Thread or Log: Email log Open or Closed: Closed Characters: Vince/Tancred Setting: Cooridor Content: Clean Status: done
Vince dumped his things in the room he's been assigned. No way was he going to stay cooped up in there. First thing he wanted to do is visit the trainer, unpacking can come later. Vince was told where to go to find the trainer. He was told the person's name but that's long gone from his brain. He's never been good with names and he knows now he needs to try harder to remember. This is a whole different thing for him. Paying attention to everything, not just names, is going to be required. If he doesn't listen or work his ass off, he risks getting cut. If he gets cut he gets nothing from dad. As much as he hates to admit it, he needs dad's help.
Getting distracted with his thoughts, he doesn't pay attention as he walked down the hallways. As he turns a corner he literally ran into Tancred, head on. "Dude I'm sorry" Last time he ran into somebody he ended up with a black eye. He braced himself for whatever this guy was going to give him.
Tancred had been to see Adeline that morning after practice. He hadn't pulled anything yet, but that was probably because he went to see her regularly. Letting her work his muscles every other day seemed to do miracles for how sore he was, especially after Tahmoh's workouts. He never complained though, knowing that this was what it took to make it onto the Olympic team.
Rolling his neck a little, he walked in his own little world. A smile crossed his face and he sped up as he rounded a corner. Jumping back when he ran into someone, his laugh wasn't far away. "Wow.." Another wide grin spread on his face and he held his hand out to the stranger. He figured it was a new player judging by the age. "Hey.. I'm Tancred."
Relief filled Vince as he saw the other guy's smile. He shook hands with him "Hi Tancred, I'm Vince." he smiled in return. He took a quick glance over Tancred, thinking he's got to be a player "I'm sorry about running into you. Too much going on in the brain along with trying to take this place in. I'm sure I'm going to get lost" he softly chuckled while he glanced around the area they're in. "I'm a new addition to the team, on defense. You're a player too?
He noticed the glance, but didn't think much of it. Around here it could be just as likely about sizing up the competition as something else. Stepping back a little, he shook his head. "No, don't worry about it. I wasn't watching where I was going either. And getting lost is just something we all have to go through. Give it a week or two and you should have it down." Tancred shoved hands into his pockets and nodded. "Yeah. And you're the competition it seems." He laughed again. "I'm on defense as well."
"I guarantee I'll know my way to the food and ice quickly, but the other places I'll give two weeks, especially if I'm not fond of whatever it is" He laughed and shook his head "Now doesn't that figure you'd be the competition? I guess we'll be working together a lot" It got him to thinking, how aggressive is the competition. He hadn't thought about the fact these guys are fighting each other for spots on the team. Biting his lip he asked "Is the competition fierce here? I just want to know what to expect" At this time Vince turned more serious, curious how much he's going to have to fight as if he really wants this spot.
"Good, good. It's the two places you really need to know where are. Get fed and show up at practice." Smiling, he leaned against the wall as he looked at the other man. "Wait, it would probably help if you knew your way to the gym too. I don't think they would be too happy about you not showing up to the fitness part." Chuckling, he shook his head. "You're new. You're competition. No seriously.. I'm not really too concerned about all that. I mean.. if I'm good enough, they'll let me stay. Besides, it's not about being the single best player. You have to fit into a team, you know?" Tancred always got a little excited when he talked about hockey. "And no, not everyone around here thinks like that. Some are more concerned with showing what they can do on their own than what they can accomplish with their team." He shrugged and smiled at Vince again. "But that's how it always is no matter what team you're on, right?"
He nodded in agreement with Tancred. "it is how it appears to be with any team. You have the team players who care about the team outcome then there's the me me me players who wouldn't care if the rest of us fell off a cliff. I have no use for players like that" He rolled his eyes. "Sometimes that's why I love tennis so much. You don't have to rely on anybody else unless you play pairs." With eyes focused on Tancred he stayed against the wall. "You mentioned the gym. I'm going to see the trainer so I'll have the gym location too. I don't like to miss a workout. What do you think of the workouts here? All coaches and trainers do things differently. I've had stupid workouts that did nothing to help. I need a tough workout"
Tancred figured that he might actually like this guy. At least they seemed to be in the same place when it came to hockey and that was always a very good thing. They really did have enough primadonnas around, so he was glad they brought in another team player at least. "I've never watched much tennis, but I get what you mean. It's just.. yeah, I don't get it. You're being picked for the Olympic TEAM. It's not a skills competition for god's sake." He shook his head again. "Anyway, you shouldn't be disappointed with the workouts we get in the gym. Tahmoh is tough and then some. Hell, he has me going to see the massage therapist every other day."
Vince liked this guy, at least there was going to one person he was going to have to talk to, or so it appeared. He was impressed by what he heard Tancred say but what really got his attention was massage therapist. His eyes had grown wide when this was mentioned "Massage therapist? Now that is something I can go for." But does he admit he's never been a a masseuse ever or not bother? He decided to keep that part quiet. It's nobody's business and not anything that's important to know. He did want to check this out with how tight he gets sometimes. "So the trainer has you go there? Do you get tight a lot?"
Tancred shook his head. "No, they don't make us go unless we're hurt in any way, but I would recommend it. Of course, some of these guys don't go because she's a woman and then some go just because she is. Either way, I'm trying to prevent myself from getting hurt, so that's why I go. Not that she's too hard to look at either, but you know.. It's her job after all. Besides, she knows how to make it hurt. But then it's so much better after you're done."
Vince didn't understand how it can hurt then be better. He figured he would learn what that meant in time. "If she can do the job who cares what sex she is. I don't get people sometimes" He stuck his hands in his pockets "If she's not bad to look at, that's an added benefit to going" He smirked "Are there any other things that I can look forward to? In a good way. I'm not sure I want to know about anything negative yet"
His smile wasn't far away as he nodded. "Exactly. I'm glad there are more with that opinion." Tancred laughed before he spoke again. "I'm sure you won't be disappointed in that area. Then again, we all have different tastes." Thinking it over for a bit, he shrugged a little. "Well, like I said, you have your asses and you have your quiet ones and whatever else you can think of, but most of us are actually pretty ok."
"We do have different tastes but if a woman's no dog, she's worth a few looks, if not more" Vince chuckled and smiled. He thought about his different tastes. Men and women caught his eye. No preference for one sex over the other. He thought he might need to keep the liking men hidden. He can't afford to get beat up over something like that. Any interest other than friendship with any guy here, he needs to do his best to hide, although he's failed at that before, and been beat up over it. He removes his hands from his pockets and stops leaning against the wall. "It's good to know most of you guys are okay. I'm here for hockey not bullshit. We're here for a long time"
Tancred laughed lightly. "That's very true. If we're talking about just enjoying the view, most women are worth a second glance." Of course, lately he'd barely bothered looking at one, but that was a whole different story. "Not to worry. It's not much different from any other team you've played with. Which reminds me.. Where are you from? I mean.. team wise?" He really should have asked about that a while ago, feeling a bit rude.
That team question. If it already came up then it's sure to be asked of him a lot. It's hockey season so hope is that people will think he's been playing awhile. The staff he knows might or might not know but he'll have to tell some of them, at least as far as conditioning. "Team wise it was UCLA. What about you? Where did you play?" He wasn't about to say more about his experience if he could help it.
Nodding slowly, he smiled. He didn't know too much about US college hockey and even less about teams from California. "Los Angeles, huh? Is there a lot of interest in hockey down there?" He was nothing, if not curious. "I played college hockey as well before coming here. UWO. I still have a year of school left, but I'm not like Evan, so I couldn't really keep up with studies coming up here. I really don't know how he does it. But I'm gonna go back and finish up at some point."
"Hockey's not as popular in LA as it is here in Canada. LA has the Kings. I checked out some of their games, they have a decent following I guess. Enough people follow UCLA's hockey team too. It's different there is the best way to put it. I moved to LA for a few reasons. It's not ideal for hockey but I could still play there." He hoped that answer was enough for Tancred to not ask anymore. He was shocked to hear somebody here was still studying. "Somebody is able to study here? Wow, that shocks me, but then again we're all able to do different things. One day I'll finish my degree too. Here it's concentrate on hockey, that's about all my brain can handle at once" Vince laughed.
Tancred just listened to the other guy speak, the corners of his lips curling slightly every now and then. "Sometimes it's enough that you just get to play. But it's a lot more fun to play with people who want the same thing as you. And you have the attention of everyone as well. It gives an extra edge, you know? I mean, they want us all to win gold. Hell, they expect it, but.. in my opinion they should too." Laughing yet again, he shook his head. "Oh yes, Evan is the biggest multitasker I know. I have no clue how he does it. I'm like yo
"The Pens?" A huge smile had crossed his face. He nodded as Tancred spoke. "That would be sweet to play there. Has that always been the team you want to play on?"
Nodding quickly with a grin, he brought a hand back through his hair. "It has. And when they ended up drafting me.. I just couldn't believe it, you know? I've been to training camp a couple of years, but I haven't made it yet. So instead of playing in the AHL, I stayed in college instead." He took a deep breath, knowing he rambled on right now. "They'll be begging me to come play when I win that gold, right?" he added with a smirk.
Vince had a huge smile. It was great to see somebody's dream in progress. "They will and they'll have offers from other teams. The Pens are a smart organization. They'll know they got lucky when they drafted you. And you were smart to choose an education." This gave Vince more insight to how big a deal it is to be here.
Tancred's smile was wide as he nodded. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks so. And you haven't even seen me play yet. I could be complete crap for all you know!" He laughed and shook his head a little. "But thanks for the confidence. I need it. And as for education.. I promised my dad I would get one so I would have something to fall back on, so.." He left that one hanging.
"So you did the school thing for dad. We all do things for dad." Vince took a deep breathe, not wanting to talk about his. "I'm not one to agree with parents but I believe if we want to succeed in life we have to have a back up plan" What in the world am I saying here. Me, who dropped out of school, he thought.Then again that is why he went to college, to find something that he could rely on if he didn't make it in acting and modeling. "As for you being total crap.. " Vince shakes his head "I can't see the Pens believing enough in a crappy player to draft them. Also, if you were that crappy you wouldn't be here now, would you? "He smirked"
His look got a little more serious, but it soon passed. "Actually, I'd do anything for my dad. He's why I'm here too." Shrugging, he smiled again, not wanting to dwell on that particular topic. "I guess you're right," he agreed with a laugh. "And I wouldn't have wanted to play for the Pens if they did draft crappy players either." He suddenly remembered he hadn't asked about Vince yet. "What about you? Any team you hope to play for?"
“My dream for the longest time was to play for the Rangers. Gretzky has always been my idol and most of my memories of him are with the Rangers. As I got older I changed and now, there's not one particular team I'd want to be on. There are some I would not want to be one" He made a face but smiled as he said that "We all have those teams I think." He laughs, running a hand through his hair. "You shouldn't have to worry about those teams. you're a lucky guy" Inside Vince had a twinge of guilt. He can't take this guys spot, not that he was even sure he could. Tancred wants this so badly. The others want it that bad too he's sure so he has to try to turn off the guilt emotion. Act, Vince, act, you have to have the best performance of your life here. He looked at his watch "I don't want to be rude but I need to find the trainer before he leaves his office. I'll catch you around" A friendly smile was on his face.
Tancred nodded slowly as a smile spread. He didn't particularly like the Rangers, but that didn't matter. "Yeah, we do have those teams. I don't know what I would do if the Flyers drafted me.." He gave a pretend shudder to prove his point. Laughing, he stood back a little and grinned. "No, no. I'm just babbling away here. You have things to do and people to see. I'll see you in practice." He reached out and patted Vince's shoulder as he stepped passed him. "Oh, and welcome to Swan Hills," he added with a smile before he walked off.