14 Feb 2022, 21:29
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
14th of February, 2022
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Valentine's Day had finally arrived, a holiday that celebrated both the longing the heart felt for that special someone and the sweet offerings that accompanied the bittersweet experience that was romantic love. Though in recent years, the holiday had expanded its demographic and was now more inclusive of all different types of love. It was a wonderful excuse to remind those you love, no matter what kind of love that may be, just how important they are. It was also a great excuse to eat sweets and enjoy oneself, which was what three of Hogwart’s professors had in mind when they had hosted a Valentine’s tea party, and what better room to host it in than the arguably most romantic room in the castle?
Hogwart’s ballroom had always been grand, with its beautiful arched ceilings that were the home to several intricately designed chandeliers that dangled a family of beautiful crystals that almost seemed gilded in the way they reflected amber hues across the room. The professors had decorated the ornate carved stone walls and floors with an array of red, pink, and white roses. The theme carried throughout the ballroom, as an endless flow of flower petals seemed to dance and twirl through the air, only to land on the stone tiled floor and vanish.
Along the walls of the ballroom, dozens of white-clothed round tables had been set up for the students. The center of the table served as a home to a large of roses, varying in hues of red, and a pastry stand that held the sweets the students hard put their heart and souls into creating. Each table held between four to six place settings, complete with the occupants’ names. If the student had received any letters from their admirers, they would be piled next to the floral pattern plates.
The morning before the Tea Party, each student had received a letter requesting their presence. The letters were quite generic so aside from the student's name and table number, they each said the same thing:
Dear [Student's Name],
Your presence is requested at this year's Valentine's Tea Party. We will be serving a wide array of sweets that have been specially hand-crafted by a special someone, either romantic or platonic. The tea party will take place on February the 14th, at 18:00. The evening is certain to be full of fun and laughter.
A seat for you at TABLE ONE has been reserved. We hope to see you there.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿
| Table One was situated in the far left corner of the ballroom, just beneath the dancing light of a chandelier. It was one of the larger tables, holding the place cards for six different students, including the banshee-magnet/tsundere-supreme, @Nicholas McCowan, the former changeling who might have been even more terrifying now than in her changeling form, @Erin Ryan, the freckle-faced racing captain who always seemed to have romantic mishaps, @Opeila Winters, the half-giant known for splitting the heads of Englishmen, @Hugh Lowe, the ex-Quidditch star turned miracle forge worker, @Serena J. Towers, and the chirpy fifth-year chaser, @Rosie Parker. The six would hopefully spend their evening caught up in pleasant conversation. When the students arrived and found their place card, they would perhaps notice a surprise waiting for them. | ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━  ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ |
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RULES AND NOTES: ♡1. This is an official event, but threads will not be moderated unless necessary. Meaning that if students start to cast spells or physically attack someone, one of the professors participating will step in. If this is the case, the thread will be moderated as needed.
2. There will be additional surprises. Every few weeks a moderator will post in your thread to describe said 'surprise'. Surprises for each table may vary.
3. The site rules still apply. We understand things can get a little hectic, but please try to keep the site's rules and rating in mind. It is also important to keep in mind that there is a table full of professors at the event, so be mindful of IC rules.
4. The letters have been mixed up. As stated in the original sign-up form for this event, the letters that have been sent have been mixed up due to a mishap. There were also letters that the professors had to rewrite. A few can even be from faceless NPCs even. We are not trying to godmod players, the main point is to stir up some drama.
MOD NOTE: This is a reminder to please not meta-game. There is some information your character would have no way of knowing. It is fine to say your character knows X didn't write this letter to Y because your character has received a note/owl from them before and recognizes their handwriting, but your student has no way of knowing how exactly the letters were mixed up or who is to blame. They also would not know what is written in a letter without opening it. This is considered meta-gaming and we ask that you do not do this as it ruins the fun for others involved.
WHAT IS META-GAMING?
This is a term we use when writers use their real-life knowledge of a subject/situation and somehow allow their character to know without their character properly gaining the information. For example, you may know that a character is a werewolf because you read their biography/ency and somehow, despite never meeting said character, your character knows they are a werewolf.
Please note that this is just a general statement and we are not pointing fingers at any one individual.
│ │ | │ │ | STA: 10 • EVA: 15 • STR: 5 WIS: 20 • ARC: 10 • ACC: 20 | │ │ | • Calming Presence • Perfectionist • Evasive Maneuvers I & II • • Nonverbal Magic • Wandless Magic • Occlumency • Legilimency • | │ │ | │ │ |
14 Feb 2022, 21:48
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Erin did not have a sweetheart to send her baked goods to. Rather than find herself a love, she partook in the saccharine ritual and sent the sugary monstrosities to her dormmates. It seemed utterly pointless to show up for this luncheon... this tea... she was not entirely certain what this was supposed to be because frankly she was not paying attention. The teenager would eat and drink her fill of whatever it was that they had to offer, scowl at the happy couples and carry on with her Valentines Day. She had a full evening of crunches and push-ups planned. She found sociable clothes to be too itchy. She was wearing what she found comfortable, a pair of slacks and nothing particularly fuzzy or romantic. Nothing in soft, romantic hues but it was clean, pressed and fit a healthy, somewhat muscular form. A far cry from her state last fall, emaciated and grey with snarled hair and a sallow complexion.
Her table was going to have a familiar face, well torso at the very least. To date she was not entirely certain what @Hugh Lowe's face actually looked like. There was also @Serena Towers, she could have sworn the girl was older than a first year but by the height of her it would seem that her memory was still a bit fuzzy. She would not recall @Rosie Parker or the beating she had inflicted on the girl those years ago in the basement. Nor would she recall the allegation that the girl was a "midget giant" along with whatever nonsensical ramblings filled her addled mind at the time. Even if she could recall, she would not be 'sorry.' Nicholas, there was no memory to bind the two of them. A tad young for her, but symmetrical unbroken face so technically aesthetically pleasing she could reason. Little did she know Nicholas was claimed by a psychotic technicolored girl that would be seated on the other side of the room.
She would take a seat at the table, unsure of what to do next so she would watch the others wander to their tables. Her goal simple, to emulate their behavior to the happiness or potential dismay of those that shared the table.
Just a trick of the lighting they said...
14 Feb 2022, 22:52
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Hugh looked at the invitation one final time before crumpling it and throwing it over his shoulder. The ballroom looked nice, he could tell the professors had spent a great deal of effort in it. Whether things would still be standing by the end of this, that was another matter entirely. Hogwarts events ended up in disaster. And this time, love would be involved. The chaos he pictured had him smirking as he walked over to his table. There was going to be food, they promised. He'd be able to just sit quietly along the sideline and enjoy some sweets. It was live television, really.
His eyes fell onto the one person already sitting at the table. His hand reached for the invitation, but he damned himself for throwing it away just then. Did they mention anything on who was going to be sitting with you? He should have anticipated getting a seat next to… @Erin Ryan. Former hags '#1 fangirl', recent survivor of said hags and an absolute madness on two legs. The two of them never really spoke, they certainly hadn't after Samhain. He figured this was the time he'd find out just how much of the girl was left and how much of her hate was actually hers.
Hugh picked up on her outfit and felt sort of relived. He wasn't one to present himself all dolled up, either. The jumper he wore, as well as the plain trousers and shoes, gave more the impression he had just slumped out of bed and just happened to wander into the place. So in that aspect he wouldn't stand out too much. There was his height, of course. But from what he gathered, this was mostly a seated event. Which remedied the matter somewhat. With two large final steps, the part-giant made it to his spot and slowly sat down. Clearing his throat, he leaned back into his chair as he opened the first letter and started reading.
"Good day to you, Ryan. I assume you're feeli-" He stopped mid-sentence as he read the written text. It was signed off by the person sitting next to him. How, awkward. If this was her way of trying to show gratitude, he was scared for the others among their group that had tried to help her. He cleared his throat again and tried to make the time pass seamlessly. "-feeling better than before?" He added quickly as he offered a brief glance before rapidly turning his attention towards the second note.
This wasn't… any better. Serena had yet to make an appearance. But this felt ridiculous. As for the matter of the rat, she could forget it. He wasn't giving one crumb to that greasy hairball. Besides, the rat was likely getting fatter by the day already, the way she was always feeding him. Eventually he'd turn into the round pizza he was meant to be. Reality pulled him back as he realized he was still seated at a table with Erin. "Listen eh…" He began.
"I'm glad to see you're alive." He confirmed, as his eyes did check if she actually looked alive. There was a brief twinkle in his mind that made him believe he was currently dining with an undead nightmare. Aside from your regular nightmare of course.
INPC; Cassanora Browne
Race: Half-Giant // Ability: - STR: 16 EVA: 7 WIS: 10 STA: 20 ARC: 1 ACC: 7
14 Feb 2022, 23:35
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
So... why exactly was Opeila still going to those Valentine's day events? As hard as she thought, she couldn't find a good excuse so she had given up and settled on not thinking about that too much. The past two events had been a hot disaster. The first one, well, literally hot, since she at some point had been in the girl's lavatory, helping a crying Evelynn Decipio to cool her face after dear Persephone Barret had poured boiling tea over the Gryffindor. Oh, sweet first year... Times she would probably never miss.
Last year... right. The Flash and Jack mess that had ended up with Flash storming away crying and then her starting to cry too. What was she even hoping for? With her luck, she'd be seated at a table that was doomed to go down in flames again.
But apparently not? Or, at least not at first sight. In fact, she did know all the names but one and only with one of them she connected negative memories. Hugh and Nicholas were the two captains of the Gryffindor broom racing team (rivals), Serena was a Hufflepuff broom racer whom she had sketched for a secret santa errand two years ago (cool but intimidating) and Erin... Well, she enjoyed hitting people Thomas in the face and sitting down on top of children (crazy). The only unknown in the equation was that girl seated to her left, Rosie.
So Opeila found herself at a table mainly with people from higher years, except for Nicholas. And Hugh, but he was repeating the year, if she got that right. Hadn't he also been out of school for a while?
The third year arrived on time. She hadn't bothered to dress up much, the only extra was the jeans jacket she wore over a white t-shirt. Who knew Opeila well or had paid a bit of attention to her habits knew that usually she wore large sweaters after class and on the weekends. And jeans, of which she still had more than enough, despite already having used some for a crafting afternoon. Tonight she also had decided not to braid her hair like she usually had in the past months, but it fell wavy over her back and shoulders.
Opeila had walked through the ballroom slowly, checked the different tables, especially those where she spotted familiar faces. There was a bit of disappointment when she realized that she would not sit with Flash and Willow, but perhaps it was not a bad thing after all. Maybe she would get to know new people!
When she slowly approached the table where only Erin and Hugh were sitting so far, she caught a few words from their conversation.
"...glad to see you're alive." Hopefully that wouldn't be the mood of the evening. Quickly she checked the name tags on the table and spotted hers next to Hugh and the girl named Rosie. Feeling a little awkward, Opeila joined the two older students. "Hi", she greeted them, unsure what to say. Instead her eyes fell on the card in front of her that looked like it had... burn marks on it?
Hesitantly she picked it up and read it. Oh great... A love note. Well, what had she expected when joining a Valentine's event... The card was signed with 'Nick'. Coincidence or was it the Nicholas who was meant to sit across the table? Opeila put the card down again, trying not to feel to awkward about it and instead broke a piece off of one of the brownies and put it into her mouth.
The worst was that she suddenly had a bad feeling about being here at all. Of course she would never admit it, but the thought of her fiancée suddenly didn't let go of her again. It was stupid, wasn't it? As if Miles wouldn't go on like usual at Ilvermorny...
15 Feb 2022, 02:22
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Erin's eyes flickered with recognition when Hugh approached the table. She knew that one, well again that torso at the very least. Hell of a Redwood that one... The poor chair beneath his posterior would be tested on this day, load-bearing of how many kilograms was it? She could not be certain and perhaps it was her imagination that she had heard that unfortunate piece of furniture groan.
"Good day to you, Ryan. I assume you're feeli-"
"Lowe" She echoed as she also started to open up the small store of letters addressed to her. She did not expect any, in fact she had overlooked them entirely upon sitting. She was a slower reader than the part giant in spite of being well-read.
"-feeling better than before?" The audible discomfort in his voice what pulled her away from from her alleged love notes. X.A. and her friendship cupcakes. Serena talking about her smile and laughter, odd she did not remember ever being happy. Something signed by "H" and something from a "Nick." She wondered if Nick was short for Nickname, Nickel, Nicknack, Nicker (not to be confused with Knicker) or Nicholas. She would let out a sigh and place the letters on the table in full view, the contents hardly a secret.
"Listen eh…" He began. The start of what, an awkward rejection? Her fists are essentially ball level, not a smart play.
"I'm glad to see you're alive." Or, play it safe and give the girl a potentially sincere platitude.
"Grown rather accustomed to life," she admitted. "Something I can thank you for and suppose I never have, so thanks," she conceded. "I am surprised you were able to do whatever it was that you did," she was admittedly a bit fuzzy on the details. "You must be scary strong or terrifyingly durable," she concluded. "You are my favorite human for that I suppose, the fact that I must not be able to break you." Out of character threats aside, she did not hate the part giant, if anything she respected him for his strength and his fortitude as well as whatever nature it was that compelled him to help a creature as wretched as herself. He was a better person than she was, all sentiment aside.
She would slide over the letter from "H" the only H she knew of that had helped save her. Not that she took names as she recovered her teeth and spent the next few weeks in the infirmary. "Not sure what being a Valentine entails," Hugh would be given full access to that letter. [Refer to spoiler] "But I probably can't give you what you need unless it is just physical," in which case she was his girl *wink wink*. "I never could feel much of anything," love included. "And with a broken deal I don't expect that to change," this was her broken up face. Yes, really. There was no anger, or regret, or fear Just the knowledge of what lacks and what should be felt. "Which ironically does not bother me too much," she shrugged.
"But there is this one," she was referring to Opeila Winters not that she knew or at the very least remembered her name. "With a ladder or a stack of chairs, might be doable," she also lacked shame. Opeila was right there. "She has a perfectly fine, freckly face," she added, the big guy probably cannot see the girl she was so gosh darn small.
Tea, was this tea party? She took a sip (presuming tea is present) of her tea, adding nothing to the cup of probably luke-warm liquid. "Or we can have enormous, muscular babies together I guess..." the tea (if there was any) was pretty good.
Wingman or mother of Hugh's children. That was a range...
Just a trick of the lighting they said...
15 Feb 2022, 11:32
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Nicholas had set forth a rather succinct plan for his day when he’d awoken, a plan that reflected a routine that had become almost meditative in its repetition. Classes, racing practice, sleep. There wasn’t room for study, not much room for distraction of any sort, not when he was forcing in extra hours before curfew. The sport had become an obsession, a taking of the mind that had consumed him utterly and fully. So much so that he wasn’t even aware that Valentine’s Day had approached, not that he cared much for the holiday, be it in its modern incarnation nor its roots in Roman Christianity. Romance was not of any interest to Nicholas, at least that was what he told himself, even as he begrudgingly made his way into the ballroom. Such begrudgement coloured his entire appearance, where many of the other students had elected to change clothes, Nicholas had merely loosened his uniform, the robe wrinkled to such a degree that it somehow appeared less formal than had he elected to arrive in jeans and flip flops.
Moreover, he wore his usual sour expression. The letter that morning had entirely thrown his routine off its hinges, and he wasn’t particularly happy about it, the glare that settled onto his face worn so often it suited him more than flannel. Still, such an outwardly bemused appearance did hide a kernel of an emotion that he would never admit to, not even to himself, joyous anticipation. The idea of seeing the technicolour banshee that had latched herself to him like a slug to a leaf, terrifyingly, caused butterflies to dance in his stomach.
So it was disappointment that took him when he saw with whom he would be seated. Aurora was nowhere in sight. Yet, he supposed, her fingerprints were all over his gifts. The veritable pile of sweets was testament to that, particularly the chocolates that appeared to be covered in more glitter than he thought possible. Still, there were at least some silver linings, the names were familiar to some extent, and Lowe being there meant there was at least a single friendly face. The enormous co-captain was in the midst of conversation with an older blonde girl whom Nicholas could not, and would not, pretend to recognise. There’d be no need to bother with long-form conversation, stolen glances nor furious blushing, the behaviours that would no doubt serve as the basis for many of his peers’ evenings. Instead, he could eat some cupcakes, pack the rest of the confections away, perhaps read an innocent letter or two, and pass the rest of the time pivoting conversation to broom racing. Sitting across from Opeila Winters, the Slytherin captain, would at least provide him with more than ample opportunity to do such.
So, Nicholas McCowan took his seat with all the poise and decorum that one may expect from the slovenly youth. That is to say, he flopped down and sank into his chair, one leg stretching so far out that he almost kicked Opeila in the process.
“Sorry,” He drawled, shooting the girl a lazed smile before sighing and slumping further.
Then, without a second to waste, a chocolate and peppermint cupcake was grabbed and bitten. Eating sent dopamine aplenty throughout his brain, for the cupcake was good, more than good, perhaps it had been worth coming after all. Food became his only thought for the moment, letters forgotten as he savoured the intermingling of cocoa and mint. In due course, the cake was followed by tea, the brew almost equally as good as the earlier confection, the smooth taste of the leaves cutting through the sweetness of the frosting.
And then the blonde girl, the place card gave her name as Erin, spoke and Nicholas had to fight not to choke on the liquid. Painful half-coughs racked his body as he fought to keep his mouth closed and the tea in.
He inhaled, and then spoke, his voice raspy, “Christ defend, Lowe, discussing children already. That’s…” Nicholas cut off, a blush colouring his face before he would dare to finish the thought.
Desperate to curtail himself before he accidentally stumbled further into their conversation, the Gryffindor grabbed the first of his two letters. Eyes purposefully not making contact with any of his fellows at the table, he read, and so too did the colour of his face only grow a deeper shade of red.
Suck the what out of who? Steal him? Passionate? Erin? He looked up, eyes overlooking the girl, a girl who had to have been at least two years his senior, and the water in the air turned to steam upon merely touching his cheeks.
“I-” He sputtered, “What? What is this?”
Nicholas’s hand thrust toward the girl to his left, the crumpled letter outstretched, “Is this a bloody joke?” An ironic term, considering the copious amount of that liquid that was in the process of flushing his ears.
Stats: STA: 12 | EVA: 6 | STR: 8 | WIS: 6 | ARC: 4 | ACC: 6
Abilities: Foulplay | Statistically Relevant
Tags: @Hugh Lowe, @Opeila Winters & @Erin Ryan
Vae Victis| Speech: #5C2B2B
I am best reached through discord
I am best reached through discord
15 Feb 2022, 19:23
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
“Christ defend, Lowe, discussing children already. That’s…”
Found the prude. Erin would not share his embarrassment. She was not capable, even if she was that was not the part to get red over really. No shame in having a good time making them little Adonis'. Erin was busy wingmanning or propositioning Hugh, perhaps both. Yes, both was fine. She lacked the capacity for an emotional attachment after all. So if she did not walk off and spend the evening making out with him, then the tiny one could. She was not going to be mad about the potential odd-couple, if anything good for Hugh... maybe not for Opeila Erin supposed. She would be like owning an overly curious and left to run free hamster. Cause of death -- likely a crushing injury that might be delayed if Lowe watched where he sat.
She was about to make a bloody connection for one of them until Nicholas started making a bloody racket.
“I-”
“What? What is this?”
Was a doily wrinkled?
“Is this a bloody joke?”
No, still mad about her direct no-nonsense statements of intent. "The muscular babies or that freckle girl is sorta cute?" She would immediately inquire, in either case both were true. So would go on before he had a chance to clarify. "I mean she looks a bit fragile but she is probably quick, she would probably survive a little while at least," a pragmatist at least and not one to get in the way of anyone's good time. That was until she eyed the crumpled letter and took it from her neighbor's hand.
She read it over once. No twice, this time the letter tilted onto its side as if the letter would be more legible is reviewed at an angel.
"I uh-- don't know all of these words," she admitted. Signed Erin. Sounds like someone named Erin really liked him. "What is she going to suck?" She squinted, she really wanted to learn the new word but the blasted censorship made that impossible. "Shame I don't know any Erins but me," she announced as she handed back the letter. "Not sure if she wants to eat you or [bleep]" there are kids reading here "you. Good luck," a glance around the room would probably reveal the real Erin. A glaring girl (Aurora) on the other side of the room with madness and unreasonable jealousy in her eyes being the obvious target. If true Erin would point in her direction (if no rules are broken in doing so). "She looks like she might eat you," and not even a hag. "Or did I forget we were a thing?" He looked a bit fragile to her, not that Jack was particularly sturdy but she had forgotten the vulnerable teen also. "I mean you're pretty in a girly way," she admitted. "But you sort of remind me of a very bruisable peach."
Oh Merlin, I probably wanted to eat him...
Just a trick of the lighting they said...
15 Feb 2022, 21:42
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
"I'm built for pain." Hugh stated with a hint of guilt rolling around in his mouth. "I'm good at taking it. But I won't lie, I've dealt my fair share too. On the night we saved you, for instance." His gaze slid over to the other side and acknowledged Opeila's presence. A girl he knew from a train wreck as well, he knew her to be the Slytherin Broomracing captain. Inside, he was groaning already. Two captains at a table were only good for one subject, he reckoned. The walls were starting to become more interesting as time went on, he sensed.
After Erin's last words, Hugh's eyes glazed over with dull light flickering behind them. He had no intention on asking Erin to repeat herself, for her message had been abundantly clear to him. He shot a glare at Nicholas for allowing himself to slip in his little quip. As Captain Blush went on to read his notes, Hugh pulled his gaze from the wall and cocked his head over to Ryan. "Does 'physical' involve any of your pet snails? 'Cause I can do without those in my life." He replied absent-mindedly. A chuckle did breach his defences as he pictured Erin's suggestions. It seemed the hags hadn't stolen her sense of humour, at the very least. The part-giant was about to continue as Nick chimed back in. This time it seemed the embarrassment had made room for confusion. Or maybe… fear? From what Hugh could read from their interaction, it was about the notes they'd got.
Eventually he'd hold up his own letter from 'Erin'. "Says here you're a hugger." He smirked. "And I'm the stunner… Maybe it was that prefect Morris that's trying to make a positive out of your continuous fighting and my bashing of skulls." Hugh looked over his shoulder and located the little mouse. He did seem like the type to censor any message that'd make him run for the bathrooms. "Either way, someone's playing games with us. Unless any of you actually wrote letters?" This time he'd look at everyone gathered at the table, before finally fixing his gaze back onto the wall. What an interesting wall it was, indeed.
Last edited by Hugh Lowe on 15 Feb 2022, 21:46, edited 2 times in total.
INPC; Cassanora Browne
Race: Half-Giant // Ability: - STR: 16 EVA: 7 WIS: 10 STA: 20 ARC: 1 ACC: 7
15 Feb 2022, 21:42
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
If she was honest, she was nervous. Receiving a letter to request her presence at the Valentine's Tea Party was a little nerve-wracking. She had no idea who would have sent her anything. She had sent a few to some friends, and uh, well a boy she had the biggest crush on but she never expected anything in return.
Serena was not the type to care about what she wore. In her free time, she usually would be in sports clothes on her way to training or clothes she did not mind getting dirty whilst in the forge. Heck, she had turned up to the last ball in a jumper and jeans. Casual clothing that she could stay warm in but also fight in. Today was different... Today, she had to put make up on, a cute dress with a pair of black ankle boots. She even added a belt and scarf as accessories. It might not be super noticeable to everyone but those who knew her likely would know she was trying.
Her bed had a pile of discarded clothing that was just "not right" for the occasion. She wanted to make a bit of effort but not too much. Honestly, she did not know why. It was not like @Howard White was going to be there. She knew that. He definitely did not see her that way. But... something about the event made her want to dress up and attempt to look somewhat less 'hideous' for the day. Yes, less 'hideous'. A word that had stuck with her when she heard how part-goblins were described. But that did not matter today! Today was going to be a good day.
Though, she was so nervous to find out what these sweets were and who had crafted them for her. Platonically, of course. It would not be romantic. But still... Okay, maybe, she had a little bit of hope?
With Pizza Rat in the pocket of her shirt dress, she walked down the corridors. Exhaling audibly outside the ballroom, she straightened her scarf and made sure her hair covered her ears. It was left loose on purpose. Adjusting her dress, she took some deep breathes before entering the room. The table was in the far corner but she quickly noticed someone on it. @Hugh Lowe was the first she noticed, for obvious reasons. Her nerves quickly dissipated. Okay. If he was here, then it might be alright.
Arriving at the table, she noticed the others. @Erin Ryan was there. Serena had not really seen her after... well, everything. But she was glad to see she was still around, "Hey-" She started to greet the table before she started to actually listen to the conversation. Erin sprouted something about muscular babies and eating each other... Concerning. Serena tilted her head, wondering what she walked into. Was it going to be a repeat? That being said, Erin looked better. She was actually rather beautiful. You know, when she was not being mean and making Serena cry (it might have been four years ago but... Serena still did not know how to feel about that) or biting people.
"Everything okay? Do I want to ask?" She whispered looking up at Hugh. Leaning a little closer to @Nicholas McCowan, she continued to whisper, "Uh. Say the codeword if you need help," Serena did not know what the codeword was. Nor did she have one with Nicholas so... he probably had no idea either. But really, it seemed like a codeword sort of situation might arise. The code word should definitely be 'broomracing' though, if they ever made one. It might not be one word but whatever.
'Aheming' a little, she found her seat but had not sat down yet, "Sooo, hey everyone -" Serena gave a small wave and awkward smile to @Opeila Winters, who she did not really recognise. She was the only one that Serena was not very familiar with, "Uh, I have no idea what I've walked into but, hey, I'm Serena," At this point, it was just a little awkward. Erin was fine now, right? They had actually succeeded - though she had no idea, how... right? Serena thought so. She did not really know the details but when Erin seemed to be okay and not a hag, it seemed to be kind of a good thing.
"And that's Pizza Rat-" Serena added as an afterthought, pointing to the brown rat that was peeking his head out of her dress pocket, just in case anyone was wondering. He seemed to be poking his head out, looking around at the sounds or perhaps it was the food that he could smell. Either way, his little head would be looking around in every direction, at the food and people around.
She heard Hugh mentioned something about writing letters. What was even going on? Someone was playing games? Raising her hand a little nervously like she did something bad or this was in class, "Uh. I wrote- yeah, I did-" She pointed out. She did write some letters. One to Hugh in fact. Another to Rosie and the third to Howard, though that last one was not signed with her name for obvious reasons. "And made those cupcakes-" She said as she pointed towards the cupcakes in front of him, "Though I did make one for myself and one for Pizza, so really, only one of those three is for you..." She continued.
Did he... not like them? She thought he might like cake... It was just a nice friendly gesture... What was going on here?
OOC: Edited cos Hugh sneaked in a post... last second. I hate you, Hugh >(
PC: Serena Towers | iNPC: Arjan Oberoi | Other: Hjørdis Jensen & Xiomara Torres
Part-Goblin | Evasive Maneuvers | Beastmaster | Paragon of Health
Sta: 10 | Eva: 17 | Str: 3 | Wis: 15 | Arc Power: 10 | Acc: 15
Part-Goblin | Evasive Maneuvers | Beastmaster | Paragon of Health
Sta: 10 | Eva: 17 | Str: 3 | Wis: 15 | Arc Power: 10 | Acc: 15
15 Feb 2022, 22:57
TABLE 1 | Sweethearts Tea Party
The young Slytherin had only arrived at the table, when she was already included in a conversation that Opeila still had to understand. Being referred to as "this one" didn't feel nice though, no matter what the topic was, but she only quietly corrected her older housemate. "It's Opeila. I've organized the-"
She didn't finish the sentence, actually forgot what she had wanted to say all together, when Erin mentioned having muscular babies with Hugh. Suddenly Opeila felt terribly naive, now also understanding what Erin had meant when saying that Opeila would be fine with a ladder.
Good god, what was this?
Only when Opeila saw @Evelynn Decipio wave at her, a smile replaced the confusion on her face and she waved back.
Then another boy arrived, Nicholas. The kid who Opeila had avoided mainly because of his name that he shared with her father. It was silly, this Gryffindor has of course no control over his name, nor was Opeila's situation his fault, but she felt unable to even look him in the face.
Being seated at a table with both the Gryffindor broom racing captains also made her feel on edge, although she would never admit it. Opeila planned to avoid broom racing as a topic of conversation, especially since there was a Hufflepuff racer at the table as well, but would her fellow captains do the same?
She had never really talked to either of them, so she really didn't know what the level of rivalry was. Opeila also still didn't know who the 'Nick' was who had written her letter.
But when Nicholas sat down and would have kicked her in the process, had she not moved her legs. When he apologized, she eyed him for a splitsecond, trying to assess whether he meant it or not, before returning his smile. "Missed me, no worries."
Perhaps she was being unfair, perhaps she did overanalyse the situation, but there was that mean side of her that enjoyed the sight of Nicholas reaction to his letter greatly.
Opeila broke another piece off of her brownie and enjoyed the taste of cocolate in her mouth, before picking up her own letter. "Mine was signed with 'Nick'.", she said and sent Nicholas another look, "I wonder who sent it."
Her attention went back to Erin, who now called her freckle girl- "Opeila..."- and... seemingly listed pros and cons as to why Opeila was girlfriend material. "Charming..." The younger Slytherin tried not to be too taken aback by her housemate's talking. It wasn't like she didn't know before that Erin was, well, different, right?
And finally someone arrived who seemed to find the whole talk as strange as Opeila did and introduced herself as Serena. "I'm Opeila, hi", she said, glancing at Erin for a second, "I drew you for secret santa two years ago." Did Serena remember that? It felt like it had happened decades ago.