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

Well, it is what I'm used to, though I must say I'm surprised that you're all right with this arrangement.

[ He wears a comfortable smile before leading Sano in a waltz, his movements graceful even if a little stiff. It's obvious that he feels comfortable dancing at least, even if it's a bit surprising for him. ]

I know many alpha males. I had to learn to be. Spared me a headache and made for a good time.

[Sano answers with an amused smile, thinking of how almost all his male friends seemed to be the competitive type. And not a few woman as well. Jirou is one of the few who don’t strike him as such. His friend is also a pretty good dancer, though a little rusty and Sano has to admit he’s not finding it unpleasant.]

So, will you tell me why you didn’t dance for ten years, or is that information classified?

[ The question has his expression falling a bit, and he sighs as they go. ]

... There was a woman I loved, the one who made me what I am. I would dance with her like this on occasion as well. She passed away a long time ago -- ten years ago, before Kotaro was born.

[So there is a story. A pretty sad one too. It doesn't surprise him much, as he's already guessed, that there might be a tragic love behind it. But even moreso then...]

I feel honored then.

[Sano says with a smile and lets Jirou lead him into a turn. Ten years and he gets the first dance? There is no greater compliment than that and Sano doesn't want to betray that trust. Still, he's kept wondering. He remembers Jirou saying him and Kotaro being brothers by being the same bloodline and the last ones left of it. If the woman who turned Jirou into vampire, died before Kotaro... Sano shakes his head. There's plenty of explanations for that and neither of them are really any of his business.]

Will I get the name of... my predecessor? Or does it still hurt to much to say it?

[He's just a little curious, but it's not worth causing his friend pain. He just wants Jirou to know he's there, if the guy needs someone to talk to.]

Edited 2016-02-19 00:56 (UTC)

Her name was Alice Eve. In our circles, she was better known as the Sage.

[ It is still a bit of a sore topic for him, but Jiro is also having less trouble talking about it to Sano. Though, there is something that he'll tease the other about... Later, when the feelings of his past aren't hitting him so hard. ]

Alice.

[Sano repeats, letting the name pass slowly through his lips, from the way it rolled over the ‘l’ like the ripple of a wave, only to fade away like a breeze on the final ‘s’, trying to understand what the woman called ‘Alice’ had meant to the man called ‘Jirou’.]

Must have been an extraordinary woman.

[One that Jirou must have loved a great deal, if she had him caught in grief and celibate (dancing celibate) for ten years.]

You seem to miss her greatly. If it’s hard to talk about her, you don’t have to. However, I don’t mind it either, if you do.

She was, and I do miss her.

[ He lets another breath leave him as they dance, though it feels almost too soon for the song to finish and for their dance to end. It isn't just that he misses her or that he feels grief but... There's also a great deal of guilt, too. ]

Perhaps I'll talk more of it another night, tonight isn't something I should taint with my own grief.

[Sano watches Jirou's expression as he admits that, smiling into himself. To love someone so devotedly... so dearly... He thinks of Ran and wonders, if he can have something like that as well. He sighs, just as the dance fades and they stop and maybe there's a hint of longing in it.]

I must say I'm envious. No matter how painful it is, to love someone like that, even if just once in your life... It's the greatest treasure granted to all sensible beings.

[He shakes his head.]

As I said, I don't mind it. I'm your first dance after her, so that makes me a little curious.

[He adds with a smirk, hoping to restore the light mood again.]

And sometimes it's just good to talk. Even if it hurts.

Thank you, Sano. For both the dance and for listening.

[ He bows slightly then, allowing Sano to proceed ahead of him. However, it seems like Jiro can't resist making a comment or two of his own. ]

Should you wish to be lead on the dance floor again, you need only to ask. I had not thought you would be so light on your feet, and I found it quite enjoyable.

Anytime.

[He answers with a smile and bows as well, the gesture reflecting appreciation for both the dance and their conversation with maybe a small hope, they will continue it sometime. Jirou’s next words however surprise Sano, not expecting the vampire to tease him, but it’s so playful and free, he just laughs. That point goes definitely to Jirou. He has to honor that with a reply, because a comment like that deserves one.]

Well, I’m the flying instructor. I didn’t tell you yet, but I actually have invisible wings.

[He says with a wink, imagining himself for a moment like an angel. Hah! With broken wings and a crooked halo, maybe.]

I'll make sure to take you up on that offer. I enjoyed myself a lot.

Edited (because I failed to copy the complete tag v_v) 2016-02-20 12:56 (UTC)

[ Teasing might come a little more often now that he's more familiar, but Jiro at least figures that's enough for now. Invisible wings though? In this place, he might not be surprised if that does turn out to be true. ]

In the meantime, I'll let you get back to everyone else. I should try to talk to other people as well, don't you think?

Do that.

[Sano nods. Jirou needs more friends and he needs to find Ran. Alert her the rumor mill might start doing it's work once again.]

I'll see you around.

[And with a smile and a wave of his hand, he disappears into the crowd.]

EVENT: Valentine's Dance! February 13th

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