Team Britain: Chaser Trials

April 7th, 1890 — Puddlemere Stadium

They really do attract all sorts, thought Emmerson Fain disdainfully as he hovered on his broomstick in the rain. To see those who truly ought to have maintained their retirement (like the 40-year-old Elijah Cooper) or been home to mother their children (like Desdemona Pettigrew) waste his time and the time of the other panel members made the man's stomach turn (though perhaps that was the sausage he had had at breakfast).

The chasers were paired off, allowing the panel to observe four at a time in a miniature scrimmage.

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Maggie had expected there to be a crowd of hopefuls trying out for the international team - it would be a huge honour after all - but she had not anticipated quite so many people that really oughtn't be here. How old was he?? (There really was nothing sadder than a man who didn't know he was well past his prime!)

She deliberately didn't make eye-contact with her own coach. Desdemona wasn't exactly old but Maggie was reasonably confident she was faster than her mentor and wanted whatever happened to be as impersonal as possible. With that in mind she deliberately avoided pairing off with her - even if it might be to her advantage - and kicked off into the air.

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There were a few other Cannons members were trying out for the various other positions and Jack was trying desperately to make sure he didn't let the side down. The stadium was packed with those who were hoping to have the honour of being on the national team. Jack hadn't made the team last time, although when he saw the competition it was hardly surprising. But he had strong hopes now!

When the set up was explained he looked around for his best prospect as a partner. He adamantly avoided the student players, he had never seen any of them play and couldn't attest to their skills and that alone was reason enough not pair up with them. He found his partner, and his spot on the field and kicked off along with the others.

  

Tristan would be lying if he said that he wasn't nervous. He was going up against more experienced players, older ones. But he would have hated himself if he didn't at least try. Selecting a partner and pairing up, he took to the skies. Almost as soon as he had gotten into the air, his worries fell away.

  

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These kids were young. They were young, and they were new, and Arthur had, at the least, experience on his side.

The rain would filter out the babies, and the people with years away from Quidditch (sorry, Dezzie.) He could do this. He knew how to do this.

Arthur kicked off from the ground for the scrimmage.

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   Desdemona Pettigrew

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set by MJ <3

Merlin help her, what was she doing here?

This had seemed like a good idea—or, at least, a necessary one—when she had first thought of it, but nearly everyone on the pitched seemed to be decidedly more qualified than Desdemona was. What was worse, most seemed more qualified than the witch had been before Gwenog had forced her retirement!

Avoiding Arthur, the other Howlers, and the Harpies present (she did not wish to tank their chances), Dezzie instead paired with one of their Hogwarts students, giving the lad a reassuring nod before they kicked off to begin their scrimmage.

  

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— graphics by mj ❤ —

Gus knew what she would do if she were on the panel, which was just bypass tryouts entirely and select the entire team from amongst the Harpies. It would make Britain look like a leader among nations, to have an all-female team; it would make plenty of the papers angry; and indeed, it would spare Gus from having to get along with some of the asses on rival teams if she ended up chaser with them.

(If. It was a big if.)

But! Maybe the trials were bound to be a good thing after all, for if she and any of the other Harpies here today were selected (and Dezzie counted as one of them now too!), then no one would be able to say they hadn’t gotten in on merit, and shown all the lads up.

So, er, now for showing the lads up, then. She’d have been crossing her fingers and all her toes if that wouldn’t have bungled her chances of catching any quaffles at all. With a deep breath, Gus muttered a few words of encouragement to herself - possibly they had come out aloud; all she could hear was her heartbeat in her ears - and kicked off to get on with it.

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gorgeous set by Lady!

Citrine had not initially been planning to sign up to try out for the National Team but yet, here she was. She didn't have any delusions of making it to first string - or really, any string - but hey, she would always be able to say she had tried out! She paired off with an older player and was off.

  

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Royal was taking this tryout as seriously as he did everything else in his life: aka not at all. He didn't have any delusions that he would be better than people who had been playing for years. Pairing off with a much older player, Royal began doing the drill.

  

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beautiful set by the incomparable MJ!

Rain splattered against Rufus as he walked out onto the pitch. Under the gray skies familiar faces greeted him, plenty of opponents from other teams, even some retired players. He greeted a few as they were paired off, making sure to avoid pairing with a student, and then kicked off into the skies.

He had tried for the team once before, but he had been young in those days. Now he was a seasoned player, one with years of experience and a decent amount of skill, even with the rain falling he felt he could give this a pretty good shot. Rain would hinder the students, but Rufus had played in rain, snow, ice, wind, sun. He wouldn't let it phase him. He couldn't.

  

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BEE-utiful set!