Collab with  qovapryi

Scoonie Barrett property of Q.
FBA belongs to  BuckHopper

_________________________________

It was the day after the Alaska Preseason home game, sun almost setting. Julian’s sitting on the living room contemplating the view, a bit slouched, beer on the table next to the couch he’s on. Scoonie was minding his business, but he recalled the saluki spent quite a while in that plan, not talking or doing anything else. A whole week had passed since the Texas fiasco, but the otter noted the saluki kept looking pretty downbeat at times, and Scoonie knew he had to do something. The otter grabbed a cold beer out the refrigerator, then went to sit on the couch near the canine. "Wanna talk?" he asked.

Julian looked up to the familair voice; his friend's. "Sure. So... want to tell me or remind me of how twisted that joke was? Still due for one of those today..." he guarded up, snarky, but not attacking, considering he was talking to his teammmate and friend.

Scoonie took Julian's sarcastic remark in stride, levering the cap of his bottle with a claw until it popped before taking an healthy swig. "Not really, man. I mean, you know my stance on the subject, but I have no business in keeping berating you for what you did. Just wanna be sure we're cool about that, and that this divergence of views isn't gonna cause further and bigger issues down the road," he said.

"I talked to Chuck, so we're on better grounds, the team's safe..." he said to Scoonie's surprise. "Let me ask you something. Do you think I'm not... passionate for this?"

The canine's question caught the otter by surprise. "Of course not, Jay! Why would you even think I thought that?"

"Is just that..." he coughed a bit, hesitant to continue, "...Is what everyone sees. I just hate that, because I'm not a machine to play ball 24/7 others think I'm... undeserving or think I don't want this." The canine had a bit of a wall since he arrived, and Scoonie, in this moment, felt he hit it.

"Think I get it. It's because of your ties with Karmic, right?" The otter took another big gulp from the bottle, acknowledging Julian's nod. "Well that's inevitable, Jay. You're young, talented, and different enough from the average baller. Many are going to chime in and either tell you to fuck off or try to use your anger to discredit you to the outsider's eyes..." He briefly paused, scratching his nose with the empty paw. "That's because they're scared of you, Jay. Your personality and attitude make you something they can't control. And they'll always go out of their way to point out what they think are your biggest weaknesses, in the hope you might screw things sooner or later."

"The thing is... I'm expected to be a role model from the get go. I don't want to change myself for people...to want to be like me; the fact people are telling me they don't want to have their kids looking up to me, to me bothers me because I should not be in that spot. My cards are on the table, take them or leave them. That side of me isn't for... laughs or a pretend; I grew up in that world and it embraced me when I was on my absolute low. I owe them."

"Still nobody's asking you to change who you are. I mean, if they let Julio Onca on the court for seven years and have a normal career after nearly killing another player, I don't think having worked as a shop boy in a tattoo parlor will be an issue to anyone. It's just...people are and will be scared of different, Jay, and your goal is to let them know that there is more to you than the portrait they get from the media. But you're not the only one that needs to work on that aspect - the FBA is full of wild personalities, and all of them have been judged at some point by prejudices and stereotypes, rather than their actual skills on the court. Myself included."

"But at least you got all these... sport accolades to your name and you are or were a multi talented jock, so they aren't bothering you as much. But I didn't come here with a bubbly, saccharine personality, a rack full of trophies or a family tree with famous players... I only had a ball, my shoes... and a will...barely support..."

"What do you mean, dude? You got picked eighth in the draft, and the competition was indeed stiffer than last year...isn't that a big enough "accolade"? Not to mention, with the skills you have, you've probably made your high school history back home, right?"

Julian got silent for a bit, gesticulating. "I... don't have high school expereince. Zero. Hell, my university experience was too much of a big, convoluted mindfuck for me to count it as actual experience"

"No way, dude. I don't fucking believe it. You're too good for just being such a late comer, and I mean it. What did you do in high school anyway? And did you get to the shop before or after starting to play?" Questions arising on the otter's mind.

"Long, long story..." he sighed. Touching past again was hard for the saluki, but Scoonie was a friend, and the first FBA athlete to take account of him and give him a hand so he deserves to know. "Back in France, my parents and I were... at odds...for most of the time, and in all those things I did wrong in their eyes was founding basketball at 12 and me wanting to be good at it. My school didn't have a basketball program, so I played on the street with some other acquaintances, read what I could find and watched every show possible instead of studying, and talked to and was guided by some gym teachers on basic pointers. I'm in love with the sport by itself, just was surrounded by people... telling me how I was wrong and why shouldn't it be that way..."

"You're kidding me," the otter said, although he knew by heart that the canine was telling the truth. "I mean, I've been playing sports for my entire life, and still I get told I am kind of a raw prospect from time to time. Honestly Jay, I'd say it's no wonder you're attacked like that. People are blinded by trophies and school reps and you have to drop them and go on, regardless of what you think of it... What about the shop though? I think I've heard you saying your family was pretty well-off, and forgive me for saying that, but the few wealthy kids I got to know didn't really hang around a tattoo parlor..."

"Not wealthy per se. Just... they wanted me to just browse universities and be some sort of... "heir" of their businesses, and I wasn't having it; besides basketball, I hated most of the stuff in my life. In came my uncles, especially my aunt, the only voice of approval I had in that moment, even offering me to fly to Canada to study there "to not let my talents go to waste". Didn't know she was refering to basketball as well, but there she was, someone who actually told me I could be successful by being myself. So...I might've had a bad fight with my parents the day I left and I might've severed ties and communications with them when I moved from France to Canada..." the 'might'ves' not masking the cold truth that they were indeed.

"So I have to assume they don't know about your time with Karmic?"

"I don't know if they know. That's kind of how the non-communication deal is..."

"Well that's not cool, dude. I got in a pretty bad fight with my dad the day I came home sporting my freshly-healed arm sleeve, and we didn't talk for a month afterwards. It wasn't pretty, but as I was about to burn bridges with my family and thought about all the implications such a decision came with, I realized that it was the last thing I wanted happen to anyone. No matter how bad this fight might have been, they're still your parents, and I'm sure they still want to know what you're up to. Or at least what they missed from your recent media exposure."

He became defensive. "For what? To get criticized and to be told how wrong I am AGAIN? Dammit Scoonie, I could be making ten times more than Barton Rouge, but they aren't satisfied at me unless I'm doing as they say. Been four years since the move, and I don't want to go back to that. My uncles were supportive of me and thought I could be someone in life, so they are my family. Period" As the conversation flowed, Julian became less aware by the second of what was he saying and who was he talking to. he was pouring it out. "My aunt was the only one who told me that I could be someone in life and that I could be myself, the only one that believed in me. When she died I just..." in the midst of the tirade, he became aware of Scoonie by his side and the deeply personal information he just blurted out. Conflicted, he tried to keep his guard up, looking away and shaking his head. "Tais toi, Ce n'est rien..." he brashly concluded.

Scoonie was agape. He didn't really see Julian snapping like that before."Sorry, Jay. It wasn't within my right to reprove you for what you did before I got to know you. I should have thought about your point of view..." Scoonie told the dejected saluki, who seemed to having retired in his own world. He put his paw on the dog's shoulder. "Still, allow me to say that your aunt was right. That you can be someone in life, and you don't need to compromise who you are in order to get whatever result you aim to. Focus on that, and soon everyone who's now berating you because they think you don't belong in the big leagues, will be too busy finding a way to stop you."

He took in all of what the otter said, but the sadness he got himself into was way too evident. "Sorry... Don't want to bawl or tell you my dramas, man...I don't want you to think I'm weak... I'm not weak..."

Scoonie pulled the dog in a hug, his webbed paw gently patting Julian's back, feeling and hearing him sobbing a pair of times. "Don't be sorry, Jay. Everyone needs a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on sooner or later; don't know if you had that chance... Just focus into turning that pain into your strength, and soon that prank will be the last thing people will think about you."

Even though he was tearing up, he still tried to keep himself stable. "That event, her... death... really threw me into rock bottom. That main voice saying that I could make it was not there anymore, instead there was just the voices in my university and my basketball team telling me how I was wrong in every way... Too odd, too freaky... too weird. The only people I had left to support me instead of my uncle and his baby, my cousin, were...The Karmic fellas..."

"And it hurts you that everyone's tearing you apart because of your bonds with the parlor crew. That's understandable."

"They were the only ones who I could trust and the only ones who were there for me... My uni team...yeah... Didn't have much baskbetball friends, the first I could call a true friend to the level of the Karmic guys is Tevela, the rookie from the Pride. I didn't expect either basketball or body mod to be something exciting and personality-molding, but they are..." He sighed, wiping his eyes. "...Ugh... I know I should be over that issue of my life by now..."

"It's normal to feel that way, even after many years. And hey, you got us now, Jay. Wilmer's right - we really are some sort of a big family, as twisted and disfunctional as it may sound. And as long as you stick with us, man, I'll make it damn sure everyone in the team's there to help if you are, should you need it."

"I... could use FBA guidance. All the teamwork and the lessons about ethic are all from Karmic and logic. I know spreading rumors and sabotaging to clench the starter spot isn't the ethic, unlike my teammates at UCF, but... as actual basketball dynamics, I was too busy avioding the things I said and opted to an egotistical approach instead, focusing on me as a player, me being good and prepared. It may be the wrong way, but that was the way I was offered by life. Preparing for a teamwork mentality instead of it being natural, you know..."

Scoonie nodded. "As I said, stick with us. I assure you this team is trustworthy and we will have your back 100%"

Kind of ironic you said 'sticking' with you..."

"Ironic? How so?"

"I saw a pretty nice house, big living room, modern looking, my alley... And I plan to move out by the beginning of November" the dog smiled.

The otter ruffled the canine's hair, putting a mockingly sad face on. "Already tired of rooming with me, Jay?"

"Hey!" He shoved the otter, laughing. "Although I'm going to miss the abnormal food portions and the headlocks, it was bound to happen... But really man, thanks for offering me your house for the time being."

"I know dude, was just joking. Still...it'll take a while to getting used to be on my own again, having a roommate again was a nice experience. Although it'll be nice to bring home some 'company' without having to worry you got your earplugs on or not" Scoonie said, playful jabs to the saluki's arm.

Julian stood up, collecting the now empty beer bottles. "Well, the new house is just like... 5 blocks away from here? If you ever need company, or a freak to scare the crap out of you or the only guy in this state that can get close to your dirty gym laundry without hesitating..." the otter laughed heartily. "...I'll be there."

"Oh I can't wait, Jay. And you know...if you ever need anything, you just call me. I experienced first-hand how life in Oahu can be pretty troubling at first."

"You'll have me for a couple more days. Definite move still has some way to go. So, you'll have to endure my Halloween rituals..." he chuckled as he headed inside.

"...Merci..." he said at the door's edge, the tone making it clear it was refering to the serious talk beforehand, to which Scoonie just gestured and smiled back.