16861/Balls Deep in the Corner Pocket

Balls Deep in the Corner Pocket
Date of Scene:	10 January 2024
Location:	Coney Island
Synopsis:	Scott acquires a fan in Lois while gifting a long time billiards player a championship.
Cast of Characters:	Scott Summers, Lois Lane

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Scott Summers has posed:
The annual New Year's Coney Island Billiards Tournament did not quite have the same fanfare as Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest, but one thing it had going for it was that at least it wasn't a forgone conclusion that some guy named 'Joey Chestnut' was going to win every year.

This year the competition has been stiff, and it is down to the final match between two first timers for the finals. Deuces Malloy was a fixture of the Coney Island scene. He was well known and well liked, and had come close to the finals in years past, eight years put in in total, skipping only once in that span and that was for his daugther's wedding. But just could not quite get there. The challenger was a relative unknown. No one seemed to have seen him before today, but his talent was undeniable. Shades Summers had managed to make complex combo after combo, and the heat was on. Deuces was good, but never great. This Shades guy? He looked great.

Lois Lane has posed:
Was she here on the beat reporting for some fluff piece for the Daily Planet? Naw. If anything, Lois is out and about to just check things out, somewhat intrigued by people who are actually good at billiards. This is what happens when you're stood up for the umpteenth time on a date; you end up watching billiards tournaments on ESPN23.

And so, she has been watching the entire time, her brows furrowing as she lets out a hoot and hollar for the remaining contestants. Deuces Malloy was someone she had seen on television and to see him doing his magic in person was a treat. Still, the newcomer was a treat as well, considering he seemed to be taking the tournament by storm.

Scott Summers has posed:
It fell to Deuces by lot to break for the final game, and he lined up his shot carefully. Sweat beaded on his forehead and he wiped it off, smearing chalk dust there, before taking the cue down and striking it with a brief aim. The balls scattered, but none went in, much to his dismay. The shot was off center, and those looking at him closely saw that his left hand was trembling. He was good, but was the pressure too much for him?

Shades Summers, on the other hand, navigated the table like he was born to it. He made one circuit before choosing his shot, lining it up carefully, and then sent the cue ball spinning. An impressive combo, sinking two stripes. Deuces sighed as Shades swirled the cue around as if it were a quarterstaff, holding it up right behind his back as he lined up his next shot. This time, he took a careful approach, but the shot just missed, giving Deuces an opportunity at redemption, and Shades a moment to walk over to the chalk bag to dry his hands.

Lois Lane has posed:
Oh no! Did the famous guy choke? It sure seems like it as Shades Summers takes the lead, but then the game is even closer. There's ooohs and ahhhs amongst the crowd, with Lois being one of them. If she had popcorn, she'd certainly be munching on it as she leans forward in her seat, definitely taking a clear interest in the outcome.

Who knew billiards could be so entertaining?

Scott Summers has posed:
With a shot to retake the lead, Deuces lines up. He had exchanged a few words and some supportive phrases from the hometown crowd, and that invigorated him. He makes one shot, then another, then ANOTHER, before missing slightly on a banked shot. He seems to slump afterwards as much from th elack of pressure to shoot again as in frustration at the miss. Which brings up Shades Summers. He navigates the table once more, and manages to land another seemingly impossible combo. Followed by another miss, turning it back over to Deuces, who looks over at Shades, giving him a respectful nod.

They may be opponents, but they respect each other's game.

Lois Lane has posed:
Game respects game; or something like that.

The seemingly impossible shot is met with more OOOOHS, AHHHHS, and appreciative applause, as Lois continues to watch, rather immersed in the drama between the two competitors.

Scott Summers has posed:
The two go back and forth, clearing the table with a certian fluidity. Deuces seems to get more chalk on his forehead than his fingers, though, as he keeps trying to wipe the sweat. Once they are down to two balls apiece, Deuces hands are shaking so much that he scratches, sending the cueball straightt to the corner. He walks away and almost collapses into the arms of one of his friends, who whispers encouraging words as Shades starts his circuit of the table.

A murmur comes up from the doorway as woman comes in, early 20s, and races over to him.

"Darla? What are you doing, you had that anniversary cruise on the Hudson tonight!"

Deuces daughter shakes her head as she comes in for a hug. "I got three texts that you were in the finals, and I wanted to be here to see you take home the trophy."

As the two embrace, all eyes are on them. Few, if any, are on the table, where Shades is lining up what is very cleary a simple combo. A nice, easy straight line shot should sink both of his, AND if he puts the right english on it, roll the cue ball right back to the 8 ball. The few old hats that are more interested in the game than the drama playing out nudge each other, a pair of them next to Lois calling it out. It's almost impossible not to see.

But rather than looking at the balls, Shades is also watching the father daughter scene play out. He shifts his feet, two mini half steps to the left, and lines up the cue.

Deuces lookes over as he hears the crack of the cue ball, knowing that he is sunk. He saw the combo he had left too, and had told his daughter what a waste of time it was for her to return.

Except somehow, Shades /just/ misses that combo. Perhaps a bit hard, or a bit off target, but the cueball careens around. It smacks around a corner and with its span smacks in one of Deeuces' stripes! So close, and yet so far, Deuces has renewed life.

SDhades shakes his head and steps back, watching as Darla gives Deuces a 'good luck' kiss on the cheek. It appears to be enough, as the renewed confidence sees Deuces line up to sink his last stripe, and then, blowing a kiss to Darla, calls his 8 ball in the corner pocket. It sinks to uproarious applause as the crowd bursts forward to embrace Deuces.

Shades drifts into the crowd, replacing his cue and making his way subtly towards the exit while the focus remains on the new chamion of Coney Island - Deuces Malloy.

Lois Lane has posed:
Are they doing this on purpose? Making it super close just to get potential views up or at least, make things a bit more interesting? Who knows at this point?

When the match finally ends with Shades choking just a bit, and there's an audible 'AWWWW' escaping from Lois' lips. She knows the feeling of defeat, and she looks sympathetic to the unknown competitor before offering her congratulations and applause for the winner.

While others are busy offering their congrats to the winner, she decides to offer condolences to the one who didn't win; she's not going to say loser after all. With a smile, she looks him over and offers a warm smile.

"Hey, if it's any consolation, I think you did great. Haven't seen you on this circuit before?" Cause she's definitely been catching up on tournaments with all the youtube videos. "Is this your first tournament?"

Scott Summers has posed:
His attempt to escape foiled, Scott turns towards Lois and offers her a warm smile. "Yeah, I figured I'd try my hand at it, but hard to beat such a tough competitor as Deuces over there." He waves his hand to indicate the champion, beaming with pride as his daughter holds the trophy for him. Looking as if he were king of the world.

Scott smiles, and then turns his back towards Lois. He is wearing a pair of dark crimson ruby sunglasses, a dark red mock turtleneck, and a pair of black jeans.

Lois Lane has posed:
"Hey, for someone's first time, you made it to the final. That's nothing to sneeze at." Lois offers as she flashes her pearly whites in his direction. For her part, she's dressed simply in a pair of snug fitting jeans, a loose fitting sweatshirt and a pair of thick leather boots.

"I think stuff like this is just practice. I tried picking it up a while ago, but I think I get cross eyed when focusing on the cue to hard." she says with a laugh.

Scott Summers has posed:
"It's a challenge, to be sure, but it just requires patience." Scott glances back over towards the celebration, and then to Lois. "Best bet is just to focus on the balls first, and then you can start getting fancy with bank shots." He grins at her. "I'll be honest, I do it just for that. Simple shots are easy, I like to see how hard I can push myself."

Lois Lane has posed:
"I think I focus too much on the ball, which is why I get all cross eyed." she says with a hearty laugh before she oops and extends a hand to introduce herself. "Oh, I'm Lois by the way. You're Shades? Or is that just your nom-de-billiard?"

Scott Summers has posed:
"Well, you just need to relax a bit more. Everything is easier if you relax." Scott takes her hand and gives it a firm shake. "Scott. They decided to call me Shades for some reason, said that nicknames work better." He flashes her a grin. "No idea why they picked that one, my friends all call me slim." Not that he is exceptionally slim - he is fairly athletic, just lean.

Lois Lane has posed:
Tapping her temples, she snickers softly at the reason and waggles her brows, "I wonder why someone would call you Shades." Lois quips with an impish giggle. She gives him an appraising glance, noticing the clearly defined lines of muscle that can even be seen through his clothing. She has a sense for these things.

"Slim is hardly an adjective I would use to describe you. Muscley? Yes. Slim? No."

Scott Summers has posed:
There is a bit of a laugh. "Well, you should see the other guys, maybe it'd make sense then." Scott nods as she notes the glasses. "I've got a are genetic condition, and I can only see the world through rose colored glasses. I'd say it's unfortunate, but you know, I just can't see it that way." He grins.

Lois Lane has posed:
Huh. There's a look of confusion on her features at the mention of the genetic condition.

Lois looks apologetic, frowning a bit, "I'm sorry to hear that. I know that when I've gotten really low blood pressure, I've had my vision 'white out' completely before to where I don't see anything until I lay down to get it back to normal. I don't think it's like that, but I do know that vision problems suck."

Then with a depe breath, she beams, "But for someone with that sort of handicap, then you did even better!"

Scott Summers has posed:
"Well, rose colored or not, I can make out solids and stripes." Scott grins at her again. "It actually is not bad, really. It doesn't affect my eyesight, although the glasses themselves do. So it's more the remedy that impacts than the cure itself." He tilt his head. "Although it means that, for example, I have no idea what color your hair is, other than not blonde."

Lois Lane has posed:
"Red-green colorblindness is hard though. I mean, traffic lights and all." she says with a teasing grin on her features as she pffts at the mention of her hair color. "I change it as fashion demands, so no worry. It might be blonde one day." Lois says with a laugh.

Scott Summers has posed:
"I drive a Harley, so I don't bother with traffic lights." Such a scofflaw, this Scott! "And I don't know what would look best on you, but you don't strike me as a blonde, at all." He cracks a grin. "I don't suppose you're a red head, huh?"