I'll tell you all about it when I see you again (Keirus and Marcus)

[smokeandwhiskey]

Keirus had never been that good at being, well, good. He had been pretty good at charming teachers and not getting caught, which was probably why he'd manage to snag head boy in his seventh year - but that was behind him now, and it turned out in the real world there was only so far you could get with a winsome grin and feigned innocence, especially with grades as mediocre as his.

He had other skills to fall back on, thankfully, but while his ability on the broom had gotten him the position as the new keeper for the Bats, he knew he couldn't rest on his laurels and he'd have to put slightly more effort in than he had in school (well, in any lesson that wasn't care of magical creatures, anyway) - which is a lengthy way of saying that he turned up to his first practice almost embarrassingly early. Early enough that he was the first person in the locker rooms - for now, anyway.

Comments

[plays_dirty]

Perseason always makes Marcus scream inside, the magazines are talking about The Bats a lot how they are big bets on them to take the cup this year, they came close last year.

It pissed him off but it was soothed by the fact that at the league awards night The Bats chasers still won best offensive line.

It's not long before he, Molly, and Callum are rolling into the locker room, in black shorts red stripes down the sides, black shirt with a red bat across the front and last names on the back.

Marcus grins at Keirus, "Hey." He says and other two chasers welcome him too as they pull open their lockers, Marcus pulling his chin length dark brown hair back out of his face and digging he gear from the locker.

"Breathe, it's the first practice, it's gonna hurt, but it's mostly speed drills with weighted quffales." He says slapping Keirus on the back.

[smokeandwhiskey]

Keirus isn't surprised to see Marcus - of course he'd learned everything he could about the Bats before trying out for them, he'd known to expect him - so he grins back and offered a hello in return, pausing to introduce himself to the other guys before turning his attention back to Marcus.

"Good to know. Let's hope I don't embarrass myself too badly then." he jokes, giving Marcus a crooked grin.

[plays_dirty]

"You probably will, but it will be worse in your head." Marcus smirks pulling on his protective gear.


Molly laughs arching an eyebrow, "First pro practice is always a lot, he's an ass but he's right." She says.

"They give you your gear yet?" Marcus asks pulling the straps on his wrists guards.

[smokeandwhiskey]

"Wow, thanks for the vote of confidence," Keirus laughs. He nods at the question, pulling open a locker and waving to its contents.

"They sure did, look at it, all shiny and new... for now." he grins, starting to get ready along with the rest of them. "Don't suppose I can convince you to go easy on me, since it's my first practice and all?"

[plays_dirty]

"No." The three chasers say in unison, "Scrimages start tomorrow, not gonna break anything today." Marcus adds on his own.

Marcus shoulders his broom and gives Keirus an amused look, the starting beaters, join them as they head out on to the Bats home pitch.

[smokeandwhiskey]

"Somehow I knew that would be the answer," Keirus jokes with an exaggerated mournful sigh.

He falls into step beside Marcus as they head out towards the pitch, grinning over at him.

"So I'd ask how you've been since school, but I can see you've been doing pretty well."

[plays_dirty]

"Well, since the war ended yeah. Good to be playing again, but it's nice to have things lookin' up again." He says easily. "What about you?" He asks as they make it onto the pitch the stadium seating rises up above them, far larger than the Hogwarts pitch, it only intimidated Marcus a little his first season after graduation when The Bats invited him to tryout than drafted him fully to the team.

[smokeandwhiskey]

"I know what you mean," Keirus agrees. He shrugs at the question "yea, not bad, excited to be playing professionally..."

Truthfully, he'd been trying to get a job with magical creatures (teaching at Hogwarts was his dream), but despite his excellent marks in CoMC, some of his other grades hadn't quite been good enough to get him ahead of the competition. He didn't want to admit that part to his teammates though, it didn't seem fair to say this wasn't his first choice - however much he loved playing quidditch (and he did).

He falls silent for a moment as they reach the pitch, because even though he played here for tryouts there's still something about it that kind of blows him away - second or choice or not this is still a dream come true.

[plays_dirty]

"Let's see if your still saying that when the Falcons break your jaw," Marcus says rubbing a hand across his face. Lips twitching a little, even with magical healing his jaw had been wired shut for a week. Murphy hadn't been kicked out of the league even though the chaser took the bat from the beater and hit Marcus in the face with it after the game was over.

It's all speed drills on brooms, chasers passing weighted quaffles between them while doing sit ups, and than repeat.

After they hit the showers it's going over reels of last season and plays.

[smokeandwhiskey]

Keirus winces sympathetically. He would claim that he'd try and avoid that happening but, well, he was a keeper, balls flying at his face was kind of the job (and also his social life) so broken anything was a real risk.

The practice goes better than he expected - he's tired by the time they're done but satisfied that he could hold his own. Once they're all finished he finds himself seeking out Marcus again.

"Feel like a proper catch up? Maybe a drink?" he offers with a grin.