Football Practice (OPEN)

[Oby]

Oby hit the field and took a few handoffs from Reed. This early in the year, they were running drills at about 3/4 speed, no hard contact. It took Oby a while to get back into the swing of it, but the reflexes were still there, still sharp. He lined up in the "I" formation, only this time it was only the QB, center, two guards and the running back. There were a few other similar lineups on the field, so everyone could get as many touches as possible.

Reed called out the play, and took the snap and handed it to Oby. 43 dive, get the handoff and hit the hole between the guard and the center. Oby took the snap, hit the hole quick and then eased up, just as a freight train by the name of Biff Hannigan barrelled into him from the side. The linebacker's tackle landed them both in the sod, Biff driving Oby's facemask into the grass for added insult.

"Good to see yer back, DuBois." Biff's leering grin came into focus behind the facemask that was pressed to his. Biff got up, and offered Oby a hand up, which Oby took with a groan.

"Thanks...I think" Oby, grinning, took time to pluck the grass divot out of his facemask.

"Hey, look at that. Ya even held onto the ball."

"AWRIGHT!!" Coach Waters' voice sounded like a cannon shot, followed quickly by the shrill whistle that the players insisted was surgically grafted to the coach. "Since you two ladies want to spend time all close and touchy, you can run laps together until I tell you otherwise."

"Great, Biff, thanks."

"Yeah, DuBois." Biff chuckled "Ain't it great to be back?"

The two of them took off, running for only the coach knew how long.

Neither one of them looked back to see the wry grin on the coach's face.

[Gravwarp]

As Bryan waited in line to run wind sprints, he fought the urge to laugh and call out "Make sure you hold hands Oby!" as Antoine and Oby were sent out for laps.

Coach Waters shot Bryan an silent stare, just waiting for the receiver's mouth to open. The boy just grinned back at his Coach and nodded in understanding. The Coach returned the nod knowing the silent message was understood.

[Cyrus Fairchild]

Cyrus stood on the side lines watching the other players. He was unsure what to do with himself. He shifted uncomfortably in his pads watching the returning players already in the full swing of things. He didn't really care about football. That's not what brought him to the tryouts. What brought him to the tryouts was Coach Waters' special gift. Every football practice, every game, he wouldn't have to worry about his powers. They'd be gone, and he could just be a normal kid. A normal kid with other normal kids playing a game that normal kids play. He smiled to himself.

Of course the smile faded quickly as he realized that while he was day dreaming Coach Waters had been standing in front of him. Waters looked down at him sternly, "Welcome Back."

Cyrus swallowed, "Sorry, Sir. I was-"

The coach cut him off, "You're Fairchild right?"

Cyrus nodded, "Yes, Sir."

"You ever play football?"

"No, Sir. We don't play football in England. Not American football anyway..." Cyrus trailed off as the coach turned around and looked out over the field, “McCarty! Set your feet! You're Reed's front line of defense! Act like it!”

He returned his attention to Cyrus, "You played European football then?"

"No, Sir. I played Rugby."

Coach Waters smiled, "Rugby? What position?"

"Fullback, Sir."

“Can you run?

“Yes, Sir.”

"Can you hit?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Go stand next to Fox. We're gonna try you out as a safety."

[Lamierine Gemellate]

Mieri had slipped into the stands to watch the boy's.

Her only really experiences in football being soccer and last years football season where she didn't understand a thing that was happening made her even more determined to make sure she understood the rules this year. She pulled out her copy of the "NASO 2008 High School Football Rules By Topic" and began reading.

When Cyrus showed up and confessed he didn't know much about American football it made her relax a little as she settled into her book.

[Mercy Strike]

Aura chewed her lip, hesitating on the lowest bleacher.

It wouldn't be the same this year. Not with Nigel sent away to some stupid other school and she didn't really know any of the other players. Who would she cheer for?

Cheer for whoever's the cutest. That'll keep you busy for awhile, trying to figure out which one that is under all the padding.

"That's not very helpful, Mercy," she huffed quietly. She looked around the empty stands with just a few kids dotted here and there, probably waiting to encourage friends.

You don't pay me enough to be helpful. There was a sharp bite to the comment, a sizzle of acrimony behind it. Aura ignored it, automatically dismissing Mercy's mood. She recognized Mieri who was hunched over a book. She didn't know the other girl that well but at least she wasn't a perfect stranger.

Aura bit her lip again and drifted in that direction, sitting gingerly on a hard seat a few feet away. She curled her fingers around the rough edge and leaned forward to watch the practice.

[Ty Cloud]

Ty stood at the water cooler drenched in sweat, filling up his third cup. As the almost empty cooler spat out water weakly, he noticed Aura and Mieri sitting together.

"Hey Aura." He gave her a quick grin and a wave. He would have greeted Mieri, but she seemed so interested into her book.

"Cloud! Get your ASS over here and flirt on your own time!" Coach Waters barked.

"Oh Coah, I wasn't flirting I was ju--," He was cut off by Coahch Waters.

"I don't want your excuses, hustle over to the Wind Sprints line! Now!"

Ty nodded embarrased, jogging over to get in line. Holy shit, Coach is tough this year... He thought to himself.

[Lamierine Gemellate]

Mieri looked up when she heard Ty's voice and smiled at him and then looked over to Aura

"Ciao Aura come to watch the practice too"

Not waiting for a reply Mieri put her book in her lap and scooted over closer

"I am trying to learn the rules so that I understand what I am watching"

[Mercy Strike]

Aura nodded gratefully. "Oh, yes. I mean, it's not like anything exciting is going to happen but well, it is the first training day and I'd hate to miss it." She craned her neck at the book but couldn't see the cover very well. She opened her mouth to ask but a voice interrupted.

"Hey, Aura!"

She glanced up in time to catch the wave and grin from a boy she didn't recognise for a second. His hair was plastered down to his skull with effort but an odd cowlick stuck up on one side, making him look like he had a single horn. He had a battered helmet in one hand but had a dixie cup of water raised in salute in the other.

Then the coach yelled his name and she knew who it was as he sheepishly trotted back onto the field. She giggled, ducking her head to look shyly at Mieri.

"I don't... I don't really know the rules either. I just cheered when Nigel had the ball." She thought rapidly, trying to think of something else to say. "Oh, and I nearly died of brain stroke when Diego tried to shishkebab that mascot but I don't think that really counts. I mean, it wasn't part of the game or anything so I don't think it really had rules." Aura slid over a little more so the girls were definitely sitting together if anybody else looked. She touched a delicate white finger to the book.

"Do you think this can tell us what they're practicing right now?"

She looked up and Mieri looked too. They both squinted over the field as the boys did strange, unknowable things.

[Gravwarp]

The receivers had spent the morning running laps as Coach worked with the Backs. Running in full gear wasn't fun but it beat endless wind sprints and bear crawls.

A sharp whistle blast from the Coach got the boys' attention as the rounded the goal posts. They gathered up and listened.

"Baxter, set up the machine on the 30. Then take a knee on the 50," Coach shouted. After Bryan followed his orders, he and the rest of the receivers knelt as the their coach explained. As he talked to them, and occasionally shouted something to another group, he walked out a measured distance and put down a numbered cone. He did the same for three more cones.

"Alright, we're going through release drills and running routes. Kasim and Ty going to try and stop you," he motioned to the cornerbacks standing amongst the orange cones.

"I want to see each of you coming off the line quick and clean then run your route to the cone, that's where I want you to be at the end. Those guys are going to be in your way."

Coach Waters turned to the two defensive players. "You two aren't roughing these guys up just yet, get in their faces and make 'em forget where they're going. You got it?"

The players all replied, "Got it!"

"Moamber. You're up first. Baxter. You too, these should be old news for you Baxter so get it right."

The coach moved back, setting up a few feet to Bryan's right side, taking up the position of the Quarterback. He blew his whistle in one sharp note and the player's began moving.

Bryan hustled down field, veering slightly to the left towards the sidelines. Kasim was a little slower than Bryan but had the advantage of only having to move slightly to block the boy's path. The receiver hooked back toward midfield, heading to the cone.

Bryan motioned to his right, watching the Cornerback's body for a reaction. He saw his opponent's body weight shift away from Bryan's as he expected Baxter to fake. He instead contined right and easily passed around Moamber.

Keeping one eye on the Coach as he ran, he heard a whistle as he neared the cone. "Gotta get there faster Baxter, I'm old and don't have all day for you to get to that mark."

Bryan laughed at the comment and shouted back, "Yes, sir!" He headed back to the line giving Kasim a friendly pat on the shoulder pads.

[Oby]

Practice continued, and Oby struggled a bit, trying to remember all the plays. The right holes to hit for the running plays, the right routes to run for passing. He stepped back into the huddle waiting for the next call.

"Trips right, slants left, outlet flat."

Oby lined up in the backfield, sure he had the play, but not so sure of his route. He couldn't remember if his was an out or an in. Shit. Okay, slants...so the receivers are deep, and out, so I cut in, that's got to be it.... Oby wasn't clear, but the ball was hiked, and the play set in motion. Right or wrong, he was running the in.

He stayed in the backfield long enough to throw a block, then ran his pattern. Ten yards up the field the teen cut sharp in towards the middle of the turf. He looked back to the quarterback and saw the ball sailing towards him. He stretched his arms out...and saw another receiver headed towards him. He pulled his arms back and lowered his head bracing for the collision, realizing that the ball was intended for the other receiver.

The two players came together with a crash. The ball tipped off of the receiver's hands just as the two players slammed together, falling end over end to the turf, incomplete.

Coach Waters strode menancingly towards the two fallen players. "DAMMIT!!" ....

[Oliver Fox]

The coach had put Ollie in the Free Safety position today. Ollie seemed really confused. When he fell back, coach would yell at him to come forward. When he came forward, coach would yell for him to stay back. Finally, another player broke it down in the simplest terms possible.

"Look dude, just follow the ball. If it's a run, come up to stop him. If it looks like a pass, fall back to try to break it up, or get the pick." The player told him

"Jesus, why didn't the coach just say that to begin with" Ollie said letting out a sigh of relief, "Okay, thanks man"

After that, Ollie seemed to pick it up a little quicker. However not knowing all the plays let to him sometimes being far out of position, especially play action passes. Ollie would almost be to the Back before he realized it was a pass.

"Dammit!" Ollie said in frustration thinking 'Here is comes'

"Fox!" Coach shouted, "What's your superpower? Is it giving me a ulser? If so it's working!"

[Mercy Strike]

"Oh, wow!"

Aura squeaked without any dignity at all as two of the boys crashed together on the field. She tugged on Mieri's arm with unconscious excitement.

"Mieiri, did you see that? That was great! All the way across the field and he still tackled that guy before he could catch the ball!"

Aura watched happily as the coach strode over to congratulate the two players. Really, that had been pretty good. That's what she remember most about football, all the people piling on top of other people and a whole lot of running. Nigel had been really good at running.

Her expression wavered for a moment then firmed up. She clapped hard, bouncing a little on the seat.

"I wonder who that was? Mieri, can you see the number from here?"

[Kalie Kitten]

Mieri cringed as Aura grabbed her arm.

"Owey that looks like it hurt No? I can't see the number from here but I don' t think the one was supposed to be going for the ball too"

Mieri sat her rule book down on her back pack and stood up to see if she could catch the numbers off the shirts.

"this book is only a rule book it does't have the teams Plays in it so I don't know what there doing specifically. Maybe if I watch the field a little more we can figure it out together No?"



(( Mieri's forum account is currently deactivated, kinda waiting on Mimi to fix it))

[Mercy Strike]

Aura squirmed a little on the seat.

"Oh gosh, that was a *tackle*. Even I know that much. It's when one player dive bombs the other player and they both hit the dirt, usually with their faces and the guy on top wins."

She explained it all seriously to the other girl, because this at least she knew for sure. She'd watched enough football games last year to figure out that it was a major part of the game and whoever that was? They were a championship tackler. They'd run all the way across the field, even before the ball was thrown. That was pretty amazing. In fact, if she hasn't known the coach suppressed powers, she'd be wondering if the guy was clairvoyant.

Although that was kind of a question. Could the coach suppress seeing the future? It wasn't like being able to run very fast or being stronger than a brick wall.

Aura shrugged and squooshed an inch closer to Mieri.

"We can definitely figure it out! I mean, it's just a game and it can't be that complicated. It only has two directions to run in after all."

She stuck her hand between her knees and smiled shyly at the other girl.

"Does the book explain anything about tackling?"

[Sunfire Dervish]

"DELAVAR!!! GET OVER HERE!"

Diyar slowed his jog and turned to get off the track, breathing hard. He struggled to take off his helmet as he made his way to Coach Waters. He wasn't sure how long he had been running laps; he had lost count around ten or eleven. He got to the coach and bent over, trying to catch his breath, not pass out, and stay on his feet from the weight of the pads.

"Hey, get some water, and then go over and grab a jersey, number..." he flipped a page on his clipboard "...76. Then come back here and we'll get you started."

"Right, Coach. Be...right back..."

Finding the jersey was easy: most everyone else already had theirs on. Finding water was another thing. It seemed like most of the practice the guys got with blocking and hitting came when it was time to hydrate.

"Bout time you finished...and your jersey is on backwards."

Diyar groaned a little, quickly trying to turn his jersey around while the coach explained what he was going to be doing.

"...be a defensive end with Miller over there, number 71. He'll show you where to stand and who to hit. Let's hustle...you've already missed most of practice today."

Diyar ran onto the field while they were setting up, strapping his helmet on as tight as he could. Miller started waving at Diyar when he saw him.

"Hey, you the new defensive end?" Diyar nodded, not even sure what that meant. Miller grinned, a flash of white behind the bars on his helmet. "Cool. You'll go left side. When Reed starts the play, you're going to go around Ito and Grayson - those guys..." He pointed at numbers 65 and 77, who were chatting and motioning with their hands about ways to run. "With this particular play, we're leaving the QB alone. Go after the running backs, aight?"

Diyar blinked a few times, then shook his head. "Dude, english, please."

Miller chuckled a bit. "Wow...you ARE new to this. Ok...you have to stop...umm..." Miller turned and shouted to the others "We're going after Bartel, right?" A few nods and thumbs up. "Yeah, Bartel, number 33. He'll be running your way; tackle him. K?"

"Right...33...gotcha." Diyar nodded. Miller smacked him hard on the back.

"Cool...goodluck."

Diyar took his spot on the line. Once everyone was set, he could hear Reed shouting, then movement. Diyar took off...

And landed flat on his back, his world spinning. A dark figure loomed over him, blocking out most of the sun with his helmet.

"Don't even think about it..."

Diyar just groaned, struggling like a turtle to try and get back on his feet.

There was a whistle blowing, and a variety of curse words thrown off in the distance.