Closed Valentines Ball

DATE ┊ 02/17/2023 -----OUTFIT ┊ click here-----HAIR ┊ click here-----MENTIONS ┊ @Anne Blackrose -----
STATUS ┊ open-----WC ┊ 613/200-----ENGLISH ┊ "words"-----SWAHILI ┊ "words"-----THOUGHTS ┊ "words"

-----The torrid space of the Ballroom converted the once sanguine Caoimhe to an unfamiliar, apprehensive adaptation of her former persona. Was the room actually hot or was it just her? Due to her being so short and the towering of her schoolmates that crowded her space in all directions, Caoimhe felt trapped and could not move an inch. Between the melody shifting upbeat prompting many couples to facilitate their way to the dancefloor and Anna's soft hand taking Caoimhe's, it was as if the anxiety melted away. Caoimhe breathed in deeply as she stood as if her lungs had been devoid of oxygen the entire time. Although her demeanor would not exposed her anxiety, her eyes were not well-accustomed to lying. Who was this version of Caoimhe, and what prompted such a reaction?

Anna's patient self announced their plans before leading her to the drinks table by the hand, and Caoimhe engaged with a pip in her step. A drink sounded heavenly at this time hoping to cure Caoimhe's spell of anxiety-induced dry-mouth. Watching as Anna grabbed a chalice filled pink-colored milkshake and exclaimed with glee, Caoimhe laughed genuinely before inquiring: "Have you ever had a milkshake before?"

Despite Caoimhe's parents, grandparents and great-grandparents all being wizards, their lives mimicked muggles' lifestyle and culture which was highly untraditional to her wizard-borne heritage, as Caoimhe would discover through conversations and interactions with her group of friends which, by coincidence, mainly consisted of purebloods.

Anna inquiring what Caoimhe wanted grasped her attention as she stared at the table. Caoimhe hesitated at the plethora of choices; she had a rigid diet that did not consist of diary or sweets, but today she would indulge in a chocolate milkshake, just for the sake of knowing what Anna's hype was about. She took a small sip and released a sound in between that of a squeal and a groan. Just a second later, Caoimhe closed her eyes as she indulged in another sip while doing a little dance, chalice still in hand.

"Oh wow... that's good," Caoimhe spoke dabbing her lips with a napkin in between giggles.

At this time, Caoimhe was able to obtain an unobstructed view of her surroundings enabling a sigh of relief to part from her cherry-colored lips. Everything seemed perfect now. Seeing her dorm-mate, Adya, wave to get Caoimhe's attention before mouthing: 'Asher actually came and isn't angry at me,' Caoimhe smiled before replying with a thumbs up and a wink, expecting to receive all the dramatic details at a later date.

Then Caoimhe's eyes met the well-groomed but late arriving, @Avery Leveret, to which she rolled her eyes. Of course he'd be here, Caoimhe mused, observing in between glances as he acquainted himself with the Valentine's Ball committee. His presence was annoying even if there was distance between them or no words exchanged; Caoimhe could not quite place her finger on their relationship, but it was best described as a love-hate friendship. Avery motivated and pushed Caoimhe to her fullest potential, perhaps seeing something Caoimhe did not see in herself -- the young Slytherin could not be certain with him. Then other days Avery's cockiness got under her skin, and Caoimhe craved nothing more to knock him down a peg somehow, someway.

"Gross.." Caoimhe murmured under her breath before turning to Anna, trying to ignore the smoldering agitation of the boy's presence. "I'm feeling better.. I think I got claustrophobic or something, what would you like to do next?"

Looking around, she continued her inquiry: "We can go make bracelets if you wanted to still," there was a guy already there, so hesitation weighed on Caoimhe's conscience. If Anna wanted to go, Caoimhe would follow.

Reducio

───── MISC ─

Arriving with Anna Blackrose ┊ Open for interactions

Inventory ┊ small clutch containing wand, small eyeshadow pallete, lipstick, chapstick concealer, and water-proof sealer
Stats ┊ sta 5 • eva 9 • str 0 • wis 8 • arc 5 • acc 8
Trunk ┊ click here

Reducio

I was quite late to the ball, I had laid down to nap and didn’t wake up till gone 6! So, at around 6:30, here I am rushing in my dorm to get my ball clothes on and sort my hair out, hair that had not gone right in my sleep. I got the comb out of the bedside drawer and and stood in front of the mirror trying my best to make it look acceptable. I just brushed it all the front basically and made myself have a fringe. I could never get it like mother did, not that I wanted to (memories of the Dupont Ball making me almost cry).

“Shit, she is gonna be so pissed!” I muttered to myself. Was @Opal Brinkman already there? I spent an extra 4 minutes rooting through for my watch! I said my farewells to Spyro and left the dorm, sorting my bow on the way.

I entered the ball and loads of people were already there! Like… loads. I took a few breaths, new me can do this. How many of these have I been to in my life? (Yes but you basically knew everyone in them). I just need to find my friends. (You don’t have any anymore). Opal, I need to find Opal!

As I walked around my eyes were fluttering around the room and taking in the decor. It was very… urm, bright. Different from the dungeons I emerged from. I smirked when I noticed the piñata on the table. That’ll be fun! I took a fleeting glance at the food and drinks and my mouth watered. But I had left her too long and had to find her before she killed me. I looked around until I found her! Speed walking, I went over with a grin on my face. She… she didn’t look happy.

“Opal!” I called, finally reaching her. My mouth went dry. She was… sehr schön. Very beautiful. “Wow… you- you look amazing!” I stared at her for a while before shaking my head and gently reaching for her hands. “I am so sorry I’m late darling. I slept in,” I told her sheepily. I kissed her hand. “Are you okay? What can I do?”

@Bloom Silverton

Howard had met Bloom with a smile and a wink when she looked at him with surprise. He opened his arms wide to present himself and even gave a twirl to show off his colorful attire. “Had to step up my game if I’m going to accompany you, love.” The compliment was an easy one to give as he looked her over. Bloom looked absolutely wonderful in a matching red dress. It was almost a physical representation of how the couple had grown and evolved since meeting each other. Though Howard could still brood from time to time, gone was the perpetual dark cloud that had hung over him for so long. Much like Bloom he had really opened up. She had ignited something within him that could now not be stopped. He had gathered a large group of friends, formed lasting bonds with his team mates and was even doing pretty good in school. Well, in a certain few courses anyways, but the change was apparent. It was amazing what a bit of love and acceptance could do for a person and Howard was the living proof.

So, the pair would walk arm in arm into the grand room, floating on a cloud of love and happiness. “Yeah! Pretty damn good.” Howard wasn’t the biggest fan of Valentine decor, but no one could say that Hogwarts’ festivities weren’t decorated to the T. “All of it!” He gave Bloom a playful nudge as she claimed all of the prize from the Pińata. Truth be told, the Ravenclaw could have whatever she wanted. This night was a chance for him to show just how much he adored her.

Howard would give an exaggerated pout as Bloom cautioned against the catering table. His crimson eyes even wandering away from her for a moment to look over the goods. We’re those burgers?! And milkshakes?! Merlin be damned, but the memory of their ruined romance at the last ball could not be forgotten. “Perhaps your right, but you owe me a burger!” Howard teased before their gaze shifted to the large white tree. Though she may not be as strong as him, Bloom could have dragged him anywhere this evening.

Soon enough the pair would find themselves before the wide trunk. Several couples had already carved their names into the bark, but no way would they hold up to Howard and Bloom’s! “Of course.” He agreed to her request, but not before a kiss on the cheek. Reaching out with a clawed index finger, he would use his sharpened nail to carve their mark.

Reducio

It was simple, but it meant everything to him. “What’dya think, darling?” Howard asked as he slipped an arm around her.

Despite the happiness and awe that Asher felt upon seeing Adya, he still couldn't bring himself to address the elephant in the room. The letter. He had received a letter, or rather poem that carried Adya's signature along with a photo of him, however the photo hadn't bothered him in the slightest, realistically if Adya wanted she could have easily snuck a photo of him without him noticing, so it wasn't that big of a deal to him, what was a big deal was the fact that the poem was not only delivered right after Valentine's Day, but that it also came with a kiss! A freaking kiss!!

Asher was glad that he had opened it alone because he wouldn't have been able to interact with however he was with, literally. As soon as he finished reading it his brain stoped all functions and he just stood there for God knows how long in his dorm where he opened it. He obviously couldn't face Adya after that which was also another reason why he was glad he avoided him until the time of the ball came.

Though now that he was here, and she was infront of him...then maybe, just maybe, he could bring it up? He was now almost certain the he and Adya shared the same feelings, and what better time to bring it up than now? It was a Valentine's Ball, it was made so that people could express there love for each other, and Adya did so bt giving him the letter, so he should at the very least thank her for it, shouldn't he? And yet, he was too scared to bring it up, his mind still couldn't wrap itself around the possibility that Adya might actually be interested in him. Asher pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind amd decided that he is going to gather his courage and ask her about the letter, just not in this exact moment.

He was brought back into reality when Adya started talking back to him after he greeted her, she offered him some chocolate which he had noticed she was about to to eat, judging by how she going to tear the wrapper off, he felt touched by the gesture but didn’t want to take the chocolate from Adya so he refused to take it. "Thanks, but I would rather you have it yourself". He felt very bad the fact that she thought he wouldn't come, even if he hadn't been in love with Adya, he would never go back on his word unless something pretty terrible happened to him, leaving him physically incapable. "I would never stand anyone up, let alone you" he said with absolute certainty, there was nothing that would make him go back on his word to Adya.

Asher should be feeling the happiest he had ever felt, Adya had taken him by the hand and and they were together in the Valentine's Ball, yet the fact that he felt something off about Adya made him uncertain. Did she expect him to mention the letter? Maybe she didn't and was bothered by something else entirely, there was only one way to know for certain. Asher's gaze lingered on Adya for a bit with a smile as she started taking pictures of everything around them, she seemd so happy, the Asher almost forgot his earlier feeling.

She asked what they should first before moving a bit further from him, Asher noticed her gaze linger on the piñata for a bit before she suddenly snapped a picture of him. His smile brightened after that. "You should have told me you know? I wouldn't mind taking a picture for you" he said with a bit of an embarrassment in his voice before continuing, "Though, I want us to take a picture to together" he said as he closed the distance between them, enough for them to be able to snap a picture together.

He waited for Adya's response before he continued on, he still had to address the earlier discomfort he felt when Adya smiled at him before grabbing him, something about the way she smiled was ticking him off, it was different form her usual genuine smile, it felt fake, almost forced. "Hey, Aya." he said in a voice low enough for only her to hear him. "Is there, um, something bothering you? You seemed a bit out of it earlier" he tried wording it in a good enough way to avoid bothering her, though only Aday's response would determine whether or not his hunch was correct.

Open To Interactions

Reducio

OPEN FOR INTERACTION

Interacting: @Caoimhe Kyle
Stats: Stamina: 4 Evasion: 5 Strength: 4 Wisdom: 8 Arcane power: 7 Accuracy: 7
Items: Wand
Trunk!

As the night wore on, more and more people trickled into the ballroom. Some came in pairs, while others came alone. Slowly but surely, the room became more and more crowded. They mingled and chatted, eager to catch up with old friends and make new ones.

Heat radiated from the bodies pressing in around him, a thrum of conversation filling his ears. Ethan recognized a few faces from the train. He saw @Anna Blackrose and @Asher Blackjack, waving at them before moving on.

Ethan blinked as he surveyed the room full of people. Everyone seemed to be paired off, chatting and laughing together.

Oh, he remembers @Adelaide Barlowe. He hadn't seen her in months, since the fall ball. He wondered what she was doing right now and smiled to himself, thinking about how she was probably in the common room, curled up on the couch with a book, or doing something else that she enjoyed.

Ethan shook his head and walked to the refreshments table. Maybe all he wanted was food. He grabbed a plate and loaded it up. Whatever it was, all he cared about was getting some food.

There, he met another familiar face, @Kim Sato. “Hey,” Ethan said, continuing to pile food onto his plate, his appetite apparently insatiable. “Aren't you with, uh, Bailey?” He looked questioningly at Kim, his head tilted to the side.

“Mhmmm, the food here is really gooood” Ethan said, his voice muffled by the food in his mouth. He continued to eat, oblivious to everything else around him.

OPEN TO INTERACTIONS

Stats:
STA 8 | EVA 5 | STR 10 | WIS 2 | ARC 2| ACC 8
Item/s: wand
Link to your trunk: here!

Reducio

OOC: approaching those who are open to interactions!

@Howard White

Outfit

Reducio

Finally, all of her pulling got Howard to move away from the food and towards the white tree. "You'll come back to the food, Mr. White. Best to wait a hot second to see if anything is happening to anyone anyways," she said, being helpful, but also wanting this night to be perfect. The last thing she needed was something going wrong. She wanted this Valentines Day to be a night to remember.

When they arrived to the tree, there were other carvings engraved on the trunk. Some were full names, others were awkward carvings. Bloom watched carefully when Howard had taken one of his clawed nails, instead of a carving tool, and began to carve an image into the trunk of the tree. He had engraved both letters of their first name together. It looked like a signature of their names together. There was something about it that made Bloom think 'forever' with Howard. Bloom White. It had a ring to it.

Bloom's eyes were glossed over with a thin layer of water. If she blinked, tears would slowly cascade down her cheeks. These were not tears of sadness, but rather tears of joy that their affection for each other was written on a tree of love for all to see. For them to see. It was real. When he asked how she liked it, she had no words. instead, she reached over and if he would accept, she would have given him a passionate kiss on the lips.

There was a thought that was throbbing at the back of her mind. Bloom didn't know how to ask it though. She let it linger, figuring out a good time to ask.

It seemed that some time had passed, and Bloom did not want her man hungry. "Let's get you a burger," she said, heading over to the food. She looked at the spread and saw that there was quite a bit to choose from for food and drinks. Out of all the options, she also chose the hamburger and loaded it with lettuce, tomatoes, ketchup, mustard and one little pickle. She then grabbed a cup of water and headed over to a nearby table where there would be room and some privacy for the two of them to talk.

"Let's play a game," she said, settling in to her chair and fixing her red dress. "Let's play truth or dare," she said with a mischievous grin. "What do you say?" Bloom wondered what he would say to this. Is it a game that was above him or not? They were sixth years after all. Especially in a room full of primarily first years, they were much more mature than to play such a game, but alas, perhaps it would help with her asking questions that were racking up in her mind by the minute.

Action: N/A

Info

Stats: Stamina - 10| Evasion - 10| Strength - 10| Wisdom - 11| ArcPower - 10 | Accuracy - 11
Abilities: Lovely Creature & Muggle Condition
Items: Wand