31 Jul 2018, 04:03
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
He hadn't seen his dad in a few weeks so when his dad invited him to the practice his team was having, Clarke felt he had no choice but to go. At least it would be mildly entertaining and maybe Jo would be there as well and he would have something to do besides watch his father and his teammates run drills into the ground. That would at least be a little less depressing. With his father aging and the team just getting younger and younger his father's glory days are waning and it's obvious for everyone watching, perhaps sadly, besides Jeremiah himself.
Jeremiah Laredo was the longest tenured played for the Falmouth Falcons and happily wore the title of team captain, but the glory days of being a speedy and acrobatic chaser were far behind him. Even as his body aged and his speed slowed and his strength waned he maintained that smart, strategic brain he used to his advantage. It made him a good captain and could make him a good coach if he ever decided to retire.
So watching his father run practices had it's ups to it but it was still a little painful to watch. Still though, It had been too long since he saw his father and the best time to catch him was during Quidditch practices. Otherwise he was usually too busy with friends, or teammates, or traveling for Quidditch matches that his mother never let him go on.
It was a little bit of a bummer but Clarke was used to it by now. He grabbed his re-visibility spectacles as he approached the empty hill where he knew the stadium stood, invisible from the muggle world. The moment he slipped the glasses on the large, proud stadium stood in front of him, and he could see someone up on a broom way above the stands. He felt a child like excitement in his chest just as seeing it.
The security guard at the entrance of the stadium just smiled at Clarke and stepped aside to let him through, "Good day, Mr. Laredo" He said.
"Thanks!" Clarke called to him as he hurried up the steps to the family box, one that had the best view in the house and comfortable seating to watch the practice. He wasn't the only one in there when he entered but he recognized everyone that was, In a way, this is where he grew up.
Jeremiah Laredo was the longest tenured played for the Falmouth Falcons and happily wore the title of team captain, but the glory days of being a speedy and acrobatic chaser were far behind him. Even as his body aged and his speed slowed and his strength waned he maintained that smart, strategic brain he used to his advantage. It made him a good captain and could make him a good coach if he ever decided to retire.
So watching his father run practices had it's ups to it but it was still a little painful to watch. Still though, It had been too long since he saw his father and the best time to catch him was during Quidditch practices. Otherwise he was usually too busy with friends, or teammates, or traveling for Quidditch matches that his mother never let him go on.
It was a little bit of a bummer but Clarke was used to it by now. He grabbed his re-visibility spectacles as he approached the empty hill where he knew the stadium stood, invisible from the muggle world. The moment he slipped the glasses on the large, proud stadium stood in front of him, and he could see someone up on a broom way above the stands. He felt a child like excitement in his chest just as seeing it.
The security guard at the entrance of the stadium just smiled at Clarke and stepped aside to let him through, "Good day, Mr. Laredo" He said.
"Thanks!" Clarke called to him as he hurried up the steps to the family box, one that had the best view in the house and comfortable seating to watch the practice. He wasn't the only one in there when he entered but he recognized everyone that was, In a way, this is where he grew up.
Stamina: 7 | Agility: 5 | Strength: 6 | Control: 7 | ArcPower: 2 | Accuracy: 3
1 Aug 2018, 01:16
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
Jo wasn't completely sure why she needed to come with her father on this outing. It was just practice, not even a proper game. She knew he still felt very attached to his old team and liked to help them out as much as possible, but watching them practice seemed a bit daft. But he insisted. She wasn't one to argue with her father, after all. When they arrived, he started exchanging a few pleasantries with the staff and sent her on up ahead while they chit-chated. She was just glad to not have to stand around and listen to adults talk about boring adult things.
With Big Bart having the name he did with this team, her family was basically treated like he still played there. So right to the exclusive family area it was. She was rather surprised to see she wasn't going to be the only one there. But a familiar face brightened her mood tremendously.
"Clarke!" she called out energetically and ran over to sit beside him. "I am ever so glad to see you. Watching the team practice seems a little silly without company, don't you think?" she asked and she tugged at her clothes to make sure they were where they were supposed to be on her small body. "But I have had a hard time sitting still anywhere lately. I'm so excited for Hogwarts that I can't stand it! Mum says she's a little worried I'll have trouble making friends, but I say that's rubbish" she was beaming. She didn't have many people in her life she could call a friend, but she had practically grown up with Clarke. They had spent countless hours cheering on their fathers during games. She would wager she had spent more time with him than any of her many cousins. "Have you been shopping for your supplies yet?"
With Big Bart having the name he did with this team, her family was basically treated like he still played there. So right to the exclusive family area it was. She was rather surprised to see she wasn't going to be the only one there. But a familiar face brightened her mood tremendously.
"Clarke!" she called out energetically and ran over to sit beside him. "I am ever so glad to see you. Watching the team practice seems a little silly without company, don't you think?" she asked and she tugged at her clothes to make sure they were where they were supposed to be on her small body. "But I have had a hard time sitting still anywhere lately. I'm so excited for Hogwarts that I can't stand it! Mum says she's a little worried I'll have trouble making friends, but I say that's rubbish" she was beaming. She didn't have many people in her life she could call a friend, but she had practically grown up with Clarke. They had spent countless hours cheering on their fathers during games. She would wager she had spent more time with him than any of her many cousins. "Have you been shopping for your supplies yet?"
"That is Jo to you"
1 Aug 2018, 01:50
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
Clarke laughed happily at her excitement. He could definitely understand where all the excitement came from with Hogwarts gleaming on the distance. It wasn't hard to imagine what life would be like once they started their studies there. Hogwarts was going to be the start of their lives not. For Clarke at least Hogwarts was the start of a life where he could be his own person and not be worried about who his father was, or listen to his mother's nagging constantly about what he should aspire to become. The independence itself was what he was looking forward to.
"If we're in the same house you shouldn't have a hard time making friends I'm sure I can make some people be nice to you" he joked affectionately, "but no, I haven't gone shopping for school supplies yet. My mother keeps forgetting I need to go and when I ask she says that London is just oh so far away and that maybe my father should take me. But as you can see" Clarke said gesturing towards the pitch where the team was flying around, "This is as much interaction as me and my father have had for weeks now so I don't see that happening. Eventually my mother will have to take me though, you know her, she wouldn't let her son go to Hogwarts without the best. She already sent the headmaster an owl asking if she could send me with a brass cauldron instead of a pewter one." He laughed.
"If we're in the same house you shouldn't have a hard time making friends I'm sure I can make some people be nice to you" he joked affectionately, "but no, I haven't gone shopping for school supplies yet. My mother keeps forgetting I need to go and when I ask she says that London is just oh so far away and that maybe my father should take me. But as you can see" Clarke said gesturing towards the pitch where the team was flying around, "This is as much interaction as me and my father have had for weeks now so I don't see that happening. Eventually my mother will have to take me though, you know her, she wouldn't let her son go to Hogwarts without the best. She already sent the headmaster an owl asking if she could send me with a brass cauldron instead of a pewter one." He laughed.
Stamina: 7 | Agility: 5 | Strength: 6 | Control: 7 | ArcPower: 2 | Accuracy: 3
1 Aug 2018, 18:42
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
"Daddy is very sure I will end up in Slytherin, just like he, and my uncles, and grandfather, and his father, and so on," Jo explained, sounding a little bored. She had heard so many stories about the Slytherin common room she felt she practically knew it by heart already. Deep inside she craved something different. Something new. Something that wasn't hand picked by her father. Not that she would ever be brave enough to say so out loud that is. Not as long as he watched her every move that is.
"I was told that buying your school supplies is a right of passage for Hogwarts, and Daddy is going to let me go on my own!" her excitement was evident. Going out alone was a brand new experience. One she was looking forward too almost as much as school. To not be stuck in the manor for a while. To be able to decide how her own day was spent. A freedom that was almost intimidating. "Surely the school would not care if you bought a nicer cauldron. They must understand that people like us who are used to the nicer things in life shouldn't be punished by using...common goods. Our families worked hard to get where they are, and we deserve the rewards of that," To Jo this seemed like common sense. It was the nature of the world. "What is it like Clarke? With your dad gone so much, I mean?"
"I was told that buying your school supplies is a right of passage for Hogwarts, and Daddy is going to let me go on my own!" her excitement was evident. Going out alone was a brand new experience. One she was looking forward too almost as much as school. To not be stuck in the manor for a while. To be able to decide how her own day was spent. A freedom that was almost intimidating. "Surely the school would not care if you bought a nicer cauldron. They must understand that people like us who are used to the nicer things in life shouldn't be punished by using...common goods. Our families worked hard to get where they are, and we deserve the rewards of that," To Jo this seemed like common sense. It was the nature of the world. "What is it like Clarke? With your dad gone so much, I mean?"
"That is Jo to you"
1 Aug 2018, 19:23
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
"Yeah I'll probably end up in Slytherin too," Clarke said, he had a similar story to hers and they both knew it. His parents both came from old pure blood lines and they all had gone to Slytherin like her family. Clarke wasn't sure he really wanted to end up in the house although he would be proud if he did. The only one he really didn't want to end up in was Gryffindor, because he knew his dad would tease him for it, maybe even be a little annoyed. His mother would see it as just a little bit of gossip with the family and be so entertained by it that she would forget to be frustrated at all with that outcome.
Clarke listened enviously as Jo talked about going to Diagon Alley on her own and huffed, "your dads so cool for that! My mom is worried about my fashion sense or whatever. But really she's just going to make me buy the most expensive plain black robe that looks like every other plain black robe. And she wants to make sure I get a good wand, and that they don't try to stick me with something that's defective. You know how controlling she can be" Clarke smirked unaware that it's exactly where he got his controlling behavior as well.
He sighed when she asked about his father before gesturing to the pitch, "you know how it is. Quidditch has been his life since he was 12 years old and having a family didn't change that. It's not too bad you know, even when he's around we don't have much to talk about, he never wants to talk about Quidditch but that's all we have in common anyway. My mom says he just still hasn't grown up yet."
Clarke listened enviously as Jo talked about going to Diagon Alley on her own and huffed, "your dads so cool for that! My mom is worried about my fashion sense or whatever. But really she's just going to make me buy the most expensive plain black robe that looks like every other plain black robe. And she wants to make sure I get a good wand, and that they don't try to stick me with something that's defective. You know how controlling she can be" Clarke smirked unaware that it's exactly where he got his controlling behavior as well.
He sighed when she asked about his father before gesturing to the pitch, "you know how it is. Quidditch has been his life since he was 12 years old and having a family didn't change that. It's not too bad you know, even when he's around we don't have much to talk about, he never wants to talk about Quidditch but that's all we have in common anyway. My mom says he just still hasn't grown up yet."
Stamina: 7 | Agility: 5 | Strength: 6 | Control: 7 | ArcPower: 2 | Accuracy: 3
2 Aug 2018, 16:55
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
An idea started rolling in Jo's head. One she was almost afraid to vocalize. She looked side to side a few times in succession and leaned over to her friend to whisper "What if we didn't, Clarke? What if just...didn't go to Slytherin?" just saying the phrase out loud felt scandalous. She was very proud of herself for such a daring thing. She knew deep down her father expected her to follow his footsteps. But whatever his job was, it seemed very stressful. She wasn't sure she wanted his life. Mother was much more supportive of the other options. She was in Hufflepuff after all.
"Think about it. Hogwarts is our story, not our parents. Our chance to stand out, to make our own lives. What if we did what we wanted instead of what we are told to do? Just this once. Think of the adventure it could be!" Adventure was a bold claim for a girl who could count the number of times she's left home alone on one hand and have fingers to spare. But the idea of being different that the cookie cutter life her father had planned for her felt exhilarating. Not that she would dare say so this his face of course.
"I think I would like somewhere high up, so that I have a nice view from my window. So that I can see the birds flying around. What about you?" her mind wondered back to her first time on a broom. It wasn't very high up, but seeing the earth from that changed perspective was lovely. "It would be like flying every night when I went to bed" she said and sighed dreamily.
"Think about it. Hogwarts is our story, not our parents. Our chance to stand out, to make our own lives. What if we did what we wanted instead of what we are told to do? Just this once. Think of the adventure it could be!" Adventure was a bold claim for a girl who could count the number of times she's left home alone on one hand and have fingers to spare. But the idea of being different that the cookie cutter life her father had planned for her felt exhilarating. Not that she would dare say so this his face of course.
"I think I would like somewhere high up, so that I have a nice view from my window. So that I can see the birds flying around. What about you?" her mind wondered back to her first time on a broom. It wasn't very high up, but seeing the earth from that changed perspective was lovely. "It would be like flying every night when I went to bed" she said and sighed dreamily.
"That is Jo to you"
2 Aug 2018, 18:55
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
Clarke made a little bit of a face at that, "I don't.. I don't know. I mean the sorting hat right," Clarke said, "is it really even up to us? I thought it was just about who we are. And... well.. My family... who we are is Slytherins."
Clarke bit his lip as he thought about it, "I mean I wouldn't mind it at all, you know me, you know I don't know who I am." he laughed humorlessly at the statement, "but both my mother and father... and their parents." he shrugged, "That's just, that's us you know. And Slytherin isn't bad or anything."
But Clarke understood exactly what she meant. He just didn't want to start giving into fantasies about ending up in different houses because he knew that wasn't going to happen. Slytherin was always what he was destined to do and whatever happened after that well, he'd see. Clarke's father though, he was already talking about Clarke being captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team like he had been already, Clarke hadn't even bought his wand yet. It was incredible.
But what if he didn't end up in... no. He was going to. Even if it wasn't his father's influence it was going to be his mothers, and even more traditional Slytherin family. He may not see his dad much anymore but his mother... she was the most constant person in his life. She was the one raising Clarke to be a Slytherin.
"I think we just need to embrace who we are" Clarke said with a longing sigh, "we can't get too excited about being people we're not."
Clarke bit his lip as he thought about it, "I mean I wouldn't mind it at all, you know me, you know I don't know who I am." he laughed humorlessly at the statement, "but both my mother and father... and their parents." he shrugged, "That's just, that's us you know. And Slytherin isn't bad or anything."
But Clarke understood exactly what she meant. He just didn't want to start giving into fantasies about ending up in different houses because he knew that wasn't going to happen. Slytherin was always what he was destined to do and whatever happened after that well, he'd see. Clarke's father though, he was already talking about Clarke being captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team like he had been already, Clarke hadn't even bought his wand yet. It was incredible.
But what if he didn't end up in... no. He was going to. Even if it wasn't his father's influence it was going to be his mothers, and even more traditional Slytherin family. He may not see his dad much anymore but his mother... she was the most constant person in his life. She was the one raising Clarke to be a Slytherin.
"I think we just need to embrace who we are" Clarke said with a longing sigh, "we can't get too excited about being people we're not."
Stamina: 7 | Agility: 5 | Strength: 6 | Control: 7 | ArcPower: 2 | Accuracy: 3
4 Aug 2018, 17:11
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
A deep sigh escaped the red head as she listened to her friend. It was an oppressive thought. That her life was predetermined by her father's decisions. He already picked what she wore, how she talked, and now what house she was going to be in at Hogwarts? It wasn't fair! She loved him very much, but she still wanted her own life, her own experiences. "Does it have to be that way Clarke? Are our lives already so predetermined? You would think there's a prophecy about us or something," she said with a laugh, though her heartbreak about the idea was evident.
Jo flinched a little as a bludger whizzed close to the stands and snapped her out of thoughts. Those nasty little things would make great weapons if utilized properly. She started wondering if anybody had every thought to use them like that before. If anybody at the battle of Hogwarts had used their quidditch skills to fight. "Are you planning to play Quidditch too? Think you could ever be better than him?" she asked, looking over at Clarke's father.
That was ultimately the goal of every child wasn't it? To be better than those who came before? She started letting her thoughts drift a little. If every new generation was trying to outdo the previous, then didn't that mean sooner or later a new dark wizard would rise? A chill went down her spine. "I feel my father wants me to try and follow in his footsteps there too. He has already been teaching me to fly a little"
Jo flinched a little as a bludger whizzed close to the stands and snapped her out of thoughts. Those nasty little things would make great weapons if utilized properly. She started wondering if anybody had every thought to use them like that before. If anybody at the battle of Hogwarts had used their quidditch skills to fight. "Are you planning to play Quidditch too? Think you could ever be better than him?" she asked, looking over at Clarke's father.
That was ultimately the goal of every child wasn't it? To be better than those who came before? She started letting her thoughts drift a little. If every new generation was trying to outdo the previous, then didn't that mean sooner or later a new dark wizard would rise? A chill went down her spine. "I feel my father wants me to try and follow in his footsteps there too. He has already been teaching me to fly a little"
"That is Jo to you"
5 Aug 2018, 21:02
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
Clarke nodded, "I don't know if I could ever be better than him but I don't know if I need to be," He said, "I love Quidditch, I love playing it, I love flying... To tell you the truth," he looked around the box and lowered his voice to make sure no one overheard him, "I don't even think of my dad when I play Quidditch. I know it's his thing, I know he's a professional but... something about Quidditch still feels like it's mine like my dad could never really understand it like I do." he sighed and leaned away, "I know that sounds crazy, he's been playing it his whole life but it's just a feeling I get." Clarke shrugged.
He looked Jo over and raised an eyebrow, "I think you should do it, play Quidditch I mean. Not for your father or whatever, just because it's fun and I'm going to be trying out for the team," he said smiling loosely. "But you know," he started, more seriously this time, "Hogwarts, our parents aren't there, it'll just be us and we'll get to make decisions on our own. Your parents don't have to know what you do unless you tell them -- or you get in trouble and the professors owl home -- so you can do anything you want and he doesn't have to know you're disappointing him." Clarke said, "If I do try out for the Quidditch team I'm still not sure I'll tell my mom."
He looked Jo over and raised an eyebrow, "I think you should do it, play Quidditch I mean. Not for your father or whatever, just because it's fun and I'm going to be trying out for the team," he said smiling loosely. "But you know," he started, more seriously this time, "Hogwarts, our parents aren't there, it'll just be us and we'll get to make decisions on our own. Your parents don't have to know what you do unless you tell them -- or you get in trouble and the professors owl home -- so you can do anything you want and he doesn't have to know you're disappointing him." Clarke said, "If I do try out for the Quidditch team I'm still not sure I'll tell my mom."
Stamina: 7 | Agility: 5 | Strength: 6 | Control: 7 | ArcPower: 2 | Accuracy: 3
7 Aug 2018, 20:46
Falmouth Falcons Quidditch Stadium
"It becomes a bit of a job at that point doesn't it? You start because you like it, and keep doing it because it pays well? At least that's how father explained it," Jo replied. She was rather curious to what her eventual career would be. She couldn't really see herself doing one thing for the rest of her life. It was such a strange concept. It would have to be something exciting she reasoned. Something that made each day different than the last.
But the idea of playing Quidditch, at least while in school, was exhilarating. Her face lit up. The small amount of time she had spent on a broom was one of her favorite things in the world. Maybe Clarke had the right idea. Something fun, and glorious, and just a little dangerous. It was a perfect idea. "I think father would not exactly approve of all the bludgers and tackling, to be honest. He treats me like I'm made of glass. I am very certain I am going to try out for the team as soon as I can," she admitted proudly, with a slight blush. "Wouldn't it be fun if we did somehow end up in different houses? We could make a competition out of it."
But the idea of playing Quidditch, at least while in school, was exhilarating. Her face lit up. The small amount of time she had spent on a broom was one of her favorite things in the world. Maybe Clarke had the right idea. Something fun, and glorious, and just a little dangerous. It was a perfect idea. "I think father would not exactly approve of all the bludgers and tackling, to be honest. He treats me like I'm made of glass. I am very certain I am going to try out for the team as soon as I can," she admitted proudly, with a slight blush. "Wouldn't it be fun if we did somehow end up in different houses? We could make a competition out of it."
"That is Jo to you"