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[hr][sup][color=851f1f][b]851f1f[/b][/color][color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] [b][url=https://imgur.com/kvBiRZs]Outfit[/url][/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] [b] party [/b][/sup][/center][hr]

[color=#c7b29b]"You’ve gone to Olympus with them before, haven’t you? Did they not invite you this time?"[/color]

Duke averted his gaze uncomfortably. [color=851f1f]“I did,”[/color] he admitted. [color=851f1f]“But I thought it was more of a vacation or reward opposed to scouting for a permanent residence,”[/color] he said, embarrassed. It only made him look the fool. [color=851f1f]“For somebody who’s supposed to be inherently smart, that was dumb on my part.”[/color] He tried a smile that was too stiff. As much as he tried to make light of it, he was ashamed. [color=851f1f]“I got invited,”[/color] he answered her next part and shook his head. Alex had tried to plead with him but he didn’t budge. [color=851f1f]“Couldn’t bring myself to leave camp behind with it’s whole…intended purpose.”[/color]

He expected Sloane to withdraw at his intrusive question and though she was tense for a moment, she seemed to pay it genuine thought and be candid with him which he appreciated. 

[color=#c7b29b]"I think I did. He was the only friend I had since I came to camp. He looked after me."[/color] While her gaze was diverted, Duke scanned her and gave an understanding nod. While Sloane had shown she could look after herself as he had seen first hand, some reinforcement always helped and was simply comforting to have. It was nice to be cared for. [color=#c7b29b]"Only as a friend though. He left before it could grow into anything more."[/color]

Should he offer apologies that it couldn’t bloom into anything more? No. Duke just let it be without further prying and sympathies though of course he was sorry for the girl.

[color=#c7b29b]"Did they at least say goodbye to you?"[/color] Sloane asked next, looking at him. She even furrowed her brows with some concern. [color=#c7b29b]"Liam was gone when I woke up… Just left a note behind."[/color]

Duke tilted his head side to side. A note was rough but they both had been through it. [color=851f1f]“Sort of. I guess I got the ultimatum when Alex asked if I would go with them.”[/color]

When Duke mentioned his scar, she leaned in slightly, as if to appropriately examine his mark making Duke smirk. [color=#c7b29b]"You’re lucky to be alive. What is it they say? [i]‘Chicks love scars’[/i]?" [/color]

[color=851f1f]“Do they?”[/color] He asked, his brows furrowing in mock confusion. Although, stereotype aside, he guessed he was genuinely half curious if Sloane, being a chick ‘loved scars’.

[color=#c7b29b]"Could say you got in scrape over a jilted lover or something. Really build up a tough, bad boy vibe. I’m sure some people here would be happy to add to your scar collection."[/color]

Duke inhaled deeply. [color=851f1f]“Yeah, there’s too many of those around,”[/color] he added with a laugh. There were too many people eager to lunge into violence and inflict pain upon another at camp. Same as he was sure there was enough tough, bad boys around. [color=851f1f]“But if that’s your type...”[/color] He jested innocently with a shrug unaware of Sloane’s history.

Eager to move on or continue to socialize, [color=#c7b29b]"I had a harpy smack me into some trees and drop me in the lake,"[/color] she offered up. [color=#c7b29b]"And something with [i]very[/i] sharp claws—"[/color] Sloane revealed her scar hidden beneath her hair and top. [color=#c7b29b]"—I didn’t get to see what it was."[/color]

Duke studied her more serious mark with genuine interest, but tried not to stare so as to make her uncomfortable. Most chicks didn’t exactly dig scars on themselves. Briefly, he caught himself blaming Liam for not taking better care of her. He gave a neutral, [color=851f1f] "Hmm, "[/color] sound as if deeply pondering it. [color=851f1f]"I wish you showed me yours first. Putting me to shame like that. "[/color] He tried to keep things light for both their benefit. They had already been through enough abandonment and wars.

[color=#c7b29b]"No one warned me that camp is actually [i]the[/i] worst."[/color] She chuckled. A sound rare but welcome.

Duke’s smile danced with a blend of amusement and warmth. [color=851f1f]"It’s pretty bad, "[/color] he agreed. [color=851f1f]"But it has it’s benefits."[/color]

He gingerly crept his feet free from Rocco and stood to clear plates and stretch his legs that had been sitting for most the party. Before he could expand on said benefits and keep the conversation rolling and invite Sloane to walk and talk with him, Fiona came right up to him. [color=#024B30]"Hey, Duke,”[/color] She leant face first into his shoulder, clearly sulking. [color=#024B30]"Nell’s forcing me ta be sociable with a new kid, save me at some point...Please?”[/color]

Duke immediately shot a glance to Sloane and smiled a little nervously. This was not their normal requests from one another and it took a second for Fiona to even notice Sloane there.

[color=851f1f]"We’ll see what we can do, "[/color] he said, only because it was easier to indulge her sometimes than any other reply.

For a moment, he watched Fiona stumble her way back to the party she had requested rescuing from. All she had to do was sit back and let Nelly be the pleasant one and driver of conversation and force a smile at the dude occasionally. For a good impression anyway. Not that Fiona aimed to be a people pleaser.

With that same wry smile, Duke turned back to Sloane. [color=851f1f]"Anything you wanted to get off the bucket list?"[/color] He gestured to the activities while they were available. He wasn’t sure how quick Andy’s conjurations would vanish once midnight hit.

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Sloane, Fiona [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Nelly, Morne [/color]
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