put baby in the corner >> Jace

[LIANA LAWSON-BLACKWOOD]

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Some days, you were just on forking top. Humble, we know. Stepping down to reserve had never been a decision Liana had regretted. That said, watching the team struggle always made her want to get out there. “Put me in,” she informed their head coach. This was no a request, but a demand and there was no wavering in her tone. “Simpson has been hit in the head twice with a bludger, he needs a break.” Her eyes didn’t move from her head coaches until they relented.

Liana was fast on her broom, and she sped in to relieve Simpson so he could get some medical care. She could feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins and there was so much about this sport to love. Her eyes quickly tracked her teammates and their opponents, finding not just the quaffle which was in Norris' hand currently, but eyeing the flying bludgers and the snitch. It was not her job as a beater to find the snitch, but it was good to know where it was and how intensely close they were.

The score was already too close for comfort, as they neared the end of the game. There was a fatigue that hung in the air for those who had been on the pitch the full time. Liana moved her broom to run parallel to Jace. She was keeping an eye in particular on the Beater who kept sending balls at her teammates heads, because she intended to send them right back. “Think you can catch it?” she teased, as any good older sibling would. Though, there was only a small hint of realism to the question.

Having played with Jace for most of their lives, there was an almost unspoken language between them. When the two of them were on the pitch together, they were a force to be reckoned with. She shifted slightly back and up to deflect the bludger flying their way. Then she pulled forward and to the upper right to peel off and become more involved in the game.

Then, Norris got a goal. And the crowd erupted as they were now tied with their opposing time. The glimmer of gold found its way onto the pitch again and this time both their Seekers were off. She had to keep the seeker clear.

If you were on the pitch, you could feel the collective breath hold. Not only were both Seekers going head to head in a dive towards the snitch, but Beaters were attempting to block. She met eyes with their other beater who both gave a nod, and she peeled off. That one Beater was ruthless and they were not going to take out their Seeker today. She dove too, almost sensing that they would attack the dive, even if it meant potentially hitting their own teammate. . And it was the right thing to do, as a bludger came right at her and she took it in the shoulder, saved her Seeker, and watched as the snitch was caught.

Landing was not as graceful as she would have liked, but she raised her broom in her good working arm. She could feel the bone was pretty shattered. It had hit her shoulder in the right spot where she had the least amount of padding.

But. They had won.

Making her way to the middle of the pitch to do the cordial hand shakes, she raised her left arm for high-fives instead. Shen she got to the Beater who took her shoulder out she paused, and smirked. “For what it’s worth, would have been a hell of a hit had I not gotten in the way.”

It was after now, the cheering had faded, and she was sitting with the team Healer to get her shoulder fixed as the head coach talked to the team. To be honest, Liana wasn’t much listening to what they had to say. The throbbing in her shoulder had worked its way down her arm and she felt each bone nearly fuse back together as the healer worked on her arm.

After the break, drinks were required. A ritual for both celebration and for failure, drown your sorrows and what not. The rest of the team made their way into the showers, got clean, and went off as Liana and Jace sat in the locker room as she moved her shoulder around still feeling some of the numbness the throbbing had caused. Liana just opted to clean herself with magic, not wanting to deal with a physical shower. She started to change before remarking to Jace. “Are you up for the drink?” It was an honest question, Jace had a lower social battery than most on the team.

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TAG: JACE BLACKWOOD
NOTES: nudge for changes, love!

[JACE BLACKWOOD]

The game wasn’t going poorly, but it certainly was not the trouncing he would have liked. As a player, nothing was better than a close game. However, as a competitive bastard, Jace liked to win big and absolutely stomp on the other team. In a good sportsmanship sort of way, of course. His parents raised him right.

He heard the telltale sound of a bludger making contact and saw one of their beaters struggle to stay upright on his broom. Jace took a quick glance at Simpson before shooting a look toward the benches. He needed to be pulled out, even if Simpson wouldn't leave of his own volition. Liana must have had the same thought, because within the minute she replaced him. He’d never admit it, but having Liana on the pitch with him always made Jace feel a hundred times better. It was familiar and comfortable in a way that could only happen when you’ve played with someone for a lifetime. Jace got on well with his whole squad and they meshed perfectly fine, but it was different playing with his sister. She flew near him and sent a verbal jab his way. Jace smirked in that shitty, cocky little brother way that revealed he'd never quite grown out of competing with her. Liana could probably make him do anything by saying things like, "bet you can't" or "you won't do it."

"Bet you a tenner I will," he said, flashing a grin before separating from her and moving back into position.

He watched as their chaser put the quaffle through one of the hoops, evening up the score. A tie meant very little once the snitch was caught, but it was important to keep the game close. The quaffle came back into play and Jace followed the action from his vantage point above the fray, occasionally flying close to opposing beaters to silently harass them. There wasn’t much he could do without the snitch other than be a nuisance. Fortunately, it was one of his favourite pastimes. The thrill of being a dickhead didn’t last long, though. Against the sunlight, there was an all too familiar glint of gold fluttering in the distance. He noticed it at the same moment the other seeker did, and both dove into action. He might not have been the most focused lad away from the pitch, but once the snitch was in his sight? Jace thought of nothing else. Head empty, only chase ball. Good thing, too, because if he realized what happened near him, he might have hesitated.

All he heard was the woosh of the wind, a bat meeting bludger, and the telltale sound of that bludger hitting something else. Whatever it was, it wasn’t him. Jace jostled against his opponent in a dive, taking knocks he would definitely feel tomorrow, until he inched ahead. Jace lunged for the snitch, taking his balance to the ragged edge, before snatching the prize out of the air just as physics took over and sent him upside down, dangling from his broom by one hand. The crowd erupted and Jace gave the other seeker a friendly but cheeky grin before swinging his broom under him before his grip strength gave out entirely and he looked like a dumbass. The two shook hands midair in a show of mutual respect from playing each other so often, before turning their attention back to the pitch.

He did a quick flyby of the fans, waving and getting some high fives, before landing to shake hands with the rest of the opposing team. It wasn’t until he was on the ground that he noticed the way Liana moved, her strong arm gingerly tucked by her side and giving high-fives instead of handshakes. Oh. That’s what the bludger hit instead of him.

In the locker room, as the coach gave their post-game brief, Jace positioned himself near Liana to keep eyes on the Healer. Not that they weren’t good or professional, but because Jace was both protective and horrified at the idea of having to tell their parental units that Liana’s arm had been mangled on account of him. What would their father say? Actually, he’d probably be pretty cool with it. It was Liana’s uncle Tate and his own mother that he’d rather dig his own grave than tell if she lost her arm in a freak Quidditch snafu. Never mind that both Liana and Jace were fully grown adults. Those two were terrifying, especially when they were working together. No thank you.

The Healer made an approving sound and moved away from Liana, giving her exactly one moment of peace before Jace examined the shoulder himself. He did this by looking at it from multiple angles before doing the highly sophisticated technique of poking it lightly with his index finger. “Rub some dirt on it.”

Jace showered with the rest of the team and changed into his civilian clothes before returning to the emptied locker room to sit with Liana as she got ready. She asked if he wanted to get their traditional drink and Jace considered for a moment. It had been a long, loud day with people around him throughout, but it was also a good win and he was still riding high. He let out an exaggerated sigh and smirked, “yeah, I guess I owe you a pint.”

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The pub they went to was a more lowkey haunt on a far edge of Diagon Alley, removed enough from the hustle and bustle that they could revel in some semblance of peace. Don’t get him wrong. Down the Hatch in Hogsmeade was great sometimes, but it was a known hotspot for Quidditch players and there was a certain fanfare that tended to surround it. He didn’t mind, on occasion, but it wasn’t really the vibe that evening. The teammates who joined them were enough.

A man of principle, Jace bought the first round for the team, which elicited a cacophony of cheers and celebratory jostling from some of the more rambunctious players. “Alright, alright, settle down,” he said through a barely contained grin. “Don’t get us thrown out too early.” Jace handed Liana her drink and headed for a table a bit away from the celebrating team and the few pub regulars who dealt with their interruptions more heroically than he ever could. From their table he could still hear what was happening, but with enough quiet that he could have a somewhat peaceful conversation with his sister. “Good play today.” It very nearly physically pained him to pay Liana a compliment, but he didn’t have a concussion because of her. He supposed some thanks was in order, and that was the most she was going to get from him so early in the night.

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TAG: LIANA LAWSON-BLACKWOOD
NOTES: i love changing key events mid-thread. thrilling. dynamic. evolving.

[LIANA LAWSON-BLACKWOOD]

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Liana found herself snorting when Jace told her to "rub some dirt on it." "This is why you aren't the healer of the family." she pointed out. Though it was the smallest of retorts it was very true. Liana wouldn't trust Jace with a healing spell or potion even if her life actually depended on his rescue. RIP Liana. Her gravestone would read “Died because she has the world’s ‘okayest’ little brother.” She might never say that out loud though, Jace might get a complex or something.

Though Jace would probably always buy the first round at the bar, Liana wasn't going to ”I’ll second that. I practically saved your life out there.” Which wouldn't be the first time she had actually saved his life. Though, that could more likely be blamed on the parents for the rough adventures they had been put in. Who takes that many children on a vacation to the jungle (and yes, we’re also involving Noel and Tate here, because he means well, but he’s just a big child)? “Maybe not as intense as that jaguar, but a close second. The bludger would have hit you right in the neck.”

It was always interesting to watch Jace interact with the team. Always there so smiley and boisterous, yet often hiding just out of sight. She followed him to the table, knowing that the others would be okay without her, but heaven she wouldn’t let Jace drink alone. Even that would be too sad for a Blackwood, despite their Dad giving it his best effort. Too bad Liana was smarter than he bargained for and had found every hideout he’d ever created in every home they ever frequented. It was an intoxicating game to go to a new family member's home and figure out what room had become a hidden oasis for her father to escape when the world got too loud. It also became a place where some of the more quiet members of the family and extended family went, often ending in a chess game.

“My dear brother, was that a compliment?” she said with a fake gasp. “I do think we need to record that for the official records.” Liana knew that she wasn’t Kassandra* and didn’t always get the compliments. There was nothing wrong with needing and enjoying compliments the way Kassandra did, Jace and Liana just weren’t the type to exchange them the way they did towards their sister.

“It was a good game,” she affirmed to his compliment. “Though Simpson…” she trailed off, motioning at him with her drink. “Probably lost a few brain cells from the friendly fire.” She made eye contact with Simpson who raised his glass and she did the same pushing a grin onto her face. He wasn’t a complete idiot always, but he was something else. “Sometimes I miss it,” she admitted. “Being fully on the team.”

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TAG: JACE BLACKWOOD
NOTES: nudge for changes, love!