#3 Of Stones And Goo

Felix's gobstones were nearly burning a hole in his pocket. He had been collecting them for some time, and with the tournament today he couldn't wait to try them out! The Gryffindor still didn't quite fully understand the game but he'd knew he'd get the hang of it. He loved games like this back in the muggle world.

Glancing around the courtyard he noticed quite a few pairs already playing together. His heart almost sunk thinking he wasn't going to have a partner when he noticed someone nearby. That was the Twiggs brother he had seen at the tryouts, right? He knew he was a twin so he wasn't sure, but he hoped he was right.

"Hello!" Felix said cheerfully as he approached the older Hufflepuff. "You need an opponent?" He said as he fished his gobstones out of his pocket with an excited smile.

Joshua was thinking of sorting his gobstones in a different manner while he waited for someone to play with him.
He hoped someone would come soon, since he wanted to help Caine out during lunch, but there was no hurry yet.

He ultimately settled on leaving his gobstones as they were and waited patiently for an opponent.
Someone soon presented himself and Joshua sat up a little straighter at first, but then slumped again so he wouldn’t tower over the second year.

“I sure do,“ he gave the Gryffindor, who he recognized from Tryouts, a welcoming smile.

“I‘m Joshua,“ he said as he realised he only knew the boy‘s last name.
He also found that strangers often confused him and his twin, eventhough he himself did not think they looked all that similar.
He had much better hair than his brother.

“Played Gobstones before? I‘ll go first,“ he said.

Picking put the least shiny of his stones, Joshua bend down lower to get his eyes on the same level as his gobstone.
See what it saw.

He then took aim and flicked it onto the board, trying not to put too much force into the first turn.

Felix smiled gleefully when his challenge was accepted. Settling down in a comfy position as he set out his new set of gobstones. They were so shiny! He almost didn't want to play with them...almost.

"I'm Felix," he returned Joshua's greeting with a friendly nod. Joshua, that's right. It was hard to keep track of all these big families, but he'd do his best. Especially since this was his roommate's older brother.

Felix gulped slightly and shook his head. He almost wanted to lie, but best to be honest. He was a quick learner and he was sure he'd get the hang of it. He did see others play before, it couldn't be too hard.

"I'll follow your lead," he said confidently as he watched Joshua start.

Joshua's gobstone wasn't flung too far and Felix tried to match the strength of his flick. Leaning down to be more level before he snapped his finger towards his first gobstone and waited to see where it would land.

So, Felix it was.
He could remember that. If he remembered correctly, they’d directly go up against each other as Chaser and Keeper - however, that match wasn’t for months.

Joshua was satisfied with the outcome of his first flick and nodded at the younger boy to follow his lead as he had said he would.
Somehow Felix did not seem to need encouragement.

“See. It’s rather straightforward. More points the closer your stone‘s to the middle. So get yours as close as possible or try to kick mine off the board. Loser gets squirted though, but that’s the fun of it,“ Joshua grinned.

As Toby‘s dormmate, Felix shouldn‘t have a problem with foul-smelling odors, so he wasn’t too worried.

Joshua leaned down again to his gobstones‘ level and aimed the next one onto the board.
There was no need to aim to kick off Felix‘s stone, yet.

Feeling good about his aim, Joshua flicked the gobstone forward.

"Seems simple enough," Felix said with an eager nod. He wasn't so eager about getting squirted, but did anyone like that? He remembered the smell quite well, even though he had never played himself. Was it hard to wash off? Or did it have to magically fade? He tilted his head then shrugged. He supposed he'd find out if he lost.

Joshua didn't seem to be going directly for his pieces just yet and Felix followed suit. He didn't think he'd be able to hit them just yet anyway. It was best to get some on the board first he supposed. He'd figure out a better strategy when the time came.

Leaning down level with the game board again he narrowed his eyes, grabbed his next gobstone, and flicked this one a bit harder than the first but still with restraint.

“Mmh-hm,“ he made a noise in agreement to Felix‘s assessment.

The rules of Gobstones were simple enough.
The actual gameplay however came with its own hidden difficulties however.

As to a beginner it might look like Joshua had the upper hand and was set to win with his first two stones landing so close in the middle.
But now he had to be careful not to knock his own stones off the board.

He had to either play it safe, as Felix appeared to do, or risk hitting his two- or three-pointer while trying to get into the middle again.

Felix did not seem to be a big talker, or maybe he was introverted, which was fine with Joshua. It was an interesting contrast to his usual company though.

Leaning down to level with the board, he took his time with the next Gobstone.
He took aim, was about to flick, then thought better of it and aimed towards the other side of the board instead.

He flicked the medium-shiny stone forward with a dull snipping sound of his fingers.

"Do you play gobstones often?" Felix asked curiously as he studied the board. Obviously Joshua knew the rules better than he did. Although even if that was the case, Felix didn't mind. He liked the challange!

This time when he leaned down to place his next gobstone he had a strategy. With his first two pieces close to him, he could now use his third to try to hit one of Joshua's pieces -- or get them in the path of one.. Would he actually hit his target? He had no idea, but he'd try his best.

This time he focused and aimed. Flicking his gobstone a bit harder, hoping to hit something and not send his own gobstone flying off into space. Or be close enough to try the next time. All he could do was keep placing his pieces. He was new to this after all!