(Untitled)

[bullfightposter]

Time: August 15, 2000
Status: Open to spectators or joiners in
Setting: The manor lawn
Summary: Brian teaches the way of the rugger

Comments

[average_adam]

"Er," said Adam eloquently, looking uncertain. "How do I know if I'm in front of it?"

He wasn't sure about this venture. It was Brian, so it had to be okay, but he tended to prefer games without a lot of rules. And did he really have to be wearing such a small pair of shorts?

[bullfightposter]

"...easy. The other person's tri-line is over THERE," Brian said, pointing to the imaginary goal. He put the ball down. He stood between the enemy goal and the ball. "In front of it."

And then between their imaginary goal and the ball. "Behind it. An' if you are in front of it and you touch it, that's off sides and it's a penalty."

[average_adam]

Shaking his head, Adam tried to force himself to think in only two dimensions. He'd been rubbish in geometry.

"All right. Stay to the west of the ball. But if you can't move it forward, how do you get it into their goal?"

[bullfightposter]

Brian beamed. "You can't THROW it forward. You can run with it-- and toss it to the side and a bit back to another teammate who's coming up behind you. And then you may be tackled, but they can run."

Wasn't it wonderful?

[classic_palm]

Shadow chuckled at Brian's enthusiasm and Adam's confusion as he stood off to the side and did his best to follow the haphazard explanation that was being given. He'd watched a little rugby on TV so he knew the basic rules. More or less, anyway.

Shadow liked organized sports, too, and was glad for the chance to learn the game better. And anyway, Brian's enthusiasm was contagious.

[bullfightposter]

"Shadow, c'mere!" Brian said. "Help me show Adam, huh?" He pitched the big man the ball.

[average_adam]

Adam almost wished Greasy Johnson were around. At least he'd understand this.

"Does that mean you hafta run into the goal holdin' the ball then? 'Cause if you keep passin' it back, it'll never go in."

[bullfightposter]

"Yes, it does," Brian said. Gosh, imagine not knowing that.

[average_adam]

Adam waved at Shadow and smiled weakly hoping that he'd be able to explain better.

[bullfightposter]

"C'mon," Brian coaxed. "Not that hard. Simple goal, right? Get this ball to the other end of the field, and touch it down nice and controlled. Simple way to carry it around and throw it. It's an easy game."

[average_adam]

"'Cept when thirty big guys are ready to jump on you to stop you from doin' it," he retorted. Adam didn't mind getting a bit beat up. He was a physical boy. What he did mind was being interrupted while he tried to attain his goal...

[bullfightposter]

"Adam, there's only fifteen men on a team, and only eight who'd tackle you. And you can just toss it away to someone who ISN'T about to be tackled."

[average_adam]

"But it's all happenin' behind you... Isn't it hard to tell what's goin' on? And what's that bit where you get thrown up in the air to catch the ball. That seems fun." He tugged on his shorts.

[bullfightposter]

"No, it ain't. Your team's behind you. And the people you'd be passing the ball to, they're not too far behind-- you can see them easy. The other team's in front of you-- they can't tackle you from behind, cos then they'd be in front of the ball and that'd be offsides."

Brian grinned. "You like lifting? Shadow, c'mon, let's lift'm!" The bigger man came to stand right by.

"What'd'ya say, Adam? Want to see what it's like?"

[average_adam]

That made sense. As long as you could see the guys who were about to tackle you it shouldn't be too bad. Better than them sneaking up on you.

"Well, I was just askin'..." He grinned. "Oh, why not?"

[bullfightposter]

Brian grinned at Shadow, and showed the bigger man how to wrap his hands tight in the legs of Adam's shorts. He moved to the front of Adam, and did the same.

"Ready, Shadow? Ready, Adam? Keep your legs good and stiff, try to balance. On the count of three-lift-- one, two, three, LIFT."