Andrew Vance
12 Apr 2021, 02:10
Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow
First week-ish of the 2020-2021 school year
He came to the Quidditch pitch often with Dan Palmer—and/or Tyranni Whitethorn, though with the awkward tension of a little rivalry between the Captain and Co-captain over his affections that Andrew may or may not have caught on but would rather ignore anyway, it was usually one or the other that accompanied him to the field, and definitely more with the former—to watch the Slytherin team practice. Andrew wouldn't say that he was a hardcore fan of the sport, but made sure to educate himself on the rules and maneuvers, taking a bit more invested interest since Dan—long before Tyr, but together combined was all the more motivating for Andrew to want to learn and join in with them—were so involved in Quidditch, and eventually, the thrill of the sport had grown on him, just a little bit.
He thanked his lucky stars. Who knew two of his closest friends would end up so popular? Popular in his eyes, anyway. He was happy for their success, and felt a bit special that he could claim to have been friends with Dan and Tyr way before their rise to Quidditch stardom. Fame hadn't impacted their friendship with him one bit, which Andrew was glad for; if anything, it only seemed to grow stronger, roots unshaken; trying to spend more quality time with one another, between Quidditch responsibilities and school demands.
Dan had once egged him to try out for Seeker, last year. Andrew had gone out on a limb to sign up and try out for a few practice sessions, but quickly withdrew on his gut instincts after being smacked by a Bludger that gave him a nasty fall and a concussion, realizing he was much too delicate of a pansy to cope with pain and risk facing certain death in any real Quidditch competition. Maybe one day a surge of testosterone during puberty would change his mind, but as of right now, he was more than content being a spectator and giving emotional support instead.
He spent some time watching from the stands and walking around the pitch when his legs got itchy, watching other students and Quidditch players fly around on their brooms, as well as other activity on the grounds beyond, just outside the pitch as Andrew ventured over to check it out.
It looked like a game of football American soccer was taking place. Always a pleasant surprise to see Muggle sports culturing Hogwarts, though Andrew's bystander smile of approval quickly faded as he noticed (and overheard, to an extent) something worrisome on the field that prompted his feet over to intervene, if needed. As the gameplay of Muggle sports mainly attracted their kind, they could also be hotspots for trouble with other purebloods and wizardborns seeking to pick on the "underdogs" of the school.
Reducio
@Rebekah Morton I tried. (when you don't know what else to talk about, so you blab about your friends instead) 
Interpret the bullying however you like. I didn't want to assume where Bex was or if she's the one being targeted by the bullies - in case you change your mind and it's someone else being targeted that Bex happens to oversee/hear too. Wing it, I'm flexible.
@Dan Palmer @Tyranni Whitethorn Just letting you know that Andy is thinking of you both
Interpret the bullying however you like. I didn't want to assume where Bex was or if she's the one being targeted by the bullies - in case you change your mind and it's someone else being targeted that Bex happens to oversee/hear too. Wing it, I'm flexible.@Dan Palmer @Tyranni Whitethorn Just letting you know that Andy is thinking of you both
18 Apr 2021, 21:46
Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow
༺❁༻
Interacting with; @Andrew Vance
It wasn't that Bekah hadn't minded being thrust entirely into a new school in fact she prided herself in usually settling in around her peers rather well. Though coming to Hogwarts had been so very different already. Not only was it a new school with new faces but an entirely new world to learn about. It was one thing to transfer and be a little behind or ahead in one subject or another but she was starting to find herself struggling with adjusting. Things had been going rather well actually until that morning after having a couple of upper year students bump into her during breakfast, spilling juice all into her waffles and robes making her late to her next class having to rush back to the dormitories to change.
Then she had cracked an inkwell in her bag which meant having to salvage what she could of her school supplies not wanting to owl home, not that she even knew what that had meant but someone sitting close by had told her to do so. Sending an owl home? How did one even do that? How shocked would her parents be to have the postman deliver a box with an owl... would it even survive that long? The rest of the day had gone just about as rotten as it could so when she was able to follow some other students out to their version of a football pitch, something called Quid-witch? Quiddich.. qeedich? She couldn't really tell how in the world to say it but overheard a couple boys discussing brooms as she tagged along behind the group just within earshot.
The one thing she knew would perk her up was sports. It was not only something she excelled at but made her feel a little less homesick. Something in this strange new world she could actually take part in that didn't involve spells or flourishing one's wrist. Familiarity! Fantastic! At least that's how things once again... had been going until the same pair of upper-classmen who had been tormenting her that morning circled around the pitch before joining in with the game. Anytime Bekah had made after the ball and went to pass she was swiftly met with a kick to the shin or swipe from nowhere. As quick as she was to react without any actual harm it was beginning to get rather bothersome. By the fifth shove she had, had quite enough. Coming to a halt and picking up the ball, Bekah tucked it under her arm and waited for one of the boys to come forward.
"Cut it out!" She barked as the boy loomed over her. If it was one thing the young Hufflepuff couldn't stand it was bullying. New school or not she wasn't going to be walked all over simply because she was fresh meat to the older students. This had happened at her last school when she transferred in but after a couple of bruises and sticking up for herself she had managed to carve out a spot for herself among her peers. That should work here... right? "We're all trying to play and you're ruining the game." She half huffed with a small stomp of her foot into the earth below. Brows knit together in frustration on the young girl's face as the boy smirked, clearly he was amused by her reaction. "You shouldn't-" The words fell from her lips as the boy smacked the ball from under her arm and shoved at her shoulder with a laugh. "What is your problem?" A handful of other students looked to be pausing just behind the boy, some looking more impatient than concerned.
"What'r yeh gonna do? Run tae yeh Muggle parents then?" The boy made to shove her again but Bex moved backwards out of the way. "Mu-what?" The response only brought another snicker from the boy directed at her ignorance. The reaction made Bex grit her teeth in deeper frustration than before. "Muh-gull." His voice lashed out as he shoved with each syllable only making anger roil under Bekah's skin. Whatever the word meant she hadn't a clue but judging by the sound of his voice it sounded dirty. "Back off!" Bekah pushed closer to the boy unafraid. If things went further it at least wouldn't be her first tussle. Except she hadn't noticed his friend slip behind her and pick up the ball only to bounce it off the back of her head. "Hey!!" Lights dazzled Bekah's vision as she bent forward and rubbed at the back of her head. "What is your problem??" She repeated as the two laughed, the one who had knocked her skull closed in and gave his answer, "You."
Andrew Vance
5 May 2021, 04:18
Sunshine, Daisies, Butter Mellow
He could count the number of times he had been bullied on one hand. Maybe even one finger. That incident with Jack Warren had been more of a "crime of passion" than premeditated, and the two boys had managed to steer away from each other since then. The only time Andrew could recall being singled out was early on in his first year, when a rather brutal prank had gotten his head swollen and stuck in a toilet, but having established a solid group of friends by then, it was quickly made clear to the guilty party that if anyone had a bone to pick with him, they'd have one to pick with Dan too. And vice versa. Of course, best friends had each other's backs. If only Dan was here to back him up, now…
While it was admirable that the girl was standing her ground, she was clearly outsized and outnumbered, and it disturbed Andrew that no one else on the field seemed to be stepping up to defend her. Probably most of them were younger years themselves, unsure of what to do. Regardless, Andrew wasn't about to let the poor girl deal with it on her own. And someone had to free the ball and get the game back on track. Here was the one thing that gave the younger years a sense of "normalcy" and home, and some spiteful older years just had to ruin it for the rest of them!
Hmph. Not on his watch.
Gone was the smile, for he was far from amused, though he kept his cool as he strode forward, resisting the urge to reach into his trouser pocket. His Muggle roots clung stubbornly, not relying on magic to get things done. And it wouldn't do well to lead by example, if he did otherwise. Keep calm and don't react emotionally…
Is what he would have done, if not for what he then witnessed— the ball being bounced off the little girl's head. Anger flared up within him, protective instincts compelling him to jump to the girl's aid. No turning the other cheek.
Because what he saw was no longer bullying. That was physical assault.
Brandishing his chestnut-colored wand, his eyes narrowed at the football tucked in the arm of one of the boys who didn't sense Andrew storming up behind him.
He knew those billiard games at Elmer's house would pay off someday.
"Flipendo!"
The flash of a black-and-white projectile would ricochet between the two halves that had sandwiched their victim in. Fortunately the girl was shorter and doubled over in pain, narrowly missing the ball that was launched from one bully's hand in trajectory at the other's chest— smacking them both as they staggered back, sputtering curses in a daze.
A taste of their own medicine. Andrew would have smirked in satisfaction, noticing the red smudge as one boy clutched his nose, if not for his attention diverted on dashing after the ball, which he then kicked over to the bystanding players. He slipped his wand back into his pocket.
Adrenaline rushing, he had a whole nasty speech brewing up inside of him. A speech he would surely regret not saying, later. So many speeches he wished he would have said to those he believed deserved it, but in the end, felt that such lengths were unnecessary. Why waste words? Getting into verbal argument would only escalate the situation further. Action was what mattered, and his point had already been made with the universal language of a physical reprimand that such behavior would not be tolerated by him.
"Gee. You two alright?" His tone was surprisingly calm as he faced the bullies. Less of a glare, more of a bored and deadpanned stare, conveying some meager attempt at sympathy that seemed to stump the two bullies from attacking him further. "Better get a nurse and tell them what happened."
It was half a taunt, daring them to do so. Right. Like those two would ever confess the truth. Even if they had glimpsed his wand and connected the dots that Andrew was the one who had propelled the ball in a double whammy at them, it was this kind of shock and humiliation that sent the two bullies walking away, muttering something about "stupid Muggle sports" and even a "Mud-blood" or two thrown over their shoulders at his direction. The word bounced off Andrew's iron skin. He feared no repercussions. If the professors decided to punish him for "fighting" with magic, at least he and the bullies would be spending detention together. Screw those adults, if it ever came to that. Hopefully the justice system wouldn't fail him now.
Finally, he could turn his attention to the girl. Either she was a short older year, and since youthful Asian features were usually deceiving, yet Andrew didn't think he had seen her face before, and judging by the target demographic of bullying victims around Hogwarts, he assumed she must a first year.
"Nevermind them." His anger dissipated, fanned away for now, small smile returning to his face. His only concern was to check up on the girl and make sure she was okay. "How's your head? Legs?" He glanced at the back of her scalp and for any scrapes on her shins from where the bullies had swiped to kick at her. "Need a nurse?"
While it was admirable that the girl was standing her ground, she was clearly outsized and outnumbered, and it disturbed Andrew that no one else on the field seemed to be stepping up to defend her. Probably most of them were younger years themselves, unsure of what to do. Regardless, Andrew wasn't about to let the poor girl deal with it on her own. And someone had to free the ball and get the game back on track. Here was the one thing that gave the younger years a sense of "normalcy" and home, and some spiteful older years just had to ruin it for the rest of them!
Hmph. Not on his watch.
Gone was the smile, for he was far from amused, though he kept his cool as he strode forward, resisting the urge to reach into his trouser pocket. His Muggle roots clung stubbornly, not relying on magic to get things done. And it wouldn't do well to lead by example, if he did otherwise. Keep calm and don't react emotionally…
Is what he would have done, if not for what he then witnessed— the ball being bounced off the little girl's head. Anger flared up within him, protective instincts compelling him to jump to the girl's aid. No turning the other cheek.
Because what he saw was no longer bullying. That was physical assault.
Brandishing his chestnut-colored wand, his eyes narrowed at the football tucked in the arm of one of the boys who didn't sense Andrew storming up behind him.
He knew those billiard games at Elmer's house would pay off someday.
"Flipendo!"
The flash of a black-and-white projectile would ricochet between the two halves that had sandwiched their victim in. Fortunately the girl was shorter and doubled over in pain, narrowly missing the ball that was launched from one bully's hand in trajectory at the other's chest— smacking them both as they staggered back, sputtering curses in a daze.
A taste of their own medicine. Andrew would have smirked in satisfaction, noticing the red smudge as one boy clutched his nose, if not for his attention diverted on dashing after the ball, which he then kicked over to the bystanding players. He slipped his wand back into his pocket.
Adrenaline rushing, he had a whole nasty speech brewing up inside of him. A speech he would surely regret not saying, later. So many speeches he wished he would have said to those he believed deserved it, but in the end, felt that such lengths were unnecessary. Why waste words? Getting into verbal argument would only escalate the situation further. Action was what mattered, and his point had already been made with the universal language of a physical reprimand that such behavior would not be tolerated by him.
"Gee. You two alright?" His tone was surprisingly calm as he faced the bullies. Less of a glare, more of a bored and deadpanned stare, conveying some meager attempt at sympathy that seemed to stump the two bullies from attacking him further. "Better get a nurse and tell them what happened."
It was half a taunt, daring them to do so. Right. Like those two would ever confess the truth. Even if they had glimpsed his wand and connected the dots that Andrew was the one who had propelled the ball in a double whammy at them, it was this kind of shock and humiliation that sent the two bullies walking away, muttering something about "stupid Muggle sports" and even a "Mud-blood" or two thrown over their shoulders at his direction. The word bounced off Andrew's iron skin. He feared no repercussions. If the professors decided to punish him for "fighting" with magic, at least he and the bullies would be spending detention together. Screw those adults, if it ever came to that. Hopefully the justice system wouldn't fail him now.
Finally, he could turn his attention to the girl. Either she was a short older year, and since youthful Asian features were usually deceiving, yet Andrew didn't think he had seen her face before, and judging by the target demographic of bullying victims around Hogwarts, he assumed she must a first year.
"Nevermind them." His anger dissipated, fanned away for now, small smile returning to his face. His only concern was to check up on the girl and make sure she was okay. "How's your head? Legs?" He glanced at the back of her scalp and for any scrapes on her shins from where the bullies had swiped to kick at her. "Need a nurse?"