Tennis de Table
“It wasn’t the worst I’ve seen.”
“You’re far too polite, Lux.” Finlay shook his head, smiling. “C’mon you can say it. He was absolutely terrible.”
“At least he tried.”
“Is he nearby or something?” Finlay grinned, searching around him. “Or is he secretly marking your Politics papers? You defend him far too often.” Lux just sighed and shook her head. “Although I suppose I should cut him some slack, had he ever played before?”
“Yes.” Lux laughed and Finlay rolled his eyes.
“I guess it’s somewhat sweet. He wanted to defend his ego.”
“When does Ezreal ever not try to defend his ego.”
“Oh look at you, finally breaking character.”
“Just so you’ll shut up about it.”
“I don’t think I ever will. I don’t think a human has ever witnessed or will ever witness a worse game of pool.”
“Maybe not, but you’re about to witness a worse game of table tennis, and with you as the loser. Front row seats you could say.”
“Oh really?” Finlay taunted.
“Oh yes.”
“Well, Miss Crown-”
“Alrighty!” Herald boomed.
“We’re about to find out.” Finlay winked.
“The only event that people really care about has arrived! Everyone please, gather round.”
They broke from the seat at the fire and Finlay tossed his somewhat empty beer can into it, Lux winced but said nothing, then followed the herd to the table.
The too proactive girl then starting running around, handing people paper.
“There’s your schedule, Lux.” She beamed.
“Thanks Kell!” Lux smiled back. Finlay got one himself but looked over Lux’s instead. Doing too much there, buddy.
She scanned over it, rather excitedly. They had only just got the table upon becoming second years, this was their first proper tournament, and most of the people signed up she had already played in friendlies, they were rubbish.
They had little games here and there with a bunch of people watching, and it did get very competitive, but Lux was confident. She didn’t need to reinforce her reputation of ‘being the golden girl who was good at everything’ but she sure liked to.
What invigorated her more was how a certain person who was becoming certainly too brazen was about to witness that too. And just as Lux thought of the name, right on cue, she heard it.
“JINX!” Fleur Cartier called out, running up to said person, with Maisie Wilson’s hand strapped to hers.
Lux’s head whipped up so fast she could’ve snapped it. What is with this girl making the weirdest friend pairings.
Fleur and Lux got on fine, but things with Ezreal made Lux a little uncomfortable around her. The last thing she needed was a doubling of that discomfort.
Lux listened as closely as she could in the roaring room, glaring over at the other side of the table where the French girl chatted vividly and loudly.
“Are you ‘ere to play ze table tennis?” Fleur asked with an odd amount of amazement.
“No, I just really like crowded rooms. Easier to stab people without getting blamed.”
Fleur screeched with laughter, practically wetting herself. Is she paying you to laugh? The bills cannot be this high, Fleur, that was not funny.
“So you ar’ playing?”
“Yeppers.”
“Well, I do not play. Like ze engineering it makes no sense. I hit ze ball and it goes exactly where I do not want. Jeu de conneries absolues.”
Jinx just nodded her head slowly, her eyes a little wide and expression a little aback. Lux laughed at it.
“I hope to play you, Jinx.” Maisie said, smiling. Smiling quite a lot too.
“Oh you really don’t.” She replied bluntly. “I’m very good.”
“Well we’ll see.”
“So you’re playing?”
“Yeah, we had a table back home. I’ve grown up with a nasty spin.” What a dull conversation.
“And what about these other Piltie weirdos. Any of them good?”
“Piltie?”
“Doesn’t matter. Can anyone here even hold the paddle without putting their eye out?”
“Oh Jinx, you don’t even realise. You’ve entered into quite the conflict. Table tennis is no joke. But I suppose, there’s a whole lot of talk, and the game… well there’s only some game. There’s a few really good players, but just a few. Like… Klark Hoskel is pretty good, his twin sister’s okay but not great. Finlay Price is very good… hm, Jasmine Kooi… oh and-”
“Lux?” Finlay just interrupted their conversation, trying to talk to her. That was quite rude.
“Yes.” Lux answered, absent-mindedly, still gawking at the other side of the table at a certain blue haired girl’s reaction.
“See who you’re playing first?” But his question didn’t register, as Lux noticed how Jinx started to search the room, and in the scanning she found a certain blonde staring not-so discreetly.
They locked eyes for a little too long, Lux just couldn’t pull away, then Jinx tentatively rose her hand and waved by wiggling her fingers, smugly grinning.
“How’s the door, Blondie?” She called, chuckling her usual chuckle. Lux grinded her teeth, her nails digging into her palms, she opened her mouth to reply but Finlay, again, pulled her away.
“You’re playing Maisie Wilson first, Lux. Did you know?”
Yes I can read.
“Oh yeah, I saw. I don’t think I should be worried, though.”
“I don’t think you need to be worried at all this evening, Luxanna. Well, except when you’re playing me.” He grinned broadly, but he lost Lux again, as she was looking back across the table, only to find the blue hair gone, and it was hard to miss.
First game was Akali against Klark Hoskel.
“Yeah I regret my choices.” Akali said, looking rather shell-shocked as Lux went over to her friends hugged in the corner. “Why do I have to play Ren’s hot brother first.”
“Hey!” Ren screeched.
“C’mon Ren, you’re well used to in now.” Senna laughed, her arm around Akali like a boxer’s trainer.
“And, since your twins, she’s basically calling you hot too.” Ahri said.
“Shame you don’t share the same Ping-Pong skills though.” Lux grinned. Ren scowled at her.
“This is going to be so embarrassing…” Akali muttered.
“Then why’d you sign up?” Evelynn sighed. Akali have her a cruel glare.
“Its alright, my brother’s actually really bad.”
“No he’s not.” Akali said in the most matter-of-fact way. Ren chortled.
“It’ll be fine Akali, just focus on returning everything and worry less about good shots. Most people mess up on their own, that’s how you’ll get your points.” Lux comforted.
“But I can’t return Klark’s shots.”
“Er… sure you can!”
“Alrighty, Akali and Klark. First up.” Herald boomed.
Akali shook her way to the table as her friends watched and laughed.
“Losing 2 to 21?” Ahri whispered to Lux.
“Have a little faith.” Lux smiled. “Three.”
The game wasn’t that bad. Klark had a reputation of being good and Akali a reputation of being okay so it wasn’t the most disastrous outcome. In fact, Lux was pleasantly surprised, the first game ended 5-21 but the second gave Ahri a whole 13 points. She did lose in the end, but her dignity was quite intact.
The game that followed was Jasmine Kooi against Finlay. Furtively, Lux wanted Jasmine to win, but she kept that quiet. Instead she was respectful, clapping the same amount each time one side scored. In the end Finlay won, but it was a close game and very entertaining.
The next was less so, Francesca Shaldow against this boy called Allister Sugar. Fran destroyed him. She was actually a lot better than Lux realised, and only then noticed how she had never played her. Maybe there was a bit of competition for her after all.
The games were long, best of three and first to 21 took more time than Lux expected. She was only going to be playing her first game of many and it was already quarter to 11.
It was her and Maisie up next. Fleur cried Maisie on, very loudly, as Ezreal kept his mouth shut, rather awkwardly.
The first game was quite tight, Maisie didn’t lie to Jinx, she had a good spin and it was hard to return, but Lux won 21-14. The second was less tight, with Lux warmed up she beat Maisie promptly, 21 to 6.
The crowd boomed loudly in cheer, but as she politely shook Maisie’s hand, her standard beaming smile plastered on her face, she found that she wasn’t looking for the approval of her friends, but for a particular reaction from a certain girl. And she got just that. Right beside Ronan Vayne, Jinx stood, her mouth dangled open and eyes gapingly wide.
Lux had quite literally not felt a feeling like it. A warmth spread through her stomach and a very different, natural smile crept up on her lips, Lux had no control over it, as though her nerves had a mind of their own. And as their eyes met, Lux mimicked Jinx’s wave, smiling that smug smile before being captured by a celebratory hug from her friends.
“You know we’re playing next.” Akali said collapsing onto a nearby sofa as the next game began, Ren versus Ryan Kho.
“We are?” Lux said, pulling out the timetable, her mind was a little fixed on how Jinx still hadn’t played yet.
“Well, no. Both of our next games are each other. So, I was thinking. I could let you win-”
“How kind…”
“Well, we could do some insider trading, you see. I could let you win and then we split the prize. Hm, how about that.”
“What even is the prize?” Senna asked over her shoulder as the rest of them were egging Ren on.
“I think a trophy. Actual karat gold too. Finlay was saying.” Lux answered.
“No way.”
“This is Rhayn after all.”
“How can a common room committee for one year get that much funding?”
“Well Rhayn is filthy rich. And it’s not like there much else they can spend it on.” Lux said looking around. “I mean, is there really anything you’d change.”
The game ended with Ren beating Ryan. It was close though, Ryan winning the first, Ren the second and then consequently the third. Each game went to deuce.
But that game quickly left her mind, as the next one, and the final game of the first round was announced. Jinx versus… someone. The second name didn’t even clock, she even forgot the name on the timetable, Jinx was all that filled her head.
“Oh Jinx is playing!” Seraphine said with a smile.
“Lux is about to explode.” Ahri laughed. Lux turned abruptly to them, was she that overt?
“What?”
“Is that not the girl who’s being going at you since she’s started here? I thought you really didn’t like her.”
“Oh, yeah it is. The new Kiramman girl.” Lux replied nonchalantly. “Reckon she’s any good?”
“Definitely.” Seraphine said, dismissively.
“Oh, that’s the head case in my tech class. I told you about her Lux.” Ren said.
“Why do you think she’ll be good?” Lux asked Seraphine, keeping her tone steady.
“Hm, well I feel like being good at Physics makes you good at angles? I don’t know, I’m not good at Physics.” Seraphine sighed. “But she’s crafty. I think that’ll come in handy.”
“Especially in tech.” Ren added. “But she uses her powers for evil.”
“Hey.” Klark said as he joined his sister. “Any of you guys seen that new girl play yet? She’s my next game. Is she good or… more like my sister here.” Ren pinched him.
“We’re all about to find out…” Senna said as she pointed towards the table.
Jinx was stood, paddle in hand, wearing somewhat normal clothes. A hoodie with the sleeves rolled up past her elbows and shorts Lux was sure she had seen before. Her braided hair dangled to her feet as always, swaying with an assured enchanting elegance, as though they had a mind of their own-
Lux shook her head. It didn’t matter what she was wearing, it mattered how she played. It turned out her opposition was Micha, he was a real idiot and terrible at the game. Lux sighed, she wasn’t going to find anything about Jinx’s skill. Well, if she lost to him then she’d know she was truly rubbish.
*
This guy’s absolutely rubbish. Jinx decided as she won the serve. It really only took a quick rally and one of her smashes to find that out. His returns were weak and high and always in a predictable place.
She wasn’t really watching the other Ping-Pong games before hers. She got bored and started day-dreaming, so this Micha guy was her first impression, and it was safe to say she was filled with confidence.
The first game she dominated, winning 21 to 2, the lowest score of the entire first round. The second was just as bad, 21 to 4. Oh this is going to be very fun.
The next game was some girl versus some guy, the names all sounded the same after a while, and the same with the faces.
“When were you going to mention how good you were at Ping-Pong?” Ronan Vayne said as she returned to him.
“I’m good at aloada things, but I don’t list ‘em on the daily.”
“I just didn’t think Ping-Pong would be on the list.”
“Want me to recite it? ‘kay… I’m really good at making explosives, ooo and guns. Ummm, shooting people, see that perfect aim you just saw there… uhm, acts of terrorism. Oh and trail-grating the enforcers. What are you good at?” She said grinning.
Ronan rolled his eyes.
“Plus that guy was garbage.”
“Hm it seems that’s true. Micha Sewart is, well, forgive my gossip, but not the sharpest tool in the shed. It’s a real wonder how he got into Rhayn. If you ask me,” Ronan pulled in close to whisper as if it was a deadly secret. “his parents bribed the academy or something.” Jinx chuckled, he really was the definition of harmless. Jinx liked him. He made her laugh even if he wasn’t trying. Actually, especially when he wasn’t trying. “But at least he’s attempting and getting involved.”
“You sound like a school teacher.”
“Well its true, he entered all the things tonight. Chess and Pool and this.”
“He sounds like a dumbass.”
“I… guess that is not untrue.” Ronan said, trying and failing to stop himself from laughing.
“Did he win anything?”
“Eh- with the chess… no. I think he won a game of pool though… but just one.”
“Who did win the chess?” Jinx was actually a little curious. Intelligent and rich? Couldn’t exist.
“Finlay Price.” He sighed deeply. “He beat me in the semi-final. And you know who won the Pool too… Finlay Price. He’s a bit of an all-rounder.”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let him win table tennis.”
“I think he has quite the few competitors actually.”
“Gah. All Pilties think they’re the best things to exist. Of course they all think they’re worthy competitors.”
“And clearly you don’t.”
“I’m not a Piltie. Doesn’t count.”
Ronan chuckled.
“Round 2, game 2!” Hollered the Herald guy. “Akali v Luxanna!”
Now that name did stand out, face sure did too.
“Ah, Luxanna Crownguard. Now she’s very good at Ping-Pong.”
“Oui, she beat Maisie. And Maisie is ze best in ze world.”
“I really got served the short straw playing her first.”
“She’s just a standard Piltie... Why are you all in love with her?” Jinx scoffed, crossing her arms.
“I’m not…” Maisie smiled. “But Fleur’s boyfriend is.”
“What?”
“Asch! Do not mention ees name to me now! ‘E is not my courter, and shall never be! Maudit ce salaud!”
“They’re going through a bit of a rough patch right now.” Maisie winked.
“Is your boyfriend Sal?”
“Who?”
“Hm, actually, I think it’s Hal.”
“Um… I don’t know what you mean but Fleur is half-dating this boy Ezreal. And Ezreal is madly in love with Luxanna. As are most of the boys here. Can’t really blame them though, I guess.”
“Ew.” Jinx cringed. “I can. Don’t see anything appealing about her. She’s as thick and rich as cream and madly in love with herself.”
“Who, Lux?” Ronan chimed in. “She’s actually very smart. Won the Prize last year for exceptional performance. Meaning she did the best in all her subjects and thus the best results overall.”
“Must’ve threatened to kill Viktor or something to get that. Or maybe she killed the old Dean and that’s why Viktor’s here. Don’tya remember her Physics test. A circle is sharper than Crownguard.”
“True, but she’s brand new to Physi-”
“Yeah no shit.”
“She didn’t do it last year… at least I’m pretty sure I don’t remember in the class anyways. Anyone would be that bad just doing it for a month.”
Jinx grumbled to herself. She much preferred the idea of the blonde narcissist being a dumb hag.
“I know, I try to hate her too.” Maisie whispered. “But you really can’t. She’s so sweet and genuinely humble. Even Fleur loves her, and she can hardly stand me sometimes.”
They all just ate into her stupid tricks. Jinx suddenly felt like the only smart one in the academy.
She was also terrible at table tennis. Jinx thought back to the first match of the night, that girl Akali with that other guy, it was the only one she actually watched.
Akali was terrible, and Lux was currently losing to her.
“Uh- insider trading doesn’t really work like this.” Akali muttered nervously from across the table as the score hit 19-3 to Akali. Everyone was very confused at such a statement, but Lux just laughed. “Seriously Lux.”
Why does this girl sound so shaken? Lux just had a massive smile on her face. Did she ever not smile in public? Fake prick.
“I have no idea what you mean.” Lux laughed again. “You’re just beating me.”
The entire room was silent. It seems this turn of events was very astonishing. Jinx wasn’t shocked though, she knew this girl was good at nothing.
“Game point!” Herald bellowed as the score came 20 to 3. The room was dead silent, Akali looked worried, Pink hair looked confused, and Lux just smiled.
Akali then took a deep breath, serving calmly and steadily only to grow the most terrified face Jinx had ever seen, and she had held guns to people.
Her serve crashed back without Akali even noticing it hit Lux’s side. Lux’s point.
The jaw of everyone in the room dropped.
Oh this girl loves her attention.
Akali served again, and as though the ball never left her hand, it flew back. 20 to 5. Then Lux took the serve, and each time the ball was hardly noticed. A white flicker bounced on her side and then on Akali’s and then jetted away. And this repeated until it got to 20-10. Akali took the serve again, looking as nervous as ever, and each time Lux returned it with no rally given. 20-15. Swapping serves, again, no rally in sight. 20-20, deuce. And just as though the game never started, two points later it was over.
The crowd roared with an applaud and with a bit of a laugh. Lux then strutted over to Akali, who was bright red, and civilly shook her hand.
“You’re not funny, you know.” Akali rolled her eyes as Lux put her arm around the back of her friend’s neck.
“Oh, I’m very funny.” And like sheep, everyone laughed.
“Where’s the second game?” Jinx complained to Ronan. Jinx was rather red too, but that was just because the room was warm, nothing about the table tennis.
“That was the second game.”
“Wha? When was the first?”
“You were babbling through it. But, to be honest, it was very quick.” Maisie said.
“Lux won 21-1.”
Jinx hmpfed and pouted. Akali was just really bad.
Two more games passed on and Jinx could not recite their contents. She talked happily with Ronan and would at times look out for a specific shade of blonde hair. But just to check if she was tampering with the Ping-Pong balls. Jinx wouldn’t put cheating past her. Plus, the game she played was with her friend. Of course her friend would let her win. The whole operation was probably just a set up. All to inflate this stupid girl’s ego. Well, Jinx wouldn’t eat into it, she would quell this sugar-coating and defeat her without a drip of sweat.
Finally it was her turn, she was against this Klark guy. Candidly, he did not strike fear into her heart.
She watched him emerge from a group in the corner, and there she found Blondie staring at her. They locked eyes for quite the while, it brought Jinx back to their conversation that afternoon. To what she said about her, and about the Kirammans. Her blood boiled and she turned away, grumbling to herself. Everyone in this stupid place is so blind.
The Klark guy was kind of good, Jinx had to admit. His returns were strong and precise, and were not easy to make into rallies. His serves could uses some work, though, but it was hard to earn points just from a weak serve. Nevertheless, Jinx made fewer mistakes and gave stronger hits, leaving the first game 21- 15 to her.
The second was tougher. The heat of the moment and the room was getting to her, definitely not because they swapped sides of the table and Blondie was just inches from her. She wasn’t there before.
She could hear Seraphine spurring her on, but the rest of Blondie’s friends were silent. But silent for both sides. That threw her off.
Jinx could feel her stare, she stood tall, her arms crossed and her jaw clenched. Maybe if she wasn’t so focused on seeing Lux from her peripheral vision, she would be doing better. Klark just scored his 5th point, and Jinx had only 2 to her name.
She snapped out of it though. Throwing back each of his shots without much thought. She had been playing since she could remember, so hitting shots right where she wanted them was just second nature at that point.
It got to 6-4 and Jinx took the serve. Hers were a lot better, especially since she was taking the break to actually aim, instead of trying to see if Lux was watching or not. Only two did Klark actually manage to return, but with his paddle made awkward by angle she fired at, he couldn’t keep the rally. All five points were awarded to her.
Things were going fine, Jinx was well in the lead and her smug smile was beginning to construct… until some tall boy started talking to the stubborn blonde rock.
“Hey, Finlay.” Lux said, flashing that dumb smile she always did. Finlay. So that was the mini-game prodigy. And there he was, talking to the girl everyone wanted to talk to. Jinx’s attention was practically gone, she was overbearingly curious about Talented Mr Finlay and Luxanna the golden girl. And her points slipped.
Klark crept up, matching the score 15 to 15. And Jinx was still trying to eavesdrop. Not that she really cared. She was just curious. That was until Lux left. Lux left.
Finlay and her went somewhere, well, she moved away and he followed her. Some of her friends exchanged looks. But Lux was away, and without her gaping into Jinx’s soul, she could actually focus, bringing the score to 18-17.
Then she realised that Klark was quite nervous. He was slipping in his tension, his shots less precise and strength level a little volatile. She composed herself and with a breath or two earnt back three points, bringing it to 18-20.
Klark got one more point, making Jinx a little panicked, but after a dodgy shot, spiking the ball quite high, she was able to smash it down… and win the game.
Despite Jinx being there for a week, and having very little influence on the crowd that was her year, they still exploded with delight. It seems they would explode no matter who was playing, but she liked it nonetheless.
The next game started, and again the names just drafted through her mind without a lingering thought. What did perk her interest was pink hair, as she ran over to her.
“Hello!” Seraphine smiled. “Well done! Great shootin’.”
“Um… thanks…”
“You know, I’m not Lux.”
“Yippee for that.”
“…which means, you don’t have to hate me.”
“Uh…I don’t hate you?” Jinx mumbled. “Well, no-”
“Good. Glad that’s settled. Oh, hey Ronan. Sorry about that chess, I was routing for you!”
“Ah, thank you. But it’s alright, Finlay deserved to win.”
Jinx decided she didn’t like Finlay.
“I’m sure he was just lucky.” Seraphine comforted.
Ronan opened his mouth to say something, probably about how Chess is quite literally the least luck-induced game, but then closed it again, and just cheerily nodded.
“And… Jinx. When were you going to mention how good at Ping-Pong you were?” She said, elbowing her. Why does everyone want me to register my talents?
“Well I didn’t think you Piltie folk were interesting enough to have fun.”
“Hm, yeah, well I didn’t expect this level of enthusiasm over it either. We’ve had this common room for a month now and it’s all anyone talks about.”
“You don’t play then?” Ronan asked.
“I have the balance of a rock and the aim of a blind elderly person. Not my thing.” Seraphine said dryly. Jinx laughed. “But watching is sure fun.” She winked at her. “I had no idea it would get this competitive. Klark was basically convulsing at the end there, Jinx. He looked like he was in a frenzy or something. And Ren, his literal sister, had never seen him like that, like ever.”
“Yeah I thought he was going to vomit on me.”
“And that was just round two! Things’ll only get worse from now on.”