Event Midspring Celebration

ignore the banner, roro's hair is now short, shoulder length. I'm too lazy to make a new banner

Her hair is dark brown with pink highlights

Banner made by Winnie Harper

Mentioning nono

Interacting with @Nicholas McCowan

She sat and listened. Slowly but surely, some of the worries that battled with the calmness of his voice faded away. The fights, the spells, perhaps some shouts here and there did not matter. She was just a little girl with a huge emotion, a piece of work, it was unreal to see Nicholas’ patience not go downhill in one second. He was always the one with snarky remarks, venom swirled on his tongue. Hearing what came out of him as in that moment felt like a fever dream, but a good one.

“I-” She looked up at him, eyes bulging out as if they threatened to come out. Not that extreme but you know what I meant. “Nicholas!” She sighed in defeat, putting her hand on her chest dramatically. “I didn’t know you put your name in! You just love to give me heart attacks!” There would be no Aurora in the world if life weren’t filled with drama. Now she just felt bad because it wasn’t like she wanted to control Nicholas and his foolish life choices though it came out a little bit like that. “Sorry, I just-“ One second ago, they were just made up, and now she almost started an argument with her new awesome boyfriend.

People said she had too much emotion, she felt way too much compared to the others. But was it a bad thing? Maybe some see her as an overly sensitive kid, but she was simply a caring person and it was what it was to be alive. Truthfully, a life in Hogwarts would never be a great experience. The dangers were the wallflowers watching the students every second. Even on an innocent day like the summer camp, bad things still happen whether you were a good person or not. It did not matter. “Have I told you about the spiders?” For as long as they knew each other, through thick and thin, she had never talked about that forest attack in detail. The only person she had confided in about it was Everly, all because she caught Aurora crying and burning her clothes from that event. “They were not ordinary spiders, they were shadowy, I don’t know, I couldn’t explain it but they were-” Scary? Bloodcurdling? Horrifying? “-different.”

His sense of danger was rusted, unlike hers, too sharp. “I first saw that giant shadow spider monster thing in the common room. Then, that moment in the forest, that guy, Vladimir was bleeding spiders, he literally had spiders inside his blood and I heard he passed not long ago, I still feel really bad for not helping and instead, I was running away with Winnie.” The burden was heavy and overgrown, it was the truth that she felt guilty for his death whatever the cause. One singular moment in time seeing his body producing spiders would last for an eternity. “And that was a regular day, or so I thought, imagine in a big tournament, do you think he’ll be safe?” If only there would be a safe guarantee for every champion, but no one can promise tomorrow.

People tell the truth in every lie. So did Nicholas. Probably it just slipped through his tongue, but he cannot undo what he said. And come Aurora’s shriek, followed by frantic searching for her dear cousin whilst still sitting on the ground. “SEE! THEY’RE KILLING EACH OTHER! YOU SAID IT YOURSELF!”

Sta - 5 | Eva - 10 | Str - 5 Wis - 8 | Arc - 4 | Acc - 10 Terrible Presence Evasive Maneuvers

Action being sad Outfit Reducio I'm lazy to redraw this, but it's like that, the difference is that her hair is now short with pink highlights

Outfit

Stamina 8

Evasion 13

Strength 15

Wisdom 3

ArcPower 3

Accuracy 11

A flurry of fresh, white, clean bandages would spew forth from the tip of her wand and wrap around Yefim's injuries. Admittedly, this was probably the most clothes he had been in the UK, his terrible allergy to linens had often left him somewhat exposed. "Merlin Howard," Erin griped with seething annoyance. Th hell did he do to the Russian guy?

He said her name, he said it a few times in fact. The he said a bunch of other words that she did not understand in the least. Probably take me to the infirmary, I am dying. A rather reasonable statement considering the injuries. He smelt of burnt meat and condiments, muted only by the placement of the cotton bandages. He was standing, departing and of course fleeing. Erin was not one to run, she was far too stupid truth be told. She was about to start or at the very least continue the fight Yefim started.

When hairstyle (Hadrian) came for Howard she was going to just blow him out of the room -- let the big kids settle this. However, one of the Durmstrang party-goers stopped the teen in his tracks. Well, the both of them, even if Howard's restrain was short-lived. Damn pity that was. "You're barely a wizard Howard," Erin griped. A muggle-born, a dhampir. The little that was human was in part muggle, there was almost no space for being a wizard. That was how genetics worked, right? "Why the hell did they pick you," that was one of her main concerns besides of course immolating whatever Yefim was to her. "I want a shot at you," not the position, the title or the role. At the teen, the by every girl seemed to want, only Erin wanted something very different than any of them wanted.

"We can take the anemic guy," she pointed at Selim Faust. That was her best description of the ever sickly appearing youth, turned healer in some bizarre turn of events. That is what they did when they did not expect one of them to walk away, brought a doctor or at least some kid that knew how to roll them onto their side until 'help' came.

Action: Challenging Howard to his own ass kicking.

"You think I have any control over that?" Mathias announced somewhat exasperated. "Why do you think I am so good at avoiding your bullshit," avoiding women was his specialty apparently. He was not a far cry from one so he counts in Pride's book. Felix would try a leg sweep and Mathias would hop over his wild sweep as if he was skipping rope.

"Hun... Dear... I was very busy these past few months getting myself in a position to nearly get killed so I could be yelled at by you," an accurate description of the past several months in fact. "I can handle the triwizard. Hexwizard. Doesn't matter, I would have been fine." The competition was built to be played, deaths could happen but the most imperiled was not him it was her. "I have been preparing for the tournament for a long time, they were supposed to call his name," he who shall not be named. "Someone that they believed was relevant to me but I could care less about," he raised his wand and with the flick of his wrist he cast the simple spell "Flippendo" once again.

"You're loud and absolutely terrifying, but you are not equipped for being targeted," he explained as Felix hopefully slid off. "You trust everything, you like everything, you're about as cynical as a Hufflepuff." In short, you would have died. "But it's over. A lot of people are going to be mad, but they will get over it... eventually." No, they really would not. His family had a way of keeping grudges. "I did what I had to do, and I would do it again if it gave me the opportunity to get where I needed to be and kept what I valued" you but he did not say that. She was not supposed to be 'valued', she was supposed to be the 'muggle girlfriend' who he went to hell and back for to exemplify how tolerant he and his pureblooded family who by the virtue of their pedigree were in fact rather intolerant.

"I did not expect you to move on immediately, it hurt." He admitted. "I thought the little information I was able to slip in a message would have conveyed that there was something amiss. To wait for me," he frowned and shrugged. "Well, the evening is ruined," Plott was going to comply - his uncle's money spoke monologues. "Keep the dress, it looked nice on you," even if it was probably ruined. "It was a gift," he forced a smile.

Action: Flippendo Felix away.

Things escalated quickly. Like, one second ago she was wondering what she could eat and, the next second, her oldest brother came to take her to a side. "What the dementors is wrong with some people?" He asked. Not waiting for a response, he hold her tight by the arm. "Do not move, understood? I'm going to look for Dominic and then we are going to leave. And it is not a question, Jojo." She didn't want to leave, but it didn't seem like Andros was going to accept any other option. She frowned, upset, but before she could say anything he left.

Looking around her, though, she understood why Andros wasn't happy. There were many things happening at once and he didn't want his little sister to get a wrong idea. Still, a lot of the students were also having fun! She was not going to make friends if she kept herself in her common room all the time. So, ignoring his brother's comands, she walked towards the snack table once more, looking for Beaumont. He would know what food was the best.

When she got there, she kept looking, but she could not find him. Maybe he left and went to the kitchen? She asked herself. The problem was that she did not have a clue where that was. She was lucky she could remember her way to her bed. She sighed and picked a snack without even looking at it. It was going to be a long evening. Hopefully.

Valentin hated Erin, hated her because she was what he could never be: beefy, gorgeous, and most importantly, the irresistible center of Yefim’s attention.

“Erin, Erin Erin!” Yefim had said before leaving the ball. The beautiful buff girl stole his adoration, but the worst part was that she kind of deserved it after having extinguished and healed the boy when the white niffler could only contribute, what, off-target spells or otherwise failed expressions of perfection? Valentin couldn’t deny that Erin had some use to the group, particularly to Yefim, but Valentin didn’t have to like it. Didn’t have to, no. Valentin told himself he was free to do whatever he wanted. He didn’t have to follow crazy Yefim. For whatever cultish expectations that may or may not have been associated with the loud Russian, Valentin accompanied Yefim of his own accord, and based on his own wishes… which is why Valentin now did not follow Yefim out now, despite his beckoning.

Wrapping his arm around Mikael’s shoulders as he watched for threats, Valya felt that something was off, but he needed his eagle eyes on duty. Yet, no one had attacked Yefim nor Mikael after all, so Valentin did not need to bodyblock for them. Now, though, the pretty bitch was picking a fight, and even though she could probably handle herself pretty well, the people that could support her were thinning out. Even if Yefim had gone, the girl was still some kind of treasure to him, and Valentin always kept an eye on his friends’ treasures. Valentin’s chaotic heart never was good at following orders, but it was not because he didn’t care. He just had to care in the way that felt the most real. If he needed to bodyblock for the horrible muscle lady, Valentin would do it even if Yefim would never know about it. She seemed to want that strange Slytherin kid [Selim] dealt with… Hmm…

Once Yefim had cleared out, Valentin felt he had a moment to take stock of the situation and hopefully quell the increasing panic writhing in his gut. Mikael hadn’t been moving the whole time, as if frozen, but he hadn’t been the target of any of the freezing spells. Valentin had guarded him closely to ensure this. Loosening his arm’s grip around the other Durmstrang boy, Valentin turned to face Mikael, who just stood there-- staring into space.

Valentin tried to catch Mik’s gaze with his own, but nothing seemed to move him. It was as if Mik were catatonic. Valya’s heart threw itself in terror against his ribcage like a trapped bird sensing the approach of Death’s shadow. Each second drew itself out longer and longer, like an occamy from hell, as Valya began to fear that Mikael had died somehow… snuffed out as quickly as his mother’s life. Ache in the pale boy’s chest and cold sweat accumulating at the nape of his neck, the whole scene turned strange, like a torn-out page of a book left stranded in time.

“Misha…” whispered Valentin, terrified. Mikael just kept… staring… like a corpse. «Нет, Миша. Не уходи… Миша…» (“No, Misha. Don’t go… Misha…”) How had Valentin failed, he wondered-- this was many times worse than with the giant. This was worse than failing to save his mother or avenge her. Mikael had been right there. Valentin's cheeks flushed with self-hatred: what was wrong with him, that even then he could not protect the one he held most dear? «Миша… Вернись ко мне» (“Misha… Come back to me.”)

Valentin’s slender white fingers reached out towards Mikael’s face slowly, slowly, until his entire palm cradled the right side of Mikael’s face. He found the other boy's skin slightly clammy. Silver-violet eyes irradiated pure existential dread as they peered into Mik’s fixed, dark gaze. It was no different from those other times Mik had stared off into space, right? Those times that Valentin had found him looking at a wall or ceiling, unblinking, for what felt like an eternity… Thin little Valentin knew it was untrue when Mikael would blow it off, saying he was just thinking. Valentin felt the languor of his non-answer when Mik would shrug mutely when asked again. He hadn’t gotten answers, but was Mikael slipping away further each time? Would Mik leave for good this time, trapped in… whatever haze it was that possessed him now?

There was one thing Niffler knew. He could not lose Mikael, not as Valya barely clung to the event horizon of annihilation. While he knew the universe was full of people, including adoring fans and all manner of people he had met through the years, they were all lightyears away. Valentin felt alone on this rim of the black hole-- alone except for some flicker of a soul left in Mikael as they both fell towards some inverted star. In view of them both, Yefim’s radiant star shrank from reach even as they squirmed to not fall away. Somehow, out in the black, out in the silence on the brink, Valentin felt that Mikael was the only one who could understand him. That was why Valentin had to endure, to resist. The shred of soul left somewhere in Mikael-- Valentin had to keep it from disappearing forever. Surely none but those who lingered at the last horizon’s edge could get close enough to reach, with outstretched arms, those about to be swallowed up. Valentin had been there, and it was Mik and Yef who had brought him back from the brink. Valentin wouldn't leave Mik there, no. Not even if it meant intentionally plunging back into the void. If Valentin was going to reach escape velocity, he would bring Mik with him no matter what.

Descriptions/actions regarding Mikael were agreed upon in advance with his author.
Interacting with Mikael Halldorson (@Percival Rainwood)
Mentioning @Erin Ryan and Yefim Rumyantsev (@Flash Holmwood), @Selim Faust

Action: Trying to bring Mik back

Selim Text Color: #4d0f25
Aku Text Color: #614f6d

Open to Interactions

"So weary with disasters, tugg’d with fortune,
That I would set my life on any chance. To mend, or be rid on’t."
- William Shakespeare's 'Macbeth'

Outfit:

Reducio

Selim watched as the aggression escalated to spell casting and attempted slaps as Selim watched in silent fascination as this Yefim fellow singlehandedly turned everyone against the dhampir. The living torch had done... something, to the dhampir in the first place. He wasn't exactly sure what, it wasn't a physical attack, he knew that much, but he wouldn't be surprised if it had been some provoking action. Of course, the dhampir responding with a face-breaking punch had been an absolutely terrible choice on his part. In the eyes of the law, assault and battery could never be justified by the victim having provoked the assaulter verbally or nonverbally, only physically.

So, lawfully, Howard was in the wrong. Morally... well Selim knew jack-shit about morals or 'moral correctness' he was risen in a rather amoral and sometimes downright immoral family. Raised with amoral views imprinted into his mind, essentially. Sure he knew some, enough to at least realize when he had done something wrong and to take accountability, but hardly enough to judge the situation. All he could judge was that Yefim seemed to practically be a masochist with how often he purposefully got himself hurt tonight.

At least Erin had been able to keep him from bleeding out before he decided to leave the ball like some gangster calling his cronies to his side to make a triumphant retreat.

How Selim was still saner than 50% of the students in this school was beyond him.

Erin was pissed, that much was obvious, she was demanding some fistfighting dual of... what, honour? Wait... she wanted to fight him for the title of Hogwart's champion? But- that wasn't how this worked- for Merlin's sake. If the excessively theatrical fire-goblet spat out his name then he was the champion, these were basic rules-

He cut himself off as his brow began to twitch, form stiff with irritation of the sheer illogical being that was Erin Ryan. Quietly, he let himself take a few breaths as he tried to rationalize the irrational. Maybe she just wanted to test his strength not fight him for the title... yes, he was jumping to conclusions, right? That was... better, still stupid, but better then completely disregarding basic rules. Letting out a sigh, he hoped that more of the healing interns would actually use their knowledge and help, because he knew from experience that this was going to be bloody.

He still got phantom pains in his jaw sometimes.

Then, he saw her point at him and call him 'anemic guy' and basically claim him for something. She wasn't great at using names so he supposed his title was rather justified.

While her words could be misconstrued as her telling Howard that they could fight and likely kill him, which anyone with situational awareness should obviously realize wasn't what she meant, he knew she actually wanted to drag him into... what was this... some sort of dual? Had he stepped back in time to the 15oo's without realizing it?

That mere situation and following call-out had baffled him so immensely, that he ended up standing there and staring for a few moments as he tried to register her maddening actions. Blinking rapidly he finally managed to speak, incredulity ringing through his tone.

"... what?" He was practically speechless. "You want me to oversee your fight..." His brain raced to grasp onto whatever convoluted reasoning his dormmate was acting on, "To what- make sure one of you doesn't die?" He was trying to exaggerate, but honestly a good chunk of him realized that her trying to beat someone she disliked to death was rather in character for her.

He rubbed the bridge of his mask's nose, exhaustion and exasperation practically screaming from his body language despite his face being shrouded from the world. "Could you just not fight?" He asked, but going by his tone one could tell it was basically a rhetorical question. He knew the girl likely wouldn't just let the dhampir walk away going by her own body language and her single-minded actions. Of course, he would try to heal whatever disastrous aftermath may happen from this, as he did with any injury-inducing event he came across, but he would much rather prefer not to deal with a grievously injured student in the first place.

If she actually did listen to his tired plea- he'd accept that gods were real, because it'd be a miracle in and of itself.

Interacting with @Howard White @Serena Towers @Aurelia Notrésvace(Hadrian)
Mentioning: @Flash Holmwood(Yefim)
Open to interactions

Ouch. There wasn’t any hesitation in the newly chosen champions choice between her and Bloom. A mere frown was offered to the girl before he turned his back and went on in search of his pretty delicate flower. It hurt. She wasn’t sure if that was the rejection or the fact that her confidence was blown in front of so many people. Her eyes flinched were her body should have, for them to then quickly scanned the room to make sure no faces were pulled or whispers were given. Thankfully, there wasn’t. Although the drastic change in atmosphere that was to follow was something Falentra wasn’t able to just brush off. A student of Durmstrang, Yefim Rumyantsev made quite the entrance. Before she knew it fists had been thrown, words had been spat, students of all houses came to the aid of both Yefim and Howard and all Falentra could do was just stand there and watch. It started with her usual rush of excitement. Fighting. Blood. Chaos. It brought the darkness she kept bottled up come alight. Her eyes were wide and lit with amusement, even when Howard didn’t have much luck on his side. She knew deep down he could handle a tackle and a punch. Besides that, he still he had his loyal peers at his side. One of which was Serena. Of course. Falentra wasn’t sure why she actually hated the girl. Or if it was even hate. She could tell deep down that she was a good soul, and that she just wanted what was best. But what happened in the past, happened, and Falentra’s stubborn ass couldn’t let it go, not after the drama she created on herself. Either way, tonight she was to side with her of Howard’s sake. Death glares and sly snappy comments for the little goblin were to be saved for another time.

Things were heated by this point. More spells, more fists, more blood, more shouting. It was the chaos she wanted but now that it was happening before her eyes, she found herself somewhat displeased. Maybe seeing Howard in such a primal state wasn't something she wanted after all. All eyes on this version of him. She didn’t need to see his fangs bearing and his nails clawing away at the air. She knew his capability behind all of this, and because of that, this was enough. She had to step in, finally.

“Howard..” She spoke out, hoping he could hear her voice amongst the rage he had. They may have no longer been a pair, but she understood him more than most did, at least this side to him. She would have always supported him through these outbursts and fought alongside of him, but right now.. he had enough. He wasn’t thinking straight. His rage, darkness and anger was in control right now. She knew this, because she saw her in himself, only she didn’t mind acting in such a way and having people hate her. Howard.. he wanted to be better.

She stood beside Serena and gave her a nod as a thank you before her hand rested on Howard’s shoulder. Only minutes ago he turned away from her and as much as she hated him, in that moment, for doing so, she wasn’t going to stand here and let this carry on. If he was to acknowledge her, the Slytherin would further position herself in front of the Hufflepuff to try and block out any chaos that was before him. He was a tall, but so was Falentra. A few inches shorter maybe, but she was sure to be one of the taller girls in her year. “Howard, are you with me?” She asked again, wanting a confirmation on where he stood, where his mind was at. He looked exhausted. Hurt. Angry. Why did everyone have to pick on him. He was… he was trying to be good. He wasn’t like her anymore. The chaos they shared was still there— she could see it right now in his eyes, but unlike her, he was trying to tame it and keep it at ease were as she wanted to unleash hers and have everyone fear her. It made sense now, why he had grown attached to Bloom. She was good.. no? Even her name sounded good..ugh. She was his flower. Pretty, dainty, elegant. She was good for him. She may never come to accept it and continue to be a bitch toward the Ravenclaw in the future, but if she made him happier than she did, so be it.


It pained her to say what was to come, but she needed to let out her own anger now. Not at Howard but at that pesky Hadrian. He wouldn’t quit. Even now, whilst he was in his frozen state. It may of been a low blow to attack whilst he was defenceless but she knew the moment he was to break from the spell, he’d be coming right back for more. “Serena.. w..would you watch him for me?” Falentra turned her head and lowered her gaze down to the girl. She held a cold stare whilst her voice was, for a split second, quite warm and caring. She knew Serena was loyal to Howard, and.. well, she trusted her enough to look after him. She was a powerful lass after all, though don’t expect to hear those words leave Falentra’s mouth.

The Slytherins head turned further and with a quick glance over her shoulder, they would set on Hadrian. Not Yefim, not Erin. Though, a fist fight between Erin and Howard may be in the works, Howard had Serena by his side and hopefully, it was to slow things down, or prevent them from escalating quickly. For now Hadrian was her target. She had never liked the boy. Ever since she and Aurelia talked about him, how he was with her. And now he was picked on Howard. It was a no-brainer. He needed putting in his place.
Falentra swiftly spun on her heels, her hand at the same time grasping for her wand and holding it firmly in the direction of Hadrian. “I don’t have much to say to you, and quite frankly I don’t want to waste me breath on ye’ either.” With her little speech other with, her wand would raise and with a quick flick towards Hadrian, her spell would be casted. “Incendio.” Her tone sounded bored. It was low, but clear. It was noticeable that she was tired of this and wanted it over with.

Action: Check on Howard and defend. Attack Hadrian.

As his boomerang came back to him again, hitting no one Hiro breathed a sigh of relief.

He really was getting lucky, twice in a row now.

Well, there wouldn't be a third one. He didn't want to press his luck. Nearby, there were shouts and sounds of spells going off, along with some yells and screams.

Hiro wasn't entirely sure what was going on back there. But he didn't want to find out right now. After all, he was chatting with this pretty girl at the moment. However, off in the distance, he could just barely spot Mathias and Winnie together. The look on Winnie's face looked a lot better than before. Maybe the two of them were getting back together again! The thought made him smile. He'd known they were destined to be, maybe his push had worked.

He glanced back down at the girl before him and looked over at the nearby tables. "Ooo, well at least the food tables are still fine! Please excuse me, I'm going to go take a look, unless you want to come with me." Hiro told the girl, referring to the tables covered with food from each respective school and not the destroyed potluck table. These tables happened to be very nearby where they currently were. The boy stepped over to one.

Beauxbatons.

He reached over and grabbed some croissants and filled them with some cheese.

French food like this was awesome. Hiro idly twirled his boomerang around between two fingers. The pink haired boy was somewhat bored right now. Well, he had no reason to be. What he really should be was embarrassed because he'd embarrassed himself in front of his date. And then fled to the celebration hall before he had a chance to meet the other boy's eyes. Hiro didn't want to know what Akira thought of him now. Being the first one taken out.

It was a horrible feeling and only cemented the fact inside his head that he sucked and should never have been born in the first place. A thought Hiro was desperately trying not to think about. He twirled the boomerang between his fingers faster and suddenly it slipped out of his fingers and went flying around the room again. But this time, Hiro wasn't as concerned because not only was his mood a bit depressed but he also didn't think it would hit anyone.

It hadn't hit anyone the first two times, so it stood to reason that it wouldn't hit he third time.

--- Date: 02/04/22 || Time: --:-- ---

Sophia had slung Kim's uninjured arm over her shoulder, offering her support for his weight. She didn't know if his leg was even hurt, but his feet were burned too, in addition to more of his body, so a little bit of support was necessary.

Sophia frowned as she saw the healer's tent in the distance. Two visits in one night. Once more and she'd break her old muggle doctor visit record, and she wasn't proud of that fact, but Kim was hurt far worse than a magical teacup on the nose, and Sophia would be darned if she was going to let the boy suffer, no matter how annoyed she was with him in the moment.

She had pointedly ignored any of Kim's protests or arguments as she escorted him back inside from the Firewalking course. His pride was probably hurt. Good. He deserved it. At least his arm and burnt skin wouldn't be hurt for much longer.

They finally reached the Healer's Tent and she let go of the boy, letting him drop into the chair. Crossing her arms, she looked away, letting her eyes wander the room. She couldn't bear to look at Kim. Her feelings regarding him were still confusing, so she needed a distraction. Finally, she saw something that could pull her away.

"I'm going to get you some food," She said coldly, "You need the energy."

She marched over to the food table, regretting leaving her shoes outside already. She'd been so caught up with Kim that she hadn't even noticed until her feet hit the cold floors inside.

Perusing the table, she grabbed a few pastries of some sort - similar enough to the ones she'd had earlier - and some muffins, loading them into her arms. She walked back over to the Healer's Tent and glared at Kim, grabbing one of the pastries with her right hand and shoving it into his mouth as soon as he looked up at her.

Ignoring his protests, she commanded forcefully, "Eat, and be thankful I'm helping you."

She continued shoving the pastries and muffins into his mouth, despite his arguments. He was injured. It was her job to take care of her friend.

Notes:

Reducio

Eat, Kim. You need your strength.

Interacting:
@Kim Sato
Mentioning:
@Sage Lilly || @Gemima Sable

“Of course I put my name in,” Nicholas laughed, raising his hands in mock surrender, “Ro, I wasn’t going to not put my name in. It’s a bloody opportunity of a lifetime, isn’t it?”

Her genuine worries were lost, the boy far more content to accept her dramatic sigh and over embellishment as theatrical acceptance of her own overreaction. Was it a complete misunderstanding of not only the situation, but of the girl known as Aurora Ranvier? Perhaps. But Nicholas never was the best at understanding girls, and especially not ones that made his heart go doki-doki.

Regardless of his assumption that he had somehow managed to convince her of the relative safety of the tournament, and of both his own attempted participation and the actual participation of her cousin, her next actions made it clear just how mistaken he had been. The spiders were not a new topic, he’d heard her discuss them before, and had very swiftly dismissed them as the delusional lies of a positively insane girl. Of course, at the time, he’d considered her little more than a rainbow-tinted pest, the type to shriek and throw mud without provocation. They’d grown considerably closer since the preceding summer, and with that newfound fondness, Nicholas’s impression of her stories too had changed. Not that he’d thought back to her tales of the spiders, not once, there were more important things to consider like broom racing or talking about broom racing. But, the memory of her first assertion of the venomous arachnids made of shadow and death returned to him without delay.

Maybe she hadn’t been lying at the time? Aurora was many things, not the least of which was a darn sight annoying, but she wasn’t exactly a liar. Mistaken, often, probably, but not malicious nor untrustworthy.

“You did…” Nicholas’s response was tinged with trepidation, he wanted to believe her, but for some reason he could not shake the idea that she may have been mistaken.

The story that she told was fantastical, spiders for blood, Vladimir at the centre of it all, shadows in the common room and the forest alike. The late Athanatos had been a peculiar figure, something about him had always seemed different, like he was the proverbial other. Did he bleed literal demonspawn, though? Probably not.

That wasn’t to say that Aurora hadn’t seen something, it was self-evident just how dangerous Hogwarts could be at times. In any case, she needed reassurance, not assertions that she was crazy.

“I, uh,” He sucked air through his teeth, “Because it’s a big tournament they’ll use safety precautions and stuff, you know? Can’t be any more dangerous than something like broom racing.”

He could only hope that she wouldn’t therefore assume broom racing was dangerous.

In any case, his failure to hold his tongue and her subsequent shriek and peculiar searching of the floor saw Nicholas cringe visibly. He’d absolutely botched calming her down, the raptor-like caw was proof enough of that.

“He’s not even over there!” He protested, his voice raising to match her crescendo, “Besides, not everyone killing each other is even a participant. Lots of people try to kill each other all the time, that’s basically just an average Saturday! I’m sure your cousin is happily planning out what to do for the tournament right now!”

Nicholas whipped his head around rapidly, trying to catch sight a boy he could barely recognise, speaking as he did so, “Barely anyone dies in these things, don’t worry. It’s just, like, the last few times they ran it, I think.”

Outfit: Black slacks, white button-down shirt (sleeves rolled up, loosely buttoned)
Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 9 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Interacting: @Aurora Ranvier
Action: Nil.