Secret Blossom Ball Event Finished

Starter | Mod One | Mod Two | Mod Three | Mod Four | Mod Five | Mod Six | Mod Seven | Conclusion

This is a Moderation Post

Winding Down

With the fire and the smoke gone, the only real chaos came from the numerous mosps infesting the pitch and the enormous snake that had been transfigured. Things between the students themselves seemed to be calming down. @Vladimir Athanatos took this momentary lapse of action to retrieve his bag, which was only missing a trio of dolls and a single softball-sized vial. The third year found his way over to Professor @Artemis Vernatis, who had just finished helping @Percival Gray with his wounds and instructed @Vincent d'Arque to escort him back to the castle. With the Charms professor's full attention on him, Vladimir explained his predicament - complaining of the students that had attacked him and his friends.

"....the fact that we saw anything was supposed to be a secret! They set my friend on fire, beat up my other good friend, robbed us...."

But Vlad's words seemed to confuse the man more than anything. Professor Vernatis demanded to know the secret that was being mentioned, and the names and motivation behind the students that had attacked him.

@Marion Davenport was still slightly hysterical as she went over to retrieve @Victor Moore's bag. @Ruka Tân relinquished his hold on the bag in favor of leaving the pitch entirely, and @Dealla Prince had already left to chase after Victor's enchanted body. This left @Nico Shymane on her broom, attempting to take the bag with her to the castle. In the minor struggle for possession, the young Dhampir came out on top. The bag was pulled to her chest as she maintained her balance on her broom.

"Marion, I'll bring it to Victor. The Professor enchanted him to walk him to the Great Hall. I'm going there aswell. It might take alot longer if you have to carry this all the way back to the Castle. I'll make sure he gets his bag. I assure you that. We all want Victor to be safe. Why else would we go to these lengths to do this, hm?" the redhead explained to Marion. The blonde had not gone running to a teacher yet, because she didn't have the bag.

In a different area of the pitch, a panicked boy @Aaron Jones was worried for his best friend @Lydia Cooper, who had just been stung by a mosp. @May Moonstar got to her first, attempting to aid the blue-haired girl, but also calling out to Professor @Kateri Karr when she got the chance. The professor came running, successfully casting a healing spell at the young girl's bleeding leg wound. The blood stopped pouring and Lydia's pain would go away as she regained 100 health. As the child got to her feet, she confessed her involvement in the organization of the ball. This confession was followed by that of Aaron, who wasn't going to let his friend go down alone. They were instructed by the professor to go to the Great Hall - not the Hospital Wing - and that's exactly what May and Lydia did. Aaron, meanwhile, would use his action to gather brooms from the entrance of the pitch.

@Anastasia Beckett had finally passed out from her injuries, so @Ivy Bellamy - the girl's doppelganger - decided to take it upon herself to try and transport her from the pitch. However, as she tried to get Anastasia to her feet, she found that it was too much for her little first year body to support. Anastasia was harshly dropped, taking another 50 damage as her burned body collapsed back onto the pitch.

@Bridget Collins and @Santario Martin - both safely mounted on a broom together - made a quick and easy escape from the pitch, rocketing towards the castle in search of help.

Nico Strength Roll: 13 vs Marion Strength Roll: 3
Kateri Wisdom Roll: 34 (to cast reparifors)
Ivy Strength Check: 6 (natural 1)

@Dealla Prince, @Ruka Tân, @Bridget Collins, @Santario Martin, @Lydia Cooper, @May Moonstar successfully exit the ball

The Swarm

Seventh mosp

@Lizzie Verdine once again grabbed a chair and swung it at the mosp. This time she connected, and dealt the mosp 70 damage. @Crystal Jagger tried to cast at the mosp, but her aim was astray and very narrowly missed hitting Lizzie herself. As the two girls were sorting themselves out, though, the mosp had seemingly lost its aggression as it took notice of the rest of the pitch.

Lizzie Accuracy Roll: 23 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 18
Crystal Accuracy Roll: 8 (natural 1) vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 15
Crystal Accuracy Roll: 10 vs Lizzie Evasion Roll: 12

Ninth mosp

@May Moonstar had aimed her wand at the mosp again (before she left the ball), attempting to blind it with a green sparks charm. Her successful cast disoriented the mosp enough to fall victim to @Rafael D'Spacito. The boy was enraged, and he launched himself at the mosp that had caused his date to scream. The weight of his body tackled the mosp to the ground, and he used all his strength to tear the wings from the creature. The creature was dealt 100 damage from the traumatic injury, and it died.

May Accuracy Roll: 11 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 8
Rafael Accuracy Roll: 20 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 18
Rafael Strength Check: 28 (to tear out wings)

Eleventh mosp

@Jack Burnett appeared at the side of @Flash Holmwood and @Willow Anderson, waving his torch to ward off the mosp. Not the smoke, but the fire seemed to deter the mosp and send it reeling back, straight into @Janet Jackson. The girl had come running onto the dance floor with her fist raised, and she launched herself at the mosp. Her punch successfully landed, sending the creature rocketing to the floor with surprising strength. It clung to life after taking another 250 damage from the surprisingly strong first year.

A spell was cast by @Thora Larkston, but it unfortunately missed the mosp target. Luckily for them all, though, the enormous snake made an appearance on the dance floor. It struck fast, enveloping the mosp in its mouth and crunching down on it. The mosp's stinger struck the inside of the snake's mouth, dealing it 92 damage, but it was nothing compared to the 207 damage the mosp took as it died and was swallowed. Flash now took the opportunity to heft Willow onto his back, free at last from the mosp that had terrorized them for so long.

Meanwhile, @Opeila Seilun was still on the ground nearby after being knocked back by Marion. She was panicking about the ball, and was still trying to recover her strength.

Janet Accuracy Roll: 25 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 11
Thora Accuracy Roll: 14 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 20
Snake Accuracy Roll: 16 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 4

Twelfth mosp

This mosp was in the middle of attacking @Katrina Walker, but a boy called @Adonis Thorn approached and aimed his wand. He successfully hit the mosp with a blindfolding spell, conjuring the cloth that would now make the mosp blind. Katrina herself had grabbed a chair, but her throw wasn't enough and it fell to the ground disappointingly. Initially agitated by its blindfolded predicament, the mosp flew up in circles, trying to shake the blindfold free of its head and eventually succeeding. Rather than dive back down to attack the boy that had cast, though, the mosp continued to go up in the air, soon joined by a few other mosps.

Adonis Accuracy Roll: 26 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 7
Katrina Accuracy Roll: 13 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 21

Sixteenth mosp

@Astrea Soleil Neptune took every precaution to retrieve her wand from the purple mosp's table. The mosp took notice of her, watching closely as the girl approached with knife in hand. It rose up slightly, avoiding being too close to Astrea. It was poised to attack if it was bothered, but she merely took the cherry wood from the table. As she stepped away, the mosp was about to resume its activities of messing with the flowers, but it seemed to notice something. Its proboscis flailed in the open air before it launched up higher.

Twenty-third mosp

From below, a comb was thrown at this mosp in an attempt to distract it. Despite the comb colliding with the creature, it did not turn its aggression on @Alexis Asterion. It didn't even turn back to attack @River Dewlight again. Instead, the mosp's proboscis flailed in the air, sensing the distress of its comrades and it began to fly higher.

Alexis Accuracy Roll: 24 vs Mosp Evasion Roll: 6

All Mosps Still Alive (7, 8, 12, 15, 16, 23)

At this point, the mosps were syncing with each other. They sensed defeat, especially with the sight of another comrade being swallowed by the giant white snake. In a hive state of mind, the mosps all rose together and fled. They were done with their chaos, determined to live another day. They had lost several comrades in the battle for the flowers, and the brief joy of the floral scents was not worth losing more. They headed back across the grounds, towards the Forbidden Forest which they had come from.

Conclusion

With the mosps gone, things were eerily quiet. No more buzzing of the wings or screams from being stung. There was talking and crying and moaning, of course, but the absence of the beasts was definitely noticeable. A glance around the pitch would reveal that they had not done much damage at all to the decorations - everything was still there: the beautiful floating candles, the amazing flower decorations and the nicely-tiled dance floor. Aside from a few thrown chairs and knocked over food tables (chaos actually caused by the students themselves), the only thing that really stood out was the dead mosp bodies littering the pitch.

Tracking Information

Rafael D'Spacito Health: 215/1000 Status: N/A	Wren Caster Health: 490/600 Status: N/A
Vladimir Athanatos Health: 605/1000 Status: N/A	Aurelia Notrésvace Health: -60/500 Status: Knocked Out
Victor Moore Health: -140/200 Status: Knocked Out	Anastasia Beckett Health: -190/500 Status: Knocked Out
Mildred Wilson Health: 294/400 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)	Adam Harringtom Health: 1044/1200 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)
Willow Anderson Health: 245/600 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)	Dale Kurt Health: 867/1000 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)
Katrina Walker Health: 424/600 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)	Jack Burnett Health: 360/500 Status: N/A
Lizzie Verdine Health: 460/500 Status: N/A	Tyranni Whitethorn Health: 774/900 Status: N/A
Amara Dragamior Health: 490/500 Status: N/A	Flash Holmwood Health: 246/700 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)
Thomas Lestrange Health: 800/800 Status: N/A	Percival Gray Health: 557/700 Status: N/A
Atlas Reid Health: 478/600 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)	Santario Martin Health: 312/500 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA), Concussed
Crystal Jagger Health: 430/500 Status: N/A	Charlie Woodward Health: 1135/1200 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)
River Dewlight Health: 566/700 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)	Wyatt Starkey Health: 400/400 Status: N/A
Vincent d'Arque Health: 430/500 Status: N/A	Astrea Soleil Neptune Health: 350/500 Status: N/A
Marion Davenport Health: 50/200 Status: N/A	Dan Palmer Health: 740/800 Status: N/A
Ivy Bellamy Health: 537/600 Status: N/A	Lydia Cooper Health: 462/500 Status: N/A
Opeila Seilun Health: 300/500 Status: N/A	Piérre Marchonné Health: 188/300 Status: Stung (-1 ACC/EVA)

Note: This is the final moderation post. All combat between mosps and characters has ended, so all (non-combative) actions are free. Please use this final round to gather your friends, talk, and exit the pitch.

Thank you all so much for posting and allowing me to moderate this event! It was an honor to be given this position, and I want to shout out my fellow moderators @Pericles Dralt and @Lydia Cooper. Thank you as well to @Opeila Seilun, @Atlas Reid and @Sean Hearth for helping to organize the event in the first place. Another round of thanks to @Solomon Lear, @Hjørdis Jensen, @Alaric Equinox, and @Caradoc Browne (as well as the entire HiO staff) for their major help behind the scenes and support of us. And of course, another thank you to everyone who posted here and in other areas of the ball. I really hope everyone had fun!

With Willow having climbed up onto his back, he wrapped his good arm around her good leg. Her arms would have to do some of the work of keeping herself up there, but she was enough of a spry little kid that clinging to his back was a task she was prepared for the challenge of. It wasn’t like this was the first time he had been her chariot.

It seemed at that point, only after he had been stung, did it seem everyone came out of nowhere at once. Rafael destroyed the mosp attacking Lydia with his bare hands, and both Burnett and Thora came over to try to keep the mosp from tailing the even easier target that Flash had become. The mystery girl’s punch seemed plenty powerful, but even more of a shock was a large, brilliant snake slithering by and snatching the thing between its jaws. Was it conjured? Transfigured? There was too much going on at once to honestly pause and consider his savior’s origin.

For one, Opeila never joined his side. Though the smoke was dissipating, he was drawn to the sound of Opeila’s hacking lungs. Flash’s eyes passed over the scene for anything that was left to be an obstacle. Selim was gone, most people were gone, Vladimir was talking to a teacher with his bag in his hands, Marion was arguing with Nico, who had Victor’s bag on her broom. Opeila was on the ground, struggling to breathe or stand, but still conscious. Flash went over to her, struggling to kneel and reach down for her hand with his free bad arm, squeezing her fingers gently.

”Come on, Opeila. You can lean on me, I’ll support you.” Flash briefly looked around him to anyone that was paying attention. "Let's all go."

They all needed to get out of there, the mosps were flying away and most of them were badly injured. Rafael, Lydia, Burnett, Willow and Opeila had all been roughed up, and Flash didn’t even know hardly anything about the damage beyond the dance floor. He sort’ve didn’t want to know, it could only be bad. Thora herself seemed to have no more business left, with the interrogation of Vladimir having long been a bust, and the bags having found their fates. He was also certain that both that, and the mystery of the snake, would be cleared up quickly enough. This was probably going to continue to be a popular topic of discussion for the new few months to come.

As long as Opeila was able to stand, he would hold her hand as long as she needed it. If not, he would ask someone to help them. Either way, he really wanted to lie down.

Interacting with: @Willow Anderson @Opeila Seilun
Mentioning:

Reducio

@Jack Burnett, @Thora Larkston, Rafael D'Spacito, Lydia Cooper, Janet Jackson, Nico Shymane

Previous posts:

Reducio

Pre-ball, Entrance, Recon, Asked to dance, Spots Vlad on dance floor, Dancing with Ruka, Talking to Ruka, Lamenting, Executing plan, Running to Willow, Talking to Vlad, Hugging Willow, Double Kick is Super Effective, Flinging Spells and Dodging Mosps, Holding Willow’s hand, Getting stung

Open to Interaction
I'll continue to post if anyone wants to follow/ help/ talk to Flash on the way out

The moment the professor turned at his question, Vincent knew he once again had taken the poorest possible decision by sticking around and asking if he could be of any help. Even though professor Vernatis remained calm and polite, he knew that was not an accurate display of the man’s true thoughts about him appearing him. The sigh preceding his answer was a dead giveaway, but even if the vibe it conjured had been missed by its receiver, the vibe the answer itself sent out could not be misunderstood. Though courteous and innocent in words, as befits a professor, its tenor and obvious message left nothing to the imagination. Vincent undoubtedly felt the unspoken dissatisfaction and annoyance the professor apparently felt towards his presence, making him feel rather uncomfortable about this intricately wrapped reprimand. Although he urgently felt the need to explain and defends his decisions, he forced himself not to, knowing the professor actually had a point.

“I guess I had that coming.” Vincent thought, standing amidst the chaos like a marble statue, his guilty gaze turned to the ground. His persisting presence at this party would most certainly have consequences. Vincent felt a blush spread out from his neck to his cheeks as he looked up at the professor, all too aware of the silly mistakes he had made after – well – after the chaos had started. He should consider himself lucky not to be injured more seriously, the bruises he had sustained from falling off the broom and flat on the pitch would be gone in a few days. Which was probably more than could be said from the emotional scars. Well, he would have to take his punishment like a man, both physical and mental, but there’s a time for everything and this was not the time for said punishment. He had a much more pressing matter to deal with, which was getting out of here. Fast.

“I will try to do that, professor.” He obediently replied to the professor’s suggestion to be a crutch for the boy whose wounds he had tended just now. There was no point in opposing such an obvious, logical and wise action. But then he hesitated. Something the professor had said had piqued his interest. The mosps and whatever other dangers they had managed to create this night. They? Vincent felt the blood drain from his face. THEY? It was the students themselves that were responsible for the flying creatures he assumed were the so-called mosps? But how? And, even more important, why? He violently shook his head, this had to wait for now, his first priority now was to get the boy and himself out into safety. Preferably without any other obstacles and problems. A grim smile appeared on his face as he stiffly turned towards the boy, who didn’t look too well despite being treated by professor Artemis. Vincent was determined to at least this task to a success, another failure was no option. He held out his hand as he leaned forward to allow the boy to grab it were he to accept the help. “If you can grab my hand I’ll pull you on your feet. You can then lean on me and I’ll guide you to the exit, to safety.” When the boy he tried to help would succeed they'd carefully shuffle to the castle where he could be treated further.

Action: Assisting @Percival Gray in getting to the castle to get more medical treatment

That had to be just about the worst thing to ever happen to Wyatt. Well, actually, it definitely wasn’t, but at the moment it felt pretty humiliating, though he hated to admit it, even to himself. He hadn’t even came close to saving the blasted Percival Gray, the brat. Wyatt should’ve known better than to help him, even if it was Percival’s fault that his spell backfired.

Turns out though, Percival got help anyway, and from Vincent, which was great. Another thing Wyatt hated to admit to himself, that he even cared at all if Percival was fine. The bottom line here, a lot of admitting was going on and it was awful. As soon as he stopped dancing, ugh, he quickly looked around to see if anyone was dying.

There were tons of people who needed help, but they were getting it. A few professors had arrived, and that made the defeating of the mosps go a lot faster. One thing that worried Wyatt, though, was that he couldn’t see the girl who’d gotten stung. He hoped that meant she’d gotten help, but he couldn’t be too sure. Everything was too much of a mess right now.

Since it seemed things were becoming more fine, Wyatt ran out of there. He was lucky to have left unscathed. Right now, he needed a shower and a ton of rest. He grabbed a school broom and flew off.

_{Action: Getting the hell out of here. Leaving this godforsaken thread.
Mentioning: @Percival Gray, @Vincent d'Arque, and @Santario Martin .}

Interacting:


Mention:



Logan tightly gripped Elsian's hand as River took off to assist someone else. She didn't understand why people insisted on trying to be courageous when it seemed that most of them were just getting injured in return. She glanced over to Alexis and groaned whenever she also decided to play hero. What did the girl think was going to happen when she threw a comb at the large flying insect. Luckily it just ignored her and didn't think she was worth attacking.

What the Hufflepuff did noticed soon after was that everything was starting to calm down. The mosps seemed to understand that they were outnumbered and had formed a cluster above them before taking off, probably to the forbidden forest. The decorations, that had been beautiful before, were barely damaged. A few tables and chairs had been knocked over, but other than that it seemed that everything else was fairly similar to how it started.

Now that everything seemed calmer, Logan realized that the professors may start talking to students. This freaked Logan out, there was no way that she was getting in trouble. Her father would kill her if he found out that she wasn't following all of the school rules and could have, or did, get in trouble.

"We need to leave, like now," Logan hissed as she tugged on Elsian's hand. She didn't want him getting in trouble either and if one of them got caught, than the other one most likely would as well and she did not want that to happen.


Action: Trying to leave

The ball had devolved into pure chaos, and yet despite being shouldered into another girl and falling to the ground, the young Slytherin was blind to what was occurring. All plans had failed. She had failed. She was not worthy of her namesake Tyr, and would never be worthy of embodying the strength of Hel if she continued to fail such simple tasks. Standing up, she became numb to the events that were proceeding around her. As she glanced around, her ability to process what was taking place at the ball was non-existent. All she could feel was rage. Sorrow. Defeat.

Throughout her life, Tyranni had always been able to achieve her goals whether it be through coercion, luck, or some other innate ability to convince others to join her. It was something she used many times with her parents in order to get her way.

Wandering though the ball towards the exit, she faintly heard the other students. Apparently professors had shown up. Was Miss Jensen here? She glanced around but did not see her Head of House, likely for the best. The woman had become someone she looked up towards as inspiration. She reminded her of her own mother. Her strength apparent, what had been the final factor that had driven the girl to seek her house mothers approval was her compassion for those in her care. The more she witnessed Miss Jensen around Hogwarts, the more she considered her to be like the goddess Frigg. In the stories her mother had told her before bed, Frigg was the Queen of Asgard, and was affiliated with motherhood. Although not her own children, she served as a step-mother to the god Tyr, the young girls namesake. This served as an accurate representation of the young Head of House in Tyranni's eyes.

Continuing to make her way to the exit, lost in her own thoughts, the girl would reach the doorway and attempt to leave the ball unless otherwise stopped. Heading back to her dorm, she hoped to get some rest, but was unsure if this was possible with the thoughts of failure plaguing her mind.

Action: Leaving the ball
Mentioning: @Hjørdis Jensen

Vladimir found Professor Vernatis, the Professor of Charms. The good man seemed clueless as the ravenclaw went on about the circumstances. They attacked his friends. They, being the aggregate motley crew of haphazardly assembled Slytherins with a smattering of Gryffindor and Hufflepuff with questionable competence and even less martial promise. Their actions predictable, even more than they considered as they walked into this trap.

"What do you mean that what you saw was supposed to be a secret? Who are they and why were they beating you and your friends up, damn near killing you, over a secret? What is this secret?"

All questions and this time the boy was full of answers. "I am Vladimir Athanatos, my friends are Marion Davenport and Victor Moore," he announced. Their names most of the explanation. Vladimir and the friends listed were the witnesses to Potter's crime - the murder of Dolores Umbridge. Their names stricken from the paper, the courts blacked out from the media. His as well as his friend's return to school came with a string attached - the confidentiality of their witness status. Was this secret kept from the Professors? No, of course not. Knowing a name without a face did nothing, for the most part Vladimir and his friends were unremarkable Hogwarts students. They went to class, kept to themselves for the most part and made little if any disruption. They were not the sort to make waves. The sort that were easy to overlook, forget that they were even in the same room. "That secret," he was not going to repeat what the Professor already knew.

His eyes flickered over towards Victor as his crispy form marched out of sight and then over to Marion. She was dealing with even more people trying to leave with Victor's bag. The girl was if nothing else incredibly stubborn and loyal. How she ever got Slytherin... Oh yes, that reason.

Enough distractions.

Vladimir would direct his finger in the direction of a few. Most he did not know by name but he did not need to. Those he knew the name of, such as Rafael would be the first he pointed out as an answer to another of the Professor's question. "Rafael," the Quidditch Captain for team Gryffindor "attacked me after shouting for Potterand then came at Mary, trying to steal Victor's bag that she was watching" he paraphrased. He did not add the part where he tried to set the bag on fire, it was like adding J-walking to a murder charge at this point. He pointed his finger towards some other members, Tyranni being another one. He did not know her name but his finger could pick out her form. "She attacked my friend Marion and tried to steal my friend Victor's bag that she was watching along with her." He pointed out Thora. "And her" Bridget Collins. He let out a sigh as he continued to identify their assailants. His finger would then point to another, this time a Hufflepuff girl. "This one tried to steal my bag," he shifted the bag slung over his shoulder. "Some boy in samurai armor stole some stuff from my bag," he added describing Selim rather distinctly with that single phrase "with the help of that one," he pointed at Flash. "Not sure who set Victor on fire," he continued. "But I saw the lot of them just let him burn," not that he was much help while he brawled with a few underclassmen. "Mary or Vic might know," he offered.

He was able to look the Professor in the eye. Tall for a youth his age. His gaze never averted, it did not need to. There was no lie. That was the best part, being able to testify under Verisatserum with conviction by ensuring the events seen and known were the events said. Submit his memory to a pensive even. "As for why," he took a few deep breaths. He wanted to look at least a bit troubled. Not too confident and calm, after all he was being attacked at all sides and seeking 'help.' There was just no need to look pathetic about it, he wanted the exude some confidence, some level of competence. It was necessary in the days to come. "Potter was well-loved. I represent an end to that. They are... paranoid with their conspiracy theories and their want to see the word through a very specific and limited lens. Proving I am a liar, that was was wrong... makes them feel less wronged." A reasonable-sounding 'guess'. He gave the Professor what appeared to be a tired or exasperated smile.

Marion was rebuked by Jack. No, she could not have Victor's belongings because he, Jack that is, was helping Victor. That Jack was the mysterious exception. The one Slytherin that was not trying to rob or threaten them. "Hecken no!" She did not know Jack or Ruka but she saw Jack near Thomas, Ruka gave Thomas a torch even. She did not know Nico, not really. She knew of Nico because she was a Prefect but that was really as far as that went. "You don't just get to decide that," that something was his. That he was welcomed. That he could or that she thought he should hold onto Victor's bag, Victor did not leave his bag in Jack's charge. In any of their charge.



Marion scrunched her face. No!



A voice only Marion could hear would repeat. But...I-- THEY!



Go and leave it to them. Leave it with Jack who had already run off to deal with a Mosp that was attacking a trio of students. Students she had seen. One was Vladimir's date.

'Marion, I'll bring it to Victor. The Professor enchanted him to walk him to the Great Hall. I'm going there aswell. It might take alot longer if you have to carry this all the way back to the Castle. I'll make sure he gets his bag. I assure you that. We all want Victor to be safe. Why else would we go to these lengths to do this, hm?'

Nico interjected, Marion found herself feeling frustrated and trapped. "Because... I don't trust you!" Marion shouted but her voice shook. Her nerves were on a knife's edge. "Coming to help now. Take the thing everyone else was taking! People were fine just letting him burn but you're all so interested in being good citizens now and want to bring him his stuff." Sarcasm dripped from her voice. She did not believe her. she did not believe them. she had no reason to. They had done nothing to prove a thing to her. Just take over. Push her out. Claim they had his best interests. Their best interests at heart. Bullpoop. She would not win as Nico forced the bag from Marion's grip, further solidifying the girl's intense distrust. Even if Nico was good on her word what would it prove at this point? Prove that she was a control freak (at kindest). Why rip away the bag in the first place? A bag that was not hers. Not entrusted to her. So SHE could carry it.



"Ermahgerd," she muttered. The mosps were leaving her be, the only good thing that happened this entire night. "Take the bag that is not yours. That you were not asked to watch because YOU wanted to take it. YOU decided it was best. Despite everyone else attacking us and stealing it, we should trust YOU because ripping it away from me did so much to prove to me that I should trust you." Her jaw quivered. It wasn't fair. Nothing was. Something she had to come to terms with.

Possession relinquished. Humbled yet again. Pride had done nothing for her. Nobody intended to let her maintain it. Where was Vladimir? She took a sharp, moist inhale through her nares. There he was. She would start crying and meander up behind him. he was talking, she was not even listening. her head was swimming, buzzing from all the noises and the events. She would bury her face into his back, that odd dark coat he so enjoyed wearing. It smelled like a machine. Her arms would reach to try to wrap around him as he started to cry into his back.

"You were right. They were so mean!" She sobbed although her voice was muffled. "And Vic is hurt real bad and they won't let me bring him his bag." She was referring to Nico and Jack and company but she did not say their names. "I just want to go hooome," she sobbed.

Marion would come at him from behind, her long spider-monkey arms wrapped around him she would start sobbing into his back. He was still trying to explain things to the Professor, she was not making that any easier even if it added some drama and passion to his calm and logical report. He was a Ravenclaw, so of course there was some semblance of order that was offset by the chaos that was Marion.

"So..." he shifted uncomfortably as Marion latched on. "Uh," his focus wavered slightly as he attempted to consider extensions to his report. "They have gotten the worst of it," he was referring to Victor and Marion who was rather obvious with the tearful introduction and Victor with his crispy exit. "Opeila from Slytherin just accepted my invitation to this ball," he did not mention that she organized it because there would be no need to and that was hardly the focus of his statements here. "Apparently her friends just wanted to give me a hard time," cruel school bullyism at his finest according to his report. Of course he knew that was going to happen. He picked the little first year for a reason. For a few reasons, most of which she would not even consider until it was too late. Her reaction was but one of the reasons. There were others also. He wondered what they actually made away with? The look on their faces was going to be priceless.

Vladimir would try to turn around, the jacket was thankfully water-proof but. "I apologize Professor," he wiggled around. "You're hurting me Marion, I am really bruised up from Rafael and his friends," he complained. Well he had a few but Marion had the might of a flaccid flobberworm, she wasn't going to be hurting anyone especially him. He tried to at least shift himself so that she was in front of him, an arm over her heaving shoulders. He needed to make some sort of show of this, if he meant it or not. A show that he was a concerned friend. A bullied student. A concerned citizen.

He would wait and see if the Charms Professor had anything else to ask. Anything to add. There was a lot going on, he did not need or want to take up too much of the Professor's 'precious' time. He just needed to plant a few seeds. Actions that he could easily prove. That they could not disprove because they were true. Have the Professor gain a curious interest perhaps in the bags, in the items stolen. Let the Ravenclaw boy have the final laugh and if the joke fails to find the punchline, then better luck next time.

"Marion really should get out of here. Maybe check on Victor in the Hospital Wing," he explained. "We are pretty banged up ourselves," he iterated the obvious. Marion was hardly standing with the little health the fragile teenage girl had remaining. As for him, he had plenty of fight left in him, but he did not need to admit that. "We should get looked at ourselves."

That much was true. The both of them needed to get looked at. Marion likely had a few broken bones not that it was obvious with these hysterics. She and Victor were pretty easy to hurt even when they are at their best. He would mutter something to Mary that if the Professor stained his ears he would be able to overhear. "I am so sorry. We will get them back I promise." This event taking place after she was cornered in the Owlry by LeStrange and several other Slytherins, she had a lot to feel anxious about. "Let's just get out of here before something else happens..."

She felt entirely useless. She was not able to hold onto Victor's bag, the simplest of tasks. she was not able to help him as he was burned alive. Not that most others even tried, a part of her even thought a few of the students enjoyed the sight. Her hand gripped onto the fabric of his jacket tightly and she bawled into his back. She was at a lost for what to do. She was afraid to return to her dorm, that was where they were. She was not going to return, she was going to likely stay in the hospital wing. The nice, safe hospital wing.

Vladimir tried to escape, well turn around. not that it took much effort to pull her around him to the front. She simply sobbed into his chest rather than shoulder blade. The crying did not make her better but it tired her out, wore down those frayed nerves. Ultimately after a short while the violent sobs would quell into a sniffle and the occasional tired cry.

The offer to go away. Away from here, where the fire was. Where the thieves and the scary people were was a welcome statement. The promise to see Victor made her stomach flip. She was not sure that she wanted to see him that way. Burned. In pain, if and when he woke up. There were already a few scenes in her life that she would much rather forget. But he needed them. She needed him and Vlad and Arlo... not that he was anywhere to be seen (deactivated account). Although perhaps it was for the best even if it made her heart sting a bit. She really liked him. But he was from a different world wasn't he? They would never be able to connect. He would never be able to understand and even if he could... he would regret it. It was selfish of her to think that she had any right to walk away. It was stupid to dismiss Vladimir's warnings.

"I am so sorry," she concluded with a sniffle as she wiped her eyes smearing the makeup than ran down the profile of her face even more than it always was with her bare forearm. "I just keep messing things up for everyone," a self depreciating laugh she relinquished her hold on Vladimir and tried to get some semblance of courage. The courage to walk on her own two feet. To be just a little bit brave.

She had heard a little bit about what Vladimir had said. She had not heard it all but she heard some. "I am Marion," she clutched onto Vladimir's arm. He was like a teddybear on a stormy night for her right now. "I am being harassed by a bunch of Slytherins." She knew their names and had no qualms sharing. "Thomas," maybe not their whole names but they were housemates. The boy had an acceptable wrapping but the boy was rotted on the inside. "Thora, Bridget, Tyranni, Persephone..." her voice trailed off. "Corned me in the Owlry, they blamed me for the spider attack in the common room. They took and read my letter back home, threatened to push me from the window," her voice was shaking. If Thomas was nearby creeping on Vladimir she would give him a long, angry stare as she rattled off those names. Her body was shaking also. "I am super scared of them," she added. "A-and then here, they were all about stealing Victor's bag,"/b] she stammered trying to make sense of things or at least give them some order. Vladimir had already pointed them out, but he did not share their names. The names would be similar. "Thora, Bridget and Tyranni. And... that really cute guy from," she was not an avid sports fan. She was the sort that would watch football to look at the cute guys run or the cheerleaders cheer. Yes, she thought girls were neat also not that she had any plans to pursue them. She shook violently as she gripped Vladimir's arm harder. "Gryffindor Quidditch boy."

She would look up at Vladimir and stop talking for a few seconds. "I--" her voice trailed off again. "I just wanna go home." Who could blame her?

Vladimir offered the hospital wing, a compromise at the very least. The place her head went to first, the place where the pain stops. Where the nurse is nice and gives her drinks that make it better for a little while. "I don't know if I can see him like that," she admitted. "Again." He was charred beyond recognition, she was afraid he might have already been dead even. "He should not have trusted her," she did not know who set him on fire but she blamed Wren Caster. She did not know the girls name but he recalled who he brought on a date. Who seemed to get let him burn. Who Victor had fought for minutes earlier. What a dang idiot.

Still she accepted the offer to leave. She wanted to go. She would nod in agreement.