Closed Like walking on air, but worse PV

Winter had passed and in came spring. Along with it was pleasant weather, driving away the chilly breeze along with the snow and blizzards that came along the previous season. Just a few more months and in comes another, Summer. For today's forecast, a lovely spring day. The skies were clear, there's a gentle warmth in the atmosphere. It was a perfect day for outdoor activities and a certain student had chosen flying along with their friend. What she wasn't expecting was this… unexpected encounter with someone in an unexpected way.

Everything was going well for Raizel earlier. She was flying so well with the broom that she had gotten unexpectedly from her father. It was something that she just received a few days ago and ever since then, she had been taking a few days of practicing in the Quidditch Training Pitch during the Spring Break. After seeing that one of her friends had also received a broom, she can't help but suggest practicing flying and not like there is a lot to do during Spring Break in Hogwarts. Most students are back with their family and the halls were reduced into empty spaces with only a few hanging around. Not to mention, the weather is pleasant enough for her not to waste it by staying inside all day.

But oh boy, she was in for an unexpected turn of events. What she thought would've been a nice flying practice turned into a disaster as she found herself getting out of control of her broom and all because she got too confident when she was just a noob in this flying thing. The broom went zooming in and she wanted to yell as she saw herself rushing in towards a figure that she couldn't even have a chance to make out of as she found herself colliding with them. Her broom went flying off of her hand and onto the ground due to the sudden impact, feeling herself landing on a person and the both of them tumbling down with a thud. The first year Gryffindor let out a pained groan and was about to apologize when she felt something hitting her face, something green and long. She probably deserves that.

While she was still feeling dizzy from that sudden crash, she did manage to look up to the person she just crashed into, hearing his voice and even before she could reply, she found herself rolling off of him when she was shoved, landing on the ground with an 'oof' sound. The view of the clear sky met her gaze while she was sprawled on the ground and after a few seconds of looking kind of dazed, she finally got her composure back, sitting up almost immediately like nothing even happened although her head does hurt a bit, making her rub it. After seeing the boy she just crashed into, she can't help but show him a sheepish grin. "I''ll take that 3/10 rating…" She chuckled and turned her head towards her friend that the boy pointed with the pool noodle although her focus was more on the green object, following its every wriggle.

"Well… can't actually choose who to crash into and yeah... It was… an impactful crash." She answered him as she picked herself up from the ground, dusting off the dirt that had gotten on her red and black shirt and black shorts. "And nope, was just having fun with-" she stopped herself and went on to look around for her broom in a frantic manner. While it was a gift that she's sure she doesn't need, she doesn't want to lose it now or worse, breaking it. "Ah! There you are." As soon as Raizel saw her broom just a couple of distance from them, she immediately went for it, a relieved look on her face upon seeing that it wasn't damaged. Her father will be sooo disappointed at her if she breaks it only after a few days upon receiving it… or maybe that'll even impress him.

It all started with an owl. Yes, a large great white owl, carrying an uneven, long and straight package along side a note that said:

Dear Ying,
Hope you make a responsible use of this.

Just this…no signature, or anything that would identify whoever had sent her that gift! But Ying couldn’t feel happier with what it was! A new broom, not the fastest or fancier, but it was her broom, her first broom! And she couldn’t wait longer to be able to try it!

Dressed in some comfortable clothes, Ying was grabbing her Comet 180 in her right hand while walking towards the Great Lake. She needed to find a perfect spot, some empty space where she could try her broom for the first time! There were a lot of others tho, the young students had wanted to enjoy the warm weather, after the freezing storms and icy snow, the warm light of the sun and the smells of blossoming flowers and greens were nothing but inviting to appreciate the time spent outside.

Looking around, Ying recongnize one of her friends. Raizel was there too, and apparently the brunette girl had also been gifted with a new broom! Ying wondered if she had received hers through the same person and with a similar mysterious note…

The young Gryffindor, with shiny-ebony hair, walked excitedly towards her friend, hopefully they would be able to have fun together trying their new brooms. But Ying never got the chance to exchange a word with Raizel…the brown haired girl just seemed to had lost control of her broom and just bumped towards a boy and consequently Ying felt a broom hit her straight in her stomach, “Oh!” The sound came almost muffled at the same time the girl felt the air got brutally taken from her lungs. Tears started to form under her eyelids when she felt the pain after a few seconds when she had been caught out of guard.

Her attention was diverted when she heard the boy complaining, “Right…cuz your broom wasn’t enough!” She stated, her eyes sending him a sharp look. Honestly, the nerve! She thought with sarcasm looking at the green pool noodle the boy was pointing at her. When she finally was able to straighten again her eyes fell into all the stuff the boy had at his feet. A rope, pool noodles like the one he was holding and a camera...that was a weird choice of objects! "Why do you need all of this?" Ying asked curious to the older boy having no idea what could be his plans for all of that. "I hope you are okay?" She said to Raizel, when her friend approached after picking up her broom again.

Interacting with: @Raizel Voltrouz | @Elsian Cox

“So my broom hit an innocent.” He repeated dryly. “Some fun.”

“Sorry!” He called out, raising a hand in apology with a wince, “yeah, sorry that-” probably hurt like hell is what he wanted to say but that would just be stating the obvious now wouldn’t it. Of course getting hit by his broom would hurt. It was a monstrosity of a flying tree pretending at being a broom for Merlin's sake! But it was his monstrosity of a tree broom.

“-probably could’ve been said better.” He settled on.

He made to snatch his broom, hauling the awkward thing back to his self proclaimed ‘planning pile’, for the fat lot of good it did him.




It was hard to miss the way the other was eyeing his things, it was, admittedly, an odd pile and unless she had a fascination for grass and rocks…she was likely silently judging his choice of pool noodle.It was the color wasn’t it? Everyone was a critic when it came to the hot pink pool noodle.

“It’s the pink noodle isn’t it?” he asked instead of answering Fang, “not a fan?” Elsi snatched up said pink noodle from the ground, cradling it in the crook of his arm with a dramatic sniff before finally answering. “It’s for balance, and-” He shook the green pool noodle in a so-so gesture, “partly to avoid drowning. It's all for a flying challenge, like a game.” He twisted on his heels, snatching up some of the items to begin hauling them closer to the lake, speaking as he worked.

“It’s like a tightrope challenge. 2 people ride their brooms, and you have a rope attached on both sides. Both flyers need to keep perfect balance with the rope and not crash so that the 3rd person can walk across the rope.” It was definitely one of the most challenging things he’d come up with to date, but by god was he determined to see the idea come to life and rub it in Feathers face! “A tightrope, but worse. The ultimate flying game.”

He dropped his things in favor of beginning to untangle the hilariously long jump rope. About 3 or 4 different colors showing it was indeed actually multiple, put together to create a mutant monstrosity of a rope. A frown visible on his face as he looked towards the younger too with a bored look.

“Not that it matters now, the whole thing is useless without partners and another broom.” He’d probably need to settle with tying the rope to trees and-

Ah-

AH-!

He whirled around, dramatically brandishing the pink noodle at Raizel with an excited look, “AH! YOU-!” He dropped the rope, only the pool noodle in his hands as he waved it between the two, “I need partners for this game and you,” he squinted towards Raizel again, pointedly, quick to remember them almost giving him a concussion, “need flying practice.” “Not you,” he offered with a laugh towards fang, “you didn’t crash land on me, granted I’m sure you have the potential. So the offer still stands.”

Elsian gave a lopsided grin, tossing the pool noodle back and forth between his hands, “you two wanna try the tightrope challenge?” A little laugh, “unless,” he made an act of pondering something, “unless you're scared of course, in which case totally understandable. No shame in being a scaredy lion.” He teased in good humor.

Was it damaged? Hopefully not. While the older student and her friend interact with each other just behind her, Raizel gave her broom one last check before listening to the conversation, looking over to Ying to give her a thumbs up when she asked if she was alright. While she could still feel her body aching, it was nothing that she can't handle just yet. She was oblivious to the things that the older student had brought with him and only took notice of it when he hauled his broom back to his pile.

"Pink noodle?" She wondered out loud. Maybe it's one of those things that he's holding. Right, she got hit by one, a green one to be exact. She listened closely to the older boy when he started explaining what those are as she stepped closer, bending down to see the other pool noodles on the ground. From what he just said, this boy sure is planning something very intriguing. Seems dangerous but it was something that caught Raizel's attention. Walking a tightrope attached to two brooms? Well, that probably won't turn out well but seems fun. Crazy, but fun.

She turned to look at the boy when he suddenly exclaimed and turned towards her, her eyes on that pink pool noodle that he's waving just before her, following its every move. He then went on about needing partners and of course, rubbed it on her face that she needs practice. "Oi." She responded with a slight look of annoyance on her face. Then again, he's not wrong, she does need practice but he didn't need to point that out.

"Psssh, scaredy lions? Hah. Alright, I'm in." Raizel responded with a grin on her face, accepting this challenge. She was up for it anyway and not to mention, it sounds very interesting and of course, the risk is high with this one as well. This seems worth getting into trouble for though. "And I do owe you an apology so, guess I can help you with this plan of yours." She said to the boy, looking at him and then to her friend. She is hoping that she could also help with this one and this friend of hers is always up for things like this. She will definitely love this.

The dark haired couldn't believe in what she heard the older boy say...fun? he thought it was fun to be hit by a bloody tree? She was shocked by how fast the pain just appeared, it was needed a few more seconds to realize what just had caught without mercy her in her stomach.

"Yes, you probably could have showed a little more concern, thank you very much!" She replied ironically to the dark haired boy while he was retrieving his broom to its rightful place, joining the pile of other seemly random things he had picked to his side.

Perhaps the words he chose to say next had not been so randomly chosen tho, because as soon as Ying heard the words flying challenge and game, her ears just focused in understanding everything the boy was saying. That was a way to have her full attention and change her bad mood to a much more exciting one. The girl's dark brown eyes followed the boy's movements and she walked with him towards the lake, while he was trying to explain his idea of having fun.

Luckily his idea of having fun, in the most part, was compatible with Ying's notion of spending quality time with friends, and in its personal case, a friend to be. Was when he finally made the right question: “you two wanna try the tightrope challenge?”What kind of question was that? How in all heavens would she say no to that? "Unless what?" Ying replied looking from him to her friend Raizel, that already had accepted to participate in the fun, "Of course I'll do it! Who's going to be the first one to try cross the rope?" She asked grabbing her broom closely and getting ready to help making everything work.

Interacting with: @Raizel Voltrouz | @Elsian Cox

Lots of people liked to claim the stereotypes for the different houses were just outdated trash. Like Gryffindor, who had a bit of background being troublemakers, and pulling stupid stunts. Most of those stupid stunts tended to be exaggerated though, if not full on fake, people had a habit of changing the story the more it spread after all.

But then there were stupid plans like this one. And suddenly there was an explanation for where some of those stupid stories came from, because sadly for each house there were reckless, inspired, idiots who could simply not be stopped from making horrible choices. Like them.

3 idiots about to probably crash into the lake.

But weren’t bad choices part of growing up? Especially if you had magic?

He liked to think so.

“I accept the apology you owe me through trial by broom tightrope.” He humbly accepted with a matching grin and handed Raizel the pink pool noodle. His newly freed hand went to his chest in greeting as he looked between the 2, “I’m Elsian, and I offer in return the gift of this safety pool noodle, may it help you not drown in our flying trials.”

There was a solemn look towards Fang as he handed her the newly freed 3rd pool noodle, a bright blue thing with a chunk taken out of one side. “May it float in your time of need.” Though her question was quick to turn that solemness into a thoughtful grin, “you do bring a good question. Who wants to be the 1st victim of the tightrope, any takers?”

There was a moment of silence.

“No? Really-? Okay fine, I guess I’LL go first.” He complained jokingly, making it a point to look put upon as he handed each girl 1 end of the jump rope. “I guess I should show you how it works anyways…” he would just have to hope they didn’t chicken out later once they saw how hard it was, “1st things 1st, we need to tie the rope to both of the flyers brooms…which will be you two.”

From there Elsian explained the game, like how they’d be flying over the lake in case anyone fell, or how the rope had to be tight, tight enough to hold the weight of the person walking across and with little give. How since both brooms were attached not only how they’d both need to work together to not drag each other down but also how they’d need to stay still enough to not make him fall. In a way, it could sound easy but in reality it would be way harder than the instructions made it out to be. They’d need to account for his weight constantly shifting on the rope after all, and if one of the riders fell they all did.

Elsian wouldn’t be needing his broom yet. He wasn’t a flier after all, so he carefully left it atop a large rock in plain view with his bag near the water.

“Of course,” he finished, when the rope was tied and tested for strength, “I need to fly up with one of you…”

He looked between the 2 for a moment before looking at Raizel. “I’ll fly up with you if that's alright.” Then he looked at Fang, handing the other his camera, “because for some reason I trust you with my camera more than the one who crashed into me. I trust you to get an amazing shot of me totally not failing miserably.”

"Alright!" Raizel took hold of the pool noodle that the older Gryffindor boy gave her, swinging it back and forth for a couple of seconds and then proceeding to wiggling it while her other hand is holding her broom. "The name's Raizel." She introduced herself then since the boy had told them their name and it's only natural to learn the name of your partners in this insane stunt.

The idea that this boy who introduced himself as Elsian was certainly beyond what she would have imagined in doing. It was crazy, reckless yet here she is, fully getting into it, loving it already. The younger Gryffindor could feel the excitement coursing through her body and perhaps a little bit of worry as she just remembered one important thing, she can't swim.

Watching the wiggling pool noodle, she began to wonder if it's something that she should probably tell them although, if she keeps the pool noodle close, then perhaps she'll be safe and that they won't need to drag her body from the depths of the great lake. That's kind of morbid. "I'm gonna need more of these…" she muttered with a nervous chuckle before turning her head towards Elsian and then to Ying. Nope, she's not walking on that tightrope first. It was a relief to see Elsian volunteering for it.

Raizel listened closely to the instructions as she grabbed one of the ends of the rope, testing how sturdy it is by pulling on it before tying it to the end of her broom. Her eyes fell on the lake, the very place where they will be flying above on as one walks the tightrope. It's gotta be hard balancing that rope and controlling the broom at the same time but hey, it's worth taking a shot at this impossible challenge.

"Oh, sure, you can fly with me." Trusting Ying with the camera is a great choice. As much as she doesn't want to admit it, the other Gryffindor girl is more attuned to flying and between Raizel and her, Ying is less likely to drop that camera. In fact, if there's anyone here that has the highest chance of losing control of the broom, it's gotta be Raizel. But oh well. Hopefully, Ying does manage to get good pictures of Elsian succeeding rather than failing.

How could she think this was a good idea? That is, if we are assuming she was even thinking, because truth be said, that was the dumbest idea that ever existed! In what perfect mind would walking on a rope tied to two brooms across a lake full of mysterious creatures be a good and spectacular idea? That’s right, any person with a logical and smart thinking would never try to perform such thing. Ying knew it, deep down she knew this was not a good plan, but would she refuse to make it? Of course not! Never would give others a reason to call her a coward or a Goody two-shoes. She preferred to fail, getting all wet by falling into the dark cold waters, then feel her pride getting drowned. And that’s how it begun, with two first years following a fourth year boy into madness.

After checking if the rope was well tied to her Comet 180, Ying felt her stomach getting heavier, and no, not because of that bloody broom who had found its place hitting her belly, but because all inches of her body were telling her not to walk towards that lake. But as all foolish people, Ying didn’t listened to her reason and common sense. Like if it wasn’t enough to fly in her broom and balancing between her weight, natural environment, and the weight of whoever was walking the rope, Elsian decided to give her another task by passing his camera to her hands. She wasn’t sure if she should take his words as a complement or another sentence coming from a delusional person. Either way, Ying hold his camera like she was holding a precious item and finally decided to also introduce herself to him, “I…I’m Ying” She said in a soft voice, the uncertainty was almost palpable in her tone of voice. Getting ready on top of her broom she waited for the others to get ready so they could finally fly towards their adventure doom!

Interacting with: @Raizel Voltrouz | @Elsian Cox

Well sadly he only had 3. Pool noodles were in high demand, he was lucky enough to have gotten 1 of these beat up things let alone 3! 1 each would have to do for this motley crew.

“Well try not to fall in then,” he offered, snarky but not unkind as he grinned at the younger, “or maybe I’ll drag you with me on the way down, I hear almost drowning builds character.” Not really, but with how many kids fell in or risked drowning throughout the years it was practically a trend, a horrible, stupid one, but the point still stood. He purposely pulled a thoughtful face as if truly contemplating the thought as he joined Rai, allowing the other to ready their broom before slipping behind them, “I’m sure Ying can get a perfectly dashing photo of us on the way down.”

Once the group was in the air he twisted about to sit sideways, watching the way the rope swung between the 2 brooms before eyeing Ying across the air. “Right Ying!” He called brightly, only half joking, “you’ll get a very nice photo of me dragging Rai down won’t you?”

Over Raizel’s shoulder he added, “it’ll be great. I believe in us, go team.” He snickered, kicking his feet in the air when their little group finally slowed over the water.

It would take a few moments of give and take. Elsian for his part very helpful in throwing out bad advice and fiddling with his pool noodle as the other 2 would be forced to work together to get the rope pulled tight enough to attempt walking on without pulling one another all over the place. When they were finally settled, both of the broom riders in place only then would Elsian try his luck as putting his foot on the rope, shoving at it hard to test its give, it was fine, perfect really, or as perfect as one could get with this particular set up of questionable spells and DIY design. Which meant it was perfect~

The sight was a little anxiety inducing. Elsian wasn’t gonna lie and say he didn’t feel a little nervous as he slowly stood on the broom, at first a bit shaky before catching his balance but he’d made his bed. Had the moment he volunteered to go first and dragged the others into his shenanigans, so-

“Here goes nothing I guess…”He muttered, slowly putting one foot on the rope. Then another. Elsian was fully on the rope.

It shook something horrible, the boy's arms flailing outward in an attempt to find balance. And he did. Barely. But still, he hadn’t fallen and that had to count for something. “And now I’m terrified to move,” he joked towards Raizel, looking over his shoulder to make a joke but quickly looking forward with a startled shout when it made him twist off balance. Staying in place wasn’t an option as he shook and flailed in the air and in a desperate move, he stepped forward again, one, two, three steps! Legs shaking as he clung to the pool noodle and used it as the world's worst balancing pole substitute ever. Oh no this was the worst, absolutely awful. How he hadn’t fallen was a mystery and now he couldn’t go back, only forwards. He had to, he had to, he had to. “How did that even work?” he laughed; disbelief heavy in his voice.

He took another slow step and immediately almost fell, stiffly stilling with the pool noodle held in front of him in what was probably a ridiculous sight.

Slow and steady apparently wasn’t the thing to do? Which meant his quick steps from before was the better option here…interesting. Slowly he looked at Ying, a smile spreading as he shakily stood there with an odd glint in his eyes and a single strong breeze away from crashing into the water.

“I’m gonna try running.”

Run was a strong word.

“Be sure to get my good side!” If I fall went unsaid.

He was gonna try rushing forward though.

And Elsian moved, practically half jogging half stumbling his way across the rope for what had to be a surprisingly solid amount of steps before the rope shook and sunk with the force of his steps and Elsi went swaying sideways with a startled yelp,arms swinging wildly in the air, pool noodle clutched in one hand and Elsian toppled off the rope.

Wildly he grabbed at air, one hand snatching the rope like a lifeline. He was gonna fall. He couldn’t get back up on his own, he was gonna fall. “Noooo, Raizel save me!” He shouted dramatically, swinging his noodle filled arm back up and hauling himself shakily up to slump on the rope like a blanket hung out to dry. Ying couldn’t save him, too far, which meant he also couldn’t attempt to drag the other down with him. Rai however was still close enough to attempt hitting with the pool noodle and by God was he gonna try.

He threw his arm out, noodle smacking into the other arm just barely. Another wild swing. This time aimed at their head or face. “Help me,”he complained, “Help me! Ying tell them to save me or die tryin-”

A slip, followed by a shriek as he very majestically crashed into the water below with what could be considered a rather impressive splash.

The cold was a shock, biting through his clothes and making him feel dragged down. Elsian didn’t resurface for a moment, then right after a bright pool noodle breaking the surface was Elsi, taking a gasping breath. His hair clung to his forehead but the pool noodle was a helpful thing in leaning on as he shoved the soaked strands away to squint up at Ying.


“Was the splash at least a big one?” He called out, a smile breaking out as he swam about.