Log:Friendly Football Wager

2020/03/01 	 Wade Artemis 1

Wade shows up with Artemis at the local bar while there are some soccer matches on from England and Germany. There aren't too many sports active on weekend days now, so soccer actually gets some airtime in the bar.

Artemis has dressed in common clothes. A white v-neck t-shirt and jean shorts. She thinks it's Springtime for this planet, after all. "So this game of soccer you taught me. Your countries use it to battle each other to win argeements, or is it purely for the sake of the sport itself?"

Wade chuckles. "It's used by countries for bragging rights. But the games today are private soccer clubs from overseas. It's really for the sake of the sport, more than anything. Well, and a trophy. And lots of money."

"Ah, so...fun and money?" Artemis flashes a broad grin. "Are they taking wagers on who the winner shall be?"

Wade smiles. "Well, there's certainly better online for that kind of thing. But the state has a lot of restrictions on gambling. But I think we can manage it, if you wanted to."

"The state restricts wagers?" Artemis asks in surprise. She smiles slyly at his suggestion. "Sports betting is an old custom among the Ashildr. Would it not get you in trouble if we did, if your state forbids it? What is the punishment?"

Wade laughs, "The state just regulates how you can do it. That's all. It's a hold over from the old days. Gambling was considered a sin by religious types. It still is, by some of them."

"A sin?" Artemis laughs warmly. "Amusing, you hoomans. Well, for be it for a goddess to request that you sin for her. We shall make it a bet without cost, then. Does that abide and keep you free from sin?"

Wade grins, "Mind you, I don't have a problem with gambling. There are just lots of religions on the planet. And they all allow different things. But...if you want to wager on a game...let's see." He points to a screen. "That's the one to wager on. It won't be completely lopsided. Liverpool vs. Manchester City. Both teams are really, really good."

Artemis looks up at the screen. "Hmmm...I shall put my wager upon...Manchester City." She looks to Wade and smiles. "Since you are not religiously forbidden from a personal wager...what shall be the prize for winning?"

Wade quirks a smile. "I'm not sure. What would you want from me if you win? I'm willing to go with Liverpool."

With a rub of her chin, Artemis studies Wade. "I wonder." She muses with a smile, "Financial recompense holds no appeal to me."

Wade shrugs and smiles. "Perhaps I could owe you a favor of some kind?"

"But Friend Wade, you are taken," Artemis responds, appalled at his suggestion.

Wade laughs, "Umm...I wasn't suggesting THAT. Perhaps I could owe you dinner or something?"

Artemis chuckles with relief. "Very well. The loser purchase the winner a dining experience. This is agreeable."

Wade smiles. "Sounds good. Can I get you a drink? You were kind enough to come out and join me here after all."

Artemis smiles warmly at the offer. "How could I refuse your generous offer? Though you needn't compensate me for that. I enjoy the things you introduce me to on your planet."

Wade chuckles. "I'm glad. Though I do wonder if you tire of the weird nuances of the planet." He steps to the bar and orders a couple of beers. As soon as they're supplied, he gives one of them to Artemis.

"It can be taxing," Artemis chuckles. "But I have been to many planets, and there are many nuances among each. This is the longest I've stayed in one spot of my own free will since I left my homeworld. I hope I am learning some of your ways to fit in." She accepts the beer. "My thanks," she smiles and takes a sip. "Surely you must be out of patience for my ways."

Wade takes a deep breath and smiles. "No, no, I'm not. Not yet, at least." He winks, "It helps that you're good looking."

Artemis laughs at his response. "You are kind to the eyes as well, yet I know what you mean when you take a breath like that. You are thinking of the political answer, yes?"

Wade laughs. "Well, yes. But not in the way you think. I really don't mind your ways. I don't."

That just leaves Artemis more curious. "Oh? In past interactions, I've noticed you use that with those you test your patience," she smiles as she takes another sip of beer. "Such as with Swarmer."

Wade smiles. "That's true. I do. But in this case, I was...choosing my words carefully for a different reason." He shrugs, "What the heck. Why not? I'll be blunt. I'm attracted to you. But as you said before...I'm taken."

Artemis smiles broadly at his response. "I understand you are claimed, Wade. I shall not poach upon another's man. Honor forbids it," she reassures him. "You and your beloved have nothing unwanted to fear from me."

Wade smiles at Artemis's declaration. "I...wasn't worried about anything unwanted. Thank you, though." He motions Artemis over to where there's an empty table. "So...what do you know about soccer? Or as the Europeans call it: 'Football'.

Artemis is glad Wade wasn't worried. She looks to the empty table and takes his sign to start moving towards it. "Only what you showed me on the field with your fellow agents, Friend Wade," Artemis smiles as she takes a seat. "You may only touch the ball with your feet and hands. No battling allowed. You try to get the ball past the other team's guh...guh...hmm...guardsman?" She flounders for the word goalie.

Wade smiles. "Goalie. He's the only one allowed to use his hands, and only within that larger box on the field. Once he's outside of that, he has to play like anyone else."

Wade says, "That's also why he's wearing a distinct color."

"Because it would be dishonorable to be disguised?" Artemis asks with interest. She points to one of the screens with at tip of her beer. "Which colors do the Manchesterians strike?"

Wade chuckles. "They're wearing light blue. Liverpool is in red. And the goalie wears a different color because the rules are differnet for them. It helps the referee to keep things straight."

Artemis nods, absorbing the details with interest while looking between Wade and the screens. "Honorably designated. I like that."

Wade nods. "There are some other quirks to the game. If you end up having any questions, don't hesitate to ask. I can already predict what a couple rules questions are going to be." He smiles.

Artemis studies Wade with a smile at his predictions. "You know me well, my friend. I am sure your predictions shall prove true," she says with a chuckle.

Wade gives her a wink, "I've also played soccer for a bit. So, I know what the rules questions are that usually come up for people who are new to the sport. Like 'Offsides'."

Artemis smiles in amusement while sipping her beer. "Very well. What is this 'offsides' rule?"

Wade pauses to figure out how best to describe it. He pulls out a pen to draw a quick field and use X's and O's to indicate the players. "A player receiving a pass...has to have two defenders between him and the defensive end, when a pass is made. If he's standing say...here.." He marks a location, "...it's considered too easy. Therefore he's 'offsides'. But...the pass can be sent...and then he runs past the defender while it's int eh air. Then he can get it. It only matters at the moment the ball is kicked for the pass."

"Too easy? It's the defense's fault for not being vigilant enough," Artemis opines. Just as he predicted, it's something she has issue with.

Wade chuckles. "It's not a matter of being vigilant. It's hard enough to be a defender as things stand."

Wade says, "Indoor soccer doesn't have that rule, by hte way. But it's also a much smaller field of play."

Artemis nods slowly. "'Tis a broad field for hoomans. I suppose I can understand that, then," she concedes.

Wade smiles. "When kids start to learn to play, they tend to follow the ball. But...you'll notice that's not how they're playing. They spread out. And pass the ball in a series of triangle patterns. You'll see the pattern now that I've pointed it out."

Artemis watches the screen, leaning back and relaxing as her eyes follow the passing patterns. "Ah, yes, I see. I also notice they pass backwards to go forwards. They seem to be using strategy and tactics. Can they communicate with each other over such large distances without their enemies knowing?"

Wade nods. "There's some shouting, but you can't hear it on television. Often, they'll communicate things like...'There's a defender coming up behind you'. That's usually just stated by saying 'Man On'."

"Abbreviated codes, I see. So a Man On means to watch behind you." Artemis looks thoughtful for a moment. "Do the Starguardians have such warning calls?"

Wade nods. "Delta does. But Gamma doesn't, really. Metas are given a lot of leeway, and it tends to be less formal."

"Does that not make things rather...chaotic?" Artemis asks honestly. "Such as when, to my great sadness, I and others did fail and dishonor you at the restaurant of that uvos slayer?"

Wade chuckles. "It does. But...as you can probably guess, herding metahumans is like herding cats. It just...doesn't often work well. Metas often have an strong independent streak. Commander Perrault tends to try to work with that nature, rather than fight it."

Artemis laughs at that knowingly. "Aye, I do believe I resemble your remarks, my friend." She pauses thoughtfully. "Which animals are cats? The ones you keep as pets that wag their tails and jump all over oneself?"

Wade smiles. "I believe you're thinking of dogs." He pulls up a picture of a cat on his PDA, "Like this."

"Ah hah, yes. The fickle ones," Artemis chortles.

Wade nods and chuckles. "Get a bunch of them in a room, and you can't really get them to do what you want as a group."

"They don't seem to listen or take to training," Artemis muses with her lips against the mouth of her beer bottle. She takes a sip, and then is illuminated. "Ah, hahah, yes, that is exactly what we were like. I understand the metaphor now," she grins excitedly at finally grasping one.

Wade chuckles. "Cats listen to you. Sometimes. Depends on the cat."

Artemis purses her lips, but fails to hide her smile. "Hmm, perhaps then I am one of the cats who, on occasion, listens," she winks.

Wade laughs, "I guess it really is an apt analogy." He looks up as Man City manages to score, "Nice shot. They'll show it again. Take a look at how the play develops. They pass it around...then across in front of the goal, and the attacker headed it into the corner."

Artemis looks up to the screen as he mentions the shot, catching it on the replay. "Ah hah! I see my team has scored a point." She watches the strategy and his explanation. "Crafty. They deceived the goalie so he could not react properly fast enough. A good show of skills," she cheers.

Wade nods. "It's also better to shoot from in front of the goal. So, that's why you'll see people pass toward the center, rather than try to shoot from teh side. The angle is tougher over there."

"I see. I would have thought from a far Side would be better, but. Hmm." Artemis seems to be using her two fingers as goal posts and checks the angle by rotating them to give herself a side view. "Ah, I see. The angle to access the goal is smaller, and the goalie has less space to cover, yes?"

Wade nods. "Exactly. But the best players can overcome that with a special skill. Ah hah!" He points at hte screen. "Watch that shot the Liverpool player takes. See how the ball curves? You can cause that to happen on purpose based on how you strike the ball. So, I've seen someone score a goal on a corner kick. He managed to bend the ball around and have it go into the goal without anyone else touching it."

Artemis leans towards the screen as she watches the Liverpool player bend it like Beckham. "Well played, Liverpool," she cheers, even though it's not her team. "Such a trick. How does one achieve that?"

Wade does a quick drawing of a ball on the napkin. "If you strike it here...like this...you cause spin. It will bend in the opposite direction of the side you hit it on. It takes a LOT of practice. I never managed to be able to do it consistently."

Artemis smiles broadly at Wade. "I have faith you will be up to the task if you apply yourself as you do in your fighting skills, my friend," she says encouragingly.

Wade smiles. "You're probably right. I just wasn't allowed to play on the college team. They were concerned I had an unfair advantage, as the son of the super soldier Patriot."

"I recall. I'm sorry you could not pursue your passion, Friend Wade," Artemis says with a sympathetic note. "If you should wish to play again for pleasure, I would be happy to train to be a worthy opponent for you," she offers.

Wade grins, "I appreciate that. I may take you up on it."

"See that you do, should the urge strike you," Artemis smiles and goes back to watching the game. She's studying even more intently than before to learn what she can.

Wade grins. "Oh...nice move. See the way the attacker faked a move to his left and used the outside of his foot to cut the other way? High level players practice little things like that all the time."

"Yes. Is that called sleight of foot?" Artemis asks with a grin. "One must be agile and have quite the endurance to run for so long, even with breaks. I'm impressed."

Wade nods. "They're only allowed three substitutions during the entire game. So...most of those guys are going to be running for a full ninety minutes. Well, with a break at the 45 minute mark."

Artemis smiles thoughtfully at that and rubs her chin, her thoughts going elsewhere for a bit. "Quite the feat for mortals. I may have underestimated those without powers."

Wade chuckles. "Well, that's why you'll see some of them walking for parts of the game. It's tiring."

Artemis nods. "Yes, of course it would be." The game is put on pause after a light collision causes one of the players to sit on the ground and ham up the injury. "Foul play. I thought there was no battle in this sport. That hooman has been gravely wounded!" The replay of the impact shows it wasn't all that grave.

Wade chuckles. "Well...while it was a foul, I think the guy who got hit is acting a bit. He's playing up the 'injury' to try to draw a card."

Artemis frowns faintly as she finishes her beer. "You mean...he is using deceit to pretend he was harmed? Come now, Manchester City, you are better than this!" She says in dismay, as it's a player from her team doing the overacting. A waitress comes by and Artemis orders, "Two more beers, please. I shall be paying for this round."

Wade smacks his forehead as he realizes he's going to have to explain fouls. "Umm...for a light foul. Perhaps an incidental tripping foul or something or a hand ball, you just get a regular foul. The other team gets to kick from that spot. If it's more flagrant, you get a card. Yellow, or a warning, if it's flagrant but not THAT bad. A Red card if it's really awful, like...headbutting an opposing player on purpose or punching them."

Wade says, "Two yellows equals a red, effectively. If you get a red, you're sent off the field. And your team has to play with one fewer player."

"Well the deceiver get a red card for his dishonesty?" Artemis asks.

Wade nods. "It's possible, but probably not a red card. It's referred to as 'Diving'. If the referee can tell it's a clear snow job, then he can give a yellow card for it. And if it's his second yellow...then it becomes a red."

"Snow job...?" Artemis tries to follow. "So, diving means...faking an injury?"

Wade says, "Oh...one final thing about fouls: If it happens in that larger box, it's a penalty. The idea is that if an attacker gets tripped in there, there was a good chance to score that was taken away. So...the attacking side gets to take a penalty kick. It's just a one on one situation between the shooter and the goalie. The shooter has a penalty spot they have to shoot from. That dot...right there.""

Wade grins, "Sorry. Too much slang. A 'snow job' is trying to fool someone. And Diving, in this context, means faking an injury. Normally it means just...well, what yo uthink. Diving to the ground, or into water.

Artemis nods as she absorbs these new details. "Hm, yes. I see. There was some of this in the non-lethal gladiator matches," she comments as two new beers are delivered to their table.

Wade elaborates a little, "The guy who's faking the injury dives to the ground, trying to take it look worse than it is, trying to draw a card." He points to the screen, "See. He was writhing in pain on the ground, gripping his ankle, and he's running now. If he was in that much pain, he wouldn't be able to run."

Artemis nods and gasps. "Deceitful one! And here I feared for the poor man."

Wade chuckles. "The refs know this stuff goes on. They won't usually give the faking player a card, unless it's really stupidly obvious."

Artemis sips her drink. "I see. He is wise to these snow jobs."

Wade nods. "Exactly. But if it's super obvious, that's when the card comes out. The last time I saw it happen...I think a guy grabbed his head, effectively claiming he had been elbowed in the head. But...it was clear contact was only made on his shoulder."

Artemis makes a disappointed sound. "Well, I hope they do not manage to fool the ever watchful eyes of the referee."

Wade smiles and avoids talking about the corruption scandals in the sport. But thankfully there hasn't been a major issue with that in the last few years. "Thank you for the second round, by the way."

Artemis smiles and replies merrily, "Of course, my friend. And thank you again for the first. We have yet to see who wins, so there may be more rounds coming. Though I doubt either of us will feel it, it will at least be there for taste."

Wade smiles. "Soccer matches are pretty quick as these things go. Two hours or so."

"Hardly enough time to get drunk on the strong stuff," Artemis laughs.

Wade chuckles. "Probably true. Baseball can run...3 to 4 hours. American football is about the same. Though beer is a common denominator for fans for all sports, pretty much."

"Really? I didn't get to watch the full baseball game we went to, since the cowardly VENOM interrupted," Artemis laments.

Wade smiles. "Baseball...is a relaxing afternoon. Just...sitting around and watching a sedate kind of game. It's a lot slower than watching soccer."

"A sedate sport? Yes, I suppose that is a way to describe it. If what we saw is how it goes for the next several hours, it seems rather slow," Artemis comments, unsure if she's pleased by that prospect.

Wade grins. "It's an excuse to sit around in the summer and drink beer."

Artemis nods thoughtfully. "Well, I suppose that is not a bad way to spend a day with good company," she smiles.