ataraxion | 001 Ж VIDEO

[ so when the feed first comes on, it's mostly of the ceiling and possibly the top half of a very messy head of hair. black hair, ruffled around a little more than necessary, but hey. what'cha gonna do when there aren't any brooms to get on? I mean really.

the audio picks up what sounds like the ends of a conversation-- ]

I'm going-- of course it's a good idea, Moony! Why wouldn't-- oh, whoops.

[ and then the camera moves around a little, shifting and changing until eventually it's picking up the face of one (1) james potter. he looks quite similar to a certain harry, if you've met the boy, but a little younger. a little less war-scarred. more specifically lacking one certain forehead scar. ]

Guess I turned this on. [ have a sheepish little grin here, tranquility. ] This muggle techy-nology still confuses me. [ and then his eyes move over the camera, where a different voice can be heard. though not really loud enough to be made out, and james just laughs. ] No, I still-- I'm not going to send everyone a ruddy smile, Pads.

[ and then he's back. ]

Anyway, 'ello Tranquility. Name's James Potter. I'm not really new - came on last month - but we had a few... difficulties. [ pirates, learning you’re going to die in three years, meeting your son, etc etc etc. ] Couldn't properly introduce myself.

Though that isn’t the only reason for this message, as delightful as I might--

James, watch it--!

[and that’s Sirius, from somewhere off-screen, and the camera is really in for it now, because Sirius throws himself forward, knocking James flat with a yelp--there’s this weird garbled growling sound; they have just dodged some sort of flying object. like maybe someone has enchanted a very heavy ball-shaped something to try to kill them. badly enchanted.

more shaking, more movement--really no one should be worried because they’re laughing, or at least James and Sirius are--but after a few moments, the picture (and James) straightens back out. in another corner of the room. ]

Right! As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, I’ve figured out what the problem is with this ship. [ dramatic pause. ] We’re all bloody bored. Out of our minds.

Back home we have this sport - called it Quidditch. Granted, it requires a few supplies; balls, hoops, brooms and the like, but it is brilliant. Requires strategy, skill, everything you could think of.

Now, most non-wizarding folk probably don’t know about Quidditch. Which is fine, really, it’s not too difficult to teach. Just so happens I’m a great teacher when it comes to these things, so you lot are in luck. [ have another grin, tranquility. just because. ] Won’t be for everyone, also, but if anyone’s interested we could try and set something up. We’ll have to change the rules around a bit - we’re severely lacking brooms, for one - but I’m sure we can figure something out.

Let me know! You can just...message me. On this? Yeah? [ and he’s looking up again, as if he’s checking with someone else in the room. ] Okay. Yes-- no, I know how to, Sirius I swear if you--

[ the device is dropped. or set down very quickly, either way it's recording the ceiling while there is more commotion and more laughter in the background until someone in the room has the decency to pick it back up again. ]

Right, excuse me--

[As James and Sirius bicker, Remus grabs the communicator.]

Before you all go clamoring to join, let me tell you all that Quidditch is extremely dangerous. And considering we don’t have-- we don’t have magical ways to heal, you two, now stop fussing-- I think a warning should be issued.

Quidditch consists of, among other things, two balls magically flying and doing their best to break every bone in your body. You won’t be flying, thank god, but broken arms, skulls, jaws, etc, have been known to occur. People have lost bones and had to regrow them. People have-- well, died. Frankly.

That being said: James, nor Sirius, nor I, will be actively trying to hurt you. Obviously. And I’ll be standing by, ready to help anyone who gets hurt. But you really need to be quite tough to play this game-- and don’t take that as some macho challenge, please, just-- be careful. It would be better if no one played at all, to be frank, it would be better if we found some other game to play--

[ more wrestling of the feed goes here, and james once again returns triumphant. ]

Also! Before I forget, could Miss Raven-- [ there’s a pause, where james realizes he doesn’t know her last name and just shakes his head. ] You know who you are! You’re the one dating my mate over here. Anyways, it has come to my attention that we have not yet been acquainted. Which, and I’m not sure about you, but I find this to be a travesty. That should be fixed. As soon as possible, really.

So let me know when you’d like to meet, yeah?

[ and there goes the feed. ]

[ ooc: and fair warning, your message may be answered by any of our three marauders here: James, Sirius and/or Remus. though your chances of it being all three are also very high. who knows, you might get lucky. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Great!

[Merlin grins back just as brightly. He's excited. And nervous. But mostly excited. But magical sports, he can't resist.]

Oh yeah, I'm Merlin, nice to meet you. You go to school with Remus and Sirius?

Brilliant! And yeah, Remus, Sirius and I are house...mates...

[ the realization comes to him half-way through that word. sirius mentioning merlin and having talked to a gwen and remus and sirius telling him it was actually merlin and oh. oh oh merl-

james' eyes just go a little wide, most from shock and awestruck and everything else you can think about because he's talking to merlin and he just invited merlin to come play quidditch. actually merlin.

holy-- ]

Merlin. You mean like, like, Merlin Merlin, yeah? Sorcerer, advisor to King Arthur, Merlin Merlin...

[Oh right, this. Merlin forgets about this sometimes. And truthfully, he'll probably never stop being surprised at this sort of reaction to him. He never expected to be remembered by history. Arthur was to be the king, he was still just a servant.]

Yeah. Yeah - well, he was still a prince, last I saw him. And he only listens to about half of what I tell him, if that much. But yeah.

[He takes a breath.]

James, is it?

Right. Course. Just a prince, had to be a prince before he was a king. Makes sense.

[ except not at all. that's not how the canon goes! but james isn't going to point that out. or even remember it, when he's too busy trying to keep himself from babbling. ]

Yeah?

I'm just glad I get the chance to meet you. Your school and your housemates...it all sounds so amazing. You're really lucky.

[ merlin. is. glad. to. meet. him and that's really all james gets out of that comment as he breaks into a huge grin. ]

Me? You're-- you're Merlin, I don't-- [ wow james, calm down. breathe. ] Yeah, Hogwarts is a special place alright. It's thanks to you, though. You know that right?

[There's an embarrassed little breath of laughter. He wants to believe that, that he did something good for magic.]

I still say the credit for that goes to you - you're the ones trying to do something good for the ship! I'm just a name. I'm proud just having that associated with it somehow.

[ that makes him snort a little, shaking his head. ]

Just trying to start up a game or two. If it helps others, brilliant, but that doesn't really compare.

It certainly brightened up my day. And I needed that.

[ secretly fanboying no big deal. ]

Always happy to be of service. [ and there's only the slightest bit of cockiness there. ] So you'll play?

Sirius and I were just talking about positions. What do you think I'd be good at? Or...the least bad at, anyway.

That's depend on what you're good at - chasing requires lot more movement. Good at dodging, good aim, since you've got to take the quaffle from one side to the other, and make a goal, while keeping out of the way of the other team and the bludgers. You've got to be able to multitask, but be fast and strong while you do it. Beating you need more aim than anything, and strength. Got to be able to redirect the- [ and he ducks again, right as the bludger in question whizzes over his head] bludgers. Or just cunning, it's why Sirius is the best beater I know. He knows exactly where to aim it and when. He bloody thinks like a bludger sometimes.

[ he pauses for a moment to think, because the other positions are ones he's a little less familiar with. ]

Keeping you need a lot of resolve. Can't be afraid to take a hit, and quick reflexes. Also, can't crumble under pressure. As a keeper you are the last line of defense between the other team and the goal, and you've got three of 'em to worry about. And seeking... [ and suddenly he's really excited again, eyes alight. ] Seeking is brilliant. There's this little thing - the snitch - it's not much bigger than this [ he holds up his hand so his middle finger and thumb make a ring ] and it's got wings. Little bugger, snitches. They fly around faster than anything you could imagine, hide around the pitch wherever they'd like. Seeker have to find them and catch them, win their team a hundred and fifty points and ends the game.

You have to have the sight to seek. And the mind for it, have to be able to trust yourself and know where to look. Don't have the patience for it much, myself, but always wanted to try it.

[Merlin smiles to himself at the way James's face lights up when he talks about Seeking. He would've sworn that he was a Seeker just from that reaction alone. But the more he talks about it, the more Merlin understands. Anyone would be excited about it.]

Mm, yeah. Now I'm sure. Keeping's definitely for me.

Keeping, eh? You'd be a fantastic keeper!

[ actually james has no idea what kind of keeper merlin would be but merlin is going to play quidditch with him so it doesn't even matter. ]

Gotta see how you do on a broom first, though. Shouldn't be too difficult once we get you going.

No, I'm sure it won't be difficult at all.

You do know healing spells, don't you? Sirius mentioned that magic isn't allowed but surely that doesn't apply to injuries.

Healing spells? Eh, maybe one or two? Nothing all that helpful. Remus and Lily are the better ones at that kind of thing. Those kinds of spells need precision, you get it even a little bit off and you could really mess someone up.

[ he shakes his head. ]

Lots of concentration and practice, no thanks.

[ which, isn't necessarily true. he could probably do a pretty great one if under the right kind of pressure. he just hasn't found a need to. ]

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