QUIDDITCH: May 7, Match #11

[goosemods]

RIBBONFIN

COPPERTALE

It’s an inauspicious start to the penultimate game of the season. First, the Coppertale Cheer captain is taken out by a wild snake, then this morning, the Ribbonfin sophomore girls report that their Quidditch-playing roommate has come down with the black cat flu. It’s a bright, sunny day, but the gusting winds are strong enough to blow the hat off your head, and Chasers and Seekers alike can tell it’s going to be difficult conditions if this keeps up for too long.

But you wouldn’t know that anyone’s stressed from looking at the cheer teams! Despite this being her final time ever as a cheerleader, Captain Ogletree looks poised and focused as usual—just before she goes all-out in the brightest and most energetic routine Ribbonfin has had to offer all year, with her squadmates following as they shout their hearts out for the leading team. But if Coppertale knows anything, it’s swagger, and after losing their captain, the cheerleaders have been putting in the time for their revised routine. It’s confidence and pure skill on display, with a bonus solo dance routine by Acting Captain Patterson. Muscles flex. Bare skin glistens. People can be forgiven for being distracted when the balls are released.

Chaser Valentine swings into action, taking the Quaffle, but Coppertale’s ready for her, as Beater Park flies hard, his bat the first to strike a Bludger and send it right at her. Valentine throws back to her teammates, but Chaser Stoker snatches it mid-pass, so quickly he nearly grabs it out of Chaser Alapai’s hands. Thorn looks like he might blow his whistle, but lets it go. Stoker passes to Guthrie, Guthrie outpaces Fairchild as they speed down the field, then Guthrie feints at Keeper Davenport and tosses to Turner at the last second. Turner’s throw just narrowly makes it in, as the wind pushes the ball slightly off-course.

Tough start, but the Quaffle’s back in Ribbonfin hands after this, with Fairchild flying such sharp circles around Stoker that he nearly gets a faceful of broom twigs. The Coppertale Beaters move into action, but Fairchild, Valentine and Alapai weave closely together for a quick pass, and it’s difficult to follow which one has the Quaffle for a second. They scatter as a Bludger from Beater Barringer flies through them, skimming Alapai’s ponytail, but Valentine still has the Quaffle, and Beater Lewis has just cleared the way for her. Keeper Velasquez tries to block Valentine’s shot but it bounces off her fingertips, hits the rim of the goal, and makes it in.

The Chasers are going fast and furious today, with both teams starting off on an all-out offensive. Every time Davenport or Velasquez block a shot at the goals, they can anticipate the Quaffle coming at them again sixty seconds later. The Quidditch Cup is riding on this match, and they’ll need every goal they can get to stay on top of the ranks. Beater Lewis is calculating how many points they’ll need before they should switch gears and focus on Coppertale’s Seeker. Although he’s a reserve, he and Delgado click well together, and manage to keep Coppertale from totally dominating the Bludgers.

Eleven minutes in, Coppertale’s Guthrie gets another goal, then four minutes later, Ribbonfin’s Alapai ties the game with a long throw that lands the middle hoop, even while buffeted by wind. Barringer volleys a Bludger to Park; Park cracks it hard and grazes Valentine’s arm with the Bludger. She keeps ahold of the Quaffle and passes long to Fairchild, but Turner on the opposite team does a sudden dive and steals it out of the air, zipping across the pitch close to the ground. Beater Delgado sends a Bludger her way, which misses and bounces off the ground, ricocheting and nearly hitting Davenport. The happy accident allows Coppertale to score, now leading 30–20.

Seeker Bright’s hard at work maneuvering to distract his opponent from his goal, but Seeker Wainwright remains as laser-focused as ever. Suddenly, Bright drops from the sky, flying fast and dangerous at something he sees on the ground; after a split second, Wainwright follows, right on his heels. Bright’s green robes blow hard in the wind, obscuring Wainwright’s vision—is it really the Snitch, or is it a feint? The match commentator shouts as the Seekers’ brooms angle even more precipitously, but their words are lost in the wind. It’s not until the very last second before Bright pulls up, and Wainwright does too, both of them narrowly avoiding crashing into each other as they veer away from the ground. Just as they do, the Golden Snitch flies out from where it got caught under Bright’s robes, and flits at Wainwright’s face. He raises his hand to stop it.

With only twenty minutes on the clock, Coach Thorn blows his whistle. The announcer proclaims “Holy fu—” and loses 10 points for their house. The Quaffle’s just left Chaser Fairchild’s hand, and sails right past Velasquez’s reaching fingers, but it’s too late. The match is over. Coppertale’s caught the Snitch.

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COPPERTALE WINS
80–20

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. You don’t know how many times this year we’ve rerolled to avoid this outcome. Finally, Death comes knocking.

Comments

PLAYERS & CHEERLEADERS

[goosemods]

Sylvester Stoker

[threatens]

Will finally make good on his freshman year pledge to murder Reid.

Reid Wainwright

[cygninae]

Reid's face is a mask as he hovers above the pitch with the Snitch in his hand. His mind is empty save for one thought: you really fucked up this time.

He hadn't meant to. It was just a reflex. Sometimes he just does things without thinking. That's what he tells everyone. His instincts leave his brain in the dust, and then he's left staring down the consequences. And this time there will be consequences. He's got the numbers and team standings in the back of his head, but he doesn't need to do the math to know this is bad. This is a move that could kill a pro's career, and sink a team's season.

When Reid finally descends (and he takes time with it) his shoulders hang like a mangy cat, the way they did at the beginning of the year. All of that built up swagger over a perfect season has evaporated. That's not to say he lands looking meek and apologetic. Reid anticipates a fight with at least one person, and he's wearing a suitably defiant glower in preparation.

[Open until Sy confronts him, after which Reid's storming off~~~]

Avery Davenport

[un_kept]

Is done. She's so furious, and it's probably the first time anyone has ever seen her actually mad. A twenty minute game, are you fucking serious? She slams her broom on the ground but collects herself to tell her teammates they did a good job, and walks off.

That's that. Up all year, and they're all probably going to lose to Azurecrest because of a twenty minute game.

Chris

[bambae]

Chris looks murderous when he lands. Even when they were at the bottom and losing, he didn't look this kind of pissed. He looks like he's on the verge of killing Reid. It doesn't even matter that they won. Twenty fucking minutes. No injuries. Three goals. Eighty fucking points. Ebonhide and Azurcrest are gonna blow that out of the water. Reid just sealed their fate. He feels like punching the kid.

He doesn't. But he doesn't hang around for congratulations or victory parties or hugs. He's still fuming when he stalks off to the locker room.

Anuhea

[alapai]

Isn't sure how to process this one. Honestly, it feels like they were just warming up. She scored ... once? That's it, just once? Anuhea had been imagining their final game as a gruelling one — the kind that leaves you feeling beat up and jelly-legged by the time you land. Instead, they were back on the ground before anyone had time to say boo. What the fuck?

Later on, she'll be frustrated. Angry and disappointed that the cup had fallen out of their grasp at the last second. But right now, she doesn't really know what to think. "Holy fu—" is right.

Roxanne Barringer

[uponawire]

Roxie's honestly a bit shell-shocked right now. It's a bit like she'd started a sprint and somebody went and jerked her to a sudden stop by the end of her ponytail.

She swings herself sideways for a few seconds, hanging upside down with a hand over her face (Muffling cursing? Trying to still herself? Either option's entirely possible.) before pulls herself back up and returns to the ground for an inelegant, wrong-footed landing.

Well, shit.

Xavier

[solveforx]

"Welp," Xavier says to no one in particular as his teammates descend. He swings his bat in his hand to reverse the grip on it as he, himself lands, feeling nothing. "At least the numbers still don't fuckin' lie."

Z

[potionz]

Z just sort of lands and heads for the locker room. She's not... angry...? She doesn't feel anything.

Acting Captain Casey Patterson

[sunsoutgunsout]

Quite frankly, Casey doesn't give a shit about Quidditch. Sometimes he'll say it's because he's 'from a Quodpot family,' but really, he just... doesn't care. Competitive sports that don't involve beer pong? Rarely his thing.

He gives loads of shits about dance, and about Cheer, and—although he won't admit it to A.N.Y.B.O.D.Y.E.V.E.R.—today especially, he gives more shits than he realizes about doing justice to Ty's so-called magnum opus. He's been working hard to learn the moves in only three days, both with his captain and alone, and he's determined to fucking kill it. In a good way.

Solo routine aside, Casey makes an effort to pick up the captaincy slack in Ty's absence. He's not used to trying to wrangle more people than his D&D party so it ends up being a lot more in line with "You guys know what the fuck to do and you can fuckin' do it real awesome, so let's fuckin' show 'em how to cheer." Not... the most... concise or helpful inspirational speech, but certainly a Casey speech.

When the routine's over he looks for Ty in the stands and grins. He will deny ever having done this.

Next year Casey's suggesting that his "glistening skin" and "flexing muscles" are used as distractions against rival teams. He's POSITIVE it'll work.

Charlotte Meer, on the reserve bench

[meerigold]

Charlotte is reclined back, checking out the cheerleaders and halfheartedly paying attention to the game when she sees Bright taking a dive and Wainwright on his tail. She's only just gotten comfortable in her seat and they're already after the snitch?? She laughs, thinking it's all a stunt, and then the whistle blows and Reid's caught the snitch.

She slaps a hand over her mouth to mute herself, shoulders still shaking with mirth. Wow, Wainwright, ya really fucked this one up. Since she's only reserve, she's not too invested in winning and if they lose the cup over this it will have been well worth it. People are going to be talking about this well into the next year.

AUDIENCE REACTIONS

[goosemods]

Dances with Foxes

[tyhawkeswood]

While this last game is definitely bittersweet for Ty, being stuck in the stands instead of on the field, his heart swells with pride watching his squad perform because they've all worked so hard and they all look so great out there. He spends more time cheering for them than for the Quidditch players, especially Casey (the boy really came through for him on this one!), and only realizes the match is over when the crowd begins to react to the fact that it's over. He gapes. This may've been the shortest match he's ever seen and the squad didn't even get through half of their routines.

He looks at Quinn to make sure he hasn't missed something. "Did they...just...?"

Ebonhide Trash Babies

[ulixes]

Lately, things have been kind of tough for members and fans of Ebonhide's Quidditch team. After the results of their last game, many of them weren't sure where they stood. Was the Cup still possible? Had they already lost? Determination and despair seemed to be washing through the team in waves, but despite that, as always, there was a whole group of them here to watch the match, a little bubble of bears in a sea of foxes and fish.

Pre-emptively morose, Ulysses settles in the stands with Casper on his right and Clementine to his left. It's the sandwich from hell (Was it just him, or was Casper kind of pissed at him?) and it does nothing to alleviate the seasick churning in his stomach. Every time a Ribbonfin Chaser even touches the Quaffle, he adds another 10 points to the tally in his head: If they score 190 points, they can still win, 200, 210, 220... He leans forward, elbows braced on his knees, and frowns at the pitch. This was going to be a long game, he's sure.

And then, just a few minutes in... something happens. Bright dives — was that the Snitch? What was going on? Ulysses' head pops up as his lean turns to one of excitement. Holy shit. Adrenaline rushing, his hand shoots out automatically and happens to find Casper's, who now, unfortunately, finds his fingers locked in Ulysses' electrified grip. Distantly, he can feel Clem grabbing his shoulder on his other side. It probably only lasts 30 seconds, but the moment feels like forever; hell, Ulysses isn't sure he's remembering to breathe.

When the whistle blows, there's a beat — just one beat — as the implications wash over the crowd. But by the time the announcer speaks, Ulysses is on his feet and screaming, jumping, cheering, just losing his goddamn mind. He's not alone. Beside him, Clementine is also bouncing up and down, hand still resting on his shoulder. Blinded by happiness, he sweeps her up in a giant bear hug, which she gleefully returns. Then, still hollering, Ulysses turns and throws his arms around Casper too.

Holy shit! They could actually do this! Damn, Wainwright. Ulysses could kiss you right now, he really could.

[ ooc: clementine lovingly godmodded with permission from jj, who is driving at the mo'. if your character is part of/seated near the ebonhide garbage squad, feel free to tag in ... or to yell at them, lmfao. ]

Rosy

[browbeats]

Rosy sighs, looking down at the field with one leg crossed over the other. Well, would you look at that, the fates found a way to make both teams unhappy. Last year, Rosy had lost her voice at the final Coppertale/Ribbonfin showdown, and this year she'd barely gotten settled in her seat before the match was over, and Coppertale probably started self-destructing before they even got out of the air.

As the team scatters on the field, Rosy lingers just an extra minute to make sure no one's trying to burn the whole pitch down before she slips off. Didn't look like anyone punched anyone, probably no one was hurting anyone else's feelings or damaging friendships right now. She can see them all when they've gotten over their initial overreactions and start inviting too many people to their post-victory pity party. Stupid jocks taking things too seriously. Rosy has never taken anything too seriously in her life.

Dom

[thecourtier]

Poor Dom. As soon as he realises that Reid caught the snitch, he looks around to the nearest person to check what just happened.

And then he thinks... Sy.

Oh shit.

AFTER THE GAME

[goosemods]

Clem & Ulysses at dinner (open to multiple~)

[neattrick]

In celebration of unexpectedly still being very much in the running for the Quidditch Cup, Ulysses and Clem have called a 12-hour ceasefire in order to celebrate and get amped up for the Azurcrest/Ebonhide game. They're not sitting at their usual tables, but they invite the rest of the Azurcrest and Ebonhide players* to hang with them so they can affectionately shit-talk each other and make wagers on who's going to score the most goals and how many reserves are going to get sent in during the last match of the year. They're not here to hear any sour grapes complaints or level-headed strategizing. They're here to party.

[ * ... except, as per the official setting description there are only eight seats per table, so really, they invite 6 other AC/EH players to sit with them. ]

Leo & Rafael

[ninjaleo]

Leo's expression has remained impassive since that premature snitch grab, but his mind hasn't stopped working. He's been throwing around how much they'd need to do to win the cup. (Ten quaffles, and the snitch. That's it. Just that.) After weeks of having almost given up hope entirely, it feels almost nauseating. Or maybe that's the empathy from thinking of how the other captains must be feeling.

Which is the more pressing thing, and has to be his first worry right now. Leo remembers how Coppertale was a powderkeg after losses. Maybe after this, too. Rafael's the one who has to go back to moderate that. He doesn't know how he does that so well. Leo allows his face to soften, and he squeezes Rafael's hand, as they make their way down and out of the stands. His question is just as calculated as any strategy, and quiet enough so the people around them could ignore it. "Will I make it worse, if I walk back with you?"

Xavier & Reid

[solveforx]

Bland disappointment does not wash away in the shower. Xavier can live with a bad last game, but what he'd seen happen between Reid and Sy on the pitch afterward has him anxious. He rushes to get dressed, tucking in the laces of his boots and running out the door, knotting his still-wet hair into a bun as he leaves to go and track down his boyfriend.

Xavier has a fairly good idea of where he'll find Reid. He heads straight for the water, keeping his eyes peeled for white feathers and an orange beak. In his head, he tries to think of what he'll say. Nothing comes to mind.

💫 OOC - Questions, comments, concerns! 💫

[goosemods]

I'm so excited that apps are closed because I can finally work on Y2's Quidditch rosters.

Re: 💫 OOC - Questions, comments, concerns! 💫

[ulixes]

im the announcer

Re: 💫 OOC - Questions, comments, concerns! 💫

[un_kept]

yo, your cut-text says ebonhide

Re: 💫 OOC - Questions, comments, concerns! 💫

[sunsoutgunsout]

I'm omw to a rl movie night (first they make irl esports, now irl movie nights, what's next?!) but OMGGGGGGGG

Re: 💫 OOC - Questions, comments, concerns! 💫

[threatens]

sorry that these jocks take everything too seriously