imperturbatus | EVENT: Valentine's Dance! February 13th

Dinner in the great hall was not only early, but fairly short. Everyone had to be out of the hall by six so that preparations for the party could be made, and when everyone was allowed back in at the start of the party it had transformed entirely.

The large tables normally used for meals now lined two sides of the great hall, holding a great variety of finger foods, drinks, and desserts that would continuously refill throughout the night. The ceiling above still reflected the night sky, but along its edges and throughout the walls were balloons, ribbons, and flowers of vast variety, with the most numerous of the flowers being white, pink, and red roses. All of of the flowers seemed to be emitting just enough light to effectively illuminate the Great Hall, giving it a - for lack of better term - rosey feel. At one corner near where the staff table normally stood was a group of string instruments, charmed into playing a selection of classical dance music as soon as the first students not involved with set-up stepped into the hall.

That was when Tamaki Suoh, a sixth year student and primary organizer of the dance, appeared at the front of the hall, smiling wide and dressed in an ivory-white tuxedo. He waved his wand briefly before he spoke, his voice magically projected with a charm so that he could be heard above any din that might happen with everyone's arrival.

"Welcome, everyone! I'm pleased to present you with our Hogwarts Valentine's Dance, and I hope you enjoy your time here tonight! Feel free to eat, drink, dance, and be merry in a break from studies and winter cold! Also keep in mind the Dance King and Queen contest, which can be anonymously voted for by you, the students, for the final spotlight dance at midnight tonight, as well as a prize of house points to the winners! Now, let the party begin!"

Prompt 1: Desserts, Drinks, and Wallflowers
Perhaps you're taking a break, enjoying the spread, and watching the other students dancing at various paces in different styles on the floor. Maybe you don't intend to go out onto the floor at all, because the chairs at the sides of the hall are just too comfortable or because you don't want to look like that idiot on the left. You know the one. Either way, congregating at the hors d'oeuvres can be a perfectly acceptable way to pass the night.

Prompt 2: Shut up and Dance
It is a dance party, after all! Grab a partner, whether it's ballroom dancing or just doing your own thing! Granted, the latter might get you some funny looks, but who cares as long as you're having fun? The smell of flowers is quite invigorating, the stars of the enchanted ceiling are above, and there's nothing more important than you and whoever your partner is, whether you know them intimately or have only met them for the first time tonight.

Prompt 3: A Breath of Fresh Air
Maybe the party is a little overwhelming, and you need to step away further from the hall than just sitting near the walls. Although no one is really supposed to leave the dance area for an extended period, who will know if you decide to use the loo as an excuse to get away for a few minutes? Maybe you just want to be somewhere more private, either by yourself or with someone else. Be careful not to get caught though, or it might be detention for you!

Prompt 4: "Love" is in the air?
Uh oh! We have no idea who, but someone seems to have spiked one of the punch bowls with a love potion! This potion is scentless and tasteless, and because the punch bowl is huge (and ever refilling) the effects are, thankfully, greatly weakened in comparison to a normal love potion. This little bit of mischief might result in some of the student body (or even some of the faculty) being a little more openly affectionate than usual with the first person they meet for the night, so a little bit of caution might be necessary. At least it's not at full potency!

Prompt 5: A moment in time that lasts forever!
A professional photographer has been hired to take pictures of students throughout the night! Although it might not be the last memory of the school year, it could be a night you want to cherish forever even if it’s just in a photograph! Is a photo an embarrassing moment or a precious time captured on a special slip of paper?

Prompt 6: Write your own Love Story!
Come up with your own prompts and have a ball AT the ball!

OoC: A note, there will be separate threads for Dance King/Queen contest sign-ups, as well as a contest for best-dressed and an attendance register that will be used to award a door prize drawn by lottery! The prizes are as follows; 50 House Points to 1st place, 25 to 2nd place, and 10 to 3rd place in their respective contests, and a 20 galleon gift receipt for Honeydukes (courtesy of Tamaki pulling some strings with the owner) as a door prize!

There will be a thread below for students to vote on Dance King/Queen, and the best dressed will be decided by members of staff specifically. RNG will be used to determine the door prize. Alright, have fun guys!

A NOTE ABOUT DANCE KING/QUEEN: Although the titles are gendered, who can be entered into each category is not! A boy can be the queen, a girl can be the king, and any combination can happen. The only limitation is that there will be two winners selected from the entrants in the contest!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I just couldn't make it obvious of course.

Of course.

[ Now he was fairly sure that Aidou was intoxicated in some way. And, unfortunately, at that point he wasn't sure of how to continue the conversation or of how he should have been handling the situation. This really was a new one for him. ]

[Well at least whatever it was was at least wearing off slowly now. Aidou kept quiet as he did as soon it was slowly dawning on him what the heck just happened.]

Ah... Well I feel like I should at least apologize.

You've done nothing to apologize for, so don't trouble yourself over it.

[ Even so he did seem to relax, if only because that apology meant he was regaining himself somewhat. Probably for the best, as nothing regrettable had happened in the meantime. ]

I am familiar with being attracted to someone upon meeting them, but it was odd as I had not struck you as the type to end up doing so, least of all with me with how we first met.

I don't believe in love at first sight for the most part. So I'm not quite sure where exactly it came from.

[He will probably figure out why a little bit later on.]

I said nothing of love... So you admit that for that short time you were in love with me?

[ Jiro no.

He was wearing a grin that was a little bit beyond the professional and polite demeanor he'd given off so far, because honestly he just couldn't resist a little teasing over the matter. It was meant to be harmless, of course, but who knew if Aidou would take it as such. ]

[Aidou was also one to be picked on back home and here it seemed was no exception.It was obvious he was not impressed if not a little bit panicked.]

I-I was not?!

No? Then you simply found me cute and nothing more? I'm hurt.

[ He'll stop when Aidou starts getting a little mad, maybe. He hasn't had a chance to tease anyone like this for quite some time after all. ]

I do not think that either.

[What is with this guy. He was trying to figure it out.]

[ He chuckled a bit at that face, clearly amused before shaking his head. ]

Relax, I'm only joking. I know you didn't mean any of that.

Good.

[He sighs slightly.]

Then let us never speak of it again, okay?

If you insist, Aidou. I won't breathe a word of it again.

Good.

[Thought why did he feel like it would be brought up again during a moment he wished it wouldn't.]

Now moving on, we should be watching the kids.

[ Because he will if he believes the situation calls for it. Mostly for his own amusement really. ]

I suppose you're right, though it seems we've been fortunate so far and there haven't been many mishaps tonight.

That's good at least.

[Good, we are moving off the subject, but now he knew he was starting to get hungry.]

I should go get something to eat.

Then I won't keep you. I hope you enjoy the rest of your night, and I shall try to do the same.