The Mistletoe Spin Group #7 Summer Camp 2024

❝ Interacting with: @Della Barfield & Gellert Schroeder - @Tristan Theramin| Mentioning: @Hanako Tone ❞

French dialog: #4d6284 | English dialog: #262d5e

the ency

Enzo held eye contact with the girl as she introduced herself, studying her features as if he was trying to gauge what type of person she was based solely on her expressions. ”Enzo, pleasure” He finally responded.

He watched as her eyes were almost speaking to him instead of words, looking as if she wanted him to do something. But Enzo, not usually being the type of person to care to interpret people’s emotions was a little curious. It was pretty obvious what she wanted no? She had even pointed out that they were under the mistletoe so clearly she was hinting at wanting to follow tradition. He was intrigued, and something shifted in his demeanour as he was unsure why he was suddenly inclined to lean forward and kiss this girl. She was certainly pretty to say the least, but Enzo was not one to ever recognize such trivial things, so why he was suddenly aware of it in this moment was an absolutely bloody mystery.

It was also then when he noticed the actions of Hanako and his new partner through the corner of his eye, trying hard to hold back the initial want he had to screw up his face. He felt a weird feeling he would not really be able to describe, grow in the pit of his stomach, but as it startled him, he shoved it back down as quickly as he could. Confused by that the hell was happening to his feelings, on not one, but two different fronts, he decided to ignore one by distracting himself and giving into the other.

Enzo took a step closer to the girl, gazing at her lips for a moment before putting his hands on the sides of her face. He would pull her in gently and let the gap between them dissolve, kissing her slowly to be sure he wasn’t wrong with his judgment. Eventually pulling away Enzo thought he’d better say something quick before they inevitably got separated. ”Enjoy the rest of your evening chérie” He would smirk slightly before being whisked off by the dancing spell again.

When he was dropped in front of another new person Enzo was immediately weary of what was above their heads and was pretty much expecting it to be another mistletoe at this point. Though to his great surprise, both good and bad, he was met with a dripping candle. Carefully sizing up the boy in front of him, and not voluntarily giving him an introduction, Enzo would instead draw his wand out while mumbling “Finally the kissing plant has left me alone…. Glacius”

action: casting glacius on the candle

Stats: Stamina • 5 | Evasion • 8 | Strength • 5 | Wisdom • 16 | Arcane Power • 14 | Accuracy • 11
Abilities: Comprehend Languages, Terrible Presence, Fearless, Perfectionist, Nonverbal Magic

Japanese & English
Ency

𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

LC TP

Reducio

Slighlty toussled/ styled curly black hair, japanese descent features. Dark eyes. Sharp features with an evidently burly built. Naturally down turned eyebrows that make him look angry all the time. Usually a resting small scowl on his face. Often misinterpreted as him being in a bad mood. Brown leather jacket. Grey sweater. Black belt over black belt. Usually an unremarkable set of clothes, but with his activated abilities ( Lovely Creature & Terrible Presense ), it’s almost offensive it still looks good.

Sara’s appearance often draws attention, no matter how much it makes him squirm. As if he was a fictional character came to life. He shouldn’t be here, and yet he is.

* OOC NOTE: feel free to base your characters description of Sara Kohana off this.

Red ®: 112
Green (G): 95
Blue (B): 165.

Burnett was nice. Sara couldn’t help but feel guilt when he couldn’t pay him the attention he deserved. A little longer and perhaps Sara would have been able to let him help with the plague of unease that’s been churning him from the insides all night. Perhaps even more effectively than when the french boy did so. Sara made no sudden movements at Jack’s bow apart from his eyes widening. Sara was about to let a sigh of relief escape from him before Burnett mentioned how Yami hasn’t been the best boyfriend. That was… the 2nd time someone had told him that. Sara’s face soured, as if he tasted lemon. Was it just..that obvious to everyone else? Was something so clear in front of him but he refused to see it? What for? Once again Sara left the discomforting need to defend Yami but bit his bottom lips, preventing him from doing so. He wondered what would have happened if he stayed a little longer with Burnett. If his eyes didn’t linger on the french boy’s wand and yami. What realisations would he have unlocked if his instincts didn’t kick in first. That the thing will spur in the moment sort of stuff. Sara didn’t particularly know what happened. One thing he was in front of Burnett, the second, he was in front of a wand.

It was a little too late too move at the moment. And he should know- he trained in quidditch to avoid attacks such at this. Especially such an obvious one directed to him. He felt his feet heavy and his hands tensing as seconds passed by, but he didn’t feel anything. At least..he was trying desperately not too. And it showed by the evident distress he was exhibiting. Anyone probably would have easily misunderstood it for just pure agitation. Like he was about to hit something- or someone. And no one would blame him, honestly- for the night he went through. But all he wanted was to …hide. Like he was desperate to sew cloth that was already torn, and it resided in his chest.

‘You kiss well...for a gaijin’

The words rang in his ear like a persistent bell. He hadn’t dared to look at Ginyami yet. Fearing what he’d find in Sara’s eyes. Would it make a little more sense to Ginyami? Would he understood it better than Sara did? That was a huge aspect in their relationship thus far. Yami knew better, therefore Sara should trust him. He had even told him before, that he promised to tell him. Essentially, promised to fix it. And one thought passed by Sara when he imagined what little fragments of memory he had when Ginyami pulled Gellert close; ‘ how long must I endure?’

How many times did he have to feel like he was being ripped apart before someone else fixed it? To let someone else hold both the medicine and the weapon? And to trust that no matter how much Sara was hurting, Yami would be there to fix it. Eventually. Soon. Maybe.

Part of him knew logically that Ginyami didn’t think too much about physical affection as much as Sara did. Given the numerous amount of times he had tested Sara by getting way too close. But the thing is, a lot of things didn’t make sense at the moment. Why he was bought here, why Ginyami was more focused on Val than anyone else, and why he felt it necessary to kiss someone else.

But for some reason most of Sara’s doubts came to a halt when Enzo pointed his wand at Yami. Like the fog in his head became a little clearer and it was easier to make a decision. But the fog came back when Burnett- someone who hasn’t even talked to Sara for too long suddenly rushed in to stand in front of him. Wait. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. It was easy to think Sara might get hurt, but why others? Why someone innocent? Why someone that had nothing to do with this? Sara’s eyes widened as he tried to move quick to move Burnett aside, grabbing ahold of his shoulder to try and move him but it was too late and the spell was already directed to them.

And..thank the deities, it never hit. Completely off track despite it all. Sara felt the breath he’s been holding release.

“...W-why-” Sara released his firm grip on Burnett’s shoulder, looking at him as if he absolutely wanted to smash Jack’s face in. But he was simply so..so confused. It was hinted in the way he looked at Burnett, as if trying to find answers in his hazel eyes. But that was when Ginyami came.

Sara was thinking the reasons as to why he tried to protect Yami from the spell. One of the primary reasons was that maybe Sara just wanted Yami to look at him. Finally. To pay attention to him. To stop talking to Schneell and talk to him. Fully face him. Anything. Any sort of attention would do compared to the lack of it.

But when he came, checking Sara and asking about him, Sara was silent. And it came to Sara’s realisation that perhaps for the first time in a long time… he didn’t want Ginyami to look at him. The one person he felt comfortable with being seen. And suddenly, Sara hoped Ginyami could look through him, not at him. He looked away instinctively, releasing Burnett’s shoulder.

The dance started again and he was once again meeting another person. And if there was anyone else who didn't want to look at him more than Ginyami, it was this person. But unfortunately, the other person had different plans. Grabbing the plant above them and grabbing Sara, who immediately tensed from the touch.

He was once again dragged into somewhere he didn’t want to be in. Schnell placed a plant in his hand and gave him an order. As charismatic as it was, it felt like an instruction. Like they knew better and Sara should follow. Everything else was a blur. Sara heard nothing of the interaction going on. He was simply focused on the plant in his hand as if it was the one thing that made sense to him.

“........I can do for you. If your aim is to simply abduct me, then stop screwing around!”

Right after Val’s words, Sara dropped the plant to the ground. Having half the mind to crush it under his heel. But stopped. People didn’t need to even look at him to know how…off he was. He was stiff, silent. But not in the usual way he was when he was anxious about pleasing people. Making other people comfortable. It was more like he was…tired.

His eyes were on the floor, where the mistletoe was dropped. “...stop…..”, his gruff voice copied in a similar way Val was earlier. However instead of smooth and enchanting- it was rough and somewhat pitiful. Like a strangled plea that he was barely holding back from crying. “Stop…talking to me” he said, and without even looking at the rest, he walked off the stage. Not bothering to look behind. And if he heard footsteps, or anyone call to him, his walk would turn into a sprit.

Atrociously skimmed and will come back to this later >_>

𝕯𝖊𝖘𝖈𝖗𝖎𝖕𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓

Rosewood wand wood Hana’s natural charm

Reducio

shoulder length wavy black hair. Dark honey brown eyes. Feminine japanese descent features. Looks approachable and sweet from afar. Will make you think twice about it when he opens his mouth.

* OOC NOTE: feel free to base your characters description of Sara Kohana off this.

Red ®: 112
Green (G): 95
Blue (B): 165.

All he wanted to do was wack Jack senseless. If the bloody dancing hadn't stopped him from doing so, he would have likely done it. Admittedly even when he was in front of his new partner, he didn’t register first who it might be. His eyes scanning to find Burnett in front of urgh, that guy. One of the troublesome people Hana wanted to avoid. “What?” he brought back his attention to …Kim. So many things were happening around him he barely had time to acknowledge Kim properly. Hanako had seen him of course but the timing was never right. Not with stupid french face, annoyingly hot guy, and ... .haven.


“What are you on about? I'm not distracted. Just annoyed people are stupid”,he huffed, unsure at this point who he was referring to. Now on top of being annoyed he just had to feel a tad bit guilty for the girl he kissed just now. He’ll just have to deal with that later. He took a moment to look at Kim again. As much as Hanako wanted to simply focus on his own evident bad mood, he couldn’t really not notice how drastic it was from Kim’s mood. In a way where he was much more…somber. He tried not to look like he noticed anything at all. Especially when it was so ..different from their usual banter. But his eyes narrowed just a little softer this time.

“... did you want my attention on you?” he teased, forced his annoyance down just for a single moment, his jest coming out a bit tense but he was trying. A hint of his usual smile on his face as he said so. “ I’m not a mind reader. All you gotta do is ask for it~” he jested, as if fishing for a banter back. “. Regardless, the magic dance floor that's making us dance decided to put us together, Might as well be here while we can.”

Hana turned his head to the commotion happening at a side of the dancefloor, involving the same people he told himself to avoid. His eyes widened as one of them pretty much dropped the mistletoe in the ground and left the dance floor. “ Sheesh.. Wouldn’t want to be caught in between whatever the hell they’re doing there, huh?” he suggested to Kim, glancing back at his fellow parselmouth. Pretending for a moment he himself wasn't involved in his own set of drama.

Action: talking to kim
Interacting with :
mentioning : Sara Kohana

Hopefully (?) staying away these INPC’s: jack burnett, haven bohennem ,

Banner by Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood

Roleplaying as Ginyami Midorimori from Mahoutokoro
"English | Japanese"

Note: The first part of this post will be a response to Valentin's edit in this post - an edited response to an edited response.

Ahh...he should have been more careful with his reaction. When Ginyami looked up again, he saw in those narrowed amethyst eyes that Valentin had noticed. Of course he had. But would he have realized what his reaction meant? Well, combined with the Japanese teen's words, it probably wouldn't have been difficult for the Durmstrang team captain to piece together. Shit.

When Valentin spoke again, one of the first things he did was say he was 'no great god that loves all equally, with no favorite angel', referencing the god with the favorite angel that Ginyami had mentioned prior. What the seeker hadn't seemed to pick up on was the fact that Ginyami had been trying to liken him to the fallen angel, not the god. But how like Valentin to misconstrue even what he believed others thought of him. At that point, it was so unsurprising to the dark-eyed, dark-haired, dark-clad youth that he didn't even bother correcting the sharply-contrasting, pale albino. No, he had other bones to pick with him. Bigger ones.

"Just because there may be 'enough of you to go around' doesn't mean there should be," Ginyami hissed softly under his breath. "You talk of wanting to date someone; one person in particular. But if you flit around like some common harlot, trying to charm every pair of eyes that falls on you, how do you ever expect to ever find such a person?" he demanded coldly. "Nearly every one of your behaviors betrays your difficulty and dissatisfaction at having to slow yourself down to match the pace of another. Such innate impatience foreshadows the myriad of potential problems you would have attempting to maintain a healthy, steady romantic relationship when you harbor the profound restlessness - both literally and figuratively - that speaks of a penchant for wanting to be chased rather than wanting to chase after another or ever settle down in any capacity. And all of that -
the difficulty, the dissatisfaction, the impatience, the restlessness, and the penchant for wanting to be chased all point as signs to an overall inability to commit."

Ginyami stared icily back at his peer when Valentin complained of never having found a partner who would commit to him. At least not until Gellert. "On the contrary, Mr. Schnell," he answered, his silken tones and slight, dull smile enhancing the degree to which he expressed his deep lack of sympathy for the seeker's supposed 'plight'. "I have every reason to believe that, over the course of your lifetime, you have encountered numerous people willing to commit to you as a sole partner time and time again. The problem, unfortunately, is that since, as it is said to 'take one to know one', those people, however plentiful, were never able to find the same commitment reflected in you that you might have inspired in them and thus eventually turned away from you."

Still wearing his placid, faint smile, he lowered his head and shook it slowly in pity. "Think about it for once, heart-hoarder. Use your brain to try to process and understand instead of that bleeding, overly-sentimental organ that simply circulates blood through your body. Since you lost your parents, you have only ever known the fickle, flighty, superficial love of the masses, so how could you ever hope to be able to give anything more to anyone than that same love of the masses in turn? You may love the masses just as they love you, but that doesn't mean you have the capacity to understand what it takes to single-mindedly devote yourself to one person and one person alone - however much you might wish to. Nor however much you might express that wish to by childishly throwing tantrums at events like these and try to preach about such things."

His smile promptly disappeared. "This is a major example of one of the plethora of problems with you foreigners and your western ways. You are raised from such an early age to be so selfish that you can't even begin to fathom the true extent of your selfishness unless someone from outside of your absurd culture takes the time and effort to shove it in your face. 'I've never found a partner who would commit to me', you complain. Yet you also stated just prior that you believe there is 'enough of you to go around, showing love to everyone in different ways'. How are you intelligent enough to comprehend a remarkable number of languages and yet simultaneously so dense as to be unable to meaningfully understand the most simple truths conveyed with them even at this age?" He looked like he wanted to take Valentin by the shoulders by that time and shake him, but he managed to refrain. Barely.

"Seek to understand before seeking to be understood. Treat others as they want to be treated. You say you 'show love to everyone', but if everyone wants you to love only them personally and singularly, don't you see how pointless and even hurtful it is to them trying to love them all? If you seek a 'partner who would commit to you', why not try committing yourself to a single partner?" He flung out his arms. "You concern yourself so much and so often with the shortcomings of others. But what makes you think that, even if you did finally recognize someone as willing to commit to you - which I might argue you already, obliviously sit upon an abundance of - that you would even be able to show them the same loyalty and devoted, romantic love that they might show you?" Ginyami smirked then, grimly amused. "In exerting myself with my English studies over the past year in order to better understand you, I discovered a great many telling idioms and wise sayings. It never fails to astound me how many I seem to be able to apply to you - such as the fact that 'people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones'." And then his smirk slipped away from him again.

"There is an old story about a Welsh wizard who removed his heart to give it to a demon to eat. Without it, no matter how many people he tried to woo and court, even when he was successful in doing so, he was unable to love them, thus leaving a trail of broken hearts wherever he went and finding no peace despite his best efforts to fill the aching hollow in his chest." The Japanese youth's obsidian orbs were so dark, they effortlessly reflected the Tatar teen's alabaster countenance. "That is what you are doing, Schnell. You just don't see it." Ginyami's gaze trailed up the open front of Valentin's top with its open clasps, stopping and lingering upon the one that had the sprig of mistletoe still pinned to it. "You are wastefully pouring your time and efforts into a countless number of infertile relationships, seeking the hoped-for fruit of your labors so desperately that you haven't realized where the problem really lies: your heart is gone. It was taken from you a long time ago." Narrow eyes narrowed further. "Longer, even, than you have known me."

Ginyami eyed the boy before him as said boy suddenly and openly began to straightforwardly confess his thoughts of their past and what had happened between them to change the nature of the bond they shared. The cruel cut of the keeper's sharp facial features seemed to soften somehow, as did the hard edge of his voice when he spoke again to reply. If Valentin was going to, at last, be open and honest with him, he supposed he could afford him some amount of honesty in return. "I never sought perfection in you," he told the musician delicately, each word spoken like a sugar-spun sculpture upon his tongue that he hardly dared deliver for fear of melting it. "My family's idea of a perfect partner for their heir is a pureblooded Japanese witch who can bear children, raise a family, run a household, and obey her husband without question. If that was what I sought in a partner, then upon meeting you, I wouldn't have bothered to spare you a second glance. Yet here we are...pointedly unable to ignore each other."

Sighing heavily, he tore his gaze away, as if only to prove to himself he still could. "I didn't realize until now just how many assumptions you seem to make...nor how heavily you seem to rely on those assumptions to try to understand people. You're so adamant on trying to provide your own answers for why people behave the way they do that you never stop to consider that maybe the best way to understand someone might be to ask them whatever it is you don't understand rather than deciding for yourself why someone is the way they are or took they actions they did." He raised a brow at the thrill-seeker. "You say you didn't want to let me go, but also that you 'had to respect my freedom to do what I wanted', as if it never occurred to you that perhaps I might have wanted the same as you did. Or that perhaps your very belief that I had the 'freedom to do what I wanted' in the first place was wrong." Ginyami waved the notion away, like a leaf in the wind, before moving to the next. "You say you wish I would have told you what you did wrong, but if you genuinely believe you did something wrong and honestly sought to learn from it, why did you never ask what it was? Even now, I hear nothing from you that sounds as though you sincerely seek to understand what you mistake was, let alone learn from it, leading me to believe you don't actually believe you did anything wrong to begin with."

The teenage heir wearily ran a hand through his slick-backed hair as he pressed onward. "A truly remorseful person would have accepted the shortcomings I've mentioned so far and sought to improve. Instead of acceptance, however, you have, for the most part, met my criticisms with defensiveness, arguments, and excuses of the most empty and pathetic kind. As unwilling as you are to acknowledge my points, why should I bother continuing my attempts to teach or explain anything to you? Are you really so blind to your lack of receptiveness, or are you behaving this way intentionally? Because whatever the case, just as I've seen how fruitless your efforts have been with the way you live, I'm beginning to wonder if there was any real hope in me of getting through to you from the start."

The laugh that followed was harsh and biting. "Is that what you truly believe? That there was never a reciprocation of feelings between you and anyone else? If there was ever a lack of reciprocation, Schnell, then it wouldn't have been on the part of the other person, I can tell you that! You are so desensitized to the love that you are constantly immersed in that it seems to me that you that you have ceased being able to recognize it for what it is. At the very best, the little that you do recognize, you so easily take for granted that anyone can see how spoiled and conceited your gluttonous, infinite appetite for love and attention of any kind has made you." He tilted his chin up, looking down his nose at Valentin. "If you honestly believe the things you're saying - that there was never any reciprocation from the start, whether from me or anyone else - then there's sadly nothing I can do for you. And if you sincerely think that I ever viewed you as entertainment - the same superficial entertainment that you strive to provide your adoring fans across the world - then you are just as easily fooled by the mask I wear as everyone else."

Ginyami, who noticed the moisture collecting in Valentin's eyes, turned away again, not bothering to ask about it. But it seemed the musician hadn't yet had his say, so the Japanese student continued to listen. As he did so, he couldn't help but chuckle under his breath, closing his eyes as to keep himself from rolling them. That would have been rude to do in public.

"If you really are not aiming to be someone else for other people, why does it matter what I think?" he asked calmly. "And before you claim that it doesn't matter to you what I think, if that's the case, why bother telling me that at all? If that is your truth, you only need keep it to yourself and internalize it to live it out. But the fact that seem to feel the need to voice it verbally makes me wonder if perhaps it isn't me but yourself you're trying to convince." He took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. His next words were so soft that Valentin would have had to exert himself to have heard them "From my perspective, the idea of being someone else for other people seems to be all you appear to think you have left. Isn't that why you keep claiming to be trying to live for others and granting their wishes without any supposed real wish of your own?" His smile was sad. "In my eyes, you are a bird who grew up in a gilded cage with an open door. You believe and claim you are free because the door is open, but because you've never known the world outside the cage, you have never made the decision to leave it. Particularly because you are quite comfortable where you are, being fawned and fussed over by anyone whose eye you catch."

Valentin's statement that he 'experienced the feelings of others acutely, as if they were his own' really did cause Ginyami to roll his eyes, but as they were still hidden behind closed eye-lids, it was difficult to tell. How like the Durmstrang student to be confident enough to speak the statement as if he whole-heartedly and quite arrogantly believe it to be the truth. As if he could possibly understand the full spectrum of emotions Ginyami was going through right then or why. As if he could understand anyone's. At this point, the dark-eyed teen was skeptical that Valentin even understood his own.

He 'couldn't keep himself away from peoples' wishes without hurting himself?' How did that make sense to him in his mind? Well, it seemed there was little point in questioning it, especially with how difficult it was to try to change a person's mind once it was made up about something. The more one tried, the harder their pride usually pressured them not to budge and to remain stubborn out of spite if nothing else. Oh well. That had next to nothing to do with his plans, anyway. He would allow Valentin to be as figurative, flowery, poetic, idealistic, and self-righteous as he liked about whatever he wanted to preach or fool himself with, because in the end, all those were were just pretty words that couldn't be proven. It was only when the seeker tried to base his arguments in any kind of logic, reason, and facts that Ginyami felt like engaging. Talking about 'feelings becoming his' and wanting to 'create something greater for everyone' was nice and all, but it seemed silly to attempt to contest such things when they could never be either proven or disproven and were thus entirely subjective.

Ah - there was one. "...Why do you believe you 'have to try' to help Sara and I?" he asked, opening his eyes again at last. "Very well; how about I tell you directly and outright that your attempts to help us are not welcome? I am curious to see if that truly will, in any way, deter you."

A small, derisive smile curved his lips yet again. "It was not your failure, ironically, that revealed to me that I needed to give you up. It was your 'trying'. The fact that, despite what I had believed when we kissed, you were still attempting to go after the same thing; the same person. That you had not yet given up on him became abundantly clear to me the more time I spent with you two. It was painful to watch, but I did so until I was certain enough that I knew I had no chance. I had to be certain of that if I was going to give you up...especially due to what giving you up cost me along with my pride." He turned a disappointed look on Valentin.

"Whatever you may believe, Schnell, you were not, in fact, ready to 'give me everything', because I tested that time and time again. Or, perhaps, it is simply that your idea of 'giving me everything' is different than mine. But if anyone was 'discarded' in whatever we had between you and I, as I said similarly before, it was you who discarded me first. Whatever the case, we turned out to be incompatible. And you can only imagine what it was like for me once I realized that, as you said, my act of giving you up for your own sake had yielded no results."

His thin brows narrowed. "I'm not about to let that sacrifice of mine go to waste simply because you're too blind to see what was right in front of you all along and that you're too stubborn to accept it for what it is." Well...no. Perhaps he was being a bit unfair, there. Valentin might have had his own set of sins, shortcomings, and flaws, but not attempting to go after that which he sought could not be said to be one of them. It was things like the seeker's limited perspective of the situation and his methods of going about trying to achieve his goals.

"What if I told you that you didn't need to 'force your will on others' to win you your oh-so-coveted 'true love'?" he asked. "If you mean to try to hold me accountable for my wish, you would have to do the same for yourself as well, would you not? It would only be fair.""

Ginyami frowned, looking disappointed again. "Schnell...this is not about me. You are the one pining after love, not I. Leave what I have with Sara alone." He raised his hand to study his perfectly-manicured nails. "If you refuse to try to manipulate others to achieve your own ends, then I suppose I shall have to show you how it's done and why. Manipulation is a useful tool that may not always be used in the context of what you seem to believe."

""For example...one can be manipulated into thinking they love someone, yes. But in that same vein...one can also be manipulated into discovering that what they thought was love was actually the effects of amortentia." He shrugged. "Manipulation - or even just tools in general - don't have to be direct in their use in order to be useful. Just as, even if you yourself don't directly utilize manipulation to get what you want...I doubt you'll complain if I do it in your stead. Especially if I end up achieving the results you've been supposedly 'trying and failing for years'."

The music swelled to crescendo between the two teenagers, various aspects growing and rising, and crashing together before being forced apart once more just as the dancers the music moved were brought together and forced apart time and time again. When the melody ceased at the correct interval, Ginyami found himself standing face-to-face with Gellert and wasted little time in, after ascertaining that they were standing beneath a particular bundle of leaves and berries, moved in for the kiss that mistletoe modern tradition tended to demand.

After being astonished and impressed with Gellert's accommodating response to his behavior and unexpected fortitude, Ginyami had been too preoccupied to notice the wordless spell that the blond Beauxbatons youth had sent his way - at least until his classmate, Sara, had moved to try to protect him from it by using his own body as a shield. Some other foreign teenager who appeared to be around their same age had maneuvered in turn to try to protect Sara with his own body, but as little as Ginyami liked the mystery behind that boy or why he had behaved as such, he was more concerned with Sara.

Sara might not have been magically harmed by the French teen's spell, but it seemed he had been impacted by Ginyami's choice to kiss Gellert just as much if not more than Valentin had. However, unlike Valentin, Sara had not seemed to view anything positive about the kiss whatsoever. It appeared to horribly distress Ginyami that his classmate and boyfriend had witnessed the kiss at all; as if he had forgotten there was just as much chance that Sara might have been watching them as Valentin.

Though he tried to get Sara to talk to him, he began to panic internally when he discovered he wasn't able to get Sara to look at him. Ginyami was usually so confident at being able to get through to people and convince them of what he wanted them to be convinced of. But this time...for the first time, he actually began to doubt himself. If he couldn't even get his childhood friend to look at him, how could he possibly hope to get him to listen to him? And to reason with someone was one thing, but...if you couldn't reason with someone, how were you supposed to undo the damage that a single snapshot of an instant, worth a thousand words, had done?

It wasn't until Sara released the redhead that Ginyami realized he'd had his hand on him at all. Wait...why had he been touching that boy? And speaking to him? He could hardly stand to have Ginyami close to him; hadn't even let him kiss him even after practically a month of dating. Yet he was perfectly comfortable taking the initiative to put his own hand on someone else's shoulder and talking to him? That complete stranger? To anyone else, the behavior might have seemed threatening, but Ginyami liked to think by then that he could recognize tenderness in Sara's actions in stark contrast to the violent behavior of the beater's protective bat-swinging during quidditch. No...he didn't like the way Sara had focused his attention on that Hogwarts student at all. But he had to focus and deal with one issue at a time if he wanted to have any hope of resolving them.

Unfortunately by then, it was too late. Too much time had passed during which many were trying to process the confusion of what had happened when the music started up again, heartlessly throwing them into physical, mental, and emotional disarray without a chance for reprieve. The Japanese student might have wanted to go to Sara regardless once the music stopped, but the clear distress the girl before him was in caught his eye. Ginyami guessed his and Gellert's kiss might have caused some chaos and confusion, but he did not anticipate just how much and could not believe what unfolded as a result.

At first, he was distracted and thrown entirely for a loop when the dance led him to a blonde young lady who was very evidently quite upset. He might have expected his actions to have upset people, certainly, but he didn't even know this girl. Perhaps she knew Gellert? But no, if that were the case, then she might have shown him more scorn, not apologized. Surely her distress didn't have anything to do with him, did it?

"Miss Bohannon," he began, hesitantly reaching out a hand as if to try to comfort her, but not entirely certain what to do, especially because he wasn't certain why she must have been crying in the first place. Not to mention his own emotional turmoil after having noticed Sara so obviously and undeniably turn away from him. "Please, no need to apologize. Are you...that is...what's the matter?" He reached into one of his kimono sleeves to offer her a handkerchief instead of his hand to shake.

He followed her gaze upward to the little white berries above them, but smiled grimly before turning back to her. "Oh, no...please, don't worry about it. We don't have to do anything if you'd rather we not. And...it doesn't seem as though you wish to at the moment." She was calling it a leaf and glorified lettuce, but he was surprised she knew enough to mention that it was poisonous.

Unfortunately, the following moment, they were interrupted.

If Ginyami hadn't been so distracted by the crying blonde Hogwarts girl, he might have seen Valentin end up with Sara under their own bunch of mistletoe, but he had not. Furthermore, he hadn't had time to register the seeker's words to the beater or his behavior as he manhandled his Japanese peer, dragged him around like an insistent, petulant toddler, and made demands of a quidditch player he held no authority over. The spoiled brat of an only child only seemed to think of himself as he told Sara, sentence after sentence, what he wanted without any seeming regard whatsoever for what the Mahoutokoro beater wanted. Perhaps he was too used to getting his own way with his own team, but Ginyami was having none of it there. Not with Sara, his boyfriend. Not under his watch.

There wasn't even a sign of smoke before a blaze of fury roared to life within the furnace of the keeper's emotional mentality. How dare he? How DARE Valentin?! Perhaps the drama and spectacle were not showy enough to meet the Tatar's standards any longer, but they were more than enough for Ginyami. He was not going to stand for the pampered, self-perceived prince's deranged, repugnant proclivities beyond that point. Even disregarding absolutely everything else, one truth thundered at the forefront of Ginyami's mind: Sara was his. HIS and HIS ALONE. Valentin was fortunate enough that Ginyami had concerned himself enough with social etiquette to acknowledge that it would have been...odd to have protested against allowing others to look at Sara.

But just who did Valentin think he was to touch him? And without Sara's permission, no less? Not to mention grab him, drag him, and make completely unreasonable, unhinged demands of him for no apparent reason whatsoever other than to disrupt the already-tenuous peace amidst the deranged atmosphere. And, quite possibly, to satisfy his own deluded, sick, twisted, whims. And for Ginyami to have thought that of Valentin - Ginyami, who had believed he was quite aware of just how sick and twisted he himself had become - it just went to show how completely out of his mind the albino seeker seemed to have become at that point in time. Was it a case of temporary insanity?

Despite his blinding rage, Ginyami struggled still to try to make sense of what was happening. ...Was this Valentin's game? To turn Sara against him? Using Sara, Sara, his boyfriend - his property? No physical nor magical pain Ginyami could manage to inflict would have been enough to pay the Durmstrang student back for his sheer, shameless act of thinking he could do all this and get away with it scot-free. There would be hell to pay, as it was said. Though he had no estimate for when it would happen...the kimono-wearing teen would make certain of that. The betrayal in the amethyst chips that bored into him would be nothing compared to what he would inspire in the future. If Valentin's gaze hinted at anger, Ginyami's roared with it.

Regardless of the cause, Ginyami was not going to be forgiving the series of unaccountable actions any time soon...if he was ever able to even forgive them at all. He even felt some degree of sympathy toward Gellert of all people as - rather unfairly, the Japanese student thought - Valentin turned his ire on him. Ginyami had been just as much a participant of the kiss between him and Gellert as Gellert had. In fact, he would probably have been considered more at fault since he was the one who had leaned in and initiated the kiss first without even asking. And yet...somehow, despite everything Ginyami had said and done that night - everything that should have proven to everyone present in their group that the fox-eyed student was doing his absolute best to play the part of an antagonist and villain by taking both intentional and unintentional actions - the daredevil albino decided to flip the script.

Despite all evidence to the contrary, Valentin was, somehow, making Ginyami out to be the victim of the entire situation with his words to Gellert, a notion Ginyami was almost absolutely certain by then that no one of sound mind could have possibly been convinced of going solely off the events of that mistletoe-filled evening. Gellert, who Valentin had encouraged to attend his game while checking him out, smirking, and winking not thirty minutes before. Perhaps not even ten.

And then there was the use of 'my' dear Ginyami. Ohhh...how that did make the Japanese pureblood heir's blood fester and boil in his veins. He burned inside and out with such an incandescent wrath at that point that he couldn't even speak for several long, painful, scorching minutes. By the time he was actually able to find his voice again, Valentin had just finished his demented lecture to Gellert with a most unsettling demand that he 'stop screwing around' if his aim was to 'abduct him'. Did he sincerely just insist that Gellert abduct him? Could it even be considered 'abduction' still if the target was so insistent on being taken?

He shook his head, refusing to allow himself to fall prey to confusion just then. His goal at that very moment was not to decipher the inner workings of a mad youth. His goal was to get Sara away from said youth. He could deal with Valentin himself later.

But Sara was staring down at the mistletoe that Valentin had placed in his hand. What could have possibly been going on in that head of his? It wasn't until the quidditch captain had finished his speech to Gellert that Sara appeared to decide to drop the sprig in his hand to the ground. It was Sara's body language itself, though, that alarmed Ginyami. The beater was often still, but even as anxious as he generally was, his body was rarely so taut with tension as it was just then. He was quiet, which, again, to someone who barely knew him, wouldn't have been any different from usual. But Ginyami recognized the overall difference in his demeanor. One kind of quiet differed drastically from another with the shy muggle-born. And this was not a normal one.

Even though he'd dropped the mistletoe, Sara continued to stare at it, even when his lips finally parted to utter a single word. His classmate strained to hear it and any others that might have surrounded or followed after, spoken or unspoken. But it was the nature of the voice that spoke the syllable rather than the single-syllable word itself that made Ginyami's heart drop into his stomach a knot form in his throat. It was the most precise indication he'd had of what kind of mental state Sara was in of all the verbal and non-verbal signs he'd been trying to read thus far and Ginyami was appalled by what it said. So much, in fact, that he couldn't even say anything in response or do so much as move once his classmate finally got out the rest of his message before walking off the brown and golden checkerboard of a dance floor.

For a few seconds, Ginyami could only stare after him, paralyzed by his own emotions and a single, repeating question that kept echoing in his head, over and over - What have I done?

Then, without thinking much else, he began to walk and then jog after his boyfriend, eager to catch up with him; to get him to look at him once again.

HP: 1100/1100
Stats: STA 11 / EVA 12 / STR 5 / WIS 8 / ARC 6 / ACC 19
Abilities: Charmer / Fearless / Foulplay / Evasive Maneuvers / Evasive Maneuvers II / Impartial
Action: Attempting to comfort Haven, tell off Valentin, mentally note to get vengeance on Enzo later, and go after Sara, leaving the event and thread.
Interacting with: Sara Kohana (@Hanako Tone), Valentine Schnell (@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood), Enzo Delcroix (@Akari Kato), @Haven Bohannon, & Gellert Schroeder (@Tristan Theramin)

Date: 2 August 2024 Mentioning/Interaction: @Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood as Valentin Schnell @Jack Burnett as Ginyami Midorimori Location: London Quidditch Stadium Outfit/Appearance: Black turtleneck/Leather pants and jacket; Silver hair, blue eyes, and sharp cheekbones. 6ft 1in (185.42 Centimeters) Languages: German English Russian French Age: 15

xxxxx

As it is written, so it shall be

𝕸𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖑𝖊𝖙𝖔𝖊 Spin

xxxxxThe mutual hatred and passion with which they kissed stung Gellert’s lips. It seemed that Ginyami also had similar ideas the moment he saw the mistletoe upon them both. Gellert witnessed what seemed to be a change in the Japanese creature in front of him, a change he had deep down wished to see. Perhaps in some strange sense, he had wanted to impress this fellow suitor, to have camaraderie with the other, to show that Gellert also would endure whatever pain he must to its bitter end. This change was confirmed by words that were superficial only on the surface but displayed a change in respect.

xxxxxGinyami commented “You kiss well...for a gaijin,” while wiping his lips upon the kimono sleeves he was waiting. Gellert narrowed his eyes slightly as he recognised the gesture as beyond just a compliment for kissing, no this person in front of him was far more daring than that. He replied with a smirk, “Hmm, perhaps I should thank you, Midorimori san. After all…”Gellert trailed off gesturing slightly towards Valentin. However, soon enough the conversation was interrupted by the flurry of attacks and sacrifices that seemed to occur in the spur of the moment. Ginyami swept off to speak to his boyfriend and although Gellert could not hear what was happening, he assumed it was to make sure the other Japanese young man was hale. Gellert was however shocked at himself in a way. He would never have expected that he would be willing to kiss another with such passion and power without actually having emotional feelings towards them. There was nothing that suggested that this was the way it would have happened, but it is indeed exactly the way it happened.

xxxxxThere was a moment of peace in the panic as he realised that although he had spent the last sixth months in abject dream world, now the reality had caught up with him. He did not know Valentin. He had seen Valentin twice over. The past sixth months, this was not enough to be even counted for a friendship. Truth be told, perhaps Gellert had truly gone crazed with what he thought was love, but it was infatuation, there was no doubt that this was not how one should find the One. There was no reason to believe he was the One for Valentin either. They could not even know yet. Gellert realised his melodramatic nature in that moment and decided that no more would he allow himself to become like a character in play such as he had been for the past six months.

xxxxxHow could Gellert even know what love is or attraction is at two days in total. He remembers from before hand, before he met Len, that he had not even understood what attraction was.

xxxxxAs his mind went on this path, Len’s voice rang out, “Gellert Schroeder, is this your idea of unifying with ‘the One,’ or was everything you told me of your supposed dream just manipulative demagoguing meant to seduce? You just said you wanted to build an enduring bond, but how do you expect that to happen by subjecting my dear Ginyami to such nonsense? Do you take me for a fool? Tell me now that Ginyami is your One and that you were mistaken about me if you want. Either way, I sincerely doubt such a game or capricious bender would ever suffice to make Ginyami’s dream come true, so I would be forced to stand against you.If your crazed love is really so dangerous, then for Stribog’s sake, be consistent and point it at me. Or what, are you not going to make good on your words of ‘choosing me as yours’ either? Prove to me that you give a damn about your dream, Gellert, or there’s nothing more I can do for you. If your aim is to simply abduct me, then stop screwing around.”

xxxxxGellert replied “I have already chosen and so have many of the people here it seems. Perhaps some had chosen you once upon a time. It’s time for you to choose, Valentin Schnell. There are many who would choose you, yet now it’s your turn. You can not fulfill everyone’s wishes no matter how hard you try. It is the same with love. It is only fair that you must choose. There is nothing any of your suitors can do, until you choose. I cannot do anything either. I will be leaving now unless someone stops me and you can come find me afterwards if you have chosen me, ” Gellert could deduce that many had chosen Len like he did but Valentin had perhaps never chose back. Many then had conceded and moved on. Perhaps that would be his fate as well, and perhaps that would be for the best. Gellert and Valentin had been a supernova and a supernova never lasts, bright and powerful yet quick. No, they would burn the hearts out of each other, they would turn each other into flames that were the worst versions of each other. The fire would burn brightly, as brightly as the love stories of old, but in the same way they would end in tragedy as star-crossed people, forever destined to destroy one another. They would be great burning stars across time and space forever destined to create passionate monsters of themselves, forever entwined only in each other, willing to hurt anybody else, perhaps even being indifferent to everybody else.

xxxxxThere is no quick answer to love and there is no quick answer to truth. This was an oscillation of 180 degrees, changing his dedication of supposed infatuation to utter coldness, and what seemed to Gellert logical action. There was a strange dichotomy within Gellert and it was showing, this strange unstable mind that was more likely to copy the people around him and believe in it fully, than having his own stable thoughts. It was a clear change to his personality, enough that perhaps Valentin would be shocked at how different he was. It was not that this was not his true self, nor that the person he was in January was not his true self, but rather that different aspects of his self was being displayed. There was a sudden coldness and machine like quality to him, this was the part of him that was interested in the Dark Arts, that was able to truly wish harm upon another, in order to cast that Jinx or Hex, or one day a curse.

Note

Stamina: 10 Evasion: 10 Strength: 10 Wisdom: 10 ArcPower:10 Accuracy:10
Evasive Maneuvers Advanced Casting Cat's Grace Charmer Nonverbal Casting

Action
Leaving dance floor after people’s reaction unless stopped/stepping out of the way of the candle.

English | Parseltongue
interacting: Enzo Delcroix @Akari Kato

The boy introduced himself as Enzo—Della could hear a hint of that French accent. She hoped he understood her intention. At first, he was only eyeing her—was it out of confusion, or did he understand the proposition and was evaluating her? How would she stack up? Surely, he had a few French options at home—and maybe she wasn't worthy of a kiss.

But then, without another word, he leaned in. At first, he merely touched his lips to hers, causing Della to sharply intake her breath in surprise. He smelled nice. And before she could catch her breath, the French boy grabbed her face and went for a type of kiss that was closer to his country's namesake. It was a careful kiss, not abrasive, sweet even. She leaned into him in response and followed his lead, heat flaring up in her cheeks beneath his hands.

As quickly as it happened, it was over. To punctuate the end of the kiss, the dance floor reactivated. Enzo told her to enjoy her evening as if they had only exchanged business cards or something. Della could only muster a "Bye!" as she was pulled away.

She found herself once more beneath the mistletoe, but no one else was with her. She took a moment to breathe. A lot had happened—a potentially life-altering interaction with a Russian and surely a tongue-altering interaction with a Frenchman. She already made plans to meet the former again, but should she seek out the latter?

Action: taking a breather under the mistletoe

Group 7

FINAL MODERATION POST

As per usual, the group atop the seventh dance-floor don't leave anything to be desired. Valentin Schnell summons the mistletoe from above him, while Enzo Delcroix freezes the candle above him, each with powerful spells. While three bodies are storming from the dance floor - Sara Kohana, Ginyami Midorimori, and Gellert Schroeder - others are staying to talk or dance, such as the clinically awkward Haven Bohannon, Hanako Tone, Kim Sato, Della Barfield, and Tone Bakugo.

The music has faded out, for good this time, and the enchanted instruments drift slowly to the ground. It seems that the event is over, officially, but will the dramatics continue? Only time will tell...

THE DANCE FLOOR HAS SPOKEN:
@Kim Sato and Valentin Schnell (@Aida Mòrsgor-Ama Ellwood) end up under a candle... that is dripping wax on them!
@Della Barfield and Tone Bakugo (@Kim Sato) end up under the mistletoe!
Enzo Delcroix (@Akari Kato) and @Haven Bohannon end up under the mistletoe!
@Hanako Tone and @Jack Burnett end up under the mistletoe!

For any questions or concerns, please owl the moderator of this event, @Aly Salinger.

This is the last "paired moderation" post, aka the last time you will be paired with a partner. The music has faded out and the event is technically over. Next Saturday, August 17, I will do one last moderation for any spells/actions that have been cast in this round, and that will be the end of moderations for this event, though you are welcome to continue RPing in this thread following that.

Removed from the Spin:
@Jacob Harman
If you have not posted in the last three rounds of the Spin, you have been removed from the event and were not matched with a partner for this final round. You are welcome to continue RPing as if you have been here, but you have simply been dancing on your own.

The sudden hand on his shoulder startled the somewhat jumpy redhead, especially when he had been bracing himself for an attack from the front instead of behind, but he didn't have time to look back as he watched the light surge from the wand before him. But it never reached him. In fact, it never reached anybody.

Jack closed his eyes in a silent moment of relief when the French teen's spell was successfully cast, but did not accurately hit anything or anyone. He hadn't really had any idea what said spell would have done, either, since it seemed the foreign student had learned the art of non-verbal spell-casting. Funny, since Jack had just been studying wandless spell-casting himself recently.

Upon hearing Sara ask the word 'why', Jack remembered the other student had his hand on his shoulder and turned his head to glance over it, sneering. "Why? Why don't you tell you tell me that? You're the one who jumped in front of someone to protect them from a spell they probably deserved, aren't you?" Still smirking, he raised a thick brow. "I was just countering that by jumping in front of someone to protect them from a spell they probably didn't deserve is all."

He felt the taller young man release his shoulder finally and he studied the rather alarming expression he had on his face. Though it certainly did seem alarming, Jack had seen enough faces conveying expressions of actually wanting to smash his face in to know there was a fundamental distinction between the others he had experienced in the past and the one in front of him now. The expressions were similar...but the demeanor the owners of those faces had were completely different. It was so strange how big a disconnect there seemed to be from the face the Japanese teen was making and the feeling that seemed to radiate from him and his body language.

He didn't have much time to study it, though, or even to ask about it when Sara's so-called boyfriend rushed to him. Taking a moment to watch the pair, he wondered if he could determine just how genuine Ginyami was, but eventually decided it was too tricky from just this one instance. He seemed like he was actually concerned about Sara, but he had also just kissed another boy in front of him, so who could really say? Regardless, it certainly wasn't Jack's place; that much he knew. So, going back to his original spot, he waited patiently for the magical dance to start up again and take him to his new location.

That was when he noticed Hanako's eyes on him. Turning his dormmate's way, he gave him a particularly cheery wave and smile, trying to counter the negativity that was indisputably directed his way. Now that was the face of someone who authentically wanted to smash his face in. Not that Jack thought he had good reason. Hanako had probably seen what had happened and gotten envious of Jack for having managed to end up with the disturbingly beautiful Japanese boy. Not to mention having tried to step in harm's way for his sake and then being acknowledged by him with his shoulder grasp. Jack wondered if such contact might have made even Hanako swoon. He made a face at the thought and put it out of his mind immediately. As if it even mattered in the first place.

After watching the drama unfold between the foreign students, Jack realized he had ended up with a foreign student himself. Said student seemed to have bleached hair and immediately left Jack as soon as the music had stopped in order to go toward the albino Durmstrang student. The redhead blinked perplexedly at them, confused, especially when he noticed that the bleach-haired Japanese boy reached out for something only to pull his hand back at the last second.

Then the boy looked upward. Then he looked down at the dance floor. Then he reached down to pick up a fallen mistletoe leaf before coming back over to Jack, who raised a brow at him.

"...Find what you were looking for, there?" he asked, chuckling lightly. "What was all that about?"

The bleach-haired teen then complained about the other players of the game, causing Jack to laugh even more. "'They'? The only person I saw grabbing mistletoe and trying to ruin other pairs was that Schnell guy. As far as this being that kind of game...what kind did you mean? A 'kissing' game?" His grin at the bleach blonde seemed to know no bounds. "Isn't that what it was all along? What the mistletoe and this whole event is all about?"

Jack didn't get how there were people who hadn't guessed the purpose of the game as soon as they saw the mistletoe hanging from above the dance floor. Then again, with a lot of the players in his particular group being what he had deduced were purebloods from their absurd clothing among other things, he supposed it was probably attributed to how ignorant they were of so many things. How sad it must have been to sign up for or have been signed up for things you didn't even understand the point of.

He turned from watching the others to focusing his gaze on the kid before him. The young man had decided to try to smile, but Jack wasn't sure if he was trying to fool him or himself more. Regardless, the Slytherin didn't like it. Especially after he had so obviously just made a show of his distress before quickly attempting to cover it up. And not very well, in Jack's opinion, either.

Still, he offered a smirk in response. "'Tone'? That's all? No last name? Or is that your last name?"

When he saw the mistletoe leaf and heard this Tone's proposal, Jack laughed harder, even, than before. "That's what you took that leaf for? To get a kiss?" he asked. "If it's drama you're after, there are plenty of other, better ways to incite that - especially at a kissing event where kissing is kind of the norm. I doubt you'll get a lot of mileage out of kissing me, especially when there's already been so much kissing going on already."

He looked back again at Sara, who had just stalked off the dance floor. Others soon followed after him - the one called Ginyami pursing Sara, while the silver-haired Durmstrang student called Gellert went his own way. Well, it seemed like the event was just about over anyway. The hour was getting late and people's bodies were undoubtedly fatigued by all the dancing they had done.

And that was when Jack noticed a blonde girl by herself. The Slytherin thought he had noticed a certain Mahoutokoro piece of shit offering her a handkerchief earlier before going to address the albino psycho from Durmstrang. However, once Sara had walked off, Ginyami had chased after him, leaving his partner alone on the dance floor like he'd forgotten her completely. Which, Jack guessed, he probably had.

He recalled having witnessed the young lady getting upset with Hana and, though he had been too busy to actually witness the act, he could bet he knew what had happened to cause her tears. He was too familiar with his dormmate by then not to know, especially after having noticed the mistletoe hanging above their heads. What right did that prick have to get angry with Jack for being courteous to Sara after Hana had been kissing some girl he didn't know? He couldn't have them all, however attracted he might have been to everyone. And he certainly had no right to go around breaking innocent hearts just because he could.

Worse yet was Jack had thought he'd seen the girl around Hogwarts before. In their year, no less. If Hanako had wanted to cause trouble for himself, he'd just hit the jackpot. Unlike the foreign students, the 'problem' of this distraught, broken-hearted Hogwarts student wasn't going away any time soon.

"Sorry, but I think I just noticed there's something I need to do more than kissing or casting spells," Jack told the boy who had called himself Tone, his gaze still on the lonely girl. Surely the kid in front of him could entertain himself if all he wanted to do was start drama. Jack felt somewhat obligated to put out the fires others' drama had been causing. His dormmate's, for one. "Hope you find someone more fun to kiss. And the drama you're looking for." That said, he walked over to the girl who appeared to be his own age.

"Hey," he told her gently with a raise of his hand in greeting. "I'm sorry about Tone. He's an ass. What exactly did he do that got you so upset, if you don't mind me asking? I'm sorry I didn't see - I got a little caught up in a situation earlier."

HP: 600/600
Stats: STA 6 / EVA 9 / STR 3 / WIS 20 / ARC 9 / ACC 9
Abilities: Prodigal Charms / Binding Mark / Perfectionist / Perfectionist II / Animagus
Action: Watching the drama unfold between Valentin, Sara, and Ginyami before glaring at Hana and going to talk to Haven
Interacting with: @Hanako Tone, Sara Kohana (@Hanako Tone), Hiro Bakugo (@Akari Kato), & @Haven Bohannon

Stamina: 12 | Evasion: 10 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 5 | Arcane Power: 8 | Accuracy: 10

Interacting with Ginyami, Valentin, Jack, and Enzo

Trying to keep some semblance of normal, Haven sniffled, attempting to put a smile on her face. As a Hufflepuff, that's what everyone expected of her- to be a smiling, happy face, even if she wasn't. And now, she definitely wasn't, which became all the more clear as she took the handkerchief she was handed, her eyes welling up with tears and her bottom lip quavering. It was probably stupid of her to be getting so upset over this, but she felt heartbroken. Hana had barely gotten to know her and made her the butt of some joke he had with the other guy or something.

She looked around, trying to find something, anything, to change the subject and make things better, but unfortunately, all she had found was the mistletoe. That stupid, stupid mistletoe, ruining everything. Luckily, her current partner didn't seem like he would spring a surprise prank kiss on her, so she didn't even need Valentin to steal the mistletoe like she offered him, though she did talk to a moment, before seeing people leave and realizing that she could just go. She had a moment before the music started up, she could escape. There was nothing holding her back.

Well, nothing except societal norms, she realized, as she was approached by someone else- not someone she knew by name, either, but she'd definitely seen him around before. So she found herself talking to him, and trying not to be too loud as she blew her nose with the handkerchief she had accidentally stolen from the previous boy.

"Oh, it's nothing, really," she lied to the boy, but her body language said that it was definitely not nothing. But in typical Haven fashion, it only took a moment before she started blabbing everything out. "It's so stupid- people who aren't in love kiss each other all the time! It should be fine, but it's not, and, and, and I had always thought that someone would want to kiss me because they love me, not because of some prank or something, but he definitely did not really want to kiss me, and I had waited so long for the perfect first kiss, and it could have been, but... am I that ugly? Could he really not stand to look at me? I think that'd be even worse than it being a prank. And... and it's all that stupid mistletoe's fault!" She exhaled a big breath, unable to stop the sobs that soon followed.

It took one kiss, and Hana had shattered Haven's confidence.

She buried her face in the handkerchief, trying to hide herself from the outside world. She should have left when the thing first started, right when she figured out this was a kissing thing. She should have known it wasn't going to end well. Really, she should have known it was a kissing thing. How stupid did she have to be to think that it'd simply be a group of kids spinning around and having a good time? The reality couldn't be further from that.

Haven turned, trying once more to leave, but just as she reached the edge, she felt her feet get swept up, carrying her away. Once she landed at her destination, it only took a few moments to scan the new boy's face before her heart sank.

No, no, no!

It was that boy that Hana had looked at, his co-conspirator, for certain. For all she knew, he was going to try to kiss her too, and make her the laughing stock of summer camp.

And one look up confirmed her fears. Mistletoe hung above them, taunting her, laughing at her tears. She'd rather have a sleepover with a troll than kiss this boy.

It seemed like everything was going wrong. It was her worst nightmare coming alive. Surely she had to be dreaming. But one pinch to her arm confirmed that she was, in fact, not sleeping, but the nightmare was still there.

Then there was only one logical conclusion left. If her nightmare was coming alive, then the boy in front of her had to be a boggart.

She pulled her wand out of her bag, pointing it at the boy and casting "Riddikulus!", but to no avail. The boy was not suddenly covered in an array of colorful party hats, nor did he have fun socks. He was still there, and Haven looked even more stupid. She'd fit right in at that troll sleepover.

Her breaths grew quicker as she started panicking. She hadn't even said anything to the boy, besides making sure he wasn't a boggart, and she was already fearing the worst. "You can't kiss me!" she stuttered out. No introduction needed for that.

Hands shaking, Haven aimed her wand again, this time for the mistletoe. That stupid spinach was ruining her life, and now she would make it pay. She wasn't typically one for revenge, but in this case, it was well-deserved.

"Incendio," she said, hoping to see the mistletoe go up in a ball of flames. And if the boy tried to kiss her, he'd be next in line.

Action
Casting Incendio at Mistletoe.