Land of confusion [open]

[Elanora Brennan]

Nora was surprised at herself for how much fun she had messing with Lucas, maybe it was because she couldn’t take him seriously, she honestly didn’t see herself as someone he would be actually hitting on. Maybe it was just because for once being around a Meta wasn’t giving her a headache going on migraine, though in all honesty one meta had never been too much of an issue, though in the past she had still always noticed the uncomfortable feeling behind her eyes. It always started out feeling like you had stayed up way too late and your eyes were so tired they hurt.

She had begun walking when Lucas made his latest joke about her not just lying there and taking it. She didn’t pause in her walk but she spoke back to him continuing with her oblivious act and referring once more to the Grandma as is if he had said it in a way that was toward the grandma instead of her. “You know your right, I bet she has a walking cane to go with that zimmer frame she is just longing to use on a bad boy” she said giving him a smile and a wink back. She laughed freely at her own joke and smiled as she stepped into the art supply store.

She knew this store it was one of her favourites and it didn’t take her long to track down the aisle full of all the drawing goodies. While waiting for what she was sure was going to be another sexual innuendo from Lucas she shifted her helmet so it was supported by the chin strap, bending her arm she shimmied the strap so it hung from the crook of her elbow allowing her to someone awkwardly have use of both hands as she pawed through the art books selecting a few different sized sketch pads in her favourite brand.

[Lucas Blacke]

Well this was.. odd and fun at the same time. He could see it was all an act by her and more or less assumed so beforehand because no one could be that oblivious, but also by how she kept responding to it in a way that made Lucas believe she knew exactly what they were talking about. She just made it about something else, which was perfectly fine with the boy because maybe, just maybe she wanted to see him in action first before going at it herself.

What he failed to realize though was that there was still the possibility of her just talking because it was the right thing to do, and that meant she had no real interest in him or what he had to offer except his words. But then again he had not really expected otherwise, he had gotten someone else to go for him with a mere mention of him being good and that ended up being a disaster, so maybe taking some time to get to know each other was a good thing.

It took some time before he moved along with her as he took a few seconds to just look at the old lady as if anything was actually there, and maybe it could even get a rise out of Nora which would be fun as all hell. Misplaced, but fun. Because she surely couldn't be delirious enough to think he would choose such an ancient being over something beautiful that also happened to be red.

The few seconds he waited before moving could be seen as a tactic though, because Lucas now had a good view of some of her assets, and could safely say he wanted more than just look at them. But that was for another time, and kind of inappropriate as they entered the store Nora had mentioned. It was a store Luke hadn't been into before, and as such he was stuck following the redhead as she navigated her way through the aisles as she knew exactly what to look for, it seemed.

''I'd much rather do stuff to ya anyway.'' He finally, and silently replied in case someone else heard it. It wasn't like he was prudish, but he knew when words would be too much for other people to handle.

Suddenly he got an idea. ''Oh!'' He blurted out before toning down his voice a bit. ''Maybe I can be yer nude model or somethin'.''

[Elanora Brennan]

Nora hadn't forgotten he was around by any extent of the imagination, she just knew he had paused and not followed her right away. Maybe fantasizing about what that grandma would be like in bed, hey no judgement. She had merely gotten herself immersed in selecting some new drawing equipment, she had already placed her usual assortment of lead pencils, a new high quality eraser and the like into her helmet just until she got to the counter as she was running out of hands and didn't want to drop the important tools, a dropped pencil could be the more frustrating thing in the world.

She was holding a pack of charcoal considering going even further outside her comfort zone today and attempting to use the new medium. She had already gone from speaking to no one to actually managing to joke and tease a meta guy today, in comparison playing around with a new art medium should be a cake walk.

It was then that she was startled by a loud Oh! she jumped slightly and some of the art books she had stacked in her arms toppled off the stack and hit the ground. She cringed, glad to have put the pencils in her helmet so it wasn't them that were damaged but hoping the books weren't too bent out of shape either, the only thing worst then busted pencils was dog eared drawing books. Yes she loved her art supplies ok?

Lucas caught up then and dropped his voice a bit and the words that came out almost had her dropping the whole stack of books and her helmet but she managed to keep them in her hands and hooked on her arm. Nude model? She went red at just the thought, like sure she knew the study of the naked form was a long standing totally acceptable art practice, she had even had a go at it herself before. However her version of practice revolved around art books with examples to practice that didn't actually show anything revealing.

Nora didn't consider herself a prude as such she was just very very did she mention very inexperienced with the whole male body. Growing up the last 8 years as a loner who fled from human contact for fear of winding up throwing up from sever migraines had seen to said inexperience. "uuuuu...." she couldn't even get out the mmm in umm as she stood there the books on the floor almost forgotten for the moment. Her face had once again blushed red and she tried to latch on to any semblance of that confident playful Nora she had found again so recently.

She finally grasped onto the or something line he had tacked on the end in his intriguing accent and after a few breaths finally managed to spit out some semblance of words. "or something..." ok so it was better then uuuu but not by much, so she tried again. "I could always use a clothed model..." she stammered out, in truth she had been caught by his face while they had been talking before the grandma stuff and she had been intrigued to sketch his face, thinking it would make a good study but nude... she didn't think she was that far into her little social experiment yet. whether just to draw a nude model or to do anything else nude.

[Lucas Blacke]

The minute he caught up to her he did take a few moments to look around and was very quick to jump to the conclusion that his shop was not for him. If not for Nora he wouldn't have gone there in forever even despite being able to draw pretty well.. well, some things anyway. If he had seen it before he could do any drawing but the fact was that he hadn't been drawing enough to actually have it bleed through like his martial arts and.. well, things like driving a car.

He had actually been drawing more and more lately due to his studies of the human anatomy (and obviously those of animals), it was also interesting to see just how intricate the structure of the human body was. This was why he offered to be a model for her in the first place, so he could have himself be drawn for once. He knew how the human body looked on both the inside and the outside but he didn't know how his own body looked to people who were not him.

But when she almost crawled back into her shell as he suggested he'd be a nude model for her, so he decided to drop the nude part. But when she finally replied with words he could listen to she mentioned he could be her clothed model. Well that was a bummer. Maybe he could mention his studies and slowly work his way up from there.

''Well.. how 'bout we use th' middle ground an' I just pose with a bare chest?'' Because there were some strong and interesting muscles in there, that and he could use it to practice his ability even further. ''Would be good fer school ta have someone draw me.'' He told her.

''An' if it helps ya I could draw ya with a bare chest as well.''

[Elanora Brennan]

You would think she would have an easier time with topics she knew about like art, it probably didn't help that she still couldn't take him seriously, he was an altogether attractive guy she wasn't blind she could see that. The problem was she didn't see herself as attractive so she was a little confused that he would want to spend time with her enough to follow her shopping, let alone want to offer to be a model for her.

It probably didn't help that Nora wasn't so good at letting people see her art, it was almost a private thing to her not unlike a diary. It wasn't like there were things in her art journals that were personal like what people write in diaries just that she didn't feel comfortable showing people. Thinking on it she hadn't really had anyone to show either even if she wanted too, the joys of being a recluse. 

He wasn't giving up on the nude model thing though he was compromising and she had to admit the chest did have some interesting muscles in it and it would be good to practice drawing an actual real life person and not just drawing from a reference picture. She bent down awkwardly with the items in her arms and picked up the fallen books adding them back to the pile in her arms they didn't look too damaged, his remark on the end about her posing bare chested made her roll her eyes before standing, he didn't give up the jokes did he she thought "How about I agree to let you be my model, but I keep my clothes on, if you want I could see if that grandma would pose for her I bet that would be a super interesting case study" she said, her voice held some fun but still a little of the uneasiness from the beginning.

She walked up to the counter and placed her items on the bench, 4 art journals of various sizes, pencils the eraser and the charcoal, may as well give it a go. Before long money had been exchanged and her items were now in a convenient carry bag as she headed out of the store, up to Lucas if he followed or stayed fantasizing about a topless grandma

[Lucas Blacke]

Funnily enough when she responded about the compromise about being shirtless she didn't mention his shirt having to stay on once, only that hers had. Which was no issue at all because a woman shedding her shirt, though fun as all hell was a tiny bit more frowned upon than a guy doing the same. Something Luke didn't really get, but society had its skewed views on things. Not that he would be someone to fight it though, he would just be one of the drooling guys in a crowd somewhere.

But back to the point. She agreed on him being her model and that was enough for Luke, seeing as it gave him a reason to see her again and undoubtedly more times after that because she would beyond a doubt want to see more of what Luke had to offer in whatever way possible. Yes he was that confident.

He smiled though as a stray thought when through his mind when he thought on being a nude model for her, about how he would have to pray to the gods that his muscle control wouldn't fail at that point or else she would have to draw three legs instead of two. But that smile quickly faded as she mentioned maybe inviting that old lady to pose for him, every thought of being a nude model fleeing him at that point as he barely suppressed a shiver going down his spine.

''Interesting? Maybe.'' He said with a nod. ''Fun? Hell no.'' It seemed however that Nora was way more into that old lady than he was. ''But if ya want her that bad we can convince her ta come over. Pretty sure even an old lady wouldn't be able ta say no ta such a cute face.''

[Elanora Brennan]

Nora noticed the shiver that ran through him at the thought of the old lady and giggled quietly to herself amused as she continued back out into the throngs of people in the mall. She stopped briefly to let a lady struggling to control her toddler pass by.

She fell into step with Lucas not really sure where to go now. She had what she needed and usually she would heave headed straight to the exit, though she wasn't ready to run away from this entertaining conversation yet which surprised her a little.

Nora laughed as Lucas said a hell no to drawing the old bird but suggesting they get her for Nora instead. "You know that's not a bad idea, all those wrinkles would be a great challenge to test my shading skills. I'm thinking a double portrait, her a cougar hunting her prey, you would he the prey of course since you so kindly offered to help" she spoke with an enthusiasm for her craft making her seem totally serious and not at all joking.

"You know there is this really cool old lady down the toad from me I bet she would do it. She is a real hit at the seniors center but i bet she wouldn't mind aiming for some hot young meat." Her tone was becoming more playful now and had lost the serious tone of an artist considering options. She walked on waiting to see what his response to that would be.

[Lucas Blacke]

This was the kind of talk he could get in to, not that he enjoyed the idea of old women but just the fact that she could talk back like that was extremely different from the way she was before. Didn't take much to get her to trust someone, it seemed. Which actually was a good thing since he didn't have all that much people trusting him around. And besides, this one was red, how awesome could one get?

But they were done in that store, which sucked balls as they would now have to go their separate ways, Nora didn't seem like the type to go with Luke anyway to whatever store he had in mind. Though he could always offer something else.. but as he was about to speak up he almost bumped into Nora as she briefly halted to let a mother and her toddler pass. He smiled at the woman as she passed and stuck up his thumb at the toddler whether he saw it or not and for a reason he probably wouldn't understand.

His free hand shot to Nora's side as he gently bumped into her from behind. ''Whoops-a-daisy.'' He would say out loud as he let his hand linger a bit before slowly taking it back, letting his fingers slide against her side for a moment. ''All that old people talk gettin' ya going, is it?'' Luke joked as he stepped back.

But the old people talk didn't stop there as she just continued on with trying to get him close to some old saggy lady tits, it seemed. ''Why are ya tryin' ta hook me up with all these old people?'' He asked.

''I'd much rather have someone yer age, with red hair, into art..'' Luke summed up as he looked at the girl. ''An' preferably with th' name Elanora.''

[Elanora Brennan]

Nora wasn't an idiot, sure she could see that Lucas was flirting is butt off at her, she was just no good at distinguishing between real flirting and messing around. In truth she had never had to worry about distinguishing between them in the past she was the background awkward girl who ran from people not the girl who spoke to anyone long enough to be flirted with, for real or for a joke. She felt his hand linger when he bumped into her as the mother and toddler went past and was pretty sure despite her lack of knowledge in the social protocols there was no need for it. However he did remove his hand so she chose to ignore it she didn't know what sort of a comment to make anyway.

She laughed at his commented on the old people talk, did it get her going? No but deflection was her best weapon against his constant flirting. She was beginning to highly doubt that running away from this particular guy would stop him from laying on the over the top lines. Her mind when blank at his next line, he was not hinting anymore, it was like he was trying to bring home a point to a toddler the way he summed up all his previous comments with those words.

She realized then she had automatically been leading them toward the exit doors, when someone walked in and the breeze from the street blew through toward them. Her bike was on the other side of those doors she could get away from him without much trouble, part of her wanted to run, if he was being serious and not joking, well she barely knew how to handle to the joking. She definitely didn't know how to handle real flirting, why the heck did he want to flirt with her anyway? it made no sense to Nora at all.

"Sooo did you actually have any shopping to do? because if you do we should probably get that done" She blurted out not able to address the last comment, there was no way to deflect it and she just didn't know how to respond to that. Even trying to channel 11 year old Nora before she got all awkward wasn't helping her here, that was back when boys still had kooties and you didn't need to deal with them flirting. She glanced almost longingly at the exit for a second then looked back toward Lucas to wait for an answer not able to look at him in that moment.

Most of her being wanted him to say no he had no shopping and she could be all cool no worries nice to meet you and ride out of there like a bat out of hell. But there was a part of her who was intrigued by this guy, she was pretty sure with how persistent he was that he was a player and she had no intention of actually being one of his toys, however she had to admit he was intriguing and if she could get him to lay off the flirting a little and actually pluck up the courage to get to know him a little she thought they might be able to be friends.

[Lucas Blacke]

It wasn't leading anywhere as she kept deflecting most if not all the things he did but it sure was fun hanging out with a redhead who made.. the hunt actually a hunt. He knew she didn't want to be part of it though but that didn't stop him from doing whatever he did. Lucas was very aware of the fact they had only just met and that most of the things he did were things you wouldn't normally do when first meeting someone, but she hadn't really stopped him from doing those things and from the way she responded Luke was sure she knew exactly what he was doing.

This helped him quite a bit in knowing if he should continue or not, whether it was that same day or some other time. Or maybe.. maybe she was a kind of Anthy and not something to hunt down just so he could put another notch on his belt, maybe she was fun to be friends with and maybe that would lead to something else.. it'd be odd to just be friends with a girl but he knew he had it in him, and the way she was deflecting his advances was a sign that she could handle his constant flirting.

She'd get tired of him in a matter of time, but until then he could try to win her over or something while having a friend to do things with, like- wait, what did she like? It hit the Texan that he didn't know anything about Nora except the fact she drew, her name was Nora and she rode a bike.. other than that.. oh and red hair, must not forget the red hair.

''I.. did come here ta do somethin', aye.'' He replied perhaps a bit too absent-minded when she halted and he was forced to look up at her as he was looking at.. something a bit more fun. ''I wanted ta buy some stuff fer me car, a new sound system an' such.''

''Yer free ta tag along if ya want!''

[Elanora Brennan]

Nora heard his words, so he was into pimping out his car with cool gadgets, that was cool if she they had similar options for motorbikes she might have been into that too. As it was she didn't know a whole lot about it, she didn't even have a licence for a car she had gone straight for the bike. Which was cool, sometimes she regretted it like when it was super cold, snowing, or raining. The snow was the most challenging and usually her mum had to drive her but she could still ride in the rain, it just took more focus as the roads were more slippery and motorbikes could slide out from under you if you weren't careful.

She waited a few moments after he said she could tag along before she replied, it wasn't that she was thinking about whether she would come. Nope she knew she wanted to, she was surprised there was no innuendo thrown at her, no subtle or unsubtle sexual reference. Wow she thought, he can be human and not just a lady chaser. "Sure sounds like fun" she said finally bringing her green eyes back to meet his blue ones.

She still had no intention of ever bringing up or commenting on his statement from early referring directly to her and wondered absently if he would start the scamming on chicks thing back up as they went to find his sound system or if she might actually get a chance to glimpse the guy behind the pick up lines. She was actually excited to see if she could get to know that guy a little better, and hey there was always time to run away and become an outcast again if she made a complete fool of herself right. Worst case she could transfer back to that Sweden school she was supposed to attend in the first place.

"Lead the way sir" she said waving her arm vaguely back in the direction of the rest of the mall and away from the exit she had been gravitating toward, Nora had no idea where you would get car sound systems from in here so she would have to trust Lucas to lead the way.

[Lucas Blacke]

In hindsight it was a stupid question to ask, of course she would want to come just because it was the social thing to do, he had gone with her so now she was going to join him on his quest. It wasn't like he expected her to, or was sure she would make that decision but it just made sense at the time, because at the time of his query her face didn't look like that of someone who was going to say no, it looked like someone who was.. surprised?

That, without a doubt, was one of the most annoying things about his ability. The moments where he was able to see that people were thinking something and showed a certain emotion but he couldn't quite pinpoint how or why. Those were the moments that nagged at him constantly when left unsolved, now Luke did have an idea as to why she seemed so surprised when he spoke, and that was only because she mentioned his girl chasing practices so much. Maybe she was surprised to finally hear a sentence without any kind of flirting undertone riddling it.

He supposed that was perhaps what she had been wanting all along if that really was the case, but sadly that wouldn't really take, because that flirty side of him was just that, a side of him. It came out every so often and depending on the mood of the Texan it wouldn't go away so swiftly.

''Aye, time fer ya ta look at my sweet ass fer a change.'' He said as he took the lead and really wagged his hips from left to right in a ridiculous fashion, almost joking. He soon after would let her catch up though so that she would be walking next to him and turned his eyes on hers. But that didn't last long as his eyes were instantly caught by the strands of red dripping down. He sighed and crossed his legs in a joking manner as he very briefly turned away from her. ''R-red!''

He wondered what kind of reaction that would net him. So far for no-sex Luke though, he would have warned her but he was pretty sure she already knew he was full of it.

''Anyboob, if ya want ya can come with me fer a ride someday. It's easy as hell.'' He told her. ''I'll even give ya the option of drivin' an automatic or one with a stick shift.''

''Or both.'' He added in a whisper as he motioned to his side to let her know they had reached the destination. It was a big electronics store filled with appliances like washers and driers, and even televisions that were plugged in and turned on so people could see them in action.

''I'm tempted ta buy me one o' those televisions.. should I?'' He asked.

[Elanora Brennan]

There it was the the flirt machine was back and and firing on all cylinders she thought with a laugh as he wagged his hips at her in a ridiculous over the top way that made you have to look even if you didn't want too. With another soft laugh, a roll of her eyes and a small shake of her head she started after him, and she had to admit the view as she caught up and fell into step next to him was pretty nice.

She laughed at he turned from her dramatically and his sign of red, she knew he was referring to the red strands hanging around her face. "Maybe I should dye them black so it doesn't torture you so much" She mused as if seriously considering the option, she had almost done it once to make herself blend into the crowds more but her hairdresser at the time had refused to help her.

She heard his offer to let her drive his car sometime and shook her head slightly, she could drive, she used to drive the cars around the farm back home she had just never bothered to get her licence because motorbikes were cheaper and she couldn't afford a car so why have a license for one? He was motioning her into a huge electronics shop immediately after the offer. "Unless you want one or both of us in trouble for an unlicensed driver then will have to pass on the driving thing but thanks" She spoke as she walked past him and into the store. Everything in here was over her price range was the first thing that went through her mind as she looked at all the fancy technology filling the store.

She drew her attention back to Lucas when he asked her whether he should buy one of the televisions on display. It was high tech, large and fancy as all hell, were the first thoughts to run through her mind and well shit was the second when she saw the price tag. "For that price why not get 3" she joked, it was something she did with her mum when things were insanely expensive they liked to joke and be all well for that price we may as well have multiple then they would laugh and walk away to find the budget items.

[Lucas Blacke]

''Unlicensed? But ya know how ta ride a bike?'' He assumed from the fact she had been holding a helmet the entire time they were in a mall, and judging by the way she used it it looked like she had been riding for quite some time, or at least knew of several uses for the thing.

But soon enough Nora would move on and answer his question on buying a television. It was well within his price range and while he knew and saw that the girl was joking when she wondered why he simply didn't take three it was something to think about.. he didn't have a small house to begin with so being able to watch in more than one room could be a good thing.

''Why three though? Want one fer yerself?'' He asked, only half joking at the time and actually considering it. Though he could no doubt find a use for three televisions himself he was not above sharing his money and actually giving her one of those televisions or enough money for one. But at that point he wasn't sure she wanted one so he would wait for that. There would also be the issue of her wanting to repay him somehow though, but Lucas wasn't entirely sure it would happen like that.

Still, couldn't hurt to think, right?

He briefly looked over to someone working there and eyes met, and though that other guy was busy with a customer Luke knew he would be right over. In the meantime though he could look around a bit for what he actually came there for; sound. Which brought him to another question.

''What kinda music do ya like?''

[Elanora Brennan]

"I have my motorbike licence, but we couldn't afford to get me a car so I didn't bother with a car licence, i know how to drive them I'm just legally not allowed too" She spoke with a shrug as she glanced around at the electronics in the room, she didn't know much about all this stuff, growing up raised by a single parent she hadn't gone without the necessities but they hadn't been able to afford many luxuries in life, her bike was one they had picked up on the cheap, for only $800 unlicensed, nothing wrong with it the owners had just let the licence slip due to not using it. Her uncle had cleaned it up and got it running like a charm and they had got it licensed all for way less then a car would have cost them.

She laughed at his comment about her wanting one, as if buying three wasn't the joke but what to do with three of them was. Then again what did she really know about Lucas maybe he was some billionaire who money didn't matter too and buying 3 televisions wasn't something to even blink an eye at. Or maybe he is just going along with the joke she told herself feeling silly for even thinking the former. "nah our black and white one is still going strong, besides didn't you know when it comes to televisions you either have to have 1 or 3 any other number is just unlucky" she answered back jokingly.

She noticed him catch the eye of a salesman, she saw the look of understanding pass between them that said he would be right over as soon as he finished with this customer. She followed absently behind as Lucas went in search of the sound equipment he had been talking about, while still looking for it he asked what music she liked. She considered for a moment, most people her age weren't into the sort of music she was but she sighed may as well let him know, even though he seemed the type to be way into music and probably not the sort she was.

"I kind of love the old stuff, like Cold Chisel, American Pie, Neil Diamond that kind of thing" she spoke softly playing with her shopping bag and helmet again. being a social outcast meant she mostly listened to what her mum did and she loved it, it was so easy to draw too, she had tried listening to some of the more recent stuff once and she hadn't been able to get a thing done it was too loud, too in your face and distracting, she liked music she could put on in the background so it wasn't dead quiet but that still allowed her to think her own thoughts.