[Day: Monday, February 10th. Time: 1:00 p.m.] [Weather: Calm and overcast, and a bit chilly.] [Taki arrives at the ice rink Satoshi directed her too. But he's not here! He must've stood her up ;_;. The only one here besides the staff is some guy skating in the rink. He's pretty good, though.] [Session Start] Where is he? * Taki walks up and down the side of the rink looking for Satoshi. [The guy in the rink does some fancy jumps and spins and stuff. Y'know, all that boring stuff that they do in the Olympics. :P] Sato...wow he's good...Where is he? * Taki starts heading back twords the entrance, still searching for the missing arcana. Maybe he got delayed by something important...Wish I had a cell, or just knew where he was...::sigh:: * Satoshi finishes his last spin and holds his arms out triumphantly, as if he were finishing a performance. His eyes are closed, and his smile is incredibly wide. * Satoshi holds the pose for a second, then starts heading off the rink. [It's about now that Taki gets a decent look at the skater. :P] * Taki blinks as she finaly catches the face of the ice skater, "That was you?!" * Taki hurries down to the edge of the ice. * Satoshi notices Taki and his eyes go wide. "Taki?!" Um... err... you're early... or am I late? * Satoshi skates over to where she's standing. Ahhh... hi? You've been here longer than I have, I just didn't notice that you were you. Sorry. * Satoshi rubs the back of his head nervously. "Ahh... yeah. I... guess you weren't expecting that, were you?" Nope! I didn't know you were such a great skater either. Been doing it for years, even long before I started playing hockey. And even after I stopped... * Satoshi shakes his head. "Well, I still like doing it." That's good. I haven't been on the ice in years an years, it's nice to know there's going to be someone there who can cach me when I slip up. * Satoshi seems relieved, for some reason. "Heh. Not a problem. How's your hand doing, by the way?" * Taki holds up her gloved hand, "It's fine, you didn't do anything perminant. See?" ::makes a fist and then flattens her hand out:: Whew. That's a relief. Wouldn't want our new goalie to start off injured. * Taki nods, "that would be bad." So, let's see about getting you some hockey skates. * Satoshi steps off the ice, where his blade covers and his shoes are waiting. * Satoshi sits down on a conveniently-located bench, and proceeds to take off his skates and put on his shoes. * Taki walks a little behind Satoshi and sits down across from him. * Satoshi looks up at Taki. "There's a co-ed rec hockey league that plays here. We ought to be able to borrow some goalie equipment to fit you." The only thing we'll need to get specific for you is a Sakuragaoka jersey. * Taki nods, "I was worried about that, all thoes pads and stuff look expensive." Don't worry. Most people rent their stuff. The school covers most of it, too. * Satoshi chuckles. "I guess we have Kyon to thank for that. He pushed for more funding for the sports teams, although I'm sure the fact that he's captain of two of them played a part." Hehe, I'll have to thank him next time I see him. * Satoshi finishes putting on his shoes, then stands up and slings his figure skates over his shoulder. "Okay, let's hit the equipment room and start off with some skates." Right, lead the way please. * Satoshi does so. The equipment room is back one of the hallways, past the locker rooms and several other rooms with unmarked doors. * Taki follows Satoshi in and looks around to remember the way. * Staffperson is handling all the rentals. He looks over to you as you approach. (...I don't know how big Taki's feet are ^^;;;;;) * Satoshi motions to Taki. "Go right ahead." (Oh, just make something up. Or have the staffperson measure and just give you a pair without ever mentioning the size. ;p) * Taki makes her way to the rental counter, "Excuse me." ( You don't? I distinctly remember telling everyone to make sure they know their character's shoe size at character creation. :P ) Yes? (Dangit, I must've missed that spot on the character sheet. ^_~) I'd like to rent a pair of hockey skates. * Staffperson nods and, after a quick glance at Taki's feet, determines her shoe-size. He retrieves a pair of skates, "Here, try these." * Taki takes the skates and thanks the staffperson. Then she looks around for a place to sit and try them on. * Staffperson waits to be paid. * Satoshi hands the staffperson a piece of paper. It's a free rental coupon. * Taki stops digging for change as Satoshi makes the change she might find irrelavent. (hutses the typo deamons) * Staffperson takes it, secretly wishing they'd stop putting these on the back of Crackerjack boxes. (Bwahaha.) (Crackerjack huh? and here I've been looking in pockey boxes) * Satoshi waits for Taki to determine how well the skates fit. [Taki finds that the staff person is a very good judge of foot sizes.] They fit okay? They seem to. ::pulls the laces a little tighter:: Great. Of course, now you have to take them back off so we can walk out again. * Taki nods and starts taking them back off. * Taki puts her shoes back on and stands up. "Ok." All right. Now I just have to stop by my locker and switch skates, and we'll be good to go. * Satoshi leads Taki out of the rental room. What's wrong with the ones you were using? They're figure skates, not hockey skates. Different blade, different boot. Ah... I see... Hockey skates are more solid. Figure skates are more manuverable. You're not going to want to try doing triple toe loops in those. * Satoshi points to her skates. * Satoshi then grins. * Taki nods "I don't think I could do a triple toe loop anyway." Not right away, at least. * Satoshi reaches the door to the locker room. "Hang on a sec. I'll be right out." Alright. * Taki leans on a nearby wall and looks over her skates a bit worriedly... "I don't think we've got time..." * Satoshi walks into the locker room, then comes back out carrying his hockey skates. Mmm? What was that? Just me hoping that I can learn all this before the first game. Don't worry about it. The next game's not for a couple of weeks. We were able to get it pushed back. * Taki nods "If I could get two weeks worth of work done in time left over from everything else we were doing last week...This'll be easy." * Satoshi smiles. "There we go!" He proceeds to walk to the side of the rink and sit down on a bench. * Satoshi busies himself with the fun art of putting on skates. * Taki sits across from Satoshi and watches him lace up his skates. The first thing is making sure you can move around on the ice. As the goalie, you may not have to do a lot of actual skating, but being able to stand up is a big help. * Satoshi grins at her. And I really, really do appreciate you doing this. I can't really thank you enough. I'd imagine so. And I can't tell you how happy my dad is that I'm finally out of the house and doing things...and this is one I'll actually be able to show him. * Satoshi considers. "Hey, maybe my dad will be back in town by the time we have our next game. He always comes to them when he's around." * Satoshi does *not* add, "But that's not very often." * Satoshi does look a little sad, though. We'll have our own little cheering section. Yep! So, you ready to start? Yep, you ready to catch me when it turns out I can't remember how to skate? * Satoshi laughs. Yeah, but skating's like riding a bike. You never really forget. Although... I haven't ridden a bike in a long time. Maybe I should test that theory. * Taki looks at Satoshi, "I'm holding you to it regardless." Okay. * Satoshi stands up. "Let's go!" * Taki stands and wobbles a bit, "This does not bode well." Ummm... you want to hold on to my hand? Just to start? That sounds like a realy good idea. * Taki takes a small step and reaches for Satoshi's arm. * Satoshi holds out his arm so Taki can grab it, blushing slightly as he does so. * Taki takes his arm and leans on it a bit. * Satoshi blushes a bit more, and slowly heads for the ice. * Taki keeps up with Satoshi and manages to not compleatly loose her balance. * Satoshi steps onto the ice! * Taki takes a deep breath and steps out, and manages to last nearly three seconds before loosing her footing. * Satoshi reaches out and grabs her shoulder with his other hand, steadying her. Whoa! You okay? YiiiIII! ...Yeah...Thanks. Um... You want to try and move now? Or do you need a minute to get your balance? If I stand I'll fall, if I move I'll still fall, but there's a chance I'll remember how not to. Remember how not to fall? Yeah, how to skate...that thing we're her for? * Satoshi laughs. "Okay. I'm going to hold on really tightly, and then we're going to move forward. Right foot, then left. Sound okay?" (His hand is still on her shoulder.) * Taki nods, "Right then left." Okay, on the count of three. One... two... three! * Satoshi moves his right foot forward and out. * Taki pushes off with her right foot. (I'm assuming that Satoshi's in front of me and skating backwards) (That he is.) And now, left foot! * Satoshi moves his right foot, actually, since he's going backwards and his player is an idiot who didn't realize that until Taki pointed it out. ;p * Taki pushes with her left foot, but doesn't quite have her right foot compleaty back into position yet...the results are predictable. * Satoshi starts to lose his balance a little, but grabs Taki and keeps her from falling. (Note that Satoshi has to be pretty darned strong to accomplish this.) Yipe! Thanks Satoshi. Okay, we try again. On three... One... two... three! * Taki waits for it and then pushes off with her right foot again. And now, left! One... two... three! * Taki manages to get it right this time. Right foot again! One... two.. three! * Taki does it again, and gives Satoshi a big smile. There we go! Now left! One... two... three! * Taki brings her right foot up and her left back. * Satoshi steadies her, since she looks like she's sliding back. * Taki looks down at her feet for a bit before looking back up at Satoshi. Umm... left. Not right. * Taki slips as she tries to move both of her legs back, "Eeeeeeeeerrk!" * Satoshi grabs Taki and pulls! A bit too hard, actually, and suddenly he finds he's sprawling on the ice, with Taki on top of him. Yiiike~OOOF! Are you okay? * Satoshi suddenly realizes his position and starts blushing. I am, but arn't you a bit cold? * Taki notices Satoshi blush and then realizes where *she is and scrambles off. Oh... uh... nah. I'm used to this, really. Not falling on the ice, I mean. Just... being out here. And I move around a lot, so I don't get cold. Um... yeah, that's it! * Satoshi gets back up, then leans down and offers Taki a hand. Ah..heh..I see..yeah...makes sence....yep. * Satoshi is still blushing a bit. * Taki takes Satoshi's hand and tries to use it to pull herself up. * Satoshi pulls her up the rest of the way. * Taki stands up with Satoshi's help. "Thanks for putting up with this." It's okay, honest. Let's try something a little different. Oh? What's that? I'm gonna stand behind you and hold onto your shoulders. When I say move, we'll move together in the same direction. Uhm...Ok, that way we don't have to worry about your feet being backwards. Yeah. Less confusion for the both of us. * Taki nods and stands still. I'm going to have to let go for just a second. So relax. * Satoshi lets go of her hand, and in one swift movement goes behind her, then places a hand on each shoulder. Ready? * Taki looks over her shoulder at Satoshi, "That was quick, and I'm as ready now as I'll ever be." Okay. Here we go... one... two.. three... right! * Taki pushes back with her right leg on command. And forward... one... two... three... left! * Taki uses the left now. Again... one... two... three... right! * Taki moves. You're doing good! One... two... three... left! * Taki uses her other leg. * Satoshi keeps it up, and slowly but steadily they make their way across the rink. Taki slips a few times, but never actually falls, and Satoshi thinks she's getting better. * Taki thinks she's doing better as well. Unfortunatly Satoshi can't see the huge grin on her face as he's behind her and it isn't quite that wide. How're you feeling? Ready to try doing it just holding hands? [Satoshi asks the question.] This's great! And if you think I'm ready then let's go for it. Okay. Hang on just a sec... * Satoshi lets go of her shoulders, then quickly skates in front of her and takes her hands. * Taki has her hands taken and now she can smile directly at Satoshi. * Satoshi smiles back. * Satoshi starts the count again, right, left, right, left. At some point he stops counting and just keeps moving. * Taki follows Satoshi's counting, and then his feet, and eventualy just him. * Satoshi leads Taki across the ice, their steps more and more in unison, until... You ready to try on your own? * Taki takes a deep breath, "I...I think so." Okay. I'll count to three and then let go, but I'll be right here in front of you in case you need me. One... two... three. * Satoshi lets go. * Taki continues to skate forward, and makes it to the other end of the rink before discovering that she can't turn as well as she thought she could and has a low speed run in with the boards. Ooof! * Satoshi grabs her. Okay. We need to work on turning. Yes.... * Satoshi takes just one of her hands in one of his this time. "All right. We'll go around the edges of the rink. When you're ready for me to let go, just tell me." After we get past here I'll be fine untill the other end. Okay. I'll be right next to you, then. * Satoshi helps her around the corner, then lets go of her hand and skates next to her. * Taki is fine untill she gets to the far side of the rink where she starts drifting twords the wall again, "Uhmmm..." * Satoshi is quick to snag her arm and lead her in the right direction. Thanks. You're welcome. * Taki skates on her merry way twords the other end and manages to make it a bit farther along before she needs saving. * Satoshi steadies her as needed, and keeps going. * Taki finaly makes it all the way around the rink without help, "I did it! I did it! I DWOOOPS!" * Satoshi grabs Taki and keeps her from falling. "Yes, you did. You just have to remember to watch where you're going after you do it." * Satoshi grins at her. Eheheheheh, Yeah. Thanks. Well, you've made a good start. You want to keep going for a while or call it a day? One more time around! * Satoshi laughs. "That's the spirit!" * Taki and Satoshi skate around the rink. (With little shoujo bubbles and sparklies and I think it's over.) (I think so too. ^_^) (wonders if the GM is still awake) [Session End]