Hi there, it's Katie_slytherin here once again bringing you another addition of 'Chatting With...'! Now, I didn't want to be cliche but for this issue's theme, I chose to focus on Quidditch. So why did I go with the most cliche option? The answer is because Quidditch is not only a big part of the Wizarding World, it's also a big part of HEX for many friends. While we don't have any official site Quidditch happening at the moment, there are plenty of Quidditch fans still out there who have played in the past or play in user-created terms and clubs. Today I have with me one of those Quidditch enthusiasts - BLYTHE. So come grab your seats in the stands, get your binoculars, and get ready to cheer for one sportstastic interview!
Katie: Hi there Blythe, it's great to have you here with us, thank you so much for meeting with me today to talk about the wondrous sport of Quidditch! For those who don't know, Blythe is a Quidditch player themselves! Alright now, let's get started. Which is your favourite and least favourite position to play?
Blythe: My least favourite position has to be Keeper - your character's stuck by the goalposts the whole time, and personally, that really makes interactions and themes difficult to find inspiration for. Unlike being a Chaser or a Beater, I mean - I love the Beater position most but I'm usually put in Chaser, and that brings plenty of action and excitement with it.
Katie: I always thought maybe I would be a Keeper, but you're right, it does sound hard to be stuck there the whole time. I also though Beater would be good too, but I've only been a Chaser before with HEX Quidditch. Well, moving on, to those of our viewers who are unaware of how Quidditch works here on HEX, it is essentially a special form of roleplaying with a few special added elements. Now, in order to roleplay, you need a character! I happen to know from my sources that your current main Quidditch character is a boy named Link. Please tell us, What was your inspiration for Link?Blythe: My Quidditch character before him was an introverted sort of guy, Sullivan. Sully was an older teen, he was often sullen, and I did not think him or his traits through when I began using him for Quidditch, because I ended up having to force interactions, emotions, and dialogue which resulted in posts I cringe looking back on. He was also my first real go at Quidditch writing, so he unfortunately suffered from my lack of experience in character development and RP writing overall. I get along with him as a writer much better now in other types of writing. Link's the opposite of him in many ways, I wanted a change with him, I wanted something lighthearted with an undertone of something more complicated, which was the exact opposite of Sullivan. Link's much younger, he's cheeky, he's playful, and he's happy to initiate chaos. He's also got a sharp tongue to him, so I can still have my fun with writing rude dialogue like I had with Sully.
Katie: I see, well it sounds like you are very creative and that at some point we are bound to meet some new characters from you in the future, but in the meantime, we can't wait to see how Link develops! Speaking of which, has Link had to endure the misfortune of watching the other team soar above each time, or has he been able to experience the thrill of celebration? In simple words have you ever won a game?
Blythe: Yes! So far, my team of Pillagers have won each and every match of our competing year in the Underground Quidditch League. Before that, I won a few matches with my team, and lost a few, but each has been a wonderful learning experience I truly treasure looking back on. Each team I've played against has been full of so much talent and honed skill, I still get nerves before a match.
Katie: Wow, that's great, congratulations! It's obvious that you love the game and enjoy playing, but do you enjoy being a spectator?
Blythe: Very much so as I get to bring my characters in the Spectator Stands where there's always shenanigans and fun commentary going on. Spectating other teams' dynamics is sincerely loads of fun.
Katie: I prefer being a spectator rather than on the field myself. I do own a fireboat, but I prefer to use it for recreational fun. Speaking of brooms, I noticed that your current broom is a Silver Arrow- not that I am a stalker- do you like your broom, would you want to buy a new one?
Blythe: I like it, and no, I wouldn't want a new one. Silver rules!
Katie: Well, I guess I can't argue with that logic, representing Slytherin colours at all times is important! Speaking of important, when it comes to Quidditch here on HEX, one of the challenges you face is being able to write a good post in a specific allotted time. How long does it take you to write a Quidditch post?
Blythe: It depends on so many factors: how much I've been reading around the time a match's happening, how motivated/inspired I am during the timing of a particular round, what theme a match has adopted, etc. I used to take several hours when I first started Quidditch, and I sometimes still do occasionally, but I feel like my style's changed somewhat that nowadays because I prewrite my drafts and jot down so many tiny little fragments of thoughts and phrases I want to include in a post, I can write a post in an hour or quicker. The most important thing for me nowadays is to write everything I can ASAP, no matter how rough it is, and then edit the hell out of it, which is what basically takes most of the effort and time. Quidditch teams are amazing with critiquing and helping get your post in fighting form, though. It's very much a team effort.
Katie: That's a really good answer. Writing as much as you can ahead is definitely a good tip when it comes to Quidditch. You seem to have a real passion for this sport, how long have you been playing Quidditch?
Blythe: My very first match was in January 2021 and my team was called 20/20 Hindsight. I feel I blacked out for that entire match, I don't remember much from it, except I loved who I was teammates with.
Katie: I'm glad to hear that your first experience was one with great teammates, that's wonderful! Playing in clubs or on the Quidditch Pitch in unofficial matches can be fun, but what about official Quidditch? Have you ever played on the house team or would want to?
Blythe: I seriously don't know. I applied once, but I got really nervous about my schedule and had to back out before the season started. As it is, I'm really happy with the writing rubric and environment of the Quidditch clubs I'm in at the moment. If future House Quidditch seems like it would provide a similar environment, meaning healthy competition and encouragement of creativity, I'd consider trying for it, probably, so long as there are a few familiar faces present? I wouldn't say my writing quality is up for anything like that right now though.
Katie: I could see you trying if it comes back, but for now, recreational Quidditch is a wonderful way to make friends and play the sport. I know your current team's name, but I forget how to say it, I think it's impossible to remember. . . Do you like your team's name or would you change it to something else?
Blythe: The Pillaging Amphipterians - did I have to practice a couple of times before I could spell it somewhat accurately? Yeah. Its awesomeness deserves such effort. It's such a fun name, and we had a great time coming up with it. So yeah, I do love it! It's perfect as is, I wouldn't change a thing, except maybe toss in another adjective there.
Katie: Huh, I guess it's not impossible after all, maybe I'm just illiterate. . . Well, we are coming to the end of our interview here, but we have time for one more question. What has been your favourite themed match and what would your dream match be?
Blythe: I don't have a favourite theme, I honestly struggled so hard with trying to find an answer for this question. We've had ATLA, we've had a masked anonymous ball, we've had to play under the Great Lake! Probably, my dream match would be having the established teams in my club scrambled and players switched around, just for that one month, a new team of random people put together like we used to have before this year. I have some people I sorely would like to play on the same side with, for at least that one experience. Plus, the switch in character dynamics would be interesting.
Katie: That sounds like it would be a lot of fun! Well, thank you so much to take the time to come and talk with us today! We hope you enjoyed our company as much as we enjoyed yours! Before we go, we have a special surprise for all of you, Blythe has kindly shared some of their work with us to show!
The fresh sapphire waters from the local pool in his fantasies were a far cry from the claggy, dull depths of the Black Lake greeting him. Yet as his submarine ducked beneath the rippling expanse, ecstasy glazed over Link's face, cheeks pressing against his window pane so he could gasp in awe and delight at the twisting shadowy currents. "Unbelievable - even better than a dream!" he squealed to himself. "It's like a whole different world."
Gravity all but disappeared, and darkness swelled around, muted blotches of light from above serving as stars to guide his gently bobbing vessel around the immersed Pitch. Besotted as a toddler flinging around soap bubbles, Link swatted forth with a metal arm, sending debris skittering across his window-screen like dark sea fairies. It was as if he'd fallen into a hollow pocket of space where only he existed, the Lake pulsing softly around him in a tender hug. It was... slightly eerie.
All right, folks, that wraps up this issue's Chatting With..! Thanks for reading, and thanks Blythe for coming to chat with us!
Until I reemerge from my cave again, this is goodbye from your favourite socktastically pureblooded Slytherin!
- Katie_slytherin