Closed Post: The only way to learn is by playing

[futaille]

There has been a seismic shift in the pinball status quo and Grantaire unwittingly brought it just by mentioning the game at the wrong time. Or the right one, really. Watching Magnus play was honestly kind of amazing, but it also was a very fast shift in fortune, especially with tales of Alex even beyond that. And if Grantaire wanted any hope of keeping any Rs at all on the high score list long-term, he needed to refine his game. (Sometimes it's easier to be spurred on by someone clearly ahead of you than someone coming up behind.)

So he is, of course, in the game room one dark (and Dark) evening, working on improving. Of course, as always, his plans are fully subject to change when previous offers come back to the forefront.

Comments

[lightbearinglord]

"You did," Lan Wangji acknowledges. It constitutes a failure of imagination on his part. Having watched Grantaire play fills in several of the blank places in his understanding of what the game entails, but still: "Can you teach me now?"

[futaille]

He nods and steps to the side of the machine. "Of course. It's not very complicated, so I'm not sure how much teaching you'll actually need, but I'm certainly willing to impart all of my limited knowledge."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn." With that second acknowledgment, Lan Wangji takes another moment to eye the pinball machine. As Grantaire says, the game does not appear overly complicated, and the goal of preventing the ball from falling seems clear enough. From his draping sleeve, he pulls two lengths of blue silk; these, he uses to bind up both sleeves, brisk about it. With that, he steps closer and presses the button labeled start.

[futaille]

"If you were watching, you know how it works, basically. You get three tries to build up points, and if you build up enough, you can add yourself to the high score list." He gestures to the display where there are still thankfully some Rs left on the list. "I have a suspicion the high score list is going to be entirely Magnus before long, though."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's face betrays a flicker of pleasure and pride at the mention of Magnus, and the new information that Magnus is apparently skilled at this game. He nods crisply at Grantaire, however, before pulling back on the plunger and releasing the first ball.

[futaille]

Grantaire turns his attention to the playing surface to watch Lan Wangji play, on the narrow possibility he might actually have any hints or advice to offer after he finishes with his first ball.

[lightbearinglord]

Actually, the activity is instantly an appealing one. There is one goal: to prevent the ball from falling. There are only two buttons by which to achieve that goal. Lan Wangji narrows his focus, puts his hands at either side of the machine, and plays.

The first ball is lost quickly enough, because he is still acclimating to the way that the flippers move and to the layout of the bumpers, ramps, and other features of the machine. The second, though, he meets with more readiness, calm and assured as he continually sends the ball flying away from those flippers.

[futaille]

Grantaire had had an inkling that Lan Wangji would be good at pinball, but he wasn't expecting that to evidence itself quite as quickly as it is. There really is something impressive about watching someone do something well. "You're a natural."

[lightbearinglord]

"No," Lan Wangji answers without looking away from the cabinet. He catches the ball on a flipper and leaves that button depressed so it sits there as he looks at Grantaire. "I have trained extensively in several other pursuits that lend themselves to this one."

[futaille]

"Well, yes, in the interest of strict accuracy, that's a valid enough explanation, and it's why I thought you might take to the game well enough, but it's still not a guarantee, so I'm going to stand by my entirely frivolous statement regardless."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's mouth twitches almost undetectably, the most distant threat of a smile. It is easy to see why Claudius loves Grantaire, although he wonders -- with a spike of pure fondness -- how the two of them ever get around to anything but talking at interminable length. "Mn," he says, solemn witness to the frivolity of said statement, as he turns back to the game and launches the ball again.

[futaille]

"And another advantage of introducing you to this game occurs to me now. Since your concentration is unassailable, there is no real issue with me talking to excess as you're playing and you won't accuse me of attempting to distract you to gain a competitive advantage, as I already know that is a lost cause."

[lightbearinglord]

In fact, Lan Wangji would only consider it a detriment to his own abilities if he allowed one talkative companion to destroy whatever advantage he may have. He darts one more amused glance at Grantaire as the ball ricochets off a bumper. It is essentially an invitation to continue talking, if he so desires.

[futaille]

"I am very much looking forward to witnessing your first multiball, which is certainly an inevitability, but the sight will certainly be nearly akin to a ballet, which you are probably utterly unfamiliar with, now that I think on it, but I assure you it is a valid comparison."

[lightbearinglord]

"I have read of ballet." This he says without looking away from the machine, as the ball is beginning to slip slightly out of his control. He loses it, and frowns down at the cabinet as he considers how best to utilize the last ball of the game.

[futaille]

"That's fortunate enough, then... that you've read of ballet, I mean to say, not that you lost the ball, which is of course quite unfortunate."

[lightbearinglord]

"I will recover," Lan Wangji says dryly. Again, he pulls back the plunger and, now with a more calculated level of force as he has come to understand the mechanics of the game better, releases a ball. His gaze remains affixed to the machine as he speaks next. "After the dance Claudius hosted, I researched the history of dance in the western world."

[futaille]

He laughs a little. "In that case, you certainly know more than I do in some respects, as I've not looked into much of what became of dance after my time. Although now I'm beginning to wonder if I should, just for curiosity's sake. Perhaps at some point. After all, it's hardly as if there's a particularly limited amount of time available."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn. I read of the classical mythology you mentioned to me as well." Considering that this is, literally, Lan Wangji's first ever game of pinball, a high score is not within his reach, but he mounts all his focus again for the third ball of the game. It became clear quickly enough that precise use of the buttons was of greater importance than any particular force, so each time he taps one, it is quick and decisive but without excessive pressure.

[futaille]

"Ah, see, and there I am on more even footing as it is exceedingly unlikely that more classical mythology has been created since my unceremonious departure from Paris."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn," Lan Wangji says again. Even if he were inclined to say more, all of that aforementioned concentration is now directed elsewhere. He is still listening, though, even as he's continuing to accumulate a respectable number of points. This time around, he feels a much greater sense of control over the ball, its direction, and its speed.

[futaille]

He continues to watch with interest even though he continues to speak on nothing remotely related. "Although now I'm trying to envision what it would be like if more classical mythology had been created after the fact, and upon contemplation, I think it would be terrible. Those stories with the sensibilities of my time would just be abysmal."

[lightbearinglord]

If he were not dedicated to watching the game, Lan Wangji might make one of those subtle expressions of his that indicates interest, and that, again, invites Grantaire to continue. Unfortunately, he is indeed very focused, his eyes darting around the cabinet to follow the motions of the ball, but he is still more than happy to listen if Grantaire would like to elaborate.

[futaille]

"On the one hand, at least France isn't England, so it could be worse on that score. On the other, though, I suppose modern classical mythology should probably be left to the Greeks, should they so choose to explore it."

[lightbearinglord]

"Perhaps the god Dionysus could contribute," Lan Wangji notes. There is a very small frown somewhere in the vicinity of his eyebrows, beneath his forehead ribbon, as he continues to concentrate on the game. He is beginning, more and more, to utilize the trick of trapping the ball with one flipper, letting it settle, and then relaunching it at a precise and deliberate angle.