Broom Racing is Kinda Neat, Hey? PV Closed

Interacting with @Nicholas McCowan

Serena was not the type to get up early usually. She much preferred to stay in bed till the very last minute usually. But as the holidays approached, she found herself tossing and turning as she contemplated what to do. Going home or not was still a question that repeated in her mind. There were a few things keeping her here, though. Things she was excited about, despite every attempt the school made at her to feel otherwise. Well, it was not the school's fault per se. It was the people who resided within the walls of it. The school itself was doing everything it could to keep her alive, to keep her sane and to make her happy.

One of those things was providing new sports for the former quidditch player. She loved quidditch, more than anything. Perhaps even more than anyone. She would stir awake from happy dreams of playing professionally. Hearing her name screamed out at the London Quidditch Stadium not too many years ago had been both the highlight and the end of her quidditch dreams. The former seeker never gave up flying, far from it, and she supported the current quidditch team with all of her heart. But dreams of playing professionally quickly faded as people insisted on cheating all around her.

The news of broom racing quickly caught her attention though. It seemed like the perfect sport, in a way. Something that gave her a purpose, the chance to fly but without her having to catch her teammates sacrificing themselves solely for her. Something she could take part in without the pressure of catching the elusive snitch.

Sitting on the edge of her bed, she pulled open the drawer of the nearby bedside table. Locked in a small box was a golden snitch that had been gifted to her. Serena sighed softly, running her fingers over the box before putting it away again. Sports kept her mind off the drama and the feelings that she had wanted to run away from.

It was still early and most people were likely still asleep in the dorms. Carefully, she pulled a hat over her head, covering her ears as she had her hair plaited back to keep it off her face. She placed her brown contact lenses in and with that, she picked up her supplies and headed out donning a pair of tracksuit bottoms, a tank top and a hoodie over it.

Lugging the silver arrow through the corridors, she made her way out onto the grounds. The blanket of snow on the ground made her instantly feel a little colder but she knew she would start warming up with some stretches. Pizza slept soundly on her pillow when she left, leaving him behind for this activity. Stretching her neck by tilting her head to the far right and then the far left repeatedly as she walked, Serena made her way through the grounds with the hope of finding a good place to get some practice in.

She made her way to the same location where the last set of games had been, over the summer, with the hopes that she could find a similar flight path that was safe for her to do around there. Her eyes fell onto some tall trees nearby. There were narrow gaps between them... it could work. Trying to fly through them seemed like a good set of drills to do. She was busy staring up at the trees, trying to course a map out with her eyes when she noticed something moving from the far corner.

Turning on the spot, she blinked as her eyes fell onto a boy. It was not surprising, this was a school after all. However, she did not quite expect anyone else to be out there at this time. The boy was somewhat familiar-looking but she could not quite place a name on his face, "Oh, hey, sorry, I didn't uh, expect to see anyone else out here," She mumbled, as she realised she had been staring a little trying to place a name to him.

Nicholas stifled a yawn, the involuntary action betraying just how much of a morning person he was not. Fatigue clung to him, the long strips of tiredness refusing to fade even as he desperately pushed his desire to sleep back down into the pits of his soul from whence it came. In due course, he’d be up in the air, and the whipping of wind against his face would serve as alarm clock enough. The boy bit back another yawn, clenching his jaw in a grimace as he did so, before mounting his broom. He was just about to take off to the sky when movement piqued his interest from the corner of his eye. He turned his head, dark eyes and unkempt locks rendering him entirely delinquent in appearance.

Nicholas stared at the girl for a moment, his mind slowly catching up to his senses as he processed her presence. Although, he supposed his inquisitive look probably seemed more than a glare than anything polite. It was only after she spoke, and then a few moments longer of uncomfortable silence that he finally understood the situation before him. It wasn’t a particularly surprising situation, nor was it unusual. Yet, the tired brain was a beast in and of itself, and it did not seem to want to do anything to assist him.

He blinked, now processing the words, before finally, comprehension fully dawned on him.

“Oh, hey,” His words were almost a direct mirror of the older, although shorter, girl’s, “I wasn’t expecting anyone else either. Sorry.”

He wasn’t sure why he apologised, but he did. Perhaps it was due to just how awkward he felt, standing there, mounted on his broom and just about ready to take off. Had she arrived and seen him take position and he’d not even noticed it? What kind of spatial awareness was that? He’d be next to useless in the bloody race.

He looked her over, taking stock of her own broom, before he spoke again, “Oh, are you out to practice as well?”

May as well make conversation, it was the polite thing to do.

“Quidditch or broom racing?” The question was simple enough, no one was daft enough to give up sleep for flying unless they had proper purpose.

Still, his sleep-addled mind was still lagging in certain aspects. For one, the fact that names were a thing, and that they were a commonly used aspect of social interaction once more seemed to escape his grasp. So it was.

Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Serena Towers

Interacting with @Nicholas McCowan

Serena blinked a little, twitching her nose awkwardly as she wondered if she should just back away and leave the boy alone. He was practically glaring at her! The silence was luckily broken though. She nodded, "Yeah, I thought I'd get some in before the games next month. Figured it would probably be quieter now anyway," She replied honestly. She had expected the days after the winter break to be far busier. Everyone trying to get their last-minute practice in! Besides, starting earlier meant there was more time to practice.

She grinned at his question, "Broom racing, of course. Well, I guess that's not a given. I used to play Quidditch. But broom racing seems far more interesting and challenging than catching a snitch for me," She replied. Sometimes she wondered if she should go back to quidditch but as a chaser. It always struck her as a far more interesting position on the team than seeker did but she had been better at seeking so it ended up sticking.

"What about you?" Serena replied, wondering what he was here to do. This was not the quidditch training pitch, so he could have definitely been a broom racer too - or just wanted to fly around. However, that was no guarantee. Anyone could use this space to train, after all. This seemed like far too early to just fly around - especially after he specifically asked the question to her. So she figured that he would play one of the two sports himself - or want to try and get on the team.

Placing her broom on the ground, she leaned down to adjust her shoelaces, making sure that they were nice and secure. Having her shoe fall off - or worse, be the reason she got stuck somewhere - seemed less than ideal. Especially in the cold. For safety reasons, it was always good to ensure that they were nice and secure before flying through trees and since she had scouted a nice range of trees to try and fly around, this seemed to be the smartest option.

Standing up straight, she recomposed herself as she looked over to the nearby boy, "Oh, I'm Serena, by the way. Serena Towers of Hufflepuff," She introduced herself with a salute that turned into a little wave before stepping forward, leaning over a little and offering her hand to the boy in a handshake.

Nicholas answered the girl’s grin with one of his own, it was only polite after all. It was a particularly odd smile, for his own feelings were torn somewhat. He was genuinely excited to find someone else who would be competing in the sport come the new year, but that excitement was tempered somewhat by his desire to focus on his own training. Not to mention the grouchiness of the morning and his own failings of personality. Still, it was a smile all the same, just one that didn’t fully reach his eyes.

But, he was more than happy to put off flying for a moment longer, especially considering the fact he was struggling to stifle yawn after yawn, and conversation about a sport that had taken his fancy was always pleasant.

”Broom racing, of course” He answered, his smile only broadening as he repeated her own answer.

He leant back into his crouch, his posture halfway between readiness and a slouch. His head lulled somewhat, neck cracking and popping as he loosened his joints in his shoulders, ”Don’t get me wrong, quidditch is great, grew up with it and all. But, broom racing, y’know…” He made a vague gesture with the hand that wasn’t grasping his broom, perhaps a wave, perhaps an explosion, it was certainly a gesture, “Just something about it, took the best bits of quidditch, y’know the bludgering and the speed and dialled it up to eleven, like-” he made a sound approaching an explosion with his mouth before swiftly forcing his gob shut. A faint red blush coloured his nose, and he internally berated himself. He was supposed to be giving off a different air this year, an air of coolness, of caged violence and utilised rage. Getting excited like a schoolboy was no way to be acting. Even if it was so bloody early.

He chewed the inside of his lip, and straightened his posture, washing away the behaviour that had broken through his admittedly weak filter, “Nicholas McCowan, Gryffindor.” He grasped her hand with enthusiasm, his handshake slightly too firm in an attempt to play at masculinity.

“I’m kinda curious,” He stated idly, “How does one train for broom racing anyway?”

It was a rhetorical question, but he hoped that the older girl, Towers, had some form of answer in any event, “I was just going to fly at trees and try to avoid them at the last minute.” He stated it simply, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.

And then he was in the air, allowing the broom to carry his weight as he hovered slightly above the ground, “And y’know, if you hit a tree that’s kinda training in it’s own right,” He added blandly.

Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Serena Towers

Interacting with @Nicholas McCowan

Serena could not help but smirk a little, chuckling to herself as he repeated her words back to her, "Of course, of course," She joked, smiling. It was clearly the only way, after all - that much, she could agree with.

What she was not entirely sure about was how one of the best bits of quidditch was bludgering. She tilted her head, quirking her eyebrow, "Clearly you haven't taken enough bludgers to the face," She half-joked. No one should have to do that. Blocking a bludger with your body was not how to block a bludger. And falling every ten seconds was just tiring. She was pretty sure she spent more time falling in the air than flying at one point. She grinned at the reaction though, pleased she found someone who loved the sport as much as her it would seem.

"But I do have to agree. It's sort of a combination of both duelling and quidditch - but the players aren't necessarily your only concern," She added. Even if the opponents did not attack you once, there were still many threats in the game. Of course, the addition of them being able to spell and throw things at you just made everything more complicated. You literally had to be looking around 360 degrees constantly to watch out for obstacles, as well as other players. It was pretty intense. Fun but intense. Maybe also kind of dangerous. But she preferred it to be constantly targetted and bludgered like there was no tomorrow.

Shaking his hand, she looked towards the trees for a moment as he asked the question that they were likely both trying to work out. "I-" She looked back at him as he spoke about just going to fly at the trees. Alright, this was definitely @Jack Warren's twin. How many of them just wanted to fly at trees like there was no tomorrow? "Sure, you could probably just go attack the Whomping Willow. Let me know how that works out for you though, yeah?" She teased, making it very clear that she was not going to be partaking in his fly at the tree plan. It was probably training to be able to take some hits, sure but... that just seemed foolish.

Looking back at the treeline, "I was actually thinking that that part-" She paused, pointing to a section of trees closeby, "looked like the trees are somewhat close together. Was thinking it might be worth trying to go through the treeline, dodging any branches and navigating through the trees. Not at them but rather, trying to go around them. Like taking one from the right and then the next from the left, trying to zigzag to make it more difficult, rather than just flying straight or constantly to one side, yanno?" She explained her plan, though it had not been fully formulated yet. That was just her intention in stopping and her thought so far.

Admittedly, she had no idea how to train for broomracing though. Flying at trees might work too. "You know... flying at the water and trying to lift up last second might also work if you wanted to uh, maybe take a few less facetrees, yanno?" She added, in thought. Facetrees - a new word she was going to coin specifically for this kid and Jack it would seem - were similar to facepalming but you know, with trees instead of one's palm.

"I guess... hm. Maybe thinking about the obstacles would help too. Like, the Willow was in the last game so, actually, trying to fly past it is not a terrible idea," Serena continued, still in thought. As she fell quiet between her sentences, she could be seen wiggling her nose a little.

He shrugged, she was right of course, he’d taken a grand total of zero bludgers to the face. His experience lay more in the realm of bluster. Serena was certainly the sort to be sensible, questioning his desire to cause wanton fights between players, and his rather ridiculous idea of merely flying at obstacles. He hadn’t actually considered the Whomping Willow, although now that she mentioned it, he pressed his lips together thoughtfully. Of course, she had been facetious, joking at his expense. But it could be a rather valid training exercise, could it not?

“Perhaps,” Nicholas muttered idley, scratching at his jawline as he did so.

But even as he considered how cool he’d probably look attempting to dodge the brutal strikes of the tree, Serena was proposing far more sensible training regimes. Namely, attempting to weave through a thicket of trees as a way to improve their dexterity. That or pulling up last minute while flinging one’s self at the water. It was certainly safer than suffering a facetree, a term that Serena had likely coined for her own benefit, but one Nicholas saw no harm in adopting.

“That does seem safer,” He responded again, still mulling over the thought of dodging the Whomping Willow like some sort of action hero.

A thought that the older girl must have been absolutely echoing, for the conversation returned to that dastardly tree. It had been a part of the last race, had it not? That meant it was perfectly reasonable to use it for practice, more than that, it was logical. Nicholas didn’t truly love the risk of bodily harm, particularly if it may have led to potential maiming, but he wasn’t about to play the part of chicken. He’d been appointed captain, and that meant getting himself ready for the coming season. If preparation meant recklessly endangerment then so be it.

“Race you there then,” He spoke up now, his voice twinkling with a nervous energy.

The girl may have been thinking aloud, the wrinkling of her nose may have been an indication of such. But Nicholas had evidently missed the signs, for the boy was off, his broom carrying him in the direction of the Willow, his goal to weave between its branches. How delightfully stupid a goal it was.

Were Serena to join him in such an idiotic quest, all he’d be able to offer the girl was a cheesy grin, words failing him somewhat as he focused on the task at hand, “Try not do die,” the only thing he could think to say.

Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Serena Towers

Interacting with @Nicholas McCowan

"It truly does," Serena replied back when he said that it does seem safer before smirking slightly as she teased him, "You can show off with your daredevil moves later when there are girls around," thinking that must be the only reason people recklessly wanted to fly into trees. To show they were "strong" or flex to some girl (or guy) or something stupid.

Tilting her head slightly as he spoke, she grinned, mounting her broom. Race time. The Hufflepuff was not very competitive in fairness but she did like getting into the spirit of things and taking it somewhat seriously. It was more fun if people actually put in an effort, after all. "Shouldn't I be saying that to you?" She joked back to him as she kicked off the ground and into the air, "Try not to lose," She teased as she leaned forward, shooting off into the air and beelining it straight for the trees that she had pointed out.

Gathering speed, she inhaled deeply as she approached the trees. This was where things got tough. She actually had to concentrate and navigate through these trees at a decent speed. In all honesty, she was not going at full speed or even close to top speed, which is something that they would likely do in actual races. However, this was still a warm up and she was still working on gathering speed as she approached the trees.

Approaching the trees, Serena ducked under a few branches, zipping around the next tree successfully. Right, this was easy! She could do this! It was definitely shaping up to pretty easy, though she was fully concentrating on this, "Oh sh-" She whispered as she quickly swerved to the left, trying to dodge a tree trunk. A hiss escaped her as one of the branches from the said tree scratched her arm a little. It was not bad enough to knock her off but it still stung a little!

Nicholas shot a grin back at Serena, adrenaline already beginning its rapidfire course through his system. It was an impromptu race, there was no basis upon which to build a competitive spirit, but God dammit, flying was fun. Nicholas could not deny that simple fact of life, darting through the sky was an absolute blast, a thrill and a half without the risk of obstacles. The addition of trees and the need to dart through them before someone else did only served to heighten the already fun experience. More than that, however, he was glad his opponent of sorts appeared to be getting into the experience. She’d told him not to lose, and he’d no intention of doing that. But it was the rather bening smacktalk itself that broadened the boy’s grin even further.

“Don’t intend to,” He shot back.

And then his focus shifted toward the trees. His flying could hardly be described as graceful, his movements were janky, delayed, too much focus on speed had done its part to render his handling far less accurate than he’d ever hoped. Perhaps he should have lay off the speed at least a little bit, perhaps taking a second to think through exactly what his movements should be would have rendered him much more accurate. Alas, he’d found himself caught up in the thrill of the moment, in his desire to win an entirely impromptu race, with absolutely zero stakes.

The branch smacked him right in the head, and for a moment it felt as if his soul had evacuated his body. Then he was falling, only instincts keeping him wrapped around the broom long enough to bring his movements back into something resembling a straight line. The dull ache above his eye, coupled with an unmistakable warmth did serve a singular, positive, purpose though, it distracted him from the scrapes up and down his arms from the twigs and branches he’d all but careened into. That and it dazed him enough to continue flying, ever onward toward the Willow.

Still, his foolhardy endeavour did serve to slow him considerably, and in some respect, put the fear of God back into his arrogant bones. Not that it mattered, there was a completely arbitrary race to win.

@Serena Towers

Interacting with @Nicholas McCowan

Serena hissed slightly as her arm stung a little from the impact of the branches against them. Tilting her head down a little, she shrunk into herself a bit to keep to herself. This closed stature made it slightly easier to navigate through the trees as she was smaller.

Despite the speed and the potential danger, there was a sense of peace to the whole activity. The sharp wind hitting her skin shook her awake, lighting a fire of passion within her. The chill that ran down her meant she was still alive. It was quiet here - in a peaceful way, rather than eerily silent. She was outdoors in nature which she had grown to love and up in the air, flying through the skies, which she loved to do. In a way, she felt free. For the first time in a while, she felt free. Here, it did not matter who she was. All that mattered was that she could fly.

Her eyes widened as she spotted a giant tree practically appear right ahead of her. "SH-" She hissed out as she instantly turned, skidding through the air slightly. She exhaled sharply in relief as her broom slowed down enough for her to turn and fly around it without going smack into it.

How for the love of Bodrig did she miss that? She swallowed, shaking the random thoughts out of her head as she started to speed up again. Concentrate, she mentally told herself, almost scolding herself for letting herself get distracted. She had to focus. In a race, she had to stay focused. This might have just been a practice session but getting hurt was still possible. Besides, she could not let that snarky little Gryffindor kid beat her so easily!

Wait - aerodynamics. That was a thing! It was not quite a thing she had thought about but perhaps she needed to. This was a race, after all. She needed a posture that would give her good control over the broom whilst maintaining good speed. Leaning down further, she exhaled and relaxed her posture slightly as she tried to keep a narrow frame, swerving through the branches. Wait - how far were they supposed to go?

It suddenly dawned on her that she had not quite gaged the finish line. Was it when they saw the Whomping Willow or was it actually passing it? Oh gosh. Spotting Nicholas, she nodded to herself and tilted further to try and gain some speed. She had to beat him. That was the goal, right? Not that she was super competitive but it was just fun if she actually gave him a challenge, rather than going easy on him! "Giving up yet?" She called out towards him, half-jokingly, just to see if he would.