Kindling a Fire

[Lucky]

(September 5th, open to Two-tone only. Takes place just before the fights begin.)

Pup was slowly strolling across the grounds, looking a little sad. To be honest, he was kind of disappointed HE wasn't in the arena today, instead of the listed competitors. Lucky's competitive nature was overruling his common sense at the moment, and it dictated to him that he simply MUST be the best in the arena no matter what. It didn't occur to him that he was simply a puppy with only his teeth and claws to defend himself with and a majority of his opponents were magic users or utilizers of some higher power. He just wanted to be on top, even if it killed him. Lucky didn't necessarily care about doing well in class...he'd never been a great student even in the Bark Brigade, and these human classes and junk he cared even less about. He could get straight Fs for all he cared (for all he knew, there wasn't even a tuition fee or whatever it was people paid for their schooling), just as long as he was Top Dog in the fighting arena. Somewhat foolishly, he imagined himself to be rather like Thunderbolt in the ring, outwitting, outrunning, and outfighting just about every opponent with grace and ease.

Lost in the throes of one of these grand fantasies, Lucky walked straight into someone walking in the opposite direction. "OOF!" He collided rather hard and bounced back, irritably rubbing his head with a paw covered in sleeve that had slipped down when he fell. When he saw WHO he had run into however, his demeanor changed completely, and Prince Charming Lucky took hold. An almost sheepish smile covered his maw, and he looked up at her. Where normally he'd have snapped at whoever he'd run into to watch where they were going, no such words escaped his maw this time. Instead, his tone was rather gentle and even a trifle sheepish, as if he actually felt shame and embarrassment for running into her like a moron.

"Heh...sorry about that Two-tone. I didn't see you."

[Two-Tone]

Two-Tone whom had been busy lost in her own thoughts, she had seen the fight notice earlier and sighed in relief she wasn't in any. Maybe that was a good thing since she never fought before nor had any reason to do so. Though she did see Wizzer's name on it which did bring some concern over her younger sibling. She was lost in thought so much she didn't see anybody coming as she felt somebody crash into her her causing her to let out a yelp of surprise. "Hey!" she began before she recognized whom it was that crashed into her.

"Heh...sorry about that Two-tone. I didn't see you."

"It's alright Lucky, I wasn't paying attention. Or maybe I was thinking of something else, then again I probably wasn't paying attention." Two-Tone faced Lucky, she couldn't help but blush, for some reason she had developed a crush on Lucky though she couldn't think of why, maybe it was due to that terrible night they were pupnapped from their home by Jasper and Horace? Or that mad dash through the cold winter night to get back to their home in London? Whatever it was it made her crush on the male pup before her.

[Lucky]

Lucky rolled his eyes, but somehow it lacked the usual sarcastic fervor and was even paired with a good-humored smile. Good old Two-tone, just as indecisive as ever. "I see you haven't changed a bit." He looked her over for a scant moment or so, tail wagging slowly. "Not that that's a bad thing." He noticed her blush but decided not to comment on it, or act like he'd seen it. Wouldn't be cool, and he knew Two-tone cared at least in some manner about how she looked and if she was hip. He stepped forward in his usual confident manner, plastering a winning grin on his face that came off as rather smug. It was a girl-winning smile, or so he hoped, the type that made the ladies swoon. At least.. until he put his paw down and tripped over his stupid shirt sleeve. He stumbled clumsily and nearly bumped into Two-tone again but stopped himself at the very last second, a VERY ugly frown coming onto his face as he balanced himself yet again.

"DogGONE it!!" He snapped, temporarily forgetting whose company he was in. And then, just as quickly, remembering himself. He looked up at her and this time he really looked sheepish, donning a toothy, embarrassed smile. "I uh...I don't like the uniforms...heh." He sat down, trying to save face in the wake of that totally uncool fumble. Somewhat nervously he looked her over again. "But you look good in it." A more good-natured, natural smile came onto his face and his tail waved back and forth very slowly. "Too bad we can't ditch 'em, huh?"

Because.. honestly, he would've liked her a lot more without them. Her fur pattern was one of the most unique on the farm save for maybe his sister Jewel. Half black, and half white. Like a... like a... well... there weren't so many animals out there to compare her to that were exactly flattering. He just settled for thinking she WAS attractive.

[Two-Tone]

"Nope, well I'd hope to learn some more here. Though that arena gives me the creeps, I mean I'm not the kind to fight." Two-Tone began when she heard Lucky yell as she watched him stumble on his sleeve. "Well they are a bit tough to get on, though they are kinda cute." She admitted before she blushed at the compliment Lucky said to her "You look handsome in yours too." She said hoping a compliment might make Lucky feel better about wearing clothes. She blushed a bit more when she heard Lucky's suggestion to ditch them. "Well it would be more natural for us, but wouldn't we get in trouble? Or maybe we could get away with it." the two-toned pup said in her indecisive manner.

[Lucky]

"Really? Cuz I kinda wanted to go down and watch the competition. I mean... um.. if you want to come with me that is." Most of Lucky's overconfident swagger seemed to have dissipated in the presence of such a pretty lady. He was in full on Charm Mode now, wanting to win her over with his finesse and ... well normally he'd say good looks. But this shirt.. "Ugh.. thanks Two-tone, but... gosh I'd rather just go without it." For the thousandth time since he'd come to this weird school, Lucky lifted his right hind leg to scratch at the uncomfortable cloth, temporarily lifting it above his ribs and right over his heart, his eyes scrunched shut in a very undignified manner.

A quick shake of the head with ears flopping every which way and his leg and shirt dropped to Mother Earth again. An odd furrowed brow smile came onto his face then and he just looked at her for a moment like that. "I like you the way you were." Wait was that the right thing to say? "Are. I mean, are. With the uniform and without it."

[Two-Tone]

Two-Tone watched as Lucky got his shirt off, though hearing his invite to see the matches did sound interesting. "Sure, I'd like to go with you to see the competition. Maybe we could learn from the battles. Hopefully it won't be too bad." Two-Tone answered Lucky as she wagged her tail, when she heard Lucky's next comment she blushed a bit "Really? Well guess I could keep mine on though you did get out of yours." Two-Tone seemed to be in a bit of a conflict due to her indecisive nature. Though since Lucky liked her either way she decided to keep her uniform on.

"Well, should we go to the arena? Or should we wait till it's time to go? Whenever that is." Two-Tone asked Lucky.

[Lucky]

(Lucky didn't take his shirt off xD; he just scratched at it)

"It's about time for the fights to start. To be honest, I was kinda hoping I could be in it." A glimmer of excitement came into his obsidian eyes and his tail wagged rapidly as he looked into the sky. He was teetering on the edge of another daydream in which he, Luckybolt, championed the arena and saved the day. "I guess I got here too late though cuz I wasn't on the list." His face darkened with a frown of disappointment. "I guess it's lucky for everyone else involved that I wasn't." Now a smug grin graced his features and he stood up...as gracefully as he could despite the bulk of shirt around his front half.

"Shall we go?" He grinned, lifting a paw and turning towards the colusseum. "Maybe on the way I can dig up some bones for us to share while we watch."

[Two-Tone]

(hehe oops my bad next time I'll read closer)

"Sure, let's hurry before we miss anything." Two-Tone said to Lucky, though hearing he wanted to be in the fights worried her a little but she didn't want to show it. "Those fights do worry me though, I mean if I were put into a fight. I'm not the fighting type at all." Two-Tone admitted as she looked toward the coliseum. Sure she wouldn't mind watching the fights but to actually fight? That was what worried her, what if she lost a fight or worse..... no she wouldn't even think of that option. Nor did she want to think of that about Lucky either.

[Lucky]

"That's not going to-" Lucky started to say that wouldn't happen and cut himself off. If Two-tone was a student here, more likely than not she WOULD be in the arena at some point and he couldn't say he exactly relished the thought... not at all. He shook his head suddenly as if to ward the thought away like some evil spirit. "Don't worry. I'm more than enough competition for the kids here." He said it with his usual foolhardy confidence, although there was a seedling of doubt in his gut. Not for himself exactly.. he knew he'd be okay. But Two-tone...

"Yeah. Let's go." He said before he could ponder further. He began walking toward the colusseum, assuming Two-tone would follow.

[Two-Tone]

Two-Tone nodded and followed after Lucky, although Lucky tried to assure her it would be alright she knew deep down it might not be. Though she decided to keep silent about it Two-Tone continued after Lucky as they headed toward the coliseum to see the fights. "I hope so, but I wonder if I could be a challenge to any of the students here? Or maybe not, then again I could be." Two-Tone asked, again her indecisive nature showing through as she spoke. Not much she could really do about that.

"Hope we aren't late." Two-Tone said to Lucky.