After the Game on Quidditch Pitch

Amy Fox, Coach

February 06, 2007 7:30 PM

Quidditch Match: Aladren vs. Crotalus by Amy Fox, Coach

Although the grass was still covered in a light sheen of dew, Amy was fairly certain that it was going to be a warm day. Of course, the morning air was still rather cool, causing her to slightly shiver. Having forced herself to roll out of bed at the ungodly hour of 8:00am, Amy was barely even awake enough to notice the weather. Stifling a yawn, Amy repeatedly blinked her eyes in a vain attempt to remove the fuzziness.

Having already looked up the day’s forecast, Amy was fairly certain that the temperature would only reach a mild 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Hopefully, a mild breeze would accompany the comfortable temperature, allowing the game to run along smoothly. Of course there would be those strange Northerners who thought that even 70 degrees was hot, but the general population would find the temperature to be wonderful. None to hot and none to cold.

Hopefully, the students would thus be mindful of their Quidditch uniforms, in contrast to how they have been in previous games.

Donning on a light t-shirt and a pair of shorts, Amy then began to search for the best possible robe choice. Orange seemed to be the final choice, seeing as it wouldn’t blend in with those of the players and would be garish enough that anyone in their right mind would be able to see her. Or, at least, so she hoped. Having met some of the students, she wasn’t quite so sure.

A thick leather strap was tied around her head to prevent stray hairs from flying into her face. Muggles called the contraption a headband or hair band of sorts, if she remembered correctly. Her hair was then knotted tightly into a bun and her feet were shoved unceremoniously into her sturdiest pair of boots. The entire operation took less than five minutes.

Stifling yet another yawn, Amy grabbed her wand and gear and headed out of the room. The Als and the Crots would be playing today, if she rightly remembered. Although all four houses tended to become muddled in her mind, she vaguely remembered the captains. She was also quite happy that neither team had yet to have the inclination to play dirty. Unlike that team last year…

Finally making her way to the Quidditch shed, Amy unlocked the door and entered. She managed to light the room without any mishaps and located the chest of Quidditch balls quite easily. Muttering beneath her breath, she magically lifted the chest and left the building with it trailing behind her. The shed would have to remain unlocked, unfortunately, to allow the players access to the brooms, should they need it. She could only imagine the damage they would make to the perfectly clean shed.

Entering the pitch, she strode to the center, allowing the chest to drop to the ground when she reached her destination. Everything seemed to be in sorts, but she needed to make a few last-minute check before the students arrived. Glancing at her watch, Amy noted that she had just under an hour before everyone would begin to arrive. She immediately lowered her bag of gear to the ground and removed her broom and goggles. Straddling her broom, she pulled the goggles on to her face and, less than a moment later, she pushed herself into the air.

For the next forty or so minutes she busied herself with checking the hoops, once again making sure that they were ready for the game. She also spent a few moments warming up for the game as she knew that she’d most likely be spending a good deal of time in the air. Upon spotting the first couple of heads entering the pitch, she quickly pulled into a dive and landed gracefully on the ground. Pulling her goggles onto her forehead, she checked her watch once more.

Within no time, the teams were making their way onto the field. When they had finally reached the center of the pitch, Amy motioned the captains toward her. Clearing her throat, she then motioned the teams nearer as well. “I think I need to say something to the teams as well before we get to the particulars. So,” she started, looking at each team member individually, “I’ve noticed in past games that there have been players from teams that have failed to properly follow the rules of Quidditch; thus, I felt the need to remind you all of just the basics. The first of which is this: You must wear your Quidditch uniform during the game. If I see that any of you aren’t wearing your robes, you will not be allowed to play in the game. I do hope that is understood. I also wanted to inform you that you are not allowed to leave this pitch unless you are being wheeled out by the medic. If you need to get sick, you will get sick in front of everyone.

“Finally,” she stated, placing extra emphasis on the word, “you will not cheat. If I see any foul plays whatsoever there will be penalty shots. Is that understood?” Waiting for only a moment, Amy turned toward the captains. “Alright you two, you know the rules. If one of your players gets injured I can’t stop the game. You will need to motion to me if you need a time out. If the medic states that your player can’t return to the air, then your replacements will have to take their place. After last year’s championship game, I hope you all now realize the importance of having extra players.

“That being said, I want you to shake hands and then mount your brooms. The game will begin with the Quaffle is released from my fingers.” Placing her goggles back onto her face, Amy rubbed at the indents that had been left on her forehead. Turning away from the players, Amy dipped down and opened the chest. The Bludgers were the first to be released, the Snitch following not too far behind it. She paused a moment to watch the golden orb disappear into the sky. Removing the Quaffle from the chest, Amy straddled her broom once more.

“Alright, on the count of three I will release the ball,” she yelled to the students. “One, two, three!” Lobbing the ball into the air, Amy immediately pushed off the ground and into the air. She found that the air was quite a bit warmer than it was moments before. Yes, the day would be a nice one.

Hopefully the game would be as well.

OOC: Alright, I need your full name, your team and your position in the name heading. Please be sure that you pay attention to all of the threads that are taking place during the game as well as we’ve had problems with this before. I expect these posts to be very detailed as each will count to the point total at the end, which determines the winner. Pay attention to spelling and grammar as well. That being said, good luck and have fun!
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Subthreads:

Let's get this show on the road! by Anne Wright, Chaser with Ben Stafford, Chaser, Lily Collins, Beater

Let's get it started! by Hyana Kamiya, Keeper

There are only so many possible "seeking" or "shiny" puns by Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker with Zack Dill, Seeker, Zack, Alderaanian Seeker

[On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] by Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper with Oliver Abbott, SubChaser, Lutece, Reserve Keeper, Oliver, Reserve Chaser, Lutece, Reserve Keeper

Aladren Bench by Mika'el R., Benchwarmer

Post-Game by Ben Stafford, Chaser with Bella (and a bit of her brothers), Geoffrey S.

CROTALUS WINS (nm) by Amy Fox

0 Amy Fox, Coach Quidditch Match: Aladren vs. Crotalus 0 Amy Fox, Coach 1 5

Anne Wright, Chaser

February 06, 2007 10:23 PM

Let's get this show on the road! by Anne Wright, Chaser

Anne began feeling for her hair to pull on, then remembered that she'd tucked her thick, sloppy braid down the back of her robes to keep it out of the way. Helena would have made it neat under normal circumstances, but even Anne could see why it would look odd for a Crotalus Chaser to be braiding the Aladren captain's hair the morning their teams played against each other. Geoff was almost as stressed over that one detail as Anne was over the comic opera that was the team and the season, and he had started showing it two days earlier. Running her hands up and down her broom, she took a glance up at the sky.

At least it didn't look like rain. The weather looked like it might actually cooperate with them. Anne decided to take that as a good omen.

Turning a little, she smiled at the assembly of blue-robed players. They were expecting her to be their rock, their focal point. Their captain. Geoff knew she had been turning into more and more of a neurotic, paranoid mess since the Romanova issue arose, but Geoff was like the baby brother she'd never had. He had seen her at her worst and still had to put up with her. The other's hadn't, and wouldn't, if she had anything to say about it. She had to keep cool for them, because they were counting on her.

"Hyana, you're playing Keeper," she said, giving the first year the most encouraging look she could muster. "You all know how to do what you do, so just get in there and do it right. Crotalus' track record pretty much sucks, but their players don't necessarily, so don't underestimate them. Give this game the best you've got." She offered them a half-apologetic grin. "It's standard procedure to say all that, guys. I know I'm just preaching to the choir." The Pitch was definitely starting to fill up, now, and she thought she saw something red. "It's showtime. Let's go."

It was weird to look at another team and recognize everyone on its first string, but that was what she was doing. The only one whose name she hadn't matched up with a face for one reason or another was Lily Collins', and process of elimination lead Anne to her identity. She tried to act like she couldn't see any of the players in red as the coach began her unprecedented speech on the rules, only nodding shortly when it seemed important to show that the team understood something. Soon enough, the captains were called forward for the goodwill handshake. Anne nodded to Zucchero as they obliged a few centuries worth of tradition, then stepped closer to her team for the release of the balls.

Family and friendship were all well and good, but winning took precedence over them both on a Quidditch Pitch. Anne caught herself holding her breath as the Bludgers and the Snitch were released, then started breathing again as she fixed her eyes on the Quaffle in Fox's hands. She had to win this one, come heck or high water. Losing to Pecari was all right, with their reputation, especially after beating Teppenpaw, but losing to Crotalus was unacceptable even off a good season, never mind a losing one. She went straight for the ball when it was launched, then, not even looking to see what her people were doing, began the hopefully not-so-long-and-difficult process of trying to reach the Crotalus goals. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

16 Anne Wright, Chaser Let's get this show on the road! 59 Anne Wright, Chaser 0 5

Ben Stafford, Chaser

February 07, 2007 12:09 AM

On the road again... by Ben Stafford, Chaser

Ben was ready for this game. He was alert, excited, and simply alive with the feeling of an impending contest. He thrived on the rush of adrenaline that had started pumping his heart into the rapid pace it was going early that morning. Ben had made sure to check out the weather conditions ahead of time, and found them to be completely satisfactory: High in the mid 70's, light and variable winds throughout the morning. The cool morning breeze on the field was a refreshing condition, and would probably continue to act as such for the duration of the game. Ben was ready.

The last season had been a particularly disappointing one for Ben and the Aladren team, losing early on in their run for the cup. That loss had cost them the chance at a championship, probably the most infamous one Ben and his contemporaries had seen during their time at Sonora- fouls, penalties, all kinds of medical issues, and almost complete dissent in the ranks between the teams, their captains, and Coach Fox. It certainly had been quite a game.

As the crowds began to make their way into the quidditch stadium, Ben looked about him. Not that he really expected to be able to pick out specific people, but something deep in his subconscious wanted desperately for one specific person to be there, watching. For the first time that Ben could remember, that person was neither Lexi nor any other member of his family. Stop it, he quickly reprimanded himself for almost losing focus, It doesn't matter if Bella is there or not. If she is, great. If she isn't, so what? You'll still play the way you always do. Now focus!

The moments leading up to the toss up were particularly exciting for Ben, or anyone for that matter. Eyes trained intently on that precious leather ball, waiting for the least change in position to indicate the start of the toss, Ben's heart was now rapidly thumping against his chest. As the quaffle escaped Fox's hands and began its downward trip, Ben saw Anne dart past, heading straight for the ball. He grinned to himself, thrill and excitement pushing him and his broom onwards after Anne to set up a passing option. Let the games begin!\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Ben Stafford, Chaser On the road again... 58 Ben Stafford, Chaser 0 5

Geoffrey Spindler, Chaser

February 07, 2007 9:15 AM

A not so enjoyable interlude by Geoffrey Spindler, Chaser

Geoffrey had gone out to the quidditch pitch with what seemed like most of the rest of the Crotalus team, anxiously watching his captain and the sky by turns. He wasn't entirely sure what was wrong with Jennifer, but there was something. He'd noticed it at the start of the term, and he continued to notice it now. He wished there would be a hint as to what it was, so that maybe he could help... but he remained in the dark about what the details where. The sky was an entirely different matter.

There had been an owl a few days beforehand.

Geoffrey, for reasons of his own, hadn't told anyone about it. He had rather hoped that there wouldn't be anything to talk about, but the anxious feeling in the pit of his stomach hadn't gone away. His mother wasn't happy with him.

She wasn't happy with how much weight he'd put back on over the summer break, she was angry about his lack of proper social acquaintances, and she was downright livid about his continuing to play on a quidditch team not only containing girls, but captained by one. He was relieved that the last letter hadn't been a howler, but the nagging feeling that it wasn't over just wouldn't leave him.

On the pitch, everything seemed ready for the game. Amelia Fox, the coach and former professional beater, went over conditions of play that seemed rather obvious to him (who didn't play in their team uniform? Sounded downright odd) as well as the usual stuff about not cheating. They took their places, and the game was away.

The Quaffle was snaffled by the Aladren captain right from the get go, so Geoffrey concentrated on her, although he kept an eye on another of her chasers who seemed to be paying particular attention to her movements, in case a pass was made. Moving along quickly in her wake, Geoffrey started an approach from behind and to her right, easing up beside her, planning to make a snatch and turn the game the other way. He'd have pulled it off too - there was little doubt in his mind about that - if it hadn't been for a faint sighting in the corner of his eye that led to a niggling of his earlier anxieties.

His attention was summoned away from what he was doing, and the opportunity he had had was lost, as he slowed, turned and watched in dread as first one and then other grey owls appeared flying into the arena.

Even as most of the owls dropped small boxes and pamphlets over the stands, two more bearing red smoking burdens showed up. Geoffrey watched them approach with ever growing tension, even as one broke off to approach the orange-clad coach. The owl, clearly knowing something of its burden dropped the envelope in mid-air and started flying away quite quickly. Faintly - because his attention was more tightly focused on the owl still approaching him, Geoffrey could hear the acid tones of, yes, that was definitely his mothers voice, and others besides, ripping into Amy Fox's character, saying something about her bad example, and why couldn't Sonora follow Salem's lead - Salem where four girls might have been their house captains, but at least the Headmistress and Coach had the good sense to not have any games played for two years now. There was even one insinuation about the coach being gay - thankfully not voiced by anyone whose voice he recognised.

It was almost enough to break Geoffrey's fixed stare on the envelope clearly meant for him, except his was there now, right in front of him. A flurry of feathers as its bearer made good it's escape and his mothers voice ripped into him about letting down the family name, associating with lower class people, degenerates and filthy practices.

It ended abruptly, with an order that he return home for the Christmas holidays - or face the consequences - before the howler was finally spent. Geoffrey sat there, barely daring to move. Horrified about what had happened, horrified about having been administered with such a public dressing down. He felt a hot flush take over his entire face, and lowered his gaze, avoiding looking around for fear of what he would see.

A lone piece of parchment,, one of the many that had been scattered over the stands was swept up in the light winds and somehow made it out to him, wrapping itself around the handle of his broom. He reached out and untangled it, anything was better than just sitting there, waiting for the condemnation to begin. He read it slowly, feeling smaller and smaller as he did so and in turn scrunching his shoulder, hunching his stance as he tried to make the feeling into reality.

Witches Against Immorality in the League

It is time to take a stand for what is right. It is not right that degenerates have such a position of power of the minds and hearts of young people. Playing Quidditch induces even the most well-bred young pureblood witches to fall into lifestyles of depravity.

WAIL stands for moral righteousness. Witches belong in the home, not on the Quidditch pitch, and this begins at the schools. Take a stand against female students being allowed to play, being allowed to lower themselves and open themselves to becoming depraved and devious individuals, not fit for proper society. Wear a badge-
Geoffrey had a sudden idea of what had been in the boxes.

-declaring your alliegances with WAIL. If we all stand together, society will have a chance. There may even be a way to rehabilitate such fallen figures as Rosaline Penn.

Take a stand today, for the good of the Wizarding World and witches everywhere.

It was times like this, when dropping off the face of the earth seemed the only reasonable way out, that the earth being round was really most inconvenient. He started to drift down, just wanting to leave before this turned into any more of a farce. It didn't matter what the coach had said about leaving before - he couldn't imagine she'd want him out there anymore. Not after this.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Geoffrey Spindler, Chaser A not so enjoyable interlude 0 Geoffrey Spindler, Chaser 0 5

Lily Collins, Beater

February 07, 2007 2:02 PM

You'll know who I am, when I hit you with this Bludger. by Lily Collins, Beater

This year, Crotalus had to finally win, because Lily quite frankly wasn't sure what Jennifer would do if they didn't. She personally was extremely ready for this game. Lily was out for blood and for once it wasn't Earl's. Not that she'd changed her mind on him any, it was just more productive to take out the other team. She wasn't even entirely sure Aladren had any alternates. If they did, well, Lily would try to take them out too.

She rolled her eyes as Coach Fox began to speak and made a mental note to, if she got sick, which Lily felt was unlikely anyway, fly directly over Coach Fox when she vomited.

And cheating? Who'd ever cheated at Sonora? Playing dirty by lobbing bludgers at people wasn't cheating. It was what Beaters were supposed to do and given Coach Fox's own reputation, it would be extremely hypocritical for her to tell them not to injure people.

Lily sped towards the Bludger the moment they took off. She was going to lob it at any old blue-clad player, when she noticed the one who had the Quaffle. Lily grinned somewhat maliciously, and smacked the Bludger with her club as hard as she could, sending the object hurtling towards the Aladren team Captain, just as the owls arrived bearing their packages.

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11 Lily Collins, Beater You'll know who I am, when I hit you with this Bludger. 45 Lily Collins, Beater 0 5

Hyana Kamiya, Keeper

February 07, 2007 4:59 PM

Let's get it started! by Hyana Kamiya, Keeper

Hyana had a very uneventful morning: wake up, eat, get ready for the day. She knew about the game, and was excited and terrified at the same time. She still didn't know if she was playing. Before she left, she pulled on her blue robes, and tied her long hair into a ponytail, using her hairclips and a violet headband to keep it all out of her face. She made a mental note to ask Caedence how to braid her hair for the next game, if they won. Then she checked the weather. From what she had read, this was the perfect way to play Quidditch. Perfect temperature with a slight breeze. Perfect. She grabbed Josiah's broom, the trusty Nimbus 2001, and went to the pitch.

She arrived early. Hearing the people outside, she started trembling. It sounded like there were a lot of people. But this was not the time to get scared. She was ready. Anne began to speak, and Hyana listened intently. Then came what she was truly listening for the whole time. "Hyana, you're playing Keeper." Hyana took a deep breath. Anne gave her an encouraging look, which helped a little. "Thanks Anne, I'll do my best." She said quietly, not knowing or caring if anyone heard her. Not listening to the rest of the speech very well, Hyana bent her head. Dad, sis, if you can hear me, please wish me luck. I'll play my best! I know you'd be proud of me! She prayed.

"It's showtime. Let's go." Anne said suddenly. Hyana's head snapped up. It was time. Holding her broom, she walked onto the pitch with her team. When she got outside, she almost fainted. There were so many people! She scanned the crowd, seeing if anyone she knew was watching. But she mentally slapped herself and listened to Coach Fox explain everything. Then she held out the Quaffle. Get ready Hyana! She exclaimed to herself. This was her chance. They were not going to lose!

"One, two, three!" Coach Fox released the ball and Hyana sped up into the air. She arrived at the hoops, and saw that Anne had the ball. She let out a breath, the ball was going to the other side. She was safe for now. Hyana circled the hoops. Josiah, Mika, Ebony, Gwen, Caedence...are you watching? Dad...sis...I'm going to make all of you proud! She thought. Getting fired up, she continued to circle the hoops. Aladren was going to win, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Hyana Kamiya, Keeper Let's get it started! 0 Hyana Kamiya, Keeper 0 5

Amy Fox

February 08, 2007 12:36 PM

A Howler? by Amy Fox

Finally taking position, Amy was relieved to notice that the game was starting off at a good pace. The Aladren Captain had caught the Quaffle and the game had begun. She knew that the players were most likely beyond unhappy with her, but it was ridiculous about how they continued to break the rules. And that Pecari last year, the Seeker if she remembered correctly, who had refused to wear her robes had really annoyed her.

Her eyes were locked on the play, watching as it began to unfold. She was startled to notice, then, that an owl was coming her way. It wasn't until it was practically on top of her that she even realized its presence. And then, and only then, was she aware of the appearance of numerous of other grey owls. Frozen with shock at such an odd occurrence, Amy looked with dumbfounded awe as the owl's parcel was dropped into her lap.

"Oh blast," she muttered, "a..."

Her voice was quickly cut off by the booming sound of someone shouting her formal name. Amy watched as the red parcel rose in the air in front of her, words of hatred spilling out in front of everyone. Without even realizing it, she began to slowly back away from the howler, trying to get away from its malicious words and accusations.

A red heat rose from below Amy's robes and into her face. Beads of perspiration formed at her hairline and her breathing quickened. A burning hot anger began to circle in the pit of her stomach as more and more voices berated her character. She had taken negative publicity before, but never something totally unfounded.

This was just...outrageous.

It was when one particular voice began to insinuate that she might be gay that Amy truly realized how idiotic and demeaning these ladies really were. She was gay because she played Quidditch? Was that it? Now Amy had no problem with people of that sexual persuasion, Rosaline Penn had been an acquaintance of hers, but she was most assuredly not gay.

Consumed with anger, Amy almost failed to hear the next following words. Amy's eyes lowered as it stated that her family should be horrified by having a person such as her using their name. A family of that caliber and breeding should not have let her make such a spectacle of herself.

Her family. Her pureblooded, straight laced, perfect family. She had always known that she was the family's current rebel. Although her parents had tried to talk her out of going into professional Quidditch, she had done it anyways. It had made her happy, and after some time they had understood.

Until she had almost disgraced the family name by being kicked off the Heliopaths- and, furthermore, out of the league.

When silence finally rang, Amy noticed that a sea of faces was staring in her direction. Absolutely uncertain of what to do, Amy turned toward the stands, hoping that something would come to her. It was then that she noticed that...Geoffrey, she believed his name to be, was descending to the ground.

A piece of paper grazed her face and she immediately jerked it out of the air. WAIL. Their antics had gone too far this time. Pulling out her wand, she balled up the piece of paper and sent it soaring into the air. With a quickly muttered spell, the ball burst into a ball of flames and quickly disintegrated.

Tightening her hands around the handle of her broom to the point where her knuckles screamed in pain, Amy felt another surge of anger roll through her. How did owls like this manage to make it onto the pitch in the middle of the game? Were these ladies so terribly stupid that they really believed that women belonged in the homes? It was the 21st century. Women were allowed to do anything they pleased- including play Quidditch.

Lowering the nose of her broom toward the ground, Amy sped off after Geoff. He knew something about this and even seemed rather...embarrassed. Well, he wasn't leaving the pitch, that was for sure. The game would go on. She wasn't going to let those stupid ladies stop her match with their callous words.

"Hey, Geoff, right?" she asked, vaguely remembering the kid's name from flying lessons, once she caught up to him. "Where do you think you're going? We won't be stopping this game. I won't let it. So please get back in the air. Please." A note of urgency rang clear in her voice, and she hoped that the boy complied.

This WAIL was not going to get to her. Really, it wasn't. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Amy Fox A Howler? 0 Amy Fox 0 5

Geoffrey S., Chaser

February 09, 2007 10:10 AM

Yeah... two of them.... by Geoffrey S., Chaser

It came as something of a shock that of all the people to talk to him it turned out to be the Coach. Geoffrey tried and failed to hide a pained expression, just wanting to get away. Clearly she hadn't quite realised where WAIL came from. Actually... perhaps that was better. If she did know, and did know his connection, well, she wouldn't want him there, and Geoffrey really did like to play.

But if he did play...

They'd realise soon enough, that he was linked to WAIL. That although he didn't want anything to do with it, and was frankly horrified about the idea of Jennifer - and the other girls as well - being forced to quit, his mother had used his stories about school to further her campaign. That his mother was the founder and leader of WAIL.

And then his life was over.

Sure, there were some people who actually agreed. But he knew those whose opinions he most valued hated WAIL. And would hate him as soon as they put two and two together. He wasn't sure what he'd do if Jennifer and Stephen both stopped talking to him. And life in the dorm could become distinctly unpleasant if Adam took it into his mind to become angry on behalf of his sister.

But those thoughts running through his heads weren't quite enough to stop his tongue in time.

"But she'll kill me," Geoffrey said, voice barely above a whisper. "You don't understand. Its always diets and disapproval and pun- and... she'll kill me for this."

And he was ordered back home for Christmas, which meant that even the opportunity to stay away for the entire school year was denied him.

He hadn't missed the 'please'. He hadn't missed the urgency. He could hardly ignore his own love of the game and desire to continue. But... they'd hate him. And she'd- He was stuck between a rock and a hard place and all he wanted in the whole world right then was to be able to disappear. His overly plump face expressed his mixed feelings with a fair degree of accuracy.

But... maybe if most of the attention had been on the owls, and the boxes and the Coach's howler... then maybe his own hadn't been noticed so much. And maybe this would be one last opportunity before he was thrown off the Crotalus team in disgrace; the captain taking back the house team robes and telling him how disappointed she was with him.

The truth would escape at some point. That wasn't something that he had managed to delude himself about fully, regardless of the wishful thoughts. Stay, play - the reports would reach his mother without a doubt. Leave - the team would be let down, the coach would be let down... the house would be let down. They'd wonder why. Maybe they'd find out even sooner. Life at school would become just like that at home. He'd lose the one place he felt happy and ... well, better accepted.

It was hard.

But... his mother wasn't here, even if her spies were. And... the he'd managed to defy her before, so long as she wasn't present. His broom model collection was monument to that. And maybe Father would step in this time. He had occasionally before. He had played Quidditch. Maybe he would understand.

"She's going to kill me," he said once more. A little more firmly, but with resignation in his tone rather than despair. "Sorry, Coach. I was distracted. Won't happen again." He made an abysmal attempt at a smile before ascending again. If the Coach could stay out there after what she'd had said to her... well... maybe it'd be ok.

For now at least.

And after the game, well, it could wait until after the game.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Geoffrey S., Chaser Yeah... two of them.... 0 Geoffrey S., Chaser 0 5

Paul Tarwater, Beater

February 09, 2007 4:36 PM

As well as me by Paul Tarwater, Beater

Paul looked around at the team as they assembled. Gray had left last year... which of the first years would they choose now? Paul, for some reason, didn't want Gray to have left. But she did. And the quidditch team needed a Keeper. Paul pushed his black hair, which had grown quite long, out of his face and lightly touched his neck. Where Cissy had just whacked him with her wand and demanded he forge a letter saying she could keep the puffskein.

"As if that thing wants you," Paul had blown out to her, regretting it instantly. Cissy had said a spell, then smacked him with her wand. And it felt like someone had put a hot poke to his skin.

It still hurt now. And there was still a mark. But that wasn't something that was going to keep Paul from Quidditch. Even if Markner went insane and had to leave, Paul sure wouldn't. Not because of Cissy. Quidditch meant too much to him, and his family. It was the only way to show that his family wasn't that low on the pureblood moniter.

Paul didn't even listen to Coach Fox, his neck hurt too much and he was too busy thinking. Though he did note that some people were rolling their eyes, so he mentally thanked that he wasn't. Paul was one to roll eyes and be caught doing so. Cliched adults like Fox hated that, apparently.

However, when the Quaffle was thrown up, Paul forgot everything to race after his Bludger. He saw the older Crotalus Beater go after it as well, and allowed himself to grin at her. Though she'd probably kill him if she got to the Bludger first.

If.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Paul Tarwater, Beater As well as me 0 Paul Tarwater, Beater 0 5

Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker

February 09, 2007 6:12 PM

There are only so many possible "seeking" or "shiny" puns by Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker

When the schedule of quidditch matches had first come out, Jennifer Zucchero hadn’t been sure whether to be worried or delighted over the fact that her team was going to be in the first match. On one hand, it meant that they were going to have less time to prepare, which was never a good thing. While all of the returning players were, at the very least, competent, she did have at least one person who’d never played at all, and two others who were new to the team in general, so she would have preferred having as much time as possible to prepare them.

On the other hand, at least she had all her returning players, so the core team was still there. She was fairly certain that Aladren’s keeper had left, and the less time the opposing team had to adjust and learn to work together, the better. Besides, theoretically Jennifer’s team could take advantage of the fact that its reputation from the previous two years probably hadn’t faded yet. To the Aladrens, and probably the other two houses, Crotalus was the easy win, and there was at least an off-chance that they would go in overly confident. So she’d had her team preparing for that- for being as aggressive as possible. So she thought they had at least a decent chance, as long as she could manage to get her own act together.

To her own great surprise, she’d almost forgotten the fact that the game was coming until the week of its arrival. To her credit, she’d known it was steadily approaching, and there’d been a countdown in the back of her mind for the entire month beforehand, but she’d just spent her time focusing on things that had seemed more important at the time- mostly schoolwork, although she’d spent a fair amount of time with Jake, and her other friends, of course, but the time with Jake just seemed to stick out more. Still, it had just never sunk in entirely until the night before.

Therefore, she’d gotten up that morning several hours before the game was to actually begin, before the sun was properly up, even. She managed to dress without waking any of her roommates, ate a quick breakfast, and then headed out to the pitch. She didn’t actually have the chance to do all that much, nor did she really want to. Though she did a few stretches while waiting, and checked on the conditions, which had been her excuse, for the most part, she just wanted to focus.

By the time her team started to arrive, promptly, per usual, she felt as ready as she thought she was ever going to be. She’d tried not to consider what she was going to do if they, or, more properly, she lost the game again. For the most part, she just hoped it wouldn’t come to that as she glanced around at her team before the standard, though probably dull, pre-game talk.

“Alright, guys, you all know the way things work, or, at least, I hope you do, because we’re going to have quite a bit of trouble if not,” she grinned, then glanced at the members of each section of the team during the next part. “Chasers, you know the plays, and whatnot, so just do whatever seems to be working. Beaters- not much to say, really, besides try and hurt them more than they hurt us.” She cracked another grin. “Earl, just do what you always do, unless something happens to me, in which case I will send Lutece in as quickly as possible, and you need to leave the goals immediately. Saving a goal isn’t all that important compared to the other seeker getting the snitch. Alternates, you three will stay on the bench, barring anything major happening, but you need to continue to pay attention. If someone is hit, and needs to be taken out of the game, it’s doubtful we’re going to get much time to make the switch, so you need to be ready.” She looked at them all once more. “Final word of advice- play hard and fast. They’re not going to be expecting you to be any good, so go out there and prove otherwise. Good luck.”

Fox’s own speech wasn’t much different than usual, although there did seem to be a bit of stress on the whole “not cheating” thing. Understandable, really, after the whole issue in last year’s championship match, but a bit overdone. Honestly, it was fairly obvious that, if a foul was committed, the team the foul had been committed on would get a penalty shot. She stepped up to shake Anne’s hand, returned the nod, then moved back and prepared to mount her broom.

Once Fox had blown the whistle, Jennifer was in the air almost immediately, one eye on Zack, the other trying to find the snitch, and ignored what was going on among her players. But then, to her great surprise, a swarm of owls (or whatever the proper term was) appeared, most apparently dropping something on the stands. And, of course, there were the howlers, one for Fox and one for…Geoffrey Spindler. Of all the people on her team, the one who seemed the least likely to do something that would anger someone enough to send a howler was him.

Jennifer watched as the coach incinerated one of the fliers that littered the stands, and then forcibly turned her focus back to the game, although she would have loved to know what precisely it had said. Still, there was enough time for that later. Right now, she was focused, and she was going to stay that way.

The match was obviously going on, and there would be enough time for interrogations afterward. Particularly of the chaser who obviously had been keeping something very quiet.
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0 Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker There are only so many possible "seeking" or "shiny" puns 48 Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker 0 5

Chrissy Mathers, Chaser

February 09, 2007 9:14 PM

Well, this was unexpected... by Chrissy Mathers, Chaser

It was Game Day for the Crotalus team. A day in which Chrissy both anticipated as well as dreaded. She loved the game in itself. Had loved since she was a little girl and her father used to still look and talk to her. Had loved it long before her mother had begun pushing herself onto Chrissy as though her life depended on it. It was the only thing in Chrissy's life that had been a constant reliable source of happiness for Chrissy. The only thing.

Standing in the field, she listened semi-attentively to Jennifer. Every year it as the same old same old. To be honest, Chrissy figured, if Teppenpaw could win a game against Pecari, then the Crotalus could certainly win a game against the Aladren's. They just had to. If nothing else but to keep Jennifer's sanity. After last term, Chrissy believed it was Jennifer who needed the win more than the rest of them.

When the Coach started talking, Chrissy listened even less. It was the same speech every year. Always the same. Although, this year's seemed to be a bit longer than the usual. Perhaps after last year's Championship, Fox thought it better to say more incase the school decided the game was too rough. If Sonora didn't have Quidditch, what ever would they do for fun? Quidditch was the number one entertainment at this school...unless one liked to talk about the ever evolving romances that seemed to be unfolding infront of all of them. But even those grew dull after awhile.

Readying herself on her broom, Chrissy waited patiently for the count and at 'three' was pushing from the ground and racing into the air beside her fellow Crotali. She only had a brief moment to enjoy the feeling before reality hit and she had to turn attention to the game. Already, Anne had the quaffle, but it seemed Lily was taking care of that matter. It looked like everything was in the hands of the bludger as to where this game went.

Watching the action just a few meters a head of her when movement in the distance caught her eye. For a moment, Chrissy squinted and stared at the approaching owls with curiosity. But, it was only for a moment and then her eyes were back on the game. It wasn't until she heard a screeching voice fill the air. Startled, Chrissy looked up to find that the Coach had received a Howler. Not only that, but Geoff, whom was only a few feet away from Chrissy, had also received one.

Uncertain as to what this all meant, Chrissy stared between the two of them for a long moment, she could hear various things being said, but the words meant nothing to her. Something big was happening, all of it unfolding in front of her, and despite the seriousness of the situation, Chrissy started to laugh quietly. It was a laugh that snuck up on her. The laugh that occurred when all words failed.

Soon the words died out and the Howlers were done away with. With the quiet filling the air, Chrissy looked around again. It seemed as though the game was still on, but it was hard to tell. Would they play after a a couple of Howlers? After someone shot papers from the sky thanks to owls? Ah well, best to be prepared anyway.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Chrissy Mathers, Chaser Well, this was unexpected... 0 Chrissy Mathers, Chaser 0 5

Anne Wright, Chaser

February 09, 2007 9:33 PM

So you're trying to kill me, too? by Anne Wright, Chaser

The coach's speech had brought back secondhand memories of the previous season's Cup Final, which Anne suspected made up half of her strategic glances backwards and to the side to ensure that enemies and/or, more importantly, a Bludger or Bludgers hadn't gotten too close for her do to anything about it. Doing something about it might be merely passing the Quaffle and taking the blow, but doing that would do a lot more for Aladren's chances than getting hit and pulled out of the game from the blue sky. The captain was, if she could believe Geoff, second on a Beater's hit list even if said captain wasn't in possession of the Quaffle. Anne was both.

As flying in a set direction at a good speed while keeping an eye on the rest of the Pitch and a good grip on the red Quaffle wasn't the easiest thing to do, she decided to pay the most attention to hanging onto the Quaffle. One of the Crotalus Chasers - Spindler, unless Valentine was being an idiot again - was easing up on her right. She didn't think she could keep him from getting it away from her without a foul, which would be kind of pointless since it ended with Crotalus in possession either way. She was considering the wisdom of trying to pass the Quaffle to Ben when Spindler, for no reason she could figure out, slowed and fell behind.

What the...

The best thing to do, under any circumstances, would be to stay focused and keep moving. Anne managed the second half, but when the gray owls started flying into the stadium and two of them came onto the Pitch itself, the first fell by the wayside. When what had to be either a Howler or someone using the Sonorus charm began screaming at Coach Fox, she half-turned to see what had made the noise, which wound up being what kept her from taking a Bludger to the ribs. Jerking as hard in one direction as she could, she threw the Quaffle in the other, straight towards Ben Stafford.

Spindler, who she'd all but forgotten about in the events that had followed his falling back from her, was trying to leave, and Fox was trying to keep him from it. With her on the ground, Anne had no idea if they were still playing or if it was a time-out or what. She kept moving to make a second assault less likely to succeed - she didn't know if her first assailant had been Lily or Gwen, nor did she care - and began looking around to find out what had happened to the Quaffle after she passed it. Until the coach said otherwise, she had to assume they were still playing.

Gray owls and Quidditch. The association finally came together in her mind. Anne's jaw set as she headed towards the Quaffle's new holder. She had a Quidditch match to win right now, but as soon as it was over, win or lose, she was going to make Lila Evangeline St. Martin wish she had never been born.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

16 Anne Wright, Chaser So you're trying to kill me, too? 59 Anne Wright, Chaser 0 5

Lily Collins, Beater

February 09, 2007 10:33 PM

If at first you don't succeed... by Lily Collins, Beater

Darn, darn, darn, was the censored version of Lily's thoughts as the Bludger missed Anne. Really, all she wanted was to knock someone off their broom, was that too much to ask? She was even trying to make it someone from the other team.

Lily sped after the bludger as the first Howler errupted. She couldn't help but snicker at what it was saying to Coach Fox. She knew it wasn't right to accuse someone of being gay, but it didn't matter to her really since she didn't like the woman. Another one was on it's way to Geoff Spindler, who began descending to the ground. What in the world was that kid doing? Lily didn't know him too well, but she figured he should know better than that. He needed to be up here, trying to intercept the Quaffle Anne had just passed to Ben. Or Chrissy should. Or Helena.

That's when she realized this had something to do with WAIL, the oh-so-polite group that had let Lily in on her dad's remarriage. The group who was nosy and intrusive that they knew more about people than their own families did.

Her jaw clenched in anger, Lily whacked the bludger as hard as she could at Ben Stafford, hoping that would distract him from taking the Quaffle long enough for one of the Crotalus Chasers to grab it. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

11 Lily Collins, Beater If at first you don't succeed... 45 Lily Collins, Beater 0 5

Ben Stafford, Chaser

February 10, 2007 12:25 AM

...try, try again. by Ben Stafford, Chaser

The onslaught of grey owls was a most unexpected complication of the game. Ben lost his focus for a few seconds as the owls began dropping things into the stands, and a howler began publicly denouncing Coach Fox, its rather vicious words tearing apart her character and her being in general. It was frightening to witness, Ben decided, as more boxes and letters began dropping into the laps of other players or fans in the stadium. It was a mess.

In the midst of this confusion and disruption, Ben vaguely reminded himself to pay attention to the game. From past experience in these games, the whistle was the law of the land, and no whistle had been blown to acknowledge the pause of the game. Ben's eyes snapped back to Anne, who was still in posession of the quaffle, just as she lobbed the leather ball in his direction. Ben's arms opened automatically, cushioning the ball back in towards his chest as it reached him.

It took him a moment to re-adjust the ball in the crook of his left arm so that his right could take a firm grip on his broom. His eyes swept the pitch, noting the positions everyone was taking. He couldn't see much of the other players, since some of them were caught up with the delivery of letters and boxes. Ben shook his head, focusing back on the game and reaching the goals as fast as possible. At this moment, the sound of metal cutting through the atmosphere reached his ears.

Ben's head whipped around, looking for the direction from which the bludger had come. He then saw one of the Crotalus beaters, and the bludger headed for him. Well, the rest wasn't hard to figure out, as Ben barrel-rolled to the right, the bludger just skimming the hem of his quidditch robes. Close, very close, but no cigar. Ben reset his eyes on the hoops, pushing onward. If the start of the game was any indication of how the rest of it would follow, Aladren needed points on the board, and fast. Who knew what was next. He wasn't far from the center hoop when he faked left and suddenly jerked hard right and shot.

Ben breathed, something he had forgotten to do in the past few moments. His shot had been steady and hard, and his aim was sure. Now, everything depended on that keeper. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Ben Stafford, Chaser ...try, try again. 58 Ben Stafford, Chaser 0 5

Lily Collins, Beater

February 10, 2007 2:34 AM

Oh I won't stop trying until one of you gets hurt. by Lily Collins, Beater

Lily swore under her breath as the Bludger narrowly missed Lexi's brother. Between the WAIL thing and not managing to knock either Aladren of their broom, she was fuming. She had made a promise to herself that win or lose-preferably win- that she was going to take out someone from the other team this game and they were just not cooperating .

As Ben threw the Quaffle towards the goal, Lily gave that moron Earl a look that cleary told him what she'd do to him if he missed it and let Aladren score. She turned and went up after the bludger again. This time she was going to at least make contact even if the person didn't go down.

Throwing everything she had into it, Lily sent the Bludger barreling down the Pitch towards the head of the nearest blue-clad player.
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11 Lily Collins, Beater Oh I won't stop trying until one of you gets hurt. 45 Lily Collins, Beater 0 5

Zoey Welsh, Chaser

February 10, 2007 9:02 PM

Violence is never the answer by Zoey Welsh, Chaser

Zoey had been on the Aladren Quidditch team since her second year at Sonora. Despite all of four years of being on the team, she still became anxious just before the game. It was the same for Basketball. Went to bed late due to the inability to fall asleep, up early for the same reason, stomach in knots so food was never an option. Yes, that was how Zoey was before every match. She always hoped that the next match would be different, but it never was.

Her curly red hair was pulled back into a tight braided ponytail so as to keep it out of her eyes while she played. Her normally creamy, freckled face was slightly paler than it usually was, but only those who knew Zoey well enough would notice such a thing. Dressed in khaki shorts and a t-shirt beneath her uniform, Zoey was ready for a nice day. Being from Vermont, this sort of weather was like a perfect summer day for her.

Gathering with her team, Zoey stood and listened silently as both Anne did her normal speech followed by the coach saying her's. Though this year it focused more on cheating than anything else. Last year's Cup must have been more serious than Zoey had initially thought if this was the result. Still, Zoey pushed all thoughts away when the coach began her counting.

At three, Zoey was in the air and giving a silent cheer as Anne stole the quaffle right off the bat. If it weren't for the fact that Zoey hadn't been paying attention to anything other than Anne, she might not have been so startled when screams began to issue and sudden owls were flying about. Gasping and whirling around, Zoey couldn't figure out where the yelling was coming from. It sounded close, but she didn't see anyone. She became even more rattled once she realized where the screams were coming from.

The envelops.

How...how was that possible? How were the envelops talking? Zoey floated in mid-air, eyes wide with wonder as she watched between the two screeching envelops. She didn't even take into consideration what was actually being said. And then the coach was moving and the Crotalus boy-what was his name again?-he was moving and everything came rushing back to Zoey. They were in a middle of a game. She needed to focus.

Somehow, during the time of the screaming, Anne had passed the quaffle to Ben. Zoey started moving again, closer to the goals, but enough space incase there was a save and the Crotalus got the quaffle on the return. Had she stayed in her earlier spot, had she not been so rattled by what had occurred, Zoey would have been more prepared for the bludger that crashed into her shoulder.

Her whole body lurched forward by the force, had she not been holding on with both hands to begin with, Zoey would have been forced completely off her broom by the blow. Her mouth opened for a loud scream, but no sound emitted. Fear seized her completely as her broom began to lean dangerously to one side. She had absolutely no control, not to mention, her shoulder was causing her terrible pain.

What felt like an eternity but probably lasted under a minute, Zoey was finally able to regain control of her broom. Her jaw was set tight as she wobbled for a moment, but eventually she was on the right path again. She knew that there was going to be a large bruise where the bludger hit her by the end of the game and she'd have trouble moving her arm properly for the next couple of days, but none of that mattered. Anne already didn't like her, Zoey couldn't give her any reason to throw her off the team. Especially for something as simple as a bludger.

"Good shot, Ben!" Zoey called out was she was able to focus back on the game.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6 Zoey Welsh, Chaser Violence is never the answer 39 Zoey Welsh, Chaser 0 5

Geoffrey Layne, Beater

February 10, 2007 10:36 PM

Then one of us can hurt you. by Geoffrey Layne, Beater

Weird and uncomfortable as the whole conflict-of-interests thing with Anne and Helena was, Geoffrey was still relieved to be walking out on the Quidditch Pitch. His sister might get hurt, he might be the one who hurt her, and Anne might go crazy if she was the poor fool who had to face her team after losing to Jennifer Zucchero's, but at least it would be over after this. He had been almost as obsessive as Anne since he found out who Aladren's first opponent would be, and he'd been freaking out over nothings for the past two days. Geoff wasn't used to high levels of stress, and had quickly decided that he didn't want to get used to them.

He only half-listened to Anne's speech. She had always been a talker, and he had all but always been able to tune her out. The Crotalus team was a laughingstock, but the team that gave them the victory they had to be getting desperate for would be even more of one unless it netted some major victories very soon afterwards. He decided from before the word 'go' that he was going to take care of Dill this time; Tarwater had done it in the first match of the previous year, and while he thought he would knock Helena from the Pitch to Washington if he had to, he'd rather avoid the necessity.

They were barely in when it became obvious that he wasn't going to be able to take a backseat to all of the non-Seeker-related action. Anne had the Quaffle, but a girl who he dubbed Blondie because he was only seventy percent sure she was Collins was trying to take it away from her and her out. Anne missed the Bludger, but had to pass the Quaffle. Geoff began to curse under his breath. Geoff wasn't stupid enough to think that the team would follow him willingly if anything happened to Anne, which meant that nothing could be allowed to happen to her.

Geoffrey registered the Howler calling the coach gay, Geoff Spindler trying to leave after he got one, too, Fox apprehending him, and all the telltale gray owls, but he didn't focus on any of it enough to make sense of the events and string them together. The only adverse affect W.A.I.L. had on him had been making him a captive audience to Anne's rants about the organization and how sure she was that her Aunt Sarah was behind it all. The thing he was paying attention to was the absence of a whistle to shut down the game and his captain's continued movement. As far as he and, apparently, Blondie were concerned, the game was still going, so that was what he was going to focus on. The rest was too complex to think about during a game.

Tarwater was closer than he was, but Blondie's second assault on a Quaffle-bearer was enough to convince Geoff that leaving the job to his fellow Aladren Beater would be a mistake. Stafford, too, escaped from the attack unscathed, but Blondie was already going for the Bludger she'd commandeered again. Blondie was starting to get on his already thoroughly gotten-on nerves. When she managed to make contact with Zoey Welsh's shoulder, he became fully annoyed. He didn't like Welsh because she didn't like Anne, but she was on his side and Blondie wasn't. At least Welsh had kept her seat.

Imitation was the sincerest form of flattery, and it was obvious that Lexi Stafford was supposed to be flattered enough by this point to give Blondie the fillings from her teeth, if she had any. All three Chasers in a row? One of them not even holding the Quaffle? It was the Finals fiasco all over again. He was now ninety-five percent sure that Blondie was Collins; Carey looked too much like a fairy out of Shakespeare for him to see her hitting a Bludger three effectively hard times in a row. The nuttiness didn't help her case, either, though it was what suggested her as a candidate for Blondie: Blondie appeared to have forgotten that there was another Bludger on the Pitch.

Flying to the right, Geoff managed to catch that second Bludger. Even if his next move did turn out to be illegal - and he didn't think it was; it wasn't exactly conventional, but no book he'd ever read on the subject said it was in any way inappropriate to take out another Beater - it would be worth it. Blondie was turning into a threat; it was only luck that had made it Welsh's shoulder instead of her head, and Ben and Anne might not be quick enough to get out of the way the next time. Dill might not be quick enough to get out of the way, if he became the next target. A penalty was less likely to hurt his team than leaving Blondie on the Pitch. He hit the iron ball as hard as he could towards Blondie's back. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

16 Geoffrey Layne, Beater Then one of us can hurt you. 72 Geoffrey Layne, Beater 0 5

Earl Valentine, Keeper

February 11, 2007 3:49 PM

That would be my suggestion. by Earl Valentine, Keeper

Earl took a deep breath. It was a perfect day. Perfect weather and a perfect game to go along with it. And it was going to be perfect even if it killed him. It just wasn't fair that after four years on the team, Crotalus had yet to win a game. How humiliating. But today was going to be different. Today, Crotalus was going to kick Aladren butt!

So ready was he to defend those goals with his life, that Earl paid absolutely no attention to what Coach Fox said or what Jenny said. Instead he kept his eyes going between the quaffle and the goals he was supposed to be keeping. When the quaffle was lobbed into the air, he sped off towards his goal and began circling furiously with a scowl on his face that told anyone in the area that the quaffle was not getting anywhere near these hoops.

Earl was so concentrated on the game, he never notced the gray owls decending onto the field. He never noticed the boxes and pamphelts they dropped. He never even noticed the two that went directly to Coach Fox and Geoffrey Spindler. He only noticed anything at all when te red envelopes these tow owls were carrying began screaming at the recipients.

Earl stared with fascination at the red letter insulting the Coach (he ignored the one directed at Geoffrey). Who in their right mind would send that? Earl just stared transfixed while the letter finished up and Coach fox took one of the pamphlets and made it burst into flames. He glanced around the pitch to see how everybody else was reacting to this. Most were like him, but some look angry and Geoff was trying to flee the pitch. Earl shrugged it off. Coach had yet to blow the whistle, so he should get back to the game. He glanced aronud the pitch one last time and saw -- almost at the same time -- a very manacing look given out by one Lily Collins and red ball zooming towards the goals. Ignoring Lily's death glare he lunged for the ball -- too quickly -- and ended up catching the quaffle just as he slid off his broom. He yelped and reached out to grab his broom handle, just barely reaching it.

He sighed with relief and tossed the ball the nearest chaser he could see and used both his arms to drag himself back up onto his broom. He wiped the beads of persperation from his face and stared at the ground. That would have been a good thirty foot drop. He shook his head to rid himself of the thought of almost dying and turned his attention back to the game.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Earl Valentine, Keeper That would be my suggestion. 0 Earl Valentine, Keeper 0 5

Anne Wright, Chaser

February 11, 2007 5:03 PM

They say all's fair in love and war. by Anne Wright, Chaser

Ben received the pass without interference, much to Anne's relief, and was almost immediately assaulted by a Bludger from the same Crotalus Beater who had almost hit her. She'd known, intellectually, that the Crotali had to be ready to do anything for a win, but fixating on the Chasers? Hurting Zack’s arm a little would be worth more in the end than taking all three Aladren Chasers out of the game, unless something that was both very weird and very rare happened. When Ben started to move again, Anne went with him, taking the left in case he needed to pass the same way she had.

Her mind was snarling like a mudstorm as she flew, systematically looking for Bludgers. Owling all the pureblooded girls to announce, when it was boiled down, that girls who played Quidditch were lesbians was bad enough - Anne could take being called a lot of things, but gay wasn't one of 'em - but now those dogs in pearls were interrupting the season opener to state their sick ideologies. Whether they were right or wrong - of course they were wrong, but still - that was completely out of line. They'd wanted her to write the Quidditch clubs in her second year; she'd see how they liked it when she wrote them and told them where -

Two things happened to pull her attention back to the game and away from what she'd like to do to her aunt and all the harpies who thought like her aunt: Ben made a shot for the goals, and Zoey got hit. A shoulder blow, and she didn't lose her seat on the broom; Anne was relieved enough to leave out the usual hint of grudging anxiety associated with Zoey and everything that had anything to do with her. She needed every experienced person in the air that she could get. Zoey looked fine, but Anne still felt obliged to make sure of it. She’d known there was a reason she had never, to the best of her recollection, wanted kids – they would have been dependent on her, and she had enough trouble just taking care of herself.

"Keep it up,” she called to Ben after Zoey congratulated him, ignoring Valentine’s save. Ben had done the best he could, and the best he could had been pretty good, and it wasn’t going to matter in the end, anyway. As long as Zack caught the Snitch, it wouldn’t matter if Valentine wound up being the Keeper for America at the next World Cup. She resisted the temptation to steal a look at her Seeker as she pulled up level with her almost-adversary. “You sure you’re okay?” she said, sounding concerned. It wasn’t an act. If Zoey was hurt out of the game, then that was bad enough, but if she was hurt enough to be out of the game and stayed in it, then it could be a disaster, like if Anne or Ben needed to make a fast pass that had a high chance of being intercepted or if she wound up with the Quaffle and one of the Crotalus Beaters went for her again. “Wolfe should be down there, if you think something’s broken or whatever.” \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

16 Helena Layne, Chaser Good advice. 88 Helena Layne, Chaser 0 5

Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper

February 13, 2007 7:35 PM

[On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] by Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper

Although Lutece probably wouldn’t be playing in the game against Aladren, she was still excited. This would be her first ever Quidditch game. Although she had practiced with the team and read many of the books the school library had on the topic (as well as a few she had borrowed from other students or teachers), it still wasn’t the same as actually being there. Feeling the excitement and seeing the players do what they did best.

She hadn’t been this excited since the state soccer championships the previous year, when she had played goalie against the toughest team in the league. Certainly Lutece had not been this enthused about anything since arriving at Sonora. So even though all Lutece was doing (or planning to do, come to that) was sitting on the bench between the other two alternates, Dolan and Oliver, she was still dressed in her uniform and had the school broom she was borrowing lying underneath the bench.

With considerable interest, the first year watched as Aladren immediately took possession of the Quaffle. She was still working on catching while steering the broom, and marveled at how the older players managed it. Someday, she would be that good. Of course, Lutece wouldn’t be a Chaser. She doubted that she would ever get good enough to catch, throw, and steal while on a broom. But someday, she would be up there, blocking everything that the opposing team threw at her.

Thud.

Lutece’s attention shot away from the game at lightning speed as something hit the back of her head. She swiveled, grabbing the small box, and looking at it with confusion as she returned to a more normal position. Was someone throwing things at her? No, there were boxes being dropped all over the stands by…owls?! Post was weird here, but it never came to the pitch. All of the owls looked eerily similar as well. And they weren’t just dropping boxes, either. There were pamphlets being let loose as well.

Before Lutece could grab one to see what this was all about, however, the yelling started. She couldn’t see who, or from where, but she could see a smoking red envelope in front of Coach Fox. More importantly, she could hear the words it was spouting. Or enough that she could understand approximately what was going on. What sounded like a group of older women were saying all sorts of things about the Coach’s character and mentioning something called ‘Salem’ and their lack of a Quidditch programme (it must be horrible to attend that school, in that case). Finally, and most horribly of all, one voice that came through screeched something about Coach Fox being gay.

Unlike many of her schoolmates back home, she actually knew what the word meant. It meant that Coach Fox like, liked other girls. Eeeww. Her eyes grew wide as she looked at the coach. Was that true?! But they wouldn’t let someone like that teach at a school, right? There were laws against things like that, right? The first time she had heard the word had been last year, at school, when a boy had yelled it after getting a 67% on a spelling test. The teacher had been very flustered, explaining what it meant and why it ‘wasn’t appropriate’. But gay people lived in England and Africa and got nasty diseases and died, they didn’t teach at schools. Even stupid, bizarre schools like this.

Turning angrily to the boy on her left, she gestured around her. “What’s happening? What does this mean? And why are they yelling about Coach Fox?” Granted, Lutece hadn’t exactly determined who ‘they’ were quite yet, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to know what was happening now.
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0 Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper [On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] 0 Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper 0 5

Ben Stafford, Chaser

February 14, 2007 12:21 AM

I didn't make it up, it's just what they say by Ben Stafford, Chaser

Missing a shot for Ben was like making a poor mark in an easy class. The slight pang of dissapointment hung around him only until the encouragements of his teammates reached his ears. He looked around when he heard the sound of metal colliding into body- one of their players had been hit, but she was maintaining her position on her broom, which was always a good sign. What on earth that Crotalus beater was thinking, trying to kill off the chasing team, Ben would never know. Anne went over to the injured player- the role of captain dictated that sort of thing.

Figuring that was a signal to continue the chasing game without her, Ben watched carefully as the quaffle was returned to the opposing team's chaser. Said chaser promptly turned, making her way back towards his own teams goals. Ben reversed his direction as well, putting on speed to catch up to the new chaser moving down the pitch. He might have missed a shot, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to go to pieces. As with grades, you accept what you get, move on, and vow to do better next time.

Ben looked towards the goals as he trailed the player in posession, praying that their keeper was prepared. Granted, the player was rather green, but there had to have been some potential to get on the team in the first place. He tightened up his defense on the other chaser, vacillating between staying tight to her right and left sides. This method of guarding was not only helpful in keeping the defender close enough to intercept, but when done properly, the player in posession would get frustrated enough by the continual appearence of an opposing chaser to make a mistake. Monopolizing on said mistake was the real secret to scoring goals and winning games. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Ben Stafford, Chaser I didn't make it up, it's just what they say 58 Ben Stafford, Chaser 0 5

Geoffrey S., Chaser

February 14, 2007 10:15 AM

"They"? "They" who? by Geoffrey S., Chaser

It took a little for Geoffrey to get his rhythm back. The owls, the pamphlet, the boxes and most especially the howlers had - while not being entirely unexpected - come as a bit of a shock. Not in a million years had he expected the game to be interrupted. And not in a million years had he expected to be publically ridiculed and heckled. He knew his mother didn't think much of him, but... well, deep down he knew that he loved her simply because she was his mother. He'd rather thought that somewhere inside her heart, his mother felt the same way. Or at least liked him. Even if it was just a really tiny smidgeon of a bit.

He was even shellshocked enough that even after he'd agreed to return to the game he almost missed the look that the Captain was sending his way. Almost.

It was only once the Aladren Chaser had made a run on the goals - thankfully stopped by Valentine - that he realised that he needed to pull himself together, properly this time, and get back into the action. There was a game to play. Taking the current situation into account, he followed Helena back across the field, away from their own goals, and then veering downwards when he noticed that Helena was being rather closely hemmed in by the boy who'd made the goal attempt before.

He was fairly certain that he hadn't been spotted yet. Ben - that was his name - seemed to be concentrating rather fiercely on Helena, and Geoffrey tried to use that to his advantage, doing his darndest to be invisible, small and unworthy of notice as he made his way forward, faster and faster and then slowing slightly so he would be properly positioned for a pass.

And then a new dilemma hit him. How to get Helena to notice him but not Ben?

Well... he was busy. Maybe it wouldn't matter. Split second timing and all that. A breath, a moments preparation to be sure he was ready to catch the quaffle at a moment's notice and he was ready.

"Helena!" he shouted. "Down here."

Pureblood, he recalled, as the words escaped his mouth. His mother was going to kill him. Well, if his team-mates didn't beat her to it.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Geoffrey S., Chaser "They"? "They" who? 0 Geoffrey S., Chaser 0 5

Lily Collins, Beater

February 14, 2007 2:54 PM

But you won't live to tell about it.... by Lily Collins, Beater

She was semi-satisfied. Finally, Lily had hit someone, although she hadn't been particularily aiming for Zoey Welsh. Well, she had but it wasn't as if it was Zoey she was seeing, she'd just aimed for the nearest blue-clad player and that had happened to be the Chaser. Really, she knew it would be more productive to take out the Seeker or Keeper, but Lily had been kind of desperate for a "kill" and she didn't really care who it was.

Now however, she'd had a hit, but she couldn't rest and let it go at that. Lily had to keep at it. No sooner had she whacked her classmate in the shoulder than she zoomed after the bludger and whacked it hard towards Zack Dill.

It was probably a good thing she'd sped after the Bludger so quickly, since the other one had just brushed against her side. Otherwise, she'd have probably been injured. Clearly, it must have been meant to hit her. Lily's head whipped around, her blue eyes blazing with anger. The person who'd hit that at her was going to pay and pay dearly. She didn't know his name, whether he was Paul Tarwater or Geoffrey Layne but she knew his face.

Suddenly, something dawned on Lily and her lips twitched into a malevolent smirk.

She now had both bludgers, more or less. One was traveling towards the Aladren Seeker. The other was hers to decide what to do with.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

11 Lily Collins, Beater But you won't live to tell about it.... 45 Lily Collins, Beater 0 5

Zack Dill, Seeker

February 14, 2007 3:34 PM

Yeah, but you may as well polish off one of the old ones by Zack Dill, Seeker

Zack was glad it wasn't a winter match. He'd gotten sick after the last game and he had no wish to repeat the experience. The mild temperature allowed him to go out wearing his Alderaanian Quidditch Robes (sadly, the same set from last year since he hadn't grown enough to move into the next size) without fear of loosing any appendages or even entire limbs to frostbite.

He nodded through the Coach's speech and flushed in embarrassment at the comment over the uniform, though it was hardly his fault he'd needed to wear a coat and hat over them last year. He'd've had pneumonia, not just a cold, if he hadn't. He disregarded the commentary on cheating as irrelevant because Zack didn't cheat. That would be, well, cheating. He didn't need to cheat, he was above cheating.

When the Quaffle was released, Zack launched up into the air, directing Enterprise to go into Warp Four (as fast as Zack's stomach could take, and only when going upwards). He evened out at the normal Seeking altitude and began searching for the flash of gold that meant the alien Snitch was ready for a chase.

He wasn't going to be overconfident this time. His loss to Ginger last term showed him the error of treating the Snitch differently just because he knew it was a sentient being instead of an enchanted ball like they wanted people to think. The Snitch got angry when he tried to change the rules like that, and had given him hallucinations of a gold flash down in the swirling leaves on the ground when, in reality, it was closer to where Ginger had been hovering.

So this time he played by the usual tricks, quartering up the Pitch and trying to eliminate sections where he knew it couldn't be. He was momentarily distracted from his task when people started shouting. He blinked in surprise when he found the shouting was actually coming from a couple of spitting red envelopes.

Ah, so that's what Howlers looked like.

Howlers, however, were not aliens and certainly not Snitches so once he was fairly sure the coach had no intention of calling a time-out while the loud letter continued to insult her, Zack went back to searching the sky for a bright reflection where none should be.

He did keep one ear tuned in to what the Howlers were shouting, though. It was kind of hard not to. When one of the voices said something that clearly implied that Amy was attracted to other women, Zack had to made an effort to keep his eyes on his search pattern instead of staring at the smoking letter.

This was a Quidditch game. Weren't there better venues for airing that kind of thing - like not at a school where there were eleven year old kids everywhere? Not to mention people like Zack who totally did not need to know about that. In an effort to learn nothing more on that subject, Zack focussed his hearing on the other letter.

That one sounded relatively boring. A mother or other adult female with some kind of familial importance to the kid going on about snooty things and then telling him he was coming home for Christmas. Zack was almost grateful for his own parents, food stamps and all, after that. He preferred the unavoidable neglect from his poverty-stricken parents over that kind of controlling authority no matter how much money the lady's attitude implied she had. Zack could get rich. She'd always be an arrogant prude.

Both Howlers wound down and quieted, and Zack was again able to concentrate on finding the Snitch. Not all humans are like that, he mentally apologized for his species to the Snitch. It wouldn't do to create an intergalactic war just because some ladies couldn't keep their opinions about the human ambassadors to themselves. Even if Coach Fox is like that, and even if I am from a normal human family that lives in a slum, that's no reason to stop playing with us. We're all following the set rules just like Fox said and that's what matters, right?

*edit* Sorry about having to remove 'Alderaanian' from the subjectline, Zack. The color html wouldn't fit with it there.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack Dill, Seeker Yeah, but you may as well polish off one of the old ones 40 Zack Dill, Seeker 0 5

Zoey Welsh, Chaser

February 14, 2007 8:43 PM

Posting up here (and they are the wise people) by Zoey Welsh, Chaser

Zoey had no recollection of her uninjured arm making its way to craddling her injured shoulder. It was instinct to want to protect the part of the body that was in pain, but to not remember actually making the move seemed a bit startling in Zoey's mind. Perhaps the fact that she wanted to prove herself so much allowed her subconcious mind to work on a level her conscious mind couldn't keep up with.

Her thoughts all went straight back to the game the moment Anne spoke to her. Zoey's hand left her shoulders and gripped the broomstick tightly. "I'm fine." Zoey replied through clenched teeth. She wanted desperately to show to Anne and the rest of them that she could be tough and dependable. That she couldn't be so easily replaced. Zoey wondered briefly that if it had been Ben to have been hit by the bludger, if Anne would have asked him the same thing.

"We should get back." Zoey stated, glancing at Anne before turning her broom around and flying after oe of the Crotalus chasers. In all reality, Zoey very much wanted to be a weak girl. She wanted to cry and and have peopel fuss over her for her giant and painful bruise she now had on her shoulder. But she couldn't do that. Not now and probably not later. It wasn't like she'd never been hurt before. Playing basketball she had received plenty of elbows in her face, it was just...in this game, if you showed any signs were pain effected you in any way, you were taken out, frowned at, forever labeled weak.

Zoey wanted to be more than the weird tall girl with her nose in the book. When she played quidditch with the team, she wasn't invisible anymore. If this was taken from her, she would be left empty.

Shaking off the negative thoughts and putting the pain away in the back of her mind, Zoey flew after the red Chasers down the pitch towards the Aladren Keeper. "Keep your eyes open, Hyana!" Zoey called out to the keeper, trying to be encouraging. So long as she kept herself focused on the game, everything else would just fade away.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

6 Zoey Welsh, Chaser Posting up here (and they are the wise people) 39 Zoey Welsh, Chaser 0 5

Oliver Abbott, SubChaser

February 15, 2007 2:37 PM

Re: [On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] by Oliver Abbott, SubChaser

Quidditch was, in Oliver’s opinion, the best sport there was. He felt that since he had tried his hand at most sports that existed, and had been on practically every sports team at school and out of school as long as he could remember, he was qualified to make that sort of decision. There just wasn’t any other game that was as exciting, dangerous, easy to follow, fun to watch and tricky to play as Quidditch. That was part of the reason that Oliver was so proud to be a part of Quidditch at Sonora. The other part was that he was on a team playing a sport that Julian never could because of his decision not to attend Sonora. That, in Oliver’s view, had been his brother’s worst decision to date. Oliver knew he had made the right choice in coming to Sonora, despite his parents encouraging him to stay at Muggle school with Julian, and he was even starting to feel like he really fit in. The Quidditch robes he was wearing for the first time were symbolic of his belonging: they let everyone know he was part of Crotalus, and part of the Quidditch team. Therefore it was only mildly disappointing that all Oliver expected to do this game was to sit and watch it.

As the senior members of the team made their way onto the pitch, Oliver, his trusty broom clutched tightly in his hand, made his way to the side of the pitch to watch and wait. Much to his dismay, the other reserve players had already taken their seats. It was with a great deal of resentment that Oliver slid along the bench and sat down next to Lutece, his least favourite person in the entire of Arizona. Oliver studiously ignored her and joined in the cheering as the Quaffle was released and the game began.

Oliver had never watched a Quidditch game before, not a real one, anyway. His Uncle Raymond had promised to take him to see a game one day, but hadn’t yet fulfilled his promise. Oliver was really beginning to enjoy himself until the owls started arriving. At first he gave little thought to the birds, silently musing that it was a little unusual for owls to fly around in the daytime unless they were delivering messages. It wasn’t until Oliver noticed the sheer number of owls, and that they were dropping objects into the stands that he considered anything could be amiss.

One of the fliers distributed by the many grey owls floated down a little in front of Oliver; he reached out and grabbed it. He read the leaflet quickly, and remembered what Coach Fox had said in the flying lesson about WAIL. Oliver had intended to ask Jennifer or Jordanna about it, but this leaflet, along with what disembodied voices were now screaming at the coach, allowed Oliver to understand by himself. Mildly confused by the distractions, Oliver looked again to the game and realised that similar voices were shouting at one of the Crotalus chasers, too. Oliver felt a surge of panic – would Geoffrey stop playing because of this? Would the coach make him stop? If he did, that would mean Oliver would have to play. He hadn’t been to that many practises yet and he wasn’t sure he was entirely prepared for playing in a real game.

Before he could determine exactly what was going on, Lutece gesturing wildly and directing angry questions at him distracted Oliver’s attention. Oliver gulped. He had known that he wouldn’t be able to avoid Lutece forever, but he had hoped that when he did have to talk to her again it would be about something neutral, perhaps related to a lesson. He really didn’t want to be the person to explain to her that some group who didn’t want girls to play Quidditch was trying to boycott the game.

“Er…” he said, then thought perhaps he should answer quickly before Lutece exploded or something. “It’s this group called WAIL,” he said, holding up the leaflet he’d grabbed so Lutece could see he wasn’t making it up. “They think girls shouldn’t play Quidditch. They seem to be saying that it’s un-lady-like and… um… makes you… er… like other girls.” Oliver could feel his cheeks turning pink. What a horrible notion to have to explain to a girl who was quite clearly obsessed with Quidditch. “It’s a load of rubbish if you ask me,” Oliver said suddenly. He wasn’t sure why he had said it – he didn’t know whether it was a load of rubbish or not. In fact he knew very little about that sort of thing – but agreeing with it didn’t seem to be a good plan while Lutece was sitting next to him hissing like a cat.
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0 Oliver Abbott, SubChaser Re: [On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] 0 Oliver Abbott, SubChaser 0 5

Amy Fox

February 16, 2007 2:28 PM

Families... by Amy Fox

Amy honestly didn't know what to do. If Geoff refused to go back into the air, refused to go back into play then the distraction, the interruption would only become all the more apparent. She couldn't take that. Quidditch was like...religion. Above all else, you give your total dedication. Nothing else mattered when you were apart of it.

Wiping a hand across her forehead, Amy waited for the kid's response. He just had to go back. Yes, those stupid ladies had insinuated at quite a few things, not to mention pointedly stated that she was gay- a falsity that truly aggravated her. Yes, they had attacked her character, but that didn't mean that students had to stop playing because of it. For goodness sakes, it was Quidditch. To quit would be sacrilege.

Amy was just about to speak again when Geoff said something so quietly she almost missed it. "...she'll kill me," she heard him say. Who? Who would kill him and why? It just didn't make much sense. Soon enough her question would be answered, however.

His mother.

Mothers...well, they were...different. Hers was strange, to be sure, but at least her mother loved her. Tilting her head to the side, she tried to come up with an adequate response. Parents were difficult to deal with, especially when growing up. Rules, punishments and expectations always came into play. She had never understood her parents and they had never truly understood her. They loved her, of that she was sure, but at times it also felt like they just...tolerated her presence.

Before she knew it, Geoff was speaking once again. Shifting on her broom, Amy nodded numbly as he apologized and ascended once more into the air. What was going on?\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Amy Fox Families... 0 Amy Fox 0 5

Ben Stafford, Chaser

February 18, 2007 12:32 AM

So some wise guys tell us to do these things? by Ben Stafford, Chaser

Left, right, left, right... Ben thought rhthymically as he followed the chaser in posession's movements. As with walking, people had a natural gait to their flying- some people flew straighter than others, some swayed. Not that this made a huge difference or anything, it was just something Ben had observed in his time as a quidditch player. The player's gait was a bit part of how they moved, passed, shot, and their general field presence. It was extremely advantageous for a defender to quickly observe and interpret the opposing team's feel. From playing quidditch for the past couple years, Ben had mapped out most of the senior members, but this girl was new- or if she wasn't, he hadn't paid much attention to her before. Ben was still in the process of figuring out this girl's patterning when he heard a voice- his head whipped around to find its source.

"Helena! Down here." one of the Crotalus Chasers, he was pretty sure it was that Spindler kid, was shouting to get the girl in posession's attention. Ben made eye contact with the kid and immediately switched over to put himself physically between the girl and her available pass option. Well, Ben certainly hadn't noticed the secondary chaser beforehand, but he had only assumed that the Crotalus chasers would have followed their leading chaser- Helen, was it?- downfield. It was annoying, he thought back bitterly as he processed the positions, that Valentine had just barely blocked his earlier shot. He still felt the mild sting, something that spurred him farther into wanting to beat Crotalus. Besides, someone had to show that silly house that the Aladrens were smarter and better at quidditch than they were. Ben looked again from the chaser to her passing option, weighing the situation.

On one hand, he could attempt a steal- risky, could cause trouble, but definitely worth it if successful- or, he could just wait. Waiting was something Ben could do; he was naturally a bit on the impulsive side, but he could do patience. All it took was, well, some patience. Wind from his speed flapping his robes around his legs, Ben was undecided. The risks were ones he had taken before, and usually with good results. Ben looked again, this time from the two opposing chasers to the distance from the goals. They were still a ways off, long enough for him to take the quaffle if he really wanted to without slamming into the hoops... Still, something in him said it wasn't a good idea. So Ben decided to wait- as soon as the leather ball would leave the girl's hands, he'd intercept. It was safe, but for some reason beyond his own explanation, it seemed like the right thing to do. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Ben Stafford, Chaser So some wise guys tell us to do these things? 58 Ben Stafford, Chaser 0 5

Gwen Carey, Beater

February 19, 2007 1:20 PM

Something like that. by Gwen Carey, Beater

The way Gwen saw it, the main difference between Crotalus and Aladren was in the Seekers. Until today, they had had the exact same opponents, but Aladren had one victory and Crotalus had zero. They had both lost to Pecari, but Zack Dill had won the game against Teppenpaw for Aladren where Jennifer had not for Crotalus. That Teppenpaw had beaten Pecari as badly as Pecari had beaten Aladren and Crotalus was irrelevant. Luck did come into it, sometimes, but not enough, by her light, to throw off the line of reasoning.

All this meant, once she had it organized coherently, was that taking the tiny Aladren Seeker out of the game would be even more important today than it usually was. Because of his one experience with good luck, Gwen had decided to send Zack Dill on a prolonged trip to the hospital so Jen would have a chance to catch the Snitch. Crotalus' moment in the sun was two years overdue, and while beating nerds might not have gained them quite as much face as doing so against Pecaris would have, Gwen was prepared to take the spoils she could get.

She remained fully committed to this strategy all the way through the speeches and Anne taking the Quaffle in under ten seconds. The Seeker was a better target, she thought, than any mere Chaser, captain and Quaffle-bearer or not. She was scanning the air for a Bludger to use when Lily sent one of them on a collision course for her cousin and the owls started pouring in. After that, Gwen forgot about strategy and, indeed, the game. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't happening. She had gone crazy and started hallucinating owls from the association that had snubbed her as a second year. That wasn't a pleasant thought, but it was better than the alternative.

It was only the necessity of holding onto her bat that kept Gwen from covering her ears when the Howlers went off. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. She was close to being home free when it came to the Council situation, a hair from it, and now this had to happen - in the middle of the game, no less. She couldn't lie about being here to any group of people who knew otherwise as large as this one. It had to be a nightmare. But it wasn't.

The thought that the team could still win drifted, somehow, through her head. It was a ridiculous thing to think of at such a time, but it was there: they could still beat the Aladrens. She shook her head hard, trying to get back her grasp of what was happening. Lily had taken aim at all of the enemy Chasers and injured one. A Bludger was headed for Zack. The other Bludger was shooting past Lily, hit by Anne's friend, and little Helena had the Quaffle. Geoff was nearby, but the blond-haired Aladren Chaser was cutting him off from a pass. Someone ought to fix that.

She was sure that Lily meant to use the free Bludger to teach Geoff Layne about respecting his elders, but that would have to be done later, either after Crotalus had a goal or three under its belt or after the game. Grudges took second place to winning, and a firefight between the Beaters was counterproductive. Ignoring any objections, dark looks, or other signs of discontent Lily might have made during or after the fact, Gwen moved in on the Bludger, bracing herself for the shock of hitting a ten-inch sphere of iron with a piece of charmed wood, and sent it flying for the blue-clad back of Benjamin Stafford. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Gwen Carey, Beater Something like that. 63 Gwen Carey, Beater 0 5

Mika'el R., Benchwarmer

February 19, 2007 4:56 PM

Aladren Bench by Mika'el R., Benchwarmer

Mika had hovered at the back of 'his' team, watching his teammates, listening to 'his' captain, wearing 'his' uniform, despite the fact that even if every single other member of the Aladren team dropped out of the sky, he wouldn't be playing today. Why? Because adults were big stupid idiots, that's why. He was technically on the Aladren team, but his position was that of bench warmer, or maybe that crippled kid everyone rallies around to beat the odds and win. He wasn't even an alternate at this point. Great. Wonderful. Just what he'd always wanted. When his team went out to the field he made his slow way to the bench. Slow, because he couldn't fly. He kept his head up, though, and was careful about his expression, he didn't want to be Captain Bring-down. Everyone else was having fun, and he didn't begrudge them that. Quiddich rocked.

He repeated that to himself several times in his head as he pushed his glasses up on his nose, watching his team take to the sky with a combination of joyful pride and bitter longing. Quiddich rocks, just being able to watch is fun he told himself over and over again. You're on the team bench. That's probably more than any other disable wizard has ever achieved in the history of wizarding. Things take time, change takes time .

Mika took a deep slow breath, watching Hyana in particular. Not that Keeper was the most interesting position... but because in a way he felt like it was his position. A little anyway. Had he been allowed to fly he would have had a shot at that position. He was jealous, much to his dismay, but not at all toward Hyana. It wasn't her fault adults were the suckiest bunch of sucks who ever sucked.

Mika sighed deeply his dark eyes following the game, watching the drama unfold above him, and in front of him, really there was a lot going on... and some of it was rather surreal... why was that boy on the ground? That, Mika supposed, what was what made Quiddich so great... you never knew what was going to happen. Never. You could never even guess at some of the things that happened during even pick up games of quiddich. That was the nature of the wizarding world in general though.

Mika found himself cheering and groaning with the other spectators. Anyone who understood Russian or Hebrew would be impressed by just how creatively the very respectful and proper Mika could swear. It would have made an Irishman blush. Of course, games like soccer were taken very very seriously where Mika was from, and cussing was a given. His heart thundered with excitement, just from watching... but still in the back of his mind, was the pang of, as always, being on the outside looking in.
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0 Mika'el R., Benchwarmer Aladren Bench 269 Mika'el R., Benchwarmer 0 5

Lutece, Reserve Keeper

February 19, 2007 5:33 PM

You're brave by Lutece, Reserve Keeper

Lutece was so infuriated, confused, and curious that she didn't even mind that she was talking to Delusional Oliver. Or, she didn't mind too much. Talking to Delusional Oliver, who was at least as crazy as half the teaching staff, was always a bit of a trial. And relations between them at practises, classes, and in the commons since Potions had been nonexistent. Not that Lutece minded at all. In the middle of a match, with owls screeching, disembodied voices yelling, and the crowd making noise probably wasn't the best time or place to be making amends. Not that Lutece wanted to make amends. She just wanted this weird WAIL stuff explained, and these psychotic creeps to get out of her life forever.

So. WAIL was a group who was against girls playing Quidditch. That was...stupid. Really stupid. Lutece didn't think she'd ever heard anything that stupid.

Except for those who insisted that magic was real.

And that time when her father had maintained that scifi conventions would be the 'in' thing in the next year.

Oh, and when her fifth grade teacher had said on her report card that she was 'not well equipped for middle school'.

But this WAIL junk was definitely up there. Why shouldn't girls play Quidditch? It obviously didn't make girls like other girls. Lutece was almost positive that some of the older girls on the team had boyfriends, or hung out with boys, anyway. If Coach Fox was gay, that was just gross. How could they put a gay person in charge of kids?! There was some sort of law against that. There had to be.

"Good," she said forcefully when Oliver declared that he felt WAIL was complete rubbish. She grabbed the leaflet and skimmed over it. Why would people do this?! "So is Coach Fox gay?! That's so gross. And why are they doing this during the GAME?!" Lutece spoke the last sentence as though it were horrendous to even think that the sanctity of the game would be subject to the real world.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Lutece, Reserve Keeper You're brave 0 Lutece, Reserve Keeper 0 5

Chrissy Mathers, Chaser

February 19, 2007 9:07 PM

Wise Guys love to say their Peace by Chrissy Mathers, Chaser

Chrissy was trying keep herself focused on the game, but it was hard when her mind continuously wandered. Mainly, it wandered to her mother. Her mother did not approve of Chrissy playing Quidditch. In fact, Chrissy even thought her mother believed her to like other girls, having stated something during the holidays that suggested so. Helen thought that because Chrissy was so close to her female roommates, one of whom was the Beater of the team, there must be something to it. Especially when Chrissy showed no signs of interest to any of the boys Helen paraded in front of Chrissy.

Chrissy's simple answer was that no Snobby, has no brain, Pureblood boy would ever get her attention. She needed something a little extra. Be it attitude, be it adventurous, Chrissy couldn't really say. All she knew was that the boys her mother preferred her with put Chrissy to sleep.

Focus on the game! Focus! Her team would kill her if she blew it! Chrissy fell behind Helena and Geoff just incase one of the Aladrens actually did get ahold of the Quaffle she was in position to block and/or steal it back. Her eyes were glued to the back of Helena, occassionally, she took a chance to glance at the other players (mainly the beaters) to see their positions, but she floated high above the ground waiting for what was to come next.

Her mother must be apart of WAIL. She had to be. WAIL stood for everything her mother did. And if her mother wasn't apart of WAIL, she certainly will become a member once she hears about them. Though Chrissy wasn't going to be the one to tell her. Sometimes Chrissy was jealous of her friends families. Tally's family was always supportive no matter what, Lily's-though Chrissy didn't know all that much about Lily's family-didn't seem to constantly fuss over anything, and Jenna's, well, Chrissy was just jealous of Jenna in general.

Focus. Chrissy focused back on the game just as a bludger was hit towards the Aladren in the way of Helena and Geoff. Chrissy looked past the chasers to the Aladren Keeper. The girl looked no older than a second year. Their last Keeper had been completely lucky with her save the year before, but this one looked as though a simple flick could knock her over. "Don't worry Helena, you've got this!"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Chrissy Mathers, Chaser Wise Guys love to say their Peace 0 Chrissy Mathers, Chaser 0 5

Zack, Alderaanian Seeker

February 21, 2007 11:23 AM

For example, I always liked 'Ooh, shiny' by Zack, Alderaanian Seeker

After the bit of distraction with the Howlers and owl army, things had seemed to settle back into a normal Quidditch game. Not that Zack ever paid much mind to what the other twelve players were doing. Mostly, he was concerned with the other Seeker and looking for the Snitch, and usually even the other Seeker wasn't of too much interest unless she made a sudden move.

Like now, if he'd been looking at Jennifer, he wouldn't have just seen that flash right there near the stands. He dove toward it, going as fast as he dared when overshooting the mark meant joining the audience and probably hurting quite a number of people.

As it turned out, though, it was just some girl's necklace. He gave her a sour look for wearing shiny gold to a Quidditch match, then returned up into the air to resume his search. At next practice, he made a note to litter the stands with shiny things so he could learn to distinguish Snitches from other flashes of golden light.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Zack, Alderaanian Seeker For example, I always liked 'Ooh, shiny' 0 Zack, Alderaanian Seeker 0 5

Helena, Chaser

February 21, 2007 5:14 PM

She shoots... by Helena, Chaser

When one of the Aladrens closed in on her and began going from side to side, Helena tried to get a better grip on the Quaffle and resolved not to look even as far down as her broom handle. The way he kept appearing and disappearing was disconcerting enough to make her feel a little dizzy, a sensation she had no desire to increase the presence of this high in the air. There was noise everywhere, which was why it took her two seconds too long to process what Geoff Spindler called out to her. Part of why, anyway; she hadn't been paying attention to what was going on below her, and was caught off-guard by his return to the air.

It was upon realizing that she was about out of options that Helena considered panicking. They were getting close to the Aladren Keeper - a first year. That could have worked to, say, Chrissy's advantage because of the intimidation factor, but Helena was only a year older than Hyana and small for it. She stood nothing to gain by losing her head, though, and so opted to keep it. She wasn't out of options yet. She had the choice between trying to shoot or, given the general player layout, crashing into the goals.

Chrissy's shouted encouragement settled the bargain. She was going to have to try for the goals. Here was to hoping that the Aladren Keeper was extremely nervous and that Anne had done an extremely bad job of training her and that Helena could throw straight while surrounded and under pressure. She hated the predictability of it, but the side opposite Stafford was her only real option; straight or to his side, and he'd probably snatch it from under her nose. Hopefully, the first year would be too anxious and inexperienced to notice that and predict what she was going to do. Feinting forward a bit just in case, she threw the Quaffle at the far goal hoop as hard and as accurately as she could. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

16 Helena, Chaser She shoots... 88 Helena, Chaser 0 5

Jennifer, Seeker

February 21, 2007 5:41 PM

is transfixed...oh, did you say something? by Jennifer, Seeker

Jennifer had long ago decided that everyone who went on about how glorious and wonderful a position was seeker was utterly and completely bonkers. Yes, it was an important position, and she loved playing it, but, frankly, it was almost certainly the dullest of the positions. Well, perhaps keeper was more boring, since keepers could do nothing at all for extended periods of time, but there was only so much that could be done to make searching for any sort of glimmer of something shiny interesting.

Of course, this match was far more abnormal than she usually played in, though, so perhaps her discontentment with the task at hand was more understandable. Jennifer knew something had been delivered to the stands, but she’d yet to manage actually figuring out what it was, which annoyed her slightly. People were upset, and Fox had gotten a howler (another thing that it was taking Jennifer a while to get over. Who in their right mind sent the coach, or a player, for that matter, a howler in the middle of the match?), so it must have been something impressive. And, while the rest of the game was going on despite the general hubbub, and Jennifer was truly trying to focus on the snitch, there wasn’t really a problem with half-concentrating on something else, was there?

Apparently, there was, since within a few seconds she noticed Zack diving towards the stands out of the corner of her eye. Jennifer had almost missed it, as she had spotted what she was fairly certain was the snitch out on the far side of the pitch, near the Aladren goals, but the flash of movement had alerted her to the sudden action of her counterpart. Distracted even more, and slightly confused, since she’d been under the impression that she had been trailing the proper snitch (even at her most sidetracked, she was generally good at knowing what she was looking for, and finding it) , Jennifer couldn’t do much more for a second than stare at her fellow fifth year.

Luckily, she recovered herself as soon as she recognized that the Aladren must have been seeing things. Either that, or he hadn’t been quite coordinated to catch the real snitch that had been there. Whichever cause it was that meant Zack came out of his dive empty-handed, it meant that the game wasn’t over yet, but also drove home the point that she desperately needed to focus.

While it hadn’t turned out to be a major concern, it very easily could have been the real snitch Zack noticed, which would be beyond embarrassing, as here she was, clear on the opposite side of the playing field. And, to add insult to injury, the snitch had vanished while she’d been looking the other way. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Still, there was the chance for getting her head back on straight. Abandoning the lone searching, Jennifer made her way quickly over to where the Aladren seeker was hunting, managing to accomplish it without getting in the way of the chasers making their way down towards the goals, although she did note Helena’s shot with approval before shoving the feeling into the back of her mind as she reached her destination. Theoretically, neither of them could spot the snitch now without alerting the other almost immediately, and she had a feeling she was faster than he was, or at least willing to be more foolhardy about speed on a broom, so she should manage to get to the bloody thing before he could. Or so she hoped.
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0 Jennifer, Seeker *is transfixed*...oh, did you say something? 0 Jennifer, Seeker 0 5

Hyana Kamiya, Keeper

February 21, 2007 6:01 PM

I catch? by Hyana Kamiya, Keeper

Everything was happening so fast. She was flying around the goal posts, just like she had been trained. She was following the Quaffle, just like she had been told. The pace of the game, her first game was so exciting. She was glad for her martial arts training. She was glad that she played soccer. Boy, she was glad she could stay concious. Hyana barely kept on her broom when that red envolope exploded.

That must be the infamous howlers she thought gravely as she watched them explode on Coach Fox. It was saying horrible things about her...calling her a lesbian. Hyana felt a stab of guilt. Coach Fox didn't deserve this...I think so many bad things of her and now she's getting insulted in front of everyone. Who could do such a horrible thing? She thought sadly. She vowed to find out more about WAIL, and put her focus back in the game to see Ben throw the quaffle and Zoey get hit by a bludger.

She held her breath. But Zoey was fine and the quaffle was...it was...heading right towards her! Hyana cried out in surprise, and started having second thoughts. What was I thinking? Why did I think I could do this? I can't...I can't! But those stopped when she heard words of encouragement from Zoey.

"Keep your eyes open Hyana!" Hyana heard her cry. She let out her breath, knowing that she needed to focus. No time to panic. Everyone was watching her. Mika was on the bench and she knew, if he could play, he would be Keeper and she would be on the bench. She couldn't let her friend or the rest of the team down. So when...Helena? Yeah that was her name. When Helena threw the Quaffle, Hyana reacted quickly.

She flew towards the Quaffle, which was heading toward her right. Gripping her broom with one hand, she reached out the other. The red ball was almost to the hoops! "Come on!" She cried. Her broom went a little faster and she caught the Quaffle in her outstreched arm. She pulled it close to her, panting slightly. W-wow...that was too close. She thought before she threw the ball to the closest blue clad player she could find.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Hyana Kamiya, Keeper I catch? 0 Hyana Kamiya, Keeper 0 5

Ben, Chaser

February 21, 2007 6:38 PM

Well done! by Ben, Chaser

Ben was waiting. He kept pace with the Crotalus chaser, marking her just enough so that he could keep both the distance from the goals and her shifts within his eyesight. Everything in his body and muscles were yelling to steal- just grab it out of the younger girl’s hands and make off down the other side of the field. Just wait, Ben, the calmer, more patient brain soothed, Everything'll be okay, you just block her options and keep a tight defense. Just wait. Easier said than done. Still, Ben kept waiting until the girl decided she was close enough to shoot. He didn't even bother to mark her until the shot had been blocked, he was that decidedly annoyed at his stupid decision. A far-off whizzing noise reached his ears, but Ben was too ticked off to give it a second thought.

He cursed rather violently in his mind and broke off angrily from his mark. Seconds, only seconds, had passed since his initial decision to wait out the Crotalus chaser and the attempted goal. Hyana had caught it beautifully; a rather impressive feat for such a new player, and that was something to be happy about. Ben was drifting for a moment when that whizzing he had heard earlier materialized into one of those sick metal balls that every chaser dreads meeting. The bludger skimmed past where he should have been moments before. Somehow, in the back of his mind, Lexi's voice interrupted his thoughts in harsh and almost mocking tones- "I can't believe how dense some of these chasers are! I mean, if you hear the noise, turn around, look behind you, for Merlin's sake! Some people are so self-involved they don't even think about the possibility of getting hit."

Taking a deep breath to clear out the anxiety of being so close to an encounter with a bludger, Ben shouted back to Hyana, "Good save, kid! Keep it up!"

The quaffle was tossed back, and Ben took the opportunity to catch it. He grinned at Hyana again, trying to give her a little more confidence, as if blocking her first goal in a match wasn't enough. He looked about the field, searching for Anne, or even the injured Zoey for some backup. Seeing neither in very close range, Ben took off back down the field, thankful for his sheer good luck. Otherwise, he was sure that a very long and didactic Lexi lecture was in store for him from his hospital wing bed about the dangers of quidditch and the stupidity of her own twin brother. He looked again to find Anne, but he knew she would follow him soon enough so they could set up some structured offence instead of just shooting at will. With strengthened resolve, Ben kicked up his speed a notch, sailing full throttle at the Crotalus goals. Ben wasn't one to be rejected twice, not in the same game.
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0 Ben, Chaser Well done! 269 Ben, Chaser 0 5

Geoffrey S., Chaser

February 22, 2007 8:23 PM

I think not! by Geoffrey S., Chaser

It became apparent very quickly that his positioning wasn't going to help, with the Aladren boy being a bit quicker off the mark than Helena in responding to his shout. Geoffrey slowed, hanging back and trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Stafford had Helena effectively with two of the goal choices, and she was clearly going for a shot. Chrissy was... over there. He located her, putting her into his mental map of the game.

And the Aladren Keeper... well, she was a first year, apparently completely new to the game according to what talk he'd heard. But she was an Aladren, which meant she was hardly going to be stupid. She'd probably worked out that Stafford had two goals covered which meant that her chances of blocking the Quaffle were increased. And Stafford was right there waiting for a pass.

Geoffrey moved back, giving himself room to move in for an intercept, and then adjusting his position a little to try and make it less likely that he'd be spotted preparing.

And then it all happened, just like he'd have much preferred it hadn't. Helena shot, the firstie caught the ball, it was passed to Stafford and then he was hurtling down the pitch towards the Crotalus guarded goals.

It was a straight path that Stafford seemed to have chosen, but that just made things easier. Geoffrey moved in at an angle, pushing his broom firstly as fast as it could go, and then adjusting things a little, as he'd mistaken things slightly and would have overshot his goal otherwise. He came up to Stafford, amazed that the boy hadn't even considered a pass. Didn't anyone realise that this wasn't a one person game? You didn't just grab the quaffle and go from one end of the pitch to the other - that was suicide! That said, he hadn't really noticed much of the other Chasers from the Aladren team since the Howlers. Not that it mattered. The quaffle was there, almost in reach, just waiting...

A sudden burst of speed and he was there, reaching out and snatching the ball from the grip of the other player. Using his momentum, he turned the movement into a vertical U-turn, flipping back upright at the end and regretting the hearty breakfast he'd had just that morning. Moving back the other way, he took quick glances around, taking in the changes in position that other players within his easy range of sight had made.

There was no point in making the same mistake that Stafford had made. Not when the other chasers of his team were well set up for another goal attempt with a bit of team effort.

Geoffrey adjusted his grip on the Quaffle and let fly, throwing it as hard as he was able towards the nearest of the other red-clad chasers. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Geoffrey S., Chaser I think not! 0 Geoffrey S., Chaser 0 5

Lily Collins, Beater

February 24, 2007 4:03 PM

How about "Oww, painful"? by Lily Collins, Beater

Lily had been debating what do with that second bludger. Instinctively, she wanted to lob it at that Aladren Beater's head for trying to injure her. However, that wouldn't have been practical. That would have given the little creep back the bludger if she'd missed, which in turn he could have used to take out Jennifer or one of the other Crotali players. (Though perhaps it would have been Earl he'd injure, now that they had an alternate Keeper, that would have been just fine.)

Then she'd spotted Helena with the Quaffle and Lexi's brother trying to take it from her. Lily wasn't sure whether to try and take him out again or go for Aladren's keeper. She was pretty sure she could terrify the little girl.

However, before Lily had the chance to do anything with it, Gwen took it and was after Ben. Feeling that situation was under control, she turned to check on the progress of the bludger she'd aimed at Zack Dill. Lily didn't know why she hadn't heard his cries of pain yet. A deep frustrated scowl crossed her face, when she realized that the bludger had gotten off course some how. She sped over to it, took her club and slammed it hard as she could towards the opposing Seeker, hoping this time, it would find its target and eliminate him from the game. Without a Seeker, there was no way Aladren could win. Lily didn't think they had any alternates.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

11 Lily Collins, Beater How about "Oww, painful"? 45 Lily Collins, Beater 0 5

Oliver, Reserve Chaser

February 25, 2007 5:07 PM

Or foolish. by Oliver, Reserve Chaser

Apparently, Oliver’s decision to say that he thought the WAIL stuff was rubbish was the right one, as Lutece seemed to agree with him. Oliver didn’t think that had ever happened before. She snatched the leaflet to get a better look and Oliver peered up to see that, thankfully, all the Crotalus chasers seemed to be in the air and the game was continuing. Oliver felt a short sigh of relief escape him – he really was keen to play, but the very idea of it was a little daunting to say the least. He reasoned that if he was on the primary team and knew he would be playing then he would come to terms with the idea much sooner than sitting around as a reserve, not knowing whether or not he would be needed.

“So Coach Fox is gay? That’s gross,” Lutece said. Oliver blinked at her. He didn’t know much about being gay, but his parents had had a gay couple stay last Christmas, and Oliver had overheard his mother instructing all the staff to treat them with equal respect as they would any other guests. He didn’t know if the flying coach really was gay, but he assumed that would mean that she liked other women. But why would anyone want to do that? Women were supposed to like men and vice versa. Being gay seemed like a really daft thing to choose to be.

“And why are they doing this during a game?” Lutece queried with as much disbelief as agitation. Oliver forced his lips not to quirk into the snigger that was threatening to escape – did Lutece really think that a simple school game was sacred to this WAIL group? She was quite clueless when it came to… well, anything, really. Lutece just didn’t have a clue.

“Well it makes sense that a group who don’t want girls to play Quidditch would make itself known at a game where girls are playing,” Oliver said, speaking slowly as Lutece seemed particularly slow to grasp simple concepts. He pushed his glasses back up his nose. “Plus, there are so many people here. Look at the attention they’ve got!” Oliver gestured around the stands where students everywhere had received the propaganda.
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0 Oliver, Reserve Chaser Or foolish. 0 Oliver, Reserve Chaser 0 5

Chrissy, Chaser

February 25, 2007 7:46 PM

Oh Come On! by Chrissy, Chaser

Chrissy watched with icey eyes as Helena went in for the shot. There was no way a newbie like this Aladren could be good enough to block some decent shots. Only...she had? Chrissy cursed loudly in her spot in frustration. How can a completely and total newbie to the game of Quidditch, probably someone who's only been on a broom half a dozen times, possibly be confident enough not to fumble?

Chrissy didn't understand it! She had been rubbish her first year and she had been surrounded by magic her entire life. How could these first year starters be so well? Okay, okay, breathe Chrissy! It was probably just luck and Helena isn't all that intimidating. We'll work on it. Chrissy thought to herself as she watched in frustration as the Aladren boy got he quaffle.

She paced on her broom halfway between the Aladren goals and the Crotali goals, watching in anticipation for the blue chaser to make it down her way. From time to time, her eyes would move to Geoff who seemed to be working on some strategy and then to Helena to know where the younger chaser was flying. Watching them come closer to her, Chrissy's eyes widened in surprise as Geoff stole the quaffle. She had never seen him so aggressive before.

Surprise turned to satisfaction as she sped off after Geoff. Her broom picked up speed with surprising ease despite her weight. She was farther to the left than Geoff was so his pass ended up being perfect. Picking up the quaffle and tucking it securely beneath her arm, Chrissy leaned so close to her broom that her chest pressed against it. Her cold eyes stared down the pitch at the Aladren Keeper. Just a little intimidation that was all she really needed.

Ears perked and listening for the sounds of a bludger closing in on her, Chrissy zoomed down the pitch, weaving between the other players. They had to get a score. They had too. They couldn't be the bottom of the bottom any longer.

On full speed, Chrissy came charging at the goals and with one quick sweeping motion of her arm, Chrissy sent the quaffle flying in the direction of the goals. Merlin better be on her side or else! One save was one too many.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Chrissy, Chaser Oh Come On! 0 Chrissy, Chaser 0 5

Lily, Beater

February 26, 2007 12:34 AM

Come on down to the ground..... by Lily, Beater

Once Lily was satisfied that the bludger was hurtling rapidly towards Zack, she glanced back at the game. It had rather surprised her that Helena's shot had been blocked. As far as she knew, the Aladren Keeper was fairly inexperienced, although Lily didn't actually know much about the Aladren team other than off the field, Zack kind of amused her and she now wanted to kill one of their Beaters.

Now however, Chrissy had the Quaffle and was going for the shot. Lily quickly looked around for that other bludger. She narrowed her eyes. This time the child was not going to catch the Quaffle. This time, the shot was going in.

She finally found the other bludger and zoomed over to it. Lily glared fiercely at opposing Keeper and sent it barreling directly towards her at top speed. After all, the firstie couldn't possibly have it in her to deal with the bludger. It would probably cause her to be paralyzed with fear, and then the quaffle could sail through the hoop without any opposition. It seemed highly unlikely to Lily that the Aladren Keeper would be able to block the Quaffle while trying to avoid the bludger. It would be even more unlikely if the bludger got there first and she was knocked off her broom.

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11 Lily, Beater Come on down to the ground..... 45 Lily, Beater 0 5

Hyana, Keeper

February 26, 2007 6:14 PM

Nothing's gonna go my way, is it? by Hyana, Keeper

Hyana breathed a sigh of relief when Ben caught the quaffle she threw out. "Good save, kid! Keep it up!" Ben shouted at her as he sped to the other side. Hyana smiled. This was a lot of fun. She started circling the hoops again when it happened. Geoffrey stole the quaffle from Ben.

Oh no! She cried in her head. She floated in the middle of the hoops, remembering her training, and everything she had read. She saw the quaffle fly towards another chaser...Chrissy? Yeah, Chrissy. She could still do this. Nothing to worry about. She just had to throw the quaffle, and Hyana would catch it. She wouldn't disappoint her team. Then Chrissy gave her the coldest stare...her breath caught in her throat.

Mother... She thought, She's looking at me like mother does. She was scared. There were more people like her mother in this world? How could that be possible?! And they were students together! Hyana took a calming breath. It would give her great satisfaction to see the anger on Chrissy's face when she caught the quaffle. It would be like she was proving to her mother that she was worth something. She wasn't a nobody.

Chrissy threw the quaffle, and Hyana sped towards it. "I've got this." She whispered to herself. Then she heard a terrifying whistling sound behind her. That Lily Collins girl had sent a bludger at her. Hyana had to think quickly. Should she save the quaffle and get hurt so she would be removed from the game? But her team had no alternates! They had Mika, whom Hyana believed was perfectly capable at playing, but they wouldn't let him play. One of their chasers, Zoey, was already hurt. They couldn't risk losing any other players. So Hyana made her decision.

She stopped going for the quaffle and dodged the bludger. She wouldn't leave the goals open. She took a deep, shaking breath when she heard the crowd cheer. The quaffle had gone in. Hyana looked at her team. "I'm sorry..." She mouthed. But it was the clear choice. If they were mad at her...they'd have to deal with it. They had no alternates. If she had gone after that quaffle, the hoops would've been left wide open. What else was she supposed to do? \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Hyana, Keeper Nothing's gonna go my way, is it? 0 Hyana, Keeper 0 5

Ben, Chaser

February 26, 2007 9:16 PM

Nothing is fair, kid. by Ben, Chaser

Ben was fairly one-track minded when he played quidditch. It was a simple track, one that didn't involve many things outside of observation, quick decision-making, and equally swift action. The fact that his one-track was really a multi-track didn't bother him at all, it was easier to think about as a single track. However, Ben was so blind-sided at the next events he almost had to double take. Geoff had taken the quaffle from him- that is to say, by some ungodly and wholly unexplainable miracle, the other boy had managed to first catch up to Ben and then steal the quaffle from his tight grip. It was some kind of turn of events that Ben never in his life would have predicted, especially with his grip on the quaffle and speed. It was utterly ridiculous.

The game, nevertheless, progressed, and Ben sat there, fuming. It took him only until the count of ten to think, to breathe again, before dashing off after that cursed boy. Geoff passed hard to Chrissy, and it wasn't long before the opposing chaser shot at the goals. Hyana looked torn for a moment, between blocking the goal and something else. Then Ben saw the real problem was a bludger set on a crash course for the keeper. She dodged the bludger, but let in the goal. Ben inwardly groaned, but set his jaw and bore it. So, she had missed the goal to save herself- a wise move for the long-term benefit of the team, for sure.

"That's alright!" he called to the keeper, unable to put as much emotion into it as he usually would have, "You'll get it next time!"

He tried not to feel angry at Geoff, at himself, at whatever blasted stroke of luck that kid had happened upon, but to no avail. Ben shouldn't have-couldn't have- been so easily ployed into being stolen from. It just didn't happen to him. He tried to unclench his jaw and his hands that were now turning white from their grip on his broom handle, but again he couldn't. Ben counted again, slowly, in his head. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten- and he was under control again, making every effort to relax his hands, arm muscles, and tightened jaw as he looked about the pitch. Where were Anne and Zoey? He desperately needed someone else to take up the quaffle and head up an offence- clearly, he wasn't getting the job properly done. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Ben, Chaser Nothing is fair, kid. 269 Ben, Chaser 0 5

Zack, Alderaanian Seeker

February 27, 2007 9:58 AM

"Seeking medical attention" is more of a pun, I would think. by Zack, Alderaanian Seeker

Though he never knew it, Zack's sudden dive for the spectator's gold necklace had saved him a beating. Had he been aware of the bludger that had narrowly missed him, he might have been watching for a second attempt, but he wasn't. He was frowning at Jennifer who was shadowing him. He didn't like her being so close. He was the first to admit he wasn't the fastest guy on a broom and his only Snitch-snatching success had occurred because he had the little alien in hand before the other Seeker had even known he'd spotted it.

Besides, he liked flying without anybody else near by. She was making him nervous and distracting him from his search. Though, to be fair, it was not Jennifer's fault that he disregarded the sound of a bat hitting a bludger. It was a common sound in a Quidditch game and it was hardly the first time it had occurred today. Zack just didn't care about the other players on the Pitch and usually left it to the Beaters to deal with protecting him. He was their top priority, after all.

Unfortunately for him, they did not appear in time. Completely unaware of the bludger's approach, Zack made no attempt to get out of its way. Not even his distracted search for the Snitch brought it to his attention as it was coming from below and behind him.

He screamed as it struck his leg with terrible cracking sound. Due to the bludger's mass, velocity and point of impact, the force the collision sent Zack spinning head over heels, though at least the broom didn't break or fall from his grip.

He still fell like a stone, though. He was too panicked and hurt to be able to command flight. Four and a half years at Sonora and this was the first time he'd been hit. After the first game or two, he'd begun to believe it wouldn't ever happen to him. He didn't know what to do.

The ground rushed toward him, blurry due to his tears of agony, but recognizable as the Earth. "UP!" he screamed in terror, as much command to himself as to Enterprise, and it worked. His fall deccelerated quickly and when he hit ground the worst pain was from the jarring of his leg.

He twisted around so that he was sitting on the solid ground with his injured leg out in front of him. It was hard to tell with all the tears interfering with his vision, but he didn't think that was a natural bend. "Medic!" he tried to call, but he was crying for real now, and he didn't think it was very coherent through the sobs.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Zack, Alderaanian Seeker "Seeking medical attention" is more of a pun, I would think. 0 Zack, Alderaanian Seeker 0 5

Wolfe, Medic

March 01, 2007 8:13 PM

You would by Wolfe, Medic

Wolfe leafed through the pages of 'Quidditch for Squibs' absentmindedly. The guide was just as useless as all the other manuals he had obtained from the library. He avoided glancing up as the players whizzed about overhead. He had decided after the last match that the players failed to fall under his jurisdiction until they hit the ground. After all, broken bones from hitting the ground were easily mended.

He half-heartedly wished that one of the balls, was it a Bungler or was it Blunder, would knock Fox off her broom. Perhaps it would put the aggrogant twit down a notch or two. He still had a score to settle with the woman from the Opening Feast. A few weeks trapped in a hospital bed might be enough to even the score.

A rather dull thud rang like thunder in Nicolas' ears. His head shot up eyes seeking the source of the noise. Crying now could be heard from the direction of the thud. The robes clearly weren't Amy's, so he would have to wait another day to have his revenge.

He gathered his emergency kit and hurried onto the Pitch. The student was sitting on the ground. Wolfe mentally thanked the whatever higher power that the boy was still conscious. Reaching out to steady the child he looked at the injury assessing the damage.

He spoke softly to the student. "I'm going to have to levitate you back to the medical tent. It will only be a few moments. Then we can set your bones."

"Wingardium leviosa," the medic performed the spell without embellishment levitating the student to the tent and onto a cot before releasing the spell.

"And now, young man, we're going to mend these breaks." He deftly muttered spells over the leg.
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0 Wolfe, Medic You would 0 Wolfe, Medic 0 5

Lutece, Reserve Keeper

March 01, 2007 8:39 PM

Often the same thing, really by Lutece, Reserve Keeper

By this point, Lutece was ignoring pretty much everything happening on the field. Not paying attention to the Chasers, not paying attention to Earl. Not paying attention to the Coach, the crowd, the balls, or anything else. Focused on the WAIL issue, the fact that the coach might be gay, the fact that she was (eew) actually talking to Delusional Oliver. What should have been the most amazing day ever was now turning out to be one confusing, detrimental surprise after another. It was this stupid school, that's what it was. It jinxed everything that could be good. It ruined everything that could be fun. It had the most pointless classes in existence, the teachers were crazy, the coach was apparently gay, and the subject matter nonsensical.

Lutece couldn't wait for Midterm.

She would kill her father.

Now, unsurprisingly, Delusional Oliver was coming out with some pearls of wisdom, just as he had in the disastrous 'Potions' class. Couldn't the boy just keep his mouth shut? Completely ignoring the fact that she had asked (demanded, really) that he explain the WAIL issue to her, Lutece internally rolled her eyes. Oliver had no idea how to keep his opinions to himself, apparently.

"I don't care how much attention they got," Lutece said, attempting to seem patient. He was talking to her like she was an idiot. Some sort of kid with a mental problem. How dare he? He was the one with the issue. He was the one who believed in Potions. He was the one who didn't recognise what common courtesy was. "Someone should complain to the school board or something. They never would have allowed this back home. It isn't polite, and it interferes with our learning experiences." That term she had picked up when her mother had called up the school principal to yell at her for trying to do something to James's schedule. Generally when her mother used a phrase like that, it was useful for getting her way with teachers and would probably work well with Oliver as well. Delusional or no.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Lutece, Reserve Keeper Often the same thing, really 0 Lutece, Reserve Keeper 0 5

Lily, Beater

March 02, 2007 12:36 AM

We scored, she's uninjured, seems pretty fair to me. by Lily, Beater

She couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed. The goal had gone in but the bludger had missed Aladren's keeper. The dratted girl was still on her broom. Oh well, Chrissy had scored them a goal and that was the important thing.

Lily looked around for where that bludger had gone. Nobody had caught the Snitch yet. There was still plenty of time. She turned just in time to see Zack Dill get hit and fall to the ground. A look of pride came to Lily's face. Not that she had anything against him, but this was Quidditch and that was how it was played. Besides, this was what she'd been trying to do since the beginning of the game, knock someone off their broom. It was also very productive to take out the other team's Seeker. If Zack was too hurt to continue playing, then there wasn't anyway Aladren could win, unless they called a time out and they rearranged who played what position and put one of their others on Seeker, or they put that kid in the wheelchair who was sitting by the Aladren bench in. If Zack was taken out and they did put him in, Lily certainly wasn't giving him any special treatment. He had the same potential to be hit bludgers at by her (or Gwen) as every other player on the opposing team.

Finding a bludger, Lily flew over to it, pondering who to take out. She'd already got the opposing Seeker. There were two people she despised on the pitch, but it wasn't very bright to take out her own teammate or give an opposing Beater a bludger if she missed and she didn't see who had the Quaffle.

She had no choice but to go for the Aladren Keeper again. Lily rose her arms over her head, aimed, and fired hard.
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11 Lily, Beater We scored, she's uninjured, seems pretty fair to me. 45 Lily, Beater 0 5

Hyana, Keeper

March 02, 2007 10:42 PM

But...is there really such a thing as fair? by Hyana, Keeper

Hyana heard Ben call to her, but didn't at the same time. She was focused on the bludger heading towards Zack. "Z-zack!" She called as loudly as she could, but it had already happened. The bludger collided with his leg and he fell to the ground. Hyana covered her mouth with one of her hands. If she had been hit by the first bludger, would that one have missed?

Hyana wasn't paying attention to the game until she heard the familiar whistle of the bludger. She turned her focus back to the game, but still didn't register the bludger until it was impossible to dodge. "Oh no!" She shouted, and flew as far as she could out of the way before contact.

The bludger slammed into her shoulder, and she bit her lip to stop the cry of pain trying to escape her lips. This is nothing...nothing at all! She reassured herself in her head. The bludger had come back for more, and Hyana flew out of the way. It wouldn't get her again. She refrained from clutching her shoulder. She needed to keep her balance. Zack was already down, Aladren was losing...where were Anne and Zoey? She flew to the middle of the hoops, her shoulder stinging from the force of the wind. She wouldn't be taken out of the game...they couldn't do that to her.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Hyana, Keeper But...is there really such a thing as fair? 0 Hyana, Keeper 0 5

Chrissy, Chaser

March 02, 2007 11:39 PM

When it comes to Quidditch? Not likely by Chrissy, Chaser

She had scored. Chrissy had actually scored. It was a moment where she should have been happy, excited even. But she wasn't. She had seen exactly what had happened, had read every thought on the little first year's face. It was only because Lily had smacked a bludger at the Aladren Keeper that Chrissy had been able to score. If there had been no bludger, the first year would have made another save.

Chrissy hated first years. Especially first years who could do everything like a Pro whether they knew what they were doing or not. It was obnoxious. Chrissy worked hard for her spot on the team and she wasn't going to just let some little first year show her up because she was some Miracle child.

Hm...that nickname reminded her of someone...Who was it that we dubbed that before? Chrissy hung back as the Aladren's took possession of the quaffle, still trying to recall who it was that they had once upon a time nicknamed the Miracle Child. Or something close to that. It was during her momentary lapse in paying attention to the game that Chrissy had missed the initial hit of the bludger to the Aladren Seeker. She only became aware that something had happened when she heard screams.

Jolted out of her thoughts, Chrissy watched as the Seeker fell from the sky. Almost as though it were in slow motion. He just...fell...screaming. Chrissy was well aware of just how violent Quidditch could be but...this was a school, they were 15...it just seemed unneccesary.

The shout from behind her, startled Chrissy. Whirling as much as she could on her broom, Chrissy turned to find that the annoying first year had been hit by a bludger too. At least she seemed to be handling it better than Zack, who had now been taken into the Medic's tent.

Chrissy chanced a glance at Lily, and was grateful to have her on the same team. Chrissy certainly never wanted to be on the receiving end of any bludger sent by Lily.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Chrissy, Chaser When it comes to Quidditch? Not likely 0 Chrissy, Chaser 0 5

Zack Dill, Seeker

March 05, 2007 4:15 PM

Do you not find wordplay to be a golden form of humor? by Zack Dill, Seeker

Zack's first real awareness that help had arrived was when he was magically lifted off the ground. There had been some kind of warning prior to that, but Zack's leg hurt too much to really understand it. He would have rather stayed firmly planted on Earth for a little while longer, but the medic's spell carried him over to a cot in the medical tent without incident.

The medic worked his trade and the pain began to lessen. He'd broken his arm in second grade and been in a cast for ages, so he wasn't entirely sure what to make of it when no plaster was applied to his leg now. He was almost certain he'd heard the bone break when the bludger had hit him and the leg had not been at a natural angle until the doctor set it.

Maybe there was an invisible magical cast on the leg. Zack really didn't know much about the magical healing arts except that they often involved potions and weird side affects. He made a mental note to do some research on the topic later. "Am I going to need crutches and when can I go back up? I don't think we have an alternate Seeker."

Though, honestly, going back up right now was the very last thing Zack wanted to do and he secretly hoped that the doctor would order him grounded. Only House pride and a healthy amount of Anne-induced terror made him ask in the first place. The Captain could be pretty scary when they lost.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack Dill, Seeker Do you not find wordplay to be a golden form of humor? 40 Zack Dill, Seeker 0 5

Wolfe, Medic

March 06, 2007 12:54 AM

Warning by Wolfe, Medic

The student would be fine given that he managed to rest and stay out of trouble. Wolfe was already tired of the excessive enthusiasm the students and that banshee of a quidditch instructor. Someone would eventually die on the pitch due to the dangers of the sport.

"Am I going to need crutches and when can I go back up? I don't think we have an alternate Seeker."

He looked down at the boy. "I would advise you to stay on the cot and relax. The break was serious in nature, but nothing medical charms cannot handle." He sighed, "But seeing how Professor Fox classifies injured you are free to get back onto your broom. Just know that I urge you to stay on the ground." He handed a vial of pepper-up potion to the child.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Wolfe, Medic Warning 0 Wolfe, Medic 0 5

Jennifer, Crotalus seeker

March 06, 2007 12:21 PM

I'd have to agree by Jennifer, Crotalus seeker

Unlike her opponent, Jennifer had noticed the forthcoming bludger, a good several seconds before it actually reached the pair. Really, it was rather difficult to miss. Bludgers were many things, but subtle wasn’t one of them. They were loud, they were fairly large, for a ball, and they just exuded menace. So, naturally, she had gotten out of its way almost immediately.

To her astonishment, though, Zack didn’t respond as one would have expected him to, when faced with a bludger heading straight towards him. In fact, Zack didn’t do anything at all, at least until the ball made contact. Jennifer couldn’t help but wince as she watched the other seeker fall, and she shot a quick look at Lily. She’d known, of course, that her fellow fifth year was ridiculously aggressive, which was why she’d switched the girl to beating rather than chasing in the first place. Still, she hadn’t expected that Lily would actually manage to take out the other team’s seeker, if the cries coming from Zack were any indication about his condition.

Jennifer wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do, this being the first time that she’d been so close to someone getting taken out, and being unable to do anything about it (she didn’t really count Saul. That had been more instinctive than anything else, and, bad as it might sound, she doubted she would do something like that again. Her arm had hurt for weeks after), and that person being the seeker, on top of everything else. She knew that Coach Fox wasn’t going to stop the game, and that it wasn’t her fault Aladren didn’t have a back-up seeker, but it still would feel slightly cheap, if she caught the snitch while the other team’s seeker was in the medic’s tent. And, however much she wanted to win, she didn’t want it to be a victory only because there was no other option.

So she resumed searching, since there wasn’t much else she could do (hovering in one spot was an invitation for her to be attacked by a bludger as well, and would probably result in some strange questions from the rest of her team), but did so a bit half-heartedly. If she spotted the snitch now, she’d go for it, but she wasn’t really going out of her way to look for it, glancing back at the medic’s tent every now and then. Damn ethics.
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0 Jennifer, Crotalus seeker I'd have to agree 0 Jennifer, Crotalus seeker 0 5

Zack Dill, Seeker

March 06, 2007 2:54 PM

Are you warning me about my humor or my flashy flying? by Zack Dill, Seeker

It was a real dilemma. The doctor was going to permit him to go back up on his broom to finish the game, but doing so would be against medical advice. Zack hated going against medical advice. Doctors went through a lot of schooling and work to get their licenses and they generally knew what they were talking about. Ignoring it seemed like a colossally stupid idea and Zack liked to think he wasn't colossally stupid.

Tormented by the decision - good sense versus pride and duty - Zack couldn't even fall back on his usual tie-breaker: cowardice. He was just as terrified of Anne and Coach Fox as he was of going back into the air where there were bludgers and the risk of having some kind of complication with his leg. He looked at the doctor, his face revealing his torn loyalties, but the man just gave him some kind of potion, his advice already made clear.

Zack hated drinking potions. He loved the class, but that was a large part of the reason why he'd rather avoid ingesting them. He knew the kinds of ingredients they often contained. Still, he'd just literally broken a leg so he figured he ought to drink his medicine, especially if he was even thinking about going up on Enterprise again.

His ears started steaming after he swallowed, which was the other reason why he hated drinking potions. They often had side-effects that made the drinker look ridiculous. Still, he felt better and it wasn't like people actually used their legs when flying (that was the basis for Mika-El's whole argument to be on the team, after all). Getting a sinking feeling in his stomach, he realized with something like horror that he had decided to go back up into the air.

He really hoped he or Jennifer would catch the Snitch quickly.

He used the summoning charm to call Enterprise over to him. There was no possible way he was going to risk walking anywhere yet. Carefully settling himself onto the magical air cushion, he gave the doctor an uncertain look, giving him one more chance to order him to bed confinement.

Lacking that, he flew out of the medical tent and back onto the Pitch. For the time being, he was going to fly below the other players instead of above. It just seemed safer that way.

After less than a minute, however, his neck was developing a crick from looking up so much. Being so much shorter than everybody else in his grade, he would have thought he'd be immune to neck-cricks by now, but apparently not. It looked like he was going to have to go back up to Jennifer's altitude.

He wondered if Anne would bite his head off if he tried to suggest she find an alternate Seeker for next year.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

1 Zack Dill, Seeker Are you warning me about my humor or my flashy flying? 40 Zack Dill, Seeker 0 5

Jennifer, Crotalus Seeker

March 09, 2007 10:12 AM

or my impending catch? by Jennifer, Crotalus Seeker

Really, Jennifer shouldn’t have begun to worry about how the whole seeking thing would work with Zack being out of the game, since almost as soon as she made her decision, he had emerged from the tent, looking less than well but at least he looked better than he had when he had entered it. Even so, he obviously looked a lot better than he felt, if he couldn’t manage to actually walk over to his broom, but instead summoned it back to the tent.

After that lovely incident, Jennifer almost questioned his sanity once again (yes, he was in Aladren, but he misspelled the house name every chance he got that she had seen, so obviously something was a bit off up there) for actually getting back in the air. Yes, Aladren didn’t have any alternates (whatever that kid in the wheelchair might have been doing on the bench, it obviously wasn’t to play), and a seeker was the most important position, at least for the end-game, but it wasn’t worth getting yourself killed over. Still, if she were him, she wouldn’t want to have to face Anne Wright after being the reason Aladren lost. She didn’t know the younger girl personally, but Anne had a pretty impressive reputation.

A strange game, this was. Jennifer had started to consider the fact that maybe it wasn’t the best idea to let Lily be a beater, though it was too late to change it now. Obviously, she was one of the most effective, but…maybe she would be a little less exuberant with trying to kill people now that she’d actually wounded someone. She glanced over at the other Crotalus fifth year, both out of the habit and to make sure her team wasn’t killing someone else already, and then…there it was. That was definitely a flash of gold by her teammate’s head. And, she looked down, Zack still obviously hadn’t gotten his complete confidence back, so now was the perfect time to strike.

She leaned forward on her broom slightly, and sped up. The snitch had already flittered away from Lily a bit, but that only made it an easier catch- it was now in open territory, and it didn’t look like there were any bludgers nearby which could stop her. Just to make sure, though, Jennifer glanced around; then, upon seeing the coast was clear, she leaned forward and stretched her arm out a little more and then- it was hers.

Raising the hand holding the snitch towards Fox, to make sure the coach knew that the match was over, Jennifer then made her way back towards the ground to wait for her team. On the way, though, she couldn’t help passing Zack, and, in the sake of good sportsmanship, she paused, and hovered for a moment. “Good game,” she said, smiling at him. “You’re braver than I am, really. I don’t know if I could have gotten back in the game after taking a hit like that.” Then, pleasantries over with, she made contact with the ground, triumphant grin still on her face.
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0 Jennifer, Crotalus Seeker or my impending catch? 0 Jennifer, Crotalus Seeker 0 5

Ben Stafford, Chaser

March 09, 2007 11:25 AM

Post-Game by Ben Stafford, Chaser

The series of events that lead up to the Captain of the Crotalus team catching the snitch was frustrating for Ben. That one clearly derranged Crotalus beater had taken out Zack, a very bad omen indeed. What was it with all these other beaters trying to imitate his sister's style? If imitation is the highest form of flattery, Lexi probably would have been so flattered she'd be on the ground, Ben mused almost bitterly. It wasn't his fault they lost, he tried to tell himself, but that little voice in the back of his head insisted otherwise.

Ben was upset, to say the least. He was angry at himself for all the stupidity that had occured on the pitch, especially concerning his inability to rack up points for Aladren. He had promised himself that he wouldn't let Anne down again, and there the team had gone and lost. It was frustrating as well as humiliating as a house to have lost so many times in the past few seasons. However upset he was, Ben still lowered himself back to the ground to show good sportsmanship. At least he had that much to say for himself- no matter what happened in the game, Ben was taught, you always show respect for your adversaries.

After a few nods, handshakes, and calls of "good game", Ben looked around. He suddenly felt a fresh pang of guilt and shame for losing the game. Bella was in the crowd, he just knew it, and the fact that he and his team had let her down was horrible. He almost didn't want to face her after such a loss, but Ben found himself still searching the stands for her face. Her dark brown hair was probably highlighted by the abundance of sunshine, he thought as his grey-green eyes searched the crowd as it slowly filtered out, And she's probably wearing something fun or team-spirited like she always does... Maybe she's sitting with her brothers... Ben kept a lookout for her, shielding his eyes with his hand from the sun in order to look up into the stands.
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0 Ben Stafford, Chaser Post-Game 58 Ben Stafford, Chaser 0 5

Amy Fox

March 09, 2007 1:30 PM

CROTALUS WINS (nm) by Amy Fox

0 Amy Fox CROTALUS WINS (nm) 0 Amy Fox 0 5

Bella (and a bit of her brothers)

March 09, 2007 9:52 PM

A rather entertaining game. by Bella (and a bit of her brothers)

Bella had ended up ignoring most of her brother's as the game progressed. From time to time her and Jake would make a comment about the game, but otherwise remained quiet. Jake, who was a captain himself, was probably studying both teams moves...or just staring at his girlfriend. Bella would have guessed the latter.

The game became rather spicey once that Crotalus Beater (Bella later learned her name was Lily from Jake) started smacking everyone. Bella felt a bit bad for Zoey since she knew the girl personally, and even worse for Zack (had the kid not been completely weird, Bella probably would have had a crush on him), when they were hit by bludgers. Though, Bella felt little for the keeper since she didn't know her.

In the end though, Aladren had lost. Bella knew it was inevitable once Zack had been taken out. And the looks on the Aladren teams faces was clear enough to say that they took the loss hard. Bella stood from her seat and started to move down the stands. "Go give your girlfriend a victory kiss." Bella teased to Jake before hopping down and away before he could retaliate.

She reached the ground and eased herself around the crowd. It was hard for her to see due to her height, but luckily the person she was trying to catch up with was tall enough for her to see over some of the heads of the people around her. Finally reaching him, Bella smiled, "Hey Sleepy-do." She greeted casually. "Nice game."\n\n

0 Bella (and a bit of her brothers) A rather entertaining game. 0 Bella (and a bit of her brothers) 0 5

Ben

March 09, 2007 10:56 PM

I suppose... by Ben

Ben was still looking up into the crowds when a rather familiar voice from lower than he was looking called to him. Adjusting his gaze, he finally saw Bella, who complimented him on his game. He knew it was just a pleasantry, but he appreciated the positivity just the same. Ben couldn't help but grin as Bella spoke; the ridiculous nickname she had given him earlier only added to the list of things he was beginning to notice that he liked about her.

"Thanks," he finally said with a genuine smile, slinging his arm that wasn't occupied with holding his broom casually around her smaller shoulders, "I'm glad you could make it, even though we did have a rough game. I'm sure if you were playing still, we could have won."

The crowd seemed to be either congregating around the Crotalus or leaving with hung heads behind the retreating Aladrens. Ben didn't seem interested in doing either quiet yet, and hoped that Bella felt the same. His earlier shame of losing evaporating with the feeling of his arm around Bella, Ben gave her shoulders a quick squeeze before relinquishing them and taking his arm back to himself. He suddenly became aware that he was sweaty and tired, and that his quidditch robes were probably not the most clean garments in the world at the time.

"Sorry," he quickly apologized upon recognizing that Bella might not want to be seen with Ben like that, but continued with his usual grin, "Anyway, let's put that game behind us, shall we? What were you planning on doing next, and can I join you?"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Ben I suppose... 269 Ben 0 5

Bella

March 10, 2007 12:39 AM

Well, maybe for just us in the crowd... by Bella

Ben didn't seem as down as he did a moment ago. That was a good sign. It meant that Bella didn't have to try so hard to cheer him up or force him to do anything. That made her life much easier. Despite coming from a family where the women always got their way, it was still hard for them to actually get the men to listen to them. It was far too much effort than Bella was willing to put into it.

His arm on her shoulders came as a surprise to Bella. Of course, she was sure that it was only in a friendly gesture, but being this close to him made her slightly self-conscious. "Yeah right, that Crotalus girl...Lily, right? Would have taken me out no problem." Bella commented. "And I don't think Geoff likes me enough to actually try and prevent that from happening." Bella was semi-joking. She honestly thought Geoff hated her.

Bella blinked up at him with his apology. Why was he apologizing? "Uh...okay." Bella said after a moment, still unsure as to why he was apologizing but figuring it was best to just accept it anyway. Bella made a face as though she were in deep concentration. "Well, I was hoping for a celebration party, but since that's not likely going to happen and I certainly don't want to be stuck in a dorm room with Anne for any length of time right now...OOO!" Bella grabbed onto his robes rather suddenly, "I've always wanted to try and find the kitchen. I've been just about everywhere else in this school, but the kitchen I just can't figure out. Let's do that!"\n\n

0 Bella Well, maybe for just us in the crowd... 0 Bella 0 5

Ben

March 10, 2007 1:11 AM

Probably... by Ben

The thing Ben was learning about hanging around with Bella was to expect anything and everything to happen. The girl simply exuded confidence and spontaneity- something Ben was having to get used to. Ben was used to his father and granfather being rather strict and straight forward. Life was planned and scheduled at home, but here at Sonora, and especially with Bella, everything was done just off of an odd whim. Ben was convinced that Bella was completely crazy sometimes, this time being no exception at all. He looked after her with an almost dazed expression across his tan features.

"What?" she asked with a slight laugh as she grabbed his robes and tugged at him, "I've never even thought about the kitchens... All right, let's go!"

He grinned at her with mixed wonder and laughter. Ben hadn't the slightest idea of just how to get into the kitchens, and he wasn't lying when he told Bella he had never even thought of it before. Why would one go look for the kitchens when there was always the Cascade Hall packed with food for the taking? Again, Ben found himself thinking "outside of the box" of conventionality as he began to lead Bella out of the stadium, his broom now tucked under the arm opposite her. With the other hand, he adjusted so that he could hold her hand and not lose her in the crowd.

"Well, come on!" called, laughing with the refreshing feel of spontaneity and looking back to her as he started to push through the gathered crowd, "You wanted to go look, let's go look!"

Ben shot another grin at her as he closed his hand around her smaller one and picked up the pace to a mid-jog, weaving through the crowd to get out of the pitch. He hoped that Bella would have some clue as to where they should start looking after they'd made it through the throng of people, because he certainly didn't. What was it about Bella that made Ben want to go along with all of her crazy little schemes and games?
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0 Ben Probably... 269 Ben 0 5

Bella

March 10, 2007 8:43 PM

Cheer-up! by Bella

At first Bella didn't think that Ben was actually going to go along with her. She even knew that the idea of exploring to find the kitchens didn't seem like all that fun of an idea, but Bella had heard stories about kitchens in Magical schools and she had always wanted to know Sonora's kitchen was like.

Especially with Prairie Elves running the show.

But when Ben agreed to go with her to find the Kitchens, Bella smiled widely. Of course, the fact that he seemed to be laughing intrigued her, but not enough to actually questioned it. She was used to people looking at her funny or shaking their heads at her when they couldn't figure her out.

Bella started to follow him through the crowd, squinting up at him through the sun. He seemed like he was in quite the rush to find this place. He seemed more eager to do it than she was ever. She tried to keep up on her own, but her short legs were nothing compared to his long ones.

It was an automatic response for Bella to take his free hand as they moved through the crowd. This wasn't the first time she had held his hand before, granted it had been a handshake, but she felt slightly odd holding his hand now. Not because she didn't like holding his hand, but specifically because she did.

She smiled as she moved through the crowd, jogging slightly to keep up with him. It was odd, hanging out with Ben. She didn't know what to think of him. He seemed so serious most of the time in classes and such, but when she was actually with him...he was always smiling and teasing. "Okay okay, I'm hurrying. I'm not as fast as you, remember?"\n\n

0 Bella Cheer-up! 0 Bella 0 5

Geoffrey S.

March 12, 2007 6:02 AM

After the Game by Geoffrey S.

So intent upon the action involving the quaffle had he been, that Geoffrey didn't even notice for a moment that the game had been won. He swung around on his broom, saw the Captain with the snitch held high and it was all he could do not to let his smile split his face in two. They had won.

They had won.

His mother was going to kill him.

The smile was wiped from his face. Geoffrey directed an almost frightened look at his celebrating team-mates and he descended quickly, tumbling from his broom in his haste to get away. He stumbled back to his feet, snatched up the broom and hurried towards the exit as fast as he could manage. He was almost out and away when a shadow fell over him, and he drew up short, surprised and alarmed.

"I don't have anything to do with it, I swear. Please, get out of the way, I just want to go, ok?"\n\n

39 Geoffrey S. After the Game 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Stephen Baxter

March 12, 2007 7:00 AM

Not so fast, buddy by Stephen Baxter

If it hadn't been for Mia sitting on his lap, Stephen would have been amongst those at the front of the stands, watching the end of the game with a combination of bated breath and cheering. As it was, he sent a grin at Jenna as her house won the first game of the season and shouted congratulations to Jenny, despite knowing that she almost certainly wouldn't be able to hear.

And then he noticed something that didn't make so much sense.

Geoff - the Crotalus Geoff, the one who'd helped him with Fido, not the Aladren Geoff who hung around Anne almost all the time - was heading away from the celebrations. With a frown and a quick apology, Stephen slipped out from under Mia and settled her down next to Jenna. Turning, he pushed his way to the back of the stand and started down the stairs, jumping three, four, five at a time all the way to the bottom.

And there he was, heading right Stephen's way. Stephen moved right into Geoff's path so that his shadow fell over the younger boy.

"I don't have anything to do with it, I swear. Please, get out of the way, I just want to go, ok?"

"With what?" Stephen asked, even as he started to puzzle things together. There had been a lot of action during the beginning of the game, with all those letters and the boxes and the howler... a faint memory tugged at the back of his mind. He'd heard the coach copping it from the red envelope. But now that he thought of it, there had been a bit of overlap with all that noise. "Geoff?" he asked slowly, "why does WAIL give a rats about you? I mean, you're a guy. ... right?"\n\n

39 Stephen Baxter Not so fast, buddy 49 Stephen Baxter 0 5

Geoffrey S.

March 12, 2007 7:44 AM

That was low, dude by Geoffrey S.

"What? No!" Geoffrey protested, shocked. "I'm a guy.... I mean... how... why... what.... I'm not a girl."

Of all the things he'd expected, that was the last. Recriminations, maybe. Anger about who he was, who his mother was, definitely. Being thrown off his house team in disgrace, certainly. But being accused of being a girl? Not in his wildest dreams had that thought occurred to him.

"It's..." he continued in his defence and then pulled up short. Pursing his lips together and furrowing his brow he struggled with two opposing urges: to defend himself from the false accusation with the truth, and to hide. Usually his first - his only - reaction would be hiding, retreat. But this was Stephen. He respected Stephen... the older boy had been a friend to him, and he didn't want to lose that. He was already about to lose Jennifer and the rest of the team.

He dithered a moment, then with a glance to make sure that the rest of the team were still wrapped up in their victory he grabbed Stephen's sleeve and pulled him under the stands.

"It's not like that," he said, still struggling. "WAIL... Look, Stephen, you know about my Mom, right? But, you don't know it all. You can't say anything about this. I mean, I know it's going to come out, because people aren't stupid, but while they don't know it'll be ok. I don't know what I'll do when they find out. They'll hate me. They'll all hate me. Jennifer will hate me. You see," and he paused for a moment, a pained look on his face before continuing in a whisper. "It's my Mom. She's ... She's behind W.A.I.L. And she told me in that howler that I was a disappointment. I mean, that's nothing new, but... she's going to kill me for playing in this game. And I've been ordered home for midterm, so it's not like I can even escape it. And I don't know what to do. Everything... everything's going to be ruined."

Geoffrey didn't think he'd said so much in one go, but the words... they'd poured out. It wasn't like he'd ever... ever been able to talk about it before. It wasn't like he'd ever wanted to - or even wanted to now, so much - but it had been like he hadn't been able to stop himself.

He felt a prickling in the corners of his eyes. And now, because of his lack of self control, because of his stupid urge to tell Stephen the truth and defend himself... now he'd lost another friend. \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Geoffrey S. That was low, dude 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Stephen

March 12, 2007 8:08 AM

Yeah, you're one to speak with that trawling for pity thing by Stephen

"I'm not a girl."

"That's good to hear, buddy. You had me worried there for a sec." Stephen joked, trying to get the younger boy to relax.

But it was not to be, instead Stephen found himself off balance and being pulled under the stands. It wasn't like it was something he objected to happening, it was just that - as a preference - he'd rather the dragger be Mia, or, at the very least female.

And before he had a chance to make a joke about that, Geoff was off with the talking. Stephen stood there a moment, jaw hanging, before he was able to pull himself together. And notice that as he finally managed to stop the flow of words, Geoff looked like he might cry.

"Hey..." Stephen said, feeling uncertain about the whole situation, but sure he should say something. Where was a girl when you needed one? They'd know what to say. He thought about Geoff's confession instead.

"Well... it's not like you're responsible for your Mom, right? And... why do you have to go back home. Look, I was hoping to do something with Mia these holidays, but she's got that whole thing with her Mom getting married." Not to mention that Sorrel and Ash were completely... well, Ash and Lizzie were probably going to be busy for a bit, if things had gone right in Pecari, and Sorrel... well, she was still with the geriatric unless Stephen hadn't been filled in on more recent events, and there was nothing he wanted to see less that Sorrel and her freaky old boyfriend.

"How about you come see how the other half lives," he said, tone light again. "Screw visiting your crazy Mom. I'm sure my folks won't mind you visiting us for the holidays."\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Stephen Yeah, you're one to speak with that trawling for pity thing 0 Stephen 0 5

Geoffrey S.

March 12, 2007 8:26 AM

Not everyone has things as nice as you do by Geoffrey S.

"Yeah," Geoffrey said, hardly able to believe what he was hearing. He'd never been invited to anyone's house before let alone invited for the entire holidays. "I mean, that would be... that would be great. Except... I don't know. Please, you've got to promise me that you won't say anything about my Mom."

Stephen may have been dismissive of it, but that wasn't the same as promising that he wouldn't tell anyone.

"I'll ask my father," Geoffrey said. "If you're really sure your parents won't mind. Seriously, thanks. I'll owl him right away to see if I can go."

He waited a second, for the promise he wanted, before checking again to make sure that those from the field weren't around. There was one person on his side, and he felt a massive weight leave his shoulders as a result. But even that wasn't enough. Sonora wasn't anything like home. In so many ways it was better. In some ways it wasn't a replacement. But he didn't want it ruined. He'd liked the way that things had been going the past few years.

Why did his mother need to ruin everything?

"I'll let you know as soon as I hear from him," Geoffrey finished, glancing into the corridor between the stands again. He smiled - a bright yet fragile smile - and then bolted. Heading for shelter where he could owl his father, lick his wounds and ponder the future.\n\n

39 Geoffrey S. Not everyone has things as nice as you do 0 Geoffrey S. 0 5

Stephen

March 12, 2007 8:36 AM

Well... that's true. But fishing for sympathy is still... by Stephen

OOC: I suppose it's a good thing that there's a limit on characters in the subject line, but sometimes it's irritating. BIC:

"Yeah, yeah sure thing. I won't say anything," Stephen said, surprised. With his mates at home it had gone without saying. A confidence was a confidence. He knew he was lousy at lying, but not saying anything? That was a cinch. Usually. Unless it needed to be said.

He wasn't so surprised that Geoff was going to ask his Dad though. Geoff was one of those cautious kids. The ones who didn't throw caution to the wind. He just hoped that Geoff's Dad saw sense and wasn't as crazy as his Mom.

"Right. I'll be around," Stephen winked. "I usually am."\n\n

39 Stephen Well... that's true. But fishing for sympathy is still... 0 Stephen 0 5

Ben

March 12, 2007 9:01 PM

shrug whatever. by Ben

Ben's mind was still moving rapidly as he wove between the crowd, Bella's hand firmly in his. He looked back when she called for him to slow down, and did just that. They were approaching the edge of the group of people, anyway, so there would be room enough for the both of them to stand side-by-side instead of him leading her. Ben didn't know just what was making him want so badly to impress Bella with completing her silly off-the-cuff challenges and adventures, but he obeyed the seemingly irrational urge anyway.

"Sorry," he quickly apologized with a slight tease, "I forgot about your walking disability."

The two of them finally broke out of the crowd and exited the quidditch stadium simultaneously. The grounds surrounding them were bright and sunny, and the school's main Spanish mission style building wasn't far from where they stood. Ben stopped and looked back towards Bella, knowing she was still there by the warmth of her hand in his, but still wanting to check for her all the same.

"Well," he said, looking back towards the open grounds before them, "Here we are, Sonora's campus spread before us. Now, where would you like to start looking for those illustrious kitchens, as you suggested earlier?"\n\n

0 Ben *shrug* whatever. 269 Ben 0 5

Bella

March 12, 2007 10:26 PM

Pouts by Bella

As they manuvered through the crowd, Bella's shoulders would occasionally bump into those around them. At one point, one person knocked into her so hard that she nearly lost her footing. And, had she not been holding onto Ben's hand, she would have done just that. So, when they actually broke free of everyone, Bella was extremely relieved. It was hard to move through a crowd when one didn't have complete control over where exactly they were heading.

Bella scoffed at Ben and punched him in the arm at his teasing, though her smile and stifled laugh should have been any indication to the fact that she wasn't really insulted as her punch would have suggested. "Hardy Har Har, Mr. Charming." Bella replied, coming to a stop beside him and glancing around. They were really lucky today had been such a lovely day. Not that they didn't have many lovely days at Sonora, but usually they weren't quite so pleasant when it came to playing Quidditch.

"How about...the showers." Bella suggesting, looking Ben over for a moment, finally taking in his appearance from the Quidditch match. "Or at least the locker rooms so that you can change out of your uniform and get rid of your broom." Bella said, grinning up at Ben. "And then, afterwords, we can start around Cascade Hall. I mean, Kitchens are usually always around the Dining rooms, right?" Bella suggested, already heading in the direction of the locker rooms.

There was a good chance Anne and the rest of the team were already in there, grumpy and miserable, but Ben shouldn't have to walk around in his uniform or with a broom in his hand. "I'll wait out here, but hurry or else I'll leave you all alone with grumpy gusses."\n\n

0 Bella *Pouts* 0 Bella 0 5

Ben

March 12, 2007 11:44 PM

Aw, don't pout. by Ben

Ben hadn't really given a thought as to how he was dressed, or the fact that he probably smelled like he'd just been playing in a game. The only things Ben had really been thinking about were Bella, and more specficially, her hand. He nodded, however, when she suggested heading for the locker rooms.

"Yeah," he finally said, taking a few long strides to catch up to her, "I won't be more than a few minutes, I promise."

In a matter of moments, they were outside of the locker rooms. After a cheeky grin and wave to Bella, Ben ducked inside. He wasn't keen on talking to his teammates, who probably were all inside already, so Ben went about the locker room quietly. It took him under 5 minutes to throw his gear and broom into his quidditch bag, shower off, and change clothes with muggle Navy efficiency. Ben ran a hand through his still slightly damp blonde hair and brushed off his Aladren blue polo before exiting the locker rooms.

"Okay, Cascade Hall it is," Ben smiled at Bella, and took her hand in his again, "Ready?"

(OOC: You can start over at Cascade, if you want)\n\n

0 Ben Aw, don't pout. 269 Ben 0 5

Bella

March 13, 2007 9:53 PM

But boys like pouty girls by Bella

OOC: Well, midterms up, so we'll have to just keep it here if that's alright? BIC:

Bella had been expecting Ben to complain that she was basically telling him that he smelled. But, instead, he agreed and followed her over to the locker rooms. It was moments like this that Bella was glad she had decided to leave the team. She was almost certain that Anne and Geoff were probably fuming. Anne was her roommate, but Bella had never, not from the very start, been able to understand the girl's complexities. And Geoff...well, Bella was convinced the kid didn't like anyway. But seeing him angry probably meant that it was her fault even if it hadn't been.

And, she still felt bad about Zack. That kid was as tiny as she was and that hit he took had been brutal. Bella was almost certain he was probably taking it all way too personally into thinking it was all his fault.

Bella had never liked to be around negative feelings or people in general. They always brought her down whether they meant to or not. So, when Ben left her to enter the locker rooms, Bella stood off to the side trying to stay out of sight for anyone else, but in sight for Ben.

He appeared much sooner than Bella had been expecting. Of course, he was a boy, so showers weren't anything special. Bella always took twenty minutes to shower, but she had loads to do when she was in there. Her hand in his once more, Bella grinned and nodded. "Did you even bother using soap?" Bella teased, grinning cheekily at him, but she gave him a hard tug and started up to the school.

"I'm not exactly sure where to begin cos...well, I've never been able to find a hint of the kitchens before, so I'm only guessing."\n\n

0 Bella But boys like pouty girls 0 Bella 0 5

<font color="orange">Amy Fox, Coach</font>

Quidditch Match: Aladren vs. Crotalus by <font color="orange">Amy Fox, Coach</font>

<font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font>

Let's get this show on the road! by <font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

On the road again... by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Geoffrey Spindler, Chaser</font>

A not so enjoyable interlude by <font color="red">Geoffrey Spindler, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

You'll know who I am, when I hit you with this Bludger. by <font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

<font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>

Let's get it started! by <font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>

<font color="orange">Amy Fox</font>

A Howler? by <font color="orange">Amy Fox</font>

<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>

Yeah... two of them.... by <font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Paul Tarwater, Beater</font>

As well as me by <font color="blue">Paul Tarwater, Beater</font>

<font color="red">Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker</font>

There are only so many possible "seeking" or "shiny" puns by <font color="red">Jennifer Zucchero, Seeker</font>

<font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>

Well, this was unexpected... by <font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font>

So you're trying to kill me, too? by <font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

If at first you don't succeed... by <font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

...try, try again. by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

Oh I won't stop trying until one of <i> you </i> gets hurt. by <font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

<font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>

Violence is never the answer by <font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Geoffrey Layne, Beater</font>

Then one of us can hurt you. by <font color="blue">Geoffrey Layne, Beater</font>

<font color="red">Earl Valentine, Keeper</font>

That would be my suggestion. by <font color="red">Earl Valentine, Keeper</font>

<font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font>

They say all's fair in love and war. by <font color="blue">Anne Wright, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper</font>

[On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] by <font color="red">Lutece Anthony, SubKeeper</font>

<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

I didn't make it up, it's just what they say by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>

"They"? "They" who? by <font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

But you won't live to tell about it.... by <font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

<font color="blue">Zack Dill, Seeker</font>

Yeah, but you may as well polish off one of the old ones by <font color="blue">Zack Dill, Seeker</font>

<font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>

Posting up here (and they are the wise people) by <font color="blue">Zoey Welsh, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Oliver Abbott, SubChaser</font>

Re: [On the Bench] [Tag: Dolan and/or Oliver] by <font color="red">Oliver Abbott, SubChaser</font>

<font color="orange">Amy Fox</font>

Families... by <font color="orange">Amy Fox</font>

<font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

So some wise guys tell us to do these things? by <font color="blue">Ben Stafford, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Gwen Carey, Beater</font>

Something like that. by <font color="red">Gwen Carey, Beater</font>

<font color="blue">Mika'el R., Benchwarmer</font>

Aladren Bench by <font color="blue">Mika'el R., Benchwarmer</font>

<font color="red">Lutece, Reserve Keeper</font>

You're brave by <font color="red">Lutece, Reserve Keeper</font>

<font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>

Wise Guys love to say their Peace by <font color="red">Chrissy Mathers, Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Zack, Alderaanian Seeker</font>

For example, I always liked 'Ooh, shiny' by <font color="blue">Zack, Alderaanian Seeker</font>

<font color="red">Helena, Chaser</font>

She shoots... by <font color="red">Helena, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Jennifer, Seeker</font>

*is transfixed*...oh, did you say something? by <font color="red">Jennifer, Seeker</font>

<font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>

I catch? by <font color="blue">Hyana Kamiya, Keeper</font>

<font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>

Well done! by <font color="blue">Ben, Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>

I think not! by <font color="red">Geoffrey S., Chaser</font>

<font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

How about "Oww, painful"? by <font color="red">Lily Collins, Beater</font>

<font color="red">Oliver, Reserve Chaser</font>

Or foolish. by <font color="red">Oliver, Reserve Chaser</font>

is transfixed...oh, did you say something? by <font color="red">Jennifer, Seeker</font>