One last time on Aladren Commons

Anne Wright

April 07, 2008 6:11 PM

Aladren Quidditch Sign-Ups by Anne Wright

Although the previous year's more flamboyant, professional-looking notice had been moderately successful in drawing in new recruits, Anne had elected in the end to go back to her traditional simple sign-up sheet. The sparkling colors that had drawn player attention had also hurt her eyes and often made her feel like a fool when entering the common room. It wasn't a combination she had enjoyed.

Attaching the list to the bulletin board with her wand, she stepped back to check that it was hanging straight and then to admire her handiwork. It was a nice sign - short and to-the-point and in no danger of damaging anyone's retinas. It would do nicely. Because she was paranoid, she reread it to make sure, once again, that the message was error-free.

ALADREN QUIDDITCH TEAM SIGN-UPS

Any student in second year or up who wishes to join the Aladren Quidditch team should sign up below. Please give a first and last name and a desired position. Dates for try-outs and practices will be forthcoming.

Anne

Beneath this was a series of more-or-less straight lines, the first of which had an example of a proper submission.

Anne Wright, Chaser-Captain

Satisfied that anyone who signed up wrong did so because of his or her own inability to read instead of an inability of hers to communicate, Anne turned to head back to her dorm - she wanted to finish reading Ray Minsky's Social History of American Wizardry by Tuesday - and narrowly missed a collision with, of all the people she could've possibly had the bad luck to almost run into, Geoffrey Layne.

She jumped back at once. Geoff looked over her shoulder to the bulletin board. "Posting sign-ups?" he asked.

Anne nodded stiffly. "Yes."

"That's cool." All of her good sense told her to leave now, before this got more even more awkward for both of them. Or turned into a public spectacle. "Walk with me?"

The correct answer was, of course, 'no', without a reason why because she didn't feel quite up to multiple syllable answers. Instead of giving that correct answer, Anne gave him a short nod. "Fine."

Subthreads:

One last time by Zack Dill with Zoey Welsh, Zack

Well should I? by Paul Tarwater

Another year, another sign-up by Chris Dupree

16 Anne Wright Aladren Quidditch Sign-Ups 59 Anne Wright 1 5

Zack Dill

April 08, 2008 9:29 PM

One last time by Zack Dill

Zack stood in front of the sign up sheet for a long time, quill in hand. Every couple of seconds, the nub of the quill would move toward the top most blank line, but then it would pull back again. Zack was torn.

Last year, time had been tight. Now Astronomy and Divinations had both been dropped from his course load, but he was still taking Astronomy as an Independent Study, as well as Calculus, and maybe he'd keep up with some private study of Divinations as well since Professor Yuma was still at the school and she might be available for individual tutoring. Plus, the RATS were coming up AND he had new responsibilities as Head Boy, and was there going to be time for Quidditch? He'd barely been able to squeeze in practices last year.

On the other hand . . . it was his last year. For three years running, his favorite moment named in the yearbook had involved Seeking. It had only been outsted from that position at the very end of last year, when he'd been elected Head Boy on the very same day he had a fantastic date with Zoey. Plus, how often did one get to play games with an alien species? It was also unlikely that he'd ever play Quidditch again once he graduated.

The quill moved back toward the sheet.

But he had no time!

The quill moved away again.

But he wanted to catch the Snitch one last time before he left Sonora for good.

The quill moved back.

Time!

It moved away.

He tried to turn and leave, but he couldn't. He couldn't just not play Quidditch after all these years. The quill came up again and wrote fast enough that he didn't have a chance to change his mind again.

Zack Dill, Seeker

He felt guilty though. What if the RATS work piled up more than he was expecting? What if his Head Boy duties took up way more time than Bulla had suggested they did? He decided a warning note might be prudent, so he added a short note after his name, so that his full line (and a most of the one below it) looked like this:

Zack Dill, Seeker (Anne: It's my RATS year. I'm Head Boy. You might want to have a second Seeker ready to take over in case I get swamped.)

1 Zack Dill One last time 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Paul Tarwater

April 09, 2008 8:32 PM

Well should I? by Paul Tarwater

Lussni followed Paul in, keeping between the boy's moving feet making Paul trip while he stepped. As if he really needed that too, along with the nervous suspicion in his head (and face) and the unexpected glances he tended to throw across the room every second or so. "Stop," he hissed quietly at the equally frightened cat. "We don't need any more attention." As if whispering to a multicolored patched cat with half an ear, tail, and one eye wasn't attention drawing in the least.

Paul's luggage floated behind him thanks to the spells he'd learned last year at school. His shoulders were hunched and his hands stuffed far inside the pockets of his robes. His blue eyes left the floor and glanced around the room once again before falling to the floor. He couldn't see well anyway, Paul's black, thick hair had grown to about chin length over the summer as he'd had too much on his mind to get it cut. He hadn't let his mother touch him even on the few occasions she entered the room he locked himself in for the summer.

Paul stopped in front of the bulletin board, almost missing the Quidditch sign up sign as it was not as annoyingly bright as last years (for which he was thankful, his head did not need any more). Paul watched the sign up for a long time (except for those glances he would throw about the room), forgetting that standing in one place staring at nothing for a long time also drew attention. Lussni, the cat, curled up in a ball by his feet, his only eye open.

Paul also hadn't practiced Quidditch all summer. Well, he did once, but that was when it happened and he hadn't been on a broom since. Well, he was underpracticed, jumpy, frightened, and maybe a little traumatized; so should he really join Quidditch again this year? Did it even make sense to?
Beating normally calmed him down, especially when he hit other people. Call him violent, Paul really didn't mind it. He'd been hit enough, and it gave him pleasure to do it back.

Sighing, Paul wondered if it would give him the same kind of closure. Mom and Dad would probably be happy that he was trying something normal again (though Quidditch wasn't really something he was super into, he had been in it all four years). "I think I will, Luss," he told the cat, making Lussni twitch like Paul had done earlier. The quill was in the carry-on bag he had on one shoulder, Paul dug for it (not forgetting to throw a glance over his other shoulder just in case). He pushed his hair back so he could see.

Paul's writing was twitchy and terrible, but he did his best to let it be at least slightly readable.
DPaul ~~Tarvat~~ Tarwater: ~~Beate~~Beater

0 Paul Tarwater Well should I? 0 Paul Tarwater 0 5

Zoey Welsh

April 11, 2008 11:31 PM

Strange, isn't it? by Zoey Welsh

Zoey entered through the bookcase, her head down as she shuffled through her bag looking for a specific book on Transfiguration that she had thought for sure that she had checked out from the library. "Where is it?" She mumbled to herself while her slender finger slid down the wrong way across a paper. "Ouch" She yelped, quickly sticking her finger in her mouth to ease some of the pain. She tasted blood.

Frowning, Zoey examined her finger. She hated papercuts. They hurt the worst. After examining her finger to determine that it probably wouldn't get infected so long as she grabbed some neosporin from her kit she kept in her drawer, Zoey glanced up to find Zack standing in front of the bulletin board. She wandered up behind him to read over his shoulder. Oh, Quidditch sign-ups were up. For some reason she had completely forgotten about them. Perhaps it was because this year was the R.A.T.S. exam and they had been on her mind since the end of summer.

It wasn't because she had a heavy course load, because that was far from true, but it was because they signified the end of her school career at Sonora and she still hadn't decided on what she wanted to do after she graduated. Dillon had suggested doing an internship at a Ministry where they researched new spells, but Zoey wasn't sure she wanted to spend her life in a labcoat (although, it really did sound good). Her mother suggested teaching (but that was no surprise since both parents were Professors). Still, Dillon was lucky. He had always known what he wanted to do.

By the time Zoey fished her pen out of her bag, Zack had finished signing up for their team. Leaning over, Zoey went to sign up herself but noticed Zack's note. A smile formed on her lips and a slight giggle came out of her. "Always well prepared, aren't you?" Zoey commented, finally jotting down her name.

Zoey Welsh, chaser

"It's our last year. Maybe Anne won't hate me so much this time around.." Zoey questioned, looking hopeful. "Anyway, how's that badge feel, Zack? It looks good on you." She complimented, pointing at his Head Boy badge.

6 Zoey Welsh Strange, isn't it? 39 Zoey Welsh 0 5

Zack Dill

April 14, 2008 12:48 PM

Uncanny by Zack Dill

Zack looked down at the Head Boy badge Zoey had indicated and grinned, pride filling him all over again. This was never going to get old. Ever. He wondered if it was the same badge the previous Head Boy had worn, or if he'd get to keep it as a souvenir at the end of the year. He really hoped it was the latter.

"It feels great," he told her, but then continued, taking the question literally. "It's a little heavier than the prefect one, though, so I feel kind of off balance still. I thought about switching which side I wore them on, so the heavier one was on the side I'm used to having my only badge on, but then I'd be backwards from the other prefects and that would just wreak havoc with my OCD." He grinned to show he was joking even though he wasn't. "Anyway, I'll get used to its weight in about a week, probably. In the meantime, I really don't mind noticing it."

"So," he added, turning the conversation away from the badge and onto the other topic that he couldn't stop thinking about. "Last year, huh? How did that happen? Weren't we only twelve year olds getting blown around in the dust storm a few terms back? Didn't I just put down my pencil in the CATS exam a couple months ago? Where did seven years go? God, I can't have been shaving for three years already. We're old, Zoey." He paused.

Then he complained, "And there are still first years who are taller than me." A second later though, he rallied and grinned proudly, and stood up to his full height, "But, did you notice? I broke five feet over the summer." Barely. By, like, one sixteenth of an inch. "Most of the new kids are shorter now."

1 Zack Dill Uncanny 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Zoey

April 17, 2008 8:11 PM

Whatever will we do? by Zoey

Even after all this time, Zoey could still be rather bewildered by some of Zack's answers. Of course, being bewildered wasn't a terrible thing when it came to Zack. It was part of his charm and she usually looked forward to having a conversation with him. He had a habit of keeping her on her toes. So, perhaps his answer to her question shouldn't have been a surprise to her since he seemed to take it to mean literally. But Zoey still found her head tilting slightly as she looked curiously at him.

She laughed a little and shook her head a bit in amusement. By the end though, Zoey had to admit that, although he was speaking about his badge, she could understand completely. "That's how I felt about my cast. Completely lopsided." She managed to get out before Zack changed topics and started reminiscing about their earlier years. "Oh man, I haven't even thought about the dust storm in so long." Zoey put a hand over her eyes as though the memory of said event had been too horrific for her when, in fact, it was being reminded with the fact that it had been so long ago that had her covering her eyes. She really did feel old. "It's so odd, after next year's class, no one will even know what had happened back then. Gosh. We are old." Zoey agreed in a slightly deflated voice.

Seven years and Zoey had little to show for it. She still had no clue with what she was going to do after she graduated. Knowing Zack, he probably had the whole rest of his life planned out. She felt so behind the rest of her class when it came to their future.

Zack was still talking and Zoey focused on the proud smile when he claimed he had finally gone over five feet in height. "Oh hey! Congrats!" Zoey exclaimed, giving him a hug. It had been a quick hug because almost immediately after she wrapped her long arms around him, she realized he might not want to be hugged. Pulling back, Zoey continued to smile at him, "That's great Zack." She hesitated for a moment, but continued on as though afraid of an awkward silence. "Anyway, how was your summer?"

6 Zoey Whatever will we do? 39 Zoey 0 5

Zack

April 28, 2008 10:06 AM

Graduate? by Zack

Depressed right alongside of Zoey, Zack nodded in agreement that they were both ancient at the ripe old age of seventeen. But then he was pulled out of it when the conversation pulled back to his official five feet of height and his summer. Seven years might almost be over, but he'd done well for himself (seeker, prefect, Head Boy! - not to mention his CATS scores and his regular grades) and his future was bright.

He grinned at Zoey, and strightened up to his full five feet again proudly. "I had a great summer," he enthused, a complete reversal from the exasperated frustration and derision he usually showed whenever he spoke of his time in Detroit. "My fifth grade teacher quit working at the elementary school and got a job at the community college, and I ran into him, like, two minutes after I got off the wagon, and we started talking and he got me this job grading for him at the college! Isn't that awesome? They paid me with free classes.

"So I got to take Algebra and Astronomy, which were both actually ridiculously easy, but I figured the college credit would look good on my applications. I'm pretty sure I want to go into Astrophysics next year. And I took my SATS over the summer, too, so if I decide to go to a mundane college, I've got that all set. I'm pretty sure I want to find one that has both regular and magical degrees, though."

Zack paused to take a breath, and finished, almost as an afterthought, "And the familial units are all employed and didn't bother me too much, so no big drama there. What about you? How was your summer?"

0 Zack Graduate? 0 Zack 0 5

Chris Dupree

April 30, 2008 3:23 PM

Another year, another sign-up by Chris Dupree

Summer had been a challenging affair for Chris. It had started out simply enough. He was to follow his father around, learn the family business, both literal and personal. One day he was going to be in charge of the family and every aspect that came with it. He followed his father around, learning the ins and outs of the trade. He learned the minute details of everything. He watched how his father handled matters that were brought forth. It was a part of his studying. It didn’t matter how he had done on any of his CATS, not in the end when this was where his true learning began.

It had been about a month of this when it became his turn. It was an odd experience to state the least. He wasn’t used to being in charge. He was used to playing the part of the follower, being the one to go with the flow, but he supposed that had never really worked for him. It was strange how he had taken to it, how easily it came, but it wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want to be responsible for everything, or at any rate, not what he was being put in charge of. He had found, however, that he liked the bit of power. Was it wrong to? He couldn’t distinguish if it was or not. He didn’t want to turn into some power hungry monster, as he had seen others do, as he suspected of his dear cousin, but perhaps, he could handle it? He had no idea and that made him anxious. He didn’t like not knowing. It was like a book that he couldn’t finish. It was like if he could just get to the end, then he would have the knowledge he sought to possess.

He gave a sigh, but he doubted any of it mattered now. There were more important matters to focus on, such as his father. He didn’t know if he could even call what was left his father. It was a body that laid in a bed, cared for, but nothing more. Nicoletta didn’t even know yet. He wasn’t even sure how to go about telling her, but he knew that once he talked to her, she would know something was up, since he wasn’t supposed to be talking to her. He ran a hand through his dark hair. What a mess it all was. For the time being, his uncle was in charge. When Chris graduated, then, it would come to rest on his shoulders. Would he be ready then?

Probably not, he decided. He was never ready for anything. Nothing ever seemed to go the way he wanted. Well, that wasn’t completely true. Anything that involved what didn’t matter went splendidly, such as school. However, anything that mattered always went horribly wrong. Case in point was his most recent ex. Failure twice. It would have seemed that he should have learned his lesson the first time, but he seemed to be one of those people that required multiple attempts to learn.

As it was, he just wanted to forget it all. He wanted to bury himself in his schoolwork, though, he had never required enormous amounts of time on assignments and he was taken even fewer classes this year than the last. There were also prefect duties, but that involved at least one of the people that he needed to not think about at the moment. He needed another outlet. He walked through the Common room. Quidditch signups were up. Perfect. He had been on the team last year, so it wasn’t as though it was a new outlet, but it was one that he could put more into. He could train harder. Maybe he would even make a training schedule, but first things first. He pulled a quill out of his bag and with a flourish, the following was written.

Chris Dupree, Beater

0 Chris Dupree Another year, another sign-up 0 Chris Dupree 0 5

Zoey

May 07, 2008 8:00 PM

Sounds like a good plan. by Zoey

Zoey listened quietly while Zack described his summer. Her grin dulled slightly as he spoke, realizing that Zack seemed to know exactly what he wanted from life and had the means of getting there. Zoey felt like she was slipping further and further behind. It never occurred to her that she could play muggle when she wasn't at school. Sure, her parents made sure she still did her math, science, and lit studies (yay for having Professors for parents), but they didn't hard press her or her brother over them. Like Zoey had believe, her parents assumed that their futures were in Magic.

But, Zack had taken classes at a muggle college. He planned on going into Astrophysics (so like him). He even took the SATS. Zoey didn't even know that they could take the SATS without a high school background. Why wasn't there anyone here to tell her what she could and could not do when it came to the Magical and Muggle world? She felt completely out of the loop with everything and at a loss for her future. She was sure it wouldn't be hard getting into a magical school, but what if that wasn't what she wanted to do? Could she even get into a muggle school? Did Sonora offer transcripts for Muggle colleges? Maybe she could talk to her mother about taking her SATS like Zack had just to see what her options really were. Maybe then she wouldn't feel like she was floating around in Limbo.

Her grin returned to it's full slendor when Zack finished. "That's great Zack." She remembered the previous summer about his emails of his family. It was good to hear that they were picking things up again. "Well...my summer certainly wasn't as busy and eventful as yours." Zoey started. She really didn't have anything to tell him. "Les moved in with his boyfriend. It's a bit strange not having him in the house." Zoey and Les hadn't always gotten along. He had bullied her growing up because she was a girl, but as time went on things had become easier for them. And, since he had entered college, everything had changed. "I actually played basketball over the summer without breaking my leg." Zoey grinned openly and showed off her cast-free legs.

"I really miss playing it. Back before coming here, I always thought I'd go pro. Heh." She gave a half chuckle at admitting that dream. "Oh yeah, Michelle-one of my old basketball buddies-made me go on this weird double date with her boyfriend and one of his friends. I never realized how hard it was to not talk about Sonora. It made the evening really awkward. I never thought I'd ever say this, but I'm really glad the guy was a block head. He seemed quite content on talking about football with me." Zoey shrugged. She supposed boys would always be that one area of study she would never really understand.

6 Zoey Sounds like a good plan. 39 Zoey 0 5