OPENING CEREMONIES

[judgepanel]

★ WELCOME TO THE SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES ★

[ congratulations, fellow athletes, and welcome to the summer olympic games! the opening ceremony was beautiful and involved lots of pomp and circumstance. enjoy the team walk, snipe at the country in front of you's uniforms, wave at the crowd, throw up on someone's feet out of nerves and excitement, but most of all, make sure you smile and wave because you are live and on tv! a lot of tv. no worries.

there's a dinner in the olympic village that acts as a mingle for athletes. do you stick to your team or meet your competitors? is your old friend on a separate team? is the food any good? figure it out.

or maybe the opening ceremony has ended and you're hard at work practicing in the gym? after all, no one goes into any international competition cold. the practice facilities are only a mile from the olympic village and are as massive as anyone could imagine. any sport you want, any equipment you want--everything's here.

attached to the gym is a sauna, a great place to meet sweaty other athletes. naked.

or maybe you'd like to visit the olympic village itself. meet your neighbors, explore the shops, have some coffee... do what you like. the living accommodations are spacious and deserve exploring as well. just try not to throw any wild parties. (or do. the competition technically starts tomorrow but not everyone's playing... better not piss off the neighbors, though.)

no matter what you do--whether it's something listed here or something else entirely, the summer olympics are OPEN FOR BUSINESS. ]

Comments

[slowball]

a. the gym

[ no matter how many times he's told not to exert himself, to be careful with his pitch count, to make absolutely sure he does nothing that could possibly cause himself harm, mihashi still gets restless. it's hard to just sit around the village, not when he could be practicing. just some working out on his own shouldn't hurt, after all, mihashi's good enough to pace himself now. he's even good about watching his pitch count.

or better, at least.

mihashi goes out for a run first, using the track to his advantage to get his blood going before he heads inside to do some more serious training. join him? ]

b. dinner.

[ it's not like mihashi doesn't have a good diet or anything, but in the face of so much top quality, well prepared food, well, good luck catching him in a moment where he doesn't have his face stuffed.

but there's so many people around, and mihashi hopes that by the time he's eaten his fill he can work up the nerve to go talk to some of them. ]

c. respondent's choice!

A! hello teammate ouo

[tire]

[ just like mihashi, eijun has been told that he is Not Allowed to be pitching right now. with the game coming up really, really fast, the team (miyuki) has basically put a ban on the bullpen for stubborn pitchers (all of them), leaving eijun just as crazy to get out and do something.

there's a track around the gym and he fully intends to get a run in with his partner. eijun ties it around his waist and takes off, and it's when he's running at a fairly quick pace, tire thudding along behind him, that he recognizes his teammate. ]

MIHASHIII!! [ he bellows, loud and bright and excited, and immediately ups his speed to catch up with him. ] Hey, you had the same idea I did!!!

hello friend :>

[slowball]

[ mihashi hears the thump thump thump coming louder behind him, but doesn't think anything of it until sawamura is screaming in his ear.

he's gotten over his nerves, sure, but surprises, not so much ] S-S-Sawamura-kun, hello! [ he nods, and notices the tire... mihashi still doesn't get it... ] Do you, wanna join me?

♥

[tire]

[ eijun is all sunshine in his smile at his often startled fellow pitcher, nothing but warm happiness as he flashes him an enthusiastic thumbs up. ] Yeah! Let's do it together, I won't even race!

[ with a chirpy 'ossu'! he matches mihashi's pace, and then asks the question. ] Are they not letting you pitch either?

a!

[theoryandcalculation]

[Rei's out for a run as well, a quick warm-up before he goes inside to the pool. He's wearing his tracksuit and his running shoes, as well as sports glasses. He's not a professional runner anymore, but he still likes having them for jogging and exercise.

He doesn't really plan on running up alongside Mihashi. He thinks he might recognize him from the opening ceremonies, but he's certainly not a swimmer or Rei would know his name. He doesn't spend too long looking at him, though. Without really meaning to, he increases his speed a bit. Subconsciously trying to go faster.]

[slowball]

[ mihashi doesn't know what to do about this person running so quickly beside him, but he finds himself caught up in the pace without realizing it. just a force of habit, something that comes from running with a whole baseball time for years and years.

the problem is that it's exhausting. especially with this guy, mihashi wonders if he does track.

too bad mihashi's still a little too nervous to ask, so he just ends up running side by side. he's trying not to loudly gasp for breathes, not until he has to come all the way to a stop.

[theoryandcalculation]

[Rei's panting quite a bit himself by the time Mihashi stops, and he slows down too, stopping a few feet in front of him.]

Ah, sorry... I think I pushed us both a little harder than I should have.

[So much for reducing practice today. He hopes his coach doesn't find out.]

It's been awhile since I had someone to run with.

[airs]

a. olympic village

[ Generally speaking, the various structures - statues, ledges, railing - around the Olympic Village are meant to be enjoyed and utilized like one would in any other city. You walk around, you admire the sights, and keep yourself safe using the rails built into stairs and ledges and balconies. You know, normal things.

Ikki tends to disregard "normal things" and goes about his business on his AT, wheels a constant source of noise as he skates through the village, checking things out. He doesn't bother just keeping to the sidewalk, and instead can be found (probably leaving wheel marks) on every surface he can reach and then some, causing general mayhem wherever he goes. This tends to involve scaring the shit out of people by appearing out of nowhere, dashing through crowds, doing some stupid risky parkour tricks on wheels to get from one place to another...

Sorry if he sails over your head? Or possibly zips by and steals whatever you're eating. ]

b. gym

[ He's not all shenanigans, at least? Even if he's yet another athlete that shouldn't be practicing right now and saving their energy, especially given the fact he competes in the speed skate race.

There's two places you're likely to find him, though: on the skatemill (sans spandex and anything that could promote safety, like a harness or helmet) just working on his run, more than happy to hold conversation while he skates, or going through exercises and equipment you'd see the wrestlers and boxers doing a lot more than you'd see any skater around.

Alternatively, please keep him from ogling the female athletes. Ikki is the problematic fav you wish you didn't have to deal with, but here he is anyways. ]

c. dealer's choice

[ w/ profile ]

[loveracer]

Sorry! I'll punish him later!

[Is what she says when she zooms past the poor victim who had their food stolen from them as Ikki zooms past. Emily doesn't stay for long, being on her own set of ATs, and trails after Ikki with a cross looking expression on her face.]

Ikki-kun! I thought they gave you a warning about mischief in the village!!

[She doesn't want him kicked out?!]

[airs]

Thanks for the meal!

[ Twisting around as he skates, Ikki glides backwards, throwing her a grin and taking a bite of the sandwich he's stolen. It's already had a piece taken out of it, but he doesn't really care too much. All the more obvious by the look he gives her in return. ]

It's only a lil' mischief! [ Not a good defense, man... ] C'mon, it's not hurting anybody.

[ God save them all. Seriously, why did they allow him into the Olympics? ]

masamune hongo, baseball | ota

[snowline]

( a, dinner )

[ if it weren't for the specific instruction of his pr agent, a small but terrifying woman barely older than him, or for the bottomless stomachs of a pair of twenty-something pitchers who can't cook, masamune wouldn't even have bothered staying to eat anything in the too-crowded-for-his-tastes dining hall. as it stands, he's working his way through his second helping of rice and looking over the boxed lunch offerings for the first day of the competition. when furuya is nearby, he pretty blatantly seems to be willing to pay more attention to the people around him, if 'actually looking at people when they talk to you' can be considered 'paying more attention', but when he isn't he's ignoring anyone who isn't offering more food or yelling that the building's on fire. ]

( b, olympic village )

[ masamune is on pitching ban. the decision on the starter for japan's first game hasn't been announced yet to the team, but he's been told in no uncertain terms that he's not to pitch outside of overseen practice until the morning of his first game. which, for a guy used to pitching five days a week, every week, is frustrating, and when masamune hongo is frustrated everyone in a five block radius knows about it without him even opening his mouth.

instead of sulking in his room, he's taken to sulking outside of a coffee shop in the village proper, reading a clearly newly bought book on olympic scandals, or, when he's done pulling faces at the history book, a dog-eared, well-loved paperback apparently on the subject of dragonslayers, if the cover illustration is any indication. either way, anyone looking to sit down in a three table radius is getting actively glowered at, with the occasional exception. go away.

if that doesn't work and the invaders on his 'territory' are too noisy, he'll look up and snap the history book's hard cover against the tabletop and fix the offenders with a scowl. shut up. ]

( c, wildcard )

[ profile. ]

b

[haplessromantic]

[What is with this guy? Daisuke's just trying to drink some coffee and text his teammate, but every time he taps anything the guy from the next table over looks up and glares at him. Is his typing too loud or something? Sheesh.

Finally, Daisuke decides to not take this challenge lying down.]

Is there a problem?

i always feel like i should apologize for masamune...........

[snowline]

[ anyone's typing is too loud if it's happening in a half mile radius, at the moment, no matter how high their volume is.

the guy at the other table is less irritating than he could be, though, so masamune's scowl over the top of his book flattens out a little. he'd crept out into the village so he wasn't snapping at furuya, he should probably... not snap at one of the other japan reps. probably. ]

You coulda picked any table in this place, and you pick that one.

[ meaning 'the one next to mine', not any particular other failing. he's sure it's a very nice table, otherwise this guy or the four other people that have sat at it since he arrived wouldn't have picked it. ]

b /pokes the bear

[staminaroll]

[ Furuya's a little surprised when he comes back from a (completely throw-free) workout that Masamune's left their room. He's been so cranky under the pitching ban that Furuya figured he'd just stay inside and burn holes in the walls with his glare for a while rather than trying to interact with the general population, but Masamune continues to surprise.

After a quick shower and change, Furuya's also out of the residence. He's not going to pretend he's not actively looking for Masamune, but he won't bother texting him to just ask where he is. It's more fun, and will take longer, if he takes his time and looks.

It doesn't take very long, though. Masamune's easy to spot even from down the street. Not just anybody could evacuate the outdoor seating at a cafe like that. Fearless as ever, Furuya wanders up behind him, peering over his shoulder. Swords and sorcery again? ]

You've read that already.

i was gonna make an inappropriate joke about poking but i couldn't come up with one... the shame

[snowline]

[ It isn't like he senses Furuya coming, or anything, but there's a moment before Furuya speaks when he's aware of someone looking over his shoulder, so the voice isn't exactly a surprise.

(There's only, like, five people who would be willing to get this close when he's this annoyed, and most of them are a lot louder than Satoru Furuya.)

He clicks his tongue, closing the book around his thumb. ]

And now I'm readin' it again. You lookin' to complain about my reading choices, because last I remember I wasn't readin' it to you.

[ He turns his chin up to glare at Furuya in greeting. ] Done running?

Ryugazaki Rei, swimming

[theoryandcalculation]

A: Dinner (night of the Opening Ceremonies)

[Rei knows this dinner is to mingle, but he's been sticking close to his teammates. It's a little easier that way, since he knows most of them, even the ones who are usually training in other countries. Most of the other athletes he's never met, and strangers are harder for him to open up to.

Still, he'll try not to be completely unsociable. If someone sits down next to him or looks over his way, he'll make the effort to smile.]

Ah, hello.

[If the person he's speaking to isn't from the Japanese team then he'll say it in English.]

B: Around the Village (day after the Opening Ceremonies)

[Rei isn't doing nearly as much training now (his taper actually started before he even arrived, due to being a sprint swimmer) which means he has a lot of extra time to spend looking around the Olympic Village.

Most of which he seems to have spent in the bookstore, judging by the two laden down sacks he's holding, with one of the books freed and in his hand while he walks. It's an autobiography about a past Olympian. More books of a similar nature, as well as on the history of the country they're in and the history of the Olympics themselves, are in the bags.

Did he spend all his souvenir money on books? Probably.

Of course, trying to read while one walks is usually a terrible idea. It's only a matter of time before he runs into something or someone...

Whether your character meets him after he's tripped into a bench or into your character, he'll be very apologetic about it.]

kawakami norifumi, baseball | ota

[sidewind]

a. gym
with the knowledge that he's not likely to receive quite as much attention here as the more... prolific pitchers, nori's restrictions on exertion are slightly more lax. he shouldn't be pushing himself, exactly, but it's not like he's being told to suddenly become sedentary like some of the other guys. it feels sort of like a backhanded compliment-- you aren't going to see as much action, so don't worry as much-- but he has to admit the relative freedom is kind of nice.

that doesn't mean he's going to go nuts on exercising, but he's easy to catch running on a treadmill, usually with earbuds in, keeping a steady pace on a slight incline. he's not a power pitcher with huge amounts of speed, but he's certainly no slouch, and it's clear just by looking at him that he's worked as hard as anybody to earn this spot.

even being focused on his run, he'll probably respond to anybody who interrupts him, or you can just wait until he's stepped off the treadmill to snag him for conversation or... spotting, or... whatever you like!]

b. around the olympic village

[there's an awful lot to see here! nori's spending a good deal of time just kind of wandering around and getting acquainted with the village; he also ends up making eye contact with more people than he'd really like to, but he's beyond letting it shake him up like he might have when he was younger.

he can be found just kind of wandering around (also with earbuds, sometimes), looking a little thoughtful but mostly just awed that he's here, when it had always seemed like an utterly impossible pipe dream. feel free to disturb his navel-gazing.]

c. requisite wildcard!

A!

[tonkatsubanana]

[At this point, Raichi has been told multiple times that he's not supposed to be going all out on training right now. His new coach doesn't want to risk him overexerting himself and tiring out before he actually gets the chance to compete or, even worse, pulling a muscle in his leg.

He knows it's all out of concern, really, but just can't stand the idea of not moving around. He feels ready to crawl out of his skin and he's not close enough with anybody on the team yet to have enough confidence if someone wants to run with him.

Raichi figures doing just a "little" bit of cardio in the gym wouldn't hurt too much. If he just so happened to work out his legs at the same time too, there was no harm in that either. Right? Right.

So, that's how he finds himself at the gym - tooling around with the incline on one of the treadmills and trying to avoid awkward eye contact. He's failing miserably at both.]

sorry this took so long to get to orz

[sidewind]

[generally speaking, nori is acutely aware of his surroundings. he notices when somebody else comes into the gym, even if he's focusing on his own workout; and he certainly hasn't been able to ignore this slightly jittery dude just kind of messing around and looking around like he didn't know what he was doing with the treadmill-- how weird.

it's clear that they were both trying to look anywhere else, but their gazes meet several times, each time a little more awkward than the last, and finally nori pulls out his earbuds to address raichi, slowing his own pace a little to make it easier to speak.] Do you... need help, or...?

a.

[pickoffs]

[ if asked, kazuya has an excuse lined up. he's just making sure one of his pitchers, and one of his high school classmates, isn't pushing too hard in the days before the competition. the look on his face says anything but. not that he's trying terribly hard to hide his intentions - that is, his angle from across the room, at nori's back, is perfect. throwing himself into baseball has only done good things for nori's, well. everything.

(maybe it's good none of their teammates are here, at the moment? he's been faced with hongo and furuya's combined disappointment like three times this week, it's annoying as hell.)

eventually, even he feels like he should try not being a creepy besotted schoolgirl sighing over an old teammate from afar, and he loops around the line of treadmills to lean just barely on the machine with a grin. his sunglasses are pushed up on his head, making half of his hair stick up, but he feels stupid wearing them when he's not outside, so bad headband sunglasses it is.

he waits for nori to pop out his earbuds, and if he doesn't notice his visitor right away he'll wave until he does. ] Hey! Spending quality time with the hamster wheel, I see.

[ does it even need to be said that kazuya doesn't like treadmills? ]

[sidewind]

[he doesn't notice until the machine he's using is being leaned on, and when another body is suddenly in his periphery he startles, half-losing his footing, and he has to scramble to get his feet on either side of the track before he completely eats shit here. the earbuds get pulled out with one hand, which then presses into his chest a little as he regards miyuki with a rather woebegone expression, trying to catch his breath.

why would you do this to him?]

Oh... oh my god. [he half-gasps that, more winded by the surprise and scramble to not die than by the actual running.] The h-- what? Don't do that.

[azuhi]

a. olympic village

[Asahi came from a very small town in Miyagi, Japan- the size and population of the Olympic Village was more than a little overwhelming. Everywhere he looked, there were huge guys or svelte girls (or even huge girls and svelte guys!) and it intimidated him terribly. He reminded himself that most of these people were here for other sports, and that he belonged here just as much as they did. So what if they were huge- he was pretty huge, too! Actually, he probably fit in here more than he did back home, in terms of his size...

The thing was, the Village was so huge, and his English was so rusty... he was utterly lost. He was trying to find the diner, where his teammates were all supposed to meet for breakfast together, but he had no idea where he was, or which way to go.]

b. responder's choice

sawamura eijun, dancesport ( ota/closed )

[tandems]

dinner.
[ so far the most awesome thing about being in the olympic village is all the food. there is so much, any kind they could ever want, and eijun loves food. she's never been a notoriously picky eater, either, so her tray is piled high with things from all kinds of countries, and eijun plunks it down at one of the communal tables, swings her legs over the bench, and promptly begins to chow down.

for such a diminutive thing, she sure eats like a horse. eijun turns to the person next to her and beams, cheeks stuffed like a chimpunk's. ] Thisth plathe--awethome! Right???

[ eijun... manners... you're in such an elegant sport why this ]

closed/at the dance studio
[ unsurprisingly, eijun finds her way to the dance studio after dinner for a little extra practice, some stretching. it's not a lot, and it's not that she's not confident in their routines that have brought them so much success before this, but eijun's practically vibrating with the idea of getting to perform, to compete. in just a few days, she'll be at the olympics, on the floor with the partner she's had since high school.

it's a really, really exciting thought.

she texted shinji when he went back to his room to change into practice clothes and ended up rushing down to practice and beating him there anyway, dressed in leggings and a too huge t-shirt that was probably shinji's before she commandeered it, and she stands in front of the mirror for a minute and pulls her hair into a ponytail, practically brimming with delight at the empty studio, at the future ahead of them.

her impatience ends up taking over, and eijun starts going through some of the moves she can herself, box steps and slide steps with her arms up as if she's got an imaginary partner, humming the music under her breath with each little step. ]

i'm here

[nannying]

[ shinji doesn't exactly dilly-dally in his room finding clean practice dress pants and a v-neck, but he's still not surprised when he spots eijun through the window on the door to the studio. he adjusts his bag over his shoulder and opens the door quietly enough he can watch her dance with herself for just a moment. her shadow dancing always used to be a mess, but her angles and steps are perfect today. not for the first time, it occurs to him that he's competing at the olympics with this girl in like four days. his stubbornness about giving up on a partner at sixteen has never been such a godsend.

he steps into the studio and out of his slip-ons, dropping his bag on the floor and leaning over to dig out his shoes. he glances up to look at her, looking twice at the logo on the back of her t-shirt. he doesn't remember packing that shirt, so she must have stolen it at some point. he's used to not getting anything but his dress shirts back these days, so all he does is straighten up, the backs of his shoes hooked over his fingers. ] Did you run over here?

[tandems]

[ eijun's really really focused when shinji comes in, her dancing shoes clicking over the wooden floor with each step, quickly running her way through some of their routine tomorrow. she likes dancing because it's fun: even when she was still pretty awful at it, even when she's not professional and just bobbing along to something in the car, in the aisle of the grocery store. doing it with shinji has been a long process but eijun blossomed with him, grew and changed into a professional instead of a kid who woke up and said i'm going to dance for the rest of my life and then started doing it.

once his bag drops she stops: midway through an attitude, she finishes the turn and drops back on both feet, grinning at her partner and putting both her hands on her hips. ] Yup! [ because...yep. why wouldn't she. ] I didn't think I was gonna beat you by that much!

[ but she trots over towards him anyway, delighted, ponytail swinging behind her. ]