{ OPEN }

[zombra]

FORM: Sending crystal
SENDER: Tessa (and Ignis in the background)
RECIPIENT: Everyone in the Gallows
WHAT: ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL? Also a Rifter mixer?
WHEN: right here, right now
WHERE: The Gallows

[ There's the sound of movement and a fancy voice (aka Ignis) talking with someone about food. But he's obviously at a bit of a distance from the crystal. When a voice speaks, it's way less fancy. It's Tessa. ]

Heeeey, Tessa here. And Ignis. So I'll bet the Tourney got us all pumped and ready for more sports, right? [ Tessa sounds pretty energetic right now, as if she's had a few coffees, or is just really, really pumped to bring this idea into being. ] Well, I hope so, because I've got a sport from home I'd love to introduce here. It's called football.

[ A pause. ]

American football, before any of you Rifters think I mean soccer. Anyway, football is super cool. You have two teams face off trying to throw or carry a ball towards a goal. They get four attempts to make it at least 10 yards, and if they don't, they have to kick the ball away to the other team so they can try to do the same. There's tackling involved, but I figure if we get a real diverse group together, we should do flag football rules. That's where you wear a sash tucked into your pants, and if the opposing team grabs it and pulls it off, it counts as a tackle. Anyway, there's a ton of rules to explain, but I wanna see if there's genuine interest first. [ From behind her, Ignis adds in that they still need to find someone to construct these footballs too. ] Right, we have to do that. And if any other Rifters wanna help me explain the rules if you know them? Like I'd watch every season on tv, but I'll bet I'll forget stuff.

[ Now she takes a second to gather her thoughts, and Ignis takes the opportunity to lightly say: And tomorrow? His tone is teasing, but he's reminding her to stay on track with what else she wanted to say. ]

Right. Speaking of Rifters, I was wondering if we all shouldn't meet up. Casually. Not as anything political, but because we all share one thing in common and we're all so diverse. I think we could learn a lot from each other, and nobody knows what we face in getting settled here like people who've been through it before. Like if we want to integrate into this world, it'd be nice to know people it's okay to turn to and ask questions. And I get it: we're all so different and some of us are loudmouths, or jerks, and you don't wanna associate with them. That's fine. I can't force anybody to turn up. But if you do, then let's meet up and all hang out. How's tomorrow night sound, in the main courtyard? [ That way anyone can see they're literally just hanging out, not making evil demon plans to overthrow the Inquisition. ] Ignis and I are working on the food situation now, so there'll be stuff to eat. It'll be sorta like a party where we all mingle; not some weird group meeting where we all sit in a circle and talk one at a time.

[ Ignis's voice carries over one last time: Not to disparage sitting around in a circle, but let's skip the formalities for now. There'll be plenty of time for that later. ]

Heh, yeah. This is just hanging out and getting to know each other. Anyway, let us know what you think!


[ ooc: a mingle log will go up tomorrow for just this thing! ]

Comments

[periastron]

Yeah yeah yeah, American football. ( Somehow her Australian-ness just spiked even more intensely. )

The inferior bloody game, in my opinion. You want a proper contact sport, you play rugby. Or roller derby, but I dunno if I can bring myself to figure out inventing roller skates. Soccer ain't half bad, but American football?

( QUELLE HORREUR )

[zombra]

Don't know the rules of rugby, but if you wanna start some rugby teams, then you can be in charge of all that.

[ Besides, is the Super Bowl of Rugby watched by a billion people every year? She didn't think so. ]

[periastron]

Yeah, yeah, I'm just struggling to think how you're gonna play American Football without all that wimpy body armour your lot need for it. Seems like helmets and that get put to better use around here. Rugby just seems more practical.

( Her teasing is good humoured. Obnoxious, definitely, but good humoured. Not always easy to tell that, mind. )

[zombra]

[ Tessa laughs. ]

Guess you tuned out when I said it was flag football rules, huh? Also, what's the future brain injury rate for rugby players? Cuz I know in football they wear a ridiculous amount of padding, and those poor guys still suffer a lot later in life. I can't imagine what all those hits in rugby do to people.

[periastron]

See, now, I was making a bit of banter, friendly cross Pacific rivalry and all that - and now you're flinging about injury rates, all casual. Not real nice, honestly.

For the record, spinal injuries are a bigger danger than the brain injuries for rugby players, far as I know. And in fact, last I read about it, the helmets and padding lead to American footy players hitting harder, moving faster and all about being more reckless, which is what leads to some of the nasty shit from that.

[earthbones]

Because the best idea when there are organisations against you is to announce, to everyone, that you want those being watched to meet.

Are you a human?

[Sounds like the thing a human would pull, when does a human ever have to think about the words falling from their mouths no matter what world they've come from?]

What does it matter, getting to know each other? Playing fucking games while the water heats in the pot?

[The laugh is less bitter than expected but again, ten septims that this is a human.]

[zombra]

Then don't come; simple as that.

[earthbones]

No. You said we're getting to know each other, so here we are: I'm a rifter after all, and being what I am, I will be alive when your bones have fallen to dust. You say this isn't political but any gathering of people who are being watched, who are being discussed, who are a thing that is questioned by their very nature is political.

You can't separate what we are from politics, time and time again it comes. Ask a mage, ask an elf here. I saw it with my people, I saw it with the Stormcloaks too but we're all here so ask the ones I mentioned. I'd say ask the Dalish but maybe they're not so willing to volunteer their lives on a plate.

Have you thought of every single eye turned towards every one of us now? Weighing and measuring.

[zombra]

And yet you don't tell me your name first. Look; think what you want about me and my idea. Slap a label on it if it helps you sleep at night. I'm not gonna stop you. But I'm not gonna sit here and go: [ Her voice goes high pitched. ] Oh my God, you're totally right! I will totally write "political" on all the party banners!

[ And back to her normal voice. ]

And yeah, actually, I have. It's not gonna stop either, so there's no point not doing something while they're looking.

[sorcerised]

That's a great idea.

[ Er... ] The meetup, I mean. I'll definitely come, we absolutely need to know each other better. Especially if a few of us intend to speak for all of us.

[zombra]

[ Aw, not the football? Football's fun, man! ]

Thanks! That's just what I was thinking. I'm Tessa. What's your name?

[sorcerised]

[ He's a ranged fighter, okay, this does not sound ideal for him. ]

Arohaerd. I haven't been here for very long, and honestly I don't know that many people. I'm not even sure who all the rifters are, honestly.

[zombra]

Dude, same here! I've only been here two months and I heard there's only like, thirty of us. Or thirty-something. Some have apparently been here years. And I figure if everyone else is gonna clump us up into a group, we may as well know who we all are.

I'm learning that some of us are real assholes, though. Still, better I know who they are.

[mousquetaire]

[ Frowning at the crystal as if all of this is its fault. ]

If you carry the ball towards the goal, why is it called football? That's a contradiction in terms.

[zombra]

Cuz you kick it away to the other team.

[ Which she realizes isn't a good reason at all. ]

And because it makes people question why we named it that, I guess.

[mousquetaire]

[ Even more frowning. ]

Why would you want to give it to the other team, wouldn't that defeat the purpose? I'm not sure I understand your people.

[



Pause. ]

I'm still playing, though.

[zombra]

No, no. You give it to the other team when yours is out of chances to make it at least 10 yards in four attempts. Most use the fourth attempt to kick it away far down the field so the opposing team has to start farther back. You don't want it to be their turn and the ball's not too far from your goal.

[ She gives an unseen fist pump. Well, maybe Ignis sees it. ]

Yessss! If we can get enough people for two teams, we can come up with team names and colors and mascots! It'll be so cool!

[provenforce]

It's a good idea. Rifters meeting up. We all get wrapped up in trying to fit in that I don't think we interact that much, on the whole. Since most of us aren't from the same world, that doesn't even strike us as strange.

[zombra]

Hey, thanks! At least you and others think so. One chick's flipping her lid that I dare suggest it.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure no one's from my specific version or Earth, which is a good thing. It really sucks. How about you? Oh, and what's your name?

[provenforce]

If they're going to lump us all together as one group, we may as well steer into it. [ If they're all united together, it'll be harder for the Inquisition to bring them to heel quietly. ]

Oh, I'm Rey. And I do have a few people from my universe. My mentor, Obi-Wan and my... [ what the fuck is she supposed to call Ben. ] Boy...friend, Kylo Ren.

[zombra]

Oh? Boy friend as in guy friend, or boooooyfriend?

[crowncitizen]

I like the idea of a meet up! At the very least, we should all know who we are.

[zombra]

Yeah! Like you. What's your name?

[crowncitizen]

Aw, thanks. I'm Prompto Argentum.

[zombra]

Whoa. That name is freaking cool. Though how do you do nicknames for Prompto? Pro? Prompt?