life is full of games (OPEN)

[closewithnewintown]

Who: Stephanie AND YOU
When: 29th-1st
What: Stephanie tries to keep herself occupied.

[all alone, unable to play outside, in a rundown location. how familiar.

but, somehow, Stephanie doubts that she can shoot a letter into the sky and fix everything, this time.

she always makes do, though, and as the days of spring break go by, she does what she does what she does best: play. she likes the auditorium best of all; until she can go outside, it's probably the most appropriate place to play. on the 29th, she's playing hopscotch, having drawn out a board using charcoal and using a piece of the same as a marker. on the 31st, she's playing Brave Knight Sir Pinky with the really neat resin knife someone decided to give a small child, fencing with her own shadow, with the sort of stance and surety that makes it clear that someone has taken the time to literally teach her fencing.]

En garde! Pret! Allez!

[she also finds herself drawn to the clock tower. sure, it's pretty high up, but it's the only way she can see outside. on the 1st, during the day, she can be found with her face pressed against the glass like a poor kid in a candy store, just looking. like she can somehow soak up some of that great outdoors through thick glass. she can also be seen writing intently in a notebook, idly nibbling on the very last of an apple core.

she has set up a makeshift bed in the corner of her homeroom class, with her extra uniform as a pillow and a "sleeping bag" that is just a length of fabric she's wrapped herself up in like a little pink burrito. she is in bed by 8:08 sharp every night, and asleep by 8:30. until such a time that this changes, she is blissfully unaware of the nightly silence.]

Comments

the 29th!

[mermaidcursed]

[ Nene wishes she had thought so carefreely- which is rather funny, since she's been scolded before for being too carefree. For a long while, Nene had simply... cleaned. Sometimes she'd look for supplies, try to memorize where's what. The home economics room was welcoming, at least. But maybe this girl has the right idea. ]

I don't remember the last time I played hopscotch... can I join you?

[closewithnewintown]

Of course! It's always more fun with more people.

[she scoops up the charcoal, finishing up her current run. she holds it out to her, looking just a little abashed.] Um, it's a little messy to use, but we can just clean up after! You're supposed to use stones, but...

[the only stones she's found make Bad Things Happen. so.]

[mermaidcursed]

Hm... we could use bottle caps from drinks in the vending machine? That way we can get drinks and have a cleaner 'stone'! I can pay for them.

[ Not that the charcoal is bad, really- but ever since the curse, she's been a bit wary of having to wash up around others. Scales are hard to explain! Besides, Stephanie's probably the youngest one here. She deserves little treats. ]

[closewithnewintown]

That's such a good idea! I hadn't thought about it, but we should probably be saving our trash. It might be useful... Who knows what could come in handy, around here?

[she feels a pang of guilt for not offering to pay for herself. but she, um. ran low on points, quite early. because she hadn't thought that'd be a problem. so she will allow herself some selfishness.]

They have water in those machines, right? All the water tastes bad here, but I don't want to only drink soda and juice. Being hydrated is important.

[mermaidcursed]

They do, and it definitely feels fresher than... everything else. Tapwater shouldn't be pink. They also have milk! Which is also important, right? Do you want to come with me?

[ She'll understand if Stephanie wants to stay, of course! But maybe she'll want to see her options? ]

[closewithnewintown]

Sure! [a pause... she wrinkles her nose.] This place is a little bit spooky when you're by yourself. It's better when there's other normal people around.

[you don't have to be brave all at once. just be brave one step at a time.]

[mermaidcursed]

[ Nene only nods. She gets it. ]

It's good to have someone with you, yeah. [ So she gives her a gentle smile and leads the way to the vending machines. She selects two waters, and then a strawberry milk for herself. ]

What do you want? I have some saved up for things like this. We can also get a snack to split, if you'd like.

the 31st!

[silentabyss]

[That kid has a cool knife, is what Noah decides as he makes his way over to her. It looks impractical as an actual weapon, but it's pretty, he'll give it that.]

Hey, um...

[Really, buddy, there's no need to be shy around a ten year old.]

Do you know how to fight? That's, um... that's a fencing stance, isn't it?

[closewithnewintown]

[she lowers the knife when she hears someone talking, because safety is very important!]

Hello! [she shrugs] I wouldn't really call it fighting. It's a sport! A friend taught me.

[silentabyss]

[Yeah, but she could easily hurt someone by- oh well. Noah doesn't have the energy to argue with a kid about things.]

A friend taught you that? That's, um... that's cool. I don't think any of my friends would be willing to teach me how to do that.

[To be fair, he has two entire friends. One of them is a magic weapon, and the other one is a mage. Neither of them are quite capable of that.]

Who are you... uh, fencing with?

[closewithnewintown]

... Myself. [and wow she can physically feel how lame that is.] When you don't have anybody else to play with, you just have to make your own fun. I... was used to it, once.

[silentabyss]

[Oof. Noah gets what that's like. Okay, he'll bite.]

Well, uh... I... I don't know how to fence per say, but I'll play with you, if you want.

[closewithnewintown]

We don't have to play swords! I do only have the one knife... Even with just two people, some games are less fun when you have to share one object. [like a hockey stick.] What kind of games do you like playing?

[because she's. honestly becoming concerned that even the relatively younger people here don't play very often? which RIP to them but she knows grown-up Stephanie would be different.]

31st

[loyalbreed]

[ The Knight watches for a long moment, but after some pardoning time there comes a slight chuckle from his lips. ] Good Miss, that is in no way how one properly holds themselves accordingly with a Knife nor sword for that matter.

[closewithnewintown]

[a part of her is definitely Mildly Concerned that everyone around here seems to think she's training for battle. like that's super weird.]

Well, how do I hold myself properly? [looks up expectantly she is Ready to Learn.]

[loyalbreed]

Your weapon needs to be an extension of your arm, it needn't be viewed as a toy. [ Gawain reaches for her arm and raises it so it aligns straight across. ] If your arm is straight, you leave yourself with the issue of - [ Standing in front of her minding the length of the weapon. Gawain raises his arm to come across and land upon her forearm. ] an opening.

Far more easy for someone faster to follow through with an attack of their own. Though, if I am correct you were practicing the 14th century era of Fencing, no? I believe your forward step is more akin to a burst when enemy has shown an opening themselves.

[closewithnewintown]

[she pays rapt attention, absorbing the information.] Like this? [she bends her elbow, holding the knife a bit more like how you would in a fight. though...]

It's more of a toy than a weapon, though. [pause] I mean, obviously I'm being careful with it! But, I'm just playing. I found it in my locker and thought it was pretty. A friend of mine taught me fencing, but I don't know much beyond what he said.

[loyalbreed]

Yes, very nice! [ The idea were set and motion, and the sword - or knife in her hand were small let alone could not suffice for real weaponry. ]

Oh? Mine sister was no less your age - actually younger. When she wished to find herself cordial to the idea of sword fighting. Merely because men and the church [ As it is, this is where she feels her doubts come from. ] would wish you otherwise, does not mean you need query against yourself.

Fret not! I am an advocate of women with weaponry, you need not swaddle yourself with uncertainties before me. At my behest, I would even teach you the manner of sword fighting much like how I taught my sister when she were young.

Training with toy or false weaponry at first is a good starting point - there is no shame.

[closewithnewintown]

[there's a moment when she wants to correct him, to say, "no, actually I am just playing because I am ten and ten year olds don't need to know this in my very normal world." but. of everyone she's met here, this guy reminds her of home in a way that makes her both smile and feel a little sad. it's a weird feeling, but not a bad one.

and, honestly, learning how to actually fight sounds really cool. Trixie will be beyond jealous.]

Yeah, girls can do anything boys can do! [just. bouncing on the balls of her feet. excite.] Will you really teach me? I'll work really hard, I promise!

29th

[moraloutrage]

[Ishimaru has also found himself coming to the auditorium fairly often, to go through stretching and exercise while stuck in the school. So it's only a matter of time until he spots a young girl playing a game in the middle of it! She does not even seem to be a teenager. While it's endearing to see a kid playing around, it's also especially concerning in this environment. Are even small children being trapped here as well?!

And so he decides to approach her and pass on his greetings.]

Hello there! You seem to be playing quite the game!

[closewithnewintown]

It's hopscotch! [and then, because grown-ups have often forgotten how games work:] You have to skip the box your marker landed in, and pick it up on your way back. If you don't fall or miss, you get a point.

... Wanna play? [he can say no, but at what cost]

[moraloutrage]

["You have chosen playtime."

Ishimaru smiles, but he otherwise looks somewhat nervous and out of place as he looks over the aforementioned boxes.]

Ah, I see! I... have never studied such a game before...

[He seems uncertain, but he really is incapable of saying no!]

I- I am certainly willing to give it a try! If so, I would like to apologize if my performance is pitiful!

[closewithnewintown]

... Wait just a second. [just. puts the charcoal piece down on the floor for a second. because her Sports Elf In Training senses are tingling.

she speaks carefully, kindly, like talking to a spooked animal.]

So, you've "studied" [actually physically makes airquotes] other games. Does that mean you've played those games, or did you just read about them in books?

[moraloutrage]

[sweats!]

That would be, ah, mostly the latter. I happen to focus on working hard in my studies, after all! So I have mostly played 'brain games' such as Othello, or shogi. Regretfully, I have not paid much mind to other kinds of games!

[closewithnewintown]

[... oh, a project. oh, this will be fun.

she just smiles. Determined.]

Well, it's never too late to learn! Exercising your brain is good, but what about the rest of you? Playing games is very important for your personal growth!