[OPEN] we like sportz

[blitzcheer]

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. )

Comments

Tidus

[blitzcheer]

a: warm ups

[ Of course Tidus has got to be present at his own sports thing, whatever you want to call it. Before anything starts, he can be found for bugging if you so like, and he likes to start off with some warm-ups and stretches, some good ol' jogging on the spot thrown in the mix as well.

He cuts from that to raising up his arms, smiling and cheery to anyone who happens to come over while stretching in his back. ] 'Sup! You already warmed up?

b: football/soccer

[ It was a different density, but when you gave Tidus a ball close to the same size a blitzball, well, there's no way he wasn't going to test out how well it worked. He can be found throwing it above his head a few times, kicking it up and balancing on the ends of his feet, like actual normal people do with a football.

...and once even chucking it up, and trying to get a balance on his head. It bounces once, and falls to the floor with a small wince from Tidus, pitifully rolling across the ground. ]

Okay, yeah, sooo. Not a blitzball, [ he can be heard mutter to himself sheepishly. ]

c: volleyball

[ But he is taking these try-outs seriously, and volleyball's one of those he's been interested in, stretching his legs with some quick crouches, hands on his knees. ]

So, you ever done this before? [ He'll ask whoever he's playing against. ] Rule number one, no aiming for the face!

d: break

[ No matter how pro athlete you are (and you know, it's been a while...), there's always time for a break, to take a drink or to swap out and give other people a chance to practice and play off each other. Tidus mostly sits by a wall cross-legged at these times, watching whatever's going on, a noisy stretcher, but comfortable in himself.

But he's also happy to go over to other people hanging around, friend or stranger, offering them a nod. ]

Hey. Feeling good?

C

[adregem]

[ He's been spending way too much time in this part of the train, but training aside, it's been good to stretch and get exercise in. A volleyball is already in his hands, and he's bouncing it on the floor in a particular manner, doing a quick slam down so the volleyball bounces up fast against his palm. ]

Aww. Where's the fun in that?

[ He jests!! Really!! The volleyball has stopped bouncing and now rests against his hip, one arm cradling it close. ]

OTA

[adregem]

[ Roland's taking a break right now, done with most of the rigorous sessions that Tidus had planned out in advance for him and the rest of this friends. But instead of relaxing, drinking water and catching his breath, Roland's decided to loosen up a little! This felt like a family sports day!

So he takes a badminton racket that isn't being used and starts bouncing a shuttlecock against its net. It keeps going, and it looks like if you approach him, he's counting how many times he can keep the shuttlecock bouncing up in the air without falling to the ground. He's relatively stable right now, eyes trained on the shuttlecock without blinking, hand and wrist flexing on overtime to get the right angle every time it falls back down to the net.

Dare to speak to him? It's fine! Roland is an excellent multitasker! ]

Hey, there. Having fun? No, don't worry about it. I'm listening. What's up?

[ Just don't expect him to look at you right now. ]

Della Duck | OTA

[sos_pilot]

[ Della will be playing all three games! Which sucks for you, because she has a small habit of... ]

Sorry!

[ ... accidentally smacking people in the face with whatever ball said sport is using. ]

I was gunna say "duck", but, you know, I didn't want you to get confused since... I'm a duck...

[flatteries]

[ What is this? Tidus and Roland about to have fun together? Of course Inigo is there as well. ]

No! [ It's a protest, sure, but it's more whiny than anything else, despite the sharp way he says it. Especially since the whine definitely creeps into Inigo's tone as he continues to speak. ] Definitely no aiming for the face!

[ He may still be slightly traumatized from the last time Tidus suggested he play sports for fun.. He knows how this ends if this rule does not exist... ]

What am I going to do if anything happens to my face?!

[blitzcheer]

Yeah man, what you got against Inigo? Inigo, [ Tidus turns to Inigo, a half-serious note as he asks, ] did something happen between you two? Why's Roland got it in for you?

[ And why is Roland getting to bounce the ball and not him...!! His feet are itching to start, even if he can't help but prolong absurdity when it shows itself. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Tidus knew.

Tidus knew to be prepared for this, and even went for the lighter game against the Deadly Mom: badminton! You can't get hit that hard by a shuttlecock (unless you're as dramatic as Inigo where a light breeze can K.O you), and there's no easy way to get to a person's face.

But Tidus starts to swear Della's doing this on purpose with how close her hits get. Is there an actual sane way to know one's intent in a shuttlecock knock? Is it all in Tidus's mind??? Is Della actually trying to murder him? ]

Ow!

[ She's successful, Tidus's death cry echoing in the room. His racquet clatters to the ground as he cups his hands over his nose with an appropriate groan.

UGGGGGGGGGGGGGH ]

Yoh noht sohrrry!!

[ muffle whiiiiineee ]

[sos_pilot]

Of course I'm sorry! I'm not doing this on purpose!

[ Well, yes and no. She doesn't intend for this to happen - but she always plays every game with WAY MORE INTENSITY THAN NECESSARY, so the inevitable winds up happening. ]

volleyball

[myblueskies]

Volleyballs to the face hurt and we got no goats with ice packs this time so we best be careful.

[This apparently makes sense to Romeo and he grins. He is ready.] I'm really good at volleyball! I bet I can hit it every time!

[He has confidence. Volleyball is the only game he actually has any idea how to play, but he's learned from the best. He will make mister Waver proud!]

[blitzcheer]

What, not after those stories you told me about your brother?!

[ press x to doubt ]

[sos_pilot]

I never meant to hit him either! He just has astoundingly bad luck!

C

[loveandduty]

[Minako was already an expert in volleyball, so she isn't so much joining in but more watching from the sidelines in order to watch other people and seeing where there could be improvements in how people play.]

Rule number one is obvious, but sometimes it happens if you have bad placement or something. Stings too if you are really putting force behind a spike or something.

[loveandduty]

[Della... how... just...how. Minako isn't even on the pitch and more watching from the sidelines. Minako was lucky she is good reflexes to move.]

Okay, first of all, don't need much force when trying to get the ball over the next <8i>unless you are jumping up to spike the ball.

tidus - roland - inigo

[adregem]

[ He jumps into the flow of the banter with his own, throwing the volleyball back down on the floor before he uses the back of his wrist to pass it to Tidus, who he hopes is ready to catch it before long...!

As he does this, Roland moves to put a casual arm around Inigo, hand meeting his opposite shoulder. ]

Heh. At least you both have dashing personalities. In case anything happens to your best assets. [ He pats Inigo warmly, once, before sort of pushing him towards the play area with a gentle nudge, grin on his face. ]

[blitzcheer]

[ Romeo?? ....Okay you know what Romeo, you can have your goats with ice packs without question. For now. ]

Sounds like I'm up against a pro! You'll have to let me know I'm doing this right. [ Oh. ] Hey, you know, first question! Do you really have to hit the ball like...

[ He's got it, so let him just take it, set it against his wrist...and roll his other wrist under. Like so. ]

--Like this? [ He gives it a bewildered look, but grinning. What was this on the ICP instructions?? ]

B

[flatteries]

[ It probably says something about the occasional strength of Inigo's mind that he manages to not laugh at Tidus's last pitiful attempt to play with that ball..

.. or maybe Inigo is just too worried about that ball ending up in his face if he'd do so, considering his last foray into sports with Tidus. ]

Is there really all that much difference between these balls?

[ They all seem the same to him, bro. ]

[sos_pilot]

Yeah, so? Why wouldn't you want to spike the ball every time?

[ the point

della's head ]

[flatteries]

[ Inigo looks so u n s u r e as he's watching that shuttlecock move back and forth.. And possibly a degree moreso once Roland actually starts talkign to him while still hitting it like that! ]

I-- Are you sure?

[ He's not even doubting Roland's capabilities necessarily, it's just-- does Roland even know what kind of deadly weapon a shuttlecock is?! He almost died last time! ]

You should be careful with those! Tidus hit me with one last time! [ Please Roland, you're dad now, you can't die. ]

[blitzcheer]

You hit yourself with it!

[ Continue with your one-on-one thread BUT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GETTING AWAY WITH THAT? IN TIDUS'S SPORTS GET TOGETHER?

DON'T BEND THE TRUTH. ]

[blitzcheer]

Is that what he'd say too?

[ Tidus is picking the shuttlecock back up. ]

[adregem]

[ Did he just scream from the other side of gym

SHOW US YOUR PROOF >:( ]

[ Roland bounces the shuttlecock twice before his hand darts out to grab it. He turns to Inigo, slightly confused. ]

Tidus hit you with a shuttlecock? [ Quirks an eyebrow up. Roland looks mildly concerned. ] On purpose?

[sos_pilot]

Yes! Everyone who has ever met him and known him for even five seconds would say that!

[myblueskies]

Yes! [He nods with a grin] Just like that! It's a bit tricky at first but I bet you will be good really soon!

[He has every faith in him!]

[flatteries]

[ Uh oh. Tidus's question of anything having happened between them is an obvious joke, but of course Inigo thinks of what did happen between them, and that would be enough to make him blush.

And even if it hadn't, then that sudden arm over his shoulders and the coupled compliment from Roland would seal the deal. Inigo's cheeks are red before he can even try to stop it, and he sputters as he's lightly pushed.

He opens his mouth, as if to say something..

.. but then seems to think better of it and closes it again. ]

Let's just play already!

[ Instead of focusing on his red face. Sound like a good idea? Come on, Tidus, pass along that ball you now have. ]

how about tidus - tidus - tidus

[blitzcheer]

[ You bet Tidus is ready to catch a ball! He was born ready!!

--but what is this touchy feely of shoulders and flustering faces going on here? He was already watching out for Inigo and hoping on his usual brand of Inigo-ness where he doesn't know if to take someone seriously or not, but then it's all ruined.

And look at Roland, trying to present him as cool as always. Tidus's gaze narrows in suspicion, flickering between the pair.

He does pass the ball though, backed up to practice his serve at the back court (and yes, all the while giving his shifty eyes). Testing the bounce of his throw once before sending it back up and slapping it with his other hand across over to Inigo's side. ]

When did you two get all chummy chummy?