Closed idiot icarus pv

Ever since Astra first laid a hand on a broom, she was addicted to flying. The skies held promises of risk and reward, of adventurous thrill, of the honey-sweet nectar called freedom. It accepted the young viper no matter if the humans on the ground did or not. Regardless of her sins, no matter her heroics, the sky greeted her as it greeted all: open and impartial. It rained on the angels as much as the devils. And that was something Astra could appreciate.

Flying time took up a fair bit of her schedule, but doubly so since joining the broom racing team and earning a broom of her own. Albany the Nimbus 1700 was a hardy fellow. Polished and sleek from painstaking care, he was really the most looked after item in her inventory, he glowed from Slytherin's recent win. Maybe he flew better, or she was more confident, but in either case the joyous practice was all the more euphoric. And all the more challenging as she pushed herself to greater heights. Literally.

And, as luck might have it for a certain lion cub, figuratively. Although a lot of broom racing involved holding on till your fingers were stuck that way and praying, team practices and Astra's own air time did involve some showing off. Tricks and the like. Astra particularly enjoyed emulating a rollercoaster with barrel rolls and loop-the-loops frequently punctuating her flight path, and quick switch high speed maneuvers never rare. But less frequent were tricks that did not involve straddling the broom or having at least one hand on it. Sure she was decent sidesaddle, and could definitely hold her own if she found herself hanging off of the broomstick by her hands.

As Astra came out to the pitch to fly, she saw him. She took Albany for a few slow laps, getting faster each time high up in the air, saw the young boy lift one foot then the other and slowly wobble forth, standing upright for one, two, three seconds.

Inspiration struck.

Perhaps the lion would not be the only one embarrassed trying to stand on his broom.

She swooped down a distance away, using the descent to slow a little. She didn't want to spook him into falling and getting hurt. Then, slowly, she circled around. With great caution and extreme care, one sneakered foot planted itself on the back half of the broom. Albany rocked. She shushed him, soothing-like. Then the other sneakered foot inched onto the front half. And then, upright.

She was facing the boy now. She offered a smile and wave before circling her arms wildly to keep balance as her foot tilted Albany wildly to the side. "Hell, I reckon I should've tried a skateboard before this," she blurted as she regained her balance. "A lot shorter to fall."