“Tonight was not their night,” replied Hodaya to the server, taking a bite of her salad. “They usually do a great job, but man, tonight is disappointing. I would be frustrated too, if I went the length to convince my boss to put on the game and it was not a good game for them…” Hodaya paused for a moment, then continued, “Could I get another Diet Coke?” 

~

“But it has to be their night,” Kit replied in a huff, quite done with trying to look pleasant despite still being at work. She leant her elbows on the bar, propping her chin in one of her hands. “I’m gonna be a laughing-stock, and he’ll never play a hockey game again,” she continued glumly, placing a clean class on the bar with her free hand. “You want a bottle or on tap?”

“In a sense, yes. I don’t know, sometimes they are just so horrible they are good? It’s kind of relaxing as well, and action movies amp me up, so watching those when I need to be sleeping isn’t a wise choice.” She chuckled softly. “Thank you. This is my time away from my friends and work, you know? Sometimes my partner makes me want to scratch his eyes out. He thinks he knows everything and he doesn’t.”

~

“I never got the whole so-bad-it’s-good thing,” Kit remarked, shrugging her shoulders. She considered anything she liked to be good, regardless of the objective horribleness of it, but also didn’t see the appeal of watching something bad in the first place. A short laugh escaped her lips when the woman mentioned her work partner. “Aren’t all men like that?” she quipped. “What’s your job?”

Jac was still getting used to life in London and she didn’t like spending so much time alone in the apartment. Instead of binging whatever shitty Netflix original was plastered all over the front page of the site, she decided to wander down to the restaurant to hover around her sister, as she felt it was her duty to be a royal pain in the ass, now that they were in proximity to one another.

Though she was on her shift, in her work place, there was little else to evidence the fact that Kit was on duty that evening. While Jac sat atop a bar stool, legs neatly crossed while she texted some friends back home, she was doing a pretty good job at ignoring the game and her sister’s reaction to it until one of the players made a ropey shot that set her off.

Jac looked up from the screen with a laugh at the other girl’s reaction, “You’re the expert, right? That’s why they’re on the ice and you’re in an apron?”

~

Maybe it was because she was engrossed in the game, but ignoring Jac thus far had been pretty easy. On a less distracting day she probably wouldn’t have done such a great job, but for once she thought her sister was staying suspiciously out of her hair.

Until she talked, of course. Kit shot her a huffy glare. The comment was not appreciated.

“Someone’s gotta earn some money to put food in your big mouth, don’t they?” Kit replied, dunting her sister on the back of the head with her empty tray as she walked by. (Not hard enough to hurt, of course, but their mother would certainly have a stern look in her eye if she was there.) “Speaking of-- I hope you’re looking for jobs in between updating your snap story.”

Charli was beginning to think that maybe she was a witch in a different life, that she just went around casting spells or hexes on people unaware that she was actually doing it. Sure it seemed very obtuse for that to actually happen since she believed that witches - or at least the kind she was thinking of anyways - didn’t actually exist in the world and just pinned it down to having a rather bad day.

“Honestly I wouldn’t be surprised. I feel like today has just been a weird one you know? One where everything you touch kind of turns to shit” her voice was soft as she went on to then order a drink from the other, not anything too fancy just something with a bit of fizz to relax her a bit; “What about you? You look like you were having a pretty shitty time before I walked in here” not one for sticking her nose in other people’s business but having some form of caring capabilities; even if they didn’t come through very often

~

Kit nodded, trying hard to hide a grimace. She wasn’t much of a fan of needless negativity, and given that she didn’t know Lilah, she assumed the worst. Of course, she could just be having a bad day, but it was better safe than sorry, right? “Uh, well, maybe avoid touching anything near the bar then. I don’t think the other patrons will enjoy shit beer...” Kit set about making Lilah’s drink, keeping one eye carefully on the screen. “Listen, it isn’t often my boss agrees to show a hockey game in here, and it just had to be the one day that my team shoved their heads up their asses.”

Minnie, contrary to belief, just wanted a simple life with simple means. She didn’t want all the fancy stuff that came with being a ‘De Fontaine’ sure the dressing up was fun but that got real old, real quick when you had to do it at a time that inconvenienced you; “Your little sister and I would have a lot in common” Minnie was often looked at - by others - as a little sibling to them, she didn’t know what it could be; was it a combination of her short stature and her young age? Or was it more of the fact that she had a baby face? Who knew; “I can definitely do that, I can look the part too” just chuck on a couple of team related merchandise and she was good to go; “Actually if you can make that cyanide that would be more then adequate”

~

Kit hummed in reply, though she was hesitant to offer the comparison as a compliment; she loved her sister dearly, but she could be... Well, she could be just like an annoying little sister. “Hopefully not too much,” Kit answered finally, shrugging off any insinuation that her friend was anything like her sister (even though she kinda was). “Don’t forget, the most important thing about being a hockey fan is the foam finger,” she laughed, holding up her hand as if she was wearing one. “Uh... Actually, I think we just ran out of the cyanide. Sorry, Min.”

“Hey, it’s all good if you do. We all have something that we like or might be addicted too. I happen to watch those really sappy Lifetime movies when I can’t sleep.” Maze looked over at her. “Well, now that you ask, I could use another pint and maybe some fries to go with it.” She told the girl, noticing that she wanted to take her order. Mazikeen was relaxing, and the game seemed to be interesting, despite the majority in the bars favorite team was losing.

~

Kit couldn’t hide her grimace; she hated those movies with a passion. Totally gag-worthy! “Oh god, really? I mean-- you only watch them to fall asleep because they’re so terrible, right?” she asked, hoping the woman didn’t actually enjoy that kind of garbage TV. At the request, Kit nodded, sliding her way behind the bar. “One pint, and some fries coming up,” she replied, forcing her enthusiasm back on her face. The pint was poured in no time, and delivered, and the order of fries sent through to the kitchen.”

After working all day from home, Hodaya and her husband decided to head to a restaurant for dinner outside. She was surprised that the restaurant was playing a hockey game that she planned on watching, had she stayed home. A nice change from staring at the computer screen, thought Hodaya. 

Hodaya was eating her dinner, some fried tofu and a salad, and sipping on a Diet Coke, with her eyes glued to the TV screen above her, tuning out the man in the restaurant who was yelling at the screen. Then she saw the bad shot., “Fuck!” exclaimed Hodaya. “That shot was terrible. Such a disappointment.” 

~

Kit’s disappointment was evident on her face. She gave a dramatic sigh, waving her tray around like it would somehow make the situation better. Her boss wasn’t all too happy with her less-than-professional outburst, but listen this was an important game, okay? He would just have to deal. “My goddamned grandma could have made a better shot than this!” Kit groaned, turning to the woman beside her who was equally as engrossed in the game. “Can you believe, the one day I convince my boss to let me watch a game, and this is this shit my team decide to pull?”

Kayden gave the girl a soft smile, trying to be as polite as he could be really before nodding. “Yes, I did.” He told her with a laugh. “I can see that this game is quite distracting for you and the men of the hour. Too bad, I wore one of my best outfits and none of them are going to pay attention to me with this racket on. Such a tragic day for me.”

~

“Sorry, I’ll get it for you, like, right now,” Kit said, giving herself a mental slap for her rudeness. She was about to scupper off, before the man continued, and she paused mid-stride. Then, without thinking as to how it might come across, she gave him a once over and raised a brow. “Uh... I don’t think you look quite their type,” Kit replied (jokingly, she thought), nodding her head toward the men she had been standing nearby. Typical English geezers, she might say.

Minnie did not want to be here today, and it wasn’t because of Kit or the place it was just that she was forced to come out with her parents and while they might look like ‘one big happy family’ to the outside world, but it was the constant nitpicking, the telling her and pointing out all her flaws and the mental and emotional abuse that constantly did it for her; “I wish I understood it enough so that I could converse with you about it”

Because right now she needed a distraction, she needed pure separation from her family and the only way she was going to get that without going all the way back home was to speak to Kit and entertain herself for a bit; “Yeah I didn’t think I could be a fraud for long-… I’m just here with my fam and you know what a shit show that can be or is” because just about everyone who was close to her knew and understood what her family was like.

~

“Listen, my sister knows just about as much as you do,” Kit replied with a shrug. Minnie reminded her a lot of her sister, now that she thought of it. They shouldn’t have got along, but they kind of did. “Just nod and when the crowd boos, you boo.” Kit glanced around the room, in search of the familiar faces for Minnie’s family. Sure enough, there they were, looking as stern as ever. “Want me to hock a loogie in their dinner when they aren’t looking?”

Charli needed a break, she had been on her feet all today in the back of the studio working with and on her dance recital that was up and coming in the next few weeks, the fact that she wasn’t able to nail one of the dances down was greatly frustrating her and all she wanted to do was throw someone or just yell at a stable and inanimate object - neither were acceptable forms of behavior.

Which is why she then decided on just taking a breather, heading down to the local cafe or pub and just separating herself from the emotion and place itself. That seemed to work best and right now with the other’s team loosing she couldn’t help but feel she brought the emotions with her; “I have a feeling they sucked because of me.” her voice soft as she took a seat; “maybe if I walked out again they might improve”

~

Kit wasn’t doing the best job of containing her frustrations, though a quick glare from her boss from across the room soon had Kit looking like she was going back to her work. She smiled at the other woman as she entered and took a seat nearby, though with one eye still on the game it didn’t last very long.

Kit gave her a once over, before raising a brow. She was confused for a moment before it clicked what she meant. “Are you jinxed or something?” she asked, knocking her knuckles on the nearby wooden table. Better safe than sorry, right?

Hockey was definitely one of those sports that Bailey wasn’t really into that much, but he had an appreciation for the game. He was more of a baseball and volleyball admirer himself, but when the station was on hockey when coming into the restaurant, he just vibed with it. Looking over he noticed one of the wait staff who was clearly into this game, shouting at the television about what was going on at the actual game. Smirking softly, Bailey let out a soft snicker and he nodded, “I see you are very passionate about this. I guess one would say that you are one of the biggest hockey fans I have ever seen.” Bailey commented while looking at her and then going back to looking at the menu for the place he was sitting in. 

~

Kit managed to tear her eyes away from the screen for a brief moment to see who had spoken, a small laugh escaping her lips. “In Canada, I’m a dime a dozen,” Kit replied, waving her hand dismissively. Yeah, okay, Kit was maybe a little obsessed with hockey. It just so happened that it got worse when there was no one around to share in her obsession with the game. She played with a local woman’s team here, but God, she missed the atmosphere back home. “Obviously you just haven’t met enough-- Oh! That’s a penalty!!-- Enough Canadians.”

“ The other team was as well though so it wasn’t just that team, and in their defence it was someone’s birthday… but….” She pulled up the photos on her ipad. “ Yup they were so wasted.  You a fan or you got money riding on the game?” Lia asked gazing back up at the screen.

~

Kit’s frown only deepened as she took a quick glance at the pictures. It was lucky she was at work, because she wanted to yell some rather unpleasant profanities and chuck said iPad halfway across the room. “Jesus Christ, how un-- Their managers should be-- I am so angry.” Kit trained hard, and made a lot of sacrifices for that training. To see people at the top of their field wasting their opportunity made her blood boil. “I’m a hockey player. I breathe hockey.”

Lia was scanning her latest article on her Ipad when she heard a voice. Looking up at the waitress she smiled. “The team were out drinking last night, thats why they suck today.” She grinned without looking up. “ They were all a total mess. “ Lia smiled up at the waitress and then looked at the screen. “ If they win this I will be shocked.”

~

Kit, with a heavy frown suddenly set on her face, turned to Tahlia. “You’re kidding me, right?” she asked, fanning herself down with her tray. Kit took her sports and training very seriously, and was utterly appalled that a team, her team, would blow their chances by drinking the night before a big match. “I never thought I would say this but I hope they don’t win. Morons. Total morons.”

“has anyone told you what a ray of sunshine you are?” Olivia meant this affectionately as she smiled lightly. “I mean fuckers & truckers–no one would even bat an eyelid being told that at six in the morning-” she did start to pen it down chuckling. “I might just stick to good morning london..” She shook her head. “How was training anyway? All good?” She tried to engage with her friend who was completely different to her but she did low-key enjoy her company.

~

“Oh, all the time,” Kit replied, flashing a grin. “I won the Sunniest Personality award in the 8th Grade.” She didn’t, but that wasn’t really surprising. Truth be told, she got on better with boys than girls growing up, had struggled to make friends after moving to London at age sixteen, and now it was a bit of a learning curve. “You could do one of those Instagram poll things, see if anyone gives you anything less... profane or something.” Unfortunately, she was out of genuine ideas already, and she hadn’t even made one. “Training was good! I only got three new bruises today, and one of them is shaped like a heart!”