Justice Candy Open finished

Interacting with | @Ileen Knight
Mentioning @Flash Holmwood as Yefim Rumyantsev and
@Percival Rainwood as Mikael Halldorson.

Open for more interactions

Sophia was elated that Kim was willing to stay, but her face fell at the mention of a 'price.' What could his price possibly be? Sophia let her mind wander as she tried to figure it out before agreeing blindly. She couldn't allow herself to be trapped into a dangerous bargain, after all.

"A price," she muttered to herself as she allowed herself to disconnect from reality, viewing things through a purely logical perspective.

Kim like sweets. Loved them. Especially chocolate. Her face was covered in sweets. Especially chocolate. Did Kim want to....!? But why? He was like a brother, and he could always get more sweets. Surely he wouldn't tarnish his own innocence in the pursuit of a bit of candy, right? Kim wasn't that type of person. Sophia knew him better than that, but she still had to ask, since logical thinking had dictated that it was the most likely price he was declaring.

"K-kim," she said with a light blush, "I c-can't k-kiss someone until marriage, but you can have some of the chocolate back. You don't have to, uh, k-kiss me to taste the chocolate."

She wiped her face again with her other sleeve, since the normal, left sleeve was quite gross at this point. She had to remove the temptation from her friend. Whew, that was difficult. She'd had trouble even getting the word 'kiss' out of her mouth. She had to hope she'd managed to nip that little act in the bud, and that Kim wouldn't try to be so forward anymore. She couldn't imagine she could handle it if Kim actually flirted with her. Whew.

She allowed her attention to follow Kim's eyes to see the 'knighting' ceremony that was still going on. She sighed dreamily, looking at the two boys she was standing with.

"Wouldn't that be cool? To actually become a knight like that? My dad used to read me stories about King Arthur and I always pretended to be a knight of the round table. So cool, right? Dad would be the traitorous Mordred and I'd 'strike him down in service to my King.'"

She smiled fondly at the memory. She sure did miss her parents.

Interacting: @Colin McCoire || @Kim Sato

Mentioning: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood || @Ileen Knight

Notes:

Reducio

Kim, I know this takes place before the Ball, but that's intentional! It's why Soph isn't SUPER flustered about Kim possibly 'flirting' with her. She isn't surrounded by people on dates and Kim isn't touching her cheek to taste the berry filling from a snack, so she isn't SUPER bothered.

Colin was confused. He thought Kim was leaving, but then he didn't go. He can't possibly want to have another go at scooping up more sweets! How much can a boy possibly eat, Prince of Sweets or no!

Then Kim said something odd. "If I stay, you have to pay a price. Are you willing to pay that price?"

That intrigued Colin --- if they were friends, why would he ask her to pay for him to stay? Or maybe it was a joke. Another layer to Kim Sato! He watched to see what Sophia's reaction would be. She seemed to be considering Kim's statement seriously. He laughed and said to himself: "It's not like he's asking her to marry him or anything!"

Sophia really seemed to be worried about something. All she has to do is say 'right, hang about' and Kim will stay a bit and she can dig through his pockets some more! Stands to reason!

Then she said something. It wasn't 'right, hang about' --- it was "I c-can't k-kiss someone until marriage!"

"WHOA!" Colin almost shouted. His jaw dropped and his gaze bounced from one to the other. Did Sophia just say it? Did she just say the --- K-word!!?? His eyes widened --- Colin couldn't even imagine actually, you know, kissing a girl! Maybe in like --- That was so --- EWWW!

"Whoa! Are you two courting each other!?" he said incredulously. He thought back to the way Kim was eyeing Sophia a few minutes earlier. "Whoa --- must be ---"

But Colin's thought was distracted by Kim drawing their attention over to where the girl giving out candy was now talking with a snowy haired boy. He was kneeling in front of her. She looked like a queen, and he looked like her knight! Colin couldn't help but get up and walk over to where they were. He sat and watched in rapt attention.

The queen had told him to kneel, and he did. His mighty steed, silvery and swift of bristle, rested nearby. She said she would bestow on him the title Knight of the Sweet Secrets. Colin gasped. She seemed so beautiful! He gown of red and her cape around her shoulders; surrounded by the bounty of her Candyland realm! And he too seemed beautiful, kneeling straight backed before his queen.

The radiant boy bowed his head and accepted the signal honour she bestowed upon him.

"Thank you, wise lady," the young knight said.

Colin felt like the day had turned into a fairy story! He'd accepted a boon from the Prince of Sweets and his lady the Queen of Candy; and now here the Queen of Candyland herself was bestowing a knighthood!

He could hardly wait to hear what difficult Quest she would send her knight to accomplish --- where must he and his steed wander? Along what lonely and perilous paths would they tread? Would his quest be successful and would he bring honour to the Queen of Candyland; or would he fail and fall into despair!

@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood | @Ileen Knight | @Sophia Nelson | @Kim Sato

Easter, for the Alptraum heiress, was another one of those holidays that she only had a loose understanding of. Her family didn't exactly celebrate. They had no reason to- not for religious reasons, or casual enjoyment. The entities they looked to were not... of the traditional variety. And their eldest child was afraid of very fluffy rodents such as Puffskein and rabbits. There was something greatly uncanny about the idea of a man-sized rabbit invading the homes of unsuspecting folk, and leaving behind a trail of goodies as the only source of proof to his visit. What was with that? What was with muggles frequently creating these characters that were said to enter homes uninvited- and to give their children gifts? Did they not think it weird? The Easter Bunny was out of the question. Despite the lack of reasons to fully participate in Eastertide festivities, the Alptraum lord and lady still offered their children sweets and gifts on the day. Xailah, when she was home, would hide eggs she painted the night before for her sister to look for in the morning. No, none of them quite understood the muggle tradition. Yet, there was a clear effort to integrate and enjoy some aspects of the holiday. Perhaps the pastel charm made them happy. Or perhaps, they simply wanted a sense of inclusion.

Xailah had treated the day like any other, despite the meager significance it had amongst her peers. For those who were aware, today was the first of April. And for those with good memory- or perhaps a penchant for causing trouble- they would know it was April Fool's. Oh yes, the day of pranksters and quacks. The Gryffindor prefect had managed to get through a good portion of the day unscathed. Most students lacked the gall to approach her, so today was no different than usual. They kept their distance, but absorbed her presence from afar, and she blissfully went on her merry little way.

Feeling in need of a little fresh air and sunlight, Xailah decided to spend a little time outside while the weather was still tolerable. Napping in window with filtered sunlight could sustain her, but not enough to subdue daytime restlessness. So she gathered a lacy parasol and her cat, and began her venture into the great outdoors. She would find herself glad she did. Soon she would discover that she was in for a small treat.

The lioness walked in the shade of the parasol she twirled; Schrödinger followed in the gloam of his mistresses shadow. Together they strolled, their legs leading them to nowhere in particular; their minds wandering with blithe haziness. Xailahs lissome sway would come to a sudden halt, when she reached a patch of long grass. Shrödinger rolled to a stop at her bootheel. There was something small tangled and loosely embedded in the emerald strands. It beckoned for the young collectors attention. Stooping to inspect the shimmering object; Xailah would discover that the shine belonged to a pristine candy wrapper with an untouched treat inside. If there was one thing no child could resist, it was the temptation of candy. The sweet morsel would inevitably find it's way into a hidden pocket, regardless of wether or not Xailah had plans to consume it. But that wasn't all- oh no, there wasn't just one candy, there were several candies. Handfuls scattered here and there with implication of deliberateness; forming some sort of path. The prefect followed mindlessly, as any child would when tempted with a saccharine trail to follow, eventually she would stumble upon a peculiar scene.

It was something out of a storybook, truly. Upon first seeing it Xailah could only express confusion. An albino boy being knighted by a girl in a red sweater; surrounded by two boys- one with purple hair, the other with black, and red-haired girl? She felt as if she had happened upon a sacred ceremony. It was rare to see children... being children. Even rarer for them to not brush off their little acts, when in the presence of their peers. Their play was charming. And honestly, she wished to join them, but she was at a loss of how to go about doing so. Approaching them would be a good start, the metamorph figured. So she did just that. She drew near to the group, her movements light but not entirely unnoticeable- she jingled faintly when she walked- and of course, there was the muted crinkle of candy in pockets.

Xailah would notice the sign on the blanket when close enough. Her slotted pupils swept over the large words, reading them. Happy Easter, Candy for free! Xailah quirked a brow, her eyes fixated on the bold lettering. That's not quite right, she thought. It was April Fool's, not Easter. Had the writer forgotten? Or was the sign part of an elaborate and very clever prank? Suppose the sign was correct, was Easter celebrated as an ongoing holiday that stretched across the span of several days? The sign summoned many questions, but mostly nurtured a flicker of innocent curiosity. For now she would remain quiet, watch the others and their interactions unfold.

Just observing the present interactions for now. Cat's Grace is in use, but feel free to notice Xail and Schrö.
Sorry if I may have missed details, and for the briefness! I've been wanting to squeeze in a post here for awhile!

The slight breeze brought interesting news to the heart of Candyland! Colin's nostrils flared. The boundaries of the realm had been breached! He could smell something new, something different. Neither Kim nor Sophia seemed to notice. His lips parted slightly and he stuck his tongue just between this teeth. He breathed in gently, scenting the place around. Lots of sugar. Lots of chocolate. The four people be knew of. But there was something new on the air!

Colin's ears perked up as well as the grand ceremony played out before them. His back straightened as someone --- or no, two someones, perhaps? --- approached the sacred precinct, the very heart of the realm of Candyland. A faint jingle came to his ear and he cocked his head with interest. A person! But other sounds too he heard. Too many for two feet only. A person and a beast perhaps?

Colin reluctantly turned away from the pageant towards the sound of the intruder into this sacred space. Was it some vagabond or wandering minstrel seeking a boon from the Queen of Candyland? Or perhaps some evil warlock come to play tricks or waylay this brave knight on his errand of peril? Either way, Colin would stand and defend the honour of the Queen and dignity of the rites being performed!

His gaze, however, fell upon neither vagabond nor villain. Truly, a personage of high quality stood nigh! A lady of high rank and puissant authority! Surely she had travelled long from some far distant country to witness this ritual of the Candylandians! Was she an invited guest? Known to the arrayed royal personages? Colin looked towards the Prince of Sweets and Queen of Confections. Their eyes remained fixed on the proceedings.

Right! thought Colin. Leave it to the Hound of Guard to patrol the bounds and welcome the guests! He stood quietly and turned towards the newcomer, his nostrils still flaring. He bowed deeply, making a double flourish; yet he never took his eyes off her hands. Fair lady she seemed! But Colin knew well that fair of face often meant dark stained soul! Standing upright again, he spoke quietly: "Lady Prefect! Noble visitor! Would you care to sit with us, in the fair company of Queens and Princes? You are most welcome, you and your graceful companion!"

Colin turned his head and gave the cat a slow wink before going back to his place to sit and continue watching the ceremony.

@Xailah Alptraum

Ileem blinked, unable to turn her dark eyes from the pale boy. She had been right, he wasn’t from this school, his accent gave that away. Thoughtfully, the young girl tilted her head. It didn’t sound French or Japanese - more nordic or germanic. Maybe he was a Durmstrang?
Ileen didn’t follow quidditch or anything sports related so she had no clue who she was, but the fact that this confused or surprised him made a giggle bubble up her throats. It came out in a rather snorting way and embarrassed, but still giggling she covered her mouth. “Fans? Should I know you? Are you famous or something?”
Looking down at the pile of chocolate frogs he had just donated, she realized how detached she was to the world of fame and drama. Apparently, he had many fans and admirers and here she was, having no clue who he was.
When he challenged her back, her smile dripped from her face. She thought about her parents who she hadn’t seen in such a long time. But well, this was not the right thing to tell a stranger. She wouldn’t confess her heartache to anyone. Yet.
The smile returned to her face. Distracted by the boy she didn’t notice how well received her donation was already by the first years circling around and stuffing chocolate in her face. Even Colin, who approached them and placed a shiny apple in the middle of the sweets, received only a quick smile. She would talk to them in a second.
“I do it, because I think people might like them more than me.” That was even true. Her words were carefully and wisely chosen.

As he followed her order and kneeled, a soft smile curled her lips and painted little dimples on her cheeks. The young Slytherin was so consumed by her role and task that she didn’t notice they had quite an audience already.
She raised her improvised sword from the boy's shoulders and placed it in her belt. Although it was an act she somewhat felt like she just had done something very important. The atmosphere felt mysterious and solemn and she automatically stood up straight and stretched her chin. "Rise, knight. What is your name?" With a twinkle in her eyes she leaned slightly forward and whispered: “Now, I for sure know you.” She kind of liked that he called her wise lady.
She turned her head and saw the kids staring at them. Normally, she might have been uncomfortable, but she still felt so beautifully solemn and important. So she bowed, still fully in character, further delighted by the chocolate she could detect in the hands and partly the faces of the children. She was pleased that someone wanted the candy.
She felt the ardent desire to include them and thus pointed to the pale young one next to her. "Welcome, witnesses of this accolade! I present to you your knight, the knight of the sweet secrets!” She searched for their gaze and smiled at each of them. The girl and the two boys. Wasn’t that nice? She had planned a sweet game and now it was a knighting ceremony on top. “Now, you can present your claims. How can I help you?” She loved this game. Would the first years play along or just think she was weird and crazy?

Then, another voice reached her ears and made her turn her head. The boy who had donated an apple had approached someone who was standing behind them.
Ileen spun around and laid eyes on the gryffindor prefect girl and their adorable companion. She hadn’t had any interaction with Xailah before, sadly, but of course she knew who she was. The young Slytherin had high respect for every prefect that put it on themselves trying to hold this chaotic school together. And this girl in particular always had given her a mysterious vibe, similar to Ruby. Awe and respect had ensured that she had not dared to approach her. But not now. She had just knighted someone, she felt strong and confident.
A smile spread across her face and she waved. "Lady, we have a feast here. Won't you join us?" She just couldn't stop it. It was as if she was trapped in her role. Maybe now the Prefect would think she was completely crazy too....

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Interacting with @Ileen Knight and all others who want to participate.