(Untitled)

[haolehothead]

There isn't a word to describe how good Danny feels to be standing at home plate of a baseball diamond in a Yankees jersey. He's got a pair of jeans to go with it, making his attire at least fifty percent more casual than most days and the best part is that he's been able to leave the cane at home

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[plntfood]

Given that he's very reluctantly signed up for baseball -- it will be good for him, he knows this -- Mathias figures it might do him some good to actually visit the diamond before the games start up. Wandering over, he doesn't expect to see anyone and stops when he does, wondering for a moment if he should leave the man to his swings or go over and introduce himself. In the end, he decides on the latter, crossing the diamond and lifting one hand in a wave.

"Good morning," he says, noticing the broom and rake nearby. "Are you fixing up the diamond?"

[haolehothead]

"Can't play a good game if you're tripping over a divot," Danny says, grinning and waving back at the other man. "You bored enough that I can press you into helping? I mean, I gotta say, it keeps me away from the never-ending home repairs the longer I'm out here, but my arms, they're, you know, they're starting to hate me."

[plntfood]

There's no reason not to help, especially since he's going to be playing on the teams, so Mathias nods, stepping closer and surveying the diamond. "Are you in charge of the teams?" he asks, thinking it's likely, especially if he's cleaning it up on his own.

"I'm going to be playing," he explains. "I'm Mathias."

[haolehothead]

Danny grins wider when he hears that he's got a fellow player standing there with him. "Hey," he greets brightly. "Danny Williams. And no, not really all mine. But me and a friend, Wanda, we were commiserating deeply about the lack of sports and with this thing sitting here. Well, hell, how am I supposed to ignore it? Baseball is in my blood."

[plntfood]

"I've met Wanda," Mathias says, brightening a little. He knows so few people on the island, his friends have disappeared so often in the past few months that even knowing someone in common is impressive for him. "Unless there are several Wandas on the island, which I suppose is entirely possible."

He doesn't do much to get himself out there and meet new people, so it's likely there are plenty of people he's never known. "It is a good idea, anyway," he continues. "I wasn't sure about it, but I am glad I signed up."

[haolehothead]

"You ever play before?" Danny's still looking at some of the names and hasn't exactly put a roster together. As much as he knows, he knows Steve's on his team and Coraline and Wanda's probably got an idea of who she wants, too. "I'm telling you, now, the ticket is with me. I used to be great, back in college, back before my injury."

[plntfood]

"So I should request to be on your team then, ja?" Mathias asks with a smile. "I played off and on as a child, but I haven't played in many, many years." He really isn't one for team sports, not because he doesn't work well with others, but simply because he doesn't think of himself as part of a team. That will have to change, though, especially if he wants to enjoy this, which he does. He's trying, he's putting himself out there, and he needs to be open to it.

[haolehothead]

"Well," Danny is already boasting and he tries to temper himself because this is ridiculous. He is being ridiculous. "I mean, you can be on whatever team you want," he allows. "But I'm just saying, I have previous experience, so I'm not a bad bet. What position did you play?"

[plntfood]

"Usually second base or right field," he says. "But it really has been so long that I don't think I'll be any better at one position or the other." Which he realizes isn't exactly selling his ability to play, but it's true. It's been a very long time. Baseball was one of those things he just couldn't keep up with while going to school and traveling and Mathias will always pick travel over anything.

[haolehothead]

"Hey, we can try 'em all," Danny guarantees, clapping him on the back as he gestures out to the field and offers him a mitt. "I know we just met, but I'm a baseball fan, so it's presumptuous if I don't offer you a little toss-around of the ol' ball. You up for that?"

[plntfood]

Mathias doesn't know how people do it, how they seem so open and easy to get to know almost immediately. It's a talent he's never had and he admires it in others, especially now, when he's trying so hard.

"Ja," he agrees with a smile, taking the offered mitt and fitting his hand into. "I would like that, I think. We can see if I've lost all my childhood skill."

[haolehothead]

"Hey, those are important skills we learn in childhood. I mean, me, me, growing up with three sisters and a brother, and the brother being younger, I mostly learned that tea is a very important time of my day, but my Dad made sure I had the skills," he rambled, picking up the ball and tossing it up and down idly.

[plntfood]

Mathias laughs, the smile becoming wide and genuine, a rare expression on his face. "I had a younger brother, too," he says, taking a few steps back so as to allow Danny room to throw the ball. "No sisters, though, so I suppose I missed out on the importance of tea time."

Not entirely, though. It's something his mom would have been a big fan of had she had the time, he thinks.

[haolehothead]

"And getting dressed up in pretty hats, I bet," Danny says with an even tone, shaking his head as though he both laments and regrets growing up in that position. "I mean, I love my sisters, I really do," he says, winding up and throwing an easy pitch, "but I'm pretty sure, sometimes, they drove me to the kind of overbearing masculinity fit I had in my late teens."

[plntfood]

Mathias grins as he catches the ball, tossing it lightly to his other hand and throwing it back. It isn't quite like riding a bike, but at least he hasn't completely lost the knack. "I would have liked sisters, I think," he says. He's never had anything even close to that, not even a female friend so close as to pretend.

[haolehothead]

"I don't know, I can't complain," Danny admits with a fond grin, thinking of the sisters he hasn't seen in over a year now and how they'd put him in a headlock for not saying they're the best things he's got. "What about sisters-in-name only, you not got those?"