2023/24, Stage 3 Hufflepuff v Slytherin: Match 3

Jake seemed helpless being confronted by Tone, and Lindsey rolled her eyes at the Slytherin for embarrassing (?) her teammate. “I guess my presence may as well remind you of your defeat when we last met?”

Though defeat or not, Lindsey wouldn’t have any time to properly review her sweet (bittersweet?) victory as soon as the game kicked off. She winced when the youngest Slytherin girl caught her in a super powerful gust of wind (and Jake as well), then in no time found herself sliding into the a heavy fog (and Jake as well, again), courtesy of Mr. Tone. Feeling the urge to fight back, Lindsey pointed her wand at Cazares, and a spray of bangs and smoke were conjured around all the Slytherins. A small success, but still, she had way to go.

Oh, Merlin. This was the third time Lucia had faced Hanako Tone in a duelling match, and also the third time he'd flirted with her in a duelling match. If this was a book, Lucia would probably be flirting back, or at least know how to put a stop to it, or maybe stand up for Lindsey, who was also being subjected to Hanako's attempts at wooing. As it happened, this wasn't a book, and Lucia just stood there like a lemon, trying to ignore Hanako as best she could. She really wasn't cut out to be a heroine, and Lindsey was perfectly capable of standing up for herself. The only thing Lucia was capable of was spellcasting, so she set her mind to that. 'Show them what-for', indeed.

As most duels did, this one began with a bang. She was almost impressed by her new teammate—that had been a brilliant Wind Jinx; perhaps she would be able to hold her own despite being a third year. There was little time for appreciation, though, as all three Hufflepuffs had apparently chosen Ruby to attack. The Cracker Jinx had taken her by surprise and she took the full blow from it before managing to get out of the way of the other two spells. In doing so, though, the Blasting Curse she had just gone through the motions for was thrown wildly off course, headed for her teammate instead. Well, that wasn't anywhere near what was supposed to have happened. A brief glance was spared to ascertain whether the younger girl seemed alright, but that was it. Ruby wasn't big on apologies, and the other Slytherin would receive no such thing from her. Mistakes happened, and duels were violent—that was just the fact of the matter.

The commentary was hugely unappreciated, though. Ruby had very little tolerance for being mocked, but lashing out at the referee at the beginning of the duel was, unfortunately, a little too unprofessional for her. Keeping her expression blank, she forced herself to just stare straight ahead and ignore it. However, Tone, who had foolishly decided to comment and laugh at her, had no such protection. She glared at him with a blazing fire in her eyes that, thankfully, seemed to be warning enough. “Tone? Shut up or the next person to be hit with a Blasting Curse will be you,” she hissed venomously, before flashing an incredibly fake smile at him and turning back to face their opponents.

Round 2

Sometimes people forget that badgers are creatures with teeth as well... and that they are, in the end, predatory animals just as likely as any other to take advantage of any opening and willing to exploit any weakness that a vulnerable target of prey is unfortunate enough to expose. The European and American badgers alike quite enjoy hunting down burrowing rodents... and snakes too make that list as the preferred prey of American and Honeybagers. This duel, it would seem, would take not exception to that case.

As Jake cleared the way for the other badgers to follow up with a Weather-Modifying Counterspell with an easy incantation that even those who fumbled with magical incantation could manage with little difficulty, three cries of Flipendo--two from Hufflepuff and one from Slytherin--would ring out true. But it would not be three blasts of white light but four that would sail across the piste, two from Hufflepuff... and two from Slytherin, from the wisest and most sharply forked serpent among them.

All four would strike true--Jake and Lindsey were too tangled in their mists to see their incoming assaults, and Guinevere's world was too dark to hazard a guess at where hers may be, though she did make a valiant effort on behalf of Lindsey's. She was only just too slow to evade it, and the blow from that first strike landed her neatly in the path of Lucia's followup. The blindfold, unfortunately, would not fall away from her eyes, her world would remain relegated to the dark for as long as the velveteen veil covered her ophidian eyes.

"Revenge from Ruby as she issues a cutting challenge! Her words aren't empty either, folks, watch your back when slighting this one, eh?" Piérre crossed his arms with an easy smile, popping one hip in a relaxed regard at the onslaught before him. "And Revenge from the Hufflepuffs upon that girl that really showed them that experience is relative and no foe no matter how small or inexperienced should be underestimated! Oh dear, but I think she's going do-- no! NO! She's STANDING, folks!" He would watch on in awe as the girl seemed only hairs from collapsing altogether but was somehow just firm enough to keep her footing. "Full of vinegar indeed! She's got at least one more good cast in her! Blindfolded and she's still going strong! Tanking two Flipendos and still holding out! What a masterclass act in determination!"

Hanako's fear at Ruby's words may have inspired him a bit too much, and another brilliant Ventus cut the air and spun its way towards Jake with the kind of excitement that came only from a frightened man's impressed silence with a type of woman he could certainly at least tip a hat to in respect if not find himself enamored by her viciousness. A certain trait that many could likely sympathize with, most likely, even if unspoken or unshared externally in daily conversationalist tendency. "Slytherins are two for two with their GORGEOUS Venti!" Piérre was slightly flabbergasted by the show, as the Ventus' split once again seemed drawn to Lindsey. "Did Ruby's words kick Mister Tone into high gear, or is mimicry the highest form of flattery being paid to snakelet Guinevere?" He raised a brow. "Care to enlighten us, Mister Tone?" It was a sort of teasing jibe, a query in which either option yielded perfect opportunity to tease further.

But, unlike Guinevere's luck earlier, Jake only just managed to weave his way past the sultry wind, and Lindsey's own evasion had a certain sort of finesse that indicated that it was more than likely she had either seen it coming or that she had a certain gut-instinct that lightning was going to strike twice before it even tried. "So close! But alas... no dice for dear Tone. Next time, perhaps. If nothing else, you've caused some other underclassmen to take notes: same goes for you, Guinevere." He called over to the youngest again, by now starting to sway his hips from side to side idly with his arms still crossed over his chest as Figaro flopped himself over the boy's shoulders. He was waiting for something more to happen, mostly.

"This is still anyone's game... but some are starting to look inches from collapsing..." A widening Devil's smile made itself known, his left eye gleaming with a deep-seated shine to it that seemed to capture more light than reflect. "I suggest finishing your bets soon, or forever hold your peace. This next round may prove to be the decisive one for the rest of the match's cadence."

Information

1. You have 96 hours from this post's timestamp to owl your moves to me (Piérre Marchonné) and to make your 50+ word post.
2. Do not hint at your move in your post, as this can give an advantage to the other team.
3. Remember to send your move and make your post before the deadline. If either of these are not completed in time, your move will be void.
4. I will try to moderate early if all actions and posts are in before the deadline. If you do not wish for me to do this, please owl me.
5. Your stats, abilities, and spells are considered locked for this duel. If any are added to your trunk since 10th May, they may not be used.
6. If you have any questions or feedback regarding this match, please feel free to owl or DM me.
7. Handy links: Duelling Rules, Duelling Spells, and the most recent patch.
8. Good luck and happy duelling!

The spectator thread for this duel can be found here.
Come cheer for your House and friends!

A Flipendo for a Flipendo was a fair exchange. Lindsey winced when the Knockback Jinx hit her in the chest, forcing her to step back in order to keep balance. It’s a miracle that Russetwood was still standing, despite how weak she seemed, which probably proved her capability to join the senior league. Lindsey was reflecting over her opponent’s tenacity (well, mostly over why her spell as well as Lucia’s wasn’t powerful enough to knock her out straightaway), when a strange intuition struck her and she stepped aside. It indeed helped - Tone was ungraciously casting a super powerful Wind Jinx directed at Jake and the spell split again - but thankfully, she had escaped from this gust of wind. Jake had helpfully cleared their sight, and hopefully everything would get better soon.

The Knockback Jinx seemed to be quite popular on the piste today. In fact, except Jake's counterspell and an incredibly-cast Wind Jinx that Lucia was glad her teammates avoided, it was the only spell to be used in these few seconds. Each one hit - which was both helpful and not, since that was two from each side.

"Did Ruby's words kick Mister Tone into high gear, or is mimicry the highest form of flattery being paid to snakelet Guinevere?" He raised a brow. "Care to enlighten us, Mister Tone?"

Never had he wanted a moderator to not pay attention to him before today. Even when his insistent commentary made Hanako laugh just now. But that was the thing with Marchonné. He was entertaining one second, and another he made Hanako hope the ventus would have hit the moderator instead. It was a difficult splurge of emotions that Hanako only managed to react instinctively with a dry laugh. “Nothing but warming up for my next shots” he said with a smirk, not doing so well hiding his annoyance. But he only seemed even more determined to hit next time. Particularly when the fog dispersed and the faces of the hufflepuffs came to light again. How dare they target a pipsqueak over him so early in the duel. His ego was kicked in gear. Was he not a better threat? It only fuelled his motivation to make them regret not paying attention to him. Damnit, he better win this duel. She had a perfect ventus and a perfect aim, whoopidoo. She’d hardly standing on her two feet right now.

Hanako gave her side glance. Her weariness was quite a sight. Something small churned in his chest as he looked at her injuries more clearly. “You know, your endurance is rather motivating” he decided to add in a jest audible only within his teammates' vicinity. A tinge of a smirk plastered on his face as his tone was laced with the tiniest bit of concerned.

Was he annoyed she got a good ventus and he couldn’t hit any? Yes. Was his ego bruised? Yes. Would it be obvious to the audience? Yes. Was he upset to see she was this battered up even with 2 older years on her team? Unfortunately, Yes. Would he not acknowledge it till their very last health percentage? Absolutely.

Doing as strategies but ALSO- talking with @Guinevere Russetwood ,

Thankfully, Ruby's aim was much better this round. She needed to do better, and wouldn't allow herself to have a repeat of the last round—that kind of failure was just not an option. It also helped that she wasn't trying to dodge three spells again this time. Either way, she watched with satisfaction as both Hufflepuffs were hit. It was mildly disappointing to see Tone not have similar success despite how powerful his spell had looked, but at least it had been a good cast, so he would be spared any snide remarks from her this time. Unfortunately, the youngest Slytherin continued to get battered by an onslaught of spells and, at this point, looked like she could barely stand. Not ideal...

"Oof," Jake grunted, driven backwards by the Slytherin team's flipendo...The fog really WAS making it hard to duel. It was a miracle that Jake managed to duck under the Ventus spell that also came his way. Jake didn't know how some like Alan could stay standing after spell after spell. Jake had gotten better at dueling, but he always seemed to tire quickly when he got pelted. That was why he had practiced so much to get better at dodging, but you couldn't dodge what you couldn't see. Jake made sure to clear the arena of fog, that way he stood a chance. He couldn't take many more hits like that one.....

Of course clearing the fog meant he was opening the team up again to Hanako, but he hoped that being afraid of Ruby would help make him focus on dueling.