Broken Brooms and Attitude
September 5th, 2024 - Quidditch Tryouts - @Pax Zhang
Oonagh marched onto the pitch, the broom she had demanded her parents buy tucked beneath her arm, as her hands were occupied carrying the required bat and her helmet; a froggy one which looked quite fun. Regardless, as she stepped toward the training pitch on which she assumed her tryout would be held, she wondered if perhaps there was some leeway about not hitting people with a bat. Like maybe it was allowed, if they were truly truly annoying? Though chances were, that if they were truly annoying no rule could stop the girl from beating the person with the bat anyway. But she heard these metal balls packed quite a punch too, hence why her parents demanded she wear a helmet. At the very least they didn't just send her one but let her pick it out. Otherwise chances were huge that Oonagh could have died of embarrassment and now she would probably be the coolest person on the playing field; though she did not really need a helmet for that.
Either way, when Oonagh reached the middle of the pitch, she groaned. What was there a need for testing anyway? She would crush any competition there was, they would be better off with her on the team rather than her needing to find an alternative to let out frustrations... well she would not complain over more reasons to get into fights, they always did truly feel invigorating. Who needed caffeine when they could just have adrenaline? Well either way she was now stuck waiting for this Pax person who was meaning to test her or something. She hoped they didn't need a theoretical quiz because all Oonagh wanted was to get into action already... what was taking them this long anyway? Oonagh was already late by like ten minutes, keeping track of time without being able to pull out a phone was quite excruciating, however did that mean this Pax was even later than her?
Oonagh dumped her stuff on the ground unceremoniously and crossed her arms in front of her chest impatiently as she waited for who she was pretty sure was the captain of this game... well of their 'house' anyway. This was slightly ridiculous in a way, the way this school made it a whole lot more difficult for themselves and was just basically a huge maze. It was almost impossible to get anywhere in the castle without feeling watched by the eyes of some long dead person either as a ghost or a portrait. Regardless of things, she was now here and ready, so where was Pax?
| Oonagh Brown - Gryffindor - #A0522D | #5b7a56 - Semyon Reznikov - Durmstrang |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 10 | Wis: 00 | Arc: 02 | Acc: 10(13) |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 01 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 10 |
Broken Brooms and Attitude
They/ShePax had actually been ready for try-outs this time. This was going to be their third year running it, and they figured they'd gotten pretty used to how things ran now. Pumped full with caffeine, they were ready and raring to go, all set even with a positive mindset. New year, new talent, and new chances. They gotta get some wins, surely.
When they re-emerged with all their equipment, people were already waiting around, which surprised them, but reassured them. Least they've got the spirit, they thought.
"Good morning people!" they called out across the pitch, striding across to meet them. "Thank you all for coming out this early morning for quidditch try-outs. If you aren't prepared to do this regularly, then you might as well leave now."
As much as they jested, when it came to quidditch they were deadly serious. The hours were rough, and if any of these kids wanted a spot, they'd better be prepared for what was coming. They waited in case anyone chickened out and decided to leave before continuing.
"If you don't have a broom, then please pick a school broom up from the pile on my left." They gestured towards the large mass of brooms lying in a heap. "And we'll get going! As you'll soon learn, efficiency is key on this team, so you'll want to keep up. Once you've picked up a broom, go stand corresponding to which position you are trying out for: to my far left, beaters, and then chasers, keepers and seekers. I repeat: beaters, chasers, keepers, seekers." They pointed at each position where they wanted people to stand.
"If you don't know which position you want to try out for, please come and see me, and we'll have a discussion about where may be the best place for you. You've got five minutes - five minutes I said - to grab a broom and get in place. If you get there early, feel free to use the time to warm up. Remember, I'm not just looking for skill on the pitch, but also how you work in a team. Off you go!"
As everyone began to move, Pax mounted their broom and hovered not too far off the ground in case people needed their help, but began to slowly fly amongst the groups, watching to see what people would. There had definitely been some individuals that had already caught their attention, for sure.Reducio
Last edited by Pax Zhang on 18 Aug 2024, 16:45, edited 1 time in total.
Broken Brooms and Attitude
Arriving at the end of the warm up period, Oonagh had already proven great skill in time management. Shielding her eyes from the sunlight as she stared up, Oonagh let out a huff when she saw a bunch of kids chasing each other on the broom. One person seemed to stand aside and calling out commands; great... All she truly wanted to do here was bash in some people's skulls with metal balls or something like that, she did not want this to be a huge deal or anything. But alas, she guessed she would not get around joining the circus if she wanted to become part of the Quidditch team.
Oonagh got in position above her broom and pushed off, Sparky feeling nice in her hands and seemingly listening to all her whims as she rose to the sky, one hand slack at her side, a loose grip on the bat as her gaze tried to take in the game ahead. There weren't too many things going on yet, what with this being the first try out; she heard there would be multiple throughout the year as need arose for more players and based on interest. Not that it mattered, they wouldn't need another beater once she was on the team.
"So what's the deal with all of this? When will you release the things I get to smack people with?" the lioness asked without skipping a beat. Who needed warm up if you could just jump into the action? "If you ask me, I would be doing them a favor knocking them out early, saves them the embarrassment of losing just because they suck and warm up is for wimps!" She added in a self-satisfied manner, waves of confidence and an apparent lack for respect emanating from her. Making herself unpopular with whom she assumed would be the captain of the team? Well it was hardly Oonagh's fault if they sucked at calling the shots.
| Oonagh Brown - Gryffindor - #A0522D | #5b7a56 - Semyon Reznikov - Durmstrang |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 10 | Wis: 00 | Arc: 02 | Acc: 10(13) |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 01 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 10 |
Broken Brooms and Attitude
They/SheOnce the warm up had concluded and Pax had set the wannabe chasers off on their activity to see them in action, their attention was caught by one of the younger members here. They didn't recognise them, so could only assume they were a first-year who was looking to try out, which they respected. They'd only been a first-year themself when they'd made the team.
As the kid began to ask them (rather impatiently) their questions, Pax raised an eyebrow, a smirk vaguely recognisable on their face. "The deal with all of this is to be able to see who'd be a good fit for the team," they replied, not taking their eyes off of the action in the sky. "As I said, it's not just ability. Teamwork is also a key skill in the sport, you know. Your turn will come, just be patient."
"Ok, thank you group 1!" They focused back on the group in the air, who had just finished their rep. "Feel free to stick around for a bit if you'd like to watch the others, cheer them on, you know the drill. Otherwise, you're free to go! Group 2, you're up."
This hadn't stopped the first-year from continuing to talk at them however, as she'd continued on with her confident words. "Look, kid," Pax's tone was a little firmer now, and their amused smirk dropping. "I appreciate the confidence, and if you get onto the team, I'd love to see it directed at our opponents. However, you can't go bashing others right away, you realise? You're gonna have to work with these people if you're on the team, and if you're rude right away to them, that's not gonna go down too well."
They hoped their firmer tone would convey the message to this kid. Whilst they had to respect talent, teamwork and getting along well with the others was also a major part of the team, especially for Pax. With an attitude like that, this kid was impressing them less and less right now, and they hoped for her sake, she'd get it together a bit and at least have an attitude adjustment before she headed up to prove herself.
"Thank you group 2! Group 3, it's your guys' turn!"Reducio
Broken Brooms and Attitude
"Well, I can answer you that question already, at first glance. I mean have you seen the others at try-out? You would be stupid not to pick me," Oonagh responded with all the confidence, somewhat encouraged by that hint of a smirk on Pax's lips. She would be the one to be on the team's roster by the end of this, she was quite sure of it. If there was to be time on the roster for the little devil, it was sure to be minimal because once Oonagh showed her knack for wreaking havoc, Pax surely would not be able to keep her benched for long.
"Yeah, yeah, teamwork makes the dream work and all that, I heard that all before," she waved her hand dismissively at the captain when they began to tell her about the importance of team work. She was not bad at displaying team work as long as it served her, however it could also just be dreadfully boring to think for more than just one person. Heck, thinking for herself before jumping into action proved to be difficult enough most of the time.
When group 3 was called into the air, adrenaline sparked through her veins and the grip around the wooden handle of her broom tightened as she bristled with energy. "Now what?" she called to the captain impatiently, one hand reaching for the club at her side, the beater's bat. This would be her role if Pax deemed her skills and efforts suitable, of which Oonagh had no worries of. She would give Pax themself a concussion if it meant to get onto the team. She was ready.
@Pax Zhang
| Oonagh Brown - Gryffindor - #A0522D | #5b7a56 - Semyon Reznikov - Durmstrang |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 10 | Wis: 00 | Arc: 02 | Acc: 10(13) |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 01 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 10 |
Broken Brooms and Attitude
They/She"You'd be surprised. People can surprise you, you know." Pax's remarked plainly. In all honesty, they were quickly losing patience with this kid. The confidence was appreciated, but the air of arrogance and thinking she was better than everyone else was easily clashing with their own ideals. After a rough year, this was frankly not the energy they wanted to bring onto the team.
"Considering you've heard it all before, it doesn't seem to have stuck very well," they couldn't help but respond. It may have been a little harsh, but from the limited interactions with this kid, it seemed to be a truthful statement. "Maybe try it as a daily mantra or something? You know, that positive affirmation stuff? Though clearly your confidence doesn't need boosting much further."
Finally, the kid would leave their side and take to the field. Any hope that Pax had of an attitude change was gone - it was evident they'd have to take a new approach to deal with this kid. A large part of them wanted to just fly out onto the pitch to prove that there was a reason they were captain - not this new kid - but that would be unprofessional. No, they had to rise above it, and just let that kid be, trusting that they'd get a chance to prove their own skills in time. it was just a stupid kid's opinion, it shouldn't bother them so much.
"If you can all get into a line," they called out. "I'm gonna release one of these bludgers, and you're gonna hit them through the hoops to show your accuracy ability. We're not aiming at anyone else right now, we do not want any broken bones or injuries. There'll be plenty of opportunities for that if you make it onto the team. If you break this order, you'll be asked to leave the pitch immediately. Understood? Good. Now, get into a line, c'mon."
Once everyone had lined up, Pax released the bludgers, clutching the clipboard and keeping a careful eye out on the proceedings.Reducio
Broken Brooms and Attitude
Quidditch Player, Prefect and Writer
Oonagh quickly crossed her arms, defiantly, upon being told off and pursed her lip. There was no way anyone here would prove her wrong, least of all that captain person. Eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "Doubtful," she concluded and eyes the captain. "The name is Pax, right?" Oonagh asked, knowing full well that their name was indeed Pax. But at this point she just wanted to get further under the other kid's skin. After all, all the information about the tryouts had their name on it. Also part of Oonagh assumed that Pax was just a name that should be known to the general Gryffindor population, even she knew that much. After all Quidditch captains were kind of like mini royalties in this school.
Oonagh snorted when Pax argued back about that teamwork thing and shook her head. "I'm willing to do teamwork if the team is worth working with, so don't go around lecturing me when it is others that need improvements," she said with a bold shrug and a little smug smirk. With that they had taken off to actually show off a bit. After all that was sort of what she had come here for... aside from annoying the heck out of that captain, which had been an immediate addition to her plans upon making their first impressions. Respect was something that did not just fall into someone's lap, it was something people needed to earn from the little lioness. She was as stubborn if not more so than the bulls back home, who she had frequent staring contests with.
'Boring' she thought upon being told that there was to be no bone-breaking this time. "And here I thought breaking bones and bashing in skulls was all that this game was about," she muttered, not caring who from those present heard her, including Pax. However she did lean forward and squeezed past someone else who had not been as quick to get in line, living the lifestyle of 'you snooze, you lose' and hoisting up the bat, ready to whack the bludgers headed for her with almost practiced ease.
Both of their aims were true [Results 21 & 30] though the latter had clearly gotten the better route. But one could hardly blame Oogie, after all she still excelled despite a lack of proper warm up. She grabbed her curls and pulled them out of her face, almost like splitting a curtain and gave Pax a very self satisfied look. "Now what? she demanded.
| Oonagh Brown - Gryffindor - #A0522D | #5b7a56 - Semyon Reznikov - Durmstrang |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 10 | Wis: 00 | Arc: 02 | Acc: 10(13) |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 01 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 10 |
Broken Brooms and Attitude
They/She"Mhm," they replied to the kid, with a slight raise of their eyebrows. "Surprised you don't know that, considering you think you know everything." The rage that they had been doing their best to conceal was slowly boiling over, and they couldn't help the slight snarkiness that was slipping into their words. They had been trying so hard on being a better person, but it looked like this kid was going to get the better of them.
"Well, let's see this cockiness in action then. If you're as good as you claim, then this drill will be easy peasy for you, won't it?"
As the kid took to the sky, Pax waited for them to fail miserably. A little part of them was hoping they would - as bad as it was, they really wanted to see this kid be knocked down a peg or two. Alas, to their displeasure, her shots were clean and precise. Damn it.
"Now you wait for everyone else to take their bloody turn," Pax muttered under their breath, the annoyance clear in their tone. As much as they despised it, the kid was probably going to have to make the team. Anyone who had seen her shot would be able to call Pax out on their BS if they turned her down.
Once everyone had taken their turn, and Pax had made the appropriate notes, they called out, "Alright! Thank you for your time - we'll review your guys' performances and you'll hear if you made the team within the week most likely. If you have any further questions, then I'm gonna be around for a bit afterwards, so just come and ask, I don't bite, I promise."
As the candidates trailed away, chatting in groups or wandering away solo, Pax's gaze lingered on the arrogant blonde kid. Sighing, they glanced back down at the list at her name: Oonagh Brown. Given their current impression, it was going to be a tough decision if she made the team.Reducio
Broken Brooms and Attitude
@Pax Zhang
"Nae, dinnae be daft, A don' know everything, but A know what is important," Oonagh corrected, rather smugly one might say. A hand placed at her hip as she looked Pax up and down, almost scrutinizingly. She felt like a toddler that had been left in a control room with a whole lot of buttons to push, each labeled "Do not Push" in red, bold ink.
"Well, let's see this cockiness in action then. If you're as good as you claim, then this drill will be easy peasy for you, won't it?" There was a challenge, clear as day, within those words and Oonagh cracked her knuckles and gave a nod. "Aye, should be a doddle, A reckon A will leave everyone in the dust, nae bother," the girl clad in a red practice jersey reached up to scoop all of her hair into a very messy ponytail. She meant business and was going to make Pax eat their words.
Oonagh was planning to show off once she took to the sky and showing off she did. Whacking the bludgers with true aim, unsurprisingly to the Scottish lass. However she would bet her entire allowance that if had a proper view of Pax's face then their expression would have soured as Oonagh showed absolute promise to make their best beater yet, at least if one were to ask the first year.
"Alright! Thank you for your time - we'll review your guys' performances and you'll hear if you made the team within the week most likely. If you have any further questions, then I'm gonna be around for a bit afterwards, so just come and ask, I don't bite, I promise." Oonagh rolled her eyes. "A will be expectin' that good news soon then," she gave a nod to Pax with an obnoxious grin, before taking her broom and heading off.
| Oonagh Brown - Gryffindor - #A0522D | #5b7a56 - Semyon Reznikov - Durmstrang |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 10 | Wis: 00 | Arc: 02 | Acc: 10(13) |
Sta: 10 | Eva: 10 | Str: 01 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 10 |