An Afternoon's Entertainment PV closed

What was the expression? Death by a thousand cuts?

Robes ablaze, thoughts scattered, Hui-Ming resorted to that part of himself that he tended to abore the most. The messy cluster of untidy, intertwined things that was his core: a bewildering mire of intertwined emotions, biases and resentments half-remembered; a narrative portrait painted not with vision or clarity; but with the erratic, squiggly strokes of raw emotions and first impressions and doubts and second guesses. For all the drive that this might lend him, it was messy, disorganised, and wrong more often than it was right.

But it provided some semblance of direction in a situation that was otherwise utterly irredeemable as to not be worth engaging with anymore.

And what was one more wrong decision anyway, where he had spent a plurality of this duel overthinking and failing to seize the opportunities that had presented themselves.

"Perhaps," he called out to one @Beatrice Langsreth with visible cool. For all their touted duelling ability, the Ravenclaw seemed to have an unfortunate case of extreme tunnel vision worthy of any Slytherin. "But then your partner is rather taking after you, in that she's focusing only on one intended target. That is commendable, no?"

wc: 204 | Hui-Ming's Hex: #556B2F
Apologies for the late response

ROUND NINE

Information
Pls read at least once

Reducio

• You have one week (7 days or 168 hours or 10080 minutes) from my moderation post to make your RP post and owl me your actions. This isn't an official duel, hence 200 words. I also won't immediately void your actions if you're a tad late, just like, let me know if you can't make it or something. I'll mod as soon as all actions and posts are in, I like speedy duels. The faster the better. Go go go.
• I grabbed your stats and spells from your trunks, what you have is what you get, further changes will be ignored.
• Important: Duelling rules!
• Teeny tiny rules adjustments:
  • When your character falls below 10%, I will have Dee call them off the duel rather than RP them falling unconscious. This is not an official duel, there is no medical attention beyond Dee's (meager) healing skills.
  • Fumos clarification: The smoke affects four randomly chosen, conscious players (can include caster). All other spells shuur
    ould be clear even with the increased number of players. If there are questions, come yell at me.
• Pls direct any mistakes or questions to my answering machine my owls or Discord DMs (mcii.).
• Have fun or something.

As if they were feeling the end of the duel approaching, all the kids sprang back into action. Spells were flying, but not aimlessly; instead, they formed a sort of triangle, with each team choosing one opponent to focus on, but no two teams the same one.

The snakes were finally setting their sights on the Hufflepuff team. They had gone untouched for too long, simply watching while the other two teams were doing the work for them... but no longer. Two wands aimed at Donald, although only one spell reached its target. Hui Ming's spell wrent a little awry, swerving until it was closer to hitting Clark than the intended badger. It didn't manage to connect with either badger, however.

One hit and one miss seemed to be a common theme. Donald and Clark had decided that Raizel had remained standing in this duel for long enough. An interesting choice; with Beatrice looking to be in much worse shape. But perhaps that was the goal, to give the blended purple team the finishing blow, taking them out of the race completely. (Not that they were anywhere near the front in this contest, Dee had to admit.) They landed one and missed one, Donald the Fish's spell going far past the lioness' head, while Clark's fire struck true. It didn't seem particularly strong, however, fizzling out rather than catching her clothes on fire, so Raizel would likely be fine.

The same could not be said for everyone. Raizel and Beatrice proved to be truly persistent, their chosen favourite target: Hui Ming. The Slytherin prefect was badly battered at this point, and still on fire, yet the two girls would not relent. Two spells aimed at the boy, and who could fault him for being unable to evade either? (Dee could. She clicked her tongue, disappointed.) Perhaps that was also why the aim of his last spell had been so bad, but either way, it was rather clear that Hui Ming's part in this duel was over. Dee was frankly surprised that he was still standing, new flames flickering on his clothes from Raizel's most recent attack.

She whistled to get their attention. "Halt, pause!" she called, then waved at Hui Ming. "You're done," she told him. "Off the field, best head to the hospital wing. For the rest of you, time is almost up so give it your best shot!"

• REPRESENT, SLYTHERIN REPRESENT •

A Sunny Afternoon In May| Fourth Floor, Duelling Club
wc: 210
Avery's Hex #136b5c

· || ────────────────── ────────────────── || ·

┏		┓
	----- Disaster. He had struck Donald, which was something he could be happy with; but everything else was exactly that: a disaster. His luck was so incredibly poor, and the brain-fog that seemed to cast a malaise on him, that seemed to make his muscles heavy and clouded his focus seemed to spread; still lingered. To his side, Ming was aced and a pause was called. It was a welcome reprieve, as he shrugged off the remainder of whatever it was that had seemed to have rattled him. But he had to square up, tighten his tie and work for this now; thanks to his performance. He knew there was a good chance he wouldn’t come last, but he still had to be careful. The more dubious side of his mind knew that he had a slim chance he could pull ahead, and best them all, but that seemed so far away, given the state of things. He had precious seconds to both determine if Ming was okay, and to plot how to overcome the challenge ahead. With twisted lips, he reined his focus in and decided in a course of action. His eyes flitting between Donald, Beatrice and Raizel with undecided hesitance and ignorance to Donald's attempts at goading him.
┗		┛

Action: As Strategized

Mod Ping:@Dealla Prince

His breath was soft, and he began to inhale the air as violently as he could progressively. It would begin as a soft wind blowing, and get even more annoying and noisy to try and annoy his fellow duellists. And he smiled with the mischievous glint in his eyes and the sweet scent of knocking someone out. They have knocked out one snake, it was time to see if they could eliminate the rat, mr leverat.

The favorite Slytherin who played a scene of losing in Clark's head, and he wanted to recreate that scene, but it was highly unlikely that moment would ever be recreated with the same mood or vibes.

Or maybe it was time to eliminate the bird and lion. After all, all were enemies to Clark. No one was a friend, not even his current partner. It was an unfortunate thing to consider but that was the way he ran and the way he runs is the only way he will make choices in his own life.

That is, unless Gabriel, the Knight In Shining Armor, would be there with him. He would do anything for his love. Even give up on the mischievous ways. Now. It was time to end it once and for all.

Action: As strategized

"Oh I am so sorry about that." Raizel apologized as soon as she heard Bea's response after getting hit by that Flipendo. That certainly looked like it hurt a lot. Bea was already looking not so good too. This is turning out bad for them and she's pretty sure there is no chance of them turning this around. But despite that, it must go on and they are already reaching the end of this duel.

The fog had cleared and spells went flying with each team locking onto a single target and Raizel just found herself getting focused by the Hufflepuff team. One missed and one hit, making the Gryffindor wince as she felt the heat from the Fire Making Spell that just hit her. Fortunately though, no clothes were set on fire. No time to think about the damages. For now, she must cast her own spell and this time, hoping it'll hit the right target.

She casted her own Fire Making Spell towards the one that she and Bea had been targeting for quite some time now and finally, they managed to take Ming out of the game. It's not that much really but hey, it's still something.

Now then, what will happen next? Can they even make it out of this duel with how beaten they look like right now? Maybe not but at least if they go down, they'll go down fighting.

WC: 236/200

Action: As Owled

It was basically all over at this point. Bea sighed. This duel had been a whirlwind of emotions, tactics and outright annoyance. The second year grinned at Rai, the other girl's apology being washed away. She put a hand up to stop her from continuing. "It's alright. Not too much harm done."

She glanced around to the other teams. Although Ming had been taken out thanks to her and Rai's efforts - she'd be sure to congratulate the Gryffindor when this was over- Avery was still standing, not a hair on his perfect annoying head touched. The Hufflepuffs had fared not much better although they had still been hit. It was safe to say, that Bea and Raizel were the worst of the three team at the moment. She shrugged internally. This wasn't an official due by any means. She'd agreed to a friendly match, wanting to see how things would be since her last 2v2v2 last Summer. She'd grown exponentially since then, if her not being knocked out was any indication. Something that she was proud of.

Taking in a deep breath, she turned back to her partner with a mischievous smile, "Ready to crush them?" If they were losing, Bea was going to make sure no one won.

OOC: Sorry for the late response

ROUND TEN

It was high time this duel ended; Dee wasn't sure if she could watch this much longer. It was even more grating than she'd expected to watch these kids fumble their spells and their aim. Perhaps they could repeat this in a few years, when they were hopefully more capable.

Thankfully, all the smoke had dissipated; no one was laughing or dancing or on fire. They all had one last shot to show their skill. (Unsurprisingly, most of them blew it.)

Avery was alone on his section of the arena, Ming had obediently cleared the field. Perhaps all the trashtalking had finally bred some effect, for his final target of the event was the screechy little goblin... or so Dee assumed, from the way his wand was pointed. The spell, however, exploded out of the wrong end, sending the Slytherin himself stumbling backwards. Perhaps this was the cause for the events that followed, or perhaps he was just fatigued at this point.

The Hufflepuffs likely already saw themselves emerge victorious from this event. They were both still standing and in decently good shape, neither of them teetering on the edge of unconsciousness. Yet Avery was apparently seen as the biggest threat still around, or perhaps there was just some unspeakable hatred against the young snake, and both of them aimed their wands at the remaining Slytherin. Clark's fire spell barely wanted to come out of the wand, sputtering slightly before Clark managed to coax it fully out. It shot vaguely into Avery's direction, who was stumbling out of the way, courtesy of his own misfired spell... and right into one of the more powerful knockback jinxes Dee had witnessed so far. Donald honestly seemed to be the most solid spellcaster of the bunch, and the force of his spell threw Avery backwards through the air.

Beatrice and Raizel split their attention. Perhaps in the hope to take both opposing teams down a notch and narrowly coming out ahead, Beatrice sent a barely passably aimed knockback jinx in Donald's direction, who was luckily too distracted to dodge this last effort. Raizel, on the other hand, was less lucky - wherever she had been aiming her own Flipendo, it wasn't where Donald's jinx was throwing the boy. Her spell would shoot past its target, but it honestly didn't matter, anyway.

"Time!" Dee called. At least this last round had been decently entertaining. She gave the still standing - or sitting, in Avery's case - contestants a cursory glance, then shrugged. "Hufflepuff wins," she announced; the decision seemed obvious. Bea looked like she was on her last leg, but at least both she and Raizel were still standing, which made that choice easy, too. "Bea and Raizel are second." She shrugged at Avery. "Sorry, pal."

Finally, she would offer her meager healing skills to those who wanted it. Beatrice would likely do well to get something a little stronger. The rest could do as they wished; they might be carrying a few bruises tomorrow if they did not get patched up, but they would live. Probably.

Congrats Hugglefluff, and thanks for sticking it out with me, everyone. It was fun to get to mod a little again. Feel free to keep RPing, I'll stick around to interact if you want.

Final round, make it count… or at least, that's what Raizel tried to do. Her gaze went from the Huffle team who were looking a lot better than hers and Bea and then to the last Slytherin standing. There was no chance for them to come out as victors in this game, that much she had accepted already but, gotta keep fighting.

Who to attack though? Well, might as well just go with the Slytherin team again. No, she has no grudge against them. Just, Avery's partner was already out and perhaps, they could at least grab second place if she could land a hit. Unfortunately though, her spell missed… again. That was bad. Her whole performance in this duel had been terrible and she won't say that it isn't starting to get to her. If there is one thing that gets to this young Gryffindor is when she is doing awfully in duels. That means she needs to get more practice done so as not to be a burden.

She was starting to get lost in thought until Avery's own spell backfired on him, snapping her back to reality. A blessing as what she could say that was, dueling wise anyway. Aside from that, Bea was successful with her chosen target as well and the Huffle team focused on the Slytherin. Before she knew it, the duel was over. What's surprising is that she and Bea are still standing.

The Badgers won of course and they… got second. "Second?" Raizel uttered, wondering if she heard that right. "Oh, we got second, now that's surprising." A smile soon formed on her face. It's not much but better than being last and, no one got knocked out from their team although Bea isn't looking good right now. Raizel turned her head towards the older girl before approaching her. "Are you alright? Need any help?" She could at least help get her to the hospital wing.

WC: 324/200

• REPRESENT, SLYTHERIN REPRESENT •

A Sunny Afternoon In May| Fourth Floor, Duelling Club
wc: 278
Avery's Hex #136b5c

· || ────────────────── ────────────────── || ·

┏		┓
	----- Venom, or blood, was tasted on his tongue. Inches from victory. A moment away from besting two teams in one round and clinching first place and now; last. It was pathetic, and it filled him with anger, not only because of the hurt to his pride for losing, but losing so dramatically. Donald, the older Hufflepuff, had launched him through the air and crashing into the floor. He squeaked as he went, as the bare skin of his hand dragged across the hall floor; friction felt like it wanted to dunk on him too. A strand of black hair had fallen from place, into vision. He was livid, his recovering was not nearly as graceful or as quick as he’d have liked; and it only got worse when Dealla called the match. He practically felt the victory slip through his fingertips, and then he felt the shame. He had been fighting invisible demons today, and it had clearly cost them the match. Once he was back onto his feet, he dusted his knees with his okay hand, checked that his wand wasn’t snapped, pocketed it and scanned his opponents. This hadn’t been much of a two versus two versus two, but it was decent experience at dodging. Perhaps his tim with Alan had spared him being hit a couple more times. He took that to mean that he and Ming were clearly viewed as the threats on the field; but a loss was a loss. There was much to learn, but there wasn’t much to be learned from keeping around here. Avery bowed his head to Dealla in thanks, and walked off, with little regard to the others.
┗		┛

Avery has left the thread.