the gauntlet discussion

A large balcony off of the Cafeteria with large tables, with stairs that lead down to the ground where there are more tables to eat outside if desired.

Dan had settled himself at an outdoor table for the time being. He’d already done his morning workout of running and sprinting, and he’d work on strength later. The early morning had always been his favorite time to be outdoors, in the woods or in a field. There was so much freedom when the world was asleep, so many opportunities that awaited one when the day was just beginning. No one was there to judge or rank him in the forest, it was just him and the trees. So unlike the Academy folks. Ah, but chest la vie. Or was it c’est? Dan had never understood his language tutor.

Pushing those thoughts out of his head, Dan dug into his food. Nothing extravagant, just the bare minimum of what it would take him to get through the day. Weird Academy rules or something. No one in this placed liked to have fun, which was too bad, because Dan had already seen twelve different ways to get into trouble this morning, and he’d only taken advantage of five of them. Pulling off someone’s hat in passing, swiping someone’s pocket knife only to drop it when he was five paces away and cracking a joke about some poor fool’s running form that morning were just a sampling of the joy he had been spreading. Yet no one seemed to appreciate his humor. Whatever, Dan thought to himself with a smile. It’s their loss

Having spent most of her natural born life having excuses to stay out of her house at all possible moments, it only seemed normal for Lyca to want to eat outdoors. It was what she did most of the time anyways, and now there were actually seats and plates instead of rolling whatever she could find in the fridge into a tortilla and booking it before anyone else in the house woke up. It was the life already, and she had barely even been here a full day.

It was actually a surprise to her how many unfriendly people she had met so far. Like okay, it was a competition, but that said competition was a year away... so enough with the glares already. And just when she thought she wasn't going to have any friends, she saw a familiar yet alarmingly ugly head poking from around a tree sitting at a picnic table. Lyca immediately sat down across from him, plucking a carrot from his lunch tray. "Moss, do you see that guy over there? Yeah- the one with the huge arms and really small little bug eyes, I heard him telling those group of girls that yo Momma is so ugly, that when she went to a haunted house, she came back with a job application. Are you just going to let him get away with that, or are you gonna' go fight him?"

Dan heard someone approaching…wait, not someone. He could recognize that confident step in his sleep. He kept his head looking down as Lyca approached and sat-no, dropped- herself down across from him. Looking up only when she addressed him, he glanced over to the guy she was motioning to, and pretended like he was sizing the guy up, mulling over her “yo mamma” joke. She was right, he did have bug eyes. Yikers. Dan put a hand to his chin, as if he was thinking, but he just let out a small chuckle and threw a glance back to Lyca.

“You’re sure he was talking about my momma?” He asked skeptically, “‘Cuz if he really said that, I’m 138 percent sure he was referring to your mother, Mama-Zilla.” He remarked with a shrug, and dropped his hands back to the table, turning to face Lyca square on. “In which case, I would have to ask you the same question.” He winked, and picked up carrot to bite into.

Lyca looked at the guy with him, playing along as he humored her. She feigned being insulted when he turned it around on her, putting a hand up to her chest as if she were shocked at his audicity to insult her mother. Ah, ha. Fat chance. "If he were talking about my mother," she dropped her hand back into her lap, dropping back into her normal tone of voice, "I would tell him how spot on he was, considering Mrs. D puts the whore in horrifying. Not really, but she is pretty awful, all things considering. But obviously I wouldn't have to tell you that, you already know. Bug eyes over there though? I'll go tell him if you want me to."

Dropping into a legitimate conversation direction, Lyca nodded at him as a form of hello. "I'm happy you're here, I gotta' be honest I wasn't expecting anyone I actually liked to be in this arena thing we've got going. It's like I can look at everyone I see in picture at least three different ways they might want to kill me, but you wouldn't do that to me, would you, Mossy?"

“Aw, you like me D-croix? I’m flattered, considering the number of times you’ve pummeled my ass into the dirt, I was a bit worried. But now I know I can place you at the bottom of my hit list” He said, putting a hand to his heart. The Mosses and Delacroix had been close since he was little, and he couldn’t count the number of times that his parents had let all nine of the boys free to play, and Dan had ended up running around with Lyca, who just jumped in where she could. Dan always preferred hanging out with Lyca, as her brothers could be a little stuck up, running around with their heads up their asses.

“But actually, yeah. You’d think that we were all running the stupid Gauntlet in a month, not a year.” He remarked with a shrug. “Everyone is so uptight. Speaking of which..” He leaned back in his seat a bit and pointed a finger at her. “I ran into Nate earlier, and even though I could barely make out what he was saying, the poor jellyfish,” You know, because they don’t have a backbone. “He said something about you…dishonoring the family? Don’t tell me they found out about the knife collection!” He said, a bit of sarcastic emphasis on the last sentence. He had his own guesses as to why and how she came to be sitting across from him, but he would much rather hear it straight from her than from Nate.

Dan had always had a flare for the dramatic, that's why Lyca had always liked him. He had a way of getting the information he wanted, but he always asked in a way that made you think you weren't answering a personal question that you probab'y shouldn't be. Little greeny Earth boy with his crinkly blue eyes and his flowing hair laid off to the side like some guy you'd see sporting a backpack in the woods somewhere in a romance movie -- ha, good thing she knew him. "Handy Dandy don't be flattered, the only reason I'm happy to see your fat little head around here is because look at all the other fat heads I'm comparing it to." she winked at him though, adding a bright smile for the effect. Of course she was kidding. She was genuinely thankful.

"Nate? Nate who?" she asked, her eyebrows lifting without her notice or permission. Lyca had looked down at her plate, since the bread of her sandwich had suddenly become super interesting all of the sudden. "Oh? My brother Nate? That's so weird, I didn't even know he was here. And no one would know about my knife collection unless a little boy told on me, and what's to get his woodsy ass kicked. I'm begging for a rematch Dan, I bet that Earth affinity tastes real good when you're eating it." She did have a fondness for shoving his face into the dirt, he was quite right. And he'd have to try a little harder if he wanted any information from her.

Dan just smiled at Lyca as she took her time to respond. Handy Dandy? Shoot, he thought he’d outgrown that. He had been fourteen, and it was only that one time. But he had been kissing her cousin, so she was entitled to it. For now. “Well, if you ever need some help knocking some of those fat heads together, or you need me to… distract one of the female persuasion while you continue with your plan for world domination, you know where to find me.” He said with a click of his tongue, flipping the nickname to a double entendre. “You know how helpful allies can be.”

Dan noticed the immediate change in he demeanor when he mentioned her invertebrate brother(get it? because he’s all hard on the outside due to parental oversight, but once he sheds that at the Academy he’ll be slimy gooey and useless….still no? Tough crowd.) Alright, so she wasn’t going to be immediately forthcoming. Two could play this game. “I didn’t say a word. Scout’s honor.” Dan said, putting up one hand. “And besides, I was just trying to see how close I could get to him. If I wanted to be cruel I would swipe one of those stupid diaries he writes every detail of his day in and hide it. Or maybe gift it to you, but if you would rather roll around with me in the dirt,” He dropped his hand and took another bite of his sandwich, “Let me know the time and place. Just don’t let anyone get the wrong idea, or I might not be the only handy one.” He said with a wink.

If he thought Lyca would ever let that go, he had another thing coming. That was her favorite cousin, and after Daniel had kissed and dissed her, she wouldn't talk to Lyca or like almost a year. She probably still wasn't completely over it -- Lyca had no idea how in hell that had ever been her fault, but Dan must be one hell of a kisser to deserve that kind of grudge. "If I need any distracting done, I'm not so sure I would entrust you to do it. But hey, I can respect your skills, even if I don't find myself personally afflicted by you, other people seem to." Teaming up with Dan might actually work to her benefit, not that she would admit it out loud.

Lyca knew exactly what diaries he was talking about, and there was no need for Dan to get all stealy. "I could tell you what those diaries say down to a T, they're nothing new. Just another way for Papa D to keep his leash tight." she remarked, abandoning the sandwich and trading it for a dangerous smile. "Wouldn't you like to give someone the wrong idea, Moss. Yo momma has been trying to get you to put a ring on my finger practically since I came out of my mother's womb, not so sure what you've been telling her about me, but she thinks I'm quite the catch."

Dan gave her an innocent smile. “I’m just that charming, I guess.” He said. Dan didn’t consider himself a player or anything gross like that, but he’d figured out how to flatter girls, and being easy on the eyes never hurt his case. And eh, the diaries were a long shot, but he’d tried. “Oh well, I’ll probably do it anyway, just to see his face.” Dan remarked. Any chance to pull the rug out from under someone was worth taking, especially if there was little to no chance of retaliation. If he stole something of his brother’s, then there would be hell to pay. But since that wasn’t a question here, Dan made a mental note to himself to do that later when he had the chance.

At her next comment, Dan just met her dangerous smile with his completely innocent one. “Oh, you know how she is.” He said teasingly, crossing his arms and leaning them on the table. “Wanted all of her boys well married in case this whole Guardian thing doesn’t work out.” He winced involuntarily, thinking of Jimmy and Charlie. “And you know how she is. She’s always like strong women, despite her ladylike facade.” Which was true. Even in the strong patriarchal society, his mother had always ensured her boys would treat women with at least decent respect, even if they swallowed the rest of Estalia’s cultural pill. Ah, yes. The ever present not-so-subtle hints about asking Lyca out. “I only ever told her the truth,” Dan said honestly. “And if she thought that was ring-worthy, I can’t make decisions for her”. As if he would even try to go against his mother. “But rest assured,” Dan continued, “I would only ever intentionally give someone the wrong idea if it would stir the pot and create many a laugh.”

I'm just charming, I guess. She replied his comment in her head, almost sighing internally. He was almost insufferable sometimes... almost. Him and his overwhelming infatuation with himself, it was almost like looking in a mirror. They were basically the same person. "Take whatever of his you want, but if you're trying to play mind games, it's almost unnecessary. Me being here is more than enough to mess with his head, trust me. He's been a wreak all week." Not that she had been any better. Ever since she had gotten her roommate assignments, she had been on the edge of an emotional crisis. You know, because J.

"I do know how your mother is, she might as well asked me on a date with her, cut out the middle man. Since she's all interested and whatever else." she teased, settling back into their easy banter. Lyca almost found herself enjoying this conversation, it was like one of their many family bbqs at home, rather than this tense ass Academy. She could tell she'd be seeing a lot more of Handy Dandy around here if she had anything to say about it, maybe she'd even move in with him. Or just trade him dorms. Bleh. "You would say whatever you could about anyone that you thought would give you a response, don't even play me, I know your games, dirty boy." Ha, Earth pun.

Dan just continued to give her his best innocent smile, even though inside he was cracking up. He hadn’t voiced it aloud, but it was really nice to know that someone else from home was here. It meant things could be similar to how they were there. Except for the fact that this wasn’t home, it was an Academy where they were training to fight each other, probably to the death to crown a few winners who would get eternal glory and wealth. So…maybe a little different than the estate. Either way, Dan conceded the point about mind games by tipping an invisible hat to Lyca. For a moment, he thought he saw her eyes dart to the side like she did when she was hiding something, but he decided not to press it. If it was really important, he’d hear about it, eventually.

“Hey, don’t tempt fate, she still might.” He quipped. “She’s got two very eligible bachelor sons to farm out to the next unknowing doe-eyed girls she can find. You might even give her some pointers for potential candidates if you’re so worried she might try to ask you again.” He said with a chuckle. Now that would be a sight. Luca teaming up with his mother to pick out potential brides for him. That would be hilariously funny. And only funny because the probability of it happening was close to zero. “Aw, do you really think so little of me, D-croix?” He asked. “I don’t say things to get information, I do them for my own personal enjoyment. Or are those two things mutually exclusive?”

That easy-to-read thing was a two way street, and like Dan knew that Lyca was hiding something, Lyca knew he had let it slide. That was just another reason they were so good to be around each other -- they were respective of each other's boundaries... well, maybe Dan was respective of hers. Lyca had yet to actually find a boundary that Dan had, since she had yet to find a button he desired to be left unpushed. He was pretty much down for anything, which is probably why he preferred her to Lyca's brothers.

"I'm not worried she'll ask again, I was never afraid to tell her no, that's probably why she liked me so much." she remarked, making a face at how awkward those moments had actually been in person. "They're mutually exclusive, was that even a question?"

Lyca took the lapse in their conversation to look around the eating area, observing the different types of people around and trying to guess what they were thinking. No such luck. Then she brought her attention back to Dan, taking in his always present cool-guy smile. She almost rolled her eyes, but instead she leaned across the table a little bit and grinned back. "Did you know sometimes you're just so cute I want to smack you right in the face? It's disgusting, really, it is."

Dan nodded his assent at the recollection of just how awkward those first few encounters of Lyca and his mother had been. To her credit, his mother had done her absolute best, but there had been a few cringe-worthy moments nonetheless. Dan scoffed at her comment on being mutually exclusive. There was no law that said information extraction couldn’t be fun. Or funny. But eh, it wasn’t worth belaboring the point. He’d just have to show her how fun it could be at some other time.

“Is that a compliment I hear?” Dan said, drawing back in mock-shock. “You keep saying you want to pummel my face into the ground, yet you bless me with such a complement. These mixed signals are confusing Lycie, I don’t know what to do with this information.” He said, his voice playful and slightly sarcastic. “Maybe I should make a pin that says ‘Lyca thinks I’m cute, and you should too.’” He paused as if to ponder. “Yes, I think that is exactly what I should do.” He nodded as if confirming it, and turned to Lyca, fully expecting her to reach over and slap him then and there.

Lyca rolled her eyes and shook her head, there was literally no depths to his love for himself. "OK, Narcissis, I think that's enough fun for today." She leaned across the table as she stood, ruffling his hair between her fingers like she used to do to annoy him when they were kids. "I have some things to do, now I'm going to walk away, and am going to trust you not to stare at my ass as I go, as hard as it may be. And don't make the button, people might get that wrong idea you were talking about."

She grabbed her tray and turned, throwing one glance at him over her shoulder as if to say 'caught you already' and shot him one last smirk before walking away entirely. Lyca wasn't lying, she did have stuff to do. Did she want to? No. But it was unavoidable... and maybe if she caught Joelle before their other roommates got there it would be less awkward. Probably not though. Who wouldn't be awkward when your first girl crush kisses you and then disappeared for an entire week?

Dan let her ruffle his hair, and waved off her comment. “Yeah yeah,” Funny though it would be, he’d never do anything involving her without her permission, so that was that. Still, it was good talk to her, to know that he had at least one other friend in this hell-hole, and potentially an ally to try and make it through this place alive. He shot a smirk right back at her when she glanced back, and as she retreated into the distance, Dan finished up what remained of his food, and then gathered up his belongings and headed off to train.