Taking the Quaffle on Quidditch Pitch

Coach Amelia Pierce

February 22, 2010 4:46 PM

Quidditch Final: Aladren vs. Pecari by Coach Amelia Pierce

It was mid-spring when the final Quidditch game of the year was scheduled to be played. The April Saturday dawned warm and sunny, if a bit windy. The occasional cumulus cloud cast shadows over the pitch from time to time, but they floated past fairly quickly, leaving the droplets on the grass gleaming. A early morning shower left the ground a little muddy but the rain had cleared up by the time the elves started serving breakfast in the Cascade Hall. Coach Amelia Pierce guessed that, between the now vibrant sun and the day's warmth, it would be mostly dry by the time the game ended. For now though, she was careful where she stepped.

"Good morning, everyone!" she called out as the captains finished their pre-final game pep-talks to their respective teams. "Everyone ready for a good game?" she asked in lieu of the usual rules summary and admonishment to follow them. Everyone on the field knew what they were doing by now. "Would the captains please shake hands?"

Once Paul and Elly did so, Amelia reached down to release the snitch. It glimmered just overhead for a long moment, and then darted away out of sight. Next, she let out the bludgers, and they flew up into the air, making a much more direct and obvious path into the playing field above. Lastly she picked up the Quaffle, looked at the two teams of blue clad Aladrens and brown clad Pecaris to make sure none of them were tying their shoes or anything.

When they were all looking back at her expectantly, she raised the whistle to her mouth, and started the countdown, "On the count of three. One. Two. Three." At the last number, she blew the whistle and threw the Quaffle up into the air, just as a gust of wind blew through the Pitch, sending it more diagonally than she'd meant it to go.

But the Chasers were off and the game was on.

OOC: Y'all know the rules by now. Play nice, kids.

Subthreads:

Pecari for the win! by Elly Eriksson, Seeker with Jera Valson, Seeker, Caedence, Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater, Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker, Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker

Taking the Quaffle by Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser with Jose Hernandez, Chaser, Daniel Nash II, Chaser, Demelza Eagle, Beater, Edmond Carey, Chaser, Starbuck Gregory,Keeper, Paul Tarwater, Beater, Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater

1 Coach Amelia Pierce Quidditch Final: Aladren vs. Pecari 20 Coach Amelia Pierce 1 5

Elly Eriksson, Seeker

February 24, 2010 3:52 AM

Pecari for the win! by Elly Eriksson, Seeker

This was her final year at Sonora, which meant her final year as being Pecari's Quidditch Captain (it had acually been her only year of being captain, but who was counting?), and this was the final game of the year. All in all, Elly was pretty chuffed to have got her team into the final match, but moreover she was filled with an overwhelming desire to win. Partically so she could finish the year on a high, and partially because she just couldn't stand losing to Paul Tarwater.

After an early breakfast and invigorating shower, Elly met her team down on the pitch, her broomstick in hand and Quidditch robes gleaming in the April sun. "Morning everyone," she greeted her team cheerfully, signature smile firmly in place, signature red curls tamed back into a tight braid (all the better to see you with, my dear). "Beautiful day, but awful Quidditch conditions," she remarked to the assembled players. "It rained last night, so the ground is soggy, making it evil to get a good kick-off. Don't push it too hard - let Aladren get the Quaffle if necessary, just steal it back before they score, okay? Sun is shining, which means don't look up. Bit breezy out here too, so stick to short passes where possible - we don't want the Quaffle straying off course."

These were things she knew her team already knew, but it couldn't hurt to recap and remind them. "As for the Aladrens, the Chasers are steadily improving," - in a similar situation to the Pecari team, the Aladren Chasers were mostly inexperienced, but that didn't mean they weren't getting fairlt decent at the sport - "but the Keeper can be easily intimidated, so run with that if it works." Elly spared the briefest moment to be glad Anne Wright wasn't around to hear her say that - no matter how important Quidditch was, she assumed that Pecaris ganging up on her younger relative wouldn't be appreciated.

"Caede, Mel," Elly addressed her Beaters, "take out all the Chasers if you can. They don't have a reserve player." When playing Aladren there was the small issue with taking out the Seeker, because said Seeker was the Headmistress' daughter. "Caedence, if you want to aim for their Seeker, go ahead." As a seventh year, doing so was far less likely to hurt her reputation. "Demelza.... it's really up to you. I can handle the Seeker, so if you just want to worry about knocking those boys off their brooms, be my guest."

As the coach called her over, Elly spared one last bit of advice with her team. "Be awesome," she said with a wink. "We can do this." Then she headed over to where Coach Pierce made her shake hands with Aladren's captain. It was probably the briefest handshake Elly had ever had with anyone, and certainly the most physical contact she'd ever had with Paul. She didn't wish him luck, nor did she make any scathing remark; she just smiled and hoped he was picking up on her telepathic chanting of we're going to beat you, we're going to beat you.

Then the whistle was blown and, taking her own good advice, Elly didn't try to kick off to hard. She rose gently and calmly into the air, in what was probably the most graceful manouevre of her whole life so far, both within Quidditch and without. Keeping her eyes open for the Snitch and the opposing Seeker, Elly began to circle the game.

0 Elly Eriksson, Seeker Pecari for the win! 0 Elly Eriksson, Seeker 0 5

Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser

February 24, 2010 4:14 PM

Taking the Quaffle by Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser

The odds had been astronomically against it, but – through some combination of possible talent, the House trait of independence possibly leading to a lack of dependence on Paul, and maybe a little bit of luck and fate having a sense of humor – Aladren had made it to the Quidditch Finals. Thomas never would have put money on it at the beginning of the year, but it seemed to have happened anyway. He was reasonably sure that any dreams he had on the subject would not involve playing against Pecari.

If they won, they’d get bragging rights for the next several years and probably a good helping of points. If they lost, he doubted anyone would be very surprised, which would, in a way, be a bit worse than the Pecaris getting the advantages of winning and then gloating about it. Thomas had briefly considered calling the team down for a pre-pep talk before Paul turned up, but had finally decided that wearing his grandson-of-politician hat might decrease morale. Being slightly underhanded was widely considered more of a Crotalus thing, and Crotalus had lost to Pecari. It was altogether the wrong message to send.

The odd thing was, though, that he thought they had an actual chance once he ignored the Pecaris-are-characterized-as-large-and-intellectuals-usually-aren’t problem and looked at the situation objectively. Jera was considerably less experienced than Elly Eriksson, but Thomas wasn’t too worried about that; she’d been much less experienced than Hannah Laurent, too. He’d call the Beaters evenly matched, and he frankly thought Aladren had better Chasers. They only had one new kid, and their new kid was both older than Pecari’s new kids and pretty good in spite of his newness. The biggest problem was Gray, and…Well, that was why they had better Chasers.

Coach Pierce got the opening formalities out of the way quickly, and it seemed like no time at all before they were all watching her or the Quaffle she held expectantly. When it went up, Thomas darted in to grab it just ahead of one of the Pecari Chasers and began to beat a path toward the Pecari goals. Just because their Keeper almost couldn’t be worse than Gray didn’t mean she was necessarily all that much better, and Crotalus had beaten her. If Crotalus could do it, then Aladren could do the same.

Hearing the familiar whistle of doom behind him, Thomas ducked a Bludger and caught the eye of one of his fellow Aladren Chasers before passing the ball. They could do this, no problem, and even have a few goals on the board before Jera caught the Snitch. It was all a matter of focus.

0 Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser Taking the Quaffle 0 Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser 0 5

Jose Hernandez, Chaser

February 25, 2010 5:03 PM

Neat! I'm doing exactly the same thing! by Jose Hernandez, Chaser

Jose squelched across the ground of the Quidditch Pitch, school broom in hand, and brown Pecari uniform in place. He'd stolen Jude's shoes for the game (he was pretty sure his roommate wouldn't mind since it was a Saturday and therefore wasn't required to wear them anywhere) since the ones he called his now didn't have the same kind of protections on them that the ancient pair of converses did. Say what you would about the Pierces' inability to throw away anything, but any piece of clothing that had once belonged to them could be counted on to shrug off mud and puddles like they weren't there.

He jumped in at least three of the latter before joining Elly and the rest of team to listen to her rallying speech and advice. Any day that you could start by jumping in puddles was a good one, so he was already in high spirits as the whistle blew and the game began.

He kicked off - not as well as he would've liked, but he hadn't noticed he was standing in a particularly sticky patch of mud and his shoes (Jude's shoes) made a sucking vacuum sound as the left the ground. One of the Aladren Chasers must have been standing on higher and drier ground because he got to the Quaffle before Jose was fully in the air.

It didn't matter, though. A few seconds head start meant very little in the grand scheme of the game. Jose found a good guarding position on Daniel Nash (the Second) without any trouble and when the pass was made, Jose was on it.

Having survived a full game against Crotalus (who were honestly much scarier than the Aladrens) and another half year worth of practices, Jose now felt much more confident on his broom than he had at the beginning of the year, even at the heights that had so terrified him before. The squishy nature of the ground right now helped, too. In its current condition, he could pretend to himself that it was like a giant crash pad even if that theory didn't really hold up to logic. Jose wasn't an Aladren.

Without needing to battle against himself anymore, he was able to swoop in front of Daniel and snag the Quaffle before the pass could be completed. He swung around, changing direction to head away from the Pecari Goals in favor of the Aladren ones. He grinned at the cheers coming from the stands as the Pecari fans realized the ball had changed hands into the brown team's possession.

Hugging it tight to his chest with one hand, and keeping the other on his broom (he'd gotten over most of his fear of heights, but he still didn't like not having at least one hand on the broom at all times), Jose flew as fast as the school broom and the other players on the field allowed him to. Spotting an opportunity to pass to a teammate who swung in close enough so that the wind wouldn't be too much of an issue, Jose brought his hand off the broom's handle momentarily to throw the ball on to the other Pecari.

0 Jose Hernandez, Chaser Neat! I'm doing exactly the same thing! 0 Jose Hernandez, Chaser 0 5

Jera Valson, Seeker

February 26, 2010 8:32 AM

Don't get cocky by Jera Valson, Seeker

Jera still hadn't really recovered after the shock of catching the Snitch in the last game against Teppenpaw; she did not expect to be that lucky twice. Unless the Aladren Chasers worked especially hard, and the Beaters managed to take out the Pecari Keeper, and possibly the reserve, too, Jera didn't see how they could win this game. Yet, on the other hand, their previous win had given her an unexpected surge of hope - she almost felt reckless, like she could take on the world and never mind the consequences. For a general timid person this was quite a feeling to have.

During Paul's opening spiel, Jera tried hard to listen but she had jittery nerves unlike she'd felt since her first ever game, two captains ago. She wasn't sure yet if she was one of those people who performed better under pressure; maybe today would tell her for certain.

As she looked over the Pecari team, looking far more confident than the bookish Aladrens, Jera thought the teams were quite well matched. Obviously Pecari's Seeker had a lot of experience on Jera, but the Aladren had the smaller Seeker's build, and a newer broomstick. Not a faster one, but it was newer, if that counted for anything. With her euphoria this morning she might even come close in daring to the Pecari opposition - come close, perhaps, but not match. Jare valued her life and limbs a great deal more than winning Quidditch, which was possibly Aladren's main difference from Pecari. They could maybe play this to their advantage, but Jera had never been any good at tactics. Games like Quidditch were too unpredictable for making rigid plans.

Steadying herself on her broom ready for take off, Jera consoled herself that she was a good player, she had won games before, and she would win this one, if she could. When the whistle blew, Jera kicked off not as hard as she'd have liked, because the ground wasn't all that hard, but then she gained speed and soared into the air, blue robes billowing behind her. Let the games begin!

0 Jera Valson, Seeker Don't get cocky 0 Jera Valson, Seeker 0 5

Daniel Nash II, Chaser

February 26, 2010 1:24 PM

Keeping up the trend and returning the favor by Daniel Nash II, Chaser

When Daniel crossed the Pitch to join the other Aladrens, he was careful of where he stepped, avoiding the mud and puddles as much as was possible. At least it wasn't raining anymore. He hated being outdoors when there was precipitation of any form falling from the sky, and flying in it was even worse.

He squinted up and frowned at a puffy white cloud, but decided the likelihood of it turning suddenly into a storm cloud just to spite him was slim to none. It wasn't that he doubted fate hated him that much so much as that he accepted that fate usually played by standard natural laws and the sky opening up in the next few hours would defy them. So it was going to be a warm and well-lit game. Good conditions for a chaser, so long as the sun didn't get behind the Quaffle or the goals.

He readied himself for take-off once the captains went to shake hands, but he misjudged the wind and Thomas got to the Quaffle first instead of him. That was perfectly all right with him. Aladren possession was Aladren possession whichever one of them had it.

Daniel flew a little ahead and to the right of his assistant captain. The Pecari kid, Jose Something that Wasn't Santoro, dogged his tail, but Daniel did his best to keep himself open. Apparently, Thomas thought he did a good job because he made the pass to Daniel. He wasn't quite sure where Jose came from, but the kid was suddenly in between them and he had the ball.

With a muttered curse that his mother would not be happy about if she heard him use it, Daniel chased after him. He had a year of experience on the kid, a few extra inches of reach, and a much better broom (being ridiculously wealthy did come in useful even in Quidditch). He kept pace easily and an extra burst as the Pecari made his pass let Daniel return the favor with an interception of his own.

He fumbled for a second, as he'd initially made contact with the Quaffle using only his fingertips, but he got control of the ball and used his broom's ludicrously tight turning radius to its best advantage with a sharp u-turn and flew back toward the Pecari side.

Figuring he'd just made himself a pretty obvious Beater target, Daniel checked behind him to make sure Jose (or anyone else) was far enough back that he couldn't to do the same thing to him that he'd just done, and found the first opportunity he could to throw the Quaffle on to another Aladren Chaser.

1 Daniel Nash II, Chaser Keeping up the trend and returning the favor 130 Daniel Nash II, Chaser 0 5

Demelza Eagle, Beater

February 26, 2010 7:39 PM

Nah, I doubt that, 'cause I will see through it! by Demelza Eagle, Beater

Demelza was off the hook today. It just so happened that today her ADHD was acting up, but (probably because of the momentous nerves she was also experiencing) it wasn't as bad as it could be. Demelza was usually easy-going about things such as Quidditch, but today was different. Today was the Quidditch final!

At the beginning of the year Demelza loved Quidditch, but not to the extent of wishing she was on the pitch all the time, longing for the fresh feeling she got every time at practice and she was high up in the air, wind rushing into her face. She was super excited for the final game of the year, but the reality of it all really didn't come in until the morning of the match.

There was no way she was going to lose. The Pecari chasers were becoming increasingly better since the first game, the beaters fantastic (Well, duh, Demelza thought with a laugh, with Cadence and me... unstoppable!), Starbuck always getting better, and who is also a really good player, considering she just heard of quidditch this year, and Elly, who was a superb seeker, and with all that, Demelza was positive that this would be a Pecari win.

Demelza also felt that if she didn't preform well that she would be letting a lot of people down. Elly and Cadence, the seventh years, for one thing,and all of Pecari house. And, although Jamie never said so, she was sure he'd be disappointed if she didn't come home with thrilling tales to tell him. And herself. She had put so much work, practice, and passion into Quidditch this year that she wanted very much in her heart to win this. It was like a burning itch.

The morning of the final Demelza went down to the Cascade Hall with butterflies in her stomach. She was already in her brown Pecari Quidditch robes, being that she could hardly sleep with excitement. She soon left the Hall for the match, with little food eaten.

She walked down to see a somewhat miserable looking pitch. The ground was muddy and wet, which wasn't good for kick offs, but at least it was a nice April temperature. She listened to Elly give the usual speech, hardly really listening to it. She was concentrating on the Aladren team when she heard Elly talk directly to her, and what she said made her laugh. Demelza really wasn't concerned about who she hit, as long as Pecari won.

She walked into her position and held her bat the new way than how she used to. She realized that the way she used to hold it was at an awkward angle, which made her arm turn awkwardly when she hit a bludger, which might have caused her disaster last game when she broke her arm. With her left hand grasping her bat, her right hand on her broom, her feet squished in the mud as she kicked off.

She was really shocked when so many things happened between the chasers before she even spotted a bludger anywhere. First it was in Aladren's possession, then Pecari's, then back to Aladren's. Demelza's eye's followed the fast playing, which distracted her momentarily from bludgers, but when one came her way, she got back in focus. Perhaps her ADD was acting up today too? But the bludger was still somewhat far away, so she had time to contemplate what to do for a split 3 seconds.

Why on earth did that Aladren just look back? He just turned his head to her, the Pecari beater, and that was just a really stupid move, especially when the chaser was an Aladren. Even Demelza knew that was a bad move. She got ready to crack the bludger at him, but too late! He had passed it on already to another Aldren. Demelza didn't have enough time to get mad about it, though, so she quickly changed direction toward the Aladren he threw it too, using all her might and strength to send it spinning in the air over that way, then she could curse under her breath at the boy's speed. It would have been just perfect if she could have hit the bludger at his turned back...

0 Demelza Eagle, Beater Nah, I doubt that, 'cause I will see through it! 0 Demelza Eagle, Beater 0 5

Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser

March 01, 2010 12:31 PM

Actually, it seems to be working pretty well. by Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser

For a moment, Thomas felt surprise at the sight of New Pecari Kid running away with the Quaffle instead of Daniel. He had obviously improved more than Thomas had counted on since the Crotalus game.

Of course, that was the way of the world. He had always wondered what Crotali thought about it, but other people tended to have an array of phrases about how plans only worked until the first engagement with the enemy and how all factors couldn’t be controlled and other such tidbits of tactical wisdom. When he got home for the summer, he was going to have to see if his dad still had that occasionally-mentioned copy of The Art of War his grandfather had given Peter when he started law school. For now, he was just worrying about getting the ball back.

It seemed that Daniel hadn’t much liked New Kid’s move, either, because he promptly intercepted the next pass and reversed the progress Pecari had made. Not as good as a straight run on the goals would have been, but better than letting the Pecaris get anywhere near Gray. He might not be afraid of first years, but that was another unpredictable element and one the team could avoid finding out about if they kept up their momentum. When Daniel passed again, Thomas caught it.

He didn’t get to keep it long, though, because he nearly got hit by a Bludger. He supposed that was one of the benefits of being a Beater-captain for Paul in action: everyone just tried to kill the assistant captain instead. It didn’t help that he was currently the reason Aladren had control of the Quaffle, either. Dodging again, he passed for the second time and hoped it went better than before.

0 Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser Actually, it seems to be working pretty well. 0 Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser 0 5

Edmond Carey, Chaser

March 02, 2010 1:06 PM

Let's all try to be civil, now. by Edmond Carey, Chaser

In one way, Edmond had an advantage over most of his teammates. It was that his image of a Pecari was not an ace Quidditch player, but a four-foot-eleven girl most commonly seen with five or six thousand-page books thrown over her shoulder. Intellectually, he knew Morgaine wasn’t representative of her House, or much of anything except herself, but she had made a stronger impression on him than Jose or Tawny ever had and so represented Pecari to him. Since he was sure his sister had not touched a broom since she’d gotten out of flying lessons, Edmond had no complex about Pecari’s allegedly superior athleticism to contend with.

He was, however, still nervous. That came with competition of any kind, and the more organized the competition was, the more he felt it. Edmond thought he was less open about it than Mora, and indeed didn’t really think he cared as much as she did, but he did like to win. He liked it very much, and so was more nervous about a Quidditch final than he was about a French recitation challenge with Jane. The stakes were higher, making the victory more important.

Since it was impolite to fidget, though, he listened with an assumed appearance of patience for the speeches to finish, the captains to shake hands, and the game to get underway. Once it did, Edmond’s attention largely narrowed itself to the Quaffle. That was his business; everything else but the occasional Bludger was someone else’s.

Aladren got it, but missed a pass – Pecari took possession. Then Aladren had it again, and it was changing hands fast – Daniel, Thomas, and now Thomas was passing –

There was only one thing to do. Edmond caught it.

He could make the shot, he supposed, but was having a momentary crisis of confidence. It was ridiculous, against a first year half his size, but…Well, emotion wasn’t rational, that was why his tutors generally discouraged it. Besides, if she was any good at all, she would be expecting him to do it, which meant, if he passed fast, that one of the others could manage it. Unfortunately, the plan all hinged on the pass going perfectly, and if it didn’t, he was fairly sure he would not enjoy what the others would do to him after the game. As unsocialized as he was, he still knew they’d be laughingstocks if they lost the Quaffle this close to the Pecari goals.

That would be bad. Deciding not to try anything too fancy, he aimed for the left hoop and threw the Quaffle toward it.

0 Edmond Carey, Chaser Let's all try to be civil, now. 0 Edmond Carey, Chaser 0 5

Starbuck Gregory,Keeper

March 02, 2010 10:52 PM

Take that! by Starbuck Gregory,Keeper

Starbuck had gotten up early the day of the finals with butterflies in her stomach. Today was the was the day she had been waiting for. She was going to prove to her team that she was worth keeping as the Keeper next year. She walked down to the pitch with her keeper helmet under her arm. She smiled at her teammates as she jabbed her helmet onto her head as she listened to Elly.

Once she kicked off the ground and was in front of the hoops, she felt as if she were in her element once again. She sighed and shook her hands ready to play the game the only thing she could hope for was that Elly would get the snitch before the other teams Seeker did. She watched the action carefully glad to see the back and forth action until Edmond Carey hurtling towards her.

‘Crap’ She thought but watched him as he came towards her. This was what she had been waiting for. She was going to save it she just knew it deep in her heart. She was so thankful when Edmond did nothing fancy and just threw it at the left hoop. She rushed over and right before it went it, she caught it with both of her hands. “YES!” She screamed at the top of her lungs before throwing it out to the nearest Pecari Chaser. She grinned at herself thinking. ‘So far so good Starbuck just keep this up the rest of the game and we’ll be fine.’

0 Starbuck Gregory,Keeper Take that! 0 Starbuck Gregory,Keeper 0 5

Paul Tarwater, Beater

March 04, 2010 9:23 AM

La-di-do by Paul Tarwater, Beater

He was a joke, he wasn't stupid, he knew that from the very beginning. Paul Tarwater, he reminded himself every practice, every day, you're a joke. It was a fluke that he'd made it as the captian of this team. And it almost became like a running gag to him. Sometimes, he'd even smile when he thought of it, you're a joke and you don't even care anymore, seven years of this crap. Seven years being the underdog. Ha ha, see this though, he's a joke. But he's sure he's going places.

It had been a miracle that they had won against Teppenpaw. Paul knew that. And he was oh so very happy about it as well. Look, he wanted to laugh with some sort of odd glee. Look, the joke's team just won a game. Sure, that could have been a fluke. Paul was absolutely positive it wasn't his coaching skills that had won them that game... but that didn't mean other people had to believe that.

He liked to think they were a little bit in awe of him. He knows it isn't true, but sometimes he thinks what that would be like.

He likes to believe they can beat Pecari, and for once in his life, Paul can actually smile at Elly Eriksson.

It would be a mocking smile, one that said and you thought we couldn't, but it would be a smile. But, the idea of actually beating Pecari is so far in fantasy, Paul doesn't dwell on it much. Either way, he thinks, I'm out of this school. I'll never see these people again. And I'll never look back. Considering himself the winner in the end fueled him on anyway.

Anyway, back to today. His thoughts now were not only on beating Pecari, but also that speeches were the worst things in existance. This was something Paul Tarwater was absolutely sure about. Someone with a nervous, shaking voice was not someone a team looked up to.

Well. They weren't listening anyway.

Paul thought, what the hell. "Guys. Guys. You all are... aware that I'm absolute bull at making inspiring speeches." There was something in his voice that had stopped caring though. "So how about this, let's just beat them, hm? I'm sure we can agree about that. How you do it, that's your choice, I tru--" no, no trust word, made his voice falter. "Just... try to win."

And then he turned, his cold face back on, indifference when he met Elly's smile and gripped her hand (letting go fast enough to think there would be some sort of disease transmitted from her to him, or that she would steal his soul).

And then the game was on. He flew around, not going straight for Elly yet with the bludger, though it was his usual strategy to go for the Seeker. He trusted his other Beater with that.

Instead, watching the play between the Chasers, grimacing when the little Keeper actually caught the Quaffle, he set himself up near a Bludger. And waited until she threw it. And then Paul sent a Bludger straight for the Chaser she'd thrown the Quaffle to.

Which do you go for first?

A ghost of a smile crossing his face as he tilted off to see if the other Bludger was free for whacking. Decisions, decisions.

0 Paul Tarwater, Beater La-di-do 0 Paul Tarwater, Beater 0 5

Elly Eriksson, Seeker

March 09, 2010 5:19 AM

Give me one good reason by Elly Eriksson, Seeker

Flying had not always been something Elly loved - for a start, she hadn' been aware of its existence until she was eleven years old. In her first experience on a broom, she had been dreadful. Not the most graceful of creatures, Elly had fallen off several times while hovering stationary. Neverhtless, she had more determination than any other person she knew, and she had the Cravens to thank for whipping her rather rapidly into shape as a decent Seeker. Since making the team in her second year, Elly had developed the love of flying. There was nothing in the world that compared to the feeling of being free, able to make the broom execute your will and whim, controlling speed, height, direction to your own desire. It wasn't that Elly liked to be in control as such - the point was that she could do whatever she wanted on her broom. That sort of freedom was intoxicating.

Of course, Quidditch did come with some restrictions. Elly had to avoid bludgers, and catch the Snitch. The first was proving easy thus far, as nobody had hit a bludger near her yet. Her propensity to keep mobile in Quidditch games often made this a trial for Beaters, anyway. Like they say: a moving target's hard to hit. So whil she was Snitch-searching, Elly didn't keep still. She flew round them game and over the game, keeping a vague eye to see Starbuck catch the Quaffle - good girl - and wondering whether Caedence and Demelza would just take out the whole Aladren team. Wouldn't be much competition in that, though. Although Elly would enjoy winning, it would be pointless without the competition.

No sign of the Snitch as of yet. Elly glanced ahead to where Aladren's Seeker was flying; like Elly, Jera didn't seem to like staying still, either. The redhead thought the other Seeker was in equal danger of being a Bludger target. caedence was just mean when it came to beating, and Elly didn't forget that Paul was a beater on the Aladren team - there was a fair chance both Seekers would be taken out before the end of the game. Though they presumably would have to return to the game to finish it. Elly was already playing her reserve, and she didn't think Aladren had one. Maybe she could swap out a Chaser... no, don't get distracted. Cross that bridge if you ever come to it, she told herself.

Catching up with Jera, Elly couldn't resist the urge for some gentle distraction techniques. Shouting past the wind to the Seeker in blue, Elly said, "Hey, have you seen this little gold ball with wings? I've lost it and I'd like it back!"

0 Elly Eriksson, Seeker Give me one good reason 0 Elly Eriksson, Seeker 0 5

Caedence

March 12, 2010 1:36 PM

Can i butt in for a quick second? by Caedence

This was it, the final game of the year. This was also the final game of her quidditch career. This was what would make or break the last seven years Caedence had been at this school. She’d really come far since she was a little kid in more ways than one. Thanks to the twins, her first coaches, she’d learned she was a fair hand at a chaser. And she also learned that bludgers did not like her. Or rather they liked her, just broken and falling off her broom. Not cool in the least!

But outside of quidditch she had grown as well. The first couple years at this school it would have been lucky if Caedence didn’t get kicked out before graduating. Now, thanks to her friends and teachers Caedence was on her way to being a wonderful person in the world. And Caedence was going to play her heart out this game to make everyone who helped her proud. No one, Caedence was sure, wanted the quidditch cup more than she did today.

The conditions were as Elly described them. Muddy ground, but really it wasn’t like Caedence wasn’t used to kicking off in muddy conditions. She’d played in a storm one year before, as a chaser, so she knew what she was doing. And she wasn’t scared of the kids flaking out either. Caedence felt like her team… well Elly’s team, was being left in great hands. She hoped things only continued to improve in the team. Perhaps she’d come back to Sonora once or twice to check in on the kids. Caedence listened to Elly’s speech, lashing her hair into a braid and clipping on her favorite jade hair clip onto the end of the braid. She’d discovered that, strangely, she liked how a layer of eyeliner looked on her eyes and she had read that Egyptians used kohl to keep the sun out of their eyes. So she had, earlier, applied a little. She was going to love the look on Elly’s face when she noticed Caedence’s eyes.

It was time to kick off. True to Sonora’s style, things did not start off slowly and gently. The ball passed from one person to the other and back again. It was quick, but Elly told her that she was okayed to go after Alarden’s seeker. Caedence give half a hoot who it was, everyone had a target painted on their back and Caedence was more than willing to introduce said target to a bludger.

Demelza was doing a fairly good job of keeping things, so Caedence kept her eyes on Jera. Caedence really wished that Paul didn’t have a beater’s bat. Caedence would like to put a bludger right between his eyes. She growled in frustration as Paul hit a bludger towards Caedence’s chasers. She didn’t think that Dem wouldn’t get it, but Caedence couldn’t assume. But she could see a bludger really close by that would be perfect to hit Jera with. Swearing under her breath Caedence decided to go for the Jera hit.

Her shoulders tensed with energy and threw all the force she could muster into hitting that ball. With a mighty crack, the ball hurled towards Jera. It looked like it was a good hit. The aim was on. Now to pray things went well after that. Caedence looked back down and hoped that Demelza was out there doing a great job like Caede knew she would be.

0 Caedence Can i butt in for a quick second? 94 Caedence 0 5

Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater

March 12, 2010 2:40 PM

Only if you butt back out by Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater

Previously being a beater would never have worked out for Juri. He had always been a rather quiet boy, more interested in his musical mechanics than anything else, but somewhere in the last three years that had all changed. He had become increasingly angry, increasingly aggressive. Maybe it had to do with his mother’s new beau, whose daughter was, ironically or perhaps ideally, a member of the opposing team. Or maybe it had to do with all the hormonal changes that were supposedly happening to him. Whatever it was, hot blood raged through his veins telling him to do harm. And oh, how he wanted to listen. He wanted to take out the entire Pecari team, but no, the Aladren in him, the logic, the piece of him that failed every time he was near Lita, screamed that the best strategy was to focus on the Seekers. One to protect. One to take out.

All that he had to do was wait for the signal to be up in the air, though, in the meantime, exchanges between Captains was always amusing, especially when it came to the two present. At the moment, they looked more like escaped insane asylum patients than leaders, but they were Aladren and Pecari. None of that nice little Teppenpaw behavior here. No, if there were, then they would all be slaughtered, especially as Pecari had quite a vicious beater of their own. Though, with a little luck, age might have caught up to her and she may have mellowed out some giving him a fighting chance, as he seriously wanted to inflict some damage. Oh, yeah, and there was still that little task of protecting the Aladren Seeker. He really needed to focus on that, but if he took out their Seeker first, he really would have accomplished both since one couldn’t very well win without a Seeker.

With the wind swirling off of him, Juri set towards looking for a bludger. They were always the delight of the party and if he had his way, one would be within easy reach of the red one. Unfortunately, one wasn’t, but he did see where the Seekers were. He frowned. Jera really should be trying to keep her distance. He didn’t want to accidentally hit her when aiming for Elly. Not much thought was left to this, however, as he soon heard the oh so delicious sound he had been waiting for. The crack of the bat against the ball sounded like thunder to his ears and he grinned an almost manic grin, as though he should join the Captains in that asylum, but then Quidditch did bring out the madness in them all.

Unfortunately, the direction of the ball and his position had left Juri little choice, but to send the bludger away from his actual target goal. Chasing after the ball, he urged his broom forward in an effort to get ahead of it. The challenge was an adrenaline rush. His heart was beating in his chest. And there he was. Now in the path of the speeding metal and he welcomed it. Now all he had to do was….Yes, that was it! There could not possibly have been a more beautiful motion in all the world as the bat perfectly placed set the bludger soaring right towards the attention of his affection at the moment. He licked his lips nearly tasting the hit as if it were a piece of chocolate cake just dangling in front of him. Oh, please, let it hit.

All too soon his cake was taken away. Fudge pudge. And what was worse? There were now two bludgers heading in the direction of the Seekers. Not only his, but the other was clearly from the other Beater since it was heading in the direction of Jera, which was way ahead of his. All too soon he realized that he must have taken Paul’s bludger from him in an attempt to take down the vial red-haired witch and in his carnal desire had failed to notice the other Beater’s lightening. Before he could dwell too much on the situation for he already knew what he had to do, he just had to do it. He sped forward with more force than he could ever have imagined himself capable of. It was already apparent there was no way he was going to be able to stop the bludger. Absolutely no way. So there was only one thing left to do. The bludger was close to target. He swerved. The crack was unmistakably sickening.

Immediately Juri clutched at his leg while swearing the entire time under his breath. He really hoped that he had protected Jera and Elly was going to get it, because this pain really wouldn’t be worth it otherwise. Heck, he wasn’t sure it was worth it to begin with. He breathed in deeply trying to focus off the pain. He still had a job to do. One that he would hopefully do right now since he had messed up Paul’s plan earlier and screwed up big time with nearly letting Jera get hit, assuming she hadn’t been hit. Had she? He pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes while gritting his teeth to check. Please, please, please were his silent prayers that she had made it.

0 Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater Only if you butt back out 0 Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater 0 5

Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater

March 12, 2010 11:38 PM

That's a nice little song you got there... by Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater

Demelza was determined. Where had she heard that before? I am determination, I am every possibility. Those were definitely lyrics to a song she had heard before, but she couldn't think of it off the top of her head, because she was totally in to the game. And sorta going out of out. Urg, stupid ADD! It really wasn't fair that Demelza couldn't focus as well as others! But she had, had, HAD to focus on this game!

The brown haired Pecari's eyes darted around as the quaffle was passed only to... Aladrens. And the a shot! Oh, but that was ok. "Yeah Starbuck!" Demelza screamed to her, and them focused back into the game. There were two bludgers, and one was in Caedence's possession, so all was well there... so where was the other? That one was definitely her responsibility. Of course, though, bluders weren't too hard to spot, so quickly she found the other one, and it was on Aladren's side! Oh no! That meant that it was going to come back to Pecari's side! And that meant she had to brace herself to hit it back! Oh golly. Demelza really didn't know why she was panicking...

The bludger whistled by quickly, and the first year had to save her teammates from being crushed by a metal ball. Demelza narrowed her eyes and zoomed on her broom as fast as she could, not afraid of the acceleration at all (why would a crazy nut case like her be afraid of heights or speed?). She swung her arm back, and with all the force she could bring (which was quite a lot, considering the game had just started) she whacked the ball away. Ok, so it didn't go quite where she wanted it to go (it basically just went up) but at least it wasn't heading for a Pecari player! Or, so she thought, until the ball did decide to aim for someone. But it was ok... it was herself! It was actually like a blessing that she messed up really badly on her aim: now she had the chance to take a better shot at it. When it came close enough to her, she mimicked her swing, this time worrying about aim, and sent it soaring towards the Aladren Seeker. Opps.

Ok, so maybe she wasn't doing that right? She just hoped that her bludger and Caedence's blugder got the target right... although, she was pretty sure that her's might not have been that great of an aim. Oh sigh. Stupid Demelza, always messing things up!

0 Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater That's a nice little song you got there... 0 Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater 0 5

Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

March 13, 2010 5:30 AM

Goats butt, birds fly by Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

If she was just left alone to do her thing and catch the Snitch, Jera would have been happy. She’d come to terms with the fact that she would also have to watch out for bludgers, but banter with her opposition? That was pushing things a little far. Pecaris were mental. Jera wanted to ignore Elly, because talking to her might distract her from Seeking, but already a response was forming in her head. ‘Yeah I’ve seen it, but I’m not letting you have it,’ she said to herself. She wondered whether a greater coincidence had ever occurred, as in that instant she saw the Snitch a little ahead, and a little way down. Perhaps it was some kind of magic, that’s she’d thought she had the Snitch and so it appeared... but probably not. Now was the problem – had Elly seen it too? If not, how was Jera going to get there without Elly notiving? Because Jera didn’t have any illusions; if Elly saw that Snitch, she was going to catch it. The older girl had more experience, a faster broom, and longer reach. Plus they had to dive a little to get there, and the Pecari’s extra weight would help with descent. Maybe Jera could distract her after all?

“Yeah, I’ve seen it, but I’m not letting you have it,” she said aloud this time, keeping half an eye on the golden ball and half an eye on Elly. She was also aware of the cracks in the background – those Beaters were really earning their name today, by the sounds of it. If one came their way – who would it hit? The Seekers were fairly close already, and if one of them made a move for the Snitch the distance between them would be closed. What to do, what to do?

She made a decision: if the Pecari Seeker saw the Snitch before Jera even started moving towards it, she would catch it for sure. Whereas if Jera made a move now, her opposition might think she was feinting, and not realize her mistake until it was all too late. As far as she could tell, no goals had been scored thus far. It would be a 150 point win to whichever team caught the Snitch. Jera was determined that was going to be her.

With no warning or indication, she increased her speed, Snitch in her sights, broom angled down just a little to put it right in her path. As she moved, Jera’s pulse increased. She was fairly sure the other Seeker had seen by now, and was gaining on her. It was okay though; Jera had the Snitch within her reach. She reached out her fingers, felt them touch the ball...

0 Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker Goats butt, birds fly 0 Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker 0 5

Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker

March 13, 2010 5:31 AM

Seekers get smacked out of the air? by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker

Elly hadn’t really been expecting a reply from the other Seeker. Aladrens weren’t really known for their fighting talk. Though when one came, albeit a little late, Elly couldn’t deny the wit. This kid was amusing, and Elly spared a moment to laugh out loud. See, Quidditch was fun. Who said being a Seeker had to be a lonely job? Here she was, chatting with the Headmistress’ daughter, while they were both competing to find the... wait, was that? There was a sparkle of gold not that far away from them. Barely daring to take her eyes off the Snitch – she was pretty sure it was the Snitch – Elly ignored the other Seeker for just a moment while she thought. She was fairly sure she would be able to get to it first. The younger player was smaller, to be sure, but Elly had the faster broom, and longer arms were on her side. She could hear Bludgers being batted not too far away, but the Beaters wouldn’t try and hit them when they were so close together. Right?

Within a couple of seconds Elly had made the decision to just go for it. Unfortunately, the Aladren Seeker seemed to have reached that decision already, and had half a second head start on Elly. No way was she going to let her last game be ruined by having the Snitch caught by a fourth year. Aiming her broom down a little, it wasn’t long at all before Elly was neck and neck with the other Seeker. She reached out her arm; Jera did, too. Then she felt the cool metal under her fingertips, but that victorious feeling didn’t automatically follow, as it usually did. She didn’t seem to be the only one to have caught the ball. She wasn’t even sure which of them had made first contact, but she didn’t have to find out. Elly looked at the blue Seeker, and didn’t even have time to read her facial expression before a Bludger smashed into her back with such force that it drove her directly into the other Seeker. It was about then that she blacked out.

0 Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker Seekers get smacked out of the air? 0 Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker 0 5

Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

March 13, 2010 5:32 AM

Apparently so by Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

Jera couldn’t believe it. She tried to pull the Snitch it, to hold it in her fist, but there was another set of fingers in the way. Both of them had caught the Snitch? That just wasn’t fair. Jera was sure she’d seen the Snitch first, and she was almost sure she had touched it first, too. How could that Pecari steal the win from, literally, right under her fingertips? Jera simply wouldn’t allow it. She refused to let go.

Looking towards the opposition as if to affirm her resolve, Jera was distracted. It was like time had slowed down – she saw a Bludger approaching them from over Elly’s shoulder. It was heading right for the Pecari Seeker, it was only feet away, and it was about to collide in what she was sure would be a very painful way. Jera felt a look of horror on her face, while she tightened her grip on the Snitch. She didn’t really had time to prepare herself any further than that before the metal ball made contact, sending Pecari’s Seeker forward so forcefully that for a moment Jera was sure the two of them occupied the same physical space. The breath was knocked from her, and she felt light-headed as she joined the other Seeker in an uncontrolled and completely broom-less descent towards the ground. It was probably no surprise to anyone, least of all to herself, that Jera passed out before she hit the ground.

(OOC: continued in Hospital Wing)

0 Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker Apparently so 0 Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker 0 5

Coach Amelia Pierce

Quidditch Final: Aladren vs. Pecari by Coach Amelia Pierce

<font color="brown">Elly Eriksson, Seeker</font>

Pecari for the win! by <font color="brown">Elly Eriksson, Seeker</font>

<font color="blue">Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser</font>

Taking the Quaffle by <font color="blue">Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser</font>

<font color="brown">Jose Hernandez, Chaser</font>

Neat! I'm doing exactly the same thing! by <font color="brown">Jose Hernandez, Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Jera Valson, Seeker</font>

Don't get cocky by <font color="blue">Jera Valson, Seeker</font>

<font color="blue">Daniel Nash II, Chaser</font>

Keeping up the trend and returning the favor by <font color="blue">Daniel Nash II, Chaser</font>

<font color="brown">Demelza Eagle, Beater</font>

Nah, I doubt that, 'cause I will see through it! by <font color="brown">Demelza Eagle, Beater</font>

<font color="blue">Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser</font>

Actually, it seems to be working pretty well. by <font color="blue">Thomas Fitzgerald,Chaser</font>

<font color="blue">Edmond Carey, Chaser</font>

Let's all try to be civil, now. by <font color="blue">Edmond Carey, Chaser</font>

<font color="brown">Starbuck Gregory,Keeper</font>

Take that! by <font color="brown">Starbuck Gregory,Keeper</font>

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

La-di-do by <font color="blue">Paul Tarwater, Beater</font>

<font color="brown">Elly Eriksson, Seeker</font>

Give me one good reason by <font color="brown">Elly Eriksson, Seeker</font>

Caedence

Can i butt in for a quick second? by Caedence

Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater

Only if you butt back out by Juri Dahlgren, Aladren Beater

Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater

That's a nice little song you got there... by Demelza Eagle, Pecari Beater

Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

Goats butt, birds fly by Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker

Seekers get smacked out of the air? by Elly Eriksson, Pecari Seeker

Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker

Apparently so by Jera Valson, Aladren Seeker