TABLE 12 | Sweethearts Tea Party V-Day Event

• ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ, ᴘɪɴᴋʏ ꜰɪɴɢᴇʀ ᴜᴘ •
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The Ballroom - 14th February 2022

The ballroom felt stifling. The deep resentment at the situation from moments before still fresh on Aurelius' mind, as he several steps away from the table. However, he didn't get too far before he heard a - unfortunately - familiar voice from behind. With a glance over his shoulder, the Irish boy remained passive of expression, as he regarded Edme who had decided to speak up from table twelve. Aurelius also noted that another student had arrived at the table, near Maggie, and was in conversation with her.

Nonetheless, Aurelius turned his attention back to Edme, and listened. Her words seemed to summarize the impression Aurelius had concluded in those handful of minutes of interaction, and he wasn't at all surprised to learn - by Edme's own admission - that she was careless with words.

That much is obvious.

Still, while Aurelius wasn't - thankfully - part of the Muggle world, he had heard in passing of a social phenomenon that affected their youth with an overactive sensitivity to... well, anything; which was confusing, as a pure-blood who was expected to behave certain ways around others most of the time, and was expected to hide most if not all thoughts and reactions, to preserve face in high society - especially those in which the Leeds family was part. Either way, it made Aurelius wonder if Edme had reacted with that Muggle tendency, or if she had really just misspoke with the wrong words?

"I accept your apology, because it's expected of me--"

The Slytherin raised a finger, as he indicated he planned to continue.

"--however, I want to be very clear so there is no misunderstanding," Aurelius said, as he spoke calmly and evenly to Edme. "From this point on, all interaction - if any - from myself, toward you, will be as indifferent acquaintances. Nothing more. I will perform social propriety, such as greetings and small talk, but they are not to be misconstrued as anything other than being publicly amicable."

Aurelius straightened his jacket, by tugging at the shirt sleeves at either wrist, then gave a curt nod.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. Good evening."

The Irish boy walked away. He wouldn't take part in the event any longer, nor would he risk any interaction with someone who spoke so accusatory, so flippantly. Before long, the Slytherin had reached the exit to the ballroom and departed through the grand doorway, onward down the hallway...

@Liana Kerr | @Edme Achillian | @Maggie Hawkins | @Avery Chen

Aurelius exits.

☆

Edme Achillian

☆

With the new face at the table, the conflict at hand, whatever was happening with Maggie, and the lights in the room that seemed to be growing brighter with each second, Edme was, to say the least, a tad over-stimulated. Every time that happened, the Ravenclaw felt like her face was growing hotter, something you didn't want in an already fairly warm room.

Aurelius responded with something that was maybe of a tad bit more closure to Edme, but still left them in the same state of mistake and, quite frankly, regret. If a big hole opened up to swallow her whole, they would gladly sink right into it.

Edme paused before replying shortly, "I understand." and letting him leave the room without another word. It really was that easy to keep ones mouth shut, and she would find that to be the most simple alternative to ever using the word "consent" like a three year old who just heard it for the first time. You'd think after studying English for as long as she had one would be better about speaking with it.

Turning back around to face the table in front of her, they resisted the urge to slam her forehead onto the clean white cloth below. The others surrounding seemed no better, and with the arrival of a new guest it felt this wasn't going to simmer down any time soon. Edme considered leaving just as Aurelius had, but decided if they ran into him in the hallway it would be too awkward. She was sitting this one through, whether it was willingly or not.

WC: 283

MOD POST

@Autumn Agapov | @Avery Chen | @Liana Kerr
| @Maggie Hawkins | @Edme Achillian

CONFESSION AND SONG REQUESTS

"Anonymous would like to dedicate the song, Single Ladies, to Hanako Tone! He's single, ladies and gents! So if your heart belongs to him, don't forget to tell him as much!"

LOVELY CUPCAKES

Maggie couldn't resist biting into another cupcake. They were such nice smelling cupcakes after all, perhaps reminding her of her favourite thing. Goodness, was it getting warm it here? It seemed the next person she saw would be the object of her obsession...

PLEASE NOTE: This will be the last mod post as our next in-character event, the Blossom Ball, will be starting within the next few weeks. You may continue to roleplay and feel free to state that your character ate a cupcake and ended up under the effects of Amortentia but we ask that the effects stay strictly within this event. This means you cannot claim your character stole Amortentia laced cupcakes from this event.

However, Orion will be keep an eye on the threads, and there is still a table full of teachers, so please try not to do anything he wouldn't do!

Thank you, and we hope you all enjoyed yourselves!

♡

MAGGIE HAWKINS

♡

interacting with: @Edme Achillian | @Liana Kerr | @Aurelius Leeds | @Avery Chen mentioning: @Autumn Agapov

February 14, 2022

XXXXIt was rather odd, the feeling that was slowly pooling in Maggie's belly. Unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. Was it love? The feeling that so many people adored and sung praises of? Shakespeare, Wilde, even Meyer. This was what they were describing? Maggie hadn't thought it would feel so, well, sickening. Maybe she was too in love, if that were even at all possible. Too much love was seeping from her pores, too much affection for the boy who she so adored. Suddenly. It was odd, honestly, how she felt about Avery now. Prior to this tea party, Maggie had no memory of ever loving him this much. No memory whatsoever. The affection she felt now was punctuated by something of a sucker punch of surprise because compared to her prior feelings towards Avery, which had been purely friendly and competition-oriented up to this point, this was so much different. "What do you mean, what am I talking about? I love him!" Maggie wailed, pushing her seat out and slumping back with a head tossed over the back of the chair. Sweet, sweet misery. Never before had she so longed for the ground to swallow her whole. Her own best friend, going around with the love of her life? Unheard of! Those thoughts, though, and the ensuing crying, were interrupted by the boy in question. With a rose. Coming straight for Maggie. Straightening immediately and blotting her cheeks off with the sleeve of her sweater, fingers running through her hair in an attempt to look more presentable, Maggie observed Avery with the sweetest face she could muster. Wide eyes, lashes fluttering in what she only assumed could be charm (it really just looked as if she had something stuck in her eye), Maggie leaned forward as Avery came to a halt. Two things hit her as she took the rose almost shyly, uncharacteristically so. First, Avery said love. He loved practicing Quidditch with her. That had to be code for something, right? Had to be! On a day like Valentine's Day, how could it be anything but? And he loved her note, too. If the Quidditch comment didn't mean anything, the note one sure would. After all, why would Avery say he loved two things about her? In a row? Second, and somehow even more exciting, the note attached to the rose read kiss. Find and kiss your valentine. Maggie looked back up at Avery, standing up so she was level with him, and leaned forward just so. Close enough to see the texture of his skin, the beads of sweat that were barely a sheen on his face. "I love you, too, Avery. Oh, gosh, I love you," she mused happily, hardly taking into account that he mentioned possibly being gassy. Belching. Seeming all to much like he was going to vomit. "D'you have anything else for me? Maybe," Maggie glanced away, "A kiss?"

If Maggie hadn't been sobbing quite so convincingly, Liana would have thought this was some elaborate joke. Love? That was something twelve-year-olds weren't supposed to even think about, let alone actually experience it. Such a strong word to describe feelings for another person. Perhaps it was so devalued that her peers started using it do describe merely liking someone. She was absolutely sure Maggie did not love Avery. Given how suddenly this proclamation came, the attraction would go away the second the boy changed his haircut. It was scary to watch her friend act so uncharacteristically sensitive, however. Was this the so-called 'puberty'? Did it really make teenagers go crazy?

What could she even say to calm the weeping girl down? Promising that Avery was all hers to keep would sound weird; the boy wasn't some item the rights to which could be had or relinquished in a conversation. Trying to reason with her didn't seem especially safe, either - the way things were going, it could only cause a bigger scene. And Liana wasn't good enough with emotions to be able to console someone without any concrete problem-solving statements, just with vague soft cooing and gentle patting.

Avery's arrival saved her from the need to do anything, although she couldn't say she was glad to see him. This was bound to only get more awkward now. Liana glanced at the exit, where Aurelius had just disappeared. The temptation to follow him was growing more intense by the second.

The Asian boy spoke like his cheerful usual self, but for some reason his words were making Maggie glow like a light bulb. Liana was suddenly experiencing an overwhelming feeling of being the third wheel. Trying to pretend like she wasn't listening, and pointedly not looking at whatever spasms had overcome her best friend's eyes, the redhead slowly rose and began picking up and pocketing the still-packaged desserts that had been sent to her by all four people, as well as their notes - most of which were still unread. As someone who didn't enjoy sweets all that much, she was sure she would end up letting the two cupcakes go stale, and the chocolate bark would sit in one of her drawers until summer. But it would not be polite to abandon the sugary tokens, especially when she felt such disappointment after watching Aurelius leave her own gift behind.

Upon overhearing Avery admit that he was feeling gassy, she frowned slightly. "Maybe you should go to the lavatory if you're not feeling right," she suggested offhandedly, not feeling particularly hopeful that such a simple idea could end this unwanted drama. Maggie did not seem to pay any attention to the well-being of her crush, however. Her behaviour was making Liana cringe inwardly. A kiss? It was almost like this clumsily flirty girl was a total stranger. Disgusting.

Not surprisingly, Avery seemed to share her sentiment, because he chose that specific moment to barf. Even though none of his stomach's contents were anywhere near Liana, she backed away from the pair just in case a second round was coming. Her hand was already reaching for her wand, prepared to cast the simple Cleaning Charm she had learned months ago. But something stopped her.

She did not like this new, lovey-dovey Maggie who cared so much about a boy she was willing to cry over him, or beg for kisses. Perhaps staying splattered in puke for a while would teach her a lesson, make her wake up from this insanity of romance-seeking and return to her usual self, tough and laid-back.

"Well, I'll be going now; have fun, Maggie, Avery. It was lovely to meet you, Edme," she said casually, as if not noticing the half-digested gooey food spilled all over the floor. She picked up the last of her chocolate bark, the one made to look like a red-nosed deer. The realisation of what Avery's reference to a Rudolph meant came just then. So the boy didn't send her a coded love letter - Maggie was just going insane with jealousy. Great.

Distractedly, almost as an afterthought, she also collected the dark chocolate and pistachio bark she had made for Aurelius. Then, with the last glance at the nasty drama her friends were having, she walked towards the exit.

Liana has left the thread.

Liana has taken two cupcakes with her; I am aware that Amortentia effects must stay in this event, and do not intend to claim that the sweets she took are laced with the potion.

☆

Edme Achillian

☆

@Avery Chen @Maggie Hawkins @Liana Kerr

It seemed the table was just as trouble, and with the arrival of Avery it was becoming increasingly clear that the water would not settle any time soon. Maggie was still fawning over him quite verbally, while he seemed a bit less allured.

Edme still took notice of the last remaining letter left for her. Out of curiosity, and to drive herself from the drama that unfolded, they grabbed the letter swiftly and looked at the name on the back. Maggie Hawkins. They weren't surprised to find Maggie's name on there, of course the two had met a few times and spoken enough to be classified as friends, so obviously it wouldn't be groundbreaking to have a letter from the other. But it already seemed there had been a mix-up, so who's to say what could be in it?

Before she could take a peak, the wretched sound of vomiting right beside them. It was a bit of a flash of images, Avery apologizing profusely, Liana getting up to leave. Rather than gasping or jumping up, Edme looked at the puke with raised eyebrows and wide eyes. Coming back to her senses, they turned to the leaving girl and, blast the Ravenclaw's poor social skills, waved gently.

After a moment of hesitance, they turned and asked Maggie, "Are you alright?" in an awkward, confused kind of whisper, as if Avery couldn't obviously hear them. Stuffing the letter into her satchel that had lay dormant by the seat. She tried to avoid looking at the puke, rather trying to focus on the wall past Maggie's head. Maybe it was time Edme took their leave, but she held it out for a moment to check up on Maggie.

WC: 276

♡

MAGGIE HAWKINS

♡

interacting with: @Edme Achillian | @Liana Kerr | @Avery Chen mentioning:

February 14, 2022

XXXXIn the morning, once this wore off, Maggie knew she would regret every decision that led her to this point. Regret every single word that was said, for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, Maggie Hawkins may have just ruined the friendship she had with one Liana Kerr, a friendship she valued so much that she'd leave Hogwarts to preserve it if necessary. Of course, that was a silly thought to have at all, because she was unsure that Liana would be so keen on having a friend who dropped out of school so early on, at the ripe age of eleven. For now, though, her senses were clouded. Like a heavy fog had settled over her eyes so heavy that she couldn't see beyond, squinting in her attempts to make headway and never quite being able to grasp it. "Hawkins. Easy with the professions of love there. I know I'm smooth as heck, but you don't want to make all the other girls jealous of you now, do you? So let's tone down the dramatics for a bit, love," Maggie blinked at Avery in shock, adoration, and surprise. It was amazing how far they had come in the few minutes that they were sitting here together. The short period of time in which they sat close together, hearts intertwined, was paying off. Love. The corners of her lips quirked up. Avery looked a bit shocked, though, at the insinuation that they might kiss. Was that so out of left field? Was it so strange to assume that the two of them might kiss, embrace, be in love? The smile that had quickly grown on her lips fell off like the candle wax upon a birthday candle that had been lit atop a cake. The frosting slid down the sides from the heat, much like the frosting of Maggie Hawkins' heart. "Avery? Are you okay?" A bit of the old concern that had distinguished Maggie as herself peeked through the unfortunate facade which had been set up before her eyes. Something was wrong with Avery. Say what you want about Avery Chen, but he had a wicked projectile. TW: GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VOMIT AND PUKE. Vomit splattered on her shoes and dripped onto the floor, sure to seep into the leather of her Mary Janes. Her socks. It would take forever to clean up without the proper spell, which Maggie didn't have due to her own slacking off in class. Plus, Liana had fled the scene, looking equal parts uncomfortable and angry. Wonderful. Lower lip wavering, Maggie looked everywhere but at Avery. Then, with an embarrassed, red glow high in her cheeks, the swiped the rest of her letters off of the table, leaving the treats. After Avery's little display, she didn't have much of an appetite at all. "I'm fine," Maggie squeaked weakly in the direction of Edme, letters clutched in her hand. Then, to Avery Chen, "Happy Valentine's Day." With that, Maggie was gone. Worst Valentine's Day ever. Maggie exits the thread.