6 Apr 2024, 02:41
Captain's Strategies and Young Secrets
@Della Barfield
Date: 10th Feb
If on her first day at Hogwarts someone had told her that she would be here, sitting on the high rows of benches looking at the grounds in front of her with her mind stuck on broom racing strategies… she would have called them mental. Her, a muggleborn, raised protected in a glass dome by everyone around her as she was the most delicate and fragile little flower. As if a slightly stronger breath of wind would be enough to blow her away...
She knew that being there, a broom racer, represented a daring and bold challenge that she, in all honesty, wasn't yet sure she was ready to face. Ying knew, that she would have to find the perfect way, meaning the most persuasive way, how to explain her parents what she was really doing as a Gryffindor broom racing captain...she just figured that being direct and completely straightforward about this would end in a very unpleasant outcome. "You know father, we just fly around through icy waterfalls and narrow passageways, facing giant squibs and murder trees...nothing special!" yeah...right...it wouldn't work! Ying considered with a grimace.
That's why she's been focusing so much on her grades, to find a balance, something she could negotiate with. Yes, broom racing has its dangers, but it is also rewarding and she was building her future by being as bright as possible... that was the card she had to hold dear, no failing or she would know that she would have to lose one of the things, if not the real thing, that made her truly happy in her very young life.
Ying sighed, taking on the view she felt privileged to be able to appreciate. The wind was still spreading the autumn chill, but the sun's rays were already warm enough to give a golden glow among the mountains and trees of the wild forest. It was almost a miracle that Gryffindor had won the last race, but she had no lack of pride and, in truth, a little too much presumption because of it. Feelings that she had to keep under control so as not to make the wrong impression, she liked to be known as kind and humble...but damn, it really felt good to win!
A smile crossed her face as she leaned back on her hands and closed her eyes to enjoy the moment. Another sigh of amusement escaped her lips before she began to hear someone approaching. She knew immediately who it was and so she opened her eyes to look at her captain. Ying was more than ready to work on planning their next training sessions and making an outline for the next race. With two consecutive victories, her motivation and confidence were more than high. If they managed to overcome the next challenge...she was sure she would be unbearable even for herself! But hey, she could totally live with that!
5 Jul 2024, 07:05
Captain's Strategies and Young Secrets
interacting: @Fang Hui-Ying
mentioning: @Fang Hui-Ming & @Nicholas McCowan
English | Parseltongue
Going to broom racing practice and meeting with her co-captain for strategy had become a regular refrain in Della's life—something she could depend on. The last two and half years had been a roller coaster: discovering the magical world, experiencing life-threatening danger (more than once!), and learning she was really really good at something: racing. Broom racing was grounding, even though it involved being as far from the ground as possible; it was Della's way of clearing her head. It, of course, helped that her team was good at winning—but even if they consistently lost, Della wouldn't give this team up for anything.
Today, she was meeting Ying for another strategy session. The winter air was still crisp, but the spring sun was trying to peek through and give them some much-needed warmth while sitting in high the sky. And Ying was already here. Della appreciated the younger girl's dependableness and exuberance for the sport. She hoped their relationship could be as steadfast as Della's was with Nicholas McCowan, when she was co-captain and he was captain (maybe without all the jealous girlfriend stuff this time!). She hoped Nick was doing well in his well-deserved retirement.
But there was a glaring, elephant-sized hole in Ying and Della's budding friendship. Ying was the little sister of Fang Hui-Ming. It was unmistakable when she first saw Ying; while Ying was a Gryffindor tried true, the similarities to her Slytherin brother were written all over her face. Della literally saw him every time she looked at Ying. It was difficult to unravel the snake from the lion. She hadn't mentioned her connection—her crush—her failed crush—her definitely-would-crush-again-if-Ming-ever-took-a-break-from-studying-and-let-her-know-that-he-didn't-hate-her—to Ying's brother. Hopefully, as far as the co-captain knew, Della didn't even know Ming.
"Hey, Ming—er, Ying! How are you today?" Nice, Freudian slip, Della. Hopefully, that didn't let the cat, or rather snake, out of the bag?
sta 8 - eva 16 - str 5 - wis 11 - arc 5 - accuracy 13 |||| Parselmouth - Evasive Maneuvers - Beast Master
also Ruckus Weems | Quentin Gagné