Touch Football mega thread
Apr. 13th, 2019 12:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nola_eleanor posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
return_to_nolaThere 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.
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.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 02:32 am (UTC)"Yes," Katie breathed, twisting her hand to take Dani's in hers. "That's-- I feel the same about Sam, Scott, his name was Scott. We were married, but where I'm from we just... we were interested in each other but it wasn't a marriage, you know? I don't know how to be the Jean he married, I'm just the Jean I am, but I'm also Katie, and I date girls so like, that's a whole weird thing." She glanced at Dani. "So I guess I'm saying I know how you feel. I wish I knew you in our other lives or whatever they are, but I'm glad we can relate to each other in this way... because it's lonely, right? In this almost space."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 02:43 am (UTC)With her hand in Katie's, Dani felt stronger than she ever had in this life. She was normally so reserved, so careful, but it felt like everything was pouring out of her and that was okay. "I wish I knew you there too. My twin died but Oliver's didn't and I don't know how to be the Wanda who didn't lose her other half. I'm so lonely all the time except maybe right now."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 02:46 am (UTC)Katie held tightly to Dani's hand, but then that wasn't enough anymore, and she let go -- but only so she could pull Dani close and hold her. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry you lost your brother. I'm sorry that you found him but it's not the same and that you have to feel guilty for that, as well as probably a lot of new grief." As she said that, she remembered that she too had died on someone who loved her; she filed this particular piece of empathy away as something she owed to Sam, too. "I can't fix this but I can promise that you don't have to be so lonely anymore. You have me."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 03:07 am (UTC)Dani would usually be so self-conscious about all of this, but she wasn't--she didn't even notice that she wasn't, because it felt so right. She could let Katie hold her, and she could hold onto Katie right back, and everything would be a little bit better. "You have me too." She couldn't remember the last time she'd wanted to share herself with someone new, but Katie felt different. Katie felt special, and trustworthy, and careful with everything she was given, and Dani wanted that. Dani wanted her. "You don't have to be their Jean or anyone but you."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 03:11 am (UTC)Having Dani comfort her right back was something Katie hadn't quite expected, and that compassion touched her in all the right ways. "You too. You're amazing in all the ways you already are."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 03:32 am (UTC)"When you say it, I almost believe it." Maybe she'd even get all the way there, if she could keep her head on Katie's shoulder, where it felt like it belonged.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 03:41 am (UTC)"I believe it," Katie replied, and she meant it. She also didn't seem to be able to let go.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 04:16 am (UTC)When Dani finally pulled away several moments later, it was regretfully. "I have somewhere I should be, but I don't really want to go."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 04:35 am (UTC)Katie’s face fell, but only because she couldn’t believe she had to say goodbye so soon. She shook her head quickly to recalibrate, offered Dani a smile. “Would you want to see me again soon? Just you and me?” A date.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 04:40 am (UTC)Dani didn't blame her, she felt the same way. She was only leaving because she hadn't meant to stay this long to begin with and she worried she'd miss Ian completely if she stayed any longer. "Yes. Please."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 04:52 am (UTC)"Let me give you my number... you can text me when you're free and we can talk more." And maybe touch more. That would be good.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 04:56 am (UTC)Dani got out her phone so Katie could put her number in it, doing her best to rein in her disbelief. "I'd really like that." It seemed almost too good to be true.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 04:58 am (UTC)Katie programmed in her number, and next to her name she put the lovestruck emoji, the face dazzled by hearts. It seemed appropriate. When she handed Dani back her phone, she didn't quite take her hand back, letting it linger on Dani's.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 05:17 am (UTC)Yes, that was perfect. Not that it made it any easier to make herself leave, because she liked Katie's hand on hers and didn't want to miss a second of her smile. "I will text you really, really soon. And if an alligator eats my phone, you can still find me on the journals." She was being ridiculous and she knew that but also she'd never felt like this before.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 05:31 am (UTC)"Don't let those alligators get you," Katie said without bothering to censor herself, "Because I'd really like to kiss you one day."
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 05:46 am (UTC)Dani squeezed Katie's hand before she pulled away because she wanted that too. So much. "The alligators don't stand a chance," she promised, flustered but pleased, as she stood, taking Katie's sketch with her. She held it like it was precious to her, letting go with one hand only to give Katie a little wave goodbye.
Re: Katie
Date: 2019-04-23 05:49 am (UTC)Katie waved back and watched Dani go. Finally, she let out the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, and flopped down on the ground to lie on her back, grinning at the sky.