“Oh god, they overheard me.”
“Just chill, man, they don’t know anything. If you don’t say anything and I don’t say anything-”
“I just told you how tall she was. I just told you how fast she was. Hell, how many girls play like she does? There’s a reason I call her the goddess of victory!”
Zyx stops to give him a good, long look. “Come on, they won’t see her-”
“They will tomorrow.” He grabs Zyx by the sleeves. “My good man, dearest friend, beloved brother to me beyond all other men; do not tell them who she is, do not point her out to them, do not even hint or mislead them.” He lets go, and paces off, alternating between tugging his hair and fumbling with nothing in midair. “Augh, why!?”
“This is the perfect time for blackmail!”
The answering look was one of abject horror and impending destruction. The abyss stared out of it. Zyx would’ve sworn he heart a low wail of despair.
“I think it’s time I announce my retirement. Yes, I’ll do it. I’ll quit Disc. No more, none of it. I’ll never play again. Yes. If they find out I’ll be questioned and laughed at to death. I’ll quit, and kill myself when the pain gets too bad.”
Zyx frowned. “Oh, come off it. I’ll deny everything. And we can start getting metaphysical with them. ‘What is Victory, to you? Is the mortal embodiment-avatar of a goddess necessarily a lady? And what of ‘Of’?”
= = =
The Goddess of Victory.
I see her; she who glides atop the grass on bare feet, treading air, racing the wind
I see her; she who flies into the air, with a nimble leap and bound, light as a feather, rising grand and powerfully, like the sun.
I see her; she who reaches behind her with a hand, and who catches the disc at an impossible angle.
I see her, the Goddess of Victory. I see her beauty, her grace, her lithe form – everywhere.
She whose hair flies in the wind of her passing. She whose jump – not the highest – brings her closest. She whose throws are like passing meteors, accurate with speed and power to rival Zeus’ thunderbolts. She whose run, dodging and weaving past mortal fools who deign to think they could catch her, is a masterpiece of grace and elegance.
The Goddess of Victory; long hair flying, limbs paint-strokes on a beautiful form, a shadow silhouette against the golden rays of the setting sun.
