| Your Guide Billywig
Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hogwarts
Posts: 3,526
Hogwarts RPG Name:
The Narrator
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoe  Rajan had played enough Gobstones for Ravenclaw by now that he didn't need to be nervous.
Yet there he stood, arms loosely folded as Professor Menon explained the rules, he found himself mentally calculating approximately seventeen different ways he could embarrass himself. Missing completely was the obvious one. Somehow sending his marble backward was less probable, but Rajan wasn't ruling anything out. He had a talent for discovering new possibilities.
His attention shifted to Professor Menon when the instructions began. Regular marbles instead of Gobstones. Brilliant. At least if a shot went horribly wrong, he wouldn't also spend the rest of the day smelling like he'd been standing beside something left to ferment since the summer solstice.
When his turn came, Rajan approached the chest and spent far too long considering the options before reminding himself that Professor Menon had just said it didn't matter which one he chose.
So he grabbed one at random.
"Okay," he murmured, moving toward the white line and rolling the marble between his fingers. He glanced toward the formation ahead, narrowed his eyes, and adjusted his stance.
Rajan crouched slightly and sent the marble toward the cluster, hoping it would hit something. Preferably several somethings. This shiny marble was full of swirls and curls (whatever rhymed, right?) of cloud over yellow. Once they shot their shot, the marble bounced a few times before smoothing down edging against the middle, causing the rest of the marbles to react by moving about into the tiny holes.
It was a strike!
The marbles returned soon after, changing into the shape of a circle. Care to go for another shot, Rajan? Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoe Miguel had been looking forward to this.
He'd spent his first year going from what are Gobstones? to earning himself a reserve spot on Hufflepuff's team, and now he was back with considerably more confidence. He'd grown up playing las canicas, after all. Take away the foul-smelling liquid and Gobstones suddenly felt a lot more familiar, which is why Professor Menon's announcement that they'd be using ordinary marbles earned an immediate grin from him.
He listened closely to the rest of the instructions, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet as he studied the arrangement. It reminded him of bowling, just without the pins. Or maybe something more nautical, like firing a tiny cannon at an enemy fleet.
When his turn arrived, he eagerly plunged a hand into the chest.
"Ooh, this one!"
Had Professor Menon specifically said the appearance made absolutely no difference? Yes. Did Miguel still choose one he thought looked cool? Also yes.
He stepped up to the line, crouched, and held the marble between his fingers as he eyed the cluster ahead. Then he flicked it forward, watching eagerly to see how much damage he could do. Eager as can be, the shot reflected this enthusiasm. With enough force, the shot went cleanly through the middle, sending 6 of the 10 marbles into the tiny holes. Good first try! Quote:
Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19 Harvey was used to it, the waiting in the Hall, the chatter - nervous, mainly - the new hopefuls fidgeting. Him? He wasn’t nervous since this was his third go around for Gobstones tryouts. He stood in line mainly with his arms folded across his chest oozing what he hoped was a calm demeanour. Because this Ravenclaw really was calm and confident. Once in the Arena, he kept up this demeanour, observing those who executed their tryouts before him. Many were impressive - especially those that were returning - others… well, they clearly needed Grandpa Forsfelle to coach them.
Then came his turn after Miguel.
Harv gave Menon a grin then selected a marble. Also, how considerate of the man to substitute marbles to save them all the hassle of having extra laundry to complete. The marble he selected was transparent with a gold lightning bolt in. Very pretty.
The third year stepped up to the indicated line. Keeping his eyes on the marbles arranged neatly before him, he sent the marble flying towards the set with precision. Keeping his eyes on the target was a strategic tactic which he had learnt from his grandpa. To date, it served him well. Listen to your elders, they say. The marble flew, bouncing a few times, hitting against the left side of the marbles, which proceeded to knock 7 in total. Leaving 3 in the forefront free to claim. Easy shot, right? Quote:
Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19 Saina, to say the least, had been one of those who were wracked with nerves. She hadn’t thought that she would try out for the House team this year, but here she was wringing her hands and trying not to pass out. Gobstones was actually becoming somewhat important to her and she was now hoping to up her status as a Reserve Player.
As the group was ushered into the Arena, the second year gave Professor Menon a half hearted smile. If she made the team again, no doubt he would receive a wide one once her trepidation lifted. A marble was randomly selected; it turned out to be one completely in moss-green colour. She watched the others ahead of her - especially her fellow Ravenclaws which included Rajan and Harvey - as the marble was twirled in her dominant hand.
When her turn came, Sai took a deep breath, bent herself in almost a low bow then released the marble. A good attempt as made, as the marble smoothly went down the line. At a slower pace than the rest, the shot was clean as it hit against the middle of the marbles. The force affect the 4 marbles in the back to fall into the holes. 6 remaining left! Quote:
Originally Posted by AlwaysSnapesGirl Just like last year when she had tried out for Quidditch, Beatrice was nervous. And maybe it was weird that she wasn't trying out for that sport again, she wasn't sure, but hopefully it would be fine. Quidditch had been fun, and it was so, so, SO cool that her house had won the cup and everything. Even though she was just a reserve and hadn't played very much in any actual games, so she wasn't sure she could actually take credit for any of it.
But Quidditch had also been lowkey terrifying too sometimes. And she wasn't sure she wanted to do it all again.
So she was here. Not that there was a requirement to do one sport if you weren't doing the other one, but... Well, it was sorta a self-imposed requirement. Maybe she'd be terrible and not make the team at all, in which case, maybe sports weren't her thing, and she'd have to find something else. But nonetheless... she wanted to give it a try.
She'd been shifting her weight nervously from foot to foot while waiting, and it was a relief when they were finally allowed in by Professor Menon. There would still be some waiting for her turn, but at least now there were others taking their turns ahead of her, so she had something to focus on besides her nerves.
Bea watched intently as Rajan, her housemate Miguel, Harvey, and then Saina each took their turn. Which...then meant it was her turn.
Eep.
She peered into the chest of marbles and, after a brief pause, selected a bright yellow marble. The professor had said the appearance wouldn't affect anything, but it was a little bit important to her. Maybe, since it was one of her house colors, it would be lucky.
Then she stepped up to the designated line and released her marble, just hoping it would hit at least one. Careful what you wish for, it may or may not come true. The marble swirled to the left and right, it looked like it may miss the marbles but it managed to edge against the far right arrangement. Sending 2 in the back into the holes. 8 remains now! Quote:
Originally Posted by Nordic Witch Mira stood waiting in the hall alongside Harvey, Beatrice, Saina, Rajan and Miguel feeling super nervous, but trying to give off the sense that she was calm and collected at her first sport tryout ever. She had never tried out for either Gobstones or Quidditch so this was a first, evidenced by her continous glancing around at her peers for guidence when they finally entered the arena.
Mira listened intently as Professor Menon's gave them tryout instructions, scared to miss something important. To pick a marble from a chest, walk up to the designated line, and just give it your best toss, and see how many marbles you hit seemed simple enough. Mira was very pleased that she didn't need to go first. She could watch the more experienced ones when they released their marbles for tips.
Too soon it became her turn. "Yikes!", she squeaked out quite audibly as she rushed up to the marble chest, and peered down into it. So many marbles to choose from. Selecting a dark blue, and silvery marble that shined nicely at her, Mira then walked up to the designated line. She aimed carefully before she released her marble hoping to the gobstones gods above that she at least would hit one marble, and not miss them all together by a long shot. Hope springs eternal. The shot hit the marbles, swirling them around the circle before returning. About 4 fell into the holes, but the remain 6 were left scattered. A challenging pattern left to attempt, but anything is possible! Quote:
Originally Posted by Charely Potter
Zen felt a certain way when she arrived for tryouts. Her dad wasn't there to run it anymore, even though she respected Professor Menon... her dad did everything better in her eyes. It also didn't help that she wouldn't see Idris and Paul in the crowd this year. But her boyfriend Diego and friend Vi sitting in the seatings did help a bit of the pain as she gave them a small smile from the line. She also gave Miguel a thumbs up before he went to take his shot.
Then it was her turn, she thanked Menon for the marble. She didn't look at the marble's design, she wanted to get this over with. Adjusting it between her forefinger and thumb, she felt the texture before she walked up to the line. Force of the marble over direction, she recounted from earlier practices.
Zen gave it a good flick before seeing it bounce and roll towards the arranged marbles. It connected as all the marbles went spinning off. She turned away to head back to the end of the line while the marbles got rearranged. How they rearranged themselves, she'll find out soon enough.
Once Zen returned to the front of the line, their next arrangement would resemble a star. Looks pretty tough!
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