Mage - The Spiral [IC]

[Fanog]

On the Court, Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado
October 2002

Leo felt the medic's fingers on his eyelids, and saw him staring in his eyes. "Hmm, you seem to be okay, but you made a pretty ugly dive. Can you remember what just happened? Did you eat and drink enough today?"

Leo just then noticed that it was abnormally quiet in the stadium, all of the fans worried about what had happened to the rookie. He watched past the medic and saw the big screen, showing himself in action.

While watching, he relived the last few moments he could remember, all in slow-motion; the steal, the large paces and the jump towards the basket. He saw himself on the screen, hovering towards it, ball ready in his right hand. However, the guy on the screen never made the slam. He just glided idly past the blanket, time seeming to stretch due to the slow-motion. The athlele glided past the basket, and over the boarding, body hanging limp in the air. His feet touched the ground but did nothing to support his weight, causing him to drop flat, rolling a few more feet before coming to a halt. His head made a nasty thump on the ground, and the body halted at the exact spot that Leo was now holding.

OoC: Leo

 

[kuroshidaku]

Cambridge Streets
Cambridge, England
October 2002, late evening


Ty's pulse thumped in his head as the car screamed to a halt. The sound of some car's horn drummed into his ears. He pulled the car over, to give him time to think.

What had it been? He was close to something he was sure. But what?

The run-in with the truck had shaken him badly. How close to a crash had he been? Getting out of the car, Ty planned to clear his thoughts with a brisk walk in the night.

 

[Fanog]

Taylor's townhouse
London, England
October 2002, around 9 PM

Taylor doesn't spot any movement in the car, but he thinks that he can see the silhouette of someone sitting in the back seat.

The broad-shouldered man seems to think for a moment, as if he had expected something different. "Dr. Franks is a pretty busy man. He had hoped to have a conversation with you while he drove to his next appointment, but I can see if he would like to take the time to come in. A moment please." The man walks back to the car, where the back-seat window is being rolled down.

In the light of a nearby street lantern, Taylor can get a glimpse of the the man inside. He looks to be in his fourties, his hairline having receded quite a bit. His remaining black hair has been combed back sharply and a hooked nose supports thin glasses. The two men have a short conversation, after which the blonde one returns to Taylor. The man with the glasses looks from within the car, following the happenings at the door.

"I am sorry, but Dr. Franks doesn't have the time to come in at this moment. He kindly invites you to join him in the car. I will of return you here after I have driven Dr. Franks to his appointment. Is that acceptable?"

OoC: Taylor

 

[Fanog]

Cambridge Streets
Cambridge, England
October 2002, late evening

Still a bit shaken from his near-accident, Ty puts the car to the side of the road. He hears some curses from the driver of the pick-up, but the man soon decided that it isn't worth his time.

Ty locks the car and starts his walk, knowing that he has a good hour before he'll reach his small house in the old city centre of Cambridge. As if to taunt him, the wind picks up and drops of rain begin to fall down. Before long, it's raining pretty hard.

A beige sportscar pulls up to the side of the road where Tyrone is walking, the window being rolled down. Inside is a man in his early thirties, a thick neck and chubby round head sticking out of his white shirt. Slightly ruffled short hair and a black-and-yellow stiped tie complete the outfit of the 'young succesful business man'.

"Hey, tonight is no night to be out walking... - Need a ride?"

OoC: Ty

 

[Byrons_Ghost]

Interesting, thinks Taylor. Quite determined to get me in the car. Well, what's life without a little risk?

Taylor nods and says, "Very well, give me a moment." Closing the door, he collects some odds and ends such as his billfold and keys. He then locks up and follows the driver down to the car.

 

[Mickerus]

Charles picks up the offered beer and drinks, then with a curious look responds.

"I think," he says at length, "I think I was probably doing much better before I started having a conversation with an imaginary talking cat. But then, I bet you hear that a lot."

Charles scratches his head, then asks "Well anyways, and I feel very odd asking this of a hallucination, but you mind if I smoke?"

 

[Keia]

On the Court, Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado
October 2002

Leo felt the medic's fingers on his eyelids, and saw him staring in his eyes. "Hmm, you seem to be okay, but you made a pretty ugly dive. Can you remember what just happened? Did you eat and drink enough today?"

Seeing the crowd's concern, Leo thrust his right arm high into the air and gave the thumbs up. Then Leo moved to get up, and allow his tall frame rise above the others.

Leo looked to the medic and said, "Yeah, I ate okay, I have a nutritionist who prepares my meals for me and I'm pretty sure I'm properly hydrated. Only thing I didn't do is get much sleep last night - I'm sure it was just nerves. When I went up for the slam, I thought I saw a light or something in the crowd. It distracted me and the next thing I knew I was here."

Leo looked in the direction of where the old man was, looking for him again, to point him out to the medic. I don't know what the heck happened there, or what that old man did to me, but I can't let it affect my game, Leo thought. He looked to Gus to let him know everything was okay.

 

[kuroshidaku]

Cambridge Streets
Cambridge, England
October 2002, late evening

Eager to get out of the rain, Ty accept's the man's offer.

"Thanks for the offer. I just about got wiped out by a truck a few minutes ago. Guess I was just too tired. Hope you don't mind me being a tad wet" he says with a small smile, getting into the car.

Ty tells the driver where he lives, hoping it's not too far out of the generous man's way. He needed time to think on what had happened today.

 

[Fanog]

Charles shakes his head at remembering the absurdity of his dream. However, at the seems time it seems quite vivid and real, similar to the dreams he sometimes had of how his life could have turned out...

"Yeah sure," the bartender replies to Charles' question. "Of course you can smoke here. This is a bar, it's not like we're in a health club or something." The cat does't seem to talk or act anything different that the owner of the bar, who Charles met that evening.

"Are you up to play another set tonight, or just here for the steak?", he asks. The woman on the small stage finishes her last song, which is followed by a round of applause from the patrons. "Well, isn't she something." the cat says, more to himself than anyone else...

OoC: Charles
_______________________

On the Court, Pepsi Center
Denver, Colorado
October 2002

A burst of cheering breaks out as soon as the fans notice Leo's thumb, which is magnified in close-up on the Jumbotron.

The medic shakes his head. He doesn't seem quite pleased with having to let Leo go, but he knows that there are more concerns than just the health of his players. "Okay, I'm clearing you for play, but take it easy. I'll be keeping an eye out, hear?"

While getting helped up by one of his team mates, Leo spots Gus. The man has quite a number of frowns in his forehead, but slowly nods to Leo in a gesture that might indicate his conscent, or acknowledgement of the fact that Leo's back up again. Leo doesn't notice the man from the catacombs, but he can still hear the words repeating in his mind. "...you are close. Run up and down the mountain again, and then you will succeed..."

The medic and referee have a short conversation, after which play seems to be ready to recommence. The fans give another round of cheers, happy to see the rookie able to continue.

OoC: Leo

 

[loxmyth]

Gardens outside Devlin Hall, BC Fine Arts Department
Boston, Massachussets
late afternoon, October 2002

Jason stared at the man for a long while, unable to speak. It seemed like days passed before he could even clear his throat and lick his lips. Almost every part of his being was railing against this man. No! You don't want to know! Just walk away, dammit! It was an accident! I don't want to understand!

But under all that turmoil and inner struggle, he knew there was something inside him that really, really wanted to know. No, needed to know, like a drowning man needed air.

His face betrayed his thoughts, reflecting the inner struggle through the creases and folds of his forehead the way his mouth compacted into a scowl.

"I'm listening."