People watching was fun sometimes. It wasn't exactly his favorite thing in the world, but it was something to do when you were in a magic environment and couldn't just scroll on your cellphone. And sometimes you saw people doing something funny or interesting. Like that random couple over there who were sharing a bowl of ice cream together.

Hmm. Interesting.

But Ezra was more than relieved when he heard Anna's voice and then she appeared there beside him. A grin lit up his face immediately, and he hopped to his feet, opening his arms to give her a quick hug. "Hey, great to see you too!"

Er, wait, sunscreen? "Oh, uh...no, I haven't." He hadn't...ever thought about wearing some to Diagon Alley, actually. When he was doing something like going to a beach or a pool or something else outdoors, then he did put some on, of course, but not here. But technically unless he went into the shops, he was still outside and in the sun whenever it wasn't behind some clouds so...it did make sense to put some on. Though whether Professor Gert had mentioned something about an allergy to ultraviolet light, he couldn't say; it had, unfortunately, probably gone in one ear and out the other for him. "I guess I could put some on my arms." He was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, so he supposed they could use some sunscreen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by love-for-hp

greer did a little jump when some one spoke to her. She was so lost in thought about the day she was truly not aware of any of her surroundings at the present moment.

"what's a niffler?" she asked, because there was so much about that sentence that made no sense to her at all. Darn it all muggle born for the fail again. "but sure, you can sit slash leave you stuff here. greer gestered to the entire open table, she probably should have sat at a smaller one since she was here by herself afterall.

The jump was a bit dramatic but Sage's brow lifted for only half a second before getting over her kneejerk judgement regarding the other girl's complete lack of situational awareness. The follow up question really painted quite the vivid picture, didn't it? Sure, a niffler was no unicorn or dragon but surely every wizarding family had had the Niffler Nursery Rhymes read to them at some time or another.

"Ah, first time in the Alley then, is it?" she replied with a small nod of the head while swallowing back some modest irritation that her question was not being addressed first. "I'll tell you all about nifflers once I'm back, pending on the state of my things upon my return." What a pleasant turn of eventuals that this turned into an exchange and Sage need not feel indebted to someone who did not even know what a niffler was. "Be back in a few."

With a flash of a smile, Sage skedaddled away from the table and managed to slip in the queue just before a group of U-17's got in line for an after practice treat - assumingly. Thankfully the staff were on point today and it was not too terribly long before the Slytherin was making her way back to the table, cut of frozen sweetness in hand, to check on her clippings. "Nothing let off any sparks while I was gone, did they?"

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Quote:

Originally Posted by alwayssnapesgirl

people watching was fun sometimes. It wasn't exactly his favorite thing in the world, but it was something to do when you were in a magic environment and couldn't just scroll on your cellphone. And sometimes you saw people doing something funny or interesting. Like that random couple over there who were sharing a bowl of ice cream together.

Hmm. Interesting.

But ezra was more than relieved when he heard anna's voice and then she appeared there beside him. A grin lit up his face immediately, and he hopped to his feet, opening his arms to give her a quick hug. "hey, great to see you too!"

er, wait, sunscreen? "oh, uh...no, i haven't." he hadn't...ever thought about wearing some to diagon alley, actually. When he was doing something like going to a beach or a pool or something else outdoors, then he did put some on, of course, but not here. But technically unless he went into the shops, he was still outside and in the sun whenever it wasn't behind some clouds so...it did make sense to put some on. Though whether professor gert had mentioned something about an allergy to ultraviolet light, he couldn't say; it had, unfortunately, probably gone in one ear and out the other for him. "i guess i could put some on my arms." he was wearing a short-sleeved shirt, so he supposed they could use some sunscreen.

Oh yay!

"It's like you're a Legilimens," she giggled as she immediately reciprocated the embrace. Despite growing just a LITTLE more, Anna continued to be considerably shorter than the majority of her peers but being so also came with the perk that her ear was pressed up against their chest in such a way that allowed her the privilege of listening to their heartbeat while being enveloped by their warmth. And, really, was there a better way to greet another person? It was so nourishingly intimate! "You're going to have to sit back down for a cheek kiss though...I'm not too confident in my coordination to be able to jump and peck." Very likely to miss and hit his chin or...hmm...why was she feeling a bit flushed as she went down the list of more readily accessible places she could hop and reach?

She would ask Professor Gert about this allergy business once they returned to Hogwarts...if she remembered...but for now she was patting her bag for her little phial of sunscreen to offer him for his arms. "Mum used to practically paint me with it come summer time. Used to be mistaken for a ghost when I was in primary school because of how comically pale it all made me look. Says she is just protecting my freckles and I am more susceptible to burning because of them...which I think is a rather cruel thing to say about all the constellations on my face THANKS to them." Finding it at last, Anna offered it to Ezra with a smile. "Or I can put it on for you." It was hard to reach some places on your own sometimes, though arms were a lot easier than the back at least. "And then we can see about this ice cream business because I am salivating in anticipation of learning what flavors you like! And... we won't have to worry about a forecast of ice cream rain here."

"Maybe I am," he teased. It did seem like a cool ability to have, reading minds and stuff. He could use it to read the minds of his professors to get the correct answers for exams! Not that he would because that would be cheating, and he was nothing if not going to succeed or fail on his own efforts (or lack thereof), but it would still be cool to have the option. Plus it seemed like it would make some things easier if he knew what people thought. Like right now when she mentioned the cheek kiss. Something that had become a thing last term.

Not that he minded! Obviously! But sometimes it was confusing and made him feel a little flustered, though a little less so now than at the very beginning, and just...well. It was a Thing^TM. "Might be fun to try some time though," he said with a chuckle, though he did release her from the hug and sat back down.

Ezra supposed there was probably such a thing as overdoing the amount of sunscreen used, like looking like a ghost, but he wasn't sure why she thought it was cruel to say that her mum was protecting her freckles or that they might make her more susceptible to sunburns. Some people did sometimes have more trouble with burning more quickly than others, or so he thought he'd heard. "I guess it's good she wants to protect them though. They look nice."

He accepted the small bottle of sunscreen, squeezing a little into one hand as she offered to help. "Oh, uh..." He considered for a brief second then continued, "Guess that'd be more efficient. You get this arm while I get my other one?" If both arms could be covered at the same time, the sooner they'd be done and could move on to ice cream! So it seemed like a logical plan to him.

Speaking of which. "What kinda ice cream are you planning to get?"

Diamond had claimed her table at Florean Fortescue’s like a queen settling into her summer throne. The afternoon sun cast warm, syrupy light over the cobblestones of Diagon Alley, and she'd left the umbrella on her table pushed down—it would be criminal to block that golden glow, especially when it hit juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right against the gloss of her tinted lip balm (coconut and mango that gave her lips a deep orange-red hue) and the rhinestones on her sunglasses. With her sundae slowly melting before her, Diamond tilted her head to peek over her glasses for some strategic people-watching while still basking in morning’s productivity. While she was neither here nor there with the sport, commentating the match in which the England U-17 had obliterated the Republic of Ireland team had been rather delicious. Coaches were off-limits whenever the Republic of Ireland played (for whatever reason, which was beyond lame) but she still had plenty of material to provide masterclass in broadcasting. She hadn’t meant to let slip that the Irish Seeker had maybe, allegedly, stayed up late writing love letters to the Welsh Keeper during last month’s training camp—but the information was public record if you knew where to listen and how to flirtーand that just maaaaaaaaaybe had kept Ireland's Keeper just a tad distracted and let in all those goals. She wasn't saying that England should be thanking her for the blowout, but she wasn't NOT saying it either.

Now, her voice finally resting and her boots off duty, Diamond was letting Diagon Alley hum around her. It was late afternoon, warm and lazy, and the crowd around the parlour was a rich mix: Hogwarts students fresh into their summer freedom, Ministry interns on break, and the occasional Quidditch hopeful still in their kit from a morning tryout. She wasn’t here to meet anyone...not officially, anyway...but IF someone (a couple specific someones) happened to wander past then she certainly wasn't opposed to any company.

Text Cut: Shine bright like a Diamond

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Diamond had claimed her table at Florean Fortescue’s like a queen settling into her summer throne. The afternoon sun cast warm, syrupy light over the cobblestones of Diagon Alley, and she'd left the umbrella on her table pushed down—it would be criminal to block that golden glow, especially when it hit juuuuuuuuuuuuuuuust right against the gloss of her tinted lip balm (coconut and mango that gave her lips a deep orange-red hue) and the rhinestones on her sunglasses. With her sundae slowly melting before her, Diamond tilted her head to peek over her glasses for some strategic people-watching while still basking in morning’s productivity. While she was neither here nor there with the sport, commentating the match in which the England U-17 had obliterated the Republic of Ireland team had been rather delicious. Coaches were off-limits whenever the Republic of Ireland played (for whatever reason, which was beyond lame) but she still had plenty of material to provide masterclass in broadcasting. She hadn’t meant to let slip that the Irish Seeker had maybe, allegedly, stayed up late writing love letters to the Welsh Keeper during last month’s training camp—but the information was public record if you knew where to listen and how to flirtーand that just maaaaaaaaaybe had kept Ireland's Keeper just a tad distracted and let in all those goals. She wasn't saying that England should be thanking her for the blowout, but she wasn't NOT saying it either.

Now, her voice finally resting and her boots off duty, Diamond was letting Diagon Alley hum around her. It was late afternoon, warm and lazy, and the crowd around the parlour was a rich mix: Hogwarts students fresh into their summer freedom, Ministry interns on break, and the occasional Quidditch hopeful still in their kit from a morning tryout. She wasn’t here to meet anyone...not officially, anyway...but IF someone (a couple specific someones) happened to wander past then she certainly wasn't opposed to any company.

The bell above Florean Fortescue's gave a little jingle as Ariel Scamander pushed through the door, clutching two scoops of lemondrop ice cream stacked high in a waffle cone. Her curls were even more wild than usual thanks to the breeze outside, and one had flopped right over her eye in protest. She blew it away without much fuss, her brown eyes scanning the crowd outside as she took a careful lick of her ice cream.

And then she spotted her.

"DIAMOND!" Ariel beamed, already heading toward the table like she'd just found a galleon on the floor. "I should've known you'd be holding court in the sunshine like some kind of ice cream goddess."

She hovered beside the table for a second before plopping herself into the seat across from Diamond without asking—not in a rude way, just in the way you did when you were familiar enough with someone.

"Okay. Tell me everything. What's the hot goss been lately?" She leaned in, eyes bright, pausing for a moment to give her ice cream a lick. "Did anyone break up? Did someone get hexed? Did anyone cry during any matches?"

Text Cut: Diamond's biggest fan(?)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

The bell above Florean Fortescue's gave a little jingle as Ariel Scamander pushed through the door, clutching two scoops of lemondrop ice cream stacked high in a waffle cone. Her curls were even more wild than usual thanks to the breeze outside, and one had flopped right over her eye in protest. She blew it away without much fuss, her brown eyes scanning the crowd outside as she took a careful lick of her ice cream.

And then she spotted her.

"DIAMOND!" Ariel beamed, already heading toward the table like she'd just found a galleon on the floor. "I should've known you'd be holding court in the sunshine like some kind of ice cream goddess."

She hovered beside the table for a second before plopping herself into the seat across from Diamond without asking—not in a rude way, just in the way you did when you were familiar enough with someone.

"Okay. Tell me everything. What's the hot goss been lately?" She leaned in, eyes bright, pausing for a moment to give her ice cream a lick. "Did anyone break up? Did someone get hexed? Did anyone cry during any matches?"

Diamond barely shifted when the bell above Fortescue’s door jingled again—just another hungry body in search of sugar and a seat coming or going. But the sing-songy 'DIAMOND!' that followed drew one perfectly arched brow skyward, sunglasses tipping just slightly down her nose as she glanced up. Yes, that was her name and no, don't you dare EVER wear it out.

She was sorely disappointed to see that the voice did not belong to either of her hallway honeys or a sophisticated recruit agent. She would have even accepted some higher up in the Gobstones circuit. Instead, what she actually got, was a common ankle biter that the seventh year didn't technically ignore but she certainly hadn't committed to memory either. She was fairly confident that this girl and her shared the same house and she had some recollection or another of passing her in the Gryffindor common room―maybe signing a napkin over breakfast once or twice. This was the same knee gremlin who often had their hair in complete rebellion and jam on her sleeve, right? Or was Diamond confusing her with some Ravenfluff?

In any case, Diamond’s chin tilted slightly, the movement lazy and amused, buying herself some time to pull a name from her memory. This really would be so much easier if the Lollipop Guild bothered being interesting. "Rachel, isn’t it?" she said, voice smooth like melted caramel, though her brow stayed lofted while she took a delicate spoonful of her almost ice cream soup, unhurried, gaze flicking to the way the girl had plopped down across from her like they’d made plans. Bold. Cute. Mildly annoying. "Ice cream goddess is a new one. I might keep that. Though most people ask before sliding into the royal table."

She adjusted her notebook slightly, more for effect than need, and let the young girl's questions hang for a beat. Then, Diamond leaned in just a fraction—not enough to imply true intimacy (wait...was her name Diana? Mildred was coming to mind but as if she would mutter that monstrosity aloud) but enough to look like she might be about to drop something juicy. "The goss?" she echoed, tone dry, teasing. “Girl, the only thing that cried today was Ireland’s defense. Two hundred to nothing." Another slow bite. Another glance over her sunglasses. "But if you’re good, very good, I might tell you which player got caught scribbling love notes on their broom handle mid-match. Fraternizing with the enemy over something a lot more exciting than quidditch balls." She tapped a manicured nail on her sunglasses' rim. "There’s levels to this, Rach―di―ana." That totally wasn't the name. Oh well. "And I don't hand out spoilers for free."

She didn’t quite say 'run along, baby crumbcatcher,' but the implication shimmered just beneath her smile.

Had Dynah not been so focused on her destination, she would have winced at that atrociously loud crack she made every time she departed someplace. Why would she ever want to announce that she was using this mode of transportation at any given time? Or just a good question as the first: why would she even want anyone to know her comings and goings? No, she needed to master that soft popping sound as soon as possible.

Right now, Dy had a bigger task at hand. She clutched at the mental picture of her destination. The streets would be too crowded on a fine day like today, the tables would no doubt be filled with those wanting to cool down with ice creams under the umbrellas. She was not aiming for either spot…

Instead, she suddenly appeared in front of the actual parlour and in between it and the umbrella-filled seating area. Dy was not standing between the two where patrons traversed to and fro; this reduced her chances of finding herself sitting on some random person. The spot she was standing on was to a corner but…

“Yikes!’’

There had actually been a young couple standing dangerously close to where she Apparated. A few feet more and she would have been practically between them. Dy closed her eyes and shook her head as though thanking her stars for intervening. Eye opened once more, she quickly patted her face, and other visible body parts. None were missing. Only then did she look around for the examiner.

Text Cut: Ms. Atreyu-Rehman

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Had Dynah not been so focused on her destination, she would have winced at that atrociously loud crack she made every time she departed someplace. Why would she ever want to announce that she was using this mode of transportation at any given time? Or just a good question as the first: why would she even want anyone to know her comings and goings? No, she needed to master that soft popping sound as soon as possible.

Right now, Dy had a bigger task at hand. She clutched at the mental picture of her destination. The streets would be too crowded on a fine day like today, the tables would no doubt be filled with those wanting to cool down with ice creams under the umbrellas. She was not aiming for either spot…

Instead, she suddenly appeared in front of the actual parlour and in between it and the umbrella-filled seating area. Dy was not standing between the two where patrons traversed to and fro; this reduced her chances of finding herself sitting on some random person. The spot she was standing on was to a corner but…

“Yikes!’’

There had actually been a young couple standing dangerously close to where she Apparated. A few feet more and she would have been practically between them. Dy closed her eyes and shook her head as though thanking her stars for intervening. Eye opened once more, she quickly patted her face, and other visible body parts. None were missing. Only then did she look around for the examiner.

Standing a short distance away near the polished window of Florean Fortescue's, she had been waiting, arms loosely crossed, a silent sentinel against the cheerful backdrop of pastel umbrellas and clinking ice cream dishes. Her gaze, sharp and unflinching, locked onto Dynah the moment the girl reappeared. Whole and upright, she noted. However, the proximity to the young couple hadn't gone unnoticed.

There was no visible sign of disapproval from Beitris, but neither did she rush to praise. Instead, she watched Dynah's instinctive self-pat-down with a clinical eye before making notes on parchment.

Stepping forward, Beitris let her clipboard fall back to her side, parchment rustling faintly as she moved. When she spoke, her voice carried low but clear, cutting neatly through the mumur of the seating area and street nearby.

"We will now move to the next location." A single brow arched as she gave the new objective, voice cool and deliberate. "Your next destination will be the designated arrival point outside the Welsh Dragon Reserve. It is a low-traffic zone; however, the area is heavily warded. Accuracy is critical."

Beitris' pale gaze sharpened a degree further.

"Take at least fifteen seconds to prepare your visualisation before departure. When ready, you may make your leave."

Then, without further instruction, Beitris turned sharply on the spot. There was no loud crack, no violent twist of air—only a soft, clean pop, and Beitris was gone.

OOC: Feel free to make a post here with your character departing via Apparition, otherwise please proceed to the dragon reserve.

Text Cut: At Florean's, we all fam

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Diamond barely shifted when the bell above Fortescue’s door jingled again—just another hungry body in search of sugar and a seat coming or going. But the sing-songy 'DIAMOND!' that followed drew one perfectly arched brow skyward, sunglasses tipping just slightly down her nose as she glanced up. Yes, that was her name and no, don't you dare EVER wear it out.

She was sorely disappointed to see that the voice did not belong to either of her hallway honeys or a sophisticated recruit agent. She would have even accepted some higher up in the Gobstones circuit. Instead, what she actually got, was a common ankle biter that the seventh year didn't technically ignore but she certainly hadn't committed to memory either. She was fairly confident that this girl and her shared the same house and she had some recollection or another of passing her in the Gryffindor common room―maybe signing a napkin over breakfast once or twice. This was the same knee gremlin who often had their hair in complete rebellion and jam on her sleeve, right? Or was Diamond confusing her with some Ravenfluff?

In any case, Diamond’s chin tilted slightly, the movement lazy and amused, buying herself some time to pull a name from her memory. This really would be so much easier if the Lollipop Guild bothered being interesting. "Rachel, isn’t it?" she said, voice smooth like melted caramel, though her brow stayed lofted while she took a delicate spoonful of her almost ice cream soup, unhurried, gaze flicking to the way the girl had plopped down across from her like they’d made plans. Bold. Cute. Mildly annoying. "Ice cream goddess is a new one. I might keep that. Though most people ask before sliding into the royal table."

She adjusted her notebook slightly, more for effect than need, and let the young girl's questions hang for a beat. Then, Diamond leaned in just a fraction—not enough to imply true intimacy (wait...was her name Diana? Mildred was coming to mind but as if she would mutter that monstrosity aloud) but enough to look like she might be about to drop something juicy. "The goss?" she echoed, tone dry, teasing. “Girl, the only thing that cried today was Ireland’s defense. Two hundred to nothing." Another slow bite. Another glance over her sunglasses. "But if you’re good, very good, I might tell you which player got caught scribbling love notes on their broom handle mid-match. Fraternizing with the enemy over something a lot more exciting than quidditch balls." She tapped a manicured nail on her sunglasses' rim. "There’s levels to this, Rach―di―ana." That totally wasn't the name. Oh well. "And I don't hand out spoilers for free."

She didn’t quite say 'run along, baby crumbcatcher,' but the implication shimmered just beneath her smile.

Ariel didn't even blink when Diamond called her Rachel. Or Diana. Or whatever that weird fusion was supposed to be. Instead, she casually wiped a smear of melting ice cream off her wrist with the air of someone far too seasoned to be rattled by a misfire like that.

"First of all," the ginger said, tone light and breezy and entirely unbothered, "it's Ariel. You know, like the Little Mermaid, but with better hair and without the fishy smell." She punctuated the statement with a neat lick of her lemondrop ice cream, as if to demonstrate she had allllll the time in the world. Which she did.

"You're totally keeping 'Ice Cream Goddess' now," she added, twirling her cone in a lazy, artful arc before waggling it in Diamond's direction like a scepter. "Branding is everything. I could draw you a logo. It'd be, like, you on a cloud throne, holding a sundae the size of a Hippogriff egg. And obviously there would be sparkles. Maybe a glitter moat. Definitely a dramatic banner." She continued, flashing an innocent wide smile. "And, for the record, nobody asks to sit at the queen's court. They get summoned. I'm just ahead of the curve."

When the older girl didn't immediately swat her off like a particularly persistent Pixie, Ariel settled in even deeper. She practically buzzed with eagerness, kicking her heels lightly against the chair legs in a jittery, happy rhythm.

"And duh, I'm good. I'm excellent. I'm elite-level gossip sponge material," she declared, throwing an invisible glitter bomb in the air with her free hand. "Soooo... c'mon, Ice Cream Goddess. Bestow your wisdom upon a mere mortal such as myself. Who was doodling love sonnets? Was it someone hot? As payment for the pipping hot tea, I'll have that masterpiece of a logo ready to hand over at the Start-of-Term Feast."

Text Cut: the Disney Adult in me mourns Diamond's ignorance

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoe

Ariel didn't even blink when Diamond called her Rachel. Or Diana. Or whatever that weird fusion was supposed to be. Instead, she casually wiped a smear of melting ice cream off her wrist with the air of someone far too seasoned to be rattled by a misfire like that.

"First of all," the ginger said, tone light and breezy and entirely unbothered, "it's Ariel. You know, like the Little Mermaid, but with better hair and without the fishy smell." She punctuated the statement with a neat lick of her lemondrop ice cream, as if to demonstrate she had allllll the time in the world. Which she did.

"You're totally keeping 'Ice Cream Goddess' now," she added, twirling her cone in a lazy, artful arc before waggling it in Diamond's direction like a scepter. "Branding is everything. I could draw you a logo. It'd be, like, you on a cloud throne, holding a sundae the size of a Hippogriff egg. And obviously there would be sparkles. Maybe a glitter moat. Definitely a dramatic banner." She continued, flashing an innocent wide smile. "And, for the record, nobody asks to sit at the queen's court. They get summoned. I'm just ahead of the curve."

When the older girl didn't immediately swat her off like a particularly persistent Pixie, Ariel settled in even deeper. She practically buzzed with eagerness, kicking her heels lightly against the chair legs in a jittery, happy rhythm.

"And duh, I'm good. I'm excellent. I'm elite-level gossip sponge material," she declared, throwing an invisible glitter bomb in the air with her free hand. "Soooo... c'mon, Ice Cream Goddess. Bestow your wisdom upon a mere mortal such as myself. Who was doodling love sonnets? Was it someone hot? As payment for the pipping hot tea, I'll have that masterpiece of a logo ready to hand over at the Start-of-Term Feast."

Diamond watched Ariel (if that was even her real name because the girl was sputtering nonsense about mermaids and fishy smells immediately after) with the same vaguely amused expression she might give to a Crup doing tricks for treats. That was to say—mildly entertained, but mostly bemused. She took another delicate spoonful of her ice cream sundae soup, a bit that was less melted than the rest of it, and let it melt languidly on her tongue before speaking, long lashes low over her eyes like she was deciding whether this was worth her breath.

"Mmhmmm," she finally hummed, tilting her head just so. "I'm allergic to shellfish anyway." She wasn't, but she also had zero idea what the name Ariel had to do with The Little Mermaid and wasn't about to admit to THAT. The corners of her glossed lips quirked into something nearly—but not quite—approaching a smile. Not that she was encouraging this kind of frothy familiarity, but the ankle-biter had style. Sparkle moat? Banner? Diamond had to respect the brand awareness, even if she wasn’t handing out the rights to her image like free Bertie Botts. "Is this your application to be my Art Director?" she mused with a couple of thoughtful taps to her cheek. Her gaze slid over Ariel’s outfit with the kind of practiced subtlety ― that was to say that it really wasn't subtle at all. "But you’re...endearing enough, I suppose, so I’ll give you that. Maybe I’ll let you mock up a couple of mood boards for my next campaign. You know—intern-level access."

She set her spoon down and leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand, faux-conspiratorial. "Our little lyrical lothario, you mean?" Her voice dropped to a dramatic hush. "U-17 Ireland’s Seeker. Name rhymes with 'could-use-a-new-haircut.' He’s got the kind of face that screams 'background character in a historical reenactment.' You know, passable, if you squint and you’re into... earnest." A delicate shrug followed, breezy as ever. "But somehow capable of writing you a poem comparing your eyes to two overripe nectarines and somehow make it sound noble and romantic."

Her eyes glinted playfully over the tips of her manicured nails while she pretended to examine them. "So like...genuinely curious—how many summers 'til you grow tall enough to stop getting mistaken for a garden gnome?" She let her smirk linger a few seconds longer, then gave a glance at her wristwatch like she had an important meeting to get to and grabbed her bag nestled on the ground beside her heels. "Make sure those logos are orange and don't be modest with the sparkle."

SPOILER!!: Beitris! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beitris Urquhart

Standing a short distance away near the polished window of Florean Fortescue's, she had been waiting, arms loosely crossed, a silent sentinel against the cheerful backdrop of pastel umbrellas and clinking ice cream dishes. Her gaze, sharp and unflinching, locked onto Dynah the moment the girl reappeared. Whole and upright, she noted. However, the proximity to the young couple hadn't gone unnoticed.

There was no visible sign of disapproval from Beitris, but neither did she rush to praise. Instead, she watched Dynah's instinctive self-pat-down with a clinical eye before making notes on parchment.

Stepping forward, Beitris let her clipboard fall back to her side, parchment rustling faintly as she moved. When she spoke, her voice carried low but clear, cutting neatly through the mumur of the seating area and street nearby.

"We will now move to the next location." A single brow arched as she gave the new objective, voice cool and deliberate. "Your next destination will be the designated arrival point outside the Welsh Dragon Reserve. It is a low-traffic zone; however, the area is heavily warded. Accuracy is critical."

Beitris' pale gaze sharpened a degree further.

"Take at least fifteen seconds to prepare your visualisation before departure. When ready, you may make your leave."

Then, without further instruction, Beitris turned sharply on the spot. There was no loud crack, no violent twist of air—only a soft, clean pop, and Beitris was gone.

OOC: Feel free to make a post here with your character departing via Apparition, otherwise please proceed to the dragon reserve.

Dynah was half afraid to even find the Apparition instructor lest she discover a strong expression of disapproval on the woman’s face. However, it was inevitable that Dy did and she spotted her scribbling away on parchment. The young woman gritted her teeth and took a deep breath to collect herself. This had not been one of her finest moments, even her reaction to the couple had been an unflattering one.

Beitris cut into her inward chiding. There was no time for self pity as there was still much to do!

Dy felt a faint tinge creep up on her face when it was mentioned that the Welsh Reserve’s arrival area was low traffic. “I got you,’’ she squeaked, shuffling her feet uncomfortably. She thought that Beitris must have low expectations of her and simply nodded her head without making eye contact before the examiner departed.

Only then did Dynah breathe easily. Hopefully, this time around, she would be more impressive. The thought of made her nervous again. “But what if you Apparted right where you’re supposed to?” a loud voice in her head asked, the one that hyped her up for her stage performances and Gobstones games. It was all Dy needed; she stood to her full height. “Destination, Deliberation and Determination. You got this, Dynah!”

A mental picture of the Welsh Reserve was conjured, and with renewed grace, she turned on the spot without a shred of hesitancy and a whole lot of determination and deliberation.

Text Cut: Ariel says "Disney movie slumber party when???"

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Diamond watched Ariel (if that was even her real name because the girl was sputtering nonsense about mermaids and fishy smells immediately after) with the same vaguely amused expression she might give to a Crup doing tricks for treats. That was to say—mildly entertained, but mostly bemused. She took another delicate spoonful of her ice cream sundae soup, a bit that was less melted than the rest of it, and let it melt languidly on her tongue before speaking, long lashes low over her eyes like she was deciding whether this was worth her breath.

"Mmhmmm," she finally hummed, tilting her head just so. "I'm allergic to shellfish anyway." She wasn't, but she also had zero idea what the name Ariel had to do with The Little Mermaid and wasn't about to admit to THAT. The corners of her glossed lips quirked into something nearly—but not quite—approaching a smile. Not that she was encouraging this kind of frothy familiarity, but the ankle-biter had style. Sparkle moat? Banner? Diamond had to respect the brand awareness, even if she wasn’t handing out the rights to her image like free Bertie Botts. "Is this your application to be my Art Director?" she mused with a couple of thoughtful taps to her cheek. Her gaze slid over Ariel’s outfit with the kind of practiced subtlety ― that was to say that it really wasn't subtle at all. "But you’re...endearing enough, I suppose, so I’ll give you that. Maybe I’ll let you mock up a couple of mood boards for my next campaign. You know—intern-level access."

She set her spoon down and leaned forward slightly, resting her chin on her hand, faux-conspiratorial. "Our little lyrical lothario, you mean?" Her voice dropped to a dramatic hush. "U-17 Ireland’s Seeker. Name rhymes with 'could-use-a-new-haircut.' He’s got the kind of face that screams 'background character in a historical reenactment.' You know, passable, if you squint and you’re into... earnest." A delicate shrug followed, breezy as ever. "But somehow capable of writing you a poem comparing your eyes to two overripe nectarines and somehow make it sound noble and romantic."

Her eyes glinted playfully over the tips of her manicured nails while she pretended to examine them. "So like...genuinely curious—how many summers 'til you grow tall enough to stop getting mistaken for a garden gnome?" She let her smirk linger a few seconds longer, then gave a glance at her wristwatch like she had an important meeting to get to and grabbed her bag nestled on the ground beside her heels. "Make sure those logos are orange and don't be modest with the sparkle."

"Sounds like he's the kind of guy who tries to compare a girl's soul to a stormy ocean in a sonnet and then cries when she doesn't immediately swoon." She tilted her head thoughtfully, curls bobbing. "But hey, maybe that's the tragic poetry era he needs. It builds character."

Her eyes never left Diamond, even when the older girl delivered that final smirking jab about gnome height—Ariel didn't flinch, didn't bristle, didn't even blink. In fact, she looked delighted. As far as she was concerned, the moment you started insulting someone's height, it meant you had officially run out of actual ammo. Plus she didn't mind being smol one bit.

"Ooh," she said cheerfully, the way one might respond to an especially cheeky howler. "But if I were a garden gnome, I'd be the kind that guards ancient treasure and gives cryptic riddles to passersby. Very exclusive. Very limited edition."

She gave her ice cream a triumphant chomp and leaned back in her chair, looking completely at home now. And then, with absolutely no transition, Ariel perked up as Diamond grabbed her bag. She was leaving already? The redhead did her best not to pout that their lovely time chatting was coming to a sudden end.

"Oh—yes, I will add orange sparkles! Obviously. I'm not a heathen," she responded. "You'll be a brand before you know it. Ice Cream Goddess™ is going global!"

The drawing was just the beginning. She was already envisioning stickers and school planners and buttons and t-shirts. The influence. The merchandising.

Leaving the icecream counter, the blond boy by the name of Jasper headed out in the outdoor seating in the blazing summer sun eyes fixed on carrying his high waffle cone. His fear was that his icecream was going to be snatched by a bird. Hopefully a seating area was safe from that, right? Walking over towards one of the vacant tables Jasper didn't see the outstretched legs from another youth already seated at a table before it was too late.

"Yikeeeeeeeeeeeeeees!" He blurted out with a sudden shriek of scaredness that was proabably also seen in his eyes as he knocked into the legs of someone, and felt himself being propelled forward, falling towards the ground with his cone still in his hands. Next moment he crashed down hard on the ground, landing in a heap and losing his tight grip on his icecream cone that rolled away.

Ice cream in hand, Aurora made her way over to one of the outdoor tables. It was a nice and sunny day, and she had managed to get a good amount of shopping done. Not only school supplies, but she had also gotten even more plants to add to her collection. That was one of her projects over the summer. She was working to fill her greenhouse with plants, though it was a slow process. Not that she minded; in fact she was very happy about it.

There were also plants that she wanted to get for the Indoor Garden. And she was excited to spend time there with Nyle again this term. They were going to have so much fun gardening and just in general.

Sitting quietly, she ate her ice cream and wondered if any of her friends would come by.

Mary-Lou was excited—excited beyond belief. She hadn’t quite remembered the name of the school yet… was it Hogsmarts? Or Hogmorts? Or maybe Hogwarts? Well, she was sure she’d get it right eventually. It had been the same when that strange person first came to tell her she was a witch. At first, she had giggled, thinking it was some kind of prank. But then she’d been handed a list of potions and books she would need, along with instructions that they could all be bought at a place called Diagon Alley.

And now here she was, in this strange and magical place… though a part of her still wished she were spending the summer with her friends, chatting about plans for secondary school. She’d left primary school in July, and now everyone was going off in different directions. She had told them she was going to a boarding school—but she hadn’t explained exactly what kind of boarding school.

As she wandered, lost in thought, Mary-Lou spotted a girl sitting outside a shop, happily eating ice cream. Well, Mary-Lou wasn’t shy. This was her chance to find out a bit more.

“Hello,” she said brightly, walking over with a smile. “Do you go to… Hogwash?” She wrinkled her nose, still trying to remember the name. “I’m trying to find out about it. I’m starting my first year next term.”

As Aurora ate and did some people watching in the hopes of spotting her friends, she noticed a younger girl who looked rather lost and unsure. Frowning slightly, she was just about to see if the girl needed some assistance when she walked over.

"Oh, hi." Aurora gave a friendly smile. Hogwash? "Oh, you mean Hogwarts? I can definitely help you out." While she had only gone to the school for one term, she knew a lot about the castle. "I'm Aurora by the way," she added realizing that she hadn't introduced herself.

Mary-Lou sighed. “That’s the place—I’ll never remember the name.” She then heard the older girl’s name: Aurora. That was a pretty name, though she wondered how she was supposed to remember it. “I’m Mary-Louise, but everyone calls me Mary-Lou.”

Without waiting for an invitation, Mary-Lou plonked herself down beside the older girl. Hadn’t she said she could tell her more about Hogwarts?

“I’m Muggle-born, you see—that’s what the person called me when they told me I was a witch.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, as if afraid someone nearby might laugh at her. She wasn’t sure whether Aurora would make fun of her or not. “So… this Hogwarts— it’s definitely a school for witches and wizards?” Mary-Lou whispered the last part again before quickly adding, “It’s not a joke, right?”

It was clear that this girl needed some reassurance. Which was totally understandable. ”You will, I’m sure of it. It’s just a lot of information to take in. And there will be lots of people who will help you if needed. I definitely will.” So everything would be okay! She smiled at Mary-Lou as the girl took a seat beside her.

Aurora had to lean in a little as Mary-Lou whispered in her ear, momentarily confused before she realized that she clearly had no idea what a muggle was. ”That’s not a bad thing. Muggles are people who have no magical abilities,” she explained. ”Lots of witches and wizards are muggleborn. It just means that they come from families that aren’t magical.” There was more to it, but Aurora decided to keep it simple for the moment; there was no need to overwhelm Mary-Lou.

”Oh, Hogwarts is definitely real. No one was playing a prank on you.” So there was nothing to worry about. Aurora had some more of her ice cream because she didn’t want it to melt.

Diego was out having the time of his life! Well, as best as he could, with school shopping to be done... eventually. It was August, so he had a whole month left of fun to be had. So first thing was to treat himself with some ice cream, he was on his way to walk in to get his usual treat when he heard a shriek and felt somebody fall on him.

"Oof!" Diego grunted. Blinking, his eyes traveled to the clumsy-oh! "Hi Jasper.." Well, he can't ask about how his trip was with the unfortunate circumstance. "Oh no... you lost your ice cream. Erm.. are you okay?" He first asked before dusting himself off and offering a hand to help. "I can buy you a new one, if you want?" Because his magic was not good enough to try to... fix that ice cream that the ants would soon be making a feast out of.

Mary-Lou let out a small breath of relief, her shoulders loosening a little. “So… I really belong at Hog...?" She tried to think of the name again and drew a-blank, she would have to write it down somewhere so she could memorise it, "Even if my family isn’t magical?” she asked softly, eyes flicking toward Aurora with a mix of uncertainty and hope. She worried at her lower lip for a moment, then added, “Do you think… it’ll be hard to catch up with the others? The ones who already know about magic?” Mary-Lou was still extremely nervous, boy did she have a lot of reading to do. "Is there a book about the school and other magical things?"

It seemed like this poor girl had some memory problems. Aurora felt for her and wondered if maybe she should write all this down. That should make things easier for Mary-Lou. ”Yes, you belong at Hogwarts. The fact that you’re here proves it. Muggles can’t access Diagon Alley.” She smiled. Mary-Lou was where she belonged. Nod. ”Like I said there are lots of muggleborns. And also people like me who have both muggle and wizarding heritage.” So it was okay that her family wasn’t magical.

”I don’t think that will be a problem because they start with the basics for First Year. But you could always read over your textbooks before term starts. If you want I could go with you to get them.” Aurora was almost done with her ice cream, so they could leave soon. ”There is Hogwarts: A History. And a ton of other books about the wizarding world. You could always look at those as well.”

Mary-Lou shifted in her seat. She felt a warmth rise in her chest at Aurora’s words, though it was tangled with the familiar knot of worry that had been sitting there ever since she’d received her letter.

"That… that really does make me feel better," she admitted softly, her voice a little unsteady. "I kept thinking everyone else would already know so much more than me. What if I was the only one who didn’t even understand the basics? But… if the Professors start at the beginning, then maybe I’ll soon pick it up.”

She gave a tentative smile, the tension in her shoulders easing ever so slightly. Her fingers traced the edge of the table as though grounding herself in the moment. "And… it would mean a lot if you came with me to get the books. I don’t think I’d know where to start by myself. This place is so big, I’ve already struggled to find all the different things on my list. I’m sure I’ve already walked past half the shops I need to go in.

Her smile widened, a little more certain now as Aurora said about a book. "If I had the books, I could read a little before term starts. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel quite so lost. And Hogwarts: A History sounds wonderful. What is in the book, does it have a lot of different history in it?”

She glanced at Aurora with gratitude in her eyes, her cheeks tinged pink. "Thank you for saying that. For helping me. I don’t think I’ve ever had someone explain things so kindly before."

Blinking, Jasper gave off a loud sigh. He had done it again. When was he going to not be clumsy anymore? Raising his gaze to meet the eyes of the boy he had fallen over he murmured eyes downcast "Oh, um Hi Diego!" Straightening himself up into a sitting position Jasper felt how he his body began to ache in multiple places. His hands looked a little bruised, but thankfully didn't bleed which probably meant the same for his legs.

Taking Diego's offered hand with a sticky one of his own, he got up on his feet albeit a bit unsteadily, and apologized truthfully. "I'm okay, a little achey in places, but that's normal. I'm sorry for tripping over you. I wasn't looking where I was going...." Scanning around for his ice cream cone that was nowhere in sight, and probably was some creatures's new lunch he said eyes back on the other boy. "Thanks Diego, but only if you get ome ice cream with me?" Maybe Diego could change this horrible embarrassing scene to something fun? [b]"Have you ever been to the scamander zoo?"

BEAM. Aurora was happy to know that she was helping Mary-Lou to feel better. She completely understood why the girl was feeling overwhelmed and unsure of herself; it would be a lot harder for someone who had no idea about the wizarding world until they got their Hogwarts letter. But she was sure that the younger girl would adapt and get the hang of things in no time. "I'm glad, and I am sure that there are a lot of other First Years who have the same worries as you. You will definitely start with the basics." Nod. That was how it was for her when she was a First Year at Beauxbatons.

Aurora finished the last bit of her ice cream as she listened to Mary-Lou. "It's no problem. I'm happy to help." And she was very familiar with Diagon Alley, having come here many times over the years. So she knew where everything was. "What have you managed to get from your list?" Aurora would help her with the other things she needed. Though they would start with the books. "It's definitely confusing at first. But I'll show you everywhere you need to go. And other places as well if you want to check them out." Like Sugarplum's if she wanted to check out some wizarding world candy.

"It's definitely a good idea to read over the textbooks before term starts. That's what I do as well." It really made things easier even if she sometimes forgot about the things she read about. "Yep, it's all about the history of the school. Going all the way back to when it was founded." The compliment made Aurora smile more. What a really nice thing to hear! It was very flattering. "It's really no problem at all. I'm glad to help. And if you ever need help with anything else, you can always come to me."

What exactly had compelled her to combine two weird and likely unpleasant ice cream flavors on one cone?

No reason really. Avalon just wanted to try something different than the usual chocolate frog or Moose Tracks flavors, and her general philosophy could often be boiled down to "go big or go home."

So what better way to do that than to order the jalapeno and nacho cheese ice cream flavor with the banana pudding ice cream flavor?

She carried the ice cream cone to the seating area outside and quickly found an empty table to sit at. The temptation to try it sooner had been ever-present, but she'd decided to wait until she had found a seat outside before doing so. Just in case it was so bad that she "accidentally" threw it on the ground. Or something. But outside made it less necessary for a worker to have to clean it up.

Anyway, it was time for the moment of truth.

Avalon licked the banana pudding scoop - mm! - and then quickly licked the jalapeno/nacho cheese scoop.

...

She made a face, coughing from the conflicting flavors and spice. Ugh- Merlin's SOCKS- That's- horrific, why-

Maybe going big wasn't always the best option...

How in Merlin's beard was she going to eat the rest of it?