College Students Now

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn was not a very big fan of change. She normally had a routine that she might not have done from time to time but there was some level of repetitiveness to the things she did. The only reason why it was not like that all the time was because she was also spontaneous with the things she did. Ideas would come to her and she would act on them without thinking too much. So with them all being in college, going down different paths...she was happy but she also was worried.

Worried she would have repeat events with Vera like she had with Zoe. Worried she would never figure out what to live for and just go through life without a purpose. Worried about a lot of things. That worry was in the back of her mind as they walked, with Dev being thankful things were going pretty good and that Zoe was even laughing. "This is true." Devyn responded with a small chuckle. She and Zoe knew each other for a decent amount of time so there would just be certain things that they knew of one another. Or at least could have a good enough idea to make a guess on something.

Dev looked at Zoe as she started to explain the whole nude modeling things, a smirk on her face growing by each word that Zoe said. "Mmmm, someone knows a lot about this particular subject. Have you ever been a nude model before or draw one of them, Zoe?" Devyn asked as she leaned in a little closer towards Zoe, unable to get rid of her smirk. She even did a short of evil chuckle after her words as she thought about it. "I'm sure I would not stop thinking of it as a body, I would be sure to get every. Single. Detail." Devyn said, just daydreaming about it now. Of course she made sure she was picturing Vera, which was not all that difficult with how many times she had seen all there was to her girlfriend.

"Makes sense. We only need enough rooms for the kids here that decide to go to college, which is a small amount anyway." Devyn said with a small shrug. Not that she knew the statistic or anything but that was her guess. She still followed after Zoe, looking around, and really didn't know what else she wanted to see or needed to see.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Yes, change could be scary. Were Zoe not so focused on her own growth instead of the spinning world around her, she might very well have been struck with terror at the very thought. As it was, she was more focused on her own growth, and how that growth meant change for the better. So long as she could keep thinking of it that way, well, it would help maintain a positive attitude, at the very least.

Not that Devyn seemed to need much help with that at the time. There was the question regarding modeling which had Zoe flushing and looking down slightly. "Yes," was all she offered in response. Let Devyn's overactive imagination wonder what was going on there. suddenly Zoe was again struck by the fact that they had never quite consummated. For that matter, Zoe still remained a virgin. The thought struck her as nearly absurd, but she buried it for the time being.

"Well, there are a wide variety of classes," Zoe said looking around. "I think it's because so many of the faculty are also mutants. It's much more comfortable for us all here..." Zoe looked around, taking another deep breath, inhaling the air, letting it flow through her. "You should see a classroom!" She said, before turning and grabbing Devyn's hand, practically sprinting toward the closest one.

[Devyn Solway]

"Yes to both or what? Can't leave it vague or I'm going to push for more info." Devyn said, smirking even more as she looked at Zoe. Zoe should have known better by now when it came to telling Devyn something. You could not leave it just hanging in the air without any details or she was going to ask for more unless you looked like you really, really didn't want to talk about it. Zoe was blushing, but that was nothing knew so Devyn didn't think the topic was sensitive or anything like that. As for the whole consummation thing, that had not really been any fault on Devyn.

Dev had tried; several times, tried to go as far as she could each time, and she certainly would have taken Zoe's innocence away had Zoe ever given her a chance or the serum at that. She really wanted to be Zoe's first, be careful with her, and just take her all the way there the 'all out way'. Part of her still did the part that she kept shoved away for the most part and tried to not think about. It was not that hard to do at the moment with Devyn's thoughts on drawing naked models. She would rather pain them, like pain on their physical bodies. Yes, that would be far more interesting and rewarding to do that.

Now she had an idea and was wondering how Vera was going to take such a question. Zoe's class was helping slightly get her mind out of the gutter, but not by much. It was when Zoe exclaimed about seeing classrooms that Devyn's attention was back on what they were doing. When Zoe grabbed her hand, she didn't fight it, and moved along with Zoe. She was not worried about Zoe's power, she never was. What she was worried about was the feelings she still had for Zoe that caused her heart to beat a little faster and her mind to drift off to other thoughts.

She didn't say anything however and just waited until Zoe would let go of her hand or until she could not take what she was feeling anymore in good faith that she would not try anything. Just think of Vera, focus on Vera. Devyn told herself, now wondering if she should shoot her girlfriend a text while she and Zoe were headed for the classrooms. "So cute when you get excited." Devyn did end up saying, because it was so true.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe simply flushed at Devyn's compliment, ignoring it and the implications of it for the time being. Just as she'd ignored the further prying into what position she'd taken during modeling. Instead, she was heading forward, already knowing precisely which room she'd show off: the college art room.

It wasn't too far from where they were, especially at the excited pace that Zoe opted to take. Soon enough she was rounding the hall, counting doors, her lips moving silently. Then she pulled Devyn to a stop in front of one. Zoe took a breath then, and pushed on the door slightly.

"This," she said, nodding, "is where most of the college art classes take place," because, as they'd noted earlier, there were only so many students. That didn't stop the room from being on the large side: Bellefonte had the room and the space to do what they wanted. Various paintings hung in spots, most made by students and with labels to inform people of such. There were a few sculptures on various pedestals, and a few projects that were a good deal harder to understand. Missing were any signs of photography: those classes took place somewhere else, apparently.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Zoe asked, strolling forward. "So much space! And it's all mixed in here and just---" she took a deep breath, letting it out in a nearly joyful huff, clearly enjoying herself and just being in the room with someone she cared about.

[Devyn Solway]

Zoe was still just flushing, but still didn't give Devyn the answer that she desired. No matter, she would find out that answer at some point. If it meant she would just have to let it go for now only to bring it back up, then so be it. Or if she just really had to get Zoe all flustered to get the girl to just let info slip out, then she would do that as well. For now, she just followed after Zoe easily keeping up with the girl who was shorter than her. It really did make Devyn feel something deep down inside when someone was excited or passionate about something.

It made her desire to have that same feeling for something that didn't involve flirting and sex, but that had yet to happen. They didn't have to go very far and Zoe clearly had where they needed to go memorized as they moved along. Devyn remained silent and just went with her...friend, not having the kind of passion for art that Zoe did. Like, some of it was cool but there were a lot of pieces that she didn't get the deep meaning behind or didn't think were all that cool. It was just not her thing, which Zoe should have known by now but Dev had no problem looking and more so watching how Zoe reacted to it all.

Yes, there was certainly a lot of passionate there. It was easy to see but Devyn still didn't fully understand how someone could have a passion. Once her father died, she lost her but did she honestly have one to begin with? All she ever wanted to do was be just like her dad in almost every way, so was that a passion? "Mmmm, lot of art." Devyn said with a small nod as she looked around the room, taking in the view and the different works. "I guess you could say that. You are such an art junkie." Devyn teased as she watched mostly Zoe after she had her look around the room.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Zoe took another deep breath, once more imbibing the very environment with the inhale. She let it out slowly, looking around and eventually coming back to Devyn. Zoe flushed upon seeing the other girl, and hearing that comment that soon followed. "Well, some things don't change," she offered before giving her friend another quick, shy smile. Zoe turned, looking around the room a bit more, taking a few steps.

"I'm still really glad that you made it this far, really," Zoe said, looking back at her friend. "I guess it's stupid and all, but it just feels sort of right, really," she looked around, taking another deep breath. When she released it, she chuckled and shook her head. "I should've known better: you still don't really like art all that much," she gave Devyn a slightly embarrassed smile. "I just can't help it, really. There's just so much more... freedom here. I really think you'll like it, even if we are, um, in the same place."

Zoe looked around again, taking in all the marvels, taking another breath, just soaking it all up. She could stay in a room like this forever, or at least until she needed a shower or something.

[Devyn Solway]

With all the deep breathing that Zoe was doing, Dev wondered for a moment if the other girl had ever gotten high off of the different art chemicals and paints. Probably not on purpose, but still possible with how Dev recalled Zoe did have her own little photo lab going on in her room forever ago. She didn't know if her bathroom was still like that, but she had not been in the other girl's room in a long time. "Nope." Devyn said with a small chuckle, hands leaving her pockets to cross over her chest as she waited. She had seen all there was to see here, there was nothing that made her feel compelled to take deep breaths and stare at everything for hours.

Devyn's head tilted a little to the side at Zoe's comment about making this far. She didn't know why, but it made her feel odd and question what Zoe meant by that. Did she expect Dev to die, move, be expelled, or just leave once she was done high school? Devyn didn't bother to ask, not wanting to start anything and just remained silent as Zoe talked about how it felt right. Dev still didn't say or react in any way to what Zoe said, just looked at a sculpture before back to Zoe at her comment about how Dev was not super into this sort of thing. "It's not that I don't like it. It just does not really mean anything to me, just stuff to me but it's nice that you have a passion for it." Devyn responded back as she gave a small shoulder shrug.

Zoe explained how she could not help it and how there was just some much more freedom here; again it was something that Devyn didn't fully relate to. It was a room, a bit more on the spacious side, but a room all the same. That smelled of paint, clay, wood, and so many other things that slightly bothered Dev's nose but not so much that she was uncomfortable. Oh, was Zoe meaning college and not the art room? That was possibly what she was getting at, that made a little more sense which had Devyn's nodding but stopping at that last bit of Zoe's words.

"What do you mean?" Devyn asked. In the same place? Zoe was a year ahead of her since she just did a few classes and moved ahead to being a college student instead of doing her full Senior year with Dev, so they would be in different places, right? That and Dev was pretty sure she only had one art class and that was because she figured it be an easy A.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Right, didn't do anything. Zoe should have remembered that too. Well, it was as she said: she got into this and just got swept up in everything. It was hard to remember details or not get lost in the art and the feeling and everything around it. Even now, when she'd moved the conversation on, when she faced Devyn fully, Zoe's mind was still wandering slightly, taking everything in.

The question grounded her, or at least pulled Zoe's attention back to Devyn. "Oh, it's, ah, well," Zoe chewed her cheek for a moment, shifting, trying to figure out how best to explain it, and not only explain it, but explain it specifically for Devyn. "Before," she began, locking eyes with her friend, "before we had a very set schedule. Breakfast and class then class and so forth," she gestured a bit, as if indicating things in a row. "Now, well, now you set your own schedule. You pick your classes and when you want to go and no one really cares that you don't show up. Well, um, it still affects your grade, but it's not as though the police will show...."

Zoe trailed off. That felt like a decent explanation, right? "It's... it's, well, it's us treating us like we're people who can think and move.... and it's letting you do more or less what you want. Which is... well, it's always what you... wanted, right?"

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn had no problem hanging around and watching Zoe nerd out over art, or would geek out be better for the case of art? Well, Zoe was pretty smart but she didn't really come across as a nerd or geek so then what did you call a cute little photographer? That actually probably worked; cute little photographer. Art was still not her thing, but nor was the police/security stuff Vera talked about. Well, it had some level of interest because Devyn was a part of it but she was still not sure if she was doing it because she had to or if still a part of her wanted to be just like her dad deep down.

Zoe seemed to come back down from her art high and worked on trying to explain what she meant about how college worked. Devyn just leaned back against the walls and listened, pretty much understanding it without any real difficulty. It basically meant that she had a lot more freedom and choice that would not result in her getting in as much trouble other than her grades. It didn't really seem all that different to high school since Devyn did as she pleased even then. However; she was not sure if she liked the whole...all the choice.

Devyn liked her ability to be able to choose but she also liked being told what she was supposed to do at times. It avoided any issues down the road if someone just told her what they wanted or expected from her. "Mmm...somewhat. I do like being told what to do from time to time, especially when it involves something that is effect more than just me. If that makes sense." Devyn responded before giving a small shrug of her shoulders. It was important to note that she didn't really ever hold eye contact with Zoe; she could not anymore, even if she naturally kept eye contact with a person she was talking to. An alpha thing.

Yet, with Zoe she could not look into those brown eyes so full of memories. "Either way, I'm kind of looking forward to it. It will give me time to figure out what I'm supposed to do with my life and not I can bother Vera, you, and a few of my other college friends without having to go too far." Devyn added with a small chuckled.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Devyn liked being told what to do? Zoe as half tempted to ask "since when," the words even started to form up on her lips. She swallowed them down at the last moment: they were having a pleasant enough time, no reason to ruin it with any snide comments or anything along those lines. Besides, Zoe could definitely agree with what followed.

"It is nice to know that we'll be here for a least a while longer. We've grown so much, well, I have, and it feels right here," she took a deep breath, looking around again. She hesitated for another moment before looking back over at her friend. A question formed on her mind, one that dealt with the growth and everything. Zoe could almost feel it on her lips, that query as to whether or not Devyn regretted anything that had happened. Words came: "Was there somewhere else you wanted to look?"

Because Zoe still couldn't quite pull that trigger. Again: not while things were so pleasant.

[Devyn Solway]

It was not in every way that Devyn liked to be told what to do, but in some areas she most certainly did. That and even on subjects where she acted like she didn't like to be told what to do, she deep down did. She was very much the kind of person that was just living for others and still not really sure what she was doing with her life. Just going about day by day and doing as she pleased because she had not real direction and where she wanted to go. So when someone told her what to do it felt like she had more of a purpose or at least could 'live' for something other than just flirting, sex, working out, and eating.

Even if she didn't really mind that kind of life style for the moment, but knew she could not do it forever if she really wanted to be happy and feel like she was getting somewhere in life. Zoe just seemed pleased that all of them would be there for at least a little longer and how they had all grown up so much. Devyn didn't really feel that much different, but it was easy to tell that there had been some changes for Zoe. Good for her. It just made Devyn feel like she needed to work that much harder so she could change as well and be better for Vera. Vera would likely tell her she needed to be better for herself, Dev was still used to living for other people and in this case that meant living for her girlfriend.

Dev just nodded in agreement to Zoe's words. It felt right here only because Devyn didn't really know where else to go besides another mutant school. She really needed to figure out where she was going to do with her life at some point. "Mmm...the girl's bathroom?" Devyn asked, chuckling a little before she quickly shook her head no. "Kidding, kidding. I already know where the girls and guys bathroom is at." Devyn responded. She had not even meant for it to be a reference to how they first met and more so her unable to not flirt at least a little bit.

"So, nope. Nothing else. Anything you needed to take care of while we are here or can we hit up a vending machine for a quick snack?" Devyn asked as she already started to move towards the door. She could go for a snack and they did have vending machines around the school.

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

The girls' bathroom? Zoe had to smile at that, even if she felt a slight twist. That had been, strangely enough, where they'd first met, where everything between them had technically started. Part of Zoe felt like she should say something about that, again saying that she didn't regret what she'd had with Devyn. Zoe had just needed time to grow and they just didn't quite fit together that way. They probably both still loved one another in some way, and Zoe liked to think that was what had developed into this, this strange friendship that was one of the closest she had.

But as always, Devyn was kidding. Zoe smiled at that. It was just her all over. "I don't have anything else, no," she said, before turning to look again. No, there was nothing else to show off, at least for the time being. Zoe took another deep breath before nodding and turning back to her friend, taking a few steps her way. "I really am glad you're still here," she said, giving Devyn another slightly serious look. "Truly I mean it. I know you had been thinking of going away and... well, I'm just glad that you're still here."

Another smile, and then a slight nod from Zoe. "So, I suppose that means we should head for the vending machines? I don't usually like what they have, but I might be able to get some water or juice," and she started walking that way, falling in line with her friend once more.

{1,500!}

[Devyn Solway]

At least Zoe was smiling at the comment, that meant that she had not taken it the wrong way or was upset by it. That was good, very good. Devyn knew she was not good at words and didn't want to end up digging herself into a hole because she was just trying to have an ideal conversation and have a little fun. It was the only way she could be herself and not get weird around Zoe and the thoughts that came with being around the girl. Devyn didn't know how Zoe felt on it besides what Zoe had said in the past about how she didn't love her anymore and that the one comment Zoe made so long ago still ate away and Devyn.

The whole wanting to focus on her relationship over being friends with Devyn, so yes she was being petty deep down but was doing her best to ignore those thoughts and feelings. Thankfully Zoe was no mind reader or else things would be awkward but also very different between them if that was Zoe's ability. "Snacks then." Devyn said when Zoe said that she had nothing else to show her or talk about in the area. Devyn went ahead to head to the nearest vending machine only to stop and look at Zoe as she spoke of being happy that Devyn was still here. Devyn's green eyes feel to the ground for a moment before she gave Zoe a smile.

"Thanks, I just hope I don't come to regret it later on." Devyn said, the latter part sort of mumbled as she resumed turning to head to the vending machine. Zoe was moving long and speaking of how she was not really a fan of them but she could get some water or juice. "Still being very much a little rabbit I see. You better not turn into a vegetarian on me or else I might have to force feed you meat." Devyn said, half kidding. Seriously, she would not be able to hang around someone who didn't eat meat without wanting to force them to eat the beauty that was meat. They didn't have too far to walk to the vending machines, so Devyn kept silent for the trip for the most part other than her whole vegetarian comment.

((Woo for the post count! And I also like your new graphic sets for your characters))

[Zoe Wallerstein-Smythe]

Snacks it was then. Zoe sort of strolled that way, falling more or less in step with Devyn. This certainly felt familiar to her, comfortable, and like she said, she was glad that they'd somehow managed to make it this far. Zoe still wasn't entirely sure how they'd managed that, but, well, she wasn't about to start secondguessing it now.

She didn't quite catch the bit about regretting it, which was probably for the best. She reached the vending machine instead, moving to the side to let Devyn go ahead and pick something out first. Zoe would get something to nibble on, maybe a granola bar or something along those lines. Naturally Devyn would have to comment on it, which had Zoe smiling and lowering her gaze to her shoes for a moment.

"I still like some light meats, mostly fish," she looked up, a look of almost teasing entering her eyes. She instead looked over at the vending machine, looking over the selections, leaving it to Devyn to pick something first. "I see they added some jerky and pork rinds," she said, trying to sound conversational about it. At least it didn't sound too forced, and it certainly didn't ring false.

[Devyn Solway]

Devyn loved her some snack, but then again she liked to eat in general. With her power she tended to get a decent apatite and she tended to use her power at least once a day. Not that she needed to use her power that often but it was something that just ended up happening, even if it was her not pulling shadows all the way to transform and more so just to practice pulling shadows and in general having control over her ability. Zoe kept up as expected; it should have been very easy for the two of them to walk in step with one another after all.

They had done it for so long and while it felt natural it still caused Devyn to feel a sort of tugging feeling within her chest. One that she knew would never go away but she was just going to have to deal with it like she had to deal with it in the past with other Exs. The got to the vending machine and after looking at it for a moment she ended up getting herself some jerky because she loved her some meats. Dev easily put the money in the machine, hitting the numbers, and waiting for her snack to fall before she reached in to grab it.

"So long as you don’t just eat carrots and green stuff, I won't have to worry about strapping you to a chair and hooking you up to a meat IV." Devyn responded as she torn open her bag of jerky and already started to dig in. She stepped to the side to let Zoe get what she wanted, almost offering to pay for whatever she wanted until Zoe brought up that there were pork rinds. "What? For real? How did I not see them?" Devyn asked as she practically became one with the glass on the vending machine to get a good look, as if standing at a normal distance was not good enough. "Next time." Devyn said, more to herself as she went back to eating her jerky. She then held out one to Zoe, waving it around a little as if it were bait.