put me in coach, I'm ready to play

Quinn wasn't usually very competitive, but when she passed by the game booth with the three blocks and the stack of balls and saw a giant stuffed bunny, she knew she had to stop and win it for Beth. She waited for the employee to get to her so she could pay and start throwing, and couldn't help but smile at the guy next to her missing missing multiple times in a row. "You keep telling yourself that," She smirked, handing over her money and looking down at the balls in front of her. "It's probably not all your fault though. They totally rig these things." She shrugged, picking up a ball and throwing it hard, knocking the top block clean off.

Nodding in agreement, Ethan let out a low whistle as he watched her ball only take out one of the blocks. "That's the thing with this one especially, you've got to hit them right at the perfect spot to knock all three off their table. Which, I've done before, I just can't seem to replicate it this time around, apparently." Reluctantly he handed some more cash to the carney for another few throws. "At this point, I think the game's just trying to humble me," he laughed, picking up another softball and giving it an exaggerated once-over like he was inspecting it for defects. "Or maybe it's punishing me for thinking years of baseball would somehow translate to carnival games." He gave the ball a light toss in his hand before glancing back over at her. "You trying for anything in particular, a stuffed animal for yourself or someone special?"

Oh honey, I'mma need you to go back and reread 'guys too, but like, platonically' and see where I'm coming from here, babe. You come off MUCH less douchey when you're back-peddling though, bless your heart. I'm unclear exactly what habits you're hoping your dog picks up though, since I'm pretty sure dogs can't be homophobic or misogynistic -- wait, can dogs be homophobic? I feel like that was a meme at some point, 🤔

Look, I was just making a post about being open to riding the rides with people. Yeah, I started off flirty because, well, that's kind of just who I am, but when I mentioned I was open to riding with dudes and used the word "platonically," that was just me trying to make sure nobody got the wrong idea or thought I was leading anyone on. I wasn't trying to make some kind of statement beyond that. Maybe I could've worded it differently, sure, but I know what I meant when I wrote it. So if you still want to see it as me trying to pull a "no homo" thing, I don't know what else I can really say. I think we're just going to have to agree to disagree here.

...Okay, so maybe I didn't quite give you the proper benefit of the doubt and was letting my salty past experiences with actual players speak for me. I guess I can't be too mad about it as long as these girlies are being treated respectfully and you're being upfront about your priorities. I stand by the fact that your phrasing def needs work, but I can admit to overreacting a little bit. Just a little bit, though! I still think my reaction was totally reasonable, personally.

Thank you. And of course I treat everyone with respect, I'm a very respectful guy. Just call me a human version of a golden retriever. Might be odd since I have a great dane, but that's besides the point. And I agree, you were right to call me out on it, I may have accidentally just let a little Johnny Bravo out. That'd probably the downside to that being one of my favorite cartoons growing up, after Scooby Doo of course. So, I'll maybe see you around at the carnival?

Okay, well, I can at least appreciate you being a responsible dog dad. Plus, I mean, Scooby is just an undeniably cute name. For what it's worth, I don't think you're a bad guy and I'd be willing to hear you out if you're not the total player all that just made you sound like - not to mention the 'enough of me to go around' thing. Or maybe you are and, like, cool! You do you! And, like, not that this was ever really that serious, but just generally that's not a position I'm willing to put myself in these days. Been there, done that! I want to feel like a guy's first choice, not his second, third, or fourth because he's also flirting with a bunch of other girls at the same time as me.

Why is it if a guy wants to date around, he's automatically considered a player? See, to me a player is either someone who's just after one thing or lies about how many other people they're seeing and going around with. And okay, like I said I realize I may have come off a bit cocky there, sometimes I type and post before thinking it through. But I'm being totally honest here, I am not yet at that point in my life where I want to get serious much to my mom's dismay. But I also have two other siblings she can beg for grandkids from, you know? So I was just trying to be open and honest when I said "enough of me to go around". I'm just still being young and having fun before I settle down, you know? And, it's actually very common to date openly before you end up deciding to go exclusive with one person. But for what it's worth, I'm sorry that you've had to deal with some bad dating experiences in the past.

Oh! Okay! You know what? In that case, I'll pass. I mean, you obviously must have so many ladies just chomping at the bit to take you up on your offer, so I'll just exclude myself and make this super hard choice of which lucky lady gets to be sat next to your greatness for the fireworks a little easier for you.

Whoa, hey now I wasn't trying to make you mad, and I didn't say I have "so many ladies". You can even quote me I prefaced my whole shpeel saying that there was enough of me to go around for everyone. And yes, I'm realizing now that I might have gotten a bit carried away with it, but I promise I'm harmless. My dog Scooby can attest to that. Actually I likely won't even be sticking around for the fireworks because I need to make sure he's secure and not going to get too freaked out when they're going off.

Your sacrifice is appreciated, but I think I’m good, thanks. I’ve seen a few too many “riding partners” try to be slick with the yawn-into-arm-around-the-shoulder trick to any girl who sits still long enough, and if anyone’s gonna be manspreading in a Ferris wheel car it’ll be me, myself, and I. But hey, good on you for managing to work in a ‘no homo’ for carnival rides, slugger.

Who said anything about a sacrifice? It's an honor to be available to those who maybe don't want to go on one of those rides alone. But hey, don't knock that trick until you try it, it's not just the guys that can pull that move off, you know. And I'll have you know, it's totally not a "no homo" thing, that's offensive, I'm not like that. Was just trying to offer my companionship and make it clear that it'd be platonic with the guys, it can be platonic with whoever, I'm not trying to be some kind of creep. What kind of dog dad would I be if I was setting that kind of example for my pooch?

You had me at The Scrambler.

It's a great ride, right? And okay, sounds like a plan. Yeah, I've seen you around, you're with the fire company right? I'm Ethan.

I meannn, as an also single girl, I probs don't need a cute boy to ride the rides with me, but I also can't say I'm entirely against the idea. That being said, though, I've also proven to be the type to much prefer said cute boy being able to win me at least one giant stuffed animal from one of the games first. So... maybe do that and we'll talk?

Darlin, I happen to play baseball so I can guarantee rocking it at one of the games, at least. Assuming that they have that game again this year. If not, they always have the one where you throw darts at balloons right? Either way, I gotchu. Though, fair warning, my offer does still stand to all the other ladies even if I do promise you this one thing. But don't worry, it doesn't mean you won't be the one I end up next to during the fireworks, just gotta see how it all plays out.