Win a Date with Lucah Ivaskov (Callie)

[Lucah Ivaskov]

MANifesto was over and Lucah was fairly sure he'd never get suckered into doing it again. It wasn't a bad outcome, not at all, but he did not like being auctioned off. Twenty bucks wasn't bad and the girl was incredible, he just didn't like that kind of attention. That being said, he couldn't wait to share the little story of this afternoon and the auction itself with his sister. Jezebel would probably be happy that someone did buy him and she'd probably get a kick out of him being so shy on stage. He hadn't been shy to other people maybe, but to those who knew him as well as his sister, it would be considered shy.

And if she thought he was being shy during the auction...well then she'd laugh pretty hard at hearing about how this date was going to play out. Luc was nervous. Way nervous, to the point where he couldn't stop pacing around in his dorm before he was supposed to go over to meet with her. He'd told her he would stop by her dorm to get her then they were to head over to the pond. If only he had been able to get out the door without feeling like it was his first date ever. But noooo, his palms had to be sweating and his heart had to be racing and there just had to be butterflies in his stomach.

It wasn't fair.

Eventually though, he did get into his car and he drove over to pick her up. His guitar was once more strapped to his back and he had prepared her a song that had become one of his favorites. It had described the relationship he sorta wanted with Callie. Though this date was all due to some crazy auction thing, he really had wanted to ask her out. And after today, he finally would on his own without any influence from the outside. Or so...he hoped he would or that she would even say yes.

Walking next to her as they made their way to the pond, he had his hands in his pockets and would occasionally glance at her. She was just so beautiful.

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie was still just hoping that Lucah wasn't disappointed with the fact that she had won. Maybe he was hoping someone he didn't know would instead? Or there might have been someone in the crowd that he was interested in, and was hoping would win instead. The reality of the situation was that in the moment, Callie was prepared to pay a lot more to win this thing. It was the easiest way to get a first date with Lucah without actually asking. She wasn't normally so awkward about dating, so why now?

She waited in her dorm for when he came to pick her up, finding that she was ready just in the nick of time. She was all smiles when she greeted him, noticing the guitar strapped to his back and remembering that the item they brought on stage had something to do with the date. For the most part things had been quiet while they were walking, and that was fine. Comfortable, even. At one point she looked over and realised he was looking back at her. Just being underneath his gaze was a little daunting, but she pushed through that with a smile.

"Everything okay?" She asked lightly, just wanting to make sure.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

When Callie caught him watching her, he blushed and turned his head before he made an effort to answer her. "Yeah, everything's great. Sorry, I'm off in my own little world when I should be focusing on you." Luc smiled at her and reached out to take her hand. It was a step in the direction that he was hoping this date would go. If things turned out the way he hoped, she wouldn't have a problem with holding his hand. If not...well this date was going to be awkward as hell.

The closer they came to the small pond, the more he began to relax. It was close to December and the weather was beginning to cool off tremendously, just the way he liked it. The breeze coming off the pond stirred the air around him and he knew that to anyone else it might be a little too cold to just be in a lightweight button-up and jeans. He didn't mind it though. His sleeves were rolled up to the elbow and he was comfortable in the cold. Slung on the same shoulder as his guitar was a leather jacket, ya know, just in case Callie got cold.

"So, you think I'm worth twenty bucks?" He asked with a smirk as he meandered towards his tree. Setting the guitar against the trunk, he slid down and patted the spot beside him. "I mean, it's no one thousand dollars, but still, just for a date? Seems a little extensive."

[Calliope Gallo]

Callie shook her head slightly. She didn't mind the fact that he was in his own world; she understood that. When he took hold of her hand her gaze traveled to the point of contact involuntarily because she didn't expect it. After a moment she willingly entwined her fingers with his and looked up again, smiling. Maybe there was something there she hadn't been seeing. She didn't even notice the fact that his skin was slightly cold to the touch.

"A thousand dollars is a lot, yeah. Kinda made it unfair for the other people who were trying to bid, y'know?" Callie replied, nodding a few times. She still couldn't really believe someone would do that for a school charity event. She sat down beside him and laughed slightly, "I think you're worth more than twenty though. I totally would have kept bidding."

It wasn't until then that she noticed what he was wearing again in tandem with the current weather. "You must really like the cold, huh." That was a silly question, given what his powers were.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

At first, he was a little afraid that she would push his hand away. He was so sure she would, but she didn't and eventually she even laced her fingers through his. The nerves he'd been feeling, the breath he was holding, it all rushed out of him when she did. Smiling down at her he felt a little more relieved that she hadn't. If she'd bed twenty dollars on him and hadn't pushed him away, was it possible she maybe could return his feelings? Well it was possible, but she may also just be that kind of friend. There were people that didn't find it weird to hold hands like this with a close friend. Luc just hoped she wouldn't place him in that category.

Giving a nod and a slight shake of his head, "It was unfair. I mean, I have that sort of money, and though it is going for a good cause, it was a little overboard jumping like that. It'd be one thing if it was close and they had to keep bidding higher." He wouldn't have bid like that. No matter how much he may have wanted someone or something, it was all about being fair in a situation like that. Of course, a few people wouldn't see it that way. Her admittance had him smiling wider and he rubbed his fingers through his hair, "Well that's a relief. I was so sure no one would bid on me...or worse, that girl that kept bidding fifty cents would bid on me. Talk about embarrassing."

He leaned his head back against the tree and looked out onto the water, when she spoke he turned his head towards her and cracked a sheepish smile. "Yeah, it comes with the powers I guess. Some would say it comes with the attitude, too," He laughed. "Let me know if you get cold or anything though."

[Calliope Gallo]

It may have been an off-putting factor for Lucah that Callie was one of those people. Physical exerts of affection were something that went in tandem with being her friend. She had never had a problem with that, and she would hope that he didn't either.

"So do I." Callie admitted. Being open about her family's money wasn't something she did often. the only people who really knew were those who knew Eric, because he was more comfortable about it. She had just never wanted people to treat her differently because she could easily blow a thousand dollars on a school charity. Anyway, the way he ran his hand through his hair was a sight she struggled to tear her gaze away from. "I wouldn't let that happen to you." She replied. No fifty-cent bids would land on Lucah; her bid timing was a record speed.

The water really was a beautiful sight. Moreso in the company of someone like Lucah.A thoughtful expression crossed her face as she searched her mind for the appropriate word. "I wouldn't say you have a cold personality. More like... Regal." She replied, hoping he would acknowledge that as a compliment.

"I like warm weather. We Greeks prefer the beach when it's blazing hot. I spend almost every inch of summer with my family in Mykanos." She laughed at the thought, again remembering the stint of awful things her brothers would do on those trips. Being tossed off the peer in Mykanos by the boys was just a common occurrence by now. "But I could get used to the cold." She added thoughtfully, giving him a slight nudge with her shoulder.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

It wasn’t that Lucah had a problem with people who were like that with their friends; it was much like how he expected his sister to be when she was older. He wasn’t like that though because it took a lot for him to offer affection usually. He was working on that side of himself, but the only natural affection that came from him was when he was with Jezebel because it was like offering affection to his mother.

Had she never said anything about it, Luc never would have pegged Callie as another rich girl. She didn’t act like the stereotypical rich kid like he did according to some. She was more laidback and didn’t expect anything from anyone. If anything, she gave more than she received from what he saw. Luc had been called ‘princess,’ ‘snob,’ and many other different things due to his ‘uptight’ personality. Usually it came from people that didn’t know him very well, but either way he didn’t care much what he was called. It was only when people began making fun of those he cared about that he had a problem. “Good because I would have died of shame had that happened,” He laughed again.

Lucah’s nose scrunched up and he shook his head, “Hardly regal. Maybe more arrogant than anything. I can admit to it though, I do act as if I’m better than people sometimes, but it’s only because that was how I was taught ya know?” He sighed and shook his head again. It was rare that anyone really understood what he meant by that. You couldn’t be arrogant and be nice about it. That wasn’t how arrogance worked.

He glanced at her as she spoke and smiled. If the sun didn’t make him so weak, he may not have minded it so much, but heat in general exhausted him and he didn’t have any way to avoid it if he was outside. “If my power didn’t affect me so much, I wouldn’t mind the heat. It just takes a lot out of me if I’m in the sun for too long.” He reached over and began taking out his guitar from its case. “Few people that prefer heat actually want to get used to the cold. At least, from my own experiences it would seem that way.”

[Calliope Gallo]

"I get that. Family pride, too." Callie replied. Eric acted like that a fair bit, but a lot of that came from his confidence level. Niko was much more down to Earth. Then again, Eric had his heart set on working with their father and eventually taking on the workload as his own. The boys she knew from functions were very... Proud of their family's wealth. But she never held that against them.

She frowned slightly when he said the heat exhausted him, but she supposed she understood that. "I guess it reflects on my personality too." Callie replied. Huh, that did kind of work out properly.

"It's a power thing too." Calliope's teeth sunk into her lip slightly as she sought the words to explain what that meant. "Since it's all joint related movement stuff, the cold weather gets into that and makes it all a little stiff." It wasn't anywhere near as painful as it might have sounded. "But I don't mind it when I'm with you."

[Lucah Ivaskov]

"Yes, family pride. My father is the stereotypical rich asshole type. He believes that those who do not have as much as us aren't worth our time," Luc rolled his eyes and attempted to force back the bile that rose to his throat every time he brought up his father. He just didn't see their relationship getting any better as long as Dimitri continued acting as if Lucah had to do everything he was told. If he did that, there was no way he'd be allowed to be with Callie.

Luc saw her frown and he too frowned. "It's weird how that works, weather preferences effecting our personalities and attitudes. It explains why I'm so dark and distant I suppose," He said with a humorless laugh. That was how everyone described him. He was like a stone that no one could break through.

"That makes sense, cold weather does tighten up muscles which makes me wonder why a lot of people prefer running in the cold. I guess if you warm up enough it wouldn't be too bad, but still." Lucah shook his head before he tried to comprehend any of it. He wasn't much of a runner, he liked lifting more than anything. The effect it had on her power though seemed a little painful. "I hardly think I'm worth the hassle," He said with a smile as he set his guitar in his lap, his right arm slung over the side, plucking at the strings.

[Calliope Gallo]

"I don't think you're dark and distant." Callie replied. Sure, she could see why people might have thought that from a distance. But judging people just by meeting them was the way to jump to that conclusion. And that wasn't fair on anyone.

It was difficult not to notice how down on himself he was. Callie wondered how many things had happened to make him like that. The lack of family support would have been huge. She couldn't imagine what that kind of pressure would do to someone. Then there was the way everyone saw him and how that reflected on how he saw himself. And at the end of it all, she couldn't help but think about what Ravyn had done. It would have hardly helped the situation.

"You are. I just wish you'd realise that." Calliope replied. Of course he was worth it. Someone just needed to give him a chance.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Lucah shrugged because he really didn't know what to say. She was one of the few that he'd allowed the chance to see into who he really was. There weren't many that understood all that he'd been through to make him the way he acted. The only reason he came off so dark and distant was because he was always afraid of being torn down more than he already was if he showed his true self. It wasn't like he could show that side of himself to his father without being verbally abused.

A lot of things had happened in his life to make him so negative and pessimistic. It all started with the lack of a good relationship with his father and seeing how Dimitri had treated his mother. Then his mother died and he was left with absolutely no one to confide in until Jezebel reached age and by that point he was taken away from her. Add to that the consistent put-downs he got from the people that didn't try to get to know him and a few bad break-ups (Ravyn counting as two of them). Life just hadn't been all that fair to him.

"How can I?" He said softly. Lucah hadn't really explained to the extent of which his father hated him to Callie. He hadn't wanted to bring it up, but he couldn't just accept that he was worth it when for most of his life he'd been told that he was the biggest mistake that his father had made. Luc looked up at her and frowned slightly, his fingers sliding across the frets, a morose melody playing beneath them.

[Calliope Gallo]

"I'm honestly not sure." Callie replied. There was no way to reverse how he felt about himself with a quick conversation or two. And given how little she really did know about the situation, she wouldn't even be sure where to begin.

It took a few moments before she decided to say anything again. She was deep in thought about the whole thing, until a worrisome expression crossed her eyes. "I guess I just hope I don't make you feel that way." She reasoned. She couldn't imagine adding to that kind of pain and suffering, given how thoughtful she always tried to be when it came to other people's feelings. It was easy to get lost in that kind of worry though.

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Lucah hadn't meant to be a total downer with his words. It was a force of habit for him, the constant put-downs and negativity towards himself. He didn't want to give his father the benefit of tearing down his self-esteem so he did it himself to build immunity. Callie wouldn't know that and he didn't want her to. All he wanted was for her to come up with her own conclusions of him without any influence of knowing his past. He was tired of the pity he'd received from others.

His fingers strummed absently at the strings as he looked out on the pond. It always soothed him when he'd gone to Hammel and he figured it was a nice place to spend the day. As long as he could stop talking about such dark things, it would be a nice date. A few moments later she spoke again and he had to look at her. Luc shook his head, "You don't, Cal. Not at all." At least she hadn't yet. And honestly, he didn't think she would. Callie just wasn't like that.

"Well, I guess now would be a good time to show you why I brought the guitar with me on stage. Do you want to hear a song?" He asked trying to change the subject. He didn't want to talk about his problems anymore.

[Calliope Gallo]

"Awesome." Callie replied a little brightly, though the word passed through her lips quietly at the same time. It carried a kind of content feeling. She was glad not to be one of those people, because she just couldn't imagine doing that.

She had been curious about why he brought the guitar, but she wasn't going to ask about it. Calliope figured he would produce a reason in his own time and there was no point in pushing that. Things were already moving at such a smooth pace. She really was enjoying herself, despite the darker topics of conversation. While it didn't seem conventional for a first date, she knew that because they were friends it wasn't exactly going to be conventional. It wasn't like it was the first time they'd met or anything like that, they'd known each other for a while now.

"Yeah, of course." Callie replied. She knew he was into music due to the fact that her good friend had been his roommate when he was at Hammel. But she'd never really heard him play before. "What song? And why did you pick it?"

[Lucah Ivaskov]

Lucah smiled at her response and was happy for a subject change. The whole thing really was too dark for such a good day. Of course he knew he could tell Callie the reasons behind his own thoughts, but he didn't want her to have to know that. Hell, he wished he didn't even know all of what had happened to him. If there was a way to erase all of the bad memories and yet keep all of the things he'd learned from it, he would gladly do it.

With Callie being so happy-go-lucky, he really didn't want to her bog her down with the darkness he often engulfed himself in. It had a way of rubbing off on mood and attitude towards people and he liked that Callie was a happy and sweet girl. He didn't want to be the reason she changed. Least of all have his problems affect her. If what he wanted did happen and they did date each other, he didn't want her to meet his father because it was just asking for disaster.

Once again he smiled and plucked a few more strings out of either nerves or habit, he wasn't quite sure. "It's called All Those Nights by Chase Coy. And just listen and maybe you'll see why I picked it. Okay?" He asked before clearing his throat and beginning the song.

"One more night and I'll be headed out on my own. Leaving friends and the place that I call home, I don't wanna go. I just need to know that I can come back. I need to know I only need to know that you'll be here when I come back home."