InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "reach for the sky"

Bart was on his way out from the library after his conference with Graham when he spotted David on his way up, or in, presumably from whatever expedition McCormack had led the team on after the match. He waved by way of greeting. "Evening, David. Just got back from Mungo's and updated your father on Pip's condition. How's it going for you?"

David was still dressed in his sweaty practice kit as he made his way down the hall to his room when Bart found him, and immediately stopped to greet the man. “Coach Roberts,” he gave him a tired, but genuine smile. “I’m well, thank you. How are you? How did your meeting go?” He gestured to the library behind him.

"About as well as I could have hoped, given Parkinson's condition. Which is not terrible given his injuries, but you saw what happened to him." Bart made a discontented noise that was half because of the fact their seeker was in hospital and half because of the pain in the arse of juggling Pip and Scrimmy and Maddie and the rest of them. Which reminded him that David was a useful resource as well, and one he ought to take advantage of. "You got a few minutes? I'd like to hear your take on what's going on with the team."

“Yes, of course,” David said slowly, his features sliding into a decidedly neutral mask. “I’ll - be brief, then.” He paused, mind racing, trying to figure out the best way to give his thoughts in a way that wouldn’t jeopardize his place on the team or his relationship with his teammates. “We’re very disjointed, I suppose is how I would describe Portree.”

Bart saw the change of expression and could guess what it meant. "I've observed some of that. I don't expect to stay beyond the end of the season--your father and I certainly haven't discussed that--but I'd like to put right what I can as best I can while I'm here. We have had a frank talk about what he thinks is wrong and what my observations have been so far, and he's told be about Coach MacFusty's underlying medical problems." Bart smacked his left fist into his right palm by way of demonstrating what Ellie's problems were.

"I've talked to players who've come to me with questions, and I've asked around a bit, but your perspective as a part-owner has to be a bit different. Where do you think the disjoint is? Where would you suggest I try to build some bridges? Just between us two, of course."

David heaved an internal sigh, before deciding the team wouldn’t be better off if he tried to list everything wrong with them while trying to battle being diplomatic. This was Coach Roberts, he was like an uncle. He’d understand when David chose not to mince words. “All right. Well. Coach MacFusty’s unstable, Cav has shagged several members of the team and has lost his ability to be impartial - not to mention he was complicit in MacFusty’s actions as coach - Scimmy and Pip are at odds for some ridiculous reason I still don’t understand, and our roster has changed a number of times and it’s January. It’s like we keep pulling a - what’s the phrase, ‘Hail Mary’?” David tried. “Except we’ve had more than one and apparently it’s working in that we’ve miraculously managed not to be completely destroyed in the standings, but we’re not a team.”

He sighed, this time out loud. “It’s not ideal, sir. We’re all so divided, we barely feel like a team. Frankly, I think the most beneficial thing the team could use is some bonding exercises, clear communication, and a consistent line-up.”

Bart leaned against the wall during David's recital, nodding as he went along. None of this was a surprise, especially not the part about bonding and clear communication.

"I've talked to Scrimmy and Parkinson. I have the Parkinson side of the equation under control but I'm going to have to work on Scrimmy to get her where she needs to be. Her play is good and on the pitch she knows how to cooperate with Buchanan and Willison, and from what I've seen in practice, you. And the Beaters and McCormack. She's got the makings of a good player if we don't lose that to the fracturing of the team.""

He continued: "This is not something I mean to repeat to your father but who all does everyone think Cav is shagging? McCormack and--" no, David was doing him the courtesy of being honest, so Bart was going to do the same "--presumably Coach MacFusty, but who else? Even if he's not, and people just think he is, there's a perception problem. As you know." David was much better placed to hear all the gossip about who was shagging who than Bart was, and if there was more to this than McCormack, which was a lapse but not the worst mistake Cav could have made with Portree, and the vortex of Ellie MacFusty, that was something Bart needed to know.

David nodded along. “...I don’t know if it’s my place, but...Scrimmy and I are friends. I could try to talk to her?” He offered hesitantly. He could phrase things so it didn’t seem like an inquisition or merely anything than David trying to hear out a friend going through a problem.

“I believe it’s only McCormack and Coach MacFusty from Portree.” He replied, before exhaling and continuing, “Honestly, I wasn’t at the emergency personnel meeting, but Peggy and Alec told me that Cav looked to Coach MacFusty before speaking the majority of the time, which tells me he’s defensive of her in a way that’s not professional, but personal, and I don’t think the two of them in leadership positions is best for the team. And that’s the biggest problem with Cav, not his chosen bed partners.”

"I haven't heard all the details about the emergency meeting, but I've heard enough to make me wonder. It's not a defence of Cav but an observation that he picked MacFusty and it was a high-risk choice, so even if he's not--personally involved, let's say--he's got a lot riding on coming out of this season with a successful coach and a successful team.

"And between you and me, Cav could have been shagging her and not meant anything because he gets around and that's no secret, but it's still bad form. Don't get your honey where you get your money, not like that anyway." Bart had to add the caveat because he'd married a work colleague, but Kirsten hadn't been his captain and he hadn't been hers. So in that respect it was different.

"As for Scrimmy--" whom Bart had not forgotten about "--what I hear is the splinter under her broom saddle is fear that we're going to import a bunch of foreign talent and forget her. I like Parkinson all right and Willison's a blessing, but we've had too much upheaval. No more moves this season unless we have an injury that we can't heal up." Bart rapped his fist twice on the chair rail that stretched along the hall wall to ward off anything else. "So if you want to let drop that I said that, that would help. It's not about her, either; it's what you said, the need for a consistent line-up."

David nodded gravely in agreement. While he hadn’t been in attendance (which he continued to be thankful for if only because it had sounded entirely too awkward), Coach Roberts’ analysis seemed to line up with his own thoughts.

His eyebrows rose when it finally came to light why Scrimmy had it in for Pip, and needless to say, it was a difficult task to keep himself from making too much of an exasperated expression. But, to be fair, Quidditch to Scrimmy was what being an Auror had been to David, so at least on that level, he could comprehend that fear. “I can do that.” He nodded again.

Bart nodded. "I'd appreciate it. Portree needs to learn how to work together, and anxiety about who's displacing who is anything but helpful."

He had some idea of what it had cost David to give up on Auroring and pick up quidditch as a fallback, even though David hadn't had a choice where the Auror programme was concerned. It was something that worried him a little for David, especially given the upheavals in his older siblings' careers in the last year. They'd had the Urquhart names and businesses to fall back on, but David's ambition would have meant an escape from all that "I know you've had a rough half-season so far, but how are you finding all this? Do you think quidditch might be something you'll want to pursue in the long term, or is it early days yet? Or do you think it'll just be something you've learned to help you when it's your turn, or Alec's or Peggy's or even Rhiannon's to take over the responsibility for the team?"

“I’m fine,” he shrugged. It was the automatic, maybe not-quite-truthful answer, but he was trying not to think about the what-ifs because the only thing they did was make him bitterly disappointed. David looked up at Bart with an apologetic half-grimace for reverting to his quiet, withdrawn nature. One day he’d be able to open up more easily. Today, however, was not that day.

Bart knew better than to tread further after that look. "You're doing fine," he told David, changing the subject. "And I appreciate the help and the insight. It's important to me to have the whole picture; this has helped me get my hands around it. Thanks."