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gooseberryhigh2017-04-23 02:00 pm
goosemods) wrote in gooseberryhigh2017-04-23 02:00 pm
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QUIDDITCH: April 23, Match #10
The day starts out overcast and only grows cloudier with every hour, but loyal Quidditch fans tote umbrellas and rubber raincoats as they fill the stands. Down below, Captains Ogletree and Powers are doing their best to keep everyone peppy despite the promise of rain. Luckily for the cheer squads, the grass is still dry when it’s time for them to perform their routines, and all that dancing, stacking, tumbling and chanting goes off without a hitch. The same can’t be said for the players, who feel a light sprinkle of rain just as they take off into the air.
But water never slows down a fish, and Chaser Alapai rushes forward to get her hands on the Quaffle first. While the Beaters run down the Bludgers, the Chasers do their best to disrupt each other’s formations. Chasers Quayle and Webb swing into the path of Valentine, cutting her off from her team; while Decourt pursues a zigzagging Alapai, bent on stealing the Quaffle—but she throws behind to Fairchild, who catches it and drops below the knot of Chasers, nearly skimming the ground as she speeds for the goals—but a zippy Quayle is right on her heels, and comes nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Fairchild throws to Valentine, but the ball’s intercepted by Webb; Webb U-turns for the Ribbonfin goalposts, but Beaters Delgado and Fanning are the first on a Bludger, and coordinate their bats to slam it right at him; Webb fumbles and the Quaffle’s back to Alapai, who takes it down the pitch then passes to Valentine, who takes it the rest of the way. Decourt catches up and grabs for the Quaffle, throwing off Valentine’s aim, and Keeper Raza knocks it out of the air.
The game continues in this vein, quick and fierce, as though both teams are fighting to do all they can before the downpour starts. No one even scores a goal until eight minutes in, with Fairchild getting one past Raza, but Ebonhide follows up with two more past Keeper Davenport by the fifteen minute mark. Soon, the sky goes from drizzling to drenching, and the audience throw up umbrellas while the cheerleaders run for shelter. Coach Thorn calls for a five-minute break to allow players to cast rain-repelling charms, but charms do little to improve the poor visibility—particularly for Seekers Bright and Hale, who are still smarting from their failure during the last Ebonhide–Ribbonfin game. Before they hop back on their brooms, Thorn promises that there’s no way the Snitch is leaving the pitch this time (even if there is a Niffler in the audience).
Rain also slows Bludgers, but Beaters Fiori and Kim stay dogged, breaking up Ribbonfin’s Chaser formation as much as possible. The score climbs bit by bit for Ebonhide, 30–20 at the half-hour mark then 50–30 twenty minutes later, with Decourt scoring three of their five goals. It’s painfully slow-going game, but early enough in that all players are determined to stay focused and energetic as the rain beats down on them. It’s Hale who spots the Snitch first, barely a glint against the ground that blurs as it speeds for the Ribbonfin end. Ebonhide’s leading, Bright’s on the other end of the pitch, and Hale doesn’t waste a second; she kicks into gear, charging into the rain, her eyes fixed on the barely visible golden flicker. Only Beater Delgado is close to stop her, but Fiori/Kim have both Bludgers aimed at the Chasers, so Delgado improvises, speeding after Hale as fast as he can go. There’s a shout in the crowd when the audience realizes what’s happening—seconds too late to warn Hale as Delgado rams into her, knocking her off-course. Hale keeps a tight grip on the slippery wood of her broom, but the Snitch has disappeared.
It’s 66 minutes into the game, and the score’s sitting at 60–40 for Ebonhide. Coach Thorn calls for a penalty and orders Delgado back on the bench for ten minutes, with Reserve Lewis filling in for him. Usually a reserve entering the match signals good luck for the other team, but not this time, probably because Lewis hasn’t been soaking wet for the past hour. Beater Fanning demonstrates remarkably rainy weather maneuverability by getting between the Ebonhide Beaters and volleying a Bludger over to Lewis, who hits it with all his strength at a rapidly dodging Quayle. In clear weather, it might’ve taken off his head, but the half-second afforded by rain lets the Bludger only kiss the side of his head, leaving Quayle with a scraped cheek and ringing ears. Not enough to knock him out, but enough to slow him down for a few minutes—all the time needed for Fairchild and Valentine to get in two back-to-back goals through Ebonhide’s defenses, finally tying the game at 70–70. Despite being out for more than an hour and a half, waterlogged fans summon the energy to yell encouragement for their chosen team.
Both teams are determined, but it’s difficult to keep up the energy after more than an hour and a half on the pitch. Bright and Hale fly desperate circles around each other, hunting for the elusive Snitch. Noise from the waterlogged crowd drops to nearly a whisper as everyone watches and waits, only rising briefly when Fiori and Kim synchronize Bludgers to clear the way for Webb, who lobs a Quaffle through Davenport’s middle hoop, inching Ebonhide forward to 80–70. Then a sudden shout, and spectators stand and point as the Golden Snitch flits right before their eyes.
Bright reacts first, but Hale isn’t far behind, both Seekers streaking through the rain for the main prize. The commotion’s also enough to distract Quayle, who glances over—and gets the Quaffle stolen right out of his hands by Alapai. Neck and neck, Hale and Bright chase after the Snitch, closing in inch by inch as the flickering ball dives low to the ground, trying to throw them off. Fanning serves another Bludger to Lewis; Decourt veers hard to avoid getting hit; Alapai sails right past her and throws long, sending the Quaffle skimming across Raza’s glove and hitting the rim of the hoop before bouncing through. Everyone in the stands are on their feet. The Seekers stretch their arms as far as they’ll go. Bright gains the lead and closes his hand, but the Snitch, slick with cold rain, slips right between his fingertips. Hale bumps his shoulder hard as she throws herself forward, reaching out—and Bright lunges again, catching the Snitch square in his waiting palm.
But water never slows down a fish, and Chaser Alapai rushes forward to get her hands on the Quaffle first. While the Beaters run down the Bludgers, the Chasers do their best to disrupt each other’s formations. Chasers Quayle and Webb swing into the path of Valentine, cutting her off from her team; while Decourt pursues a zigzagging Alapai, bent on stealing the Quaffle—but she throws behind to Fairchild, who catches it and drops below the knot of Chasers, nearly skimming the ground as she speeds for the goals—but a zippy Quayle is right on her heels, and comes nearly shoulder-to-shoulder with her. Fairchild throws to Valentine, but the ball’s intercepted by Webb; Webb U-turns for the Ribbonfin goalposts, but Beaters Delgado and Fanning are the first on a Bludger, and coordinate their bats to slam it right at him; Webb fumbles and the Quaffle’s back to Alapai, who takes it down the pitch then passes to Valentine, who takes it the rest of the way. Decourt catches up and grabs for the Quaffle, throwing off Valentine’s aim, and Keeper Raza knocks it out of the air.
The game continues in this vein, quick and fierce, as though both teams are fighting to do all they can before the downpour starts. No one even scores a goal until eight minutes in, with Fairchild getting one past Raza, but Ebonhide follows up with two more past Keeper Davenport by the fifteen minute mark. Soon, the sky goes from drizzling to drenching, and the audience throw up umbrellas while the cheerleaders run for shelter. Coach Thorn calls for a five-minute break to allow players to cast rain-repelling charms, but charms do little to improve the poor visibility—particularly for Seekers Bright and Hale, who are still smarting from their failure during the last Ebonhide–Ribbonfin game. Before they hop back on their brooms, Thorn promises that there’s no way the Snitch is leaving the pitch this time (even if there is a Niffler in the audience).
Rain also slows Bludgers, but Beaters Fiori and Kim stay dogged, breaking up Ribbonfin’s Chaser formation as much as possible. The score climbs bit by bit for Ebonhide, 30–20 at the half-hour mark then 50–30 twenty minutes later, with Decourt scoring three of their five goals. It’s painfully slow-going game, but early enough in that all players are determined to stay focused and energetic as the rain beats down on them. It’s Hale who spots the Snitch first, barely a glint against the ground that blurs as it speeds for the Ribbonfin end. Ebonhide’s leading, Bright’s on the other end of the pitch, and Hale doesn’t waste a second; she kicks into gear, charging into the rain, her eyes fixed on the barely visible golden flicker. Only Beater Delgado is close to stop her, but Fiori/Kim have both Bludgers aimed at the Chasers, so Delgado improvises, speeding after Hale as fast as he can go. There’s a shout in the crowd when the audience realizes what’s happening—seconds too late to warn Hale as Delgado rams into her, knocking her off-course. Hale keeps a tight grip on the slippery wood of her broom, but the Snitch has disappeared.
It’s 66 minutes into the game, and the score’s sitting at 60–40 for Ebonhide. Coach Thorn calls for a penalty and orders Delgado back on the bench for ten minutes, with Reserve Lewis filling in for him. Usually a reserve entering the match signals good luck for the other team, but not this time, probably because Lewis hasn’t been soaking wet for the past hour. Beater Fanning demonstrates remarkably rainy weather maneuverability by getting between the Ebonhide Beaters and volleying a Bludger over to Lewis, who hits it with all his strength at a rapidly dodging Quayle. In clear weather, it might’ve taken off his head, but the half-second afforded by rain lets the Bludger only kiss the side of his head, leaving Quayle with a scraped cheek and ringing ears. Not enough to knock him out, but enough to slow him down for a few minutes—all the time needed for Fairchild and Valentine to get in two back-to-back goals through Ebonhide’s defenses, finally tying the game at 70–70. Despite being out for more than an hour and a half, waterlogged fans summon the energy to yell encouragement for their chosen team.
Both teams are determined, but it’s difficult to keep up the energy after more than an hour and a half on the pitch. Bright and Hale fly desperate circles around each other, hunting for the elusive Snitch. Noise from the waterlogged crowd drops to nearly a whisper as everyone watches and waits, only rising briefly when Fiori and Kim synchronize Bludgers to clear the way for Webb, who lobs a Quaffle through Davenport’s middle hoop, inching Ebonhide forward to 80–70. Then a sudden shout, and spectators stand and point as the Golden Snitch flits right before their eyes.
Bright reacts first, but Hale isn’t far behind, both Seekers streaking through the rain for the main prize. The commotion’s also enough to distract Quayle, who glances over—and gets the Quaffle stolen right out of his hands by Alapai. Neck and neck, Hale and Bright chase after the Snitch, closing in inch by inch as the flickering ball dives low to the ground, trying to throw them off. Fanning serves another Bludger to Lewis; Decourt veers hard to avoid getting hit; Alapai sails right past her and throws long, sending the Quaffle skimming across Raza’s glove and hitting the rim of the hoop before bouncing through. Everyone in the stands are on their feet. The Seekers stretch their arms as far as they’ll go. Bright gains the lead and closes his hand, but the Snitch, slick with cold rain, slips right between his fingertips. Hale bumps his shoulder hard as she throws herself forward, reaching out—and Bright lunges again, catching the Snitch square in his waiting palm.
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RIBBONFIN WINS
130–80
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RIBBONFIN WINS
130–80
Whether you’re a player, cheerleader or spectator, post below with your character’s reactions! If you wish to post separately about the game, please use lj-cuts and mark for spoilers for the first 24 hours, so no one sees the result before reading the official match description. bluh bluh
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