Page 3 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
Oh shit…am I gonna get paid?She nodded, “Fantastic!I’d love to show you what I’ve got.”
“Perfect, so let’s get you set up with payroll, we’ll pay you per piece like we do for freelance, and we’ll use your pieces as your probation.If you do bad, we’ll just part ways.If you do well, then we’ll bring you on as a permanent journalist.It’s how I got my first shot; most of the writers here you’ll find got our start this way.It’s a little strange, but I’d rather pay you for a few bad pieces and find out you won’t fit then bring you on payroll and not get the journalist I want.”He tossed his hands up with a grin.
Ah, so this is how they get you.No problem, Cassiopeia Darling was in this for blood and fame.If it took a few pieces at freelancer pay, she could do this.It wasn’t about the money but it sure would be nice.
“What did you have in mind?”She clenched her hands in her lap.
“What do you know about SportsBall?”He cocked a brow.
She barked out a laugh, “What?”
“SportsBalls?King’s Fall has a sports league, four teams under our banner, plus two from the Maylor Kingdom, and two from Tritus.Every year we put on a full summer of games with one winner.The King’s Fall Knights win every year, naturally.Do you watch?”
No!Why would—Cass laughed sweetly, shaking her head.“Sure haven’t, but I’m down to try anything new.”
“Perfect!”Mr.Pearson clapped his hands.“I’ve got just the story for you that’ll allow you to show off your chops across many different mediums.”
“Huh?”she blurted out, blinking rapidly.
“Come with me, did you drive here?”He jumped to his feet, sinking below the top of his desk.
“Uh, no.”Cass clambered to her feet, panic pumping through her.Sports news?You’ve got to be fucking kidding!She rounded the desk, watching Mr.Pearson grab his briefcase and motion to the door.His assistant appeared in the blink of an eye and opened the door.
“Good, we’ll take the portals, it’ll be great.”
And so, Cassiopeia followed the jolly dwarf out the door of his perfect office and out into the deadly sunshine.
Theyarrivedatthefield ten minutes later.Thankfully, a cold breeze was cutting through the heat from the sun.King’s Fall had near perfect weather all the time.Wizards stayed up in towers all the time keeping the spell intact.The sun was always shining.The clouds were always fluffy.The sky was always cerulean.Except, seasons still happened.It was spring now, and the wind was biting cold, but the sun was blazing hot.It made it easy for Cassiopeia to keep temperate while charging after the swiftly strutting dwarf.He was practically frolicking.
Cassiopeia, on the outside, was pressed and prepared for anything.Internally, she was freaking out.Sports?We don’t write about sports!We couldn’t tell you the last time we even watched a sports romance movie!Wecan’twrite about sports!But her name in neon lights and awards to rub in her sisters’ faces was depending on this.
How hard could it be?Right?
It’s just a test anyway.She’d watch a game or two, write up about the stats, do the research, maybe do an interview or two, and get her name on the payroll of King’s Fall Daily.Perfect.Easy.She could do this!
Cass regretted her pumps immediately as her heels sunk into the thick pitch.Halfway through, she had to forgo them and accept the shame of her stockings walking over a dew-damp field.Cass held them in one hand, her briefcase in the other, and stopped beside Mr.Pearson at the side of the field.
Sweaty bodies—everywhere!
There were people all over the field, stretching or running.Some man in a pair of gray sweats and no shirt was in the middle of the field, cap on his bald head, whistling at people before barking orders.An ogre was doing push-ups in the top right corner.She spotted a Fowlst—bird folk—flying from circular goal post to circular goal post.A minotaur was jogging in place with high knees next to a green Dragos, both laughing at something between them.A pair of humans were doing tuck and rolls in the middle, springing up to their feet, and repeating the action across the field.
Oh no.She felt her hope of getting the job go up in flames as she absorbed the whole field.What are they even training for?
“Ah!Mr.Pearson!”Another person in sweatpants, a towel draped over his shoulders, jogged up to them.“Great to see you.This the journalist?”
“Yup!This is the one and only Cassiopeia Darling, she’s going to be working the season with y’all.”Mr.Pearson motioned at her grandly before turning to her.“Cassiopeia, this is Coach Renner, the one in the center is trainer Lee.And the big lady at the back is Tens, she’s the team cleric.”
Cass glanced past everyone to the goliath woman with a mohawk that was handing out water and lecturing players from the opposite side of the field.She was as impressive as she was intimidating.The glistening muscles on her arms made Cass feel weakjust looking at her.
“Well, Cass, lemme introduce you to the man of the hour, huh?Elliot!”
“What?”Cass blurted out, glancing at Mr.Pearson.
“The story, you’ll be following the team in the season and reporting on training, interviewing, and doing game wrap ups, but the biggest piece—and the thing I’m most excited for you to write—is Elliot Bonesaw.He’s the man of the hour.Elliot is the team captain and has been the reigning champ for six years now.And at the end of season, Renner here is retiring and Elliot is becoming head coach.So, the main piece is a look into the minotaur in charge.The ins and outs, overview of his accomplishments, the whole works.I want a massive piece about him to wrap up the season.”
A think piece…about some sports player?Cass swallowed down what was left of her pride as she faced her challenge.
Seven foot tall, white and rust spotted minotaur in only a pair of hot pink, mesh shorts.He jogged across the field toward them.Cass, having never once noticed sports players before, noticed suddenly how muscular Elliot Bonesaw was.His shoulders were a brick wall, his waist was fluffy but bulky, and his thighs made her jealous.He could probably jump to the moon on those things.His horns were a sweet corn yellow bone.Her eyes kept dropping to the bull ring bouncing in his nose and the dripping wet fur around his bare chest.How long have they been out here working out?
