F(r)iend? [Cianna]

[Lucas Blacke]

It had been a while since he had been making music, or playing along to something that he said was his. In all truth, the music he played was due to his ability giving him what he needed to play whwat he wanted to play when he wanted to play it. Assuming he had an instrument nearby. But to fix that he had gone to the auditorium, it was far from a second home but he did find himself more acquainted with the area than any other part of the school. Thus his reasoning to go there as he picked up his cellphone to take with him and put on a cap of In Flames ''In Flames we trust.'' He joked to himself.

As he went down to the auditorium he used the time to navigate his phone to the area with the music and decided on what music he wanted to play to, he had the technical parts on there either way and simply watching it would mean he could play it. He had decided on the song Bullet Ride, okay so it wasn't really as heavy as the other stuff he listened, but it was still metal and he liked not only that song but he adored that band. He knew how to sing along with every song of theirs and would often do so when jogging or listening to their music in his room.

He shoved open the door and pressed play on his phone instantly, beginning to mouth along the words silently as he stepped up to the stage and picked up the stray guitar that was almost always just standing there. He took it by the straps and put it around his shoulders as he held it like he had someone else doing who played that song. This was one of the few downsides to his ability, he could do almost everything but he needed to do exactly what they did.

He started playing and mouthed the words, getting more and more into it as he got to the chorus. Both playing the guitar and mouthing the words vigorously.

Frigthened by your own smell
Bitterness will run you through

Silent screaming
Turning, twisting the alphabet
Frantic eyes
Awaiting the answer
Splinters of a poem
Fragments of what you used to be
Habitual and gullible
Run-down memoirs is all that's left

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

Cici was bored. And so, she had decided to take a walk, and maybe she would run into a friend or find something to entertain herself. Walking around, she managed to trip on absolutely nothing, and skinned her hands. What a pain. Picking herself up, Cici shook her head in amusement and carried on. It was almost a talent, she had, tripping on things that weren't there.

As she walked past the auditorium, Cici paused. She could hear a guitar. And whenever she heard a guitar, or any sort of music, curiosity overcame her and she would follow it to its source. Especially when it was playing such a familiar song...eyes widening, Cici realized it was 'Bullet Ride'. No way! She loved that song! It was by In Flames, a band she had recently discovered, and fallen in love with. Grinning, Cici quietly pushed open the large doors and saw a boy playing fervently on the stage.

Before she even realized what she was doing, Cici's mouth was open, and she began to sing along. She couldn't scream, growl or shriek well, which sucked for her, as they were common vocal styles in metal, which was what she loved, but she could sing. It was one of the only things she knew she could do well, and Cici was glad for that.

"Silent screaming
Turning, twisting the alphabet
Frantic eyes
Awaiting the answer
Splinters of a poem
Fragments of what you used to be
Habitual and gullible
Run-down memoirs is all that's left

Do you wish to sleep?
Do you aim for the shadow?
Do you feel infected?
It's life-the the dark that binds you..."

[Lucas Blacke]

The fact he could play everything just by thinking about it meant that he could close his eyes and pretty much drown in the moment as his hands frantically moved over the neck of the guitar and produced the same sound as his phone was doing, though the guitar was a bit louder. Amplifiers did that.

But as he got to the chorus he heard the door opening, so he looked at who came in as he continued playing, but felt too self-conscious to mouth along with the song now. He wasn't even okay enough with himself to produce any sound himself and actually sing. But the girl who came in had surprised him by starting to sing along with the song, though not in the same manner as the vocalist did. No matter, it was still In Flames and a girl knew about it. As far as days went this one was pretty awesome so far.

If he didn't have his ability he would surely have stopped playing or missed a few notes at the very least at the impact this had, but quickly the confusion he had turned into a wide smile as he felt his mouth starting to move with hers, still only just mouthing the words. But this time it was not because he was too insecure, but because she was already doing it.

Finally, as he got to the solo he was able to talk to her a bit as his fingers continued playing. ''Not really a growler are ya?'' He asked. ''Ya should try Scar Symmetry in that case.'' He smirked as he slowly faded out of the solo and stopped playing all together, yet keeping the guitar around his neck.

''Lucas Blacke, at yer service.'' He said with a smile as he walked over to the phone and turned off the music.

''Never met a girl that was into metal.'' He told her, and before he even knew her name or anything else about her -she hadn't even spoken to him -he said the most bold thing he could remember saying ever. ''We should be friends or somethin'.''

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

As the last notes of the song were being played, Cici couldn't keep the grin off of her face. Not only did this guy play guitar, but he liked metal! He was amazing! She was definitely going to befriend him! At his growling comment, she laughed sheepishly. "Yeah, nah aye. Tried it, but I'm real bad, sadly. I soun'ed like a chokin' gah-goyle...." When he mentioned Scar Symmetry, Cici's eyes lit up. No. Way! This was awesome! "Y'know Scar Symmetry? I'm 'n love with 'em! They're jus'...so...drool-worthy!"

Excited at having met a fellow metal lover, Cici walked (skipped) closer to the stage. Smiling at his introduction, she replied, "Chur Lucas! M' names Cici! Hard, aye! I haven' really met anyone who likes metal here either..." When he said that they should be friends, Cici grinned widely. Oh, so she wasn't the only one with that in mind! Nodding, she looked up at the boy. "Sweet! Definitely! You mus' be pretty awesome if ya like metal!" Going closer, she gave him a quick hug in greeting. New Zealand had molded her into a very huggable person, and so she hugged everyone. Even if she had just met them.

"So you play guitar? Mean! I love playing guitar! Though I wish I owned ma' own electric one. That woul' be skux!" Unaware of any New Zealand slang that might have slipped into her vocabulary, Cici sighed dreamily. "Ahhh, sorry, I ten' ta lose focus a bit sometimes..." Laughing, she clapped her cheeks with her hands. "So jus' tell me if I'm zonin' out! But I can't believe I foun' another metalhead! This day should be marked 'n history!"

[Lucas Blacke]

The words came out of her mouth but.. was that even English? He could make out some sentences due to context, but she used words he'd never heard before. He figured the word 'chur' was a greeting of some sort by the way she used it as she said his name. He still wondered though, did she just use a thick accent or was it another language? In any way though, he felt he could use this to his advantage for when his own didn't cut it. So apart from liking metal she could also help him on another level.

''G'day Cici.'' He said as she hugged him. Oddly enough he didn't find that weird in the slightest like he figured other people would and even felt tempted to hug back, but when he wanted to move she had pulled back and began rattling on about how she liked to play guitar and how she wished she owned her own. This comment made Luke chuckle as she probably thought for some reason that was his own guitar, and in all honesty why wouldn't she think that? He was her with a guitar and she didn't know the school had those.

''C, yer zonin' out.'' He joked as he looked at her after hearing how he should say when she did so. ''Or rather zone in.'' He added quickly, she did seem mighty happy about this all, and well, why shouldn't she? She was only the second metalhead around he'd met so he was pretty happy too.

''An'' yes it should.'' He said as he heard about this day needing to be marked in history, which actually made him chuckle a bit. ''Though I have just one thing to ask ya:'' He began as he felt something was off. When he looked at her and what she was wearing he didn't see a metalhead. And on top of that she was a girl, those didn't like metal he thought. But he had been proven wrong once before.

''Yer dickin' with me ain'tcha?'' He asked as he could easily see this being some kind of practical joke. Perhaps even a test.

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

As Lucas said that she was zoning out, Cici grinned sheepishly. "Oops, my bad, sorry!" Tilting her head to the side as he mentioned he wanted to know something else, Cici blinked in surprise at his question. "Whaddaya mean? Like jokin'? No? Why woul' I do tha'? I jus' love metal!" Grinning at the statement, she wondered why he would think that she was joking. Then, she shrugged. He believed what he believed.

Looking at the taller boy, Cici wandered what his ability was. It wasn't something obvious, like some of the students here. "How long 've you been playin' guitar? You're pretty good!" It wasn't that uncommon for her to meet another who could play guitar, but it was super rare for Cici to meet someone who played metal on the guitar!

Feeling the floor under her wobble a bit, a sort of dizziness as a result of her ability, Cici staggered a bit, probably looking a little strange at stumbling around for no apparent reason. She held out her arms so that she didn't fall over. It wasn't too bad, and so she managed to not fall over, though she supposed she may have looked a little weird. As it got a little worse, Cici grabbed the closest thing at hand to steady herself, which happened to be Lucas's arm. Holding on, she squeezed her eyes shut, and was happy when it passed. Opening her eyes, she realized she had grabbed his arm, then let go. "Sorry!"

[Lucas Blacke]

Still a bit sceptical about the situation he listened to her go on and on about pretty much everything. Though as he listened he came to realize that perhaps she really did like metal, and maybe he had screwed things up by assuming it was a joke. Luckily he would be able to let that one slide as she seemed to simply shrug it off before continuing her speech. She was a bit active, too active even for his taste, but he figured there had to be good to offset the bad. And everyone knew he was bad news. Just listening to rumors around the school warned people about him. Though the things people could say about him did seem to have died down a bit since Karalie. He couldn't say he wasn't happy that happened.

''Honestly I'm still learnin'.'' He told her. And it was true, though his way of learning was just playing enough to force the memories of it to become his own. ''My ability allows me to play.'' A statement that would very quickly turn into him boasting as he finished his sentence by pointing at every instrument in the room. Drums. Bass. Piano. ''Can even play the bagpipes if ya wanted me to.'' He joked.

''So what's yer power?'' He asked her only so they would be even on that even if he told about his own ability only partly and completely voluntarily. ''I showed ya mine, now you show me yers.'' He inappropriately joked. But she didn't manage to respond to it right away as she stumbled a bit and seemed to be losing her footing. She didn't look clumsy. She got it under control quick enough and Lucas reopened his mouth as she suddenly began again as she had stuck her arms out for extra balance, but that didn't help.

She closed her eyes and suddenly grabbed hold of his arm, probably for stability. And when she opened her eyes she quickly apologized and let go of his arm, seeming to have been done wobbling around. ''So C, is it everyone ya hug or just the people that yer attracted to?'' He joked finally to ease the situation out of her a bit.

''I mean, I'm attractive an' all, but to actually fall for me.. Damn..''

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

Eyes widening as Lucas said that he could play just about anything, Cici felt a bit of wonder flow through her at the thought. What an awesome ability! Tilting her head, she smiled at his next question. She was about to answer, when he said she should show him hers, so she shrugged, smiling. "M'kay." Drifting up a few metres, she flew in a circle above Lucas's head a couple of times, enjoying the feeling of being in the air, until she finally touched back down in front of Lucas, giggling softly. "Imma non-winge' flyer. 'S pretty trippy, bein' in the air!"

When he asked who she hugged, Cici got a bit confused. "Everyone! Because, drugs not hugs!" Not even noticing her mix up in words, she continued happily. '''Cause I love hugs! They're on par with chocola'e!" To prove it, she gave the boy another hug, grinning.

His next statement once again confused Cici slightly, and she tilted her head to the side, thinking for a moment, before abright blush spread across her face. N-n-no! I-I didn'! I mean, I, um, it-it's um, a...a side-effe't! For my, ah, flyin'!" Face hot, Cici desperately tried to show that no, she wasn't lying and yes, it was actually a side-effect. Embarrassed now, she hid her face in her hands for a second, before peeking up at Lucas.

He didn't actually think that...did he? He was cute, but she had just met him! Eyes widening at she realized what she just thought, Cici blushed even harder, if possible. Did she really just think that? But that didn't mean anything! It was just that he had a nice face, yeah!Face burning, she tried to steer her thoughts in a different direction. "So, where're you from? You have a crack accen'!"  She said, having noticed the...interesting way he talked.

[Lucas Blacke]

Wha- wow. She- wow. Luke couldn't help but smile as he involuntarily stepped back when she simly took off. He'd never seen anything like it so to suddenly see someone soar up into the air without coming down was.. didn't they need wings for that though? Didn't everything need some kind of wing to fly? He was about to ask her about that when she answered it herself when she got down on her feet again. ''Holy crap that's awesome!'' He exclaimed as he didn't know where to leave his hands or forgot how to nod. ''Almost wish ya could lift me so I could experience flyin'.''

Though the next thing she said about who she hugged got a little chuckle out of him at her little slip up. At least, he hoped it was one or else they'd have problems before they even really knew each other. But then she hugged him again and forced him to think that perhaps they did know each other better than he thought. Or perhaps she just moved slightly faster than he did and he couldn't keep up with how she thought. For all he knew she could think they were best friends now.

''Easy there big C.'' It was an ironic nickname, she was small. It fit. ''Ain't no need to get all defensive now,'' He jokingly replied as she reacted to his comment about her falling for him like it was something she needed to defend. ''Shit side effects happen, no need to defend yerself for it. 'Sides, ain't we friends? Joking terms, right?'' He tried to justify what he said, she seemed to be pretty flustered by it at the least even if it was just a joke. Perhaps she was having some trouble coping with the way he spoke or something.

He laughed though, yet it died down instantly when she asked him where he was from and following it up by saying he had a crack accent. ''Drugs not hugs, crack..? Yer not an addict are ya?''

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

At his lifting comment, Cici grinned, remembering a time when she had tried to do just that with someone. However, lifting someone in the air...it was as hard as if on the ground, aided by the fact she moved around a lot more up there, and was smaller than most people, made her bite her lip to stop the laugh as she remembered the fail it had been. Quite painful too, but funny enough to be worth it. "Sorry, bu' I can't  really lif' people who 're bigger then me, an' you're sligh'ly bigger than me..."

Hearing him call her 'Big C' had Cici grinning and proudly drawing herself up to her full, impressive height...of 5'1. But his next words made her remember why he had even told her to take it easy, and her blush returned, but not as badly. A bit embarrassed at her own embarrassment, she nodded cheerfully. Another friend! And a metalhead, no less! Sweet! She loved the guy already- uh, in a friend way, of course. And he was pretty funny, so she told him so. "Neh, you're quite a hard case, aye?" With a laugh, she added, "Hobbit." He was calling her big, when she wasn't, so she decided to swap it around. Really, out of the two of them, if anyone was a hobbit, it was her, but Cici shrugged. It was fun to stick with Lucas's logic.

Her eyes widened when asked as she was an addict, and she laughed, dimples showing. But had she really gotten her words mixed up? Actually, it wasn't too surprising, knowing her...And as for the 'crack' comment..."N-no! I meant dru-uh, hugs no' drugs! And y'know, crack li'e crack up! Hard case!" She said, to clarify things. Then, she looked up at him. "Unless you're th' real addi't here, tryin' to hi'e the truth!" Her expression was comical as Cici pretended to look very grave at this thought, though she was sure she didn't succeed, since the sides of her mouth were twitching. She poked him in the chest as she pretended to deeply scrutinize his eyes in fake suspicion, though the effect lost some of its spice considering the fact that she was craning her neck slightly.

After laughing playfully, Cici's eyes caught sight of the guitar again, and she bit her lip, fingers itching to play.

[Lucas Blacke]

''Yeah, slightly.'' He said jokingly. ''Only slightly bigger.'' He repeated with a chuckle. She was what, five foot something? Really though, she looked about as big as his- ''Keep tellin' yerself that, C.'' He tried to get his point across by standing up as straight as possible and slamming a fist on his chest. ''Me Tarzan. You Jane.'' He joked with a wink. ''Minus the hair an' bare chest. An' livin' in the jungle. I don't do that.'' He pointed out with a smirk.

But still, it was kind of obvious why she didn't lift him. He'd be too heavy to lift according to what she said. Luke had thought air was like water, that it made everything as light as a feather, but, with further though, why would it? He was standing around in air so why did he weigh anything? He finally just nodded. ''Shame.'' He said in the end. It'd have been fun, but it wasn't the end that she couldn't do it. After all he was the one who could do way more than she could. And it wouldn't take him all that long to rub that in her face.

He got her though, with a comment as simple as the one he made about drugs. ''Funny how ya get all defensive up in there.'' He jokingly said as he prodded her in the forehead with his finger. As he pulled back his finger though she shot a comment his direction about him being the addict, and obviously she was trying to look serious as she did so. This was one thing he could one up her in.

His smile died down. ''Ya got me. I'm an addict.'' He dropped his head slightly before looking at Cianna again, leaning in with a smirk as he did so. ''Addicted to music.'' A laugh shot forth from him and he coughed slightly.

He then noticed her looking at the guitar around his waist, but as she bit her lip he began to wonder if she was looking at the guitar or something else, but anyway he didn't quite mind. In both cases he'd get a show. ''Figured ya might like ta play a bit.'' He said as he took the guitar off and handed it to her. ''Let's see what ya got. C. The hobbit commands it.''

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

Tarzan? Looking at Lucas - no, he was hobbit now - Cici's mind procured a rather interesting mixture of him, With Frodo's clothes and hair, swinging on vines through a jungle. Hm, that was...weird. Laughing, she raised her eyebrows at his jungle comment. "Aw, why no'? I've been trampin' in New Zealand through fores's, bu' jungles woul' be fun!" She said, green eyes glowing, then her head tilted to the side a bit. "Uh, 's long 's I didn' get eaten by a killer dragun-fly or somethin'..." Eyes widening at the thought, she now imagined her Lucas/Frodo/Tarzan hybrid being chased through the jungle by a giant dragonfly with fangs. Scary...

When he said he was an addict, Cici wasn't concerned; she had heaps of friends who were addicts, but was he serious? She had actually guessed it right? However, the way he leaned in conspiratorially with a smirk no his face made Cici lean forward to hear what he had to say, feeling as if he was about to reveal a big secret. Hanging onto his every word, when he said he was addicted to music, she blinked, then laughed. Oh, he got her! She had actually believed him, too!

When he handed her the guitar, she grinned. Awesome! She absolutely loved playing! As she slipped the strap over her head, she found it was far too long and she adjusted it so that it was shorter. Then, wondering what to play, she let her hands play a random note. Feeling her hands unconsciously slide to play a song, she realized she was playing a Scar Symmetry song, Reborn. He'd mentioned Scar Symmetry before, right? Wondering if he knew this song, an idea struck Cici, and she spoke before she reached the vocals? "Don' suppose you c'n growl? B'cause I c'n only do th' singing parts 'n this song prop'ly." Smiling, she hoped he knew this song. Or maybe he couldn't growl? Shrugging, Cici simply continued to play, as the vocal part grew closer.

[Lucas Blacke]

A smile crept up as she looked at him, talking about jungles and how fun it'd be. He supposed it could be, being free and without care. Besides, he could do the most amazing things in there, few episodes of man vs. wild and he'd be set and able to do whatever he needed to survive. And he wouldn't quite say no to a girl coming with him too. ''I'd make sure no dragon fly eats ya. Eating girls is my job 'nyway.'' He said with a wink as she mentioned being eaten by one. Luke had never really seen one, but how big could they get, it wasn't like they were real dragons right? ''But I wont blame anythin' for chasin' yer cute lil' behind. I'd do the same.'' He told her with yet another wink as he handed her the guitar.

As she accepted it he had his hand on hers for a slight moment and grew a smile. A metalhead and a girl. This day was awesome. For someone who had just barged in because she heard music she showed lots of potential, girl potential. Never mind that she was clumsy. Hell, caffeine had a worse effect on Luke and only three people knew about that including himself. If the worst was clamping to him when she happened to get woosy he'd gladly be there, maybe even cop a feel if the chance arose.

As she adjusted the strap and hung it around her shoulder she began to tap the snares, Luke finding that she began playing something he'd known. ''Scar Symmetry?'' He didn't really know what the song was but he could very easily recall the words to almost all of their songs, and with only one tune in he found that he oddly enough did know what song it was. Reborn. ''Growl? Me?'' He asked. He could, but he wasn't about to do just that. He wanted to see what she was capable of and looked at the set up drum at the back of the stage. He walked over to it and sat down, grabbing both sticks and starting to drum with whatever note she was playing as this was one of the first songs to bleed through in terms of the drums.

He coughed and scraped his throat slightly as the first set of vocals came up. So she wanted him to do the manly man vocals? She'd get it. Luke inhaled slightly.

The path before you
Never coming to a halt
It stretches endlessly
From here into the unknown
Looking back
You barely see through the fog
What you were once, you are no more

When that was done though, he did not stop drumming. He merely looked up to see if she reacted in any way.

[Cianna "Cici" Rivers]

"Hm?" Cici tilted her head to the side in confusion. Eating...girls? She didn't really get it, some sort of cannibal joke? Nonetheless, she shrugged and smiled. "O...K?" And when he mentioned that he wouldn't blame anything for chasing her, her confusion only served to further increase. Was he saying she looked nice to eat? Was that...good? Lucas had a weird way of speaking, and she laughed inwardly at that thought.

As she began playing, and Lucas went over to a drum kit at the back, Cici wondered what he was doing. She grinned however, when he began to play along, and remembered his ability. Wow, any instrument. When he started growling, her eyes widened in momentary surprise. He was...really good, and she closed her eyes, loving the sound of the music, and beginning to play guitar more passionately. When he finished, she was happy to hear that he continued to play the drums still, and she began to sing the next part.

Each moment unique
None exactly the same
Defied, denied to live
And exist like this again
Now you will see you are reborn
Arrive, arise to your new world
As this one dies
Forever death will embrace everything

As she sung, she let emotion bleed into her voice, and she truly felt the lyrics. It was something that usually happened when she sung properly, and she felt a connection with the sound, as weird as that may have seemed.

Surprised when she found herself singing the last verse, then playing the last notes of the guitar, Cici was almost disappointed to let the song end. But then she remembered how fun it had been and turned to Lucas, grinning. "Chur hobbit, you were'n lyin' 'bout your abili'y to play. That was awesome!" Smiling widely, she jumped, using her ability to take her a bit higher than normal, and did a flip in the air, holding the guitar so it didn't fall, then touched back down. She had been unable to contain her enjoyment, and had to release it somehow.

[Lucas Blacke]

''Why would I lie 'bout somethin' this awesome?'' He shot back as they had finished the song, getting up with the sticks still in his hand. ''An' yes it was.'' Awesome that was. ''Most if it was yer bein' 'ere though.'' He finally offered.

He widened his eyes at his own words slightly. Was he this much of a bastard that he kept talking to girls like this even though there had been someone who opened up to him? Who was there and had no intention of running away? Luke couldn't help but lower his head an eensy bit and silently scold himself for doing that. Cianna wasn't nearly as hot, he'd do her in a heartbeat but not with who was waiting for him. ''I 'ave a proposition for ya.''

Watching her litterally flutter in enjoyment though was pretty fun to watch and forced a little smile on his lips as he watched her. ''Me an' a.. friend,'' He was still using that term loosely at this time. ''Are gettin' a band together an' we need members. If yer interested I can arrange somethin' for ya. We're in need of someone like ya. Besides, a girl in the group couldn't hurt, get the fans all riled up 'n shit. Hormones, ya know the deal.''

He looked her in the eyes and chuckled. ''If yer up for it that is. Ya like music right?'' He finally just shook his head. ''Yeah fuck it, yer just gonna audition an' that's that.''

Surely Marcus wouldn't mind her being in the band. As much as Luke disliked him at the moment this could be the distraction they needed. Besides, he'd already seen her play. She'd get in no problem.