The Gemini's Gift Open Finished

~Interacting with @Pericles Dralt~

May was exited because the summer was about to come. But she was also troubled. All of the events that had happened through the school year had made her wonder, if London was safer or not. Yes, the professors had made some rules for their safety, but the Hogwarts rules weren't enough. The hags were powerful, and the prophecy that Opeila and the Slytherin captain had to be true. What if they were all going to be in trouble? She shivered at the mere thought of their wonderful summer, ruined. That was why she needed to go to the grounds and take some air to stop thinking about all these events.

Sadness too, inhabited her little mind, for her mother was very sick. She had never been very fond of her mother, but still, she couldn't help but feel sad because she was about to die. If she died, May would become a motherless child with only her father to look out for her. That was one of the reasons she wanted to go and take a walk.

Quiddich was coming too. That was perhaps the less troubling of all her thoughts that day, but one could not imagine how much she wondered, if they were going to win. She had always been a big Quiddich fan. That wizarding sport was her life. But she had been chosen as a second string seeker, and that was the real reason of her troubles.

She was already in the grounds, and she looked up at the sky. It was summer already, and it was deep blue with almost no clouds. The perfect day. May sighted, until something caught her attention. A balloon...well, first there was a horned owl, but then, it dropped a balloon with a beautiful package. May runned to where the balloon was going, but then she saw someone she hadn't expected. Pericles Dralt, the prefect that had made her so embarrassed one day at the Great Lake, was there, inspecting the package. May shivered, and was about to turn away, but she decided to be polite, and smiled- a fake smile that nobody could believe. "Why, if it isn't Pericles Dralt. How are you?" she nodded at him, a kind of hello that they were used to do when they said hello. Well, May could never forget the day of her first ever detention.

Aida always went for a run in the morning; it was her routine. However, today she ran especially hard, skipping at least two of her usual resting places. She had gone faster today, too, as a torrent of thoughts spiralled through her head like the blades of a propeller. Running like this usually made her feel a bit more free and helped to reduce her symptoms of claustrophobia later in the day, but ever since the announcement it hadn't been working its magic. So she ran harder. Usually when she reached the grounds she would stop at the old oak tree, but today she had not paced herself well enough to do that. Slowing down to a walk and gasping in the cool morning air, Aida's face was distraught as she analyzed again and again the details of the school's recent dinner declaration. The walls felt tighter every day since then, and Aida did not actually want to stop running... but no one could run forever.

Where had she landed, utterly exhausted? Her head was swimming but as she rested, bent over with her hands just above her knees, the albino began to gather her wits. A few meters ahead was Pericles and another student. There was also a fine blue box and a lovely balloon. Having attended Dee's birthday celebration a little more than a week earlier, Aida was primed to suspect that it was Pericles's birthday today. Yet, she had no way of knowing that in advance and had brought no gift. With her lips in a twist, Aida decided it was best to at least greet Pericles and offer him well-wishing, especially if it really was his birthday.

Approaching peacefully, Aida smiled at the boy. "Good morning." Aida nodded at the other student as well, though she did not know her.

Mentions: @Pericles Dralt @May Moonstar

Xailah had been following a shiny balloon for the past fifteen minutes. Well, Xailah and Meenauh. And Schrödinger. But Schrödinger was only following because he had little, to no say, in the odd choices of his mistress and her friend. The first sighting of the metallic orb, had been in the Gryffindor girls dormitory. Xailah skipped breakfast, and had been lazing around the empty- almost empty dormitory; when she was suddenly blinded by the shining object as it glided past her window. So naturally she had to tell someone about the thing, and try to catch it. As one does, when they are blinded by foil balloons. Blindly manhandling Schrödinger, by the scruff of his neck, she would find her way to the second-year dormitory, where she assumed Meenauh was. "Meena- Meena, a floating ssshiny thing hurt my eyes, and now I'm going to go catch it." She stood there quietly for a second, before turning on her heel and stumbling down the stairs. That was all. There wasn't much else for her to say.

Her journey would begin, once she stepped out of the common room. However the balloon was nowhere to be seen, much to her disappointment- since it was in the great hall at the time. But just because the balloon was out of sight, didn't mean it was out of mind- or completely gone for that matter. The shiny orb had to be somewhere. Even if it was nowhere. Because nowhere was technically somewhere. The young Gryffindor duo would wander the outdoors aimlessly, their faces turned upwards towards the sky. There wasn't much to look at there except for clouds. And they weren't even interesting clouds either. "I think we lost it Meena." The metamorph sighed in defeat. The other Gryffindor would gently nudge her friend, and point to something bobbing over the scattering of students. The balloon! "Oh! You found it Meena! Lets grab it before it gets away again!" The darkling cub chattered, excitedly. Her slotted pupils grew at the sight of the object; the inky blackness only left behind a thin ring of gold.

Taking her friend by the wrist, she would drag the younger Gryffindor along. The two- well, Xailah, was plowing through anyone that stood between her and the balloon. Luckily there were a few students that had enough sense to step back, and the the two weird children do their thing. The strange duo, would slowly begin to encroach on the unsuspecting balloon. And unsuspecting owner of the balloon. The balloon had an owner? Xailah came to a sudden halt, as she realized that the string attached to the orb, was attached to something else. And that something else was a box- that was being held by none other than, Pericles Dralt. Who she had no idea what to think of, at the given time. Oh no. This was weird. Oh. And there were other people here too. She recognized both faces- well she recognized the face of May Moonstar; the girl that was let off with a warning. May could have been given a detention that day she was caught at the lake, playing with a weapon- however the prefects were feeling rather merciful that day, and thus no such thing was handed out. The other face, the one belonging to the albino, was vaguely familiar. She couldn't place where she had seen the girl though. Was this another not-meeting that she was not told about? Was today an important day? "Oh...hallo." Her eyes left the balloon, and drifted downwards to the boy sitting on the bench. "Nice box."

She heard a sudden call from her friend. Unusual, but a call for adventure. She could tell it in her voice — the childish joy, which rarely found its way through the gloomy personality. Meenauh had to catch it while it was alive and burning. She threw her books on to the table and her bag onto her shoulder. She jumped into her shoes, but on the way to the exit, she quickly returned to set the previously thrown books into a neater layout.

Accompanying @Xailah Alptraum

She let Xailah play the game. She was silently watching and smiling as the girl was searching everywhere for the balloon. At some point, she had to assist her searching as the young metamorph was failing to find the desired item. Once outside, they had another look around and Meenauh heard a heavy sign to her side. And then she noticed the desired item — the balloon hovering over several students not that far from them. She silently and gently nudged Xailah and pointed towards her target. And now they had to interact.

A gathering of people was indeed a gathering. No one broke the rules, no one punched no one in the face so they were not there to support the victim. There was no fight, so the crowd didn't gather to cheer someone. They gathered there for their friend. And that friend turned out to be their friend as well. Once she saw the box in Pericles' hands and connected it to the fact that the balloon was tied to the box, she almost instantly knew what it meant. A quick consideration needed a test. Pericles didn't have a birthday throughout the year as far as she knew, but maybe he had it before they met. Balloons, though, meant the day was an important one, but it could be not a birthday. She had quite a lot of experience with balloons, though. A gift was the most settling one and only added to the picture. Were they close enough with Pericles to know when his birthday was. Apparently, not. She felt uncomfortable about not knowing facts. And this fact was important. It was important for Pericles. And she missed it.

Interacting with @Pericles Dralt and @Xailah Alptraum

Based on Xailah's remarks, Meenauh realised Xailah didn't have a clue of what was happening. Now they were screwed. They had no gifts for him and no... no anything. How are kids supposed to get presents for their friends while they were in Hogwarts? Maybe they had to make requests for their parents in advance? Meenauh never actually attend another child's birthday. Honestly, it came quite as a shock. She dropped a quick 'hey' to Pericles and weakly waved at him, not quite realising how to behave in the moment.

"I-..." she came down to a whisper and leaned towards Xailah as she greeted the boy, "I believe there is a high chance today is the day Pericles Dralt was born a dozen years ago."

[quote]Freckled fingers continued to turn the parcel over, wondering gaze and pensive frown contemplating its contents. Rather than just opening the damned box, Pericles placed it against an ear, closing his eyes and holding his breath. He was certain he heard or felt something, an incredibly faint rhythm, like that of a pulse. But surely his parents wouldn't take the risk of sending him something live in a box? No, this was more of a tick tick tick... crunch crunch crunch. The rhythm was no longer inside of the package. It was coming towards him. Lids lifted, silver stare settling upon @May Moonstar, recognizing her instantly though taking a second to process her presence. If Peri realized the insincerity of her smile, he did not express it. His own was bright, honest, perking up as he answered "Hullo May. It is." As if he needed to confirm his identity. Then, on a gently joking note, he ribbed "Running towards me this time?" Their introduction was the first instance in which Pericles believed he was about to give someone detention, but alack, his heart was not into punishment. Not when the girl had turned around so quickly. To insist there were no hard feelings, an offer was quick to follow. "Would you like a balloon...?"

They weren't the only two out and about who enjoyed a nice run. As @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood paused to regain air, her labored breathing drew his attention away. Pericles' first instinct was to glance about to see if she was running from something. When his fellow Ravenclaw gave a greeting however, his smile returned, and he answered "Alright then, Aida?" He had glimpsed her here and there in class, at the Ravenclaw table or in the common room, though the most recent, most prominent memories were tied to two chaotic events: the Blossom Ball and the Ravenclaw detour into the forbidden forest. In the first, he had seen Xailah helping the girl escape with one of the mosps. In the latter, she had come to his aid when he was abducted by an acromantula, and he had tried to return the favor. That particularly intense introduction had seared a positive impression of her into his head; it was difficult not to like someone whom had saved your life for selfless reasons. But then, they were not casually acquainted, and it occurred to him that they had never been properly introduced. "It is Aida, yes? S'cuse my manners," his smile was blurred by a shade of melancholy "we weren't in a place fit for formalities when we met. For what it's worth-" the boy held out a hand "-I'm Pericles Dralt. 'Peri' is fine, if you're alright with nicknames." There. Now they could claim they knew one another like proper persons, if belatedly.

Two figures approached, both of whom he definitely knew. One could go so far as to say that @Xailah Alptraum and @Meenauh Silmataurea were more familiar to Pericles than most; while the wizard had met many quality individuals throughout his first year, they three seemed to be regularly brought back together. Yet their last rendezvous- the Ball- had hosted a rather scathing back-and-forth between he and the metamorph, his first friend. Consequently, it was the first time he had ever had an argument with a friend, and Pericles was not yet sure how he was meant to act in its wake. He had been blatantly cross with her for insulting another friend of his, albeit one newer than she, and Xailah had claimed she would leave him alone forever. Yet here they were, awkwardly eyeing each other in a moment of shared shock. "Hullo," he answered delicately, and though his smile lingered, it took a turn towards something almost apologetic. He tried not to misread Meenauh's short word towards him, but in his uncertainty, the way in which she whispered to Xailah had him convinced something was certainly wrong. The tips of his ears turned a shy shade of red. Uneasy at the idea that the third-years were on the verge of going back the way they'd came, Peri picked absently at the box where a strong center stitch held the fabric wrap, silk ribbon, and balloon string all together. He looked at the package, then the pair, and abruptly invited: "Would you join us? My father sent me a gift. Today is my twelfth birthday, and I can't say I'm used to having a birthday on my own. I'd be glad for the company."

Xailah's compliment for said package caused his mouth to quirk crookedly. "Thank you. I'm playing a sort of game with it at the moment. For as long as I can remember, any time I'm given a gift, I'm supposed to try and guess what it might be. I can hear the faintest ticking. It's probable that this is a clock..." without a change in tone from nonchalance, Peri proposed, "...but it's possible that this is a clever ruse, conducted by one of my father's many enemies, who has crafted an antiquated bomb to bypass Hogwarts' securities. An attempt at ending the Dralt line once and for all." A fleeting spark of humor came and went from his eyes. "I suppose we'll see."

Interacting with @May Moonstar @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood @Xailah Alptraum @Meenauh Silmataurea and @Pericles Dralt

Breana's lazily flopped her bacon about as her mind drifted about, as per the usual. "Bacon's basically just pig fat..." The child thought. "Does that mean getting bacon is just making pigs thinner? Is it the same for turkey bacon?... Is it possible to get cow bacon? Can you get the cow's fat? Must be tough surgery... Are vets the ones that do the surgery, or are there specific doctors for that? cow surgeons, pig surgeons...?" Then the familiar caw of owls dove in. She looked up, a hint of fear in her eyes as she anticipates a letter from her parents. Luckily for her, no owl dropped by for her, making her let go of her breath. Usually, she would be excited for a letter from them, but her last letter was the first one she ever lied to. More specifically, Breana omitted when she encountered mosps in the Blossom Ball, as well as deliberately putting herself in danger by going through the Forbidden Forest. Even her mother didn't do such dangers, let alone doing it in her first year.

But an odd package stood out from the crowd of letters. Was that... a balloon with a gift below it? Was it someone's birthday today? Breana's eyes followed the package's path, only to have them grew wide in surprise to find out that it was none other than Pericles's. It was his birthday! She was elated to find it out in such a sweet way, but at the same time that meant that she didn't get him anything. Oh, sugar.

Of course, logically he wouldn't have minded, but this was one of her closest friends! One of the first people she talked to, and one of her first friends in Hogwarts (not to mention a fluttering infatuation that the little curly-haired girl has for him). Maybe she can scrounge up a quick little present for him after breakfast? But what can she get him that can still have meaning in such a short amount of time? Then, it hit her. It might be too personal, but it's better than nothing. She vacuumed up her food as if it was a delicious large dust bunny. Breana then took a few small items from the table and quickly turned around to the Ravenclaw dorms the second the last bite slurped up in her mouth.

It might be embarrassing for Breana, but a present is a present. Hopefully, Pericles won't judge her too much on her crafting abilities. It took a bit longer than she hoped, but a few bandages fingers were worth it for the gift. It looks simple enough, as she tucked it away in her suspender dress's pocket. She just hoped that she didn't accidentally crumple the paper. She asked a few students, and of course, they pointed the little Ravenclaw to where Pericles was: Out on the Grounds. What Breana failed to consider was that, since it's his birthday, of course, a couple of students would come to greet him.

"Oh, banana bread, that's a lot of people." Breana cursed to herself. The two students near him were vaguely familiar, mostly the Ravenclaw albino girl. Was she part of the Forbidden Forest fiasco, or the Blossom Ball blunder? Then there was Xailah and the other Gryffindor girl from the Blossom Ball. A jolt of panic surged in Breana as she remembered her last encounter with Xailah. As much as the tan-colored girl wanted to be optimistic, their last conflict ended on a sour note. Maybe it's not too late for Breana to turn around? After all, no one noticed her -- No, wait. someone made eye contact. She's already spotted, half-turning away. Breana didn't even remember who was it that saw her. It's the point of no return.

With a soft begrudging groan, she started to crabwalk towards the group, only to realize that she looked ridiculous so Breana stopped herself to fully turn towards the group with a soft wave. "I-- er, hey..." She faltered, ending it with a polite nod. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything..." She said, holding her present with both hands. It looked like a simple parchment rolled up like a scroll with a red string tied on it. though if someone were to look closely, the middle of it looked rather clunky.

May went red. "Who, me? Well, that day was different- I" she didn't know if that day was different or not. Her blue eyes fluttered slightly, and then, thank God, someone else came. She didn't know her. But May sure knew she was pretty. She stared at her for a few seconds, and remembered a bit who she was. Yes, May had comed earlier from a little party in the Courtyard and had seen her. She hadn't quite catched her name-Alia? Aida? Yes, it was Aida. But May didn't want the new Quiddich Co-captain to think she was spying on her and knew her name by surprise. "Why hello there" she smiled at her warmly, and quite thankfully for interrupting her and Pericles conversation, since she didn't want to answer is question- or comment.

Then, she saw the prefect that had helped Pericles get her into detention a few months before." Hullo Xailah. I guess we're having your birthday party then Peri." she had already guessed that it was Pericles party. She smiled and put her hands to her hips. " Go on. Open it up!" May was exited to see what was in there. She picked up a balloon when Pericles offered one to her. How come the owl didn't pop up the balloons along the way? It would be much safer with a cat I dare say," she chuckled and turned over to see another girl that she did not know but had seen around the castle. "You know, it's Pericles birthday. Shouldn't we sing him a birthday song?" she told the curly haired girl.

She didn't know why she was so sarcastic today. She didn't mean it, but of course, the girl couldn't stop it anyways. She rolled her eyes at the sight of the prefect Silmataurea ignoring her completely as thought she wasn't here. "First things first. Open up the present!" she encouraged Pericles, nodding fast. She absolutely didn't want to sing in front of these people. And worst, the birthday song.

Aida smiled at Pericles. Aida had never had a birthday celebration in her life, given the conditions she grew up in, so she got something of a vicarious thrill watching her friends and allies celebrate theirs. “Happy birthday, Pericles,” she said genially. Looking over at the people arriving, she saw Xailah, but not knowing her name, hesitated a moment while she tried to decide how to greet her.

“I remember you, from the Ball. You gave Alexander and me a broom to escape with. Thank you again for that,” said Aida, never forgetting those yellow cat-like eyes. Seeing Breana enter, Aida seemed to recall her from the Forbidden Forest. Somehow flames came to mind, but Aida had been a bit preoccupied at that time. Usually her intuition was right, however. Aida waved politely at Breana.

Someone had accompanied Xailah as the golden-eyed person entered the scene, however, and that automatically gained Aida’s curiosity. That person had spoken with an analytical tone when mentioning Pericles’s birthday. Who was this person? Turning to address Meenauh, Aida looked at her with friendly eyes. “I don’t think we have met before… is that right? I’m Aida, of House Ravenclaw. Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood to be precise, but just ‘Aida’ is fine.”

Interactions: @Pericles Dralt @Xailah Alptraum @Breana Oliveire @Meenauh Silmataurea

Pericles confirmed her completely random and unobvious guess by a polite invitation to join the ritual of unboxing. A short monologue, striving with logic and sequential guesses was finished with a very good joke, though sparkling with a dark tint. Meenauh unwillingly smiled as wide as she could. Maybe that was the moment she started to love dark humour and that was why she would be incorporating dark jokes in her routine interactions.

More people were arriving to behold the joyous revel, bottlenecked in a simple act of opening the gift. Maybe Pericles waited for more people to come, but how they knew about it in the first place? Were they following the balloon and they did?

While she wasn't paying attention to Xailah's reaction, she was addressed by a girl. Meenauh didn't manage to properly remember her from the ball. A girl, completely pale, with completely white hair. Meenauh didn't understand why she got her attention when clearly the centre of attention was on Pericles. The manner of her introduction made Meenauh chuckle, again, involuntarily.

Interacting with @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood

"Pardon me, but did you say House of Ravenclaw? Like from the actual Ravenclaw?" she smiled, completely satisfied with her brilliant and trenchant remark, "Indeed, I cannot recall meeting you, Aida of House Ravenclaw. I am Meenauh, like 'me' and 'now'. My house is just a small cottage in Manchester, though."

The girl was literally on fire and couldn't stop smiling widely.