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gooseberryhigh2017-11-19 11:03 pm
goosemods) wrote in gooseberryhigh2017-11-19 11:03 pm
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QUIDDITCH: Nov 19, Match #4
Despite the late November chill, snow remains light on the ground, and the sky overhead is pale grey but extremely bright. In the woods north of the pitch, Dr. O’Hare oversees a number of MACUSA agents setting up magical meteorological equipment, and who all go quiet whenever a student gets too near. On their way to the game, Ennis Harper notices something the adults don’t: an antlered figure observing them from the trees. The figure (Anon? Brother?) lifts a hand in a wave when they see someone watching, and disappears into the shadows.
Inside the Quidditch pitch, the stands are packed with seemingly everyone eager to watch the last match before the long winter break. Mr. Merrill promises 5 house points to any Azurcrest who’ll “relay a message” to Coppertale on the other side of the stands, and grants [Azurcrest Character B] his megaphone to lead them in serenading Ms. Vector with Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Ms. Vector ends up confiscating the megaphone, but does promise 10 house points to one of the singing jays, [Azurcrest Character C], if they go back to Merrill with a reply: “Let us hope your house plays better than they sing.”
Cheerleaders warm up the field, which has been charmed to melt any lingering snow on the grass. Captains Ignacz and Patterson are obviously feeling more confident, with this being the second showing for both. Riley Stamper decides to brave the cold and sport their arms-and-knees-baring spring cheer outfit for today’s routine, which receives a few whistles from the crowd. Towards the end, the mascots end up duking it out, although Webster Knox catches their opponent with a playful body check that accidentally knocks them both to the ground. Settle down, boys!
Finally, the players fly into the pitch, with Coach Thorn moving to the middle. “Let’s go over what’s at stake, shall we?” says Announcer Lee. “Azurcrest has a brand new captain, of the only team who has yet to win any games. If Castillo doesn’t nail this one down, he’s not getting a chance until February. But who cares, right? Those jays will always be friends no matter what, and friendship is what really counts in Quidditch. Meanwhile, Coppertale’s batch of emotionally-challenged knuckleheads (and I mean that affectionately) are down one captain. What would be worse, do you think? If the Foxes lost... or if they won, proving to everyone how utterly superfluous Stoker is to the team? Ah, well. Good luck, Ashworth!”
It’s a lightning fast start to the game: Chaser Lewis gets hands on the Quaffle first, and zips right between Key and Morales-Tran in a beeline for the goals. Chasers Lacey and Ashworth swiftly maneuver to block Azurcrest’s way, giving their teammate a head-start. Beaters chase after Bludgers, but neither Delgado nor Hobbs can get their bat on one before Lewis is shooting the first goal of the game past Keeper Flowers. The Quaffle’s taken by Azurcrest next, and the Jays show off their teamwork which has only improved since their first game. Morales-Tran makes the first attempt, but it’s blocked by Keeper Velasquez; however, their practiced coordination gives them plenty of chances within the next few minutes. Key grabs the Quaffle, throws right under Lacey’s broom to Morales-Tran, who gets it down to Chaser Castillo, who wins the first goal for Azurcrest with not even six minutes on the clock.
It’s Azurcrest’s game after this, with Castillo, Key and Morales-Tran rapidly racking up goals, and Coppertale stuck just behind. If anyone was expecting a gentler game with four female Beaters in the air, they’re quickly disappointed, as Delgado/Hobbs and Barringer/Meer are no-holds-barred in their pursuit of Bludgers. Castillo starts lagging behind as it becomes obvious that Coppertale is targeting him specifically, with a hit from Meer around the 20 minute mark that only just wings the back of Castillo’s right arm. But time on the Bludgers is evenly divided between the two teams, and the Azurcrest Beaters do their best to keep their opponents off their captain. Beater Hobbs keeps one eye on the Seekers. Early on in the game, she sends a well-aimed Bludger that nearly takes off the Seeker Wainwright’s head, giving Seeker St. Clair a chance to chase the Golden Snitch out of sight. It’s 40 minutes on the clock, and the score is 50–30 for Azurcrest.
Each team scores another goal each (first by Ashworth, then Castillo’s second goal of the game) before Coppertale finally hits their mark. Lewis steals the Quaffle from out of Morales-Tran’s hands, distracting both of her blue-robed teammates as they have to switch directions to chase after Lewis. Meer hits a Bludger over to Barringer, and Barringer’s bat slams it with all her might—sending it shooting across the pitch and into Chaser Castillo’s head. He’s out instantly. Coach Thorn dashes onto the field to cushion his fall with magic, giving Lewis the chance to pass to Lacey, who throws an impressively long shot at the Azurcrest goals—but Keeper Flowers keeps his head just long enough to block it. Thorn calls for a timeout, in which Castillo is carried off to the infirmary, and Reserve P. Lacey is subbed in.
Violence is apparently the key to Coppertale team spirit—or at least it is for Keeper Velasquez, who ends up blocking six straight goals in the next half-hour, giving her teammates all the time they need to catch up. Well—not all the time, as rain starts to fall from the now much greyer sky. A drizzle at first, promising to become a downpour. (Cheerleaders flee as the first cold droplets hit.) Seconds before the hour mark, Chaser H. Lacey scores the goal that pushes Coppertale to overtake Azurcrest, 70–60, and Lewis gets the next one a few minutes later. Seemingly emboldened rather discouraged by the growing rain, it’s Chaser Morales-Tran who finally breaks the Coppertale Keeper’s streak, scoring their first goal after Castillo was taken out. Azurcrest and Coppertale are on even playing fields: no captains playing, two green reserves with a lot to prove, and miserable conditions with icy rain and poor visibility. Unexpected for their team, Azurcrest gets reckless: P. Lacey and Morales-Tran run harder after Quaffles, with Lacey managing to steal one out from her brother, and Morales-Tran stealing from Ashworth. (Each also get in a goal, with steady assistance from Key.)
Beater Delgado, whose game up until now could’ve hardly been called conservative, also gets more aggressive under the freezing conditions, in particular maneuvering to block or intercept any Bludgers from Barringer. By contrast, Hobbs starts setting up shots for her partner instead of making any of her own, but Delgado is more than eager to be the one who slams Bludgers at people’s heads. About 80 minutes in, one of her Bludgers finds its target: not a headshot, but the force to Lewis’ shoulder is enough to knock her off her broom, too close to the ground for anyone to react in time. Lewis breaks her left leg in the fall, and Healer Mufferaw ignores any protests and orders her out of the game. On the sidelines, Captain Stoker is seen grabbing his hair before he tells Reserve Dixon to “get the fuck out there!” (Players use this break as an opportunity to cast warming and water-repelling charms, although not all of them get their charms done before they’re called back up in the air.) Once the game resumes, Azurcrest wastes no time in reclaiming their lead: Key slams an impossibly hard-hitting Quaffle that slices right through the falling rain, bringing the score to 100–90, for Azurcrest.
The battle rages on, but it’s obvious that Azurcrest has the edge. Either a Seeker catches the game-deciding Snitch now, or Azurcrest will get far too ahead for it to matter. It’s Seeker Wainwright who somehow spots the Snitch first, a tiny streak of gold flying against the bright blue of Chaser P. Lacey’s water-logged robes. Seeker St. Clair is closer, but he doesn’t see it, only the orange blur that Wainwright closing in. St. Clair kicks off, his goggles streaked with rain; the Snitch flees under the brooms of the Azurcrest Chasers, moving into formation to intercept Chaser Dixon, who has the Quaffle under one arm. Morales-Tran, Key and Lacey break apart; St. Clair finally spots the Snitch flying in between Key and Morales-Tran, but Wainwright’s broom speeds ahead, and he almost knocks Morales-Tran sideways as he flies by. Key lunges for the Quaffle; Dixon leans away from him, then has to swiftly dodge when St. Clair flies right at her, which gives P. Lacey the opportunity to grab the red ball right out of Dixon’s hand. Chaser H. Lacey comes barreling at her, but P. Lacey throws to Morales-Tran, who zips away towards the Coppertale hoops.
Wainwright remains in hot pursuit of the Snitch, not seeming the least bit deterred by the heavy rain; but St. Clair’s catching up, advancing inch by inch alongside his rival Seeker. Meer and Barringer, apparently trusting their Seeker, focus their fire on Azurcrest, with Meer striking Morales-Tran’s broom and surprising her enough that she drops the Quaffle. But Key’s right there with her, and catches it before Ashworth can get close enough. St. Clair is shoulder-to-shoulder with Wainwright; he reaches out for the Snitch. Key flies fast, outpacing Ashworth. Velasquez frantically wipes the water from her goggles. Blue- and orange-clad fans scream in the stands, no longer caring about the rain. Wainwright, both hands still on his broom, leans hard, jostling St. Clair, who loses his balance on his slippery broom handle. Speedy P. Lacey streaks ahead of Key, and Velasquez starts turn, expecting Key to pass to her; but Key raises his arm, bright red Quaffle in hand. He’s twelve, ten yards away. St. Clair just manages to right himself as both of Wainwright’s hands let go of his broom. Key winds up, and throws. The Quaffle sails through the rain and into the leftmost hoop. And Seeker Wainwright closes his fingers around the Golden Snitch, sealing the win for Coppertale.
Inside the Quidditch pitch, the stands are packed with seemingly everyone eager to watch the last match before the long winter break. Mr. Merrill promises 5 house points to any Azurcrest who’ll “relay a message” to Coppertale on the other side of the stands, and grants [Azurcrest Character B] his megaphone to lead them in serenading Ms. Vector with Queen’s “We Will Rock You.” Ms. Vector ends up confiscating the megaphone, but does promise 10 house points to one of the singing jays, [Azurcrest Character C], if they go back to Merrill with a reply: “Let us hope your house plays better than they sing.”
Cheerleaders warm up the field, which has been charmed to melt any lingering snow on the grass. Captains Ignacz and Patterson are obviously feeling more confident, with this being the second showing for both. Riley Stamper decides to brave the cold and sport their arms-and-knees-baring spring cheer outfit for today’s routine, which receives a few whistles from the crowd. Towards the end, the mascots end up duking it out, although Webster Knox catches their opponent with a playful body check that accidentally knocks them both to the ground. Settle down, boys!
Finally, the players fly into the pitch, with Coach Thorn moving to the middle. “Let’s go over what’s at stake, shall we?” says Announcer Lee. “Azurcrest has a brand new captain, of the only team who has yet to win any games. If Castillo doesn’t nail this one down, he’s not getting a chance until February. But who cares, right? Those jays will always be friends no matter what, and friendship is what really counts in Quidditch. Meanwhile, Coppertale’s batch of emotionally-challenged knuckleheads (and I mean that affectionately) are down one captain. What would be worse, do you think? If the Foxes lost... or if they won, proving to everyone how utterly superfluous Stoker is to the team? Ah, well. Good luck, Ashworth!”
It’s a lightning fast start to the game: Chaser Lewis gets hands on the Quaffle first, and zips right between Key and Morales-Tran in a beeline for the goals. Chasers Lacey and Ashworth swiftly maneuver to block Azurcrest’s way, giving their teammate a head-start. Beaters chase after Bludgers, but neither Delgado nor Hobbs can get their bat on one before Lewis is shooting the first goal of the game past Keeper Flowers. The Quaffle’s taken by Azurcrest next, and the Jays show off their teamwork which has only improved since their first game. Morales-Tran makes the first attempt, but it’s blocked by Keeper Velasquez; however, their practiced coordination gives them plenty of chances within the next few minutes. Key grabs the Quaffle, throws right under Lacey’s broom to Morales-Tran, who gets it down to Chaser Castillo, who wins the first goal for Azurcrest with not even six minutes on the clock.
It’s Azurcrest’s game after this, with Castillo, Key and Morales-Tran rapidly racking up goals, and Coppertale stuck just behind. If anyone was expecting a gentler game with four female Beaters in the air, they’re quickly disappointed, as Delgado/Hobbs and Barringer/Meer are no-holds-barred in their pursuit of Bludgers. Castillo starts lagging behind as it becomes obvious that Coppertale is targeting him specifically, with a hit from Meer around the 20 minute mark that only just wings the back of Castillo’s right arm. But time on the Bludgers is evenly divided between the two teams, and the Azurcrest Beaters do their best to keep their opponents off their captain. Beater Hobbs keeps one eye on the Seekers. Early on in the game, she sends a well-aimed Bludger that nearly takes off the Seeker Wainwright’s head, giving Seeker St. Clair a chance to chase the Golden Snitch out of sight. It’s 40 minutes on the clock, and the score is 50–30 for Azurcrest.
Each team scores another goal each (first by Ashworth, then Castillo’s second goal of the game) before Coppertale finally hits their mark. Lewis steals the Quaffle from out of Morales-Tran’s hands, distracting both of her blue-robed teammates as they have to switch directions to chase after Lewis. Meer hits a Bludger over to Barringer, and Barringer’s bat slams it with all her might—sending it shooting across the pitch and into Chaser Castillo’s head. He’s out instantly. Coach Thorn dashes onto the field to cushion his fall with magic, giving Lewis the chance to pass to Lacey, who throws an impressively long shot at the Azurcrest goals—but Keeper Flowers keeps his head just long enough to block it. Thorn calls for a timeout, in which Castillo is carried off to the infirmary, and Reserve P. Lacey is subbed in.
Violence is apparently the key to Coppertale team spirit—or at least it is for Keeper Velasquez, who ends up blocking six straight goals in the next half-hour, giving her teammates all the time they need to catch up. Well—not all the time, as rain starts to fall from the now much greyer sky. A drizzle at first, promising to become a downpour. (Cheerleaders flee as the first cold droplets hit.) Seconds before the hour mark, Chaser H. Lacey scores the goal that pushes Coppertale to overtake Azurcrest, 70–60, and Lewis gets the next one a few minutes later. Seemingly emboldened rather discouraged by the growing rain, it’s Chaser Morales-Tran who finally breaks the Coppertale Keeper’s streak, scoring their first goal after Castillo was taken out. Azurcrest and Coppertale are on even playing fields: no captains playing, two green reserves with a lot to prove, and miserable conditions with icy rain and poor visibility. Unexpected for their team, Azurcrest gets reckless: P. Lacey and Morales-Tran run harder after Quaffles, with Lacey managing to steal one out from her brother, and Morales-Tran stealing from Ashworth. (Each also get in a goal, with steady assistance from Key.)
Beater Delgado, whose game up until now could’ve hardly been called conservative, also gets more aggressive under the freezing conditions, in particular maneuvering to block or intercept any Bludgers from Barringer. By contrast, Hobbs starts setting up shots for her partner instead of making any of her own, but Delgado is more than eager to be the one who slams Bludgers at people’s heads. About 80 minutes in, one of her Bludgers finds its target: not a headshot, but the force to Lewis’ shoulder is enough to knock her off her broom, too close to the ground for anyone to react in time. Lewis breaks her left leg in the fall, and Healer Mufferaw ignores any protests and orders her out of the game. On the sidelines, Captain Stoker is seen grabbing his hair before he tells Reserve Dixon to “get the fuck out there!” (Players use this break as an opportunity to cast warming and water-repelling charms, although not all of them get their charms done before they’re called back up in the air.) Once the game resumes, Azurcrest wastes no time in reclaiming their lead: Key slams an impossibly hard-hitting Quaffle that slices right through the falling rain, bringing the score to 100–90, for Azurcrest.
The battle rages on, but it’s obvious that Azurcrest has the edge. Either a Seeker catches the game-deciding Snitch now, or Azurcrest will get far too ahead for it to matter. It’s Seeker Wainwright who somehow spots the Snitch first, a tiny streak of gold flying against the bright blue of Chaser P. Lacey’s water-logged robes. Seeker St. Clair is closer, but he doesn’t see it, only the orange blur that Wainwright closing in. St. Clair kicks off, his goggles streaked with rain; the Snitch flees under the brooms of the Azurcrest Chasers, moving into formation to intercept Chaser Dixon, who has the Quaffle under one arm. Morales-Tran, Key and Lacey break apart; St. Clair finally spots the Snitch flying in between Key and Morales-Tran, but Wainwright’s broom speeds ahead, and he almost knocks Morales-Tran sideways as he flies by. Key lunges for the Quaffle; Dixon leans away from him, then has to swiftly dodge when St. Clair flies right at her, which gives P. Lacey the opportunity to grab the red ball right out of Dixon’s hand. Chaser H. Lacey comes barreling at her, but P. Lacey throws to Morales-Tran, who zips away towards the Coppertale hoops.
Wainwright remains in hot pursuit of the Snitch, not seeming the least bit deterred by the heavy rain; but St. Clair’s catching up, advancing inch by inch alongside his rival Seeker. Meer and Barringer, apparently trusting their Seeker, focus their fire on Azurcrest, with Meer striking Morales-Tran’s broom and surprising her enough that she drops the Quaffle. But Key’s right there with her, and catches it before Ashworth can get close enough. St. Clair is shoulder-to-shoulder with Wainwright; he reaches out for the Snitch. Key flies fast, outpacing Ashworth. Velasquez frantically wipes the water from her goggles. Blue- and orange-clad fans scream in the stands, no longer caring about the rain. Wainwright, both hands still on his broom, leans hard, jostling St. Clair, who loses his balance on his slippery broom handle. Speedy P. Lacey streaks ahead of Key, and Velasquez starts turn, expecting Key to pass to her; but Key raises his arm, bright red Quaffle in hand. He’s twelve, ten yards away. St. Clair just manages to right himself as both of Wainwright’s hands let go of his broom. Key winds up, and throws. The Quaffle sails through the rain and into the leftmost hoop. And Seeker Wainwright closes his fingers around the Golden Snitch, sealing the win for Coppertale.
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COPPERTALE WINS
160–130
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COPPERTALE WINS
160–130
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.
PLAYERS & CHEERLEADERS
Sylvester
As it turns out, all that is goddamn heaven compared to sitting out when it's his goddamn team. To be captain in name only, trusting someone else to lead the plays. He's oddly subdued the entire time he watches Coppertale play, hardly even shouting whenever Nisha, Heathcliff or Ira score, or when Roxie and Charlie succeed in taking out Castillo. The only time he even kind of loses it is when he's forced to send Dinah out, and Sy marches away from the sidelines to follow Nisha, just for something to do. He follows Nisha and Mufferaw as far as the exit, half an ear on the commentary, and then goes back, because he can't leave his team.
When Reid catches the Snitch, Sy is... Shit, he doesn't know. Better to win than to lose, always. But it's hard to feel like this is his win when he did nothing to earn it, and the weather's just so fuckin' horrendous, like who the hell can celebrate after being drenched for like an hour? Sy's dry, of course. He never had to go into the rain at all, but he runs out now, wanting—no, needing to be there when the team touches down. He's not going to be a fuckin' asshole who can't celebrate someone else's success.
Sy & Reid
"Hey," he greets, fishing for praise but expecting Sy to tell him to wipe that shitty look off his face. Reid'll be happy with either.
Micah
He's not going to storm off the pitch, though. Jeffy and Essie and Ree—and Griffin and Pandora and Sofia, shit, everyone—they'll just worry. But Micah will suggest that they go see Captain Castillo as soon as possible.
Micah & Calvin
"Chin up," he says primly as he gives the scarf one more loop around Micah's neck. It's warm; magic must be involved. Calvin's already stepping away, with no intention of stealing Micah from his team.
Nisha
"I've got two hundred and six bones," she informs the licensed medical professional, indignant. The fog of shock hanging over her head dissolves quickly, so by the time she whines, "It's just a femur," it's thin and half a sob. Like maybe it's not just a femur. And god her shoulder hurts.
Before leaving the field with Mufferaw she tells Sy that Dinah's "Gonna be fuckin great."
Spending the rest of the game in the infirmary sucks dick, and Nisha looks about as pleased to be there as a box of bees, lightly shaken, but brightens visibly at any visitors.
Nisha & Knifehands
"DUDE," she shouts across the infirmary, and she's going to be kicked out of here in less than five minutes if she's not careful. "You're never gonna believe what happened after you left." And Nisha shouldn't believe anything she says, because there is no way there were two separate fire tornadoes in the same game.
Nisha & Knifehands
Nisha's eyes are as big as saucers by the time Dinah, in her mud-caked glory, comes into full view. "Did you guys mud wrestle to figure out who won??"
Nisha & Knifehands
She pulls a chair up to Nisha's bedside, a horrible screeching sound accompanying the movement, and props her chin up on a hand. "How does it FEEL? Are you DYING?? I thought Sy was gonna cry when they dragged you off the field but he had to be strong for the REST of us."
Nisha & Knifehands
She's attempting to steady the pitcher, knocking things around and making a whole lot of noise. "I wish," she says, semi-distracted. "But like it's totes just my curse to be indestructible, I guess?" A pause. "Do you think Cap will cry when I die for real??" The prospect is perhaps too exciting.
Nisha & Reid
Reid sits down on the chair beside the bed and passes her four warm cheese rolls wrapped in a clean dish towel. His hair's recently, carelessly dried, making it almost comically haphazard and frizzy. "It happens," he comments blandly, but his normal edges are a little more softened around Nisha.
Nisha & Reid
Her expression flickers into a beaming grin when she unwraps the dish towel to see what Reid's brought her. For about a second and a half, that smile is directed at Reid, and then it's obscured by the roll she shoves right in her face. "Dinah said you fought a mud elemental," she says with the skill of someone who does most of her talking with her mouth full. "I bet you caught the hell out of the snitch, huh?" And then she remembers herself, holding up one of the rolls: "Thank you!!"
Ira
Ira and Heathcliff
Ira and Heathcliff
Ira and Essie
Ira and Essie
Jeffy
He enthusiastically shakes hands with everyone on Coppertale, giving them a genuine "good game guys!!" before saying the exact same thing to everyone else on his team. The announcer was right, they really are friends no matter the outcome of their match!!
But he agrees with Micah, going to see Captain Castillo should DEFINITELY be one of the first things they do. Jeffy's not even worried about showering off first (he's been in the rain for the last two hours, isn't that the same thing??), he'll tromp on down to the infirmary with the team to make sure their Quidditch Dad is alive and well and ready to give them a pep talk. Maybe he'll even make him a BIG CARD too!
Riley Mae
But now that the game is over and no one's paying attention to her, she's fucking freezing and she's shivering and she just needs, like, all the towels and blankets and warming charms and attention if she's going to survive. How did that game end again? Doesn't matter, someone snuggle her.
Griffin
And, just like a puppy, is quick to bouncily follow the lead of the upper classmen, congratulating his teammates and opponents like Jeffy's shadow before dutifly falling in line behind Micah to make sure their Quidditch dad remembers who they all are.
Heathcliff
After the initial round of revelry, though, he goes to find his sister. She may be on a different team but she's a total badass too and he wants to congratulate her on doing such a great job in her first match! Even if she did take the Quaffle right out of his hands.
Pandora
She'll want to see Heathcliff before disappearing off with whatever teammates. ♥ Not to, like, rub anything in his face? But!
Pandora & Essie
Dominic Tremblay
Webster & Open
But now it's about to start. Webster's blood is pumping -- running around the pitch for the past fifteen minutes and hearing the roar of the crowd will do that to you -- and he is actually
excitednot dreading this fight. He squints through the eye-holes of the mascot costume and spots Todd. Now or never, right?He points a wing at his "opponent" and beckons him.
Oh god.