The Garden of Eden Spring Ball 2025

Outfit

Reducio

Date: 11th April 2025

People say that burning to death is one of the most excruciatingly painful ways to go. People don't know the half of it. As the inferno blazed and Matthew threw himself in its path to protect Isadora he could never have imagined the pain that would shred his skin bare; the smell of burning flesh that would linger sickeningly within his nostrils; the shrill sound of screaming that would ring within his ears forever more. The fire was ravenous, it fed upon him but with all the devouring hunger of a wild animal and it would have consumed him entirely, had it not been for her.

Isadora, stood against the flame as his valiant hero, a shadow of ash and strength emerging from the blaze that covered his vision her incantation came swift and precise and in any case saved Matthew's life. In her arms he was as protected as he had ensured her to be. A pair who chose selflessness, who chose to protect each other against their own interests. A bond forged in fire for evermore. At least it would be, if they survived it, an answer that was not yet determined given the perilous dangers of the garden.

With the majority of his senses rendered useless from the agonising burns he relied entirely on sight and his hold of Isadora whom hadn't let him go for a second. Together they were a unit, together they were safe. Screams still echoing through his ears Matthew was unaware if they were his own or that of another, for everything simply festered in red, raw pain and all he could do was follow Isa's lead. Eyes dishearteningly falling on her blackened dress he searched desperately for his wand so that he may attempt to aid in their escape as unlikely as it may be. No, he couldn't think like that. They had protected each other once, it was too late to give up.

Resilience fighting in his eyes that flared wildly still, with the fire's illumination, Matthew desperately fought to push on. With the intense heat and smoke it was hard to make out much of anything but staring up at Isadora's face he saw her begin to shout, though his hears could still muster no real perception. Watching as fear burned away and left only determination Matthew continued to support her as best he could with a reassuring grip around her arm and all the courage he could muster under the weight of such devastation. They just had to last a little longer, and help would come. It had to come.

Paying close attention to their rear while Isadora howled out her muffled alarm, Matthew's eyes watched in horror as a lit garden post teetered and fell launching its inflamed self towards them. Instinctually his hand found the ironclad grip of his cherry wood wand and as if blessed from the phoenix core within he managed to extinguish the flame that burst towards them with a "Extinguo," screamed so vividly it snapped him back to reality as crackle, flame and screams became clear again. The artistic soundscape of hell suddenly entered his awareness and he knew more than ever just how necessary they needed to flee.

"Isa, Isa we need to get out of here. Leave me if you have to." A frightened boys final act of bravery as his lungs began to splutter from the smoke and ash that littered the mouth he was now suddenly aware of once more. The young boy was dead wait and would only slow her down. With pleading eyes he begged her to save herself regardless of the consequence, for after all she was the flower, he was merely a thorn.

Trunk // || STA 6 | EVA 8 | STR 1 | WIS 9 | ARC 9 | ACC 9 ||
Abilities: Calming Presence, Prodigals DADA
Action: Extinguished A Flame (Rolled, Screenshot can be provided)

Interacting with @Isadora Toussaint-Vilaça

April 11th 2025
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
@Colin McCoire - @AngelFyre McCubbin - @Simon Kincaid

Fortunately for Emily, her hopes for a rain fall came in clutch, the clouds ahead rolling until the raindrops fell over the burning venue. However, the rain was only as good as the caster, as its downpour wasn't strong enough to flatten the flames. Like the rain, Emily was struggling to fight off the fires that were slowly closing in around her and the others.

Her anxious gasps and frightful whimpers were overshadowed by Colin's howls of excitement. Of course, a boy exposed to danger long enough would have surely found tricks to see a "bright side" of sorts to it. That was very "Colin McCoire" of him. And yet that was perfect for Emily to hide behind him as the chaos around the Garden persisted, although his use as a shield was short term when she heard Casey's cries of agony. Her attention cut to him on the ground and she hurried over to him.

"Casey!" She got down and with Casey's good arm, she pulled him up and held him close. She could see the burns on his upper body and swallowed uneasily. Then she heard Colin snarling. That doubled the alarm bells already ringing during the situation. She glanced back and saw Cursa trying to restrain him.

"Gerroff me Cursa! You're not helping!"

""No Colin! This is too much for us! You said yourself there's teachers here. Let them handle it!"

Another rogue flame tried to kiss Emily's cheek. She squeaked and dodged just in the nick of time, though the heat from the fire was still enough to spook her. Cursa was right. This was getting way out of hand. The fires were dominating the grounds in rapid succession. Casey was still biting his lip as he tried to keep more pained grunts from spilling out of his mouth. Burns were even starting to paint Colin's body, and the boy was already a colourful canvas of scars and marks as it was. Emily frowned at the thought of him attracting any more.

She encouraged Casey to follow her with him huddled close to her while she made her way to Colin, grasping his shirt and pulling him until he'd look at her, a pleading look in her eyes.

"Cursa is right, my friend. The fires are getting out of control that not even my rain can stop it and Casey needs urgent medical attention. And so do you! You're getting singed all over the show. If we stay here any longer we'll be consumed by our own pyres here... Come away with us! There's not much else we can do but ensure everyone else gets out safely". She urged him with a squeeze to his hand.

"Once we're out and you've been patched up, Casey will need one of the most talented healers I know to help him... So let's go. All together," she affirmed. With another wave of her wand, she casted Extinguo.

"I'll try and clear a path for all of us!"

_{Word Count: 465}

Action: Preparing to Retreat!

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

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

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #8e19d7 Thoughts: italics

“Eeep!” Devon yelped in surprise as a cloud of smoke hit her in the face. She adjusted the sleeve covering her mouth and nose. The garden very much represented what she figured hell would look like. And it seemed never-ending. She knew she had to get out and away from the smoke and breathe fresh air again. That was the desire to save herself and not bother. Yet, she just couldn’t abandon Isadora. She might not know much about the other girl yet, but that didn’t mean she’d completely leave. She had to do something, and hopefully help her out … or at least make Isadora safe. That was what she really wanted, at any rate.

A strong feeling suddenly overcame her, and she coughed from all the smoke inhalation. Devon squeezed her sleeve to her mouth more tightly. As she tried to continue running, the smoky conditions made it difficult to search accurately. Seeing all of the smoke was also becoming very disorientating. Before she could continue her search, a woman came up to her and started to assess her for any injuries. Finally, a professor! To be fair, she had to wonder what happened to all of them, and why it didn’t look like anyone was helping … other than the students present, of course. She immediately shook her head.

“Hi, Professor. No, no, I’m fine. I was just searching for Isadora … I left her before she went dancing,” Devon admitted, giving a slight curtsy. There was no sense in concealing what happened. She was very much disappointed in herself. While she appreciated the gesture of helping her, she’d immediately turn it down. There were others who were more likely to need and warrant help than her. Yes, she was very spooked out, but that didn’t mean that she needed to take valuable healing supplies. The woman also called out to her two family members.

Thankfully, Devon heard Isadora’s voice not that far away. It sounded like the other girl heard her … and this Professor. It appeared like they were family members. What a cool thought! ‘I’m not sure about most other teenagers my age, but I feel like that would be fun … to have a family member teach at a school like this. With my No-Maj background, that wouldn’t apply to me. But, still, I think it’s interesting.’ Her eyes darted around, squinting slightly in the smoky haze.

Facing in the direction she thought she heard Isadora’s voice, Devon began running in that direction. She turned her head slightly to address the Professor. “I think Isadora’s this way,” she shouted. As her heels stabbed the ground, she felt her heart pound in her chest. It was a little weird, but she’d hate herself if she didn’t get the opportunity to at least try to act like Isadora’s friend. After all, the other girl was fun to talk to, in her opinion. She was the type of girl who wanted to help and see her friends safe … or in this case, prospective friends. While she had no idea how much help she could be, as a young thirteen-year-old girl, she had to do something. Standing around idly as a bystander didn’t suit her. She had to get involved … she wanted to get involved … at least as much as what was possible for a young witch her age.

Dashing through a plume of smoke, Devon’s green eyes focused on the figure of Isadora with Matthew. Matthew looked … well, not as well as he did earlier. Had he potentially been burned? What even happened? Without a second thought, she darted to Isadora, enveloping the other girl in a giant hug. “Isadora! Matthew! Oh, thank goodness I found both of you … I … the fires … ugh. I’m just glad both of you are safe!” She exclaimed, breathing in plenty of the smoke now that her mouth and nose were completely uncovered.

Reducio

Note: 659 words

Action: Meeting @Sarai Toussaint-Fleischer, and eventually finding @Isadora Toussaint-Vilaça and @Matthew Campbell.

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

"The flower that smells the sweetest is shy and lowly,” —William Wordsworth

Smoke seemed to surround the garden. A once serene place that held children talking and mingling a fiery hell. The flower beds seemed ablaze, while the decorations seemed to slowly be eaten by the flames crumbling. Students shouting, screaming, fleeing to get away from the flames.

Where there should have been more adult supervision it seemed as if the adults fled leaving the children to fend for themselves? A cruel fate to the younglings so young to not understand the dangers. To understand a life and death situation.

Isadora felt her stomach churn. The smell of burnt flesh made her feel as if she couldn’t breathe. Her heart pounded loudly in her ears. The stench of burnt flesh seemed to linger around the girl.Suppose the girl was lucky she had not been harmed by the flames unlike her comrade. Soft crystal blue eyes gazed towards Matthew. The mushroom hat that once adorned the boy's head had been lost to the flames, while his sleeves also were seared from the harsh flames. His skin seemed to look as if it began to fester in burnt blisters. Isadora felt her stomach churn more as if bile was threatening to escape her mouth, but the girl kept that feeling down best she could. Her main concern was getting Matthew and herself out of the fiery hell that seemed too abrupt around them.

Suppose it was funny to the girl in a way. The garden seemed too abrupt in flames right as things seemed peaceful as if nothing could break it and yet it had. Was this some unknown force telling the girl that happiness is unwanted for her? That life was meant to be shrouded in darkness, despair, the feeling as if no matter what the girl could do, death would lurk waiting for the time? Death strange how theirs been times where death could have come for the girl and yet those around her got affected instead? So was it her that brought death? A wolf in sheep’s clothing bringer of darkness and fear?

Shuddering slightly, Isadora could not harbor those dark thoughts. After all, what use would that do for the girl now? With the fiery inferno going on around the children Isadora had to stay alert and vigilant. Wand nestled tightly in the girl's hand, she kept her other free hand wrapped around Matthews hand. Helping the boy out the best she could with her petite frame.

Isadora could tell Matthew seemed to struggle but nonetheless kept up with the girl as they tried to flee from the fiery hell that seemed to be consuming the once serene garden. Isadora could feel her heart clench as if the withering flowers were screaming just like the children rushing past.

With all that was happening Isadora did not notice the fiery garden post teetering towards the two pre-teens. As the post seemed to fall it felt like slow motion. The post crashing down onto the earthy ground crushing the already dead burning grass. A stray flame seemed to head towards Isadora, her crystal blue eyes widened as she grabbed her wand ready to act, but before the girl could manage before Matthew shouted the fire extinguishing charm. Once again protecting the girl from hell's wrath.

The smoke was slowly making Isadora’s head hurt, her heart racing, her ears ringing. They had to leave but the flames and smoke just seemed to be getting heavier. The girl could not even remember where her bandanna went with everything going on. She felt like she dropped it, most likely already in flames.

Matthews' frantic words seemed to draw Isadora out of her thoughts quickly. The boy seemed frightened, worried , terrified even. Not that the girl could blame him. They were children after all and this place looked like a fiery war zone. He seemed to plead telling her to leave him, but why would she? Isadora was conflicted leaving Matthew in this state would be allowing the wolves to strike and attack their prey as if Matthew was a defenseless rabbit trapped between a boulder and a pack of hungry wolves. No. Isadora grabbed Matthew by his face, her wand still nestled tightly in her hand, careful not to poke the boy's eye out. Crystal blue eyes stared into hazel speckled ones. The girl's expression was stern and calm while the fallen ashes and soot seemed to litter her hair and face.

“Matthew! I will not leave. Not now, not ever. Now’s not the time to fret, we must go.”

Isadora spoke calmly, her tone yet gentle was stern as she let go of the boys face, grabbing his arm and slinging it over her shoulder to either drag the boy against his will with her petite self or if he was smart enough he would help the girl out by walking with her even if he had to drag himself.

Isadora gritted her teeth as she held onto Matthews arm the plume of smoke heavy surrounding the two pre-teens the girl wished for a second at least someone anyone would come to their rescue from the shouting of children fleeing and yelling to the flames crackling and hissing Isadora could feel her senses being overwhelmed.

Squinting Isadora could see someone or something running towards the duo before she could react Devon came dashing out of the plume of smoke. Isadora felt her heartbeat skip. Gently releasing Matthews arm in time for the girl to be embraced by Devon. Isadora stumbled slightly, almost falling onto the soot covered ground, hugging Devon back tightly.

“Bondye mèsi”

Isadora spoke softly burying her face into Devon’s soft soot-covered blonde locks. Glancing over Devon’s shoulder. Isadora saw a very familiar person rushing after the other girl.

Isadora was quick to release Devon rushing over to Sarai. Crystal blue eyes wide and full of concern as she rushed to Sarai’s side. Glancing over her shoulder. Isadora could see Matthew standing though burnt badly she knew the boy would survive. Turning quickly to Sarai, Isadora hugged the woman tightly.

“Ede.”

Isadora spoke softly, glancing up at Sarai before rushing over towards Matthew. The young girl knew Sarai would do anything to help. She knew that no matter what after all, now the girl had helped to get Matthew to safety. Whatever the cost the girl had to help everyone get out of this hell alive. The young girl worried for her Tantie afterall the woman was pregnant and everyone knew it by now the smoke was not safe for the unborn baby.

But at the same time the young girl was worried for Matthew and Devon as well. What can she do? Isadora was powerless, just a young pre-teen girl who barely knew what to do to survive some days. But yet she knew they would survive no matter what.

—✧ Mentions tags @Matthew Campbell@Sarai Fleischeir-Toussaint@Devon Wallen
—✧ Notes Protecting Matthew, meeting up with Sarai and Devon. Permission from Sarai’s writer to Godmod.
—✧ Lexicon Tantie = Aunt
Bondye mèsi- Thank god
Ede: Help
—✧ Inventory Wand & Satchel
—✧ Trunk Werewolf │ Ability │ ability
—✧ Statistics Sta 6 │Eva 8 │Str 2 │Wis 5 │ Arc 7 │Acc 7

11 April - the evening of the Spring Soirée

tubborness overtook AngelFyre. She was not unaware that their efforts to contain the fire were not successful... yet... but that small, unassuming, three letter word carried a lot of power within it, as did the witches and wizards surrounding her.

Simon and Colin had not been successful with their spells, but Emily had, and so had AngelFyre. It was now raining and that rain had been amplified into something more forceful than just a soft, spring rain. Witches and wizards, now pelted with rain, were successfully casting their Extinguos all over the garden. There were still things to be tried before she would admit defeat to something as mundane as a fire. Well, mundane by Hogwarts’ Ball standards, anyway, when it came to facing down a Big Bad to have to contend with, but still completely terrifying by her personal standards. She would never have guessed how loud a fire could be having only experienced it on the duelling piste. Perhaps her own inner screams of agony at the time deafened her to other realities. All she knew was that fire hurt like bloody hell, and it was the reason she left duelling. She neither wanted to burn again, nor did she wish to inflict that kind of pain on anyone… ever.

But come on – if she and those around her could not get this fire under control, then they all needed to turn in their wands and go home. What good would they be against something sentient and more formidable if they could not cut their wizarding teeth on this?

Frantic shouts and callouts rang out all around her. Most, presumably, were seeking to locate a friend or loved one, while others were guiding attendees to paths of safety. Way to go, Casey! Most easily heard were the boisterous shouts from Cursa and the gentle, insistent pleadings from Emily. Both were directed at Colin, warning that the fire was beyond them and they should all leave now. She heard Colin growl and looked to her side to see him shrugging off Cursa. She was not surprised. She well remembered his tenacity in fighting off the hag doll that had so badly injured Lily once upon a when, but Cursa was not Emily and would not have the sway to persuade her lupine friend to leave a fight. That was just not Colin’s nature. Even AngelFyre herself would likely come up short if she had been of a mind to try to convince him, which she most assuredly was not as it happened. Emily was a different story altogether, however, and AngelFyre knew if anyone could get Colin to retreat, it would be his hazel-eyed, Eyes of Sky.

That meant time was short.

Even as AngelFyre heard the pleas, she caught sight, once again, of the unknown girl attempting yet another cast. Unbelievable! Her cast amounted to exactly nothing this time, and AngelFyre took some small satisfaction in that much at least. One less bit of mayhem to have to contend with was fine by her. There was enough as is, with acrid smoke also becoming an increasing threat.

She was the first to begin to cough, and then she heard Colin and Cursa coughing as well. She started to bring her arm up so that she could place her mouth and nose in the crook of her elbow, hoping to make breathing a little easier, but she stopped short when she noticed her potion ring on her finger. She had purchased it in Hogsmeade from Muggle Artefacts before the noir themed-ball last fall, because its utility was perfect for that ball’s theme. It was designed to hold liquids, and she had had a professor cast a charm on it similar to what made her enchanted satchel seem larger on the inside than it was on the outside.

She had filled it with a poison antedote for the fall ball, but remembered it was currently filled with the replenishing potion now. She had done so earlier in the day in case she and Simon were lucky enough to find an unspiked drink, and could thereby ensure a steady supply of it. She had forgotten all about it, but now she suddenly realized she could possibly do some good without even having to speak and thereby risk cocking up her casting by coughing or choking.

The combination of the binding mark, a potion, and her fabulous boyfriend and bestie could result in the perfect storm that might just quench this roaring, red-orange beast’s rapacious appetite for destruction.

AngelFyre silently looked over at Simon, whose attention had turned momentarily towards Casey, eyeing his burn from afar. She spoke silently to him and asked him if he would try his Aqua Ercuto spell once again. “I know you want to help him, love, but I need your advanced magic to help quell this fire. I have an idea that might just be the answer here, or a good part of it anyway, and if so, all of your attention can then turn towards healing,” she said hopefully. Simon moved closer to her and nodded. She nodded back at him and began to unknowingly finger the ring.

Still uttering nary a word aloud, she pointed out towards the base of flames licking their way towards the path of escape. “I am going to throw my ring over there, as close to the fire as I can get. It is filled with the replenishing potion. I want you to aim for that ring once it lands because as soon as the potion comes into contact with the stream of pressurized water from your casting, or maybe even from this rain falling down upon it, we should have a small lake’s worth of water to help drown out these flames. If successful, maybe anyone else with a replenishing potion on them can use it as well.” She smiled hopefully at him through squinted eyes. “It is worth a shot. Keep your aim low and towards the ring, and if it works, keep the stream of water aimed at the base of the flames. If it does not work, all I have lost is a ring. I am going to ask Colin to aim for it as well.”

AngelFyre then quickly turned towards Colin and relayed the plan to him, but in a very truncated version. “Ring. Filled with Replenishing Potion,” and she raised her finger to show him, taking it off right then. “I will toss it over there,” and she showed him where before being interrupted by a coughing fit. “Cast Aqu-… Eructo again. Understand?”

He nodded and flashed his signature fangy grin. AngelFyre would have breathed a sigh of relief, but there was no relief to be breathed in… yet.

She twisted the ring open while saying a silent prayer for her aim and their casting success. Then she tossed it very close to where she had pointed Simon and Colin to look for it. The rest was out of her hands right then, but she had all the faith in the world in both of them, and in the other witches and wizards still in the garden.

Reducio

OOC: Simon and AngelFyre have longstanding permission to godmod the character of the other, and so do Colin and AngelFyre.

Mentions: @Colin McCoire @Emily Shephard @Casey Stone @Cursa McCoire

10.

Colin felt himself being dragged back away from the fire! That would be Cursa's doing. He heard Emily's voice cutting through the crackling sound of the flames. She was really worried about Casey --- and himself. He looked around. Clearly they had different ideas as to what "out of control" meant! The entire castle could be on fire and still Colin would rush in to save anyone who needed it!

"I think we can do this Em! But you are right, too ---" Emily definitely had a good grasp of the bigger picture. A fleeting vision of a Muggle removing a huge painting from a wall flitted across his imagination. He wondered: why would Muggles want to take big pictures off of walls? He shook his head slightly. Muggle sayings were soooo weird! "--- We do need to get out! But I still think we knock down the fire! What if it spreads more? And look! Your rain spell is keeping the fires down! And other kids are still casting extinguishing spells!"

Cursa released Colin at last. He looked to his cousin. "Come on mate, we've got this!" Some might think the gleam in Colin's green eyes was madness. And they might be right!

"Wh- What?" his cousin asked.

"Right now, it's just us! We've totally got this Cursa!" Colin could barely feel the heat from the slight burns in his skin. A little dab of burn paste when this was all done would fix that up right quick! He turned towards AngelFyre. She looked like she was ready to have another go at the fire! She gave him that look --- pay attention to me for more than half a microsecond please!

Colin's eyes locked onto his bestie's. For the usually loquacious Hufflepuff, she uttered only a few words. Their sharp staccato very much at odds with her usual flow of speech. Her plan was good though! Toss some replenishing potion over yonder and Colin would cast a water spell at it! Hey presto, extra water to kill the fire! "Brilliant!" he shouted back. Colin nodded towards AngelFyre and flashed her a fangy smile! "Well, ye heard the lady, Cursa," he said as AngelFyre flung her potion filled ring. His keen eyes caught the arc of it. Followed it with precision. "Water jets on three --- two --- now! Aqua eructo!"

Interactions: @Emily Shephard | @AngelFyre McCubbin | @Simon Kincaid|| Mentions: @Meyra Lancaster | @Jun Mayumi Mochizuki || Mod: Official mods are done, so we're self moderating this bit! Rolls to be done on discord.

Action: Casting water jet spell!

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.

ILVERMORNY RULES!!! Cursa McCoire Horned Serpent Stats: Sta: 7 | Eva: 10 | Str: 0 | Wis: 10 | Arc: 10 | Acc: 13 Abilities: TBD Trunk: Right Here!

{--- 8 ---}

Finally Colin was away from the edge of the fire! His skin was really warm from the burns where the fire had licked him. The boy might be a bit of an idiot, but he certainly brave. He wondered. If he and Emily ever did get together for real, they'd make an amazing team! Colin could rush in to save people and Emily could yank on the leash that put him to heel!

Cursa smirked.

True to form, Emily did just that! He didn't know if she was even aware, but Cursa could feel the change in Colin's posture, in the way his body moved as he restrained his cousin. The boy was actually listening to Emily and processing what she was telling him. It was amazing! It was like she was taming him the way you would a fox or a wolf!

Of course, he still wanted to fight the fire, and frankly, so did Cursa. It was not his plan to just stand around and be burnt to a crisp! His previous spell had been a success, and it was still raining --- hard! The fires were clearly dying down. For once, Colin actually made sense. They could totally do this!

Colin said something to him, but his mind had wandered a bit. He was worried about Devon, his school mate. He'd heard her not too far away. And he was really worried about Casey. Emily was right about him! He definitely needed some medical treatment! Colin definitely had a plan in mind!

But thankfully, his friend AngelFyre had a better plan! Surely Colin would have the two of them charge the fire like knights errant against a dragon or something! But the girl's voice was clear and her plan was a good one. Replenishing potion! Awesome! That would probably double or even treble the amount of water hitting the fire!

Colin seemed to have grasped the sense in both girls' plans. AngelFyre's for knocking down the fire; Emily's for getting Casey, and the rest of the kids, out of harm's way! "Brilliant!" his cousin shouted! "YAAAAAAAA!" Cursa shouted as he aimed his wand towards the place AngelFyre indicated! With him and Colin and the other boy, Simon, all casting, there was sure to be a regular deluge of water exploding out of that potion!

"Aqua eructoooo!" he yelled, focusing on the potion as it arcked through the air towards the fire!

Open to interactions! Especially if you're a girl!

Actions: Casting water jet spell!

Mentions: @Emily Shephard | @Casey Stone | @AngelFyre McCubbin | @Simon Kincaid | @Devon Wallen|| Mod: Official mods are now done; we're continuing this bit self-moderated.

Werewolves: Get that boy a muzzle?

11/04/2025

"english" "french" "parselmouth" "italian" thoughts

outfit + hair

banner tba

It is impossible to ignore the difference in atmosphere of the Garden of Eden, in comparison to the ball dance back at the Great Hall. But the change is anything but adverse, and Rafal cannot help but marvel at the ingenuity of the planning committee once more - the serene enthralment and dreamlike sense of mystery make him instinctively relax, worries all but forgotten. Moonlight filters through the great oaks strung with fairy-light, casting dancing shadows upon the grass.

However, who can forget? All of it pales in juxtaposition to his companion. Rafal lets himself be guided over to the banquet table, and looks on as Stelle serves herself a piece of cake. It is truly a testament to how utterly the Hufflepuff has enraptured him, that he is passing up free dessert.

Somehow, she manages to be the perfect embodiment of grace and elegance while scarfing down cake, which the first year truly did not think possible. He follows Stelle as she moves to the side, racks his brain for a reply. Rafal doesn’t want to seem dull, not when his fellow student is anything but. "Well," he says haltingly, "I’m from Wales - Cardiff, in fact, charming place -"

"It’s always just been my mom and me, and we… had fun." Did they? It is doubtful, but the Slytherin has no wish to go into that particular can of worms at this time, especially not with a pretty girl he just met. The vagueness with which Rafal skipped over the matter of his other parent is by no means happenstance, either. There is a set number of things Rafal simply does not discuss, and his family happens to be on the list.

He draws himself back into the present, glances at Stelle and tries to shoot her an unperturbed smile. He is not going to brood. "No pets, no siblings. All in all, a rather dreary time." Forcing his voice to take on a more chipper tone, Rafal hopes Stelle does not notice anything off in his demeanour. Now that, would be embarrassing.

"So what about you?" Asking someone about themselves is always a surefire way to deflect from an uncomfortable topic, and it is something Rafal has noticed in many instances. People truly just love talking about themselves. "Background, siblings, pets? I want to learn everything," he grins, this time genuine. "- about the story of Stelle."

No lie; Rafal had not in the slightest, up until this point, noticed Stelle's discomfort in the form of her convoluted hairstyle. He immediately feels guilty. In hindsight, it ought to have been obvious! "Oh yeah, of course! You can do whatever you want!" Gosh, he hopes he is not why Stelle suffered in silence for so long!

Action: Nothing but talking

Interacting with @Stelle Mims

Dhampir I
STA: 5 | EVA: 5 | STR: 2 | WIS: 7 | ARC: 3 | ACC: 8