you're ripped at every edge but you're a masterpiece

                                   ‘ jesus, kid, take it down a peg. i don’t think assumin’ some shit is gonna go down here is unreasonable. ’ they’d be lying if they said they hadn’t been hoping for some frustrated commiseration, the other’s response BORINGLY sensible in comparison to their own nosing question. but the followed thought brings a bit of promise, and an eyebrow is raised, testing. ‘ okay, but that was a pretty casual way to say someone bit it. can’t claim everything’s all nice n’ calm an’ then follow up with THAT. ’

“No, I’m an alien. But I do like animals.”

                                   ‘ y’know– ’ no conversation had begun and yet they speak up regardless, a curl of a smile along lips, tone tinged lightly ANNOYED but largely just amused. hands are tucked into pockets ( perhaps an attempt at composure, though a weak one ) and they continue before they can be cut off, clearing their throat to make sure attention is given. ‘ –you’d think a place like this would be a little more EXCITING. or am i just missing out on the action, somehow ? ’

“I love classes- but at this point I’m just waiting for summer to come.”

“Oh my god, I know. Like, besides the fact that classes start dragging, it’s so cold out. I’m, like, freezing. I mean look at me.”

“Oh now you ought to stop with that.” She shook her head as she listened to them. “You ought to be more kind to yourself.” She assured them as she let out a small laugh. “Then again maybe I should take my own advise. Well Zander I’m on the hunt for a couple things. The music building being one of them.” She nodded as she sighed wanting badly to explore where she would be spending most of her time. 

“Oh yeah? Well that makes me feel a lot better actually, I didn’t want to be a total loser.” She laughed a light sound as she listened to the person continue. It was rather charming how they talked and she smiled before they introduced themself. “Hi, I’m Marina, it’s nice to meet you Zander.” 

“Hello,” Marina said in a timid little voice to the person before her. “I’m sorry to bother you. But I’m kind of lost, would you mind pointing me in the right direction. This place is a lot bigger than I had anticipated.” 

His attempt to be friendly had back fired incredibly; fishing was probably not the best conversation starter in hindsight. “I feel ya.” Lincoln nodded, keeping his eyes focused on the water. It always brought him a sense of harmony. “So what do you like to do?” 

“I like the water. Back home when things were too stressful I’d just jump in and kinda chill out. I could’ve spent hours just walking around. Like, don’t get me wrong, I like being around people, but sometimes it’s a bit much.” Pretty much ever since they’d discovered they could go underwater, they’d look for excuses to do so. 

Maya stared harder at them, wondering if she had missed some sort of pop reference with the green thing. Her brain racked back and forth and nothing came to mind, “Um…OK, sure? And where is that? Pluto?” she asked, having no idea what they were. She assumed some sort of transforming thing.

Maya looked around and shook her head, pulling her bag with all her belongings up on her shoulder tighter, “Yeah, I didn’t even graduate high school, I have no idea how any of this stuff works. I just expected someone to meet up with me and lo and behold, nothing.”

“Pluto’s too cold. And there’s not enough water. I don’t think I’m from this part of the galaxy, though I don’t know if there’s any way to confirm it.” If she was joking it had completely flown over their head, not registered as anything other than a genuine question. 

This was definitely a weird predicament to be in. They sort of wanted to inquire more, but they also knew they didn’t really have a right to start interrogating her about her life. “Well, I could take you down to admissions, and see who they say you should get into contact with? No matter your species, there’s probably someone here that can help you.” Especially since she appeared to be from Earth, from her confusion at the idea of an alien.

Maya wasn’t paying attention until the voice got her attention, turning towards it she quickly jumped back, “Holy shit, you’re blue!” she said with her eyes wide as she stared at him.  “What is…”  “I know not what that is.”  Maya blinked a few times, a little concerned that Z didn’t even know what they were looking at.

It took her a few more moments to register that she was actually being talked to.  And that they were willing to help her, “I…a bit.  I just got here and I have no idea what to do.  I was told a place and a college, that’s it.”  She still wasn’t sure to make of the person talking to her.  Or if it was a person or something else entirely.  But they were here, and the place looked like it would welcome just about anyone.  No matter how weird their color was.

Zander laughed a bit at her reaction. It wasn’t one they got often, with most people preferring to downplay their surprise, so it caught them a bit off-guard as well. “Well, y’know. If I was green, I would die.” They couldn’t really help themself in that reference. “I’m told that this might be a normal shade where I’m from.”

They nodded at her predicament. “Well...have you been to the admissions building yet? They might be able to help you. If not, I could show you where it is? I was, like, totally lost my first day, too. But I like to think this year I’ve got a better handle on this.”

Maya slowly walked around campus, not sure where she was even supposed to be.  Ziminiar had been against it from the start, saying over and over that she needed to learn on her own.  That they wouldn’t accept them, and yet here they were.  She did leave out the small part about the demon being inside her, no one really wanted to know that.

She hadn’t even completed high school, and yet she got an acceptance letter and an explanation of just what the place was.  A place she didn’t need to hide away what she was.  A place where she didn’t have to run at every sense of danger or if someone caught on in the least.

But now she was just another lost student among the buildings, lacking any sort of direction.  “I told you you should have called ahead,” the familiar voice of Ziminiar echoed in her head.  “And I would if my phone hadn’t been turned off.  You remember that conversation, don’t?” she asked out loud as if talking to herself.

Zander had finally completed their mad dash to the library, having almost entirely forgotten to return the books they’d used for their last literary analysis. Now all that was left was to mutter to themself about how messed up it was that they were a science major but still had to bother with literary analyses. That, and get used to walking around blue. So they took the long way back across campus, and they were rather pleased that only a few people gave them a second glance. It was still strange to go out in the open with their natural coloration on display, but it was safe here. 

Though, they were so preoccupied with themself, they very nearly bumped into someone else. They heard the other person say something, but weren’t quite sure who they were directing it to. Definitely not to Zander, but they heard mention of a phone being off, so really, Zander was clueless. “Uh, sorry. Are you...lost, maybe?” They asked, turning around to face them again. If this person was lost, it wasn’t like Zander had much more to do today. It wouldn’t kill them to help out if needed.