The Ball

"Uh ... No you didn't offen me or anything. It's alright." she told him, her words sounding cautious, as if she didn't trust him. In truth, she didn't, Hitame didn't trust people most of the time. She looked around for her brother before looking back at the person who stood in front of her and she sighed. She still couldn't shake the feeling that she knew who he was, but she wasn't going to keep going with it. If she did know him, she would eventually find out, sooner or later.

He commented that he thought her name was beautiful and she blushed again. That was twice already, more than she would've blushed at anything before. She cursed at herself in her mind, but she was grateful that the mask hide the blush from his view and she cleared her throat softly when he said that he bet everyone told her name was beautiful. "Actually no. At least not that I know of." she told him. In fact people always said the opposite. They thought her name was weird and stupid, because they'd never heard it before.

Hitame looked around once more for Xemnas and didn't see him but she only glanced around, so she wouldn't have seen him anyways, and she sighed softly. "Er ... I came here with my brother actually." she said. "Only to keep him company, but I think he'll be fine without me now." she glanced back at Sora once more and smiled when she saw that he had found a few of his friends. He asked her to let him be in her company for the night and she hesitated again. What was the harm in that? "Uh ... Sure." she nodded and smiled slightly at him.

((OOC: I don't want to keep interrupting posts merely to announce the next song, so I'll just post a link here to a playlist on youtube. If you don't like that sort of music, ya'all can just pretend that Mathias is taking requests and playing the song of your choice! ))

Apocalyptica Masquerade Performance

((Yes, yes, I know. Absolutely no originality when it comes to the band's name. ))

Saoirse's head perked up as the band began to play. She had heard the cello being played before, but never like this. She found herself pulled towards the music. Getting up from her preferred seat in the back, Saoirse moved up to a table nearer to the band. She knew that it would be more likely that she would be joined at a table in this location, but she thought the music was worth the risk.

((Somebody be nice to Saoirse, please! D: ))

The longer Gisele stayed at Hogwarts the more she felt like her old self. Nights were longer, mornings were later, and classes were overshadowed by unvanishing traces of an hangover mixed with the much more bubbly buzz of one who enjoys her life. Though she didn't completely realize it at the moment, a certain person was the reason for this new view of the beauty of her world. With the knowledge of who was attending and minor coaxing from Franki, Gisele had become extremely excited about the idea of the masquerade ball. On a free weekend she and Franki had gone into town and gotten Gisele's gown for the event and earlier this evening Franki had taken great delight in doing her make-up and hair like her very own life size Barlie doll.

The end result was no less than breathtaking, if Gisele did say so herself. She wore a floor length ball gown that sparkled so brightly when the light hit it that she could have sworn it was made entirely of diamonds. The fabric was amazing comfortable (thanks to some magic modifications at Madamn Mulkins) but it snugly hugged her curves, doing justice to her chest and hips. On her feet was a hidden pair of candy pink heels to give her a little extra height and covering her face was the mandatory mask for the occasion. Her's was made of gold and silver, it's shape giving her appearance a sense of magic and mystical nature.

Upon entering the ballroom she saw that she had dressed appropriately and her level or formality roughly matched the rest of the guests. This was a slight releif - she wanted to be a center of attention for beauty instead of worst dressed. The only off putting part was that everyone was, well, wearing masks. Gisele had no idea where to turn or who to jump into conversation with. The only person who's outfit she knew was Franki's and after scanning the whole room she determined that the blonde was nowhere to be found. Hints of disappointment dawned on her previously ecstatic attitude and she made her way to an unoccupied table to await the appearance of company. Helene had mentioned that she might drop by at some point but Gisele wasn't sure how exactly she was going to know when she had shown up.

It felt like a long time since he had gone to a ball. Heck, it felt like a long time since he was actually doing anything at all. Yet, here he was, Trenton Thomas, clad in an outfit that he had tried his best to piece together in an effort for some formality, but still failing in the process. Well, he might not have failed if not for all the fancy gowns and suits that seemed to overwhelm his periphery. To think he had actually thought he could fit in with the crowd. Staring down at his pair of Vans, Trent squirmed and edged even closer to the corner, before peering back up at the fancy crowd. Why did he even decide to attend the ball?

He began to feel the stares. Where was his blazer? Where was his pair of formal shoes? What was up with the chinos? As hidden as he was under his Bat Mask, which Nanna had fortunately sent in a rather quick reply to his owl, Trent still felt anxious under the scrutiny that he thought he was receiving. He reached a nervous hand up to ruffle his hair, but it merely slammed against his mask, threatening to throw it off his face to reveal his identity to a crowd of people he distrusted with that very revelation. Quickly, his other hand shot up to adjust his mask, preventing its fall.

He could feel his own hot breath against the enclosure of the mask. Yet, he was comfortable in the Bat Cave that his mask provided him with. Time was spent hiding in his corner, but his eyes were actively searching for the one person he could blame for the fact that he actually showed up at the ball. Typically, it would not have taken more than a minute to see the tip of the blonde's head bobbing, even in a sea of other students. Unfortunately, what with everyone in a mask now, he began to worry if Millie and him had missed each other. It was too bad that he didn't dare to remove the mask to allow her to spot him. Merlin forbid he remove the mask.

The Masquerade Ball was not one that Cerelia Avery would have readily attended had it not been for the fact that her brothers were going. Acting as pseudo ambassadors for their father, the Avery twins arrived somewhat late to the ball and found their sister stood at the mouth of the Entrance Hall, under the awning with her face bare of all concealment, making it easy for them to spot her. They too had decided to go without masks but whether that was purposely done or out of sheer idiocy, Cerelia could not quite ascertain – though she was quite sure it was the latter. She had elected herself into the position that their father had sought for the boys. She also had to look after them, make sure they didn’t get too drunk and uphold what was left of the family’s pride.

With a sigh, Cerelia tied her mask behind her head, fixing it over her eyes and the top of her nose. She ignored the drawls of hers brothers, complimenting her somewhat sarcastically on the dress she wore, and swept into the castle. Striding ahead of them with some pace, so that there was much distance placed between herself and the errant siblings she bore to her name. It was better, she felt, to avoid them as much as possible. Perhaps that way she could survive past ten o’clock and perhaps that way they would stay just that little bit more sober so that she would not have to Floo home with them in hand and not risk splinching herself by their rampant desire to Apparate everywhere they went.

Casting a look over her shoulder, Cerelia narrowed her eyes at her brothers, watching them with distaste as they approached a pair of girls in her year that looked pleased as punch to have gotten the attention of two masked gentlemen that were clearly older than themselves. Cerelia turned her head back around, deciding to quash her anger and enjoy the evening, but did so far too late and found herself colliding with another person. The smack of skin against skin left Cerelia shocked and she jumped back, unsteady on the heels she wore, barely managing to keep on her feet as she moved from the person she had bumped into.

As she regained her countenance, Cerelia allowed herself to take in the form of the creature, observe the delicate curves of the girl that stood before her. They seemed to pour into the dress that she wore, fitted elegantly to her frame. They were not too ample but not lacking entirely, giving the barest, tantalising hints of womanhood that Cerelia herself wished she possessed. The skin of the girl that peeked out from the dress was of a milky shade peppered with the dark tinge that sunshine brought. Her lips were given this pale pink sheen and behind the golden mask her eyes sparkled a glorious green. But oh, her smell was what now clung to Cerelia. Her scent was what had attached itself to her skin and her hair that hung around her face in curls. She could smell her, every inch of her, a familiar smell. The one smell she’d picked out beneath sun cream and cosmetics.

“Gisele.”

Melissa Finnigan was not the sort of person that moved in line with convention or social expectations. No, instead she made an effort to swim outside of it, in the cold pool instead of the warm one that everyone else swam in. So naturally she would not be wearing a ball gown like anyone else, or a mask. Instead she wore a tartan dress that she had made out of her mother’s table cloth – swiped before coming back for the start of the new academic year and Millie had no idea whether Lavender had noticed or not. She coupled that with a pair of mustard yellow tights and some flowery Dr. Martens. She wore no mask. Instead, atop her head, was a tall crown that Millie believed shielded her identity completely. Of course, it didn’t and as soon as she entered the hall, she began to get similar looks to Trent – only, Millie got rolls of eyes too. Typical, the all thought. It had to be her.

Bumping past people in their formal dress, Millie made her way over to the bat that was skulking in the corner of the Great Hall. He didn’t look impressed. In fact, far from it. But Millie knew he’d be impressed when he saw her crown. She looked awesome after all. Trent would have to mention it. The girl picked up pace as she made her way towards him and was running by the time she reached him. Jumping towards Trent, Millie threw her arms around his neck and locked her legs around his waist, adopting a rather unladylike pose that would’ve been even worse had it not been for the fact that she was wearing mustard coloured tights.

“Trentypoooooooooo!” Millie sang, her voice unheard above the music that was playing. A quick kiss to his lips and Millie jumped down. “Do you like my crown?” She asked, pushing it out of her eyes to peek up at him through her lashes. “I’m King Millie! Ah-ha!” She flicked her arm with a flourish, as if she were holding a sword, and bounced around him like a puppy with its owner. “Trenty-Trenty-Trenty!” She harassed, beaming at the boy with wild abandon. “Shall we dance?”

Jess clutched his travelling cloak around him a little more tightly as he approached Hogwarts Castle for the first time in several months, eagerly awaiting the warmth that undoubtedly awaited him in the Entrance Hall.

His costume was quite simple, a plain black suit, white shirt, and matching Blue with Gold trim tie and mask. He was quite sure that most would recognise him. Generally he went to most of these things in full spirit - grand, flamboyant costumes which left one choking for air by the end of the first dance.

No, this time it was different. Simplicity, in itself, carried some striking features, or so Jess thought as he walked through those great doors, shedding his cloak as his suspicions about the nicer temperature came true.

He entered the Hall after taking a moment to look around, mingling for awhile before he saw something which nearly made him jump out of his skin.

"Well well well, isn't this a blast from the past," he called out as he approached the youthful looking Ne'os Emof, his right arm outstretched in an offer of peace, his left ready to jump for his wand, tucked into the lining of his dinner jacket.

Iris Ayala, the girl who loved wearing studded combat boots, denim jackets, ripped leggings and other stuff, what matched with her edgy, still fun personality, gripped her golden purse and ran her finger over her mask, over her red lips. Iris smiled weakly while thinking about her dramatic plans for tonight: „What am I doing?“

Golden brown, silky and generally fabulous dress showed everybody Iris' body. Dress had deep neckline, dress was floor length and with every step Iris made, it gently waved around her legs. When Iris stepped under candle- or torchlight, everyone could see different kinds of golden and brown tones sparkling all over the dress. Iris looked sweet like honey, but also dramatic, because of her red lips and dark, slightly curly hair that framed her tanned face and of course, the golden half-mask that hide one side of her face. It gave Demetria opportunity to be mysterious and also great opportunity to surprise Gisele...
At first, Iris wasn´t sure she would attend this event at all, but when she heard, that Gisele was going to this event, there was no doubt that Iris will do. Especially after what had happened between these two young girls, lost in love and secrets. Today, they weren´t. Everyone were supposed to wear masks and everything could happen. Everything.

Iris took deep breath and entered the ballroom, she took some time to look around and smiles, when she felt more than one pair of eyes on her. Everyone looked so breathtaking, mask couldn´t stop Iris' colourful imagination. She dreamed about one guy, who danced with a beautiful girl and found herself staring at tall girl, with red hair, she was so pretty, but Iris hadn´t seen Gisele yet... And oh, when they will meet, there will be fireworks on the air, no kidding.

"Cerelia?" 

The blonde looked absolutely breathtaking tonight, a fact that did not escape Gisele's notice. Her rich voice had become familiar over the summer months but hearing it here seemed to surprise Gisele. The pair hadn't spoken much since the start of term and at times it almost felt as if Cerelia was purposely avoiding her. But this was a grand surprise and Gisele's lips immediately curled into a bemused smile. 

"You look - I mean.. Wow, it's great to see you." I've missed you. You look beautiful. How's your family? Classes? Did I mention you look beautiful? The feeling of nerves that Gisele sometimes experienced around Cerelia Avery was uncommon for her and she knew that only time cured her twisted tongue. Cerelias pleasing coldness and formality both turned her on and also made her feel like a fool. 

But Gisele kept her smile warm and welcoming, genuinely excited for seeing her friend again. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted someone else in a brown and shimmering gown enter. Something about her movements was familiar but Gisele couldn't quite place it so she turned back to Cerelia. "I'm glad you're here. Want to get a drink?" Gisele now desired her company more for avoiding loneliness than pursuing any feelings she might have left back in Italy. But the warm glow she got around the blonde certainly didn't hurt any.