Closed Royal Banquet Spring Court Ball

April 21, 2023 - The Spring Court's Royal Banquet

He smiled widely at EmmaLee as he spun her around just as they reached the dancing area. He felt like something was off about the whole situation, or most of it, anyway. Definitely nothing wrong with his date, however. She was beautiful and sweet and intelligent, but most of all, she was pleasant to be with and that was important to him. No friction. No yelling. Just two friends having a good time under the stars.

In the moment he thought stars, he looked up at them. It was the astronaut wannabe in him coming out in that moment, but instead of stars, his focus immediately caught sight of the red sparks in the night sky, indicating an emergency situation. Still holding her hand but no longer spinning her, Stephen stopped immediately and started paying attention to their surroundings.

He now heard students yelling, mostly coming from all areas of the maze. Some few were in the vast expanse surrounded by the maze, and they looked mostly fine, but one or two looked like they had encountered some hard times based on the cuts and limping he was now picking up on.

What had happened here? How had he not known this was going on about them? He prided himself on being more mindful of his surroundings, but he would have to think about that later. He turned back to EmmaLee and could now so plainly see the red cast from the spell pinking up her face and hair just the slightest bit. He lowered her hand and his gaze grew serious.

"Do you hear the screams, EmmaLee? It sounds like it is coming from the maze." Turning his gaze away from her once again, he focused on the maze and saw it moving. "Look!" he said, and he pointed to it. It didn't really matter where she looked because the whole thing seemed to be creeping or undulating or expanding or retreating. And there no longer seemed to be an exit for them should they need one.

He quickly took an inventory of what he had with him, which was his wand and his fake sword in the scabbard of his outfit. If he only had his broom he cou - ... he could get her to safety outside of this insanity and help others out too. And then it hit him.

"EmmaLee, I need to try to get us, and others if I can, out of here. I am going to run back to the area where we saw the two knight sentries and see if I can use the one's sword to hack my way to the area where all of those school brooms were used for the Knight's Tourney." He looked at her and smiled and hurried his last few sentences.

"I need you to stay here, please. I can be more effective if I am not having to worry for your immediate safety, ok?" He wasn't really asking her. If she had resisted, he would have run ahead of her and then cast an Arresto Momentum on her had she tried to follow, hoping someone would counter it for her long after he had gone.

"I will be back as soon as I can. If you get the chance to leave this area with someone on a broom, you take it. Don't wait for me. Promise me that. I will find you, one way or the other. Whatever you do, stay away from the maze," and without even thinking what the heck he was doing, he kissed her quickly on the top of her head and ran for the Tourney's once upon a time entry.

He knew he was in the right spot because of the well trodden path that led right to that spot in the hedge. There was no other reason for there to be so may footprints at that particular spot. He pulled out his costume sword and started hacking. The maze responded by rustling and undulating. He thought he heard whispers, but he could not make them out. They did not sound of this world anyway, but he continued. The sword was useless. He hated to do it with people trapped inside, but he brought his wand out and cast Incendio. This the maze did not like that either, but there was success with that. He stopped and briefly considered just going back to EmmaLee and Incendoing their way out, but quickly left that idea in the dust. Too risky with people inside.

He cast another Incendio and one more before he found himself face to face with the two sentries, He immediately grabbed the one's sword, the one not gussied up to look like more jester than knight, and was relieved to find it to be a much weightier version than his own. It was not far now to the changing room where the brooms would be. What he could not burn, he hacked. The maze was getting angrier, he could tell. There were vines coming at him from all directions, but the Incendios would send them cowering.

Finally, after about 30 minutes or so, he was in the changing area and he grabbed all of them. He took off his cloak and laid it out on the ground and threw 15 brooms on top of it, leaving his trusty steed, Onyx, out. Before squatting down to tie the cloak up into a hobo's bundle of sorts, he Incendioed the area once again to buy himself some time to tie a good knot. Once they were all secure, he mounted Onyx and pushed off, wand at the ready.

Broom Racing had finally come in handy, it would seem. He deftly avoided the vines, well most of them anyway. One very quick one managed to grab hold of one of his boots , but a quick slash of his sword and he was in the clear. He turned quickly in the direction where he had left EmmaLee, but he did not immediately see her.

There was quite a bit of smoke now in the air, and not just from his Incendios. That was a danger, too, for those who did not know any of the wind spells. He slowed his speed a little looking for EmmaLee. Where was she? He scanned the edge of the maze all the way around and did not see her there. Perhaps she had gotten a broom lift out of there. Just as he was giving in to that notion, he spotted her over by the banquet tables, making what looked like bandages from the tablecloths.

Well all right, EmmaLee. Great thinking!

He landed close to her, his smile beaming. "Look what I found?" and he pointed to Onyx and the other 15 brooms tied in a bundle on his back. "Come on. Climb aboard. Time to get you out of here," and he took off the bundle so she could rest herself behind him.

"I know flying isn't your strong suit, but it is mine. I won't let anything happen to you. Keep one arm around my waist the whole time. That is important. If the brooms start to fall, you let them. If you feel me move to the left, you move to the left as well. Same for the right. We need to keep our center of balance, okay? I want us to fly over the maze and see if anyone needs any of these brooms, and if they do, I want you to give them one off of your lap. If you keep pressed close to me, they shouldn't fall, and neither should you." He looked at her and knew she must be a little scared, but she wasn't showing it. He admired that.

"Okay, come on. It is time to get to some fresh air."

**************
As he pushed off and took them skyward, it did not take long to realize that no one was in need of help any longer. He felt EmmaLee tap him and pointed his attention to the devastation below them.

The once beautiful and verdant hedge maze was now sooty black. It looked like an apocalyptic landscape below them as a few student stragglers could be seen helping each other make their exits through the brittle, skeletal remains of branches. He did a couple of sweeps over the area, avoiding residual smoke plumes as some hot spots were still smouldering below, but neither he nor EmmaLee saw anyone, thankfully, who looked like they were in desperate need of help.

Their plan had a been a good one and likely would have been incredibly helpful about 30 minutes earlier. There really was something to the saying that timing was everything. He felt her lean forward and then he felt her warm breath on his ear as she suggested they return the brooms to the pitch. The nearness stirred something in his lizard brain, but he didn't know what exactly. He simply nodded and said, "Great idea!" but as he was looking straight ahead, he wasn't entirely sure she had even been able to hear him.

As he banked off to the right and headed towards the pitch, he suddenly broke out into a cold sweat. He now sensed what had been triggered by her nearness. A vague slip of a memory raced across his mind. Had he really kissed her before he left her in the banquet area? Surely not. Was his subconscious just playing mind games with him now, and if it was, why would it?

What a night.

After they had landed and placed the brooms near the storage area, he wondered how to proceed. Had he made things awkward for her? He had certainly made them so for himself. He smiled at her as she asked about what they should do now.

He had no idea. But then, in the solitude around them, he could hear the music still playing by the Great Lake. The answer to her question seemed suddenly obvious and he smiled.

Mentions: @EmmaLee LeDames

OOC: Standing permission to godmod Miss LeDames was granted by her author.

You know... or not.

The wonder and enchantment of the evening came to an abrupt halt for not just this friendly pair, but almost everyone around them as red sparks flew and chaos erupted through the now enclosed area. All over the dance floor, students were looking around to assess the burgeoning catastrophe, then turning with their partners and friends to escape the ever-growing, ferocious foliage.

Apparently, it wouldn't be a Hogwarts event without fire and malicious mayhem somewhere.

As the music was replaced with the shouts of spells and the clamber of feet, the beginning of this pair's dance was stilled as both students looked up to admire the stars, only to see red exploding in the sky instead. EmmaLee's lip-glossed mouth frowned to a thin line of concern as she finally took in the now full danger around her, and Stephen turned to her to speak, a similar look of concern plus valorous determination knitting his dark eyebrows together.

EmmaLee shook her head slowly, sadly at his words. She was very confused. The danger had escalated so fast, a mere walk from the tourney exit to the dancefloor. How had they missed it? Had she been too excited about Stephen's victory, about finally being here at the ball with her friend after so much, largely unnecessary, drama? Had the music somehow, impossibly drowned out the sounds of screaming and spell casting and struggling?

Turning back to look up at her knight.../her/ knight?...her friend, and finally speaking, she said, "I do now. Its sounds like it's coming from inside the 'edges." Doing as her friend commanded, she looked around again at the villianous vegetation closing them in before doing a quick inventory of her own, patting the clever pockets in her dress.

Which was useless. Dummy hadn't even brought her wand. She was even still so unused to thinking of it as a necessary item, rather than a simple school tool. Her mother had so little used her own wand when they lived in France that even now EmmaLee still found the silver decorated holder her mother now wore on her arm an odd sight four years after Papa Victor bought it for her. He had promised to buy EmmaLee her own when she finished her first year of school.

Really though, why would she possibly need a wand at a school function anyway?! Because this was Hogwarts, that's why. They seemed to have a "learn by practice" policy.

EmmaLee did find a glittery blue chouchou (scrunchie) in her otherwise barren pocket. So, there was that. She pulled her styled white hair fully into a pony tail with the chouchou as Stephen explained his plan and his need for her to stay out of danger. She gave him a curt nod, sending her now bounded up curls bouncing in their holder. "I will stay out of 'arms way as much as possible and will definitely not go looking for trouble until you get back." She promised, brushing away the momentary though that she had not been looking for trouble any of the other times she had been seriously harmed either. That was an argument for another moment.

She made a noncommittal humming noise as Stephen pleaded with her to run if given the opportunity. Not refusing to do so, but also not telling him that she intended to wait until the last possible moment to make sure he was safe himself. She also could not fathom just taking off and not at least trying to do something to help, albeit far away from the now creeping walls of the banquet area. She intended to help in any way she could, wandless though she was.

As he kissed her on the top of the head, though, she paused for a moment to be stunned and put her hand over the slightly tingly spot, white eyebrow raised and face a solid question mark. She hadn't had a male friend kiss her any where since she was in France. Even Kiernan refused to participate in her "weird friendship kissing thing", though her female friends, Alura and Grace, found greeting each other with cheek kisses cute. EmmaLee's cheek flushed almost as bright as the fire building up around her as she remembered that, as she understood, any kind of kiss meant things to American boys, well, Americans in general.

She scrunched her eyes closed and visibly waved the thoughts away with both of her hands before turning from Stephen's exiting back. That could be figured out later or stuffed in a box somewhere. Now was the time to focus on first aid.

You don't grow up with an herbalist mother in the middle of non-magik nowhere without learning how to do first aid without magic. It would be a while before the adults, particularly the nurse, came to assist and EmmaLee could already see quite a few people with injuries that needed medical attention.

She looked around calmly, putting the knuckle of her index finger to her lip in thought as she assessed what she needed and what she could use. She need bandages, probably splits, maybe tourniquets, there was nothing to use for antiseptics or burn cream, but she could probably get another student to stand by with a water spell to clean wounds and lessen burns until the nurse and assistants could get here. Yes.

She gave a curt nod to herself, now that she had a plan of her own, and scooped up the end of her dress. Thankfully, she had been smart enough to pick a high-low option that offered a lot of mobility in the front. She was able to knot the back of her skirt over itself and get it up off the ground as well, making a shorter skirt that exposed a bit of her modesty shorts underneath.

Leaving her fancy shoes on the dance floor for even better mobility, she hurried over to a clean looking table, pulled the table cloth off with an expert flourish, and began to rip it into various sized bandages, while keeping an eye out for Stephen. Maybe they could take some first aid to those still in the maze if needed. In good form, the way she had knotted her dress provided an excellent pocket for bandages and hopefully she could find some sturdy, non-vicious sticks in the maze if they needed splits.

As she was laying out cups for water, sticks, and bandages on the now cloth-less table and assisting a couple of students who had found their way over to her, Stephen whooshed over on his valiant steed with the other brooms from the tourney in tow.

"C'est magnifique!"That's magnificent! She shouted, jutting a determined fist into the air. EmmaLee chuckled a little at Stephen's authoritative manner before settling behind him on the broom, wrapping one arm firmly around his waist, putting her other hand securely on the brooms, and situating herself so the brooms wouldn't jostle. This whole situation put them almost awkwardly close together, but she wasn't going to think about that right now either.

"You are right. I very much dislike flying," She said, pouting, "but I do know when it is more important to do what is needed, rather than worry about personal preference." She said, wrinkling her nose at him playfully and sticking a small bit of her tongue out at him, though he probably didn't see. "I usually fly with my mother, so I understand about balance and will try my best. I 'ave full confidence in your excellant flying abilities." She explained as Stephen kicked off and and they took to to air, the chaos growing steadily smaller beneath them. She chuckled a little once more, remembering another moment where they had left the flames of a fire behind.

"One day, Stephen Shwartz, I am going to be the one to rescue you, rather than you saving me all the time."

As they flew, a cautious look toward the carnage revealed that the students present who had decided to combat the monstrous hedges were victorious, and EmmaLee and Stephen's own rescue plan had been just a hair too late in getting off the ground. EmmaLee tapped Steven's middle with the hand around his waist and motioned for him to look down as the fires fizzled out and they could see students either taking their leave or continuing their night.

"Seems we're a bit late to the rescue. Shall we just return the brooms to the pitch?" She called leaning as close to his ear as she could.

She felt, rather than saw, Steven nod and shift his direction towards the Hogwarts quidditch pitch, Landing them both lightly near the cupboard that held the School brooms.

"Well, that was another adventure at good ole 'Ogwarts, but I am glad that most seem to be safe and uninjured now and the nurse will take care of the rest. What do you think we should do?" EmmaLee said, chuckling but exasperated as she and Steven put the brooms against the locked cupboard door and she took her dress down from it's knot. They were sure that someone with a key would put the brooms away properly once they found that they were here.

Blue in English, Red in Korean

Oh...so Kim did wrap it himself then. Eun-ji supposed that was a better scenario. At least he wasn't left behind by a friend like she assumed at first, although she was still surprised to find him here alone. As far as she could tell, the Gryffindor was fairly popular so she'd expect someone to keep him company, especially when he was hurt. Well...no matter. She was here now and unlike the younger students, she was actually capable of helping.

“Ferula.” It took only a moment to take care of the bleeding. A white bandage obediently wrapped around the cleaned up wound and stopped the red liquid instantly. She did this many times before so it was not a big deal. Thankfully, Kim didn't protest during the process, otherwise it would be a huge waste of energy for both of them. Energy neither of them obviously had at the moment.

When all was done, the boy didn’t question anything and suggested going to the game area instead. Eun-ji liked that about him. He never pried when it came to her feelings, which was incredibly important behaviour to her. He didn't make her feel uncomfortable. Besides, that was one area she had yet to visit and Kim seemed familiar with it so she took him up on the offer without much hesitation. “Sure...I don't see why not.” The girl shrugged nonchalantly. Any other day, she might have found several reasons why this would be a really bad idea but right now, she couldn't care less. Not to mention the little lion would most likely venture there anyway...with or without her. Eun-ji figured two were better than one for tackling the journey.

“Yeah…Seriously...why is it always fire?” It hardly ever actually solved anything. In fact, most of the time it made things worse for everybody. The Ravenclaw sighed as they started walking again. For once, she ignored any shrieks for help. She'd feel guilty about it later of course but right now, the desire to be selfish overpowered her usual sense of duty. Dad would be so disappointed. The witch thought briefly. Then again, he often was for the last year or so. She supposed one more wouldn’t make any difference. Also, it’s not like he was here to witness it. As long as she didn’t tell him, he would never know…

Interacting with: @Kim Sato
Action: Moving to the Games area with Kim
Inventory: Wand, tissues, Band-Aids

Interacting with: @Duvessa Ember

Parseltongue
English
Thoughts

Outfit

"Damn, is she mad at me? Maybe sarcasm isn't the best approach... But I can't tell if she's mad! Although people don't really say that if they aren't..."
Nico looked at Duvessa, her face showed no emotion, but he could tell something was wrong. Did he cause her to feel this way? And if he did, what was it that he said?
Nico felt the pain of guilt wash over him, and the slight fear that Duvessa might leave him. "Duvessa... I-" he began to say, but just then a subtle heat began to creep up behind them. Nico turned around only to see smoke starting to billow out of the maze. "What the-?"
A fire had broken out, people were running out of the maze, screaming. The blaze burned everything it touched. He quickly grabbed Duvessa's hand and pulled her out of the way, just as nearly twenty people came running out of the maze. "This is going to have to wait. We need to get out of here or we'll end up burnt to a crisp, and then you won't be able to be mad at me," Nico practically shouted over the panic and chaos.

Blue in English, Red in Korean

“I don't know. Maybe because it's the easiest spell students can remember?” Eun-ji hated that his statement sounded plausible. “That’s just plain stupid.” She said honestly, not bothering to sugar-coat her words. She didn’t feel the need to do so around Kim. Besides, her comment wasn’t in anyway directed at him. Someone should really give out a speech about how fire doesn’t solve anything one of these days. Did none of the professors notice the pattern yet? Whatever, it was not her job to intervene. As long as it didn’t endanger the people she cared about the Ravenclaw wouldn’t poke into the subject.

Thankfully, the game area that was their goal destination seemed relatively safe. There was some smoke around it but it was not enough to be worried about just yet. Still, Eun-ji made a mental note to keep an eye on it. She had been around fire victims before and knew smoke could be just as dangerous as the actual flames were. The fine particles could travel deeply into the respiratory tract and inhaling them could cause a variety of health effects. “Well…that depends on the natural direction of the wind I suppose. I guess ventus should help but if there is a wind blowing in our direction, it will eventually be back.” The witch paused to think for a moment. “It worth a try though…and if things get bad, I can always use a Bubble-Head Charm. That one should do the job.”

Eun-ji followed the Gryffindor to their first stand, which was the crown toss game before pointing her wand at any nearby smoke. “Ventus.” She enunciated clearly. It was a spell she had used many times during duels so she hoped for a success but one could never be sure. The only spell, from those she used often that she had yet to fail to cast, was ferula. Then again it’s not like she only had one try to do so.

“I assume you played these games already?” The witch asked casually. “Show me how to do it?” In all honesty, she was not someone who played games often. Due to the lack of friends and her parents' busy schedules, she usually spent her free time doing solo activities. Well, dancing was an exception to that rule but other than that…making flower crowns was definitely more her thing than this. Still, that didn’t mean she didn’t want to try. A desire to try new things was always there and she doubted that would change. She was a Ravenclaw after all.

Interacting with: @Kim Sato
Action: Casting Ventus on any nearby smoke to clear the air around herself and Kim
Inventory: Wand, tissues, Band-Aids

Reducio mentions and pings: trunk

Reducio Reducio ooc notes: Action: leaving

21/4/23 • english • irish (gaeilge) • wc: 245

· ─────── · ♫♪· ─────── ·

Charlie's spell had somehow been a success! She watched the fire erupt right out of her very own wand and burn its own path in the plants.

Soon after the fire was taking over, it went out. Charlie stopped and looked around. Was everything okay? Was anyone hurt, or even burnt? Was the party over? Were the plants still alive? Charlie stopped herself from doing more thinking because of two reasons. One. She did not care one bit if everything was fine. It did not have to be, because well, she wasn't all right. She had no real friends, and didn't know if it would get better. Two, she was tired out from her somewhat long day of dressing up and being at the ball.

After a moment of looking at the now burnt and dead plants plus party, she started her march through the mess of burnt, smoky... everything. Some of the smoke would clear, because of what she would later learn that a fourth year would use the spell Ventus to clear some smoke.

Charlie continued marching her way up to the castle, and up the thousands, but what felt like millions of stairs in the Hogwarts castle. When she made it to her dorm, she practically fell asleep before changing out of her dress.

| 5 STA | 5 EVA| 5 STR| 5 WIS | 5 ARC | 5 ACC | Charlie leaves.

Action: Trying to run away
@Nico Cirillo, @Kayla Realma in case you want to read

Fire.

Hedges on fire.

This could not be happening. No, not so fast, not with a warning. But Duvessa was not mistaken amidst the screams. The maze was on fire, bringing back yet another bunch of painful memories. One of her worst fears now. At first, she forgot about Nico, and that she was fuming silently at him. She was overcome with terror. She had to get out of here, and fast. Without being caught on fire.

She nearly let out a shriek, but held it in, ignoring Nico who seemed to be thinking deeply about something, before shouting -
"This is going to have to wait. We need to get out of here or we'll end up burnt to a crisp, and then you won't be able to be mad at me," He grabbed Duvessa's hand and began trying to pull her away. She did her best to put on a non-terrified look and tried not to squeeze his hand. The conversation flashed back in her mind and without thinking, she ran.

Twisting herself away and eyes watering from the smoke and chaos spireling around her, she desperately searched for an entrance. Running towards the other side, keen to get away as soon as she could from him, from the maze, from everything. She vowed to herself that she wouldn't attend another of the cursed dances, hoping to just be left in her dorm with the company of her rat, Little Bee.

English | French Word Count: 373

Interacting with: No one Mentioning:

The air was fresh, the night was young. Many of the guests were enjoying themselves at this ball and Beatrice hoped she would do the same. Perhaps she would talk to someone she knew or perhaps she would meet someone new? It was unknown for now. The tiara she had been wearing was dangling in her hands and her eyes fastly shot over all the people surrounding her. Sometimes Beatrice forgot how many students enjoyed these kind of events and how many dressed up much like she did. Only that they had probably wanted to dress like this while Beatrice would have liked to look a lot more subtle.

Some time went by before Beatrice suddenly heard a familiar voice. The nickname that was being used to call her was one that only a single person used. Someone that she had mistaken for someone else the first time they met and someone that was now her closest friend. Which was a little sad because they weren't even that close just yet. When she finally found Lucian in the crowd, Beatrice took no time and walked over to him and Ashley. She had met toe other boy just once but he seemed nice enough. „Hello!” she said to them, a smile spreading across her lips. „How are you two? You look good!” her comment was genuine and she hoped they would realize that.

After some conversing, Ashley suggested to leave. Exploring the maze sounded rather boring but since Beatrice did not have anything else to do, she decided to join them. It was then that she realized what chaos had broken loose. It seemed like the maze had taken over and throughout it all, Beatrice only wished to either leave or help. Vines were everywhere, exits had overgrown, fire was spreading. It reminded her of the chaos at the fall ball only that there had been a different threat. However, this time Beatrice did not just want to stand around. And yet she did. It did not take too long for everything to happen and by the time it was done, Beatrice had closed her eyes and thought of everything that could possibly happen. And then she left. Feeling weak and like a failure.

Bea's trunk
Stats&Abilities: | Stamina 6 | Evasion 5 | Strength 6 | Wisdom 7 | Arc Power 5 | Accuracy 6 | Lovely Creature|
Inventory: Wand, Pocket watch.
Free Actions: Watching, conversing, not knowing what to do and ending up with standing around, leaving.
Moderated Actions: /

OOC Note: This was more of a last post just to put an end to Beatrice's stay at the ball since it got pushed into the background