Taking Off

OOC: The Interview Thing

Sat, 17 Jun 2006 06:31:28 GMT

The Mission Objectives:
1 -- Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2 -- I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3 -- You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4 -- You'll include this explanation.
5 -- You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.

Sebastian:
1. Will you be naming your first child after me? (You know you want to.)
*blush* Uhh... I thought we'd agreed neither of us was having kids?
2. What's your favorite colour, bro?
Green, the color of Madeline's eyes
3. If you were trapped on an island with Alphonse, what would you do?
Probably attempt some form of suicide. Death by coconut, maybe?
4. Do I annoy you at all?
Not at all.
5. What do/did you really think of me leaving the Aurors?
It's really none of my business, even though we're family. I know you've gotten plenty of talk from pretty much everyone else about it, too, and I'm the last person who needs to be talking about someone else's life. You're a grown man, and you're plenty old enough to make your own decisions. So long as you're not actively abusing another family member (like, say, Alphonse did with the potion), I don't see any reason not to support you in whatever you want to do with your life.

Eiltin's:
1. What is your favorite thing about me?
That I don't see you very often.
2. What is your favorite thing about Madeline?
None of your business.
3. What would you change about Madeline if you had to change one thing?
I wouldn't change a thing. You don't try changing the people you love.
4. If you had to kill one person in the world, who would it be?
I can't really see myself killing anybody, really. If someone were holding a wand to my head and telling me to pick someone or die, I'd die.
5. If you had to marry one person besides Madeline, who would it be?
I'm not close to any other woman the way I am with Madeline. And my love life is none of your business, anyway.

Log Post: Road Trip!

Tue, 13 Jun 2006 01:12:03 GMT

Hogwarts Express - Monday, June 12, 2006, 4:00 PM
IC Date: Wednesday, 25 June 1978
Characters Involved: Binns, Eiltin, Penny, Sebastian, Alphonse
Where: Anywhere (on a bus between London and Ballybunion, Ireland)
Synopsis: Road Trip!

Derry and Meara Binns, along with assorted brothers and sisters and cousins, arrived at the train station in plenty of time to pick up the newly-graduated Eiltin, and the on-break Penny and Braewyn (along with all the other first- and second- and third-cousins still in school). Everyone was loaded into the bus (an antique relic painted a virulent shade of neon green) by half an hour after the train pulled into the station, around 6:30pm, and they began the drive back to Ballybunion, a trip that would normally take some three or four hours. It's been three, and they're not nearly there yet, because little Darcy O'Shaughnessy (who's just finished his first year in Hufflepuff) has had to stop every hour on the hour to use the loo, prompting a mass exodus of family members from the bus to waste half an hour of travel time doing various touristy things. Thankfully, little Darcy has fallen asleep on his mum's lap, so the hourly loo-break has been skipped. Second-cousin Sean, sulking mid-bus without trophy wife number nine (and no, he doesn't want to talk about it), mumbles something to third-cousin Ferdy about how long he bets it'll be until one of the other kids speaks up in Darcy's place.

"My money's on Freddy," comes Penny's reply as she turns around and shoots a glare in the obnoxious cousin's direction. "His bladder's about the size of his brain." After a moment's pause, "And his package." The redheaded soon-to-be-sixth-year smiles benignly then and twists back around to stare out the window.

Eiltin is sitting towards the back of the bus, taking up an entire row on one side by himself, stretched out, using a sweatshirt against the window as a pillow. His stuff is all over the ground under the seats, coming out of his bags. He has a muggle 8-track tape player with the headphones around his neck, blasting a rock band. NOTE: It's /not/ Seb's band.

Freddy is all the way back in the back of the bus, as far away from Penny as he could possibly get. Several of the other boy cousins near his age are back there, too, having a whispered conversation. Every so often, the word 'rack' can be heard, and given the family reputation, it's probably /not/ a spice rack they're referring to.

See the young man currently slumped in his seat looking several shades of OMGMISERABLE! and dressed in a bit too much leather to be healthy? That would be Sebastian, who hasn't been allowed out of his mother's sight since he, quite literally, got dragged out of his new flat by several relatives. See, all he needed was just a moment and then he could've used that Auror training to stealth away and Apparate... but no. Meara's got an eagle's eyes when it comes to her almost-blown-up seventh son. He might as well have a chain on him.

Eiltin takes the headphones for his (tape) player off his heads, and pauses the music. Standing, he walks forward to sit next to Penny. "Hey, Penn."

None of this is healthy, or at least that's Rocket's opinion. He's looking nearly as completely miserable as Sebastian, who he's seated beside, and was /not/ one of the relatives who dragged his younger brother along, having been coerced in nearly the same fashion. Nothing like being frogmarched out of one's flat first thing in the morning. He checks his watch, trying not to be obvious about it, because the last time Meara caught him she whacked him upside the head. "Another hour, if we're lucky, and we can get the hell out of here," he mutters.

"Yup?" Penny doesn't bother to look away from the window as Eiltin sits next to her, instead, fixing her gaze quite deliberately on the passing landscape. Oh, look, a sheep! Oh, wait, what's that? Is that a dinosaur? Nope, nope, that's another sheep. Hey, there's something-- no. Sheep.

Sebastian eyeshifts towards his slightly older brother and says softly, "Mate, I may be completely /insane/ in another hour at this rate. I'd rather be getting a tattoo on my--" He goes silent and looks rather innocent as somehow, SOMEHOW, Meara glances over at them with a rather suspicious look. He just smiles thinly, trying to look happy to be here wheeee, and then thumps his head back against the back of the seat. "If we break down," he tells Rocket seriously, "I trust you to kill me quickly, bro. Clean and quick. No suffering."

Eiltin leans his new chair back onto whatever poor cousin is behind him, and sticks his feet out into the aisle. "Fun trip, isn't it?" he asks blithely.

"I'm overflowing with joy and pleasure. I've never had so much fun in all my long life." Only now does Penny deign to turn and quirk a strawberry brow at Eiltin, her expression completely deadpan and her voice monotone to emphasize her sarcasm. See how bored she is? -See-? Of course, moments later, she smirks despite herself and shrugs. "It could be worse."

"Yeah, you know, Sean and wife number whatever-he's-on-now could be feeling each other up. I wonder where she is, anyways." Eiltin peers at Sean. "He doesn't look happy...you know, I'm bored enough that I might just go add insult to injury, don't you think?"

"Don't even say--" Rocket's caution is too little, too late. There's a suspicious grinding noise from the rear of the bus, followed by two pops, and the whole vehicle lurches to a sudden halt. Since the concept of seat belts are foreign to wizards, this means that most of the family jerks forward suddenly enough that the littler ones (and the completely unprepared, like Rocket) actually fall out of their seats. "Oh, you have /got/ to be bloody /kidding/ me!" yelps Rocket, followed by an, "/Ow/!" as Meara whacks him.

Sebastian is flung forward and curses softly under his breath. Glaring at Rocket, he points and says, "That wasn't my fault!" Weeeeep.... a week full of face injuries and now this. There /is/ no God. And what's worse, they'll probably have little whathisface in the back wailing about the loo now, to boot. He glances around and grumbles to Rocket with distinct disgruntlement, "Remind me to never, NEVER breed. Never."

"What are you gonna do, go offer to take her place?" Penny looks completely disgusted at the idea, even if it amuses her greatly to make fun of both her brother -and- Sean at the same time. "I think you're a little young for him yet, Eiltin. Maybe you sh--" Grind. POP. POP. THUNK. The redheaded Binns sister slams forward, but manages to post herself against the seat in front of her with her hands so that all that really happens is she gets whipped forward. She is settled, calm, and, from the looks of it, totally expected it to happen in just that way. Which is why she then gets up on her knees, turns around in her seat, and peers back through the bus so she can catch everybody falling all over themselves. "Hey, Mum.. I think the bus is broken." The grin she offers then is purely wicked. She's rubbing it in now.

Saying that Eiltin falls out of his seat is being nice. It's more like a flip. He's completely relaxed, but when the bus stops he tries to bring his feet back under him. That only succeeds in his momentum pushing his head over his feet so that he lands face first in the aisleway. Groaning slightly he turns over onto his back. He glares at Penny, refraining from hexing his sister. Jelly Legs might be a nice choice, don't you think?

"Heard and seconded," Rocket groans, picking himself up off the floor. There are panicked cries and pained groans from elsewhere in the bus, and little Darcy sets up a high-pitched keening /wail/ that lasts all of about thirty seconds before his mum stuffs a biscuit into his open mouth. Mmmph. Freddy and his cronies are complaining of injuries that probably sound a lot worse than they actually /are/, and Sean is giving Eiltin much the same look that Eiltin is giving Penny, except he's probably not considering a Jelly Legs Jinx. The real kicker, though, is Ferdy, who scrambles /over/ Sean to peer nervously out the bus windows, asking with predictably Binns volume, "Is it up there? Are we being attacked??"

Sebastian rolls his eyes and turns back to face forward with a sigh. In much the same style as usual, Sebastian remains very quiet. "I doubt seriously that--" he begins, but then goes quiet. See, he said something like that before and the bus broke. Calling down Death Eaters onto the bus isn't what he wants to do. Maybe. He glances out the window thoughtfully and actually seems to be weighing the pros and cons of finishing his statement. Hmmmm....

"Yeah, Ferdy. The Death Eaters decided to attack /us/, and the best they could do was pop our tires. Sure." Eiltin pushes himself up. He glances towards Ferdy and spots Sean. Seeing that he's made an impact seems to calm Eiltin, and he doesn't look quite so mad when he looks at Penny. "Say, Mum...you want me to bring some of the younger kids home with some Apparition? This is rough for them?" He crosses his fingers mentally. Here's hoping...

Right behind Eiltin's jab at Ferdy comes Penny's, though hers is simply a look. One of disdain and frustration and 'are you stupid?'. She lets it linger for a bit before moving almost immediately in to get her mother's attention, blue-green eyes widening as she tosses a hand in the air. "Mum, I'll go with him and help look after the kids." Pleeeeeeeeeeeeease.

The idea isn't completely out of the realm of possibility, if one has the right mindset (completely paranoid) and has followed the media coverage of the DE activity around Quidditch. Some of the older relatives start murmuring to each other, though quietly, until Darcy's cookie is gone and the little boy starts shrieking that Death Eaters are coming to get him. Derry opens the door to go outside and see exactly what's wrong with the vehicle (NEWTed in Muggle Studies and Vocational Arts, he did), and Meara tries to settle people down, but it doesn't seem to be working. Rocket groans again, lurches to his feet, and hollers, "All right, you lot, enough already!" Once he's acheived relative quiet, he continues, "We're not under attack, it's just a flat tire or something, Da will fix it and we'll be on our way soon enough."

Meara speaks up, after her middle child is done, looking pointedly at Eiltin, "Eiltin Lasair Binns, you are going to stay on this bus with your family, is that clear?" Her attention switches to Penny, as she adds, "And that goes for you, too, young lady." She does, however, move back to where Darcy's mum is sitting to ask if maybe the woman might prefer to take the child home by Apparition.

Eiltin groans, and sits back down. "Bloody hell," he murmurs, then he looks at Penny. "Well, it was worth a try." He leans back in his chair again, stretching out, and closing his eyes. Might as well try and get some rest...then he remembers something he meant to do before the 'Death Eater attack'. He stands up and walks to Sean. "So, cuz. Where's the woman?"
Feck. Well, only way to get moving again... "Mum," Sebastian says as he rises. "Want me to lend Da a hand so it goes faster?" Okay, so his NEWTs didn't include either of his father's, but he could lend a wand and a charm where needed. He leans against the back of his seat, looking quite serious.

"Fine!" comes Penny's response to her mother, smarmy but lacking the usual bite that the middle Binns sister usually wields. In fact, Penny, so far this ride, has been in a relatively good mood, and, furthermore, hasn't cursed or grouched or exhibited any of her usual Penny characteristics. "But I'm going outside and playing with the sheep." And, before anybody can say anything, the girl is up, shooting out the aisle, and right out into the fields. What? They'll call her when they need her, and if she's really lucky, maybe they'll abandon her and she can be adopted. (She comes back and sits quietly.)

Looking Sebastian over as if determining precisely how serious his offer of help is, Meara finally nods. "Thank you, dear, I'm sure your father will appreciate the help." Which he will, because Derry hasn't really got the first clue as to how to get the thing moving again. Penny gets a look of disapproval, and one of the other adults gets asked to watch her, at which point Freddy and crew decide that playing with sheep is a /fantastic/ idea. Maybe they can tip one over! "No, mate, ya tip /cows/." "Fred's not big enough ta tip a cow." "Am so! I'd tip a cow if there was one!" That's the dialogue that follows them from the bus.

Sean shoves Ferdy out of his way, and the young man looks near tears, before turning 'round and claiming Sebastian's vacant seat (when he leaves it). The loss of trophy wife number nine (whose name everyone seems to have forgotten) has apparently been pretty hard on the man, he hasn't even started looking for another.

Sebastian glances over at Sean, then at the door, then back at Sean again... No. His big ol' squishy heart is getting affected! Not in front of /family/! He flashes a quick grin at his mother and steals out of the bus all stealthy-like, calling to his father once outside, "Da? Need some help? Just let me know."

Eiltin claps Sean on the shoulder. "Buck up mate, I'm sure there's some girl somewhere who'll stay with you for at least /three/ months." He turns and heads back to his seat. Then he has another idea. "Hey, Mum, maybe I could transfigure some stuff to help the bus get moving again?" Yes, he'll never stop trying to get out.

Meara points to Eiltin's seat, where his portable 8-track player has fallen to the floor. "Sit, dear." It has the ring of command familiar to most of her family, and after convincing Darcy's mum to take the little boy home, she returns to the front of the bus to keep a weather eye on the rest of the family, including Rocket and Ferdy. If looks could kill, Eiltin woould be toast, judging by that look Sean's giving him, but it goes unnoticed by Meara. Rocket clears his throat, reaching into his jacket pocket for his notepad, though he asks of Ferdy, rather carefully, "How's things, Ferdy?"

Ferdy lets out a beleaguered sigh, running his hands through his hair (which is in need of washing), and says, glumly, "Not too good, mate, I'll tell ya. Have ta be on my guard all'a time, never know when they'll come fer me."

Outside, Sebastian is wriggling as carefully as possible under the bus to have a look at things with Derry. "Just make sure it doesn't fall on me, Da," can be heard clearly. Quite possibly too clearly, given Meara's twitchy over him lately.

Eiltin rolls his eyes at Meara /behind/ her back, then heads to her seat. In a show of petty disobedience, though, he sits in the one behind it, not his own, snagging the 8-track player on the way. He puts the headphones on, and cranks the volume so loud that the cousins near him can hear it a bit. She might force him to be on the bus, but that doesn't stop him from not listening or talking.

"Er, who are 'they', Ferd?" Rocket asks. It proves to be a mistake, as Ferdy launches into an explanation that's probably the most out-there theory anyone on the bus has heard (and Eiltin's spent three summers in Mysteries). The commentator sighs quietly and rolls his eyes heavenward as if seeking guidance.

Outside, Derry's gained another helper as Darcy's father Apparates in (the resulting bang startles the sheep, and Freddy gets stepped on by the one he's been trying to tip), and together they keep the bus from falling on Sebastian. Meara casts a worried look toward the door, but doesn't call her second-youngest son back in.

"Da?" Sebastian calls as he flashes his wand around, Lumos'd to get a better look at things. "You have a flat tire and... something stuck in this other gear. What'd you do? Hit a moose or something?" He wriggles over further to see if he can't get the thing out of that gear somehow.

Derry winces, shaking his head. "Give me some credit, will you, Baz? Didn't see anything on the road." Upon closer inspection, the thing in the gear proves to be a very large branch, which Sebastian should be able to pull out if he yanks hard enough.

"Ah, sorry," Sebastian quips as he recognizes what it is, grinning a little. "I thought it was an antler. It's a /tree/." He at least sounds amused. Reaching out, he grabs the branch he's found and starts tugging it with half-gloved hands until it comes free. He flicks his wand to send it out and off the road, and it skitters out like some clattery wooden animal. (re)

"Didn't see a /tree/, either, son. Now come out of there so we can get to work on fixing the wheel, would you?" This from Derry, because Uncle Alvin is snickering too much to be useful in the conversation department. Inside the bus, most of the younger children have dropped off to sleep, and Freddy's mum is fussing over his 'boo-boo' from the sheep. "Got 'is arse kicked by a /sheep/!" one of the boys crows, albeit quietly, to Penny, hoping to score some points. When he gets no response, he returns to the back of the bus with the rest of Freddy's group.

Sebastian slithers back out and dusts off after he sits up again. Sans jacket, he's just happy his mother isn't outside to see his arms. Scowling at him doesn't mean anything /good/ will happen afterwards. "Right, there you go," he tells Derry cheerily enough. "You two can get the tire changed, right?"

After Derry answers his son in the affirmative, Meara appears as if from nowhere to see that Sebastian makes it back onto the bus safely. No escape! Ferdy has resumed his place next to Sean, and is boring him with his latest theory on why Robert Greenbaum was killed, so Sebastian's earlier place next to Rocket is empty. The announcer looks deep in thought, and a little worried.

Sebastian has his jacket on as soon as he's dusted. He turns to casually make his way around the bus all quiet-like... and there's Meara. He walks just a little ways, circles around, and rolls his shoulders and the like nonchalantly. Juuuust loosening up his muscles, that's all. it's a long drive. He smiles at his mother as he enters the bus once more, moving to Rocket's side and having a seat. "Alllmost made it to freedom," he says with that smile plastered on his face. "She has some kind of charm on me so that she knows where I am, I swear."

"On all of us, I think," Rocket agrees. "I've checked my ear for a tag, though, and can't find one," he adds, a bit lightly. The levity fades fairly quickly, though, and he slouches in his seat. "Maddy's probably worried sick by now."

Sebastian grunts a little. "Mate, if they worry at the drop of a hat, they need a tranquilizer - and probably don't need to be with us." He looks at him and arches a brow. "Face it, Rocket. We Binnses tend to be prone to accidents - but not all of them are life-threatening. You have a mirror, don't you? Give her a call and let her know you'll be late, or let her know when we're at the house via fire. It's the best you can do, so don't go worrying yourself over whether or not she's worried over you."

"I don't have a mirror, actually," Rocket corrects his brother. Mirrors are employed by Ministry personnel, or at least the compact ones are. "And she's /at/ the house, waiting for us to get back." He glares a bit at Sebastian. "I'm not particularly prone to accident, unless you want to count nearly getting killed by giants. Twice. And both of those /were/ life-threatening."

Sebastian glances over at Meara and then leans in closer to him, "You'll notice," he replies drolly, "that I'm not exactly immune to it myself? Mum might as well clap a collar and leash on my throat. But THIS isn't life-threatening. Only sanity-threatening. The worst that happens is that we're stuck out here for as long as it takes us adults to Apparate everyone home."

Derry and Uncle Alvin have managed to repair the tire with a spell, but they're having a disagreement over how to fill it up with air again. Meara is starting to look a little antsy, at the front of the bus, and Ferdy is showing Sean his tinfoil hat.

"You and I know that, but Madeline's got no way of knowing all we've run into is a flat tire." Rocket pauses for a moment, thinking of something, and then glances up to make sure Meara's attention is on Ferdy before half-grinning and murmuring, "'Course, I'm pretty sure her being as worried as she is means Mum will let us go once everyone's off the bus."

"Well want us to start a fire to stick your head in?" Alph asks from where he was off....doing his own thing, apparently. "Maybe you can catch her in her knickers." he's just not giving up.

Sebastian snorts softly. "If she thinks I'm hanging around after this bus is emptied," he tells Rocket seriously, "she's got another think coming." He glances towards Alphonse and falls silent again, though. Typical Sebastian. The quiet one.

"Shut it, Alph," Rocket grumbles, crossing his arms over his chest and slouching further, muttering, "Arse."

Meara gives Rocket a 'watch your language' look, as she steps over to swat Alphonse on the back of his head. "Watch how you talk around the children, Alphonse. And don't be disrespectful to Madeline, she's a nice girl." Madeline has duly won Meara over with her pastries.

Alphonse just shrugs, tapping his fingers on the window. "So what are we waiting for now then?" he asks, peering through said window. "Can't be that hard to fix a tire."

Sebastian smirks a little. "We had a tree in the opposite gear," he says mildly. "I helped Da. He said he and Uncle could take care of the tire."

"Alphonse, see what's taking your father so long, would you?" Meara asks, as if on cue. Hey, Alph /is/ the artificer in the family, this should be just his thing, right? She returns to the front of the bus and sits sideways, to look back over the seats toward where Rocket and Sebastian are seated. Although she manages to miss Sean, leaning over Ferdy to hiss at Rocket, "Oi! Rocket! You've seen yer girl in her knickers already, haven't you?"

Rocket sputters something unintelligible, going completely red, and tries to disappear into his seat.

Sebastian casually leans his hand on his chin and looks out the window at Sean's question. "Leave him alone," he says benignly, trying to not smile. Not really at the entire topic, but the way that it's come up. And especially Rocket's reaction. "He's still sore over it."

"Are you going to blush every time someone says something regarding a member of the opposite sex?" Alphonse asks as he obediently stands up and heads off the bus, passing Rocket. "Really, there's no need." Out the door he goes.

<OOC> Binns says, "at this point I have to break in order to make dinner, so we'll just say Alph helps fix the tire and they finally get home?"

OOC: Survey thingy!

Mon, 24 Apr 2006 09:34:23 GMT

1. What is your name? George William Binns, but everyone's called me 'Rocket' since I was four.
2. What is your age? Twenty-four.
3. What house are you in? Gryffindor.
4. What do you do in your spare time? Spend time with Madeline, otherwise I'm mostly catching up on sleep.
5. Do you play Quidditch? Why? Why not? No. Never could make the House team, and these days I'm always in the announcer's box.
6. Who do you live with? What are they like? Do you get along with them? I live on my own, on the rare occasion I'm actually home. Though Madeline's usually over, or I'm at her place.
7. Do you have any pets? I'm not home often enough to keep a pet.

Some Thought Provoking stuff:
1. So you've told us what house you're in. Why do you believe you are in that house? No bloody clue.
2. What's your life philosophy? I'm not sure I have one.
3. What do you want to be when you grow up? Or, what did you want to be, and if it's something other than what you are now, why did you change your mind? I wanted to be a world-famous Seeker, but I ended up a world-class commentator, instead.
4. What memory would call up your Patronus and what shape would it take? I've no idea. That's NEWT-level Defense, and I didn't take it.
5. Which of the Unforgiveables do you think is the worst, and why? Considering my sister nearly killed the woman I love under the influence of an Imperio, I'll have to go with that one.
6. If you could Crucio anyone you wanted, who would it be? What about Imperio? Avada Kedavra? No one. Ever.
7. Would you rather be stupid but charming, or intelligent but a complete prick (and therefore have no friends)? Most people already consider me stupid but charming, so I'll go with that.
8. If you had a chance to change your whole life around, what would you do with yourself and why? Would be in a different house? Would you be nicer or meaner? Contrary to popular belief, I'm actually fairly happy with where I'm at in my life. Hard as it may be for my family to accept.
9. What would your Animagus form be? Why? With my luck? A mouse or something.
10. What would your boggart be? Why? The doctor from Mumgo's, only instead of telling me about Madeline's injuries, he'd be saying she's dead.
11. What moment do you think you would relive when confronted by a dementor? Seeing the giants at the edge of Hogsmeade.
12. What would you see in the mirror of Erised? *blush* That's a bit personal, isn't it?
13. Do you feel that everyone is equal? What are you opinions on muggles and muggleborns? I'm of mixed blood, myself, but I think all that Purist crap is just that, crap.
14. Do you feel werewolves should be able to walk freely amongst us? I don't see why not, so long as they're careful 'round that time of the month.

Some Random Stuff:
1. Who is your best friend? Madeline Jameson.
2. Do you have an SO? Yes, Madeline, who's also my best friend.
3. Who are all of your friends and acquaintances? Far too many to list.
4. Is there a prefect you feel most comfortable talking to? Well, I'm not in school any more...
5. What classes are you taking? Are you an OWL student? A NEWT student? I'm a graduate, Hogwarts is over and done with.
6. Who do you think will win the house cup? The Quidditch Cup? I don't much care, though I heard Gryffindor's got a good shot at the Quidditch Cup this year.
7. Do you interact with others from other houses, or generally stick to your own house? I never paid much attention to House boundaries, back in school.
8. Is there another house you get along well, or best with? I always got along fairly well with most people, regardless of House.

This or That(plus quick explanation XD):
1. Chocolate Frogs or Every Flavour Beans? Chocolate Frogs, because they're, well, chocolate.
2. Being taught by Nosfertum or Getting in trouble with Nosfertum? Neither. I prefer to stay as far away from the man as I can manage.
3. Playing in a Quidditch game or Watching a Quidditch game? Playing in, though I always end up watching, for my commentary.
4. Hogsmeade or Diagon Alley? Hogsmeade.
5. Diagon Alley or Knockturn Alley? Diagon Alley.
6. Wizard or Muggle? Wizard, naturally.
7. Being a Dark Wizard or Catching a Dark wizard? How about running the heck away from Dark Wizards?
8. Desk Job or Job with Action? Action, which is why I travel a lot.
9. Muggle travel or Wizarding travel? Wizarding travel; I fly practically everywhere.

DP: Sports Page

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:35:53 GMT

23 December, 1977
Pro Quidditch Season Update
G.W. Binns

Portree Seeker Greenbaum's poor sportsmanship was seen once again when Pride of Portree faced off against the Winbourne Wasps on the 7th of this month. The Chasers were fairly evenly matched, though Portree was ahead by four goals before Greenbaum's capture of the Snitch in the final moments, leaving the final score at 270 - 80.

Last week saw Puddlemere United's first games of the season, and while Caerphilly earned their third win of the season, soundly beating Puddlemere with a score of 190 - 330, Puddlemere's second game of the week, against the Montrose Magpies, tipped the scales back in their favor. Losing a Beater in the early moments of the game, followed an hour later by their Keeper, it's hardly surprising that Montrose lost, 430 - 10.

On Monday, the Tutshill Tornadoes played their first game this season, handing the Holyhead Harpies their third defeat. Holyhead was clearly outmatched from the very beginning: Tutshill's Chasers were better-coordinated, their Beaters were more on-target, and their Keeper caught most of the attempts the Harpies made at scoring. Perhaps it was a lack of confidence at their two previous losses that had Holyhead Seeker Peppercorn off her game, but Tutshill's Singh was well ahead of her in catching the Snitch, wrapping the game with a score of 290 - 80.

In World Cup news, teams have been chosen for Japan, France, and Nigeria, with other countries expected to announce their line-ups after the new year.

DP: Sports Page

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:34:57 GMT

6 December, 1977
Roster Change: Appleby Arrows
G.W. Binns

The Appleby Arrows announced in a press release issued today that their Seeker has been replaced by Riana Binns, age 20. A Hogwarts graduate, formerly of House Gryffindor, Binns was recruited straight out of school, and has been training on the farm team for the past two years, awaiting her chance to be put in the starting position. After so much fuss was made at the beginning of the season over Hartman, one might wonder why the mid-season change? Some have speculated that this is a response to Portree's Seeker, Greenbaum, whose brutality against the Glasgow Seeker does not bode well for someone as close to retirement as Hartman. Whatever the reason, Binns is a welcome addition to the team, and may well prove capable of ensuring the Arrows' capture of the coveted British Cup.

DP: Sports Page

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:34:08 GMT

2 December, 1977
Portree vs. Glasgow
G.W. Binns

Pride of Portree took the field yesterday against the Glasgow Gryffins, and emerged victorious when Seeker Greenbaum caught the Snitch, final score: 240 - 190. Greenbaum's performance was one of the worst displays of sportsmanship the sport has seen in some time, harrying Seeker Darkefell near-continuously throughout the ten-hour-long match, and at one point earning himself a time-out by abusing his opponent. The Glasgow Chasers, led by newcomer Farel, rallied to pull off an impressive nineteen goals, made easier in the final hours when Glasgow Beater O'Callahan knocked Portree Keeper Marples off her broom, while the Portree Chasers managed only nine goals. In the final moments, it all came down to the race for the Snitch, a race which saw Seeker Darkefell pushed off her broom by Greenbaum, a gambit which has some fans calling for his suspension from the team. Indeed, while the rest of the team played admirably, it is clear that in Greenbaum the Pride of Portree has nothing to be proud of.

DP: Sports Page

Wed, 22 Mar 2006 21:33:22 GMT

30 November, 1977
Roster Change: Glasgow Gryffins
G.W. Binns

The Glasgow Gryffins announced in a press release issued today that one of their Chasers has been replaced by Winter-Marie Farel, age 21. A Hogwarts graduate, formerly of House Gryffindor, Farel played on the House team for five years, and during four of those she was involved, in some form or another, in captaining the team. Known for her sleight-of-hand passing and sometimes almost reckless flying, she designed plays for her fellow Chasers based on what she claimed were Japanese Quidditch tactics. In one of her final games, she even changed positions to that of Beater, showing a commendable degree of versatility and a willingness to rise to new challenges. Farel left the sport after graduation from Hogwarts in order to pursue academic obligations, earning a bachelor's degree in chemistry at a muggle university and opening a branch of a muggle bank for a long-time friend. Returning to London some months ago, she was scouted while spending some time at a local Quidditch field, and was signed to the team almost immediately.

OOC: 40 questions

Mon, 06 Mar 2006 16:15:35 GMT

Not to start a whole round of these all over again, but there are some answers I"d like to know, so...

01. Who are you, what's our relationship?:
02. How and where did we meet?:
03. What's my middle name/s?:
04. How long have you known me?:
05. Tell me one good thing about myself:
06. When you first saw me what was your impression?:
07. My age:
08. Birthday:
09. My favorite band at the moment:
10. Colour eyes:
11. Do I have any siblings?:
12. Have you ever had a crush on me?:
13. What's one of my favorite things to do?:
14. Do you remember one of the first things I said to you?:
15. Describe me in 3 words:
16. Name 5 things i love:
17. Do you think I'm good looking?:
18. How would you describe me to someone?:
19. Would you ever date me?:
20. Tell me one thing you've always wanted to say but never did:
21: What do you like most about me?:
22: If we could spend a day together what would we do?:
23: Have we ever gotten in a fight?:
24: Do you think we will be friends for at least 3 or 4 more years?:
25. Give me a nickname and explain why you picked it:
26. What do you think my weakness is?:
27. Do you think I'll get married?:
28. What makes me happy?:
29. What makes me sad?:
30. What reminds you of me?:
31. If you could give me anything what would it be?:
32. When's the last time you saw me?:
33. Do you think our friendship is getting stronger/weaker/or staying the same?:
34. Do you feel that you could talk to me about anything and I would listen?:
35. Are you going to put this on your Livejournal and see what I say about you?:
36. If I was an ice cream flavor, which would I be and why?:
37. What song (if any) reminds you of me?:
38. If you could change one thing about me, what would it be?:
39. Would you make a move on me?:
40. Do I cross your mind at least once a day?:

OOC Post: Survey Says!

Sun, 05 Mar 2006 21:54:06 GMT

This is just a little survey so that people can sort of learn a little bit about who Rocket Binns is (whether or not it's a good thing is still too early to determine)

--Random Questions--
Name: George William Binns
What is your occupation?: freelance pro Quidditch announcer, freelance sportswriter for the Daily Prophet, and I've my own radio show
Your age?: 24
Time you got up this morning?: Morning?
Had for breakfast?: coffee, eggs, bacon, potatoes, pastries...
House: Gryffindor (alumnus)
--Either Or--
Nundu or flobberworm: flobberworms
Diamonds or pearls?: well, they say diamonds are a girl's best friend, I could always give that a shot...
Cats or dogs?: dogs
Morning or evening?: evening
Black or white?: white
Book or television?: television
Jungle or Tundra?: jungle
Ocean or desert?: ocean
Milk or Orange Juice?: coffee
Romantic or exciting?: exciting
Peace or war?: peace
Hunter or prey?: prey, sadly
--More questions:--
What is your warcry?: I don't suppose 'meep' counts as a war cry?
Favorite color?: blue
Favorite drink?: some good Irish whiskey
Favorite food?: I'm not picky, though pastry is fast becoming a favorite
Favorite animal?: Irish wolfhound
Favorite song?:
Favorite weather?: sunny, though I'll fly in pretty much any weather
Your ideal vacation?: vacation?
Your ideal girl/boyfriend?: no comment
Your best meal ever?: Sorting Feast, my first year
--More personal questions--
Who are your closest friends?: I can't really list them all
Who do you trust the most?: Da
Biggest pet-peeve?: poor sportsmanship
What keeps the Dementors away?(Memory): EVERYTHING, I hope... oh, wait, memory... uh...
Why are you in your house?: no clue, really
Where do you live?: my current address is in Mayfair Residential Towers, suite 902
Would you kill for someone?: no
Would you die for someone?: yes
What's your main goal?: to live my life the way I want, without being pushed to do things I don't want to do
Who do you love the most?: I can't answer this, my family'd kill me
Your biggest weakness?: bludgers. long story
Your biggest strength?: my voice
Do you fear the boogy-man?: I've outgrown the boogy-man, and there are for worse things to fear
--Ratings(Rate your abilities from 1 to 10!!! :))
Dancing: 3
Skating: 2
Playing Intrument(What kind?): 1 (I can keep a beat on a drum, maybe)
Fighting: 1
Cooking: 4
Singing: 9
Art(What kind?): 1
Writing(What kind?): 8 (I write articles for the DP sports section)
Sports(What sports?): 8/1 (Seeking at Quidditch, without/with Bludgers)
Social Outlook: 1
Other: Announcing - 9, Flying - 9, Drinking - 7

friendses (OOC Post)

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 17:41:12 GMT

Personal IC entries (yes, I'm going to have them) are going to be friends only, since they're not really of concern to the general public. Articles and the like will still be posted as public.

DP: Sports Page

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 23:24:10 GMT

16 November, 1977
Pro Quidditch Season Update
G.W. Binns

Falmouth got a strong start to their season last week, with a 310-180 win over Wimbourne, only to lose momentum a few days later against Caerphilly. In a mostly one-sided game, the Catapults scored 19 goals to the Falcons' paltry 2, and while Falmouth's Seeker pulled ahead of Caerphilly's Kirke to catch the Snitch first, the final score was 170-190, giving Caerphilly their second win so far this season.

Kenmare had two games this week, both of them well-played. On Tuesday, the Kestrels faced the Magpies and sent them packing, with Montrose losing 300-90. Friday saw them take the field against Holyhead, the Harpies looking to recover after their ill-fated match with Chudley two weeks ago. Despite some clever flying on the part of Holyhead's Chasers, and an impressive 17 goals, Kenmare's Rounthwaite caught the Snitch before Holyhead's Peppercorn, winning the game for the Kestrels, 260-170.

In World Cup news, the preliminary games are under way to determine which players with make their countries' national teams, with the first qualifying matches expected to start in mid-December.

DP: Sports Page

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 23:23:10 GMT

2 November, 1977
Chudley vs. Glasgow
G.W. Binns

Despite its disappointing 30-190 loss against Glasgow earlier this week, Chudley brought its 'A' game to the field in St. Mary's Meade last night. Taking the lead with the Quaffle early in the game, the Cannons' real turning point came when Beater Davidson took out opposing Harpy Dukelow, knocking out half the Harpies' defense. Holyhead's Chasers rallied valiantly, and managed to surpass Chudley goal-wise, an impressive 18 goals to the Cannons' 16, and things were finally looking up for the Harpies when Chudley's Seeker Garvin finally caught the Snitch. A fast-paced game, well-played on both sides, ending in the Harpies' first loss of the season.