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South Harbour is the hidden gem of the skating world
what most people who haven't been to the area don't realize is there sheer number of rinks tucked in around the city, nearly all of them in great condition and beloved by the neighbors. One of AJ Crowley's favorites in a little nondescript sports center across from one of the area's high schools. it doesn't look like a sports complex, just like a general community center for the school or a YMCA. But this one, while open to everyone, has a special focus on teaching skating to disabled, low income, minority, queer, and otherwise displaced kids. He'd found it quiet by accident a few years ago, and since it was far outside the usually runs of his teammates, it was a place he felt free to just... skate.
As it stood, he was going to meet up with a group of like minded skaters for ice dancing in about an hour, as he strode into the stands. he was intending to go change, be the first one out once the Zamboni smoothed the ice after the youth hockey team was done practicing.....
He set his back on the bleachers, and strode up to the areas where the player benches where, the layout letting him past the safety glass to lean against the boards and watch. It was an impromptu scrimmage match, only the ten high-schoolers skating around each other on the ice, and benches empty save for their discarded bags, skate guards and water bottles. one net on the visitor side remained empty, and the reason for Crowley's sudden interest in the net for the home team.
with high-schoolers, it could sometimes be hard to judge their age, especially once the pads went on, but he knew the style of the lone goalie too well, and Crowley was baffled in why a gown ass man on one of the best ranking teams would be letting a bunch of 16 year olds take pot shots at him.
he wasn't playing at his best, but even them, if that was Fell in the net, he wasn't going easy on the kids either.
he watched for a bit, realized belatedly that it wasn't a great look, a strange man coming in and ooogling a bunch of kids. but before a fuss could be raised, the kids' game broke up into drills, and the goalie spoke to the players for a little bit before skating over to the benches.
Staking directly to Crowley. he wasn't sure if he was grateful or not that he was right would have been very awkward if he was wrong, but now he'd been caught out, and the yster goalie pulled off his helmet as he glided over, AZ Fell shooting him a bewildered, but not upset, look.
"Mr AJ Crowley. Hello."
"What the deuce are you doing, moonlighting as an teenager, Archangel?"
Fell made a face, his nose scrunching up, even if he still smiled, "Hardly. The kids are still looking for a goalie for their 'gang' and it's hard to practice how to score on one if you only practice on an empty net, don't you think? Besides, what are you doing here?"
"Just happened to be in the area," he answered going for vague and causal. Fell glanced over the bench door, looked down at Crowley's feet, "No skates?"
He muttered, more noised than words, and Fell laughed at him, an pen honest sound, patting him on the arm.
"So what beings you out to South Harbour? I'd think St James would have more than enough laces with less of a drive?"
"Oh perhaps," Fell agreed, turning away to watch the kids play, "but, I've always loved South Harbour. Considered moving here several times actually. Probably will retire down here to be honest."
Crowley looked at him oddly - most players don't speak about retiring until they are actually thinking about retiring. Fell was one of the top goalies in the country, "You leaving hockey?"
"Oh, i don't think i could ever let it go completely, but..." he looked sad, and Crowley leaned forward to rest on the board, quiet and letting Fell decide if he wanted to voice the rest of the sentence or not. "It's just.. it all happened so fast, you know? I love playing, It's all I've done since i was young. It's just... I wanted to finish school first. Get a degree. But then.. i dunno."
"But then the recruits started to sniff around, and the offers started coming in.." Crowley offered.
"That was fine, I told them I wanted to finish school, and it .. it seemed like they where okay with waiting. until suddenly all the offered where being rescinded. and.." he shrugged, "and i panicked. Suddenly, the Archangels where the only ones that where still interested. I thought, i can finish school later, but if i want to play, this might be my last chance."
"You could still finish school," Crowley offered. Fell always seemed the brightest of the St James team. The goalie just gave him a sad smile, before clearly changing the subject.
Fair enough.
"I can't imagine South Harbour is any closer to Damien Lake than ST James. Why are you here again?"
"Suppose to meat up with some people in,,," he glanced a this watch, "Another twenty minutes or so. I outta be going. See if anyone here yet."
"Well, it was very good to get to see you, Crowley."
That cause him pause, "Really?" he couldn't help but asking, surprised.
"Well i am grateful; i have it on good authority of was you reading Gabby the riot act that night."
He steps back, making a wave-off motion with his hands, "I's not a big thing. I just figured it out first."
"Still. Thank you."
Crowley nodded, moving to head out, leaving Fell to gathering his crew up off the ice, as the Zamboni was starting up in the corner. "Don't mention it Angel."
Before he could make a bigger fool of himself, he turned, grabbing his bag and finishing the trek to the changing rooms.
Just to be safe he didn't run into Fell again, he slipped into the ladies room to change. At least here, that wasn't a big deal. Besides. He'd be wearing a skirt when he came out anyway, so... more the reason to avoid accidentally running into Fell again this afternoon.
what most people who haven't been to the area don't realize is there sheer number of rinks tucked in around the city, nearly all of them in great condition and beloved by the neighbors. One of AJ Crowley's favorites in a little nondescript sports center across from one of the area's high schools. it doesn't look like a sports complex, just like a general community center for the school or a YMCA. But this one, while open to everyone, has a special focus on teaching skating to disabled, low income, minority, queer, and otherwise displaced kids. He'd found it quiet by accident a few years ago, and since it was far outside the usually runs of his teammates, it was a place he felt free to just... skate.
As it stood, he was going to meet up with a group of like minded skaters for ice dancing in about an hour, as he strode into the stands. he was intending to go change, be the first one out once the Zamboni smoothed the ice after the youth hockey team was done practicing.....
He set his back on the bleachers, and strode up to the areas where the player benches where, the layout letting him past the safety glass to lean against the boards and watch. It was an impromptu scrimmage match, only the ten high-schoolers skating around each other on the ice, and benches empty save for their discarded bags, skate guards and water bottles. one net on the visitor side remained empty, and the reason for Crowley's sudden interest in the net for the home team.
with high-schoolers, it could sometimes be hard to judge their age, especially once the pads went on, but he knew the style of the lone goalie too well, and Crowley was baffled in why a gown ass man on one of the best ranking teams would be letting a bunch of 16 year olds take pot shots at him.
he wasn't playing at his best, but even them, if that was Fell in the net, he wasn't going easy on the kids either.
he watched for a bit, realized belatedly that it wasn't a great look, a strange man coming in and ooogling a bunch of kids. but before a fuss could be raised, the kids' game broke up into drills, and the goalie spoke to the players for a little bit before skating over to the benches.
Staking directly to Crowley. he wasn't sure if he was grateful or not that he was right would have been very awkward if he was wrong, but now he'd been caught out, and the yster goalie pulled off his helmet as he glided over, AZ Fell shooting him a bewildered, but not upset, look.
"Mr AJ Crowley. Hello."
"What the deuce are you doing, moonlighting as an teenager, Archangel?"
Fell made a face, his nose scrunching up, even if he still smiled, "Hardly. The kids are still looking for a goalie for their 'gang' and it's hard to practice how to score on one if you only practice on an empty net, don't you think? Besides, what are you doing here?"
"Just happened to be in the area," he answered going for vague and causal. Fell glanced over the bench door, looked down at Crowley's feet, "No skates?"
He muttered, more noised than words, and Fell laughed at him, an pen honest sound, patting him on the arm.
"So what beings you out to South Harbour? I'd think St James would have more than enough laces with less of a drive?"
"Oh perhaps," Fell agreed, turning away to watch the kids play, "but, I've always loved South Harbour. Considered moving here several times actually. Probably will retire down here to be honest."
Crowley looked at him oddly - most players don't speak about retiring until they are actually thinking about retiring. Fell was one of the top goalies in the country, "You leaving hockey?"
"Oh, i don't think i could ever let it go completely, but..." he looked sad, and Crowley leaned forward to rest on the board, quiet and letting Fell decide if he wanted to voice the rest of the sentence or not. "It's just.. it all happened so fast, you know? I love playing, It's all I've done since i was young. It's just... I wanted to finish school first. Get a degree. But then.. i dunno."
"But then the recruits started to sniff around, and the offers started coming in.." Crowley offered.
"That was fine, I told them I wanted to finish school, and it .. it seemed like they where okay with waiting. until suddenly all the offered where being rescinded. and.." he shrugged, "and i panicked. Suddenly, the Archangels where the only ones that where still interested. I thought, i can finish school later, but if i want to play, this might be my last chance."
"You could still finish school," Crowley offered. Fell always seemed the brightest of the St James team. The goalie just gave him a sad smile, before clearly changing the subject.
Fair enough.
"I can't imagine South Harbour is any closer to Damien Lake than ST James. Why are you here again?"
"Suppose to meat up with some people in,,," he glanced a this watch, "Another twenty minutes or so. I outta be going. See if anyone here yet."
"Well, it was very good to get to see you, Crowley."
That cause him pause, "Really?" he couldn't help but asking, surprised.
"Well i am grateful; i have it on good authority of was you reading Gabby the riot act that night."
He steps back, making a wave-off motion with his hands, "I's not a big thing. I just figured it out first."
"Still. Thank you."
Crowley nodded, moving to head out, leaving Fell to gathering his crew up off the ice, as the Zamboni was starting up in the corner. "Don't mention it Angel."
Before he could make a bigger fool of himself, he turned, grabbing his bag and finishing the trek to the changing rooms.
Just to be safe he didn't run into Fell again, he slipped into the ladies room to change. At least here, that wasn't a big deal. Besides. He'd be wearing a skirt when he came out anyway, so... more the reason to avoid accidentally running into Fell again this afternoon.
