Collab Between Liriia and World Traveler
[center]------------------[/center] 

Devin heard the small group of people walk off and figured they didn't hear him offer up a seat. It wasn't abnormal as most people don't seem to hear you unless you are also looking at them. A skill Devin wasn't completely equipped for. He turned back to his meal and ate by himself. The commotion that happened over on the far side was easy enough to hear, but pointless to pay attention to as far as Devin was concerned. His old high school had loud mouths and drama queens. It was sort of comforting to hear this place wasn't any different. Still he wasn't all too happy to be eating alone on his first day. At least back at his old school he would have his dog Nyx with him. He never felt alone when she was with him.

Feeling himself getting further and further down the rabbit hole of missing home Devin finished his meal and after trying to find where to put the tray was finally helped by a passing student. He thanked the person and then asked for directions to the main entrance. He followed them and finally reaching the end of the directions given to him wasn't sure where to go next. He heard a few people talking and then excused himself as he interrupted. "[b]Hello, am I in the main entrance way? I am trying to get outside...[/b]" He tried to look in the direction of the woman's voice he heard. He stood with his cane in front of him and his two hands perched on top of it.

Just as P.K had escaped her first conversation, another wished to grab her attention. She made a show of turning her head tensely, allowing her eyes to visualize her pain and annoyance, but as soon as she caught a glimpse of the speaker behind her she realized he couldn't see any of it. His cane was the first give away, his pitch black and terrifying eyes were the next. Phoebe wasn't as stupid as most used to claim her to be, she could tell left from right, she knew the difference between a cat and dog. She was aware that a seeing person and a blind person weren't exactly alike as well. She took a short step towards the somewhat familiar-looking boy, repeating his question within her mind twice before answering with a tight, forced voice,

"[color=fdc68a][b]You've got a short way to go, bud,[/b][/color]" P.K took another step forward, sandals clicking against the linoleum floor, "[color=fdc68a][b]the front doors are just down these stairs. I'm heading that way too, shall I lead you?[/b][/color]" Managing to control her voice somewhat, she forced a smile, and then promptly remembered that a reassuring face didn't really matter to this boy. P.K sucked in a small breath, running her cool hand through her messy curls before turning towards the stairs, snapping her fingers in the boy's general direction to attract his senses,

"[color=fdc68a][b]let's rush along, then. Name's Phoebe by the way, mind telling me yours?[/b][/color]" P.K didn't enjoy being so curt, but her chest was still filled with cotton, and she was basically begging for fresh air by now.

The woman seemed to pause after directing her attention towards Devin. This was normal and while Devin couldn't picture it he knew it meant the person was somewhat startled by his appearance and disability. As far as recovery goes she was decent he thought as she started to talk. She was friendly enough as she used words like buddy and offered to help him. [b]"You can walk with me."[/b] Devin said and smiled. He wouldn't go into detail about how the phrase 'lead him' bugged him to someone he just met.

He also grabbed his cane a bit more tightly as the woman snapped her fingers. Since she stepped over towards him he had smelled the abundant fruit scents on her. It has been like walking into a farmers market. He liked it; however, being snapped at like he was a dog wasn't as 'helpful' as people seemed to think. [b]"Don't worry I know where you are."[/b] He said with a polite tone. Devin could tell that his disability was making Phoebe uncomfortable. [b]"My name is Devin."[/b] He figured it best to just talk about things with her. Especially if they were going to enjoy the outdoors together. [b]"First time around someone who is blind?"[/b]

"[b][color=fdc68a]Sorry, just can't be too sure, ya know?[/color][/b]" She descended the stairs careful, clutching the folds of her sundress tightly as she kept one eye on the boy behind her. He seemed somewhat annoyed at her mannerisms, but then again, who wouldn't be? Obviously, she wasn't too sure on how to handle people who couldn't see her mostly animated facial features, her folks had always said she could be read like a book, thus leaving her to rely mostly on exaggerated expressions to move along conversations and convey emotions. How could someone who couldn't see understand her odd way of conversing?

[i]easy, they cant. better find a new approach[/i] 

At his question she shrugged, taking the last few steps down as quickly as possible before turning back,

"[color=fdc68a][b]'suppose you could say that. I'm also feelin' a bit... Icky. Not 'cause of you, of course.[/b][/color]" P.K decided not to go any further into her discomfort, instead gliding towards the front doors with her usual silent steps. She pulled them open quickly and felt instant relief as the sunlight hit her face and the summer wind filled her lungs. She sucked in a deep breath, held it, and then sighed before turning back to Devin,

"[color=fdc68a][b]I feel like I've seen you before, did you come here from the bus stop by any chance?[/b][/color]" She held open the door for the boy, breathing deeply, trying to calm the entire aching left side of her body.

Devin nodded at Phoebe's comments while they made their way down the lower stairs to the front doors. As he walked outside and thanked his companion for keeping the door open he heard her take a big breath of air and seemingly relax all in one motion. He agreed that the outside was a much more pleasant environment. The wind had died down and now the calm air around him matched the calm sunny weather outside. 

Devin heard Phoebe inquire about how he got to the school and smiled. [b]"Yea I was on the bus. Seemed sort of weird to have us stand around and then bus to the school."[/b] Devin was going to continue, but stopped after he heard her take another big breath. [b]"Are you feeling okay?"[/b] Devin had learned during his time at several parties that people taking deep breaths usually meant they were fighting something off and it was usually a bad thing. He even reached out with his hand. [b]"Need some help?"[/b] He asked with a smile.

She stared at his hand for a moment, shrugged inwardly to herself, and then allowed her searing hot flesh to connect with his open palm. No use hiding what obviously would be found out eventually. It was a school of mutants after all, everyone's powers probably had a down side. P.K let her hand rest lightly on Devin's ultimately cooler flesh for a few seconds longer before pulling away, gnawing roughly on her lip before inching forward to take a seat on the front steps. She let out a drawn out sigh, shaking her head back and fourth slowly.

"[b][color=fdc68a]I think I'm okay, just some backlash from messin' around with my... Skill? Power?[/color][/b]"

[i]whatever youd call it[/i]

Phoebe patted the step next to her, hopefully loud enough so Devin could interpret what she was doing, and then rose her eyes to the sky. She already felt the sunlight soaking her flesh, refueling her, numbing the pain slowly, and after some deep breaths P.K already began to feel like herself once more. She turned her attention back to Devin, hair tumbling over her shoulder as she cocked her head and inquired;

"[color=fdc68a][b]so, what brings ya to PITY? I'm guessing it has something to do with ya wicked cool eyes."[/b][/color]" She hoped he could hear the smile in her voice, and she wondered briefly if the question was too personal before brushing the worry off with a small giggle.

[i]Powers[/i]... Devin thought to himself as the conversation turned. He had felt her hand almost heat up as it touched him. He didn't pull away or grab, but was relieved when Phoebe sat down and invited him with a loud pat of the step. He set his cane down after sitting and started to fold it up. He started to relax as he heard a few students come and go from the entrance the moment felt perfectly normal and reminded him of home.

[b]"Let me know if you need me to get someone. Just...let me know sooner since it might take me a little longer."[/b] Devin said. Like many he was often heard using comedy to explain or mention his blindness. He knew some people found this awkward, but overall he didn't care what others thought. It was how he coped with it and it wasn't about to change. Thankfully, judging from her comment about his 'wicked eyes' Phoebe didn't seem to be afraid to bring it up.

[b]"Seems so. I am here cause my family. They have been amazing dealing with my lack of sight, but whatever it is that is causing it is a little our of their league."[/b] Devin leaned back on his arms and let his head look up. [b]"The past few years have been nothing but tests, science jargon, and moments of explosions or crazy antics. I wouldn't even know where to begin. I guess that is the biggest issue. No control and about as much comprehension as a five year old does about calculus."[/b] Devin sighed and then continued. [b]"Then PITY reopened and my parents saw it as a resource. I wasn't too thrilled, but they said this place could help me learn how to control whatever it is going on with me. So I signed on."[/b]

[b]"How about your story Phoebe?"[/b] Devin was careful not to ask about what specifically her power was since he in turn couldn't answer that question. He also knew that asking a mutant about what brought them where was a dicey situation. He had read and heard plenty of horror stories to know most mutants don't have the supportive family life he was raised with. [b]"You said the breathing was part of your powers. You not able to control your abilities either?"[/b]

"[b][color=fdc68a]I'll be fine.[/color][/b]" She responded quickly to his worries, and then sat back as Devin broke into his story. His reason for coming to this school. It seemed a bit more... scientific than her own. The whole idea of getting testing freaked her out more then any dark room could. Images of being splayed on a table filled her head, and the thought of being picked and prodded at made her skin prickle with discomfort. She pulled her knees up to her chest at Devin questioning her own passed, and a small sigh escaped her throat,

"[color=fdc68a][b]I guess. It's hard to control something ya don't understand.[/b][/color]" P.K examined her shaking hand, breathing slowed to a constant rhythm, "[color=fdc68a][b]my ability is photon manipulation. At least, that's what my brother called it, the easier term is 'light'.[/b][/color]" She thought for a moment if Devin would be interested in seeing some tricks, but then she caught a glimpse of his eyes and laughed at her own stupidity. A good laugh, a laugh that came from the chest, it had been awhile since she had laughed like that. Phoebe ran a hand through her hair again and then continued on,

"[color=fdc68a][b]My family was pretty OK with the whole mutant thing. They accepted me, but didn't really do much about it. It was like they ignored that part of me, kinda. Sorta. I don't know.[/b][/color]" P.K shrugged at the thought, images of quiet dinners and annoyed glances replaying within her mind. Her parents never did enjoy her showing off any of her power in the house. 

"[color=fdc68a][b]I'm the one who decided to go here, actually. I've never been able to control or understand my ability well, and PITY seemed like the best place to, ya know, train. And start over, but we don't have to get into that.[/b][/color]" She drew circles on her bare knee, watching the brown flesh lighten slightly with each motion, "[color=fdc68a][b]I don't think this place is too bad. Maybe a bit overbearing, but learning to control yourself can help, ya know?[/b][/color]"

And then silence filled the conversation, if only for a moment. The two sat on the front steps, perhaps lost in thought or they were merely enjoying the beauty of the day silently. Phoebe let her eyes shut, breathing deeply, feeling a little more at ease now that she had managed to talk to someone so casually.