fast eddie's | early afternoon | saturday | november 21

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

Even after the practice he'd gotten in with the frat yesterday, Hannibal still felt a little nervous about this whole bowling match. Of course, he wasn't about to let that show. Nope, he'd just be lounging in the chairs near the bowling lane, feet up and casual confidence being projected.

He was not about to let any nerves be seen by anyone. He didn't need those used against him. Still, wouldn't any guy be nervous if a leotard and dancing was at stake? He thought so. But, for now, he was banishing those thoughts and just being his usual cocky, confident self.

He could win this. Nothing to it.

[hannibal's here mostly for kate but hey, gawkers and onlookers and revelers are more than welcome to watch, chat or do other fast eddie's things!]

Comments

[vanillajello]

So, Kate? Was pretty confident. With a little bit of nervous thrown in for good measure, but not much. Giving a concert wasn't too embarrassing... Which didn't mean she wasn't going to be taking this seriously.

She could totally win this. And she would.

"Oh look, you showed up," she teased after making her way over to him.

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Was there doubt?" he asked, smiling when he noticed her. "I never back down from a challenge."

[vanillajello]

"So I've heard," she said. "I'm still pretty sure you'll get in big trouble because of that, eventually."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, he probably would. "That would mean I'd have to fail at a challenge and I don't intend to do that. If I win everything, no trouble at all."

[vanillajello]

"Right. Because you'll totally always win everything," Kate snorted. "You should get used to losing. I'm more than happy to help with that."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Aww, too bad that's just not going to happen," he said, tsking her and shaking his head. "But it's cute that you think that. It'll make me feel bad when I crush you."

[vanillajello]

"You're delusional. You need help," she told him. "Also? Don't make me pout at you."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"None of that!" Hannibal said, making a face. "Your pouting is not going to make me throw the game but I don't want to see it anyway. It's not fair."

And it worked all too well on him.

[vanillajello]

"Oh it's totally fair. You can't tell me what facial expressions I can or can't make."

If she won the game by pouting at him, someone was going to be so very proud of her.

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"If you pout at me, you'll have to live with the fact that you'd be winning by cheating," he declared. "That's not a very nice thing to do."

[vanillajello]

"It's not cheating," she argued. "I'd just be my own adorable self. How's that cheating?"

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Because you know it's something that distracts me and that would mean I wouldn't be at full strength for the match," he decided. "So, you'd have to live with that, knowing you potentially got the win over a weakened opponent."

[vanillajello]

She tilted her head and gave him a winning smile. "I think I could live with that. But don't worry, I fully intend to win without playing dirty."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"You wish," he said, shaking his head. "Want me to help you find a ball? I know these are kind of heavy and all."

[vanillajello]

Kate rolled her eyes. "You're not seriously going for the 'you're a girl so you're weak' thing, are you? It's lame."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Hey, I was being chivalrous!" Hannibal protested, smirking. "And was going to prevent you from getting a pink ball because then I'd laugh at you."

[vanillajello]

"See, now I kinda want to get a pink ball just so you'll laugh. Maybe it would distract you?"

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Angela wears plenty of girly things," he pointed out. "It wouldn't distract me. I've gotten used to it. I'd just laugh and be amused. Might even be a motivator for me."

[vanillajello]

"Okay, so no pink ball then," she decided. "Any particular reactions to any other colors?"

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Nah." He almost said something against purple but he'd let Angela paint his nails that color one day so he held his tongue. "I'll just be over here, waiting with my plain ole' black ball."

The black ball that would send her to her doom, of course.

[vanillajello]

"Right." She left him for a moment, then returned – after careful consideration that was less about the color and more about the weight and feel of it – with a red ball. "Okay, I'm good to go."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"You wanna go first?" he offered. "Or want me to set the tone for your crushing defeat?"

Talk talk talk talk talk. He was a lot of talk.

[vanillajello]

"Your defeat," she corrected him. It was almost getting to be a reflex. "You can go first."

[decoder-rings.livejournal.com]

"Works for me," he said, getting to his feet and grabbing his ball. He hoped and prayed that he'd start this with something decent. He really didn't need a gutter ball.

Exhaling, he tossed the ball down the lane and was pleasantly surprised when eight pins went down, leaving him with two. Not a bad start.

"Just getting warmed up," he said, waiting to retrieve his ball now.

[vanillajello]

"Uh huh, of course," she smirked, and then tried to suppress a yawn.

No, she wasn't acting bored to mock him. It was a real yawn; she was a little tired.