Saul Pierce
May 31, 2008 12:14 PM
Pecari Try-Outs (First Years Welcome) by Saul Pierce
Shortly after telling Elly and Echo that the Cravens would be getting the try-outs arranged in the next few days, the seventh year twins made a liar of him. Instead of arranging everything themselves, Saul found himself in charge of booking the pitch, putting up the notice, and even running the try-outs.It was all supposedly part of his 'training' for next year, but Saul secretly suspected they just liked bossing him around.
So he'd gotten permission to use the pitch. He put up the notice informing Pecari of their impending try-outs. And now they were all here, on the Pitch, and because the Cravens were waiting expectantly for him to start things off, so was everyone else.
Right. So. Running a Quidditch try-out. Saul looked at the sign-up sheet in his hand, and then at everyone gathered around. "Welcome back to everyone who's been on the team before, and welcome for the first time to everyone else. I'm Saul Pierce, the Assistant Captain, and those two there are Sorrel and Ash Craven, the actual Captains. But they're graduating next year so they're just overseeing today. Um."
He glanced down at the sheet again. "So we've got one first year listed here and I think a few others who showed up. Unfortunately, you're not allowed on the team, but we are unofficially letting any first years attend the practices if they want to." He grinned and winked conspiratorially at the younger looking kids gathered around, "Just don't go telling Coach Fox or Professor Connell, right?"
"Anyway, for second years and older, we've got try-outs for the first string today. If you were on the team last year, you've still got to re-earn your spot. Due to Captain privileges, though, there are no beater spots open. So I need people to divide out into the other positions. "Irene and Elly, you're the two signed up for Seeker, so here," he tossed a bright yellow golf ball at Elly. "You two are going to be tossing that around. Try to throw it so the other one can't catch it easily. I'll give you guys a real snitch a little later."
"For Keeper, I've got Stephen and Raoul." Saul gave Raoul a slightly apologetic look. The new second year really didn't stand much chance against the experienced seventh year. "You'll each be taking a set of goals." He pointed out toward each side of the Pitch. "Guard them like you would in a game."
"Chasers - that's everybody else, including the first years, you'll be dividing up into teams and playing like in a normal game except there's only going to be one bludger out. Each team will have a Craven beating for them." He'd thought long and hard about that part, but given Pecari's past history with Bludgers, the ability to avoid them was really something that had to play into the selection process. "Before I assign Chaser teams, who do we have that's not on the sign-up sheet?"
Subthreads: Back in the air! by Irene Liddowe with Elly Eriksson, Irene
I'm here! by Kyler Kent with Mark Johson, Kyler, Mark Jones
Try-out continued by Saul Pierce with Caedence, Mark Johnson, Kyler Kent
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Saul Pierce
Pecari Try-Outs (First Years Welcome)
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Saul Pierce
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Irene Liddowe
May 31, 2008 8:43 PM
Back in the air! by Irene Liddowe
Nerves weren't something that normally affected Irene too badly. Not when it came to Quidditch try-outs at least. At the moment, however, she was finding herself in a slight panic-mode. She wanted so badly to get a spot on the team with all of her fellow Pecari's. Last year she had movtivated to prove Dad wrong. This year she was doing it for herself. That was why she liked to play game: because it made her happy, not because she needed to prove something. Quidditch practices were wearing, but the workout was a challenging thrill. As tiring as they may be, Irene loved the intensity of the workout. Her muscles may be screaming for a break, but there was nowhere else she would rather be than in the air. Now that try-outs were here, Irene felt her stomach turn to knots. She wasn't exactly nervous, but the anticipation was driving her insane. The pressure of the try-out, her wanting of a spot on the team, and a partially self-doubt. If she hadn't been good enough for the past two years, what was saying that she would be this year?Her hair was in a ponytail, her lucky yellow t-shirt was out of the drawer on pulled over her head. She was ready to go. Irene grabbed her Blurr 3000 broom, her knuckles white on the handle. Okay, so maybe it wasn't anticipation. Maybe it was nerves. Lots of nerves. Air. She needed air. Irene ducked out of the dorm and made her way towards the path to the pitch. A mix of excitement and nerves was racing through her veins. The fresh air blew through her hair, loosening the knots in her stomach slightly. Just the outdoor air was helping her, making her even more anxious to get oon her broom. She reached the pitch and saw the many framiliar faces awaiting the try-outs. Seeing all of her friends reduced her nerves even more, almost leaving them at the Pitch entrance. Almost. Irene grinned at them and made her way to the group. To her surprise, rather than the Craven's kicking off the year, Saul stood in front of them and began. Irene was one part proud of Saul and one part sad to see the Cravens in their last year.
"Irene and Elly, you're the two signed up for Seeker, so here. You two are going to be tossing that around. Try to throw it so the other one can't catch it easily. I'll give you guys a real snitch a little later." Irene looked over to Elly and grinned, glad that the try-out was feeling much more normal now that she was here. Nerves just weren't like her. Best to leave them in the dorm. Irene made her way to stand next to her favorite red-head, still paying attention to what Saul was saying. She couldn't wait to get in the air... She couldn't wait to prove to herself that she was good enough for the team.
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Irene Liddowe
Back in the air!
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Irene Liddowe
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Elly Eriksson
June 01, 2008 12:36 PM
We thrive on this by Elly Eriksson
As per usual for any Quidditch try out (or game), Elly had woken up earlier than usual and done several stretching exercises to prepare herself for what could be several long hours on a broom. She jogged down to the pitch in plenty of time, dressed in green joggers and a white vest top. In one hand she clutched the Shock X200 broom Josiah had given to her last Christmas; that gift had been her dream come true. Its cherry wood handle was waxed and polished until it shone, and each straw in its brush was clipped with perfect precision, to maximize speed and minimize drag. The cushioning charms were state of the art, and the wonderful broom seemed to respond almost to Elly's thoughts - all a fantatsic improvement on the school broom that hadn't cornered at all well following its several run-ins with bludgers in that game against Aladren.Elly had been surprised to learn that the Cravens were giving a lot of their duties to Saul this year, though she supposed it made good sense to break him in, so to speak. Still, she was amazed when she realised Saul was going to be running the tryouts, too. He was going to have to do it next year all by himself, so Elly gave him her widest grin and a thumbs-up before they started.
Some of the newbie hopefuls were so small. Elly couldn't believe she'd ever been that small. But then she probably hadn't - she probably looked like that really tall girl newbie (and wow it felt weird to not know the first years by name already). It was great that some new kids were ineterested, and similarly fabulous that Pecari always gave everyone the chance to try out. Sure, the captains Craven often put the same players through anyway, but allowing everyone to try out was much better than the way some of the other houses played Quidditch - they just filled open spaces, letting all the old members in automatically. While that was a pleasing sentiment, Elly knew that not all players improved with practise, but on the other hand, some got far better over the years. In short, holding old players might be jeopardising a team's chances. Well, Elly could only hope that was the case. All the better for Pecari!
Saul was doing a great job starting the practise up. He was going to have a hell of a job next year trying to replace the Cravens with beaters even half so good (though Elly still resented the captains allowing bludgers to hit her twice so far, she couldn't deny they were good at their job). For now, though, he just had to decide who would be chasers and Seeker. Elly grinned back at Irene as they were told to practise together. She caught the ball Saul threw in her direction (it would have been awfully embarrassing if she'd missed it) and sidled away from the others.
"Just you and me, hey," she said to Irene, flinging an arm around her friend's shoulder. Irene was almost as tall as Elly was herself, and that was another unusual feature of the Pecari team; neither potential Seeker was of the traditional Seeker build. Zack and Jen were both tiny, and that blonde girl who'd played in Kaylie's place had been a minute little creature, too. Of course, Elly believed that she was up to the job, and her new schedule of cramming at least four practises into each week would only improve her performance. The trouble was, she knew Irene was a fairly able player, too, and just as eager for the position. "Come one, I'll race you up there."\r\n\r\n
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Elly Eriksson
We thrive on this
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Elly Eriksson
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Irene
June 03, 2008 8:18 PM
Is there anything else? by Irene
Irene grinned back at her friend's warm greeting, tossing an arm around her shoulders as well. She loved just having fun with her friends. That was why she loved Quidditch. It was the ultimate entertainment for a group of friends. The best part about the Pecari try-outs was the lack of interteam tensions. They were all friends and/or at least accepting to those new guys who were trying their luck. Irene shouldered her broom, feeling her nerves almost completely quelmed."You and me," she replied, "This should be fun."
There was no doubt in her mind, Elly was definitely a great player. She had been the starting seeker for, was it two years now? After their converstation in Cascade, it was clear that both of them would die for a spot on the team. Of course, there would be no hard feelings after the list was posted, but both were sure as hell going to try their hardest to make sure it was their name on the list. Irene had been practicing with the twins over the summer, making sure she stayed in shape. Irene had the detrmination to be on the team and she was pretty sure that she wasn't a bad player. Her skinny build wasn't exactly a negative when she was trying out for seeker either.
"Come on, I'll race you up there." Irene's thoughts were brought back to the pitch by Elly's words and it took her a second before she realized that she should probably get on her broom. Irene grinned and mounted her broom, kicking off towards the mass of red hair flying in front of her. Heading into the air left whatever was left of her nerves on the ground. Who cares if she didn't make it? She just wanted to fly right now! Irene kicked her broom to speed, letting the wind blow her bangs out of her face, breathing in the sweet clean air that only came at Quidditch altitude. The air was different when she was flying, almost as if it had a secret that only the players could share. Irene's trust Blurr had soon made up for that lost second on the ground and was now beside Elly. Irene looked over at her friend, sticking her tongue out as they neared the seeking level. Irene did her best to stay equally beside Elly as the race came to its finishing point.
"God, I missed being up here with you guys!" Irene said as she leveled out. "Something about being on this field makes it so much more fun!"
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Irene
Is there anything else?
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Irene
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Elly
June 05, 2008 10:39 AM
Um, pranks and parties? by Elly
Elly kicked off from the ground hard, loving that feeling of leaving her stomach behind, along with her worries, as she soared up into the air. It wasn't long until Irene drew near, and poked her tongue out. Elly mirrored her, and laughed."God, I missed being up here with you guys!" Irene said as she leveled out. "Something about being on this field makes it so much more fun!"
"I know!" Elly replied, grinning; the feeling of excitement at flying on the pitch and being with her friends again was as great as ever. "I want to hug you right now, but I feel we ought to be setting an example." Elly winked. She firmly believed in working hard and playing hard - at least when it came to Quidditch - and playing hard often included airborn group hugs and daft games of tag. Despite the Cravens' own games being far rougher, Elly felt they shouldn't push their luck at tryouts, especially as it was Saul's first go and there were new potential players present. They didn't want to give a first impression that all the current team members were complete lunatics... even if it was true...
Having reached a suitable seeking level, Elly veered hard to the right. Her broom handled like a dream, slicing through the air, obeying her every touch. Before she forgot why they were up there, Elly thought it was a good idea to do the catching exercises Saul had suggested. Lifting the bright little ball to eye level, Elly swerved again, searching so she could locate Irene. "Catch!" she yelled. With one swift movement, Elly hurled the ball through the air, aiming several feet below Irene so she'd have to dive to catch it. Realising that was perhaps a bit cruel for her first shot, Elly called, "Sorry!" as her friend headed for the make-do Snitch.
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Elly
Um, pranks and parties?
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Elly
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Irene
June 12, 2008 11:01 AM
Elly makes a fine point... by Irene
Being in the air on this pitch was one of the Sonora-framiliar things that only came with the time away at school. Irene loved being at Sonora, even though she missed home. She would never pass up her schooling at Sonora. The whole homesick thing was so very worth it. This situation was the perfect example. She was in the air on a Quidditch Pitch trying out for the house team with some of her favorite people in the world! What could be more fun than that?"I want to hug you right now, but I feel we ought to be setting an example." Irene nodded, clearing the grin from her face into an overly serious expression.
"The Pecari team doesn't have fun! Ridiculous children..." Irene couldn't help herself and allowed the smile to return to her face. She watched as Elly flew, swerving here and there. Suddenly, Elly turned and thre the snitch. Irene blue-green eyes judged its path as it soared towards her. Reacting fast, Irene dove quickly to reach it, smiling to herself as she heard Elly's call of "Sorry!". The little golden ball was a foot below as she kicked her trusty broom to gear. Responding to her touch, as always, the broom sped forward. Irene's fingers closed over the snitch as she pulled out of the dive. She only fumbled for a moment, but managed to cling to the small ball. Irene returned to playing height.
"Your turn!" Irene called, hurling the ball several feet above Elly's head. Competitive fun was something Irene loved to participate in.
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Irene
Elly makes a fine point...
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Elly
June 13, 2008 6:20 AM
No sharpening of the Elly! by Elly
Elly took a moment to give Irene a mini round of cheering and applause before it was her turn to catch the ball. She watch Irene fling it upwards - it would fall a little, but would still be several inches above Elly when it passed. There wasn't much wind, so it would probably contiue in the same direction, more or less. Elly decided an upward dive was the best course of action - not the most graceful manoeuvre, but Seekers didn't always have that option. With a sharp tug on the nose of her broom, Elly leant back a little as she ascended rapidly. The movement was fast, but it did have the side effect of taking her closer to the ball - usually a bonus in games, but Elly would have felt more comfortable with a bit more thinking time. So once she'd risen a little higher in the sky, she jerked her handle to the left, bringing her round at a right angle to Irene, and at just the correct point to extend her right arm and catch the Snitch as it was passing. Ah, if only it were that simple in a game, that one could predict the path of the Snitch. The winged beast had a mind of its own (literally? Elly wsn't sure), and would change course or vanish from sight completely just when you thought you were close to catching it. This throwing and catching a golf ball was so easy in comparison."I don't know about you," she called to Irene, "but it doesn't feel right without the bludgers." Having been hit by two bludgers (or the same one twice - it was hard to tell) in her last game, Elly was more than usually aware of them, and didn't intend to let them catch her again. She would not be a bludger magnet. Maybe Pecari could even manage a whole game without a bludger injury? Elly grinned as she threw the ball again, this time at around Irene's flying height, but a great deal to the side.
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Elly
No sharpening of the Elly!
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Elly
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Irene
June 13, 2008 11:42 AM
Not even a little? by Irene
Irene let out a whistle as Elly turned around, snitch in hand. She suddenly felt so much younger than Elly for some reason. Her experience on the pitch was apparent and now Irene knew she would have to step it up if she wanted the spot. Elly flew back around, the golf ball in hand. As she drew nearer she let out a call of, "I don't know about you, but it doesn't feel right without the bludgers." Irene grinned and nodded. There was a lack of the need to be suspicious of the air over your shoulder. Without the bludgers around, it seemed like there was a bit of the game missing. With Pecari's reputation, bludgers were something that just might be needed to be practiced with."I think I'm going to make some jerseys with targets printed on them for this season!" Irene said with a grin, not sure if she was being entirely serious or not. As she spoke, she kept her eyes on the ball in Elly's hand, waiting for the release. Her friend threw the ball to the side and her mind's-eye went to work. The ball was coming fast at her level, but far to her left. If she flew down and away she should have a good chance of getting ahead. Irene pulled her broom around, keeping her head turned and eyes on the ball, flying away from Elly's starting point. The golden ball caught the sun, glinting as it soared through the air. Irene kept her broom on the path of the "snitch" above, flying to the side. She stuck her hand out as the arch of the ball's path came to an end. The small substitute snitch fell into her outstretched fingers, allowing her to capture it. Irene snatched it from the air as she turned around back to face Elly, hurtling back to her beginning spot. When she reached her destination, Irene pointed at Elly, signaling it was her turn.
Irene took a moment to think of her next throw. She pulled her arm back, appearing as if she was going to send it flying, but at the last moment of release, Irene slowed her arm into a change-up, lobbing it towards her, but enough to where Elly would have to take the dive. It was comforting knowing that this was just fun competition. They were competing, but to Irene it felt like they were merely training. Maybe real competition may help though... Irene was comfortable with Elly, but the competition gives her so much more drive. She reminded herself that she wanted this for her. She wanted this to prove that she could do it, well enough for a spot on the team instead of a "Next time, kiddo," spot. Irene would gladly take a reserve spot rather than none at all, but of course, starting seeker is the goal and this girl was going to fight for it.
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Irene
Not even a little?
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Irene
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Elly
June 16, 2008 9:33 AM
No! Behave yourself. by Elly
Elly whooped loudly as Irene caught the ball again. It was fun to have someone to practise with - usually Elly just charmed several small balls to fly every which way at once, and she caught as many as she could. That was was more like a real game, in that she didn't have time to predict where a ball was heading, but then in game she did usually only have to concentrate on one ball alone. The Snitch was a tricky beast, and catching it would be a trial even without racing the other Seeker, dodging bludgers and other players, and without false alarms, like watches shining in the sun, and distractions from the crowd. That probably explained why Elly rarely had a clue what else was going on in the game; even when there was a noise or commotion, Elly tried her best to ignore it in favour of Snitch-searching. The only time she ever stopped play was when she heard the Coach's whistle, but even then her concentration was still focussed on one thing.It was similar with the practise; she and Irene were having fun, yes, but they were also working hard to catch the other out. Irene's next throw was nicely done; it fooled Elly in its speed, and confused her enough that she lost some precious time (perhaps not even a second, but everything counted) while she decided what to do. Letting gravity do some of the work for her, Elly dropped several feet, straight down like an elevator, feeling as though she'd forgotten her stomach. It was a movement that her old school broom just simply couldn't do, but her new broom was more than capable. To position herself to catch the ball, Elly pulled round in an almost semi-circular shape, and caught the ball about waist level as it fell towards her. "Tricky one," she called back to Irene with a grin.
It was only now that Elly had stopped concentrating on catching the 'snitch' that calls from near the ground caught her attention. Glancing over her shoulder, she realised that the practise seemed to have come to a standstill, and most of the players were huddled together on the grass. "Do you think someone's hurt?" she asked Irene. "Do you think we should go down there?" True enough, in a game Elly would ignore any injuries, but this was only a practise, and there wasn't even a real Sitch out. She didn't think it demonstrated great team spirit to just look the other way when one of their number could be hurt.
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Elly
No! Behave yourself.
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Irene
June 18, 2008 10:30 PM
*hangs head* by Irene
Elly returned to flying height and Irene sent her a wicked grin. Irene figured that she could throw anything to her friend and she would be able to catch it. She hoped Elly would do the same for her. Irene wanted to be able to prove herself for no particular reason. She would stick with the team as a seventh year alternate if that what she had to do, but she wanted to help the team out more. She did what she could on the sideline, but the one time she had gotten in the air, first year, championship match, had been the highlight of her year. Yeah, yeah, they had lost the match, but it had been the most fun she had ever had.Elly looked over towards the ground and Irene's attention was grabbed by the crowd that had gathered. Oh sweet Merlin... Irene nodded in response, flying over to see what was up. As she landed softly on the ground, she looked over to see a mangled leg attached to a distressed first year. Irene let out a hiss of sympathy. He would be okay, but nevertheless broken legs were painful. Caedence was nearby along with another first year. What was with Pecari and injuries? They seemed to happen often so it was a good thing that there was extras for reserves. Irene would play anything. Chaser and Seeker were her two favorites. She had played Chaser in that one glorious game and had enjoyed it immensely. There was a bit of "get the new kid" going on, but Irene liked to think that she avoided that decently. Caedence was an intense player and had managed to keep herself from getting really smashed by the lethal metal balls so far. Her broom had taken a hit, but she had been okay. They could get her a new broom. Players were a little more difficult to replace. Irene planned on being one of the original in the air this year.
"You okay kid?" Irene asked with a smile in his direction. Wait, that was a stupid question... "Well, you're not yet. You'll be fine and in the air in no time."
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Irene
*hangs head*
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