A Waffle with a Quaffle [Open, come play! Come spectate and chat!]

[theboywhodied]

It's a beautiful day for soaring in the sky. At least....it's a beautiful simulated day, Cedric corrects himself. He stands in the center of a grassy field, hoops standing tall on either side. Racing brooms that will soon take to the sky with their riders are laid out in neat rows on either side of him, and a case containing the many balls of Quidditch rests at his feet.

He's exchanged the loose-fitted clothing he'd taken up after his injuries for loose-fitting yellow and black robes, and even that small change brightens his mood. Cedric Diggory is in his element. His cheerful, dangerous whirlwind of an element, the finest sport the wizarding world has to offer.

This should be a fun one to watch!

((And go! Use the subthreads, or start your own threads to chat and trash-talk and have a good time! Threadjacking is totally encouraged.))

Comments

[theboywhodied]

"...there's a game called horse over there? Do you play it on horseback, like polo?" Cedric can't imagine how that could possibly be as fun as broomstick flight, but he supposed it was the closest the Muggles were ever going to get.

"Oh, I'll have to see them soon!" Cedric doesn't bother hiding his smile. He loves those cats. "I'm safe enough to pet them. I finally feel strong enough to play, if that's what you mean."

It's a really awkward subject to talk about. He fixates on a blade of simulated grass, picking at it.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"No, horse is more...you make a crazy shot at the basketball hoop, and if you get it you get a letter, then the other person has to do the same steps. And the first person to 'horse' wins." Shut up, basketball games totally make sense. Don't ask him to explain hopscotch or four square.

"They're starting to recognize you. I think they're beginning to like you more than they like me, the little jerks." And yes, Howard does resent that. Those cats are his and he doesn't take well to feeling like he's playing second fiddle.

"You've always been strong enough to play. What gives?"

[theboywhodied]

Cedric cringes with embarrassment, though it's tempered with an odd sort of pleasure about the cats. He's given away more than he intended to with that statement.

"No, you're their owner. Cats are always loyal to their owner. Anyway...I wasn't feeling so well after what happened, but most of the damage was in my head. Like I'd fail---fall."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"You're thinking dogs." Howard squints at Cedric and raises an eyebrow, filing that Freudian slip in his mental notes. "Well, if you're over the broke hand drama, I think you'll do fine tonight. Plenty of newbies to show up."

[theboywhodied]

"You haven't seen Kaya," Cedric laughs. "She was born to do this."

He has more thoughts on what they've been going through and how his attempts at training have been going (miserably), but he stuffs them. "Are you up to reffing tonight? We'll manage it somehow, don't stress yourself."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Oh yeah? Bubbles? Don't tell me she's a Beater, it'll totally ruin my mental image of her."

Howard pauses. He wants to say yes because that would mean he's back to normal, but he's afflicted with a fear he didn't have before the Punishment. Now it's not enough that he knows he's safe - he can't help but envision, in a vivid, visceral way instead of the offhand paranoia that he usually feels, the ways that this could go wrong. Falling off the broom, hit with the bludger, anything. "I don't know, man."

He sounds so disappointed in himself when he says that.

[theboywhodied]

"Chaser. Fastest one I've ever seen."

Cedric's a little disappointed too, but he understands. It was hard enough for the two of them the first time, and now...well, time. Give Howard time. Let him ease into this step by step.

"It's all right. You'll have a clear view from which to insult us, you know."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Those are the people who get the Quaffle. I've been studying." By now he has the knowledge to ref, which makes it all the more difficult to admit that he just can't right now. It's not as if Punishment even had anything to do with Quidditch, but it's like ever worry has been amplified ever since. It's not even to be nervous, he switches instantly to terrified.

"Good. I'm going to nitpick every single detail. Then I'll write a nasty review of your performance in the paper."

[theboywhodied]

"Right! You'll have all you need for your review, then," he nods, eying up Howard with some suspicion. "Though who'd ever publish it? I'm sure you'd cause a scandal with your biting commentary."

He means that as affectionately as possible, really.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I do have a tendency to cause scandals whenever I post stuff to the comm." Howard smiles a bit and ducks his head down. "How are you going to play with this few players?"

[theboywhodied]

"One of those other games, like that thing with the horses," Cedric decides. "I'll have to take a different position, but I should be handicapping myself besides."

He watches a Quaffle zoom past with a player chasing after it, laughing. "They need to stop diving so quickly. They'll end up with mouthfuls of grass."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"You think you're that good?" Howard eyebrow waggles at Cedric. "Now I'm going to root for you to fall."

Not really. Never really. He cares too much about Cedric, no matter what he says.

"Should I start a drinking game for all the crashes and fouls?"

[theboywhodied]

"You want the Med Bay to have more work? Or...I can ask the simulation to catch us, I suppose."

He folds his arms, wondering just what Howard has up his sleeve. "You'll need a drink for that. What do you usually take?"

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I don't drink booze or anything. Tastes awful." And is much better used on other people, as a method of control. "Maybe I'll make some Hydroponics fruit juice. I found an old blender the other day scavenging."

That reminds him. "Hey, you a big fan of jam?"

[theboywhodied]

Cedric tries to look less excited than he is about the prospect of a sweet supplement. "What else goes with toast? Or scones? I suppose it would likely be slop in this case, but it'd still be an improvement."

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"I've been making some in Hydroponics. If you wanted, I guess...I could drop some off sometime."

It takes so much to offer this sort of thing to someone, Ced. This is Howard's version of a hug.

/wrap?

[theboywhodied]

"I'd love it," Cedric replied earnestly. He really would. He could use more days like this...quiet fun, watching the sky roll by with Howard.

It was the calm before the storm in more than one sense, but he liked it.