7 May 2025, 10:51
Love Guru Round 2: Kissing Booth
April 4, 2025
The Spring Soiree was fast approaching. Dennis was hard at work in the courtyard. He would make sure that this ball, the only ball he’d attended to this point, would be simply unforgettable! With a few more additions, he stepped back from his work and put his hands on his hips. He had constructed a makeshift booth that read: “Love Guru Kissing Booth” and a smaller sign on the booth that read in hastily scribbled font: “A Sickle a Kiss.” It was the latest of his cockamamie ideas and it was sure to do just as well! After all, kissing redheads was good luck…or so he told himself.
Satisfied with his work, Dennis sat down on the other side and waited. The seconds turned into minutes as people looked at his booth and giggled. It slowly dawned on him that he never, in fact, kissed anyone other than family, and he was starting to think the fork swapping with Ruth didn’t count either. The mere thought of it sent a shiver down his spine. But, he was determined that his first “real” kiss would not be icky. It would be good. Right? The only way to do that was to train! This was training, that’s all this was!
Dennis was too lost in his thoughts and never heard his first customer approach. The cling clang of the sickle in the tin can was what alerted him. He snapped awake and looked up. It was some Slytherin boy. Dennis grunted…beggars can’t be choosers. Dennis stood up and, before the Slytherin could say he was just messing around, Dennis swiftly gave him a peck on the cheek. The other boy stumbled back in surprise not expecting Dennis to commit.
“It wasn’t even that much of a kiss,” the flustered boy complained. A crowd now gathered to see what the commotion was about.
Dennis snorted and said, “Wash your face and maybe it might be better. You taste like the ocean.” There was laughter now and the Ravenclaw felt like he was hitting his stride. He clapped his hands and said, “ok who’s next?”
This time a Hufflepuff girl stepped up, slightly older than Dennis. She plopped her sickle into the jar and puckered her lips. A mischievous look in her eyes as if daring him to attempt it. Well, that couldn’t be helped. Dennis leaned in, and unable to force himself to kiss a girl on the lips aborted and gave her the same swift cheek kiss as with the boy. The girl huffed and looked condescending as if to say ‘that’s what I thought.’
Well, that just wouldn’t do at all! Dennis took his advertisement, and added the following: “3 sickles for a lip kiss; 7 sickles for a big kiss.” He gave her an equally contemptuous look, this time daring her. It seemed like Dennis, though, had met his match as she put in the additional 6 sickles. She then said something to her friends who were there. Dennis couldn’t hear all of it but it was something about calling him a coward and they laughed at him. He didn’t quite hear for the rest because of the ringing in his ears after realizing what he would have to do.
“Fine.” Dennis said defiantly, drawing yet another look from the Hufflepuff as she leaned in, sure that Dennis would cower again. Dennis leaned in, a hand on one side of her cheek and pressed his lips against hers, as if it was a desperate attempt to be done with the whole ordeal. He went back for a second one for good measure, then Dennis pulled away. She tasted like honeydew, and if he had taken the time to process what just happened, he’d have to admit it was quite fun. The girl though was dumbfounded that Dennis was indeed not a coward.
“That was horrible. I…should get my money back…” she stuttered now embarrassed. Dennis couldn’t tell if she really thought he was a bad kisser or perhaps this was her first time to kiss too? Either way she never actually asked for her money back. The drama though was enough to garner interest and soon there was a small line of 3-4 people to get a smooch from the Love Guru.
Next was another Slytherin boy who dropped in the single sickle. This time it was much easier as people seemed to be having a good time with it. “At least you clearly take a shower, that last guy though…” Dennis commented humorously.
Another guy…wait…another guy? Yes, another guy dropped in 3 sickles. Dennis gave him a tentative kiss on the lips, pulling away quickly. Dennis gave the boy an impressive look and said, “Not bad. Soft lips. You will be going places soon!” Great now he was giving love advice based on how well the person kissed even though it was only his 4th.
Next was a Gryffindor girl, then a Ravenclaw. One sickle…then 3 sickles…until the Hufflepuff girl was back with another 6 sickles. “You again?” Dennis asked incredulously.
This time the girl looked shy and unsure and mumbled something about a dare as her girlfriends giggled behind her. Money was money. Dennis went in again, this time slower with more intention, less desperate. Was he…getting better at this? When he pulled away the girl was left stuck there for a moment before she realized it was over already. “I think you are going to be very lucky in love someday. Just not today.” Dennis said with a teasing smile.
A tap on the shoulder let her know it was time to move on. And just like that, Dennis passed his afternoon making bank and kissing all assortment of boys and girls. Some good kissers, some horrendously smelling, some in it for practice like him, and still others in it for the laughs. All total Dennis earned 40 sickles and a whole lot of experience. He was satisfied that he would indeed know how to kiss if ever the opportunity arose at the Spring Soiree.
The Spring Soiree was fast approaching. Dennis was hard at work in the courtyard. He would make sure that this ball, the only ball he’d attended to this point, would be simply unforgettable! With a few more additions, he stepped back from his work and put his hands on his hips. He had constructed a makeshift booth that read: “Love Guru Kissing Booth” and a smaller sign on the booth that read in hastily scribbled font: “A Sickle a Kiss.” It was the latest of his cockamamie ideas and it was sure to do just as well! After all, kissing redheads was good luck…or so he told himself.
Satisfied with his work, Dennis sat down on the other side and waited. The seconds turned into minutes as people looked at his booth and giggled. It slowly dawned on him that he never, in fact, kissed anyone other than family, and he was starting to think the fork swapping with Ruth didn’t count either. The mere thought of it sent a shiver down his spine. But, he was determined that his first “real” kiss would not be icky. It would be good. Right? The only way to do that was to train! This was training, that’s all this was!
Dennis was too lost in his thoughts and never heard his first customer approach. The cling clang of the sickle in the tin can was what alerted him. He snapped awake and looked up. It was some Slytherin boy. Dennis grunted…beggars can’t be choosers. Dennis stood up and, before the Slytherin could say he was just messing around, Dennis swiftly gave him a peck on the cheek. The other boy stumbled back in surprise not expecting Dennis to commit.
“It wasn’t even that much of a kiss,” the flustered boy complained. A crowd now gathered to see what the commotion was about.
Dennis snorted and said, “Wash your face and maybe it might be better. You taste like the ocean.” There was laughter now and the Ravenclaw felt like he was hitting his stride. He clapped his hands and said, “ok who’s next?”
This time a Hufflepuff girl stepped up, slightly older than Dennis. She plopped her sickle into the jar and puckered her lips. A mischievous look in her eyes as if daring him to attempt it. Well, that couldn’t be helped. Dennis leaned in, and unable to force himself to kiss a girl on the lips aborted and gave her the same swift cheek kiss as with the boy. The girl huffed and looked condescending as if to say ‘that’s what I thought.’
Well, that just wouldn’t do at all! Dennis took his advertisement, and added the following: “3 sickles for a lip kiss; 7 sickles for a big kiss.” He gave her an equally contemptuous look, this time daring her. It seemed like Dennis, though, had met his match as she put in the additional 6 sickles. She then said something to her friends who were there. Dennis couldn’t hear all of it but it was something about calling him a coward and they laughed at him. He didn’t quite hear for the rest because of the ringing in his ears after realizing what he would have to do.
“Fine.” Dennis said defiantly, drawing yet another look from the Hufflepuff as she leaned in, sure that Dennis would cower again. Dennis leaned in, a hand on one side of her cheek and pressed his lips against hers, as if it was a desperate attempt to be done with the whole ordeal. He went back for a second one for good measure, then Dennis pulled away. She tasted like honeydew, and if he had taken the time to process what just happened, he’d have to admit it was quite fun. The girl though was dumbfounded that Dennis was indeed not a coward.
“That was horrible. I…should get my money back…” she stuttered now embarrassed. Dennis couldn’t tell if she really thought he was a bad kisser or perhaps this was her first time to kiss too? Either way she never actually asked for her money back. The drama though was enough to garner interest and soon there was a small line of 3-4 people to get a smooch from the Love Guru.
Next was another Slytherin boy who dropped in the single sickle. This time it was much easier as people seemed to be having a good time with it. “At least you clearly take a shower, that last guy though…” Dennis commented humorously.
Another guy…wait…another guy? Yes, another guy dropped in 3 sickles. Dennis gave him a tentative kiss on the lips, pulling away quickly. Dennis gave the boy an impressive look and said, “Not bad. Soft lips. You will be going places soon!” Great now he was giving love advice based on how well the person kissed even though it was only his 4th.
Next was a Gryffindor girl, then a Ravenclaw. One sickle…then 3 sickles…until the Hufflepuff girl was back with another 6 sickles. “You again?” Dennis asked incredulously.
This time the girl looked shy and unsure and mumbled something about a dare as her girlfriends giggled behind her. Money was money. Dennis went in again, this time slower with more intention, less desperate. Was he…getting better at this? When he pulled away the girl was left stuck there for a moment before she realized it was over already. “I think you are going to be very lucky in love someday. Just not today.” Dennis said with a teasing smile.
A tap on the shoulder let her know it was time to move on. And just like that, Dennis passed his afternoon making bank and kissing all assortment of boys and girls. Some good kissers, some horrendously smelling, some in it for practice like him, and still others in it for the laughs. All total Dennis earned 40 sickles and a whole lot of experience. He was satisfied that he would indeed know how to kiss if ever the opportunity arose at the Spring Soiree.
Adult: Makaio Kāne | iNPC: Maria Leung de Almeida