day 14, fiddlesticks ; video from sleeper 6

[blitzcheer]

Hey everyone, how you doin'? I'm Tidus. Been here around since the last stop, and I know there's gonna be another one soon, but I've been itching to ask: What did you do for fun in your worlds?

Back home, the biggest entertainment was Blitzball! Two teams goin' up against each other underwater, giving it all they've got to score the ball in the other team's goal! [ He's grinning, excited even to share that. ] That's a simple way of putting it since I can't start showing everyone how to play, and I wanna hear about your guys' fun.

So? What did you do? It doesn't have to be just sport. Did you have videogames? Arcades? Did you have fighting competitions? Draw? What do you do now? I wanna hear what people are into!

And hey, if you ever want a partner for one of the ball games they have here, hit me up! I wanna try as many as I can. Can't do it on my own though!

Comments

[magicurls]

Ah, that sounds like it must have been wonderful to watch!

My name is Mami. It's nice to meet you.

I bake to express myself, but I think I should also take more of a look at athletic activities. The ball games are difficult in the narrow gym car, but we make it work.

[blitzcheer]

Heya there, Mami!

Yeah, and you've got everyone who goes there to train and exercise. I try going in early, but you're still sharing the room with someone.

[ Someone usually doing something unrelated. ]

You tried the one with the table though? Ping-pong -- someone told me about it. I've been meaning to play it, but it's two people.

[magicurls]

Oh, I can do that!

It's also called table tennis. Because it's similar to the game of tennis, but smaller. You need to have sharp reflexes and coordination, and an ability to track small targets. So I think I can give it a try!

[blitzcheer]

If you ever wanna a partner then, lemme know! I'm usually in that car, or you can try my cabin with this thing. [ The ICP, he means. ]

The passenger list has our room numbers too, don't it? I think it's 6-C.

[ Can he check and keep talking, he doesn't want to risk it...! ]

[magicurls]

Oh, yes! I'm in 5E. But on most days I'm usually doing chores or cooking, so you can find me there too.

[blitzcheer]

If that's all you do, we so need to play a round, soon. [ Said with a grin. ]

How about tomorrow? [ Oh, ] Which team are you with?

[magicurls]

I'm on Purple.

And I suppose there's more I could do...but learning a game is a good one. I'll see you there!

[blitzcheer]

[ They do see each other, the video feed of the ICP making it easy for Tidus to recognise Mami around breakfast, asking if she'd like to meet up after lunch. It was the easiest means of managing time on the train for Tidus, scheduling anything around "after breakfast", "after lunch", and "after dinner". Without a clock, it was either use the ICP to call for people at random, or hope that you'd bump into them in one of the cars.

Regardless, Tidus does spend a good portion of his time in the gym, for one reason or another. The exhaustion of the previous mission forcibly brushed off him by certain news, kicking him back into training with his blade. But not right then: for right then, he has the ping pong table out, amusing himself by practising his bounce with the ball on the paddle, and not in any mild manner.

Going easy ended the second he learnt how high he could make it bounce, that it'd allow more movement than the twitch of his forearm.

basically


he may be a little distracted when Mami shows up.... ]

[magicurls]

[ She arrives quietly, and...oh, good. He's here. And already striking the ball all over the place. It zooms, and he's diving for it---and she hops out of the way, holding the paddle in front of her as a defense. ]

...maybe real tennis would be a more appropriate game for you, Tidus?

[blitzcheer]

Whoa-oah!

[ The near-collision comes with acoustics, and Tidus laughs sheepishly once he comes to a stop, snatching the ball out of the air before it can come down for another bounce. ]

You try finding a time when no one's in here training! [ It was worse than trying to get to the cinema first before anyone else!

But Tidus smiles on regardless, lifting his paddle. ] It's alright, I wanna try this too! You called it table tennis, didn't you?

[ Meaning, she was familiar with it? ]

[magicurls]

Middle of the night, maybe.

[ Mami laughs and picks up her paddle, bouncing in place. ]

Yup. I'm ready! Want to serve first?

[blitzcheer]

[ He makes a small (but nonetheless fun) face at the suggestion, giving the ball a bop once against the table. ]

I've got a ball ready! [ So! ] Oh yeah, and if you turn out to be a secret table tennis champion? I'll be coming for your title.

[ A little playful jest, before he lets the ball bounce again on the table and hits it over to his side, ready to begin! ]

[magicurls]

Will you? Well I'll just have to keep up!

{ Mami is...a little better than you might expect an average schoolgirl to be. She's an expert sniper, after all, but a trained athlete will ultimately have the edge here. ]

Ha....ah, you're so fast!