Hunt My Shadow, open

[Quinn Pappas]

Quinn paused outside the country club, looking up at the large building. It towered high above him, severe against the night sky. A gust of wind chased through the lawns, raising goosebumps on his skin, even underneath his good suit. He'd worn it only once before, at his grandfather's funeral the previous summer. One of the perks of being the black sheep was that he didn't have to play dress-up very often. The annual Lambert Gala unfortunately made the short list. His parents had shelled out five grand so that he could stand around like a potted plant, ignored and occasionally spilled on. When he was younger, he hadn't had a choice in matter, but Quinn's days of playing along were over. There was a bonfire down on the beach with his name on it, and the threat of being disowned wasn't going to keep him from it. If his parents wanted to make a big thing about it, he would be ready. But he had a feeling that, while they were busy kissing ass, they wouldn't even notice he was gone.

He slipped away quietly in the buzz of new arrivals. When no one screamed at him for walking on the perfectly manicured grass, his confidence grew and his pace quickened. Quinn knew exactly where he was headed: the one imperfection in the chain link fence that separated the classes. Sure, his Swiss Army knife might have added to that imperfection. But even with the cuts he'd made the night before, being a big ass motherfucker had its downfalls. He had to contort his stocky body in directions that it very much did not want to go just to fit through the narrow hole. When he finally broke free of the claws of the fence, there was mud on his loafers and several tears in his trousers. But Quinn didn't mind; it added a badass factor that he quite liked. Yeah... kind of like he'd actually fought off the shackles of aristocracy to make it to the beach.

The fire was already raging when Quinn got there, a tower of dancing demons. His footsteps paded over the soft sand as he made his way toward it. Standing dangerously close to the flames, gold, copper, and silver lighting up his features, Quinn stripped off his tie. With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he tossed the fine silk fabric into the tipi of firewood. Sighing with relief after the pressure around his throat had subsided, he turned to size up the crowd. Not bad, considering that the night was still young and most shirts were still on, but Quinn saw a lot of room for improvement. Smirking to himself, he headed into the rhythm...

[Theodore Rodriguez]

463 WORDS TAGGED QUINN ? As the sun began to set over the water of beach, Theo found himself counting down the minutes until night came. There were very few St. Valentine's events the boy actually found himself looking forward to. Most of them where just as pretentious, just as suffocating as the gala. In all fairness, most of the St. Valentine's experience itself felt like that, confining, but there were moments, aspects of his time at school that felt real. Obviously, anything that took place outside was well within his comfort zone, and the bonfire was exactly what the doctor ordered. There was something about the student body, or rather a majority of it anyway, gathered together as a collective to celebrate... whatever the hell they were supposed to be celebrating, that got him excited. A pair of dark khaki cargo shorts hung low on the senior's hips as he wandered down to the beach. He decided to forgo the shirt and shoes tonight. As far as Theo was concerned, being so close to a fire on an already mild October night didn't really call for much clothing. A smirk tugged at his features as he saw the large fire already roaring strong. The music was blasting, and he recognized a fair amount of his classmates and a few townies getting into the festivities. Running a hand through his hair, he made his way to the keg and grabbed a red plastic cup, filling it to the brim with the foamy goodness. Even the beach itself felt alive. With the combination of the crackling fire, the roaring ocean, the cool sand, and the moon beating down, the combination of elemental forces were creating an energy of their own, not that anyone would have noticed. Bringing the cup to his lips, he took a sip as he casually scanned the area. Everyone seemed to be pretty subdued so far. Granted he spotted a few guys who had obviously pre-gamed and had gotten into the "shit-faced" spirit a little early, but for the most part it was pretty chill so far which he could appreciate. At that point he only really reognized a handful of the people around, but he was fairly convinced that would change as the night wore on. In fact, it hadn't taken long for his gaze to fall on a familiar face in the firelight, though the tattered and muddy outfit that accompanied it had caught him off guard. "Aye! Pappas!" he called out with a wide grin. "What the hell happened to you? Did you have to fight your way out of the Gala?" No, Theo wasn't surprised that Quinn had ditched out on the gala, but the fact that apparently he'd gone through some tribulations to get here was amusing.

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[Quinn Pappas]

In general, Quinn wasn't crazy about huge blow-outs. Having so many bodies and minds around him made him feel slightly claustrophobic, always had. But mostly, he hated the creeping feeling of being watched that seemed to shadow him in large crowds. This was different than being sized up or checked out. As he stepped out into the open, even though no one had touched him, Quinn got the sensation of being shoved from several different directions. Shoved mentally. He couldn't describe it in words or rationalize it away, but he'd felt the same thing enough times over the past few months to recognize it. Just moments later, he heard his name over the pounding music and rushing tide. Quinn's head whipped around, his eyes narrowed. It didn't take him long to find the source, and when he did his features stretched into a broad grin. "Yo! Brazil!" he called back.

Quinn moved toward him, elbowing the poor bastards who had the misfortune to be standing in his path. "More like a fight with a fence," he admitted with a shrug. Rumors only mattered to people who didn't know him. He didn't have to prove his baddasery to friends and, although they weren't exactly attached at the hip, Theo counted as a friend. Rocking forward on his feet, Quinn leaned in and lowered his voice. Which, considering how deafening the tunes were, was still pretty loud. "But if anyone asks, tell them there were guns involved." He chuckled, pulled back, and gave Theo a playful once over. His feet were bare, his toes half-buried in the sand. And whoever had designed the waistband on his shorts deserved an award for sexiness. By the time Quinn reached that mop of dark hair, the invisible eyes on his back were forgotten.

"Lost your shirt already? Rodriguez, you slut." Quinn smirked and his blue eyes lingered on Theo's toned torso and perfectly bronzed skin. He forced himself to look up. "Not that I'm complaining."

[Theodore Rodriguez]

339 WORDS TAGGED QUINN ? Theo had to admit, as entertaining as it was to roam around the clusterfuck of buzzed classmates and townies, he found himself relieved, even excited to see Quinn. Granted the two might not exactly travel in the same cliques all the time, but if Theo could depend on Quinn for anything, it was to keep things interesting. Not that picturing a guy like Pappas dressed in a suit forced to schmooze with the rich and fabulous at the gala wasn't amusing. The fact that the kid showed up in a tattered and muddied suit only made the visual even more satisfying. As the other boy moved closer to him, the brazilian didn't step back. "Well whatever the case, it looks like the fence won that round," reaching down, he poked his fingers in one of the tears in the leg of his trousers, giving it a teasing pull, forcing it to tear a bit more. "Or is it one of those 'you should see the other guy' things?" Anyone who knew Theo enough knew that he had never been the biggest fan of clothes. Granted, he didn't make a habit of walking around his dorm room in the buff, but the less clothes he could get away with, it was usually the better. Clothing for him felt like confines, especially when he was outside. Then of course there was the added benefit of getting checked out every so often. "We're out in the wild, dude!" he announced, stepping back and flailing his arms out, bits of his beer spraying out into the air, splashing a few unsuspecting guys sitting by the fire. "I am how mother nature intended me to be!" he glanced down at his shorts and shrugged. "Well... almost." He could tell Quinn had been checking him out, and the fact only caused him to grin even more. "Nobody ever complains," he winked. "So... are you planning on catching up? Or are you just going to walk around in what's left of your fancy armani suit all night?"

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[Quinn Pappas]

"Dude." Feigning seriousness, Quinn captured the curious finger poking at his pants. "If my great escape cost the town of Hart a few bucks, I'll gladly--" he emphasized the word by prodding Theo's bare chest with their conjoined hands. "Gladly accept defeat on this one." Quinn knew what most men twice his age were still trying to figure out: that winning wasn't everything. He was happy 'sticking it to man,' so the speak, in whatever ways he could, big or small. He paused to think about the party he'd left behind, imagining his parents making mind-numbing small talk, picturing his brothers sipping from prissy glasses. He didn't know why appearances were so important to them all, and he didn't even try to understand the logic behind dragging him to some events, barring him from others. If they could manage to leave him alone, maybe he wouldn't have to get into so much trouble. And unicorns made great pets and magic was real.

Theo's voice brought him back down to reality, and Quinn snorted at the display. Arrogant bastard, he thought. I bet you think you're so charming. But he'd be lying if he said he wasn't a little curious to know what made the guy tick. Rodriguez always seemed so... buoyant, like nothing could get him down. It was strange; he was strange. "Out in the wild?" Quinn repeated, arching an eyebrow. "Oh yeah. I think I saw a grizzly over there between the country club and the main road," he quipped and winked. Everyone knew Theo was one of those nature freaks, who saw beauty and shit in the things Quinn took for granted. He couldn't remember ever stopping to 'smell the roses,' not once in his lifetime. And even if he did, Quinn suspected he wouldn't see whatever it was that the other guy saw. From where he stood, the world was just an ugly place.

"If you're offering to lend a hand, by all means..." Quinn took a step back, bracing his legs in the sand and spreading his arms like wings. He had planned on getting a little more 'comfortable,' but letting someone else do all the work sounded much more appealing at the moment.

[Theodore Rodriguez]

339 WORDS TAGGED QUINN ? It was common knowledge to anyone in their grade that Quinn Pappas didn't give a shit. It was one of the reason Theo liked him so much. While so many of the other students got lost in cliques, money, and navigating through the social hierarchy of St. Valentine's, Quinn did and was what he wanted to be. Granted, that didn't always co-exist with school rules and social norms, but that was part of the boy's charm. It seemed like the more he defied expectations, the more he was in his element. "Way to take one for the team?" he responded, tilting his head to the side. He had to say, he wasn't surprised Quinn felt the way he did. The guy must have felt incredibly out of place in an environment like that. Had Theo been in his place, he would have gone to great lengths to escape as well. All Theo could do was roll his eyes. "You know what I mean." He took a deep breath, taking in the crisp night air. "We're outside and off campus. This is as 'wild' as a place like Hart gets." Taking a sip of his drink, he shrugged. "Personally, I"ll take what I can get." Wiggling his eyebrows, he watched as Quinn offered himself, like a mannequin to be undressed. Setting his cup on a lawn chair, he circled the boy and stopped directly behind him. "Well first order of business..." he whispered into Quinn's ear, his lips mere inches away. "We should probably get rid of that posh boy hair," he slowly let his hands run up Quinn's shoulders, his neck, and into the thick brown hair. He let his fingers roll over the scalp gently, before quickly shuffling them through, mussing it up. "Now the outfit..." Without much warning, Theo laced his fingers through the holes of the button up seam in the front of Quinn's shirt, and tugged it open. Buttons and bits of thread flew off, exposing the lightly tanned torso underneath. "There, doesn't that feel better?" He stepped out from behind him and picked up his cup, admiring his handy work.

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[Declan Blackwell]

AND SEE MY HEART IS BLACK

It was only a matter of time, Declan knew, until Marcus got wise to his son's ploy. His father could be so forgetful (or rather, too intensely focused on other things) at times, a trait Declan always counted on. However, in never seemed to last long...which was precisely why he followed Gael to the beach in the first place. With that unearthly sense Marcus seemed to have, he'd be drawn here with any luck, and remain unaware of his son's true intent. Parties, especially mass gatherings of unruly people such as this one, weren't Declan's cup a tea, as he found out. New experiences seemed to be a reoccurring theme in his life, ever since the Blackwells took root in Hart, and such an elated and alcohol soaked throng was a first for him. Still, though he wouldn't deem such a venture 'fun' (that word was reserved for hang gliding off cliffs, deep sea diving, or even exploring St. Val's underbelly), the party was certainly interesting. The people watching opportunities were plentiful and entertaining at the very least, and the huge fire was mesmerizing. The curly haired kid stood off to himself, even though he had Gael with him, as he was clearly distracted. His red plastic cup was half filled with the lukewarm beer he hadn't even touched, and when people tried to engage him, they would only receive noncommittal, monosyllabic responses. It looked as though his mind was elsewhere, literally, and only resurfaced when something particularly startling happened, or he remembered that he should be on the lookout for his father. During one such time, as his eyes scanned the crowd for a dark head so similar to his own, he caught sight of two teens that looked a bit familiar. He stopped to consider how advantageous it would be to talk to them, perhaps they could provide a distraction should Marcus get wise. Though, in all honesty, they probably wouldn't even know who he was...and they seemed rather engrossed in one another, in any case. "Hey," he said to Gael, nudging him with an elbow. "Don't they go to school with us? Think we should go talk to them or something?" He shrugged at Gael and began walking toward them, shaking sand out of his flip flops as they went. There was a moment when the boys began undressing one another, which gave Declan pause, but by then he was well within their line of site. "I uh, hey...I didn't mean to interrupt or anything. I just saw a few familiar faces in the crowd and thought I might say something." Uncertainly, he rubbed the back of his neck and looked in Gael's direction a few times. "You're St. Val students too, right? I'm Declan."

[Gael Alfonso]

About a week ago, Gael had come up with a plan. Well, Gael wasn’t the only one to come up with it. It had all started while he was playing a game on his PSP rather than doing his homework and he’d been distracted by Asher talking about the Gala. Apparently he was attending which meant Gael was going to have to find something to do on the night of the gala. Problem was, when Gael brought it up with Grayson, he was going to that silly gala thing as well… which left Declan on his own too, but then Declan usually spent the weekends staying with his dad and Gael thought that kind of sucked. So, after a few chats in class, while avoiding getting caught, over lunch and stuff, Gael asked Professor Blackwell, all nice and politely, if Declan could come and sleepover in his room on the night of the Gala. Thankfully, as always, if it didn’t involve school work or whatever it was that Professor Blackwell was so obsessed with, the man absently agreed. Needless to say, Declan had barely set foot inside Gael’s room before they were working out how to sneak out of the school and down to the beach. Now Gael was well aware that Declan’s plans to go to the bonfire were a complete ruse… and if there was anything Gael liked best, it was doing something he wasn’t meant to do.

Unlike Declan, Gael had managed to acquire a bottle of beer. He’d already ingested half of it while Declan’s plastic cup of beer grew steadily warmer and he was laughing at something that had just happened when Declan nudged him and asked him about two guys he was looking at and Gael’s eyes widened. ”Yeah, they do,” he said a little distractedly. Theodore Rodriguez! He knew that senior. He thought the guy was hot… he’d not actually ever told anybody that but Theodore Rodriguez just had no competition as far as he was concerned. Of course, as he followed Declan who thought it was a good idea to go talk to them, he couldn’t help notice what Theodore was doing to the other guy… another student, Papa something… Quentin… Quinn! Quinn was nice but Theodore… Gael wished he was in Quinn’s place right now.

Still, he followed Declan and he giggled (he told himself it was a chuckle) when Declan said he didn’t mean to interrupt. ”Yes he did,” he said under his breath and took another swallow from his bottle of beer, trying to look innocent even when Declan shot him lots of glances. ”And I’m Gael and you’re both seniors, right?” He drained his beer, upended it to watch a final drop fall out onto the sand then looked at the older boys. ”Got any beers?” He asked, grinning. He knew he was probably embarrassing Declan but Declan should be used to him by now.

[Quinn Pappas]

There was something quite unnerving about putting himself on display, even for someone who he knew wouldn't judge him. As Theo circled around him, Quinn fought back feelings of unease. Even with the other boy's breath tickling his ear, and his body heat burning against him, Quinn's memories of inspections past stopped him from enjoying the moment. At least until those long fingers found their way to his hair. For whatever reason, that had always been a sensitive spot of his, and Quinn melted into the grip. The artificially brown locks stood to attention when Theo was through, no longer slicked back and side-parted. His fairer eyebrows cocked up as buttons and threads went flying. Well damn, he thought, begrudgingly impressed. "Done that before, have you?" he teased with a grin, leaning forward to inspect Theo's handiwork.

"Not bad, but there's one more thing..." Gracelessly, Quinn stepped out of his loafers and tugged off his socks. The finest Italian leather, the shoes had cost almost as much as the suit itself, but he didn't particularly care. It was little more than chump change to a man like his father. "Ahhh..." he sighed, burying his toes into the cool sand. "Much better." So engaged in his game with Theo, Quinn didn't notice that they had an audience until one of them spoke up. Pale blue eyes snapped over to the source: a cute kid with an Afro, and his giggling friend. St. Val's? Digging deep into the vaults of his (selective) memory, Quinn tried to put last names with the faces. They definitely weren't seniors, and probably not juniors either, otherwise he'd have some vague memory of passing them in the halls. Which meant, most likely, they were underclassmen, and legally invisible to a world-weary senior like Quinn. The first names - Declan and Gael - meant less than nothing to him. He liked Afro and Giggles better, anyway.

"Yeah..." he trailed off, indistinctly answering both questions. He'd been pissed at first, of course, that his barbaric attempts at flirting with Theo had been interrupted. But the more he thought about it, the more he realized how much fun the two of them could be. "Quinn. And yeah, we're both seniors at St. Val's." Although the bonfire was more of a cheap thrill by Quinn's standards, there were some aspects about it that he did like. The abundance of hot shirtless guys, for one. And the fact that the lines between right and wrong became so blurred after awhile that people forgot their own limits for a few hours. "You want beer?" he drawled, smirking. "Well, that depends. What you got for us?" He gave Theo a none-too-gentle nudge in the ribs, hoping that he'd play along.

[Theodore Rodriguez]

416 WORDS TAGGED QUINN ? A mischievous grin spread across the brazilians dark features at his friends reaction to the abrupt opening of his shirt. "What? Ripping other boys' shirts off?" he asked innocently, though the light chuckle and quirk in his brow gave him away. "It is... how you american's say, 'not my first rodeo,'" and with that, he gave the other boy a wink and admired his work. Theo would have been lying if he said Quinn didn't have an amazing body, but he'd also be damned if he told the guy that out right. Gods knew the guy had an ego, and the druid would be damned if he fed it anymore than he had to. Not that that stopped him from admiring the boy as he removed his shoes and socks. "You're welcome." After taking a sip of his beer, he noticed Quinn's gaze lock on two approaching freshmen... or were the sophomores? Honestly, Theo was horrible with the names and identities of the underclassmen. He let Quinn speak for the both of them at first while he took the moment to size the other two up. Try as he might, he couldn't quite place a face to either of the two boys. The first one, the curly haired kid, seemed forward enough. For some underclassmen, it took some balls to approach two seniors at a party. Granted, Theo didn't really consider himself intimidating, he figured Quinn had a reputation that preceded him enoug hto cause pause. He was mildly impressed and appreciative that this guys were at least chill enough not to care. The second one, Gael from what he heard seemed a bit more... awe struck? He didn't know for sure, but he got the distinct impression that the kid was staring him down pretty intently. Theo flashed a sincere grin at Gael and nodded in response to his first question. "I'm Theo." He recieved the light jab to his stomach and rolled his eyes. He knew exactly what Quinn was doing. While there was a part of him that wanted to take pity on the two kids in front of him, knowing what it was like when he was their age, there was another part of him that Quinn always seemed to bring out of him so easily. "Yeah. Quinn here gets pretty funny about underclassmen drinking." he chimed in with a straight face. "So what do we get out of it?" He took a sip of his beer and eyed the two.

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[Declan Blackwell]

AND SEE MY HEART IS BLACK

Part of Declan realized that he might have stepped into something a bit deeper than he was used to handling, as the two seniors looked down on them with hardened eyes. Even half naked (the pair of them made his own two tone orange/blue swimming trunks, and oversized tank top look overdressed) they were intimidating, especially Quinn, who towered over everyone. And due to his inherently contrary nature, acknowledging that fact annoyed him faintly, especially when they were called underclassmen. That was a fact, mind you, but it still stuck in Declan's craw. And telling the seniors that technically, he was supposed to be a Junior didn't seem like it would be help either. Just one more thing Marcus forgot to do, which ended up spurning his son. "Then I guess it's a good thing Quinn isn't the boss of us 'underclassmen'." Sensing a challenge, Declan quickly chugged the contents of his cup, wincing slightly at the taste and temperature, and then overturned it to show its emptiness. They were daunting, but Declan was rash. Defiantly, he shrugged casually and added: "Looks like I've run out too...what will I do!?" All the while, he was fully aware of the unmanned kegs and coolers conspicuously peppering the beach. But the bare-chested boys seemed to be waiting on him, however, and that was the extent of his 'let's keep up with the big boys' plan.Casting another surreptitious glance in Gael's, who seemed more interested in giggling and giving Theo puppy-dog eyes than anything else, Declan decided he might be on his own. Trying not to show any of his uncertainty on his face, he looked the flirtatious duo up and down, silently noting Quinn's clothes. Since Italian leather wasn't traditional beachwear, he assumed the tall boy just came from the Gala. "Hmm, well since you don't exactly hold a monopoly on alcohol here, why should we give you anything?" With an impish leer, he crossed his arms, hoping Gael wasn't already too inebriated to play it cool. "Though I wouldn't say no to a game...you name it." He said cockily, nudging his chin in the direction of the nearest cooler. "Whoever wins gets a prize...winner's request. What do you think, Gael?" The challenge just came out of his mouth before he could think about it too deeply, and he was smiling genuinely by the end of it. Then, deciding his smack talk wasn't colorful enough, he amended. "Or maybe the big 'n tough seniors are too scared they'll take a beating from a couple lowly sophomores."

[Gael Alfonso]

Gael didn’t pay a lot of attention to names and reputations, or when names were linked to reputations so he didn’t have any idea what Quinn was really like… and for now he didn’t care. He glanced at Declan when the other boy made comment about his beer, or rather lack of it and that just made him keep on grinning. Still, he picked up what Declan was saying, in between his overt ogling of Theo’s body and he dropped his empty bottle to the sand and followed suit, crossing his arms.

He did almost choke when Declan asked ‘why should we give you anything’ because he didn’t want to miss out here; at least not right now but then Declan went on to suggest a game. Winner’s request. Gael looked at Declan and then at the seniors and nodded. ”I think that sounds fair,” he said.

Of course Declan’s smack talk about seniors being too scared only had Gael laughing like it was a complete riot. He nudged Declan. ”They don’t look that big and tough to me,” he said, all full of Dutch bravado; aided and abetted by the beer he’d already ingested. One bottle; he’d hardly got started and he wasn’t drunk… at least that’s what he told himself. ”He might not wanna get dirty,” Gael said, nodding his head towards Quinn and his fancy clothing.

[Quinn Pappas]

Quinn's brow quirked up, the only change in his mask of cool. A part of him had to respect the balls on those little Sophomores. Even if they didn't know about his record and reputation, he'd always assumed that there was an invisible girth of hostility around him. Something most people only crossed when they were looking for an adventure or a fight to pass the time. And maybe that was what the underclassmen were after. He could give them that, at least. Quinn straightened, taking advantage of every inch he had over the others. "Aww. Looks like we touched a nerve, Theo." Smack talk had never been his forte, so he left it at that, handing the reigns over to Rodriquez in case the guy had anything more eloquent to add. He seemed to exhale charm, a skill that Quinn had always been slightly jealous of. Hell, even the Gael kid was smitten, despite trying his hardest not to fall head over heels. Literally. Quinn rolled his eyes.

Though Theo had played along, Quinn wasn't convinced he would be up for the kind of game he had in mind. He had more of a bleeding heart. Which he liked; it was part of the reason why they meshed so well together. Quinn could push Theo out of his comfort zone, and Theo could pull Quinn back when he needed it. This was not one of those times. He'd never lost a pissing contest, especially not to lowly Sophomores, and he had no intention of starting now. "Right. And how's that monopoly beer taste going down?" he scoffed. It was no secret that what was inside the open kegs and coolers was low brow at best. Warm, watery piss at worst. In order to get the good stuff, you had to know people like Quinn.

Quinn snorted at the closing insults, completely unimpressed. Afraid of taking a beating? Scared of getting dirty? He must have missed the memo that elementary school was back in style. "You know, I can tell you guys come from Saint V. All talk, no game." Abruptly, his smirk disappeared and the humor vanished from his face. Quinn took one large stride forward, crowding the younger boys. "But if you wanna play, I'll play."

(( SORRY IT'S LATE AND SHORT, GUYS. ))

[Theodore Rodriguez]

429 WORDS TAGGED OPEN Well Theo had to give the boys credit, they had a sufficient amount of sass, though honestly he wasn't all together sure if he was impressed or annoyed with that fact. Here Theo and Quinn were, enjoying a perfectly innocent, sexually charged conversation, and these boys dropped in uninvited. While Theo himself didn't mind the company, the fact that both boys seemed so defensive all of a sudden confused him. If they didn't want to be hassled, why approach two seniors they never met? It was a question that the brazillian hadn't yet answered, though as he studied the pair with curious brown eyes, he was beginning to get an idea. Attention was always a driving force in party settings, regardless of the form or nature. Everyone was guilty of it, whether they were younger or older. Like Quinn, he noticed the boy's lack of appreciation for being called "underclassmen." "I don't know why. Being a sophomore isn't anything to be ashamed of. We've all been there." He said with an innocent smile, playing up the patronizing tone on purpose. Taking a sip of his own beer, he listened in amusement as the sophomore's talked smack. What was even more amusing, however, was watching Quinn playing along. Honestly Theo wasn't exactly sure why the boy seemed so intent on proving his mascunility. It was fairly obvious to everyone present that Pappas as the biggest, and arguably the strongest out of the foursome. Still, it looked like the boy who introduced himself as Declan had gotten what he'd wanted. A rise out of the seniors... at least one of them. "That's a fun idea and all, but that's assuming you've got something we want." He realized just how cold that sounded as soon as he said it, and tried to recover. "I mean, we're the ones who have the good beer. I assume that's the prize you want. What do you have to offer us?" He arched a brow, eyeing Quinn before pulling him back slightly by the hem of his shirt. "Easy tiger. We're not challenging them to a fight of anything." Deciding it'd be better to get things started himself than rely on Quinn, he pushed forward. "How about a game I like to call 'pyromaniac'." He began, downing the rest of his own beer. Setting the empty cup on a stray lawn chair, he glanced at the fire. "You guys find four sticks. We each pick one, light it on fire, and the last person to chicken out and let go wins." It was a simple enough game, and better yet it was a game Theo knew he had the upper hand in. "Unless you guys had any better ideas."

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[Declan Blackwell]

AND SEE MY HEART IS BLACK

"What are you talking about, this is the best beer I've ever tasted!" And since Declan had never had beer before tonight, that wasn't a lie. It didn't make any difference who had what type of beer, because it was all disgusting to him. "If I don't have anything you want, I can get it. And that's one hundred percent money back guarantee, I have my ways." He expected to be underestimated of course, but it was the best he had. For Quinn, it looked like simply creaming the pair of them would be enough of a prize, and Theo didn't seem truly interested. "And I don't think Gael would mind being a personal servant for a day or two." He said, teasing his friend as much as anyone. It was reassuring to know that Quinn was more emotional than not, which might make it easier for Declan in the long run. What wasn't so reassuring, however, was realizing that rage seemed to be the emotion he kept on hand. Declan almost regretted that, admittedly. He just didn't like being talked down to, and what he saw as lighthearted attempts at leveling the playing field, were quickly perceived as threats to some macho sense of entitlement...typical seniors. Standing in Goliath's shadow momentarily quelled the sophomore's tongue, which simultaneously added fuel to his defiance. Couldn't they take a joke? "That does sound good...but also potentially hazardous." Declan replied. The heat of Quinn's annoyance was all the 'pyromaniac' he could take...there didn't need to be any added danger. Self-impressed smile diminishing somewhat, Declan took a calm step away from the giant. Provoking him might get his and Gael's asses kicked, and he didn't want enemies. In any case, playing 'pyromaniac' didn't sound like something that would work for him. Maybe if he got the richboy drunk enough...or maybe wet? He affected a cocky smile: "My 'fro is highly flammable, and too precious to me to risk. So let's say we leave that for the tie breaker?" Declan's eyes flitted toward the discarded blazer and shoes once more, and his mind raced to find a solution. "Well, we're on a beach, after all...why don't we have a race. First team with both members to touch the buoy out there and comeback gets to ask for whatever they want." He cautiously looked up at Quinn again. "Unless it's to inflict bodily harm...Oh, and if they don't both touch the buoy, then it's automatic default, on the swimmer's honor. Afterward, we'll let you two get back to your mating ritual or whatever."