(Hoofington) Out of the frying pan...

[JaguarCats]

Outside of a locker room cheering and various whistle blowing would erupt and echo as several basketball playing ponies would soon scurry in as if they were escaping a sudden downpour of rain. This wasn’t too far from what had actually occurred as the players were quickly followed by their coach who would be shooing out some reporters and some fans. With some effort the coach would manage to force back the slowly growing mob enough to where he could finally shut the door…but not without a few reporter ponies trying to get their hoofs in. Eventually a partial calm would come over the locker room. The Hoofington Trotters would change out of their jerseys throwing them into a laundry basket to be cleaned later as some would head for the showers.

Jace was about to throw his jersey in with the others and join the other ponies in the shower when his coach would stop him. “Not so fast kid” the older stallion said as he took his jersey away and threw it into a separate laundry hamper. “Coach, you know I don’t like this special treatment” Jace said with a sigh. “I know kid, but your last three jerseys that went into the wash never came back and reappeared at an auction at Manehatten” his coach explained, “this is going straight to a separate wash that’s ran by a trusted friend. It’s not that jersey’s themselves are expensive…I just don’t like people leeching off of ya” he explained as the young athlete nodded.

“Has it really gotten that bad?” Jace would ask frowning as his ears folded back. To answer his question his coach trotted up to a door and pointed to it, “Stick your head out there and see for yourself” he said with an idle smirk. Jace quickly shook his head, “no thanks…last time I tried going out that way it was like sticking my head into a tank full of piranhas” he explained grimacing as the coach laughed, “that’s what I thought. You’ve gotten good kid, real good. And that five point shot you made tonight just before the buzzer sounded was like lighting a tinder box. If you think the press and fans were bad before, they’re going to be worse, a whole lot worse”. He then slapped Jace on the backside, “but think of it this way kid, that’s good for your career, most contracts with the NPBA only last for five years, but at the rate your going…they’re likely to extend it” he explained as Jace gave a weak smile.

The coach’s words would echo in his mind as Jace made his way home that night. He’d been offered a ride in a stage coach by his other team mates but he had decided that the cool night air would help clear his head. He had gone out the back way of the stadium a few hours after the game had ended and most other ponies had gone home. After which it had been a simple matter of making his way across the pavement and to a old dirt path that few ponies knew of.

It ran through some woods in some dunes that ran along the coast of Hoofington. It was also one that Jace was pretty familiar with from when he was a colt, a secret path he took whenever he needed to be alone and had a lot on his mind. There was a cold night breeze blowing through his mane and the cooling sand felt good against his heated hooves after running like thunder on the stadium floor. His tail in turn was some what dragging behind him, tired from all the dribbling and passing he had done.

Thoughts of that game would race through his head, they had been down four points with just ten seconds to go on the buzzer. His team had gotten the ball back, through a quick and speedy maneuver he’d gotten around the ponies that had been double teaming him. Collin had managed to pass it to him with five seconds left on the clock. The next thing he knew he was taking the five pointer that had won them the game that night followed by the chaos that had made getting home alone complicated. Life was bitter sweet alright, he was doing what he loved for a living yet constantly found the rest of his life like a mine field of gossip, rumors and photographers.

[Dusky Wing]

She had her goal, the mission objective clear as crystal. Go get a few photos of the new rising basketball star Jace. Sure thing, no problem right? Oh how wrong she was. Reporters, cameraponies, even ponyparrazi that she worked with were all crowding around the team as soon as the game was over. Film Reel shuddered at the very thought of all those amateur photos being used for Equestrian Inquirer. She tried her best to get through the crowds of flashing cameras, between the many fans and ponyparrazi but it was no use, the team made it to their safety locker room and Film missed her chance to get the shots.

She grumbled to herself as she left the stadium, saddlebags secured on her back, well that was a bust...then again it WAS the rise of a new star, of course stuff like that would be popular pretty quick. She sighed softly, trotting no where in particular, lost in her own fuming before her hooves sank into soft beach sand. She looked out over the coast, moon reflecting off of the water. It was very relaxing, Film Reel unhooking her camera from around her holster and settling it in her saddlebag.

Cinema pulled out her sketchbook, setting it up on her camera holster, grabbing one of the many pencils in her saddlebag. She found a comfortable spot to sit in the sand and began to sketch the moon in the water, at least she'd get one picture from this little trip.

[JaguarCats]

Jace hadn’t realized how tired and beat he was until the aches and pains of that night’s game began to catch up with him as he trudged on through the sandy dirt path. Muscles would begin to protest all throughout his body especially in his legs with each step he took. The sand while it was cooling his hoofs down was also hindering him as the soft sandy cushion made it seem like he was walking on a mattress. And the once cool night air had warmed up some leaving the basketball player feeling a bit light headed and drowsy. He had to sit down and rest for a bit.

The crashing waves along the shoreline would draw the pony’s attention. The sight of the moon just hanging and reflecting over the water’s edge would flood his eyes. Framed by two sand dune hills, the light of the moon would help illuminate the secluded beach. It all just seemed too inviting to refuse. A final protest from his legs and joints would help the young stallion make up his mind.

Fate it would seem wasn’t without it’s sense of humor. The same sand dune hills that had helped craft this scenery of relaxation had also obstructed his view of the other temporary occupant of this area that was Cinema. So transfixed was Jace on reaching a spot to lay down at, that he didn’t notice the mare seated a couple of yards away as she sketched. Jace in turn would just sit himself down…just as the mare beside him was probably lamenting on how she had missed her chance at getting a photo of the very pony that was now beside her.

[Dusky Wing]

Cinema shifted a bit, pencil halting as she drew. For some reason she didn't feel quite as...alone...as she did when she first arrived at the beach. She sighed softly to herself as he pencil began to wander. She just couldn't focus now! She set the pencil down against the bottom of her note pad carrier and turned to search around the beach. Sure enough, she wasn't alone! It was that pony that she was supposed to take a picture of! For a moment she just stared slack jawed at the male, was this some sort of divine gift? Did Celestia herself drop this pony right where she was so she wouldn't be out of a job?....well it wouldn't be that bad but still!

"Hey!" She called out to him, drawing forgotten on her stand for the moment as her other ponysona came to the front.

Film Reel grinned wide as she trotted over to stand in front of the stallion, looking him over to make sure he was the real deal and not some...well...poser. "You mind if I get a quick picture?" She asked innocently, hopefully this wouldn't be too hard!

[JaguarCats]

Jace had been sitting there for a few moments as he felt every muscle in his body relaxing. Truth be told he was almost half tempted to just fall asleep right there when-"Hey!" he about jumped from where he sat. Glancing about he didn’t have to look around much to figure out where the voice was coming from. Between the way she reacted and the way she approached him, only one thought went through his mind, “Dear Celestia I’m going to get mugged!”

But as Film Reel approached and he was able to get a better look at her…he could see it was far worse then he had first imagined. Of all the types of ponies he could of ran into here on the beach alone…he had to run into a photographer. While for her it seemed like the universe had given her the perfect photo opportunity on a silver platter. For him though, it was like the ultimate joke. He had gone to all that trouble to avoid the chaos that his coach had warned him about…only for him to walk right into it some how!

His demeanor was that of being startled if a bit panicked. Part of him was tempted to run, but he realized he was just too tired. And while he could probably out run her the effort just wouldn’t be worth it. And all that aside it was only just one. And though he found this odd as they usually traveled around in packs, he figured a few photos wouldn’t hurt. “Heh sure…you can take a few shots ^^ I’m not really going anywhere for a little while” he said giving her a polite if weak smile. His coach had also advised him about dodging the cameras too much, as doing so would only generate mysteries about him and mysteries often evolved into rumors and unpleasant ones at that!