Fast Eddie's [late afternoon]

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat, wearing his usual--tight dark breeches, knee-high boots, white shirt, black silk scarf, silk coat (today's was red, with gold embroidery tracking up the sleeves)--twisted his hat idly between his fingers as he lounged by the door of Fast Eddie's and waited for Effy to show up.

Learning a new game (especially one taught by a pretty girl) was just the sort of thing that was going to improve Mat's mood after a fairly irritating weekend.

[OOC: Mat is expecting his date, but open for your bowling or pool playing or greasy pizza-eating needs!]

Comments

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy showed up just fashionably late, as you do. "Come on then." Not one for traditional greetings and formalities, she just sent a smirk his way as she pushed the door open.

And with any luck, the employees were dense enough not to recognise her from the last time she was here.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat smirked back and followed her in, trying not to look like a complete hayseed as he glanced around a little wide-eyed at all of the lights and noise inside Fast Eddie's.

Back home, they had...candles. Not neon.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Much as he tried to hide it, at least a touch of that shone through, and Effy's lips twitched a little in amusement.

"Not really what I'm used to either," she admitted, dividing her attention between him and the table she was leading him to. "More a middle of a dark pub, sort."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"There have been very few taverns too seedy for me to go into," Mat replied, smiling back. "This is very clean. And...bright."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy nodded, looking around a bit herself. "Gonna call that a good thing," she said.

"You know anything about this?" she asked, jerking a thumb towards the table.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"It's called a table, right?" Mat teased. "But the game, no, I don't recognize."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"It is a table," she agreed, smirking at him over her shoulder as she grabbed a couple of cues.

"And this is your cue," she added, handing it over. "I'm sure you'll get the hang of it in no time."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat grinned and spun the cue like a quarterstaff. "You didn't mention it involved weapons."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy raised amused eyebrows at that little show, and smiled. "... Not quite." Although, that did look fun.

"But you do at least use it to hit things." Time to pull out the triangle and get some of the balls onto the table. "Just not other people."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Even if they're really bloody irritating?" Mat wheedled, pouting prettily.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Long as it's not me?" Effy shrugged a 'whatever'.

She leaned in a little, managing some subtlety. "They might not appreciate it, though," she said, and tipped her head towards the bored employees.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"And I was thinking that hitting them might wake them up," he said, winking.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy grinned, racking the balls up. "Possibly both," she suggested. "But you might miss your lesson. What fun would that be?"

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"None at all," Mat said. "And you're much prettier than any of them. I think I'll spend my time with you."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Good choice." Of course, Effy would think that, and complements? Well, she was never going to complain at those.

"Aim of the game," she said, lifting the triangle off. "You want these balls, in those pockets. Stripes or solids, depending which you get first."

And she held up the cue ball. "But you gotta use this."

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"So you just have to hit the colored balls with the stick?" Mat asked. "Seems straightforward enough."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Hit the white ball with the stick, and the other balls with the white ball," she clarified, and nodded.

"Simple, right?" Well, once you got the hang of it, anyway.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Simple," Mat agreed. He was a fair shot with a bow and a slingshot. He figured he'd get the hang of this quickly. "What are we wagering for?"

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"What sort of thing would you normally bet on a game like this?" she asked casually, leaning back against the table.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"Depends who I was playing against," he decided. "If it was another man, I certainly wouldn't bet jewelry, dances, or kisses. You're the expert here. I defer to you."

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"Start easy," she said after a moment. "Since you're new to this." Wasn't she nice.

"I get something off the break, you can buy me a drink later." They could work up to the bigger and better prizes.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

"You can get drinks here, too?" Mat grinned. "That's definitely a bet."

He leaned in to watch her rack technique.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

Effy assumed a place like this would have something, and grinned smugly as she rounded the table to set up her shot.

Looked even more smug when after a bit of bouncing around, a striped ball rolled into a pocket.

[bloody-luck.livejournal.com]

Mat applauded. "What's the lady's pleasure?" he asked.

[pastmewrong.livejournal.com]

"JD and Coke," she replied, leaning back up and shooting Mat a grin. "Or just Coke, depending on what they'll serve." Never could tell. Crazy country and its drinking laws.

"You'll have your chance to get back in a minute."