Event Midspring Celebration

Valentin finished his [presumed successful] cast of tarantallegra at his Durmstrang comrade’s opponent and, without waiting to see if it landed, he turned his face back to Felix.

“That should keep him on his toes,” laughed the albino in Russian. He intended to listen for their spells' fallout, keen on firing off another one if he had somehow failed… but a voice from behind came to block out that reality.

"Valentin, this is the one who hurt me?" asked Mikael in confused distress.

Spinning around, Valentin was shocked to find that Mik had followed him into the fray. Val had thought Mik would stay where he was, safe in his isolation, but now he was at risk of being caught in the crossfire again. More importantly, Mik had followed him. He moved-- the statue of a boy had walked along with him. What had possessed him to break out of his petrification?

“No, Misha…” whispered the seeker, dropping his white wand to the floor with a clatter. “Misha.” A lump formed in the back of his throat, choking out the rest of his words. Silver eyes dashed over Mik’s face, searching for a clue, something that could tell him what the hell was going on within the void of a boy. Mikael’s unspoken burden, frigid and silent as the depths of outer space, weighed on Val day in and day out. The pale boy just couldn’t understand what had happened since that day in the library. Had Val permanently scarred Mikael’s mind with his cruelty? What was wrong, and what could he do? Every hour, Mik’s silence persisted, on, and on, and on… deafening Val’s ears that yearned to hear the music of meaning, understanding, connection.

“Listen,” began Valentin as his head turned automatically to track Hiro’s silhouette walking towards the exit. “He won’t hurt you again. I won’t allow it. Punks like that aren’t even worthy of your thoughts.” Grasping the dark-haired boy’s shoulders in each hand, Val stared at Mik’s frozen ocean gaze. A twitch shuddered through one silver eye as Valentin suppressed a grimace. How was he supposed to breathe in this airless void anymore? A tremor shook into Mikael’s shoulders through Valentin’s hands that gripped a little too angrily. Couldn’t Mik see? Didn’t Mik care? Why had he come back over here, anyway? The knot in Val’s throat ached and pressure pulsated in his skull, threatening to force itself out through his eyes. He wished Mik had just won. If Val had just let Mik beat him to a bloody pulp, then Mik could have gone on with Yef to take care of him… free of Valentin’s cripplingly manipulative magic. Looking down at his little white conductor’s wand on the ground, Valentin’s gut clenched in disgust. He wanted to kick the stupid thing. He wanted to smash it. Glaring back up at Mikael, Valentin’s lips twisted into a frown. “I won’t tolerate people hurting you anymore,” spat Valentin. Especially not me.

“Come on, let’s get out of here. We should check on Yefim’s wounds.” Valentin looked at Felix and nodded with a short bow. He didn’t know what he could even say to his Swedish comrade. Swallowing down his bitter hate, Valentin took his left hand off of Mik and tried to push his right arm further around Mik’s shoulders. “Our champion needs us.” Valentin ignored the simple pale wand laying on the ground as he turned to leave.

@Winnie Harper, @Flash Holmwood, @Percival Rainwood

Val intends to exit the thread with Mik unless Mik resists or if someone else stops him.

WC: 306 Hex: #433867

Date: April 2, 2022 Outfit: Gown, Necklace

Stamina: 6 ✧ Evasion: 6 ✧ Strength: 5 ✧ Wisdom: 7 ✧ Arcane Power: 5 ✧ Accuracy: 6

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

As they entered the great hall once more, Gemima's senses were awash with the returning sounds of people. Although, unlike last time, she didn't feel afraid. She glanced up at Kim, and felt her cheeks warm. There was something about the boy that calmed her. Once again, she was drawn to his piercing blue eyes, which were currently narrowed in intense concentration. Gem couldn't help but think of how...pretty he looked.
She coughed slightly and shook her head. Her face must be ten times redder than it was before. What was that all about?

Gem took a deep breath and let herself be guided to the center of the room, where people were still dancing and chattering wildly. As the dance floor grew nearer and nearer, anxiety returned to her mind. What was she doing? Dancing in front of everyone in the school, and with a boy, no less--it didn't seem like her at all. Was it too late to make a mad dash back to the courtyard?

Besides, she couldn't recall the last time she danced with someone. Gemima bowed her head and tried to control her breathing. Thousands of thoughts and worries had begun to swirl around her mind like a hurricane.
What if I trip on my gown again?
What if I step on his feet?
What if I'm rubbish at dancing, and he leaves me alone?

Right, this was a huge mistake! She opened her mouth, ready to make up some excuse for why she had changed her mind, but suddenly they stopped. Gemima swallowed thickly and looked back up into Kim's dazzling blue eyes, her heart thumping wildly against her ribcage. Her stomach was knotted with nerves, and her whole body felt as if it were on fire.
But strangely, she had no urge to pull away from him.
Now what?

【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】★【☆】

@Kim Sato

Flash would find himself sharing a great deal, usually one to keep everything unsavory about himself private. Not that he wasn't still keeping the most lurid details to himself, but it felt good to admit how hard this year had been for him. She apologized for being a solution seeker, though the idea of apologizing for such a thing gave Flash a pained smile. The two of them really were very similar in lots of ways that he felt others could not relate-- the way she changed her expression when she saw he was worried, the way she apologized for trying to help. He could feel himself slipping further and further into intimate familiarity.

When he added the final fact, Eun-ji did not comment, likely for the reasons she apologized for before. It was better that way for now, as the adrenaline of the day wore off, he was left with a painful migraine that could only be cured by rest. Well, magic would help too, but there were many reasons for him to elect to find his bed and lie down rather than return to the healer's tent in the middle of a rowdy ball where children were fighting around them. She would agree, adding that she was glad he told her, to ask her for help if he needed it, saying she loved to talk to him.

Flash would space out as she continued about her own plans, fixated on the feeling of acceptance she gifted him. Though he had little function left, running on fumes at that point, he would feel compelled to express his gratitude as well, only words were failing him. Instead, he closed the gap between them, wrapping her in a tight hug. He would not move for a moment, breathing quietly as the feeling of connection washed over him. He could feel her heartbeat, and feel the warmth generated by their proximity. Letting go, though the impulse to never let go existed, Flash would smile at her one last time. "That helped."

With that, he would turn and go, the pathway from the Great Hall to the dungeons below a familiar and easy one, though his night was still far from over.

Blue in English, Red in Korean

Instead of saying anything else Flash proceeded to hug her. Eun-ji froze for a second, her hands dangling useless at her sides. She’d never been held like this and she still struggled with physical affection but the boy didn't know that and in this very moment she didn't want him to. It was surprisingly easy to wrap her arms around him and stroke his back in a soothing manner. It didn't feel awkward at all. If hugs healed, she’d hold him all night alas that was not the case. The Ravenclaw stayed until the boy decided to let go and smiled. “Well...I'll be around if you need more of those.” She'd offer before watching the boy go.

Once Flash disappeared from her side, Eun-ji looked around. She needed to find her cousin and Lucia. Did they follow her here? Apparently, the answer was yes. Ye-jun was currently standing near the destroyed potluck table, looking quite pissed. It was understandable reaction. Food was almost sacred in Korean households and his mother made an effort to prepare something for the kids here. It was truly sad that they decided to destroy it all. Sighing, the girl slowly made her way towards the pair but her steps were intercepted by yet another familiar face.

“Oh…hello Kim.” She greeted the boy. Still feeling a bit out of it. “No…I came with a friend and my cousin.” She pointed somewhere behind the boy (if he turned around he would spot Lucia Fox and Ye-jun standing near the destroyed potluck table). She was supposed to go to them and apologise for ruining their evening but she didn’t want to disregard the Gryffindor. He meant well, he just didn’t pick the best time. “The ball? It has been…” Eun-ji paused for a moment. She had no desire to share the details with the boy. He knew a part of her life that nobody else, besides Ye-jun, knew about but he also didn’t know enough about her life here to keep up. Even if she wanted to explain the fiasco with Sam and the rescue mission of Flash, he would be way too lost to understand. He wan't familiar with the relations she had here. “…eventful.” The girl finally finished the thought. “What about you?” She looked the young boy over. Her healing/medical senses were tingling and she just couldn’t hep but ask. “What happened to your hand?”

By now, she could see Ye-jun and Lucia approaching their location. It was not ideal situation for apologies but she would have to make due. Perhaps introducing someone new would prevent her cousin from asking uncomfortable questions regarding a certain handsome Slytherin. It was highly unlikely that he would forget the issue entirely but at least she could postpone the inevitable. Hopefully.

*Healing Sage *Perfectionist * Death Defiance • Sta 7 • Eva 8 • Stre 4 • Wis 10 • Arc 8 • Acc 9
Inventory: wand, tissues, band aids

Violet in English, Red in Korean and Blue in French

Ye-jun was looking forward to tasting his mother’s Kimbap again but he was in for a nasty surprise. Once the pair entered the Great Hall, they would see the potluck table mostly empty. All the dishes from before were suspiciously gone now. Sure, they could have been eaten while they were gone but it looked far too clean. And where were his mother's lunch boxes? They were one of her favourites. “Aish...Jangnanhae?/장난해?” Are you kidding me? The boy couldn’t stop himself from getting a bit frustrated. She was not going to be happy about that one. Something must have happened, he was sure of it. Finally remembering he was not alone, he did his best to regain his composure. “Sorry…I just…I was supposed to bring the containers back to my mum.” He explained to Lucia, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. He sighed in disappointment. This was no time to solve the mystery of the putlock table however. They came here to find Eun-ji after all.

“Ah…there she is.” Ye-jun pointed towards the healing tent. “You were right.” He said to the Hufflepuff, who previously suggested they might be going there. It did not seem like a good time to follow his cousin though. It looked like they were having some serious talk. She was also far more touchy-feely than he ever saw her be. Well that’s…unusual. He frowned in confusion.“Perhaps let’s wait until they finish talking?” He suggested finally. It was bound to be awkward if they just jumped in. And oh boy was he glad to make that call.

It didn’t take too long for the mysterious student to leave but before he did, he hugged Eun-ji and she let him. It was not a short hug either. “The hell…?” He muttered under his breath. He didn’t know if her friend was aware but Eun-ji was not exactly used to physical affection yet she didn’t look uncomfortable as she wrapped her arms around the boy. Ye-jun had SO MANY questions he didn't even know where to begin. He got so distracted that his cousin managed to spot them first. “Yeah…I say it’s time to talk, don’t you?” The Beauxbatons looked at the girl standing by his side. Eun-ji definitely had some explaining to do.

Unfortunately, before they reached her, yet another boy intercepted her steps. She was really quite popular tonight. There was no way Ye-jun was waiting any longer though. Both for his and Lucia’s sake. Luckily, this conversation seemed much more superficial and the raven-haired witch even pointed towards them so he assumed it was fine to approach them. She’d just have to introduce her friend this time.

Upon entering the Great Hall, Lucia was happy to see that it was relatively tidy. None of the other balls that Lucia had gone to had ended very well (maybe it was just inevitable when you put that many teens in a room together and told them to amuse themselves), so it was nice that nobody had blown the Great Hall up yet. In another nice surprise, the potluck table had been greatly depleted. It was a bit sad that all the Kimbap seemed to have disappeared, so Lucia couldn't have any, but it just proved its popularity! Clearly, the potluck table had been a hit. Which was why Lucia wasn't expecting Ye-jun to let out what sounded like a curse in Korean. "Are you okay?" she asked, confused by his annoyance. After his explanation, though, Lucia took another look at the table. Not only was a lot of the food gone, but some of the containers had disappeared as well. The Hufflepuff frowned, searching with her gaze for the lunch boxes the Lee cousins had brought their contribution in. She didn't find them."Someone must have stolen them," she muttered to Ye-jun. "That's so mean." Ye-jun's sigh implied that he agreed with her, but he seemed okay to move on without searching for the thief.

It took Lucia a little longer than it took Ye-jun to locate @Eun-ji Lee Hunt in the crowd of dancing and chatting ballgoers. She was at the Healing Tent, still talking to the strange boy with two different eyes. "Sounds like a good idea to me," she agreed when Ye-jun suggested that they should leave the pair alone for a little while longer. With nothing else to do, Lucia wandered over to the potluck table and picked out some sort of biscuit. When she looked back, Eun-ji was talking to someone else and gestured over to them as though she had to get back to them. Nibbling her biscuit, she followed Ye-jun towards Eun-ji and the other boy the Ravenclaw was now talking to [@Kim Sato].

"Are you okay?" Lucia asked Eun-ji, offering both her and the boy a smile. To the boy, she also gave a greeting. "Hi?"

edited to remove mentions of the destroyed potluck table

Blue in English, Red in Korean

Thankfully, Kim got the hint and didn’t pry any further. The boy was obviously smart when it came to these things. He always seemed to know when to let things go and she was grateful for that. Instead he answered her question and the conversation shifted towards his injuries. They were taken care of now so Eun-ji didn’t really have to do anything but she couldn’t help being curious. It was like a basic instinct to her.

Kim's reply made her frown a bit however. She couldn’t help but wonder if he was telling the whole truth. Didn’t they say the fire was safe? It didn’t make sense, letting kids play with an actual burning flames, right? And yet…if her suspicions were indeed true, it meant he didn’t want to share the true reason. He let her off the hook just now, it was only fair she did the same for him. “Seriously…what are the adults doing?” The witch sighed. Truth or not, that statement was sincere. She knew there were far too many kids to look after but still… Perhaps she was just being unfair. The Ravenclaw was slowly starting to lose faith in grown-ups and although that was in no way the professors’ fault, she couldn’t really help it. It was simply a by-product of the misery that was going on at home.

At last, Eun-ji’s musings were interrupted by her friend and cousin joining in. She smiled at Lucia. “Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for taking off like that…it was an emergency.” She explained. The Hufflepuff just seemed concerned but Ye-jun raised his eyebrows at that. Did he see? He did, didn’t he? “Sure looked like one.” He chimed in. Luckily, just like she hoped, he didn’t ask her to elaborate probably due to the fact that there was a stranger involved. He must have been curious but he was tactful enough not to question her here. Clearing her throat, the Ravenclaw pointed at Kim. “Ye-jun, this is Kim Sato. He is a Hogwarts student and Charles’ best friend.” She introduced the young boy. Her cousin had yet to meet Charles but he knew about him at least and he would get to know him this summer. “Kim, this is my cousin Ye-jun. He goes to Beauxbatons.” Then she turned to her friend. “I don’t know if you two already met... This is my friend Lucia from Hufflepuff. She is in the same year as me. Lucia, this is Kim. First year Gryffindor.” The boy seemed to be very socially active so she wouldn’t be surprised if they already met but it was only right she introduced them anyway. That’s what you were supposed to do in situations like this.

*Healing Sage *Perfectionist * Death Defiance • Sta 7 • Eva 8 • Stre 4 • Wis 10 • Arc 8 • Acc 9
Inventory: wand, tissues, band aids