[ here's a conundrum. On one hand, Hikage absolutely hates letting people know that he's not infinitely wise and up with the times, and it's sort of even worse with Steph, because he wants to look cool and knowledgeable in front of her - plus, he knows she'll make fun of him if he doesn't know. On the other hand, she's already well aware that he's not actually a Cool Modern Teen and is actually a Crotchety Old Ghost. Plus, he knows she'll make fun of him if he pretends he knows and then screws up. He hesitates for a long second, looking conflicted, before sighing moodily. ]
... don't. [ a beat. ] But -- I know what a basketball is, and I've seen it played. Once in a while.
[ the long pause for him to finish the sentence was extremely telling. ]
You can play alone if all you're doing is trying to shoot the ball in. Like...
[ she will walk to where the court is, and bounce the ball a few times, before throwing. it goes... in. she wasn't that far from the hoop, so at least she was not doing any kuroko no basket bullshit. ]
[ to his credit, he does catch the ball - it's obviously a little heavier than he expected, though, judging by the way he loses his balance a little bit. Nothing he can't handle, though.
Getting it in the hoop is another question. He doesn't do so well at that. ]
... I was homeschooled. I think. [ his memory is so spotty. ] Dealing with so many people every day sounds like it would be annoying. At the same time... some of them would probably be all right.
[ he doesn't say this out loud, but he would have welcomed a chance to escape from that house, too, even if it was only for a few hours. ]
I was interested. [ a beat. as for the second part: ] I'm not very athletic.
[ he knows what ping pong is! maybe surprisingly. ]
It is. It's in the past now. [ a shrug. It's not something he's ever really pined for - a regular life would be nice, but he has no desire to revisit his childhood. ] ... You still go to school, then? You must be busy.
[ on top of the crime-fighting? She is young, he supposes... And he feels old. ]
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[ and there are so many sports here, so steph is going to spend her time going through all of them. ]
So shooting some hoops it is.
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[ can you play basketball alone?? he literally has no idea, but. ]
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[ she is. genuinely curious. ]
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[ here's a conundrum. On one hand, Hikage absolutely hates letting people know that he's not infinitely wise and up with the times, and it's sort of even worse with Steph, because he wants to look cool and knowledgeable in front of her - plus, he knows she'll make fun of him if he doesn't know. On the other hand, she's already well aware that he's not actually a Cool Modern Teen and is actually a Crotchety Old Ghost. Plus, he knows she'll make fun of him if he pretends he knows and then screws up. He hesitates for a long second, looking conflicted, before sighing moodily. ]
... don't. [ a beat. ] But -- I know what a basketball is, and I've seen it played. Once in a while.
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[ the long pause for him to finish the sentence was extremely telling. ]
You can play alone if all you're doing is trying to shoot the ball in. Like...
[ she will walk to where the court is, and bounce the ball a few times, before throwing. it goes... in. she wasn't that far from the hoop, so at least she was not doing any kuroko no basket bullshit. ]
I can teach you.
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she didn't make fun of him, though... he feels a little soft. Maybe it's okay for him to be more honest around her. Maybe. ]
I know you put the ball in the net. [ gotta stand up for himself a little bit here. ] But all right. I like your company.
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You try!
[ she'll cheerfully toss the ball over to him. ]
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Getting it in the hoop is another question. He doesn't do so well at that. ]
Tch.
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[ she runs after the ball, and then once she grabs it, she'll toss it back over to hikage. ]
You can try again.
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[ he catches it again, slightly more gracefully this time, and makes another shot -- it bounces off the rim.
he's feeling short... ]
... At this rate, I'm going to get depressed, too. [ but it's said wryly as he goes to fetch the ball himself. can't make her do all the work. ]
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[ she sounds like a motivational speaker. ]
Try bending your knees a little and jumping slightly when you shoot. It'll give you more oomph!
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This looked easier when you did it.
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[ sometimes you are a jock, trying to teach a goth to sport. ]
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[ wandering over to get his ball again. ]
I didn't go to school, but I've seen it in people's memories.
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Did it seem interesting?
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School, or sports?
[ eyeing that basket again. he's gonna get it right this time, dammit. ]
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[ she just wants to hear what he has to say, really. ]
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[ thinking. ]
... I was homeschooled. I think. [ his memory is so spotty. ] Dealing with so many people every day sounds like it would be annoying. At the same time... some of them would probably be all right.
[ he doesn't say this out loud, but he would have welcomed a chance to escape from that house, too, even if it was only for a few hours. ]
I was interested. [ a beat. as for the second part: ] I'm not very athletic.
[ as she's probably noticed ]
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[ she kind of demonstrates the hand movement of ping pong. ]
I play that one a lot at school.
[ ... ]
Regular school would have gotten on your nerves, yeah. But that's fine.
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It is. It's in the past now. [ a shrug. It's not something he's ever really pined for - a regular life would be nice, but he has no desire to revisit his childhood. ] ... You still go to school, then? You must be busy.
[ on top of the crime-fighting? She is young, he supposes... And he feels old. ]
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[ not by choice, admittedly, but her mom wanted her to go. ]
Sometimes, your life is not knowing when you manage to do your own homework.
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[ a laugh? part of one? maybe. it's hard to tell with him sometimes. ]
When we go back, maybe you can persuade me to help you.
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Do I have to pay you?
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[ lining up his shot again... with determination!! ]
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Depends on what?
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