MEMORY - 1
[The arrow had come out of nowhere, and stuck its suction-cup tip to Seven's forehead. He'd pulled it off in annoyance and been about to throw it away when he noticed the crystal tied to it. He studies it for a few short seconds before touching it. Suddenly--]
Let's play basketball.
[The boy's voice is vaguely familiar, slightly higher-pitched than his own. Everything's dark. Or, not dark, but he's left without sight (or taste or smell, though those are harder to notice). The air is dry, the temperature is hot, the sun is bright and warm, and he's standing around in casual clothing, .]
Yeah, okay. [Another boy, a casual tone.]
[They pause, all of them, and Seven feels himself turning slightly to look over his shoulder. There's someone still on the sidelines, apparently.]
Hey, ▒▓▒░. Let's play basketball.
[A pause, then a girl's annoyed reply.]
Why? You said I could read off to the side.
... ... oh. I lied.
[A thud, as if the girl just threw her book at the boy's head.]
Can't help it, 'cause ▓ suddenly couldn't make it.
I don't know the rules of basketball, and ▒░-sensei told me to rest until my injuries are healed... [But he can hear her walk up to join their group.]
Come on, [another girl's voice, bright and happy and more familiar than any of the others.] tie your hair up.
Anyway, are these teams okay?
▓▒░-kun? [Another girl.
Why couldn't he hear names? Why was there so much static?] Why couldn't ▓-chan come?
She said she's been trying to grow her nails out and doesn't want to break them... [A shrug, gesturing off to the side.] But it was probably just an excuse so she could go shopping.
Just playing basketball is boring... [He can almost hear the grin.] What do you think of having a punishment for the captain of the losing team?
[NOT A GOOD IDEA!!!]
Oh! Good idea! I accept!!
If we lose, we'll move the picture frames in ▓▒░'s house askew by an inch.
H-HEY! [NOT A GOOD IDEA! He flinches, gets into the middle of the conversation, flailing slightly.]
Ahahahaha... That should be interesting. [There's even a sing-song tone in her voice.
Why are his friends so mean to him?]
Okay, then if we lose... Captain ▒▓▒░ here will go on a date with her Papa for a whole day.
... WHAT???? [Apparently the tables have turned, and the girl starts panicking.] Wait a minute! I don't understand! ▓▒▓░▒▓▒, you're the captian, aren't you?? You want that title, don't you?? ... captain??
Yeah, I do, but I feel bad about forcing you to play... [He's about to either laugh or cry.] It's frustrating, but I'll give you the title of captain! I'm about to cry...
... don't get all conscientious all of a sudden.
You're even wearing the captain's cap~!
Eh? This??
SHIT! I WANT TO BE THE CAPTAIN!!!
SO SWITCH WITH ME!!!
All right, let's go.
[The game starts with the quick thud of a basketball against the concrete.]
Eh?? Why did ░░▓ pass to us? Isn't he on the other team?
Here.
Eh? Why are you returning it?
All right, here I go!
▓▒▒! Captain ▒▓▒░! Zone defense!
Right!
[He's moving into position, hands open to catch the pass.]
Eh? Zone what?!? Teach me the rules!!
[And pass, and he catches it, feels the familiar pebbled surface of the ball in his hands, then takes off down the court.]
Why are you starting?? Stop! Stop!
[Everyone else is laughing, and they keep playing. It's not mean, just teasing and fun, kids hanging out and messing around.
He stops for a half-second, jumps, feels the ball leave his fingers. There's someone in front of him, jumping a tenth of a second too late to block.]
Oh! Nice shot! [A man's voice from the side of the court. Not unexpected, and they keep playing.
A few more passes.]
Foul by ▒▓▒░! Double dribble. [There is no way he's losing this game, or letting anyone get away with cheating (it doesn't matter that she doesn't know the rules). He points.]
C'mon, ▒▓▒░. [A dramatic sigh.]
Eh? What's a double dribble? It sounds kind of cool!
[No one really explains it to her, Passes and laughs, shots and blocks and defending and racing around the court until time is up.]
That's the game. ▒▓▒░'s team loses, 20 to 4.
I didn't know what the rules were, even at the very end...
Punishment~
Punishment~
Punishment~
... Let's forget about the punishment, guys.
[A sigh of relief, thankful that he was able to protect himself from his friends and their promised punishment.]
[The memory faded out, leaving Seven staring at the crystal in his hand.]
[[ooc: memory from chapter 23, pages 33-43 but not everything in those pages.]]
Let's play basketball.
[The boy's voice is vaguely familiar, slightly higher-pitched than his own. Everything's dark. Or, not dark, but he's left without sight (or taste or smell, though those are harder to notice). The air is dry, the temperature is hot, the sun is bright and warm, and he's standing around in casual clothing, .]
Yeah, okay. [Another boy, a casual tone.]
[They pause, all of them, and Seven feels himself turning slightly to look over his shoulder. There's someone still on the sidelines, apparently.]
Hey, ▒▓▒░. Let's play basketball.
[A pause, then a girl's annoyed reply.]
Why? You said I could read off to the side.
... ... oh. I lied.
[A thud, as if the girl just threw her book at the boy's head.]
Can't help it, 'cause ▓ suddenly couldn't make it.
I don't know the rules of basketball, and ▒░-sensei told me to rest until my injuries are healed... [But he can hear her walk up to join their group.]
Come on, [another girl's voice, bright and happy and more familiar than any of the others.] tie your hair up.
Anyway, are these teams okay?
▓▒░-kun? [Another girl.
Why couldn't he hear names? Why was there so much static?] Why couldn't ▓-chan come?
She said she's been trying to grow her nails out and doesn't want to break them... [A shrug, gesturing off to the side.] But it was probably just an excuse so she could go shopping.
Just playing basketball is boring... [He can almost hear the grin.] What do you think of having a punishment for the captain of the losing team?
[NOT A GOOD IDEA!!!]
Oh! Good idea! I accept!!
If we lose, we'll move the picture frames in ▓▒░'s house askew by an inch.
H-HEY! [NOT A GOOD IDEA! He flinches, gets into the middle of the conversation, flailing slightly.]
Ahahahaha... That should be interesting. [There's even a sing-song tone in her voice.
Why are his friends so mean to him?]
Okay, then if we lose... Captain ▒▓▒░ here will go on a date with her Papa for a whole day.
... WHAT???? [Apparently the tables have turned, and the girl starts panicking.] Wait a minute! I don't understand! ▓▒▓░▒▓▒, you're the captian, aren't you?? You want that title, don't you?? ... captain??
Yeah, I do, but I feel bad about forcing you to play... [He's about to either laugh or cry.] It's frustrating, but I'll give you the title of captain! I'm about to cry...
... don't get all conscientious all of a sudden.
You're even wearing the captain's cap~!
Eh? This??
SHIT! I WANT TO BE THE CAPTAIN!!!
SO SWITCH WITH ME!!!
All right, let's go.
[The game starts with the quick thud of a basketball against the concrete.]
Eh?? Why did ░░▓ pass to us? Isn't he on the other team?
Here.
Eh? Why are you returning it?
All right, here I go!
▓▒▒! Captain ▒▓▒░! Zone defense!
Right!
[He's moving into position, hands open to catch the pass.]
Eh? Zone what?!? Teach me the rules!!
[And pass, and he catches it, feels the familiar pebbled surface of the ball in his hands, then takes off down the court.]
Why are you starting?? Stop! Stop!
[Everyone else is laughing, and they keep playing. It's not mean, just teasing and fun, kids hanging out and messing around.
He stops for a half-second, jumps, feels the ball leave his fingers. There's someone in front of him, jumping a tenth of a second too late to block.]
Oh! Nice shot! [A man's voice from the side of the court. Not unexpected, and they keep playing.
A few more passes.]
Foul by ▒▓▒░! Double dribble. [There is no way he's losing this game, or letting anyone get away with cheating (it doesn't matter that she doesn't know the rules). He points.]
C'mon, ▒▓▒░. [A dramatic sigh.]
Eh? What's a double dribble? It sounds kind of cool!
[No one really explains it to her, Passes and laughs, shots and blocks and defending and racing around the court until time is up.]
That's the game. ▒▓▒░'s team loses, 20 to 4.
I didn't know what the rules were, even at the very end...
Punishment~
Punishment~
Punishment~
... Let's forget about the punishment, guys.
[A sigh of relief, thankful that he was able to protect himself from his friends and their promised punishment.]
[The memory faded out, leaving Seven staring at the crystal in his hand.]
[[ooc: memory from chapter 23, pages 33-43 but not everything in those pages.]]