The Weeping Shore 2025 Fall Ball

Banner by: me	OUTFIT
Dialogue: #696969, thoughts	GLASSES
sta: 7 |eva: 9 |str: 5 | wis: 5 |arc: 6 |acc: 8 |	WC: 1205

'All it takes, is one deep breath in.’ The striking hum of her mothers voice rang in her mind. The sounds of running water stirred past memories— ones Azzure could never forget. Embers of past memories burned in the recesses of her mind, everpresent and waiting for their time to blaze once more. Perhaps today was their time.

Azzure stood on the bank of the great lake, wondering if she should even enter. Under the moonlight, t felt as though Azzure had traveled back in time. A year ago in this same place she told Violence about her family, a few meters from where she stood was the supply shack where she was kidnapped and held for ransom.

A year ago Azzure believed that she would die in the house she never felt safe enough to call home. A year ago the thought of standing here again terrified her. A year ago she believed that Violence would be the one constant in a life that was crumbling from underneath her feet.

But here she stood, on the banks of the great lake. Breathing, alive.

And now, as her past and present converged under the moonlit waters that carried both her most joyous and horrific memories, Azzure fully came to terms with the fact that she has nothing to offer Vi, if not the love in her heart and the belief that that's enough.

⪻────⏾────⪼

Breathing a deep breath, Azzure tentatively stepped foot into the old wooden ship that was presumably the venue of this year’s fall ball.

In all honesty, she didn’t expect much when she initially heard that the theme would be pirate-esque, and even less when she heard that the venue was to be held on a ship. The albino was never a big fan of the water, she was mostly an air lover, but watching the gentle ripples of the lake flow was calming, introspective in a way she rarely let herself feel.

That being said, her suspicions were put to an instantaneous death the moment she found herself suspended over water? The sight of flowing water beneath her feat but without the wetness that comes with contact was disorienting in a way Azzure never knew existed.

“—woah. This is nothing like last year, that's for sure.” Azzure murmured under her breath as she stood with wide eyes that were trailed to the floor, a reflection or perhaps a mirage of the dark lake below, the only light illuminating its depths being the faint glow of the moon that shone overhead.

She must have looked like a complete idiot staring at the floor like a hypnotized dog, but it was hard not to find beauty in the soft way the water rippled and flowed, knowing that within its dark color lived countless lives that were simply hidden by the darkness of the night. The sight almost made Azzure want to drop everything and just paint the scenery. But tonight, Azzure had an agenda— find violence, and apologise.

Rejuvenated, Azzure strutted into the dining area-– at least, as far as she could tell it was the dining area. In the corners stood pillars dressed from head to toe to fit the theme, at the center is what could only be described as a buffet made by their incredible house elves, and around the pillars were tables that were truly tied in the ocean theme. Azzure had to commend them this time, this was beautiful.

As she scanned the room, Azzure saw a few familiar faces of her friends, all dressed to the nines. Azzure couldn't help but smile seeing them, it wasn’t everyday she saw them so fancy, it was almost amusing. But among all the faces she’d seen, Violence wasn't one of them. Azzure knew that this year the ball was split into two different venues, but in some reverent part of her. Azzure hoped to every god in the universe that she’d be at the diner. The thought of her sharing a dance with that capri sun-looking-arrogant-excuse-for-a-man made her want to vomit.

It was almost comedic. Ever since Azz met Violence, she had been haunted by her intrinsic beauty, deep ocean eyes that carried a depth she wanted to explore. Every part of Vi lived in the deep recess of her mind. And yet the one time she truly wants nothing more than to see her face–– Violence can’t even grant that to her.

Azz couldn't help but let out a wry chuckle as she carded her hands through her hair. for the faintest moment she could swear she heard Violence’s voice. However faint it was, however subtle it may have been, however drowned out it was against the sound of the sea–– Azzure swore it was real. It was real. They were real…right?

It was nonsensical, she had no right to feel like this. Violence was her own person, she didn't owe anything to Azzure. Yet Azz couldn't stop the way her eyes burned with unshed tears. No one in this world knew her better than Violence, the things she kept hidden from everyone else, the parts of herself she can’t bare to look at–– Violence knows about them. All the horrific things that keep her up at night, Violence knows about them and she still chooses to love her despite that

“Please, Vi. Where could you be?”

⪻────⏾────⪼

Azzure found herself being drawn to a solitary table by the buffet. Maybe it was because the lights dimmed at that spot, or because it felt closer to the moon. Maybe the quiet gave her peace, or maybe the soft humming of the sea managed to quiet her emotions. But as Azzure sat staring out at the still lake, she finally let herself breathe. Azzure sucked in her tears, this wasn’t the time to go crying. Today was supposed to be fun. It was a break from the stress of regular classes–– she can’t just leave because of Violence isn’t here. After all, she did get dressed for this, and she would rather not listen to Mori going off in her ear for wasting this ‘precious opportunity.’

Azzure felt her body un-tense as she finally took a deep breath, closing her eyes to tether herself to the sound of the moving lake beneath her, and the intimate chatter that surrounded her. Now wasn’t the time to break down.

‘Just breathe Azzure, you have to enjoy yourself here, even if its without Violence.’

Azzure Solace can handle being haunted by the girl she loves. She can handle being rejected, but Merlin help her if she ever loses Violence. If Vi can’t love her, then Azzure would happily rip her heart out and let it haunt her future and mind. She’d much rather have Vi as a ghost plaguing her every thought, then not have her at all.

It was here amidst her thoughts that an unfamiliar voice called out to her. Azzure looked up at the direction of the new voice. ‘Maybe this is the start of a better night for me.’ Azzure thought to herself as she spoke to the stranger. “Hello, do you need help?”

ꜰᴀʟʟ ʙᴀʟʟ ꜱᴀɢᴀ 25'

I.

II.

III.

IV.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

| Date: Autumn Ball, 10/04/25 | Word count: 491 | Outfit: Something like this
──────────────────────────────────────────

Fred hadn’t planned on wandering off, at least not at first. He’d arrived at the ball with a small group of friends from his year, most of them far more confident about the idea of dancing, he believed. The entrance had been crowded, full of laughter and chatter and the faint scent of a feast worthy of a night like this. After a while, though, curiosity had gotten the better of him. He wasn’t sure he’d actually dance tonight, but he wanted to see what everyone had been talking about: the lake, the ship, the magic of it all.

He slipped away from his group somewhere between two jokes and a burst of laughter, tucking his hands into the pockets as he made his way toward the exit leading to the water. His shoes clicked softly against the floor before the sound shifted, muted, as he stepped outside into the cool night air. The sight that met him made him stop in his tracks.

For a long moment, Fred just stood there, his breath forming a faint cloud in the chill. The moon hung low over the lake, casting the water in shifting silver light. What had once been a dark, still surface was now transformed into something almost alive, platforms floated just above the rippling waves, their reflections dancing as though they too were caught in a spell. Fabric in deep blues and greens swayed gently from the tall pillars, and strings of lights glimmered like stars scattered across the sea. The whole place looked impossibly magical, as though Hogwarts had turned the world upside down just for the night.

Fred let out a low whistle, the corner of his mouth curling in awe. “Blimey,” he muttered under his breath, eyes wide. He could almost imagine they really were standing atop the ocean, the whispers of the waves below them carrying secrets from long ago. Somewhere, the music changed, soft and lilting, echoing faintly across the water, and Fred felt it in his chest, light and strange, like something tugging him forward.

He took a few steps farther onto the floating platform, careful not to stare too obviously at the enchanted decorations, and made his way toward the corners, since he was on his own. His gaze wandered over the crowd, scanning faces under the soft glow of the lanterns. He recognized a few classmates here and there, some from Gryffindor, others from classes, but most faces blurred into a shimmering sea of laughter and color.

He hadn’t yet spotted anyone he would take the initiative to greet, like his cousins, the Quidditch team peeps… and the name of a particular girl he’d met about a month ago, Lucille, also came to mind. Fred wished he’d had more chances to talk to her, but that hadn’t happened yet. Maybe tonight, he thought, they’d run into each other by chance. And if that happened, he’d definitely make the most of it.

────────────────────────────────────────
| Interacting with: @Lucille Rosenhart |
| Action: None | Abilities and Stats: In my signature below |

date 04/10/25

word count 482

outfit ⁺₊ ☀︎ ⁺₊

speech #8C2626

mentions @Frederick Buckley

notes xxx

Water was not something that appealed to Lucille. It didn't scare her, but it invoked a sense of discomfort in her that almost nothing else did. Water was cold, and dangerous, and seemed intent to disrupt her every movement. Spending five minutes swimming would feel like thirty, when the water stubbornly pushed against you, forcing you to slice through it. Lucille knew, of course, that this was caused by the cohesive forces in the liquid, but she could never shake the feeling that it was the water's way of telling her to stay out.

And so, when she exited the shipwrecked environment and made her way to the dance floor, her eyes did not immediately register the beauty around her. Instead, they remained glued to the floor, where she could see water rippling underneath the feet of the students. Her gaze remained locked on what she could now identify as a floating platform, something she might not have noticed if she wasn't so focused. Tentatively, she lifted up her skirt, although there really wasn't any reason to; the garment was already long in the back and shorter in the front. Then, hesitating, she placed a careful boot on the platform, as if attempting to test its solidity. She increased her weight, before finally deciding the platform was okay to step on. She stepped onto it fully, letting her skirt fall, before finally lifting up her eyes to look at her surroundings.

Lucille had known in her mind, of course, that the platform could bear her weight, seeing all the students that were happily dancing upon it. The sight brought a smile to her lips; Lucille, for one, could not wait to join them. Not to mention the pillars and fabrics that drew her attention, reminding her of all the beautiful parts of water that she often tended to ignore.

As her eyes wandered, she caught sight of a few people she recognized, but everyone seemed quite busy, and Lucille did not wish to interrupt. For a second, she wondered if Rosaline had made her way here yet. Perhaps Lucille should try to find her? Right when she was about to begin wandering aimlessly, searching for someone she knew or perhaps someone new she'd want to speak to, Lucille caught sight of someone familiar. For a second, she couldn't place him, but recognition quickly followed. It was Fred, a fellow first year she'd met about a month ago. They had gotten along quite well, saying they'd see each other again, and it had been genuine. A warm smile spread upon her lips, replacing the bewildered look that had been there before, as she raised her hand to do an excited wave. Without waiting for a response, Lucille began to walk towards him, her movements still a bit hesitant as her eyes subconsciously glanced at the rippling waves beneath her feet every few seconds.

His smile widened once he saw the Hufflepuff approaching him "Thanks! My mom sent me this. She's always excited when I tell her about the ball. Sometimes, she asks me first about the ball and the theme even before there's an announcement about the event," he grinned. "You chose the suit well. It really suits you," the boy complimented back. He was grateful Landon agreed to attend the ball with him.

The boy winced to see his surroundings clearly since he didn't wear his silver glasses. "I agree. I'm actually not really surprised that we will have another ball near the Great Lake." His eyes caught the colourful, blurry images moving around. That must be other students who enjoyed the ball.

The Ravenclaw chuckled upon hearing the Hufflepuff's hope. "I mean, as long as we are careful." He shrugged.

The song turned into a slow 3/3 tempo. Zach knew what it was. "So, do you dance? It's been a long time for me to do it. I think my last dance was before I went to Hogwarts." He waited for the boy to respond.

The song slowly became more appealing to the Ravenclaw. The urge to dance kicked inside him. Zach couldn't hold back from moving his body along with the melodies. It's like he's longing for the dance. Could it be the freedom he got? Or perhaps something else. "It's a waltz," Zach smiled. "Do you know how to dance it? I can do both lead or follow. I'll let you choose first since I was the one who asked you here."

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

| Date: Autumn Ball, 10/04/25 | Word count: 412 | Outfit: Something like this
──────────────────────────────────────────

Fred had just been scanning the crowd again when a small movement caught his attention, a hand raised in a wave, bright and unmistakably directed at him. His eyes focused and unlike what he had said the day they met, something about finding her similar to someone else, today recognition dawned almost instantly. Lucille.

He blinked once, a little surprised at the coincidence, before his face broke into an easy, genuine smile. “Huh,” he murmured under his breath, more to himself than anyone else. What were the odds? He hadn’t seen her properly since that weekend, just a few passing greetings here and there, nothing more, and yet here she was, crossing the glittering dance floor as if the enchanted water itself had decided to bring them together.

Still standing where he was, Fred lifted a hand to wave back, a bit slower than her, but just as warmly. It took him a few seconds to react, enough for Lucille to cover most of the distance between them, before he finally took a few steps forward to meet her halfway. The platform beneath him dipped ever so slightly with the movement, but he didn’t seem to notice, his stride steady and relaxed.

“Hey, Lucille!” he greeted, his grin widening once she was close enough to hear him over the music. “So we meet again.” He paused for half a second, his eyes taking in her outfit before he added, “You look really nice, by the way.” His tone was light and sincere, the kind of compliment that came easily to him, without a hint of awkwardness or expectations.

He rocked a little on his heels as they talked, his right foot unconsciously tapping to the rhythm of the tune drifting from the enchanted gramophone nearby. The melody wasn’t exactly fast, but it had a sway to it, something that made standing still feel almost impossible, even for Fred, who wasn’t exactly a good dancer.

“Have you been here long?” he asked curiously, glancing around at the glowing decorations again. “I think I’ve got here over an hour already, figured I’d take a look before heading back to my friends.” He laughed lightly, his voice carrying a note of boyish amazement. “Didn’t think they’d actually make it look like we’re walking on water. It’s brilliant, isn’t it?” The water’s shimmer reflected in his eyes as he looked back at her, entirely at ease, as though the floating floor beneath them were solid ground.

────────────────────────────────────────
| Interacting with: @Lucille Rosenhart |
| Action: None | Abilities and Stats: In my signature below |

action: xxx stats: sta~6 𓍼 eva~6 𓍼 str~2 𓍼 wis~7 𓍼 arc~2 𓍼 acc~9 abilities: prodigal potions learner~y1 𓍼 charmer~y2 interactions: interacting with Dennis, closed for interactions. notes: HAH, i love edits

Stats: Reducio Stamina 7 | Evasion 5 | Strength 5 | Wisdom 6 | ArcPower 5 | Accuracy 7

Dress: Reducio x

Mentions: Reducio @Isabella Bernard @Kora Elliot @Azzure Solace @Ellie Radensmith @Charlotte Evergreen

'What am I doing here?' That was the first thought that came to Maddy's mind as she looked around the place. She was here for Belle@Isabella Bernard and only as a bestie obligation.

They both came here together and as of right now Belle (Isabella) had gone to talk to some other friend of hers. Maddy looked over at the place. People were dressed up were brilliantly. She looked at one of her fellow housemate, she remembered seeing him somewhere in the common rooms, @Joseph Sims he was dressed up as a pirate with a parrot, wait-was that a rock? and there was another girl with him, Maddy was familiar with.

Well familiar faces is whom I gotta avoid. No reason. She just felt like that. She told Belle she would be going to sit in one of the tables at the end where a girl was already sitting, @Azzure Solace , the place was perfect. Far from people. She sat down, and introduced herself to the girl, "Maddy Tomlinson, nice to meet you. How is the party holding up?"

date 04/10/25

word count 570

outfit ⁺₊ ☀︎ ⁺₊

speech #8C2626

mentions @Frederick Buckley

notes currently closed to other interactions

Lucille's pace quickened as Fred noticed her, too. He smiled, and he seemed much more at ease than she was at the prospect of "walking on water." It calmed her, easing her jittering nerves. Lucille returned his smile, and her eyes seemed to reflect the twinkling lights around them, shimmering like the lake itself.

She giggled a little at Fred's compliment, looking down at her dress. "Likewise," she said quickly, taking a step back to observe his outfit. She nodded once, as if in approval, although it was more commendation. "I think I took the ocean theme a bit more to heart than you did," she said with a laugh, gesturing to her skirt. The front opened up like a flower, but the back was comparable to coral, and it seemed to glimmer like scales when she walked. Not to mention the shawl enchanted to look like water that she had loosely draped over herself, elbows perpetually slightly bent to stop it from falling to the floor.

"I've been here for a while now, but I just got to the dance floor." There was a slight hint of disappointment in her expression when he mentioned he'd be going back to his friends soon, but it vanished almost as quickly as it had appeared. She was alright with them parting ways, she told herself, but she didn't wish to be alone until she got her bearings. Knowing herself, that wouldn't take long.

She raised an eyebrow at his next statement. Walking on water. Brilliant? Really? Lucille's disbelief was clear in her expression. Needless to say, she certainly didn't agree. "I think I preferred the shipwreck, and that is saying something." Despite the harsher words, the easy smile upon her face and the lightness of her voice said otherwise. It was humorous, if anything, but Lucille's eyes were now trained upon the ground, watching the shifting of the light and the uneasy rippling of the water below. It felt as if as long as she was distracted and not gazing at the waves, her mind would allow her to relax, but now that it had been brought to her attention once again, she was captivated.

Then, it was as if something seized her. On a whim, Lucille grabbed Frederick's arm, gripping it tight as if anchoring herself. With her boot, she tapped the floor a little, until she finally stomped down on it, a little aggressively but certainly not as hard as she could. It was solid floor, but Lucille did not want to test its limits further. Of course, logically, her mind told her it was similar to walking on a reinforced glass floor, and nothing she could do would break it. But, the thing about discomfort is, it is not often rational, and causes one to do bizarre things to make themselves feel better.

Apparently satisfied with its stability, Lucille let go of Frederick, and looked up at him now, a little embarrassed at her display. "Sorry, I'm a bit paranoid this will break open and I'll fall through." Despite the slight redness in her cheeks, her voice was as confident as ever. For a second, she thought he must think her crazy, or at least a little stupid, but she pushed it from her mind. Frederick had gone along with her antics when they first met, and she assured herself silently that he might just do so once again.

MOD POST TWO

Under the moon's still glow hearts boldened, the thrill of the night weaving its way into once frightened souls, who now courageously stepped on what appeared to be uncharted waters. From gentlemen who kindly guiding the hand of their fair lady to reckless pirates taking possession of the place — guests slowly abandoned the fear of sinking rooted in their chest and surrender their minds to the drunken leisures of the night.

Indeed, something ethereal seemed to be woven through the notes rising in the air, something that pulled hearts and souls altogether, something saccharinely sweet, something that pushed whoever was attentive to let go and dance, dance, dance, until their feet worn out, until their voice cracked from the uninterrupted laughter, until their mind was swallowed by the fog and numb from the bliss.

And some did, drawn to the lovely tunes of the gramophone, delicately taking place on the dancefloor, hands intertwined and smiles worn proudly. A pirate, accompanied by one that looked every bit like a runaway princess, opening the ball by slowly twirling under the moonlight (@dennis tumberton and @violence bloodthorn).

The tender sparks of romance appeared to linger in the air, whether it was the heartwarming delights of first interactions — fleeting glances, faint blush creeping onto already rose cheeks, or even a bold damsel firmly gripping a gentleman's arm, using it a reassurance that should the floor crumble, she wouldn't be the only one sinking into the depths (@lucille rosenhart) — or the bittersweet aftertaste of an aching heart, seeking solace in stranger's company (@azurre solace).

Nevertheless the night was young, and the low hum of the crashing waves promised it would be one like no other.

WELCOME TO THE WEEPING SHORE.

OOC INFORMATION ;
1. To participate, you must be indexed. If you are not indexed yet, please apply here.
2. Moderation will occur every week.
3. Your character is allowed one moderated action per round. Please specify your moderated action somewhere OOC in your post. Moderated actions are those actions that requires rolls like casting a spell on someone, physically fighting (like punching) with someone, surprising someone etc. Rolls are not needed for pre-decided or consented actions, like asking someone for a dance.
4. Please include your abilities and stats in your post.
5. There are two other threads in this event, The Lost Pearl (dining area) and The Drowned Palace (escape game). IC speaking, your character would enter through The Lost Pearl to reach The Weeping Shore. You are not required to post in The Lost Pearl to access The Weeping Shore. The location of The Drowned Palace, as well as an additional clue to the treasure hunt, are hidden in The Lost Pearl. Your character doesn't need either to access or play the game, these are options adding to the atmosphere.
6. You can enter directly either threads without needing to post in this thread, but if you already have, please specify that you are leaving this thread for either one of the other two.
6. Please follow all usual HIO rules.
7. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer, beware of the bewitching siren's chant, but most importantly, enjoy !