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[hr][sup][color=8e0047][b]8e0047[/b][/color][color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] [b][url=https://imgur.com/CAg9UWc]outfit[/url][/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color][b]Arena [/b][/sup][/center][hr]

Lochlan’s split focus on Blair, Fiona and the arena filling with other demigods slowly, turned fully to the girl who approached uncertainly. Hopefully unrelated.

[color=#5a3e85] "Um…hi. I, uh—[i]We[/i] met yesterday."[/color]

Lochlan glanced quickly at his hungover sister for verification, not that it dictated whether he’d be pleasant or not. He looked back at the soon to be non-stranger. [color=#8e0047]"Sure. It pays to have friends…"[/color] Lochlan left a silence for her to fill in her name.

But Blair flew into action, in her own way and own time, throwing her jacket off and consequently into Fiona. [color=#c9bef3]"Anissa! Thank the Gods."[/color]  Blair earned herself a disapproving side eye that he was sure she wouldn’t care for even if she did spot it. Not because she threw her jacket carelessly into another half of Hera but because she didn’t let Anissa give over her own name.

Lochlan slid an inch away from Blair, untrusting of her sturdiness as she sat and guzzled the water, sure he’d have an elbow or vomit on him with her sudden burst of movement. His eyes drifted back up to Anissa almost apologetically. But also full of wonder on how their meeting went yesterday when Blair was so intoxicated. Did she meet the winning attitude of this morning, was she a bitch and that’s how they bonded or was it something more sincere? He inched away from Blair a fraction more. A silent invitation for the brunette awkwardly lingering. 

[color=#c9bef3] "[i]Yes[/i], I made it to my own cabin… [i]Alone[/i],"[/color] Blair answered finally, causing Lochlan to look back at her. [color=#c9bef3] "I got lost a couple times, but I eventually found it."[/color] Good, that’s what mattered. [color=#c9bef3]"What about you? It was your fucking idea for shots, but I’m the one hungover… Make it make sense."[/color]

He smiled to himself slightly as if the answer were obvious. [color=#8e0047]"I can handle my liquor."[/color] Simple, sweet and mocking. He would’ve addressed the rest. How he returned to his cabin alone as well instead of the daughter of Aphrodite’s bed or even couch because he was distracted by the bad shape Blair was in. But it didn’t seem wise to boast about the desire of other women around women. Not when they were just as cute.

Blair yanked Anissa down decidedly between Fiona and herself. Lochlan blinked his disbelief and frustration into space. Did Blair deliberately keep her new pal away and actively work against him or what? 

[color=#c9bef3] "Anissa, this is my brother Lochlan."[/color] Lochlan leaned back on his palm to view Anissa and held out a hand behind Blair’s back with a smile. [color=#c9bef3] "Same dad—[i]mortal[/i]—different moms. His is Hera. And then [i]that[/i]—"[/color] Blair pointed toward the red head on Anissa’s other side. [color=#c9bef3] "Is Fiona, [i]also[/i] Lochlan’s sister, but both Hera… It’s all very [i]Once Upon a Time[/i]."[/color]

There was a point where Blair could shush. It was never a big deal to Blair and Lochlan always acted like he didn’t mind but he always felt uncomfortable that his mother pursued the same man as Athena, and he came second like some sort of intruder. His father certainly never let him forget that he was second rate anyway. As he hooked an arm behind Blair’s neck, hand ready to give her hair a passive aggressive tousle, the man with a plan took over and his arm slumped down behind him slowly. Some sort of drill sergeant took over going on about how camp hell had dropped the ball on the whole hell part and they were expected to train and the first was right in front of them.

River ran the course himself first but not before peeling away his top and showing them all up. He was annoyingly unfaltering and quick. The new leader talked some more then announced they’d run it in groups with the first involving Sloane, his ears still pricking up to her name and mind attuned.

Sloane was never athletically inclined. A game of chess, academics, smarts, sure, but not an obstacle course. There was a moment watching her do the course as the others surged ahead where he felt sorry for her. The activity wasn’t very flattering to her and having it demonstrated in front of everyone was embarrassing, no different than him having to draw a portrait and show everyone when it best resembled an 8 year olds painting at best. But then he remembered she was the one that made up a story that he cheated. Maybe this was karma. Like her giant guard dog that was supposedly a man leaving.

Deciding not to get wrapped in his own bitter thoughts, he glanced at the girls sitting on his left, taking in each’s different interpretation to dress for training. Jeans and turtle neck on Fiona, ironic cute sweatshirt on Anissa and rich pristine business from Blair. Each different color schemes too. He allowed himself to chuckle quietly. [color=#8e0047]"You’re like the Powerpuff girls,"[/color] he noted, turning his attention back to the current runners.

[color=#8e0047]"So, Anissa, since you know [i]our[/i] whole story now, who — " [/color]

River read out the next group, announcing his name along with Blair who dragged his eyes to her when she got up like some old woman. [color=#c9bef3]"Five bucks says I barf before the pool."[/color]

Lochlan’s eyes flickered back to Anissa, briefly trying to decipher her at a glance now he had a clear eyeline to her. He offered a smile before Blair tugged on his arm prompting him to leave with her. Or walk her down in one piece at least.

[color=#c9bef3]"I’ll be shit, so you'll look great. Chicks will love it."[/color]

[color=#8e0047]"Yeah, "[/color] he began slowly. [color=#8e0047]"I don’t think you really count."[/color] As dickish as it sounded, it was for her own drawn awareness. She hardly counted as competition in her state. After he crossed the finish he was sure he’d catch Blair flopped over one of the jumps or awkwardly tangled in rope groaning. In fact, in her state, his sister would need someone to literally carry her through the whole thing if there were any hope of fully completing the course. 

As expected of them, he lined up at the tires. While he was slightly concerned for his sister, she had to know his feverish competitiveness would take over. He never did sports and physical activity in halves.

He swung out his arms and bounced lightly on his feet. He fell into his runner’s stance and when given the green light, he shot off, sailing through the tires deftly one foot after the other weaving in and out. An agility exercise he had done many times before. 

The ascending logs were only new in design but they were glorified hurdles or wall climbs essentially. Without the leverage. He adopted River’s technique clearing the first three naturally and climbing atop the fourth to get to the fifth.  

Lochlan dropped immediately for the crawl, landing on his forearms with deliberation and breaking into a crawl like he had done it before. And he had, in hasty retreat when a conquest shoved him off the bed to hide and the first pace was scrambling under the bed or making a low retreat to the window.

He slunk up pushing his torso up first when he cleared the crawl then sprang to his feet to approach the rope climb. Lochlan didn’t have time to evaluate it, merely leapt on the rope and got to business, taking long reaches and pull ups to get to the top quicker. He shuffled back down with smaller, controlled but rapid grips one hand quickly exchanging with the other until he could disembark.

Lochlan skimmed across the wavering rope net bridge, keeping his feet on the threads and arms out for balance while his tongue peeked out in concentration. He wobbled a little but ultimately made it across without any hitches. His eyes were wide focused on the goal.

The rope swing was nothing. A small run up and leap, and plant your landing with timing, don’t take the rope with you and it was done. But at this stage he also felt like he should be training for ninja warrior instead.

Puffing, he faced the balance beams. He swallowed in some air and composure for the task then proceeded, placing one foot in front of the other, arms hovering out to stabilize himself. He didn’t linger on them long because over thinking and hesitation was the death of balancing. 

He ran and dove in the pool, trained, familiar and strong. He swept back his wet hair when he reached the other side keeping it from his peripheral as he ran at the ladder. He jumped straight on, scaling the enormous obstacle, not daring to lose pace to the fine rhythm he found. He swung his leg over the top beam and climbed in reverse, taking a moment to acquaint himself with the gaps between the logs again before easing into another trusty rhythm.

Lochlan ran hard for the home stretch and crossed the jump almost in toe with others and took a moment with his hands on his knees, trying to heave in gulps of air. While his eyes lifted and he flashed a brief smile to others that finished near him, the one he was waiting for still wasn’t in sight.  He glanced beyond the obstructive giant log ladder, straightening up to spy his sister, then looked at River to call it merciful quits. Blair clearly beyond struggled. The assessment was over. She failed.

But a DNF apparently didn’t exist in someone’s mind. 

Lochlan winced inside when she fell from the ladder then half assed where others usually conjured the last ounce of energy. Blair eventually crossed though and she almost looked at him before falling to her knees and throwing up. Anyone else and he’d likely grimace or laugh, but instead he approached his sister’s side, bending over beside her despite his legs' protest, calm, collected and he pat her back gently. Not condescending and with no force, but as a simple assurance he was there. It was better to let it out though it didn’t seem a choice either way. Lochlan stretched his neck away from the contents that spilled out of her but stayed close so as not to inhale the smell.

There came a point where she stopped at last but she didn’t make a move to get up and return to the stands. Lochlan waited in anticipation ready to catch her if she tilted off balance or be her support but she remained on all fours that it stretched well past composure time. He looked around, realizing something else was wrong before focusing back on Blair. [color=#8e0047]"Come on, we can’t stay here."[/color] People had to run the course yet, but more importantly he didn’t want people to see a Carmichael weak or hang anything over her head. He gently pried her from the ground, his touch always more of an aid than a dictator. Lochlan wrapped an arm around her to support her when she got to her feet but he was always ready to lift her if she needed or preferred. He was only trying to keep her dignity as in tact as possible.

As they made their steady retreat back into the stands with the others, Lochlan looked to the bench he was situated at before and made half a gesture for their companions to meet them with his head. He placed Blair on a bench close to an entrance/exit but away from others, trying for the perk of seclusion but a quick escape if needed. 

He gave Blair a once over checking she was fine then his gaze shifted to a space with an intensity that didn’t suit him. His jaw hardened with repressed anger and disappointment, barely biting back the fight he wanted to pick. If people hadn’t been beckoned over and they weren’t in the arena, he’d probably let it fly.

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[color=808080][b]interactions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color] Blair, Anissa, Fiona [color=2e2c2c]...............[/color] [b]mentions[/b] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c]....[/color]none [/color]
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