The Spring Soirée Spring Ball 2025

Outfit:

Reducio

Joseph giggled, watching Ruth pet Astra the delightful fluffball of a rock. "We're doin' well," he replied, flashing the rock a fond look. "Been trying to teach her to play fetch. It hasn't been easy but I think she's getting the hang of it."

In truth, their fetch sessions just involved Joseph tossing a chocolate bar across the room, then sprinting after him while Astra rolled behind. But hey, progress is progress, and delusion, after all, was always the best solution.

"Macaroons, huh," Joseph mused, glancing back towards the assortment of food at Pamela's suggestion. The mentioned snacks caught his attention almost instantly, golden-brown cookies piled up neatly in a corner. Well that certainly looked promising.

He grabbed one and took a bite. The rich coconut flavour hit like a revelation.

"Okay, you've got a point," Joseph commented cheerfully, already chewing on his second. "These things are so addictive they've got to be illegal."

He had to be the first chicken to ever enjoy macaroons this much.

"Ruth! Pam!"

The shout pulled Joseph's attention over his shoulder. A girl approached, her soft golden hair perfectly in place as she hurried through the crowd towards them. Her expression was pure thrill, like an excited child catching sight of a dragon for the first time. That is, until she laid her eyes on him. And her grin faltered. She offered him a polite smile, one that tried to ignore the absurdity of the poultry-themed icon standing before her.

"Cluck cluck, hi there," Joseph greeted warmly, his voice wavering a fraction. He returned the girl's smile, his gaze resting on her with good natured curiosity. He didn't mind meeting new people. Really. Except at that moment, he was subtly starting to feel like a farm-bred chicken dropped into the extensive desert.

He'd have been a rather awkward spot if Ruth hadn't come to rescue, introducing him to Stelle - or at least, that's what she'd called the girl clad in a flowing ivory-coloured dress.

"Salutations to you, Stelle." He added, offering a mock bow. "Astra says hi too." He nodded towards the rock friend lounging in his sling, beaming widely. Stelle should be able to tell he was gesturing to the rock - after all, he had taken great pain to have Astra's name imprinted onto the rock's outfit.

He glanced up again, his eyes lighting up as they picked out another familiar face among the crowd, scrambling towards them as she called out their names. Lyanna Oak, his saviour. She'd been the one who had singlehandedly heaved him up to the Hospital Wing while he had been paralysed in catatonia, allowing him to receive treatment until he had fully recovered. If not for her, God knows what would have become of poor Joseph.

"Lya!" Joseph exclaimed, waving excitedly. She finally arrived at the table, teasing him on how his outfit didn't match the theme.

Holy macaroon on a pogo stick. There was a theme for this thing? How had he completely missed something this important? Joseph made a solemn mental note to thoroughly read through the instructions next time. That is, assuming he ever dared attend a ball again. Luckily, Lyanna just giggled, clearly more amused than offended. That was a relief. The last thing he wanted to do was commit poultry-based crimes against fashion and friendship.

His mind was still lingering on Lyanna before he heard Ruth's voice chime in beside him, her arm outstretched as she performed a curtsey. “Will I have the pleasure of dancing with either of you on this very fine day?”

Joseph blinked. Of all the things he’d expected her to say, that was not on his list. “You want to dance?” he asked, honoured yet a little dazed. “With me?” Well, desiring a dance with Astra made perfect sense - who would turn down such charm and regality? But Joseph? Anyone bold enough to try that would have to share the silent judgement from the crowd he’d been soaking in throughout the ball. You’d have to be absolutely bonkers to volunteer for that.

Turns out Ruth wasn’t the only bonkers one.

Before he even had the time to provide a reply, a new presence swooped in.

A dark haired girl materialised beside him, her eyes glinting with curiosity as she studied his outfit. She introduced herself as Violence Bloodthorn, before nonchalantly throwing in a dance request. Joseph's mind took a solid second to reboot. He opened his mouth stupidly, then closed it shut. "Striking name," he noted, meeting Violence with a blank stare. "Um... dance?" He mumbled, any other words he was about to add dying in his throat. Pursing his lips, he turned to his friends, hoping their wit would be sharp enough to decode "now what?" from his excessive blinking.

Action: Eating macaroons, interacting with @Pamela Graham, @Ruth Fairchild, @Stelle Mims, @Lyanna Oak, @Astra the rock and @Violence Bloodthorn

Stamina 8 | Evasion 3 | Strength 5 | Wisdom 6 | Arcane Power 6 | Accuracy 7

Owl for interactions :>

Speech -- Thoughts

Pam was midway between stuffing her face with the fifth strawberry of the day when Stelle found them.

For the first two seconds, Pam forgot how to breathe.

She had always been impressed by the girl's appearance. Stelle always put in a lot of effort into her everyday look, compared to Pam who put much more importance to her sleep and her food, and spent approximately thirty minutes to look questionably decent before rushing down to breakfast. Now though, looking at Stelle dressed for an occasion, Pam had to admit she was the most breathtakingly gorgeous girl she had ever met.

Alright, you're staring.

Joseph's greeting broke her out of her reverie and she bit back an amused grin, because she couldn't imagine Stelle taking that very well.

"Hi Stelle!" Pam greeted her too, managing to not stumble over her words and hoping to God that the girl had not noticed her staring weirdly. Thankfully, she was saved from further embarrassment as another familiar face approached them. Lyanna. Pam raised her hand in a way of greeting her, "Hello! It's good to see you again!"

Turning to Ruth, she said softly, "I think we shouldn't stay here for too much longer. I don't want to be late to the Tavern. Let's leave soon alright?" Ruth, as expected, was less than eager to leave and Pam was almost sorry for the looks the girl was flashing her.

Almost.

Convincing Ruth took a few minutes and finally the two girls left, walking out of the hall to the Twisted Tavern.

4.

Colin felt really awesome dancing with Emmi. In this moment, everything in the world was just --- right. Colin couldn't explain it, but there was just something about this Emily. Somehow, Colin just felt that she knew to let him be --- Colin. He'd already learned that she could redirect his energy. But she also knew when to step back.

It also seemed that she had learned how to read his hints. "There's nothing beastly about you. Quite the contrary, in fact! You're sincere and kind. You might be a bit hyper, maybe... But you're far from beastly!" Colin's heart skipped a beat and his body tensed ever so slightly. Of course, she didn't know. How could she? Colin reckoned she could guess...

On the other hand, maybe she'd only heard that he was super weird? The boy that doesn't wear shoes and likes to crawl around in the wildflowers? They boy the jumps in the lake at every opportunity and howls at random moments? The boy who wears a wolf fang around his neck? As they danced, Colin's mood shifted again. Away from the darkness and back towards happiness. No, she didn't know. But Emily needed to know.

It was only fair. All his friends knew.

And wasn't Emily a friend?

Well, he loved Emily. His heart danced at the mere thought of her!

And then, softly, so only he could hear, Emily began to speak of her own secrets. Well, maybe not secrets. Colin reckoned that Scout must know and Casey, too. She spoke of her parents being --- absent? What did that even mean? Were they dead? And then Auntie. Her smile failed for just a moment. Colin's gaze flicked between her lips and her eyes. There was something here. Something deep.

The noise of the music and the laughter and talk of the other kids was getting to Colin. He was trying to understand what Emily was saying. Deep inside, he knew he needed to understand this girl. His girl, for so he hoped she would be. She spoke of her love for all kinds of creatures, how it brought her joy to care for them!

Her smile brightened when she spoke of getting her Hogwarts letter. Colin wondered. How do Muggleborns get their letters? Surely it must be a bit of a shocker for an owl to just show up and expect payment for a letter it's just delivered. Though, knowing Emily at all, she'd probably have a nice owl treat to give it, even before she knew about owl post! She spoke of dhampirs and werewolves and her strong desire to befriend and help them.

Colin smiled. This girl had a heart that could easily match his. He felt that deep inside. He knew she was one to hang on to!

But he also felt increasingly agitated as the evening went on. He desperately hoped that she wouldn't leave or think he didn't like her. No. She probably wouldn't. This Emily was probably the one girl in all Hogwarts that would actually understand! Colin found himself lost in what she was saying. Her sudden squeak barely registered in his ears.

They must have bumped into another couple! Suddenly Emily crashed into him, and Colin caught her. She was so close! Her cheek rested against his chest. He wanted to kiss Emily! He also knew that Casey would give him a swift kick if he tried it! And probably Cursa too! And thank God neither of them were around right now! Thankfully, Emily seemed to sense that the crowded hall was getting to be too much for him! He'd hardly said a word to her the last fifteen minutes or so!

"We can go to the garden! Oh Colin! Do join me, won't you?"

Colin nodded vigorously as the dance ended and he let her go. It was so nice dancing close to Emily! He knew he'd been blushing the whole time. He could still feel the warmth of it. He missed the warmth of Emmi's cheek against his chest.

"Yes! Let's get out of here!" Colin practically jumped at the chance to get away from the crowd with Emily! "Whoa. There's so many people here!" Colin felt both annoyed by the crowds but also exuberant! "Come on Emmi!" Colin slipped his wand from its sheath and he jabbed it towards the ceiling, crying: "Metelojinx!"

Colin laughed merrily!

He had no idea why he chose that spell! With any luck, they'd have a beautiful cool shower of rain to make their dramatic exit from the ball! "OWOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" Colin howled as he laced his fingers with Emmi's and ran full speed from the Great Hall!

Interactions: @Emily Shephard || Mentions: @Meyra Lancaster | @Jun Mayumi Mochizuki | @Alyss Gilmour

Action: casting metelojinx and leaving the ball with Emmi!

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.

Outfit

Reducio

Date: 11th April 2025

Thankfully he managed to slip in unbothered and clung to the high decorated walls afraid of what would await him if he dared step foot into the spotlight. Matthew didn't need any attention on himself, he simply wanted to observe from a distance and enjoy his own solitude in peace. For just once he wished for some quietude amongst the noise, so he made sure to leave room for some.

Fiddling with his dance card he stared vacantly at the empty lined he knew would likely not be filled. Why would anyone want to dance with him? School ceilidh's had taught him some traditional dances but he was far from the proficiency of the pure student body who likely grew up with balls every other weekend. No Matthew's card would likely remain as pristine as when it was tied upon his wrist, a reminder of his social standing and failure to better. Crossing his mind, at that moment, was the very realisation that a year ago prior he had promised himself things may get better, and if anything they were now decidedly worse. This year he would not be so optimistic, how could he be.

Leaning upon the window he looked out into the emblazoned sky as the sun was setting and gentle freckles to stars were beginning to decorate the endless expanse. Tiny flecks of insatiable energy burning so bright they could be seen millions upon millions of miles away. Looking up at them he wondered if stars would think the same of them if the roles were reversed, if he were not the observer but the observed. Would be burn bright or would he be lost to the infinite darkness? Of course, it was just yet another question without an answer. A philosophy of hurt that hooked daggers into his brain exhaustingly.

Pulling his body away he let the side of his face fall away from the glass loosing the soothing cool chill. While he was worrying about his place in the world others around him were simply having fun and truly living as he let the world pass him by. Yet somehow he just couldn't muster the strength. Heavy eyes watched the crowd until they fell upon a familiar site, that of one Miss Nabi Park, another complicated friendship he knew better than to question in his current state.

She was with him.

Aamon Athanatos was a person Matthew would gladly pay any price to not have to interact with ever again. For he was the kind of parasitical force that brought out the very worst in him, almost enough to make him actually believe the things snakes whispered behind his back. Matthew could truly see himself becoming the poisoner he was deemed to be if it meant freedom from the privileged prat. Yet as he watched them it wasn't fury that overcame him but something far more complicated.

The typical stoic and even cold demeanour of the girl he had come to call friend was softer under his glow. Nabi looked happy and that joy burned away the pit of anger he had summoned from his sight. Aamon was an enemy simply because of stupidity and circumstance but Nabi had chosen to like him anyways, after all the crap he put people through. Nabi had stood by him and decided to form her own opinion. If she saw something in Aamon that he didn't perhaps it was simply because he was too blinded by hurt and grief. Perhaps this very cycle of anger was just further preventing his ability to move forward.

Matthew was so concerned about whether or not he deserved to be forgiven and pondering over the moral quandary of whether he was a bad person he had stopped working towards the opposite. He had let the pain consume him so deeply he couldn't see things for what they were, and in the process he had hurt others. The young snakes emotions had always been his downfall, they had always fallen to the extreme but he was doing nothing to fix it. The first step in being better was as simple as doing it. A boy who lived in his head constantly needed to start actioning, mere thought wasn't enough.

Thus if ever the pair looked his way, even if for the briefest of moments he would flash a genuine smile for them. Even if Aamon didn't fully deserve his forgiveness, Nabi deserved her happiness and he wouldn't dare be the cause for its prevention. She deserved more than that, and maybe even, so did he. So with divisiveness in his corner he pushed off the wall and entered the party properly, determined to live properly despite the risks and consequences.

Trunk // || STA 6 | EVA 8 | STR 1 | WIS 9 | ARC 9 | ACC 9 ||
Abilities: Calming Presence, Prodigals DADA
Action: None

| Open to Interactions |
@Aamon Athanatos & @Nabi Park

Outfit

Reducio

Date: 11th April 2025

Nikolai knew he had to come, he knew he had to face it, and he knew that Hans would be by his side no matter what. None of those things made the return to Hogwarts or Hogsmeade any easier, as much as he desperately wished for them to. The whole world was just still spun on an axis of which Nikolai felt he had very little control. However, he would not cry and he most certainly would not be beaten by this. If not for himself then for his brother. Hans deserved a night free from his bullshit.

Smiling at the jesting whisper as it caressed against his ear he revelled in the bliss that the pair could finally joke like old times. Even if his brain still used the change as a reminder of how close he had almost come to tearing apart their bond, to see it intact brought him a sliver of peace in a river of uncertainty. Lightly shoulder barging the boy back he returned the snarky humour with some of his own, "No flirting Jenssen, keep it for the ladies. Also you don't need to tell me I look good we both know I've always been the more attractive of the two of us." Play fighting as they went Nik satisfied himself in the knowledge that at the very least he had his anchor in the storm. Yet as the doors of the hall opened he realised just how intense the winds and waves would be to weather.

The room may have been dressed up in different clothing, draped in new décor but it was exactly the same as before. Exactly the same as the day everything started to go wrong and as the scene opened up to him memories of the past flittered across his gaze showing him the mistakes of his past. The sharp gasp was quickly covered with a cough of which he excused. Hiding from Hans was likely impossible but he still found himself stumbling to fix his face and deny the overwhelming urge to flee. Clearly unaware of the spiral Nikolai was finding himself heading towards Hans set off to leave him. As much as the boy wanted his brother to lean on, it wasn't fair and wasn't his job. No Nikolai held no intention of holding back Hans from enjoying himself and thus shooed him off with haste and cheek.

"Go for it, and hey take your time, you should put your dance moves to good use tonight. Show these Hogwarts girls the famous Jenssen charm." Nikolai did everything he could to hide the strain from his voice and seem casual but it betrayed him with his final words, "Just stay safe ok." The heavy burden of the words a reminder of his paranoia and repressed trauma from the incident that only happened a matter of months ago. So much had changed since then and hardly any of it good. Still Niko fought against the surge of nausea that overcame his stomach and meandered towards a table near the edge of things. While not as far as the prior year Nikolai still found himself distancing from the crowd, scared his pessimism would falter under their nonchalance. It wasn't fair to be angry with them for their joy but he was certainly angry with himself for the inability to feel the same.

Unaware of its build up a single tear streamed from his eye dotting its way down his cheek. A manifestation of the pain he had to fight against to be here. Wiping it away he shook his head out and closed his eyes to focus on his breathing. In and out until the world could steady itself and his brain could catch a break. Nikolai was determined not to ruin this, he was determined to power through and have a good time no matter the cost. If he had to repress the pain to do so he would but Nikolai was rather trying to feel his way through it. The boy was entitled to these emotions and denying them would only endure more hurt down the line. So silently to himself he began to let the tears fall and allow the pain to rest within him, untangling itself from the knots he had once tied them in.

Eventually a smile would come to him despite the tears. Eventually he would understand that while this was hard, it was worth it. To live is to endure and while much had been destroyed in the last year, he had gained far more than he had lost. For the first time he genuinely felt freedom was within his reach and soon he would face the most important time of his life. For now, he should let himself breathe, let himself relax. If that meant crying through it, then so be it but his smile carried with it hope and the boy was inexplicably used to finding hope in even the darkest of places. In spite of the pain, Nikolai found himself happy.

Trunk // || STA 6 | EVA 10 | STR 1 | WIS 9 | ARC 6 | ACC 10 ||
Abilities: Fearless, Advanced Casting
Action: None

| Open to Interactions |
@Archer Duncan as Hans Jenssen

Interacting with : Reducio + Open to interactions from any Hogwarts students or iNPCs!

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #8e19d7 Thoughts: italics

Devon smiled at Luce’s compliment. “Thank you,” she replied. She briefly tensed at the unexpected touch, but quickly warmed to the idea. She didn’t mind it; it wasn’t something she had expected the other girl to do.

As Luce talked about her garden at home, Devon couldn’t help but giggle. Her family resided in an apartment complex in New York City, so she wasn’t used to having a personal garden. She liked the thought of one, however! Central Park was the closest thing she had relatively nearby, and she liked to stroll through it, looking at the different flowers and trees. “That sounds so sweet!”

A smile crossed her lips at the mention of Father Christmas, or as she knew him, Santa Claus. She was old enough not to believe in Santa Claus, but she wasn’t about to ruin it for Luce. “Aw, it sounds like Father Christmas brought you such an amazing gift! I’m glad you’re enjoying it. Hehehe. I actually enjoy reading, but it would probably get harder to read with the names of all the children,” she smiled.

Devon’s green eyes sparkled at the question about her favorite Christmas gift. Being the youngest child, and the fact that her parents didn’t make a lot of money, she learned early on that Santa Claus didn’t exist. But it also meant that her expectation of gifts was already pretty low. She never asked for anything that she thought was going to be too expensive … at least in her opinion. “I think my favorite was my violin from a few years ago. I had one I borrowed from school, but this is my first personal violin,” she smiled, a few tears showed in her eyes, but she quickly blinked them away.

A giggle escaped Devon’s lips at the thought of the Garden of Eden that was supposed to take place on the grounds. “I intended to go there at some point … after coming here to the ball. I hoped to meet a few new people and dance a little, then go to the garden. But, yes, I’d love to go,” she smiled, devolving into more giggles about the snacks. She had to admit, she was tempted!

Beaming, Devon nodded at Luce’s deal. “That sounds like a plan, I’d love to go!” She exclaimed. It was an exciting opportunity. Growing up in New York, Devon had to learn to be independent. There were plenty of places she had no issue with going by herself. But, she enjoyed the opportunity to go with someone, and the sound of her new friend coming with her excited her. “Depending on the timing, maybe we could see other attractions, too. I’m not familiar off hand about the tours for the Statue of Liberty, though,” she admitted.

A light flush bloomed on Devon’s cheeks. Was she alright? She waited a few moments before answering to make sure Eonaria was out of earshot and immediately shook her head. “I don’t know … maybe? It’s just … I came here to make friends and maybe dance a little. I somehow scared a girl off before by waving to her when she was sitting alone, and now Eonaria seems to be acting funny around me … It clearly has something to do with me. I tried to be friendly. Is it my accent? Did I talk too much? Is it my dress? Or maybe my perfume? I just feel bad that I somehow messed up …” She shook her head, worry etched in her face. “Sorry, I don’t want to spend all night criticizing others … I don’t like gossip … While I would like to try to find them later to try to talk to see what I did wrong, I don’t want to focus on that,” she quickly shook her head a second time. She was well aware that she was rambling and didn’t attempt to rein it in. Her feelings were a little hurt, but she had to move past them.

At the mention of purebloods, Devon tilted her head to the side and blinked in surprise. “What do purebloods have to do with this? I have no problem with purebloods. I don’t ask about blood status at my school. The few that I know are purebloods, and I get along with them,” she replied naively. She blinked again. “Why, what does your grandfather say about purebloods?” She asked, her voice squeaking again. She was curious now.

Devon looked back at the guy in the chicken suit and laughed. “I have read and seen chickens in fantasy, so yes, I agree. It’s just a surprise, though,” she laughed again.

“There are four. I’m a Horned Serpent. The others are Thunderbird, Wampus, and Pukwudgie. But, as for the ceremony … when first years arrive at the school, we go to the entrance hall of Ilvermorny. There’s a Gordian Knot there, which we step on. Four wooden statues surround that spot. Once we step on it, the statue for our house would react. For me, I barely placed my sandals on the knot when the Horned Serpent statue’s forehead glowed for me. And honestly, I love my house, I feel at home there,” she giggled as she recounted it. “How was yours?” She asked in return.

Reducio

Note: 881 words

Action:
Talking to @Lucy Channing, and considering moving to the Garden of Eden. Mentioning @Eonaria Kabukimono and @Robin Marie. Noticing @Joseph Sims.

Lovely Creature | Calming Presence
Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 6 | Wisdom: 7 | ArcPower: 7 | Accuracy: 6

~Outfit~

Reducio

“I miss the days when you used to stalk me.” Odette said lips pursed in a playful frown as she took a seat next to Robin. The moving plates of food, which Odette had just placed on the table, had immediately caught Robin’s eye, and she smiled gratefully at her friend, scooting a plate toward her. “It was so much easier to find you without all the yelling. I’d just go in the direction I feel the weird stares coming from.”

Robin laughed maniacally, pleased that Odette never held her stalking habits against her. Robin had been pretty creepy back then, and Odette took it with the ease of someone who had a lot to gain. In this particular situation, it worked out wonderfully. Robin got to handpick her Hogwarts best friend, and Odette got a loyal customer and an unpaid assistant! Robin thought she might talk to Odette about that particular fact for their second year - she wanted a cut in earnings. Maybe she would somehow get an owl to the girl over the summer, expressing her interest in financial compensation for her loyal responsibilities (which mostly encapsulated Robin giving potential clients her wide-eyed, unsettling look until they caved and gave money to Odette - it worked wonders.)

“It would be pretty easy to stalk you here, actually,” Robin responded. “Lots of people - you’d never know whose eyes you felt on ya. Trust me. I’ve been watching people all night.” Now that Odette was closer to Robin, she was able to get a good look at her outfit. Robin’s jaw dropped open - the girl was always beautiful, but seeing her out of the school uniform and all fancied up was completely different. She was stunning, and Robin felt the need to tell the girl immediately. It seemed Odette was thinking the same thing because she spoke before Robin got the chance.

“I may be biased, but we are, without a doubt, the hottest witches here. I’d say most well-dressed overall, but unfortunately, a chicken and his date get the honor of that title. Sorry I’m late, by the way. You won’t believe how heavy my coin purse is! Did I miss anything?”

“Shit, Odette, you’re the hottest witch here. I’m just a - wait, did you say chicken?” Robin paused halfway through her sentence, perplexed. Robin imagined a bird in a tuxedo flapping around the Great Hall, desperately trying to keep up with its waltzing human counterpart. “...and his date? Please explain, or I’ll lose my mind. Oh! And yeah- I think the only thing you missed was that some girl I don’t know waved at me. Why do you think she’d do that? She could be a Veela.” Robin shivered, emphasizing her fear of the creature. The first time she heard of Veela and half-Veela, she was immediately terrified for her autonomy. How do you protect yourself from something that messes with your mind? The wizarding world continued to baffle her every day. She had strayed far away from any students she suspected of trying to lure her in with their magical allure.

It wasn’t that she was downright prejudiced - she understood how it could sound to want to not involve yourself with an entire race because of their ability. As a person who despises the prejudiced, she wouldn’t avoid the Veela if it weren’t for a specific section from a book she had read recently. A particular therapist referenced the concept of “consent,” which intrigued Robin, so she went on a deep dive on the internet in feminist forums and learned all about what the word meant. After reading about the mind-boggling effects that Veela and part-Veela can have on regular people - people like her who just happen to find someone maybe a slight bit attractive - Robin realized she could have her consent whisked away immediately. No, she will absolutely not take risks when it comes to Veela. She was in charge of her own actions, thank you very much. Disturbed by her own thoughts, she began to hastily eat some of the food Odette had brought over. "Just tell me about the poultry."

Action: None

Stamina ◦ 4 | Evasion ◦ 7 | Strength ◦ 1 | Wisdom ◦ 8 | Arcane Power ◦ 8 | Accuracy ◦ 7

Ability: Evasive Maneuvers

Reducio

Talking to @Odette Leone | Gossiping about the chicken AKA @Joseph Sims | Asking Odette's opinion on Devon @Kaitlyn Connor Open to Interactions (even tho Robin might not be!) #38466B | #862327|

₊⁺⋆ Date: February 12th, 2025| Number of words: 776| Dialogue: #aa5713 ⋆⁺₊

Stelle had not intended to dance. In fact, she had not planned to remain at the event for very long. Yet something about the warm and festive atmosphere of the Great Hall had drawn her in more than she had anticipated. Though her curls were slightly loosened from the evening’s activities and a faint anxiety hummed in her chest, she now stood among Ruth, Pamela, and Joseph, feigning a composure that betrayed itself in her eyes. The ivory and gold dress she wore seemed to absorb the candlelight with an almost ethereal softness. She had chosen the attire out of courtesy, out of formality. But it was undeniable that it made her feel especially confident.

When Lyanna appeared with her usual energy, moving through the crowd with the fearless grace of someone unfamiliar with shame or social boundaries, Stelle could not help but arch her brows in surprise. Did she know her? Barely. But her presence was impossible to ignore. She chose not to speak to her just yet. She felt like a fish out of water. Uncomfortable.
She had attended similar social events over the past two years, yet never had she felt this way before. The mention of the chicken pulled her from her reverie, and for a brief moment, Stelle allowed a smile to cross her face—subtle, as if humour were something one had to consciously recall. She glanced sideways at Joseph, her expression a mixture of confusion and resignation. Why did the entire situation feel like an ill-conceived joke? It was, admittedly, a clever one, though she did not entirely understand it.

Ruth’s embrace came with that familiar warmth that usually comforted her, and Stelle responded, feeling the bits of discomfort slowly fade like sweat cooling on her skin. She could always count on Ruth—or at least she believed so. —Thank you, Ruth… you look lovely as well—. she replied, her smile more relaxed than before.

Stelle’s arrival at the small group was not exactly triumphant. Not due to a lack of presence—her stride was as graceful and poised as one might expect from someone like her, and her ivory gown seemed to glide rather than brush against the floor—but because the atmosphere shifted upon seeing her. As if her very presence reminded everyone, suddenly, that they were part of a scene that required decorum.

Her smile was serene but laced with observation. Joseph, with the chicken perched on his head and his trembling greeting, prompted a slow blink and a subtly raised brow from Stelle. It was not mockery, but it did carry a hint of discomfort. The sort of doubt one keeps to oneself in an elegant room, rather than voicing aloud.

—It’s a pleasure, Joseph—. she replied, making an effort to maintain her smile. Her voice quivered with a soft chuckle as she took in his appearance. Then she turned her gaze to Astra. A rock? Her chuckle resurfaced. She tilted her head slightly, apologetically, wearing that polished expression she used when she had no appropriate reaction that would not cause offense. —It is… peculiar—.she commented, with the same tone one might use upon encountering a little-known magical creature. Gently, she added,—I suppose we all have something that makes us feel accompanied—.

She simply nodded, as if acknowledging the existence of an exotic yet harmless magical being. Her fingers tightened against the hem of her dress, hidden from view. It was then that she saw Pam, and something within her softened. Stelle noticed the shift in the girl’s eyes, the barely concealed hesitation. And instead of feeling uncomfortable, she smiled—truly—for the first time that evening, gently but sincerely.

—Hello, Pam—. she said, her voice slightly warmer, as though the girl’s mere presence had returned a measure of steady ground beneath her feet. She made no mention of the odd look nor the moment of pause, choosing instead to return the greeting with modest elegance. Pam’s quiet remark to Ruth did not escape her notice, though she pretended not to have heard it. She understood well that need to slip away before everything became too much. And yet, as she watched Ruth hesitate between staying and following Pam, and Joseph awkwardly adjust his posture to support Astra, she found herself wondering where she truly belonged.

Sometimes, chaos could be beautiful too. Even if it came with a chicken on one’s head.
It still struck her as entirely absurd. She took a deep breath once more, listening to the music with greater attention as she looked around. Though she wished to remain composed, a part of her heart quickened at the thought that someone might ask her to dance.

ABILITIES: Part-Veela
VISUAL: Here!
ACTIONS: --
INTERACTIONS + MENTIONS:@Ruth Fairchild @Pamela Graham @Joseph Sims @Lyanna Oak
OPEN TO INTERACTIONS!

Warning: Felix swears a lot.

𝙾𝚄𝚃𝙵𝙸𝚃: Reducio

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▪ 𝙴𝙽𝙲𝚈 ▪ ▪ FELIX ▪ KOLBECK ▪ ▪ DURMSTRANG iNPC ▪ SIXTH YEAR ▪

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𝙸𝙽𝚃𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙲𝚃𝙸𝙾𝙽𝚂: Reducio @Evelynn Decipio as Greta @Matthew Campbell as Nikolai

The only reason Felix ever agreed to return to the magical school hidden within the Scottish Highlands was because of his friends. It seemed like every time they went to the cursed school something ended up almost killing them. Explosions, slugs, hags, killer games of chess, and seeing exes were all things that Felix should have wanted to avoid like any sane person would, but the idea of not being there to protect the few friends he had... Yeah, he couldn't fucking stand it.

So, there he stood, grumbling complaints, brooding, but very much present. He had 'accidentally' lost his costumes matching antennae the night before. They had, most mysteriously, managed to get launched into the Great Lake. He didn't need them, he had worn the cape the costumer had carefully painted to resemble a death's-head hawkmoth.

Yes, he was dressed as a moth, with a fantasy style costume beneath the cape. He wore a black button up shirt he had left half-buttoned with layers of silver chains around his neck as well as his shoulders. The costume was also adorned with various belts, like suspenders or just a spare one around his waist. They really had no purpose other than looking cool. A dark wine-coloured sash wrapped around his waist like a belt, fastened with a silver star-shaped buckle. He wore a pair of tight black pants and an older pair of black leather boots on his feet.

Beside him stood a bouncing ball of energy; his girlfriend of four months now, Greta Franson. Felix caught himself staring at her far more often than he was willing to admit. But how could he not? She stood there looking like a damn treasure, ever the ethereal beauty draped in hues of light green. He had wanted to tell her how beautiful she was when he had first seen her wearing the dress he'd bought her, but despite the poetry rattling around in his head all he had managed to tell her was '... you look nice', like an absolute loser.

Still, he had been trying to be the kind of boyfriend Greta deserved, which meant being respectful and keeping his paws off of her and not having his lips constantly sealed against hers. ... Which was difficult, because she was really hot. He had lost control a few times, however, like during the Valentine's Day event when they had made out beneath the starlight despite Greta's nervous giggles.

"Hold on..." His arm slipped around her shoulders, trying not to nudge against the wings on her back as he tugged her into a protective half-hug. Icy eyes scanned the dance floor for any threats. When he decided the space looked innocent enough, his grip loosened. She smelled intoxicating, like wild flowers. It made his head dizzy.

He was in trouble.

They were in need of a distraction. His eyes scanned the crowd again until they fell on a familiar face. Nikolai. He tried to move them towards him.

Action: Entering

Permission granted to godmod Greta.

Interacting w/@Meyra Lancaster♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ Mentions @Aamon Athanatos
Metamorphmagus: - ♥ ♥♥♥ ♥ Outfit: Sleeveless blue top and long white skirt, blue ribbon in hair

♥♥♥ Donning a very simple outfit, Xiomara entered into the Great Hall. She always felt a little underdressed when it came to these events but she had done her best to meet the theme with the clothes that she owned. She wore a dark blue vest and paired it with a long white skirt that she tucked the vest into so it looked like a dress. She added a blue ribbon into her hair, bringing it up into a high ponytail. Around her neck, her prized possession - her camera - hung alongside a simple golden coloured necklace.

As she entered, she noticed some dance cards. In truth, she felt a little nervous. Last time she came to the ball, Aamon had escorted her and danced with her. It was a great time - until she had disappeared to go to the bathroom and returned to chaos. But at least, she knew someone would dance with her in that instance. In this, her card would probably end up empty. Could she not just dance by herself? Did she really have to find partners? Either way, she picked it up and put it around her wrist, trying to mask her nerves as she walked in.

Immediately, she beelined it to the food table - filling it up with a little of everything and grabbing one of the drinks at random. Xiomara started to stuff her face without hesitation, downing the drink to accompany it, as she sampled everything. She wanted to make sure that she tried and tested all of the dishes since that was always the best part of these events.

Taking her plate, she maneuvered through the crowd as she went to find somewhere to sit. Maybe outside? Trying to eat whilst walking proved pretty difficult when she was holding another drink in the other hand and she almost walked into someone, "AH! I'm so sorry! Oh- er- you're a first year too-" She started as she recognised the Gryffindor from classes but could not quite remember her name. Maya? Mehra? Mira? She took the girl's outfit in, "Wow, you look amazing! I'm sorry, I didn't get anything on your outfit, did I?" She continued, suddenly aware that she would be mortified if she had managed to spill onto the other girl's stunning outfit. She looked like a princess!

"Sorry- Would you like some photos?" Xiomara offered, trying to make up for her mistake after giving the girl a once over and not spotting any obvious spills.

Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 1 | Accuracy: 6
Race | Abilities: Metamorphmagus | Minor Appearance Shift/Skilled Transfigurer
Items: Wizard Camera, Dance Card

ACTION: Entering, eating a variety of food and having a drink