Nothing Better than a Good Ol' Carnival

[sweetcandygirl]

It is a great day to be at Coney Island. Harley had invited Caspar and Adia to come visit her, now that she was set up with a new community to protect.

Coney Island features an amusement area that includes 50 or more separate rides and attractions. And it truly embraces the themes of burlesque, circus sideshows and vaudeville everywhere you look. One can hear the excited cries of people on the rides.

The PINpoint address was set up so that Adia and Caspar are 'exiting' from a photo booth that is no longer used by the general public. Nearby, Harley waits by one of the food vendors, wearing a pink polka-dot dress and sporting sunglasses and a sunhat.

She beams at spotting her two friends. "Welcome to Coney Island!"

Comments

[chiron_survivor]

Adia is about to ask what the covers are for when Goat Boy explains. She smiles at him in appreciation. "Harley told me what a jammer does. I can't wait to see her in action."

Which is only a moment later, when the referee blows the whistle. As the skaters race around the rink, Adia keeps her eyes on Harley, curious what her friend will do once she approaches the opposing team's blockers.

[sweetcandygirl]

As a jammer, Harley and the opposing team's jammer start a few feet away from the blockers. And then when the whistle goes... that is when the action starts. Harley skates forward, jamming herself between the blockers to find an opening and get past them. The other jammer does the same, as Harley's blockers keep a solid tripod to keep the jammer from gaining access.

Harley elbows and spins, knocking one of her blockers off balance slightly to gain an advantage. And then suddenly she is past the pack, skating around the rink as the crowd cheers.

"She has to get past them again to score a point." Goat Boy explains.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia watches avidly, listening to Goat Boy's commentary so she can follow along. When Harley gets past the blockers, she cheers along with the crowd.

...and so does Caspar! It's probably the loudest he's been their whole time at Coney Island, and Adia breaks her gaze on the rink to stare up at him. "Enjoying yourself?" she asks, a grin on her face.

"Yes," Caspar replies hurriedly, gesturing towards the rink. "Quick, you're missing the action."

[sweetcandygirl]

As Harley approaches the blockers a second time, they react by reaching to the sides of the rink -- where there are several white bins -- and grabbing bats, chains and metal poles from the bins. This time when Harley reaches the jammers, the ward her off with the extra weapons.

"This is where our roller derby is different from other places." Goat Boy explains. "Anything goes here. Since most of the skaters have some unique abilities."

"Harley is really good at withstanding damage. That is why she is the best jammer in the business." Eggy claps.

Harley meanwhile is still using her elbows to jam her way through the blockers. With a spin, she even manages a high kick in her skates, to one of her opponents.

[chiron_survivor]

The sight of the weapons makes Adia tense instinctively. Goat Boy's explanation only helps a little. Intellectually, she knows that Harley can handle herself, but it's still unnerving seeing such violence on the rink. "Every match is like this?" she asks. "What sorts of abilities do the other skaters have?"

Caspar, meanwhile, looks practically gleeful. "Now this is my kind of sport," he says approvingly. "I'd be a way bigger fan of Pyramid back home if they added weapons."

Adia sighs to herself. Yes, she knew Caspar would enjoy roller derby, but does he have to enjoy this much?

[sweetcandygirl]

"Most of them are tough enough to handle anything thrown at them. Not all of them are like Harley... but some have abilities she don't. Like breathing fire..." Goat Boy explains as one skater exactly does that.

Harley gets past the blockers a second time, scoring her team a point. The whole audience goes wild in reaction.

[chiron_survivor]

Even Caspar startles at the fire-breathing. "Damn," he says, although he should have expected this from Harley's world. Superheroes and villains, what's a little fire-breathing, really? "Hope those suits are flame-retardant."

Adia cheers for Harley, her nervousness easing a little. If everyone's on a level playing field, then the extra level of violence isn't so bad... "You ever consider roller derby?" she asks Caspar teasingly, as he claps loudly for Harley's point.

"I'd have fun," he answers honestly. "But that's a hard pass on the costumes for me."

"You'd be cute in spandex," she replies, and Caspar rolls his eyes, although he's smiling a little bit.

[sweetcandygirl]

"Most roller derby teams are all female." Eggy chuckles.

"But Harley does make exceptions for her team." Goat Boy adds. "You should ask her for a skate after the game."

"You won't have to wear the uniform." Goat Boy smiles.

Harley scores another point, her team is leading.

[chiron_survivor]

Caspar nods at Eggy's comment. He had noticed the man on Harley's team. But when Goat Boy suggests that he have a skate after the game is over, he shakes his head a little and loses his look of amusement.

"No?" Adia asks. "I think it'd be fun."

"I don't know if I know how to skate," Caspar admits. "I don't remember skating." Not even in his false memories. Cylons are "born" with plenty of abilities, but roller-skating is probably not on the list.

Adia takes Caspar's hand and gives it an understanding squeeze. There's a lot of things she takes for granted that Caspar hasn't experienced, but she won't push him to try something completely new tonight. She only lets go to applaud again when Harley scores another point.

[sweetcandygirl]

"We can still help them train without needing to put on skates." Eggy grins. "I get to pelt them with tennis balls, which they then avoid."

There is a bit of competition between Harley and the opponent Jammer. They are elbow-and-elbow on the rink, each trying to out beat the other.

[chiron_survivor]

Caspar glances Eggy's way, looking over his robotic ape suit. "How hard are you able to chuck those tennis balls?"

His attention quickly returns to the rink, where Adia has not taken her eyes off the action. "You can do it, Harley!" she cheers encouragingly.

"Knock her down, Harley!" Caspar shouts, his voice carrying a good deal farther above the crowd's roars of excitement. "Kick her ass!"

[sweetcandygirl]

"Pretty hard." Eggy smiles. A weird look at the egg-face. "Why... would you like a little competition?"

Harley seems inspired by the encouraging cheers. She blows a kiss at her VIP section, and then flips the opponent jammer over her head, so the other girl lands on her butt. Then she fights her way past the blockers again, to score another point for her team.

"A three-point lead is very decent!" Goat Boy claps.

[chiron_survivor]

"No, not really. I'm more interested in the schematics of your suit. Why the ape design?"

Adia nudges Caspar a little in the side. Don't be nosy. But the Cylon shrugs. Eggy will tell him to mind his own business if he doesn't feel like explaining.

When Harley knocks down her opponent, Caspar cheers in delight. This is way more fun than a rollercoaster. Adia claps when her friend scores another point. "Is the score usually a lot closer than this?"

[sweetcandygirl]

"The ape design allows me to use heavier and more durable cybernetics. I am the un-official bodyguard for the girls. And having a larger frame makes me more intimidating." Eggy explained.

"Would you like to see the schematics later?" Eggy can talk about robotics forever.

"It takes a lot of endurance to be a jammer. The other team switches out between two jammers. That is why each round is only two minutes, to allow the girls to regain their strength. And it keeps the score tight." Goat Boat explains. "Harley has a higher endurance level, so it gives our team an advantage. She has passed them three times, and gained one point for each opposing player she has passed."

[chiron_survivor]

More durable cybernetics. Hmm. Eggy might be onto something with that ape design. Even if it would look ridiculous in a suit. "Yeah, I'd like that," he says amicably. He doesn't miss a chance to talk shop, either.

Harley's endurance is no surprise to Adia. "What's the highest her team has ever scored? Do you think she'll set a new record tonight?" Either way, she's putting on a great show for her fans.

[sweetcandygirl]

"They have scored in the 100s before. And some games even went into the 200s." Goat Boy chuckles. "They do have a mercy rule, so if the score is too one-sided, the leading team automatically wins."

Vendors are now in the stands, selling merchandise and quick snacks. Goat Boy calls over a merchandise vendor, who has hats, flags, T-shirts, and stickers.

"You mentioned wanting some fan-based items." He smiles.

[chiron_survivor]

"That high?" Adia says in surprise. "Pyramid scores rarely get into the teens..."

"If the Pyramid players were on roller skates, the game would go a lot faster," Caspar can't help but point out.

When the vendor arrives, Adia looks through the merchandise curiously. It's strange to see her friend plastered on t-shirts and flags, but exciting, too. Eventually she selects a t-shirt featuring a chibi Harley on skates, pigtails flying underneath her helmet. The drawing is too cute to resist. Caspar eyes the clothing options skeptically -- not his style -- but does pick up a metallic keychain featuring the Gang of Harleys logo and a tiny baseball bat, in honor of their Jammer.

[sweetcandygirl]

"What is this Pyramid game like?" Goat Boy asks.

The game breaks for a quick intermission, giving both teams a chance to review their strategy. Harley waves at Adia and Caspar from the huddle.

[chiron_survivor]

"It's played on a triangular field," Caspar explains. "There's a hoop each team is trying to shoot a ball through while trying to avoid being tackled and knocked out of the game."

"A little like football," Adia adds, "From what I've read about Earth sports. It's very popular, one of the first things we built on Atlantis was a stadium."

Her wave gets an enthusiastic wave from Adia in return. Caspar smirks and gives her a thumbs-up. You're doing great out there, Harley.

[sweetcandygirl]

"I would like to watch a game some day." Goat Boy smiles.

The rest of the tournament is just as action-packed as the first quarter. Harley spends a lot of the time in the action, as the team's main jammer. And at the end of the game, her team has secured a huge 115 points.

Harley heads over to the VIP Section at the end of the game. She is a little bloody and bruised, but is already healing.

"Hey guys!"

[chiron_survivor]

"I can send you a video," Caspar says. "But trust me, it's not nearly as exciting as roller derby."

For a moment, he feels genuinely bad that he can't take Goat Boy to a live game. It'd be fun to snark openly at the action with someone else. But good luck bringing someone with horns on his head to a place where the Nexus is still a secret.

"Hi, Harley!" Adia has a bright smile for her friend. She's not even concerned about the blood and bruises! ...okay, she is, a little, but they're healing right before her eyes, so she won't be a worrywart and ask if Harley is okay. "You were amazing out there. We had a great time."

"I liked the part where you hit people," Caspar adds, although his smile is far too genuine to be taken as snark. He really did have a great time watching the game.

[sweetcandygirl]

"It is my favorite part too." Harley grins. Roller derby is a good way for her to vent her aggression.

"You guys wanna meet the rest of the team?"

[chiron_survivor]

"Sure." Adia smiles shyly. "I mean, if they aren't too tired from the game..."

"I want to meet the one who clocked the other team's captain in the second half," Caspar says. "Her left hook was perfect."

[sweetcandygirl]

"Nah. We usually go out for drinks together." Harley opens a rink door, offering out a hand to them both.

"That would be Harlem Harley. The best pivot of our blocking squad."

[chiron_survivor]

Adia glances back at Goat Boy and Eggy before taking Harley's hand. Are they coming, too? She'll give them a friendly goodbye otherwise.

Caspar nods at Harley and slips through the rink door, avoiding physical contact. Nothing personal, Harley, it's just not his thing with most people. "She was fantastic. Is she super strong, like you are, or does she simply make it look that way?"