|
|
(Madoc) So Far, So Good
Author: Minerva McGonagall
Date: 01-30-13 17:45
Although neither team had yet to score, the match seemed off to a great start. Madoc felt he hadn't done anything stupid that might hinder his team or help the other, which was a good thing when considering he was playing in his first official match and in front of the entire school. He had practiced hard leading up to today's match against Slytherin and hoped that all his efforts were paying off. Madoc would feel mightily embarrassed if things took a turn for the worse and he made some kind of mistake that might cost Gryffindor the match. Hopefully, he didn't have to worry about that.
Hunter Rabnott intercepted a pass meant for Olive via Alexa. Madoc immediately shifted gears and searched out the nearest bludger to use it to Hunter's advantage. Mason and Alexa were both closing in on Hunter, one on either side. Calliope happened to be closer to the bludger Madoc wanted and hit it with all her might, sending it careening in Mason's direction. Mark, however, had witnessed everything and came to his teammate's defense, redirecting the bludger so that it targeted Hunter instead.
The bludger struck true, though it hit Hunter in the leg instead of his back or shoulder as Mark had intended, since Hunter had shifted direction in the interim. However, the strike was enough of a distraction for Alexa to pluck the quaffle from his arms. Unfortunately for her, she didn't have it long. Madoc had reached the other bludger and had hit her in the arm with it.
For a brief moment, the quaffle plummeted to the ground. All of the chasers converged on it, resulting in many bumps and bruises and a near eye poke with a broomstick handle, before Hunter reemerged victorious. He continued on his path to where Gus van Tassel waited for him. Madoc scrambled to find another bludger, hoping to use it against Gus or maybe one of the Slytherin chasers, but Mark and Basil appeared to have monopolized the black balls for the time-being.
Disappointed but not at a loss as to what to do now, Madoc immediately pushed ahead to defend Hunter and his fellow Gryffindors to the very best of his ability.
From One Set Of Hoops To The Other (Olive & Hunter)
Author: Emerald Green
Date: 01-30-13 19:51
Hunter Rabnott tries for a goal but Gus blocks the quaffle, catching it to his chest. A pass to Mason has the ball back in play. Mason weaves around Hunter R and Marjani, avoiding a steal when his grips slips on the quaffle as he's getting past Marjani. Dodging around Basil, he throws to Olive who pulls the quaffle in close to her torso, accelerating away. A bludger, though from whom she doesn't know, catches her square in the back, knocking the breath from Olive. Reflexively, she slows down.
Spotting Alexa in the open she passes the quaffle to better giver herself a moment to get her breath back. In the meantime Alexa is doing a partial barrel roll to avoid Etta's grabby hands, trying to grab the quaffle away. In the process of coming back upright Alexa takes a bludger from Madoc, which in turn allows Etta to make the steal afterall.
Etta quickly shoots the ball off to Hunter R. In turn, he lobs the quaffle to Marjani. Olive has whirled around on her broom but she's too far from Marjani to harass her. Mason is closer and gets in even closer as Marjani rapidly recovers the distance back to Gus. Calliope tries helping Marjani out with a bludger to Gus as the Gryffindor chaser sets up for a goal shot but Mason takes one for the team by putting himself between Gus and the bludger.
Gus bats the quaffle away with one hand. By that time Olive and the other chasers are there as well, making for a mad scramble to be the one taking possession of the quaffle. Olive thought she had it but Etta snatches it away, swiveling on her broom to immediately throw for goal. This time a Gryffindor sent bludger makes it to Gus, which slows him from stopping the red ball. The stadium erupts with cheers from the Gryffindor supporters when the quaffle passes through the hoop, putting the first points on the board and points for Gryffindor at that.
Telling herself it's early still in the match and not to let the Gryffindor 10, Slytheryn 0 score get her down, Olive accepts the ball from Mason as they begin to work the quaffle in the direction of Olive's brother, who's currently making a slow pass back and forth in front of the hoops he guards.
Hunter G, as he tends to be called, particularly in matches he's in that Hunter Rabnott is also in, raises his voice in a cheer when Etta scores. After that he turns more serious, all business as the action starts his way. While it's in Gryffindor's favor to keep the quaffle at the other end of the pitch, Hunter doesn't mind when Slytherin, or any opposing team, gets the quaffle down towards his end of things since it means his chances of actually participating increase greatly.
Olive by now has passed to Alexa then Olive and Mason flank Alexa on either side. They aren't in a wedge but more in parallel, that is until Olive pulls ahead slightly to block Hunter R's efforts to work his way next to Alexa. They've nearly made it to the optimal scoring range when a combination of a bludger and Marjani cause a turnover. Hunter's hardly had time to think about how close he'd been to being able to get in on the action again when Basil returns the favor of bludger while Mason goes in for a steal attempt. In not much more time than a blink Slytherin has possession again.
Hunter tracks the quaffle as it passes from Mason to Olive to Alexa then back to Mason. Mason cocks his arm back to throw the ball, acting as though he's going to throw left but then throwing right. He gave himself away though by looking more to the right when trying to make Hunter think he was going left. Because of this Hunter's able to block without any trouble. Because of how he's positioned the block comes in the way of batting the quaffle away with his broomtail.
Hunter tries to send the quaffle more toward Hunter R but it's Alexa who catches it. She has to turn her broom slight to better get off her own shot, giving Hunter that little extra time to better prepare for the block. This time he catches it, handing it off to Etta. She works her way from Hunter only to have Mark clip her on the hand and wrist with a bludger. It's the hand gripping the quaffle. The clip isn't horribly hard but it is just right to cause her to let loose the red ball.
Olive grabs it up before it's fallen very far, darting in towards Hunter, who's watching his sister closely hoping to block yet another Slytherin goal effort.
Locked In A Room
Author: Christina Sorcha
Date: 01-31-13 10:43
In the last week, Christina had been given a few liberties. She was still restricted to the same narrow room she had been in for quite some time, but she was no longer tied to a chair. This meant she was given the ability to roam the room, but not leave it. With nowhere else to go, she had spent a bit of time cleaning up the spartan place.
There was quite a mess to clean up a week ago. During the interrogation a cup of tea and part of an unfinished bowl of porridge had been spilled on the floor. The room had also seen very little use in who knows how long. Without her wand, Christina had used a few rags she had been given, or found. Many hours had been spent idly scrubbing everything, including the floors, walls, and whatever furniture happened to be in the room.
Adriana had made it clear that any attempt at escape or any disobedience would be met with severe repercussions against Theodore. Not wanting to put her son at risk, no attempts at escape had been made since Christina was allowed to roam the room. So far, Adriana had asked only one thing.
Adriana had asked Christina to write a letter to her ex-husband, Fintan. The letter was to inform him that a sudden and long-term project had come up in South America and that he would need to take care of their son. Since Christina knew it would be read before it would be sent, she included apologies for the abruptness of her departure, so it would seem legitimate.
With the letter, there would be no missing persons reports, no police search, only an angry ex-husband and saddened child. According to Adriana, Theodore would be allowed to remain with his father as long as Christina obeyed. To make sure of that someone was always nearby and if Christina did anything wrong, that person would be close enough to hurt Theodore.
Adriana had given too many details for Christina to doubt her son was being watched. So, she dutifully remained in the room, cleaning to pass the time.
Lazy Saturday
Author: Melinda
Date: 01-31-13 12:24
Today, Melinda was most thankful for a day off. The last two and a half weeks had been psychotic at the law office, and ultimately she'd been working doubles at Petals because a couple of girls were out sick with some sort of bug. Either way, it meant that by the time her first of four days off from both jobs rolled around she was nearly dead on her feet.
Three thirty this morning she'd stumbled in and barely made it into bed before passing out wearing a pair of yoga pants and a long sleeve shirt from the Muggle store Victoria Secret. Camden would be up by eight at the latest, and more than likely fix breakfast for herself before heading over to play with Crew Morgan for most of the day.
It was the smell of bacon that slowly pulled her from slumber, sniffing as one eye was forced to part the barest sliver she wondered who in the hell was cooking bacon in her house. Eyes flicked to the clock, it was just past noon and she really should get up, shower and attempt to remove the last of the glitter that still clung to her body and hadn't transferred to her sheets.
Looking down at the black sheets they now looked like Tinker Bell had dusted her bed with fairy dust, and it sparkled just as much in the light filtering in through the curtains. She cast a glance toward the bathroom, longingly wanting to go hop in the shower, but the scent of bacon and the mystery surrounding who was cooking it was a much bigger draw.
Stepping out of her room, she pulled her hair into a messy bun atop her head and headed out toward the kitchen.
"Hello?"
She called, stepping off the last step and turning into the kitchen. She'd not bothered with her wand, because what robber would spend time to cook breakfast.
The figure moving about her kitchen was familiar and she couldn't help but smile, leaning against the door as she watched him prepare a pair of plates: skillet potatoes, scrabbled eggs with cheese, bacon, sausage, and even orange juice. Melinda wasn't even sure if she'd had half that stuff in her cold box, which meant he'd gone shopping before he'd come over.
It took him several minutes to realize she was standing there, and thankfully he managed to not cut himself with the knife he was using to cut some fresh fruit.
"Hey...hope you don't mind. Camden said I could come in." A light smile pulling at his lips.
"It's quite alright, how long have you been here?" She asked, moving to lean against the island, watching him work effortlessly through the kitchen.
"Since about nine." He said, and then chuckled at her expression.
"Don't worry, I wasn't like watching you sleep or anything. I just know you've been busy so I figured I'd come over and help out a bit, and make you breakfast..."
Mel blushed and couldn't help but smile. "You could have woken me. But, now that I know who the mysterious chef is, I think I'm going to go take a quick shower, if there's time?"
"Yup, go ahead, will keep everything warm." He said with a smile.
"Alright. Be back down in about ten minutes."
She headed back upstairs and in about fifteen minutes she was back downstairs, blonde hair damp and wearing a fresh pair of yoga pants and tank top - since she had no intention of leaving the house as chilly as it was out.
"Breakfast is served..." He said with a flourish as he put a plate in front of her and added a glass of orange juice and a mug of coffee that was that perfect caramel color, which meant he'd added just the right amount of milk. That first sip confirmed that he'd also found just the right balance of sugar.
"Mmm...I have the perfect boyfriend." She said with a heavenly sigh as she indulged in the breakfast that he'd created for her.
"Do you now? Well, someone should tell him." He teased.
She shook her head and nibbled on a piece of perfectly crispy bacon.
"So, now that I am feeling more human and less like an overworked zombie, how are we going to spend the afternoon?"
"I was thinking being lazy and maybe listening to the WWN and lounging on the couch?"
She sighed and smiled. "I think that's the perfect way to spend the day, because I need the down time."
Jefferson nodded and they fell into a quiet, contented silence and ate their breakfast. Once breakfast was done and the dishes cleaned, they both settled on the couch and cuddled, "I should at some point fire chat with the Morgans and check on Cam. Speaking of Cam, where is Remy with Lawson or over creating all sorts of mischief with Camden and Crew?"
"She's with Cam and Crew. As for Lawson, not entirely sure where she is at the moment."
Mel nodded and cuddled into him a bit more, sighing happily.
First Points to Slytherin
Author: Rylee
Date: 01-31-13 12:37
This was her first ever Quidditch match and she was nervous as hell. However, she couldn't let anyone see it, couldn't let anyone know that she was nervous. Already she knew that half, if not all of her housemates would hate her if Slytherin lost this match to Gryffindor - especially since she would more than likely be the reason that they lost.
Currently she was hovering somewhere in the middle of the pitch, beneath the larger part of the action while Cai, the seeker for Gryffindor was higher up scanning the area closer to the goal hoops guarded by Gus Van Tassel.
Above her she watched as the six chasers - three in green and three in red raced back and forth along with the four beaters again divided in color. Quick shift on her broom as a stray bludger nearly smashed into her, and probably would have resulted in a broken finger.
Eyes flicked rapidly over the stands, knowing that the glimmering golden ball could and would at random allow itself to be seen. Almost as if the thought had summoned it, it flitted an arms length away from the young Slytherin Seeker, but darted rapidly forward and up the moment Rylee tried to reach for it.
"Bloody hell..." The words escaped her lips as she started after the ball. A quick glance over her shoulder found that Cai was not paying attention to her at the moment - which was good. If she could get the snitch and end the game before even a goal was scored that would be fine and dandy for her and a testament as to why she'd made the team as replacement for Cornelia Vanderbilt.
However, it was not meant to be.
"Watch out!"
The call came a bit too late and with a thud the heavy black bludger that had been intended to disrupt the pass from Alexa to Mason had slammed into Rylee's left shoulder because it had been hit slightly off the mark by Calliope Quinn.
Either way the disruption had caused three things to happen almost instantly: Marmaduke Flowers was heading over to check Rylee's shoulder, Rylee had lost sight of the snitch, and a cheer rose up from the Slytherin section as Alexa's attempt to score had succeeded and the red ball had gone into the further right hoop just a fraction of an inch above Hunter Green's hand.
Slytherin had scored the first points and after a quick check of her shoulder she was allowed to go back into the fray. The moment she was released to play, she began hunting for the snitch again while Gryffindor began the attempt to take the lead again.
Another Goal Made (Hunter & Alexa)
Author: Aaron Miller
Date: 01-31-13 13:30
There had been a great deal of back and forth with the quaffle before Slytherin finally managed to get ten points on the board. That automatically put the quaffle back in Gryffindor's possession with Marjani Batuti doing a hand-off to Hunter, Rabnott not Green, to start things off. Hunter goes low over his broom, cutting down on wind resistance as he accelerates across the pitch, quaffle pulled in close to his body.
Mason Jeffers races to pull even with Hunter, which sounds easier than it is, as Hunter knows all too well from experience. Shifting the quaffle to the side away from Mason, Hunter ducks in the nick of time when seeing a bludger grower larger in his periphery. In ducking he sees Etta Wynbourne slightly below and to one side, more or less under Mason. She glances up then so Hunter does a drop pass to her.
Etta pours on even more speed to jet away, climbing slightly as she does. Olive Green loops in around at an angle in an attempt to cut her off but Etta hops her broom around Olive and keeps going without slowing. She does slight right after that though when a bludger crosses in front of her. Though only a half second decceleration, that does allow others to reach the same general air space.
Etta passes to Marjani as Madoc McGonagall blocks a bludger from hitting either Gryffindor chaser, redirecting it to Alexa Wenlock. Alexa tries to dodge but still ends up having the bludger clip her on the shoulder. It's not a hard hit though it may still end up leaving a bruise. It does leave her wondering if one of the refs thought Rylee Marks had dislocated her shoulder earlier when getting hit in the shoulder. Usually, the referees do not check on a player after a bludger hit until there seems to be a break or fracture, a dislocation, a concussion, or excessive bleeding from somewhere. Otherwise, matches would be endless because the refs would be constantly stopping things to check on every hit made.
As Rylee is still in the match, there must not have been anything to that bludger hit other than she'll probably have a nice sized bruise, which is all part of the sport that is Quidditch. Alexa does not dislike Rylee as some do. She doesn't feel much for the younger girl one way or the other despite weeks of practicing together. Rylee has been working hard, really trying but at the same time there is still a prissy princess air about her. Alexa doesn't know if Rylee is aware of that or not, or if Rylee does it deliberately. Maybe if she ever develops a real sense of camaraderie with her teammate she'll ask.
By this time Gryffindor has once more reached Gus Van Tassel. Alexa puts herself in between Gus and her cousin Hunter when Marjani passes to him. Basil Wynbourne gets a bludger off but Calliope's able to stop it. At least she's not in a position to bat it at Gus, interfering with his ability to stop the quaffle if Hunter gets in a throw.
He can't though because Alexa is busy hindering his line of sight. Madoc takes care of that by getting to the bludger Calliope just sent away and directing it at Alexa. It takes her hard in the side with enough force she bends without meaning to. Hunter takes the opening and gets off the shot. The quaffle brushes past Gus's outstretched fingers, bounces off the rim of the hoop, but goes on through.
Rubbing her side, Alexa goes to retrieve the quaffle to put it back into play as the score is announced, "Rabnott scores! Gryffindor now has 20 points to Slytherin's 10!"
Tied Match (Basil & Etta)
Author: Jared
Date: 02-01-13 15:03
Massaging a spot on her neck, not from anything game related but somehow pulling a muscle the day before, Etta holds the quaffle in her other hand, slowly bobbling it up and down as if weighing it. After a Slytherin foul she gets to make a goal attempt and is considering her options while scrutinizing Slytherin keeper Gus. He's position in a way that puts him directly in front of the center hoop and will allow him to rapidly move to cover the hoops to either side of him. Etta will have to make her throw quick and either off to one side in hopes of making Gus stretch those last few inches but missing the ball or making him think she's going to throw to the side but really go to the center, getting the quaffle past him when he's shifting to whichever side she'd bluffed him to.
It's harder to pull a successful bluff without the frenzy of the other chasers, the beaters, and bludgers mixed into the fray so Etta opts for a throw to the side. It goes where she wants but a little too far, slightly hitting the hoops rim, the resultant bounce putting the ball practically into Gus's outreaching hand. Making a face, more at herself than at Gus, Etta directs her broom to where Mason is accepting the quaffle from Gus.
Mason edges around Etta then adds some speed. Madoc gets off a bludger but it goes a little wide. It might not have mattered even if it had connected with Mason because he'd tossed the quaffle to Olive a half second before the bludger would have impacted. Olive sprints across the pitch, having to swerve around one of the seekers in the process. Marjani and Hunter R. come at her from either side but a bludger from Mark slows Hunter, which in turn gives Olive a good opening to make a long forward pass to Alexa.
Etta had cut to the edge of the pitch, gone low over her broom and accelerated rapidly to top speed, allowing her to quickly bypass Olive when she had the quaffle and the other two Gryffindor chasers who'd been trying to get the ball. Seeing Etta quickly coming up on Alexa, Basil knocks a bludger into her path. His aim is mainly to force her to slow down, giving Alexa a little more time to close the distance to Hunter G. but if it hits Etta, that works too. A hit would slow her down even more. He may not have quite the animosity he use to for his cousin but that doesn't mean he's going to hold back against her in a Gryffindor-Slytherin match-up.
The other bludger isn't far from him so rather than go after the one he'd just hit Basil heads for it instead. Calliope's closing in on it though so he lets her get it then makes an interception, altering it from its course towards Alexa, sending it to Hunter G. instead now that Alexa's near enough to try for a goal shot.
The bludger smacks into Hunter G., taking him squarely on one shoulder. As it came at him at an angle but only a very slight one, Basil has to think Hunter G. had so much attention on Alexa and the quaffle that the bludger heading at him simply didn't register. Alexa takes advantage of Hunter G. being hit to let the quaffle fly. The Gryffindor keeper makes an effort to get to it in time but the quaffle gets by, putting ten more points on the scoreboard for Slytherin and making for a tie game.
As the quaffle is retrieved to hand over to Gryffindor as they retake possession, Basil takes a second to flex the hand he normally uses for batting, and to wave to Aleydis sitting in the stands. It's so much better being able to actually wave to her than it is just thinking about it and wishing her could. He snaps his attention back to the match as Marjani throws the ball to Hunter R., putting the quaffle back into play. Eyes seeking a bludger to bat, Basil puts his broom in motion to see if he can beat Madoc to the one he's spotted.