[color=darkgray]Jalen looks away and has one hand in the huddle as the coach gives his final piece. The five break and he’s gazing up into the rafters. [center][color=white][h2][b]10 12 15 15 19 22 24 33 - 613[/b][/h2][/color][/center] [i]‘You bring a ring to this city, you go up in the rafters.’[/i] He thought to himself. He eyed the 33 again. [i]‘Hell, Patrick Ewing couldn’t even do that.’[/i] [i]‘New York’s a big city. Big and so damn starved for success, that they’re itching to idolise anyone who can get them to the mountaintop. Even if it’s only once.’[/i] He stood next to a man with almost a foot of height on him - they shared a jersey color but not much beyond - as the inbound man waited to get the ball from the ref. 6’6” Mikal Bridges kept trying to draw eye contact from him. Wide grin on his face. The Knicks switched the longer defender onto him out of the timeout for the last possession. Jalen glanced again to the ceiling, and the massive Madison Square Garden scoreboard, his heart rate barely bumping above resting rate. [color=white]Jazz 122 – Knicks 124[/color] In the bonus. Any foul would send him to the line. Bridges only had 3 fouls to his name. Eleven seconds. [i]‘Alright… Now we wake up...’[/i] [color=orange]“Hey Mikal… You know what’s comin’, right?”[/color] Somehow Mikal Bridges’ already wide smile seemed to grow beyond all plasticity. Cheshire Cat levels. He started to nod and lock in. [i]‘Good. Hate for anyone to think I’m not being guarded by anyone worth shit when this hits Sportscenter.’[/i] Whistle blows. Ball goes to the inbound man. Jalen’s massive teammate pivots and sets a screen which everyone in the building knew was coming, as Daniels curls on the pick to receive the pass on the wing. Smaller man guarded by bigger man. Bridges' arms span long. Like his namesake, long. The big man waddles out to set another screen, Jalen indicates with his head to the left. Bridges sees the pick and plays well under, and Jalen’s grin flashes teeth. [i]‘Too early for the threeball. They’d get another possession for the win.’[/i] Jalen steps through to the left, and times a crossover perfectly as Bridges comes under. Slashing back to the middle of the court. Screenman rolls and takes Bridges with him. Washed away Bridges. Big man help defence comes, but that’s inconsequential. Too deep to do anything and not what he’s waiting on. Daniels creates more space with an inside-out dribble going right, past the nail. [i]‘C’mon, man. Bite…’[/i] He feels pressure come from the far man, and he’s satisfied he got what he wanted. Stepback, with the money middy on his mind. Until it wasn’t. No look pass to the corner where the far-man help defender just came from. Wide open. Corner three. His wingman shoots this shot literally hundreds of times a day. The pass is perfect. Straight to the fingers of his off hand. Hits him in rhythm on the spot-up. With two seconds. He hits this the horn goes, there’s no reply. Perfect to the second. Threeball goes up. Jalen watches as the crowd members behind the backboard who weren’t already on their feet, rise in anticipation. It finds iron. The shot clangs off. The backboard glows red and the horn sounds. A face which seconds ago was aimed at the rafters, couldn't lift itself from the floor. Hands on hips to complete the barely disguised visage of disgust and disappointment. [hr] [color=orange]"C'mon Rook, you ready to go?"[/color] Jalen stood outside the lockerroom after his post-game press conference duties, waiting on his night's babysitting duties. [color=880085]"Yeah, hold up man! Don't go, I'm coming!"[/color] His voice echoed out, making its appearance before Lewis Ward himself did. In full black-tie, formal suit attire. [color=orange]"Whatchu... think we're goin' to a Nation of Islam event or somethin'?[/color] [color=880085]"Is that-- Is that what you're wearing?"[/color] Jalen was dressed in what appeared to be pristine streetware attire. [color=orange]"Yeah. Course. This isn't a gala event. These people - cultural eliiiites - didn't work their asses off three-sixty five days a year to have to go black tie formal at a New Years func, Rook."[/color] Jalen overanunciated the 'elites'. [color=880085]"I-- didn't bring any other clothes."[/color] [color=orange]"Good."[/color] [color=880085]"Good?"[/color] [color=orange]"Yeah. They'll think I put you up to it. They'll think I'm hilarious. Now move your ass. I'm not bein' late to this."[/color] [color=springgreen]"You two coming?!"[/color] Echoed a voice from further down the tunnel. [color=orange]"Yeah, Cas'. We comin'."[/color] [hr] The three walked through the bitter chill of the Manhattan streets. [color=880085]"We couldn't get like a car, or somethin'?"[/color] the younger man asked, with exposure to the sting of hypothetical eyes biting harsher than the bitter wind. [color=springgreen]"In New Year's traffic? In Manhattan?"[/color] [color=orange]"Hell no. I ain't missin' none of this, cos your dumb ass is getting precious about your maitre D fit."[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Jalen..? Jalen is that you?!"[/color] [color=orange]"[sub][sup]Shiiiiiiiit...[/sup][/sub] Heeeeey Gail. 'Sup? What are you doin' in New York?"[/color] [i]...All dressed up for a party. Alone. On the street between MSG and the Marquee...[/i] [color=cornflowerblue]"I was with my girls, we were going to catch a Broadway show before the big ball drop. But they screwed up and were one ticket short. What are you doing out here?"[/color] Jalen did the calculations on how far Broadway was from here, and the odds that she'd been the one left without a ticket, within an undisclosed sized group. The story didn't pass his bullshit detector. More likely someone had let it slip on social media that he'd be... [color=cornflowerblue]"And who's this?"[/color] [color=orange]"Rook, Gail. Gail, Rook."[/color] His brow dropped into a half scowl looking at his teammate, skeptical of his social media accounts and Gail's presence. [color=880085]"I'm Lewis Ward. I play with--"[/color] [color=orange]"She knows."[/color] Jalen snaps, unable and uncaring about masking his irritation. [color=cornflowerblue]"So where are you all going?"[/color] Cas' took his lead from Jalen's expression. He didn't believe her presence here was a coincidence, and was getting frustrated with the delay. His business was in recognising Jalen's thought and desires and ensuring his interests before a word was passed. [color=springgreen]"The Marquee Skydeck. New Year's party. Jalen scored some passes."[/color] He left the number of passes vague, for Jalen's discretion. He hadn't told her anything he was pretty sure his friend and client had already thought she knew. He could also sense his impatience. He'd leave it up to him, just how far he was willing to go with that impatience. Gail brightened at the revelation. [color=cornflowerblue]"Oh wow. The Tremayne party?"[/color] Jalen's irritation was piqued. None of this was coincidence, he was sure of it. 'The Tremayne party'? He's a big deal... but not in her circles. And certainly not enough to know by the location. Unless, of course, she'd done her homework. The pretense was wasting his time. His effort. His energy. Above all, his patience. He spared Casper a knowing look - the two were on the same wavelength. [color=orange]"I got a spare pass. You want to come up. At least to keep you warm 'til your girls get out from their show?"[/color] [i]Maybe I'll get lucky, you'll hook up with some other high-flyer, and stay the Hell out of my business...[/i] [color=cornflowerblue]"Oh wow! That would be ama--"[/color] Jalen walked on by her, continuing to the Marquee, trailed by the other pair. [color=cornflowerblue]"--zing."[/color] She joined the train, bringing up the rear, walking alongside of the younger ball player. Jalen walked ahead, hands stuffed in his coatpockets, shoulders hunched in to protect from the cold. Gail checked her fit, and her purse as she walked along behind. She wore a shoulderless, strapless cocktail dress that shimmered blue with the surrounding lights of the big city. [color=880085]"Do you... want to borrow my jacket? I hope your friends didn't leave you out in the cold long."[/color] Lewis asked, noting that Jalen hadn't offered his own, even with his mentioned concern for keeping out of the cold - not picking up on any of the surrounding subtleties. [color=cornflowerblue]"Oh, you're sweet!"[/color] Gail replied. [color=cornflowerblue]"But its only just up ahead a little."[/color] [color=880085]"Oh, you've been to New York before?"[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"Oh! No, I just-- figure, with you all walking from the Garden, it must only be around here somewhere..."[/color] Jalen's head shook almost imperceptibly, as he overheard her story falling apart under the weakest questioning. They continued through the evening's late December chill until hitting a human barrier which could only be surpassed with the password: [color=springgreen]"Jalen Daniels plus three."[/color] [hr] The difference in atmosphere was palpable. Downstairs all noise seemed to dissipate in the nights air. In here, it just added to the cacophony. Downstairs the myriad lights of the big city caught the eye in various shades. Inside single shades held, ever changing but casting a clear set color glow. Downstairs the winter's chill cut through to the bone, up here the air was as hot as the beats and told anyone and everyone they should have left their jacket in coatcheck. Jalen stepped out with a simple sentence to the younger player he was mentoring. [color=orange]"Don't embarass me, and don't be surprised if someone gives you a tray to carry."[/color] He felt Gail fold herself into his arm. [color=cornflowerblue]"I don't recognise anyone here."[/color] He sighed. [i]So much for shaking her off...[/i] [color=orange]"That's cos you're looking at the party from a distance. Get up close, it'll change. You'll see a face and go 'Oh, I know them? How do I know them?'. I didn't throw this party. You got famous people in different circles."[/color] [color=springgreen]"I'm goin."[/color] Casper uttered. [i]Mingling and putting the word out that you're here. Business.[/i] The unspoken words. Jalen responded with a head nod, and stepped forwards. [color=cornflowerblue]"I don't know the music."[/color] Gail clung to his arm tighter. [color=orange]"Didn't throw the party. I didn't pick the music, neither."[/color] He dismissed. [color=880085]"Hey J.D."[/color] [color=orange]"Don't call me J.D. It's J.R. But don't call me that, neither."[/color] [color=880885]"Daniels, you want a drink? They got trays of, what is this--? Dom Juan..?"[/color] [color=orange]"Dom Jua-- Do you mean Dom Perignon? Oh Hell naw..."[/color] Jalen screwfaced with displeasure at the pair's inability to avoid embarassing him within the first two minutes. [color=orange]"Both of you need to broaden your damn horizons. Mingle. Or whatever you have to do to leave me the Hell alone for five mintes."[/color] He yanked his arm clear of Gail's grip. [color=orange]"I don't care if you go do it together or apart. Just... go. Talk to people. Circle back later. Much later."[/color] Jalen slipped through the crowd as he cut a crooked path to the bar. [/color]