Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 12, 2024 17:40:33 GMT -8
“Staaaar!”
Stella felt the heavy arm of her teammate around her shoulder and he pulled her closer, slumping down into her. His drink whirled around at the edge of his plastic cup and Stella watched as it splattered everywhere. On her top, on the ground, on himself. But he didn’t seem to notice. He was slurring his words as he talked to the people around them, letting them know he had a nickname for her. He’d been doing this ever since he found out estrella means star in Spanish. Very creative, she had thought, never amused by it.
The Chudley Cannons' coaches were big on trying to build camaraderie. For some that meant getting blacked out drunk at the Christmas party.
Stella looked for an out, her eyes wide as she searched the room for an excuse. She had tried wriggling out of his grip but he was holding on like his life depended on it.
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 12, 2024 18:51:22 GMT -8
Sam liked parties. He'd never been much of a drinker himself (the body didn't tend to react well to copious amounts of alcohol, bad for conditioning), but he did like being around people, even better if he was the center of the show. But this year the Cannons had a new star that everyone had their eyes on, and Sam was seriously getting fed up with they way they were treating her. The alcohol had come out early at the Cannons' Christmas party and bad behavior followed.
When Sam caught a glint of apprehension in Stella's eyes, he saw an opening to pull her away.
"Hey there, buddy," Sam swooped in, putting himself between Stella and their teammate. "Losing a bit of that drink there."
"Hey, man," their teammate slurred. "It's just the Christmas spirit!"
"Sure," Sam replied. He turned to Stella, "You want to go get washed up?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 12, 2024 23:55:22 GMT -8
Stella wasn’t much of a partier. She attended one party in her whole time at Hogwarts and it was enough to dissuade her from doing it again. If the Cannon’s Christmas party wasn’t absolutely mandatory (and it was cause she checked multiple times), she’d be somewhere else. Instead, she could smell the alcohol on Eros’ hot breath as he leaned his head on the top of hers.
She had the biggest crush on him when she first started with the team. Maybe it was the way he took everyone out on the pitch with that arm, but really it was his thighs. But now that he had her in his grip, Stella thought about how obnoxious he was. He always acted like they were close but he joined the other guys in their disrespectful locker room talk until someone put a stop to it.
Sam swooped in like a Christmas angel, forcing Eros to let go of Stella’s shoulder. There was a bit of tension between Sam and Eros and Stella found it weird. Sam was normally easy to get along with and they all liked him.
Stella nodded at Sam and wasted no time walking away from the small crowd, hearing one or two of the guys on the team boo like she was somehow ruining their fun by stepping away.
Their laughter still rang in her ears as she blotted paper towels on the top of her dress. She tapped her wand on the fabric, using a quick cleaning spell to get rid of the smell. The door to the powder room was left open because she just knew Sam was going to check in on her. And sure enough, when she looked up into the mirror she saw his reflection, patiently waiting in the dimly lit hallway.
“Thanks,” said Stella. She stepped out of the room, clicking the door shut behind her. She really appreciated the way he tried to protect her. In the last four months, their friendship had developed in to this. He took her under his wing and Stella was grateful to find a mentor. “Is he always like this when he drinks?”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 13, 2024 1:14:41 GMT -8
Sam stood at the entrance of the powder room, giving Stella the privacy she deserved and standing lookout for any of their other teammates. He'd always gotten along with the boys, but this was the first time in his three years that they'd had a girl on the team and he hated this side of them. They didn't treat Stella like the world class athlete she was.
"Is he always like this when he drinks?" Stella asked as she stepped outside of the powder room.
"He's always been rowdy, but we've never had a woman at one of these things. He has a crush on you, but it doesn't make it right. He'll have to try a lot harder to win a night with Stella Quinn."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 13, 2024 1:49:08 GMT -8
The boys, or really men, on the Chudley Cannons roster were always rowdy. It took Stella a bit of time to get used to it. Just like they weren’t used to having a girl around, but they seemed to have embraced her. Besides the small hiccups here and there, they treated her well. She knew their inhibitions were down because of the alcohol so she tried not to take their teasing too seriously.
Hearing that Eros Balogh had a crush on her was surprising but it didn’t change anything. Three months ago she would have died from excitement. Now, Stella was far too preoccupied to really care. “Well, Eros isn’t really my type,” she said and it wasn’t technically a lie. ”Damien, though… once he gets a haircut we’ll be in business.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 13, 2024 1:51:12 GMT -8
Okay, so Sam was a little protective of Stella. But it was only because he didn't want to see that group of guys ruin her talent. Somehow. It made sense to Sam.
Damien Doukas was one of the nice ones though, somehow always surrounded by animals, taking in whatever stray. And with a gorgeous head of hair like his, he could definitely see what Stella might see in him.
"Too bad about the hair," Sam said. "I think he's real boyfriend material."
There was a pause as they didn't speak the thing between them out loud.
"You know, uh, we have to be here but we don't have the be at the party. You wanna head to the pitch?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 13, 2024 1:52:13 GMT -8
“I guess we’ll always have next year, Damien,” she said softly, her eyes watching Damien in the distance. He was stuffing a tree shaped sugar cookie into his mouth while simultaneously reaching for the next. Stella looked back at Sam when he went quiet and she could tell what he was thinking. They’d been playing this strange matchmaking game lately, but she'd never been much of a relationship kind of girl and she was always finding an excuse as to why the person in question wouldn’t work.
“Alright, but you’re not allowed to throw anything at me tonight.” Stella took his arm and leaned in close like she had a secret to tell him. She pointed at the mistletoe floating ahead, above them. “It almost got us.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 13, 2024 2:00:37 GMT -8
"I heard some rumblings about shaved heads next year," Sam joked. "Something about intimidating the opponent. I wanted to go for the bleached look, but I got outvoted."
Sam looked up at the mistletoe and released a sigh of relief. "Close one."
With her hand on his arm, Sam followed Stella down the hall toward the back door of the training facility. "What are we supposed to do if I can't throw quaffles at you? What even is our relationship without that dynamic?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 13, 2024 2:03:39 GMT -8
“Oh, no, whose bright idea was that?” Poor Damien would probably cry if they even touched his hair and Sam… Stella just couldn’t picture it. She reached over with her free hand and ran her fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his face. “What a tragedy.”
When they opened the door and the cold air hit Stella straight in the face, she buried her cheek on his shoulder to shield herself from it. “Hmm,” she wasn’t sure how to answer his question or if he was even seriously looking for an answer. “I guess we’ll have to actually be friends.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 13, 2024 9:09:05 GMT -8
Sam plopped down on the grass next to Stella. He thought for a moment, that it was a bit like an endurance exercise, sitting out here in the cold. A good Quidditch player could find comfort in any condition. But he pushed the thought away as he remembered that tonight wasn't supposed to be about Quidditch.
"Actual friends," Sam repeated with a smile. "So tell me friend, what is it that you look for in a guy?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 13, 2024 9:15:15 GMT -8
Stella had to think about this one long and hard. She leaned back on her hands and looked up at the night sky. She’d never thought about any of this seriously. She liked muscles on beaters and nice hair like Damien’s but those were just physical traits.
“I like when I can just effortlessly connect with someone. Someone who just gets me and understands that I have things I have to focus on.” She sighed deeply and slightly shook her head. “I’ve never had someone like that before.”
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 13, 2024 9:16:36 GMT -8
"You're a busy girl," Sam replied. "You have plans for your future and no man's gonna mess that up. I appreciate that."
Sam pulled his legs into a hug, trying not to admit that it was pretty damn chilly out here.
"I always wanted someone who's passionate about something. I don't even think it has to be Quidditch. I like it when people care about things, and I care about the things people care about. Does that make sense?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 13, 2024 9:18:53 GMT -8
"It absolutely makes sense. When someone doesn't have interests, it basically tells me that there will be no passion in the relationship. I just can't understand people like that."
Stella watched Sam as he hugged his knees to his chest and she knew he'd never admit to being cold, but it was fucking freezing out here. She moved in closer, pressing her body to his and wrapped her arm around his waist. "Has anyone ever told you you're stubborn?"
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Chaser
"Don't ask me for my autograph, ask me about the rage inside me." |
Travis
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Post by Sam Spade on Jan 13, 2024 9:20:40 GMT -8
Sam's arm came up around Stella's body as naturally as a breath. "Someone told me that once," he said. "But I didn't believe them."
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Year/Job
Chudley Cannons Seeker
Everything good happens after midnight. |
Steph
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Post by Estrella Quinn on Jan 13, 2024 9:22:14 GMT -8
Stella let out a soft hum in response because of course he wouldn't believe it. "You should really reconsider that." She pushed his knees away from his chest and nestled into him, her other arm across his abdomen. Stella looked up at him and smiled.
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