Jake stood in the locker room staring at his first ever Teppenpaw Quidditch team. He only knew two of them personally, one being his roommate and the other a good friend. He knew one by sight as she was in his classes and roommates with Tally. And the last he knew to be a first year because she had already come to him asking for help. The other he did not know, but would quickly remedy that.
"Good afternoon everyone!" Jake said, beaming out at all of them in his usual carefree way. "My name's Jake Santoro for those of you who don't know and I'm the Captain of this team and one of the team's beaters." He paused for a moment to look them each over one by one. He figured that as long as they worked together they should do well as a team. "Since I don't know all of you, I'd like for you all to go around the room and introduce one another as well as state the position you will be playing." Jake nodded his head as he was sure there would be groans of protest, "Lame, I know, but if we're a team, we have to know what to call each other. I don't think, 'HEY YOU' is the best way to go about with things. Why don't you go first?" Jake said to the person on his left.
After everyone introduced themselves and acknowledged the positions they would play, Jake stood up once more, pulled on his gloves and picked up broom. "If everyone would just head out to the pitch, I'll follow with the trunk." That being said, Jake pulled out his wand and pointed it at the trunk laying by his feet, "Wingardium Leviosa" He said and watched in satisfaction as the trunk floated to his waist level and he commanded it out onto the pitch where his team awaited. After lowering the trunk and popping it open, Jake turned back to his team.
"I know that some of you may not know anything at all about Quidditch or have never played, for those of you who haven't, I want you all to stay down on the ground, for those of you who do know how to play and fly, feel free to take this time to lap around the pitch until further instructions." Jake said before turning to face those that needed help.
"Alright, for those of you left, tell me what it is that you need help with and we'll get started."\n\n
Dillon was sitting beside his roommate in a stoney silence. He was still a little tiffed at Jake for signing him up without telling him (or asking for his permission). So, he sat with his head down, listening carefully to what his Captain had to say. Dillon had to admit, if it had been him standing up there infront of everyone, he wasn't so sure he could have gotten a single word out. As good as he was as a team player, he certainly wasn't any sort of leader.
Why don't you go first?
Those words penetrated Dillon and he looked to find Jake looking at him. There was a moments pause when Dillon sat there stunned at being asked to speak, but he quickly remembered himself and looked out at everyone with a slightly redish hue to his normally pale skin. Clearing his throat nervously, Dillon began, "Erm, hello, my name's Dillon Welsh and I'll be the Keeper." He said it slowly but his nervous smile gave away how uncomfortable he was with the whole thing.
He sat back in his seat and listened to the other introdutions. He was fairly surprised that they had a good decent about of second years on the team, he hadn't been expecting that and the first years seemed alright with him. They even had 3 boys to play on the team.
After he left the changing rooms, Dillon stood with one of the school's brooms in his hands. He made a mental note to have his mom take him shopping for a broom. He wasn't so sure the school brooms worked all that well just by the look of them.
Dillon stood off to one side, pushing up his glasses and studying the broom in his hand. During the summer he had taken the time to read uQuidditch Through the Ages so he knew how the game of Quidditch worked. Whether he was good at it or not, was a different story.
At Jake's command, Dillon hopped on his broom (something he was still not fond of doing) and gave himself a rough kick off. The broom was wobbley, or he was, he hadn't quite figured out how to tell, and his start off was rather slow. His broom seemed to want to go left instead of straight and Dillon was having difficulties getting the darn thing back on track. With an angry grunt, Dillon pulled a hard right and nearly flipped himself over. He quickly threw his body to the left again (carefully this time) until the broom had rightened itself once more. Feeling even mroe nervous than before, Dillon turned the broom around and headed back to the ground.
Once he landed, Dillon gave a sheepish look to everyone, "I think I'd like a few flying lessons first. Just to get the hang of everything."\n\n
The locker room...for quidditch players. She, Dalila Bastet, was a quidditch player! And this was her first ever practice. She stared at the captain whom she had met earlier and listened intently to his speech. She didn't want to miss anything important, but groaned at the thought of having to go through everybody's names. She learn them...eventually.
But as her turn came around, she sucked it up and stated everything clearly. "Hey! Dalila Bastet at your service." She gave a deep, dramatic bow and giggled. "I'm playing chaser," she added when the giggling susided.
When everyone had finished, she followed Captain Jake (which she had decided would be his new nickname)onto the pitch where he began another speech. Dalila sighed impatiently and stared at her borrowed school broom. It was a little ratty and very old, but still usable. Maybe she could ask her mother to buy her one and owl it over from Egypt.
When she heard that she was supposed to sty on the ground her impatience reached toxic levels. "I'm not staying on the ground," she muttered to herself as she swung her leg over her broom. "Just a lap or two...or three." She kicked off and rose higher and higher into the warm air. The broom shook a little and Dalila had to white-knuckle it in order to stay on. The wind whipped her hair back and Dalila decided she was very glad to have cut her hair short enough so that it wouldn't fly into her face.
She soared rather gracefully for someone with such little experience and touched down on the grass a few moments later looking thoroughly pleased with herself. She turned towards Captain Jake and joined in. She glance at the trunk with the quaffle and the two bludgers strapped into it straining against their restraints and pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose.
"Yeah - I need help with the quaffle, but you already knew that, right?" \n\n
0Dalila BastetPractice makes perfect60Dalila Bastet05
Aricia chewed on the inside of her right cheek, as she listened to the guy named Jake, who was apparently their team captain, asking them to introduce themselves. She was thankful for this, because she had no clue who anyone was since she tended to blend into her background. Aricia had mainly joined Quiddtich for the hope of flying - the feeling that for one moment, she wasn't invisible, she was more.
After a couple of the players, Dillion and Dalila, had introduced themselves, it was her turn. She felt her stomach drop. What made her think, she could join a Quidditch team, where she would have to perform in front of the school, when she couldn't even manage to introduce herself? Giving herself a slight mental shake, she took a deep breath before beginning.
"Hello, my name is Aricia Carrington. Here to be a Chaser," she spoke softly, not once looking up from the ground.
She hoped everyone had heard her well enough. She didn't really want to have to repeat herself.\n\n
Tally walked eagerly into the changing rooms with a giant smile on her face. She was finally getting a chance to ride her broom again. Plus, she was on a quidditch team. Her father and brother had both been happy for her when she had written home with the news. Course, she was sure that if she had said she hated Quidditch and never wanted to hear of it again, they would be just as supportive of her. Oh well, no reason to fuss over it.
Tally sat down next at an open spot and took a glance at the rest of the team. She knew Jake and Dillon from having been their friends and she knew Kaylie cos she was her roommate (and a growing friend), but the rest of the people eluded her making her only assume that they were first years. Well, she only hoped that they would be good at the game.
Of course, she did recall Jake mentioning to her that he may need help with some of them when it came to Quaffle handling and possibly riding a broom. Didn't bother her all that much though, if it meant a better team, she would do anything.
When it came to her turn to speak (she memorized the two first years who had already spoke, Dalila and Aricia) and smiled broadly out to everyone. "Hey, 'name's Tally and I'll be a chaser." It was easy enough. They were Teppenpaws, so hopefully a quick friendship and trust between the players would form helping make them a stronger group. She listened quietly for everyone to finish, still memorizing those she didn't know and headed out onto the pitch.
At the command of her Captain, Tally easily hopped onto her broom (Her father just bought it for her, it was one of the new Clean Sweeps that were out) and took off for the sky. She loved the feel of the air as whipped past her and she couldn't help herself as she laughed with glee. Flying was something she could never stop doing, no matter how old or the weather. Flying was freedom and she never wanted to give it up.\n\n
Jake waved everyone down from the sky and waited until the very last person had touched ground before continuing on with the practice. "Alright guys, I know some of you are muggleborns or half-bloods, or just have never even touched a single ball from a quidditch set before. Because of this, I've listed the help of Tally," Jake paused and threw a grin at Tally. "She's here to help all those dealing with the Quaffles. This is a quaffle." Jake held up a large oddly shaped ball so that everyone can see it.
"This is what you chasers and keepers have to deal with. Chasers pass this ball from one chaser to the next and then try to throw it passed the keepers and through one of the three hoops." Jake pointed up at the three goal hoops.
It was then that Jake noticed something odd at one end of the pitch. It was some sort of movement, but too far for him to actually make out what. He frowned in concentration, but shrugged it off moments later, turning back to his team. "Okay, Tally, I would like for you to take Dalila and Aricia up into the air, only a few feet off the ground, and practice passing." Jake nodded to each of them to go off before turning to Kaylie, "Kaylie, if you don't mind, I would like for you to throw a quaffle at Dillon so that he can try and block them. Don't worry, we'll get out the snitch for you in a b-" Jake stopped there. The movement caught his attention again. It was closer to them now.
Jake squinted off to the other side of the pitch, it only took him a moment to figure out what the movement was. It was a person, no, a group of people. "HEY!" Jake shouted, wving one arm around for them to see, "WE'VE GOT PRACTICE GOING!" He tried to get their attention, but it was hard to tell if they were looking his way or even heard him.\n\n
Admittedly, she had barely ever played. She knew the rules, of course. She had four brothers, after all. But there was still the obvious lack of experience there. If Asher wanted to have half a chance at tryouts, she'd need to get some practise in- and quickly. The last thing she wanted was to give any of her housemates ammunition to laugh at her for.
From the looks of things, it seemed she wasn't the only person to have similar thoughts after learning of the Teppenpaws' scheduled practise. Several other students had gathered out on the pitch, some already holding a school registered broom much like the one she gripped in her slightly sweaty palm. She flashed a quick grin in their direction before setting out directly for where the half of the field the Teppenpaws were practising on.
Half way there, a yell reached her ears. ". . .PRACTISING HERE!" was what she made out. She squinted at the waving figure and recognized him as the Teppenpaws' captain, a second year she'd heard mention of before.
"Heya Jake!" she yelled back. "Up for a scrimmage?"
She doubled her pace while waiting for him to reply.\n\n
Jake had no idea who the girl was that was walking through the pitch towards him. However, he did hear exactly what she had said. A Scrimmage? Now? But...his team...they weren't ready!
Or were they?
He knew Tally was good, and so was himself, he had seen Dalila just fly depsite the fact that she had only ever been on a broom once in her life and she seemed to take it up easily. Dillon, though uncertain as he was, just needed a confidence boost more than anything else, as for the rest, well, he could just assume such a thing as a scrimmage was what they needed.
Jake gave his team a look that told them he was actually considering taking the girl up on her offer. He waited until she was mch closer to them, so that he could give hera look over. "Scrimmage sounds nice, might actually help in the long run. Problem is, we'd need more people for one."\n\n
It had been a rather dull day around Sonora, and Elizabeth was feeling just... restless. The thought occured to her that she hadn't been out around the Quidditch Pitch save for a while ago when she had practiced with Gwen. The idea was quite welcome in her listless mind, and before she could give it a second thought, Liz was bounding down the girl's corridor towards the commons with her broom gripped tightly in her hand. She was eager to get out of the mansion and out on the pitch. Once she'd exited, Lizzie grinned at the weather. It was a nice day with perfect conditions for flying.
So it came as no surprise that once she had entered the area, there was a small group of students already there, plus what seemed to be another group, but one being run by a certain second year. It had to have been either the Aladren or the Teppenpaw house teams, because she knew that neither her team nor the Crotalus team had reserved the rights to the pitch for today. Elizabeth made her way across the field to where one of the teams was practicing, noticing another student was doing the same. It was a first year, judging by the fact that she didn't know the girl, and Liz knew of just about everyone in her class.
As soon as she was within vocal range, she too heard the call from the captain. Jake was yelling across the field, and seeing that he was clearly unaware that so many others would have chosen this day to come out and play, she decided she should just keep her brisk walk towards him. The other girl would reach him first, but that was alright, Liz would have time to explain her presence and ask for a bit of space to practice as soon as she reached him.
Then, the first year shouted back at Jake, "Up for a scrimmage?" She thought about it for a second, and then, she too quickened her brisk walk to almost a run, making it within earshot in a matter of seconds. Lizzie smiled at her friend as she continued to make her way over to him, assuming that he would first deal with the younger student.
As she came nearer still, her mind entertained the thought about a scrimmage. It would be fun, but they certainly wouldn't have enough people from each house to play full on, they'd need to mix and match a bit, and divide up evenly... that was, if Jake even wanted to give up his team's practice time to appease some other bored students. \n\n
Earl walked steadily behind Asher looking straight past her to the Teppenpaw team. His school broom was thrown across his shoulder. A random Quidditch games was the best idea he'd heard in a while and he wasn't about to let the opprtunity slip by.
They reached the Teppenpaws and heard their captain's problem. "Please," he stated as ifg someone who didn't think of this was stupid. "Once word gets out that there's a Quidditch match that anyone can be a part of, people will be running towards the pitch." He grinned. "Plus, we could always just split up your team and play with only two chasers or something like that," Earl added as an afterthought.\n\n
0Earl ValentineI'd be happy to help!67Earl Valentine05
Sure Dalila had never held a quaffle in her life, but when Ashley (right?) started on about a scrimmage, she could really refuse that. What better way to learn than to play? she told herslf. Plus, it wouldn't count for points.
Dalila made her way to the front of the group, broom in hand. "I'm so up for it. What'd you say Captain Jake?" She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and gavce them a hearty smile. This was going to be great, she knew it. \n\n
Offering another body to the cause
by Laura Keaton
Laura wasn’t necessarily bored, sitting in front of her unfinished homework, just not in the mood to do it at that very moment. She had already caught herself gazing out the window several times without consciously realizing she was doing it. Taking one last stab at the homework, Laura finally came to the conclusion that a distraction was exactly what she needed at the moment: clear her head and then work later.
The Quidditch Pitch came into view shortly after as Laura walked toward it, her homework forgotten. Flying had seemed like a good distraction, so she had borrowed the most decent school broom she could find and headed outside. However, Laura soon realized that she wasn’t the only one with flying on the brain. Her heart sank a little as she saw a whole team practicing; she had completely forgotten that the Teppenpaws had booked the pitch. There seemed to be a fair number of other people as well, which meant that even if the Teppenpaws let her have a little bit of air space, it would be limited.
Still approaching despite what she saw, Laura could see the Teppenpaw captain yelling something to the people below; he didn’t look happy. Then she spotted Asher, who seemed to be heading up the group of people on the ground. By now she was close enough to hear “Up for a scrimmage?”
A scrimmage sounded exciting. Laura was just hoping to fly around, but a scrimmage would at least prove to be a little bit constructive. Stopping at the back of the group of ground students, she heard the airborne captain reply that a scrimmage sounded good, but they needed more people. Earl spoke up from the group on the ground, making a good point about the news of a scrimmage going around the school quickly. Waiting till he finished, Laura added, “I’ll play wherever we need another body.” \n\n
0Laura KeatonOffering another body to the cause0Laura Keaton05
Jake had given Asher a look over. She seemed quite alright to him and definitely someone he should keep a look out for in the future. He wanted time to think about this, but more and more people seemed to steadily file into the pitch.
Jake noticed Elizabeth walk up and station herself behind the girl wanting the scrimmage along with some boy who Jake didn't recognize. Before Jake could even acknowledge his friend, Dalila stepped up and anounced her approval of such a thing as a scrimmage. Jake turned to her, no longer smiling but just staring at her. "Need I remind you, Dalila, that you've never even touched a quaffle before in your life, let alone played Quidditch." He hadn't meant it to be rude, but just reminding her that if he did have them play, she was in for a rude awakening. Jake knew just how competative certain Quidditch players, like himself and Liz, could be once they were in the air and people like Dalila, were thrown about without much thought.
Quite suddenly, the boy Jake didn't know spoke up and sounded rather superior in Jake's mind. Jake frowned at the boy while giving him a glare. Normally Jake was friendly with everyone (he was a Teppenpaw afterall), but he didn't appreciate someone interupting his teams practice and speaking to Jake as though Jake hadn't a brain at all. That certainly wasn't the way to get Jake to agree to such a thing.
“I’ll play wherever we need another body.”
Jake turned to the new girl, having not notice her approach them and gave her a small smile. There were an aweful lot of girls and, at the moment, Jake felt like all four walls were pressing against him for an answer. He looked at his team, making eye-contact with some trying to see if they were okay with a scrimmage, before facing those around him. He looked over at Liz, "Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt. We need to figure out how experienced everyone is and what positions everyone plays. I have loads of experience and play Beater. I know Tally and Liz have loads of experience too and both play Chaser. Dillon has about a year of experience and plays Keeper. I'm not sure about the rest of you." \n\n
The whole group that had assembled itself around Jake and the rest of the Teppenpaw team all seemed to be in agreement- all of them looked as though they just wanted to get in on the quidditch action. Lizzie grinned when Jake looked over at her, showing she was ready for anything. The only thing that bothered her slightly was the fact that so many of the faces surrounding her she didn't recognize. It seemed mainly comprised of curious first years and a few restless second years.
"Okay," she said, breaking through the group to stand next to Jake, "If you've got any experience at all, raise your hand. So, I think we should have even amounts of experienced and non-experienced on each team, so half of you who just raised your hands, come over here."
Elizabeth threw a quick glance at Jake to make sure that he knew she wasn't trying to steal the show or anything, it was only that they seemed to need a bit of organization. There seemed to be enough people for a small scrimmage, but it was doubtful if there was enough for a full blown match. However, the whole of the Teppenpaw team was in attendance, and a good amount of miscellanious students were also standing around, so there was a good chance of having enough for a 5-on-5 or 6-on-6 game.
"Jake," Liz said quietly to him, "I'm sorry that we sort of took over your practice, it's just so boring the commonroom, you know? And this is much more exciting. You wanna take the logistics from here? I'm not much for working with first years." \n\n
0ElizabethYeah, you're sort of outnumbered0Elizabeth05
Dalila raised her eyerbrow at her captain. "I know that, but I learn fast and I DO know how to play. I read all about it. Plus, I'm sure there are a bunch of people who are worse off than me." She took a breath efore adding a plea. "Come on, Captain Jake. What harm could there be in playing a friendly game of Quidditch?"
Just as she finished another girl walked whom Dalila had seen in classes and knew to be a second year, started talking. Dalila stayed quiet and waited until she had finished.
"There. You see? This could work! She playfully punched Jake on the arm and grinned at Elizabeth.\n\n
0DalilaRe: Yeah, you're sort of outnumbered0Dalila05
"I know that, but I learn fast and I DO know how to play. I read all about it. Plus, I'm sure there are a bunch of people who are worse off than me. Come on, Captain Jake. What harm could there be in playing a friendly game of Quidditch?"
Jake didn't have time to reply to Dalila again as Elizabeth took the post and began talking to the group in front of them.
Jake stepped back to allow Elizabeth full reign as she started instructing the others. Jake had experience with leadership, but only when he was absolutely prepared for such things. At the moment, he needed to get his barrings and think of a strategy for how this would benefit his team as well as make it fun for everyone else.
"I'm sorry that we sort of took over your practice, it's just so boring the commonroom, you know? And this is much more exciting. You wanna take the logistics from here? I'm not much for working with first years."
And even before Jake had time to talk to Elizabeth, Dalila made her entrance once again by talking. Jake, who usually was a kind-hearted, loves everybody kind of guy, glared down at Dalila for a moment. It wasn't on purpose, he hadn't meant it and he immediately regretted the glare. But it was an instant that he couldn't take back.
"Dalila, I didn't say no to the scrimmage. And, for your information, reading about Quidditch is not the same as playing Quidditch." Jake informed her. "Just like reading about a spell doesn't mean you'll get it on the first try."
Jake turned his attention to Elizabeth, giving her a small smile. Truth was, he wasn't having the best time just figuring out all this scrimmage stuff when he had only just begun the real pratice. "It's alright." He whispered back. He knew all about boring commonrooms. Nothing ever happened in the Teppenpaw commonroom.
He turned again so that he was facing the rest of them. "It's obviously best to separate the more experienced players and make sure there are an equal amount of inexperienced players on each team. Dalila, you stick with me. Elizabeth, do you want to be the other Captain?"\n\n
The sun had to be too hot out there, and that was what was meddling with Lizzie's head. Otherwise, that meant that Jake Santoro had really just snapped at a first year. Not that she didn't expect him to be capable of it, only, it was odd to hear her friend, who generally was nice to everyone regardless, be anything but genial with other people. Sure, he and Bella had their moments, but Elizabeth knew all about siblings, and how those relationships were completely different from interactions friends.
Then, he turned back to her, asking, "Elizabeth, do you want to be the other Captain?" Before her mind had a second to consider the position, her mouth jumped the gun and replied immediately.
"Sure," Lizzie agreed, taking a moment to make sure her black hair was firmly secured in a ponytail.
She smiled back at him, her blue eyes sparkling in anticipation. Perhaps it was the adrenaline she felt pushing her to accept the leadership position, or maybe she just really wanted to get the game started, and that was the fastest way. Taking a deep breath and speaking loudly so that everyone could hear her, she started herding the surrounding students into four equal groups- two experienced, two inexperienced.
"Okay, so, all of you who've played before, split into two groups, one over here by me, and the other by Jake. Inexperienced players, do the same." she took a mental count of the numbers of students, wondering to herself whether or not any of her second year friends were here.
"Jake?" she said, turning the current authority over to him, "Anything else?" \n\n
Jennifer had gotten bored sitting around doing homework, and she had been far too restless to draw, for one of the first times in her life. Therefore, she had made the split second decision go to do something active, and go work on some of seeker agility drills. It was something to do, and she felt a bit lazy, lounging around doing nothing.
However, she discovered when she got there that there was already a team practicing. She saw Jake, so she automatically assumed it was the Teppenpaw quidditch team, since she had heard through the grapevine that Jake had made captain.
Not wanting to disturb them, or be accused however playfully of spying, she started to turn around and make her way back up to the castle. Just as she was about to leave, she spotted what looked like Liz. She was too far away to tell, but generally that black hair was a give away.
She jogged over to the group, and, confirming that it wasn’t just the Teppenpaw team on the ground, playfully whacked Jake and Liz on the arm. “Decided to throw a party and forgot to invite me?” she joked, and then turned back to Jake. “Congrats on becoming captain, by the way. So, what is going on, and can I join?” \n\n
Jake watched everyone as they split off into groups. He figured his team would have a hard time deciding where to go, whether to stay loyal to him or to go for the other side. He decided to take a step into it and decide for them.
As he took a mental note of who was who (though it was hard as he didn't know the first years at all) and tried to form equal teams for the scrimmage. As he did this, he felt a wack on his shoulder and he turned to see Jen standing between him and Liz. He grinned at her in hello.
"Thanks Jen, and congrats to you too!" He told her, genuinely happy for her. "We're having a scrimmage, wanna join?" He asked, but figured she would want to and continued on. "Okay, here's what I figure, Dalila, Dillon, Aricia, Jen, you-" He pointed to the girl who asked to have the scrimmage first, " and myself on one team. Lizzie, Tally, Kaylie, and you two-" He pointed to the first year boy and the girl who offered herself to play a position," can be on the other team." Jake said, rather satisfied with himself.
"I think that's fair experience wise. The only issue is that the two of you are extremely talented chasers, while Dalila and Aricia are still new at it. So, let's keep it as simple as possible and keep to the rules as best we can. I don't want to have to carry anyone to the infirmary." Jake joked before turning to the other second years, "Sound fair to you guys?"
OOC: Based on what everyone wrote when they first signed up, I thought this was the easiest way to separate everyone. Laura will have to play beater and Earl will have to play Keeper in order for this to work. Hope that alright.\n\n
Elizabeth grinned as Jen appeared between them, and laughing as she proceeded to joke around. She was glad her best friend had made it down to the pitch in time- they were about to sort out the teams. There was no time for Liz to slip in a little comment to the other second year, as the forming of teams had begun. All she could do was nudge Jen firmly back in response to her greeting whack.
As Jake called out the names of the students who would be on her team, he mentally checked to see if she knew all of them. Her blue eyes flicked from face to face as he said each name, and then to the ones he pointed at. Lizzie knew Tally, but not really well, Kaylie was new to her, as were the other students that Jake didn't name. Well, she'd have time in a moment to round up the troops and figure them all out.
But considering the metaphorical cards she'd been dealt, Liz thought that she would have an adequate chance to beat out Jakes team, even though she knew that Jen was a fast seeker, and that Jake was one of the best beaters she knew. She even allowed a laugh to escape her as he finished off his little speech.
"I don't want to have to carry anyone to the infirmary."
"I'm offended that you don't have any faith in my ability to keep from hurting the opposing team!" she said with a mock pout, then laughing jovially, "And it sounds perfectly fair to me... Jen?"\n\n
Dalila frowned. Why did Jake just go balistic on her? It was entirely unfair. All she had wanted to do was play a little Quidditch and now she was being attacked. Not being the type of person to stay quiet, Dalila opened her mouth to retort back when Jake said that they were going ahead with the scrimmage.
Dalila's foul disposition instant turned to sunshine. Dalila moved to be in the group with Captain Jake, a look of pure joyous anticipation on her face as she clutched her raggedy school broom.\n\n
Earl looked at everyone on his team: all girls! He groaned to himself. He just always had to be stuck with a million girls. The other team had two boys and Asher (the only girl in school that he didn't mind). He had the urge to throw his broom dowm and complain that he should be on the other team, but realized instantly that not even Ethan and Elliot (who were five)would throw that particular tantrum.
He shouldered his broom and gave in. He glanced around in silence at his team one more time and wondered whether he was in the experienced group or the new group. He decided to ignore that and sighed impatiently.
"We playing Quidditch or what?" he called out above the small talk.
Her hand tightened its hold on the broomstick unconsciously. It wasn't until the rough stir of splinters against her palm evolved into possible scraps that she thought to switch hands,and even then, the nervousness she felt at really playing wouldn't dissipate. Asher swiped the back of her pony tail on over her shoulder; perhaps it was excitement as well, though, she thought.
She listened to the organizing without comment and then waited until the teams had been chosen. She gave both Laura and Earl a quick grin before clopping off to join her team captain, the until then unofficially met Jake Santoro. The others on the team, while seen about the school, were equally strangers. She faced them with her usual stalwart forwardness.
"Hey. I'm Asher." She turned to address Jake directly. "I know all the rules, have watched my brothers play loads of times, but when it comes down to it, I'm only good at hitting things, so unless you really need me for a different position, beater seems to be it."
Her mouth quirked slightly as she caught the tale winds of Earl Valentine's typically tactless voice. Mentally though, her mind agreed with his question: it definitely was time for the talk to end and the game to begin.
OOC: Hey wow, long time no post. My most exaggerated apologies. But I'm now devoting my lunch hours to posting, so you can count on me (and Asher) to be our usually annoying selves.\n\n
0AsherTime to start pounding. . .or something.1466Asher05
Re: Time to start pounding. . .or something.
by Laura
Laura shuffled over to the team she had been assigned to. The other girls on the team were all second years, and she hoped that meant they all knew how to play. Earl was also on her team, and if he was as good at Quidditch as he was at starting paper ball wars, then their team wouldn’t do too badly.
No one seemed to be calling positions yet, so Laura decided to take matters into her own hands. She might have volunteered to play any position, but Beater was by far her favorite, how could it not be? It combined her love of baseball instilled by her father, and her love of Quidditch instilled in her by her mother. Spying an abandoned beaters bat on the ground, Laura scooped it up and swung it a few times, like a baseball player warming up.
“We playing Quidditch or what?” broke loudly through the chatter on the pitch. Laura couldn’t help but smile at Earl’s bluntness. She mounted the school broom she had borrowed and kicked off lightly, only letting herself rise a few feet off the ground. Looking down at her teammates she called, “well, are you going to play or not?” She didn’t care if she sounded like an upstart first year. \n\n
0LauraRe: Time to start pounding. . .or something.0Laura05
No, you're wrong- it's Quidditch Time!
by Elizabeth
Lizzie had to laugh at the teammembers she had gathered around herself at the moment. The two first years she didn't know seemed rather energetic and ready to play; one had already expressed this thought vocally, and the other seemed equally eager to get started. Well, she certainly couldn't blame them. Elizabeth herself wanted to start playing, and to speed that process along, she attempted to group her smaller team of four, herself excluded.
"Alright guys," she called out for their attention, "So, you -with the bat- Beater. I'll play chaser, and I can only assume you, Tally, will want to do the same. Now, Kaylie, was it? You want to take seeker? As for you, Mr. Energetic, does Keeper sound alright with you?"
She knew she was firing off a load of questions at the lot of them, but they were smart kids, right? And all they needed to do was nod, or something, in recognition of their position. If they had a problem, they could say so. Lizzie grinned at them all, scanning over their faces. Simultaniously, she seated herself on her broom, pushing lightly off of the ground as to get only slightly airborne.
"Questions? Comments? Concerns? Oh, I do need to know your names," She said, eyeing the two first years she was unfamiliar with, then added jokingly, "For communication purposes, you know." \n\n
Earl nodded and grinned. Keeper was all right with him as long as he got to play and got to play immediately. As the captain of their "team" mounted and rose into the air, Earl swung onto his decrepit school broom and pushed off, settling himself a few feet above the ground.
He was just about to do a lap or two around the pitch before going to the goals when Lizzie - he remembered someone calling her that - asked his name.
Earl stopped short and whipped his broom around to face Lizzie.
"Earl Valentine at your service, my liege," he joked before smirking and heading towards his teams' goals.\n\n