Gryffindor Ball Gryffindors Closed

Lamik was so deep in thought that he hadn't noticed an all too familiar curly boy approaching him. Looking off at the table and wondering whether or not it would be worth it to take a few snacks before attempting his grand escape, the boy nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of a nearby voice. As he turned to look at who spoke to him, Lamiks face showed a small hint of confusion for a few moments before snapping out of it and shaking his head slowly. "No thank you." The first year smiled warmly, his voice betraying a sort of vulnerability that rarely showed itself. "I don't like them all that much."

Though he hadn't noticed him in the room when he had entered, Lamik was not surprised that the boy who he didn't know at the time was called Isaac showed up to the ball. It was meant for Gryffindors, after all. No, what surprised Lamik was the fact that Isaac not only approached him but that he had also decided that he had something to apologize for. Lamik was the obvious bad guy between the two that day in the abandoned bathrooms and the fact that Isaac wanted to pretend that he wasn't simply didn't make much sense to Lamik. "Don't apologize. I deserved it. I was just stressed and made the mistake of taking it out on you."

Interacts with Alan and Aurelia, open to other interactions

Shocking to everyone involved, Alan wasn't too up for a ball dance either. It was almost as if the boy wasn't keen on any unexpected social events! How curious... But Scott shrugged these complaints off, because as far as he was concerned, dancing was the best possible way of spending any time. He loved to do it, whenever and with whomever- so when Aurelia announced it was time to head for the ballroom he'd taken his prizes and followed her with excitement.

"You should eat these," Suggested Scott to Alan, once they'd got up one of the staircases. He handed him almost half of the chocolate frogs he'd gotten (admittedly because he kept dropping the lot). "you need the energy. What's with you, anyway, are you tired? That's alright, because-"

“No Chocolate Frogs beyond this point. Either eat them or throw them away."

"Now that's outrageous."

But Scott did as he'd been told, and opened the last couple of frogs that he hadn't given to Alan or eaten on the way at an impressive speed, before practically dragging Alan inside the ballroom by his bow-tie.

The place looked wonderful. Everything was decorated, from the floor to the incredibly high ceilings, where what looked like millions of lights all gathered in constellations of chandeliers... whoever had worked with this had done a good job. The hall screamed Gryffindor.

Scott hadn't been to the Blossom Ball the last time it was held in that room. But he had danced there, back in his first year. It had been when he and Ami snuck her out of the hospital wing, when they'd walked the castle and ended up ball dancing without any music just for the sake of it.
A part of him wished that she, as well as other people from other houses, could be there as well...

But they didn't win the house cup!

"Oh won't you look at this! Aurelia, did you work with this, too?" Scott beamed first to the room, then to Alan and lastly to their prefect- whom he passed gladly as he went to study the closest of many circular tables with sweets (pretending he hadn't just downed some eleven chocolate frogs). "Because it looks amazing!"

He placed his broom against a wall, and the slippers by the brush of it. He didn't want to be carrying those around all night, but rather have his hands free for both dancing and chocolate éclairs... Scott wasn't going to lie to anyone, the fruit platter may well be left untouched.

"You can leave your things here, too, Alan..." He smirked and pointed to the "fake" bottle.

"Maybe keep an eye on that."

Alan was surprised that there was going to be a ball right after the Scavenger Hunt. The Scavenger Hunt was fun he had to admit, more fun than he had in a while. Lear was nowhere to be seen to give them any crazy challenges. He would have wished for more exciting gifts, but he guessed that a broom and a fake bottle of whiskey was nothing he could complain about. The pocket of his vest was enchanted to hold many things, like an expansion so he could put a lot of thing in there, without problem and without him having to carry heavy.

So Alan was getting even more Chocolate Frogs from Scott and he took them with surprise. Well he could keep them and they gonna share them when the evening was a bit boring. Maybe something like that, Alan would not know yet. For now he just opened one package after the other and stuffed his mouth with the sweet, before shoving the cards that came with the treat into his pocket. He would check it for doubles and new cards later, but knowing his luck there were probably no new golden cards. Alan shook his head, when Scott asked him if he was tired. ”But every Ball so far ended in a disaster”, he explained after frowning at Aurelia's words. That was just stupid why would they throw away the Chocolate Frogs?

Alan simply shoved them into his pocket, he had eaten like ten already and could not eat anymore, but he was not going to throw away a perfectly fine food. As long as she could not see them, it should be fine, right?

Alan placed his new broom, first broom he ever had as well, next to Scott's before he took a look at the bottle. ”Do you think I should take it with inside?”, he asked him, not sure what to do. Such a prank article might be popular with the other Gryffindors.

Lallie looked at the Hogsmeade permission in amazement. She recognized that paper. Was that the same paper that she pulled out of the pot?

"Cool! I think I found that too. One of my roommates who was going back to the dorms brought my stuff up for me, but that slip looks exactly like the one I found." Lallie said gleefully. That meant two things. One she wouldn't have to wait another year to be able to go to Hogsmeade, and two her and Millie both had a slip that gave them permission to the dating hotspot of all the older students. Lallie's heart fluttered in glee.

'No, Millie wouldn't want to go on a date with you, how stupid are you for thinking that?' Lallie thought berating herself.

"I also got a chess set which is pretty cool. I have one at home, but it didn't fit into my trunk." Lallie said with a slight chuckle. Lallie was a good enough chess player. After all, her brother, the master of chess, taught her all she knows.

Lallie's last two brain cells just left the building. Millie had just asked if she liked to dance! Millie, the only person she's felt like this for in a long time, had just asked if she liked to dance! Was Millie going to ask her to dance? She looked over to the gramophone, one to listen to what was playing, two to prevent Millie from seeing her blushing.

Sure enough, ballroom dance music was still playing. She had never danced with anyone before, aside from that one time her parents had signed her and her brother up for partner dancing that one summer where they learned that Lallie was not suited to dance.

"Uh, Y-yea I like dancing," Lallie said turning back to Millie when her face wasn't so obviously red, "But I'm not the best at it."

After rushing to the fifth floor from the Great Hall to ransack her own trunk in a search for a proper dress, she exhaled as it seemed she made it at the stairs in a single breath. She couldn't explain the rush, but she just didn't want to be late. She hated being late. The fact that most of the students were already properly dressed during the Scavenger Hunt didn't bother her. The fact that she wasn't — did. It wasn't her fault, though, as she didn't have enough time after dinner.

She dressed up quickly in the tight grey dress with a loose bottom, which she kept in her trunk for the whole year. And let her hair down from the ponytail, her regular hair look for everyone outside the girls' dorms. So it was probably the first time in a year she let her hair down.

The doors to the ball were open wide as she stepped through, gazing around and looking for familiar faces. Well, all of them were familiar faces, especially with Meenauh's face memory. The whole year she studied with all of them, talked to them occasionally and spent time in the common room. She didn't remember everyone by their names, but she knew most of them even though they may not have been introduced to each other.

Mentions @Lamik Fillestar

She looked around and noticed Lamik talking to the boy she wouldn't ever want to speak directly. She admitted she was quite surprised by such an interaction choice. Lamik looked somewhere in her direction, but she wasn't sure. She waved at him and smiled just in case he would notice and headed past them.

Interacting with @Marla Quinlan and @Emile Yorke

Then she noticed Marla talking to their prefect, Emile, and decided that from the whole ballroom of people, that was the best couple to stick to. Though not every Gryffindor was in the ballroom just yet. She hurried to them, smiled at Marla's outfit, which she found just right. She was still feeling awkward from being the first time in public with the hair resting down her shoulders and not caged tight into a ponytail.

"Hello, Marla. Hello, Emile," she waved at them, "Do you know if there's anything special planned for the ball?"

@Lamik Fillestar | mention@Marla Quinlan | @Kyle Derook

"No thank you." The first year smiled warmly, his voice betraying a sort of vulnerability that rarely showed itself. "I don't like them all that much."

Isaac was taken aback by the warmth in Fillestar's voice, when he was expecting coldness, sharp as knives. He forced himself to not show any hint of surprise, instead pocketing the extra eclair somewhere in his uniform. Yes, his pockets already contained two chocolate frogs - but the Gryffindor prefects couldn't know that. Especially that Aurelia. Giving the little creatures an eclair might've made them less fidgety anyway.

One thing he noticed was how Fillestar's smile shifted his entire face, sapphire blue eyes shining like diamonds, feathery blonde hair tucked by his ears, expression plain and open. He never thought it possible for a boy who looked so sickly, so tormented to appear as if he had been freed from pain. All because of a single boy's offer of a dessert, a boy that he was on poor terms with before. A healthy glow crept into his cheeks, and Fillestar was genuine enough that Isaac was speechless.

How lonely was this boy?

Pity swirled around in his mind, pity for the fact that he was alone and pity that all he had was Isaac's company, not even that of a friend.

The boy sighed, "Don't apologize. I deserved it. I was just stressed and made the mistake of taking it out on you."

Deserved it? He put his free hand to his forehead, the other holding his eclair. What on earth?

"You said what I did was insane. I said that you would've died should Kyle have attacked you," he recounted, puzzlement twisting his features, "no offense, but how the deuce do you deserve that?"

This boy was no saint, but the way he was behaving, Isaac wasn't sure whether or not he was going for the forgiveness medal for good Samaritans, or bottling up his fury until it broke loose. Either one was very disconcerting in his opinion. He wasn't used to unconditional forgiveness. Kyle's explosive anger, Marla's cool disinterest - that was familiar. But Fillestar was of a different breed. He'd have to observe closely.

Shaking his head and blinking, Isaac asked, "So is there any sort of dessert you do like then?"

A Alptraum is never late, nor early, they arrive precisely when they mean to. This was a saying often used by Xailahs great aunt Tabitha. It was a quote that was stolen and modified by the old woman, and one that she eventually made her own. It was one of the few quotes that Xailah actually took quite literally. She would arrive to gatherings when she felt like it, or when it was convenient for her. Or if her mother was calling her down to take part in one of the dinner parties that the family would often host. In any case Xailah would arrive fashionably late to this gathering.

Unlike some other students, Xailah was not afraid to go to this little get-together. Should she be? Probably. Considering what happened at the other failed balls, the sense of fear that a few other students possessed, was justified. But it would take a little bit more than fire and kidnapping half-giants to keep her away from social gatherings. Especially social gatherings that had a chance of containing wonderfully shiny objects such as silverware. These parties essentially were playgrounds for kleptomaniacs such as herself. They were an invitation to come and take things.

She didn't exactly consider social gatherings as something special; considering she went to many over the course of her twelve years of being alive. Aside from being a great place to snag some glittery little knick-knacks, parties were also a great place to people watch. So many interesting people went to parties. Many did not dance, which she found surprising. The whole purpose of these types of gatherings, was to dance, was it not? Perhaps these students were just incapable of dancing? She for one, was not fond of dancing, but that did not mean that she was incapable of doing so. She could in fact dance, and she could dance well. Just like Uma Thurman.

Tonight's outfit consisted of a pair of lacy gloves, her little black drawstring bag, a short grey cape that was lined with some sort of black fur, a sleek pair of boots that went a little above the ankle, a black long drop-bustle absinthe skirt, a ruffled long sleeve silk blouse, and a funky little pair of goggles that would rest atop her head. Her umbrella would not be accompanying her. Just like many of her other outfits, it was flashy, it was obnoxious, and not to mention impractical. But if she was going to go to a social gathering, then she was going to try to out-dress everyone else. She was unaware that she often had a habit of doing this.

Xailah did not attend the scavenger-hunt that was held a few hours before this party. She had been too busy pulling things out of her trunk, in a desperate search for a bigger and bolder outfit than the one that she had worn to the last ball. Time management was not one of her strongest skills. Upon entering the ballroom she immediately felt dizzy and disoriented. It was just like the dorms, or the common room; just a whole lot bigger. It was kind of...gross? She spotted a few familiar faces, but none that were really worth talking to. Or so she thought.

She walked with poise and a purpose. That was how she had been taught to walk. Perhaps she walked with more poise than purpose, since she didn't exactly know what her purpose of being here was. Perhaps it was to do her rounds and take what little silverware she could find- but lets face it, thats not a very good purpose. She would gracefully make her rounds; snatching up whatever silverware she found. When done, she would pull a chair up to the old gramophone, to sit. She would remain there, arms resting on the gramophones table, chin resting on one hand, and simply just watch all the strange little people that had come to the event.

Interacting with: @Emile Yorke, @Meenauh Silmataurea, & @Kyle Derook
Mentions: @Isaac Ambrose & @Lamik Fillestar
Open to interactions

For some odd reason, Marla thought that literally everyone she knew in Gryffindor was going to miraculously poof into air, or vapor, or whatever, really... And disappear. But that was luckily not the case. As she sat miserably in the corner of the humid space, she spotted a familiar lanky figure, who began to walk towards her. Emile! God, he was an angel. Without him, Marla would probably sit alone for the rest of this stupid dance.
"Hey, Marla! Isn't this place amazing?" He asked, which Marla scoffed to. If he meant amazingly humid and gross, then most definitely. The temperature was a bit excessive, even for magic. Didn't they have enchanted air conditioning or something?
"Emile! Uh.. It's alright. A bit freaked out by all the midgets dancing though." She pointed to a few tiny students doing... Questionable dance moves, to say the least. Yikes... Couldn't they at least provide complimentary dance classes here or something? It was horrendous to witness. Marla was in no position to call anyone a midget, though. Has she looked in a mirror? The girl resembled a toothpick. Poor thing.
"Did you not see the thing about dressing formally?" He asked, to which Marla's face became flushed with embarrassment. She didn't even realize there was going to be a scavenger hunt, let alone a ball. Marla let out an awkward giggle and shook her head.
"No. I'm kind of happy that I wore sweatpants though. They're comfy. Not like I'm doing any dancing or anything." She shrugged, eyeing the sweets on the table in front of her, and grabbed a pumpkin pasty, devouring it in two seconds. The last thing she ate was... Did she eat today? Marla didn't realize how starved she was until she brought the food to her lips, and it was honestly the best thing she had all day. "Oh my god. I needed that." She said dreamily, coming back to her senses a few seconds later with a shake of her head.

You know what she didn't need? To spot someone that she never wanted to see again. But, here we were, as Kyle freaking Derook strolled into the ballroom. Looking like a miniature gang member. A leather jacket, jeans, boots... She couldn't help but scowl. His face just made her so angry. And you know what happened next? He nodded at her! Oh, and the pure nerve of this boy...After punching her in the face, no less! He nodded? Acting like everything was fine? She gave him a furious stare with eyes that had a crimson glint. If murder was an object? Her eyes would've been a perfect representation. She didn't know whether to be terrified or enraged, but she felt a little bit of both. Yes, he hit her, and she craved revenge like nothing else in the world, but Marla couldn't find it in her to even get close to him. How could she, after all he had done? And in a way, she had already gotten her revenge. Marla said some honestly horrid things to him that she occasionally feels irrationally guilty about.

Remembering that Emile was there as well, Marla snapped out of her hypnotic anger and looked back at him with a smile, pretending nothing happened. She couldn't show Kyle that she cared. She wouldn't. Act normal, act normal... Marla told herself in desperation, using all the willpower she had to not glance over at him. She wanted to spill everything out and rant to Emile about why she was acting so strange at that moment, but she couldn't tell anyone, and I mean anyone, about being punched in the face. Not even Emile. Marla would probably take this secret to the grave.

Speaking of the punching incident, Meenauh came over to their table! The small Gryffindor hoped to God that Meenauh wouldn't bring that up. It not only brought up terrible memories, but it was completely mortifying. She cried in front of what, five people? Oh, just thinking about it wanted to make Marla curl into a ball and go poof. It was even worse that Isaac and Lamik were there, it seemed that they were hitting it off as she saw the blonde boy smile as if he won a million dollars. She didn't really talk to either of them, but it would be nice if they could all talk, or at least not hate each other. Lamik had helped her when Kyle cast a verdimillous spell and pulled her to the ground, which she was still extremely grateful for to this day. And she felt terrible because Isaac offered to take her to the hospital wing, but Marla treated him like dirt. She pulled away from him, and he probably hated her by now. She couldn't blame him, she was kind of an ass that day. But like the sweet girl she was, Meenauh just greeted the two and asked if they knew anything about the ball, with nothing to say about the abandoned bathrooms.
"Meenauh, do you even see what I'm wearing? I didn't even realize there was a ball." She joked with a light-hearted grin. And even though she was trying to be happy, Marla couldn't help but glance over at Kyle again and feel the same pain on her cheek that he had caused months ago. She felt a very small scar on the left side of her face and frowned slightly, hoping that the boy would leave soon. It was hard to be in the same room as him. Hell, it was hard to look at him. She turned back to her two friends and clapped her hands together.
"Anyways, you both look great. What'd you get at the scavenger hunt?"

Obviously, what Isaac was saying was absolutely ridiculous. Lamik was completely sure that anyone else would agree as much- Emile, Marla, Kyle, Meenauh. Yes, every single one of them would have to agree that he was the bad guy at the abandoned bathroom. As much as Lamik would have liked to argue about who was in the wrong that day in the abandoned bathroom though he eventually decided that an argument about why the other person is nicer was not the best way to begin a friendship of any sorts.

Instead, the boy decided to focus on the second topic that was brought up: a question that Lamik honestly found to be slightly ridiculous. "Of course I like desserts. Who doesn't?" Dessert was one of Lamik Fillestar's favorite things, right after his family, his friends, and of course, cheese fondue. "You like desserts, right? If not, I'll have to assume that you're insane. I feel like that's an acceptable leap in logic." The blonde chuckled to himself. A quirk that he had that no one had ever told him was weird (though he wouldn't have cared either way) was that the boy tended to laugh at his own jokes.

Interacting with @Marla Quinlan and @Emile Yorke

She watched Marla exclaiming about her unawareness of the hunt and the ball, which made Meenauh less tight as she didn't know of it either.

"Oh! I didn't know of it either, because I was literally dragged into the Great Hall by the Gryffindor crowd. And after the hunt, I had to rush to the dorms to change. That's basically why I was late," she sort of shrugged, which wasn't her common body language, "And regarding your look — to be honest, I wasn't that clever, because I think you look fabulous! I always preferred comfort over a nice look," she involuntarily adjusted her dress, as she didn't get used to wearing it much.

Meenauh noticed Marla was sort of snapping out of the conversation from time to time and glanced over her shoulder. Meenauh scanned the ballroom to deduce the source of Marla's irritation, and there was only one person in the crowd, who looked very much not like the others. That was the "mad" boy, Kyle, as Lamik explained to her on their way back to the common room that day. Meenauh flinched as she didn't want to bring anything up from that day, especially on such a festive occasion. But she could feel Marla was deeply irritated, if not... hurt. Meenauh didn't know what was the relationship between those two, but she didn't feel she had rights to inquire. She didn't know whether Marla considered her that close of a friend yet. 

The little sun turned back to her and Emile and asked about the Scavenger Hunt and Meenauh's frown changed to a smile.

"I haven't found a single piece of an artefact. But I received a ton of chocolate as a consolation prize. I hope you'd help me with those once we're back in the dorms, or on any other occasion," she replied smiling, "Any luck for you?"