Closed OAP: Old Age Partygoers PV. Sixth & Seventh Years

interactions ⭒ @Hugh Lowe, @Galton Lansdale, @Ruby Cazares (as Slava)
mentions ⭒ @Serena Towers, @Koko Riddle (as Cyrus)

𝒜s she felt Hugh's gaze rake her up and down, Amadea felt like crawling inside of herself and disappearing. His expression, partially hidden behind his shades, was grouchy at best and she suddenly regretted coming over here if not because she was making this terribly awkward but because it appeared as though he would have rather been left alone. Still, he introduced himself and stuck out a hand -- at first Amadea thought it was for a shake and almost began raising her own to meet his, but thankfully realized in time that he was simply adjusting the barrel and tap toward her so she could reach the pumpkin juice. "Thanks, Hugh," she said, answering his smile with a soft one of her own. Maybe this wasn't such an awkward interaction after all. "Perhaps my memory fails me but I don't think we've met bef--" Amadea abruptly cut herself off as another boy came dashing over.

He was dressed to impress, in what appeared to be a toga rather than robes. He announced his arrival with such confidence that Amadea almost felt a pang of jealousy run through her body; if only she felt as confident in her own skin as he did. She did not recognize him at all, but it appeared as though Hugh did. His face had snapped back into the grouchy expression from earlier as he whispered a warning to Amadea. Toga-boy subsequently joined Amadea and Hugh at the pumpkin juice, introducing himself as Galton.

"Hi Galton," Amadea said hesitantly, remembering Hugh's warning. "I'm Amadea, nice to meet you." Before she could say anything else or ask him any questions, he was promptly emptying out his large bag with handfuls and handfuls of candy, creating some mega-sized mountain of a candy bar. Jeez, where did all of these sweets come from? Amadea herself would be the first one to admit that she had a sweet tooth, but the extent to which this candy loomed in front of her made her worried that Galton had just arrived at this party after robbing Honeydukes. Still, her curiosity about where this was all headed outweighed any alarms in her brain that wondered where this had come from. She was about to ask about it, but again, before she could open her mouth he was pulling out an intriguing bottle of ombre liquid, offering it to both her and Hugh.

Amadea knew it probably wasn't the best idea to accept an unknown drink from a stranger, but she figured if she was about to be poisoned, this would be about as good of a spot she could be in. Serena was still in the vicinity talking with Bloom and Amadea definitely trusted her to take action if something went wrong. With the cup she had intended to pour pumpkin juice into, she instead poured a small amount of the ombre liquid into it. As she was raising it to her mouth to take a sip, she spotted Hugh trying to get her attention, mouthing alcohol and pointing toward the cup. She quickly moved the cup away from her mouth, unsure of how to now dispose of this without causing a scene.

Luckily, there were two other people arriving, which provided a much needed distraction so Amadea could toss the drink into the grass before stepping forward and filling it up with some pumpkin juice instead. The first boy was introducing himself as Cyrus and the next was Slava. At first glance, she did not recognize either of them and was feeling a little bit overwhelmed by the amount of people that were suddenly here. She was about to look around for some sort of swift exit, but then Slava was approaching her and whispering to her hot sauce-filled donuts....wait. Hot sauce-filled donuts?! Her eyes widened as the memories came flooding back. "Oh my gosh, I knew you looked familiar!" she exclaimed as it all began clicking in her head. "There's no need for apologies...you definitely pranked me fair and square. Though now that I know you're here, you might want to watch your back," she added, matching his conspiratorial tone. Of course, Amadea had no intention to prank him back, but if the opportunity arose, she definitely wouldn't pass it up. Speaking of which...when was this game getting started?

Action: Dea chooses dare!

Interacting:@Hugh Lowe, @Galton Lansdale, @Amadea Campbell
Mentions/Brief Interactions:@Ruby Cazares(Slava), @Koko Riddle(Cyrus), @Serena Towers, @Bloom Silverton


Mystery notes signed "xoxo" and consisting of a request to meet the recipient in the evening, were probably the most concerning thing a Hogwarts student- scratch that, anyone- could ever receive. But God, if their nature wasn't intriguing. Innocent as they could have been, there was an underlying sense of threat to that taunting sign-off: "xoxo". It was unnerving in a way that could not be easily explained.

So naturally, it immediately drew in a certain Gryffindor prefect, who was far too curious for her own good.

Xailah blinked dumbly at the note left outside the multicolored inferno (that had inappropriately been dubbed "Unicorn cabin"). It was an invitation of sorts, that much she could figure out, but why had it been left at her cabin of all places? Perhaps it was a blessing from some higher entity, or a misplaced note that had been meant for a different set of eyes. Whatever the case may have been, Xailah cared little. The letter was an excuse- an invitation to get out of her dreaded cabin and explore. She was desperate for any excuse for a rendezvous that she could get her hands on; and this one just so happened to be perfect... In concept.

There was little time wasted. No sooner had the message been received, Xailah was beginning to make her way toward the alleged convention, in search of the described "X", which supposedly marked the location of interest. She was, however, mindful to let whoever was in her cabin and available to listen, know that she intended to head out for the evening. Or, well, more like draw more attention to the strange invitation that had been parked outside the shared place of living. "Someone left a note outside our cabin for an unspecified recipient, with a request to meet at a undisclosed location." Oh yeah, that was definitely safe and reassuring. Not. But it wasn't like anyone was going to be concerned. With curiosity holding the reins, Xailah certainly wasn't. "I am going to go check things out." She stepped halfway out the cabin entrance before remembering something. "Oh," she ducked back inside for a moment, calling out again, "I am leaving Schrödinger here for now, please do not feed him while I am away. Despite what he may try to communicate, he has in fact already eaten supper."

Between the subtle excitement derived from uncertainty, and the relief of escaping the clusterfuck of a living arrangement, Xailah was actually looking forward to whatever this unknown path was blindly leading her toward. She was diligent in her desperate search for the telltale "X" outlined in the letter, her gold eyes flicking this way and that with a cat-like alertness. She'd find the location soon enough, laughing lightly once she did. "'X' marks the spot," she mused quietly to herself, amused with the little game that had lead her to an apparent party.

Oh, she did like parties.

But this wasn't like any party she had been to or crashed before. The energies here were relatively low, but perhaps that was because everyone present was still trying to thaw. "I've been to funerals far livelier than this. I do hope I am not crashing anything." Okay, that was a bit harsh. The decorations looked great- that (what was the word?) mirror ball looked amazing- and the music, while not a first pick, was certainly boppity. There were a few people present, however, who looked less than pleased to be here. Point proven when Xailah went to greet two girls- Bloom and Serena- only to find herself stumbling partway into their awkward "girl talk", or something of the like. Whatever it was they were discussing, it wasn't any of her business. Having quickly noticed her mistake, the lioness issued both a brief and quiet: "Oh, my bad. Do not worry, I didn't hear a thing,” before hastily sliding past them toward a makeshift table surrounded by a few other people.

Like clockwork, Hugh was noticed first- Xailah was most familiar with him, and not to mention he was very... hard to miss. Unless you were blind, which Xailah was not. He was, perhaps literally, a Goliath among Davids. A very friendly, gentle Goliath. Usually. He wasn't looking the happiest at the moment; which was obviously an invitation to poke the half-giant. The lioness slid quietly between the small group of students that had began gathering around him like fish to a massive lure.

"What is good, Big Man? That is how the no-maj say it, no?" The Gryffindor piped up, taking a swing at muggle lingo- a venture she delved into every now and then. Sometimes her attempts made sense, but more often than not they fell flat. Despite the occasional failure, she was nonetheless determined to one day grasp the strange language non-magical folk so often used. Alas, today would not be that day. She would frown slightly. "Ah, forget it, how are you, Lowe? I hope summer has been treating you well so far." She looked down the line at the other students at the "bar". "The same goes for you all." Her then lips then curled slightly in a friendly expression; where she would then momentarily turn her attention back to the giantling bartender. She pointed at Hugh's choice of attire. "I like the glasses and the jacket, they are quite suave."

Galton was noticed next (well, he had been noticed before, but only now was he registered). Xailah's reaction to the boy was not as welcoming as her reaction to Hugh had been. That wasn't to say it was unpleasant or dismissive. Hers was more akin to the reaction a child might have when their weird cousin (you all know the one) arrived to the family gathering. Awkward, wary, and... maybe a little curious? More so as to why they were even invited to public gatherings to begin with. To be clear, Xailah did not dislike Galton. He was a competent duelist, and generally a friendly spirit to have around; but dear lord did he put the prefect on edge. A muted: "Galton," was about all she could muster for him at the given time.

Then came into focus a face Xailah hadn't really expected to see. There was no particular reason as to why, only that it always felt a little unusual to run into someone you had a scuffle with once. The Gryffindor leaned on the bar, propping her chin up with a curled fist as she scanned the Hufflepuff's face. Despite the brief (and it was certainly brief) antagonist encounter they had shared, Xailah held no ill will for the girl at the bar with her. In fact, she did not think ill of any of the people who had participated in said encounter. "Amadea, correct? I believe the last time we truly met, we got off on the wrong foot. I sincerely apologize for that." She spoke finally, her voice then lowering for what was to follow. "Sometimes it is necessary to keep your own safe. Even in they are in the wrong." She spoke in direct reference to the dungeon incident; which when boiled down to the bare bones, had simply been an unfortunate clash of two parties trying to defend their friends- it was an admittance, however it was not an apology on Ruby's behalf. It was an odd thing to hear, no doubt, and perhaps it made little sense, but it was put out as a means to sever: she needed to make it clear that whatever happened then was in the past. Xailah had never been one to hold a grudge (and it was a fact that she never would grow to be someone of the like); she especially wasn't someone who held grudges on those who retaliated, in an effort to keep those they cared for safe.

The lioness was quick to move on from the subject; seeking then to greet the foreign students (Slava and Cyrus) that had found their way to the gathering. Judging by their accents, the two boys did not come from the same school. "And who might you two be?" Xailah crooned, clearly interested in these two new faces. She'd lean a little closer to them, something strange having come to mind as she considered how unfamiliar they probably were with the people here. "A word of advice for you two: abstain from giving him-" she motioned to Galton with a wary tilt of her head, "-candy. Or encouraging him for that matter. He gets a little too... excited, sometimes." A light wave of her hand would then brush the thought away, as if what she had shared wasn't a potential cause for concern. "Nothing to worry about, I am sure, but it is just a precaution." Straightening, Xailah then looked longingly to where DIY disco ball hung. "Now, if you all will excuse me, I am going to check out that miraculously shiny ball over there and hit the dance floor"

Open to playing Truth or Dare whenever the game is ready. Xailah will be picking truth to start.

Presently, she has gone to dance (others can try to join her, if they so wish), but she is still in talking and general listening range.

Tagging eligible Unicorn cabin people who can say they tagged along IC if they want, or if they didn't get the OOC memo for this thread but would be interested in joining: @Ami Procoppio, @Erin Ryan, @Howard White, @Delilah Stewart

Interacting with:
Mainly - @Xailah Alptraum, @Hugh Lowe and @Ruby Cazares(Slava)
Kinda - @Koko Riddle (Cyrus) and @Amadea Campbell

There had to be a spell that would magically introduce you every time someone new came up to you. Meeting new people was always fun, but Galton had grown tired of the ever present need to let others know who he was. They should just know. Wasn’t he a public enough figure for them to know? But, no matter how annoying it was, he knew he had no other choice but to just go with it. It was just one of those things that would never go away. Surely there was magic for it though!

And if there was magic for that, surely there would be magic to defend against slanderous comments. Xailah was not someone he’d necessarily call a friend, nor had they interact much (if ever?), but he didn’t expect such open hostility from her. And in front of so many new faces?! Galton did not have a problem. And sweets certainly did not make him “excited”. He was always excited! No one would preside over his intake of sugar, or limit it in any way…

Never mind the attack on character - he had an introduction to make. One that would hopefully recover some sense of credibility to his name - with or without magic. And he had some people he’d like to impress. This Slava had made quite the entrance. Carrying a cake and not only partaking in a bit of candy, but also a bit of drink. The man had taste. But Galton needed to find a recovery from Xailah‘s comment.

“Ah hahaHAHA! Good one! She really knows how to joke around! Don’t worry, I can handle my candy.” he’d flash a smile as he finished his bold statement. Jokes were probably as foreign to Xailah as vegetables were to Galton, but these new guys wouldn’t know that. “Galton Lansdale - Gryffindor. Lovely cake, mind if I?” He wouldn’t wait for a reply as he scoped a piece of cake into his other free hand.

Cake and drink in hand Galton began to consider his next move. The issue with so many people interacting at once was that Galton had trouble keeping tabs on the conversation as a whole. He had totally let it slip that Hugh had greeter him with all the hospitality of a cold statue. Sure it had improved once he’d tasted his drink but what was that! Someone was in a grumpy mood today. Hopefully his drink would be able to change that. He’d give the large teen a smile and raise his glass towards him in a mock toast. If Hugh mimicked him or not, Galton would take a sip a few moments later and then look towards the dance floor.

Galton couldn’t quite shake the offense that he felt from the older Gryffindor’s comment. “Yeah, dancing sounds fun!” While it did sound fun, he had an ulterior motive. He needed a bit of an explanation.

So just as that cousin you didn’t really want to follow you around, he would. Cake and drink in hand he would march hisself to the dance floor. Taking extra care to end up close enough to Xailah that he could talk in hushed tone and be mostly unheard by anyone looking in on the two. ”Psssst - ‘Ey, what was that. Why’d you try to cut in on my sweets intake? Have I done something?” He’d make sure to add some shimmy into his lean to look enough like he’d started dancing.

Action: Still a dare

Plot Hook ─ Serena has been hiding her pointy ears for years hats, headbands and hair in an effort to keep her goblin heritage a secret. Her family is known to be a Pureblood family. From 1st July 2023, she openly wears copper earpieces (drawn by me) over her ears to draw attention to them. Her goblin-ness may be a surprise to some people.

Interacting with @Bloom Silverton

Serena stared intently at the Ravenclaw, not looking away even when the other started to look down awkwardly or play with her hair. She was in absolutely no mood to care. She wanted answers. The Hufflepuff was sick of feeling like the one that was wrong when she had done nothing wrong except stand up for herself once - and got hated on by the couple. At the very least, Bloom seemed to start to understand what she had done wrong.

As smart as Ravenclaws were rumoured to be, Serena knew that stereotype was not true for them all. She was looking at one who clearly did not fit that, after all. She stared at Bloom, absorbing what was being said. An apology. One that seemed genuine, for once. She was surprised. Ugh, was she going to have to just accept for Howard's sake?

It was not what she wanted to hear exactly but it was close. At the very least, Bloom acknowledged that she had lied, finally admitting that she had always liked Howard but simply lacked the gut to admit it beforehand. There was no point of this conversation. It not squish her anger but the very least she could do was try and be civil on the matter, even if she was not sure if Bloom deserved it or not.

"I'll take it," She mumbled to herself, accepting the answer as probably the best she would ever get from Bloom. It was a lot easier to say she would forgive her and try to move on than to actually convince her feelings of that. The Ravenclaw had broken her heart, damaged her trust. That sort of shit did not get rebuilt in a few words. Her heart had ached for many many months on the matter, but at least she was able to start repairing her broken heart now.

She heard someone shouting 'dare' and a few other presences arriving. Her eyes clocked onto someone from her cabin - Slava from Durmstrang. He seemed pretty friendly, in fairness but she did not really know him well. "Well I'm going to go join the game. You in?" She asked, deciding to be civil and invite her along for the game.

Either way, she would walk off towards the group, "I'm in for Truth or Dare!" She announced to those who were participating. In the meantime though, she definitely walked towards Xailah and went to dance until the game started because she really wanted to dance and Hugh did not want to join her.

ACTION: Picking Truth when the game starts

Outfit of the Day

Reducio

Interactions: @Amadea Campbell, @Galton Lansdale, @Ruby Cazares, @Koko Riddle and @Xailah Alptraum

Interacting: @Bloom Silverton | @Serena Towers

Also interacting with the group but didn't want to do a bunch of tags. Feel free to interact with Howard if you please!

Howard had gladly accepting Xailah's invitation to tag along to a party just for the upper level students. Mostly because it sounded like fun and also to get out of that god awful cabin they were forced into this summer. The technicolored nightmare was proving to be a challenge and also that jerk store Arjan was on his last nerve. Hopefully he wouldn't show up to this evening.

"Thanks again for letting me tag along." Howard offered to Xailah before leaving her side. There seemed to be a group already gathered, but two of them would stick out to him the most. Bloom and Serena, yikes. He needed a drink before he dove into that. Were things still super tense between them? They were talking but there was no yelling, so that was a positive. Howard edged around the group and found a cold butter beer to start slugging away at. His crimson eyes looked at the two of them searching for eye contact.

Bloom looked divine as always. In reality she could be wearing a trash bag as just the sight of her always made his heart skip a beat. However, Serena would catch his eye next as a little glint of light reflected off of some jewelry she wore. As he focused in he would see that she had her hair drawn back, ears exposed and adorned with what seemed like a custom piece. "Wow, she's doing it." Howard whispered only to himself. It had been over a year since the two of them had been at her forge, breaking down to each other about the difficulties of their situations. At that time he had been able to embrace who and what he was and it now filled him with pride that one of his long time friends had found her courage.

Speaking of which, the liquid courage that now filled his belly as Howard downed his second beer prompted him towards the group. "Yo!" He called out to the group as he offered cool head nods and fist bumps to any that reacted to him. As he approached Bloom and Serena they were speaking of a game of truth or dare. "I'm in!...Hey, love." He first greeted his girlfriend and slung his arm around Bloom's shoulder if she would accept it. "You both look lovely this evening." Howard offered to the pair. "Love the ear piece by the way, Serena." He tugged at his own ear with his free hand to quietly emphasize that he recognized what she may be doing.

"So, what are we up to? Can I get you two a drink or should we hit the dance floor with the others? Or is it game time already?" Howard hoped they could keep the mood light and perhaps begin to repair some of the damage done. The would tell though.

Action: Picking dare when the game starts.

Interacting with @Howard White
Mentioning @Serena Towers
Open to Interactions

To hear the words that she would take her apology made Bloom sigh of relief to herself. Perhaps there was going to be some sort of friendship in the future, but of course, it was not going to be the same as it was before. Bloom ruined that and she knew it. Serena invited her to a game that was being mentioned to play and Bloom couldn't help but agree to join. As she was heading over to the game with Serena, someone stopped her by putting their arm around her shoulder. It was none other than Howard, of course, being him when he entered a room.

He did mention something that Bloom did not really notice. She looked at Serena's ear only to find them extremely pointy. Wait... Did Bloom know? Bloom felt that she knew she was really short, but did not guess that she would have been a different race altogether. The way Howard complimented her ear piece meant that he must have known all along. Here Bloom was best friends with her for a long time and never knew. But now thinking about it, she was wearing hats, headbands and the like. No matter what, Serena had done a great job at hiding it from her and from others.

Even though Howard had asked questions, Bloom stayed quiet. She was mentally stuck with questions and trying to fill the void with answers. She shook her head to get out of her mind and looked at Howard. "I would love to hit the dance floor, but I think it might be game time," she said, feeling that everyone was coming together for the game itself. "Prepare to lose, White," she added, continuing their summerly feeling of being competitive.

ACTION: Choosing truth when game starts

Interacting with @Hugh Lowe

Interacting with the group

Action: Dare. But Meenauh would need the rules to be explained to her by someone.

Mentioning: @Xailah Alptraum, @Galton Lansdale

Picking: Dare