Mad skillz!

[sphynx]

Time: 8:00pm
Date: Aug 9
Place: Gym
Status: Kasim, Liz and whoever else who wants to play some B-ball

Levi had been spending his free time after meeting with his immediate supervisors unloading the boxes that had been delivered to his rooms. He wasn't much for hoarding possessions, but he did have a taste of style. His rooms were decorated with things that betrayed his Greek heritage; including a small statue of Aphrodite mounted on a tabletop fountain garden. His nightstand looked as if it were a column, and the lop on top of which was handcrafted in the country of his birth. The wall beside his bed was covered with a tapestry of old Sicilian life, woven with care by inhabitants of the Greek islands.

Still having several boxes to go through, Levi looked up at the clock, noting that it was almost eight o'clock. "Oh, jeez!" He exclaimed, standing up, and hurrying about to find a pair of gym shorts and a lightweight t-shirt. Then, after pulling on some gym socks and a pair of Reebok sneakers, he darted out to the hallway.

Levi nodded at a few people as he passed them, noting how fast hs heart was beating. Was it because he was in such a hurry, or that he was about to meet with Kasim, he didn't know. It was most likely a mixture of both, and even though he feared his feelings, he felt himself getting giddy form them as well.

Finally reaching the gym, Levi almost skidded to a halt and tried to walk in as casually as possible, despite breathing hevily and sweating a little. Was he too early?

[Kasim Chionesu]

Kasim had arrived at the gym early. He felt a little obligated to warm up and be ready to go because of his comment about his 'mad skills.' He didn't want to pull a muscle, face-plant, and embarrass himself in front of Levi after his gloating. Kasim was wearing his customary white tank-top and FBI sweatpants. He was the only one on the court in the gym.

Kasim was an okay basketball player. In the foster home he grew up in, the boys frequently played basketball with other neighborhood kids in the street at night, and Kasim was no Michael Jordan, but he could hold his own. He prided himself at never being picked last for neighborhood teams.

The 'ponk ponk' of the basketball against the gym floor reverberated off the walls, making the gym feel emptier than it was. Kasim, his dark skin already slightly misted with perspiration, dribbled and began running towards one of the hoops, attempting to make a lay-up. He jumped once her reached the hoop and hurled the ball towards the hoop and net. It hit the backboard, hit the rim, balanced on the edge for a second -- and then fell on the outside of the hoop. Kasim landed and caught the ball. "Aww man..." He said quietly just as he heard the gym door open.

Kasim turned to see Levi walk in. "Hey man!" He greeted cheerfully, and crossed the gym to meet him, dribbling the ball as he did. "You ready for an epic game of...mad skills?" His face tinted slightly red.

[lizsherman]

Liz sighed closing her recent book she "Borrowed" from the library. And by borrowed of course, she meant she took it even though it was one of the books they strictly forced people to keep in the library. She flipped through a few pages, yawning abit. Shadow people...the title read as she looked at the clock "shit" she closed the book, remembering her promised arrangements. Plus, it was abit more fun then her sitting on her bed, in her tank top and black boy shorts, being cynical and alone as always. She tied her hair back, putting on a dark blue t-shirt and black jogging pants heading down to the gym. She hoped she wasn't too late.

Liz walked into the gym, quiet as usual around this time, as she looked over seeing Kasim and Levi already there. She gave a weak wave, walking over to them. "Hey guys, ready for a little b-ball." she asked , always feeling abit out of place in a gym. It reminded her of her not so pleasant days in school. Not only picked last on the team, but teased constantly, shoved into things and having heavy items chucked at her head...oh school, she thought dismally.

[sphynx]

Levi smiled brightly at Kasim's cheerful greeting and waved as the dark-skinned man trotted over. Was it just him, or did Kasim look so much better dressed casually like this then he did in his BPRD suit? Shaking the thought from his head, he shook Kasim's hand with a strong grip and clapped the man on his shoulder. Wa-was that a blush on Kasim's cheeks? Levi blushed a little in return. "Oh, I'm ready as I'll ever be," Levi chuckled with a lopsided grin.

Then, Liz came on the scene, making Levi feel so much more at ease. "Liz!" He said with a big, bright grin when she came up to them. "Good to see ya!"

Then, with a mischievous chuckle, he batted the basketball playfully from Kasim's hand and laughed as he dribbled for the court. "Lets get some practice shits in!" He shouted with a chuckle, trying his best for a slam dunk, and surprisingly made it! "Woot!" He cheered as he landed, though there was just as much surprise in his voice than anything else. Maybe he had a subconscious need to impress Kasim?

[Kasim Chionesu]

>>"Oh, I'm ready as I'll ever be," Levi chuckled with a lopsided grin.<<

Kasim grinned back and self-consciously played with the basketball a little. Why was he so self-aware? He had no idea. Was it maybe because Levi hit on him earlier that day? That might be it. Kasim didn't know how he really felt about it...except for suddenly being a little shy around Levi alone. Luckily, Liz entered at that moment, breaking the spell of self-consciousness.

>>"Hey guys, ready for a little b-ball."<<

"Awww diggity!" Kasim said, attempting to make Liz smile. "Watch out, ladies and gentleman, this lady is on fire. Figuratively." He grinned at her. "Nice to see you here, Liz. I hope that things haven't made the day progress...worse?" He lingered for a moment before Levi batted the ball from his hands.

"Oh, tricky little guy, eh? You're like a cat with a ball of string." Kasim said, more to hear himself speak than anything. He cast a look at Liz from the corner of his eye as Levi did a slam dunk. "Show him what you're made of, kid." He said encouragingly. The ball bounced back to him and he tossed it to Liz. "Nice shot, Levi. Were you maybe a member of the NBA in a previous life, or was that just luck?"

[sphynx]

Luck? Oh i was far more than that. But, would Levi say that 'It was to impress one of most handsome men that I have met in my entire life just so that he will like me more'? No. He couldn't bring himself to do that. And even when he hit on Kasim when they had first met was a complete accident... even if he had meant it. "Maybe I'm just trying to impress you!" Levi answered finally watching Liz as she dibbled the basketball before turning back to Kasim. "You know, being the new kid on the block, gotta do my best!'

Well, it was true! Even though it wasn't completely true... But, the blsh on Levi's face seemed to covey the real message. Trying to cover up his awkwardness, Levi just smiled brightly, looking Kasim right in the eyes. "So... do you think anyone else has the guts to play against us?" He asked, looking aroun at the empty gym. "Looks like the three of us scared everyone off!"

[Kasim Chionesu]

>>"Maybe I'm just trying to impress you!" <<

"Yeah?" Kasim raised his eyebrows. "Well, it's working. I'm not the best at basketball, but we should really go one on one sometime, man. That'd be a game to remember." At that, he began jogging down to where Liz was with the ball. He felt...odd. It was kind of weird how chill he was around Levi even though he had hit on Kasim like no other person -- man or woman -- had.

>>"You know, being the new kid on the block, gotta do my best!"<<

Kasim laughed. "Yeah. And with your mad skillz you can drive away the bullies that will beat you up for your lunch money." He paused and grinned. "Just kidding. But Hellboy might steal your lunch if he's hungry enough. It's not personal, it's...a thing." Was that a blush in Levi's cheeks? Seeing this, Kasim couldn't help but blush as well. What was going on? Was Kasim attracted to Levi? He had never before had a relationship with a man - so...did he swing that way? It seems he was finding out.

>>"So... do you think anyone else has the guts to play against us?" He asked, looking around at the empty gym. "Looks like the three of us scared everyone off!" <<

"Nah, we're too terrifying. We should get tats that have nicknames relevant to our skills and um....skillz." He looked at Liz. "You could be...Flamethrower for your mad basketball passing skillz and your um...skills with fire." He turned to Levi. "You could be...Eye of the Storm for your mad skillz at dunking and the fact that you can generate weather and be at the center." Kasim paused and cocked his head to the side. "And I can be 'That Guy Over There!'"

[sphynx]

One on one... one on one... one on one. Levi's mind was simply reeling. The two different things that the statement could mean was whirling through his mind like a whirlwind. The blush in his cheeks flamed brighter, and he had to walk to the wall to lean up against it for a minute to gather his thoughts before. He was glad that Kasim's attention was directed at Liz for a moment, giving a minute to gather his senses.

Clearing his throat, he smiled at Kasim when he looked back at him. Noting the blush on the man's cheeks, Levi felt something stir inside of him. Was the man interested? Could it be?? It was enough to make Levi want to flirt more... that and he added strength he felt from Liz's all-too-knowing grin. Oh, yeah... she knew. It glimmered in her eyes like the fire had on her hands.

>>"You could be...Flamethrower for your mad basketball passing skillz and your um...skills with fire." Kasim turned to Levi. "You could be...Eye of the Storm for your mad skillz at dunking and the fact that you can generate weather and be at the center." Kasim paused and cocked his head to the side. "And I can be 'That Guy Over There'!"<<

Levi grinned, feeling quite flirtatious now, chuckled at the comment. "You mean you can be 'That Totally Hot Guy Over There'," He corrected, finding another basketball in a canvas bag held up by a iron rack against the wall he was leaning against. He made it a point to look directly into Kasim's eyes when he said it, this time intending to make the man blush.

[Kasim Chionesu]

>>"You mean you can be 'That Totally Hot Guy Over There'," He corrected.<<

Kasim chuckled nervously and shied away from Levi's eye contact. Holy friggin' crap. He could feel himself begin to get a little warm, warm enough to perspire even, and he focused on his feet as the tinge of red rose in his cheeks. When he knew for sure that he could look up and not stumble over his words, Kasim looked at Levi and said, "Well...um....That'd be a little long to tattoo on my arm. And it'd probably hurt like hell. So I'm afraid I'll respectfully decline. Thanks for the compliment, though." A small smile stretched his lips.

"So, you guys done warming up so we can play some b-ball?"