voidtreckerexpress | [OPEN] we like sportz

Entry tags:

[OPEN] we like sportz

Who: Open to everyone! Learning some sports, making some friends?
Where: Gymnasium
When: Grasshopper 20-22 (or the rest of grasshopper if you like!)
What: Getting people to play some sports, whether as beginners or finding people more on their level! Also can come in here for your personal sports games if you like?
Warnings: sportz. flying balls. (no)

As per Tidus's proposal on the netwrok on the 19th, the gymnasium has been set up around the next few days (or more!) around lunchtime--whenever those busy cooks in the kitchen deem it to be lunchtime--to hold a few ball games for all. It doesn't matter when a person comes in or their skill level, or even what they want to play. While there's a few set games, anyone is free to take the time to show off a sports game they're good at!

The set games are:

Soccer: A team sport played with a spherical ball between two teams of 11 players. The game is played on a rectangular field called a pitch with a goal at each end. Numbers make this one tricky to play with a full two teams, but two or four players are possible.
Volleyball: A game for two teams, usually of six players, in which a large ball is hit by hand over a high net, the aim being to score points by making the ball reach the ground on the opponent's side of the court.
Badminton: A racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" and "doubles".

For those looking for a more easy-paced game, badminton or even table tennis may be recommended; the former easier to go with if you treat it like my secondary school P.E. classes and launch the shuttlecock into the air; the latter found at the table of the gym with its own fold out tables for games!

Jugs and beakers have been brought in from the kitchen with water for anyone who gets parched, set in a corner where....hopefully no stray balls (or other) will find themselves being flung into. While Tidus has put this together and can be chatted to, he's letting anyone who knows more about the games to lead things as they like!

( ooc: this is just a chill 'come play sportz' thing that you can play at your leisure! also feel free to pick a sports game that isn't listed, BYOS (Bring Your Own Sports), w/e w/e. )

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You do. [ Inigo easily admits it. He's not a sore loser!

Well, not when it comes to Roland, at least. He gets some special privilege here, because Inigo will gladly let the other hold a favour over his head, whereas Inigo would have complained and whined about it forever with certain others. He's sure Roland wouldn't use it to do something embarrassing anyway.

So rather than lingering on it for too long, he listens to what Roland has to say. King Evan Pettiwhiskr Tildrum, huh.. Talk about a mouthful! It's wild to a boy who's only used to people having one first name and nothing else, but not as wild as the thought of a ten year old ruling over a whole country and doing well..

.. dang, he feels really incompetent now for being seven years older, yet not even being able to save a single thing about his own kingdom. Inigo mostly manages to shove the feeling down though - at best it just shows in the way he awkwardly rubs the back of his head for a moment before taking the bottle of water that's offered to him. ]

No, there's Lucina, my older sister. No other siblings though. [ He opens up the bottle, taking a sip of water. ] So it means that when we get older, she'd be the next Exalt.

[ He's very careful in his word choice here. He doesn't want to lie to Roland, but he's not quite ready to tell the whole truth about his world yet either.. So saying she would be Exalt is much more accurate. She would have been under any normal circumstances, but that sure isn't happening anymore now. ]

[ Roland's always just a little too proud to show off the king he chose to serve, chose to stay with...But it didn't come as a complete package. They both worked hard for it - to serve a kingdom that was barely just a glint in Evan's eye when they started out. It took the two of them - Evan and Roland - to create the Evermore that completed the first phase of the Declaration of Interdependence.

But the work wasn't over. It rarely goes that easy. He still had so much to do...But that was then, and this is now. So Roland's mind returns to the present, where Inigo shares more about the world he hails from. As he listens, he begins some practice swings again, to get in the mood for badminton that wasn't just bouncing the shuttlecock around. ]

Lucina and Inigo. [ He repeats the names, looking impressed. ] Very royal, indeed. Is Exalt the equivalent of president, king or queen, in your kingdom? Ah, pardon. Halidom?

[ He doesn't notice anything. He's just happy to talk shop! ]

[ He nods. For once Inigo seems rather serious. Not too much so, but just enough to show he's taking this talk seriously - because this much is something he doesn't mind sharing, and in that case, it'd be dumb to withhold it from his fatherly figure here. ]

Yes. Ylisse is refered to as a halidom rather than a kingom since its rulers have a pact with the Divine Dragon of our world, Naga, which goes all the way back to the first Exalt that ever existed. So since the position of ruler is blessed by Naga, the king carries the title of Exalt rather than just 'king' or 'queen' like they do in many other places.

[ He pauses his movement and rests the racket against his shoulder. His eyes sparkle with keen interest. ]

A pact with a divine dragon that grants you the authority to rule...[ He nods in understanding. This is the second time now that he's found a similar concept - the first being Taiki granting his liege the title of king as kirin, or kingmaker. It's not as uncommon in fantasy worlds after all. Maybe the idea of a democracy choosing a president was the outlier... ] ...and it's a right passed on from one generation to the next from the same line of kings? [ His hand takes the racket, swings it across the other shoulder. ] So that means you're technically blessed by Naga. Are there other halidoms with pacts to other divine beings?

[ For a slight moment he's quiet.

Inigo knows it's technically a little more complicated than it being automatically passed on to the next generation.. But maybe the details don't matter that much here. Especially since he feels like that might head into selfdepreciation territory really quick, and that's the last thing he wants to bother Roland with right now.

So he just nods again. ]

More or less.

[ He has the Brand, after all. Proof of Naga's blessing. ]

But no, it's unique to Ylisse where I come from. Naga is the only divine being in our world, after all. [ Discounting Grima, but holy shit, that's even worse territory to talk about! ] Other countries have various other ways of choosing a ruler. I believe that up north in Ferox they chose their ruler, the Khan, through physical combat. They believe that whoever is strongest should have the right to rule.

[ .. That does bring a thought to Inigo's mind though. ]

How did you end up president back home, Roland? Was your father the previous president?

But everyone worships Naga, right? Regardless of how they choose their rulers?

[ This is talk Roland lives for, so he's even momentarily forgotten about his racket and the badminton game, just swinging it around absentmindedly, giving his hands something to do. ] That's an interesting system of leadership...

[ At the prompt, Roland offers a small smile and shakes his head in disagreement. One hand rests against his hip as he explains comfortably. ]

No. In my country, we didn't take up the monarchy. Succession through bloodline is pretty much defunct. Presidents are chosen by the citizens through democratic election. That is to say, in the simplest way I can describe it, whoever gets the majority of voters, wins.

[ Thank Naga Roland includes that explanation, or Inigo would have absolutely no idea at all what a democratic election could even be. The explanation is simple enough for him to immediately grasp it though, and a smile slowly spreads on his face. ]

By Naga.. that's amazing!

[ No, it's not the democratic process that has gotten Inigo so enthusiastic. He takes a step, covering the slight distance between them, and takes Roland's one racketless hand to clasp it between his own, his smile growing wider. ]

So you got chosen because everyone wants you to be their leader? I mean.. Of course I can see why, you're great, but it must be so great to know so many people are behind you!

[ What does that validation feel like. It must be amazing. Inigo can only imagine. ]

[ His eyes grow equally wide, if only because he didn't expect such a reaction from Inigo at all. Then again, the concept of having voter's rights wasn't exactly a universal practice, even on earth. What more other kingdoms, other realms? ]

Heh. Thanks. That's mighty nice of you to say. But it wasn't all me. We were a whole party. I had a good campaign manager - someone who helps run your bid for the presidency so that more people know what you stand for, what you'll do if you win. [ Again, an oversimplification, but it's enough to get the gist! ]

[ In the end, however, Roland can't seem to mirror the same level of admiration Inigo was showing him. The clenched grip in his hand that holds Inigo's unexpectedly tighter is because his mind travels somewhere else right away. ]

I was...re-elected for a second term, actually. Unlike kings, presidents in this system can't rule indefinitely. They have terms that last four years at a time, or eight if you get elected again. You can't run for a third bid. [ He's doing it again - when his expression falls a tad bit too serious. ] I owe it to the people who believed in me to help lead the country, even though I was way, way younger than most of my constituents. I worked hard so I could pay their trust back triplefold.

.. you know that just makes you more impressive, right?

[ The same sparkle of admiration is still there, though Inigo seems a little less lost in dreamland as he's talking now. He doesn't miss that edge of seriousness about Roland as he speaks now, though Inigo isn't sure what's behind the change in tone.

But of course he's just going to compliment him anyway. Compliments always make Inigo feel better, after all, so clearly they work that way for everyone, right? ]

Even though you had to be picked once more, it still happened! It speaks to how capable, trusted and amazing you are.

[ HE WON'T LET YOU TURN DOWN THIS COMPLIMENT. JUST SWALLOW IT, DAD. ]

Though.. why can't you rule indefinitely? Why waste someone's talent after eight years if they're a good leader?

[ INIGO STOP, HE'S NOT AS GOOD AS YOU THINK HE IS he really isn't he was elected too young, he could have learned more, gotten more experience --

-- but he has no time at all to even rebuke that because that's a great question to ask Roland and he jumps on that immediately. ]

To avoid abusing the presidency. Have you ever heard of the saying, "Absolute power corrupts, absolutely?"

[ What was he doing holding this racket? RIGHT a game. But he can't focus on that now, so it's really just in his hand for no good reason. ]

The longer you're president of the country, the more prone you are to abusing its system. The will of the people is silenced, and that's the one thing that can't happen in a democracy where the citizens get to decide who is best to rule the country. No one's above the law. Not even us.

[ Inigo blinks, curious. ]

Is that true..?

[ It's not that he hasn't seen bad kings. But to Inigo it always seemed more like those were just bad people from the start. He can't think of Roland that way - even if he would rule for that long, would he really suddenly stop ignoring people, caring for people?

.. would his dad have ended up like that if he hadn't died? Inigo can't imagine that either, even with as distant of a relationship he has with him. ]

But I can't imagine you abusing the system whatsoever, Roland. You're much too kind and caring for that. You've had the power for a while already, right? And it doesn't seem to have changed you for the worse.

[ He didn't think Inigo would say that about him, but it comes to Roland's attention that this young prince's view of ruling was even more innocent than Evan's. Evan had to undergo a coup for him to realize all was not well in his own kingdom. Inigo perhaps, was green around the gills for another reason. Especially in the context of a monarchy, where ruling classes usually vie for power...

Roland glances down at the floor, suddenly thankful he hadn't let go of his racket which he is now using as a means to busy his hands as he thinks about how to word it out. ]

That's...a dangerous assumption to make, Inigo. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate that you think of me that way. [ Even if he knows he's got a long way to go, if the fate of his nation is of any indication. ] But even the purest of hearts, even the kings and queens who care the most about their people, can fall to the allure of power, in whatever form that may come.

[ He thinks of his soulmate, as his eyes glance up at the ceiling of the car for a moment before shaking his head and resuming the motion of swinging his racket back and forth, though more slowly now. ] It's especially true in my world. We set that rule for a reason. It's not unheard of for a president to suddenly change his policies in the middle of a term just to extend his influence. The same goes for Evan's world. We had to convince a lot of sovereigns to snap out of it because they were getting too caught up in their own little world.

[ His gaze doesn't turn away from Roland. Inigo is watching him the whole time, though his expression slowly seems to be gliding off into something akin to confusion. Like there's something he just can't understand about what Roland is saying, no matter how he tries to wrap his mind around it. ]

I've.. seen bad rulers before. [ He tries to clarify, as if that might be the source of a misunderstanding here. But Inigo deep down knows that's not quite it. Especially since said bad rulers just seemed like they had always been like that. ]

But I have never heard of a single Exalt who ever abused their power.

[ His father gave his life for the country. Inigo's aunt did so before him. And Inigo knows, deep down to his bones, that Lucina would have done the same in an instant, if she would have had the chance to become Exalt after their father. ]

They were always so selfless, caring about their country and their people before themselves. I.. can't imagine any of them ever falling to that sort of influence. [ Maybe it's innocent, a little too idealistic. But Inigo seems to genuinely believe so - his tone seems to indicate as much.

Especially when he continues. ] I can't imagine that about you either.

[ If just moments before, Roland is quick on the take, replying just as fast as the inquiries come, now he slows down. Inigo expressing such naivete for a system of ruling that makes it easy to be corrupt is almost...blinding. He doesn't know how else to break it to the young prince that the ruling class oftentimes hid dark secrets, swept them under the rug, only for it to resurface later as dirty laundry to air out; a bargaining chip to be used by another monarch ready to strike.

Or worse, like Evan, still waters running so deep that they ended up overthrowing an entire family line. A coup that deposed a young king destined for the throne.

Even worse, thinking Roland couldn't be subject to the same temptations. How would Inigo react if one day he found out that another bearing Roland's face - one that shares his soul - did exactly that? Until eventually, he put the entire world at risk? ]

...Well, in the country I came from at least, it's an evil that has a long running history. So we've taken measures against it, so that nobody even has a chance of abusing that power. Even if they're upstanding citizens, like me. Heh. I'm glad to hear your line of Exalts lived and ruled honorably.

[ Roland decides that today was not the day for a serious discussion on the dangers of being the most innocent monarch in the room. Especially when Inigo's father was king - Exalt - and in fact, Roland had very little clue about that world to begin with anyway. So he just smiles and resumes swinging his racket about, diffusing his thoughts with a bit of humor. ]

[ An evil that has a long running history.

.. It's weird. Inigo really can't even imagine what Roland's world must be like. It's a world that has a history of that kind of cruelty, but at the same time they have - voluntarily, even, by the will of the people! - chosen Roland as a ruler, who is so good in every single way, as far as Inigo is concerned.

How could that shift have happened? He doesn't know. He can't figure it out. But it'd feel weird to make some big deal out of it, especially after Roland says that last part. Inigo momentarily bows his head, and makes sure that by the time he lifts it again, he's smiling. ]

Ah, we should probably go back to playing sports, huh? Before Tidus starts yelling that we're just lazing around. [ Look, he may be using it as an excuse, but Inigo feels this is a very real possibility anyway. ]

Just don't forget that I still owe you a favour, considering you won our little bet.

[ Roland makes a mental note of maybe asking Inigo if he would like some advice on ruling, though he wonders how far that will get him considering such an idealistic point of view. And halidoms weren't exactly kingdoms, so that might pose a challenge. Still, the Chief Consul in him won't allow Inigo, a young prince, to befall a similar fate as others who assumed the best of the people around them. There was always an agenda, and he hopes one day, Inigo might know how to best defend himself from such evil.

For now, he nods at the young boy and grabs a fresh shuttlecock from the tube sitting nearby. It bounces on his racket twice before he catches it with his hand. ]

Tell him we're warming up. It's a process. [ He smiles with amusement. ] Sure. I won't forget. You shouldn't either. It's not everyday you get a president to owe you something, heh. [ There's a playfulness to that tone, but it's masked by his quiet voice and the determination forming on his brow all of a sudden. He tries to get some distance as he motions for Inigo to do the same, net in between them. ]

Alright, I'll teach you how to play for real now. Are you ready?

Ah..

[ It's a small surprised noise that escapes him - as is usual when the question are you ready happens when he is, in fact, not ready.

But a moment later he's already moving to create some more distance between them, grabbing his racket again. ]

Yes, I'm ready..! Let's go!

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[OPEN] we like sportz

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wow look at us, wrapping up threads LEFT AND RIGHT