2024-12-18 - An Icy Invitation

It's after reserved performance hours in the ice rink. Many of the performers have left and the rink has been opened for employees who might want to ice skate. Huck has been coming here a lot in the evenings. He has a homemade hockey net made out of netting and PVC pipe. With Esme's help, he has been stowing it hidden beneath one of the seating areas. He's dressed in hockey gear, his jersey is the Vancouver Canucks. Against the rink wall on the ice is an old duffel bag filled with pucks and there are a few hockey sticks on top of it. He's on skates, and slowly pulling the net out to one end of the ice.

Lucien has been staying late, practicing hard, and putting in the same level of effort for this swan lake performance in which he's a mere "gentleman' without even a named role that he would have given to his Olympic hopeful performances. The fact that he is not a pairs skater and has had to become one is a source of resentment, but one that he's been largely keeping to himself. But his practice time is over and he's about to head out as he goes walking past the ice with a bag slung over one shoulder.

He's dressed in his regular clothes -- boots, jeans, a slouchy black sweater that is a little too big for him. There's a slow and a pause as he watches Huck dragging the net out onto the ice.

Once the net is out and situated, Huck skates back toward the duffel bag and sticks. He slides to a stop and grabs one stick with his long tail as his hands scoop up three or four pucks. Turning to skate back out to the middle of the rink, he pauses when he sees Lucien. "Oh. Hey there." He smiles, a hopeful, friendly display. "Do you play hockey?"

Lucien wanders over to the edge of the rink and leans against the wall, folding his arms on it and making himself comfortable for the moment. "Hey," he says as he watches Huck get together a stick and some pucks. "I'm from Toronto," he says with a wry smile. "They revoke your Canadian citizenship if you don't play on at least one team when you're a child. Like mandatory military service. But mandatory hockey service, instead." He's totally bullshitting, very obviously. "But yeah, I've played a little."

Huck immediately stops his skate. "For reals?" he asks, and his long tail begins to swish behind him, even though it's still holding the hockey stick. He quickly skates over, extending his long clawed hand. "I'm Huck. I'm actually from Vancouver, so I've served, as well," he says, stretching the joke just a little as he watches Lucien's face to read his lips. "Dude, I'm actually trying to gather a group together to puck around with," he says with a laugh because he thinks he's really funny. "Everyone I've asked is excited about and has never even skated before. Well, except Esme, but I think she's more excited about checking people."

Lucien takes the hand in his own and gives it a shake, "We actually met the other day, when everyone got together to ride some rides? Theo and Esme and Jett and Rowan ere were there, too." Then he releases it. But Huck picking up his joke and running with it seems to do a lot to alleviate any tension that might arise from a perception of being forgotten. Both brows rise a little when Huck mentions that Esme is also excited about playing hockey and wanting to check people. "Well, that tracks I guess. I'd put money on her drawing first blood on the ice."

Huck's eyes light up in recognition, "YES!" He points at Lucien, "Yes we did!" He laughs, "I am so sorry. I um..." He shrugs, "I was kind of distracted the other night. Sorry." He holds his hand out to his side and his tail moves to deposit the hockey stick into his hand as he talks. Once it's in his hand, he plants it onto the ground like it was a staff. "You're Lucien! Esme actually mentioned you by name to play with us, you know?"

Lucien smiles and shrugs his shoulders, not seeming to mind. "No worries. It was a little chaotic and everyone was sort of talking at once." Except him. He was relatively quiet through most of the evening and then wandered off on his own, so it's mostly his own fault. When Huck does remember him, he nods. "Yeah." Though when Huck says that Esme mentioned him to play, he raises his brows a bit. "She did? Huh. Well, yeah. I could play."

Huck's entire posture brightens, "You will!" He laughs with excitement, "Wonderful!" He gestures back to the net with a nod, "Esme showed me a sweet spot under the seats over there I could tuck a net away. I've also been leaving the bag of pucks there and a few sticks. You're welcome to use them if you want." He smiles, and his tail begins to move again with some happiness. "Were you any good?"

"Yeah, sure," Lucien says with a crooked grin. "Just can't break my nose. I need my pretty face," he smirks. But the prospect isn't stopping Esme from playing so it sure isn't stopping him either. He may be a little competitive. There's a glance for the spot where Huck mentions the net is tucked away. "Sure. We gonna do some practice sessions then? How many people have you got?" Then he pauses and shrugs his shoulders, "I was alright. I was way more focused on figure skating."

Huck nods, "Sure, but skating puts you ahead of nearly everyone else." He laughs a bit about Lucien's face, "I wouldn't dream of allowing any damage there." Nodding, he shares, "Yeah, I'd love to get some other folks in here practicing with me. Get a little game going or even if we just shot around. So far, I got Jett, Elmo, Theo, Esme, and me. And you, now!" Laughing again, he says, "You know anyone who might want to join us?"

"Well, six is enough to at least have five skaters and a goalie which is a standard game size," Lucien says with a slight nod of his head, seeming to approve of that. "Who is our goalie?" As for whether he knows anyone or not he looks thoughtful and then says, "I don't know. I don't .. actually know a lot of people here. I haven't been here very long. But if I think of someone, I'll let you know. I get the feeling tat Auggie's more of a summer sports person.. and Rowan... I don't know. Maybe he has some hidden hockey talents. I'll see if either of them play."

"That would be great, Lucien!" Huck glances back at the net when asked about goalie. "Honestly? That's a tough one. I mean, the goalie is usually the best player on the team. But when everyone's still learning, I'm not sure it matters as much?" He laughs, "Probably not you, though? I mean, goalie would put that pretty face of yours under a lot greater risk."

"The goalie also gets a big ass mask in front of his face," Lucian laughs. "I might consider it. Will have to see how things pan out in practice." Either way, he seems in for doing hockey shenanigans. "Plus, I don't think any of us are going to brawl with each other on the ice.." He pauses. "Other than Esme." He's kidding. Mostly.

Huck scoffs a little. "What, are you kidding?" He rolls his eyes, "Brawling's the best part of hockey!" He does concede the helmet and mask. "That's fair. The only downside is we lose one of the only folks who can skate." He shrugs, grinning, "Whatever you decide, though. We aren't a league or anything. Play what you'll have the most fun with!"

Lucien chuckles and says, "I can hold my own in a fight." He might not look like it, but he's athletic, and scrappy. "But I also gotta be careful of getting injured or I can't perform and then I'll be in trouble." He shrugs his shoulders and watches Huck out on the ice for a moment or two. "Yeah, I mean, I think I'd rather play offense than goalie but.. who knows? Maybe if I practice enough I'll like, find a whole new true love and give up figure skating entirely for a hockey career." His smile is wry as he says it.

Huck laughs, "That would be amazing! You could hook me up with free tickets!" He tosses the handful of pucks down onto the ice, hefting the stick into his hands. "I'll let you know when we settle on a time to play!" He smiles widely, a big, toothy action that displays his sharp fangs and endearing dimples. "Anyway, I don't want to keep you. I'm sure you're tired after working, and I'm gonna knock some pucks around." He begins to skate backward away from Lucien, scooping a puck up with the blade of his stick. "I can't wait to get you out here to play, eh!"