Welcome to Gaia! ::

All you have to do is kick back, relax, and play some pool.

*grins* You just leave the rest to me.

*Luke walks right up. The two guys pause in their conversation as they look over to Luke & Cora, who have entered into their personal space.*

*Luke starts right off.* "Hey, guys. I don't mean to interrupt your game of pool, but ... my name's Lucas Blaize."

*When Luke extended his hand, the first young man shook it. You could be selling a vacuum cleaner, religion, or in this case - a scam, and it didn't matter -- when you exteneded your hand with a smile - most people shook it.*

*Luke pointed to Cora.* "And this is my friend Cora. She's from out of town, just visiting for a couple days. She's never been to Philly, so I'm playing tour guide, trying to show her what it's all about."

*The two guys nod to Cora and say their hellos. The first young man who shook Luke's hand, extended his hand to Cora, too.* "Oh yeah? Where're you from?"

*Luke looked to Cora with a small, but secret smile.*

*He nodded.* "Welcome to Philly. I'm Mike. This is my friend, Dave."

*Dave gave a nod and smiled.* "Hey, what's up? Canada, eh?" *He grinned.* "Is it true? Every question you ask end in 'eh?'"

*Mike and Dave laughed, figuring it must have been a joke.*

*Luke laughed along with them, but for a different reason.* "I brought her in here and we had some pizza ... And I thought to liven things up a little, I'd teach her how to play pool."

*Mike picked up his pool stick and started sharpening it with blue chalk.* "Oh, you never played before, huh?"

*Luke keeps his grin toned down. It was tough, but he managed.*

*Dave looked up.* "They don't have pool in Canada?"

*Luke stepped in.* "Of course, they do. She's just never played before."

"Oh."

*Luke let a few seconds pass, just for posterity, before saying.* "I've been showing her the ropes, but I thought it might be fun to throw in a little healthy competition. What do you say? Us two versus you two." *Luke smiled confidently.* "Or, should we let you guys go back to playing for, uh, your own satisfaction?"

*Mike smirked. He looked Cora up and down and then looked at Luke.* "What're we playing for?"

*Luke shrugged, he'd let Mike take it from here.* "Whatever you want to shell out." *He grinned and stood next to Cora.* "Just trying to show her how to make a little money while she's practicing her new talent."

*Mike laughed a little.* "Alright, how bout twenty bucks? Sound good?" *He looked around.*

*Luke and Dave nodded.* "Twenty bucks. Done." *Luke gets Cora and himself a pool stick.* "What game?"

"She's just starting out. Let's keep it simple. Stripes and solids?"

*Luke handed the pool stick to Cora and said.* "Perfect."

*Luke nodded to Cora.* "You got it." *He called to Mike and Dave, his only word of warning.* "You guys should look out. She looks tame. But she's a natural."

*Mike looked to Luke. The healthy competition had started going.* "You trying to scare us?"

"Just a friendly word of warning."

*Dave said in a mildly joking tone to Cora.* "You could advertise it. 'Come challenge Cora the Canadian pool prodigy.'"

*Luke laughed.* "I might," he said.

*Mike set up the pool balls.* "You guys want to break?"

"No. No, you go ahead."

*They did just that.*

*Mike and Dave's eyes were like saucers. For a moment, the two appeared to be in some sort of trance. Like Luke, they blinked - disbelieving what their eyes told them was so.*

"Damn," Luke said. "It's that 4 ball again." *He pointed to it.* "Same one as last time." *apologetically* "She just can't seem to get that one in."

*to Cora* "Here, try it again, Slim. You'll get it in this time."