Closed Fall Ball 2023 Candle-Lit Banquet

Outfit: AURORA's outfit in the Exist for Love video

October 6^th, Hogwarts' Fall Ball date. The foreign schools had arrived the day before. Astrid, as usual, had started with decorating her part of the cabin : pillows, plushies, flying candles, and other decorating items. Even for two weeks, the girl needed to feel at home. Her suitcase was under her bed, filled mostly with her Quidditch stuff and her outfit for the ball. And because of that outfit, Astrid started getting ready at 5:30, one and a half hour before the beginning of the even. The Durmstrang girl gently took out of the suitcase a cropped golden with blue emboideries top and a way simpler nude floor lenght skirt. The main peice of the outfit was obviously the jewelry: hundreds of pearls, some as earings, other as hair, arm and belly ornaments, necklaces, and bracelets. The skirt being floor lenght, she was going with simple white Converse.
Astrid started by putting on the top and skirt, and then started the longest part: the pearls. She started by the belly ornament, trying different ways to fall onto the skirt. She then did a simple and very light make-up, just to not look to bad. Once the arms and neck were decorated with pearls and gold, it was time for the hardest part of all: the headpiece. It was technicaly quite simple : a glod headband and two rows of pearls, going on each part of her fringe. The hard part was to place those correctly, especialy with the weight of the other rows of pearls that were attached to the two principal rows and that were going down with her light blond hair. Fifteen minutes later, the headpiece was on, looking good. Astrid smiled at her reflection in the mirror in front of her as she was putting on her earrings. She took her wand and put in into one of the skirt's pockets. She was now ready and got out of the cabin.
Astrid walked from the cabin to near the lake. Some people had already arrived, they were talking, greeting eachother. And there was a girl, just standing there with a brown dress, dark blue hair and a spider. She looked very pale, almost sick, but at the same time she gave off some powerful vibes. The blond walked up to her, a smile on her face. She wasn't going to let that girl alone, exept if she told her she wanted to be alone. In that case, Astrid would understand, but why going out to a ball, a social event, if you want to stay alone?
— Hey! I'm Astrid, from Durmstrang. I saw you standing alone, are you waiting for someone?

Action : Entering the ball
Interacting with : Anastasia, open to interactions
sta ● 9 | eva ● 8 | str ● 5 | wis ● 10 | arc ● 7 | acc ● 8

H E L E N A

R O S E

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Date 00/00/00

Helena's Dialogue #aa8b00

Tags @Landon Matthews@Alyssea Brown@Madison Bennett

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The ball seemed to be rather lively as many students started to flow in. Though Helena continued to stay hidden away at the far back table. It was best this way she felt rather nervous.

Attending balls and things was not new to the girl after all she was used to it, but being surrounded by many students and of course students from other schools made the girls' stomach twist and turn. It was quite new and strange to the young golden haired girl.

While Helena was lost in thought she did not know a certain presence of a young second year brunette that made their appearance known in front of the golden blonde girl.

Helena glanced upwards, smiling shyly over at Landon as he complimented the young girl in turn making a soft hue of pink dust her cheeks. Helena was not prepared for a compliment, but the young girl could not help but feel overjoyed that someone thought she looked beautiful.

The young first year was doubtful of her appearance; she did not want to be flamboyant in any way. So hearing those kind words from Landon helped the girls' nerves relax quite quickly.

“Why thank you Landon… Umm you look rather dashing yourself.”

Responding softly to Landons compliment, the young girl could not help but try to hide her embarrassment slightly. Glancing upwards a bit the young girl gestured for the boy to join her. After all he asked very kindly and it would be rude to deny him to sit with her. Plus it helped her not be so lonely surrounded by a vast amount of people.

“Alyssea and the others did quite well planning this. It is breathtaking is it not?”

Helena spoke softly in her light as a feather tone. Sea blue eyes glancing towards the brunette haired boy. Helena was uncertain of what to say after all she only met Landon a handful of times. But the young girl did feel fairly calm around him. Maybe it was because they were both fairly shy and seemed to get fairly along with just the comfortable silence.

Wondering quietly to herself Helena hummed softly before a small shy smile surfaced on her face.

“You know this is very nice. Hopefully we can have a peaceful night do you not agree Landon?”

Helena smiled over at the older boy feeling a tad bit more comfortable trying to make small talk after all. The duo would most likely be hiding out in this little corner away from others for a while. But what other way to enjoy a ball besides viewing from the sidelines.

Noticing Alyssea and another girl with Alyssea. Helena smiled softly towards Alyssea and her comrades. Smiling softly Helena twiddled with her thumbs gently. She listened as the girl introduced herself as Madison Bennett. Smiling softly the young girl blushed as Madison complimented her dress.

As soft pink hues dusted Helena's cheeks the young girl felt embarrassed but pleasant getting compliments from her friends it was rather nice and intriguing.

"Why thank you. Your dress looks gorgeous as well. It is a pleasure to meet you Madison hope we can enjoy this ball together."

Helena smiled softly towards the group that was slowly growing around her it was very relaxing and calming at the same time.

Not the first to arrive and far from the last, he intended to enter the ball unnoticed. He donned the attire of a pureblood, an overpriced suit made of navy silks and satins, embossed in a silvery thread. His blonde hair looked dark against his pale features and icy eyes. He had entered the ball alone, not for lack of interest or want but rather because it would create too great a stir. He was not here to enjoy the punch, to sway to the sounds of music or even embrace a paramour under the moonlight. Sunset was at 6:38 PM this evening and, he only had to endure a little over a half-hour.

He was after a very specific person, someone he had not crossed in some time and frankly he lacked faith in the man unlike his father. One of the few that was even paler than the teen talking to a female companion. He knew of the dhampir @Howard White, rather than knew the quidditch player. He was best known for his role as a Beater on the Hufflepuff Quidditch Team, where a demonstration of brawn exemplified his kind's violent potential. He was always told to keep an eye on Victoria's boy. The odds were not in his favor to make an approach, he was enamored with the girl twirling about near him.

Random target: 1d32= 8 (8th poster) @Opeila Winters

His eyes would scan the lakeside banquet and his gaze would fall onto another, Opeila Winters. He knew her from another lifetime, he admittedly held the game she played against her. She had a date he assumed, but he was not approaching her for a dance. He stood almost a full head above most of the ball-goers and he strode with elitist arrogance towards the young woman. He would stop a polite distance from the Slytherin, his hands clasped behind his back and his shoulders in a relaxed position. He was calm in spite of his surroundings which should be anxiety-inducing considering his former experience. "Hello Miss Winters, I am simply stopping by to offer my salutations before I mingle with the rest of the party."

Perhaps she would notice, perhaps she would not. With a sort of gentle nod of his head, he would turn his back to her without waiting for a reply. He had some other business to attend to here.

Sonya was surprised. She assumed the Fall Ball would be held in the castle, not outside by the Great Lake, which was crawling with things like Grindylows, something Sonya wanted to NEVER meet.


She likes being alive, thank you very much.


She stood near one of the tables, just waiting for @Rosalee Kaseder. She was wearing her boots, along with black dress pants, a black blazer, and a dark purple dress shirt. Basically, she sent her aunt a letter that was labelled “HELP! NEED TO DRESS NICE FOR SCHOOL EVENT!” After that, Sonya thanked the universe multiple times that her Tía Septima hated dresses as much as she did.


As for her hair, she simply put it back in a braid, which one Slytherin was oh-so-NOT-kind enough to say looked like her head was crapping a rainbow.


As she waited for Rosalee, she observed all the different students from all the different schools interacting: a student for Uagadou arguing with a Hufflepuff about British colonization, a Koldovstoretz student showing a Gryffindor fifth-year a fire spell, a student from Castelobruxo comparing notes with a student from Beauxbatons, and many more. It was rather nice.


Suddenly, she could feel someone taping her shoulder and she began to turn around.

Oct. 6th 2023

The Great Lake

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Initially Lyrra wasn't very excited about going to the fall ball, but since this would be her first ball at Hogwarts, she figured that it wouldn't hurt to visit, even if it was just for a short while. She wasn't planning to stay for long anyway, but still, she had taken the time to properly prepare, by putting on a fancy dress and doing her hair. Which was something she didn't usually spend much time on. Once she was finally satisfied with how she looked, Lyrra decided to head for the ball. Maybe, this night would make a nice memory to look back on later.

Slightly lifting her dark green dress, the girl walked down the stairs towards the area by the great lake. There were hanging lights and candles everywhere, making the whole scene appear like some sort of fairytale. It looked magical, but then again, this was a magic school. Upon approaching the beautifully set up area, Lyrra saw that there were already quite a few people at the ball. But among those, one girl in particular caught her eye. Something about this girl, who had medium length black hair and freckles, made her stand out to Lyrra. Maybe it was the fact that she was standing all alone, although it could be because she was waiting for someone. Or maybe there was just something intriguing about her appearance, but she just couldn't quite figure out what it was.

Lyrra felt the urge to walk up to the girl and start a conversation. The only thing holding her back was the fact that the girl could be waiting for someone, or that she might get annoyed. However, there was no harm in asking right? Especially if she asked nicely.

With that thought in mind, Lyrra ignored her nervous feelings and went up to the girl.
"Excuse me," she said in a polite tone, "Are you waiting for someone?"

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Words: 320
Action: N/A
Inventory: Wand, book, some gum.
Mentioning: @Annabelle Lilith Rose

IC Date: October 6, 2023
Time: evening
Interacting with @Renelle Dalton and @Mahlioz Evethisawe
Astra speaking: #136323
Mahlioz speaking: #00a321
Renelle speaking: #00002b
Thoughts: Italics
Others: Bold

Astra was happy to hear that she and Mahlioz were of the same mind on the matter of food. It was weird, brilliantly weird, how similar the two were in so many ways. She picked up a miniature apple tart before a voice caused her to look back with a broad smile. "Renelle!" she said, before covering her mouth with one hand. "Oh my goodness, you look gorgeous. Purple is really your color!" She noticed there was something... off about her best friend's voice. And that she didn't greet Mahlioz. Hopefully she'll respond to the compliment Mahl gave her.

Weird... She agreed when I told her the plan... Astra took a bite of the tart. She knows I would've said no if she didn't want to do this, right?

"Let's go grab a spot near the music," Astra suggested, plating up a few more of the delicious tarts as well as some brownies. Oh, and the soft pretzel bites. "What do you say?"

If her companions would agree, Astra would choose a spot about half a table length from a boy in a light-colored suit, and far enough away to where she could enjoy the music without causing discomfort to her or her friends' ears. "So, now that you've met each other, are you guys ready for a great night?" Astra would ask. Her tone would be light. She was trying to spark conversation between Mahlioz and Renelle, primarily the latter. She knew it had been a rather sudden ask, but her best friend had agreed to this and was now seeming to ignore Mahlioz.

Astra would tap her fingers slightly to the beat of the music as she snacked on the various foods in front of her. She would stand in between the Ravenclaw and other Slytherin, leaned against the table as the two would hopefully converse with each other, or as they conversed with Astra herself.

Marietta straightened her dress and tweaked Fengel Sr.'s bow for what felt like the hundredth time.

Marietta had taken her time carefully plotting out her dress. The base had been a no brainer, hufflepuff colors! What better way to show one's house spirit than with a cute dress. The hard part had been the accessorizing so it would suit and the fall theme, and figuring out a dress style that didn't make it look retro. After agonizing hours of trying to make it look fancy, she decided simple was its own special fancy, and went with a plain panel dress; Every other panel on the dress skirt was black, the rest of the dress was yellow. Was it befitting a ball? Not really, no. Was it befitting Marietta? Absolutely! Then there was the flower arrangements, she was never particularly good at that sort of thing, but tried anyways. Thankfully her father was more than happy to provide her with fake flowers. Taken from various 'save the [insert creature here]' charities he went to, because why not? She wore a lovely flower crown on her head and sash round her waist made of orange
gerbera daisies, Amaranth Globes, Green chrysanthemums, periwinkles and Brown orchids. An odd selection, no doubt, but in the end it sort of all came together rather splendidly. Finding shiny black shoes with little buckle boes wasn't hard and next thing she knew, her outfit was complete!

Then there was Fengel. Even though, yes, he was a cat, Marietta couldn't let her date couldn't let her date to the ball wear nothing. So she made him a yellow bow tie with black stripes from the leftover fabric of her dress and a flower crown from the leftover Periwinkles. Once that was done she had to admit, Fen cut a rather dashing figure.

Now, they were at the ball in all this previously explained majesty. Marietta walked side by side with Fen, who's head just reached the hem of her skirt. She had decided she was going to try and dance the night away before coming, in hopes to avoid the same incident as last year. Upon arrival though, she saw there wasn't many people on the dance floor. Not quite brave enough to start dancing, she snagged a seat and an empty table. Then filled her plate with the finger food sweets.

One might think she snagged an empty table since she was shy. In reality, she was actually quite outgoing, she just didn't want anybody to be offended when she let a cat sit on the table next to her plate. Thankfully, Fen was wise enough to not try any of the food laid out on the table.

Fengel, unamused by the part would curl up on the table, content to let Marietta pet, scratch, and chat with him. "I'm so glad I could bring you with me Fen. I would've despised going alone again. I know, I know I have friends. Or acquaintances really... but it seemed they all had plans even dates." Marietta said Idly chatting to her cat. Fengel would look at her with lazy eyes. "Right, sorry I have a date too." She'd giggle and scratch between Fen's ears. "You look very dashing this evening your highness."

Unwittingly awaiting the arrival of: @Piérre Marchonné
Action: Taking a seat with her cat
Stamina:8 | Evasion:8 | Strength:3 | Wisdom:7 | Arcane power:7 | Accuracy:7

"Oh, my dad tried his best to give me a full muggle-like childhood. Including Disney movies." Opeila returned the grin. "Had you told me, I'd have made sure to match the theme." It felt somewhat freeing to talk to someone who knew the world Opeila had grown up in. Someone who didn't need an explanation of what a TV or the internet was- not that Opeila had been particularly good at explaining either in the past.

The Slytherin felt herself relax as she walked toward him, a very Hogwarts-ball-specific tension slowly falling off. Maybe this would just be a fun evening, filled with dancing and excitement, just like it was supposed to be, no terrible surprises.
The first surprise of the evening was not bad at all. As Opeila came to a halt next to the Hufflepuff, she found herself being pulled into a kiss. In public.

After the initial start, Opeila felt like a swarm of butterflies took flight inside her stomach. Her hands would travel up his arms and pull him down further as she returned the kiss. What did this mean? Did this mean anything? After months of kissing in secret corners and after that one time where they were caught, this felt big. Huge.

When he pulled away, a smirk formed on Opeila's lips. Her cheeks were flushed and she could her her own heart beat so loud, she felt like Aaron had to hear it too, but if he could, he didn't show it. Instead he complemented her appearance. "Hmm, thank you. You smell good." Was he wearing perfume? Something was different.

"Nah, we've made it for at least 20 at this point. Must be a record!" She chuckled and leaned into him a little, when his hand moved to her back. "Let's do it!"

But then they didn't do anything. The voice that suddenly addressed the Slytherin made her jump. When she turned, she looked into his face. The face of the man who had only fallen apart into a mass of spiders a few months ago. There was nothing odd this time. That meant of course if it wasn't somewhat odd that Vladimir Athanatos had decided to address her with only a greeting and then turn to leave. In the past he had asked her out. He was the cause of the curse that Opeila had carried with her for the better part of two years. And then he had avoided her.

There were of course the notes that Opeila still suspected had something to do with him and the charm that suddenly seemed to weigh heavily on her chest. "I-I'm sorry, just one second." As Vladimir walked away, Opeila would not let him get far. "Wait- excuse me, Athanatos?" A few years ago, Opeila would have panicked. She had seen him as some kind of evil back then, but this had shifted, ever since she had helplessly watched him getting beaten to the ground after attempting to free her. Truthfully she had no idea, what or who he was. A tool at worst.

"Hey- Sorry, I just- If you have time, I would like to talk with you sometime soon. Please." A simple request. No demand, no threat. Opeila was done with plotting.

Landon noticed that Helena flushed a little as he complimented her dress. He didn't mean to make her uncomfortable and he hoped that she wasn't upset with him for saying something. She just looked really pretty in her dress. Landon knew it was polite to compliment people. His twin sister definitely demanded compliments at all times, so he figured that other people might like small ones too. Landon smiled sweetly, his blue eyes genuine. He always meant what he said.

Soon it was his turn to blush. She told him that he looked dashing and he gave her a shy smile in return. "T-Thank you," he said. "My twin sister helped me pick the suit," he admitted. He wasn't one to take credit when it wasn't his to take. "She has an eye for good clothing." Landon explained. His twin had chosen a Slytherin green dress for herself and he knew, without seeing her in it, that she would be pretty too.

Landon took his seat next to Helena and relaxed a little, looking around the ball and taking in the decorations when Helena asked him if the decor was breathtaking. He smiled and nodded. "It's definitely nicer than I thought it would be," he said with a smile. "I didn't know the area by the lake could look this nice." Landon didn't feel uncomfortable around Helena. She understood that being quiet didn't necessarily mean that someone wasn't friendly or that they didn't like their company. "Yes, I hope that it is peaceful. No big fights or anything... that would be nice," he agreed with a smile.

Landon looked up when he saw Alyssea and another girl approach them. He smiled at them, though he still felt a little shy. "You both look very pretty too," he said, his expression genuine. "You all did a great job choosing your dresses," he added. He was happy that he only had needed to dress in the suit his sister picked for him. He didn't have to work hard to look nice or anything. Not that the girls needed to work hard to be pretty. They were all pretty objectively.

Roleplaying as approved Ilvermorny iNPC Cyrus Darsel.
6 October 2023.
Fall Ball.

Cyrus had not asked anyone to the Fall Ball, mostly because he did not know very many people his own age, but he was still pleased when he arrived. He walked with far better posture than usual, keeping his pace slow, owing his caution to the candle lit atop his head. After all, this was the candle-lit banquet ─ who was to say Cyrus couldn't also be a candle? He was tall and skinny, and he was very good with tape. Thus, a candle was stuck to the top of his corn costume's hood. Well, the wax catcher was stuck to his hood. He had at least had the wisdom to ask his aunt to purchase the candles churches bought for candlelight services.

Despite his flair for the dramatic, Cyrus did have a blazer on, with dress shoes and crew socks to boot. His hair, underneath his corn hood, was freshly washed and combed. Plus, he had put on makeup for the occasion. While he only wore eyeliner, he still thought the effort proved he cared about the event.

He glanced around to see if he recognised anyone, and to his joy, a few people looked familiar. However, he would steer away from most of the people he knew. Everyone looked so formal, which, Cyrus supposed, was the point... But it was still jarring. He stared at the tables in front of him and gently adjusted his candle. He sighed before his gaze caught upon a tantalising tray of brownies. A small smile spread across his lips, and he headed towards it before taking two and sticking them in his mouth.

He was a growing boy. He needed food.

The brownies melted in his mouth with a rush of chocolatey goodness, and his smile would widen to show his teeth. Delicious. If the brownies were so good, surely the rest of the Fall Ball would be even better!

Open to Interactions

Moderator info:

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Stats:

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Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 10 | Strength: 10 | Arcane Power: 16 | Accuracy: 10 | Wisdom: 10

Abilities:

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Fearless | Obnoxiously Strong | Charmer | Impartial | Poison Resistance | Spell Spread

Outfit:

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A corn on the cob costume: link
Under a navy blazer: link
With a candle (featuring a wax catcher) lit atop his corn hood: link. It is held there with tape.
Dress shoes on feet: link
Duck-print socks under shoes: link