Survival Of The Fittest

"Language arts?" Jen repeated, considering it.

Jennifer had never really been one for creative writing, though truth be told it was because she never really considered it. But Jennifer couldn't really think of creative writing being a thing she ended up doing: It was one thing to compose a song, or sketch a scene, or cook. It was quite another to imagine up a whole story in her head, and Jennifer never really had time to come up with those kinds of ideas. Most of her ideas were just ideas for new recipes, or things to sketch. And of course, with all the free time she used up studying, she couldn't really do that even if she wanted to.

Maybe if she had some sort of flash of inspiration? Nah, but that kind of thing never really happened to her. Jennifer was someone whose thoughts were more or less grounded in reality... But what about her songwriting? Although, that was something that was also grounded in reality, right? Considering that her songs were all instrumental, but... huh, she never really tried lyrics before, had she? Although she guessed it wouldn't be easy, and even then, she...

Jennifer was lost in a thought feedback loop, and had totally forgotten to even answer Alice's question.

Kizi didn't really do writing. She hadn't yet found her creative outlet of choice, or any particularly inspiring muses. Most of her hobbies were academic, after all. Not interesting to discuss at all.

There was a lull in the conversation, and Kizi was, while chewing another mouthful of her almost-finished risotto, trying to think of a good way of filling the gap, without just asking another rather generic question about interests. She hated to admit it, but that conversation pathway wasn't really working for her. It was a noble effort, but no common ground had been found that involved Kizi, and she didn't want to butt in.

She finished another oyster - no, they were mussels, not oysters, she remembered - trying in vain to politely conceal the inevitable slurping sound.

She was saved from having to say something clever or productive by her phone ringing. Muttering her apologies, she placed her plate down - back on her table - and answered. Her mom needed some help at home.

"Sorry, guys," she said, returning to her two classmates, "but I gotta run. Family calls." With a friendly smile, she left the two, taking her nearly-finished plate over to the counter, apologising for not finishing it all and leaving a healthy tip.

((Kiziah continued in The Blood Witch.))

"Oh, okay. Later." Alice said as Kizi ran off. Jen seemed lost in thought, and Alice didn't want to break her out of her distraction; sometimes daydreaming was nice, and Alice didn't know if Jen would get annoyed if she was distracted from her thoughts.

So Alice pulled out her book again, and started reading, taking another forkful of pancakes and chewing thoughtfully while reading. After a moment, her plate was cleared, and Alice was pleasantly full.

"Hey, see you later, Jen." Alice said quietly, and stood up, leaving behind a tip before moving to the counter to pay for her meal. It was an interesting little encounter, but Alice would be glad to get home and relax with her fanfic for a while. Trying to keep a conversation afloat didn't really do it for her.

((Alice Baker continued in The Funny Thing Is, I Keep On Returning Over and Over))

And then Jennifer also left.

((Jennifer Su continued elsewhere...))