Kiyo nodded at Evan's explanation. Aha, that made sense. Easy to keep the club fresh and updated that way if you were constantly aiming for a "futuristic" theme. It was clever. Kiyo wasn't sure he'd have the foresight to do such a thing himself, with his limited lifespan sometimes the long-term future was the least of his worries, when compared to the 'now.'
Evan seemed agreeable to a game so Kiyo took the front half of the tape-boundaried volleyball court. "Sure. Big guy in back," he agreed. It wouldn't matter really; they'd switch off as service revolved around the four of them anyway.
The guy across the net from Kiyo was easily over 6 feet tall. He wasn't taller than Evan but he had a good five inches or so on Kiyo. It wouldn't be easy to play opposite him but Kiyo was willing to give it a shot.
Kiyo waited until Evan was through gathering his long hair out of the way and then tossed the ball to him so he could begin the game. It had been a while since Kiyo had played but he remembered the rules and wasn't too afraid that his performance would lack. What he didn't have in height he could make up for in speed and agility, he hoped.
Playing with Fire
He was determined to show Kiyoshi around the city and since Guillaume mentioned that showing him the competition was not a good tour that left him giving much thought to what would be entertaining to their new employee when he had time off. Evan considered what little he knew of Kiyoshi and hoped to come up with an outing from that knowledge. The man was quiet, he liked to juggle and he liked fire... It was an odd set of things to work with but Evan finally came up with a plan.
There were beach parties and fire spinners down at the marina. Evan figured that Kiyoshi would like watching the festivities even if he didn't participate. They could also wander around the shops or get a boat. That is if the werewolf wanted to be out on a boat alone with a vampire. The thought amused him; if ever there was someone safe from being prey then it would be a shifter.
He told Kiyoshi that he would meet him at the dock a little after sun down. Evan didn't really own a vehicle for getting around the city or he would have offered to give Kiyoshi a ride. An automobile hardly seemed necessary when he could fly.
As he was now, getting a bird's eye view of the beach and the people, circling over head until he found the man he would looking for. Evan found it interesting that despite Kiyoshi's unassuming nature, the werewolf stood out in a crowd.
He found an empty changing stall on the beach nearby and flew through the curtained opening. Emerging in his human form, Evan pushed back the loose hair over his shoulders. Only two small pieces in the front were beaded tonight, tied with slender thongs of red leather, the rest hung loose down his back. Evan's black tee shirt had a picture of the cart from Monty Python and the Holy Grail only this one was full of zombies with a caption that read 'Bring out your undead'. His canvas cargo pants were a deep red. He had on two leather bands with red lacing, two dog tag shaped slabs of circuit board on a long chain, and black pair of converse sneakers to finish off the geek/native look of the day.
With long easy strides Evan made his way up to where he had seen Kiyoshi, waving in greeting when he was spotted.
Kiyoshi Salinas
13 years ago
Evan Talkingwater
13 years ago
The other team continued their victory dance around the court, talking and gesturing to the people who had been watching. The motions indicated a great dive that saved a rally that looked to be lost. The other team was also getting their share of attention with jibes and remarks about how they played and what they could have done better.
He turned his attention away from the back clapping and back to the werewolf.
"I forget. Do you get to scalp the losers in this game?" Evan grinned and glanced back at the other team before raising his eyebrows at Kiyoshi. He pulled his shirt up and over his head. Evan folded it loosely and set it on a nearby weathered bench so that it was out of sand. Returning to his partner, he noticed that the other team now seemed ready to play.
Evan nodded and smiled at Kiyo when he tossed him the ball. He held it between his hands for long moment looking thoughtful.
A far away voice began to speak for his ears alone.
-The bull has a light touch. He makes fierce gestures then dances with a deer's grace. The mountain lion is quick and strong but sometimes he knows not where he aims.-
As the impressions of his psychometry faded, Evan had a better idea of who they were playing against. It would seem that the man in front of Kiyo had more finesse as a player than his size might otherwise indicate and his partner was fast. The smaller man often hit hard but was not always in control of the ball. They were both quite good but they also knew it. Evan hoped he and Kiyo could score a few points before the other team realized that they might have to settle down and become serious about this match.
Holding the ball up in his left hand, he took few practice swings with his right, tapping the ball gently a few times. He did it a few more times than was strictly necessary but he hoped to appear out of practice. In truth, playing physical games was a favorite past time. It got him away from the keyboard and moving without the need for bloodshed.
He was big and they probably expected a powerful wild serve toward the back of the net. Evan aimed a the ball in a more gentle arc to land mid court. He then frowned at it like it hadn't gone as far as he had intended before shrugging and waiting for it to come back to their side.
He turned his attention away from the back clapping and back to the werewolf.
"I forget. Do you get to scalp the losers in this game?" Evan grinned and glanced back at the other team before raising his eyebrows at Kiyoshi. He pulled his shirt up and over his head. Evan folded it loosely and set it on a nearby weathered bench so that it was out of sand. Returning to his partner, he noticed that the other team now seemed ready to play.
Evan nodded and smiled at Kiyo when he tossed him the ball. He held it between his hands for long moment looking thoughtful.
A far away voice began to speak for his ears alone.
-The bull has a light touch. He makes fierce gestures then dances with a deer's grace. The mountain lion is quick and strong but sometimes he knows not where he aims.-
As the impressions of his psychometry faded, Evan had a better idea of who they were playing against. It would seem that the man in front of Kiyo had more finesse as a player than his size might otherwise indicate and his partner was fast. The smaller man often hit hard but was not always in control of the ball. They were both quite good but they also knew it. Evan hoped he and Kiyo could score a few points before the other team realized that they might have to settle down and become serious about this match.
Holding the ball up in his left hand, he took few practice swings with his right, tapping the ball gently a few times. He did it a few more times than was strictly necessary but he hoped to appear out of practice. In truth, playing physical games was a favorite past time. It got him away from the keyboard and moving without the need for bloodshed.
He was big and they probably expected a powerful wild serve toward the back of the net. Evan aimed a the ball in a more gentle arc to land mid court. He then frowned at it like it hadn't gone as far as he had intended before shrugging and waiting for it to come back to their side.
Kiyoshi Salinas
13 years ago
Kiyo widened his eyes and looked at Evan, blinking as his friend pulled his shirt off. Clearly Evan was not the fat and lazy sort of computer geek. Could vampires even get fat? Either way... Evan was cut. "I don't know," he said, looking away, "but we had better not lose." He considered his own mane of hair and Evan's, even longer, and reinforced his statement with a nod.
Following Evan's lead Kiyo trotted quickly to the side and pulled off his pants, which were a bit too wide and billowy to allow for ease of movement. He had, however, worn swim trunks underneath, knowing where he and Evan were meeting tonight and not sure what kinds of activities they would be participating in. Straightening his sleeveless shirt over the black trunks he ditched his sandals as well and jogged barefoot back onto the sandy court.
Evan's easy serve soared well within bounds and Kiyoshi watched as the back player positioned himself for a set. The ball went up and Kiyo scrambled into place as the taller player in front prepared for his spike. He pounded the ball; Kiyo jumped. He couldn't block it but his judgment was correct and he was in line. He bumped the ball up, hoping Evan could set it properly while Kiyo regained his balance for the return. His spike was weak; he knew that. He had never been able to drive a volleyball into the sand like some players. He would try to make up for it with precision though. Years of juggling had given him a practiced touch with flying objects of any kind and he could usually place them as he wanted.
He hoped.
It would suck, though, if his playing was crap. It wasn't like he was trying to impress Evan but he didn't want to be a horrible partner.
Following Evan's lead Kiyo trotted quickly to the side and pulled off his pants, which were a bit too wide and billowy to allow for ease of movement. He had, however, worn swim trunks underneath, knowing where he and Evan were meeting tonight and not sure what kinds of activities they would be participating in. Straightening his sleeveless shirt over the black trunks he ditched his sandals as well and jogged barefoot back onto the sandy court.
Evan's easy serve soared well within bounds and Kiyoshi watched as the back player positioned himself for a set. The ball went up and Kiyo scrambled into place as the taller player in front prepared for his spike. He pounded the ball; Kiyo jumped. He couldn't block it but his judgment was correct and he was in line. He bumped the ball up, hoping Evan could set it properly while Kiyo regained his balance for the return. His spike was weak; he knew that. He had never been able to drive a volleyball into the sand like some players. He would try to make up for it with precision though. Years of juggling had given him a practiced touch with flying objects of any kind and he could usually place them as he wanted.
He hoped.
It would suck, though, if his playing was crap. It wasn't like he was trying to impress Evan but he didn't want to be a horrible partner.
Evan Talkingwater
13 years ago
Evan laughed and nodded at Kiyo's warning that they better not lose. He couldn't promise that they wouldn't but he would do his best. Thankfully, their hair was likely safe either way.
He got down to the business of concentrating on the ball and the players once the game had begun. Evan's face was serious for once as he focused completely on bouncing target. The back player set the ball and his partner spiked it over the net. Kiyo rescued it with a tap that sent it upward and back. Evan clasped both of his hands together and bounced it up a little higher and moving once more toward the front, all while he inwardly chanted "like a human, like a human, like a human..." The ball didn't rocket skyward; Evan sighed quietly in relief.
His partner jumped up with grace and speed and managed to spike it back over the net. The tall player up front on the other side seemed surprised. Evan favored Kiyo's back with a brief smile. It faded quickly as he crouched slightly and waited for the return.
Big man fumbled a bit going for the ball that the bartender hit over the net. Perhaps he had not been prepared for a return spike or maybe he didn't think Kiyo could jump that high. Whatever the case, the werewolf landed the ball just out of easy reach. Big man tipped it up off his fingers but just barely. Little warrior in the back scrambled for it; he was fast and managed to hit it but not quite fast enough. He just grazed the ball and it landed in the net.
Evan clapped a hand on Kiyo's shoulder and spoke softly. "Good job" He then moved to the back corner of their side so he could serve once the ball was tossed his way.
He got down to the business of concentrating on the ball and the players once the game had begun. Evan's face was serious for once as he focused completely on bouncing target. The back player set the ball and his partner spiked it over the net. Kiyo rescued it with a tap that sent it upward and back. Evan clasped both of his hands together and bounced it up a little higher and moving once more toward the front, all while he inwardly chanted "like a human, like a human, like a human..." The ball didn't rocket skyward; Evan sighed quietly in relief.
His partner jumped up with grace and speed and managed to spike it back over the net. The tall player up front on the other side seemed surprised. Evan favored Kiyo's back with a brief smile. It faded quickly as he crouched slightly and waited for the return.
Big man fumbled a bit going for the ball that the bartender hit over the net. Perhaps he had not been prepared for a return spike or maybe he didn't think Kiyo could jump that high. Whatever the case, the werewolf landed the ball just out of easy reach. Big man tipped it up off his fingers but just barely. Little warrior in the back scrambled for it; he was fast and managed to hit it but not quite fast enough. He just grazed the ball and it landed in the net.
Evan clapped a hand on Kiyo's shoulder and spoke softly. "Good job" He then moved to the back corner of their side so he could serve once the ball was tossed his way.
Kiyoshi Salinas
13 years ago
Kiyoshi was vastly relieved that he hadn't messed up right at the outset; there would be plenty of opportunity for that in later rounds. He beamed at Evan's praise, glad to have done it properly. "Hopefully my luck will hold," he said. He did not think Evan needed luck; he handled the ball with easy skill and made it look entirely natural. They managed to win the first point, and the second, and even the third before they lost the point and with it, the service.
The smaller opponent got a turn to serve. He did not send it easily over the net like Evan had, but rather, attempted to cram it down Evan's throat. Kiyo wondered if it were a very unfair advantage to have a vampire and a werewolf on one team. Evan managed to reach the ball and bump it up to Kiyo, who understood his job was to set it for Evan's spike.
He was pretty happy about that; if he could avoid having to spike it himself he would. Evan was taller, probably stronger, and, Kiyo assumed, probably a lot better at this than Kiyo was. He had no basis for the assumption, other than it was sort of his MO to do so.
Kiyo could, however, set nicely. It went with the whole juggling thing. The ball sprang off his fingertips and reached the top of its graceful arc just over their side of the net. Kiyo watched his teammate to see what sort of move he'd make. Kiyo himself generally didn't get much of a feeling of competitiveness, which he suspected made his playing worse than it could be. He doubted Evan suffered from a similar affliction though.
The smaller opponent got a turn to serve. He did not send it easily over the net like Evan had, but rather, attempted to cram it down Evan's throat. Kiyo wondered if it were a very unfair advantage to have a vampire and a werewolf on one team. Evan managed to reach the ball and bump it up to Kiyo, who understood his job was to set it for Evan's spike.
He was pretty happy about that; if he could avoid having to spike it himself he would. Evan was taller, probably stronger, and, Kiyo assumed, probably a lot better at this than Kiyo was. He had no basis for the assumption, other than it was sort of his MO to do so.
Kiyo could, however, set nicely. It went with the whole juggling thing. The ball sprang off his fingertips and reached the top of its graceful arc just over their side of the net. Kiyo watched his teammate to see what sort of move he'd make. Kiyo himself generally didn't get much of a feeling of competitiveness, which he suspected made his playing worse than it could be. He doubted Evan suffered from a similar affliction though.
Evan Talkingwater
13 years ago
The game continued with a fairly even match. The other team had begun to get serious as they realized they had bigger competition that they first assumed. The change in attitude came just a little too late and Kiyo and Evan managed to win the match.
"We came. We saw. We kicked their asses!" Evan smiled at his partner as they went to collect their clothing.
After pulling on his shirt, he ran his fingers through his hair just enough to straighten out the more obvious snarls. Evan looked over at his companion and wondered whether Kiyo had worked up more of an appetite. He was still pretty sure that his friend had not eaten enough fish.
"Let's go get you a celebratory steak."
((OOC: Both Out ))
"We came. We saw. We kicked their asses!" Evan smiled at his partner as they went to collect their clothing.
After pulling on his shirt, he ran his fingers through his hair just enough to straighten out the more obvious snarls. Evan looked over at his companion and wondered whether Kiyo had worked up more of an appetite. He was still pretty sure that his friend had not eaten enough fish.
"Let's go get you a celebratory steak."
((OOC: Both Out ))