Gathering: ...in the corner pocket

[concierge]

Anyone who passed the billiards room in the evening was treated to the sound of light laughter, billiard balls being struck with firm confidence, and the clatter of glasses and plates. The notice had been posted only that day for the tournament, but all were welcome to join in and play, while free drinks and small morsels of food were passed around for the enjoyment of all. The two billiard tables were rarely empty, even though the prize wasn't much to speak of, but pride was always a great motivator in people's ambitions and the ability to say you'd won was always on the line.

The billiards tournament was casual and many were lingering around, watching as the players took their turns. Waiters circulated the room with their trays, and every once in a while, new competitors were welcomed into the informal billiards competition that had begun only a few hours earlier.

Everyone was welcome, though some people would be leaving the event with a loss on their backs. It was lucky, then, that there was alcohol, food, and good company to help dull the defeats.

Comments

[thebitchfelloff]

"Why were you in New Jersey?" Cameron asked with a slight backwards jerk of her head, as if she couldn't fathom why anyone, anywhere, would ever choose to be in New Jersey. She'd never been, but felt pretty confident that even people from New Jersey wouldn't choose to be there if they could.

[theprodigaldoctor]

"Working," Chase says, a wry smile on his face. "Trust me, I know. Especially for someone from Australia and who enjoys surfing. I mean, there are a few waves to catch along the coast, but you definitely have to get used to the cold. Thing is, it's where the best was, so I kind of followed. And it got me away from home," he admits.

"Where are you from?"

[thebitchfelloff]

"Texas. Dallas," Cameron admitted, knowing it wasn't much better than New Jersey. In a lot of ways it was probably worse, but she hadn't exactly chosen to be there, either. Not really.

"I was in school there, and then there was this..." She trailed off, flopping a hand as she tried to find a word neutral enough for Cardiff and Joe and everything that went with them. "Opportunity. So I guess we were both in shitty places for business."

[theprodigaldoctor]

All that Chase really knows about Texas is that it's a place he really has no intention of ending up in, having heard more than a few stories about things there. "Opportunity?" he echoes, raising his brow as he studies the pool table in front of him, leaning most of his body weight on the cue. "What was your kind?" he wonders, seeing as he's not sure what Dallas is known for (though, it's not like he pays attention. Who has that kind of time?)

[thebitchfelloff]

"Personal computing," Cameron replied, emphasizing each syllable like was something she was trying to sell. "Apparently it's normal in a place like this, but where I come from it's 1983, so we're not quite to this level yet," she added as she pulled her smart phone from her pocket and gave it a wiggle. "Back home when I talk about that kind of stuff even in theory, I get laughed at. They can't see that far ahead."

Even if Joe hadn't been long gone, she didn't think she'd ever forgive him for letting Apple get to her idea first.

[theprodigaldoctor]

"I'm not exactly hugely tech-savvy personally, but obviously there's a ton of MRI and other medical machinery that definitely come back to that," he says, fairly impressed (especially given that she seems to be coming from the past). "So, are you using this place as a sort of cheat sheet? Take notes, head back, invent, make millions," he jokes.