What a beautiful day it was out. Victoria couldn't have been happier about the day. She knew she was on maternity leave and she knew Mercedes could fully handle this kind of thing, but she needed out of the house for a bit, so why not stop over at the practice pitch and see how things were going. Helena fast asleep, she pushed the stroller into the pitch and looked around.


She had been the first to arrive it seemed, which didn't surprise her. She was always an early person, which worked out she could make sure the pitch had been taken care of and her orders for what to have around for the photoshoot were there. Checking the time she knew the players and Dale would be there soon.

Derry had been on such a tight schedule recently that she'd actually started to be early to things, which meant that when she walked into the pitch she was surprised at the lack of people... She made her way over to the woman she recognised, but the name had gone from her head. Not that that was anything new, Derryth Ferrier wasn't exactly good at names.

"Hi, am I early?" She flicked a ginger curl out of her face and smiled.

Mercedes was glad to be back at work. She had plenty of work to do since she had been back. She had just gotten married and had baby. All during her maternity leave not to mention she had finished her degree at the university. She had grown up at once this summer. Being an adult, wife and mother had definitely put a new prospective. She was hoping to get here a bit earlier. Still she was early so that was great. To her surprise her manger, Victoria was there. who was on maternity leave herself now.

"Hey, Victoria." She bought her little one. Which made Mercedes miss her baby. But it was good Chris only had a few more days before he started working at the university. She also seen that one of the seekers was here already as well. "Good Morning, Derry." As the public relations officer she had to keep up with the players and the teams.

Despite having had a lot of photoshoots and fan meetings and conferences to go to, Alec still got nervous whenever he was asked to come to another one of these events. He wanted to create the right impression and all, which was why he'd spent longer than usual on his appearance. The clothes, the shoes and, most importantly, the hair had to be perfect, you know? Yeah...

... Breathe, Summers, breathe.

Running a hand through his hair, the twenty one year old headed out onto the pitch, letting a nervous smile cross his face at the sight of the women over there. He recognised Derry from Hogwarts so... that made him feel a but more calm, even if the two hadn't really been close. Then there was Mrs Culloden, whom he recognised from previous events. And he only assumed that the other girl worked in the Ministry, having never seen her face out on the professional pitches before.

"Hey! It's great to see you all," he said, grinning slightly as he approached the-- Wait... was that...? "Is she yours?" Nod towards the baby and eyes back on Mrs Culloden. She looked sweet, really.

Tabby approached the others. There was the seeker from the Magpies, Ferrier? Tabby was a big fan of hers and was that Alec Summers? Sometimes being a Pro Seeker was a crazy feeling for her still, hitting her like a wall cause look at these awesome players she got to do things like this with?

"Hello" Her soft voice uttered, American accent in tow. "Is that your baby? She's precious!" She said with her biggest smile at Mrs. Culloden. Looking around the pitch she was really excited but trying to contain that. Playing it totally cool. She couldn't want to get home and tell Dani all about it. Now that both her parents were gone the only people she had to make proud were Dani, Max and Kim. But Kim was distant and Max was a little wrapped up in his family. Whatever, today was about her and the other awesome people here.

Photoshoots were nothing new to Greyson Andres, as photogenic as he was. Though he had never done a Seeker of the Month calendar. That was something new and something that remotely piqued his interest. Not that he was going to go in there all excited about it or anything. That was certainly not his style.

The 23 year old Cannons Seeker casually strolled up to the small crowd gathered at the Recreational Pitch, his hands stuffed in his pockets. Blue eyes scanned the faces to see who was already there - Ferrier, Summers, and.. new one last season, what was her name? Oh yes, Rookwood. And a couple ladies he didn't know.. he'd assume them to be from the Ministry. "Sup," he greeted the group with the hint of a grin and a casual nod.

So.. Seeker of the Month.. his placement in the calendar was important. January would not do - Sure, he'd be first, but quickly forgotten... and December.. he didn't want anyone to have to wait an entire year to get to him. Preferably he'd get a month right smack in the middle of the year, one of the hot months.

With her equipment bag slung over one shoulder, Dale Scamander arrived at the pitch where the most important part of the Seeker Calendar shoot was due to take place. She was looking forward to it, honestly. Quidditch photography was her favourite thing to do, she'd been doing it since she was still in school and during the off season she missed it terribly. Really it couldn't have happened at a better time for her, and she was inspired.

... even if Edward, Editor-in-Chief at WHiM, had insisted on her taking a babysitter.

She didn't see Zeppelin Grimm here yet though, and wasn't about to owl and remind him. If he chose to be busy elsewhere then she wouldn't mind, even if she had come to terms with the arrangement, now that she knew the real reasons behind it.

The dark-haired young woman approached the gathered group, many of whom she already knew and had already taken copious amounts of pictures of over the past several years. But it was the Ministry contingent she was heading for right now.

"Victoria." She greeted the older woman with a smile. "It looks like we are still waiting on a few more to arrive?"

She looked at the gathered players and addressed them. "For those of you who haven't changed into your team robes yet, please do so, we'll get started soon."

Of course Helena would start to cry the minute they were on the pitch. Picking up her daughter from her stroller Victoria bounced her a bit, “Don’t worry sweetie we won’t be here too long. It’s nice to get out.” She figured she was probably just getting hungry looking at the time. Her eyes shifted hearing a voice, “Oh no, Miss Ferrier right on time. Thank you for joining us today.” She was excited for this calendar, it would be a great publication.

The next person to come she smiled widely at, “Hello Mercedes, I hope you don’t mind I dropped in on your photoshoot today.” It was her PR’s thing, but she just needed out of the house. “I thought Helena and I could use a trip out for a bit.” Plus honestly Victoria went stir crazy in a house for too long. She was married to her work as much as her family. She couldn’t stay away. “You found the sign in sheets alright? I know I left my desk a bit of a mess. I didn’t realize someone was going to want to be born three weeks too soon.” She chuckled and kissed her daughters face.

Alec Summers being the next one she turned. She knew him a little better than the other seekers being one of Wade’s friends. “Hello Alec, yes this is mine. Helena Culloden.” She gave a bright smile showing off her baby. “Thank you for coming today, we should be getting started shortly.” Another asking about Helena, she was a big hit with the seekers it seemed, “Yes she is mine.” Tabby was one of the youngest seekers today, but she had done a great job last season. “We will be getting started shortly.” Checking her time again, it was still pretty early, good.

Seeing someone else she gave the man a smile, “Hello Mr. Andres” She knew all names and faces after seven years in her department. It was very helpful to know them well. “Thank you for coming.” She liked being polite and was going to ask them all if they needed anything out of force of habit when she heard another voice. “Dale, hello. Things seem all set and yes we are waiting on a few, but if you want to get started with the ones that we have here go right ahead.” She figured the rest would be coming shortly.

Team robes. So it was a very professional kind of photoshoot and calendar. Slightly disappointing. But Greyson had been prepared for outfit changes in case the photographer wanted something more than what he was wearing, or less.

"Team robes.. you got it," he grinned at the woman carrying the equipment before he started pulling off his shirt. Didn't look like there was a place to change and he wasn't all that bothered with it anyway. Taking his team robes out of the bag he had slung over his shoulder, Greyson slipped them over his head. He could totally rock the pro look for this calendar. Orange brought out his blue eyes. Complementary colors and all.

Looking up as he heard his name, he smiled at the Ministry lady. She did look rather familiar now that he thought about it, but he tended to leave the business side of things to his manager, and the name escaped him. "Please, it's Greyson." They were all friends here, no need for formalities, at least with him. "Thanks for the invite."

He glanced back at the photographer. "Ready when you are." Just throwing it out there, he knew they were still waiting on others, but the first one ready likely got the best photos and maybe choice of placement. Just showing a little initiative.

"Good. We're still going to make this a two-pronged shoot, as discussed. The professional side, and the personal side for each player." Each page would have the professional, action shot as the main image, with a smaller image of a more 'off duty' pose to the side of calendar grid part itself. Moving of course, and with a tap of a wand the images could be interchanged depending on the preference of the calendar owner.

.... Quidditch players.

Dale smiled back politely and busied herself looking around and assessing the others while Andres changed, returning her attention to him when he said he was ready.

"I've seen your work, Andres, eight snitches last season and some fierce snatches right out from under the noses of your opposition." Most of whom, aside from those who had retired or been traded out, would be here today. He'd even managed to get one up on Dylan, which surprised her... because it was Dylan.

"I want to see that fierceness if you think you can give it to me." Was he up to the challenge? She'd soon see.

She gestured to the air. He could get up there and she'd have a practice snitch -designed to look like a game snitch- released for him to show off with.

Derry was... ready. She'd given Victoria a smile but then the photographer had spoken and she'd immediately looked down at herself, in case she hadn't put her robes on. Even though she knew she had. She just lived in fear of those dreams where you turned up somewhere public in your birthday suit.

So anyway, she was there, black and white magpie robes and all. She took a second to tie her hair up though, since she always did that for games so she might as well do it now, right?

...........

Now what? She could just wait, she didn't mind waiting. It made her feel better actually, seeing other people up first, at least it meant she didn't have to go up there with no idea of what was going to happen. Though she was hoping the uncomfortable-ness would fly away as she got into the air, like the nerves did when she was playing.

Yeah...

That would be fine.

Right, this was a work thing and everyone was acting much more grown up that Tabby herself who probably seemed a little too eager.. She took a deep breath and calmed herself.

She looked back at Mrs. Culloden and smiled widely. "She's lovely. I only ask cause people usually assume my Nephew to be mine when i babysit." Maybe that was too much info but Felix's black hair looked a bit like hers. So she could see the mistake. She nodded at the latter part of what Mrs. Culloden had to say.

Then there was the Photographer, she seemed kinda.. stiff? Maybe Tabby needed to act more stiff. She was already in her Back and Yellow Wasp robes. Mmhmm. She kinda figured that's what you were supposed to show up in. It wasn't like this was some kinda fireman calender.

But now she was a bit nervous. She moved to stand next to the Magpies seeker, another girl and around her age. "Excuse me.. Ferrier, right? Are these things always so stiff?" Could she tell Tabby was nervous, hopefully she was friendly.. they'd faced off over the last season but no hard feelings, yeah? Ladies in sports had to stick together. "I'm Tabby by the way." She offered a little smile, her slight Brooklyn accent coming out. oops.

"You certainly know your Quidditch," Greyson grinned at the photographer as she stroked his ego with her knowledge of stats. He had to hand it to pretty photographer though, she also knew how to flatter him. He knew it to be true though. Greyson had a pretty amazing season with the top snitch grabs over all.. well, tied with Alec Summers. Courtesy nod to him.

"Fierce? Sure, you got it." Another grin and he shouldered his broom, heading for the middle of the pitch. Action shots might not be a bad idea and he knew good artists had their own methods of capturing the qualities they wanted. He was sure he could give her what she wanted and come out looking good at the same time.

Taking a running start, he jumped onto his broom and took off, flying towards the opposite end of the pitch. Once he was a little ways out, he swooped back around, leaning forward as he flew faster, heading back towards the congregated group. Maybe he could use a snitch - or an opponent - to make things interesting. Or maybe leave the opponent out.. he wanted his photos focused on him.

She listened has Dale gave the orders to the players, she was the expert on this and really Victoria was feeling a bit heavy on her feet. She might need to find a place to sit and watch with Helena. The players that were there seemed to be getting in their robes and ready to go. That was great. “Derry I think you could head into the air.” Looking at Dale she hoped that was alright to say. Switching Helena into a new position she nodded towards Dale, “Yes that sounds perfect. I know you will do a great job. Your work you sent over was fantastic.” Plus the reason Victoria went with her. Since their regular had retired a few years ago, she just hadn’t found one she really felt worked well with them.

Her eyes turning to Tabby she smiled, “That can be hard. My son is sixteen and he gets the weirdest looks when he has his other two sisters out places. People always just jump to conclusions.” It was nice to have ones that didn’t, but she hoped she wasn’t looking too old that people might think Helena to be her grandchild and not her child. She was only 38, so not old enough for all of that, but she did feel like she was looking much older lately.

Moving out of the way a bit she watched the players getting ready and heading on their brooms. What a great day this was. Though she wondered if she needed to pull out her paperwork and make sure all were there that were coming.

Jasmine loved to walk around London. It was like one of her hobbies and she knew mostly all the places to go if she was bored or wanted to walk around if she needed air. I mean don't get her wrong the Ministry was nice but she loved to explore. As she was getting her air and clearing her mind, she turned around and noticed the quidditch pitch. Huh....when was this here? She puckered her lips and began to walk to it and wondered what she had been missing. She was itching to ride on a broom that is for sure. She began to stare longingly at the pitch and wondered if anyone would wanna fly with her one day. In the mean time lets just watch the others fly around.

Lysander was horribly lost, and he loathed being lost. He had been attempting to locate a potions supply shop and of course found himself at none other than a Quidditch Pitch. Lovely. His large green eyes narrowed slightly as he found himself at the entrance of the field, silently judging the few people flying above. How he loathed the sport. He glanced around him, knowing that the sooner he was able to ask directions, the sooner he could leave. Luckily and unluckily for him, there were very few people around. Really, just one that wasn't already in the air -- a young woman. Sigh.

The young man approached her, looking extremely out of place in his charcoal gray suit which he wore more often than not. He was soon standing just a few feet from her, his natural gait swift and silent so it appeared as if he just emerged from the fog. "Do you happen to know where exactly we are?" he asked her bluntly, of course forgetting his pleasantries.

As Jasmine was looking at the quidditch pitch with her big light blue eyes, she was just in awe at the flying. Man she wished she could fly but alas she didn't have the money to buy a broom just yet. Her mother would never let her ride a broom, it wasn't ladylike to her standards. Her father on the other hand well he was just out of the picture cheating on his wife. No wonder she wanted to get out. Anyways while she was staring, she jumped when she noticed someone was right near her. "Bloody merlin....you scared me.." she told the guy. She had to admit though by first glance he was dressed really well. She gave him props for that.

Once her heart rate returned to normal, she regained her composure and responded to his question with, "You are the Recreational Quidditch Pitch. Do you know what Quidditch is?" she had to be sure. I mean he could have been an outsider for all she knew.

Lysander remained perfectly still as the unknown girl next to him jumped at his sudden presence a few feet from her, his eyebrows only raising just slightly at the reaction. Jumpy little one, wasn't she? "My apologies for the fright," he muttered, though he wasn't really all that sorry. Be aware of your surroundings if you're gonna be so touchy about it!

As she simply told him they were at a Quidditch Pitch and asked if he knew what the sport was, Lysander mistook her kind explanation for a condescending comment. His green eyes narrowed slightly behind his large glasses frames and his jaw clenched ever so slightly, "Yes, I know what Quidditch is," he responded sharply, letting out an aggravated sigh as he pulled out a map from one of his suit pockets. "I'm asking where we are geographically, I need to find a Potions supply shop. I'm off track," he explained impatiently, his eyes leaving her to once again examine his map.

Jasmine nodded and accepted his apology. I mean he probably meant no harm to scare her, he just wanted to know where he was. Jasmine raised his eyebrows at his tone. Who the bloody merlin was he talking to. "Um excuse me sir I was just asking a question. No need to have that tone with me. I figured I would ask instead of boring you with what Quidditch was." she rolled her eyes. Excuse her for being polite. Why was he so aggravated for? Being lost in a place like this was liberating. I mean just exploring all the shops and seeing all the magic on the streets. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Now why should I tell you where it is since you are so rude to me?" she was just challenging him is all. She knew where the potions shop was but he wanted him to show her respect first.

Lysander's green eyes narrowed once more as the girl before him questioned his intentions, wondering why she should give him any information when he was being so "rude" to her. RUDE? To HER? Dear Merlin, he'd only been within her company for thirty seconds and already found her intolerable. "Rude?" he repeated, large eyebrows raising ever so slightly over his glasses. "Asking for location is far from rude. Rather, suggesting that a grown adult wizard doesn't know what Quidditch is - now that, is rude." He spoke sharply before scanning her briefly as though sizing her up as a potential enemy.

"You should tell me where I am simply out of common human decency." He muttered the last few words, clearing his throat impatiently. "Now, where are we?"

Jasmine when this guy repeated rude. Yeah he was kind of being rude. I mean was she wrong? She didn't think so. He just needed to show respect is all. "Yeah you are being rude, I mean a polite way to have said it could have been, I already know what Quidditch is. You didn't have to be snappy." There plain and simple. She narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't suggest anything actually about you not knowing what Quidditch was. I assumed you did actually." God what is with this guy. If he was gonna play with fire he was gonna get burned. She wanted him to know who he was messing with.

She raised her eyebrows of his demand. She scoffed and said, "Look at you demanding things when I told you if you show me some respect I will tell you where we are." she shrugged.

Lysander listened to this with mild detachment behind his large frames -- what on earth was he supposed to do with this person? Clearly she didn't understand the proper protocol of being a decent human being. Just give the location as requested! Ugh, why were people so touchy all the time!? Of course, Lysander couldn't register the irony of this thought as he could be the most touchy person on the planet when he felt like it. Still. How annoying.

His eyebrows rose mildly from behind his frames as she suggested that he would get an answer if he 'showed her some respect'. "I owe you nothing," he stated simply, clearly getting impatient with her. "Listen if you just don't know, tell me. I'll find another person to waste my time."

"I think you do. I mean if you ever want a decent girlfriend." He might be a hard catch for some. She even had an evil grin on her face at his comment, "Hahahah well that might be hard since we are the only two people here as from where I can see." He didn't even ask for her name. That counted as rudeness number two. Number one was his attitude for something not going his own way. As she was looking around she noticed a badge on his side. Hmmm that seemed familiar. She pursed her lips.

Oh no. No can this be happening. Wait a minute. This was awkward. Just a tad now. "Well it seems we work together seeing your badge." She referred to his Accidents and Catastrophes badge.

It was weird how life worked. Though Lucas and Talullah hadn't been close despite attending Hogwarts together and the fact that they had been in the same House, he hadn't expected to meet her again. Especially not at the same division at the ministry. And they were certainly better friends now, anyway.

Lucas grinned over at Talullah. "You ready for a game, Tallie?'' He was clutching his prized Firebolt and though the duo would only be shooting hoops, he was really looking forward to it. Recently, he hadn't gotten around to getting up in the air much given his responsibilities with Brody and his job. "Be warned, I'm quite good at blocking.'' But scoring, the task for the Chasers, was much more in his league.

Talullah made her way down to the pitch to clear her mind. The Irishwoman was always at her most relaxed when she was on a Quidditch pitch. She would say it was her second home but it was more like her first home. This year would have marked ten years in being in the pro Quidditch spotlight if she hadn't retired last year to start up a job at the Ministry of Magic. As much as she misses being on the pitch and playing matches she doesn't regret her decision at all and maybe in the future she could possibly own a team or be a manager. Tallie looked at Lucas and smiled. She was so going to beat him at this! This was her territory!

"Oh I'm ready but I chose the wrong thing to wear today." She really didn't expect to be playing right now but she felt at home on the quidditch pitch. She did play for the pros for a long time. Nearly ten years and here she was on the pitch again. It was no surprise to her that he was here, she always found herself down here when she wanted to clear her mind. Back to her outfit, wear this attire wasn't the greatest choice for Quidditch but she knew that she could still win. "Even though I'm wearing a skirt and heels I can totally kick your butt." Talullah grinned and giggled a little. She totally had this. She just needed her broom. "Accio Firebolt Supreme." her broom was so much better than his but then again she needed the best of the best. Talullah waited for her broom and caught it when it came to her.

"You're good at blocking?"