Where I'll Stay

[Carter Chevalier]

Carter Chevalier had options. He finished with good, solid grades. He had money. Charisma. The ability to write a dashingly convincing letter when asked.

He also had a plan; to graduate along side his twin brother and leave Hammel, Pilot Ridge, Vermont and likely America for good. But kinks formed in the proverbial line of his plan. Dom being forced to stay at the power-based school for another year was at the forefront of those issues. Carter struggled to find the means to understand how to fix it, older brother that he was. But he couldn't. It seemed every step he took towards helping his brother hindered him instead.

But the alternative, though cringe worthy, was still worthy. So he had every intention of checking out the potential college before signing his name up for any courses. As the older twin stepped onto the grounds of the University of Vermont, he quickly realised it was a larger, more polished place than he'd anticipated. Still, he wouldn't let his eyes wander the twists and turns of each building for long. He reached for his phone, anticipating a message from his brother.

Head down, the Chevalier unknowingly shouldered someone walking by, and the device very nearly slipped from his reach. At the very least, he didn't fall, but he did glance back to see just who he'd run into.

Or more to the point, who ran into him.

[Julien Duval]

When someone's shoulder collided into him, Julien slightly lost the grip on his video camera and fumbled with it, before steadying it and sighing in relief, turning to see a blonde moving past him. Of course he was texting on his cell phone. Typical, right? Nobody paid attention to where they were walking anymore because of cell phones. However, Julien could say the same thing for himself, except it'd been because he was looking through his video camera, how he preferred to look at life. Even if he wasn't recording, having the thing on was somehow comforting, just knowing that he could catch something on film if he wanted to. If only something of worth would happen.

The guy turned around to look at him and Julien raised an eyebrow. "All is well!" he yelled to him, realizing that was probably the dorkiest thing he could have said to a random stranger.

[Carter Chevalier]

Immediately, Carter gave his attention to the way this guy looked. It was always impossible to deny the first thing that caught his attention. Naturally, he registered that the individual who had run into him was attractive. Someone he'd never seen before, which was rare given the amount of years he'd spent at Hammel in tandem with graduation. He tried not to let his mind get caught up in the finer details of a stranger, but that was difficult.

So he dropped his gaze to the thing he was holding instead. A camera, of all things. He was hardly one to judge on the subject of art and things of the like, but he couldn't deny the fact that he was curious.

When he called out, Carter raised his eyebrows and glanced back at him. The corner of his mouth pulled into something of an amused grin - both at the nature of his voice and the expression he'd offered. The volume was worth noting too, but he disregarded that for now. "Decent catch." He replied, indicating towards the video camera. It would have been more than awkward if he'd dropped it.

[Julien Duval]

Julien wasn't quite sure what to make of the way the guy was looking at him and smiling, for that matter. Julien was used to strange looks and he was trying to find the deceit in the guy's smile. After all, most Americans thought he was strange. Well, most people did actually.

"That's what I was going for," he replied, in a way that he could only hope was smooth. He wasn't the best at first impressions or first conversations which really helped to form that impression. "It's a prized possession. Kind of irreplacable, so it wasn't the time to get....butterfingers." That was a saying, right?

[Carter Chevalier]

Carter couldn't suppress the short chuckle he offered at the response he was given. But he had to wonder what about a camera could be so personal. His eyes darted towards it again, his blue eyes studying the device looking for some kind of specifics. Something of interest. Anything worth holding onto. Sentimentality wasn't something he really understood. Not to the extent most others did, anyway.

"Would it be strange to ask what makes it irreplaceable?" Carter asked, his eyes moving to catch his again. Surely telling someone it was irreplaceable meant the story behind it was up for grabs. But briefly, he shook his head, opting to extend his free hand out; "I'm Carter, by the way. I just got accepted here."

[Julien Duval]

The blonde guy was ogling his camera as if looking for what made it so special. It wasn't very expensive, or extremely nice looking, but it was a camera and he could film and take photos. It got the job done and it initially inspired him to do these things. "My grandfather gave it to me. It was a gift. He knew I had an imagination, so he thought it'd help fuel it." Julien shrugged. His grandfather was no longer around and Julien missed him deeply, but the camera was something to hold onto of the man, which added to its value.

"I'm Julien," he offered in return, taking the other guy's hand for a shake. "I did as well."

[Carter Chevalier]

Strangely enough, Carter understood the depth of personal nostalgia, particularly when it came to things of a creative nature. Unlike his brother, he had that natural edge. That skill. "Understandable." The twin replied lightly. His mother might have been a traitorous bitch, but she still supported his artistry tenfold.

Carter shook his hand with ease, allowing his to slip through the other man's grasp moments later. "Ah, so I take it you might be as lost as I am." He admitted. The buildings he needed to familiarise himself with were still troubling. "Are you here for-" Dropping his question, he indicated towards the camera with a hand. Something to do with film, surely, but he wasn't sure what it was called.

[Julien Duval]

Julien didn't know if the guy would understand, but this camera was close to his heart and he always carried it around, for sentimental value and for the reminder that his grandfather had believed he could be something great. He really didn't want to disappoint himself and his grandfather as well. But he seemed to understand alright.

When he let go of the blonde's hand, it fell awkwardly to his side. He never knew quite what to do with his hands. "Yeah, I definitely am," he replied. "I mean, I've been in Vermont for about two years now...but university is a whole new level." Carter began to ask him another question and then trailed off, gesturing towards his camera. "Yeah...I mean, I plan to major in film and media if that's what you mean." He wondered what this guy was interested in. He wasn't very good at looking at someone and guessing what their hobbies or talents were.

[Carter Chevalier]

As he let go, Carter allowed his hand to fall to his side with ease. Physical connections were as important as anything else, and as such, he didn't feel strange about it.

He looked so young, so the news that he'd been here for a few years was a little surprising. He hadn't seen him around Hammel, but he couldn't be sure if that was because he hadn't gone there or if he simply hadn't noticed him. Plus he had an evident accent that matched the Chevalier twin's in its own way. To an extent, anyway. "That was what I meant, yes." He replied lightly.

"I thought about coming here for the art classes. I like to draw." He replied, feeling a little ease at admitting such a thing. After all, it seemed he had some kind of apt for the creative, "But no, business studies is my apparent calling. A place in the family business, and all that."

[Julien Duval]

"I didn't know if you meant that or if you were asking if I was on campus to film something...which I guess I kind of am..." Julien trailed off, lifting up his camera once more. He was always trying to film something, but he never caught anything monumental on film, nothing exciting. Just the mundane actions of life and really, what was so great about that? How was he supposed to make a film if he had no content? He was in a town with metas running around now though and he was still failing, what did that say about his talent?

"Art, huh?" Julien could in no way draw. Only stick figures. He wrinkled his nose at what Carter said next though. "Oh...business." That did not sound fun. Practical, but not fun. "You can still take some art electives though, right?" Or just drop your apparent calling and go for what you actually want. But he didn't say that. After all, Julien wanted to make it in film and media and what if he didn't? Then Carter would be well off in the future and Julien might as well be a hobo living outside his store front.