Never allow someone to be your priority ...
The conference room was abuzz with the chatter of the Harpies team. Girls were bent low, heads close together as they whispered their questions and possible hypotheses behind the reason for the meeting having been called.
Rose, however, was not a part of the low murmur. She was currently dozing, arms crossed under her cheek as she breathed heavily. She’d completely forgotten about the meeting and had spent the previous night at one of her favorite London clubs, reveling in the music scene she’d been absent from for much of the past year.
She squeaked, hand coming up to wipe away the drool that had gathered at the corner of her mouth, hazy green gaze seeking out the disturbance that had roused her.
“Posie,” Fabriana hissed, hand still pressed against the polished wood of the conference table where it had slapped. Rose’s fellow chaser had a knowing grin on her face and a glint in her eye as she leaned forward. “If the cap’n catches you napping she won’t be too happy.”
“She’s here?” Rose asked, instantly blinking away the fog as she searched the room’s occupants for Gwen.
“Not yet, but she’ll be here soon. You might want to wipe the sleep from the corners of your eyes,” Mina offered, face solemn, giving the impression that she knew what the meeting was about and wasn’t exactly thrilled.
Nodding, Rose ran a hand through her hair, knowing it would do no good to really calm the bright storm atop her head, and sat up straighter in her chair.
Gwen swept into the well-appointed conference room and raised her brow at the girls - women, really. Some of them were older than her, even, but they would always be ‘girls’ to her. She took care of them in every way she knew how. “Thank you for coming out this afternoon, ladies,” she began, eyes seeking Mina’s before skipping on.
Gwen let the door click shut behind her. Aware of the little time she had until Pansy came, she moved to the head of the table. “You all are well aware the club acquired a new owner last spring, and some of you have even met her,” she began, meeting each of their eyes in turn. She’d had a meeting with them months ago to let everyone know that the change had nothing to do with their contracts, and she was glad to see that they trusted her; there was no anxiousness.
“Miss Parkinson has finally decided that it is time to meet you all formally, and she’s a few announcements.” It was said with some dryness, though Gwen did her best to keep her opinions out of the tone of her voice. The formal introduction should have been one of the first things Pansy did when she bought the club. “Our match-up against last year’s league champion will coincide with the official announcement that we are under new ownership.”
The door clicked and Gwen’s eyes darted to Pansy as she stepped in, and then back to her girls, lips twitching when her gaze landed on Rose - who squirmed in her seat and sat a little straighter. “Miss Parkinson will tell you the rest.” She nodded to them and then moved to the back of the room and took a seat.
Pansy was aware of their gazes on her as she clipped to the front of the room. Gwen would never be an easy act to follow. She was unconcerned, however. She owned Gwen. Pansy didn’t like to think on what their interactions might be like if she didn’t have something that put her above the other woman, however. If they didn’t have a mutual interest in the success of the Harpies, she was quite sure it might come to a bloody altercation between them.
She didn’t say anything for a long moment. Instead she let her eyes dart around the room to meet each curious and guarded gaze in turn. She knew Gwen was close to them, but the idea of being close to anyone, let alone her employees, was not in Pansy’s agenda. She did want them to respect her, however.
“I will not pretend to be your captain,” she began, “a capable professional who is now your coach, as well.” The raised brows told her that Gwen had not shared with them that Donald Park had been let go. It hadn’t been publicized, and the lack of their knowledge of it without being told let Pansy know she had made the right decision. If they didn’t notice his absence, then he hadn’t been doing the job the club had been paying him to do.
“I am not your friend,” she continued, “but what I will be to you is your supporter. Ms. Jones has done an admirable job of making sure the club has run smoothly, but I believe that isn’t her role.” Some eyes widened at that statement and Pansy nearly smirked. They knew their captain. Gwen never took well to her blunt directness, but fortunately for them both, they generally agreed on the business that needed to be done. “Ms. Jones is your captain and your coach. I believe that she should be free of all responsibility but that of making this team next year’s League Champion.”
There were a few quiet cheers to that statement, and Pansy felt the first hint of acceptance fill the room. She might get the hang of this yet. Gwen had told her that athletes were much different than regular employees. Even though she wasn’t their inspiration, it was in both their interest if they wanted to work for her, too. “As your supporter, I will make sure every single one of you has absolutely everything you need to do your job to the best of your ability.”
Rose had heard, mostly from Fabriana and Mina, about their new owner. Pansy Parkinson had been a name whispered when you weren’t in earshot of Gwen. Rose, of course, had gone to school with the girl, though she’d been in a different house and several years older. She knew of Pansy Parkinson, but she didn’t know Pansy Parkinson.
... That is, until she’d stepped through those doors and her heels had clicked on the wooden floor. Rose did know Pansy Parkinson. She’d run into the woman months ago and had carried on a entirely one-sided conversation with their beautiful new owner. She hadn’t connected the dots - she hadn’t known there were dots to connect - but now that she had, she couldn’t help but stare at Pansy with wide green eyes as she explained what she was to the team and what changes, if any, they’d have under her ownership.
“To that end,” Pansy continued, “I have contracted to have a custom broom built for each and every one of you.” Excitement rippled through the room. Gwen was right; a new broom for these women was the equivalent of a commissioned gown from a French designer to the girls she’d grown up with. “Ms. Jones will inform you whom will be the first to work with our designer.”
Pansy paused then and let her dark eyes swept across the room. She knew Gwen wanted her to speak to the team a long time ago, but she had wanted to have her feet firmly under her before exposing herself to the scrutiny of these women. As things stood now, however, she was confident; she was in an advantageous position to win them over.
“It has been a long time in coming, no?” Their blinking confusion was expected and Pansy continued. “We are a team of women, from top to bottom. For centuries, the Harpies have proven over and over that women are capable, but for the first time since our team’s inception is every position filled by women. Our seeker, chasers, beaters and keepers. Our captain and our coach.” Pansy briefly met Rose’s eyes and her lips curled at the bright sparkle there before moving on. “And your owner. We are making history, you and I. When the official statements go out on Saturday, there will be no more speculation as to what, exactly, is going on in our corporate offices - we will be the first team in the history of Quidditch in Britain to be run by women, for women.”
It was something she’d thought much on, but until she’d said it aloud - to these women who it mean so very much to - did Pansy really feel the weight of what they were embarking on. She’d bought the team on something of a defiant lark, but it had become more apparent every day, and moreso now than ever, that she was part of something. “We all have our role to play, but these are wondrous times, no?”
If Gwen felt any pride, she kept it off her features. It would not do for Pansy to know that her speech had been affecting, at least not from herself. She had come a long way since waltzing into Harpies Stadium. There was a long way to go yet, but despite all initial appearances, it seemed that they all might be good for one another.
A new broom, built specifically for her. Rose had always needed to find the smallest brooms available, and usually those were earlier models and didn’t have nearly the speed or maneuvering ability that something specially made could achieve. Her Fireflyx2 was a good broom, and obviously it had served her well, but the prospect of having something custom-fit to match her tiny body made her stomach flip.
Her love and passion of music was second only to her love of this game, and if everything Pansy said was true - and if it had Gwen’s full support - the chances of winning the cup this year were fantastic.
Her green eyes darted around the room, taking in the look of excitement on her teammates faces. Rose had always been aware that they were a bunch of women duking it out against a much larger, and larger, group of men, but just that moment she was able to feel the feminine power as it rushed through the room.
Turning her gaze to Pansy, clear that her speech had incensed something within her, she slid to the edge of her seat, foot tapping in an incessant rhythm as her body tried to find an outlet for the new energy she’d been given.
Pansy could feel the energy in the room now like a touchable thing and much to her surprise, it was beginning to affect her. She’d always known the semantics of the game of Quidditch - it was hard not to when all the men she’d been surrounded with the whole of her life were somewhat addicted to the game - but she’d never really understood the draw. The game itself was exciting enough she supposed, but this part of it, this energy - this is what was the addictive part. It’s what made these women strive to be where they were, always seeking the next hit of adrenalin, not just from the pitch, but from the oneness they found in each other.
It was something to think on and examine, but not here in front of the team, in front of Gwen.
She allowed a small smile to curl her lips and met many of their gazes in turn. “I’m glad to see where in agreement that what we have here is special. Let us show them what we’re made of this weekend, yes?”
Several whoops of excitement and agreement filled the air and Pansy took that as her leave. Her heels tapped smartly against the wood floors as she made her exit.
Gwen stood then and all their eyes turned towards her. “Who wants to have their broom made first then?”
The clamor of voices made her smile. The future was bright, indeed, and for that she was glad, especially considering the past year they’d had.
Summary: Pansy is officially introduced to the Harpies as their new owner. Rose and Gwen are in attendance.
Rose, however, was not a part of the low murmur. She was currently dozing, arms crossed under her cheek as she breathed heavily. She’d completely forgotten about the meeting and had spent the previous night at one of her favorite London clubs, reveling in the music scene she’d been absent from for much of the past year.
She squeaked, hand coming up to wipe away the drool that had gathered at the corner of her mouth, hazy green gaze seeking out the disturbance that had roused her.
“Posie,” Fabriana hissed, hand still pressed against the polished wood of the conference table where it had slapped. Rose’s fellow chaser had a knowing grin on her face and a glint in her eye as she leaned forward. “If the cap’n catches you napping she won’t be too happy.”
“She’s here?” Rose asked, instantly blinking away the fog as she searched the room’s occupants for Gwen.
“Not yet, but she’ll be here soon. You might want to wipe the sleep from the corners of your eyes,” Mina offered, face solemn, giving the impression that she knew what the meeting was about and wasn’t exactly thrilled.
Nodding, Rose ran a hand through her hair, knowing it would do no good to really calm the bright storm atop her head, and sat up straighter in her chair.
Gwen swept into the well-appointed conference room and raised her brow at the girls - women, really. Some of them were older than her, even, but they would always be ‘girls’ to her. She took care of them in every way she knew how. “Thank you for coming out this afternoon, ladies,” she began, eyes seeking Mina’s before skipping on.
Gwen let the door click shut behind her. Aware of the little time she had until Pansy came, she moved to the head of the table. “You all are well aware the club acquired a new owner last spring, and some of you have even met her,” she began, meeting each of their eyes in turn. She’d had a meeting with them months ago to let everyone know that the change had nothing to do with their contracts, and she was glad to see that they trusted her; there was no anxiousness.
“Miss Parkinson has finally decided that it is time to meet you all formally, and she’s a few announcements.” It was said with some dryness, though Gwen did her best to keep her opinions out of the tone of her voice. The formal introduction should have been one of the first things Pansy did when she bought the club. “Our match-up against last year’s league champion will coincide with the official announcement that we are under new ownership.”
The door clicked and Gwen’s eyes darted to Pansy as she stepped in, and then back to her girls, lips twitching when her gaze landed on Rose - who squirmed in her seat and sat a little straighter. “Miss Parkinson will tell you the rest.” She nodded to them and then moved to the back of the room and took a seat.
Pansy was aware of their gazes on her as she clipped to the front of the room. Gwen would never be an easy act to follow. She was unconcerned, however. She owned Gwen. Pansy didn’t like to think on what their interactions might be like if she didn’t have something that put her above the other woman, however. If they didn’t have a mutual interest in the success of the Harpies, she was quite sure it might come to a bloody altercation between them.
She didn’t say anything for a long moment. Instead she let her eyes dart around the room to meet each curious and guarded gaze in turn. She knew Gwen was close to them, but the idea of being close to anyone, let alone her employees, was not in Pansy’s agenda. She did want them to respect her, however.
“I will not pretend to be your captain,” she began, “a capable professional who is now your coach, as well.” The raised brows told her that Gwen had not shared with them that Donald Park had been let go. It hadn’t been publicized, and the lack of their knowledge of it without being told let Pansy know she had made the right decision. If they didn’t notice his absence, then he hadn’t been doing the job the club had been paying him to do.
“I am not your friend,” she continued, “but what I will be to you is your supporter. Ms. Jones has done an admirable job of making sure the club has run smoothly, but I believe that isn’t her role.” Some eyes widened at that statement and Pansy nearly smirked. They knew their captain. Gwen never took well to her blunt directness, but fortunately for them both, they generally agreed on the business that needed to be done. “Ms. Jones is your captain and your coach. I believe that she should be free of all responsibility but that of making this team next year’s League Champion.”
There were a few quiet cheers to that statement, and Pansy felt the first hint of acceptance fill the room. She might get the hang of this yet. Gwen had told her that athletes were much different than regular employees. Even though she wasn’t their inspiration, it was in both their interest if they wanted to work for her, too. “As your supporter, I will make sure every single one of you has absolutely everything you need to do your job to the best of your ability.”
Rose had heard, mostly from Fabriana and Mina, about their new owner. Pansy Parkinson had been a name whispered when you weren’t in earshot of Gwen. Rose, of course, had gone to school with the girl, though she’d been in a different house and several years older. She knew of Pansy Parkinson, but she didn’t know Pansy Parkinson.
... That is, until she’d stepped through those doors and her heels had clicked on the wooden floor. Rose did know Pansy Parkinson. She’d run into the woman months ago and had carried on a entirely one-sided conversation with their beautiful new owner. She hadn’t connected the dots - she hadn’t known there were dots to connect - but now that she had, she couldn’t help but stare at Pansy with wide green eyes as she explained what she was to the team and what changes, if any, they’d have under her ownership.
“To that end,” Pansy continued, “I have contracted to have a custom broom built for each and every one of you.” Excitement rippled through the room. Gwen was right; a new broom for these women was the equivalent of a commissioned gown from a French designer to the girls she’d grown up with. “Ms. Jones will inform you whom will be the first to work with our designer.”
Pansy paused then and let her dark eyes swept across the room. She knew Gwen wanted her to speak to the team a long time ago, but she had wanted to have her feet firmly under her before exposing herself to the scrutiny of these women. As things stood now, however, she was confident; she was in an advantageous position to win them over.
“It has been a long time in coming, no?” Their blinking confusion was expected and Pansy continued. “We are a team of women, from top to bottom. For centuries, the Harpies have proven over and over that women are capable, but for the first time since our team’s inception is every position filled by women. Our seeker, chasers, beaters and keepers. Our captain and our coach.” Pansy briefly met Rose’s eyes and her lips curled at the bright sparkle there before moving on. “And your owner. We are making history, you and I. When the official statements go out on Saturday, there will be no more speculation as to what, exactly, is going on in our corporate offices - we will be the first team in the history of Quidditch in Britain to be run by women, for women.”
It was something she’d thought much on, but until she’d said it aloud - to these women who it mean so very much to - did Pansy really feel the weight of what they were embarking on. She’d bought the team on something of a defiant lark, but it had become more apparent every day, and moreso now than ever, that she was part of something. “We all have our role to play, but these are wondrous times, no?”
If Gwen felt any pride, she kept it off her features. It would not do for Pansy to know that her speech had been affecting, at least not from herself. She had come a long way since waltzing into Harpies Stadium. There was a long way to go yet, but despite all initial appearances, it seemed that they all might be good for one another.
A new broom, built specifically for her. Rose had always needed to find the smallest brooms available, and usually those were earlier models and didn’t have nearly the speed or maneuvering ability that something specially made could achieve. Her Fireflyx2 was a good broom, and obviously it had served her well, but the prospect of having something custom-fit to match her tiny body made her stomach flip.
Her love and passion of music was second only to her love of this game, and if everything Pansy said was true - and if it had Gwen’s full support - the chances of winning the cup this year were fantastic.
Her green eyes darted around the room, taking in the look of excitement on her teammates faces. Rose had always been aware that they were a bunch of women duking it out against a much larger, and larger, group of men, but just that moment she was able to feel the feminine power as it rushed through the room.
Turning her gaze to Pansy, clear that her speech had incensed something within her, she slid to the edge of her seat, foot tapping in an incessant rhythm as her body tried to find an outlet for the new energy she’d been given.
Pansy could feel the energy in the room now like a touchable thing and much to her surprise, it was beginning to affect her. She’d always known the semantics of the game of Quidditch - it was hard not to when all the men she’d been surrounded with the whole of her life were somewhat addicted to the game - but she’d never really understood the draw. The game itself was exciting enough she supposed, but this part of it, this energy - this is what was the addictive part. It’s what made these women strive to be where they were, always seeking the next hit of adrenalin, not just from the pitch, but from the oneness they found in each other.
It was something to think on and examine, but not here in front of the team, in front of Gwen.
She allowed a small smile to curl her lips and met many of their gazes in turn. “I’m glad to see where in agreement that what we have here is special. Let us show them what we’re made of this weekend, yes?”
Several whoops of excitement and agreement filled the air and Pansy took that as her leave. Her heels tapped smartly against the wood floors as she made her exit.
Gwen stood then and all their eyes turned towards her. “Who wants to have their broom made first then?”
The clamor of voices made her smile. The future was bright, indeed, and for that she was glad, especially considering the past year they’d had.
Summary: Pansy is officially introduced to the Harpies as their new owner. Rose and Gwen are in attendance.