DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Modern/Historical DUC: Durham University Campus Saturday night at the..

Everyone had gone back to the dorms and changed for the night out ahead, trying to bear in mind that bowling was first on the agenda. They met up at the bowling alley which looks like a fairly new addition to the campus and likely a privately operated franchise. There are ten lanes, seating in 3s for 10 people for each pair of lanes. Along the back wall there is a food counter serving soft drinks and mostly fast food, also a place to get bowling shoes, racks of bowling balls to choose from, and a booking kiosk where they are told that there is one lane left, number 7, but only until 9 o'clock; their sister lane 8 already has two couples playing.

The place is busy, loud, rock music playing, food tannoy announcing orders for collection and lots of chatter and laughter.

{Skye}

She had a helluva time trying to decide what to wear this time, but finally went with her Harley Davidson t-shirt and black jeans and her trusted black leather jacket. Rock-inspired comfort meets bowling‑ally practicality. It was casual but chic, rebellious but ready for the night. Skye took Levon's hand when they entered. She hadn't divulged the situation to anyone, even to Emma, but was curious who would notice first in the raucous space.

Emma

Emma walked in, and paused. She was styling a simple striped blouse and some comfy scalloped shorts... clothing she could move in and if it got stained, no big deal.

The pause was for a long beat, and then she raised one eyebrow at Skye and smiled waving and walking towards the pair.

Ian

After cleaning up and changing into an a black t-shirt and an unbuttoned forest green shirt with the sleeves rolled up, Ian headed to the bowling alley to meet the rest. He stopped by to check on Levon but found that he'd already headed to the bowling alley. So Ian thinking he was running late headed over. On entering he looked around and saw Skye and Levon close together with Emma approaching. Realizing he wasn't running late he slowed down to approach the forming group.

"Hey guys."

Levon
It didn't take him long to get ready for the night out. He rinsed off quickly and tidied up. It wasn't like he had a lot of clothing options with him. All of his martial arts gear and clothing were separated into a small duffle bag. He had also brought his guitar with him in it's case. So everything else had to fit into his smaller laptop backpack which had to hold his laptop, a toiletry bag, a couple of t-shirts, a second pair of jeans, a pair of nicer shoes and his undergarments.

When he met up with Skye he accepted her hand but pulled her close for a kiss before entering the bowling alley. "You know I suck at bowling, right?"

Henri

A quick shower and a change of clothes for himself and he is then out the door with a quick walk to the bowling alley after getting directions from a campus map. He has not bowled since he came to York. Back home he was not in a league, but did manage to bowl at least once a month with friends. Hopefully his skills will not be too rusty, and he can win on his bet with Miranda. A little friendly rivalry will hopefully lead to someone needing a conciliatory hug. Joining up with the group, he asks, "It's busy! Has anyone booked a lane?"

Miranda arrives just after Tony and Sarah. Miranda is wearing a pink Tshirt with thr slogan 'In My Defence I Was Left Unsupervised' across the front. Stretcht blue jeans completed her outfit. Tony and Sarah both had identical bowling shirts with 'Dragons' across the back. Team players? It seems their group have adopted the couple...

Ian

"Yeah, looks like we weren't the only ones with designs on the alley tonight." Ian said looking over the lanes. "Let me check the Kiosk."

He does and books lane 7. Then checks to see if another pairing of lanes was set to open soon. If so he'll reserve them for the entire group.

Returning to the group he tells them what he was able to do. "So since we only have the one lane some of us can bowl the first game then the rest bowl the second."

Glancing at Tony and Sarah in their matching shirts and idea forms in his head.

"Or we could try couples bowling. We pair up and one person bowls the first ball the other bowls the second ball on the team's turn. Just rotate which person bowls first."

Sarah looks at Tony and grins.

"Yes, and if the first person gets a strike, then the second team member would wait until next go to bowl?"

Ian

"Yeah, It'd work out like that. We'd be alternating who goes first on each frame."

Emma

"Sounds fair to me. But how are we going to decide on teams?"

{Skye}

The hug and kiss from Levon, and then the little smile and raised eyebrow from Emma, made Skye feel a bit more relaxed. She still wasn't sure if this was all just a crush made real - or if there was something more longterm with Levon -- but she was happy for now.

And still competitive - she was ready to win at bowling. It was one of those things that was at all the bases her mother and father had been stationed. Tenpin was the standard, but she even liked the crazy versions that had small balls without finger holes.

"Tell us who we'll be paired against." She raised her and Levon's hands.

{OOC: sorry. thought I'd posted after a bottle of wine..... }

Henri

"I've bet against Miranda, so we have to be on separate teams. Perhaps we vote for two team captains, they flip a coin to see who picks first and go from there?"

Ian

"So I think it is obvious that Levon and Sky are a Pair as is Tony and Sarah. Last I knew that bet was for direct head to head between you and Miranda. I'd hate to think that you or Miranda lost a bet because you were partnered with me." Ian said with a smile.

"How about we let Miranda and Emma decide."

"Well as I intend to score more that Henri whatever the situation, it matters little!"

This is said with some sass and is definitely a challenge.

Ian

Ian rolls his eyes at that.

"You could figure that out as a team. But all good. I'll partner up with Henri then."

Levon
He didn't say anything but his grin spoke loudly.

Alone except for these friends in this country, he was happy about the situation and there was no reason to keep his thing with Skye hidden from any of them.

Once Skye let go of his hand he started to "try on" some of the balls. One after another he was dissatisfied. Holes too shallow, too tight, too loose, too far apart, too close together. And when he found one with finger holds he could deal with, the ball was either too light or too heavy. After a bit he was getting frustrated but then he found a ball that he decided was good enough and carried over to the ball return.

Everyone milled about getting shoes sorted and balls selected.

Tony grins.

"Usually Sarah and I play with our own balls & shoes but it seems a bit much to lug all of that over here on the offchance of a game. But if we pair up, then that's fine."

Miranda is pleased with her ball, a purple sparkly ball that weighed about 11 Lbs. It had a large blue star on it. She cradles it, patting it affectionately as she says to Henri.

"Winning ball this!"

Henri

He sticks his tongue out at Miranda, with a grin on his face, and mockingly says, "Nah! You're going down, Miranda. I've got this black beauty here." Henri found a nice matt black ball with gold flecks across its surface. It fits well enough in his hands and he is confident that it will serve him well for this contest. "So, who's going first?"

Ian

'Between us? You and Miranda need to go first on the same frames so..." he let his voice trail off implying he was cool with whatever order came about then walks off to find a ball.

After careful search he finds a simple green ball that fit comfortably in his hand.

Emma

"Teams don't matter to me... as they say let the good times bowl. So let's do this!" Emma was already sizing up an oddly swirled blue and red ball. Superman's colors. It was a sign. Obvi!

{Skye}

"Okay. Ready." Skye had picked a pearl pink ball with a black widow design on it. "Twelve pounder. Can't tire myself out for the matches." She also knew that she'd have better control over the lighter weight.

Miranda sits down at the score board.

"So who is going first?"

She has the pen ready.

Ian

After getting his ball, Ian sits and starts typing in the team names using initials. (Eg. Tony and Sarah = T&S)

[OOC: Team Order Levon and Skye - Blue; Miranda and Emma - Magenta; Henri and Ian - Green; Tony and Sarah - Orange
Miales rolled rb,rg,ro,rp and got blue 1, green 3, orange 1, purple 5

Team Order Levon and Skye - Blue; Miranda and Emma - Magenta; Henri and Ian - Green; Tony and Sarah - Orange
Miales rolled rb,ro and got blue 2, orange 3

So It'd go Team Miranda and Emma; Team Henri and Ian; Team Tony and Sarah; Team Levon and Skye]

After he's done he turns to Emma and Miranda. "You are up."

Levon

He grins when he sees Skye's pink spider ball. "Where'd you find that? It's you! I guess we clean up."

As Emma and Miranda step up to bowl and calls out some encouragement, "Show me how it's done!"

Miranda gives Emma a high five.

"We've got this Emma. You first? Or me?"

Emma

Emma thinks. "Let's see how they do first... I will go, and if the boys start bowling better than us, we distract them with some heat? Think you can get Henri's mind on other balls than the ones we are bowling with?" Em said that with a cheeky grin and wink at Miranda.

She grabbed her ball, and headed to the lane and concentrated on the pins ahead. Letting the ball go, her teeth clenched her bottom lip in a light grip as the the blue and red marvel traveled along.. knocking down 7 of the 10 pins.

"Not bad for the first ball!"

Will she make a spare?


OOC: First roll
Emma Bowl that ball!
Mina rolled d100 and got 68

Levon looks around but cannot see either of the two brothers.

Miranda picks up her ball, rubs it for good luck and winks at Emma. Then she takes position and wiggles her bottom as she lines up her shot. Oviously too intent on the wiggling, she misses!

"Sorry.."

{Skye}

"Dude. You lookin' for trouble again." Skye nudged Levon in the ribs.

Levon

"Trouble follows us, kiddo," I seem to be a trouble magnet he said, eyeing her with feigned suspicion.

Ian

Ian rolls his eyes at Levon's comment.

"Somehow I don't think it is just you, Levon." he says as he picks up his ball.

He lines up and sends his green ball down the lane with a slight stutter slide as his rental shoes catch on the floor slightly.

Ian First Ball
Miales rolled 1d100 and got 67

7 pins down!

Emma

Getting ready, she throws her ball a second time, chanting spare, spare, spare under her breath, hoping that those final three pins would fall.

OOC: Mina
Mina rolled d100 and got 16

Levon
He watches Emma roll her ball down the lane and replies to Ian. "Yeah. us is a broad term. I'm just keeping an open eye. Getting paranoid."

[OOC I may have screwed up with Miranda's turn, I thought one of the pair bowled one ball and the other bowled the second ball, swapping the order next time around? ]

Ooc: yes that was the idea... but Miranda's roll was so horrible that Emma could send hers as well..

OOC: Sorry, I thought we were alternating frames, not balls. Disregard Emma's turn.

[OOC Henri to bowl after Ian for a spare? ]

{Skye}

Not that she is competitive, but she starts to visualize her turn. Rolling the ball the her hand as if spinning itself. She laughs herself from her reverie. "Wait, where are our drinks?"

Henri

He lets out a "Woo! Hoo!" after seeing Ian take out 7 pins with his first bowl. With his turn up, Henri takes a deep breath, squares his shoulders to the line he wants to take, and lets his ball go only to see it entirely miss. Throwing his hands up in disgust, he mutters some curse words and takes his seat again.

Henri Rolling for a spare
Dugan rolled d100 and got 57

Ian

Ian claps him on the shoulder when he comes back to the seats.

"Look on the bright side. You and Miranda are even. Now when you go first next round..." he pauses. "Don't think of her wiggling butt when you roll."

"Ha! Even stevens"

Miranda is of course delighted.

Henri

He scrunches his face at Miranda then laughs with Ian's comment and says, "You're right, looking at her cute butt was my downfall. I shall not look at it again..."

"Awww.. " she pouts at him.

Ian

"Tony... Sarah... you're up."

Sarah steps up for the first ball... and gets a strike! She turns back to the others with a huge grin and high fives with Tony.

"Great start babe! Might as well sit down again."

He chuckles and takes a seat.

Ian

Turning to Henri, Emma, and Miranda he grins saying "I guess their shirts weren't for show. Aren't you glad you didn't bet against them?"

He shakes his head chuckling.

Glancing over to the final pairing he sees Levon scanning the room like an overactive radar while Skye spins her ball in her hands apparently getting into the zone.

"Levon... Skye... hate to interrupt but your turn."

Then looking at everyone else, "Anyone want something to drink?"

"Coke for me please."

Miranda puts in her order. Tony says "I'll come with you and get some drinks."

{Skye}

She pulled out of her reverie with Ian's nudge. "Sorry. Yes. And a pint of bitters, please." Skye got up still spinning the pink ball and lined up for her turn. She wasn't going to wait for Levon.

"C'mon." She added a little body English as she let go - which undoubtedly remind Levon that she was quite bendy. She inwardly giggled at the memory. As for the roll. It wasn't bad. It wasn't good.

Skye bowling - first roll
Lionhawke rolled 1d100 and got 51

Levon

"Not bad! I think you're gonna be better than me" he said as he picked up his ball and headed for his lane. He set up, wiggled his butt a bit for show and then hurled the ball down the land.
Levon Bowling first frame
Neptune rolled 1d100 and got 68

Skye bowls, her stance looking very professional but she only knocks down 6 pins. Levon was obviously watching two closely as his ball follows the exact same path as he misses.

Emma

Emma watches the others bowl, and smiles. It was nice to see everyone just... relax... after the drama of the day.

Ian

He headed to the food counter and ordered a smattering of greasy, salty goodies along with a couple of pitchers. On impulse he also picks up an order of nachos. After securing help to bring everything over he delivers the goodies.

"We got food... well what could pass as food." he announces as he grabs a cheese encrusted chip then pours himself a lager.

Having enjoyed an hour and a half of friendly rivallry, chatter, banter, food and drinks, the group from York with their new friends Tony & Sarah are feeling much more relaxed. Levon noticed about halfway through the game the other brother came in, walked quickly through looking around and then left.

The competition had been won by Tony and Sarah with a score of 138, Sarah clearly the better of the two but both enjoying the game. Second were team Henri and Ian with 112. Miranda and Emma came third with 86 whilst Skye and Levon were last with 76, maybe one or both distracted - their minds on other things.

Their lane time was almost up. Karaoke calls.

{Skye}

"At least we're in sync." Skye was always a bit of an over-achiever and hated to lose, but she did manage a knowing wink to Levon. "We'll crush it in karaoke -- even if I sing. Another round!"

Henri

After the scores are tallied up he is somewhat happy enough to end up in second place. Henri congratulates Tony and Sarah, and then turns to Miranda with a sad yet smug smile. "Looks like I didn't win our bet Miranda, since me and Ian only beat you two by 26 points."

While Henri boasted earlier of winning the bowling game by fifty points or more, what exactly the wager was never discussed.

"That was fun though!"

Miranda laughs.

"We tried hard.. but it was fun."

She grins and moves to him, giving him a kiss.

"There's your reward."

Sarah thanks Henri.

"I think the odds were stacked in our favour as we bowl in a team and have our own kit. But everyone did well!"

Ian

"I think it was the matching shirts. Style does wonders."

Levon

"Well, we didn't do much bowling in Harlem but it was good fun. Yeah, another round!" he said, acknowledging Skye. "And congrats to the winners! You're buying the next round, right?" he said looking at Henri and Sarah with a wry grin.

Emma

She smiles at Miranda. "I think we need some practice... then challenge everyone to a rematch at some point."

[OOC Happy that you describe the next round of bowling. Use the dice roller or just use narrative to relate what happens.]

[ooc: was suggesting a next round of drinks LOL]

[OOC Then does someone want to volunteer? ]

Henri

He enjoys Miranda's kiss, and adds, "Might as well have another round of drinks. I'm not singing sober."

{Skye}

"I'll buy this round. Your'e gonna say I owe you anyways after my songs." Skye stood up. "Will need an extra pair of hands to carry over. Volunteer?"

Henri

"Sure, I can help."

Henri will follow Skye and will also personally thank her for buying the drinks once they are heading back to their lane.

Ian

After they leave Ian mutters conspiratorially to Emma, "Dare I tell them the Karaoke Bar sells alcohol and likely has a better selection?"

Levon

He saw Henri stand and offer to help Skye just as he began to stand, but seeing his french ami offer, he winked at Skye and sat back down. They didn't need to be glued to the hip.

[Skye]

It was probably just as well that Levon didn't join her, they would have just ended up making out somewhere. She winked back at him. Besides, Skye thought, it had been a while since she'd chatted with Henri.

"So..." She started with a little tease. "You and Miranda hitting it off quite nicely these days."

Henri

Skye's tease makes him smile. "Oui! I like Miranda a lot."

Henri has not had much luck in keeping long term relationships with women, but he is thinking this could be different with Miranda. Feeling quite happy with the fun they are all having so far, Henri confides to Skye with a upbeat tone, "Hope she feels the same!"

Grabbing a few drinks to help carry back, he teases Skye back with his own question. "So. Something going with you and Levon? Your both acting different together."

Emma

"You should dare, you should definitely dare... though I think I will keep my wits about me tonight. I am not going to sing any country music." That was her vow, and it was a solemn one.

{Skye}

She couldn't help but curl a little smile and blush. It's not that she was completely in love with Levon -- or so she wasn't sure what to call it yet other than fun and lust. So that's where she started.

"I had a bit of a crush the moment we met, but wasn't sure where to go with it." Skye sighed and winked. "So we went with it. I've been a bit mercurial in my relationships. Maybe starting out as friends will end up being something better.

"Oh - and it's very apparent Miranda likes you a lot too. Good catch!"

They made it back and started handing out various pints and glasses. Skye tried to remember what everyone seemed to like.

Ian

Ian laughs at Emma's vow to not do country. "No. No country. But what about Christmas Music? I mean we are trying to have fun with this right?"

Levon
When he sees Skye and Henri return with the drinks, Levon announces, "I just heard that Emma's gonna sing country tonight." It was said in obvious jest as he grabs his drink.

Henri

He does not catch everything said prior to Levon's announcement, so he suggests, "Oh! Emma, please. Do something from one of Dolly Parton's Christmas Specials."

While Henri current music taste at this time is EDM, he has fond memories of watching Dolly Parton's musicals with his sister when he was much younger.

Emma

Emma looks at Ian and grins wickedly. "You can if you want to... I bet you could do a mean Santa Baby rendition." Then she looks at Henri and nods. "I will put that under advisement, but I am not a fan of country. At all."

"You are naughty!"

Miranda grins and wags a finger at Levon.

Henri

Handing out the glasses he carried over in helping Skye, he finally sits down beside Miranda then holds up his glass and simply says "Cheers, everyone!"

After downing a good third of his glass, he asks the group, "So, any ideas what karaoke game we want to do?"

Ian

"Karaoke game? Is there such a thing?" Ian asked taking a drink of the pint. "Karaoke is something you do. You find a song that means something or you think... I stress think... you can sing and try it. Maybe occasionally dare someone else to do an embarrassing song. But I have also heard tell of a tradition called the "Blind Suicide Karaoke" where your friends or DJ put you in for a song you undoubtedly would never do."

Ian reaches into his pocket and pulls out a set of dice. One purple. One blue.

"That is where these come in. We come up with game where the dice chooses the type of song and the number of singers."

He holds up the blue die.

"The blue die is the singer die. 1-3 means Solo; 4-5 means a Duet; 6 means a Group song.".

He holds up the purple die

"Meanwhile the purple die is the song type die. 1 - Holiday; 2 - Country; 3 - R&B; 4 - Rock; 5 - Rap; 6 - Blind."

"Note if you roll a 6 on the purple die the blue die doesn't matter. Blind songs are solo songs."

"As for deciding who won. Sheesh people we're just going to have some fun."

They finish off their game and the drinks and head for the student bar where the karaoke is being held. As they walk across the campus, they notice many groups of students presumably heading out to an evenings entertainment in all sort of directions; many on campus to persue hobbies or frequent bars, quite a few heading into the city where there is more on offer but obviously at more cost.

It is getting towards nine now but, although low in the sky, the sun is still shining and it is still warm but with a nice refreshing breeze; welcome after the heat and activity in the bowling centre. Sarah and Tony are walking arms around each other, obviously still feeling part of your group. Miranda slips an arm through Henri's as they set out. The relationship between them is warm and relaxed.

To your right, you catch a glimpse of Mr Harding and Miss Beech, hand in hand, heading out towards the city along with Ben and Tina. They are all laughing; some sort of banter between Mr Harding & Ben; but they don't see you.

To your right a group of lads are helping one of their group climb a lamppost to hang a large bunch of multicolour baloons. He keeps slipping as his friends are a little unsteady on their feet, probably already visited a bar or two.

Looking back, as the laughter dries up suddenly, they see Mr Harding looking back in your direction, his eyes on a group that has just passed them. Looks like a group of bikers, leathers with chains & studs, facial and arm tatoos; they look very out of place here.

{Skye}

"Our kind of crowd, Levon?" Skye has an edge in her voice. She starts to note how the group walks and moves - taking stock on any counter-measures to the leathers they wear. She slips her hand to her cell and to the 999 auto-dial button. "Perhaps we can just keep moving along."

Ian

Ian's grin at the sight of Mr Harding and Miss Beech but disappears as they pass the group in leathers. He eyes them and gauges their level of threat but doesn't act defensive or aggressive towards them as they pass.

OOC: Just a side note. I read Miales' post "Ian's grin at the sight of Mr Harding and Miss Beech but disappears as they pass the group in leathers. He eyes them and gauges their level of threat but doesn't act defensive or aggressive towards them as they pass."

I admit I was not paying the most attention, and I swear it read as: "Ian's grin at the sight of Mr Harding and Miss Beech but disappears as they pass the group in feathers. He eyes them and gauges their level of threat but doesn't act defensive or aggressive towards them as they pass."

I was lost, for a second... seriously I thought Ian was worried our eyes would be pecked out by a group of people in bird costumes. Then I reread things, and it made a bit more sense. But I really wish they had been in bird costumes.

Levon
"I'm not in the mood to mix it up with a bunch of bikers."

Even as he says that he places a hand on the small of her back and whispers, "Let's just keep our eyes peeled and our minds clear."

She was capable of handling herself.

{Skye}

"Damn skippy - as my father always says." Skye nodded back to Levon as the group continued on to karaoke.

Henri

He is not too surprised to see a group of bikers waking around here. Perhaps one or more of them have friends attending the University here. He subconsciously hugs Miranda's arm a little bit tighter when the group is closest to them, and then relaxes once they are heading away again.
Hearing Skye's comment to just keep moving, Henri is inclined to do just that.

They move ahead of the bikers but a glance round shows they are heading the same way.

A fan of karaoke perhaps? Heading elsewhere? Or looking for trouble?

{Skye}

"How far is it to this place?" Skye isn't nervous, but calculating. She tries to lighten the mood a little bit. "And Ian....this karaoke dice game....How do we know who wins? And what happens to the loser? I'm usually better at beer pong."

Ian

"Win? It isn't a contest. Its just a way to make it fun and interesting. It isn't like any of us do this as a serious hobby. Well except probably Tony or Sarah. Maybe Emma. She looks like she's ready to belt out Adele. Or Patsy Cline."