she so often did. Far better to just move about the photographs, taking things in. Especially when it came to the ones she did, like the one they stood in front of now. Zoe took a few more deep breaths before looking up at Devyn again.

"Thank you?" she said, tilting her head slightly. She blinked, thinking that she'd caught something in Devyn's eyes. "Are you... okay? We, um, really don't have to stick around if you don't... don't want to," because it looked like Devyn might be feeling off or something, and that certainly wasn't what Zoe wanted out of everything. Unless the photograph had affected her like that? Zoe looked at it. The work had been one of her drearier ones, from the time before she'd discovered more about herself. Could that be it?

"There are, um, others to look at too," she murmured, looking over at Devyn, not quite moving her head, her voice still almost inaudibly low.

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn was the kind of person who could not just stand around and do nothing, even when she was looking at something she had to be doing something. That was why the hand holding was helping, but now she was just messing with the tiger. If she was going to be still then it was because she was getting ready for a nap and thinking. She didn't want to think too much at the moment. Zoe had told her that she needed to stop worrying and that was what Devyn was trying to do. Not think about the things that kept bothering her mind and making her want to run or just outright 'tackle' Zoe right then and there. She just didn't know and standing still and thinking about it was not in the options so she was moving around and trying to not distract Zoe, but could not fully help it.

Devyn just nodded at Zoe's thanks and to her question of if she was okay. She was not okay, she was feeling all kinds of like a bad person for some many things. She was just a screw up all around, maybe that was why her dad died? She didn't want to live knowing that he had a daughter that messed everything good up, no Devyn could not think like that. She was thinking like how her mother would talk to her and she needed to stop. How could one picture bring this kind of feeling out of someone? No, it was the words along with it and while Zoe might have felt that this was something that was supposed to give good feelings, it was giving Devyn bad ones. Each person took art work differently anyways, right? "I'm fine...it's just you know. I’m feeling something from this. The photo along with the words...it just makes me think." Devyn tried to explain as she reach out for Zoe's hand so she could hold it and give it a small squeeze.

"We can look at it all...I'm sorry, just uh...feeling stuff." Devyn said as she rubbed at her eyes again and gave a weak chuckle. Messing with the tiger a little as she look over the other photos, looking for another of Zoe's work since she thought Zoe said she had two in the show. Part of her wondering if she really should look at the other one and risk possibly actually crying right here and now. No, no crying in front of someone.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Another few moments ticked by while Zoe studied Devyn, wondering what was going on there. Devyn spoke, insisting that things were fine, that she felt something. Zoe smiled a little then, looking back at the picture. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. Of course it was just the photograph, just feelings. she should've guessed as much.

"It's alright," she said, nodding. "You're supposed to feel things when you see art, remember? I'm just sorry I didn't realize that's what was going on, that's all," Zoe gave Devyn another smile before stepping toward the other girl. She gave Devyn's hand another squeeze, then stood up for a quick peck on the cheek before stepping back. A nod soon followed, and Zoe pointed down a bit.

"My portraits are down that way,' she said. She flushed then, remembering the skilled rendition they'd seen earlier. "I mean, the portraits I took are down there. I think, um, it's one of, err," she paused, chewing her lip, "one of... Maelea? I think, yes, one of Maelea with her spiders and---maybe one of Shiloh? I suppose there could be one of you but--" she flushed, bit her lip and looked to the side. But she hadn't wanted to really put up any of Devyn just in case. She fidgeted. "I'd like to look at a few here. I can catch up with you though, it's really just over there,' she pointed again. "Over there" happened to be only a few displays down. They would've been further apart if one of them had left to use the restroom in the school's cafeteria.