13 Sep 2022, 21:57
Badgers and Bludgers
September 14
When Avery McCall came up to her after practice and asked for some one-on-one play, old Alma would initially have screamed at herself to turn down the offer. She would’ve politely declined out of fear that she would miss a point or make a bad impression on the other girl. She would, if she was still scared of Quidditch. But she didn’t! She gladly accepted and waited on the pitch after team practice.
In all honesty, Alma really thought her Quidditch experience so far wasn’t turning out all that bad! Sure, she was still absolutely terrified about being sacked by a bludger or knocked down by another teammate, but she was having fun! The team was wonderful, the sport was actually entertaining, and she felt herself get braver and braver every day. She definitely owed George a big thank you and perhaps a fruit basket for making her sign up.
Avery was the only other first-year on the team, and a second-string aswell. The fact that she was a beater made her a bit intimidating to Alma, but she still seemed lovely!
She stood waiting for the beater on the field, adjusting her gloves and helmet and making sure she was ready for extra play-time.
“You ready, Avery?” she called. Her broom laid neatly on the field in front of her, ready to call it up to start.
@Avery McCall
Reducio
briefly mentioning @George Henry
Last edited by Alma Stoll on 24 Oct 2022, 22:40, edited 1 time in total.
Just don’t let the good life pass you by ♫♪
14 Sep 2022, 00:04
Badgers and Bludgers
Date: 9/14/22 | CC: #a37e05
────────────────────────────────────────Avery lifts both arms above her head in an almost exaggerated stretch, relieved as some of the tension that had built up over the team practice releases. Her broom rests in the grass beside her, having dismounted to take a brief rest. Riding a broom was certainly one way to discover muscles she'd never even realized could be sore.
Despite the nerves that still buzzed within her chest, she definitely didn't regret the somewhat impulsive decision to attend tryouts. She'd always enjoyed occasionally joining in on casual muggle sports back home, and she'd done a little reading up on the sport, so what was the harm of checking it out? Granted, she hadn't exactly anticipated getting a spot. Second-string or not, it was definitely an adjustment. So, she resolved to try and fit in as much practice as she could between schoolwork and other obligations. Avery had been delighted to find that she wasn't the only first year on the team this year.
At the thought, she reaches a hand out and retrieves her broom with a quick call before turning towards Alma where she stood a few paces away. She strides across the pitch towards her, offering a bright smile and a wave as she approaches. "Yup, think so!" Her head tilts slightly to one side as she thinks. "Have anything in particular you want to practice? I'm game for anything but I, uh...think I'll leave the bludger tucked away for today," she states with a nervous laugh. It was a quick lesson in just how persistent bludgers could be.────────────────────────────────
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Alma Stoll
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17 Sep 2022, 15:00
Badgers and Bludgers
“Not really anything specific I don’t think,” Alma said. “Maybe passing! I’m uh…not so good with that, haha.”
It had always been her weak point. She had gotten it in her mind that if she didn’t make a perfect pass to her teammates, they’d be disappointed and she’d be kicked off the team. Always the over-thinker, right?
She let out a breath of relief when Avery said she was going to leave the bludger tucked away. Her biggest fear in Quidditch dodged. Mission accomplished! “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea! What about you? Do you have anything you want to practice?” she asked. She didn’t want to impose her difficulties on the other girl without meeting her needs aswell.
She felt as if she was ready to start, planting her feet into the grassy field and holding out her hand, ready to call her broom up. “Shall we get started then? Do you have any questions?”
She looked down at her lying broom. “Up,” she whispered, and watched in excitement as it flew up into her palm first try. She swung one leg over with newfound confidence and looked to Avery for confirmation that they were ready to take off.
She really was glad to have another first-year on the team. Being surrounded by older kids wasn’t exactly the ideal situation for a sports team in her opinion, even if they were sweet as cotton candy, and Avery just seemed so incredible!
@Avery McCall
It had always been her weak point. She had gotten it in her mind that if she didn’t make a perfect pass to her teammates, they’d be disappointed and she’d be kicked off the team. Always the over-thinker, right?
She let out a breath of relief when Avery said she was going to leave the bludger tucked away. Her biggest fear in Quidditch dodged. Mission accomplished! “Yeah, that’s probably a good idea! What about you? Do you have anything you want to practice?” she asked. She didn’t want to impose her difficulties on the other girl without meeting her needs aswell.
She felt as if she was ready to start, planting her feet into the grassy field and holding out her hand, ready to call her broom up. “Shall we get started then? Do you have any questions?”
She looked down at her lying broom. “Up,” she whispered, and watched in excitement as it flew up into her palm first try. She swung one leg over with newfound confidence and looked to Avery for confirmation that they were ready to take off.
She really was glad to have another first-year on the team. Being surrounded by older kids wasn’t exactly the ideal situation for a sports team in her opinion, even if they were sweet as cotton candy, and Avery just seemed so incredible!
@Avery McCall
Just don’t let the good life pass you by ♫♪
18 Sep 2022, 18:12
Badgers and Bludgers
Date: 9/14/22 | CC: #a37e05
────────────────────────────────────────Avery lifts her free hand to offer the other first year a quick thumbs up. "We can absolutely work on some passing! As for me..." She pauses a moment to ponder. When she'd initially thrown the offer out there, there hadn't really been anything specific that came to mind other than pretty much all of it. "I'm...honestly still just trying to get used to being on a broom beyond the basics," she finally responds, a hand reaching up to rub nervously at the back of her neck as her cheeks flush in slight embarassment. "I've never been on a broom before coming to Hogwarts, so maybe some, like, slightly more than basic broom maneuvers?"
She strides over to one of the Quaffles that they'd requested be left out after practice with the caveat of returning it once they were done. She swipes it from the grass and tucks it beneath her arm. As Alma mounts her broom, Avery follows suit by bringing her own around front and swinging a leg over the handle. She flashes the other girl a bright smile and another thumbs up in confirmation. "Should be good to go. How about you, any questions?"
She bends slightly at the knees and pushes off from the pitch enough to float a couple of feet in the air. Flight was an exhilarating sensation, she found. Quidditch was immediately fascinating, but trying to build the confidence needed in the air was a whole different story. Avery looks back over towards Alma. "Thanks again for helping out with the extra practice, by the way," she adds. "Kinda nervous for the first match, even though we've got a whole month." She shifts the Quaffle from under her arm to resting it on the broom in front of her, hand atop it to keep it from rolling even as she lifts slightly further into the air.────────────────────────────────
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Alma Stoll
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21 Sep 2022, 02:21
Badgers and Bludgers
Alma took off into the air, welcoming the familiar topsy-turvy feeling in her stomach that she recently grew a love/hate relationship with. Doing a quick figure-eight in the air and turning back to the other, she faced Avery with a fond smile.
“Nope! And yeah, we can totally do some basic maneuvers! If it makes you feel any better, I had never even thought of going anywhere near Quidditch until last week,” she giggled, recounting the moment she learned that she was signed up without her knowledge. In all seriousness, she was so glad that it happened, as she had begun to fall in love with the sport since playing it.
She held her hand up patiently, ready to catch the quaffle that Avery had picked up for them. “Oh totally, i’m mortified for the first game! But we’ll play great, im sure we’ll win!”
It wasn’t anything against them or the team that Alma was scared for the game: that’s just the way she is! She’s scared of everything that could be potentially very dangerous, and having a tough iron ball coming at you at extremely high speeds is incredibly dangerous!
“Honestly, I absolutely adore the team. They’re all so brave, and fantastic fliers! I seriously wish I could be as good as Quinn when i’m in my sixth year,” she said, stirring up some small talk with the other Hufflepuff.
@Avery McCall
“Nope! And yeah, we can totally do some basic maneuvers! If it makes you feel any better, I had never even thought of going anywhere near Quidditch until last week,” she giggled, recounting the moment she learned that she was signed up without her knowledge. In all seriousness, she was so glad that it happened, as she had begun to fall in love with the sport since playing it.
She held her hand up patiently, ready to catch the quaffle that Avery had picked up for them. “Oh totally, i’m mortified for the first game! But we’ll play great, im sure we’ll win!”
It wasn’t anything against them or the team that Alma was scared for the game: that’s just the way she is! She’s scared of everything that could be potentially very dangerous, and having a tough iron ball coming at you at extremely high speeds is incredibly dangerous!
“Honestly, I absolutely adore the team. They’re all so brave, and fantastic fliers! I seriously wish I could be as good as Quinn when i’m in my sixth year,” she said, stirring up some small talk with the other Hufflepuff.
@Avery McCall
Just don’t let the good life pass you by ♫♪
22 Sep 2022, 23:33
Badgers and Bludgers
Date: 9/14/22 | CC: #a37e05
────────────────────────────────────────Avery returns the smile with a bright one of her own as she watches the other first year do a figure-eight, rising up just enough to stay level with her. "Well that definitely does make me feel a little better at least," she laughs. "What changed your mind so suddenly? Also, heads up!" She scoops the quaffle up in both hands, carefully balancing on the broom using just her legs, and quickly tosses the ball across the gap between them towards the other girl.
She remains in place, braced for the return of the ball. "Yeah, I'm sure we'll play great! Gryffindor won't know what hit them," she declares, offering a muted fist pump to accompany the wide grin. She pauses a moment in thought. "I think a good chunk of the nerves at this part are just thinking about the crowd." She manages to repress a visible shudder at the thought. After a couple of practices together, she'd been relieved to see the skill of some of the older players and it went a long way to easing some of the nerves about the game itself.
With any luck, the game would go their way enough that she wouldn't even have to leave the bench. She found she would be perfectly fine with that outcome if it meant neither first string player wound up injured. Alma's observation brings her out of her thoughts. "They seem like a great bunch! And don't worry, Alma, we've got the next five years to make sure of it," she remarks, flashing a toothy grin. She could definitely say she was looking forward to the prospect of the years to come at this rate, especially if everyone was as lovely as Alma and the rest of the team. "How're classes coming along so far?"────────────────────────────────
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Alma Stoll
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24 Sep 2022, 02:22
Badgers and Bludgers
Alma watched the ball whizz through the air, tensing and letting out a relieved sigh when it collided with her hand with no problem. “Well, nothing changed my mind per-se…” she smiled. “You know George Henry? The broom racing captain? He put my name on the roster when they realized that no one was signing up for chaser. Dumped the news on me during breakfast, helped me fly later that day, and bam! I was on the team.”
She gave a warm grin before tossing the ball back to Avery. She seemed like someone who would be easy to talk to. A great friend when you needed one, and overall just a wonderful person. But then again, when did Alma say anything different about nearly anyone she had met this year?
“Oh yeah, the audience is definitely the worst part,” she said, fighting the urge not to pick splinters at the school broom since she got snapped at last time for it. “I’ve always had a big problem with crowds. I’ll probably just try to ignore it, focus on the game, y’know?”
She started thinking up some broom maneuvers they could practice to meet Avery’s quidditch needs. They could do fast laps maybe?
“Classes are great! My favorite’s probably charms, how about you?”
@Avery McCall
Just don’t let the good life pass you by ♫♪
24 Sep 2022, 22:43
Badgers and Bludgers
Date: 9/14/22 | CC: #a37e05
────────────────────────────────────────Avery's eyes follow the ball as it soars through the air between them. "Nice catch!" she calls out. She remains at the ready even as she listens to Alma recount just how she came to join the team with no small amount of amusement. Well that was definitely an effective way to recruit, especially amongst Hufflepuffs. "I've not met him yet, but I've definitely heard of him around the castle. Gotta say, sounds pretty efficient if nothing else though," she chuckles.
As the ball was tossed back, Avery rises a little in the air to catch it firmly with both hands. If she ever happened to talk to this George Henry, she'd definitely have to throw in a word of thanks. Alma was wonderful, and Avery had been all the more excited for practices and the time to hang out with her and the rest of the team because of it.
She gives an enthusiastic nod of agreement as she shifts her grip on the quaffle. Winding her arm back, she lobs it back across the space between them with slightly more force than the last time. "Definitely. I'm excited to actually see a match in person anyways, so I'm hoping I'll be distracted enough from the crowd as it is." Now that the ball was out of her hands again, she starts idly drifting back and forth to the left and right to offer a bit more of a moving target.
Avery takes a moment to ponder. "Charms has been pretty fun, but I keep stumbling over pronunciation a little bit. I'd say my favorite so far has been Herbology. I think it reminds me of home the most just with, y'know, a magical twist." Hogwarts had been a bit of a culture shock for the first year, so she was thankful for any tiny semblance of normalcy. Even if it was still far from her kind of normal. "Potions is kind of fun, I'm just super nervous the entire time that I'll mess something up."────────────────────────────────
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Alma Stoll
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26 Sep 2022, 22:17
Badgers and Bludgers
@Avery McCall“Oh, he’s super efficient! A bit intimidating on the pitch, but he’s really just a big sweetheart. What about you? What got you into Quidditch?”
Whatever Avery’s answer might be, she was glad for it. She couldn’t imagine if she was the only first-year on the team. Plus, this girl just seemed so wonderful!
“Herbology is super fun,” Alma replies, catching the quaffle in her hands. She stumbles back a little bit from the unexpected added force, but recovers rather quickly and tosses it back with the same energy. “I absolutely love plants. And don’t even get me started on magical plants,” she laughed.
Holding her hands up in ready for the next pass, Alma recounted some moments at home with her parents. Both of them hated plants and dirt, never let her have even a succulent in the house. Her mother would always say that she ‘Likes to admire them from afar’. It was one of the reasons she was excited to be taking Herbology, finally getting to look at and study all the wonderful stuff nature had to offer.
“Potions is pretty fun! I totally get what you mean about messing something up, though. I always have to triple-check all my ingredients before I even add them.”
She ponders for a moment before looking back to Avery with a smile. “Do you wanna do some laps? I’ll race you around the pitch! Keep in mind though, you might win pretty easily,” she giggled.
Just don’t let the good life pass you by ♫♪
27 Sep 2022, 20:57
Badgers and Bludgers
Date: 9/14/22 | CC: #a37e05
────────────────────────────────────────Avery offers a somewhat sheepish shrug. "Kinda just spur of the moment for the most part in my case. I enjoyed muggle sports back home, and after I heard about Quidditch on the train ride in I wound up reading up on it a little." As they talk, she continues to do little maneuvers as she sways back and forth in the air, still working to familiarize herself with the feel of the broom. "Saw the team was in need of some second string players and figured...why not? Still feels a little surreal, though."
Avery nods in understanding at the assessment, chuckling along with the chaser. Slightly distracted with her broom movements, she snaps back to attention when the ball is tossed back her way with just as much force behind it as she had sent it. Angling her broom back to the left she quickly realigns and stretches an arm out to catch the quaffle, the force of the throw pulls her along a few inches before she can gain control of the momentum.
"Gardening was always super relaxing in comparison to a lot of the farm work we had to do, so having some brand new plants to discover has been a blast!" She brings the ball back towards her chest and shifts so she's fully facing Alma again. "I've been meaning to look through the library sometime to see if anything catches my eye, the start of the year has just been crazy busy."
Avery glances down to the quaffle for a moment before shooting Alma a bright smile. "Alright, you're on!" She tosses the ball down to the pitch near some leftover belongings from practice. Flying over closer to Alma, she aligns herself beside the chaser. Leaning forward, she takes one hand off of the broom to briefly flash a thumbs up. "I don't know, I think you make pretty good competition! I'm ready when you are," she chuckles, adjusting herself atop the broom to get as comfortable as possible and prepare herself. "Just say the word!"────────────────────────────────
𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉: @Alma Stoll
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