Good Vibrations

[ALEXANDER MCLOUGHLIN]

It had been a hard day of practice, and Alex wasn't quite done yet. Most of his team had left, headed to whatever event they had going on or to see their families. Alex didn't have any obligations and always pushed to be the best he could be. So he was out on the pitch running sprints, trying to keep in shape for racing after a snitch on the pitch. He was so grateful that his love of the game he had discovered as a kid matched his ability to play the game. But he also knew a lot of it came from hard work, not just talent.

He finished his last sprint and wandered over to where his bag was and used his shirt, long since discarded, to wipe the sweat off his face. He then proceeded to grab his water bottle and start to stretch on the field. He knew he would be right back here tomorrow for another practice. But until then his evening was free.

Alex was lost in his thoughts when he heard a noise. He looked over to the course of the noise and smiled when he saw a familiar face. "They letting in any sort of ruff raff now are they?" he said teasingly.

[MAGGIE SPENGLER]

One of the nice things about being a famous Quidditch player was that folks (usually) were all too willing to accommodate your every whim. Keep the Quidditch Keeper happy and maybe you could become her best friend and get special tickets to games or photographed for a magazine that would get you bragging rights with your friends. Maggie was wise to these sort of leeches and, after a long time in 'the game', she had learned how to use them for her benefit. In this case it involved visiting the locker room where the Irish team was before they had fully vacated. Thank Merlin for the security officer who was too blinded by who he was speaking to instead of what their intentions were.

Ducking her head into the doorway she gave Alex a cheeky little grin. She knew who it was right away based on the frame and the fact that he was the last one there. She'd known him long enough on and off the pitch to know him anywhere. "They do when the riff raff is on their way to a third MVP Award this season." She responded playfully, slipping fully into view wearing her blue heans and a tanktop, hair full and pushed behind her ears. "I'll have you know that I have the pitch reserved McLoughlin." Maggie did enjoy playing with Alex both on and off the field.

"But that's you I guess. Never know when to not overstay your welcome." Her arms crossed over her chest as she pretended to be less than pleased with his presence. Her eyes darted to the floor and she then rolled them. "Get out... and would you put a f***ing shirt on? Nobody around here wants to see that." Except maybe some of the rabid fan girls and she wasn't one of those. Not now. Not ever. Walking inside in her converse clad feet she bent down and in one swoop picked up the discarded shirt throwing it at him with perfect aim.

[ALEXANDER MCLOUGHLIN]

Alex often stayed late after practice to keep practicing. There was always another level he could try and push too. Plus he really could practice alone. Especially the speed and catching small items. He just wanted to be the best seeker he possibly could. After all he quite enjoyed winning, and the game wouldn't end until one of the two seekers on the pitch managed to catch the snitch. Might as well be him.

As for Maggie, he was at all surprised to see her head popping into the locker room. She seemed to have a way of popping up like that. Plus she pushed herself just as he did. "Seasons not even half over. Think you might be a little cocky there?" he said, his Irish accent coming through quite clearly. Of course he was teasing. He knew she was a good goalie. He had known that since his team first played against her way back when they were at Hogwarts. "The pitch was reserved until the Irish team was done Spengler. And I'm not sure I'm quite done." This was their friendship. Always giving each other a hard time.

"You know you like seeing me. Your life would be much less interesting without me." he teased. They actually did have a lot of fun off the pitch. On the pitch it was all buisness, but more often than not they would end up partying after the fact. "I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who would disagree with that" he said catch the shirt that was thrown at him. "plus I have to shower before heading out. A short would be counterintuitive to that."

[MAGGIE SPENGLER]

"Earned cockiness." She corrected him with a half shrug, leaning against the wall casually. "Why is it when a lady shows any form of confidence that guys all of a sudden think she's cocky or a bitch?" She mused out loud with a bit of a sigh. Pushing off the wall she stepped further inside the locker room. "Besides, I've been in this game long enough to understand a trend. Don't worry McLoughlin, you'll get there someday... When you grow up." Maggie smirked knowing all too well the bear that she was poking but to be honest she didn't care in the slightest. It was all in fun - At least to her.

"You take for fucking ever, McLoughlin." She let out a loud groan. "You'll never be done until someone boots you out the door so consider this your heads up." Not that she needed the pitch right away or even at all. This was all just in the pursuit of making her friend's (and occasional rival) life a little more difficult. 

"I should be so lucky." She shifted a bit where she stood. Unlike other women in his life she wasn't about to fawn all over him. She didn't have a girly girl bone in her entire body. She also didn't deal in romance or the foolish notion that anyone could be interested in her. It just wasn't possible. All she had to offer to the world was her Quidditch ability and nothing more. And she was fine with that... At least that's what she kept telling herself. "How was practice?"

[PROINSIAS MCLOUGHLIN]

Franny had come to watch the international teams practice, the best of the best all around the world came here to practice. Franny wasn't offered a spot because of his last few injuries because of reckless intent and his 'fighting spirit' as the league had put it. It didn't really bother him to much because he was having a horrible year.

Most of his time he spent alone nursing a cold one while drawing the practice, different images blended in with just a standard grey pencil. The Irish was a pretty dominant force in the Quidditch scene which made sense why his brother Alex had been chosen...again.....with practice coming to an end Franny shoved his drawing pad into his gear bag before rushing to offer his own criticism for his brother.

Upon entering the locker rooms he heard the faint voice of his brother but also someone else, it was probably a fan girl trying to sneak a peek or a piece...however as Franny got close the other speaker was no other than...."Martha? No you fookin' moron...Madison? Marsha? Why the hell can't I bloody remember her name," Franny was a little lost in his head as the memory of the voice felt fuzzy at best like he could see an image of red a goofy smile but it also hurt to think past that, "Damn head injuries!"

Rubbing his face in frustration Franny didn't want to make a fool of himself then something unlocked the fuzziness... Maggie...Magpie...she had more often called him a fool than he could possibly count with all his appendages. All their huffing and puffing made Franny bust in holding his throat making choking noises, "Jaysus Christ the fookin' ego in here is so thiiiick, its chokin' me lord save meh!"

His body kicked and jerked but he laughed and smiled at the same time.

[MAGGIE SPENGLER]

At the noisy entrance Maggie's head quickly turned just in time to see Proinsias burst through the door. "Look who it is... McLoughlin Two." The Keeper noted with an unamused look on her face her arms wrapped around her chest as she waited for it to play out. "I think you'll live..." She stated in her flat American accent a strong contrast to the Irish ones being hurled back and forth on both sides of her.

"Surprised they let you in here." Also a little surprised that he had managed to find his way after his fair share of bludgers to the head (wasn't he leading the league in that less than desirable record?). "It's been a while." She softened for the briefest of moments giving him a little smile before turning away to face his older brother Alex again. This much was true. Seeing someone on the pitch as opposed to one on one or as a hangout with friends were completely different things and she was sure to keep it separate for her own sanity. It also helped to keep things clear. She knew where she stood then. She didn't have to worry or wonder.

"Looks like I'm interrupting a partial family reunion. How lucky am I?" Now she found herself between the two brothers. Not the worst place in the world but she could certainly pretend like it was. At least for show.

[ALEXANDER MCLOUGHLIN]

"I 'd say the same thing if you were male." he said with a shrug "and they never give MVP to the Irish, we cause too much drama off the field." They were Irish after all, and almost every member of the team enjoyed partying, and Alex was one of the tamer ones who rarely got involved in scraps. But even if they were fairly tame off the field, the historical trend was there, and they rarely got honored with things like that. Not that he minded. After all he didn't need those types of awards to tell him he was doing well. "You are lucky. You're in the same room as me while they're all stuck out there wishing they could even get a glimpse of this." he said with a smirk. He didn't necessarily actually like girls fawning over him, as that didn't actually make perusing anyone fun. It wasn't the same if he just had someone throwing themselves at him then when he actually had to work at it. "Practice was decent…." he started before an all too familiar voice of his younger brother going on about the amount of ego in the room. His brother's antics got a smile and a little chuckle out of Alex. "Oh poor thing, can't handle a couple quidditch players? How do you managed to survive on your own team?" He teased. Then he turned to Maggie and stated "Technically McLoughlin 3, remember. Good things always come in threes right?" He said with a smile. His twin brother was also in there, even if he wasn't in the room at the moment. Couldn't forget the one who would often be the first to get into the trouble in the first place. "I told you earlier you were lucky. Now you have two Irish men in the same room as you. Can't get much luckier than that." 314 WORDS MAGGIE SPENGLER , PROINSIAS MCLOUGHLIN

credit to nat of adoxography.

[PROINSIAS MCLOUGHLIN]

Franny grabbed his chest giving her and his brother playful smile, "Ouch my Magpie and dear ol'brother, I forget us lowly folks o'the Quidditch world often venture to places we shan't be," letting go of his chest he gave them both a finger a piece chuckling. Fran leaned against the entrance with his arms folded over his chest himself, "Aye it has been a while Maggie, how 'ave you been lass?"

He could easily answer them himself, she was having another incredible season like his brother as both of them played their positions well enough to be chosen for their countries respected International teams, and he knew she was all about Quidditch. Her career. Nothing else would cone between Maggie Spengler the American. She hadn't changed at all since their days together at Hogwarts, Franny has had a crush on her in school once gave her a secret note asking her out...she had laughed about it with the rest of the Quidditch team right in front of him...something along the lines of, 'If this fool was brave enough to show himself I would smash his face with this beater!''...Franny had to join in on the laughter as they burned the note laughing.

That was years ago....

....He then looked at his brother smirking, "Put a shirt on man!"

[MAGGIE SPENGLER]

"Yeah. Sure, sure. It must be because of that. Can't possibly be because you didn't earn it." She rolled her eyes again reaching across a nearby table by the wall and picking up a broken snitch missing its wings. She tossed the dirty ball up and down in the air boredly. "Maybe you ought to get it together. The both of you." She nodded toward both brothers before calmly turning her back on them and walking to the opposite side of the room pretending to admire some of the old, framed photographs of Quidditch Cups past on the wall. 

"Ugh. Trust me. Nobody needs to see that." She murmured, glad she was facing the wall when Alex chose to flex his muscles and chest... At least verbally. She didn't have any time for that. "And why wouldn't they? You're so humble." Her voice oozed with sarcasm as she turned to face the two Irish men again. "How any of you are still around is beyond me." She chided them of course not whole heartedly meaning it but she would sell the facade if she needed to. She needed to be strong always. Women and vulnerability plus a professional career in sports didn't mix. The public wouldn't let it. It sucked but that's how it was.

"I'm just grateful we're not at full McLoughlin right now. I wouldn't be able to take it." She sighed, shifting a bit where she stood as she watched the two brothers exchange playful barbs. Some things never changed and she was secretly grateful for it as evidence by the little half smile she gave Proinsias. "Hey Franny, how are ya? Look at you. You're a big kid now." She noted reaching out to give him a little nudge. This was Maggie though. She never would fathom that anyone could possibly be interested in her whether in the past, present, or future. She was built for Quidditch not for love and affection. She had accepted that. At least that's what she kept telling herself.


At Franny yelling at Alex to put on a shirt she grinned turning back to Alex getting caught up. "See?! Told you! Put an effing shirt on you idiot." Two on one now and she was on the winning side - a place that she quite liked to be.

[ALEXANDER MCLOUGHLIN]

A lex shook his head at her saying he didn't earn it. Of course he didn't necessarily believe he was the best player out there, he didn't have that much ego. But he had also seen some great Irish players being passed over for extracurricular reasons. His eyes followed the snitch as she tossed it up and down, almost using it as an extra training. "I have it together. After all I'm still playing some good quidditch." Not to say he was an angel, he was far from it, but he at least managed to do everything he needed to do. He couldn't help but laugh at his brother's antics. It wasn't like his brother hadn't been around this world enough. Alex had certainly snuck him into a locker room or two when the boy was still at school. "Well someone has to remind you want you want to work for right?" he teased. His brother did play well, he just got a little careless sometimes watching where the bludgers were, almost making him an easy target for the beaters. "Full McLoughlin is a sight not to be missed. It's not that often people get to experience that." Sometimes he did feel bad for his parents, as they had managed to raise all 4 of them, but he felt worse for the people who hadn't been around his family growing up. Being around the 4 of them at once could be overwhelming. He kept arranging his bag while his brother and Maggie kept exchanging pleasentries, glad everyone was getting along. Of course that was until he got told, again, to out his shirt on. "This does happen to be my locker room. I feel I should be able to keep my shirt off if I want to." he grumbled before relenting and pulling his sweaty shirt back on "Better?" WORDS MAGGIE SPENGLER , PROINSIAS MCLOUGHLIN

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credit to nat of adoxography.

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