InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I do NOT have a twitch!"

Alec Urquhart (ohlaird) wrote in neeps,
@ 2018-03-16 20:53:00

Entry tags:

! ic/ooc, # montrose, # portree, # whizz hard, alasdair maddock, alec urquhart, alex winters, bart roberts, desmond parkin, elspeth macfusty, fiona roberts, florinda mcgonagall, georgi draganov, graham urquhart, hamish roberts, jamie abercrombie, kenna mcleod, maggie macdougal, meaghan mccormack, melchior yaxley, mg mcgonagall, owen macfarlane, peggy urquhart

Whizz Hard Book Launch
Who: Anyone related to Scottish Quid/Affairs/Press/Books in general (so pretty much all of you if you want) and all current and past members of both teams (NPCs welcome!)
What: The release of the Golden Neep companion book
When: March 16th 8pm
Where: Portree and Montrose clubhouses
Warnings: Language maybe? Drinking

This year marks the 400th anniversary of the BIL's most exciting rivalry: The Golden Neep! In honour of it, Whizz Hard books is proud to present a companion book to their world famous 'Quidditch Through the Ages'.

WELCOME TO THE RELEASE OF:

Neep themed decorations are throughout the cocktail party. Including intricately carved neeps, and hors d’ouevres served in small carved out neep bowls.

At one table on each of the Montrose and Portree sides of the party is a long table set up with the book of the hour! There are even special edition versions in Montrose or Portree colours available tonight. Everyone who has prepurchased their book will get it in a bag of their choice. Options: Montrose, Portree, Golden Neep (for those who like to remain neutral) designs.

If you’d like...try to get it signed by your favourite quidditcher, you’re likely to find them around here somewhere!

The Book of the Hour

Each side has a party!

Management offices on both sides are locked and heavily warded to prevent spies (we got your back, Fergus) from sneaking around. But the main areas of the trophies, historical rooms, and social rooms and lounge are all open to the guests.

Both sides have shined their trophies and old players have even lent their individual ones to buff up the display. On each side there are articles framed on the walls at various places, showcasing historic or significant victories or moment and each has even set up a historical showroom for it to show the uniforms over the years too. It’s a chance for both teams to show off their long history as BIL clubs and their numerous successes.

Just for tonight a dedicated floo connection has been set up between the two parties connecting the main rooms to allow people to move freely between each side. The floo will not allow you to go elsewhere and there isn’t even a requirement to name your destination, though if you’d like to leave please use the regular floo available around the corner.

PORTREE SIDE

MONTROSE SIDE

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	Rival Coaches: Merc/Elsie Edition avoidretrograde 2018-03-16 06:37 pm UTC (link)
	Merc takes his Montrose themed drink around as he tours the Portree club rooms. Eventually he stops and surveys the Golden Neep displayed in the middle of the room. People can whisper about the rival coach measuring it for where he wants to put it in his club. Because that's exactly what he's doing. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lady_dragon
2018-03-17 01:47 pm UTC (link)

Ellie had lost Allie for a few moments when she was pulled into a conversation with some actual fans of the 1992 Neep. Being the only Neep series she fully played in, she had stories. Even on her best behavior, that wasn't perfect. It mostly meant staying to public areas, not drinking, and planning to make enough rounds early so she could leave.

The real truth was that Ellie didn't feel comfortable, she didn't trust the situation, not after the last big quidditch even she wen to.

She had excused herself to go hunt down Allie when she frozen. Ellie wasn't ready for was seeing Merc in the Pride Trophy room. Still there he was. And she had a decision to make -- approach or pretend she didn't see him. She might have retreated quickly at the Montrose match, probably shouldn't have been there to start but she was too often at an uncomfortable intersection.

Beyond that they were getting into Neep and post-season and she would need to figure out at least some very small working relationship with Merc because there was going to be joint press, hand shakes, photo calls. So, she took a deep breath and walked up to him, but still kept a safe distance and an easy line of retreat should she need it. "You know, I would think that whole origins of the Golden Neep might offend your sensibilities as a seeker."

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	avoidretrograde 2018-03-17 05:22 pm UTC (link)
	Merc glanced over at his cousin then turned back to look at the Neep. "On one hand: snitch interference. On the other: a match won on the snitch and a 400 year old rivalry series named for essentially a snitch stand in." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	lady_dragon 2018-03-17 05:34 pm UTC (link)
	"A 400-hundred year rivalry that started between siblings." Ellie lets out a breath, it's not quite a sight, but close. The bigger issue is she can't read him right now. "And now cousins." "For better and worse, Scottish quid has always been a family affair." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

avoidretrograde
2018-03-17 06:30 pm UTC (link)

"Fitting then, that we're running the anniversary." And Bart, he supposed, but Bart wasn't who he was bothered by.

"Have you figured yourself out yet, Elsie? Or are we still going with the ignore the issues and maybe everyone else will too?" Maybe it was a little harsh, but between Vienna and Portree hiring her own coach along with the McG cousins keeping their distance has to have sent her a message, he thought.

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lady_dragon
2018-03-17 06:39 pm UTC (link)

Ellie looked him a moment. Too often she switched from wanting to apologize to everyone, and still being angry that no one realized how much work she was doing.

Right now she almost felt small, but this was her clubhouse.

And while she might have done wrong, she was actively trying to be better, as much as that sucked. More so, when she tried to not make it an issue or noticeable to others. Of course there were parts that were harder to miss. But she really hadn't seen Merc that often or any depth since December.

"I don't think anyone is ignoring anything."

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	avoidretrograde 2018-03-17 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	It took effort to bite back to sarcasm on his reply and keep his tone even as he lowered his voice. "You slapped my baby sister, Elsie." He let that hang in the air between them for a moment. "Then decided to come dressed up and waltzing into our box on her birthday. Tell me what that is if not ignoring." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lady_dragon
2018-03-17 06:57 pm UTC (link)

Ellie did sigh that time. "I know, Merc. I know that. I have apologized. And I am sorry. To you too." Sorry about a lot of things. She had hoped things could better, now she wasn't so sure.

"And that wasn't ignoring. Maybe forgetting?" It was getting caught up in one thing to not remember the other pieces. Not even to mention that usually Ellie literally thought Lorna and Florrie actually had the same birthday.

"This is..." She paused. "That is me struggling to be a good partner to Allie. The past couple of --" She shook her head. She wouldn't make this about her. "He wants me at things. And listen. I get I'm a persona non grata. For too many reasons right now. But I don't want him to have to deal with that too."

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avoidretrograde
2018-03-17 07:20 pm UTC (link)

"It's not something I've forgotten. And I don't think it's something Florrie has either."

He turned slightly to face her more than the Neep. "Elsie, if there is somewhere I want my sister to feel safe in her space and not have to navigate whatever awkwardness this now is or deal with this mess...it's Montrose. where she works, where I work, and where she is surrounded by people she knows have her back. I'm happy for you and Maddock, I am, but maybe you need two need to figure out where your personal and professional lines are. Because otherwise the apologies are hollow."

He gestured around to the club they were standing in. "This is the first Portree space I have stepped foot in since Urquhart hosted the opening party. I want you and Lorna to do well but there are lines I try to be aware of. To make both our lives and those of our teams easier. And I've been trying to figure out where you put yours."

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lady_dragon
2018-03-17 07:31 pm UTC (link)

"Her birthday, Merc. I forgot her birthday." It was a whisper, hardly worth the admission, but it seemed like an important correction to make.

She stayed quiet then, listening. Ellie didn't have a solution. Or rather she did, but she didn't have one that wanted to stick.

"Tell me what you want from me, Merc. I want to find a way through this. To not forever be awkward or angry. To feel like every other word needs to be an apology." Because it was exhausting and their lives overlapped far too much. "And I'm working on my part. Seeing the healers, working with my counselor." It was too easy for Ellie to feel like no one wanted to give her credit for that. Even Cav thought she would snap at any point. And maybe she would, but she wasn't such a tightly wound spring anymore.

"And if it's space you need. Then it's space." That was Florrie had seemed to want. "But our lives aren't that clean and simple. But if you're telling me you don't want me in Montrose space? Then that's the line." It wouldn't be easy. But fuck, none of this was easy. So why start now? "But you're family too, there are those lines and I --" She didn't what to do. That was also what it came down to.

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avoidretrograde
2018-03-17 11:49 pm UTC (link)

"I don't make your lines, Elsie," he frowned, starting to get annoyed. "And I can't tell you not to come to Montrose space. Because I can't tell Maddock he can't bring his partner when everyone else is free to, alright? And you waltzing into things, whether it's you or he who insists on it, and acting like everything is perfectly fine and it's the rest of us who have to walk on glass? That's just throwing salt." Especially when he felt he just had to stand there and take it.

His jaw clenched and he had to take a slow breath in to calm himself. He was realizing he was annoyed at Maddock too for this, for dragging her in everywhere when he'd been there in person to see what had happened with Florrie. But this was a family thing and he wasn't about to drag Maddock deeper into this when Elsie was his main issue.

"You're fixing things with yourself, good. And I know the lines are blurred for us, that happens around here. But it doesn't help fix things with everyone else when you jump over those lines and either act like they're not there or that you're not aware of what it means for everyone else. Elsie just..." He looked away as he sighed in frustration. "-at the very least show some awareness about everything around you."

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lady_dragon
2018-03-18 12:10 am UTC (link)

"Merc, if you don't tell me where your lines are, I don't know if I've crossed them." This was becoming a common point of frustration for her. Other people expected her to do things and she was never told the rules, so she just went by her reality. And that didn't seem to please anyone. "I am sorry if I have ever made you feel unsafe. Really. I am." She hadn't really thought about that reality. So, much of her recovery process was focused inward, it was hard to remember that everyone had their

"It's just hard when you're trying to get better, and everyone expects things are the same, or worse somehow." It was honest, but with his anger Ellie wasn't sure it was the right thing to say. "Or worse tells you, you're not yourself anymore." And didn't she know it?

More importantly, she could see how things could explode any moment now. And funny now that her fight instinct now switched to flight. "But, yeah, message received, Merc. Enjoy the party."

She smiled weakly, carefully making her retreat. Fuck. She just wanted to find Allie and get out of here, surely she wouldn't be missed.

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	avoidretrograde 2018-03-18 12:18 am UTC (link)
	Merc watched her go, jaw still tighter than it should be, before turning away. Was he sure that she'd gotten the message? No. With Elsie it was hard to judge. Only time would tell really. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

mrs_dragon
2018-03-18 12:56 am UTC (link)

Lorna's suspicions were up. She let Owen go off to do some mingling after Lorna caught a look at her sister's face before he retreated with Maddock. While she did what she could to help her sister, Lorna still didn't know how things were really going.

Either way, while on her own, Lorna spotted Merc standing in enemy territory. "Hello," she said coming up to greet her cousin. "Enjoying our purple?"

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avoidretrograde
2018-03-18 01:02 am UTC (link)

Lorna appearing suddenly was a bit of emotional whiplash to be honest, and he had to stomp his frustration at Elsie down to try and reply. Like he told Elsie about lines, they mattered, and Lorna was Lorna not her sister, he wasn't going to hold Elsie against her.

"It's a bit much for my tastes, but your side does know how to look festive," he replied as lightly as he could and looked over to give her a small smile, though it looked a tad strained.

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	mrs_dragon 2018-03-18 01:28 am UTC (link)
	That wasn't Lorna's intention (as she really doesn't know what happened). "I'm sure your side brought out all the glamour as well," Lorna said as she took a sip of her festively purple drink too. She offered him a smile back. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	avoidretrograde 2018-03-18 02:09 am UTC (link)
	Merc smiled a little more naturally. "Well we do like to impress. You should go over to see, club rooms aren't often open." He lifted his Montrose-themed drink to her. "Go see how the pros work," he teased, mostly to try and push himself back into a normal mood. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mrs_dragon 2018-03-18 02:25 am UTC (link)
	"I'll make my way over," Lorna promised because it was only fair to go check on the other team's side. She gave him a careful look at his tease. "Organized chaos can still be professional," Lorna teased back. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	avoidretrograde 2018-03-18 02:40 am UTC (link)
	"Well, I have to gloat a little where I can. Montrose tradition." Merc paused and thought about Montrose's Hall of Cups and smiled a little. "...You'll see why when you're there." Montrose did pride itself wherever it did well. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	mrs_dragon 2018-03-18 02:55 am UTC (link)
	"Well, and today is about the rivalry," Lorna agreed. And Montrose did a have a lot to gloat about this season with how well they were doing. For now. "Don't forget to get a good look of what we've won over here too." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	avoidretrograde 2018-03-18 03:06 am UTC (link)
	Merc gestures to the Golden Neep in front of them. "What do you think I'm doing here? Come to covet the most worthy prize. " (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

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mrs_dragon, 2018-03-18 03:07 am UTC

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avoidretrograde, 2018-03-18 03:13 am UTC

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mrs_dragon, 2018-03-18 03:25 am UTC

	maddocked 2018-03-18 12:25 am UTC (link)
	After his visit to the Montrose side, Maddock came back to the Portree side. He would have looked for Ellie right away and if she was ready to go, then they'd go. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lady_dragon
2018-03-18 12:44 am UTC (link)

Unfortunately, Allie wasn't just there when she turned around. So she had to put on her big girl knickers and pretend everything was fine, make some small talk with other party goers. As she was making her way through the crowd half tempted to go to the Montrose side where she expected Allie was, she made eye contact with Lorna.

There was no hiding the turmoil underneath. Not with Lorna. She was a fleeing dragonling running for safety. Lorna met her look with a nod and appropriate big sisterly concern, but Ellie just shook her head. She wasn't going to ruin Lorna's night too.

Before there was a chance for anything else to happen, Allie was there this time. She thew her arms around him. "Zelda." She whispered because as much as she was normally keen to share stories of her great-aunt who may or may not actually ride dragons, that was their code word tonight. Nothing else needed to said.

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	maddocked 2018-03-18 01:30 am UTC (link)
	Allie looked down at Ellie when she came up to him. He wrapped one arm around her back and leaned down to kiss the top of her head when she said Zelda. He knew what she meant of course. "Let's get to the regular floo, yeah?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

lady_dragon
2018-03-18 01:56 am UTC (link)

"Yes, please." She leaned into him. It would be easy enough to make their goodbyes. Or at least she hoped so. Ellie really didn't want to talk about it just then. The way she saw things, it was still a win. She wanted to go home, take a minute or two, change and then go forth with date night plans. They both deserved a night out. Serious conversations could hold until morning - they usual did anyway.

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