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

[Kaoru had gone to see how Namine was doing, a soft smile on his face. He figured he might as well talk to her while Hikaru wasn't around him.]

You look lovely today, though you okay?

Kaoru!

[She smiles feeling her cheeks flush brightly.]

It's good to see you... I mean I wanted to see you.

[She doesn't seem as bashful now.]

How did you know it was me and not Hikaru?

[Always a curious question he felt he had to ask really.]

Though... I'm glad that you wanted to see me at least. I'm surprised your not dancing with others.

[Naminé blinks.]

It couldn't be anyone else. I know it's you.

[She seems a little to excited to elaborate.]

I'm... not the best dancer. I mean I've practice with a teacher and I've been taught but I feel to nervous to ask others. [She's talking a little to fast and then laps into silence and takes another sip of her drink. She doesn't understand what this warm buzzing feeling in her chest is.]

Would you dance with me?

[She feels her cheeks warm while her head begins to spin.]

So it was a guess?

[Even if it didn't sound it, he felt like it was. But he couldn't help but smile a bit.]

Well you didn't need to ask others as I'm sure plenty would want to ask you. [Because usually at the parties he went to that was usually the case. However actually being asked was a rather strange thing.]

I would like that. [Holding out his hand he waited for her to take it.]

[Naminé feels her cheeks flush.]

Not a guess... but a secret.

[She lightly takes his hand feeling a jolt of electricity jump between them. She doesn't remember her heart ever beating this fast and she hopes that he can't hear it as well.]

Thank you.

[He slowly lead her to the dance floor before getting into position and leading the dance. If she didn't want to say he won't keep bothering her about it, even if he was extremely curious.]

You don't need to thank me you know... for nothing.

[Namine can't stop smiling.]

I'm really happy to have this dance with you.

[The love potion is certainly making her more forward but it doesn't stop her nervousness.]

[He started to lead the dance. Once two step, one two step. He made sure it was smooth at least.]

I'm happy to have this dance with you as well.

[Namine follows easily, her steps bringing them close and then far as they move across the dance floor. Her cheeks dust a darker red as they move, her lips fixed in a smile.]

You're amazing

[Her voice is soft and breathless while her heart pounds in her chest.]

I wouldn't say that. I'm just well versed in dancing since it's a ting we needed to know for parties.

[He knew there were better people as Kaoru only knew the basics and didn't want to be more skilled at it. As soon as he made the last twirl, the music quietened down as he smiled slightly.]

You didn't step on my toes so your a better dancer than some.

I've had help and some private lessons to get better.

[She smiles at him.]

Thank you for the dance.

[He bowed slightly.]

No, thank you. [Once he stood up straight, a warm, soft smile on his lips.]

We best move before the next song starts.

Ah yes!

[Namine steps away feeling a little more flustered than before. She's always been soft spoken and these feelings are taking her by surprise. She wants to say something but it's only proving to turn her face a brighter shade of red.]

[Once he head lead her away, he let go of her hand before moving to lean against the wall. He figured he should be checking on his brother soon and see what he was up to.]

I hope you had fun, but I should get going and see my brother. Make sure he was okay.

Okay...

[She sounds disappointed.]

I hope I can see you again before the night is up.

...Sure. I'll try and find you if I can.

[This place is huge, so he figured he shouldn't promise such a thing, but for now he just heads off, off to look for his brother.]

[Namine just nods, her voice stuck in her throat.]