Touch Football mega thread

[nola_eleanor]

There was a field not too far from Phoenix Effect that was too small for all the various sports leagues in the city to have snapped up for weekend practices or games, but big enough for the fairly flexible game of touch football, so that's where they played. People came and went for most of the afternoon, though the game itself only lasted an hour and change. Almost everyone played, but there were several people watching, choosing to cheer or heckle or talk amongst themselves as it suited them.

When everyone got together enough to actually start the game, they divided into two teams, with Matteo as the referee. Zach's team was made up of Hazel, Max, Hanne, Nori, Nick, Alex, and Oliver; Kyle had Elspeth, Joel, Carrie, Caleb, Irene, Sam, and Elena on his team. It wasn't a blowout, but Zach's team won by a few touchdowns and were crowned the victors. Despite a couple minor accidents, everyone came out of it in one piece. More or less.

Comments

[nola_tristan]

“And maybe a pastry of some kind,” Max agreed, solemnly.

[nola_yvaine]

Hanne nodded, smiling, as she smoothed down the edges of her band-aid (it had the Wonder Woman logo on it) and then packed everything back into her bag. "Phoenix Effect isn't far, if you think you can walk a few blocks without either of us getting injured."

[nola_tristan]

“No promises.” He grinned. “Cool band-aid, Hanne.”

[nola_yvaine]

She laughed as she climbed to her feet. Good thing she had a full box of them if he wasn't making any promises. "I teach kids' dance classes sometimes. Their band-aids were always way cooler than mine, so I started carrying my own."

[nola_tristan]

That was so cute. “I get it,” Max said. “I’m a pediatric nurse and I’ll never be as cool as those kids.”

[nola_yvaine]

They started walking in the direction of the coffee shop; Hanne was appreciating being able to stretch her legs. "Kids are awesome. Not getting to spend as much time teaching kids is probably my least favorite part about going back to school."

[nola_tristan]

Their strides were a comfortable match, and since Hanne seemed okay walking, Max could finally relax and stop thinking he’d maimed this beautiful woman. “You’re in school? What are you studying?”

[nola_yvaine]

“It’s a dance MFA at Tulane. It’s a really tiny, relatively new program, only a couple of students every three years. I’m six months in and loving it.” 

[nola_tristan]

“Wow, that’s so interesting,” which yes, could be the worst sentence, but Max said it with sincerity and enthusiasm. “What happens in a dance MFA.”

[nola_yvaine]

"Dance classes, and classes about dance. Research. Teaching. Doing choreography for myself and for undergraduates. Performing." It sounded like a lot, and it was, but it was also clear that it made Hanne really happy.

[nola_tristan]

"I don't know a lot about dance, but I think that sounds completely soul-nourishing and rewarding for the right person," Max replied. "And you're obviously the right person."

[nola_yvaine]

Hanne smiled brightly, lit up from the comfort of being understood. "I needed it; it's where I'm supposed to be. What about you? Is pediatrics where you want to be?" 

[nola_tristan]

"That's the best feeling in the world. Being where you need to be -- you have the most beautiful smile -- I think it makes living feel so much easier if you're in the right soul place. Pediatrics is where I want and need to be without a doubt. I've never felt more like I'm achieving a sense of purpose, you know what I mean? I love what I do, even when it's impossibly hard."

[nola_yvaine]

Oh, so he was soulful and hard-working and sweet on top of being caring and impossibly handsome. She was in so much trouble. "I know exactly what you mean, and I agree completely."

[nola_tristan]

"I feel like you really do know exactly what I mean, and it's a great feeling." Max smiled, and he felt like the luckiest guy in the universe. "So do you dance for pleasure too, or just business?"

[nola_yvaine]

Hanne was completely unprepared for how connected she felt to Max already. Sure, it had been a long time since she'd last been on a date--was this even a date?--but she didn't remember it feeling like this. Like she wanted him to know everything about her but also like maybe he already did. "I dance all the time. In clubs on weekends, around my place, in the aisle of the grocery store if a good song comes on..."

[nola_tristan]

Max laughed. "I know you're an expert, but I think I'm pro level at the dancing in the aisle at the grocery store thing." It was so easy to talk to Hanne.

[nola_yvaine]

"All the ballet classes in the world won't give you aisle dancing groove. You've either got it or you don't. But now I definitely want to check out your moves."

[nola_tristan]

"In the grocery store or in the club?" Max asked, smiling. "Because I have a groove for both locations."

[nola_yvaine]

"Both," Hanne answered, letting her two outside fingers brush against his as they walked. "I want to see all your grooves."

[nola_tristan]

Max smiled, surprised, pressing against her hand with his own to acknowledge the touch. "I want to see all of yours, too." Was that loaded with meaning? Only mostly unintentionally!

[nola_yvaine]

"I'm going dancing next weekend. You should come." No big deal, Hanne told herself. She'd said to Carrie that they should find a few more people to go, it wasn't that she couldn't imagine not having plans to see him again already.

[nola_tristan]

“I’d love to come.” Max promptly did a messy, showy, twirl. He was down for dancing!

[nola_yvaine]

Hanne clapped enthusiastically for his performance. " Looks like I'll have to bring my A-game so you don't make me look bad, have to find a whole other career."

[nola_tristan]

“I hear pediatrics is very rewarding,” Max suggested — after bowing, of course.