023 - Out in the darkness the whippets will cry

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[She's at the batting cages, setting up one of the machines. There's something off about it, though--in the way she moves, so tense it's almost jittery. In the way she looks--pale and drawn, only her cheeks flushed with feverish color. She nearly drops the bucket of balls when she goes to fill the machine.

Swing, miss.

Swing, miss.

Swing, swing, swing. Missing every time.

Eventually the machine runs out of things to throw at her. She leans on the bat for a moment, eyes closed, and then thumps back against the side of the cage, sliding down into a sitting position. Knees to chest, arms crossed over them, head resting on her arms. She's chewing her lip now, thoughtful and still so tense she looks like a spring about to snap.]

Comments

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Starts the machine and stands back, holding up a note as she does.]

Sounds like my kind of girl.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[and he swings back and slams the bat into the ball, sending it flying into the stars] She'd love some of you, I know it!

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Watches the ball's progress with delight until she loses sight of it before turning to applaud.]

Maybe we shouldn't tell Sam that you dusted him on your first swing.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[grins, leaning on the bat like a cane for a moment] We'll let Sam keep his ego, eh?

[oops, another ball. Quick hit!] Course, baseball reminds me of swords meets cricket.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[Keeps watching]

Swords?

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[keeps batting! though he also keeps glancing at the notepad to talk to Misaki]

Swords, yes! I fancy myself a bit of a swordsman. Always been a hobby of mine.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

[IS ITCHING TO BAT AGAIN HERSELF. Damn lack of voice. She satisfies herself with making minute corrections to his stance.]

I've actually never tried swordplay. Considered joining kendo during high school, but opted for the archery team instead. That and track. And the diving team.

[salvagestime.livejournal.com]

[he gets the message and after two more hits, he hands over the bat to her]

I wouldn't mind sparring with you sometime. I could always use the practice.

[chasingstars201.livejournal.com]

I'd like that.

[And now she can't talk, because, well, batting. And this time she hits every pitch.]