Gala of Mysteries Fall Ball

Full Outfit * Interaction: @Pericles Dralt Mentioning: @Evelynn Decipio & @Hanako Tone

Eun-ji didn’t wait for any kind of reaction after telling Eve about her last vote. She was not interested in arguing further and she could tell Peri didn’t want to linger any longer either. And who could blame him? The mint-scented air had grown thick with tension, like poison waiting to strike. If she wasn’t eager to stay, then he had all the more reason to want to remove himself from the situation. Luckily for him, Eun-ji was happy to oblige.

Locking their hands, the two Ravenclaws finally slipped back into the whirl of the ball. It was not hard to tell that there was plenty of mayhem happening while they gone… luckily, as it was later in the evening, things seemed to be settling down. A ball without deadly disaster? Who would have thought? The witch was almost impressed. However, all those thoughts were swiftly pushed aside once her partner in crime finally spoke up. Eun-ji shook her head, unwilling to let him make wrong assumptions and wallow in groundless self-doubt. While she understood why he felt that way, he was missing some vital points.

“I wouldn't be so pessimistic about it. I get why you might feel discouraged but her hostility is a gift wrapped in thorns.” She argued calmly. “Think about it - she was prickly before we even started playing the game and she barely knows me. There was no reason for that.” Eun-ji's lips curved into a knowing smile. “She acted like a child, seeing someone else holding a toy they desperately want.” Call it a woman intuition but she was pretty sure about that one. She might have fumbled with her own hearts matters, but reading others? That was as natural as breathing to her. “If she'd been sweet and welcoming, that would have meant you mean nothing to her. Or at least nothing more than a friend. But her senseless disregard of you? This spite?” Eun-ji shook her head. “That's jealousy in its ugliest form. Granted, she might have been a little bit too pissy about it, but the fault does not lay with you. It's most likely that she was just annoyed because she didn't understand her own reaction. Trust me, people can be incredibly oblivious when it comes to love and the frustration, which often accompanies it, is had to overcome.”

This was Eun-ji speaking from experience. A bitter smile twisted her lips as memories of her own obliviousness surfaced. Hana. Even thinking his name made something in her chest ache. She remembered how that oblivion turned to denial, and then, only after her feelings hit her like a curse this summer – sudden and violent, had they morphed into a reluctant acceptance. Not that she was happy about it. At least Peri seemed to have a fighting chance with Eve, but her and Hana? She hardly dared to entertain such fantasy. “Besides, Eve comes across like a very competitive person so people ganging up on her and not following her train of…” she paused for a moment, wondering whether to sugarcoat her words, considering Peri’s attachment but eventually decided against the idea. That was not who she was. “…flawed arguments, probably didn’t help her mood either so don't let it get under your skin, alright? She just needs time to figure it out.”

In truth, the witch still wasn’t happy with the Gryffindor’s attitude. Sure, she understood the twisted logic of it but that didn’t mean she had to like it. Even if Eve did not comprehend her own emotions at the moment, Peri and Eun-ji were merely playing at romance tonight, but Eve had walked in with Allister on her arm, all genuine smiles and no pretense so what right did she have to treat Peri that way? The Ravenclaw knew the redhead probably didn’t mean it but she always kept her own emotions on a tight leash so she simply couldn’t relate.

Too invested in trying to motivate her fellow housemate, Eun-ji failed to notice the handsome boy, who had so sneakily stolen her heart, reentering the ball area as well. It was not that she wasn’t thinking about him, rather she was scared to look for him in a crowd and witness him flirting with somebody else. “We should dance while we still can.” Looking at the offered hand, the ballerina smiled, her eyes sparkling with excitement. At last, something she could get behind one hundred percent. “Yes, please. I’d love that very much.” She nodded, accepting Peri’s hand without a moment of hesitation. Whatever happened to their plan, they deserved at least some fun.

Action: Re-entering the thread from the Whispers of the Dark

Roleplaying as Lee Ye-jun from Beauxbatons – Encyclopedia

Violet in English, Red in Korean and Blue in French

A wave of relief washed over Ye-jun as he absorbed Tone’s words, the tension in his body easing ever so slightly. At the same time however, he couldn’t help but chuckle and shake his head. “Now that’s a massive exaggeration,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Not even in my wildest dreams would I consider myself a sweetheart.” This, he firmly believed. Although his recent track record of losing his temper wasn’t exactly something to be proud of, he wouldn’t categorise himself as a bad guy. Sweetness however, was a quality he felt foreign to his nature. To be honest, he wasn’t even particularly friendly. His instinctual distrust of others often clouded his judgement, leaving people to describe him more as cool or self-assured rather than kind. “But hey, I appreciate the compliment.”

In truth, Ye-jun was pretty sure if there was someone, who deserved to be called a sweetheart, it would be Tone himself. He embodied the kind of friend everyone longed for, always ready to have your back. The Beauxbatons student was pretty sure that this cheerful and compassionate persona was not all there was to him, but that didn’t diminish the sincerity of his actions. Ye-jun held a profound respect for the younger boy, admiring his ability to stand by others without expecting anything in return. It might not be the healthiest way to live, but who was he to judge? His own ways were hardly any better.

“Hmm…not sure I agree with you on that one.” Ye-jun replied with a wry smile. “At the moment, my heart seems a bit too violent even for my own taste.” There was a touch of self-deprecation lacing his tone. “And while I’m endlessly thankful for your unwavering support and pulling me back before I royally to fuck up, you won’t always be there to do so.” Although fully aware that his new friend meant every word, Ye-jun wasn’t naive. The reality was a harsh mistress; they lived in different countries and attended different schools. “Unless you’ve secretly decided to move to France and forgot to mention it in your letters,” he teased, hoping to lighten the mood a little.

“I believe you. You just get caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time and can't help but let your protective side out, right?” Ah…a good argument but at a certain point, you could no longer hide behind that excuse. Ye-jun unfortunately, passed that threshold a while ago and couldn't pretend otherwise. “I’ve been getting caught up in the wrong place at the wrong time far too often recently. I’m not sure that excuse holds water for me anymore. Plus, it’s not always my protective instincts that get me in trouble.” After all, his struggle with anger management had kicked off when he hurt his classmates last summer and that was solely for his own gain. It wasn’t exactly heroic behaviour. Well, technically he was ‘defending’ himself, but that could have been handled differently. He was not weaker than those bastards, so he had no excuse for that particular act of violence. Not that he would ever tell Tone about it.

“Anyway… you’re right. Let’s shelve my flaws for a while and just pretend we’re normal teenagers. After all, this is one of the few Hogwarts balls that hasn’t ended in life-threatening chaos. We should really try to enjoy ourselves. Sooo, is there anything in particular you’d like to do?”

Interacting with: @Kim Sato as Tone Bakugo

Full Outfit * Interaction: @Pericles Dralt Mentioning: @Evelynn Decipio & @Hanako Tone

There was only one counterargument to Eun-ji’s analysis and she did not bother commenting on it. Peri was perceptive enough to refute his own claim once his emotions settled - he was too clever not to. It went without saying that if Eve wanted to have a private moment with her date, she wouldn’t have joined the game in the first place. No, this wasn't about wanting to be alone. Eve got along just fine with every other participant, except maybe Matt but that was hardly surprising. That guy was like a splinter under the skin—irritating without even trying. So yes, Eun-ji was certain Eve must have been jealous.

Luckily, while her housemate did not share more than two sentences regarding the subject, he did agree with her at least to some extent. And though he may have not looked overly optimistic, his thoughtful expression spoke volumes. Thoughtful was good. One needed to take time to think about their feelings to figure them out... although perhaps not here. The Hogwarts ball might not have been the ideal place for love riddles, but it was perfect for what came next: dancing! Especially when many students decided to clear out and the first tones of tango tickled her ears.

She took Peri's hand, surrendering to the pull of the music. Eun-ji prided herself on her independence, wore it like armour in every other aspect of her life but dance…dance was different. While dancing, her behaviour shifted the exact opposite way. Freely surrendering to the other person and letting him take the lead without any resistance. Well, mostly freely. This was tango after all, where resistance was part of the game. A little push and pull was simply necessary. Like a little game of cat and mouse. Eun-ji always thought this particular dance was the most beautiful oxymoron. No other dance made you so close to your partner while demanding to wear a mask of reluctance.

Unsurprisingly, it took virtually no time for the two Ravens to find their rhythm. Both were excellent dancers and both enjoyed the art immensely. It was bound to show. For a moment, Eun-ji’s world narrowed to just the two of them. A tangle of red and black, moving across the dance floor seamlessly as if it was the easiest thing in the world. She twirled then dipped, falling backwards only to be caught by Peri’s strong arm with practiced grace. She let herself be pulled towards him, bodies pressing against each other as if they were lovers. By all accounts, Eun-ji should have been terribly uncomfortable, considering she did not do well with physical touch, but dance was different. In dance, intimacy transformed into something else entirely. No matter how close they got, the meaning was simply not the same. This was passion yes, but for the artistry. Her heart burned not for the body but for every beautiful movement. It was about the perfect arch of a spine, a perfectly timed steps and the precise angle of a turn.

Smiling, the witch circled the ivory haired boy like cat, all grace and hidden teeth, only replying to his remark once they were back facing each other. “Oh but I digress…” She purred playfully as they moved sideways, gliding across the floor in perfect sync. Only on the dance floor did she come alive like this. “I think not asking me was the first smart thing he's done ever since he started pestering me.”

Of course, it was not a conscious decision made by him. Most likely, the thought of asking her didn’t even cross Hana’s mind. In fact, did he think of her at all? What would flash through those beautiful eyes if he saw her now? Would jealousy twist his handsome features, or would she find only indifference? Eun-ji was almost scared to think about it yet she couldn't stop. “It has its benefits though. I get to dance tango with someone who actually knows what they're doing. That’s a memory to cherish, wouldn't you say?”

Action: Dancing and talking with Peri

Interacting w/@Aamon Athanatos ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Mentions Chaos
Metamorphmagus: - ♥ ♥♥♥ ♥ Outfit: 60s Reporter (Long Skirt, Blouse, Glasses, Flats, Camera Bag, Hat w/ Flower)

♥♥♥ Xiomara frowned as Aamon spoke about the girl who had just gotten engaged. It was not as positive as it had looked when she was snapping the photos. The girl was a victim? Trapped in a web? She had promised him that she would stay away, so she would do just that but she could not help the pull of her heartstrings. Guilt. Even though she had absolutely nothing to do with the situation, was it not bad for her to just stand by and watch it? Then again, what was an eleven-year-old supposed to do? She could barely manage to control the colour of her hair, let alone get involved in matters of someone's engagement.

Shaking her head, she tried her best to push the thought of her mind and focused on the dancing, and the person in front of her. Every so often, she would pull out her camera and take a photo or two before resuming the dance. After some time, she excused herself to grab a drink, kind of exhausted. She needed to rest her legs for a moment as her energetic dancing took a lot out of her. This gave her a chance to catch her breath too. As she had excused herself, she decided to pop to the washroom too. All of the juice had gotten to her bladder!

Returning, she found herself surrounded by chaos. She had no idea what she had missed, someone said something about a snake and another person mentioned dungbomb but she could not see anything specific. Lifting up her camera, she went ahead and grabbed a few more photos as she tried to spot any evidence of these things happening. They could have been rumours, they could have actually happened. Either way, she struggled to find her way back to Aamon in the chaos of everything.

She eventually heard a voice announce the end of the ball. Sighing, Xiomara looked around once more, trying hard to spot her date whilst also avoiding getting caught up in anything. Failing to see him, she sighed. Wait - was that him by the exit? Ugh, she had no idea as the figure left quickly.

Following suit, the Ravenclaw left the Great Hall kind of miffed at herself for getting lost in everything. She did not even get a chance to say bye to Aamon or thank him for the, otherwise, wonderful time - at least prior to her sudden departure. Darn her tiny bladder!

Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 1 | Accuracy: 6
Race | Abilities: Metamorphmagus | Minor Appearance Shift/Skilled Transfigurer
Items: Wizard Camera, Notebook, Pen and a large Bouquet

OOC: I'm so sorry for suddenly departing from the thread. Whilst super late, I figured I owed you a reply to close our interaction.

Thread Left

Roleplaying as Lee Ye-jun from Beauxbatons – Encyclopedia

Violet in English, Red in Korean and Blue in French

Despite many students leaving, the grand hall of Hogwarts was still alive with the sound of music, chatter, and the soft shuffle of elegant shoes across the polished floor. Ye-jun shot Tone a brief, bemused smile, shaking his head a bit. “Yes, I’m known to smile…occasionally,” he said coolly, though the warmth reserved for his closest friends only, lingered in his tone. Even with tussled hair, caused by Tone’s arm around his neck, he looked every bit the handsome young man he was—confident, composed, though perhaps a little distant, his quiet demeanor often mistaken for coldness. Beside him, Tone was the complete opposite. All energy and eyes constantly glinting with excitement, his bright smile practically lighting up the room as he bounced on the balls of his feet. Yet he never seemed to mind how stoic Ye-jun could be at times. And tonight, the air between them felt just a little more charged than usual. Perhaps because they had seen each other for the first time after a long time.

Lost in thought, the Beauxbatons student almost missed his friend’s fingers slipping into his pocket. He did pay attention when they came out however, revealing a delicate silver necklace with a small, intricately crafted cat pendant. Ye-jun blinked, momentarily taken aback. The necklace was beautiful—cute but with an understated strength to it. The cat was smart in its design, its eyes seemingly watching over him. “Happy Birthday, Ye-jun. Eun-ji told me when your birthday was.” Ye-jun arched an eyebrow in surprise. “My birthday is still three months away though…” He commented, his lips curling into a small, amused smile as he ran a finger over the cat’s sleek form.

When the Mahoutokoro student pressed the necklace in his hand, Ye-jun’s smile faltered for a moment. No one had ever given him something so thoughtful before—let alone something that held such a personal meaning. “I...Thank you…I really appreciate it,” Ye-jun said, his voice low but sincere, his gaze lingering on the necklace now lying on his palm. Despite his genuine gratefulness though, he hesitated. He had always been someone who kept his distance. Someone, who preferred to keep things impersonal and controlled. But the necklace felt important, more than just a gift. Accepting it seemed like a big deal but somehow, he couldn’t even imagine refusing.

After a brief moment, Ye-jun handed the necklace back to Tone and turned around slowly, his back now facing the younger boy. “Yeah…help me put it on. The backup guardian might come in handy, when you are not around.” He said, his voice hesitant yet trusting. The grand ballroom of Hogwarts shimmered under golden lights, the soft hum of tango music filling the air. Ye-jun stood at the edge of the dance floor, his sharp eyes scanning the crowd, his dark hair falling slightly into his eyes, his posture effortlessly regal, hiding the emotional turmoil. Thankfully a distraction came soon enough. “Ah…Eun-ji's back.” His cousin’s name slipped out as soon as he noticed her on the dancefloor. It was a sight to behold, with her partner matching her level of skill effortlessly. It looked like their dance was just ending but even those few moments were a pleasant picture to witness. Good. She is having fun then…

Interacting with: @Kim Sato as Tone Bakugo