Closed Fall Ball 2023 Candle-Lit Banquet

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ACTION: waiting for a princexxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx INVENTORY: wand, (2) dungbombs, book of spells, leather satchel sta • 7 | eva • 7 | str • 5 | wis • 5 | ap • 5 | acc • 6 xxxxx metamorph xxxxx trunk xxxxx 700/700xxxxx @Oliver Brown

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Ava had only been to two balls in her life, the BaiKim bash last winter and The Spring Ball. She had opted to sit out of the fall ball last year to read her books, rather than attend, btu would make no such mistake this year. She knew what she was wearing, who she was going with and everything in between. Overprepared? Maybe.

Of course she was the first out of her date pair to arrive, and she didn't seem in the slightest surprised. She guessed Oliver was still running laps somewhere around the school, or sketching and letting time run away from him. She knew he liked both of those things and it made him all the more attractive in her eyes. Of course, this wasn't a romantic date. They were going as friends! But to Ava, he was much more than that. Her heart raced at the thought of him, every inch of her was pulled taught in anticipation. What a date she had found. And best of all, despite her many mistakes, he still liked her.

Ava came prepared for the waiting too, and pulled a spellbook from the leather satchel on her side. Book of Spells, by some random author she had never heard of. This was one of the required books from her first year, and. the sight of it brought a wave of memories of classes and homework. She tucked the book back away and let the cool grass sooth her nerves. The reason she could feel the grass? She was going barefoot. Last year the maze had gone berserk, and the heels had been a pain to wear. Not to mention that she had caught herself on fire instead of the maze. Embarrassing! But no such thing would happen this year, everything would go just right...including a confession of feelings?

Interacting with: Ruby Angélique @Delainie Silverwing
Elias signing: #84774d
Elias writing: #6591ad
Thoughts: Italics
Others: Bold

Elias was wonderfully surprised when the girl, Ruby he now knew, signed to him practically perfectly. He was sure he didn't have to sign out his excitement, he knew being expressive was part of the ASL game so his deep joy was splayed over his face. Elias' blue eyes sparkled and his mouth curved upwards into a smile.

He discarded his notebook into the satchel, it was still good to keep handy, and signed back to the brunette. Nice to meet you! I'm Elias. He fingerspelled his name first. This is my sign name, if you'd like to use it. A little bit faster than spelling. He made an "E" with one hand and slapped it down on his opposite palm, face up. He could feel the vibrations in the air from the slap, though it wasn't particularly hard. The reason Brendon and Parker, his parents, had chosen it was because of those vibrations. Easier to get Elias' attention.

Elias looked at the girl. She was very pretty in her yellow dress. Yellow, like his tie and flower. So weird! We match, he signed, letting out a laugh. Although he couldn't hear it, he knew how it felt from practicing with Parker. She had wanted Elias to know what laughing felt like. Isn't that cool?

Interacting with@Howard White, @Finnegan Conner & @Hannah Blossom
Closed to other interactions

It seemed that Bloom was not the only one with a new getup. She looked at Howard with his new robe that shined with Hufflepuff pride. Alas, they both came dressed up as a unit without even planning this time around. "It's definitely you," she said as she placed her hand on his chest lovingly as he pulled her in.

Howard presented a glass of punch to Bloom and she was thankful to start the night with something delicious. But even more-so, with something helpful to make the night a little more fun. "YES PLEASE!" she said excitedly, "but not too much. It'll make me do things...," she flirted. When the firewhisky was poured, she smelled the drink and drank it fast, ignoring the slight burn as it went down her throat. She couldn't help but to giggle.

The dance floor was what Bloom wanted to do next, but it seemed that Howard's attention was elsewhere. She matched his general direction to see that there were others calling for him. One of them seemed familiar to her, but was glad to be introduced nonetheless. Bloom stuck out her hand with a smile. "It's nice to meet you both," she said. When Howard introduced her as a Broom Racer, Bloom realized that they must also be sports people. "I haven't seen you on the field, so you're probably a Quidditch player like this guy," she said, playfully pointing at Howard. "What year are you in?" she asked, wondering how long they had been playing the sport.

They seemed to be getting into the topic of Quidditch with the start of Howard. That was who he was. He was competitive through and through, and to talk of his favorite sport that he played wouldn't be who he was. It seemed that he was ready to move on from the conversation when he gave her a choice to either drink more or dance. "Both!" she said, getting another drink and if he would allow it, grabbing the flask from him to pour some into her drink. Bloom meant to pour a little, but she poured what would be two shots into the mix. She gave the flask back and backed as much as she could down. (Who was she?) There was still some left, and she gave it to Howard to drink before trying to tug him on the dance floor. She was definitely going to feel the feels soon.

"Want go come dancing with us?" she asked the pair with a smile. The more, the merrier.

ACTION: No actions yet

It all started with a pair of dancing shoes, that’d turned into ribbons and a lantern for a broom, and finished in a frenzied quest for a perfect gift for a certain feather brained date he was to be picking up at the West Tower right about…now actually.

Which had all led to a certain Gryffindor, Elsian being the poor lion in question, running down the quickly darkening halls in a flurry of purple and gold ribbons decorating the broom clutched in one hand, and a shiny, stole frying pan in the other glinting in the low light. His boots clicked loudly with each slam of his foot into the cold stone as he ran, echoing eerily & helping to paint the scene of a villainous like picture as he all but fled from the kitchens to the courtyards.

Why though, one might ask.

Simple really.

Elsian needed a ball gift for Feathers which they really should of already been at by now. And flowers, he had decided, were lame and overused. Frying pans on the other? Were neat, useful, and totally matched the whole Rapunzel theme Sam and him were going for.

Which was why he was currently fleeing down the halls full tilt when he was known to hate little else more than said exercise, stuffing a frying pan into his satchel with the rest of his ill gotten goods and a list of enemies that was a few house elves longer than it had been that morning… “Great, I’m the bad guy now. Enemy #1 of the kitchen,” he grumbled, stumbling as he ducked past a group of finely dressed students walking by, “and late…”

With any luck Feathers was taking forever to get ready.

With little time to waste he rushed out into the open air of the courtyards, getting a running start with his broom as he shoved his bag to the side. One moment he was on the ground, and the next he was in the air, immediately knowing he was going to get an earful of complaining if this horrible wind kept up and ruined Sam's hair. “But the pan will make up for it.” He laughed with a pat to the bag. “Maybe…possibly.” He could feel his hope dwindling as he flew towards the West Tower, a gust of wind ruffling his hair.

“Maybe if I got a picture before her hair was ruined I’ll be spared…”

Either way walking was overrated, and Elsian would accept whatever complaints came his way because he was already here! Even Feathers would have to admire his wonderful idea of arriving by broom now, who knew how long it would have taken if the lazy boy had walked? And speak of the feathered brain devil-

He caught sight of a very familiar, Rapunzel looking, dolled up Samantha passing by a window as he flew down. Which meant not only had he somehow arrived early. But she was the late one! Hah. Wait, he couldn’t pass up this opportunity… Without a moment's hesitation he knocked on the window loudly, startling a few others that looked similarly dressed up and on their way down the tower, a sharp grin on his face as he brought up a hand to wave wildly at Feathers as he dug out his camera. Lifting it up he shook it playfully, as if giving her a chance to pose before he snapped the photo, almost losing his balance in the process, disappearing out of sight with a loud curse as he caught himself again.

“Oh Rapunzel!” He crowed from outside, barely catching the camera as he began flying to and fro lazily. Pointedly he flew just below the window, making dramatic gestures as if waiting for her to let him in,“let down your hair!”

The window rattled with his knocking as he followed her to the next closest window, waving frantically with an indignant look at being ignored. Because how dare. “Rapunzel? I’m not getting any younger out here!” With a grin he’d continue to call out, ‘accompanying’ his date from outside, window to window until Samantha either gave into her inner Rapunzel and opened a window for the glorious experience of hopping onto the broom mid flight like the cool rebel she was-

Or more realistically until she reached the bottom of the tower at the entrance where they’d originally agreed to meet. Greeted with the totally innocent sight of Elsian waiting patiently like the wonderful, charming date he was after so kindly ‘chatting’ with her through every. Single. Window. Because he was great like that.

“Wow Feathers,” he offered a hand to help her on the broom as he slipped the camera strap around his neck. “You almost look like you're a princess under all those feathers!” It ribbing was ruined by the affectionate tone.

“It’d be a shame if your hair was ruined…” He began as they lifted into the air. It was, of course, a bluff.

Kinda.

“But don’t worry,” he teased as the broom turned in the air towards the distant shine of the ball, “I’ll wait to do that in a fit of rage after you try and elope with whatever thief you find at the ball.”

~ 𓋒 ~

Arriving at the ball was easy after you got past the slap fights that broke out with all the teasing and affectionate name calling between the Gryffindor and Ravenclaw. It was after all, a beacon of light and pretty decor by the lakeside, it looked like there were even boats and lanterns to be made closer by the lake!

“Hey look!” He lightly nudged the girl, smiling as he pointed towards the boats, “I think we can make lanterns over there. Wanna try later?”

Later being the key word of course. They had to see what the main ball had to offer!

Carefully, because he wasn’t a monster and Feathers did look wonderful despite all his teasing, he landed the broom by the entrance, allowing Sam to slip away before he swung himself off, tucking the broom under his arm. “Feathers,” he began, gesturing towards the lit up dance, “it would be my honor to enter that ball with you. But first-!”

He plucked the frying pan from his bag, brandishing it to the other with a look of pride, “I got you a frying pan.” Hand pressed to his chest in a horrible mimic of a gentleman's bow, he grinned, offering his arm as he straightened, “safety first right?”

6 October 2023
Fall Ball

Harmony continued to stand there, one hand on her hip, the other on the edge of the food table, and eyebrows furrowed as Finn rambled at her about lateness.

“I hadn’t seen you all day,” that was true, but “you weren’t in the commons- right?” caused her eyebrows to quirk.
“I got ready in my dorm and went to the commons to see you leaving.” She stated, drawing further apologies from the stumbling boy in front of her.
Harmony-from-the-past wanted to go on to describe how she’d decided to wait because she wouldn’t have been left behind but Harmony-from-the-now was irritating and reminded herself that she didn’t like confrontation, did she? Not only that, but she was supposed to be proving her ball date expertise, and last time she checked, the best ball dates didn’t go around shaming their partners for things, so she stayed quiet.

Conflicting feelings rose in her as Flint went on to compliment her outfit. Yes, the outfit was excellent and Harmony had been so incredibly smart to come up with it, if she did say so herself which she did, but she’d never properly interacted with Fallon without quickly finding a reason to stop, and now had little clue what her opinion of him was supposed to be.
“Um, thank you,” she finally managed, eyes awkwardly flicking around. “You… look nice too.” Good ball dates didn’t accept compliments one-sided. Score for Harmony.

Her flickering eyes landed on a distant table covered in what looked like craft materials and lanterns while Finnigan explained his food situation and her interest was piqued.
“I think the lantern-making looks pretty fun,” she stated, nodding towards the table. “We could do that?”
“It looks a little too early for lanterns but we can always do something else if you wanted?” Was the response.
Go lantern-making, a voice inside Harmony’s head whispered. He’s trying to drive you away from them. There must be a reason.
Shut up. Another voice said. You’re being unreasonable and we’re going to make the best lantern because that’s what good ball dates do.
“There’s so many choices, the making would take forever anyways” Harmony reasoned, out loud this time, to the boy before her. “Even if we don’t end up making anything yet, we can still take a look at what’s there for inspiration and do something else. So. What d'ya say?’

Interacting with: @Flynn Montgomery
Summary: Discussing arrival times, accepting compliments, suggesting lantern-making but have not left yet

october 6th 2023; interacting with @Rodney Hughes and @Landon Matthews; mentioning @Madison Bennett and @Helena Rose

Outfit Reducio

Hearing about Rodney's watch wasn't anything new; he had shown it to her the day he asked her to the ball. Prior to entering Hogwarts, Alyssea wore watches since she always had something to do and someplace to be. She hated analog watches, though, and opted for those smartwatches. It was a shame they wouldn't work on the school grounds; she had quite a bit to do in the past month already and no watch to keep her on time.

The sudden commentary about his watch may have frightened Landon, though. She couldn't blame him. She gave him an apologetic look and made a quick comment to Rodney. "It's a very lovely watch."

"As for the craft tables way over there," Alyssea said as she pointed to them, "They're for making lanterns. It's more fun to make your own instead of just throwing some already-made ones into the air."

She turned to Landon and leaned in close enough to whisper. "You okay? I'm really sorry if Rodney's making you feel uncomfortable. And I really hope you'll come join us, including Helena and Madi, to make lanterns." She gave him a small smile.

Alyssea then straightened herself and turned back to Rodney. "Let's go get the other girls and see if they want to make some lanterns, too."

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Entering The Fall Ball

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Fall Ball Tracker

I | II | III | IV | V

Reducio

Mentioning the roommates @Mahlioz Evethisawe, @Mellani Miller and @Nora De Carie
Qrow | #064107

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After the events of the Spring Ball in first year, Qrowley Beithir was incredibly reluctant to attend the Fall Ball of second year. Still, dancing was fun, and without the interference of a certain rude Gryffindor, the Slytherin’s expectations were marginally higher than last time.
It also helped that there wasn’t a bloody maze this time around.

It had taken much longer for the metamorphmagus to get ready this time, in comparison to last time, and they almost pitied their roommates who had had to deal with Qrow hogging the bathroom for a good portion of the day.
Today, they opted for a more feminine look, their jawline slightly softer, and their eyes set, decorated with sharp black eyeliner and gold glitter; the colours matched their dress, a black ball gown, the A-line skirt slit up to the top of their left thigh (where their wand was stored in a thigh chain). The bodice of the dress was somewhat plain - something that Qrow found rather boring - it was for that reason that the redhead added a beautiful golden skeletal corset, the faux ribcage climbing up from their waist and resting on their neck.
On their feet a pair of golden heels - that brought them up to about 5ft7 - with straps that wrapped up to just below their knees and a plethora of golden serpent accessories.
Their ginger and white curls were tamed slightly, braided and at the back of their head, tied with a chain of golden leaves, with only a few white curls hanging loose in front of their face.

They were currently joined by their cousin Ren, who had travelled all the way from Mahoutokoro, though they would no doubt part ways later in the night to find their own friends. It was odd seeing them so tidied up, and despite having seen them like this before, Qrowley doubted they’d ever get used to seeing their favourite cousin without art supplies tucked away in their hair and pockets; they had mused as much when the two had met each other in the courtyard.

They were appreciative of the others' company as they made their way to the lake, arm in arm, in silence.That was something the Slytherin loved about their cousin. No matter Ren's silence, they always had such a calming presence; there was no need to try and fill the silence, it was simply peaceful, and that was something Qrow would need before tonight. As much as the redhead loved fancy parties and getting to dress up, the expectation of having to socialise, even with friends, was already beginning to weigh on them.
That was something new. Ever since the events of the summer, Qrow's social battery had gotten smaller, and suddenly even the very idea of conversing with people could make them feel exhausted.
They knew why.
They had been struggling a lot over the past few months, and despite it all, the Slytherin battled on with their life, stubbornly ignoring all causes for concern.
They had never been so happy to be born a metamorphmagus, able to change themselves at will. They hadn't been sleeping great, not that their sleeping habits had ever been great, however it had gotten much worse recently, and if it weren't for their ability to change their appearance (as well as a little makeup) Qrows carefully constructed mirage would come crumbling down with one look at their eye bags.

The walk to the lake was slow, but it was also just the thing the Slytherin needed to relax.

Hogwarts was always so pretty at night, and the candlelight and lanterns combined with the warm colours of autumn added an air of romanticism to the scenery.
Tonight would be different from the last Ball.

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