14 Feb 2022, 21:31
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
14th of February, 2022
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿
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?
Hogwarts' 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 FIFTEEN has been reserved. We hope to see you there.
‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵‿︵‿︵‿
| Table Fifteen was toward the front centre of the ballroom, six chairs in even intervals around it, rendering it one of the more populated tables at the tea party. On its surface, the vase of scarlet roses seemed to twinkle against the ballroom's light, petals as alive as those that hovered in the air around them, quick to evaporate should they hit the cold floor. Place cards and elegant plates for the evening's desserts were in front of each chair, starting with that of @Pericles Dralt, a Prefect of Ravenclaw and a dueling co-captain. Best friend and dueling captain of the eagles, @Dealla Prince would be joining this mix as well, a fellow Prefect. The third Prefect of this group, Metamorphmagus @Xailah Alptraum, would be seated on Pericles' other side, perhaps intending on disguising herself as someone marginally less intimidating. It didn't end there: of Hufflepuff, Prefect @Jake Morris, a sweet and sensitive boy who would hopefully not disintegrate under the terrifying glares of his peers. To even out the mix of Prefects was former Prefect @Jack Warren, a Hufflepuff who looked like every second boy attending Hogwarts and who'd lost his title when his rage conquered responsibility, as it does of a teenage boy who is not so sweet as Jake or so mature as Pericles. Finally, rounding out the table was a third Hufflepuff, @Haven Bohannon, curious and gentle, a likely perfect match for Jake (if you were to ask the attending professors). | ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━  ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ |
|
|
|
|
|
|
♡
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.
"I am free and that is why I am lost."
STA 16 | EVA 12 | STR 15 | WIS 9 | AP 7 | ACC 11
STA 16 | EVA 12 | STR 15 | WIS 9 | AP 7 | ACC 11
15 Feb 2022, 00:56
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
⬩───────────────────⬩
Open ✮ Interaction
Spring was approaching, yet winters cold fingers still clung to the air. Mother Nature was reclaiming her land from old Jack Frost- the snow was melting- seedlings were sprouting from their mossy little beds to welcome the return of the sun. The days were lengthening; the nights were growing shorter. Life had resumed it's seasonal rotation once again. A merry time, truly. For most anyway. Those with seasonal allergies most likely feared the coming of spring. Xailah, while she did not fear it, did dislike it for a number of reasons- February being numero uno. Valentine's day was in February. She was scared of Valentine's day; which was funny because she sometimes found herself getting tangled up in Heart-day events- involuntary a majority of the time. This time- this one time- she was participating in an event willingly. An invitation concerning Valentine's had found her somehow. She thought it was a mistake; before realizing it might've had to do with her participation with decorating treats the day prior. She wasn't entirely sure though, and therefore decided to let curiosity to get the best of her. It wouldn't be the first time she did so. She got ready for the night in displeasure, declaring that if she was going, then it was for the sweets being served.
Xailah stood in front of a mirror. Her golden hues brushing over her pale reflection. She slid a satiny hand over her dress, smoothing out the draping fabric. The gown wasn't one of her fancier outfits, but it was sleek and elegant just the same. It would have to do. To hide a single disobedient hair, dancing obliviously atop her head, she had put on a wide-brimmed hat. It was decorated with nightshade, and a small dangling spider- a subtle warning perhaps. A keen eye could spot a pale scar on her shoulder, peeping through the layered white tulle. The reflection casted a frown. She pulled a bit of the sheer fabric over the blight. It was new mark, though no one could possibly know that. Not many people saw her bare shoulders. Actually, not many saw skin beyond what was visible above her neckline. She preferred modest fits, due to insecurities with her appearance, but sometimes she could be spied in something cheeky- a sheer sleeve, perhaps a peek at an ankle, how scandalous. As a girl growing into the skin of a young lady, it was only a matter of time until she began testing the waters of more "revealing" fashion- but tastefully so. There was an alluring quality to modesty, which she would never let go of.
Xailah wouldn't be the only one dressing up. Her cat would be seen sporting a look of his own: a charming bowtie. It fit snuggly around his neck, an peered out from his neck chub. What a handsome little man. The effort put into their ensemble was unsurprising. They always dressed to impress- well, Xailah did. Schrödinger didn't usually wear clothes, so he didn't really count. Their attire while not unusual, still begged the question: why get all dolled up, just to commit the sin of gluttony? Well, why not? If they were going to gorge themselves, they were going to look too.
The ballroom was a funny place, in a mean sort of way. It always would be. It was one of those spaces that held some of the worst memories. The bitter hate she harbored for the ballroom was a simmering one though- not nearly strong enough to make her completely avoid visits. Perhaps though, that would change tonight. Perhaps. She was not looking to take any memories back to her dormitory with her. She and her furry chaperone Schrödinger, were here solely for the goods.
A warm light greeted the feline and keeper duo at the door; and after a little bit of wandering, both would find their assigned table. What was the purpose of assigning tables for this event, Xailah did not know. She figured it was to keep track of who was present, because the place was packed. No really, there were people everywhere. She would not bother to look at the name tags, to see whom she would be sharing a table with, but she (and definitely Schrödinger) would notice the treats. And oh look- they all had complementary letters. Surely they were thank you's for attending, or perhaps a few uplifting words. Surely there was nothing weird in them. The lioness leaned forward, squinting through the dim light. Upon closer inspection, she would find that the accompanying letters had been uh... tampered with. We're those teeth marks? Stains? Goodness gracious. What had happened? Best not to touch them for now. Suddenly, Xailah wasn't feeling very hungry. Positioning Schrödinger in her lap; in a way he would not be able to wiggle off; she then folded her hands together on the table in front of her. Maybe she could do some people watching while she waited for her appetite to return. There were bound to be some interesting interactions going on nearby.
⬩───────────────────⬩
Metamorphmagus✮ Race
Before me, you rightly tremble. But, fear is not what you owe me. You owe me awe....
Stamina: 12 ~ Evasion: 17 ~ Strength: 2 ~ Wisdom: 16 ~ Arcane Power: 4 ~ Accuracy: 17
Student Account: Martyr Daeva-Lazarus
17 Feb 2022, 19:33
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
@Xailah Alptraum
Mentions @Pericles Dralt | @Jack Warren
Last year, Dee had signed up for the Valentine's event mostly out of curiosity. She'd ended up spending a pleasant evening with someone she would loosely consider a friend, although their paths hadn't aligned any more after than they had before. This Valentine's was slightly different in the sense that she was a little more in the mood for romance - after all, she had spent the previous day sending out letters and cupcakes, although mostly platonic, and plotting to set up Ravenclaw's head of house with the school's new professor of flying.
Yet, the invitation came as a bit of a surprise. As opposed to the previous year, she hadn't signed up for anything, nor had she made specific plans for the day beyond hoping someone had bothered to send her some cupcakes or chocolate bark to eat. But then... why not? No harm in checking out who else was seated at table fifteen. Perhaps she could even be bothered to dress up a little, better known as changing out of her school robes in favour of casual clothes and trading her usual plain stud earrings for strawberry shaped ones. Tie up her hair into a ponytail, ta-dah, her grandmother would be proud (not really).
She entered the ballroom uncharacteristically on time, her gaze sweeping over the tables and students present, a smile or a wave offered for people she knew (and liked), before she scanned the tables in search of number fifteen. It took her a moment to locate it, mostly due to a lack of other occupants - and the one who was already seated wasn't someone Dee would have expected. While Xailah and her had crossed paths a few times, it would be a stretch to even call them acquaintances: Different years, houses, sports, mostly different social circles. Perhaps the seating was random? (Little did she know.) Six seats set at her table, wasn't Valentine's day supposed to a romantic affair?
But again- why not. "Hi Xailah!" she greeted brightly, slipping into the seat marked with her name and leaning over to spy at the place cards next to hers. Pericles in the seat between Xailah and herself, that explained things, he was their connecting piece. Jack on her other side, and Dee's nose turned slightly pink as she recognised the cupcake she'd decorated the day before. She hadn't planned to be around when he got it, but then, there were several others alongside it, so he wouldn't know it was hers. Gasp. He'd gotten three more cupcakes than she had? Outrageous, she'd have to steal one. But she'd wait until he was here to witness it.
Her own place only had one very chocolate-y cupcake - not that she'd complain about chocolate - and two somewhat beleaguered letters. Were those bite marks? Concerning.
Xailah had not yet touched her cupcakes or letters, so, ignoring the urge to immediately bite into the cupcake, Dee tried to show some manners, refocusing her attention on the Gryffindor. The older student was... slightly odd, slightly intimidating, both her looks and the way she carried herself. Definitely intriguing. Not your average student, certainly. She looked more elegant than Dee in her grey jeans and soft pink cardigan, wearing a fancy dress with hat and all, but she sold it well. "I like your spider," Dealla commented. The dress wasn't really her style, although she supposed her grandmother might approve. She squinted. "Is it plastic?"
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
19 Feb 2022, 04:43
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
@Xailah Alptraum @Dealla Prince
Valentine's Day was never one of Jake's favorite holidays. A few years ago, when he'd first got to Hogwarts, it had been a chance to show your friends that you loved them. But now that he'd gotten older it was an excuse for some kids his age to show their girlfriends and boyfriends how much they loved them, and that looked a lot different. It had really kind of ruined the whole thing.
But well, at least there was still chocolate.
When he'd gotten the invitation to the Valentine's Tea Party, Jake had eyed the letter like it might jump out and bite him. He'd been to a Valentine's Tea Party once before. The flying professor had once thrown one. Jake had gone, and then the professor had started trying to pair them up for love. Then, things had gone right into chaos. He didn't really remember the rest, but for some reason he felt like it had somehow ended up with him hiding under a table.
But that flying professor had left Hogwarts a long time ago, so surely this time nobody was going to try to do anything like that right? Plus there were cupcakes. And if there was chaos it was his job now to try to do something to stop it. No more hiding under tables.
So Jake had gone, but as he walked into the ballroom and peeked at each table, finally finding his own, he started to gradually wonder if maybe he had under-dressed. Jake looked down at his yellow T-shirt, and then back up at the girl who was sitting at Table 15 in a full black gown. That kind of stuff really had to be written on the invitation!
At first he didn't realize who she was. Perhaps it was the gown that threw him off...but there was no mistaking the girl's eyes. "Oh....hi Xailah," Jake mumbled, giving a small wave. He didn't know if she remembered him, but he remembered her. He'd probably seen her more than she'd seen him though, because now whenever he saw her coming he tried to be somewhere else. They had met before, a long long time ago. It was a day that Jake would never forget. He felt the small inklings of shame creeping in as he always felt when he thought of that day. Back when the mask had been affixed to his face, and he had told nobody. It was the closest anybody had ever come to finding out...until the day when Meenauh did. Some of the memories of that time were still fuzzy, but somehow that day was vivid. He lowered his head and shuffled to his seat. (He didn't see the other familiar guest that she had hidden on her lap).
"Hi Dealla," he said, a little more brightly, as he passed her to get to the place card that said 'Jake'. Then he sat down to look at his treats.
"Whoa cool!" he grinned, seeing the dog face atop one of the cupcakes at his placemat. How had they known how much he liked dogs? It cheered the boy up immensely. He looked at the place-cards on either side of him and...Alright! Jack was at his table! And they were sitting next to each other! That was going to make this night way better. Jake relaxed a bit. Maybe Valentine's Day would be a time for friends after all. A lot had changed this year, pretty quickly. It seemed like they hadn't spent as much time together lately as they'd used to, but now it'd be just them. No other friends to take Jack away, and no prefect or dueling responsibilities to distract Jake.
It was then that Jake noticed the letters next to his treats. Hm. What could that be? But it would really have to wait. The cupcakes were taking all of Jake's attention. He eyed them hesitantly starting to reach out a hand before stopping himself. It was pretty rude to start eating before everybody was at the table, and there was still three of them missing. Instead, he looked around at the others at his table.
Xailah's gown really did catch the eye. It was sort of eerie...she looked pretty much like what Jake had imagined witches would look like, back when he was a muggle and hadn't realized they just looked like anybody else did. "Um, were we supposed to dress up?" he asked, though Dealla didn't look near as fancy as that."I don't really get Valentine's Day," he admitted.
Valentine's Day was never one of Jake's favorite holidays. A few years ago, when he'd first got to Hogwarts, it had been a chance to show your friends that you loved them. But now that he'd gotten older it was an excuse for some kids his age to show their girlfriends and boyfriends how much they loved them, and that looked a lot different. It had really kind of ruined the whole thing.
But well, at least there was still chocolate.
When he'd gotten the invitation to the Valentine's Tea Party, Jake had eyed the letter like it might jump out and bite him. He'd been to a Valentine's Tea Party once before. The flying professor had once thrown one. Jake had gone, and then the professor had started trying to pair them up for love. Then, things had gone right into chaos. He didn't really remember the rest, but for some reason he felt like it had somehow ended up with him hiding under a table.
But that flying professor had left Hogwarts a long time ago, so surely this time nobody was going to try to do anything like that right? Plus there were cupcakes. And if there was chaos it was his job now to try to do something to stop it. No more hiding under tables.
So Jake had gone, but as he walked into the ballroom and peeked at each table, finally finding his own, he started to gradually wonder if maybe he had under-dressed. Jake looked down at his yellow T-shirt, and then back up at the girl who was sitting at Table 15 in a full black gown. That kind of stuff really had to be written on the invitation!
At first he didn't realize who she was. Perhaps it was the gown that threw him off...but there was no mistaking the girl's eyes. "Oh....hi Xailah," Jake mumbled, giving a small wave. He didn't know if she remembered him, but he remembered her. He'd probably seen her more than she'd seen him though, because now whenever he saw her coming he tried to be somewhere else. They had met before, a long long time ago. It was a day that Jake would never forget. He felt the small inklings of shame creeping in as he always felt when he thought of that day. Back when the mask had been affixed to his face, and he had told nobody. It was the closest anybody had ever come to finding out...until the day when Meenauh did. Some of the memories of that time were still fuzzy, but somehow that day was vivid. He lowered his head and shuffled to his seat. (He didn't see the other familiar guest that she had hidden on her lap).
"Hi Dealla," he said, a little more brightly, as he passed her to get to the place card that said 'Jake'. Then he sat down to look at his treats.
"Whoa cool!" he grinned, seeing the dog face atop one of the cupcakes at his placemat. How had they known how much he liked dogs? It cheered the boy up immensely. He looked at the place-cards on either side of him and...Alright! Jack was at his table! And they were sitting next to each other! That was going to make this night way better. Jake relaxed a bit. Maybe Valentine's Day would be a time for friends after all. A lot had changed this year, pretty quickly. It seemed like they hadn't spent as much time together lately as they'd used to, but now it'd be just them. No other friends to take Jack away, and no prefect or dueling responsibilities to distract Jake.
It was then that Jake noticed the letters next to his treats. Hm. What could that be? But it would really have to wait. The cupcakes were taking all of Jake's attention. He eyed them hesitantly starting to reach out a hand before stopping himself. It was pretty rude to start eating before everybody was at the table, and there was still three of them missing. Instead, he looked around at the others at his table.
Xailah's gown really did catch the eye. It was sort of eerie...she looked pretty much like what Jake had imagined witches would look like, back when he was a muggle and hadn't realized they just looked like anybody else did. "Um, were we supposed to dress up?" he asked, though Dealla didn't look near as fancy as that."I don't really get Valentine's Day," he admitted.
21 Feb 2022, 05:26
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Haven had nearly screamed that morning when she received the invitation; she was practically bursting with excitement already, as she was with most things. It was pure torture to have to wait until the end of the school day. If her dress wasn't so puffy, she would have worn it underneath her robes. That did not, however, stop her from wearing her mismatched valentine socks all day, taking every opportunity to show off the little Sasquatches and doggies.
Finally, once classes were over, Haven raced to her dorm room to change into her dress, and of course put on the boots that could give her socks the justice they deserved. Since she still had too much time after that, she ran around the common room and the castle, tracking down her friends to shower them with sweets, cards, and her neverending supply of energy. After a quick check of the clock determined that she still had way too much time for her liking, she tromped up a few sets of stairs to send a quick letter to her parents, attaching the card she had made with it. She'd fill them in about all the events that happened at the party afterward.
Once more, Haven dashed back down to her dormitory to grab a simple satchel filled with everything she'd need for the night- mostly candy, a few pairs of socks for her tablemates as well. For good measure, she threw in a pack of band-aids with little heart prints on them. She was positively excited.
Haven managed to have enough hold on herself to avoid running all the way to the ballroom- she had to make a good impression, and being out of breath would certainly not help that. So, she counted her careful, calm steps all the way there, and as she searched the ballroom for her table. Finally, her eyes landed upon one already seating three. She walked once around the table, counterclockwise, before finding her chair in between two of the people already there. Mentally, she took inventory of the people sitting already- prefect, prefect, prefect. All such important people. Didn't that make Haven feel positively out of place? But Haven was a master of making herself fit in places she did not- or at least, talking her head off until she did. She supposed that would have to do.
"Hi, I'm Haven," she introduced herself as she sat down, her focus instantly drawn to the cupcakes in front of her. The rainbow frosting, the little candy pearls- everything about them was positively perfect. A grin laced her face from ear to ear, though seeing no one else had eaten theirs and not everyone had shown up, she thought it must be best to wait. Unfortunately for her, she wasn't very keen on waiting, though luckily, there was plenty around to entertain her, and plenty of interesting people.
The cards at her spot remained unnoticed as Haven dug around in her bag for a little bit, before emerging with boxes full of candy- Double Dip, Candy Hearts, and a few Aero bars, courtesy of her mother's weekly care package. "Care for some candy?" she asked to the boy, Jake, sitting next to her. "I also have socks if any of you don't like candy."
21 Feb 2022, 19:32
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
SOMETHING HAS HAPPENED!
@Pericles Dralt | @Dealla Prince | @Xailah Alptraum
| @Jake Morris | @Jack Warren | @Haven Bohannon
As the students settled into their seats and confusion began to take over as they scanned the contents of their 'letters', some might notice several pale pink roses start to seemingly descend from the ceiling. The same hue as the petals floating through the air, these roses would gracefully glide downwards and land in front of someone at eight different tables; 2, 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 13, and 15.
Tables 1, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 14 and 16 would not receive any roses (yet), but they would not go without entertainment. It was from his position at the teacher's table that Orion would stand up and clear his throat, "Welcome students, thank you for attending our tea party! I have hopes to make this an annual event." If only the French man was aware of the chaos he had rained down upon the crowd of youngsters. He had not slept the night before after scrambling to try and correct his errors. The dark circles under his eyes might have been noticeable to anyone sitting close enough to him. "I'm sure you've noticed the roses by now. If you've received a rose that means you are now a bachelor or bachelorette, which means you get to help spread a little love around." His face broke into a smile as if this were a simply sublime idea. With the romantic heart Orion possessed, he likely believed it.
"If you did not receive a rose, do not worry mes amies (my friends), you will get an opportunity soon. Until then we are going to offer you an opportunity to show your love. This means that you can ask us to dedicate a song to a special someone in the crowd, or make an announcement to your peers. The choice is, of course, yours to make." The students received a playful wink before Orion sat back down at the table. (PLEASE NOTE THAT IF YOUR TABLE HAS RECEIVED A ROSE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REQUEST A SONG OR SPOTLIGHT THIS ROUND)
@Jake Morris and @Dealla Prince would discover that they were one of the individuals selected. If they were to pick up the rose, they would discover a small note attached that read the following:
The students might notice the soothing sounds of the harp starting to play from the back corner of the ballroom. There was a shutter that blocked the view of who or how many people were playing. Whilst they would not see her, they could hear the Slytherin head of house, Hjørdis Jensen, had started to strum a harp to help set the mood.YOU'VE BEEN SELECTED AS ONE OF OUR BACHELORS / BACHELORETTES. THE MUSIC IS ABOUT TO START SO GO FIND AND KISS YOUR VALENTINE! DON'T FORGET TO GIVE THEM THE ROSE!
P.S. For those too shy I will gladly pick for you
-O.L.
Until people started to request songs, she would simply play random songs that she was pretty sure that the children would enjoy on the harp. Honestly, what did children listen to these days? She had no idea. But she was evidently trying in the fact that she had bothered to learn how to play all of these, specifically for this occasion.
It just so happened that occasionally, another instrument - such as a fiddle or guitar - could be heard in the background too, randomly chipping in. The sound of notes hit the air. It was not too loud but it could easily be heard throughout the ballroom if one stopped to listen for it. It almost complemented the chatter. [Click the music note for the actual playlist]
Jake and Dealla had a choice to make or risk the chance of a certain French man making the choice for them.
You've received a rose!
Your character has the ability to select one person to give the rose to. This person will be considered their 'valentine'. The OOC purpose for this is to A.) Add even more drama or B.) give characters an opportunity to move tables.
To move tables you must message a mod which table you wish to move to before it is confirmed. Please tell the mod your in character reason for wanting to move to this table. Why? This is to prevent tables from becoming too populated, as this is not the only round we will be doing this.
Keep in mind that once you move tables, you will be unable to return to your original table unless you are given permission to do so!
If you do not pick a 'valentine' by the next mod post, Orion will pick one for you. Trust me, you'll want to pick your own!
"I am free and that is why I am lost."
STA 16 | EVA 12 | STR 15 | WIS 9 | AP 7 | ACC 11
STA 16 | EVA 12 | STR 15 | WIS 9 | AP 7 | ACC 11
21 Feb 2022, 21:02
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Like always, Jack was a fan of being fashionably late. Most definitely for that reason, and no other reason. It wasn't like Jack had zero time management skills, any devices that keep track of time, or the ability to gauge what time it is based on the sun's position in the sky. So, upon stepping into the ballroom, he wasn't exactly surprised to see buckets on buckets of flower petals. But, of course, at this point, it was only expected for things at this school to go batshit crazy immediately. So, Jack assumed that the flowers would just be set on fire soon enough, but till then, he decided to make his way towards his assigned table.
The boy had worn something nice but didn't scream, 'i'm sooooo excited.' He had a nice button-up shirt with a lovely blue and black paisley pattern. Along with that a simple pair of jeans and nice black boots. There was nothing wrong with getting dressed up, even if everything was bound to go terribly wrong. Because the only reason he signed up for these things was to watch terrible plans blow up in people's faces. However, Warren's typical nonchalance had been replaced by the look of surprise, which immediately plastered itself to the boy's face. The moment of realization that his best friend, Jake, and the girl he was crushing on super hard, Dee, were both sitting at his table.
Reflexively Jack ran a hand through his hair to make himself more presentable however the only thing that he was successful at was making his hair pushed up into odd angles as if he had just gotten out of bed. Finally, with confident strides, the boy approached the table before grinning and announcing out loud, "I am here now. Hope nobody missed me too much!" Bravado of the most prominent kind was Jack's claim to fame. If he didn't act confident, would anybody know it was him? Obviously not.
The boy glanced down at the place cards, only to find that he was sitting in-between Dee and Jake. How would the professors know so much about his personal life? It had to be a coincidence, right? He had to doubt that the professors setting up this whole little thing were making random seating charts or something...
"Hey everyone- I did I miss something with all the fallin' flowers or somethin'?" The boy's Irish accent lifted in a curious tone as he spoke.
Interacting with Everyone at the table,
Mentioning @Dealla Prince & @Jake Morris
"Speak softly and carry a big stick; You will go far"
-Teddy Roosevelt
Stamina- 7| Evasion- 17| Strength- 12| Wisdom- 5| Arcane power- 7| Accuracy- 10
Abilities: Fearless & Charmer
22 Feb 2022, 22:19
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
⬩───────────────────⬩
Open ✮ Interaction
@Dealla Prince, @Jack Warren, @Jake Morris, @Haven Bohannon
Her taste buds remained void of saccharine flavors, though her eardrums had been treating themselves to the sweet echoes of impending chaos. The gossip- the growing tension from a nearby table- it was candy to the ears. As a person, Xailah cared not for the social lives of her peers. As a teenage girl, she secretly enjoyed reveling in their silly drama- at a distance. A very lengthy, very far distance. Misery loved company. Just not close company.
While she listened she couldn't help but notice the occasional glance in her direction. A brief side-eye; a not-so-subtle peek. A few were looking her way- actually, there was really only one- a blonde boy whose name escaped her, but she was sure he was in her house... actually, she wasn't entirely sure at all (keep your eyes on your own table Lamik >:( ). She didn't know what he was looking her way for; his table was absolutely bustling. He must've spotted someone he knew who was in her general direction. Someone like... Oh! Dealla Prince. It seemed like everyone knew her.
Xailah did not see Dealla enter the ballroom- her attention was not yet on the door- she only noticed the girl once she approached table fifteen. Having neglected to check who was seated with her, the Gryffindor expected the social butterfly to move on by. She was taken a little off guard when the girl took a seat. The lioness looked at her fellow prefect, and how the girl chose to present herself. She was dressed comfortably, all pretty in pink. Truly the girl knew what her priorities were: self comfort came before anything else. A great standard to have, though a challenge to embrace. The two girls did not know each other well, nor did they have and interest in knowing each other (or perhaps, that was only Xailah). The cub was quite content with remaining vague acquaintances. Dealla offered a chipper hello, to which Xailah tilted her head, tipping her hat. "Hallo," she hummed, her voice light, returning the greeting. When settled in, the Ravenclaw began looking to her sides. Ah. The name tags. Now would be a good time to check them, Xailah thought.
She peered over as well, looking first at the name on her right, and then the one on her left. Someone named Haven was to be seated on her right side. Xailah racked her brain, searching for some Havens. She would find nothing, seeing as that she knew no one named Haven. Leaning to her left, she would see a name that she was very familiar with: Pericles Dralt. The bridge which linked Dealla and she.
Xailah picked up his nameplate to inspect it, her hold light. Her gaze would narrow, confused, but the expression would not stay. Her eyes led her to Pericles' treats. She frowned slightly when she saw what was set out for him, because her gift was not in the mix. Golds flickered from cupcake to cupcake, in hopes that she had perhaps overlooked a bag of chocolate bark. That was not the case. Her face fell, and she sighed. "Hm. It would appear that he did not get my chocolates. Oh well." She muttered nonchalantly with a shrug.
Dealla spoke, returning the metamorphs conscience to the present. Realizing she still had Pericles name tag in hand, Xailah set the seating indicator down, adjusting it to look as if it had never left it's post. She blinked up at Dealla; and tried to backpedal, to see if she had subconsciously picked up on anything the girl had said. Something about... spiders, and plastic. Spiders, was that correct? She recalled the girl had asked a question, something having to do with a spider. Her spider? Her gaze slipped to the little black arachnid hanging from the brim of her hat. Oh. Della wanted to know what it was made of. Xailah liked those types of questions- the ones born from curious uncertainty. Her eyes narrowed, seemingly smiling. "I could tell you," she touched the pseudo bug with the tip of her index finger, making it sway, "but then it would lose a bit of it's mystery, wouldn't it?" And, of course, she liked evading those same questions. "It may be plastic." Or something else entirely. It was hard to tell from where they were seated with the dim lighting, but the spider was a wire-wrapped trinket- hand crafted. Those that knew Xailah well, knew she liked to make small creatures from found knick-knacks. Dealla's earrings would catch the catlings eye. Xailah pinched her own lobes to indicate what she was looking at. "I like your berries."
The next person to approach the table, was someone who Xailah never expected to see; and that was Jake Morris. That boys baby face wasn't one she'd be forgetting any time soon. She and Jake were... strange acquaintances at best. The last time they actually sat down and "spoke" to each other was almost a year (maybe two) ago. She wondered if he remembered. Their interaction didn't end on the best note. Thanks to Schrödinger. To be fair, the chances of a good interaction happening was exceedingly low to begin with; especially when a cat was trying to maul the face of the child you were tutoring, while he was being tutored. Xailah nodded to him politely, choosing to look past the conditions they had last left on- mostly for the sake of those they were seated with. Schrödinger on the other hand... not so much. Xailah felt Schrödinger stir on her lap, his ash-colored fur bristling. The cat let out an irritated rumble, while he watched Jake take a seat; his fuzzy little head peeping from the tables ledge. He would go unnoticed, but the same could not be said for the boy Jake.
While greetings were exchanged, Xailah was making an admittedly funny observation. The cupcakes in front of each child clearly called to them (it was obvious by how often they kept eyeing them), and yet none touched their treats. It was as if they were waiting for someone to make the first move. Xailah had her reasoning- she was waiting for one of her tablemates to take a bite of theirs, so she could determine whether or not the small cakes had been laced with something foul. She was taking precautions. None of the food at Hogwarts social events was to be considered safe.
Jakes question caused a brow to arch curiously. Xailah slightly adjusted herself to face him better. A quick glance around would give her the idea that she may have overdressed, but she brushed the thought away. Chuckling through her nose, she would reassure Jake. "No." Dressing up was completely optional. Xailah did it because it made her feel good. Jake and Della looked perfectly splendid in their comfy clothes. Admittedly, Xailah wished she could one day understand their level of comfort, without having to hide behind the excuse of a pureblood upbringing. The badger boy's lack of understanding Valentine's day, was something of a relief. Xailah got the feeling that none of the people at her table were romantics. Thank goodness. Sharing in the boys selective obliviousness, she spoke. "There is nothing to get." Her shoulders raised in a nonchalant shrug. The holiday had been created for Hallmark to sell more cards. There was absolutely nothing to understand.
A small girl arrived soon after Jake had seated himself. Ah, she must have been the mystery Haven. The girl took the chair on Xailah's right, and began making conversation with Jake. Something implied that the two would get along quite well. Right off the bat, Xailah could tell Haven was an odd girl- and no, it wasn't because of the clear shoes she wore, or socks with strange ape-looking characters on them, or her interest in the Hufflepuff prefect. The child simply radiated a sense of weird, that reminded the prefect of another girl she had fading memory of. Haven didn't happen to know a girl who owned a plush, rainbow mooncalf (llama) named Chicken, did she? Hm.
An announcement would distract the sole Gryffindor from her company. Tiny things drifted overhead. The gentle strumming of a harp could be heard filling the room. The girls stomach twisted inwards on itself. Something fell on her shoulder. What was that? A rose petal? Xailah didn't like roses. They made her uncomfortable. She scooted in her chair, trying to dodge the falling petals while trying to maintain some composure. A flower drifted dangerously close to her- she puffed at it, as if blowing it away would prevent it from reaching her. Her tactic would seemingly prove effective- little did she know, it may have had a set course. Drifting like a foreboding red feather, the blossom would land in front of Dealla. A bullet dodged.
There really wasn't a more appropriate time for Jack Warren to arrive. Seeing that his friend Jake was already present, his attendance was no surprise. His entrance was boisterous, confident. He was given a snicker and a smile. He had come with questions, ones Xailah had no answer for. The flowers- the announcement- they were lost on her. Frankly, they scared her a bit too. But maybe Jake and Dealla could fill Jack in. In the meantime, Xailah returned to looking around the room, opting to remain oblivious to whatever the professors had up their sleeve. Oh my, was that a fire at table thirteen?
⬩───────────────────⬩
Metamorphmagus ✮ Race
Before me, you rightly tremble. But, fear is not what you owe me. You owe me awe....
Stamina: 12 ~ Evasion: 17 ~ Strength: 2 ~ Wisdom: 16 ~ Arcane Power: 4 ~ Accuracy: 17
Student Account: Martyr Daeva-Lazarus
23 Feb 2022, 00:10
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
Talking to @Xailah Alptraum | @Jake Morris | @Haven Bohannon.
Whacking @Jack Warren with a flower.
Curiously, Dee watched as Xailah set down Peri's place card - why had she picked it up in the first place? It was perfectly readable from a seat over - then took a moment before replying to Dee's question. Replying to, notably, not answering. Well. She supposed there was some truth to that, knowing it was made of plastic would probably make the spider decoration less... atmospheric. She smiled at the compliment about her earrings - they most certainly were plastic, although from a distance, they could also be clay or any other similar material - and unconsciously reached up with one hand to touch them. "Would you like them less if I told you what they're made of?"
Jake's arrival was greeted with a smile and a friendly wave. "Hi Jake!" she chirped back, then watched as he sat down, which left them spaced around the table with one free chair between them each. That wasn't weird at all. His question about whether they'd been supposed to dress up was met with a shrug, then a nod at Xailah's answer. "The invitation didn't say anything about dressing up," Dee added. She also found herself agreeing with Xailah's other statement. Santario had said something similar last year, how she wasn't sure how these things worked, and was bad at it, or something. What was there really to be bad at? As long as they had a good time, wasn't that the point?
Meanwhile, Dee was really starting to crave the chocolate cupcake in front of her, but the others hadn't touched theirs yet. Should she wait until everyone was there? What if someone didn't come? Perhaps they already had different plans and wouldn't show (although she kind of really hoped that Jack didn't have other plans on Valentine's Day). Wasn't fifty percent good enough?
Her contemplation was interrupted by another arrival to the table (sixty-six percent now, they were getting closer), a face that was only vaguely familiar from classes and the like. Haven had clearly chosen the more dressy path, although her outfit was less elegant than Xailah's and more... pink and fluffy. "Hi Haven, I'm Dee," she returned the introduction with a slightly delayed smile. The girl's socks had gone unnoticed, sadly, as the girl took the seat between Xailah and Jake, leaving Dee alone on her side of the table. Even worse, she didn't touch her cupcake either, which would have given Dee an excuse to eat hers, and instead started rummaging through her bag, offering Jake candy and socks. Socks? That was an interesting thing to bring to a tea party. What a curious mix of people at this table. At least it wouldn't be boring, even if Pericles and Jack didn't show. "I like socks," she announced, grinning, amusement dancing in her eyes. Truthfully, she wasn't all that partial to them, but who disliked socks?
She also liked candy, but before she could add that fact, they got interrupted by an announcement by Professor Lécuyer. Had he set all of this up? It would make sense, she supposed, since he'd been the one to organise the errand the day before. If so, what in the world had he done to their letters over night? She hoped that at least the one for Professor Iwasaki had escaped the rough treatment that the other letters seemed to have gone through.
That wasn't the bad part, however, because as the professor mentioned the roses, Dee finally noticed the ones descending towards their table... towards her. She blinked, catching it from the air on reflex rather than purpose. Which made her... a what now? There was a note attached, and reading through it distracted her enough that she missed Jack's arrival - until he started speaking, almost next to her, just slightly behind, and she jumped so hard she almost dropped the rose.
Because yes, fine, okay, maybe her thoughts had gone to the one and only Jack Warren when the note had talked about kissing her valentine. Except they hadn't kissed before. They weren't dating. They... well, they had gone to the fall ball together, but that had been months ago, and she still wasn't sure if he'd only asked her because she'd caught him stealing flowers from the greenhouses. She'd gone to watch his broom race last month, but had spent more time making fun of him than anything else. Would she mind kissing him? ....... No. Maybe? How was she supposed to know? It wasn't like she'd thought about it. Much.
And of course, instead of giving her time to process this (and possibly hand off the rose to some random person somewhere), he'd chosen this exact moment to show up to the party. So what was she to do except turn bright red and whack him when he suddenly appeared next to her like that? "You scared me!" she accused, then paused. Oops. She'd hit him with the hand that had held the flower. A sentiment worth repeating out loud. "Oops." Um. Perhaps asking him to be her valentine now would be a good distraction?
"One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar."
24 Feb 2022, 19:02
TABLE 15 | Sweethearts Tea Party
There was something funny to the phrase fashionably late. The ideal implied one should be late enough to permit the host absolute readiness, yet not late enough to incur inconvenience, though Pericles didn't consider lateness fashionable. Rather than be late as a matter of presentation, he arrived late due to overthinking. His trip to the confectionary stations had been a delight. Baking was a soothing pastime, all the more when one was baking for friends. Evidently, lateness had worked in his favor. While other parcels were mixed about haphazardly, some arriving to the wrong person or not arriving at all, he had elected to bring his handmade sweets with him.
@Dealla PrinceReducioFor Dealla, he had begun with a honey cupcake, blending buttercream frosting with blue food dye. The golden cake with cobalt cream- sprinkled with edible gold candies- was a pretty combination for any Ravenclaw, and to top it off, he stuck into the top two teeny, tiny twigs of chocolate carved as a pair of crossed wands. Sweet in flavor, yet leaning towards lightness, nothing too plain nor overly decadent. Aesthetically, it commended her place as a captain among eagles.
@Xailah AlptraumReducioFor Xailah on the other hand, decadence was a prerequisite. It oughtn't be overly flavorful, nor insultingly ordinary, but something which found the fine line between "tasteful nuance" and "tedious complication". For her he selected a cupcake of rich dark chocolate, a gooey raspberry ganache at its core, topped by a spiraling crown of light vanilla frosting whipped with honey. Something delicate to balance the bold flavor, dusted with a sprinkling of edible gold. Not just pretty, but boasting taste. Its decoration was a bite-sized chocolate skull.
@Aly SalingerReducioFor Aly, although she was not at their table, he had opted for something bright and sweet. Another honey cake, this time with the center scooped out for the addition of strawberry preserve, capped with a swirling flower of cherry frosting. A strawberry for an additional splash of color, and a modest dusting of edible gold. Although they were not particularly close yet, her cheer and amiability brought sunshine to the Ravenclaw commons. He liked her company and wasn't beyond bribing her companionship with confectionaries.
@Thomas BainesReducioWhile Thomas wasn't at their table either, Pericles wasn't about to pass up an opportunity to express appreciation to his newest duelling partner. Someone as energetic and bodacious as him deserved something apart from the rest. Another rich chocolate cupcake, but this time topped with vivid mint cream, encircled in bittersweet cocoa chunks. For décor, he made the cheeky addition of a golden paper crown. Cheers, king.
@Phaedra StavrouReducioPerhaps in an entirely unexpected gesture, Pericles had crafted a confectionary for the fifth-year Phaedra. They shared a place in the Duel team, as well as the Headliner, even Ravenclaw prefectdom, though their personal connection was reduced to brief, awkward (on Peri's part) dialogues in passing, alongside a hazy, embarrassing memory from their childhoods. All the same, another of the honey cakes was chosen, topped without fanfare or décor. A gentle, whimsical whipped topping of lavender, with little traces of the flower accompanying it. Modestly sweet, giving away nothing outside of an inexplicable gift, to be left later at her desk in the Headliner office.
Each cupcake was contained inside of a small, unassuming brown box. Fortuitously, prepared for the unexpected, Pericles had also dabbled in the chocolate bark, arriving with several small sacks he could hand to the others at their table. The immensely soothing process had involved pouring rows of light and dark chocolate, dragging a toothpick through the gooey substance to create a pattern, and sprinkling the stuff with that edible gold powder he was evidently immensely fond of. Upon arriving at table fifteen, he walked about it with a soft smile, distributing one little baggy each to @Jake Morris, @Haven Bohannon, and @Jack Warren. Xailah and Dee were personally handed their cupcake boxes as he addressed the lot with an airy "Hullo everyone."
Pericles did not celebrate Valentine's in the conventional sense. Romanticism was evidently still beyond him, bizarre though that may be for a teenage boy. Yet it was an excuse to express friendship, appreciation, and companionship. His smile stretched at the sight of three cupcakes waiting by his placard, which he sat at after handing out his gifts. The young wizard hadn't dressed over elaborately, though there was a clean, quality look to his clothes, the middleground between formal and casual. His favorite white coat, a warm black turtleneck, pressed grey slacks, shined bark boots. Comfortable, and only vaguely crisp. "Have I missed anything exciting?" Brawls and fires were the norm for these Hogwarts get-togethers. He glanced around the room, not yet opening his little letters, though plucking them from the treats and arranging them in a preparatory stack.
Arriving, handing out sweets, sitting
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)