[hr][hr] [center][img]http://i.imgur.com/98Fl8PE.png[/img][/center] [hr][hr][center][img]http://i.imgur.com/xYKmI37.png[/img] [img]http://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjY2LmZmZmZmZi5KZywsLjAA/bendystraw.bendystraw.png[/img] [img]http://fontmeme.com/embed.php?text=Brenna%20Lancaster&name=writtenonhishands.ttf&size=75&style_color=78CCEB[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/EXbFnVg.gif[/img] [img]http://i.imgur.com/7NvuGXT.gif[/img] [color=662d91][b]Location;[/b][/color]The Fear Fest bus [color=powderblue][b]Interacting With;[/b][/color] Each other [sub][@smarty0114][/sub][/center] [hr]Lucas was definitely surprised when he saw Brenna in her leather suit. He was a guy after all. Why wouldn’t he appreciate daring beauty? But a friend of his wore it, which somehow made him realize he shouldn’t be staring. After a few seconds, he realized she made a remark. [color=662d91]“Oh, ugh, sorry. Something hates me today. Like really hates me.”[/color] He deflected, trying to stay vague. His mind wandered again. Thinking of why Brenna dressed like she did. Was it a suggestion of Gianna? Or did the apprentice learn quickly? Either way, it was paying off. As a fair share of guys were subtly and unsubtly eyeing her. [color=662d91]“So, how have you been doing? Haven’t heard from you in a while.”[/color] Brenna grinned, because of both the not so subtle staring of the other passengers, as well as the effect she appeared to have on Lucas. Despite how messed up she was inside, it was good to know that her outside still had it. [color=powderblue][b]"I've been...good. Training a lot for the tournament,"[/b][/color] she said, neglecting to tell him about the night at Delirium. She had no desire for her mental weakness to become public knowledge, or even private knowledge. This was her secret, and hers alone. [color=powderblue][b]"What about you Farweight? I haven't seen you in the Training Room lately. I'm guessing you've got somewhere else where you're honing your skills?"[/b][/color] Brenna inquired. She was certain Lucas would take the tournament seriously, that wasn't what she cared about. She was more curious as to where he'd been training, or with whom. [i][b][color=powderblue] Maybe the Delphina Times got it right. Perhaps Ellie's gotten her claws into him.[/color][/b][/i] [color=662d91]“You don’t seriously think I’d train out with the idiots in the training room?”[/color] he grinned at her. No, he was training harder than ever. [color=662d91]“They’ll learn all my moves. See what I can do.”[/color] Every night he learned more. [color=662d91]“They can gauge your strengths.”[/color] When the moon was highest ever night, Lucas’ muscles tore themselves apart. [color=662d91]“And your weaknesses.”[/color] Every night, when the moon descended from its apex, Lucas’ body gave up completely. [color=662d91]“So yeah, I’m training still. Quite a lot really. Don’t worry.”[/color] He threw Brenna a reassuring smile. A smile that remained as he thought about the last few weeks. Every brawl he went through. Gods knew he wouldn’t be able to keep it up. But for now, he did. For now, he had to. For the tournament. But that was a lie he told himself. He knew it, but one he was desperately clinging on to. [color=662d91]“So, anyone particular dangerous for the tournament?”[/color] he asked sincerely. Seeing if Brenna had been observing their opponents as well. [color=662d91]“Aside from us, of course.”[/color] He did add, keeping it all light. But it wasn’t a lie. He was obviously a heavyweight. But sometimes he got the sense as if many underestimated Brenna. Maybe because she didn’t show off her powers as often as he did. His blazing fists were often used as tools of intimidation. Brenna didn’t need that, though. The girl was clever enough to know she was beautiful. Where Lucas required a fist, she could just touch a cheek. But that didn't mean she couldn't freeze you over. Brenna smirked as Lucas assured her he was training away from the prying eyes of their peers. He made some good points about them being able to gauge his strengths and weaknesses, one that she hadn't taken into consideration. She underestimated Lucas' intelligence far too often. Sometimes it seemed he was a better strategist than she thought herself to be. She mulled over his question for a few moments before giving her response. [color=powderblue][b]"The obvious answers are Avalon and Will. They're gunning for us just as hard as we're gunning for them, although something tells me that Avalon might not be at her peak performance when the tournament rolls around."[/b][/color] She didn't bother explaining how she knew that, but she figured if she, the great Ice Queen, was shaken by Minako's influence, Avalon surely would be. [color=powderblue][b]"Sam's puppy is going to be our biggest issue. He's been training every day, and he's strong. He'll be a challenge, but nothing we can't handle."[/b][/color] Brenna had seen what Will could do, at least in training, and part of her was itching to go up against him. She wouldn't be surprised however, if Lucas felt the same way. [color=powderblue][b]"Aside from those two, I'd say it'll be an easy fight. Masterson is a bit of a wild card, but as far as I can tell, his loyalties are to Gia. That should hopefully keep him from going too hard against either of us. No need for him to take out Gia's top fighters."[/b][/color] Brenna smirked, something that seemed to just happen when she spoke about the tournament. She couldn't help but feel like they had this win in the bag. [color=powderblue][b]"Ellie will be a toughy too, but since you two are sleeping together, I'm guessing that won't be a big deal,"[/b][/color] the Ice Queen said with a smirk before continuing. [color=powderblue][b]"Tell me Lucas, are the rumors true about you and Little Lovelace? Has your delving into her diaries inspired some sort of crush?"[/b][/color] she asked, mostly in jest. She told herself she couldn't care less about those rumors, but deep down, she hated the idea of Lucas and Ellie. He was not that bitch's to take. Lucas’ neck snapped so fast, many would have assumed it broke. The ‘sleeping’ remark hit him like a bus. Did she really thought that!? Or was she joking? She had to. She knew him. She knew Eliana. No way they could ever be a thing. Besides, they hated each other. Or well, she hated him. He couldn’t take that away by making a promise to Mitch. But how on earth could Brenna doubt him? Eliana and him, they could never be together. They were far too different. Were they? Then came the question about the diary. Of course, Brenna meant to joke. But it hit him. A few hours ago he almost burned it in the sun. [color=662d91]“Don’t you worry. There is nothing going on between Lovelace and me.”[/color] He gave his friend a comforting smile. [color=662d91]“I’ve sort of… promised… Apparently, Mitch knows her as well. Apparently, she had it a bit tougher than I thought she had… Apparently…the diary does have some unexpected side effects.”[/color] He confessed. [color=662d91]“She and I, we have some sort of seize-fire. I don’t bug her for the most part and she… well, you know how she seals herself off.”[/color] The subject got more annoying by the minute. For ages now he had been trying to ignore the rumors. But they were catching up to him. If you repeat something long enough, it becomes a truth the subjects just deny. He couldn’t let that happen. He pondered a second, then looked over at Brenna. Who was dressed to impress for sure. A mad idea formed in his head. One that would shut down Dear Sophia’s touching story with a shattering clash. His face lit up as he asked: [color=662d91]“Brenna… How much would you want to be the center of attention of a shattering Dear Sophia story?”[/color] he wasn’t entirely sure how much she liked Dear Sophia (or disliked). But if Brenna was learning anything from Gianna, then it had to be that there was no such thing as bad publicity. Brenna nodded as Lucas explained himself. She accepted his assertion, maybe without enough hesitation. Perhaps she desperately wanted the rumors to be false. Lucas saying they were was all the proof she needed, at least for now. She noticed a look in his eye, one that signified that Lucas was thinking hard about something. As he posed his question, she began to smirk. What could he be thinking? She knew the answer already, to his question at least. All press is good press as they say, and a story about her going up in Dear Sophia would be the best press of all. She cocked her head and looked at her friend. [color=powderblue][b]"What do you have in mind Farweight?"[/b][/color] she asked, smirking playfully and pushing a stray strand of black hair behind her ear. [color=662d91]“We’ll take a pic.”[/color] Was the only answer he offered. One he assumed didn’t really mean so much. They were friends after all. And while Lucas rarely took selfies, it wasn’t entirely unheard of. Taking out his phone with the front cam on, he inched a little closer to Brenna’s face. To the point that their cheeks were almost touching. [color=662d91]“Say cheese.”[/color] But a split second before he pressed the button, he knew that such a pic would only act as more proof that he and Brenna were friends. Dear Sophia often felt… almost desperate at pushing Lucas and Eliana together. As if she was living in some distorted reality. No, he had to send a real message. So right before he pressed the button, he turned her face and swiftly yet softly pressed his lips against Brenna’s cheek. Giving her no time to react to the kiss, he pressed the button and the phone took the pic. [i][b][color=powderblue]What in the fuck?[/color][/b][/i] Brenna thought, feeling Lucas's lips pressed against her cheeks. Her smile quickly turned itself into an O shape, the Ice Queen's shock obvious. Had that really just happened? Her mind was racing, her heart was pounding, and her stomach seemed to have become home to a family of butterflies. She forced a smirk onto her face, trying desperately to hide her shock. [color=powderblue][b]"Well, that will surely shatter Sophia's stories...good job."[/b][/color] Brenna knew exactly what was going on. Sure, it had taken her until midway through her sentence to figure it out, but none the less, she'd gotten there. Lucas did not care for her, at least not romantically. That had not been a kiss of affection, it had been a kiss of deceit. That had been a way to stick it to the Mayweathers, but nothing more. At least not for him. Sophia would have her story, Lucas would be free of rumors about Ellie, at least for some time, and Brenna would have...fame? She didn't quite know what this deal entailed for her, besides conflicting feelings. [color=powderblue][b]"So, now that we've given Sophia her story, what can you tell me about this Fear Fest? Anything I should watch for?"[/b][/color] Brenna asked, trying her best to act normal. He was far too oblivious to register Brenna’s reaction. [color=662d91]“Oh god, your mouth makes it even better! Good acting!”[/color] he said, showing the pic one more time. Simply assuming the Ice Queen’s shock was a playful addition to the whole picture. He thought it was kind of cute in all honesty. He simply smiled at Brenna when she said it would shatter Sophia’s stories. Hell yeah, it would! It was the whole goal! Nobody would gossip about him and Eliana now. Hell, even those that did wouldn’t have a leg to stand on. He added the message to a mail to Delphina Times. With as capitation: ‘@Dear Sophia, happy FearFest’. Pressing send, he felt rather content with himself. If whoever was behind Dear Sophia was really so obsessed with Eliana and Lucas, the pic could very well be her greatest fear come true. [color=662d91]“You should know I can’t tell you about FearFest.”[/color] He simply answered. [color=662d91]“Things will go bump in the night. I’d like it if you were part of that bump.”[/color] He threw in a wink, just to make clear he was expecting things from her.