(no subject)

[evanesko]

HOGSMEADE!

It's that time of year~ In preparation for the yearly Masquerade Ball on the 31st, Hogsmeade is officially open! All characters may go, regardless of their year or permission slips, but ONLY for the week prior to the ball. First and second years either have to be accompanied by a teacher or an older student willing to be responsible for them. After the ball those first and second years are back to being banned from the village until their third year. Sorry, kids. It's just the rules. 

It is very encouraged that these trips be in groups, but that is not explicitly mandatory.

 

The Three Broomsticks
Run by Madame Rosmerta, The Three Broomsticks is the perfect place to warm up on a cold day. It's a pleasant little bar known for it's Butterbeer.

Honeyduke's  Sweet Shop
A favorite of Hogwarts students, Honeydukes is a purveyor of a wide variety of sweets including it's world-famous chocolate, Fizzing Whizzbees, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, Acid Pops and so much more. Might want to watch out for the Cockroach Cluster though.

Zonko's Joke Shop
Another favorite for the Hogwarts crowd, Zonko's is the best place to buy all your magical jokes and pranks. A perfect place to pick up dungbombs, Dr. Filibusters wet-start no heat fireworks, and if you're in the right mood, skiving snackboxes.

Madame Puddifoot's 
Another little cafe, run by Madame Puddifoot. Typically favored by couples due to it's cozy atmosphere.

The Shrieking Shack
Rumoured to be one of the most haunted locations in Britain, so much so that the locals avoid it. While it's stood silent for years, it's still worth seeing. Due to the season being of the spookily festive sort, The Shrieking Shack is now a popular attraction and has even become a haunted house filled to the brim with ~terrifying~ decorations. There is even a walk through! But the feint of heart should not enter... 

The Hog's Head
Run by Aberforth Dumbledore, The Hog's Head is another pub that has been known to attract a less than reputable clientele. However, it's something of a tourist spot as well, due to it being the starting point for Dumbledore's Army and the role the pub played in the Battle of Hogwarts, much to Aberfoth's chagrin.

The Post Office
Need to send an owl? The post office has you covered with owls of all shapes and sizes to send anywhere in the world.

 

Comments

Adela Milani | OTA

[enchantressofore]

A. Post Office

Ack!

[ Adela, distracted, is walking in clutching a letter to her mother in hand. It doesn't take her long to bump into someone however, and she stumbles back and nearly falls from the impact. She looks back to meet the eye of the person she's bumped into, mumbling out an apology for them. She'll stop further if it's someone she knows, but whether it is or if it's not and the person doesn't appreciate the accident, she's more keen on getting her post to home sent. ]

B. Clothes Shopping

[ Well, it's not dressing up with costumes, but when has it ever been at Hogwarts? Still, the masquerade seems fun enough, especially now that she has more friends to have fun with. But like hell she's wearing some fancy gown again.

No, this time she's looking around at more "masculine: clothing to wear, because if she can get away with being in pants and a dress shirt with a vest? She's going to do that.

... She can at least get a pretty glittering mask or something to make up for it. That'll work, right?

Someone might want to stop her before she can go through with this. ]

C. Shrieking Shack

[ Why is she here?

Adela's always skipped out on the Shrieking Shack before. She's never told anyone why, only that she has. Who was it that convinced her to come here again??

Even with magic, it still freaks her out. Not that she's going to show that to anyone. Ever. EVER. Because it's silly to be afraid when she's a witch who is in her fifth year of schooling right???

Well, time to go in. And see the haunted house there. Who knows, it might be worse than some muggle ones she saw as a kid. And not scary at all. ]

D. Three Broomsticks

[ WHAT A DAY! Adela's slumped at the table she's taken, sighing and setting her bags down as she just tries to calm down. That house was no joke...

She's going to enjoy a butterbeer. She doesn't want to think about that she normally doesn't enjoy it because it's too sweet, she wants to warm up and feel better after all that.

Stupid haunted house. Ugh. ]

B!

[gizmoe]

[ Every bloody year they have this masquerade and every bloody year Gareki has to go shopping for it. He doesn't exactly hate looking nice, but he's no fan of crowds and the masquerade is nothing BUT crowds. It makes him a little irritable about the whole thing.

This year though... It may be different. He might have a date, and that required that he look even nicer than the previous years.

So, there he is. Looking through one of the clothes shops when he comes across Adela. In the boys section. He's not one to judge, but he also vividly remembered the year before, having to whisk her away from Yogi. ]

So this is your theme this year.

[ Gareki's lips are quirked just slightly, a suit folded over his arm. ]

[enchantressofore]

What? Oh... Hey, Gareki.

[ Adela seems surprised as she snaps out of whatever thoughts she was having, only calming down once she sees who she's talking to. She'll flash a brief smile, nodding before looking over the dress shirt she'd picked out for herself. ]

Well, it just feels like guys in general have more comfortable clothes. I felt like I was showing way too much at the dance, even if everyone else seems to disagree. I might have more fun this time if I'm not worried about my legs or anything silly like that.

[gizmoe]

[ Gareki shrugs. What she wears doesn't really have any bearing on him, he's just... Curious, maybe? It's not uncommon to see muggle girls wearing things like that to dances, but girls in the wizard world doing it seemed more out of place. ]

It's your choice. But for what it's worth, you looked nice last year.

[ Yeah. He just complimented her. Shocker, right?

Slung over his shoulder is what he's going to wear, though. A fitted dark blue suit with black accents, a black lace mask attached to the hanger. He'd made some decent money from selling his wizphones, so he figured splurging on something nice wouldn't be terrible for once. Plus he was hoping to impress a certain male redhead. ]

[enchantressofore]

[ Ack... She can't help feeling a little flushed at the compliment, though she does mumble a small "thanks" before moving on. At least she's getting better about it?

She does notice the suit though, relaxing a little and occupying herself with looking over the ensemble Gareki has there. ]

What you've got looks nice too. I didn't peg you as a party person though...

[gizmoe]

I'm not.

[ He exhales softly, expression a little downcast. ]

Someone has to keep an eye on Yogi.

[ Not his reason at all, of course. He was going to the masquerade as much for Yogi as he was for Rin. Also because as much as he preferred to be alone most of the time, there were things even he did to entertain himself. But he's not going to admit any of that. He never does. ]

[enchantressofore]

Just Yogi?

[ Adela raises an eyebrow at that, because that... Well, it doesn't seem quite right to her. Hadn't Rin said they were dating? Or maybe Gareki doesn't know that she knows, who knows about that. ]

B

[devilishhikaru]

... Adela no.

[Hikaru sees you consider those masculine clothes as he walks in to do some shopping himself.]

You're not going to the dance with a suit on.

[enchantressofore]

[ Son of a-- Adela sighs hard when she hears the voice, frowning over the suit she had picked up before putting it back and turning to him. ]

Then what? I'd rather not be stuck in another dress, or heels...

[devilishhikaru]

Not all dresses need heels. Besides, you're speaking to a son of a fashion family - I can find something that suits your tastes that isn't a suit.

[He did help her one time with getting more fashionable clothes, so she should know he also listens to her comfort zone.]

Look, it's either you in a dress or me in a dress and I'm not sure you want to see that.

[Not that anyone would know, thanks to masks.]

[enchantressofore]

...

[ She has to turn away and try to muffle what is clearly laughter, shaking her head before she has to turn back to him again. At least she's smiling? ]

That'd be a little too ridiculous. But all right, let's do it your way. And yeah, no heels.

[devilishhikaru]

I'm sure I could ask my mom send some images of me in a dress.

[Being a fashion designers son makes you do a lot of weird things. Like model dresses.]

There are some shoes that are perfectly comfortable and fashionable... if you want to, we can look over them first and then see what fits them.

[enchantressofore]

Yeah, sure thing. It's probably a better way to go this time, right?

[ Adela nods when she approaches him again, a little more relaxed... Even if it means she might end up in a dress again.

Sigh.

Well, Hikaru is right in thinking that she does trust him at least that much. It's hard to look good if you're too self-conscious after all, isn't it? ]

Zonko's Joke Shop

[forthekicks]

[ Mercury isn't the sort of guy that's inclined to cause mischief with pranks and other magical "fun stuff", but he likes to browse Zonko's from time to time. It's a break from all the normality of a trip to Hogsmeade, and something that'll get him away from the school for a while because he finds it all boring. But being around kids fawning over something that'll cause another person misery, at least for a moment, gives him a little bit of joy.

Plus if he's aware of what something looks like, it'll deter the knuckleheads throughout the school that think they can pull one over on him.

But he's bored already and starts flipping through magazines, looking at the pictures. ]

[silverrose]

[Ruby isn't usually opposed to a prank or two. Otherwise, she just likes visiting to see what kind of exciting new things they've invented.

Seeing Mercury there, however, is not what she came for.]

... oh. Hi.

SURPRISE

[beautifulabs]

Shrieking Shack
[ Even though Shinpachi's more used to Japanese customs when it came to holidays, he's no stranger to Halloween. Even in the wizarding world it seemed to be popular over there. But as he stands in line, looking rather out of place among so many kids, he also feels like he fits in. A big, broad grin splits his mouth and he laughs every time he can hear someone scream in the distance.

He leans down a little to the kid in front of him. ]

It's not really that scary, is it?


FOR SANO
[ The fireplace in Madame Rosmerta's office roared to life with a great green flame, and out stepped a man with bushy red-brown hair. He wore foreign style robes of gold, green, and black and as he looked up to Madam Rosmerta herself, he gave a sheepish smile. Then an equally sheepish small wave. She knew he was coming and allowed her office to be used for his arrival. ]

Thanks, Madame.

[ He stayed to chat animatedly with her for a few minutes, his boisterous nature fueled by her giggles. All too soon he was out of the door, headed into the rest of the tavern. Shinpachi took in the smell of food and drink. The cozy atmosphere. The chatter and clink of glasses at night. It was obvious that it was later in the evening, students nowhere to be seen and what looked like relaxing professors. One in particular he recognized immediately, even seemed magnetically drawn to the man. His back facing away from him made it far too easy to sneak up on him, lean in juuust enough and whisper. ]

Guess who!

SHOCK!!!

[fireredspear]

[Come end of October, Sano finds himself frequenting Rosmerta's place more again, the bustle of life, the good company and the decent enough firewhiskey (he could never quite get used to the scottish brands), that he spent some time avoiding. After the summer break he'd prefered the solitude of the Hog's head a bit more, but recently, it's gotten better. Though he still drinks a few cups more than before summer break, but at least he's not chain drinking anymore.

Sano knows he's not fine yet, but he's not miserable anymore, so he considers it a progress. The night feels good tonight as well, slow paced, comfortable, pleasant. He lets his mind wander, as he minds his n-th glass (he dosn't bother counting anymmore), staring into the brown liquid with a far away look, sunk into his own thoughts.

And even when he feels someone behind his back, he doesn't startle, not feeling threatened. It's nothing unusual, as people somethimes crowd around the bar, when they want to get more drinks. He doesn't expect anyone to talk to him that night - usually people tend to leave him alone, when they see him drinking quietly like that, few would approach him at such a moment - thus it leaves him startled, to feel hot breath against his ear and Sano jerks. The voice is familiar, but for a moment he can't place it, be it because he's heard it so long ago, so far away, or for the confusion of hearing it that close, so it takes him a stunned second to place it. When he does, he whips around and almost falls off his stool.

His shock leaves him completely speechless.

Shinpachi was the last face he expected to see tonight.

Only after a few seconds does he find his voice again, and what comes out is a string of curses that would make a sailor blush.]

MOTHERFUCKING ASSHOLE! WHAT by a DULLAHAN'S severed HEAD and squashed BALLS are you DOING HERE?!!!

[beautifulabs]

[ At first the silence left him anxious. It couldn't be that hard to place his voice! Give him a break, Sano.

But when finally Sano snaps to and spins around, practically falling from his chair with a litany of choice words thrown his way... He can't help it. Shinpachi cracks up so bad he's leaning against the side of the bar, pounding his fist against the counter top. Like this was the funniest shit ever. ]

Damn near giving you a heart attack I guess!

[ He grins, broad and bright as usual, blue eyes sparkling with amusement. Then he hooks his thumb to the fire whiskey. ]

You know drinking alone will get you a reputation for being a washed up old drunk.

[ Teasing, of course. He knows enough to know that anyone who drinks alone with their shoulders hunched like Sano's had been has been through some trouble. Never good to find solace in the bottom of a bottle, though. ]

[fireredspear]

YOU have ZERO right to lecture ME aboout drinking, you spineless SHITHEAD!!!

[Sano rockets from the stool at that point, hands gripping the collar of Shinpachi's whatever-it-is-he's-wearing (the last thing Sano cares about rigt now). He's aware of the looks they're getting, and he knows without looking, the entire pub is staring at him like he'd grown another head and a spare set of arms, and started belly dancing. But no matter how long he looks, his friend is still there, real, solid and warm and Sano still has no idea what to say.]

YOU!

[Sano yells as he shakes him. It's impossible. Well, almost.]

You!

[He shakes him again, but still, SHinpachi doesn't disappear like a daydream, but stays there.]

You...

[Slowly his mind starts to accept this is really happening and as it does, the corners of Sano's lips twitch, almost like he's about to smile. He suppresses it, because if it's indeed real, it means Shinpachi deserves punches, no matter how he just made Sano's day.]

You are the worst person on this planet and an even worse best friend that there is!

[But as much as he fights it, he can't help it. At the end of his threat he's grinning, broad and toothy and happy, and a split second later, he's hugging Shinpachi tightly, like he never should let go again.]

I will SLAUGHTER you, you fucktard! You should have TOLD me you were COMING!

[beautifulabs]

[ Shinpachi doesn't move from his spot, nor does he stop smiling. He knows very well this is Sano's temper and coming to grips with his sudden appearance. Out of the blue. Seemingly from nowhere. Sano hadn't known he was in the country, let alone that very soon they'd end up both teaching in the same school. Maybe it was an asshole move on his part, but he'd actually requested no one tell Sano who was filling the position of Apparition teacher this year.

Instead, each new 'you' that came out of his best friend's mouth only seemed to make him look more sheepish. By the time Sano was hugging him, he returned it just as tightly and a relieved laugh forced it's way past his rib cage. ]

What, and ruin the surprise? This was so much better!

[ He pat Sano's back until the second stayed there, fingers tightening in his robes. They'd kept in touch all these years later, but it was still miles better actually being in the same room as Sano. ]

Aren't you gonna ask me why I'm even here, or are you just gonna keep telling me I'm a shitty friend?

[fireredspear]

[What that statement earns Shinpachi, is a fist to his head, for Sano's trouble.]

You are impossible!

[But he's still grinning from ear to ear, arms still around Shinpachi, surveying his best friend for the first time in years, trying to pick out the minor details where Shinpachi's changed. They are tiny, his friend still the same, wonderful self, that Sano bonded with so easily, years ago.]

That depends on whether you'll join me for a drink.

[He says with a wink and reoccupies his seat at the bar, gesturing Rosmerta for one refil and one more glass.]

Just don't put it on my tab! I have no interest in going bankrupt!

[THat said he turns back to Shinpachi, broad smile splitting his face.]

So. Care to explain why you're here and not across the world?

[overexertion]

A. Clothes

[The problem with being an athlete is always needing new clothes. Sousuke's muscles are still developing so they're growing steadily and making it harder for him to fit into his clothes.

... he's not shopping for new clothes because he's got a date. That's not the reason at all.

It's very rare for him to be in the shop and he's rather awkward. Just a normal suit would be alright, right? Or should he go for something different...]

B. Three Broomsticks

[At least Sousuke can relax with some nice butterbeer. This makes all the shopping worth it. Just getting to sit there and enjoying the drink.]

C. Lost

[Sousuke has been around Hogwarts for quite a while, but he still manages to somehow wander off and end up taking the longest detour back home. Today is no different and he finds himself lost in the backstreets of Hogsmeade.

This is why he usually doesn't walk by himself, to be quite honest. Hopefully he'll make it back before the time limit...]

B

[gizmoe]

[ The Three Broomsticks was where everyone eventually ends their trip in Hogsmeade. Gareki is no different than any other students, and blames this entirely on the butterbeer. It's wholly unlike anything he'd ever tasted in his life and probably one of the few sweet things he'll easily indulge in. Not that he has an aversion to sweets, but he doesn't typically allow himself many because it means he has to splurge. He's good with his money normally.

But as he grabs his butterbeer from the counter, he turns to the rest of the occupants and ends up moving toward Sousuke. Rin's best friend. He folds his suit bag over the back of one of the chairs and slides into the one next to it, opposite Sousuke. ]

Hope you don't mind if I sit here.

[overexertion]

[Sousuke does recognize Gareki as well. He and Rin had started hanging out a lot more, so it would be odd if he wouldn't. Well, "hanging out" is certainly a good word for it.]

I don't. It's not like I'm waiting for anyone.

[gizmoe]

[ "hanging out" was the best way to describe it. plus "trying not to make out all the time" went with that. Gareki leans back in the chair, throwing his arm up over the back of it to get comfortable. He brings his butterbeer to his lips and takes the first sip, smiling into his cup before he sets it back down. ] You're here alone? That's surprising. You seem like someone who would have more friends to sit with.