Josh and Raye Warren and Irene Liddow

September 30, 2007 10:58 AM

Who's up for a walk? [Tag: Zane, Laurie, whoever] by Josh and Raye Warren and Irene Liddow

Josh and Renaye headed out to the Gardens. Renaye was steamed. Josh could tell she was not happy about whatever it was. He gave her a look, raising his eyebrows in a "Hey, what's up?" way. She rolled her green eyes and pushed her blonde bangs out of her face. If hse didn't want to talk about it, then fine. Whatever. He kind of hoped she would though because he always knew what was going on with her and he didn't want school to change that. Plus, he knew she'd be in a way better mood once he introduced her to Zane.

"This is going to be a long year..." She said. Josh furrowed his eyebrows. "They already hate me for the stupidest reason. It's not stupid for me, but what do they have against Quidditch?"

Josh was still confused but he let her carry on. "They're all hardcore pureblood. They started talking about how Quidditch was for boys, it's just knocking people off brooms and how it's not right for girls to play. You know I can't stand that. So I gave my opinion," Raye said.

Great. That was what got her into trouble. She doesn't exactly control her venting of feelings once she gets into it.

"What did you say?" He said in an exasperated tone. She shrugged.

"Nothing really. I just asked them why girls shouldn't be allowed to and informed them I'm actually pretty good at knocking people off their brooms."

Josh rolled his bright blue eyes. Great. Good job Raye. He was glad that she didn't just take that stuff, but she really needs to learn when to stop. Now she's on a bad list with her many roommates who she would be living with for many years. Josh looked over to say something when he saw Renaye's face light up. He looked around to see Irene heading towards them. He grinned and waved at her.

"Hey you two!" She said with a grin, ruffling Josh's black hair. He groaned and smoothed his hair out.

"Would you guys stop doing that?" He said. Renaye laughed and ruffled his hair again.

"So what was with you leaving after like two seconds?" Renaye asked, but not sounding like she really cared. A small smile crept up onto her face, but she shook her head.

"Is it that guy?" He asked. Irene lookd surprised for a moment, but she schooled her features. "That one from over the summer?"

"I'll tell you guys later," She said with a smile. Her eyes landed on the others and she gestured to them.

"Who's this? I'm Irene, their cousin. Pecari second year."

OOC: I assumed both Zane and Laurie were here, but correct me if I'm wrong.
0 Josh and Raye Warren and Irene Liddow Who's up for a walk? [Tag: Zane, Laurie, whoever] 0 Josh and Raye Warren and Irene Liddow 1 5


Zane Cooper

October 02, 2007 3:09 PM

I always liked a good game of tag by Zane Cooper

Zane followed Josh and his sister out to the Gardens, glad that he wasn’t cooped up in the dorm anymore. He much preferred open spaces and fresh air over the confines of a stale old room. It was easier to pretend he was on his broom flying when he was outside than when he was inside. Brown eyes looked skyward, as if asking the heavens what he had done to deserve to be sentenced to a year without Quidditch. With a shrug, the stout boy hurried along, not wishing to be left behind, or worse, lost.

The twins seemed to be having some sort of family conversation, so he lagged behind far enough so that he was out of earshot of their conversation. He had siblings, and ten cousins between both his parents' families. He knew that family business was usually something you didn’t share with the outside world. Aside from the lives of certain relatives, whose lives had put them into very public spotlights.

Zane felt awkward about the prospect of being introduced as Uncle Greg, Uncle Ted, and Aunt Tabby’s nephew. It had been one thing to introduce himself like that to one kid, another to be introduced that way to a group of people. It was as if he were somehow stealing from their glory, as if his name did not deserve the honor that theirs’ bestowed upon him. Not that he wasn’t used to having people know – back home, all the kids knew who his aunt and uncles were, but nobody ever made too big a deal about it. They just continued on with their Quidditch games, in which Zane felt the need to prove to them, to himself, to everyone, that he had talent.

And he was gifted, though his talent was very raw, and in need of proper training. Back home, people knew his family history, but thought he was cool because of what he could do. He felt much more comfortable in that situation than in the situation he was getting into. He hoped that, unlike Josh, his sister would pass judgment on him only after seeing Zane’s flying aptitude. That was the only way he could feel sure that they really like him, and not the people he was lucky enough to be related to.

Zane nodded at the girl who introduced herself as Irene, his brown curls falling into his eyes just a bit as he did so.

“My cousin Ronen is in Pecari,” he said what was quickly becoming his automatic response to anyone who said they were in that house, “I’m Zane Cooper.”

He rolled from his heels up to the balls of his feet, and back down anxiously. No, it just felt too weird to introduce himself as one of “the” Coopers without being allowed to at least prove his own worth first. Zane just couldn’t do it.
0 Zane Cooper I always liked a good game of tag 0 Zane Cooper 0 5


Laurie Cider

October 02, 2007 5:37 PM

Ditto by Laurie Cider

Laurie grabbed the first pair of jeans and t-shirt she found in her trunk, and dashed for the bathroom. She wasn't about to strip down in front of a bunch of strangers. Maybe in a few months, when things became more comfortable, but for now, she was going to jump into a stall or whatever was available and get comfortable. After changing, she paused in front of one of the oval mirrors that decorated the walls, and tried smoothing out some of the wrinkles of her pale green shirt. She redid her pony tail, and patted down the bumps that seemed to always form. She wanted to brush her teeth, but then again, she wanted to brush her teeth at least once an hour. Her dentist had explained on more than one occasion that her teeth really only needed brushing, at most, twice a day.

Laurie blew a raspberry at the mirror, and bounded out the door. "Catch you guys later!" she called as she jogged past the bed and through the doorway to the stairwell. She was out of the common room and half way down the main hall before she realized that she didn't exactly know how to find the Gardens. She found a window and searched for hedges. A brief bit of triangulation later, and she was trotting through a pair of parallel hedges, in a temperature that could only be described as 'pleasant.' Much of the plantlife was unfamiliar to her, and everything seemed to be in bloom, as if the Gardens were caught in a perpetual Spring.

She caught sight of the twins and jogged to catch up with them. "Hey," she breathed. "Sorry, but a skirt just isn't for outside things. But wow, is the atmosphere out here about thirty degrees warmer or what?" She shuddered in recollection. "I really think things got started on the wrong foot in there."

Laurie paused, as a third figure joined them. Renaye and Josh immediate greeted her, and from the easy assuredness the girl carried with her, Laurie figured she was not a first year. She listened as they exchanged a few words, a bantering tone in it that she recognized as family. "Who's this? I'm Irene, their cousin. Pecari second year." Laurie grinned; she'd called it right. She leaned forward, intending on introducing herself, when another boy, one she had somehow missed upon walking up, spoke up instead. Zane. . .now that was an interesting name. She'd remember that.

"And I'm Laurie," she interjected during the pause. "I'm housemates with your cousins." Her lips curved upwards wryly. "And it looks like, for Renaye and I, we're in a minority in our dormroom. I hope that Quidditch is as amazing as you're describing, because if it can cause that much controversy in half an hour. . ." She shrugged. "Eh, forget them. So, I know Sonora has a pitch for Quidditch, but do they have any other facilities? Like a gymnasium or something?"
0 Laurie Cider Ditto 0 Laurie Cider 0 5


Renaye, Josh, and Irene

October 03, 2007 9:09 PM

I'm more of a hide-and-seek person =) by Renaye, Josh, and Irene

OOC: Okay, this was a little difficult. Irene and Renaye don't know Zane, os whenever I used the name before intros was just because Josh knew him. Irene didn't know Laurie either, so the twins know her. Just... yeah. Not using phsycic powers or anything xD

BIC:
Renaye grinned as Laurie came to join them. She was very glad to have her in the dorm. She really would go insane without her. She felt terrible for being the cause of the whole... dispute, for Laurie. Raye had dragged her down with her as she stood against the majority belief. Irene waved to her too with another smile. Josh nodded with a slight smile.

"Sorry, but a skirt just isn't for outside things. But wow, is the atmosphere out here about thirty degrees warmer or what?"

Josh nodded, running a hand through his black hair, which definitely helped attract the heat.

"Oh man," Irene said, nodding in agreement. "We all live in Michigan, so we're not use to this heat. Well, these two aren't. But I prefer the fall weather."

"I really think things got started on the wrong foot in there."

Renaye gave small humorless laugh. "A little bit. I'm sorry about taking you down with me," she said. "But I stand by what I said. I'm sure we're similar in other ways, but I doubt that the others will want to be friends now."

Irene looked at her curiously. Josh whispered, "Later," to her and she shrugged. Irene inquired to who the others were. Raye and Josh thought they'd let them do the intros. Josh wanted to see Raye's face too... Renaye was in her own train of thought, it seemed. Josh noticed the slightly interested look she had in her green eyes. Oh no... She had that look when she was looking at her crush on the neighborhood team...

"Raye..." He said carefully. "You--" but Zane was speaking.

“My cousin Ronen is in Pecari.”

Irene nodded and said with a grin, "Oh! Well, we're the best! Sorry, guys, your loss." She knew she had been talking to a Pecari first year at the feast when Brett had asked her out. Maybe that was him. She never figured his name, she had joined the convorsation a little late.

“I’m Zane Cooper.”

Irene wasn't sure why that name sounded familiar... Cooper... Cooper... Josh looked over to Renaye whose eyes had gone from observing, to wide open. Her jaw had fallen slightly and she looked impressed. Josh grinned at her astonished look.

"Hey," Renaye said with a grin, "For the record, I liked you before I knew your name!" She turned to Josh and ruffled his hair in a sort of annoyed, sort of teasing, kinf of way. "Why didn't you tell me right away?"

Josh smoothed his hair and rolled his blue eyes. Laurie turned to Irene and introduced herself as well. Josh gave a small wave. Irene smiled, brushing some hair into her face. He really wished she'd stop doing that. It was becoming a habit and it always reminded him of what happened over the summer. He knew she was still shaken up, but the little things like that really got his mind working into good ways to get Uncle Damon back...

"I'm housemates with your cousins. And it looks like, for Renaye and I, we're in a minority in our dormroom. I hope that Quidditch is as amazing as you're describing, because if it can cause that much controversy in half an hour. . ." She shrugged. "Eh, forget them. So, I know Sonora has a pitch for Quidditch, but do they have any other facilities? Like a gymnasium or something?"

Renaye elbowed Irene. "We're pro-Quidditch outlaws. And," she added, turning to Laurie, "Don't worry, it's better than we're describing! There's really nothing like it. Defying gravity and getting the thrill of competition, it's crazy. Maybe Josh will let you use his broom to practice on!"

She flashed a grin at Josh. Josh narrowed his eyes and stepped away from her. She knew perfectly well he would not be letting anyone newar that broom. Zane was extremely lucky to be able to hold it. Extremely. If he wasn't going to be his roommate, Josh wouldn't have let him, regardless of what legend he had for uncles (and aunt).

"I don't think so," he said shortly. "No offense. No one flies on my broom but me. No. One." Josh looked at Renaye at these last two words.

Irene laughed. "Yeah, really, don't. I took it out for a ride once and he pushed me into the pond! That is only second on the Obsessive-Josh scale to the "Are you crazy?!" look I got for trying to be beater. Josh. is. always. beater."

The twins both felt that prodding feeling to go fly at that moment. Josh was seriously dying. He wanted to head out the pitch with Zane, see if he lived up to the name. Renaye was itching to get ahold of a bat. She had all that extra energy and nothing to do with it. Twenty point six minutes to eruption.
0 Renaye, Josh, and Irene I'm more of a hide-and-seek person =) 0 Renaye, Josh, and Irene 0 5


Zane

October 07, 2007 5:28 PM

Red Light, Green Light... by Zane

They knew his name. Let the games begin.

Renaye claimed to have liked Zane before she knew his name, but Zane obviously didn’t know her well enough to trust her on that. For all he knew, she was just trying to be polite, which wasn’t a bad thing really, it was just… he liked to know that things like potential friendships could be based on him, and him alone. But she seemed to move on, and didn’t make a big deal out of it, so at least there was hope. Laurie didn’t seem effected at all. Maybe she was a Muggleborn? Or perhaps from one of those weird pureblood families that didn’t let their children have any fun. He’d heard stories about those families, and they sounded awful. Uncle Greg had been from a family like that.

Another girl joined the group, and Zane acknowledged her with a nod. As a housemate of Josh and Renaye, that made her a housemate of Zane as well. This meant he had to try especially hard to match the name to the face, because he had the idea that it would be a bad idea not to know your housemates’ names. Especially one in your own year, which Laurie appeared to be, considering she shared a dorm with Renaye.

He also sensed that there was some sort of Quidditch dispute going on in their dorm. Some girls were so weird – they preferred dolls over flying! Inconceivable! True, boys usually did sports, and girls usually talked about drawing and clothes and other girly stuff (at least, in Zane’s eleven years of experience with the dreaded cooties and the like) but that didn’t mean that some girls could also like sports as well. In fact, some of them were even as good as the boys, and though he was loathe to admit it – some girls could even outplay the boys back home. Like his cousin, Hannah. And those sporty girls, as few as they may be, ought to be allowed to play. You only got better by playing the best in the game. And sometimes girls were the best. Sometimes.

“The best?” Zane challenged Irene with a cheeky grin, “Funny, I heard we beat you guys in the Quidditch championship last year.”

Zane turned to Laurie, “Quidditch is amazing – forget anyone who tries to tell you different. Some girls get really good at Quidditch, too.”

The stout boy was almost glad when Josh declared that no one was allowed to ride on his broom. It gave Zane incentive not to snatch it. The boy didn’t like to start trouble, and he didn’t like to break rules if it wasn’t absolutely necessary to do so. He didn’t see the thrill that some people (namely Ronen) seemed to get out of that kind of thing.

“Why can’t you both be beaters?” Zane asked, confused, “There’s supposed to be two of them, anyway.”
0 Zane Red Light, Green Light... 0 Zane 0 5


Laurie Cider

October 11, 2007 10:51 PM

Red rover, red rover, send *name* right over! by Laurie Cider

Laurie fell into the ease of multiple conversations going on at once with comfortable practice. Dinners back home were hour long juggling fests, with her mom asking her questions, her dad arguing with Bryce, and Tim interjecting the occasional quip to spice things along. Perhaps it was because Josh, Renaye, and Irene were related that the conversations flowed so seamlessly between them. Her lips turned wryly; maybe it was just because there were five of them, and the questions were zipping back and forth.

She quickly shook her head to reassure Renaye. "You didn't drag me down anywhere! I'm sure the honeymoon period would have been short regardless." She shrugged, her green t-shirt shifting with the movement. "Sometimes, people just don't click right away. Don't worry- things will work out."

Laurie's eyes slowly paned to focus on her other housemate, the now introduced Zane Cooper. From Renaye's reaction, and the way Josh seemed to play it up, Cooper was apparently a Name of some importance- Laurie was going to go out on a limb and guess, it was of Quidditch importance. She tilted her head and apologized, sotto voce, "Sorry if I'm not in equal awe, my dad didn't do much to keep me in the 'know' with wizarding stuff. It's cool to meet you, though, Zane."

Laurie held up her hands in mock surrender. "Your broom's safe, Josh. I promise not to make any sudden moves. "

She felt momentarily thrown off by Zane's comment. "Some girls get really good at Quidditch, too." Maybe it was her inner protester clambering for attention, but that felt like a dismissal. Laurie let it slide, though. Her father was the family's resident feminist, activist, and general all around trouble-starter. She preferred following the rules, which was part of the reason she felt nervous about this whole semi-clandestine meeting in the Gardens. Her Head of House had said first years weren't allowed to participate in try-outs this year, and if she understood correctly, they really weren't supposed to be flying until after lessons. She bit back her concerns; she was making friends, having fun!

She missed Zane's question, but figured it was probably something Quidditch related. Laurie decided to re-direct things while her enthusiasm was still beating down her inner worrier. "So I don't know the rules, the positions, anything. Plainly, there's a position called Beater, but what about the rest?"
0 Laurie Cider Red rover, red rover, send *name* right over! 0 Laurie Cider 0 5


Irene Renaye and Josh

October 21, 2007 10:56 AM

Monopoly! by Irene Renaye and Josh

"You didn't drag me down anywhere! I'm sure the honeymoon period would have been short regardless. Sometimes, people just don't click right away. Don't worry- things will work out."

Renaye smiled in response. That did make her feel better. She didn't know what she would say if Laurie had said, 'Yeah, well, you should have thought about that!' That would have sucked...

“Funny, I heard we beat you guys in the Quidditch championship last year.”

Ohhh.... Renaye and Josh looked over to Irene, huge grins plastered on their face. Irene's mouth fell open, but looked amused at the same time. Irene wanted to bite back with 'Well you're a first year, so what you think about the Quidditch teams doesn't really count, does it?' But that would be really really mean. It's not his fault they changed the rules. Heck, she was a second year and she didn't like it. Instead, she pointed a finger at him and said,

"First. Year."

When they told Zane about the Beater story, he looked confused for a second before he said,

“Why can’t you both be beaters?” Zane asked, confused, “There’s supposed to be two of them, anyway.”

Renaye raised her hand. "I'm always beater. Josh and I."

"So I don't know the rules, the positions, anything. Plainly, there's a position called Beater, but what about the rest?"

"There are four balls," Josh said, launching into the topic. "There's the Bludgers, two of them, who fly around trying to knock people off their brooms. There are two Beaters who fly around with bats, trying to keep Bludgers from hitting their team, or aiming them at the other team," he paused so if Laurie had a question she could ask, or if Zane had something to add he could do that too.
0 Irene Renaye and Josh Monopoly! 0 Irene Renaye and Josh 0 5


Zane

October 29, 2007 7:07 PM

The Game of Life by Zane

OOC: Apologies for the delay - RL has been a bit overwhelming as of late. BIC:

All this buzz reminded Zane how much he missed being around family all of the time. Although he had relatives at Sonora, none of them were in the same House as him, and they couldn’t all hang out in the same common room together. Who were the next Coopers expected to join him at Sonora? Hannah in a year, Gnome in three years (whose real name was Naomi, but no one ever called her that), and Ted in four. Aliyah would join Zane in six years, but by the time she got here, he would be in seventh year. Greedily, Zane hoped that most of the lot would join him in Crotalus, and not Teppenpaw nor Pecari with his brother or cousin respectively, nor Aladren – where there was not one Cooper to be found.

“It’s cool,” he reassured Laurie with a nod of his head, curls hair flopping as he did so.

“Doesn’t change the facts,” he grinned at Irene when all she could do was call him out for being a first year. That was kind of low, but not the worst thing she could do, either. He did understand picking on the newbies. The kids back home always messed up the kids who were just learning the rules of Quidditch, making up fake rules and the like. At school, it was practically required to psych out the first graders – it wasn’t Zane’s fault that a six year-old was liable to believe that his teacher was part dragon, and that she spat fire at anyone who sneezed too loudly in class.

But he decided he would be nice to Laurie as far as the explanation of Quidditch went – the fact that Irene and the Warrens were there playing no small part in that decision. Zane remained silent as Josh explained Beaters and Bludgers, waited a couple of seconds, and then jumped in with his own enlightenment.

“Quidditch is like three different games all going on at the same time in the same place,” he began eagerly, and then slowed down to a more intelligible pace, “Like Josh said, you’ve got the beaters and bludgers – that’s one game. The second game focuses on the Quaffle – which is this leather ball that you throw and catch. The three Chasers and the Keeper on each team handle the Quaffle. The Chasers’ job is to score on the opposition’s goal posts – and the Keeper tries to block their shots. There are three goal posts – shaped like hoops – which a Keeper defends. A goal through any one of the three gets your team ten points.” He paused, stopping himself before he got carried away. Overall pleased with his explanation, he figured he’d let someone else explain the Seekers and the coveted Snitch.
0 Zane The Game of Life 0 Zane 0 5