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

[namesgiven]

Billiards was something, at least, that Vanessa was more familiar with, although it was somewhat strange to her that the room wasn't filled with a cloud of cigar and cigarette smoke. Still, she'd entered the room easily, curious to see who was at the gathering and how exactly they'd worked.

She'd become more accustomed to the hotel in the weeks she'd been there, but was still trying to get a good sense of who was present. She understood that many came from supernatural backgrounds -- whether the person was of the supernatural or had merely interacted with it. It made so she kept her guard up. The hotel seemed safe enough; certainly, she'd hadn't heard of anything bad happening since she'd arrived. But it was strange enough that she tried to keep alert.

She had a plate of small sandwiches as she watched the game in front of her.

"Who do you expect to win?" she asked the person to right; if anything, she'd learned it was okay to be bold here. A trait she found she rather liked.

[armedagainstlove]

Athos has found that the hotel has a terrible habit of funding his bad habit of drinking to excess, and often he finds they ask no coin for it. Tonight is one such night and though he could likely make a good showing of the billiards, he has elected instead to consume wine steadily, leaning up against the fireplace as he allows the ambiance of the room to sink in around him and remind him of times when his own manour had been filled with mirth and joy.

It seems too long ago, almost impossible to think of those days when Anne and he and Thomas had sat around, filled with joy and surrounded by their family and the many books at their disposal.

Better to have games, he thinks. And, truly, lucky that Porthos isn't here, lest the man gamble away most of his wages in the attempt to win.

[shes_biochem]

This is precisely what Simmons needs.

It's a night away from her stress and her worries and she doesn't even need to go far from it. The instant she'd heard it was a tournament, she had practically vaulted for a cue and taken her place beside the table. Really, what's billiards when it comes down to it? It's angles and math and Simmons might be a biochemist, but she's a very smart one and she's had Fitz to teach her all the gaps in her education.

So in the midst of her first game, she's not doing too badly at all. "We could make this more interesting," she says, to her competition. "And put something more than money on it?"

[theprodigaldoctor]

Even though this is a lot like one of his Dad's old events, Chase feels a weird sort of nostalgia from sitting in one of the cozy leather chairs, watching people shoot billiards, drink readily, and network without even realizing it's what they're doing. If this were one of Rowan Chase's parties, everyone would be well aware of the connections they're aiming to make.

For years, Chase didn't realize you could just hang out aimlessly. He'd been taught that you had to make something of every opportunity and then Dad had left and, well, it's not like Chase had ever wanted to network, but the opportunity got robbed from him in raising his sister and taking care of his mother.

He should play. He likes billiards, is even half good at it. Pushing himself away from the chair, he hesitates as he looks around the room and then remembers that he doesn't exactly know many people here, at all. Maybe he should've brought House with him -- people might end up offended and crying, but he's a great icebreaker when you get down to it.

[legendthatwas]

Martha was shite at pool, billiards, and anything to do with sticks that didn't involve hitting someone with them. She'd played, of course--who hadn't--in the student union, usually several pints of cider worse for wear, at which point even failure seemed brilliant anyway.

Pursing her lips, she watched the two competitors at the nearby table go head to head, figuring that, as she had in her uni days, she could pick up some ability by sheer osmosis.

[notgivingyourmoneyback]

He shouldn't. He really really shouldn't. He could get himself into quite a bit of trouble with this game. But, he likes risks. A lot. And so he steps up to a table, picks a stick, dusts it with chalk and beckons for someone to give him a good run by slapping some bills down on the rail.

Surely someone in this joint knows how to play.