Quidditch Stands || Secret Blossom Ball Event

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Entering from Changing Rooms

Shifting the tent flap out of his way from the changing rooms, he pressed on and ascended the stairway that led up to the stands of the quidditch pitch. Stopping as he had reached the top of the stairs, he looked around, dark golden hues scanning the stands and noticing that a group had gathered in one area. Looking to the opposite side, he didn't see much that way besides a few stragglers and decided that he'd rather take this moment to collect himself.

Taking a stroll among the stands, he made himself towards the opposite side of the pitch to where he was comfortably alone for the time being. A sigh came over him as he adjusted his tie and rested his forearms on the railing, overlooking the pitch itself and seeing the decor that was widely on display. As he scanned, he had noticed that already a large gathering of students milling about. Slightly worried now, he did his best to use the hanging lights to see if he could notice if his date was there or not. To be honest, he was normally one of those who showed up late to things like this, even though he'd only been to one before.

As he rest his body towards the railing more he noticed a little prick in his pocket, a metallic object was there, one that he hadn't put there. Lifting one arm from the railing, he fetched the little object from his picket, oddly though, it seemed as if it was wrapped in paper. When he pulled it up to the light to look at it, it seemed to be a silver pin of some sort, with a piece of stuck through and latched onto it. Cocking his head to the side, he noticed that the pin was
the head of a lion and the word "Gryffindor" displayed on it.

Wondering where this pin had come from, Zykeal would unclutch the pin and pull the note off of it. Making sure the clutch fit back on, he stowed the pin back into his pocket for safekeeping and unraveled the note. It was a bit of a shock to see his mother's handwriting, unexpected to say the least, he hadn't had many owls from her and was wondering what this little note was about. Tilting the paper so he could see it with the glare of one of the lights underneath him on the pitch, he read a single line of text, "I found this in your father's old belongings."

This single line shook him, mesmerized him. It took a few more seconds of analyzing the note to make sure there was no other text on the front or back of the page. Folding the piece of paper back up now, he stowed it in the back pocket of his matte black slacks. Retrieving the pin, he held it back in front of him and let a small mutter escape him "Bollocks, he was a wizard eh... Gryffindor too." A sigh escaped him and he decided not to let this ruin his night. There was fun to be had and he wished to enjoy every moment with Ivy. Thoughts on the pin and his father would come later.

Taking the pin's clutch off once more, he decided he'd wear it, show a little pride in his house for once. Sticking it through the upper-middle right side of his vest and attaching it there. A little smile crossed over his stoic features, allowing him to relax and shift his posture back to observing the crowd bellow who started to dance. Eyes bright in the lights scattered underneath him, he scanned the faces and was looking for the only one he wanted to see at the moment.

Zykeal Lane is technically open for interactions

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Mentions: @Dan Palmer
Interacts With: @Jack Burnett
OC: I have a feeling we are going to be doing a lot of posting so I will limit my word counts for both our sakes.

If he chooses to leave, Erin leaves with him and heads to the Changing Rooms (where the bludgers are located).

Wearing:

Reducio

When Jack noticed that Erin had the cork for the bottle in her hand, he reached out to gently pluck it from her grasp before she attempted to remove her stilettos. While she stowed those away, he replaced the cork in the potions bottle, but was not distracted long enough to miss seeing the other potion bottles and broom bristles visible through the opening of her duffel bag.

His lips pursed a bit at the thought that Erin might have had more alcohol stowed away, but they didn't really have time to discuss that now. He decided to put it out of his mind for the time being as a topic to be revisted later when events had settled down a bit more.

"Oh yes, I'm sure," he laughed lightly at her comment regarding her heels looking better on him. But then she mentioned going barefoot. "You sure?" Jack asked with skeptisism. "Don't you have any other shoes you brought with you before you changed into your ball clothes?" Maybe whatever they were would have been less comfortable, though. Well...she knew the pitch better than he did. He'd have to trust her judgement on that.

Nodding in gratitude at the mention of the locker-rooms, he responded with a short, "Thank you," and hurriedly headed back in the direction he had come from. What ridiculous luck that he had just been there and not realized that was where the bludgers had been kept in the first place.

When he noticed Erin following after, he smiled, thankful for her company. "That's alright," Jack answered. "Just you being around is a comfort enough."

Interacting with: @Erin Ryan
Heading toward the Changing Rooms.

Interacting with @Zykeal Lane | Open to further interactions

Sighing loudly to himself, Dmitri moved to retrieve the textbook he stored away in his black messenger bag. God, but this was boring! He would think to himself as he cracked open the book that he brought for just this purpose.

The Slytherin totally neglected to bring with him a companion to the ball. Not only did he not know anyone he'd like to bring, but he also did not originally want to attend the event. The know-it-all normally would have foregone going, to instead focus on his studies--he has certainly done so in the blossom balls of the past two years. But due to his recent change in conviction to try to eliminate the source of his anxieties (ergo, the incidents happening in the school lately), Dmitri had to force himself to go--for answers or for clues, if anything else.

No one threatens the Slytherin's general sense of security and gets away with it. Not if he could do anything about it.

This was his first step towards the pro-active elimination of his problems. Observe, Investigate, Integrate.

If this threat disappeared, he could finally go back to focusing on being the best student this school has to offer, safe and sound. He couldn't be the best if there wasn't a school to come back to.

The book turned out to be quite riveting. Dmitri didn't notice someone coming up to his chosen quiet area until they were basically in his face. The Slytherin boy barely held back his yelp of surprise, having been shocked out of his focused reading. Cussing the newcomer out--albeit tastefully--would have been the next logical step if not for the chuckle that came unwittingly out of Dmitri when he took in the boy's dapper attire.

The person didn't quite seem to notice him as he was a few seats behind the railing so he called out. "Oy." If the kid turned to look at Dmitri, he'd flash him a knowing--and maybe slightly mocking--smirk. "First time at a Blossom Ball?" Looking up an down, the Slytherin would take in the boy's deliberately-crafted formal outfit--a well-fitted attire consisting of a grey waistcoat, a modest black tie, and a pair of black suede shoes. Definitely looks like his first time, he thought to himself, as he compared his outfit of a mutilated school cloak, turtle neck, and black jeans to the one in front of him. The only piece of his ensemble that was worth nothing was his black-and-white striped scarf that fell down the length of his torso. Dmitri didn't even have to visit the changing rooms--his attire was so casual no one who saw him walking down the school's halls towards the Quidditch pitch would know he was attending some kind of formal event--much less a ball.

If the younger boy had any knowledge of previous balls similar to this, he wouldn't have chosen such stiff, restricting clothes, but Dmitri guesses he'll learn his lesson soon enough.

"Date running late, kid?" The Slytherin would add as an afterthought.

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Interacting with @Dmitri Jones

Shifting his golden hues over the pitch, scrutinizing the crowd below with obvious distaste at the moment, it came as a slight shock after he had resigned himself to wait till his date had arrived to hear an "Oy," come from behind him. Although he was slightly startled, thinking that he was alone in these parts of the rafters, he turned his head to the direction of the question that was not produced to him. Looking towards the one who had spoken, he nodded to the kid, observing his appearance and taking note of how much older the student looked to him.

Arms relaxed and he let his arms raise so that his hands could grip the railings of the rafters as he leaned back upon them. A reflex came over him as he looked over the boy, coming from the muggle world, he'd often sized up people when he first met them, as it was common of his mates residing outside the pale. Things like that didn't matter here though, strength was only one part of the aspect of people here, and he realized that as he watched a lot of the older students who didn't have an ounce of muscle be keener on mastering magical strengths. "That obvious?", he remarked as a sly grin came over his features as he looked to the other one. "Tryin' to scope out what I'm getting myself into." he offered as he shifted his body around to face the other one.

As the boy stated his next question he couldn't help but shake his head and offer a slight laugh. In response, Zykeal offered, "Clearing my head out, bit' early I think." then after a moment of hesitation he decided to continue, "but yeah, just waiting on... I guess I'd call her my date..." as this was still the question that lingered in his mind. The young one had no idea about the proceedings of such things and didn't exactly know what to call the girl at the moment. A shrug came from him as he looked back at the boy, "Did I disturb you though? I can crack on if you need me to." he said as he nodded ahead at the book, having noted it from his previous observation of the other.

Interacting with @Zykeal Lane | Open to further interactions

Dmitri wasn't one to miss small details in the environment around him--much less a person's body language. He certainly did not fail to catch the small yet substantial once-over the other boy gave him. It spoke of calculations--a certain weighing, in the other boy's mind on what Dmitri was and what he could do. From the casual and almost inconspicuous way the boy sized him up, the Slytherin could tell it was a habit he tends to do often. A boy beyond his years. But alas, not Dmitri nor the newcomer would ever know the other's qualities--not unless they saw it in action.

For the most part, Dmitri didn't look like what he usually did. The semi-permanent scowl on his face was replaced with a more stoic, if not soft, faraway look of a boy engrossed in the goings-on of his own mind. There were a lot of things that could--and would--go wrong tonight, and the endless possibilities swirled in the vortex that was Dmitri's restless thoughts. He surely did not quite look like the threatening, judging, malicious presence that he usually was in the light day.

"Tryin' to scope out what I'm getting myself into."

The older boy chuckled at that as he snapped his textbook shut and stowed it away in his messenger bag. He was done with the studying for a bit, now that he had an actual living company. Heaving himself up, Dmitri descended towards the railings a few steps to the left of the other boy, his eyes glued to the party going full swing down below. "I don't think you would know what you're getting into just by looking at that." He gestured towards the main area--all beaming lights and streamers, and jovial teenagers having too much to eat and drink. "Trust me, it's not gonna be all blossoms and fireworks. Not for long." The cryptic way he said it would make anyone slightly unsure and frankly, a little bit intimidated. There was a certain knowingness behind the tone of voice that he used.

Shaking his head, Dmitri would aim a small smirk at the other boy. "Well, I guess your date would be quite happy to see you, kid. All of you children clean up quite nicely, I've noticed." A sigh would escape his lips followed by a few clicks of his tongue. "Tsk tsk. Pity." He'd whisper softly, mostly just to himself. "It would be a shame for such an outfit to be soiled..."

He has never been a firsthand witness of the horrors of the balls long past, but the news articles and the haunted look of his peers still hound him to this day.

There were things brewing and most of them were lucky if they get out with a broken nose.

"And no. I wasn't disturbed, not at all. Guess I was just surprised someone else wanted far away from the general crowd, that's all."

Interacting: @Margo White
Mention: @Josette Rutledge@Aaron Jones

Noah had spent his entire walk back from the great hall after dinner wondering if he should actually even consider going to the pitch. It seemed rather dangerous... was no one worried about what would happen if a teacher caught them? But everyone was going, even when he reached the common room, he realised the few people that were there were also leaving for the pitch. Noah sighed, if only the girl told him what exactly was going on at the pitch. It seemed that everyone except for him knew exactly what was happening there. It just made him nervous that no staff had talked about this, meaning this wasn't a school event, whatever it was.

He decided it would be safe if almost every student was going to be there and left for the pitch, dressed in his jeans and a grey T-shirt, completely unaware of how much of a bad idea it was to go there dressed like that. But he didn't even know what was happening at the pitch, he couldn't be blamed for that, could he?

He stalked a group of people in front of him, if something happened, he wouldn't be the only person in trouble, at least. But nothing of the sort happened, the safely made it to the pitch and he sighed in relief. Although that relief slowly faded away as he realised where exactly he was headed.

Now that he neared the field, he could see candles and more people. And some of them were wearing dresses, formal dresses for a party or something. That's when Noah remembered about some ball that was going to be held that was cancelled for some reason, had the students just held the ball themselves? That wasn't a good idea...

He nervously kept walking forwards, although he quickly made for the stands instead of going to the main pitch as he neared, he was not going to be caught in the middle of that mess, at least. Plus walking in without a dress and a date would be pretty awkward too. He sighed, looking down at his clothes. They were as boring as they could have been, he had several good clothes for occasions back home and his parents even made him take a pair with him to Hogwarts as a precaution but he had no idea he'd be needing them. Well, he'd be spending his time in the stands, it was rather dark up there and not many people seemed to be choosing it, for obvious reasons.

His eyes widened as he finally got to the top and was able to look at the pitch, it was an impressive sight, they had put quite a lot of effort into it, it wasn't just a meetup event, it was a proper ball. It was quite a pretty sight, honestly. Noah couldn't deny it either, it was an impressive sight, his initial nervousness had lessened as he felt the excitement of it creeping up to him too. He walked a bit to move out of the stairway and leaned on the railing and looking down at the ball again, observing things now, maybe he would go down there for a better look later if he felt like it...