Something I'm actually quite good at. on Quidditch Pitch

Captain S. Jamison

September 13, 2012 9:34 PM

Pecari Quidditch Tryouts (Walk-ons welcome) by Captain S. Jamison

“Got to make my job difficult on the first go-round,” Sophie muttered to herself, dragging her broomstick behind her. At 7:15 in the morning, functioning was a challenge, but it was her own fault. She wasn’t fond of early mornings; however, being productive Quidditch-wise and getting things over as quickly as possible to allow the most time to compile the roster.

It’d take a bit of work, she was sure, which was the source of her grumbling. Ann Piece signed up for Not Beater, and Rupert Princeton put Chaser or Beater. Having heard both surnames before, the blonde captain figured the two first years were both well-enough versed in magic stuff--including Quidditch--that they should’ve just picked something. With this information, she deduced that they were indecisive. Waverly, an older girl, wrote Chaser but added reserve Keeper in parentheses. She was slightly less indecisive.

Then there was the whole problem with her AC and Jade. The thing was, Assistant Captains like Amira were usually entitled to whatever position they felt like playing because power tended to mean privilege, but Jade had played Seeker for years. In fact, she’d caught the Snitch not once but twice the year Jose graduated. The only person on the signup that hadn’t made Sophie twitch was Mellie.

With a sigh, the sixth year glanced around. She’d asked Amira to arrive at 7:30--well, “asked” implied that it was a choice--to talk and set up, and that was about the time it had to be now. It wasn’t hard to miss the red hair, and eventually she caught the sight. The Englishwoman swallowed; Amira was kind of excitable sometimes, from what she knew, and it was way too early for bouncing off of the metaphorical walls.

Soon enough, it was time for the actual tryout to begin. She figured anyone who was going to bother show up would do so on time, so at just about a minute after the mark, she began. “You, ladies and gentleman”--she used singular as only one boy had signed up, and if there was a walk-on lurking about, she hadn’t seen him--”are all in for a continuation of our last captain’s policies.” Mel was always hardcore, someone to be feared and respected. Her size had probably been helpful, but just because Sophie was small did not mean she didn’t pack a punch.

“So--as I currently don’t care about names and stupid introductions--let’s get to it.” A gesture to the outer edge of the Pitch flavored her subsequent words. “I want a jog around the Pitch. Then I want two or three laps flown.” She purposely didn’t specify speed of the flight, and “jog” did not imply any sort of hurry, but agility would only contribute in their favor.

“Afterwards, I think you all know what to do. I’ll let the balls all go, and you do whatever you want. Except,” she added firmly, “I’d like Rupert to definitely Beat some Bludgers about, and Amira, you know.” During their earlier chat, she’d asked her Assistant to just grab a bat and do her best for the beginning, just to make sure Rupert knew what to do and to get some more Bludgers circling the Chaser wannabes. “Okay? Good.”

Without real warning, she dropped her broom and took off sprinting ahead. “Let’s go!” she called back over her shoulder. After the jog and the warm-up flight, she released the Bludgers, Snitch, and Quaffle, tossed the later to somebody with Chaser on their signup, and shot up to her spot before the hoops. Chasers with a brain would realize to take turns and cooperate to try to score on her, and Seekers knew their job.

OOC: Welcome to Pecari tryouts. Walk-ons are definitely welcome and would essentially do the same as everyone else, as Sophie’s instructions were not terribly person-specific. Well-written, creative posts will definitely increase your character’s chances. All usual rules apply, naturally. Good luck.

Subthreads:

Mine mine MINE! (wotw) by Jade Owen, Pecari Seeker!

Trying Out by Ann Pierce (and the other Ann) with Mellie Goodwin, Waverly Canterbury

Something I'm actually quite good at. by Rupert Princeton with Amira Thornton

0 Captain S. Jamison Pecari Quidditch Tryouts (Walk-ons welcome) 0 Captain S. Jamison 1 5

Jade Owen, Pecari Seeker!

September 18, 2012 4:39 PM

Mine mine MINE! (wotw) by Jade Owen, Pecari Seeker!

Being able to hold onto her temper had never been something at which Jade Owen was particularly adept. While she was happy to let mundane and petty annoyances slide under the figurative carpet, there were some occurrences that persisted to irritate her until she could stand them no longer. One such itch under her skin was Amira Thornton, who was obviously content to put her own personal gain above the good of the team as she signed up for Seeker, knowing full well that Jade was the better player, in what the third year considered to be a very un-Pecari-like manner. It was bad enough that the airheaded drama queen had somehow been unfairly ordained with the title of Assistant Captain; that she dared to reclaim the Seeker title, too, was practically unbearable. It made Jade’s blood boil just to think about it.

Luckily, Sophie was still in charge, and Jade thought their Keeper had her head screwed on right. Hopefully their new captain would place everyone in positions that would be best for the team, not based on whim or fancy. That was good and fair and proper, and it would put Amira in the right place. Jade wasn’t completely against her older counterpart – she could even concede that Amira had been a perfectly decent Chaser, and hence that was further argument that she shouldn’t be a Seeker. For Merlin’s sake, she was just doing this to be annoying now, surely? She was guaranteed a spot on the team as Assistant Captain, so she could have pick of any position she wanted. Yet rather than select her area of most obvious talent, she wanted Seeker just to be petty and pestilent. It was infuriating. Besides, when Amira inevitably made the progression to the captaincy, she would doubtless put herself in as Seeker just to prove a point, so she could at least give Jade and the rest of the Pecari team a decent shot at winning before that anticipated Reign of Error.

So while she tried to be excited as she arrived for Quidditch try-outs that morning, Jade’s temper was marred by her disgust that a fellow Housemate could be so shallow. Jade had proven herself to be an excellent Seeker, and if they didn’t make it to the championship game this year with her in that position then she would gladly fly naked around the pitch, sitting backwards on her broomstick, imitating the call of a baboon on heat. She was not a good student, she was a fair weather friend, and her mis-matched blue and green socks with threadbare orange sweat pants and a rainbow striped tee were testament to the fact that she had no sense of style, but, dear Merlin, she could play Seeker like she was born to the role. There was simply no way that Arnold Carey was going to get an easy ride this year. Jade was going to crush him.

After a hearty breakfast of waffles and fresh fruit with syrup, followed by sausage sandwiches, a boiled egg and a large orange, Jade had more than sufficient energy to contribute to Sophie’s regime. Their new captain might have been diminutive in stature in comparison to Mel, but there was no reduction in attitude: Sophie meant business, and Jade respected that. At the instruction to jog, she took off with a gallop, attributing a bit more speed than was strictly necessary, her untamed chestnut curls sprawling behind her as she ran. This was hardly a workout for the rapidly growing young teenager – her idea of a good time at home was to chase the chickens until she exhausted herself (or her Mom saw and spoilt her fun), or to ride horses until her legs turned to jelly, or to drive her siblings crazy by running around the house like a certified maniac. A quick run around the pitch barely increased her heart rate. Similarly, a couple of laps on her broom (it might not have belonged to her originally, but since engraving her initials into it in her first year, the Pecari had adopted it, in much the same way that she’d taken in plenty of others’ possessions in the past, several without the original owners’ knowledge or intention) worked the muscles on Jade’s face, as it split into a smile at the fabulous feeling of flying, as much as it worked her legs, arms and back muscles.

Then, without pre-amble, the Snitch was released and Jade was on the hunt. She had to admit that she was disappointed not to be immediately pitted against Amira, in order that she might show the other girl up in front of the new team hopefuls. While she knew in her very soul (whatever one might construe it to be) that she was the better player, Jade had no intention of lackadaisically assuming that others would draw the same conclusion; she intended to leave them in no doubt at all of her superior talent by demonstrating its depth and breadth out here on the pitch, with or without Amira for competition. At least the time while Amira was distracted by working with the other players allowed Jade the Snitch all to herself for the time being. Unlike in a real game situation, the little gold ball hadn’t had time yet to escape from view, and so Jade shot off instantly in pursuit, diving and weaving as she pursued that glint in its demented dance. She turned this way and that, moving fluidly with the broom, avoiding the other players while she gained distance on that winged menace, simultaneously her arch nemesis and her ultimate goal, her gateway to glory. She sought it and she’d thwart it, and she’d do it all with an ecstatic smile on her face. Quidditch was a game, after all, as well as being so much more. It was an art form, a competition, and, for a few hours of week, a beautiful release. Jade lived for those few hours.

0 Jade Owen, Pecari Seeker! Mine mine MINE! (wotw) 0 Jade Owen, Pecari Seeker! 0 5

Ann Pierce (and the other Ann)

September 20, 2012 9:01 PM

Trying Out by Ann Pierce (and the other Ann)

Annabelle walked down to the Pitch wearing pants. This was a big deal. Until today, the only days she did not wear a skirt were the days when she wore a dress. It had been difficult getting the pants in the first place, but they had found some of Belinda's old ones up in the attic. Luckily, the Anns seemed to be about the same size she had been when she owned this particular pair so Annabelle wouldn't need to try out wearing impractical clothing.

They were already sewing a few more pairs for future practices and games, but that would take time between classes and homework and exploring and everything else going on at Sonora. Especially since only one of them could work on it at a time; they weren't sure yet that none of their roommates were likely to spread stories in pureblood circles so one of them had to sit out and look disapproving while the other worked. It wasn't ideal, but if they wanted to avoid getting disowned, it was the best choice available.

That was why, only a dozen feet behind Annabelle, Annette followed wearing one of their best skirts and a white blouse that was neatly pressed and almost glowing to prove how clean and proper it was. She kept up a steady litany. "You cannot do this. This is wrong. You bring dishonor on us both."

Annabelle did her best to ignore the words, knowing Annette supported this decision, but it was still hard to entirely block out. There was some truth to them, after all. Mother would not take this well at all when she found out and they both expected being grounded over Christmas was their best case scenario.

As Annabelle joined the gathering group of Pecari team hopefuls, Annette found the reserve bench and sat there, arms crossed and frowning in very obvious disapproval. After the difficulty with introductions she had experienced in Flying Lessons, Belle was kind of taken aback by the captains' complete lack of interest in learning her name. As she was a first year, 'the continuation of our last captain's policies' did not mean anything to her, but she tried not to show dismay as they were all instructed to jog a lap around the pitch before flying two or three of them. Flying wouldn't be a problem, but jogging might be.

She gave it a solid attempt. By two thirds of the way around, she was sweating and huffing in a completely undignified sort of way, but she only let it slow her down a little as fatigue dragged at her legs. Her legs were shaking and unsteady when she finally made it all the way around (far from first, but not so far behind as to be utterly humiliating given that her legs were among the shortest on the pitch) and she was glad she'd be sitting on a broom in a few seconds.

She mounted her broom, glancing over to where Annette was dutifully watching (looking more nervous and anxious than disapproving at the moment) and was secretly relieved when the broom she'd selected for the day performed better than the one she'd had in lessons and flew up to her hand readily when she ordered it up.

The broom rose into the air without incident and she flew two and a half laps with all of her limbs returning to their normal non-trembling state by the time everyone started gathering for the 'whatever you want' whatever that meant. Belle really felt the Captain could have done better explaining what they were all supposed to be doing here. She'd signed up to try for three different positions (she honestly wasn't sure which she'd be best at, aside from knowing that she simply did not have the arm strength to be a beater) and she'd never been allowed to play before, so she didn't really know what to do exactly.

According to Father, her late sister had preferred Seeker, but had played Chaser until the previous Aether Seeker had graduated. In Pecari, the position seemed hotly contested as well, so she was willing to wait until she had a little more experience under her belt and the field had thinned out through attrition somewhat before tossing her hat in that ring. Keeper seemed claimed outright by the Captain.

With these thoughts in mind, Belle kept her eye on the red Quaffle and found herself in possession of it shortly after it was tossed into the fray. Unsure exactly what the teams were, she started flying toward one set of goals, hugging the ball to her stomach, and gripping the broom handle with her free hand. She kept an eye out for anyone attempting to steal, then decided the person who looked ready for a pass was on her team and tossed the Quaffle in that direction.

It was perhaps a little short - arm strength was, again, not something either Ann had in excess amounts - but it wasn't too badly off. A small change of course should allow the other chaser to get it.

1 Ann Pierce (and the other Ann) Trying Out 246 Ann Pierce (and the other Ann) 0 5

Rupert Princeton

September 22, 2012 1:45 PM

Something I'm actually quite good at. by Rupert Princeton

In Rupert's heart and soul, it was clear that he wanted to be a Beater more than any other position. His Quidditch tutor--yes, Quidditch tutor--had built him up and trained him in this position since he was young. Cepheus had been bred at a Seeker from a young age mostly because he was the heir and because there was no Princeton patriarch that hadn't played Seeker in school. That did, however, add to the fact that Rupert had a bigger build than his two brothers. He had stronger shoulders and arms and, being naturally athletic, could run faster than either of them. Rupert didn't have too much trouble imagining himself not making the team unless there was an older, better Beater than he.

He walked onto the pitch, having looked at the roster beforehand. There were so many girls signed up that Rupert felt a little self-conscious. In fact, it seemed like he was the only lad. He could only imagine his brother taking the Mickey out of him for it, being on a team full of girls. Well, maybe they would beat Crotalus and he'd show him. Only if these girls were actually decent, that is.

Rup wasn't very impressed with the captain's "speech." She didn't seem at all interested in getting to know them which would most likely harm them in the long run. Rupert knew that, if they didn't work at team-mates, they would most likely lose, something Rupert would never want. He hoped there would be other team-building things going on later, but for now he'd do what he was told.

Rupert had never really understood the point of running being a part of the warm-up, but his Quidditch tutor/coach had told him to do the same things before. Rupert was fast and he finished the laps in no time, though he was slightly out of breath. After taking a few moments to catch his breath, he mounted his broom and went on to go 'round the pitch. It wasn't difficult, and by the time he was done, he felt a bit more awake and ready to hit some bludgers.

He went down to the ground to pick up a bat. He had his own Beater's glove with him on. He only needed one for his left hand so the bat wouldn't slip or wear down his palm. After readying himself, he waited for the balls to begin flying, and then flew after the bludgers like a fetching crup after a ball.

The first crack! of his bat was music to his ears. The bludger went very far, but Rupert didn't know exactly where to direct it. Towards the Chasers? He had no idea what was going on and he couldn't remember who the other trying-out Beater was. "Beating some bludgers" was not specific at all. He hit another bludger, directing it towards an open space and watching as it hit the empty spot Rupert had been aiming for. He grinned. Rupert, for an eleven year old, was in great shape. The bludger turned and started heading towards a fellow Chaser, and Rupert was quick to bat it out of the way with one firm hit. It soared away, Rup noted with glee. He flew off after it like it was some toy, keeping his eye on the other bludger to make sure it wouldn't kill anyone.

40 Rupert Princeton Something I'm actually quite good at. 248 Rupert Princeton 0 5

Amira Thornton

September 22, 2012 2:45 PM

I can see that... by Amira Thornton

Amira had never liked early mornings, but Quidditch early mornings were a different breed. One that she was okay with. She’d been sure the night before to go to bed really early and get enough sleep so that she can be professional and show her skills. Yes, she was Assistant Captain now, but she was still going to show Sophie what she could do. Yes, she wanted her position back as Seeker, but if Jade was better, she’d concede for the good of the team.

She was almost positive however, that Jade wasn’t better, but she’d give the younger girl the chance to prove her wrong.

Amira had woken up early in the morning to get herself ready. She’d made Sophie a present over the summer for being the new Captain, and she’d made a few extra as well. Amira wanted team spirit to be big this year, and this little present would do just that. Pulling them out of her trunk, she unfolded Sophie’s and smiled.

She’d made her new Captain a t-shirt that said Sophie in small print on the front with Captain Jamison in large print across the back. The shirt was a mix of bright colors and the printed words were black so they would stick out. Everyone else had a shirt with Pecari on it (also in bright colors). But Sophie’s was special.

Later on when she knew which teammate was going to be what, she would add their role on the team to the back of their shirts. She thought it was a nice gesture, and she hoped Sophie would agree. This year, Pecari would win, hands down.

Sophie had asked Amira to come to the Pitch at 7:30 in the morning, so when the fourth year saw the time, she grabbed the rest of the shirts and her gear and left for the meeting. Seeing Sophie out on the Pitch, she walked over to her, red hair in the normal Quidditch ponytail.

“Hey Sophie! I’m glad you asked me here early, I have something for you and I had an idea for this year.” she said, smiling at the sixth year in front of her. “Here you go!” she said, handing her the shirt on the top of the pile in her arms. “This one’s yours.” she added with a smile, waiting to see what Sophie had to say about it.

Once Sophie replied about the shirt, Amira looked at her seriously and said, “Okay, I know that there’s been issues, but I promise you I’m going to act professionally. I know that if we all work together, we can win. We have the best team, and the most spirited Captain and Assistant Captain at all of Sonora! We can get the rest of the team to have the same spirit and we can’t lose!” she said. “We train hard, we get excited, we get the cup. That’s what matters, right? Not petty thinking. What’s best for the team is what’s best for Pecari.”

At that, the rest of the team hopefuls started showing up, so Amira looked to Sophie for her opinion. Once Sophie answered and started talking to the others, Amira listened to the words she said so she knew what was going to happen that day.

Sophie spoke of Mel and of how Mel worked. Amira knew just how well that was and how it worked and she wouldn’t say anything against it. She’d work to see that continue, anyone who knew her knew that. A jog around the Pitch, then three laps flown. Got it. she thought before what they’d already talked about would happen.

Amira was not really Beater material, but she’d do whatever her Captain asked her to do. She just wanted to be able to show Sophie her Seeker skills too. “You got it Sophie.” she said as Sophie asked her (without asking her a second time) to work on Beating with Rupert.

Taking her jog at more of a run than a jog, Amira reached back to the location with all the balls and brooms. She picked up her new (bought on her own) broom and smiled as the wood glistened in the sunlight. “Ready?” she asked her broom, though she knew it wouldn’t talk back to her, the glistening was the answer she was looking for. She mounted her broom and flew faster and faster around the Pitch. Once. Twice. Three times, and she flew down towards the bats.

She picked up two bats and walked over to Rupert, only to notice he'd grabbed up a bat for himself and was wearing a beaters glove. This only made Amira think that he knew exactly what he was doing and even that he knew beating better than she did!

She mounted her new broom, setting her oddly flying about. Beater was never something she got into, not really anyway, though her sisters could have sworn her anger would have led her that way. Seeking was her fun, her focus and her love. She was sure it always would be, though Chasing wasn’t all that terrible, she had a much better time Seeking.

The balls were released and Amira watched as Rupert shot after the first bludger. She smiled when he smacked it and flew off after the other one, shouting towards Rupert, “Great shot!” she flew off after one and as she flew towards it, the golden glint caught her eye.

“Oh no you don’t…” she mumbled to it as she hit the bludger out of the way and went after the snitch with her other hand. Flying around with the bat in one hand and the other hand off the handle to get the snitch was not an easy feat, but she was going to do it. Like it, or not.

0 Amira Thornton I can see that... 208 Amira Thornton 0 5

Mellie Goodwin

September 25, 2012 12:13 PM

Good luck! by Mellie Goodwin

Mornings had never been kind to Mellie; if she had been awake enough to joke even to herself, she would have thought something about beauty sleep, but her brain was still moving too slowly for the thought to more than half-form. She was still used to sleeping in the way she had all summer and did not appreciate having to drag herself out of bed at the crack of dawn on a morning with no classes in it. She made it to the Pecari tryouts on time, but was rubbing her eyes the second before she stepped into sight and was too drowsy during Sophie’s speech to even register most of it as it slipped through one ear and out the other without pausing too long in her brain, though she came away with the vague impression that Sophie had been rude to the new people and that she’d wondered again why people had to be unpleasant just to play a game most of them weren’t even that good at anyway.

Afterward, standing up, she was momentarily jolted into greater awareness by the realization that she didn’t remember what on earth she was supposed to be doing, but then everyone else started running, so she just followed suit. Running wasn’t high on her list of skills, but she had gotten better at it after last year, so she kept up well enough, especially once the air hitting her in the face did a lot to help her finish waking up. By the time they got back around, she was a little breathless, and her legs hurt after not doing so much of that kind of thing for two months, but she was alert enough to get through the flown laps without crashing into anything, as she thought she might have if she’d tried this at the beginning.

Her mind cleared further as she flew, though by the time she finished, her head was starting to hurt a little. It was easy enough, though, to put together that they were throwing together a game, so she got on her broom, smiled nicely at the new girl in the hopes that it would keep her from thinking they were all ogres until introductions could be made sometime when the captain either wasn’t around or was in a civilized mood, and followed the Quaffle.

The new girl ended up with it, so Mellie covered her, though she was careful not to fall too much into reflex because she didn’t know how much the new girl knew about playing Chaser. If she were Muggleborn, or had otherwise just never played the game, then that could lead to them colliding, and she could just imagine how well that would be received. When the new girl passed, it fell short, but Mellie was confident enough on her broom to take both hands off to grab it as she moved toward it. It wasn’t the most graceful catch ever, but it got the job done in time. That was all that could be said of the pass she went for a minute later, but really, that was all Mellie thought was necessary.

16 Mellie Goodwin Good luck! 206 Mellie Goodwin 0 5

Waverly Canterbury

September 27, 2012 2:01 PM

This is so not right by Waverly Canterbury

As soon as Waverly stepped foot onto the pitch, she knew this was a mistake. She enjoyed watching Quidditch from afar. Playing was a whole other story that Waverly wasn’t prepared to begin. She contemplated turning high tail and running out of there, but she guessed that they were expecting her since she had signed her name. She gulped and walked the rest of the way to the group, seeing just how big this pitch was when she was down here on the ground. She hadn’t really been on the pitch since her first year for flying lessons. She liked the stands. The stands were safe. She wasn’t flying and chasing a quaffle and feeling the pressure to succeed in the stands. What had she gotten herself into?

As Sophie Jamison made her very short introduction, Waverly realized she had no idea what the previous captain’s policies were. She was off on a bad start already. However, she did see that there were other first-years who were bound to be just as confused as she was. Well, hopefully. Waverly didn’t really know what else to do except follow the crowd, and so she started jogging with everyone else, trying to keep up. She was breathless afterwards. Waverly wasn’t naturally athletic. She baked, read, and studied. No running in between.

After that, she joined the others in flying laps around the pitch, thinking that three would be a good number. As soon as that was done, she landed on the ground, still trying to catch her breath. Boy, she was out of shape. She had no idea that Quidditch players had to be so fit. Flying on a broom didn’t seem that hard, but apparently there was a whole lot more to it than that.

Then came the next part. Apparently everyone was supposed to know what to do, but Waverly was totally lost. She had signed up to be the Reserve Keeper or a Chaser, but she really wanted to be a Reserve. The third-year didn’t know whether or not to play with the girls who really wanted to be Chasers. She knew that she would probably just be left out and not be that motivated to play anyway.

It was settled. Waverly did not want to be a part of the team in this manner, but she had too much pride to bail out right in the middle of it. The fact that she had even considered joining was amazing, seeing as she wasn’t a very strong flyer and her hand-eye coordination only extended to catching eggs playfully thrown by her mother to break into the mixing bowl. She was crazy. So Waverly rose up on the school broom since she didn’t own one herself, and joined the other Chasers. She was hesitant about it and trying not to bump into them. Mellie threw the quaffle over to her seemingly as soon as Waverly got up there, and she tried to pretend it was an egg. Of course, a quaffle is much larger than an egg, so it didn’t help, and she fumbled with it immediately.

The quaffle fell from her hands and she swooped down to get it. Of course, she wasn’t all that fast on the broom, so the quaffle fell all the way to the ground. She retrieved it and flew back up as fast as possible, her face bright red.

“Sorry about that,” she muttered, tossing it back to the first-year girl. Unmotivated, unaccomplished, and uncoordinated; Waverly was definitely on her way to not making the team, and she wasn’t sure if she would mind all that much.

19 Waverly Canterbury This is so not right 218 Waverly Canterbury 0 5