Closed Fall Ball 2023 Candle-Lit Banquet

06/10/23

"english" "portuguese" "spanish" thoughts

outfit

@Vladimir Athanatos would still find Howard completely absorbed by the beauty before him and to make matters worse, he had attracted some new friends. Perhaps a ruse and the employ of some other students would help separate the dhampir from his group, but with the way @Bloom Silverton flashed those chocolate brown eyes at him, it was going to take one hell of a distraction.

"Counting on it, love." Howard flirted back at Bloom with a whisper and a soft kiss to the cheek before he poured the whiskey into her punch. A little liquid courage to loosen them up before they danced the night away and whisked each other off to a quiet wherever for an epic snog-fest. Yet before they could show the rest of the school how to properly tear up a dance floor, the couple was approached by @Finnegan Conner and @Hannah Blossom. A quick introduction and a good rant about Quidditch later would have them all back to planning what was next.

Bloom could read his mind as she prepared another drink, but the way she knocked it back left him a bit impressed. "Giddy up!" Howard followed suit and slammed some of the spirit down. The warming sensation was already spreading throughout him and his excitement for the festivities escalated. He could already tell that tonight was going to be a blast! As she began to tug him away towards the dance floor, Howard meant to slip the flask back into his robe pocket, but a slight fumble would find the container falling to the soft ground below. Probably for the best before he over served himself too quickly. Though it hardly mattered. The girl he loved was ready to boogey, the music was hitting just right and he couldn't stand not to take her in his arms for another moment.

"Come on, you two! Let's dance!" Howard urged the younger couple to join them before he finally gave in to Bloom's tug. Soon enough the pair would be in the area designated for dancing and it was on! If Bloom would allow it he would take the lead first. It was an upbeat tempo and perhaps a little swing dancing was in order? It wasn't the prettiest, but Howard held onto one of her hands and started swinging his legs to the music.

Action: None

OUTFIT

Reducio

SPEECH
self | thoughts | "others speaking"

INTERACTIONS AND MENTIONS
@topaz november
open to other interactions

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A smile tugged at the corners of Ophelia's lips. Normally, she was a protective sort of person and wouldn't express these emotions where everyone could see them. But today was the Fall Ball and everyone was laughing, happy, and having fun, so why couldn't she just loosen up a little?

Sweet Topaz smiled as Ophelia complimented her. "Why, thank you very much. You look stunning too!" She looked off into the distance at the partying young wizards and witches. "Yes, we shall get going."

Together, side by side, they walked forward and down the path towards the Great Lake. Plenty of other friend groups were out and about, talking and laughing as they enjoyed the evening. There were couples out as well, trying to escape the dense crowd in the candle-lit banquet and not quite ready to make lanterns yet.

The scenery was beautiful as always at Hogwarts. Flowers and plants, trees and statues. Before long, they'd entered the crowded area of the banquet and Ophelia felt suffocated. She wasn't much of a people person, so the thrum of heartbeats and the amount of people around made her feel anxious. It wasn't even just Hogwarts students. There were students from all the other magic schools. Schools that she hadn't even known had existed.

After a moment of just standing there, it had quickly become too much for her to take. Ophelia stepped back, ignoring Topaz's stare as she sat down as far away from the action as possible. When she caught the Slytherin giving her a questioning look, she smiled back, tired already. Why did I ever decide to come to this thing?

"Um, sorry. All the noise, it all gives me a headache, you know?" Ophelia paused for a moment, not wanting to ruin the girl's evening by making her sit down with her. "Give me a moment. Then we can, uh, grab something to eat."

Ophelia smiled at Topaz. And though it was genuine, she was already thinking about excuses to give so that she could leave early.

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IC DATE

October 10th, 2023

Mentions: Nate Hawthorn @Estelle Nyx, Kaya Rose Bennet @Linda Ramirez

Word Count: 221/200

Open / Closed
For interactions

He couldn’t help but let out a lightherated laugh as she curtsied in front of him and bantered back. “ Oh, I’m not entirely sure. Perhaps some Griffindoor who’s a bit less handsome than I am. You have particular taste in dates and friends, after all”. His eyes instinctively looked around, unable to find Kim. It had been a while since he had been updated on their relationship. All he knew was that Bailey fancied Kim, and Kim well… he was one loved by many. It became a curious topic to him to wonder if anything progressed in those two’s relationship.

“ Oh I wholeheartedly agree” he gave her a small smile, “ both about Spring being the superior season, and how good I look.” He shrugged, fully confident in every word. “ Although I admit, I couldn’t help but try and fit with the fall theme this time around. Seeing you now, perhaps I should try and make a really quick flower crown. That way, we could match somewhat. Spring lovers, making a statement. ” he jested.

His eyes wandered to her earlier companions, seemingly a younger girl in a deep blue dress, and another boy that seemed to have almost all his attention on the unfamiliar girl. Hanako didn’t bother to greet them when he arrived, thinking they came as a secondary priority in comparison to Glade. However, given that they were in the same space as them- perhaps he could at least acknowledge their presence.

“ Friends of yours, Glade?” he asked, stepping slightly closer to Bailey with his eyes trained on the other two younger students with an ingenuine smile that couldn’t hide the indifference in his eyes. It was no secret that the boy didn’t seem all that welcoming or polite, despite his kind face.

EᑎᑕY :	ᗩᗷIᒪITIEᔕ
ᑭOᔕT TᖇᗩᑕK *(*)*****	{ ᴮˡⁱⁿᵈᵛⁱˢⁱᵒⁿ } { ᴾᵉʳᶠᵉᶜᵗⁱᵒⁿⁱˢᵗ } { ᴾᵃʳˢᵉˡᵐᵒᵘᵗʰ }}

∫ S t a m i n a : 10 • S t r e n g t h : 3 • A r c a n e : 13
∫ A c c u r a c y : 12 • E v a s i o n : 6 • W i s d o m : 10

Reducio

Story Progression
* ( * )*(*)*****

Action: Bothering @Bailey Glade, vaguely acknowledging Stephan (@AngelFyre McCubbin) and @EmmaLee LeDames

@Della Barfield

"First stop!" Now, when Xailah was making ball plans during the duration of the early autumn months, she never once expected Della Barfield to be involved in those plans. And, yet, here the platinum-haired girl was, seated securely on a broom alongside her elder. They were a frightening delightful sight- the pair of witches, soaring like twin birds through the fading evening; both pale, inverse reflections of the other, and dressed to the nines. Much like whimsical omens from a fairytale. Not a minute had been wasted when they were in their dorm room getting ready, and every second had undoubtedly been put to good use.

A broom may not have been the best ride of choice in that retrospect- but it was the fastest option they had if the pair planned on making it to the party at an objectively reasonable time. Typically, Xailah would have arrived on her own accord, whenever she wished, however she wished; but with the current addition of very pleasant company, she was inclined to speed their inevitable arrival up a notch. Okay, quite a bit. But, it was effective, as the older lioness was keen on pointing out; once the duo announced their presence with a smooth landing at the fringe of the festivities.

"See? I told you we would make it." Xailah would beam, sliding from the broom once it steadied. A bedazzled hand ending in claws would be extended for Della to take, should she desire help dismounting the ride. "Yes, perhaps we are late- but I would say fashionably so." A light nod was issued before taking her party companion in fully. "I hope the ride didn't ruin your hair." The same assisting hand would flit around the younger cub's head in an attempt to smooth flyaways, before finding eventual rest.

While at one interval in her life Xailah may have taken the ball as a cause for stress and worry (this feeling inevitably lingered, admittedly), she had relearned how to enjoy the biannual festivities so meticulously organized by many a talented peer. The metamorph expressed her awe through a silent look; her pupils large with fondness over the many lights decorating the festival space, like a flock of fireflies. She'd slip into her typical mannerisms when faced with something new, and begin scanning the people occupying the area.

"Do you see anyone you know?" The elder quietly inquired to her junior, with a slight lean in her direction. "Or perhaps anyone you would like to know?" This endeavor, after all, had been made in the pursuit to refine Della's social skills. Xailah's gaze would gravitate to the rest of the scene laid out before them. If people didn't pique Della's interest, then maybe the activities provided by the ball organizers would. "I believe I saw a lantern making station on the way over here, but personally, that dance floor is really calling my name."

Arriving in style alongside Della Barfield, as her chaperone for the evening.

Open to interactions!

||Dress||
(Use your imagination I haven't been able to draw one yet- it's white and sorta elven in design, her lanterns look like Lily of the Valley stalks)

[quote][quote]
Oct. 6th, 2023

"Friends of yours, Glade?" The question penetrated the single-minded bubble he had approached EmmaLee with, and he snapped to the too late realization that there were actually people around her. How'd he missed that for criminy's sake? Before he even finished the thought he knew the answer and grinned.

Looking to EmmaLee most apologetically for just crashing upon her conversation, he quickly and silently mouthed, 'I'm sorry.' He then turned in the direction of the voice and noted, with some amusement, the darts firing from the non-smiling eyes at EmmaLee and himself. If the fellow's question hadn't gotten Stephen's attention, those darts eventually would have popped his bubble all the same. What was with this school anyway? Was there no such thing as a purely friendly interaction amongst the students?

Not completely decided as to what the guy's intentions were here, Stephen opted to cast his glance upon the girl standing next to EmmaLee. As soon as he did, the other guy moved closer to her. A purely territorial move which then answered enough for Stephen. Ignoring the boy completely, Stephen smiled his friendliest smile and addressed her directly.

"Hello, Glade. Lovely name, by the way. Please accept my sincerest apologies for just barging into your conversation with EmmaLee and your friend there. I promise I was raised with better manners." He wanted to add that he was distracted for obvious reasons, but having misstepped already, he didn't want to unnecessarily add embarrassing, or further embarrassing, EmmaLee to his list of possible transgressions. "My name is Stephen Schwartz, and it's my honor to meet your friend and you, Glade...."

The finish to the sentence ended as more of a question. Glade was quite an unusually beautiful first name, but one of the other things he had noticed about this school was that the unusual seemed to be common when it came to names here, and he once again grinned, but this time due to the irony. Thank goodness his parents had had good, common sense when naming him.

Turning to the fellow next to her, he just nodded, and said nothing more. He was pretty certain the guy had heard every word, no matter how he might try to play it from this point on, and honestly, Stephen couldn't give a flying fig one way or the other.

But he smiled nonetheless. A genuinely friendly smile.



@EmmaLee LeDames @Bailey Glade @Hanako Tone

Landon sighed a little as he looked at Alyssea. He was trying not to think poorly of Rodney or anything. He just was a bit taken aback by how Rodney had interacted with them so far. Landon relaxed a little, trying to make sure that he had a positive attitude about the whole thing. He wanted to get to know other people, and sometimes that was harder than it sounded. Landon looked around the room, his eyes drifting toward the lantern area as they talked about it.

Landon followed Alyssea and Rodney as they looked for Helena and Madi, but there were many people around and he couldn't see them. Granted, he didn't know Madi that well, but he would be able to recognize Helena from a distance. Landon turned to look at Alyssea after making his suggestion and he followed Alyssea toward the lanterns once they decided to just let Madi and Helena come when they wanted to. He didn't want to pressure anyone into things and it seemed like Helena felt comfortable with Madi, so he relaxed a little. He just felt a little protective of his friend.

Landon followed Alyssea and Rodney until they made it to the lanterns. He was excited to try this craft, even though he wasn't that good at crafting things.

Action: Landon is moving from the banquet area to the lantern-making area.

EmmaLee smiled widely as Bailey also complemented the ball. It really was a beautiful sight and it seemed like the party planners had gone with a simplistic theme that miiiiiight not go as disastrously as other balls. Maybe?

"Ah I am actually waiting for a date, well, a friend date. 'Is name is Stephen." She said brightly. "'E should be 'ere any moment." EmmaLee gasped in surprise as her conversation with Bailey was abruptly interrupted by Stephen taking her hand and spinning her around and her last word trailed off as she was twirled. She giggled as she was spun away from her attention on Bailey and Stephen commented on her beauty.

"When one talks of the wolf, 'e comes out of the woods." She said as her twirl came to a stop. She turned to introduce Stephen and Bailey, but by the time she tried to speak, her friend was already preoccupied with another person herself. Probably her own date from the looks of it, considering his and her demeanor. "I was just now saying 'ello to my friend, but she seems busy now." EmmaLee said, tipping her head quizzically. She was a bit confused as this wasn't the boy she usually saw hanging out with Bailey around the castle. She supposed that Bailey must have a lot of different friends. Distracted by her confusion though she was, she still barely caught Stephen's whispered comment and blushed.

"Oh, uh, thank you. You look very dashing yourself." She said shyly turning her focus back to him as her mind went blank and she stumbled over her words. Stephen always seemed to pluck the right words out of thin air to send butterflies mail express to her stomach and any thought besides his lilting voice and charming face from her mind. His hand, which remained in hers after the twirl, was even further mind scrambling as she searched around for what she had wanted to do just a few minutes before.

Said scrambled mind was brought into sharp focus by the older, unfamiliar boy's question and EmmaLee turned to see him step possessively closer to Bailey as he said it. Yes, probably her date. Had EmmaLee insulted him by talking to her friend? If so, maybe this wasn't a boy Bailey should be hanging around. EmmaLee frowned as his smile refused to quite meet his eyes and she fought the urge to move slightly behind Stephen. Her track record with interacting with significantly older boys was already not the best as she seemed to be a beacon for the worst encounters with them. The only friendly and unembarrassing encounter she'd had yet was with George Henry, a fellow Hufflepuff. Instead of shying away, she stood firm, taking some confidence in holding Stephen's warm hand, and smiled genuinely at the older boy. She would be darned if she let a mere grumpy Gus intimidate her or make her feel awkward for talking to her friend at a party.

She made to introduce Stephen and Bailey properly, but Stephen spoke up before she could, ever the gentleman in his apologies for interrupting her and Bailey's conversation in the first place. It flattered EmmaLee to think that he was just as excited to see her as she was to see him; that he had forgone his usual gracious manners and hadn't noticed she was otherwise engaged before almost literally sweeping her off her feet in his excitement. Or maybe she was just making a bigger deal out of it again? Breathe, child.

She suppressed a small giggle when Stephen called Bailey, "Glade" as the older boy did. He could not have known that that was her last name instead. It seemed a lot around Hogwarts preferred to use last names instead of firsts. Was that a United Kingdom thing that she hadn't quite picked up on?

"Yes, Bailey, I 'aven't 'ad the pleasure of meeting your friend, yet. Is 'e your date? I don't know a lot of the older students aside from you and George 'Enry." She said politely, then turned to Stephen. "This is one of my friends, Bailey Glade." She explained, gesturing to the other girl and beaming. "We met when she hosted a picnic to play with all of our pets last year. I was talking to 'er about 'ow beautiful this year's decorations are."