Coach Amelia Pierce
August 26, 2012 10:24 PM
Flying Lessons by Coach Amelia Pierce
Coach Amelia Pierce had given basically the same first lesson for the eight years she had been employed as Sonora's Quidditch Coach. There had been a few students - Clara, most recently - who had never fully (or partially) mastered broom riding but, for the most part, the class was considered one of the easier ones taught at the school. Second years who had gotten less than an O were permitted to take it again to improve their performance, but most didn't need to. In a handful of cases, some students who had earned Os took the course again anyway, just for the extra flying time. She had no age limit for how long a student could retake their flying lessons, but she had yet to have anyone older than third year join the first years. It was, after all, a beginner class.She saw little need to change the curriculum; flying basics were fairly,well, basic and there was not a lot of variation possible. She also saw no reason to subject students who already knew how to fly to the tedium of those basics. So today's class started very much the same as every first flying lesson had for the last eight years.
"Hello, and welcome to flying lessons. I am Coach Pierce. Flying lessons are required for all first year students, so everyone will be participating. If you already know how to fly, you do not have go through the basics with the beginners, but you do need to arrive promptly and spend the period on a broom. Every class will begin with a roll call, and then the experienced players may break off for pick-up games. We have Quidditch balls and various other equipment for your use." Muggleborn students would recognize several varieties of other sports balls. She had a few Quods in her shed that were available upon request outside of classtime, but the explosive nature of Quodpot was not conducive for the lessons going on with the less experienced fliers. "As long as you are not disruptive to the beginner class, you play whatever you like in the air."
"So, I will take the roll now, then we can split into those two groups. "Andrews, McKinley," she began. When she reached Pierce, Annabelle, she paused briefly to blink when both twins answered, then shook her head, skipped Pierce, Annette, and moved on, deciding the girls were going to draw enough attention without worrying how much the other students might wonder at their relation to the school's coach and Deputy Headmistress.
"We have brooms, here," she indicated the collection of brooms she had arranged before class began. "If you already know how to use one, go ahead and take one. If I have to interrupt my lesson for any reason, the responsible parties will serve detention and spend the rest of the month down here hovering. So nothing dangerous or disruptive. Otherwise, go have fun. Everyone else, line up."
Once the experience fliers had launched and moved away, she turned her attention to the remaining group. They were mostly female, and with the names she had listed off earlier, she was going to cater her speech more to the pureblood community than to the new muggleborns. She did not want - and more importantly, the Board of Governors did not want - a repeat of the Carrie O'Malley Debacle of the previous year. "I do not expect to make Quidditch players out of most of you. As I said, this is a required course. You need to complete it to graduate. With any luck, you will leave it knowing how to use a broom to transport yourself. If anyone does want Quidditch training, please let me know, and I will set you on a different training regimen." As she spoke, she handed out brooms, one to each student.
"We begin simply. Place the broom on the ground beside you. If you are right-handed, put it to your right. If you are left-handed, put it to your left. Hold your hand over the broom and command it, Up! Be firm and confident or it won't work. If any of you have dogs or elves, use the same tone of voice as you would use with them."
She held her hand out over her own broom and demonstrated, "Up!" The broom leapt easily into her hand. "It may take a few tries so do not get discouraged. Keep trying. Once you have your broom in the air, please try a low hover. Either put one leg over to straddle the broom, or sit side-saddle. Please let me know if you plan to side saddle your broom. I'll have to adjust the cushion charm."
"Please begin."
OOC: Welcome to Sonora and to Flying lessons. You earn house points for your character by attending classes such as this one. The better your posts are (in both quality and quantity), the more points you will earn. Please be wary of writing for other characters (god-modding) without permission. For example, if you toss another player a ball, it is up to them to decide if they caught it or not, though you can qualify that it was a good throw or entirely off-mark so they know how difficult it should be. That said, you do have my permission to have Amelia change your charm to side-saddle if you raise your hand and ask her for it. Now go forth and write long detailed creative posts and have fun with it!
Subthreads: It's a good job you're dead already... by Effie Arbon with Annabelle Pierce
Taking the initiative by Alan Raines, Teppenpaw with Anthony Carey VIII, Jay Carey, Rupert Princeton, Pecari, Alan
Ready Since the Day I was Born by Eponine Taylor with Coach Pierce
The first step towards greatness by Enion Whitebriar - Teppenpaw with Henry Carey, Crotalus, Annette Pierce, Enion
Being different. by Honey Baird with Alexandra D'Alesandro, Honey
Trying to fit in by Wendy Canterbury - Pecari with Anonymous, Clarissa Clark, Wendy
If this is soo easy why can't I do it? by Clara Abernathy, Pecari with Coach Pierce, Abigail Thornton, Crotalus
Too bad this can't be my favorite class by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw with McKinley Andrews
Another activity. Meh. by Amity Brockert, Aladren with Isabel Raines, Crotalus, Effie Arbon, Annabelle Pierce
1
Coach Amelia Pierce
Flying Lessons
20
Coach Amelia Pierce
1
5
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
August 29, 2012 1:16 AM
Too bad this can't be my favorite class by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Carter walked out onto the Quidditch Pitch with his trust old broomstick and looked around in awe. It was massive up close. He shuffled into the semi-circle group of first years and waited for Coach Pierce to finish her speech. He answered "Here" when he heard his name called during roll call and tuned the rest out that didn't pertain to him directly. He scooped out the balls Coach Pierce had laid out for them to play with and decided to pick up the Quaffle. He tossed it up in the air and caught it with ease sending it soaring into the air again. This time he really put some speed on it as he hurled it up into the air. He caught it against his chest and grunted slightly when it hit him. "Umph!" he grunted quietly.He brought the ball over with him to the line of students, (mostly first years like himself) and set his broom down as instructed. He chose a side and reached out his hand. "Up!" he told the broom firmly, the quaffle still tucked neatly under his arm. The broom leapt up from the ground and into Carter's waiting hand. He swung his leg over the broomstick and straddled the broomstick. When it began to hover slightly he kicked up a little from the ground and once he had control over it began tossing the quaffle to himself, flying small distances back and forth. He was just getting ready to do one of his tricks when the sound of screaming pierced his eardrums. He dropped the quaffle and planted his hands over his ears to block out the noise.
He watched briefly and then suddenly realized the screaming was heading right for him. He rolled upside down on the broom and waited for the girl to come zooming past. Once she did he turned back towards the open pitch and found himself catching sight of the girl just as she struck a tree. He found himself covering his eyes with his palm as she fell from the broom and landed with a loud thud on the ground. "Coach Pierce!" he called out as he landed his broom. "Perhaps we should take her to the medical wing?" he suggested, staning amonst the students that had undoubtedly gathered around her. He found himself stiffling a laugh at the question she posed to the girl leaning over her just as she seemed to lose consciousness.
Perhaps flying wasn't really all that easy for everyone like I had originally assumed, he thoughed slighlty sobered by the experience. He shook his head at the girl's obvious misfortune and looked around for his cousin. Perhaps she hadn't seen the girl hit the tree and then the ground. It was worth a shot at least. Hopefully she hadn't heard any of it and had maybe just heard the screanibg. He wouldn't know for certain until he found her and asked her for himself.
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Too bad this can't be my favorite class
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
0
5
McKinley Andrews
September 11, 2012 2:48 PM
This is NOT mine... (Tag: Coach/Carter) by McKinley Andrews
McKinley Andrews wanted absolutely nothing to do with going to any of her classes where there was a possibility she’d get dirty. This class, Flying Class, was bound to be one of those classes she had decided on having nothing to do with. She’d never so much as touched a broomstick in all her life, not to fly on, and certainly not to sweep with. She was a pureblood young lady and anyone who’d wanted to make her do something of either kind had been told off by Father or one of her brothers.However, this time none of them were there with her and she was forced into doing something that could have the potential to be icky and dirty, which was not okay with her. If she had to go to this class and stand on the Quidditch Pitch (whatever that was), she was going to try to do it with Carter. She wasn’t happy about the situation at hand, but there was nothing she could do about it. At least with Carter she felt a little better.
Her teacher welcomed them and explained what would be happening, called the roll (for which she’d raised her hand delicately when her name was mentioned). More names were called and once that was completed, the more experienced flyers were sent off and Coach Pierce focused on the new flyers. McKinley, herself, would never consider herself a beginner at anything, as she was the best there was, and she knew that. However, she was a new flyer, she’d never disagree with that. She didn’t want to touch that dirty broom, and there was nothing in the world but being told she must by an adult that would make her do such an icky thing. I wish I’d have taken mother up on her offer of those white silk gloves… she thought, before changing her mind on that. They’d get dirty! Heaven forbid that happen! she added to herself as Coach Pierce spoke, handing out the brooms.
Kinley made her way towards Carter as their teacher droned on and on about stuff that meant nothing to the first year Crotalus girl. She knew Carter was excited about it by the look on his face, however. She’d not steal his happiness, but she wanted to just tell him all about how icky this could be. It was taking all of her energy to NOT say anything to her excited cousin. Kinley knew that Carter knew how to fly and she hoped he wouldn’t go off with the other flyers and leave her alone. Unfortunately, that was just what he did.
McKinley scrunched her face up, and glanced towards him, hoping he’d see her face. He went off, tossing some red ball up into the air to himself. “You would…” she said softly as she shook her head and turned back to Coach Pierce who’d seemingly started to explain to them what to do with the broom she’d handed to each of them. Once the broom handle was in her hand, Kinley dropped it as fast as it ended up there in the first place. That’s dirty! she thought, in a blind panic about it.
Coach Pierce kept on talking about what to do with the broom. All we have to say is up and the stupid dirty thing moves? she wondered to herself, not understanding how something that had no blood moved at all, not to mention with direction.
Raising her hand high, and with a polite nod when it was her turn, she said, “Professor, I would not like to straddle anything, I’m not sure what this side-saddle is, but perhaps I’d better try that…”
Waiting patiently for an answer from the Professor, and/or some help with whatever this side-saddle thing was, she heard a scream coming from nearby. It was loud and clear and it looked to be coming right towards her. Her eyes opened wide as the girl flying haphazardly on the broom came right at her. Carter was now nearby as well, but the girl was first headed towards her. Kinley screamed herself and ducked, but tripped over her broom handle and landed face first in the dirt and grasses of the pitch. “Oooof!” came from her lips as her chest hit ground. Once she realized where she was at, her heart pounded and her staple phrase echoed around her. “Eeew, icky… eeew…”
0
McKinley Andrews
This is NOT mine... (Tag: Coach/Carter)
0
McKinley Andrews
0
5
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
September 24, 2012 1:06 AM
A little dirt never hurt anyone cuz by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Carter had heard the girl scream before seeing a zooming flame haired girl zooming her way past a small group of people. He had barely been able to move out of the way himself before she whizzed past him out of control. He sat hovering on his broom and watched as the girl careened towards the goal post, but was stopped by Coach Pierce. He watched as she comically grew stiff as a board and dropped onto a mattress that was laid out on the ground meant to catch her. "Wow! That was nuts!" he stammered, drifting down towards the ground on his broom. He watched curiously as the girl was unstuck and then taken to the hospital wing. He started to offer taking her when he was stopped by a familiar whine. "Oh brother!," he grumbled as he made his way to where he found Kinley sprawled out on the ground, having apparently tripped over her broom.He shook his head patiently and offered her his hand. "Its only dirt Kinley...It can easily be washed off," he patiently explained to her as he heard her whine “Eeew, icky… eeew…” Sometimes even he had to wonder how the two of them could ever be related. Once he had her back on her feet he didn't dare try brushing her off for fear that she might bite him or something. He laughed slightly at her obvious distress and wondered just how this girl was gonna survive out in the real world where the was dirt and bugs and every other creepy crawly known to man. He knew that if she truly knew that she might not ever come out of her room. That thought alone tickled him slightly.
"You're going to have to try this again," he told her gently. "You have to, to at least not get a zero for the class. You don't want a zero...do you cuz?" he asked playfully teasing her. "How bad would that look if you were to flunk out of flying class with a zero?" He knew that she couldn't deal with getting a zero on anything. He figured she'd either suck it and try again or she'd start whining again and drive him crazy with it. He almost couldn't wait to see what she'd do next.
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
A little dirt never hurt anyone cuz
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
0
5
McKinley
September 24, 2012 12:51 PM
It can hurt me! by McKinley
McKinley was now laying in the dirt on the Pitch and she was definitely NOT happy about that fact. "Eeew... icky... eeew..." she repeated over and over again in a muffled tone. She looked up and saw Carter above her. Thank goodness... He'll get me out of this ickie dirt... she thought to herself as she saw him shake his head at her. Carter offered his hand, and she took the chance he'd given her to get up, even though his hands were now dirty too. It wasn't the best of situations, but she'd take it if it would get her out of the dirt."Its only dirt Kinley... It can easily be washed off,"
"I know... But Carter... it's icky..." she whined slightly louder, but only loud enough for him to hear. He helped her up and she looked into his face. She knew he was laughing slightly at her, which sort of made her mad. She wasn't laughing at him for anything, why did he think it was okay to laugh at her?
She looked down at herself, she was filthy! Eeeew... she thought as she shivered. I better have time to change before the next class... Because eew...
When Carter told her she'd have to try it all again to not get a zero for the class, she looked at him as if she thought his head would implode into itself and make her dirtier.
"You don't want a zero...do you cuz? How bad would that look if you were to flunk out of flying class with a zero?"
"Of course I don't want a zero! But Carter... It's icky!" she moaned, so that again, he was the only one that could hear her.
0
McKinley
It can hurt me!
0
McKinley
0
5
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
September 25, 2012 8:09 PM
Oh Brother... by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Carter halfway groaned when Kinley moaned again about the dirt and the broom being icky. He tried to be patient, but her whinning was making it a tad difficult. Unfortuantely for Kinley she was not at home where she could complain how she wished about the dirty conditions. Here at Sonora she was all alone and he hoped that being here would help her to not be so...so...Kinley. He knew that was probably a long shot, but the thought was worth a try. Normally he might have indulged her at home, but here at school he found that he didn't wish to be as indulgent of her quirky whims. If Kinley was going to make it as a witch she would have to learn that sometimes you had to get dirty. He knew she really wouldn't see it that way, but oh well.He helped her pick up the broomstick and handed it back to her. "Icky or not you gotta at least try," he told her trying to sound supportive. "Besides, even proper ladies have had to dirty their hands a little bit getting what they wanted. If you wnat to climb the social ladder you have to be willing to deal with even the unpleasant parts." He wasn't entirely sure what a social ladder was, but he had heard his mother use the term enough times that he thought it might help with Kinley. He instructed her to put her brom back onto the ground and command it to come "UP"to her hand. "Pretend you're bossing somebody around," he suggested. "You have to make the command as sternly as possible for the broom to obey you. Once you get it up off the ground, (which I know you can) you then proceed to mount the broom either straight on or sitting on the side. Even respected ladies ride sitting to the side," he told her. He figured if he made the action sound more dignified than she wouldn't whine about it soo much.
"Once you're on, just kick up into the air and concentrate on making the thing hover in one spot. If you can do that the rest will come a lot easier," he told her matter-of-factly. "Now come on Kinley...give it one more shot," he encouraged her stepping aside to see if she really would step up. It was all up to Kinley now.
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Oh Brother...
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Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
0
5
Kinley
September 25, 2012 10:05 PM
Oh cousin... by Kinley
McKinley moaned in an almost desperation. She hated dirt, always had. Maybe it was more than hate, maybe it was pure fear too. There was something about the ugly colored granules of gook that made the eleven year old shiver. Kinley knew Carter was trying to be patient with her, but she also knew that she was driving him nuts as well.She had a feeling that she was going to be over his line of tolerance here shortly and she wasn’t happy about it. The Crotalus hated that. Carter was her only hope, her only bridge to cleanliness and home. He was her cousin, her best friend and if even HE started to hate her, where would she be?
Alone. Completely alone.
Carter picked up her broomstick and handed it back to Kinley. She tried hard not to drop it, thinking, It’s not dirty, its not dirty…
Carter spoke, "Icky or not you gotta at least try. Besides, even proper ladies have had to dirty their hands a little bit getting what they wanted. If you want to climb the social ladder you have to be willing to deal with even the unpleasant parts."
Kinley moaned, but nodded her head. He was right after all. She needed to go up the social ladder, be the best that she could be, she already was to be sure. Carter told her to command the broom to come up into her hand like she was bossing someone around.
McKinley nodded to him, held her hand over the broom handle and said one strong and stern word. “UP!” The broom jumped up into her hand and she struggled not to drop it right back down on the ground. Eeew… she thought as she sat down on it sideways like a few of the other girls had done nearby.
“Eeew…” she mumbled as she kicked into the air, concentrating as he said, on hovering in one spot. Closing her eyes, she held on to the broom loosely in the hopes that no dirt was on it.
0
Kinley
Oh cousin...
0
Kinley
0
5
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
September 25, 2012 10:52 PM
Now for the landing by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Carter watched with interest as Kinley actually did the things he suggested without once verbally uttering her usual complaints about the possibility of dirt. He could not have been more proud of her than if she had picked up and rubbed the dirt on herself with her own two hands. He knew that would never happen, but it was a nice thought. He watched as the broom jumped up into her waiting hand, that he couldn’t help noticing was shaking slightly, and grasp it with both hands despite the dirt it might contain. He clapped his hands together when she managed to put the broom into the air with her still on it and hover. “That’s my cousin!” he said proudly, as he watched her hover on the broomstick in the air. He had hoped that she would get just as much out of the flying experience as he got. Again he was pretty sure that was a pipe dream, but you never know.Carter mounted his own broom and hovered in the air near her. “That is awesome Kin,” he encouraged her. “Now lets see if we can get your feet back onto the ground, shall we?” He asked her encouragingly. He brought his broom a little closer to hers. “Okay, here we go. Just concentrate on floating the broom in the opposite direction than up,” he instructed. “Instead of thinking of floating upward, think about putting your feet back on the ground.” He hoped that she understood what he had meant by that. He decided that he would show her how to do it. He gestured for her to follow his lead and floated his broom towards the ground, placing his feet on the ground and dismounting his broom. He waited to see if she got the hint and would do as he instructed. “Come on Kinley…you can do this,” he encouraged her from the ground.
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Now for the landing
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
0
5
Kinley
September 25, 2012 11:22 PM
Huston, we have a dirt problem... by Kinley
McKinley wasn't sure what actually possessed her to do what her cousin suggested, but she had. She hadn't said ick or any of her other staple phrases out loud, thought she definitely said them in her head.Her hands shook as she held the broom, mounted and hovered. Carter clapped his hands together and proudly exclaimed, “That’s my cousin!” His exclamation scared her, but she didn't lose grip on the broom. Carter hovered near her and encouraged her.
“Now lets see if we can get your feet back onto the ground, shall we? Okay, here we go. Just concentrate on floating the broom in the opposite direction than up, instead of thinking of floating upward, think about putting your feet back on the ground.” He said as he moved closer to her.
Kinley nodded her head to him and concentrated as hard as she could. Eeew... Icky... Down... Think down... Eeeew... Think down... she thought as he gestured to her to follow his lead. Carter floated his feet towards the ground and dismounted his broom. Kin leaned forward and her feet grazed the dirty ground. She dismounted her broom as well as Carter encouraged her from the ground.
Getting off the broom, she closed her eyes again and shook a little bit in her shoes. I did it... I really did it, even though it was icky...
0
Kinley
Huston, we have a dirt problem...
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Kinley
0
5
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
September 26, 2012 6:41 PM
I'm proud of you cuz by Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
Carter watched Kinley sink down towards the ground and held his breath. His cousin had managed to get this far with the whole flying thing and now all she had to do was put both of her feet on the ground and dismount the broom. He let out the breath he had been holding and hoped that she could do it. When he watched her put her feet firmly on the ground without one single, solitary word of protest or complaint he felt that there might actually be hope for her. If she could complete this task without freaking out completely imagine what else she could accomplish. Once she was on the ground Carter hurried over to her and gave her the biggest hug. "See brat...I told you you could do this," he told her encouragingly, still hugging her."I'm very proud of you Kinley. You managed to accomplish something big all on your own without complaining about it. this could be a good start for you," he told her, pulling slowly out of the hug. "Think you're up for trying it one more time or was that attempt the pinnacle of your abilities for today?" he asked half teasing, half serious. He had the feeling that Kinley's threshold for the icky may have been reached and stepped over for the day. "Perhaps not," he mused observantly. She had managed to climb onto the broom, get it to hover in the sir without falling off and land safely on the ground. All without complaining aloud once. That had to have taken a lot of willpower from her.
'What do you say after class I'll walk you towards your house and meet you for lunch before our next class? That way you have the chance to get cleaned up," he suggested.
0
Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
I'm proud of you cuz
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Carter Browning, Teppenpaw
0
5
Kinley
September 26, 2012 7:57 PM
Me? by Kinley
Kinley sank down towards the ground and dismounted her broom. I did it... Even though it was icky... she thought to herself. The Crotalus knew that Carter had been watching her, she just wondered what his response to this would be. Carter hurried to her and hugged her his biggest hug, "See brat...I told you you could do this,""Brat?" she repeated after him as he praised her again about what she'd been able to do.
"Think you're up for trying it one more time or was that attempt the pinnacle of your abilities for today?"
Kinley knew that he was asking half seriously but also half teasing. She knew that she didn't want a thing more of icky, and she knew that to do it again would break her threshold of icky even further. She looked at her cousin as if he must have come from another planet to ask her that.
"Perhaps not,"
"Perhaps not is right... Once was enough..." she replied to him, shivering slightly as he suggested he walk her back to her House so she can change and then they could get lunch. "Yes please..." she said to him, hoping that meant their class was over like right then.
0
Kinley
Me?
0
Kinley
0
5