Cassia pocketed the remaining coins after having paid for the sandwich, since she feared dropping them and THOSE were her tips, they were precious. She actually was intending on saving some of them and never spend them. Her first job and all. Her coins safely tucked, she went and sat down besides to Terry. "I am very pleasant to see, right?" She joked adding a laugh. Not that she didn't think that deep down. Being humble and all.

"I have been quite well," She answered his question. "It's been a fun summer, I'm interning at the Leaky Cauldron and it's really cool," She had pretty much took people's ears off telling them about her intern. She wasn't going to stop. The snake was likely to keep telling about it unless she had more interesting story. "What have you been doing this summer? How's your Phoenix?" She always asked about the bird because she, too, like creatures. As long as they were clean and non harmful. Like she didn't like her owl. That certain creature was vicious. No one was supposed to like it.

She took a big bite of her sandwich and then regretted it, because it'd take a bit until she swallowed it. So she managed to munch on it without opening her mouth. Which wasn't that easy you know. But on the bright side, the sandwich wasn't bad rather delicious. Or perhaps because she was hungry? Either way, she was glad that it was enjoyable and worth the money she had paid for.

"Have you been to the Petting zoo?" She wonder after having swallowed whatever was in her mouth. "IT's pretty interesting." She told him eagerly.

If João hadn't misread it, Paulie was more surprised/frightened than upset to see him. That was a good sign. At least he was going to be welcome. And honestly, he was suddenly in dire need of reminiscent. Wonder if they could actually have a civil talk this time?

His grin only got firmer upon hearing that phrase that only Paulie could use so... perfectly.

What was wrong with him? He wasn't even supposed to bear the guy. Was he getting old? Did the meeting with West shake him that terribly? Maybe he shouldn't move to England at all, if even the thought of it made him this sentimental and soft.

"Thanks," he said as he sat down and studied him for a moment. He then took a sip from the butterbeer. At least it was cold and felt nice to drink in the heat.

"How have you been?" He wondered briefly what he was up to. He and Louisa never quite went past the... criticising each other for him to ask about Paulie.

Paulie swallowed the bite in his mouth, washed it down with some water. It wasn't half bad. Usually he thought of festival food as fried or sugary, but this was quite fresh. And tasty.

Joao took him up on his offer to sit, thanked him, and even asked how he was. Now, what was thiiiis? Could this possibly be the start of turning over a new leaf? Paulie Foster and Joao Neves AKA Brazil Nut, enemies dating back all the way to the times of the Hogwarts Trojan War? Well. Perhaps they were just being civil.

"Eh," Paulie shrugged a shoulder and scrunched his nose up. "Been better." He fixed a little of the turkey that was falling out of the side of the sandwich. "And you? I heard some news, ya now." Mhmm. Oh yes he did. Now Paulie turned to Joao with a knowing grin. "You and that Gordian knot." Finally, he had gotten a name for that one. That crazy girl. Sure took him long enough.. how appropriate.

And he wouldn't delve into the happenings of his ex-girlfriend and said Gordian knot quiiiiiiiite yet.

João wondered why he wasn't as well as before, but slapped himself mentally a second later. He wasn't supposed to even be curious about him. He was supposed to just shrug, argue over wise comments, and leave him mortified.

...there was something in England's air that made him softer. He knew it.

"I'm--fine." He could be better too, but he was still too suspicious of Paulie to be any friendlier than this. He wasn't going to see him again, probably. What was the point of being hostile? He didn't want any enmity behind.

...Gordian knot? He chuckled, clearly amused at Aspen's nickname. Then chuckled again as he repeated it in his mind. "Only you could have found such a convenient name." If he was wondering, that was João's complimenting. "So what did you hear about me?" How come he had heard NOTHING about him in return?

Was that Lesta Marigold saw?

IT WAS.

"LESTA!!!!!" Marigold screamed as she ran towards the older girl. "Hi! How are you? How was your summer?" Marigold stopped blabbing and hugged her. She giggled and looked around. "The food looks good, huh?"

SPOILER!!: Christmas!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Christmas stopped at the festival food and refreshment stand and she was waiting for a chance to get something to eat but she hoped that she would hopefully meet somebody new while waiting

Kace wanted to go enjoy the Diagon Alley summer festival. He was looking around and noticed the food and refreshments! YAY FOOD! Everyone loved food right??

As he was waiting online to get something yummy, he noticed a familiar face. He smiled and went over to say hi. "Hey Christmas long time no see."

SPOILER!!: Awar :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Awarlesta Black

Awar strolled around the festival while he brother finished up work at the Ministry. In all honesty, she rather be at school, but this festival seemed to look highly entertaining and well, at least she was back home with Manolo. As usual, the scent of delicious food lured her here. Now the question was...what should she eat?!

[/spoiler]

Kace was still deciding on what to eat when he noticed Awarlesta. Kace jumped and went over to her. He crept up behind her and poked her in the back. "Boo!" he joked with her. "Hey there stranger!"

SPOILER!!: Marigold! :3

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScarletCharm104

Was that Lesta Marigold saw?

IT WAS.

"LESTA!!!!!" Marigold screamed as she ran towards the older girl. "Hi! How are you? How was your summer?" Marigold stopped blabbing and hugged her. She giggled and looked around. "The food looks good, huh?"

Then after he spooked her, he noticed another familiar voice. It seemed loud and he smiled and said, "What's up Marigold! Fancy meeting you here of all places."

Shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that the first place Penelope would go to at this festival thing would be the food tables. She was hungry, okay? And she couldn't enjoy the rest of the stuff it had if she was focused on an empty stomach. So she needed at least a little something to eat. But what should she get? She didn't have a lot of money to spend, just enough to get maybe a sandwich and a drink. But which ones? Hmmm...

Having had a rather pleasant experience the last time she was out of the apartment, Medea once again forced herself into the outside world, feeling just a bit more as old herself. No, she wasn't calling herself old. Sparkling hippogriffs, that would have been ridiculous! Yet, despite not being able to accomplish the tasks she desperately wanted to check off her list as of YET, a little break was surely needed.

A little break in a very loud and noisy yet fun looking festival. Good enough.

BUT, she needed something first that she'd forgotten to bring. Ice water. Did they even have ice water here? Clutching a semi-open small velvet purple bag that squirmed every now and then, she inched her way over towards one of the vendor booths.

Goodness there were a lot of people here.

"Foooood!"

Good thing, Aquila was starving!

This is one of those activities that require counting of coins, but she was hungry enough to to just make that sacrifice and go there and have something to eat.

But as she perused the menu, her mouth fell open. "Mermaid Salad??!?" Oh! How could they possibly EAT those poorly tempered creatures?

Paulie turned, looked at him with one eyebrow raised, then turned back. "That was convincing," he said before taking another bite. He liked to eat the crust first and leave the middle for last. Save the best for last, right?

He scratched the scruff on his face and smirked when Joao chuckled at the nickname. Clearly, since even Aspen's boyfriend thought it was appropriate, it must have been a good fit. Actually, really anyone who knew the girl would agree. "Mmhm, I won't argue that." Yep, he hadn't lost his knack for nicknames. Never.

Now, now... a nice, big, ol' grin stretched over Paulie's face. "What did I hear, huh?" Wellllll, now that he asked.. "I heard you're datin' this Gordian knot, that's what!" And Aspen was a very attractive girl, and a very good mind-gamer, but she was also a piece of work! "And," Paulie began, because he wasn't finished, "I believe ya both owe me a very genuine 'thank you.' Maybe even a box o' chocolates; that'd be nice."

Terry couldn't help but chuckle at Cassia's comment about herself. Although he agreed that she was pleasant to see, not only in looks but because she was his friend and seeing a friend was a great occasion, but he found the statement funny. It was a truly Slytherin thing to say. "Hmm? I suppose so" he teased resisting the temptation to poke out his tongue, deciding that now he was perhaps a little too old for the gesture.

She was doing an internship? That was cool. "I saw those advertised" the boy responded, looking towards the row of shops nearest to them. "But I thought that I'd rather help out my mum than spend my time here." Not that Diagon Alley wasn't a pleasant place to be, the shops were attractive and offering great things for sale but spending a whole summer here when they could've been out doing fun things sounded more like a chore than an experience to die for.

"I've not been doing that much" he replied. "And Amadeus is fine" he laughed. The Phoenix seemed to be a talking point around some of his friends, his mother was certainly lucky enough to own one but she was the former Magical Creatures Department Head in the Ministry and privileges came with these positions. "He usually just perches over my mum's desk when she's working." He kept himself to himself.

The Blonde boy shook his head when she enquired whether he'd been to the Petting Zoo. "No not yet" he spoke, glancing around to discover where the zoo was hidden. "I've only just got here and I've been wandering around trying to find someone to talk to." Because apparently everyone was interning or just not here. Brilliant.

João chuckled once, but didn't comment. He didn't want to explain stuff to Paulie. He didn't want to talk about West with anyone. So he just sipped at the butterbeer while Paulie ate, and waited for him to explain himself.

He couldn't decide whether that grin promised GOOD stuff or BAD stuff. Paulie was supposed to be a nice guy, so a smile would be GOOD. But maybe he secretly hated him or something. Hmm... he smiled humbly.

"I am, yes." Did Louisa tell him? He stored the question for later. He didn't want to distract Paulie with unnecessary questions.

..."Why?" He cocked his head to one side. "Because you helped us somehow?" To suppress an unwanted laugh, he sipped at his butterbeer again. Judging by his speed, he had to get another soon.

"There's not doubt in that. And you are pleasant to see as well, my friend," She grinned at him before taking another bite of her sandwich. And she meant what she said. Her he-snakes friends were really cool and she liked hanging out with them. Her Snake-ish traits mostly surfaced around them, too. Because they'd get each other's jokes and all.

Cassia liked how Terry showed interest in his mother's job or creatures. Not many kids liked to stick with their parents and help them in the summer. Cassia supposed she would, had one of her parents had something to do with call stuffs, like creatures. except owls. But her father worked in the ministry and her mother was a housewife. Though, she did spend time with her lots. "That's interesting." She nodded. "Have you gotten to see a hippogriff or something that cool?!" She didn't know if her remembered, but they once talked about creatures and she expressed how much she admired hippogriffs and wished to ride one!

Amadeus. She always forgot the name, or just showed reluctance before saying it, fearing that it'd be wrong. Though it was about time that she registered in her mind for good. "That's very nice," That the bird liked to stay near his mother. If only she had a nice bird. Maybe one day she'd get a phoenix? That was added to her bucket list right next to the Hippogriff wish.

"I see," She commented looking in the distance at where she guessed was the magical zoo. "It had creatures- nifflers, perlocks, flobberworms..." She trialed off guessing that he got the idea. She just wanted to clue him in and give an idea since he hadn't been there yet.

Then a question nagged at the back of her mind. Just out of curiosity and because she wanted to know what her friends were doing, "Have you thought of studying...you know OWLs exams next term," She certainly didn't. And was kinda hoping to know that she wasn't the only one because that'd make her feel better.

Paulie finished his fresh, tasty avocado and turkey sandwich and washed it down with the rest of his water. That hit the spot.

Yes, yes, Joao admitted to dating Aspen Odessa. Honestly, they were both separately insane. But when Joao asked why they might be indebted to him, Paulie Foster, Paulie made a distinct 'pfffft' sound and gave the Brazil Nut a deadpanned look. "Helped ya?!" Did this Nut have memory problems? "I was the one who threw you two star-crossed lovers together." Paulie kept looking at Joao, as if his 'hello?!' stare might jog the other guy's memory. Finally, he rolled his eyes. "Charms class." Hmmm? HMMMMMMMM?! Was that enough of a hint for him?!

He casually brushed a few crumbs off his pants. "Donno how I got to be such a good matchmaker, but I don't argue with heaven-sent gifts." Where was that thank you and box of chocolates, again?

Awar was startled by a sudden scream that came, running, from her right. She laughed at the excited-ness that the soon-to-be second year was exerting. "Hi, Marigold! I'm doing fine." She hugged her back, "My summer's been a bit slow, but I'm not complaining." She looked around with her and sniffed the air, "Yeah! Smells great!"

She felt a sudden jab in the small of her back and turned around to face her assaulter. Aww, it was little-not-so-little Kace! She poked him back, "You got me, kiddo!" She embraced him tightly, "Hi there, Kace-Bear! How's it going?"

...

... ...

Okay, Paulie was serious about this 'helping', judging by the looks he gave to João. "I remember perfectly," he said, with a tiiiiiny hint of amusement in his voice, "that you nearly got us a detention." Now it was his turn to give him funny looks, but he failed, of course. Those were Paulie's specialty. He resolved to drinking his butterbeer again.

Which, he gulped down with difficulty. He had nearly snorted it out after Paulie's remark.

"Matchmaker?" Heavens help him! "Thank you, my hero, my dear Paulie for matching me with the girl of my dreams! You have saved my life!" Dramatics wasn't João's specialty too, but he tried his best, and smirked--something he managed professionally at last. Did that suit as a thanks, HMMM?

"How did you learn we are dating anyway?" Seriously. João was curious.

Kace felt Awarlesta poke him back and he didn't mind it. He was glad she got her. "I am glad i got you." he smirked. His sneaking up tatic worked and he would bask it in while he can. Usually it never worked on his family members.

Ooooh Kace-Bear?? Hmmm...interesting nickname. He didn't mind it. She asked how he was doing. He answered her honestly, "I have been doing well. I was busy with sports camps mostly. I did soccer and football. I even have awkward tan lines on my feet and shins." he said showing he worked hard this summer.

"How have you been? How was your summer?" he asked his best friend.

Ah, so maybe Brazil Nut's memory wasn't failing him. ...Detention? Okay, maybe that memory was serving him a little TOO well. "I think I woulda welcomed a detention for that bit o' fun." And it could have been especially interesting being in detention with "sexual-tension-Joaspen." Endless opportunities to taunt. Heh.

Now, now, Paulie believed he MAY have noticed a slight thread of sarcasm in Joao's thank you. BUT, it was very lengthy, and true, and complimentary, and he was even called a hero. So, that would do. "Hey, all in a day's work."

However..... "You DO need to keep a leash on that girl, though. She went ape-fit CRAZY on me, ya know." For real. Officer Odessa and her red-headed sidekick.

As to how he found out about the two of them dating, Paulie grinned. "I've got spies keepin' tabs on ya, Brazil Nut, that's how."

"Hey Kace!" Marigold said, beaming at him. "This place is awesome, isn't it?"



Marigold was surprised to see her teacher here, but went over to say hi nonetheless.

"Hello, Professor. Had a nice summer?" she asked, hoping the answer was affirmative.



"It is so good to see you!" Marigold said, smiling. "It does smell amazing. The festival looks so awesome! It reminds me of the Fright Fest... Remember that?"

While she was having just so much fun at this fair thing she also realized that she would have to admit when she was hungry and eat. All this took a lot of energy and she was burning through her candy reserves at rapid speeds which meant she'd need to stop for real food unless she wanted to be out--not really possible considering Sugarplum's was just further down but you got the idea.

Getting closer she spotted a certain Ravenlcaw yelling about mermaids.

"We're eating mermaids now?" She asked, coming to a stop next to her. Or had the girl taken something literally that she shouldn't have? Merlin knew she had a habit of doing that.

"Where?"

Her eyes busily searched the table for anything that might have resembled those sea creatures even a little. So far, she found nothing.

“Haaiii Lex!” breathed the perplexed Claw when the Gryffindor joined her, her confusion momentarily relieved. “It said Mermaid Salad. Do you think they caught those poor innocent mermaids and put them itty bitty bits with the greens?” WIBBLE!

“Maybe I should get something else.... Oh! Ambrosia salad, that sounds good. Food of the gods you know, Ambrosia...” Nod nod.

No that that seemed even more impossible than the Mermaid bits.

He would, now? "Tut tut, Paulie. You were meant to be an example to younger students too." He had been a Head Boy back then. He wasn't supposed to welcome detention even if he had a divine missin like matching João and Aspen.

And the Brazilian would like to think Aspen had decided independently to date him. To think that Paulie had anything to do with their relationship was... disturbing, at the very least.

He shook his head like 'You're a lost case,' as he chuckled once. Really. He was beginning to feel well again, thanks to Paulie's clever comments.

...something was definitely wrong with him.

His next comment though, took all the amusement away.

"What? What crazy?" Paulie'd better use that 'crazy' in... João didn't know in what sense, but it had better be something nice for him. He was frowning now, and his heartbeat had accelerated. He didn't want to imagine what his girlfriend was up to, again. But he wanted to know. So, Paulie, spill the beans.

"Good to know I'm that important to you." Though his voice was dry with dread of Aspen's doings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roselyn

Having had a rather pleasant experience the last time she was out of the apartment, Medea once again forced herself into the outside world, feeling just a bit more as old herself. No, she wasn't calling herself old. Sparkling hippogriffs, that would have been ridiculous! Yet, despite not being able to accomplish the tasks she desperately wanted to check off her list as of YET, a little break was surely needed.

A little break in a very loud and noisy yet fun looking festival. Good enough.

BUT, she needed something first that she'd forgotten to bring. Ice water. Did they even have ice water here? Clutching a semi-open small velvet purple bag that squirmed every now and then, she inched her way over towards one of the vendor booths.

Goodness there were a lot of people here.

Grinning from ear to ear, mostly because he no longer felt self conscious about his missing teeth because the good ol' muggle dentist had fixed that right up, Airey approached the vendors for something to quench his summer thirst. Something...

Ooooooooooh! Exploding lemonade! He did rather fancy that. Had not had any of that since, well, since last summer now that he thought about it.

Eyes down as he poked around his breast pocket for his manly coin purse, he wasn't entirely paying attention to where he was walking and bumped into several people. "Pardon. 'scuse me! Please let me throoooooooooooough," he sang as he made his way towards the refreshments line.

Ethan shifted his purchases in his arms to balance them better and gave Wade a friendly grin as he returned the greeting and made a little room at his table. He figured he'd sit down for a minute, thinking Minerva would soon find him when she was done talking if he didn't go find her first. Either way, they'd be eating soon. "Doing really well, thanks," he said cheerfully as he slid into the seat and set his sandwiches and drinks down at the table. Summer was great.. certainly not as packed as the year before, but that was fine. His girlfriend was doing so much better and they were having a nice, relaxing summer together before they both went off to school in September.

Hippogriff? Ethan inclined his head, squinting his eyes a bit to try to catch sight of one of those. Oh.. wasn't there a mechanical one he had passed on his way here? "No.. haven't done that yet," he said looking back at Wade again. "We've only done the carousel so far.. Rode a dragon there," he added with a grin. That was officially the best one to this former Ravenclaw. "Yeah.. there really is. We actually just got here not long ago.. I haven't been to a festival like this one in years." His nostalgic smile made it apparent that he was reliving some childhood memories.

Ethan listened a bit as the other boy touched on some summer highlights so far. "Sounds like you've been having a great summer.. What's Disney like?" He had heard about it before, but never actually been there. Might have to be one of those places to visit one day. And and internship sounded cool.. especially at a place like QQS. "Working at the Quidditch shop.. sweet. I'll have to come in to buy something and put you to work," he joked. "No, that's cool.. I did an internship at the Owl Post Office a couple summers ago.. But this summer is a bit more relaxing. I did busy the last two, I just want to enjoy it before Uni." Not that he didn't enjoy the last couple, they were fun-filled.. this was just a different kind of enjoyment, he supposed. "Just doing stuff with Min around Heidelberg and working in my greenhouse.. there's a castle festival I want to take her to next week.."

Paulie didn't like to openly admit it, but the Brazil Nut had a point. "Well, ya can take a horse to water.." He thought for a second or two, then tilted his head. "But seventh year I was good, apart from that particular class." Mhmm, he was. He went to most of his classes and did homework and interacted with younger students and helped plan events and stuff? ..Maybe not the best Head Boy, but he wasn't horrible.

He shrugged and glanced at Joao and was pleasantly surprised to see that he seem sort of light-hearted, a little more laid-back.

Scratch that. The talk of the crazy Aspen story wiped that smile off his face real quick. "Crazy, like..... insane." Which was just a synonym for crazy. He could see that Brazil Nut was waiting for him to continue, so Paulie did. Maybe he could finally get a bit of SYMPATHY around here.

"Well," Paulie began. "I was mindin' my own business the other day, walkin' down the main street when I accidentally tripped and bumped into some dude." The minute details of how this 'dude' was ripped and how Paulie managed to yank his trousers down in the process was irrelevant. "Then suddenly Tori was there, 'cause she bumped into me from behind, and then outta nowhere, your girlfriend was there, scribblin' crimes in her notebook that I was definitely not guilty of!" Ugh, ugh, ugh. The injustice. Gordian knot was supposed to serve justice, not confuse crimes with personal vendettas. Because Paulie would never do that if the roles were reversed. Of course not. Never, ever... "SO, Aspen handcuffed my wrists AND ankles, ordered Tori to search me down, they robbed me of my wallet and wand, and only did I ESCAPE when I had the cleverness to jerk Tori off my back and roll down the main street of Diagon Alley, HANDCUFFED, like a runaway log." Inhaaaale.

Add escape artist to his long list of possible careers if the air force ever didn't work out.

So, what crazy, he asked? THAT CRAZY.