[Log] Ready Players 1 - 5

[dragoonrouge]

Date: 14th August 2018
Characters: Sadie, Ben, Walter, Russell, and Takamasa

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It had taken a rather frank conversation aided by some cat petting at the Summer Fete but Sadie and Walter had decided that a break and a distraction from the changes that had started to be brought on by the Numbers and the Aurora was needed, something that everyone could enjoy despite their differing age brackets. It hadn't taken them long to come up with the perfect solution:

The Town Arcade.

Games, machines, and Air Hockey galore! There was something for everyone in their small, motley crew to enjoy there. Sadie was obviously bringing Ben in an attempt to make up for the failed day of relaxation that was the sailing trip, and to get his mind of his new dental arrangement and complimentary memory. Walter had mentioned bringing his roomate.

With a bit of back and forth around schedules, a date and time was set. And so, on the 14th August, the four descended on the local arcade.

Comments

[iamnotgod]

This time, Walter just looks at her with some concern and more than a little dismay.

"... Speaking purely of my own preferences for a moment, please don't do that."

'Selling yourself to science' is not something he could get behind - doing a survey for money is one thing, for sure, as is organ donating... but Walter could see this ending very badly for Sadie, in many ways.

The hoops opening up is a welcome break from the discussion, and he strides over to the one on the left without looking away from Sadie.

"But anyway, want to bet that you can see your own score?"

[dragoonrouge]

"I promise that I really won't, I like living and not constantly being prodded at. I should probably hope that I don't fall ill at any point in the future huh."

Walter does prompt a proper smile back onto her face. "Sure, but considering the score display is further from me than the length of my arm span I know I can." Money shoved into the coin slot, and the balls are unlocked to throw.

"Alright. Good luck to both of us!"

[iamnotgod]

"Goes for the rest of us," Walter says, doing his best to shrug it off and get his head back in the game.

'Back' in this case being a relative term.

He shoots a brighter grin at Sadie as he lobs his first one, aiming to bounce it off the side and into the hoop that way...

[dragoonrouge]

"So somehow we need to get an optician, a doctor, and a dentist Numbered. Should be easy."

Sadie sighs as Walter easily lobs the ball in and makes her first throw which...goes wide. The next falls short, bouncing off of the basket's rim. "Well then."

[iamnotgod]

"Well, there's no apparent logic behind who has a Number... but the mechanism behind whatever's causing this isn't in our hands to begin with, we can infer that much."

As he speaks, Walter's reaching for his third ball - the second one managed to bounce the same as Sadie's had.

"There's a trick to these; the hoops look like circles, but they're not. At least not if they're anything like the rigged ones you find at fairs."

He whispers this last part conspiratorially, then throws the third ball the same way he did the first and-

whoosh!

"It helps to throw lighter than you think you need to, and a little to the side."

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie tries to follow Walter's instructions, and although the shot is a little better it's still off. "I did say my judgement was all messed up."

Annoyed, but not wanting to bring down the mood, she tries again and smiles. "I suppose it would be a boring trip if it was easy to get all the High Scores."

[iamnotgod]

Distracted by his concern for Sadie - since this doesn't seem to be helping her mood, and they are supposed to be having fun here - his next toss is underhand instead of overhand...

Which makes it hit below the hoop by a rather large margin, then bounce back and hit him.

"Sounds a little- mph!"

He catches the ball expertly before it can hit the floor, though his expression is still sheepish.

"Like wish unfulfillment?"

[dragoonrouge]

"Oh my god!" Sadie stares at Walter and breaks down into giggles, "Are-are you alright?!"

[iamnotgod]

Walter's expression is one of utter bemusement, and he tosses the ball again-

Which manages to get stuck between the hoop and what passes for its backboard.

"I was aiming to relieve the tension, but I can sense my game is a little off."

That first pun had been a reach, but he's better equipped for this round.

"And yes, Sadie, I'm alright."

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie's giggling turns to full on laughter at Walter's deadly puns. "Oh my god, Walter please!"

Sadie scrubs at the tears in her eyes before throwing the ball again, too hard this time as it bounces back off of the hoop. "I was worried but your terrible puns prove you're alright."

Since I am assuming they each get 10 balls. :V

[iamnotgod]

Mindful of the crowd behind him (Sadie's not the only one laughing, which he finds both reassuring and annoying, somehow.)

"And he scores!" Walter joyfully adds, tossing one more and landing it in the hoop.

"I supposed that'd be worth, what, three points, if we were in America?"

He shakes his head, shrugging.

"Anyway, we still have half a set left. Not 'board' yet, are you?"

This pun is aided by him pointing at the hoop's backboard - such as it is.

Sure. I have never seen/played hopp toss in my life so I don't know better :P

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie wheezes, continuing to laugh at the new pun. "Bloody hell Water! You've become too powerful!"

Two more throws, both misses, before finally Sadie gets the damn ball in the hoop.

"Victory!" She cries, "I got one in! I can die happy!"

I've played skeetball more often, tbh, but the principles are similar.

[iamnotgod]

"This is the sort of power I prefer handling!" Walter remarks, making two more shots (a win and a miss, respectively) before Sadie wins her own.

"Don't die tonight, please; there's still other games to stand in line for!"

It's a partly serious plea, but his smile is light enough to convey he's not as disturbed as he was earlier.

[dragoonrouge]

"The power of puns or the power to only get every other shot?" She asks cheekily, getting another one in which prompts another victory dance.

"I'll make sure I don't shuffle off my mortal coil anytime soon then. Just for you." She smiles back.

[iamnotgod]

"Puns!"

Once he's done with his round of balls, he gets out of the way so the amused-but-still-antsy line can move along.

"That's much appreciated, Sadie."

[dragoonrouge]

"The deadlier of the two, good idea."

The final ball goes in and she steps back towards Walter. "No high score there for either of us then... You know, I never did properly thank you for agreeing to organise this with me. So thank you, it's been really good fun so far, and BEn's been happier than he's been in a couple of weeks."

She gives him a tight hug. Because hugs are the best.

[iamnotgod]

"Hoops are fun, but puns are forever," he agrees.

"Thank you, too; I'm glad this is working out, especially for Ben."

Yay hugs~!

[dragoonrouge]

Sadie lets go, "And you're having fun too? I know Ben's enjoying himself and so am I, but I don't want you to be having a bad time here."

[iamnotgod]

Walter nods, though he makes a bit of a wry face.

"This isn't me putting on a show, I promise."

Strictly speaking, putting on shows was Russell's thing.

"And it's not just a matter of what we're doing; it's who we do it with, and that we do it together."

They should probably start moving before the crowd gets the idea to start laughing.

seems like a good point to start wrapping up this thread?

[dragoonrouge]

She nods in agreement of Walter's words of wisdom.

"Right, I'm going to grab a drink and stuff quickly. When I get back do you want to do some air hockey?"

Yup!

[iamnotgod]

Walter gives a sharp grin.

"Only if you're willing to risk the winds of defeat!"

All right, they're back into the stretch-puns again, but it's worth it.

[dragoonrouge]

She rolls her eyes, "Sure if I was playing by myself, I'm going to grab Ben and Russell. Three versus one with super speed should even the odds a bit."

"I'll see you by the air hockey machines okay!"