#tfcevent

DECEMBER 15: SOUTHEASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT WINTER EXY BANQUET

The Ravens’ court, known as Castle Evermore, is hardly a festive sight: a black behemoth in an empty landscape, built to intimidate and not to welcome. Also home to the U.S. Court, Castle Evermore is bigger than any other stadium the Foxes have played in, easily half again the size of their home court and with other luxury amenities no other college court has.

Its size makes it a fitting host for the Winter Banquet: with both the Northeastern and Southeastern Districts in attendance, the court will be filled to capacity with mingling teams. Out of those teams, some of them will be celebrating their entrance into the Championships, and some of them will be mourning the early end to their own seasons.

It should be a celebration for the Foxes, but things aren’t that simple: they have their rivals among the teams in attendance, and everyone always looks to the Foxes to make a scene, especially after the Fall Banquet. They enter Castle Evermore armored in their formalwear, and with Wymack’s warnings ringing in their ears: They’ve already defied the odds and qualified for the Championships, forcing everyone who doubted them to eat their words. Tonight is not the night to give anyone anything else bad to say about them.

The court has been decorated in string lights and icicles, silver and white fighting to brighten up the Ravens’ dour black and red. The plexiglass walls that make up the court have been temporarily dismantled, and thick mats cover the polished wood floors to protect them from scratches. And, as if in reminder of the League’s hierarchy, the tables are laid out in order of ranking: the teams that beat the Foxes in the standings are in front of them, closer to the makeshift stage set up for the beginning of the evening’s program; and the teams that they beat are relegated to the back. Of course, the Ravens, undefeated for another season, are at the front of it all.

The Banquet proceeds predictably: the Ravens’ Coach gives a brief welcome before introducing an official from the ERC, who announces the official district standings to the polite applause of the teams in attendance. Food is served, and representatives from various Exy news outlets scribble their story notes, itching for a story to break through the well-worn monotony of another sedate banquet.

After dinner, the court is cleared of tables and transformed yet again: the majority of the court is taken up by a DJ and dancefloor, with the remaining space taken up by smaller tables and games. While the evening’s earlier boring speeches and assigned tables might have segregated them into teams and kept them away from their rivals—now there’s nothing keeping them apart. 

SEPTEMBER 22: SOUTHEASTERN DISTRICT FALL EXY BANQUET

The Exy season is underway, which means it’s time for the Fall Banquet: an opportunity for the teams of the Southeastern District to meet and mingle in a slightly different setting, without the competitiveness that comes from facing each other on opposite sides of the court.

Though the host of the Fall Banquet is chosen by lottery each year, it’s been quite awhile since the Foxes’ number has come up. After a strong performance last season, this was supposed to be an opportunity for the Foxes to declare that they were a team to be taken seriously. With their first two games of the season ending in failure, however, the story seems to be different.

Especially after a controversial game against the Terrapins—and with the eyes of their district, the ERC, and the ever-watchful Exy press upon them—the Foxes are under pressure to pull off the Banquet seamlessly, with none of the drama and disruption that the Foxes are known for.

Wymack makes sure everyone on the team knows it: though he’s given them free passes during other banquets to goof off or leave early, there will be no such allowances this time. The Foxes are expected to be on their best behavior, and to stay for the entire banquet: anyone who gets into trouble, or causes a scene, or isn’t there at the end of the night will find themselves scratched from the Foxes’ next game—no exceptions.

Under the Vixen’s direction, the court has been transformed, almost unrecognizable from its usual game night configuration: thick mats cover the polished wooden floors of the court to protect them from being scraped and scuffed by the tables and chairs laid out in neat rows, with each teams’ seats marked by their team colors. The Foxes, as the evening’s hosts, have the table closest to the front to themselves, keeping them away from their rivals—teams they beat last season, players they’ve exchanged blows and nasty words with on the court.

The night begins sedately: Wymack, though he looks supremely uncomfortable at being forced to speak in public, welcomes the rest of the teams; an official from the ERC makes a short speech about the beginning of the season; all while food is served and representatives from various Exy news outlets scribble their story notes.

After dinner, the court is cleared of tables and transformed yet again—this time, into something more like a party. The majority of the court is taken up by a DJ and dancefloor, with the remaining space taken up by smaller tables and icebreaker games for those not inclined to dance, including a ping pong table and a volleyball net for those who want to face off against their rivals in a different sport.