QUIDDITCH: October 22, Match #2

[goosemods]

RIBBONFIN

AZURCREST

It’s a chilly but scenic day as students make their way to the Quidditch Pitch, surrounded by trees dropping gold and red leaves on the yellowed grass. Azurcrest’s cheer squad stands out brightly in their blue uniforms, pompoms waving and skirts hiked up high. Captain Ignacz leads them in a routine tailored to show off Azurcrest’s famous lifts and throws, but as Announcer Lee observes: “Remember how impressive they were last year? I suppose, with a lack of muscular boys on the squad, these ladies are only doing the best they can!” Captain Ives’ squad fares better, with a well-practiced dance routine their newest, proudest addition: Rainy the Rainbow Trout, who only gets smacked in the face once, when both mascots stumble into each other in the middle of the field and Azurcrest’s mascot miscalculates the reach of his wings.

The second the Quaffle’s in the air, Azurcrest goes into action with surprising speed. Chaser Key grabs the Quaffle and throws to his teammate Castillo, while Beaters S. Delgado and Hobbs have the good luck of seeing the Bludgers flying in their direction, and get their bats out first. Castillo dodges Chaser Ryder’s reaching arm, while Chaser Bagman has to veer away completely to avoid getting hit by Hobbs’ Bludger. Castillo tosses to speedy Chaser Morales-Tran, who aims the Quaffle for the Ribbonfin goals—and is neatly blocked by Keeper Davenport. Key claims the Quaffle again, and Azurcrest goes for another try, only to get blocked by Davenport, and then blocked again.

It’s almost 12 minutes into the game before Azurcrest scores, while Ribbonfin finds itself struggling against their opponent’s well-coordinated Chasers and Beaters, and barely spends more than a minute with the Quaffle in their possession. “We shouldn’t be surprised, as most of Ribbonfin is brand new,” Announcer Lee explains, “but I truly feel for Captain Davenport, and how disappointing this must be after she got so close to winning the Cup last year.” As though on cue, Beater R. Delgado shoulder-checks his sister and intercepts an incoming Bludger, which he immediately sends towards Morales-Tran. Key yells to her and Morales-Tran pulls to the side to dodge, but she loses the Quaffle in her hands. Bagman swoops underneath her and catches it, and weaves around the other Azurcrest Chasers to pass to Ryder, who scores the first point for Ribbonfin.

Ribbonfin ties the game at the half-hour mark with a slow 40–40, but Azurcrest quickly picks up again, with Castillo, Key and Morales-Tran all scoring a goal a 20 minute stretch, bringing it up to 70–40 for Azurcrest. Keeper Davenport blocks two shots in this interval, while Keeper Flowers blocks three, and none of the Ribbonfin Chasers can keep the Quaffle long enough to get past him. Bludgers fly back and forth across the field as Beaters fight to support their teams (at one point, Beater S. Delgado narrowly misses clipping her brother’s head with her bat while stealing one of his Bludgers), and it’s Beaters R. Delgado and Evercreech in control when there’s a shout from the announcer: “It’s the Snitch! St. Clair sees the Snitch!” Seeker St. Clair dives sharply at a glimmer on the golden grass, and Seeker Popplestone is coming from the other end of the pitch, seconds behind. The Ribbonfin Delgado hits a Bludger at him; St. Clair looks up at the last second and twists on his broom, the Bludger just skinning his upper arm. He scans the ground for the Snitch again—only to tumble right off his broom as the second Bludger from Evercreech catches him right in the head. St. Clair’s out cold when he hits the ground.

“Nice shooting from Delgado #2 and Evercreech! I suppose those Ribbonfins know a thing or two about giving people bruises. Of course… we should all remember that fighting is against the rules, and no one should ever laugh at the pain of others.” Captain Castillo calls for Reserve Zabinsky to take over as their teammate is carried away. Although it’s only the Seeker, Azurcrest seems to have suffered a blow to their morale, as Ribbonfin finally catches up, getting a goal barely two minutes after the match starts up again, and then another four in rapid succession, with Bagman, Ryder and Rush finally hitting their groove. Beaters R. Delgado and Evercreech keep up the onslaught, breaking up Azurcrest’s defenses enough to let their Chasers punch through. Ninety minutes in, and it’s anyone’s game: 80–70 for Azurcrest, and Ryder has the Quaffle, which she carries halfway down the pitch. She passes right over Morales-Tran’s head to Rush, who throws it long to Bagman, right by the goals. Keeper Flowers dives for it, but he’s too slow. Ribbonfin ties, 80–80.

Seekers Popplestone and Zabinsky have been carefully watching for the Golden Snitch, and it doesn’t pop up until several minutes later, spotted by Zabinsky. The Snitch is flying over the stands behind the Ribbonfin goal hoops, and he goes into pursuit, flying right over where Key is trying to avoid Bagman and Rush’s attempts to steal the Quaffle from him. Popplestone chases after him, quickly closing the distance. Rush bumps hard into Key, Key throws the Quaffle down to Morales-Tran, zipping in underneath him; and Bagman peels away to go after her. Davenport stands at the ready, watching both Chasers and Seekers coming at her. Zabinsky leans forward on his broom, hand stretching out for the Snitch; but the Snitch makes a sharp ninety-degree left turn. Zabinsky’s too slow to turn, Popplestone’s not.

Right behind the Seekers, Morales-Tran appears, followed barely a second behind by Bagman; Morales-Tran passes to Castillo, who’s out in the open, his way cleared by careful aim by S. Delgado. Zabinsky presses forward, his view obstructed by fluttering green robes. Castillo scores on Davenport, bringing Azurcrest up to a 100–80 lead. Zabinsky’s almost caught up when his broom suddenly spins out of control—a Bludger sent by R. Delgado that hit the tail of his broom. There’s no competition in sight when Popplestone reaches out and closes her fingers around the Snitch.

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RIBBONFIN WINS
130–100

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.

Comments

PLAYERS & CHEERLEADERS

[goosemods]

Calvin

[evercreep]

So... maybe Calvin gave his beloved friend a concussion. But! They won his first game! Adrenaline overtakes him as they land and the results are called. The very first thing he does is grab Ramon for a tight, enthusiastic hug. It's very likely the first time he's ever voluntarily touched Ramon.

Eve

[of_mice_and_men]

There are few things as nerve wrecking as playing your first official game with a new team. Pregame, Eve is a ton of nerves stuffed into a tiny person who is trying very hard to play it cool but quidditch is very important to her. She really doesn't want to suck in her first game, so having already played lots of quidditch games already kinda ceases to matter on that moment.

Up the air, the nerves edge off a bit because this is all very natural to her. She knows what she's doing and she won't bomb if she can stop over thinking it.

Once the game ends, Eve is cordial to the opposing team - they played good, like a cohesive unit. She shakes hands, hands out 'good game, mate' to them. To her own team, she has the enthusiasm of someone who has just played a part in winning something but she isn't much of a hugger, so she gives out plenty of 'good playing, mate' to them and she smiles with the relief of someone who was positive they were gonna fuck up but didn't.

Grace

[gracesowerberry]

Grace is definitely panicking before her first match ever as a cheerleader. What if she forgets her moves or freezes up or Yancey drops her or she loses the nerve to shout cheers at the audience? But, to her credit, she hides it decently well as she stretches and focuses on her breathing and clips her short hair back with two fish scale bobby pins so it doesn't get into her face.

Once they get started these fears partially come true. While she manages to hit all of the correct beats in the choreography and nobody drops her, she has a difficult time maintaining eye contact with the crowd of students and keeping her voice loud or bright or clear. On this front, the others will just have to make up for her. When they're finally done her knees feel like water but at least everyone's focused on Popplestone and the rest of the players. And hey! They won! That's great!

Jeffy

[racingstripe]

Guess who had a GREAT TIME, no matter HOW it turned out?? JEFFY DID!! Okay, when Micah got SUPER PULVERIZED, Jeffy visibly cringed?? And was, like, kind of concerned for more of the rest of the match than he would like to admit?? It looked, like, PAINFUL, and it was KIND OF a super bummer that Micah had to miss the rest of his VERY FIRST match on first string.

BUT!! The Chaser team was REALLY working well together!! It was a LITTLE lame how their shots kept getting BLOCKED, but every time he needed to pass, someone on his team was RIGHT there. It was AWESOME. Great teamwork you guys!! Nothing weird at all going on here!!!

Afterwards, everyone gets Jeffy hugs. Ribbonfins too, if they're not careful.

Riley Mae

[riledup]

Riley does not need to be reminded that there are not enough muscular boys to launch her hundreds of feet in the air this year. Even after getting taken out by a stray Bludger during her sky high flies last year, Riley has glitter in place of caution or common sense and she just wants to get tossed up into the atmosphere again!!

STILL, whatever, at least she got ATTENTION. It's a LITTLE bit of a bummer that people aren't going to want to do like a VICTORY PARTY or whatever after this, but attention is a good consolation prize.

Griffin

[cosmonot]

You wouldn't know they'd lost by looking at Griffin, who seems pleasantly pleased with most of his performance; only the barest hint of disappointment and nervous energy bubbling beneath the surface. He gives the impression, unintentionally, that this isn't his first rodeo. And he's totally going to mope in his cabin later over the loss and how he should've been faster.

BUT first, chipper congratulations all around, and a stop by the infirmary to make sure his idol isn't dead.

Avery

[un_kept]

Avery's feeling confident as they walk out onto the field. There's no way they wouldn't fly well today. She's been putting them through some hard training and a lot of bonding - surprisingly difficult for her team as not all of them are super fond of bonding times. Still, she's prouder of her team than she can even put into words at how hard they are working and all her prior fears of having to replace nearly her entire team's first string are pretty much squashed. However it's less so once they get into the air. The second the game starts, she's worried.

Jaime's chasers are fast and his beaters are right there with them, disrupting her team so they barely have the quaffle at all. She has to block, block, block in rapid succession. She's on fire, her focus is nearly infallible - but Lee's voice comes over the speaker and his mention of how it's not surprising her team can't hold onto the quaffle at the moment and how he feels for her after last year's disappointing end has Avery distracted and a little frustrated, losing that carefully refined focus and letting several goals pass by basically uncontested, her blocking was so poor.

Cursing at herself, Avery redoubles her efforts, as does her team. She watches as they put up a fight, Ramon shoulder-checking his sister, Ev stealing the quaffle, and soon they've tied it up. Unfortuantely the excitement doesn't last long - Azurcrest keeps coming at her and she's only able to block two of the five shots that come towards her. Her eyes are completely off the quaffle for several long seconds when St. Clair seems to have seen the Snitch and both seekers chase after it. Ramon and Calvin are all over it, however, and Avery let's out a gasp as Micah is knocked out cold.

Still, better for her, right? It's not like Oz is the best flyer and she is sure her own Seeker could overtake him. With their spirits renewed and Azurcrest's spirit's a little down, she watches as her chasers find their rhythm together and start making goal after goal. Ramon and Calvin aren't letting Azurcrest's chasers rest for a second and Avery's spirits soar. The game is happening in earnest now and it's non-stop action as both teams fly back and forth rapidly attempting to score on her and Griffin.

The Snitch is spotted again by Azurcrest first and Avery has to hold back from shouting at Gwen to go after it. She doesn't need to, though, Gwen's already chasing after Oscar like there's no tomorrow and they're both headed her way. Every Quidditch player in the air is heading straight for her and Avery admittedly loses her focus - should she attempt to block Oz from getting the Snitch and let a goal pass through uncontested? Should she try and block the goal and trust Oz's clumsiness to let Gwen grab the Snitch?

Her indecision costs her and she's too slow to stop Jaime's well aimed throw to score - but it doesn't matter. The Snitch zooms away from Oz and Gwen is faster on the uptake, grabbing it and ending the game with a win for Ribbonfin. Avery let's out a loud whoop of excitement, flying quickly to the ground to hug all her teammates except the two beaters, whom she is sure would not permit her to hug them. She does give them high fives and smiles, though.

After, she gives handshakes and/or hugs to all of Azurcrest as well. She finds Jaime at the end and gives him a quick hug and makes a joke about hoping he'll still take her to the dance.

Oscar

[dumb_ass]

Oscar is both nervous and hyped. He had been bemoaning not making first string since the lists had been posted - more to himself, but his attitude had been less than spectacular to his dear friend and captain. Still, with the training they'd been going through and his knowledge of how easily people seem to get injured in this game, Oz shouldn't have been feeling that badly at all. Maybe he wasn't first string, but he was clearly good enough to fill in for any position that needed it, right? As they walk down to the pitch, his spirits are high and he feels like he might throw up but he's sort of also glad he's not mounting a broom just yet.

He fully expects not to have to play at all - again, which makes him feel both depressed and relieved at the same time. That's not how this goes at all, though, and early in the game Micah takes a bludger to the head and he's gone, and they're telling Oz he has to play. Oh, oh dear. Oh no oh no. Shit. Okay. Oscar doesn't give anyone much confidence as he stumbles out onto the field and takes flight. Immediately flying too high in eagerness and anticipation before he calms himself down and gets into a groove.

Searching and searching, he does his best not to focus on any other part of the game. Avoiding bludgers as they pass by whether aimed or not at him, he circles the pitch and finally - finally he sees it. He sees the Snitch! And better yet, it doesn't seem like Popplestone has seen it yet! Oscar makes no hesitation - he is on it like white on rice. Speeding towards the Ribbonfin Keeper, the Snitch just behind her above the stands with - an accuracy and steadiness on his broom literally no one could have predicted, he thinks he MUST have it. This is IT. Everyone's going to be SO UPSET they didn't put him on First String now!!!!

But the Snitch goes diving in another direction and he's too slow, too unsteady as he yanks his broom around to follow the Snitch, Popplestone ahead of him. He can't see a thing with all the robes flying everywhere he's in a sea of green and leans forward, ducking low to try and see - he's on Popplestone's heels, he's catching up, he's reaching out and he's almost there and - wham!! A bludget catches his broom and Oscar is spun around and around, completely out of control. He's heading right for the stands and actually knocks into the wood just below his schoolmates.

No harm no foul, he had managed to gain just enough control that, aside from his pink cheeks and utter look of shame, nothing is harmed or damaged except his pride. He flies down to the pitch looking miserable. Congratulating the other team is no fun but he puts on his best and most signature silly Oz smile. Facing his own teammates is even harder. He tells them they were all great and apologizes profusely for failing to get the Snitch.

Captain Castillo

[lupofiasco]

Ok!!! So maybe they didn't win, but they did so well for their first game together. Jaime is overjoyed at the cohesion the team displayed, and after he congratulates Ribbonfin for a game well-played he takes his team aside for a little pep talk. He acknowledges that there's definitely more work to be done, but he also lets his birdies know how proud of everyone he is!! They really gave it their all, and the score at the end shows it. They'll regroup and figure out a plan of attack so they can be that much better next game. He also suggests they all go check on Micah at some point since he almost died definitely took a solid hit.

Peyton

[legatorum]

Peyton knew this was going to be a tough match, and she's been working hard. When the commentary starts throwing shade at Ribbonfin, she's surprisingly chill about it and just rolls her eyes, continuing her swoops around the field. When the three of them get into their groove, she has a smile on her face as she flies - and she's especially proud of that looping, high pass to dodge the Azurcrest Chasers.

Yep, they won with the help of the Snitch, but that's Quidditch. They'll get better.

Peyton makes a point of complimenting the captain on her blocks, too.

AUDIENCE REACTIONS

[goosemods]

Unofficial Azurcrest Cheerleader Zach

[readingrainbows]

What's that? Is it Wear Something Gaudy Day part 2? NO! It's just Zach, up in the stands and wearing tip-to-toe blue in celebration of Azurcrest's first big game!!!! He still doesn't particularly get the sport, but he DOES get that several of his good, good friends have been working EXTREMELY hard for this day, and so he's ready to show his support in any way he can. Go!!! Catch it!!!!! Hoop ball, yeah!!!!!

GO AZURCREST!

When Micah gets clocked upside the head by a bludger, Zach literally stands up and gasps. Holy sh— UHM, good hitting, Calvin! But holy guacamole, that looked SERIOUS. Congratulations Essie and Jeffy and everybody! You did great! He's very impressed! But Zach has to go visit his baby bird in the infirmary now, bye!!!

Cole

[colemoss]

Some things never change. And one of those things is that Cole Moss doesn't know how to cheer at a Quidditch game. But he's still here to support Calvin and Ramon and his other friends out on the pitch today! He beams when his friends do well and claps quietly when those around him clap and, armed with some pencils and a new sketchbook, he draws the different players in green and blue lines while he watches the match. The resulting page is striking but a little cluttered as a result of his split attention.

He happens to be looking up when Calvin's bludger finds the side of Micah's head and he winces visibly, not knowing quite how to feel about that. Even if it is part of the game. It throws him off for a while and he chews his lower lip anxiously. He does stay until the end, though, and when it's over he goes down to congratulate his roommates. If he can reach them through the sea of excited Ribbonkids, anyway.

More than anything else, how happy Calvin is at the end of the match makes Cole glad that he came out today.

small quidditch asshole takes notes

[godzillabutworse]

This is an uncommon sight. Nisha, mouth open but not yelling, sitting still, attention fixed on the game. Occasionally she tears her gaze away to scribble something down in a notebook sitting on her lap. Notes and numbers, mostly.

Her attention is most fixed on the beaters and keepers, so she almost misses Micah's dramatic hit. Not entirely, though. "Aw man, sick." She probably wishes it were her.

Hero & Archie

[cherubic]

Thump.

Thump.

A trap door opens in the floor of the announcer booth, and a small boy crawls out of it. Archie's hair is more of a mess than usual, and his jacket is covered in dust. "Hieronymus, did you know there are maintenance passages underneath the Quidditch stands?" He begins speaking without announcing himself, then wastes no time standing up and dragging the wooden lid back into place. "I had a very good feeling one of them led in here. I was right. Did they give you a key? Because if they didn't, I've found a way in without one." He dusts off, looking very pleased with himself indeed. "Obviously."

AFTER THE GAME

[goosemods]

Calvin & Micah

[evercreep]

Calvin waits a long time to visit Micah. So long that it's frankly impolite, considering he's the reason Micah's in the infirmary at all. The idea of running into his Azurcrest teammates after knocking Micah out cold is, well, slightly uncomfortable. This way he can avoid them. Calvin creeps in with a fist full of marigolds that he almost certainly stole... unnecessarily. Mr. Hightower would have given him permission, but Calvin eternally operates on low level distrust and negative assumptions.

"Still up?" He asks, uncommonly soft. "Because you shouldn't be."

guess who's unconscious???? it's MICAH ST. CLAIR

[stclair]

Micah misses pretty much the entire match because Healer Mufferaw was insistent that he couldn't leave until Mufferaw was certain that he wouldn't suddenly keel over and die from some very technical words that Micah promptly forgot. And also because Micah was straight up unconscious for most of it, and he managed to settle his woozy head and get up only in time to hear Mufferaw tell him, "Sorry, kid. Your team lost."

Well. Screw that then. Micah crawls back into bed, where he's going to keep pretending to be unconscious, because he definitely doesn't want to talk to anyone about his colossal failure today. He pulls the pillow over his head, and accidentally tugs his ear a bit too hard. "Ow."

💫 OOC - Questions, comments, concerns! 💫

[goosemods]

Rainy the Rainbow Trout is not an official name. HEY GUYS NAME YOUR MASCOTS

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

[ulixes]

IM YELLING HEAD INJURIES ARE NO FUCKING JOKE HE LOST CONSCIOUSNESS?????????? MARIN????????? YOU KNOCKED MY SWEET BEAUTIFUL BOY MICAH ST. CLAIR OUT?????? i havent read the rest of this post but if micah fucking dies from an epidural hematoma i swear to fucking god

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

[sochill]

I have to go to bed (booooo) but I'm so proud of Calvin and Ramon :,)

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

[quickbuck]

oh god i'm too drunk to name a mascot

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

[magitechnically]

Chaser Morales-Tran!! CHASER MORALES-TRAN!! AHHHH!!

MICAH!! CALVIN!!

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

[bubblewrapped]

SO GOOD AS USUAL ♥️ SEEKERS always getting their shit ruined :(((( Micahhhh