Up, Up, and Away We Go

[Jacob Kingsley]

Easily securing a broom from the shed this time around, Jacob had settled himself on the grass to stretch his legs and arms. He was methodical about it, much more focused than he typically was. His mother always told him she wished he put as much attention into his lessons as he did into flying, and it was because of this. His focus. But not everything was as interesting as flying. Most things weren't.

Throwing himself back so he was staring into the sky, Jacob crossed his arm over his chest, stretching out his shoulders. It was a beautiful day, the sun shining brightly and a gentle breeze sweeping through the grass and his hair. Jacob couldn't wait to get going so he began to get up, dusting the back of his pants as he did. It was just too bad he didn't have access to the game chest. It would've been nice to get his hands on a bat and bludger and really practice.

 

[Nixon Mercury]

Nixon never thought he would return to the quidditch pitch at all, let alone so soon after his last visit. The interaction with Geo and preceding conflict mixed with his hesitance to fly again was still at the forefront of his mind, and was all the more reason for him to never go back. But Nixon found himself walking there that day, the sunny weather and his genuinely bright mood convincing him a visit was worth it, no matter how brief. If he simply spent time on the pitch without feeling scared, bitter, or inadequate he would see it as a win, a small step to renewing his love for flying without worrying it would be taken away from him again. There was no way he could leave the pitch feeling terrible if he saw any experience he had as something positive, and he was happy to believe that.

Nixon arrived to the pitch, waiting a moment to take in his surroundings before stepping onto the soft grass, thinking of it as his first milestone. With the first hurdle out of the way he breathed out, stepping forward again, and then a third time. It was a small victory to step onto the pitch but it was a victory nonetheless causing him to think that flying again was possible for him. Flying willingly still seemed a far away goal but feeling confident as he walked on the pitch instead of worthless was a step in the right direction, literally. He smiled to himself and looked up from his shoes, only then noticing someone in the grass a short distance away from him. After a moment of contemplation he decided to approach them, treating it as another goal to reach for him to walk further in the grass than he had already. "Hey!" Nixon called out, wanting to get their attention as he continued to walk closer to them.​

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob had already been getting up so he wasn't too startled by the boy yelling in his direction. The first year didn't think he recognized the guy who was still a little ways away. He squinted and then confirmed to himself he didn't know him. He held up a hand, giving a small wave before stretching his arm across his chest and gripping it with his other arm. "Hey yourself" he called out with a grin before switching arms. There was plenty of pitch for everyone so he wasn't at all bothered by the idea of some company.

"Wanna race?" he added just a beat later. Jacob knew he flew better against competition. It was just more fun to have someone to try to beat, to try and be faster than, and to talk to. Jacob didn't know the guy approaching but he hoped he was up for it.

 

[Nixon Mercury]

The person Nixon called out to returned the gesture, giving him a wave and greeting which was all the more reason the hufflepuff felt comfortable stepping further onto the pitch. He continued to walk forward until he reached the boy, thinking that introducing himself was the next thing he should do though he was interrupted by the boy asking if he wanted to race. Something that would have been a normal suggestion and one Nixon would never refuse if it weren't for his hesitance to fly again. Heck, he had only just managed to step onto the pitch after feeling too scared to be anywhere near it, how on earth was he supposed to fly, let alone race someone else? He paused, looking from the boy to their surroundings and noting there weren't many others around. After another moment of wondering, he decided to accept the challenge with a nod, thinking that if he were to attempt to fly again, now would be the time. If he embarrassed himself it wouldn't draw too much attention. "Alright. But I'm not the best flyer, so don't laugh if I lose." He tried to sound genuine in his excuse since it was partially true and he had a feeling being totally honest was not the smartest decision to make, especially since he and the boy had barely said a few words to eachother. "I'm Nixon, by the way." He added, wanting to know the name of the person he had impulsively decided to fly with.​

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

"I won't. Promise" Jacob replied solemnly. He would take it seriously too, not that he expected the guy to mean. Even though he looked a little older, Jacob was pretty confident in his own skills, and he wanted to win. He knew that had to count for something. "Jacob" he added before he looked around trying to determine a racing route. The pitch wasn't full. There was hardly anyone else around, so there were plenty of options. "How 'bout here to the goal, swing around the posts and back here?" he shrugged as if he'd not even thought much about it, though clearly he had.

"What kind of broom have you got?" he asked, trying to peek at it. Jacob knew the major ones, but he'd always been much more fascinated by quidditch than by the brooms themselves though he'd obsessed over his for a while. It was too bad he had left it home. The family had been too concerned about everything with Aunt Kiera's funeral to remember a broom. Jacob leaned over and picked the school one up. It was his height, but his mom told him he'd grow into it the adult brooms soon enough so he wasn't too worried.

 

[Nixon Mercury]

Nixon was glad the boy quickly introduced himself in return, as remembering a new name was enough of a distraction to keep his palms from sweating with nervousness at the idea he was actually about to fly again. Not even just hovering above ground to get himself used to flying again, but racing somebody, and someone he barely knew that that, who was likely to judge him if he showed for a moment how terrifying the idea of racing was to him. It meant that no matter how scared or nervous he felt to fly again he had to go through with it, for Jacob's sake. The other boy was clearly intent on racing since he was the one to suggest the idea in the first place as well as the route they would take when they were in the air. At the mention of flying around the hoops, Nixon looked up, mapping it out in his mind before looking back to the boy to nod in agreement. "Sounds good." It wasn't multiple laps and did not seem too far too fly, so Nixon repeatedly tried to convince himself he could do this, he could swallow his worries and fly again and also pretend like he didn't have worries to begin with. He had no idea if he was succeeding in seeming calm but he was sure as hell trying.

When Jacob asked about what kind of broom he had, he shook his head. "I don't have one. I'll go and get one of the school ones, though." He turned around to find the broom cupboard with that prompting, and after picking up the first broom he saw, he returned to where Jacob was standing. With a broom now in his hand, Nixon felt his heart begin to speed up as the fact he was about to fly again became all the more imminent. Though if he backed out now he would be back to square one and that was the last thing he wanted, so his only option was to continue facing his fears and go through with the race.​