Dance Decoration Delegation

[Felixir]

Preparations for the upcoming dance are now underway, and in the weeks leading up to the event all students are invited to help with the decorations. Today - the third day of March - is devoted to exactly that, at least for the students who can bring themselves to part with their Saturday afternoon in order to lend a hand.

With lunch over, the Great Hall has been cleared of food, cutlery, and crockery. Each of the five long tables now houses all kinds of supplies, mundane and magical, for the production of decorations. You'll find certain colours of materials are more evident at particular tables, as each has been devoted to a different element: Earth at Hufflepuff, air at Ravenclaw, water at Slytherin, fire at Gryffindor, and aether up at the staff table. Students are welcome to mix it up and get creative, perhaps work in gradients and combinations of elements, but are encouraged to keep things cohesive. Grab any available seat, or a patch of floor, and get stuck in.

A couple of blackboards are also present. Upon one is a list of information students can reference, including the theme, colour schemes, and suggested decorations to work on (for those struggling to find inspiration):

Quote:

Suggestions/things to keep in mind:

• Streamers
• Lighting
• Banners
• Signs/signposts
• Airborne features
• Bioluminescence/glow-in-the-dark
• Overarching theme: ELEMENTS
• Specific elements/colour themes (below) or gradients (below)

AETHER
Outer space
Silver → Blue → Green → Gold → Red
Black
Purple

AIR
Xanthic
Silver → Blue → Green → Gold → Red
White

EARTH
Evergreen
Silver → Blue → Green → Gold → Red
Ochre/brown/bronze

FIRE
Red-orange
Silver → Blue → Green → Gold → Red
Yellow

WATER
Celtic blue
Silver → Blue → Green → Gold → Red
Grey

Headmaster Kazmi is stationed by the other board, mulling over what appears to be a rough floor plan - unmistakably a patch of the grounds beside the lake - drawn out in chalk. He gestures to anyone who so much pokes their head into the room, beckoning them inside with a, "If you're here to help, come right in and get started. No time like the present." If a student has questions, needs assistance, wants to run an idea by someone before embarking on it, or requires mediation in a heated streamer-related confrontation, Kazmi and some of the other staff will be dotted around the room and available to help.

Near the doors - well away from the supplies - is a foldout table bearing cups and water jugs, and plates of biscuits. Don't spoil your dinner.


_____

OOC: This isn't a lesson, more of a casual/semi-guided RP. Everyone is welcome to join and jump in at any point. (Late arrivals are a-okay IC and OOC.) This RP does have a scheduled end point; we will be wrapping up around 10th July 2022.

If your character is working on something particular, try to be clear on exactly what it is, so that we can incorporate as much as possible into the event itself. Feel free to have your character get creative and innovative with decorations, but playing just for the sake of interacting is absolutely encouraged too.

[kayquilz]

Lalaaatidaaalalalaaaa!

Arden twiiiiiiiirled into the Great Hall to help with decorations. She loooooooved decorating. Like, she should probably just quit school now to be a full time decorator. No need for school. No need for learning.

But she was too focused on a future with aquatic animals, so she supposed she would stay at Hogwarts for now. Magic was important, after all, if she wanted to get a *GASP* job in the wizarding world.

And Headmaster Kazmi was here. "Headmaster...I am seeing a depressing lack of glitter. Do you hate fun?" she asked with a HUGE frown. There were some...glow-y things. Glow-y wasn't shiny. SHINY WASN'T GLOW-Y. They were DIFFERENT. "What do you want us to do first????" Because if left to her own devices, she was likely to...be...like, a mess.

[sweetpinkpixie]

No time like the present indeed.

Everything about this dance was making him stressed. Actually, allow us to rephrase that. Everything about this dance SOCIALLY was stressing one Atlas Flamsteed out. It felt like from the moment it had been announced, all anyone could talk about was how they HAD to find a date. But...did they really? Where in the headmaster's words had it ever said that one HAD to have date for this? It was...interesting how things worked out like that. The pressure to find someone or else be a flobberworm, or whatever the phrasing was that was being thrown around, was...a lot. And with a year already marked by OWLs, it was just incredible rude that such strains be thrust upon him, you know?

While one could not spell avoidance without dance, Atlas had not exactly been avoiding thinking about it. Quite the contrary...he was almost consumed by it and had been filling up his notebooks previously dedicated to his metal charming and robotics endeavors with sketches and blueprints for possible decorations. The irony being that...he may not even be attending this thing in order to enjoy whatever he and his peers were creating. But...that was a moat he would try to cross later.

Okay, maybe mild avoidance.

With a decently sized mokeskin bag slung over his shoulders and THICK leather bound journal tucked under his left arm, Atlas ventured into the Great Hall and plopped himself down not at any table specifically...but rather on the floor leading up to the dais to the staff table. His aim today was simple: finalize and construct his first floating light prototype...and also see if he could get the charms right for it to shift color based on certain tonal changed and sound wave vibrations. He had...entirely too many sketches to choose from and the parts to make them as well - when you collected from scrap piles since you were a toddler, you had a lot of stuff to work with.

Settling on the ground, Atlas patted his pocket first for one of his metallic companions and set him on the ground in front of the mokeskin bag. "Hey, Prongs? Find me a piece like this, will you?" he inquired of the beetle while pointing to one of the bits of his blue print. Watching as Prongs disappeared within the bag, the fifth year looked up and tried not to...wince at the mention of glitter.

Glitter. It was coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere.

So...back down his head went as he took the pencil out from behind his ear to add some additional details to the blueprint in front of him.

[FearlessLeader19]

The aspect of the dance prep that Ms. Aria McLeod was most looking forward to. Not to mention that she was also looking forward to this more than the actual dance. She was so disinterested in it that she hadn’t even bothered to find herself a date. But decorations? THIS she could help with in so many ways! Creativity was in her soul!

“I agree with Arden, Headmaster! There can be no shortage of glitter!” This fifth year ADORED glitter! She pranced closer to the duo, a bright beam in place. “But I’m sure if we look among all of the supplies we’ll find all the glitter we need!” Aria paused a bit to carefully take in the set up of the Hall. Ugh. This was heaven to her. “Say, Arden. I’m a sucker for glitter and it sounds like you are too. Want us to work on a banner or something?” USING ALLLLL THE GLITTER for their prospective masterpiece!!!

[Watson]

He had to finish grading a few essays before poking his head into the Great Hall. Boss had asked them to support and here he was. Decoration making support ready for action. “Kamran,” he greeted as he made his way further into the Great Hall before pausing to address the students who were already present.

“Miss Toros”, he nodded, noting how energetic this student seemed. He noted her comment about glitter and smiled. Thankfully he had stopped off at the Art Room before making his appearance.

Ah. Next student was Aires? No, Atlas Flamsteed? “Mr. Flamsteed,” he nodded as he walked past. The boy was already at work. Best not to disturb. Simon paused, offering a smile to Miss MacLeod as she asked Miss Toros to work with her. “Excellent idea to add some extra sparkle, Miss MacLeod.” He reached into his bag to pull out some jars of glitter and offered them to the two students who had requested it.

Simon was here and ready to assist wherever he was needed.

[emjay]

Karleigh was pretty eager to help out with decorations. She spent a good part of the year being internally annoyed with everyone worried about dates and dresses so many months away from the actual event, but now that it was almost here, it felt exciting. She'd resigned herself from thinking she might not have a date, knowing that her crush had a girlfriend (though she wasn't so sure she was crushing anymore) and she couldn't really think of anyone who might ask her, so she was determined to be an independent woman. Independent women could decide whether they even wanted a date or not and she decided that she didn't need one. She could go and have fun and not worry about it. Once she decided this, it was like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

She strolled into the Great Hall, making a beeline for the small group that had already assembled there. "Hi, everyone!" She greeted them all with a bright smile before taking a seat on the floor near Atlas. She was here to help wherever she could and did not have a set plan.

"Oooh glitter!" She came in just in time to see Professor Holden pass out glitter to the girls. She was all for a little extra sparkle. And adding it to a banner sounded like a great idea. "Should the banner have words on it? Or are they more just to hang some extra color and sparkle?" She was good with whatever. She just wanted to help.

[MadAlice]

Violet was not much one for decorating--art was not one of her special talents, although she did admire people who could do it. She was, however, rather interested in the upcoming dance, the first "normal" school activity she had been able to participate in during her career at Hogwarts, what with ghost possessions and Neo-Alliance takeovers and candle-drugging and the castle falling apart--the usual Hogwarts stuff.

So she had dragged herself away from her N.E.W.T. preparations to come to this event and, sitting down at the Water table, began looking over the supplies and decorations there.

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

“I agree with Arden, Headmaster! There can be no shortage of glitter!” This fifth year ADORED glitter! She pranced closer to the duo, a bright beam in place. “But I’m sure if we look among all of the supplies we’ll find all the glitter we need!” Aria paused a bit to carefully take in the set up of the Hall. Ugh. This was heaven to her. “Say, Arden. I’m a sucker for glitter and it sounds like you are too. Want us to work on a banner or something?” USING ALLLLL THE GLITTER for their prospective masterpiece!!!

Ugh. Glitter. Leave it to Aria McLeod to be enthusiastic about what had to be the most annoying decoration on the planet. Aria could bubble and beam all she wanted to, Violet was not buying that persona any more. That girl had a definite mean side.

[FearlessLeader19]

Professor Eye Candy agreed with her!!! Aria’s beam couldn’t have grown brighter. And he was offering her and Arden jars of glitter!! Ugh! Best professor ever?! “Thank you, thank you! These’ll come in handy!’’ Aria collected four jars which she carefully balanced in her hands. The Slytherin pranced around, having heard the voice of Karleigh. She and the Gryffindor had never really worked together but there was no time like the present to change that, right?

“Hi, Karleigh!’’ The over excited fifth year paused to think. “I guess we could do a bit of both. Or we can do images instead… like the mascots and the respective element for the Houses. So that would mean badgers and earth, for example. Of course, I’m all ears for ideas from you guys! Why don’t we find a spot and get started?”

Somebody pleaseee tell her what Violet’s problem was?? Because this bubbly person really was Aria. Mean personas were probably reserved for Violet Blackthorne only. Why? Because Aria did not want Violet to date Caes and was quite determined to have her brother and Darius bond for that exact reason. Also, it would give Aria no greater pleasure but to dump a jar or two of glitter on her fellow Slytherin's head.

[kayquilz]

Arden beamed when she heard a voice agree with her, a voice that sounded older than her. She turned to see a fourth?fifth??? Year (she could never keep people straight in her head) smiling about the idea of GLITTTTTTTTER. Arden beamed even wider when she asked if Arden wanted to work on a banner with her. OMG.

“YES of course I do! Let’s do it!” She bounced a little in enthusiasm before taking the MIRACULOUS professor Holden’s glitter. “Thanks, prof!’ She said before wigggggggling at someone else who had joined their little glitter cohort. ANOTHER older girl?! Arden felt really cool. “Sure! As long as you two don’t mind hanging out with a second year,” she said with a shrug. “I literally don’t care what the banner says or has, I just want to put glitter on it.” She had half a mind to pour an entire jar on one poster.

….could she? O_O

“I’m Arden, by the way, in case you don’t remember my name.” She said as she tucked a jar under her arm.

[sweetpinkpixie]

Smiling to himself as Prongs emerged with the parts he had asked for, Atlas laid them out in front of him and set the mechanical beetle on his knee. His eyes briefly caught those of Professor Holden's and offered a small nod in acknowledgement...but otherwise continued to keep to himself. Not entirely by choice, mind you, but he was the odd one out once again with having a different interest and opinion. Alone in a crowded room, right, Lisa Nam? But he wasn't the only one on their own...and his eyes drifted over to the older Slytherin, Violet, who was by herself at the Slytherin table working away while everyone else talked about glitter and banners. He thought about moving his work over there, but he had everything all set out and he did not want to risk damaging anything or wasting more time in moving things. He DID, however, try to offer her a small smile as he reached for one of his broken lightbulbs - Violet had always been decent enough to him.

Double checking, just in case he had changed his mind in the past 30 seconds, Atlas set his notebook on the floor and tapped the page for Prongs to use his metallic weight to hold it open on the page and so all his rustling would not disturb the sketch hidden within all the chaos. He hadn't anticipated going with a design based on something so organic to start...but...there was something whimsical about the fluff of a dandelion...and he had all these little crystal pieces to work with that he was sure would catch the light quite nicely. First thing was making the base though, so the Gryffindor began fitting pieces together, taking them apart and moving them into other positions, like a puzzle until he had a spherical base. Next came the various long wires...which were going to take
a bit of time since he would have to magically weld them together. This also meant he needed to pop his protective goggles on, just in case.

And with that...away he went with pinpoint precision and little showers of sparks. Nothing like playing with fire, right? Well...it was better than glitter to him at least.

[FearlessLeader19]

Clearly Arden was excited to work together, which Aria was pleased about. If they {Karleigh included} worked together then they could churn out a few banners in no time! Aria grinned. “As long as you’re helping with the banners and not being annoying, I don’t mind!’’ That might sound harsh but the Slytherin was serious. She did, however, laugh in great amusement about the little Gryffindor wanting to put glitter on everything. “Deal! I’ll do some designs and you add the glitter.”

Aria motioned the small group towards one of the tables - the Gryffindor one - where she began to search for supplies she would need. “And I’m Aria. Future model and fashion designer.” She did remember Arden’s name, actually. “Want to sit on the floor? Because that’s where you’ll find me.” Arms loaded with supplies, the fifth year ungraciously sat herself down. “I’m going to start outlining some badgers on this piece of cardboard. You can add all the glitter to him once I’m done, Arden.”

To work she got!

[MadAlice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Somebody pleaseee tell her what Violet’s problem was?? Because this bubbly person really was Aria. Mean personas were probably reserved for Violet Blackthorne only. Why? Because Aria did not want Violet to date Caes and was quite determined to have her brother and Darius bond for that exact reason. Also, it would give Aria no greater pleasure but to dump a jar or two of glitter on her fellow Slytherin's head.

Violet's current problem was sitting right over there raving about glitter, and while she may be a bubbly person to some people, she had not shown Violet that side recently. And Violet had been unable to come up with whatever she'd said or done to set Aria so against her, and quite frankly, she was now fed up with thinking about it. If she really had done something wrong, she wouldn't hesitate to apologize, but unless and until Aria chose to let her know, Violet had determined to put the whole thing out of her mind and just avoid the younger girl when possible.

Violet had taken some grey, dark green, and grey-blue streamers and fastened them together--that was sort of watery, wasn't it? It looked the color of the water of the Lake outside the Slytherin windows. Then she transfigured some of the tacks she found on the table into seashells and used them as decorations for the streamers. Violet was actually not bad arranging colors and shapes, she was just very clumsy at drawing. She had hoped that someone else with more talent would join her; then she had planned to offer to help them. But so far, she was the only one here and she was running out of things she thought she could do, or do without looking too stupid.

Then she looked again at Atlas, sitting up there on the dias all alone and intently working on something. And for a moment he'd glanced up and smiled at her. That was all the encouragement Violet needed. Whatever he was working on had to be better than anything she could come up with, so, leaving her completed streamers lined up carefully on the Water table, Violet got up and walked over to join him.

And when she got there, she found--some sort of mechanical contraption that looked like some elaborate and beautiful insect, and it seemed to be actually helping him, bringing him things, as he worked on what seemed to be an impossibly intricate drawing or diagram of some sort. "That is absolutely fantastic!" Violet exclaimed, watching the metallic thing with admiration--this was a really useful companion, much better than the misbehaving, thieving old magpie she was stuck with. "And--uh, what is it you're working on, exactly? Do you need any help?" Which was a stupid question, because obviously Atlas had already got all the help he needed, probably much better help than an unartistic Slytherin could offer.

[Felixir]

Milo was still on bad terms with this room, just as he was with the grounds, most of the corridors, the forest, and a smattering of classrooms and offices. As that was not likely to change any time soon, he had opted to simply get on with things, except on the most difficult days.

He drifted into the Great Hall almost as though by accident (though he was not oblivious to the intended use of the room today) and with a heavy sketchbook clamped under one arm and held tightly in place with the other hand. For a few minutes he wandered through the tables, eyes roving over the supplies laid out, finding nothing of interest until he ended up at the staff table. Here, the situation was more to his taste, and yet still Milo was not tempted to make - he glanced at one of the boards - signs or streamers.

Instead, he cleared himself a place, pushing the various supplies neatly aside, and climbed up to sit cross-legged atop the staff table. Scanning the inhabitants of the room, physical and otherwise, Milo let the sketchbook fall open on his lap, pulled a pen and pencil from the spiral binding, and directed his attention to the page and the figures he began inking onto it.

_____

Ah, good, some volunteers. The first of whom received what seemed to be a very solemn nod. "Oh yes, I hate fun. Very much so," Kamran replied, deadpan. The young Gryffindor was already off and getting stuck in, but nevertheless he added to her and to McLeod, who echoed her concerns: "You'll find most of the glitter up at the staff table." And Simon had that particular base covered too, excellent. Kamran nodded back to his colleague in greeting.

Did he want to think about what kind of havoc some of these students could wreak with an ample amount of glitter? ... No, but he understood how likely it was that he'd soon find out.

With Toros directed towards the goal of making a banner, along with some of the others, Kamran took a moment to survey the room and see how they were all getting along. Flamsteed seemed absorbed in his work - the outcome of which they would hopefully see before long - and Kamran watched as Blackthorne went along to join him. Toros, McLeod, and Creed all seemed involved in the banner-making to various degrees. And Evans was... well, Kamran doubted he was actively contributing to anything, but he was present and not disruptive, and so he let the boy be.

He strolled across to the banner-makers, catching the tail end of the discussion. "If you're looking to incorporate that fifth element as well, you have the option of writing 'Hogwarts' out in stars, or maybe just having stars twinkling throughout the banner instead." Kamran quietly approved of the design ideas so far, and though he had very little in the way of a creative eye, even he could imagine it might start to get a little too busy with multiple words and images all at play on the same banner. But, as this wasn't for him, he left that as a suggestion only, and paused to consider the other tables.

[sweetpinkpixie]

It struck him, while he was attaching a crystal to the end of one of the wire coiling thingies attached to the metallic base, that he not only had come to this meeting on his own and without Remy dragging him...but he would even say that his steps had an air of enthusiasm about them while he made his way down. There was, however, a bit of a damper to those steps as once people got to work he once AGAIN found himself on the outs with interest and focus, but it was a turn in events he certainly had not anticipated or seen in the bottom of his tea cup. Not that he tended to actually trust the dreads of his tea to begin with, but it was fun to pretend sometimes. Divination was an easy subject since everything was so subjective and the rules more like guidelines that you could mold and make up whatever you wanted, sometimes fall into self-fulfilling prophecies too.

Anyway. Enough about all that...because this crystal was having a hard time attaching and he had a look of extreme concentration beneath his goggles and complete with his tongue sticking out of the side of his mouth. His teeth were even lowering a bit, the tension forming along his strong square jawline, and bit down on his tongue as it hung out out. He likely looked very comical, probably a lot like how Andromeda looked while putting on that eye stuff to her lashes. He and Aries had often peeked out from behind a cabinet or doorway to watch her do it... just to see who would laugh first and lose the game. Concentration faces were...ridiculous on everyone, as it turned out. Though he would insist his was less ridiculous. No, he would not be acknowledging any hypocrisy nor questions at this time.

Well...okay...maybe one question, because Violet Blackthorne was speaking to him, acknowledging his work, and (the most important bit) praising him. "Oh...um..." he mumbled, not feigning sheepishness (he had PLENTY of pride in what he was doing) but some genuine flustered feelings that elicited a bit of an intense pink hue to his cheeks. "It's a levitating light fixture...one that is intended to alter its color based on the frequency of sound waves to reflect the specific element being invoked," he began to explain while lifting his goggles up and setting them on top of his head. "Took the shape of it from dandelion puffs...felt...whimsical and soft, fitting for...what people are responding to. The crystal-like bits will provide a sort of twinkling effect too." To go with the glitter that everyone but him seemed excited about at the moment. "I'm...just trying to attach crystals to all the ends now..." And there were almost a hundred of them or something on this particular piece...there were a LOT. He had lost count. "If...you want to help...with that?" He paused and nodded his head towards the bag of crystals just to the side.

He wasn't quite sure he wanted to admit right NOW that he really wasn't sure which enchantments would work to achieve what he was hoping to do. He had a few theories but he hadn't tried them out yet. He had several spare parts to experiment on though.

[kayquilz]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FearlessLeader19

Clearly Arden was excited to work together, which Aria was pleased about. If they {Karleigh included} worked together then they could churn out a few banners in no time! Aria grinned. “As long as you’re helping with the banners and not being annoying, I don’t mind!’’ That might sound harsh but the Slytherin was serious. She did, however, laugh in great amusement about the little Gryffindor wanting to put glitter on everything. “Deal! I’ll do some designs and you add the glitter.”

Aria motioned the small group towards one of the tables - the Gryffindor one - where she began to search for supplies she would need. “And I’m Aria. Future model and fashion designer.” She did remember Arden’s name, actually. “Want to sit on the floor? Because that’s where you’ll find me.” Arms loaded with supplies, the fifth year ungraciously sat herself down. “I’m going to start outlining some badgers on this piece of cardboard. You can add all the glitter to him once I’m done, Arden.”

To work she got!

Not being annoying? Pssssht. Arden snorted at that one. “I will do my best, but it’s really hard to not be annoying when you’re me,” she said with a crinkle of her nose and a smirk on her face. Also, older students got annoyed way too easily, and Arden thought if she was annoying enough, she could help them get over that. Would SHE be that annoyed by the first and second years once third year hit, she wondered? If so, that would be mighty sad.

“I can draw, too, you know. My mam let me practice on my walls back home,” which was a lie. Eden didn’t let her, but did Arden do it anyway? Yes. Had her father come to her defense about it? Of course. “You should see my room. It’s wonderful. Glorious, even!” She nodded as she crouched and plopped down next to Aria. She would totaaaally add some glitter, sure, but now she was getting the itch to draw. “Want me to add pizzazz to your outline once you’re done, too?” And whenever Arden said the word ‘pizazz’ she used jazz hands. It was like, an unspoken rule or something, right?

[MadAlice]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetpinkpixie

Well...okay...maybe one question, because Violet Blackthorne was speaking to him, acknowledging his work, and (the most important bit) praising him. "Oh...um..." he mumbled, not feigning sheepishness (he had PLENTY of pride in what he was doing) but some genuine flustered feelings that elicited a bit of an intense pink hue to his cheeks. "It's a levitating light fixture...one that is intended to alter its color based on the frequency of sound waves to reflect the specific element being invoked," he began to explain while lifting his goggles up and setting them on top of his head. "Took the shape of it from dandelion puffs...felt...whimsical and soft, fitting for...what people are responding to. The crystal-like bits will provide a sort of twinkling effect too." To go with the glitter that everyone but him seemed excited about at the moment. "I'm...just trying to attach crystals to all the ends now..." And there were almost a hundred of them or something on this particular piece...there were a LOT. He had lost count. "If...you want to help...with that?" He paused and nodded his head towards the bag of crystals just to the side.

Violet listened intently to his explanation, not quite sure she was understanding more than half of it (but you had to admit, the whole thing was impressive). Atlas had evidently made better use of his encounters with the Muggle world than she had (unless you counted cheating at five card draw, which was only useful in certain circimstances). "Dandelions, huh? I'll bet Professor Devries will appreciate that," she commented. "And...sure, I can help you attach the crystals," she added, picking one up. That was simple, practical, requiring no art talent, so it sounded like something she could handle.

[Lissy Longbottom]

Adam had never really given the whole dance thing much thought before, because...well, he just hadn't. But now that he was closer with Christianna and he actually had someone he was looking forward to asking TO the dance, he was more inclined to help out! Why not? It's not like he had exams to study for right now or anything!

The decorating was already well underway as Adam came in, so he just gave a little nod in greeting to each of his classmates, and of course to the Headmaster, before heading over the Gryffindor table and grabbed some of the red and gold streamers. The windows looked a little bare, and since everyone else seemed focused on a banner - which was the LEAST important part of decorating in his opinion - he decided to start hanging some banners over the windows. Maybe alternating colors to make sure each element got some love? He took out his wand, started to levitate the streamers, and got to work!

[FearlessLeader19]

SPOILER!!: Ardeeen! <3

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayquilz

Not being annoying? Pssssht. Arden snorted at that one. “I will do my best, but it’s really hard to not be annoying when you’re me,” she said with a crinkle of her nose and a smirk on her face. Also, older students got annoyed way too easily, and Arden thought if she was annoying enough, she could help them get over that. Would SHE be that annoyed by the first and second years once third year hit, she wondered? If so, that would be mighty sad.

“I can draw, too, you know. My mam let me practice on my walls back home,” which was a lie. Eden didn’t let her, but did Arden do it anyway? Yes. Had her father come to her defense about it? Of course. “You should see my room. It’s wonderful. Glorious, even!” She nodded as she crouched and plopped down next to Aria. She would totaaaally add some glitter, sure, but now she was getting the itch to draw. “Want me to add pizzazz to your outline once you’re done, too?” And whenever Arden said the word ‘pizazz’ she used jazz hands. It was like, an unspoken rule or something, right?

Aria snorted with laughter. Arden was funny, was she trying to be funny? Because she was. Aria liked her. The Gryffindor need not worry though. This Slytherin wasn’t one to get annoyed easily! But they seemed to be getting along well so far, right? The conversation was flowing as opposed to being strained and the banner project was on its way.

“On… the walls?” And Arden’s mom let her? Somehow Aria didn’t believe that. She remained focused as she worked with the pencil, taking her time in making this badger a proper one. Now, the fifth year wasn’t an expert at sketching so she would take all the help she could get. “The walls of your room, is that where you started out drawing then?” she asked, sticking her tongue out a bit as she drew that badger’s ears. Once they were drawn to satisfaction, she continued chatting. “Be sure to take some pictures of your room. I’d love to see your work!’’ Speaking of work… she was done with this badger. Aria sat back to look at it. The drawing wasn’t perfect; the head looked somewhat lopsided but it’ll pass. She handed the cardboard over. “Let’s see what you got! Kazmi mentioned there’s more glitter at the staff table so let me know if you need more. I can make a run and grab a few jars. Or summon them.”

Then there were more ideas pouring in, both of which Aria’s sharp mind snagged. “Thank you, Headmaster! I particularly like the idea of having stars twinkling on the banner.” Her gaze moved to Arden. “Think you can manage that? Gold glitter could represent the stars.”

[MadAlice]

Tapio Devries came in the door with what he considered a small armful of evergreen twigs and branches (which, with his big arms, was rather a lot) and carried them over to the Earth table. "Here are some evergreens you can use for your decorations, if you like," he announced to the room in general. "And there will be flowers in bloom in all the different elemental colors later in the spring in time for the party, so just send me lists of what colors you want or if there's anything in particular, and I'll try to oblige you." Tapio had done some special extra plantings in anticipation of the event, so he would have enough to spare. He stood back and gazed over the room with a pleased expression on his face, nodding to the Headmaster as he caught his eye. This was going to be a great event!