<@Liam> [Date: Saturday, February 7, 2004] <@Liam> [The Alabama-Huntsville game has been intense, most games are but this time its accentuated by the two teams feeling roughly evenly matched. A good number of shots on goal have been blocked and everyone is eager to find an opportunity to pull ahead.] <@Liam> [Satoshi's got the puck and is driving towards the goal. He doesn't have a clean shot and Liam's the best alternative here, but his wingman isn't wide open either. How's he handle it?] <@Liam> [Start!] * Satoshi eyes the goalie and then glances quickly in Liam's direction. He could try to pull this off, but Liam's probably got a better angle... if he can get the puck to him. * Satoshi thinks he can probably sneak it past their defenseman and get it to Liam. Again, tricky angle, but doable. * Satoshi passes! "Liam! Go for it!" <@Liam> [The defenseman is ready for it. He skates to intercept even before Satoshi makes the play, taunting "Don't have the guts to take the shot?" But Satoshi easily incorporates this into his timing, anticipating Liam's hard turn and shooting to where his wingman actually is, not where the defenseman thinks he his. The puck skirts behind the blocker who spins around and loses his stick in an attempt to break the play.] * Liam takes the opportunity and goes for the shot and the goalie dives for it, and just manages a block through an impressive display of athleticism. <@Liam> [However, with one man down, the Maine offensive line hammers the goal until they tie it up, 2-2. Buzzer!] * Satoshi skates over to exchange high-fives with Liam, Joshua, Grant, and everyone else. <@Liam> [The team is in high spirits.] * Liam shakes his head. "Man, that was an amazing save that goalie pulled, but no one's got an unlimited supply of those. As long as we keep playing like this..." <@Liam> [Meanwhile, the defensemen is getting some not entirely gentle ribbing from his team. "You know their pattern, eh, Milton?" He gives you all the evil eye from the side of the rink, but nobody really has his back on this one. * Satoshi grins. "We'll keep bringing it." <@Liam> [There's a photographer with a notepad that's been watching the game quite intently. He gives a small smile as he heads off.] <@Liam> [Early morning February 11th.] <@Liam> [Satoshi's on the ice, as is routine. Resume.] * Satoshi is doing his usual morning practice. Right now he's working on shooting. There's a line of pucks on the ice and he's skating up to one, shooting it at the net, skating back, going for the next one, and so on. Calm. Controlled. Going from all angles. * Satoshi is pretty much alone right now. It's early. * Liam heads out onto the ice about halfway through his practice. "'ey Sato." * Satoshi stops and looks at him. "Liam? You don't normally practice early on Wednesdays." * Liam nods. "A group paper was messing up my usual routine. This is an every week thing for you?" Every day, pretty much. Well, I mix it up some, but... I'm here most days. Just surprised that I'm running into you this early, is all. * Liam whistles and skates a broad circle around Satoshi. "That does explain some of your technique, if not your strength." * Satoshi half-smiles. "What can I say? I'm diligent." * Liam nods and snorts. "True. Also means you could probably be making more of those shots your passing my way." * Satoshi shrugs. "Hey, that one last game was pretty awesome. You have to admit that." * Liam grins and spins, switching to skating backwards in broad loops. "It was, and I think it was noticed. So I'm not complaining exactly." * Satoshi raises an eyebrow. "Noticed, huh?" * Liam picks up a little more speed in backwards skating. "Some scouts are subtle, some less so." Scouts, huh. * Satoshi blinks. "Wait... like *NHL* scouts?" Well, could be some from the NBA that's deeply confused. * Satoshi laughs. "Are there even any Canadian NBA teams?" But he sobers pretty quickly. "Wow. Okay. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but... I wasn't really thinking about it." We did for a while. But yeah, probably easiest to not really think about it. Mostly just keep doing what you're doing. * Satoshi eyes his line of pucks for a minute. "I will try not to. Uh, think about it, that is. Do what I'm doing, I will try... uh, now I'm sounding like the little green guy from those movies that Joshua had us watch." * Satoshi thinks for a second. "Star Wars. Yoda. Okay." * Liam spins around again and grins. "And now you're not thinking too hard, Sato." * Satoshi snerks. "Hey, I've only got so much room in my head for things that aren't hockey and classes." * Liam nods. "You make more time for practice than I do which is particularly impressive given that you're bilingual, not counting Daniel Webster's vandalism of the English language. Your English is at least as good as my French, and better than my German." * Satoshi blinks. "I didn't know you spoke German." * Liam shrugs. "Ein bisschen." * Satoshi nods. "I'll pretend I know what you're saying. Anyhow, it's not like your classes are easy. Pre-law's not a major for slouches." True, though we do have some people that just like to argue. Nothing wrong with that necessarily, but it isn't a career plan. * Satoshi laughs, and starts doing a bit of backwards skating of his own. "You know, I am kind of envious of you and Grant. You guys came in with majors picked out and everything." * Liam switches himself again. "Well, the liberal arts education is in part to give you a chance to figure out what you want to do. Assuming you can keep your focus and don't get distracted by groupies writing odes to your hair." * Satoshi stops. "To my *what*?" Oh, are your groupies focused elsewhere? * Liam gives Satoshi a slight side bump as he asks that question before taking off at greater speed backwards. * Satoshi shakes his head. "Liam, seriously, what are you talking about?" * Satoshi skates after him. I'm saying you've got people trying to catch your eye. Some people I know talk about your hair. Not sure if that's what the crowd back in Japan goes for, but I do respect what you manage with your flowing locks. * Satoshi looks unconvinced. "Sure, Mister I had an article in the university paper that may have have referred to me as having 'rock star good looks.'" * Liam snorts again. "Yeah, they just don't get up to Canada much." * Satoshi chuckles. "Anyhow, my hair isn't to attract groupies or whatever. It's... I've just always liked it this way. That's all." * Liam nods. "Back to the figuring skating days?" * Satoshi shrugs. "Yeah, maybe." Elise is convinced you've got someone back home, but I do believe you. You wouldn't do the work you do to keep it up for someone that couldn't see it regularly. And it does work for you. * Satoshi blushes slightly. Why is he blushing? "Thanks," he finally says. Which isn't to say I've disproved Elise's case. Just that she's attributing too much to one observation. * Satoshi looks at Liam and quirks a smile. "Wouldn't it be better for you if you didn't disprove her case?" * Liam chuckles and makes no further comment. * Satoshi 's smile widens. "I've seen how you look at her. You should ask her out sometime. Seriously." I do ask her out sometimes. She says yes some of those sometimes. * Satoshi raises an eyebrow. "Really?" This shocks you? * Liam parallels Satoshi's expression. Well, you've never said anything about it. Also this means I lose a bet with Grant. * Satoshi grins. * Liam heads over to the side of the ice to receive his stick. "So it's more competitive practice you're looking for. As I said back in December, it's not who calls, it's whether they answer." * Satoshi hmms. "Well I was pretty sure you wouldn't be able to resist telling us about it. Guess I underestimated you." * Liam does grab the stick and retrieves a puck before heading over to center ice. "Well maybe, frankly, there's only so much to tell. Between my schedule and that some of the time where she says no..." * Liam does blush a bit as he says this, but keeps his expression intent. * Satoshi stops. "Liam. Liam Gavin Campbell. You're blushing. I didn't think you could *do* that." * Satoshi grins *so* much. * Liam only answers by tapping his stick on each side of the puck at center ice. * Satoshi keeps grinning. "Faceoff?" * Liam nods. "And don't make assumptions. We aren't a couple. Believe me, I'd let you know if we were." * Satoshi nods in return, his expression sobering a bit. "Got it." He skates up to the circle. "So, on three?" Three.. two.. one. * Satoshi looks over Liam's shoulder right as he's saying "one" and gets a surprised look on his face, which is just enough to throw Liam off and for Satoshi to win the faceoff, skate down the ice, and shoot the puck into the empty net. * Liam scowls and glances back afterwards. "Should have known, she's a night owl." * Liam skates back to retrieve the puck. * Satoshi resumes grinning. "I promise I won't do that again." Then he skates backwards. "This was nice. I know you're busy but it's fun practicing with you. I..." He stops skating and is quiet. * Liam shakes his head as he skates back. "Psychological game is part of the game, our opponents won't hold back... you alright Sato?" * Satoshi lets out a breath. "Just thinking a little. The whole not shooting thing... is it really noticeable?" Only if you're paying close attention. That one defenseman was. ::Liam smirks:: Just not close enough apparently. * Satoshi chuckles. "That he wasn't. But. Okay. I've felt kind of off since the whole shootout thing. I think... it was some weird fluke. But it's gotten me running scared and you, at least, have noticed. So I just... I don't know. I want to work on it. I've been practicing and all and... honestly, you've been pretty cool about the whole thing. I was worried that you were going to get all up in my case about it, and you really haven't. So... thanks. And... well, I kind of miss scoring goals. You okay with being my sounding board on things, even if it means you're going to maybe get a few less shots on goal?" * Liam listens for a bit, processes, and nods. "It's alright Sato. We can even have proper tea for it if you like. I don't quite see how it all ties together, but play to win. If I'm doing my job, passing to me will often be the way towards that." He then frowns for a moment. * Satoshi nods. "Well, it's not like I'm going to *stop* passing to you when that's the better play. What's wrong?" * Liam lets out a breath. "There was some jokes about, 'herbal supplements' after what you did to the net during our shoot out. We nixed that talk." * Satoshi immediately looks worried. "Liam, you know... you know I'd never do anything like that. Right?" * Liam nods. "I've been surprised before. But if I didn't trust you, I'd have talked to you about it long ago." * Satoshi exhales slowly. "Thanks." That said, if you're as strong as I think you are, be sure to stay away from the non-performance enhancing side of things and carefully report your medicine usage and such. Don't want to lose you to a poppy-seeded bagel. Particularly an American poppy-seeded bagel, they just aren't worth it. * Satoshi laughs. "I will stay away from the poppy-seeded bagels. But I like the other kinds." * Liam looks skeptical that all of what Satoshi has been eating really qualifies as a proper bagel, but he nods. * Satoshi smiles. "So. I have to ask. Proper tea?" * Liam ponders that for a moment. "Well.. on this continent the height of tea culture..." <@Liam> [End!]