Was she doing this? Yes, yes she was, because t h i s was just what Beths did. They tried out for things. They were bold…they thought about themselves in the wrong tenses and were dramatic and spastic and oh so – so…crazy? Was that the word for it. Maybe, maybe not but it didn’t really matter as there wasn’t much time to clearly delve into the inner workings of her own thoughts now. Not when THIS was happening.

q u i d d i t c h xxxxx t r y o u t s!!!!

It was time to SHINE in only the way that a perfectly polished slightly crazy gem of a person could shine...from the inside with lots of faked glee and excitement - okay. Fine, fine the glee wasn't faked. It was QUIDDITCH TRYOUTS how could any self-respecting narcissist not be excited about Quidditch tryouts? Making her way to the pitch she was reaaaady for her closeup - well the closeup on her skills. obviously.

Faces weren't important here...not as important as her skills right? But here she was ready to face the music, tryout again and make nice with the most important person ever. Captain Dooley.

Cameron was BACK!

After a successful summer with U17 - for him, personally, anyway - Cameron was now ready to get back on the Slytherin House Team as well. It had been a tough past term, being forced to watch his team from the stands only, unable to play and help them in any way. Naturally, he'd come to most of the practices to watch but then again, that was all he had been able to do: watch.

Not anymore, however.

He nodded to the second year already at the pitch before carefully setting down his broom and bat and starting on some basic stretches. This was going to be their year. He could FEEL it.

Patrick walked out from the locker room, a bag full of things needed for the tryouts over his shoulder. He noticed two people already down on the pitch. He had wondered what made them show up... pausing to look at his watch, early. Smiling brightly he figured he had nothing left to do but to make sure they knew that their captain was ready for tryouts and ready to roll.

Setting the bag down off to the side he walked over to join the two already at the field, he really needed to start calling it a pitch like the rest of his friends. "Ready for tryouts you two?" He was more acknowledging Anabeth as he didn't know what she had done over the summer. "Get much quidditch in over the summer Cameron?" Waiting around for a few seconds he wondered if more people would show up soon, he was more calm than last term, but still wanted to do well. "Feel free to take a lap or two or continue stretching til the others show up."

OOC: Please make sure to fill out the survey in the 1st post, I'm going to try and move us on in two days January 7 at about 5pm EST drop by, drop in, Patrick will be around and about throughout the whole thing.

Quidditch. FINALLY.

The only thing that had kept Zachary sane last term. And life in general to be honest.

Even though there was a strange, unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach this morning - he still made his way to the pitch, ready to try out. It was ridiculous, of course - because no one should doubt him and just give him his chaser position like before. But then again, he would do the same if he was the team captain. So okay, he'd try out.

Giving a nod of greeting to whoever was already there, the sixteen year old dropped his broom on the ground - and proceeded to stretch just a bit.

"good summer, guys?"

Skyler smiled as she headed out to the field. Quiditch. Let's hope that this is a one constant. She was surprised that last year's headmaster allowed it. Skyler shuttered as she gripped her broom in her hand. This is a new year yo. Not the same year. She smiled when she saw her house mates, Patrick mainly.
"Hey all," she said, covering up a blush. Whoops.

"Hi Zachary and Skyler." Patrick smiled at those around him and decided there was no time like the present to get started. Clapping his hands a few times to get their attention, he stood off to the side of the pitch. "Alright everyone. I recognize some familiar faces and see some new faces as well. Glad to have you all out here." He smiled to let people know that he wasn't as nervous as he was this time last year. Last term he was terrified because he was a young captain who may not do well. Now he was a bit older and had won the house cup.

"To start today I'd like you all to take a few laps, if you need more go ahead. Once you touch back down I'd like those of you going out for Chaser over to my left, beaters beside them, seekers, and then keepers." He smiled and waited for everyone to get going on their brooms so he could keep things moving.

OOC: This is to get things moving. We will be moving on in about 24 hours so go ahead and post more stretching or moving around the pitch. The activity will be coming shortly.

Skyler smiled a bit back at him and took her broom. She mounted it and then kicked off starting to fly around the field to get her bearings. The wind swept through her hair that she forgot to put up making it a bit hard to see.

A few laps, sure he could do that. In fact, Gunnar wouldn't mind doing a few running laps and a few flying laps as he tended to do both when warming up or practicing, but he understood what Patrick meant.

He kept hold of his beater's bat because he wasn't about to leave it on the ground. He needed to be able to wield it while flying anyway if he wanted to continue playing beater for the team. And so, Gunnar mounted his broom and kicked off into the air.

Quickly, he reached a decent height and leaned forward to gain a little more speed, chasing after Skyler and intending to pass her. Heading fast down the pitch, he rounded the end near the hoops and headed back the other way for his first lap.

Patrick was impressed with how everyone was warming up. He noticed Skyler was getting some decent speed. He was hoping that they’d have another good run. Just had to have a good seeker.

He looked back up tonwatch those in the air lap around. He noticed Gunnar was keeping his bat with him. Smart man. Made it a habit to always have it handy. He was really impressed with just how well the new comers looked as the returning players. They had a good chance to repeat as quidditch cup champions.

OOC: sorry all goin to be another few hours til we move to the main activity because real life but please gather round and post what position you’re playing in the title.

Nodding to what Patrick said, the sixteen year old mounted his broom and took off. Feeling like he could actually breathe PROPERLY as always now that he was in the air - he began his lap.

One, two, three.

He had to remind himself FEW actually meant FEW - and stop himself to just move around the pitch aimlessly. Half heartedly, he came back down to the ground and took place where Patrick had mentioned the Chasers should stand.

Skyler was going around and around for a few times to get her barings a bit. She touched down amd looked around a bit. She went over to tge right spot where Patrick said to try out to keep her posision as Keeper.

After a few laps around the pitch, Gunnar noticed some of the others starting to assemble on the ground and he figured that it was time to really get this tryout started. He was warmed up sufficiently, in fact he was exhilarated from just his short time in the air, and he made his way towards the ground.

Once his feet hit the ground, Gunnar shouldered his broom and kept his bat loosely in his other hand. Making his way over towards the group of Slytherin team hopefuls, he stood where the beaters were meant to be.

Patrick smiled at the faces in front of him. “Alright. I’m glad you all came out for Try-outs this term. I’m hoping we can have a repeat of last term with winning the Quidditch cup.” he was less stern than last term because he had realized that it did absolutely nothing for his teammates.

He clapped his hands together, “this term we’re going to stray away from last terms odd skills and this term we’re going to have a relay. So pick a partner who is not the same position and get ready on the line.” he motioned to the line he had charmed into the grass. “First you will race to the other side and complete ten tosses through the hoop to your partner on the other side. Once you have done that you and your partner will fly to the middle of the field the partner who did not toss through the hoop will have to search for a small snitch sized ball amongst the tennis balls. Once you find it you will keep it and move onto the final task. Which is completing a puzzle here at the finish line.”

He figured he would have someone complain about the puzzle but it would allow him to see how people handled something odd in a unconventional setting. He did not want his team to freeze up when odd things happened to them. This would allow him to see how his team would handle things. “On may whistle.”

TWEET

And they were off.

OOC: So pick a partner, start the tasks, Patrick will be around in the air, and we’ll keep this moving and have a fun time at the end of the relay.

Holly was nervous. She hadn’t thought about playing on the team last year; she had only been a first year, Cam hadn’t been on the team and - honestly the year hadn’t been great to the young girl. This year, however, after a Summer of working with Cameron (and their parents when they had had the spare time), Holly felt that she was doing well and that she could stand on the Pitch without thinking she was going to embarrass Cameron or their Mum.

Having stood beside Cameron to stretch, when the time came to take flight; her heart jumped as she easily got onto her broom, pushed off from the ground and grinned as she felt the wind whipping around her face [though her unruly curls were tied back into a neat bun just like she would have done if she’d been competing].

Sitting easily on the broom, she took her hands off one at a time, testing her balance and making sure that she was still as comfortable as she had been over the summer at flying without her hands if she needed too. With a grin to her brother, she had lowered herself so that she picked up speed - seeing how quickly she could fly to the end of the pitch, though it wasn’t like she could time it from here. But never mind, that wasn’t the point.. The point was to warm her body up and to make sure that she was one with her broom.


When she landed, she gave Cameron a little wave with her fingers as she moved to stand with the Chasers rather than with him and his fellow Beaters. Leaning ever so slightly on the tip of her broom, she moved to stand up on her tip-toes, stretching out the muscles in her legs as she waited for everyone else.

When everyone was assembled, she listened - heart pounding in her chest with nerves - as the Captain filled them in. - Wait. Someone who was going for another position! That meant Cameron!!! Looking instantly at her brother, she gave him a smile that silently said We have this! before she listened to the rest of the instructions. Okay.

Fly. Throw. Fly. Find. Fly. Solve. Got it!

Bouncing on her toes, broom already in her hand so that she could get on and fly - she waited for the whistle.

………………….

THERE IT WAS! GO!!!

Jumping nimbly over her broom, the twelve year old pushed off again just as she saw Cameron do the same - and without saying a word, they were off towards the hoops. .... Hopefully it was obvious what they needed to toss through the hoops when they got there.

Up until the second Holly had actually showed up Cameron hadn't been sure if she would. Yes, they'd been working on it over the summer and she had seemed excited but still. And now that she WAS in fact here, he was very excited for her. Assuming she'd make the team too, they'd be able to actually play on the same team for his last year here.

Maybe their parents could even make it to one of the matches. Maybe.

Following Patrick's instructions for warm up, Cameron then landed again when their captain told them to. It felt great, to be honest, being back here. Even if Patrick obviously had nothing on their U17 captain but Cameron enjoyed the tryouts nonetheless; he respected what Patrick was doing and it seemed like the younger boy knew what he was doing. Even if sometimes Cam still resented him for making captain over him. Sometimes. In weak moments. Even though it wasn't even Patrick's fault.

ANYWAY, back to the pitch.

His eyes met Holly's when they were told to partner up with someone playing another position and he smiled back at his sister. This was going to be fun. And effective. They were a good team. Pushing himself off the ground again, he raced down to the other side of the pitch to where they were supposed to be throwing something. Quaffles, presumably.

”You’re doing really well everyone. Once you get to the hoop make sure you through the Tennisball, quaffle, basketball, football, and soccer all. They are all numbered 1-5, you and your partner will throw them back and forth with your partner.” He was. Smiling as he watched Holly and Cameron take off down the pitch.

This was so exciting Holly was looking good. She looked comfortable on the broom and didn’t look like she was nervous at all. He was curious as to how everyone would handle the situations as they arose.

OOC: These are the details about the ball toss. I’ll post more detail about the puzzle when you all get to that point so I don’t overwhelm you all.

Yup, that was the hope! To play together for one year on the team, to be known as the Tamesis pair and for people to know that Cameron was her brother. There was no-one better than Cameron… Though Alis and Jorgie were her bestest friends and were obviously also amazingly awesome.

Hearing Patrick’s voice as she flew down the pitch, she nodded knowing what they had to do. Five different balls back and forth through the hoops. Got it! This was going to be fun! As they got closer to the hoops, Holly’s eyes scanned for the different balls and how far they were away from the hoops. ”I’ll start?!” She said to Cameron, meaning she would stay on this side of the hoops.

As he moved to where he needed to be, she leant to the side so that she could pick up the first ball (the tennisball) with her hands. Her knees and thighs once again directing and steading the broom, as she refound her centre easily. Grinning at her brother, she nodded and easily through the ball - watching it sail through the hoop and over to Cameron. Admittedly - she knew that was harder with a keeper in the way.

Skyler blinked as everyone was going their own way and she got stuck without anyone.
"Anyone want ta join me?" She asked.

"Nice work Holly and Cameron. Good throws too." He was very impressed with the skills everyone was showing. It wasn't often that he was this impressed with his potential teammates. He couldn't wait to see how everyone was going to do this term.
"I'll toss with you when you get to the hoops Skyler." He'd hate for her to not get an opportunity to partake in the activity since she didn't have a partner.

OOC: Try-outs close out tomorrow January 18. So get your final posts in and we'll wrap up shortly.

Cameron was INCREDIBLY proud of his sister, did she know? Just watching her fly with such ease and looking confident. It was very nice to watch. She better make the team or else he was going to have to talk to Patrick about this. No, he didn't like nepotism or favoritism more than the next guy but Holly was GOOD.

And that was his completely unbiased opinion.

Flying to the other side of the hoops, Cam waited for Holly to throw the first ball. Somehow it would've appeared to be easier to throw the bigger balls first, no? Either way though, he swerved a little and caught the tennis-ball with ease. He then threw it back over, through the hoop and to Holly.

Now, would they be practicing anything Beater related too?

Did playing Quidditch feel like this? Did your heart always race as your eyes had a single-goal? Getting the quaffle, and making it to the hoops - and past the keeper - seemed like an amazing thing to make you one track minded. Zooooooooom!!!

Grinning up at her brother, and almost deaf to everything else going on around them, she flew higher and easily stretched upwards to catch the ball in her hand. “One done!” She said to Cam with a wide smile. Picking up the second ball (glad she could differentiate them and silently wondering if that was so Patrick knew they could tell the quaffle, bludger and snitch apart), Holly once again aimed it through the hoop towards Cameron.

And then she fly back and forth, maneuvering the broom as she waited to catch it again.

And again. And again. And again.

Cam sincerely hoped that anyone on the team could tell the Quaffle, Bludger and Snitch apart.

That seemed like the most basic rule.

"Great!" He called over to his sister when she caught the tennis ball before getting ready to catch the Quaffle. He enjoyed playing Quidditch in general but honestly, he didn't have THAT much experience with catching and throwing Quaffles. Yes, he could do it, it was the thing you did when you played with other people for fun but it definitely wasn't his area of expertise.

They'd be required to HIT Bludgers too, right? He'd brought his bat after all.

His eyes had briefly drifted over to Patrick before the fact that red ball came flying at him caught his attention again. Oops. Quickly leaning forward on his broom, Cameron flew towards the hoops and caught the ball before it could drop too low. All good. Coming back up, he gave Holly a look to make sure she was ready before throwing the Quaffle back through the hoop.

Well, they may think it was a more exciting, multi-ball, flying version of that football thing, Dad likes to go on about…

Beaming a wide smile at Cameron, she maneuvered her broom higher and to the left - catching the Quaffle with both of her hands, body leaning backwards slightly to redistribute her balance and keep her centre. This was fun!! She’d need to talk Cam into playing something like this with her in the future - maybe he would help her set up a charm so she had to catch as many Quaffles as possible in the time limit??

Heh. Who knew, but this was a test - no giggling. Very serious.

As Holly threw the basketball into the air and caught it again, she did her best to ignore the other Slytherins; focusing on her brother and doing the best she could. Backing up slightly just to show she could throw it that bit further - especially with a heavier ball - she nodded to Cam and then threw it almost perfectly in a straight line -- heh, and straight at Cam’s chest.

Gunnar turned his eyes towards Patrick as he gave them their next instructions and listened attentively. Yes! He hoped they'd win the cup this term too. Of course, he'd have to actually make the team first, but he was confident.

A relay. Okay, that was cool. Of course this seemed to be more of a chaser skill with all the tossing back and forth, but he was still eager. He just hoped he'd still have the opportunity to hit some bludgers too.

Once everyone started pairing up, Gunnar glanced over at Skyler who was looking for a partner. "Come on, let's do this," he said as a way to offer to relay with her. Mounting his broom again, he waited till she was ready and he heard Patrick's whistle, and then raced off towards the other side of the pitch to grab one of the balls.