The Lost Pearl 2025 Fall Ball

date 04/10/25

word count 428

outfit ⁺₊ ☀︎ ⁺₊

speech #8C2626

mentions @Livia Machavariani

notes xxx

The ball had finally come around. Lucille was enthusiastic, if not a little nervous. The oceanic theme caused specks of doubt to appear in the corners of her mind at times, but she had shaken them off as much as she could. Still, thoughts of a turbulent sea would circle her mind. Lucille was determined to not let that ruin her first Hogwarts ball, though. A ball! This was her first time attending one on her own, and certainly her first time at Hogwarts. To mark the occasion, she had perhaps taken the theme more to her heart than most. Her outfit consisted of a white shirt and pants, paired with a brown vest and brown boots. A red rose adorned her chest. That was the pirate part of her outfit handled, but she wasn't done. She had wrapped a striking fabric around herself like a skirt; it opened up like a flower in the front and melded into a coral-like pattern in the back. The coral seemed to glimmer like scales when she moved, but even that was not what she had been most proud of. No, what she loved most was the shawl draped over her that looked exactly like water.

To her pleasant surprise, the dining area played more to the piracy part of the event. She entered to a haunting shipwreck, in equal parts daunting and beautiful. She giggled to herself; another boat seemed like the perfect place to meet Livia once more. Speaking of Livia, Lucille heard her before she saw her. A clinking sound came closer, and Lucille turned to meet Livia's glittering eyes. An easy grin spread upon her face immediately; Livia seemed so much more at ease than the past few times they had met. It looked like she had focused on the piracy theme associated with the ball, with an outfit that Lucille could only describe as a sailor's. Of all the people there, she seemed to belong on this haunted ship, Lucille thought; the white of her outfit appeared to glow in the night.

Lucille laughed when Livia seemed to read her mind, voicing her thoughts. "Well, hello, sailor! It seems we do, and this time you've certainly dressed for the occasion. I must say you capture one's attention more than the ship does." Lucille had first assumed that Livia was wearing some form of jewelry that had produced the noise, but upon further observation she found none. She tilted her head slightly, wondering where it might come from. Livia was, as always, intriguing, filling her with curiosity.

Percival tilted his head slightly at Draven’s reaction.

The older boy’s hesitation caught him off guard... he had expected a simple yes or no, but there was something about how he said it that made Percival blink. It was strange to think someone like Draven might be just as unsure about these things as he was. He thought Draven was… well, very cool. Someone who would easily score a date with the prettiest girls in school if he tried.

Then the same question came back at him, and the young boy froze. Suddenly, the collar of his outfit felt a little too tight and he began to stammer, “I— uh, no,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck as if that somehow wasn't awkward. “I didn’t really think about it,” His cheeks had already turned warm, and he glanced down at the floor, hoping Draven wouldn’t notice how red his ears had gotten.

But before he could think of anything else to say, two hands landed on his shoulders, and he nearly jumped out of his skin. “Cecilia!” he blurted as he turned to see her grinning at him. He then pressed a hand over his chest and drew in a breath, trying to calm his heartbeat. “You startled me…” The surprise quickly faded into a sheepish smile, though, and when she started complimenting him, the warmth in his face came rushing back stronger than ever.

“Thanks,” he said a bit softly while he nervously shuffled his feet, “You look really nice too.” The words came out quieter than he meant them to, but they were sincere. Her dress shimmered under the lights, and he couldn’t deny that she looked… well, beautiful.

He then tried to focus again and turned to Draven with a nervous smile. “This is Cecilia,” he said, though she had already introduced herself. His blush hadn’t faded at all, and for a moment, he wondered what Draven must be thinking of the whole scene.

@Cecilia Merrick @Draven Mirador

Reducio

Action: None yet!

Stats:
Stamina: 7
Evasion: 9
Strength: 0
Wisdom: 6
Arcane Power: 3
Accuracy: 10

AULIS VOROZHEYKIN.
KOLDOVSTORETZ. DIRECTOR OF STUDIES.
Russian. | English.
Spoken. | Thought.

|| ACTION. Sitting on the railing, flirting with Akeem ||

Interacting with @Prat Pass, OPEN to further Interaction

Oonagh entered at the area in what appears to be her element; a pirate, a captain, a queen. Her untamed hair exploded from beneath a triangular captain's hat, worn leather that had been worn during many seaside vacations, giving it an authentic vibe as it had been worn down by ocean waters and salt-filled air. A deep red dress, accentuated by a puffy, white undershirt with long sleeves and leather satchels, belts and two holsters, appeared to perfect this outfit of hers. A fake cutlass and a very real pocket-knife - locksmith edition - had found their places in scabbards at her hip. Chains and knick-knacks adorned her as she entered into lost pear; a sea vessel, her pirate ship or so she would claim to anyone who would be stupid enough to ask whom it belonged to.

Her sham immediately ruined by a person who dressed like a captain themselves, handing out greeting cards that Oonagh pocketed with barely a glance when she spotted more words than seemed reasonable. However the tables arranged in what promised a banquet would immediately catch her attention. So past the paintings, pearls and basket of shells she went, to instead fill the gluttonous void in her stomach.

She spotted a familiar face as she stepped to the buffet, which looked beyond fancy, arranged neatly to display an arrangement of fish and seafood. Oonagh grabbed for a tray, already aware that otherwise she would end up with more food than she would be able to carry without causing a mess and wasting her food.

She was in the process of filling up a bowl with mussels in a fragrant broth, shredded pieces of a buttered loaf of bread already lining her tray, when she spotted a familiar head of black hair, "O' course yer with the scran!" She greeted with a grin on her face as she dug into a platter with couscous and seafood stir-fry. She grabbed for various dessert options and an algae salad - the latter received a suspicious glance, however she would give it a try and see if she liked it. All sorts of things landed on her plates, bowls and dip containers. Of course she could not leave a classic such as fish and chips with tartar sauce and vinegar behind, or resist the herby scent of rosemary roasted haddock with butter-roasted potato and a light lemon-y sauce.

No dessert was spared either and by the end, even with a tray to aid her, it appeared it would only take a strong wind to tip over the dangerously filled tray and it felt heavy in her arms as she tried to lift it off the buffet table. No nook or spot across the tray had been spared without having muffins, fruits and pieces of tarts crammed into it. Two entirely full goblets rested next to one of the plates of fish pie, one goblet was crystalline and see-through, allowing the view of sparkling water with lemon wedges stuck within, whereas the other goblet was of an opaque, brass colour with ornamental decorations on its side. This one was now filled with a yellowish-green liquid that had been described as a cucumber mint cooler and had gotten her notice amongst the options of beverages.

Needless to say she was quite happy about her selection of foods and looked at Prat, "Wanna join me at them table?" she offered as she heaved the tray off the table and set it down at one of the nearest tables to the buffet with seats available.

Action
raid the buffet and accept one of the greeting cards from the captain

↓ Outfit Inspiration ↓

Reducio

↓ Stats & Abilities ↓

Reducio

Sta 10 | Eva 10 | Str 10 | Wis 00 | Arc 02 | Acc 10
Muggle Condition | Broken Broomshaft

↓ Adventure Inventory ↓

Reducio

• Jelly Slugs & Pepper Imps (1x)
• Dungbomb (1x)
• Pocket Knife & Fake Cutlass
• a Rock
• Journal including inkwell and Quick-Quotes quill

Interacting with: @Mikey Forville (Please owl to interact if not pinged! ) Mentioning: Date: 10/04/25

Word Count: 320

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Avery smiled lightly and placed her hand in his outstretched one. Their fingers lacing together naturally as if it was second nature. "Let's dance." Were the only words Avery was able to speak before her throat tightened. The night was perfect so far. Even more perfect than the spring ball where they had met. Avery closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air just to remember the moment. The cool October wind blew gently as Avery opened her eyes. The magnificent ship and the boy in front of her shifting back into focus. She was amazed by the scene before her. Just about a week before that night she had escaped the world upon hearing the news that her grandfather had fallen ill again. And this time? Well, this time it wasn't looking good as far as she knew. He was already weak from his first batch of illness, so he did not need more added to it. Avery forced the bad feeling that began creeping up her. She couldn't think about the fact that she could possibly lose her grandfather. That thought alone would ruin anything. That's why she decided to turn her full focus to Mikey who was still holding her hand. She couldn't wait to dance with him again. The first time had been magical. Even more magical than she could even dream of. The second time would be celestial. Since she and Mikey had been officially dating for two days, it would be like their first dance all over again. An unforgettable dance. "It's almost like our first dance again, because, you know. We're dating now." Avery said as a blush crept across her cheeks. She tilted her head downwards slightly so he wouldn't see. It was all still so new to her. So different from the past, that she was still getting used to saying that word or even thinking it for that matter.

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Round Three Moderation - The Second Course

Light swaths of blues and purples were all that remained of the waning sun, now completely past the horizon and making way for the stars to twinkle mischievously over the even more troublesome group on the water. The night continued on as the amount of people coming onto the marvellous ship ebbed and flowed, some coming on, and others going off into the moonlit night.

Certainly though, everyone was settling in, actually getting into conversations instead of trouble for once, with others stoically appraising everyone and everything. Conversations consisted of trains (quite fashionable, apparently), horrid dates, dancing, joining tables, sailors, and even some subtle-not-so-subtle flirting.

Throughout the deck, there was an excess of blushing teens, be it because someone assumed they had a date, or the very opposite. Overall, it was clear underneath the bright stars that some fancied themselves in love, or hopelessly embarrassed. An uncharacteristically boring, however grand, night at Hogwarts, though perhaps some found it refreshing? Boring to some, surely, for there were many a guest with a thirst for adventure.

The cards handed out seemed to garner a plethora of interest, though more of the passing sort than one that produced any action, merely a pretty souvenir to remember the starlit night by. Really, almost everything was gawked at, something to pass the time while they listened to all manner of chatter filling the air, as well as... the tearing of fabric? Near one of the tables there stood an odd pair accompanied by deliberately torn fabric and smirks aplenty. (@Aly Salinger, @Theodore Duncain)

After an ungodly amount of small talk, and not so small talk, the main course was presented in the place of the appetizers, heaping plates and bowls full of what the occasional child could only wonder at. Though certainly not some of the higher up purebloods, oddly used to and indifferent to the feast. Seafood most definitely made an appearance at most of the tables, going beautifully with the theme, even if rather unappetizing to some. There were other foods, of course, fit for those with dietary restrictions or preferences, but all as grand as the next.

WELCOME TO The Lost Pearl.

OOC INFORMATION ;
1. To participate, you must be indexed. If you are not indexed yet, please apply here.
2. Moderation will occur every week, with the first few weeks describing the three courses. {One Every other week with a general moderation post in between, till the three courses are done, then we will just have the normal ones}
3. Your character is allowed one moderated action per round. Please specify your moderated action somewhere OOC in your post. Moderated actions are those actions that requires rolls like casting a spell on someone, physically fighting (like punching) with someone, surprising someone etc. Rolls are not needed for pre-decided or consented actions, like asking someone for a dance.
4. Please include your abilities and stats in your post.
5. There are two other threads in this event, The Weeping Shore (dance floor) and The Drowned Palace (escape game). IC speaking, your character would enter through The Lost Pearl to reach The Weeping Shore. You are not required to post here to access The Weeping Shore. The location of The Drowned Palace, as well as an additional clue to the treasure hunt, are hidden in The Lost Pearl. Your character doesn't need either to access or play the game, these are options adding to the atmosphere.
6. You can directly enter either threads without needing to post in this thread, but if you already have, please specify that you are leaving this thread for either one of the other two.
6. Please follow all usual HIO rules.
7. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, beware of the bewitching siren's chant, but most importantly, enjoy !

date	place	tags	wc	speech
04/10/25	The Autumn Ball	@Leo Noxley	663/200	#36563c

outfit: Gown, Hair, Necklace, Earrings, Shoes, Perfume

Glancing at her date, Rosaline noticed Leo's eyes had turned light pink again. She wondered how many times she had seen this happen. Every time this happened, Leo was with her. Was she the cause? She couldn’t help but wonder. Her cheeks flushed when she thought of the idea, adding a rosy pink. She was glad they had gone to this event together. Lately, she had grown more and more fond of the time she spent with Leo. She had been expecting to see him. Although she was still unsure what that feeling was, she decided to figure it out later and chose to focus on the event instead.

Leo agreed to her suggestion. With a warm smile and her arms still linked with his, they walked toward the table. Pulling out the chair, she seated herself; her posture was poised and elegant. Her dress had quite a bit of volume. She tidied it with gentle movements. The chandelier-lit table was very neat and refined. There were different sorts of lighting, bluebell flames in the jars, and other floating candles in the air. Everything on the ship gave her a whimsical feeling, yet the refinement and eeriness balanced very well together.

Leo mentioned there was a card with a little message on it. It piqued her curiosity. She looked back to see the strange sailor who welcomed them and handed the card to them. Turning back, she took the card from Leo and said with an amusing expression, “Whoa, this is so cool! Do you think that sailor could be the captain?” Her tone was playful as if she were sharing a secret. She continued, “Maybe this ship is even haunted.” She chuckled as she made the guess. There was a faint citrus scent on the card. After all the years she had been smelling different fragrances, her nose was sensitive to the scent and could easily detect it. She thought it might just be the perfume sprayed on the card; she didn’t pay too much attention to it.

The dim light and the incoming nightfall added to the mystery in the room’s atmosphere. Leo looked a little different from his usual self with the soft candlelight cast on his face. Today, he seemed even cuter. An impulse made her blurt out, “You look really fine today.” After she said the compliment, a pink flush appeared. She glanced around to distract herself from what she had said. These bold moves had occurred so many times since she met Leo, like their first meeting, when she was supposed to be going to the Petting Zoo, yet an urge made her ask him to stay and talk on that very sunny day.

As she placed the napkin on her lap, she listened to Leo intently. “Yes, I bet they have put so much effort into the event. The ball planners are so dedicated! I hope they’re having a great night too,” she replied as she looked around to see all the students here, some familiar, some she had never met before. Leo raised a question about her boat experience. The question reminded her of her childhood. She said with a bright grin, “I have some experience with it, but it isn’t really like dining on this big ship. There’s a lake in front of my grandparents’ house. We used to row the little boats in the summer. It was very interesting.”

When she finished sharing the memory, the server came and brought the appetizer and main course. There were plenty of seafood dishes. She didn’t have much experience with seafood, but she liked having sushi. She watched as Leo tried the caviar. His reaction showed that he didn’t really enjoy it. It made her giggle lightly as she said, “I wouldn’t try the caviar first; you are very brave.” Then she had some sweet shrimp instead of trying the other challenging seafood. She offered them to Leo with a smile, “Maybe you can try these.”

stats: stamina: 6 | evasion: 5 | strength: 5 wisdom: 8 | arcane Power: 7 |accuracy: 4 Lovely Creature notes: actions: Find a seat and sit down with Leo. Pixel art from: 蘇提比

mentioning: @Maisie Gemmell & @Mylo Atkins & @Draven Mirador| date: 04-10-2025 | fit: x | action: figuring out exactly when Draven had suddenly gone deaf

Avis nodded along to Mylo's plan of the table in the corner, agreeing that it was excellent digs for a good people watching session. Creepy? Maybe. Entertaining? Unequivocally.

She gave another concerned glance in Maisie's direction, who still seemed to be distracted by that boy, and plodded off after Mylo, only to stop moments later as her friend ran into a familiar face.

Draven. The boy from Gladrags who'd located a sturdy cat-proof pair of socks for her months ago. Avis opened her mouth to greet him when she was distracted by a sudden motion of Mylo's hands and she looked over to see them using sign language to presumably communicate with none other than the Gladrags employee.

The Ravenclaw cocked her head, glancing in confusion between the two. She knew she wasn't always incredibly perceptive considering the tendency of her brain bouncing around between several topics at once, but she was sure she remembered Draven speaking and hearing just fine. Maybe he'd had some sort of accident. Or his tongue had been turned to rubber? Or...the horror! His ears were filled with raging bees and he couldn't hear over them!

She glanced at his ears which were clearly rid of any sort of Hymenoptera. Not the bees then. The girl listened and... witnessed their conversation intently, trying to pick of some sort of clue as to what had happened to Draven within the past months she hadn't seen him but all they seemed to be discussing was a boring old book. She sighed, glancing around for Maisie but her curiosity was raging. Avis poked Mylo lightly in the side with her elbow, ignoring the fact that this was terribly impolite. Sometimes her need to know took priority over common courtesy.

"Psst, what happened to him?" she muttered quietly, hoping Draven couldn't read lips. "And I didn't know you knew sign language!" she added as an afterthought but the response to either statement would have to wait as the enticing smell of food entered the ship deck. Avis' eyes widened at the sudden aroma and glanced around for the source. Bingo. It looked as though dinner was served and she was not going to miss out. "Maisie!" she said, whirling around to find her friend but it seemed she'd lost sight of her. Avis felt her stomach drop. "Maisie?" she called. She had just been there. Perhaps she'd already headed over to the table?