The Spring Soirée Spring Ball 2025

Outfit

Reducio

Date: 11th April 2025

Another year, another spring ball. It was crazy to think that in such a short span of time how much could change, how much could be lost and gained. Another year older should have meant another year wiser, it should have meant he would not be nearing an anxiety attack walking into a place he attended on a daily basis, and yet Matthew was practically shuddering. For once again he was almost entirely alone. From the moment he was born he had been hurting people and apparently that behaviour was a vicious cycle he was perpetually conditioned to replicate. Another turn of the wheel, another year alone.

Last year he had at least had a best friend, someone he thought would never leave his side. All this night did was remind him how alone he truly was. Rowan had used the night, a year prior, to inform him that she was leaving, she had ditched him and while it had resulted in his first kiss that too was now a distant dream. Matthew's story was littered with failed relationships and so as he appeared at the opening of the great hall he wondered if there was even any point in entering. Sure Ruth might be there, or Avis but was that truly all he had. Could he really count his amount of friends with one hand. Supposedly Siobhan was also part of that list but he had hurt her irreparably and while she seemingly forgave him the journey was far slower for himself.

Reaching up to his head he squashed the large paper mâché toadstool cap he had fashioned for himself down burying his eyeline in an attempt to hide from reality itself. The pressure drew his eyeline down to his crocs and a memory of Beauxbatons flashed through his mind; the controlling puppeteering of Gideon holding him still in captivity. Attending tonight would be dangerous for many reasons, all of which were deliciously tempting him to turn around, to give up on the whole ordeal and seek solace in bed. But running was not his style, he was a fighter even if it got him in more trouble than was typically worth. No he couldn't let this melancholy poison his veins. Tonight Matthew could be left behind and Mushtthew could exist. An alter ego capable of doing this.

Fantasy had always been his escape, ever since he was a child and to deny himself this would be just another form of self inflicted torture. Sometimes when he was able to breathe he remembered to remind himself how lucky he was. He remembered the little boy who cried in his bed at night wishing he could be special, wishing that he may be able to be a hero like in the stories he read. Well Matthew certainly was no hero, but perhaps Mushtthew could be. Perhaps change simply required a first step. So he took it. Stepping into the gorgeous transformed great hall the little mushroom decided to be brave, decided to be the hero of his story. Not for himself, but for the little boy that begged he would one day be.

Trunk // || STA 6 | EVA 8 | STR 1 | WIS 9 | ARC 9 | ACC 9 ||
Abilities: Calming Presence, Prodigals DADA

| Closed For Interactions At Present|
@Gideon Athanatos, @Nabi Park, @Winnie Harper

Speech -- Thoughts

Pam sniggered, not holding in the snarky comment which rose to her tongue, "One clumsy princess spinning another clumsy princess." She said dramatically, "That sounds like us." She watched Ruth pile some sweets into her plate, noticing her inclination towards the coconut flavored ones. "Do you like coconut?" She asked curiously, focusing on the chocolate covered strawberries at another corner. Pam had always loved chocolate since she was young. The discovery of the heavenly combination had come much later, since her father was not a fan of strawberries.

Ruth calling out for Joseph made the girl look up towards the boy, who was very awkwardly weaving through the crowds of people. Pam couldn't help the fond laugh which escaped her, liking the boy even more with every interaction the two had. Lowering her voice, she told Ruth, "I feel like he'll get into a lot of trouble, don't you?"

Her eyes then fell on the rock in his hand, and Pam couldn't help the happy giggle that escaped her, "His rock is as cute as him." She turned away from the boy, attempting to not laugh in his face, because the situation was way too funny.

"The macaroons." Pam advised in response to Joseph's question, "They're amazing." She resisted the urge to give the boy a once-over, knowing she would totally lose it the second she did. "You should totally peck at it and do justice to your outfit." She told him, attempting (and probably failing) to keep a straight face.

April 11th 2025
Speech: Bold #257379
Thoughts: Bold Italics
Mentioning: @Scout Fu-Hai and @Colin McCoire

Good. Good...

McCoire looked like he was keeping himself together as Casey watched him with Emily. He chewed his sandwich without breaking eye contact with the pair of them. He knew Emily was in good hands - Colin was mad but he wasn't without self-restraint - but he couldn't help but think about how he'd go about his time with Emily. He knew as well as Scout that Emily was the world's best friend. More importantly, that was how she liked it.

Whether it was because she hadn't reached The Phase yet, or that she simply wasn't interested, Casey was still relying silently on Colin to remember that her snuggles were platonic unless she confessed otherwise. Or else... Things will get incredibly awkward.

But much like the vast majority of expectations, Colin looked like to be exceeding Casey's so far. He wasn't leering at their girl buddy like he wants to snog her to Hell and back at the very least. Instead, he was being quite gentlemanly with her by the looks of it. He still had that love-filled glaze in his eyes from what Casey could see, even when he was standing at the other end of the room, but he was quite tame at the minute.

Time passed and the hall got fuller with partygoers and their dates beside them. Polishing off his sandwich, Casey decided this was a good enough time to leave the two be. Casey smirked. He had nothing to worry about, really. Colin was just delighted to be with everyone's favourite snuggle buddy. And if worst case scenario he did jump the shark with her, Casey knew Emily could bring him back down to a level of normalcy. If Colin could chase a ball for Emily, he could certainly sit if she commanded him to.

Casey blinked. Whoa. That really put into perspective just how gaga Colin was for the Huffie.

He chuckled at the realisation. It was cute. Bonkers, but cute.

He slipped in between the other guests in the room as he left the Great Hall to stretch his legs. He'd come back after a bit. He promised Emily a dance after all. But for now, she and Colin could look out for each other without him watching over them.

_{Word Count: 381}

Action: Hanging around before leaving for the Garden of Eden
_{He'll probably return to the Great Hall later on!}

Stats: Stamina: 8 | Strength: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Wisdom: 6 | Arc Power: 6 | Accuracy: 7
Abilities: Fearless | Poison Resistance

2.

Colin was determined not to let the impending full moon ruin his mood too much tonight. He was already put off from eating or drinking anything because of that peculiar nastiness known as wolfsbane potion. He would rather lick goblin mucus than drink that stuff, but the alternative was worse. He'd met wolves off the 'bane and they truly were monsters. Irredeemable. Uncontrollable. He thought back to the Wolf Moon when he'd snapped at the wonder twins. Mey and Jun. Colin smirked. There was --- something --- about the two of them. And of course, there was also the wake of shoved students, scattered papers and tossed satchels that always followed behind him when he loped through the corridors as the Moon approached...

Anyway.

He was pretty sure old Three Fangs was off his 'bane. He narrowed his eyes. Normal wolves, you could tell. They were human inside. Three Fangs? Not even really wolf eyes. Just --- dead. Soulless. One of these days he'd have to tell Emmi. He loved the girl! That much he knew. Somehow she'd stepped into his heart, made herself at home, put on some hot choco and Colin found himself completely smitten! If only she knew what power she actually had!

He decided that he would have to ---

"YEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPP!!!"

Colin's lanky body tensed and straightened up as someone rocketed into his from behind, wrapped her around him and held on tight! It was all Colin could do to hold himself together from the Shephard Tickle Snug!

"I'm here~!" she cried happily! She arrived along with her usual calming presence, but also that faint scent of forest and adventure and blood and wild flowers that could only mean one thing. Emily Shephard had arrived on the scene! She teased him about being early! Colin laughed merrily. She teased him about trying to impress her. Colin blushed deeply.

"I mean ---" he began.

Colin looked into Emily's eyes. Beautiful hazel eyes that looked back into his own. "Eyes of Sky," he whispered. Someone off to the side said "Awwwww!" as they hugged. Colin glanced over, blushing deeper. Twas some first year kid staring at them! She must have noticed Colin's glance. Or was it more of a glare? She turned away suddenly, more interested in the snacks than in the couple she'd been watching!

Other kids started arriving, and soon the whole hall was filled with their chatter! Mostly they seemed to be first years. Colin wondered if he'd actually be the oldest kid here! One older kid did finally arrive. Salinger. She approached. Colin thought she might actually say hi. Her eyes just scanned the room, the way his had when he first arrived. She walked by him and Emily as if they didn't even exist. A slight snarl played about her lips. What was her problem anyway? When she passed by, Colin made a rude face at her back and giggled. Whatever! Maybe she hates werewolves? Colin wondered.

"Wonder what her problem is, eh?" he asked Emmi, nodding towards the sixth year.

"Um!" Colin suddenly felt that curious anxiety. Racing with Emmi. Healing Emmi. Blowing things up with Emmi. Running around the grounds with Emmi. Exploring the forest with Emmi. All of these things Colin found so easy! He looked into Emily's gorgeous eyes again. Why was it suddenly so hard to say she looked nice? He'd pounded into his head everything Casey had warned about back in France. He didn't want to scare Emily. He would just have to learn patience! Even though it was soooooo hard!

"Em! You look really cute! I- I'm glad you said yes to coming with me!" The world around him diminished. Once crystal clear conversations and scents diffused. His entire world in this moment was Emily Shephard.

What he meant, of course, was you're the most beautiful girl here! You're smart and talented. And for some reason you decided to go to the ball with the werewolf...the day before full moon. How can I not fall in love with a girl like that? Colin sighed. A familiar voice brought him back into the world of the ball. Mey. One half of Hogwarts Most Annoying First Year Twins.

Wait.

When had he started thinking of her as "Mey" and not "Meyra"? Probably Wolf Moon. There was something about the two of them, Mey and Jun, something in their eyes. Something --- Colin bit his lower lip. Something that could wait.

"Emmi?" he asked. "There's music and all, right? Um!" He gently reached out and took Emily's hand. The one where the dark mark was now all but faded. Colin smiled gently. Emily had been through a lot. He felt proud and happy that she'd let him into her world. A thought struck him. She needed to know about him. He needed to bring her more fully into his world too.

"So," he said softy. "Like Beauty and the Beast. Em. Would you like to dance with the beast?" Colin asked with a twinkle in his pond scum green eyes and a merry smirk playing about his lips.

Interactions: @Emily Shephard || Mentions: @Eonaria Kabukimono | @Aly Salinger | @Meyra Lancaster | @Jun Mayumi Mochizuki

Action: Surprised by his girl!

Werewolf Skills | Evasive Manoeuvres | Werewolf Skills
Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 12 | Arcane Power: 7 | Accuracy: 12
Colin is carrying his enchanted satchel which has his brooms, a number of potions and some other useful things.

April 11th 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire

Emily grinned when she and Colin faced each other, giggling more so when the newly characteristic blush of his washed over his face. You'd think Colin was a Metamorphmagus with all the red cheeks these days, changing from pale to pink and in some cases crimson like some kind of human chameleon. Emily was starting to find it quite adorable.

She caught him distracted by the passing of an older student before she herself got distracted by the face Colin made at her. Colin nudged Emily and she smiled softly. "Some people just have one of those off moments, you know?"

But the second the older looking student left their periphery, Colin returned to a sweet stammering state. "Em! You look really cute! I- I'm glad you said yes to coming with me!"

Emily's cheeks glowed and she laughed shyly. "I was right in choosing blue then! And of course I was going to say yes when you asked me! I had a strange feeling you didn't have much company planned to spend the day with, and I would've felt bad turning you down when you're already such fun to be around... So it was natural I'd go with you!"

She stood and smiled at him for what felt like forever. Colin always had this indescribable aura that made her cheeks hurt with all the fuzzies and smiling she would do when she saw him. It was proof enough to let Emily know she could always feel at ease with him.

Then Colin asked the golden question. Dancing.

"Oh!" Emily made sure to prepare herself for this. Dancing with Casey was arguably easier since the boy wouldn't give a flying toss about the circumstances. With Colin though... Emily didn't know why it felt more complicated to do something so natural with him. Perhaps it was because she held such respect for him that she didn't want to compromise that by being seen as anything less than what she was capable of. Even if it was just dancing.

But Colin had said something that stuck out to Emily. Like Beauty and the Beast, he said. Being compared to Belle was surprising enough, but for Colin to compare himself to a beast... Emily regarded him softly and suddenly all her pent up worry fizzled out as she clasped her gentle hands around his.

"I'd love to dance with you, Colin. You're no beast... You're amazing." She placed one hand to his waist while she continued to hold his hand with the other.

She let Colin lead. It was kind of funny. Emily was a little shorter than Colin. She felt like she was skipping along with him while his skinny legs glided along the ground. Remembering how ticklish Colin was, Emily made sure to keep her hands gentle against his waist as they spun around together. She beamed the whole time they danced.

"If anything, you're more of a prince charming than you might think, my friend. And even if for a moment you feel like a beast... I'll always be there for you until whatever ails you disappears."

She laughed a little. She didn't expect to get psychological this early on in the evening. "You know me, Colin. Always finding charm in every living creature no matter who or what they are. And that extends to you! And I think you're exceptionally charming...!"

_{Word Count: 562}

Action: Dancing with my boy!

Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 7|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace

[ april 11, 2025 ] .♥︎ .outfit

It was the gentlest spring in time out of mind. For weeks, nature held its breath as the world lingered in a hush of late-winter gray. And so the spring soiree came, right when the season somersaulted into green and blue and pink paint, and the sky itself brightened as if it too, had been waiting to exhale. The air was softer and gentler, mingled with the scent of damp grass and lavenders that stirred old memories and hinted at barefoot mornings and cool breezes to come.

Isabella Beatrix Flores made her entrance into the Great Hall like the first true breath of spring. Her outfit for the occasion was quite nice, if she did say so herself; the light blue cloth clung to her delicate frame like ripples on a lake, and the skirt flared just enough to sway as she walked. Luckily it ended right above her ankles, or no amount of care could prevent it from getting ridiculously dirty tonight. Her honey blonde locks had been loosely curled, half-pinned with daisy charms and tucked behind a headband, yet still cascaded in an artful disarray down her back.

The Great Hall had been transformed into a medieval sort of setting, air thick with sickening scents of roses and adolescent love. The long tables that used to stretch across the room had been replaced with small, round ones, each adorned with different centerpieces. Upon her arrival into the area of fairy lights and flowers, the girl was immediately greeted with a butterfly card thrusted into her arms by some impolite student (“muggles”, she would mutter disdainfully). As she made her way towards the lavish bouquet, Isa couldn’t help but notice the sheer amount of lovebirds that seemed to be attending the ball together. Obviously she would have expected the senior students to couple up, but it was quite shocking to see fellow eleven year olds blushing peculiarly around each other as if they were the main characters of an absurd teenage romance story. Pathetic. Then again, the young pureblood heiress was far too pompous and smug to “crush on” or even catch feelings for anyone.

She exhaled, brushing away some invisible dust from her dress as she gratefully picked up a mug of butterbeer from a nearby table. The Flores would roam the Great Hall for a while, weaving through crowds with practiced ease until a figure stepped directly in her path.

She collided with him in a thud, the glass of translucent orange liquid teetering dangerously before splashing straight down the front of the boy's extravagant suit.

Silence.

[ hans ] @Archer Duncan . —— ♥︎

STATS:
(30 - Special Race)
Stamina: 6| Evasion: 7| Strength: 7| Wisdom: 3| Arcane Power: 0| Accuracy: 7
ABILITIES: Werewolf
TRUNK: Accio!
ACTIONS: Arriving, talking with Dennis, inviting him to dance!

Trigger Warning: Winnie is going through some tough times. Themes of depression and anxiety will be present in my writing.

‿︵‿୨✿୧‿︵‿

Interacting: @Aly Salinger

Outfit: Dress | Hair | Shoes

Mentioning: @Mathias Pride | @Gideon Athanatos

English | Irish | Internal thoughts

The theme was 'light' fantasy, but Winnie Harper had never done anything half-hearted. Once she had started to piece together her costume, it had quickly escalated. Her long copper locks were curled, half of the tresses delicately braided and pinned up with the help of shimmering pearl pins and more flowers that had been woven in. The shimmering dress she wore was spun from an iridescent silk-like fabric in hues of pink, purple, and yellow. Large, intricate floral appliqués adorned the dress. As Winnie walked through the Great Hall, the fabric glittered and scattered light in a kaleidoscope-fashion, as if it were embedded with starlight. The waist flowed into a puffy tulle layered skirt edged in ruffles. On her feet were shiny gold metallic strappy sandal heels, which had fabric flowers attached to the straps.

Her light blue eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Mathias. Standing at a towering 6'3", the guy was kind of hard to miss and usually stuck out alongside the half-giants. An uneasy feeling settled into the pit of her stomach when she failed to spot him. No, no, no... He wouldn't leave her alone, right? Her hands started to clench and unclench, her pink painted nails leaving crescent shaped marks in her palms. Don't panic, they'll see. They'll see the cracks. The voice in the back of her head screamed at her as she straightened her posture and pushed herself onto her tip toes to try and spot other familiar faces. When she saw Aly she raised a hand to wave at her, a wave of relief washing over her.

Winnie's psyche had taken a beaten since the end of last year, when Gideon had pushed her out of the owlery. Few people knew she had been pushed, with narrative circling that Winnie herself had jumped (please do not claim your character randomly knows the truth). Needless to say, the last thing the Ravenclaw wanted was to run into the terrifying innocent-looking Hufflepuff.