17th Sphere

[got_blitzed]

[Non-drone filter]

Anybody out there good at makin' clothes?  Need some work done.  I can pay.

[Filtered to Norway, Junpei Iori]

Yo.  You two still interested in playin' blitz or what?

[Filtered to Ken Hidaka]

I'll be at the soccer field waitin' today.  We can go to the pool after.  Let's see what you got.

Comments

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, I get ya.

[Leans over the edge of the pool] I'll watch for a few minutes, see whats going on before I dive into the fray.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

"Fine by me."

[And Jecht will dive underwater, moving around swiftly with strong strokes. He's a pretty big guy, but he glides through the water like a dolphin - clearly this is the environment he's used to as far as sports are concerned. He'll take a few practice shots, kicking the ball hard into the opposite wall of the pool from what passes for 'midfield' when you're talking about a pool. After a few minutes of relatively strenuous swimming, kicks, and practice shoulder charges at nothing, he comes up for air.]

"That's more or less it. Nothin' like soccer at all 'cept for the kicks."

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

You got that right. Blitzball does look kinda neat, 'speically since water doesn't like to let things like balls go fast through it.

[He smiles] You swim pretty well. So whats a a real stadium like?

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[And this earns a big grin from Jecht. He loves it when people compliment his sport.]

"Yeah, it takes a lot of practice just to be able to kick hard enough to get the ball to even get near the goal. Plus, normally you're dodgin' defenders who're tryin' to tackle you, all underwater. Gotta have a lot of endurance to hold your breath through all that."

[He'll float there nostalgically as he describes the old Zanarkand stadium.]

"Blitz stadiums are huge. Imagine a huge metal frame with a giant ball of water suspended in the middle - that's the field. The players play inside that with one goal in the middle of each end, so there's even more places to move than here. You can knock people out of it, too, so it gets pretty rough. The pool doesn't really compare at all."

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Ken's laying on his stomach on the edge of the pool, listening avidly]

But how does that even work? How long do the plays last? What kind of moves are you allowed to do?

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

"The field uses kind of a combination of machines and magic to keep the water up like that. I don't really understand how it works, but damn is it a sight to see when everything's all lit up on game night."

[Smiles as he remembers way back when his life was less complicated, and all he had to worry about was pleasing the crowd and scoring a few goals. He shakes his head a little before continuing, dismissing old memories.]

"Games are fast, so usually you get whole tournaments in a single day. Five minute halves. Whoever's got the ball carries it in their arms, but you gotta kick it when you shoot for the goal. Defenders are allowed to punch, kick, tackle, whatever - pretty much anything goes there.

That move I showed you back on the soccer field's called the Jecht Shot. The thing I really use it for is to knock defenders out of my way before I shoot for the goal. You'd be surprised how effective kicking a ball into someone's head, punching it into a second guy's head on the rebound, and shooting for the goal can be. Even if they're expecting it, it's hard to get away from at short range."

You know, I always wondered how that stadium worked

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[He thinks back to the shot that Jecht had done at the field and has to agree]

Short range and surprise work for a lot of stuff. Still, that's pretty amazing. Holding your breath for five minutes while moving about all the time and being knocked into, not to mention MAGIC.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, blitz is fast, just like you'd expect from the name. Blink and you'll miss it, y'know? Zanarkand had the biggest stadium around back when I played for a living.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Eh? You were a professional then? [He smiles nostalgically] I'm glad, its always nice when you can do stuff like that.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Long time ago now, but yeah. It was a damn good gig.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Ken laughs] Long time ago huh? Sure doesn't seem like it the way you play. But yeah, sports generally are, except for reporters, I don't like that part.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

"Heh, well, I kept in shape doin' some other stuff after I left the field."

[Smirks and laughs a little.]

"Eh, reporters ain't so bad. It's all part of the show."

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but then they get all into your private life and run with whatever false thread they can get their hands on! [Ken huffs angrily, what, it had ruined his life]

But I'm glad, I try and keep up my skills to, even though my day job just consists of hauling dirt all day.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

I had the public on my side, so it was never that bad. Hell, my own son embarrassed me way worse than any of the assholes from the press ever did.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Eh? You know, you didn't strike me as a guy who'd have kids, but now that I think about it, it makes sense. I bet you miss him.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[Laughs.]

"That pathetic excuse for a blitzer? No way."

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Uh huh. So if he isn't good at blitzball, what is he good at? I mean, kids aren't their parent's shadows. [He isn't accusing Jecht of anything, he's just curious. He likes hearing about people's kids]

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

He's real good at whining and making excuses.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Geeze, you sound like you almost don't like him at all. If you don't like him, then why bring him up?

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Good point. Forget I mentioned him.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

[Ken smirked, sure that he'd caught Jecht in a small lie, but he wasn't going to pursue this. Instead, he's just an annoying brat and flicked some water at the older man.]

So yeah, Blitzball? Pretty impressive, but I think I'll stick to soccer mainly. Everyone sounded really excited for it. I'm sure you'll get more players though.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

[Grimaces as the water hits him, and gives a light grunt.]

"Tch. All that for nothin'."

[Shrugs.]

"Guess I can't really force ya. Let me know if you see anybody promisin' that doesn't mind playin' two sports here, though."

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

Hey, it wasn't for nothing! I got to see a new exciting sport and you got to show off! Don't worry, I will. I don't have much time because my family's all drones and I take the kids on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

[child-abuser.livejournal.com]

Why bother with the drones at all? Seems pretty pointless to me.

[weiss-tank.livejournal.com]

It's not pointless! They maybe drones but they're still people! They laugh, cry, bleed if they accidentally cut themselves!

[He pauses and adds softly] If they aren't people, I don't want to know what they are.