Mar-Vell College (Valkarol)

Walking bumper sticker

"I get why you have a good reputation now. You're amazing at football!" Carol exclaimed as the pair walked back to their dorm.

"Thanks." Valkyrie smiled. "I just enjoy it."

"I can see it now." Carol said as she started walking backwards infront of Valkyrie. She stretched her arms out and looked up at the sky. "You appearing at the... what's a big football event or game?"

"NFL."

"You're at the NFL and as you appear on the field the camera's all try to get a good shot of you. The crowd goes crazy, me and Thor amongst them of course. We're your number one fans-"

"But there's two of you." Valkyrie laughed.

"Thor's number two then." She grinned.

"You lead your team to victory every time. You're the amazing. Incredible. Undefeated... Valkyrie!" Carol shouted. A few people turned their way and Valkyrie pushed Carol along hurriedly.

"That would be something but there aren't many woman who play at the NFL. Especially if it's not lingerie football and there's no way I'm doing that."

Lingerie? I'll have to look that up. Carol thought.

"Even this college only recently got a female football team. Have you seen the men's football crowds? They're almost double what we get."

"They are?" Carol asked as she returned to Valkyrie's side.

"Yep." Valkyrie said simply.

"Well at least you got to be on one of the first female teams here." Carol said brightly.

"That's because I started it." Carol turned to face her like a flash.

"You did? Val that's amazing!" Carol exclaimed.

"That's why I have a reputation, Carol. It isn't really about how I play. It's about the fact I want to. And I'm pretty open about liking girls, that drew some attention aswell." Valkyrie muttered the last past but Carol heard it all crystal clear.

"Val." Carol said putting her hand on Valkyrie's arm to make her stop. "What other students think won't effect you getting a scholarship unless you stop playing because they got in your head." Carol said softly.

"I don't plan on stopping any time soon." Valkyrie said firmly.

"Exactly! With that attitude and how well you play you're definetly going to play professionally. By the time we're out of here there might be more woman playing in the NFL and if not you can pave the way. You seem like the type to do that." Valkyrie nodded at Carol's words. No one had talked to her like that about football...ever. Carol was something entirely new.

"You're a walking bumper sticker you know that." Carol smiled and dropped her hand from Valkyrie's arm. She felt the loss of contact immediately and longed for it back but Carol started walking again.

"I bet Thor tells you this stuff all the time." Carol said. Valkyrie dropped her head slightly.

"Thor... he thinks I'm good at football but he's never encouraged me to pursue it professionally. We talked about it once. He said it would be hard but I could hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. He thinks it won't happen so we haven't said a word about it since. So... no he doesn't tell me this stuff. No one ever has."

"Well now you have all the more reason to do it."

"Trust me, that's been my main motivation for a while." Carol laughed knowing that was entirely true. "But seriously, no one ever gave me this kind of motivational... slightly cheesy talk before." Carol laughed again in response.

"You clearly haven't needed it. But if you ever do do you want me to write it down?" Valkyrie laughed and shook her head.

"It's already up here." She said tapping her head.

"Who's cheesy now?"

***

"Is it here?" Carol asked, referring to her portfolio. Kartez shook his head and took a quick scan of all the paper infront of her. She had been struggling to keep hold of everything she'd done since she had arrived. To loose any of her work would be problematic and if her portfolio didn't arrive soon Carol knew something would definetly get lost.

"Why does no one ever tell you how stressful art is?" Carol grumbled. Em threw he head back and gave an exaggerated laugh.

"That's so true." Em was getting beyond annoying at this point. "Anyways I'm having a party tonight and my parties are beyond legendary. You should come." She said.

"Thank you but I'm have to stay in tonight. I've got a bunch of work to do and I'll be up untill like one am."

"Oh come on. I don't give invites to just anyone ya know." She smiled suggestively.

"Maybe another time." Em was about to protest when Valkyrie strolled over to their desk to Carol's relief.

"Em, Kartez wants you to take this to Smith." She said handing her a note.

"Why me?" She said icily.

"Cos you're the only one who's not doing shit." Valkyrie said. Carol stifled a laugh and Em snatched the note from Valkyrie and stormed out.

Valkyrie slung her bag down next to Carol and held her arms out dramatically.

"Your saviour is here." She declared. Carol smiled as Valkyrie sat down next to her. "You supported my thing, now I wanna know all about yours." She said, gently picking up a recent painting.