"I think you'd be less likely to wound me to the quick if you weren't sure you could put the pieces back when you were through," Tate agreed, casting his eyes down at her again. That Moretti... she was an interesting one, that was for sure.

And pretty. All the professors looked so nice. He was working them too hard if they only got one chance a year to gussy up.

"I'm doing very well, thank you," Tate nodded at the boy. "I appreciate you standing in line with us. You look rather dapper this evening." Dapper. He was using it too much.

Tate raised a hand to wave at the Hufflepuff prefect. She seemed like she wanted to prance around and flounce her skirt like a little girl in a tulle tutu, and she was miraculously reigning herself in. The mental image made him snort. "Alright down there?"

Ah. Bunbury and Zan were approaching the line and seemed to be quite interested in skipping him entirely. Tate stepped out of line with his hand extended toward Bunz. The pink nightmare himself... she was missed.

"Madame Bunbury. It's nice to see you again. I'm certain I don't have to tell you, but you look more than a little fetching this evening. I hope our Professor Truebridge is taking good care of you." Zan, you dog.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luna Laufghudd

Her smiled slowly faded and turned into a lip pursing and dull look at her Head of House at his...sarcasticness. "Yeah, I heard heels make you say 'ouch' if you accidentally step on people's feet." Hehe. Ofcourse...this was her HoH, she didn't DARE even poke the man. She kind of figured hurting the Groundskeeper one time was enough.

Aw. "Cheer up, sir!" She gave him a punch on the shoulder, the sort of way bro's did...or she figured. And it wasn't on the shoulder, because Masterson was a giant, so she kind of hit his arm. Aaaaaaaaaaand, it wasn't a strong punch. She hoped. "We can't have a Head of House that mopes around." Ofcourse they could if Masterson was being his usual stubborn self. Remember drinking the potions last term, anyone? But he accepted the chocolate which was good. He would feel better with that. "There will probably be lots of fun stuff to do here. Did you help with the decorations by the way?" Because the little glimpses of the outside place thingy looked amazing.

Constantine raised an eyebrow as Miranda punched his arm. A strange one, that one was. Eh, she was always good for a good laugh, though.

And then he watched her converse with the Gryffindor Quidditch captain. His eyebrow raised a little higher. Were Madison and him that mushy when they were in school.

Eh. Constantine made a slight gagging sound. Kids. Sigh.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Con_Stripes

Well. Obviously Annie wanted to go talk to them properly. Truebridge was clearly getting good at reading her looks. Clearly.

He lead her over to the receiving line and nodded at the prefects and Quidditch Captains, quite content to let Anastasia do the talking.

Because obviously she missed them all so much.

Um where were they going? Still in the receiving line.... why?

Annie made a little sound akin to a squeak and tried to look over her shoulder to glare at Zan. She had nothing to say to the Prefects, really, they weren't her Prefects and Captains. They were his.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Ah. Bunbury and Zan were approaching the line and seemed to be quite interested in skipping him entirely. Tate stepped out of line with his hand extended toward Bunz. The pink nightmare himself... she was missed.

"Madame Bunbury. It's nice to see you again. I'm certain I don't have to tell you, but you look more than a little fetching this evening. I hope our Professor Truebridge is taking good care of you." Zan, you dog.

And there was the Headmaster himself. Well. Annie could surely converse with him, her former employer after all.

"Mr. Tate. Pleasure as always." She allowed him to take her hand should he give it a kiss like a proper gentleman. "Oh yes, Ethan does me... take care of me, I mean, quite well. And I him."

Whatever, he knew what she meant. She glanced to her right and couldn't help but notice that annoying windbag of a gardener... either choking or clearing his throat.

"Your gar-- er, groundskeeper seems to be choking," she informed Tate quite loudly.

He'd only been Headmaster for less than two years, but he wanted his TITLE. Was she calling him mister as a slam or because he'd called her Madame? Hmmm. They got along... mostly. Except when she'd hated him for putting her boy Ethan in prison. Dark times.

He took her hand and kissed it. "That's good to hear, and I hope that you two will both have a lovely time this evening. I might need to borrow him for a bit to make an announcement later, but you should have plenty of opportunity to dance off whatever fancy shoes you've worn tonight."

Because there WOULD be fancy shoes.

Tate glanced at Neo. "Yes. He does that. I'm not concerned."

Ah.

Yes.

Well.

Ethan decided to focus on the nearby Masterson and his apparent choking. Hmm. Maybe it was a lingering side effect of all those niffler transformations? Turning back to Casey and Annie, he nodded. Annnouncement. Well. He supposed so. And dancing. That too.

Max had been shaking endless hands and making idle conversation, hence his ignorance of Bunbury standing three feet away from him. All he saw was a head of bright red hair talking to Tate, and blinked twice. He was about to say something when he heard a gagging sound.

"Man up, Neo," he said as he slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "Perhaps we should go check out the food and, um, make sure the kids are behaving."

He glanced over at Tate. "Well boss? Do you want us to go prowl the ballroom?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

He'd only been Headmaster for less than two years, but he wanted his TITLE. Was she calling him mister as a slam or because he'd called her Madame? Hmmm. They got along... mostly. Except when she'd hated him for putting her boy Ethan in prison. Dark times.

He took her hand and kissed it. "That's good to hear, and I hope that you two will both have a lovely time this evening. I might need to borrow him for a bit to make an announcement later, but you should have plenty of opportunity to dance off whatever fancy shoes you've worn tonight."

Because there WOULD be fancy shoes.

Tate glanced at Neo. "Yes. He does that. I'm not concerned."

"An announcement?" Annie slowly withdrew her hand and raised a brow in Ethan's direction. "Only good news, I hope?"

She nodded, rather pleased that he wasn't concerned about the gardener dying either. Good good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Con_Stripes

Ah.

Yes.

Well.

Ethan decided to focus on the nearby Masterson and his apparent choking. Hmm. Maybe it was a lingering side effect of all those niffler transformations? Turning back to Casey and Annie, he nodded. Annnouncement. Well. He supposed so. And dancing. That too.

"So, Ethan, dancing or dining?" Why was he being so quiet?

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

Max had been shaking endless hands and making idle conversation, hence his ignorance of Bunbury standing three feet away from him. All he saw was a head of bright red hair talking to Tate, and blinked twice. He was about to say something when he heard a gagging sound.

"Man up, Neo," he said as he slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "Perhaps we should go check out the food and, um, make sure the kids are behaving."

He glanced over at Tate. "Well boss? Do you want us to go prowl the ballroom?"

"Maaaaaaaaximus, darling, were you not even going to say hi?" Annie held out both her hands and waved her fingers at the dapper Quidditch player. Fun times they'd had in this here castle.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BanaBatGirl

Whatever, he knew what she meant. She glanced to her right and couldn't help but notice that annoying windbag of a gardener... either choking or clearing his throat.

"Your gar-- er, groundskeeper seems to be choking," she informed Tate quite loudly.

Constantine sighed and rolled his eyes as he picked up on the sound of a rather annoying former Herbology professor. "Glad to hear that you're still the same annoying woman as always," he replied gently, giving her a firm glare.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

Tate glanced at Neo. "Yes. He does that. I'm not concerned."

He took a moment to eye Tate. Right, he would remember that.

Mhmm.

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

"Man up, Neo," he said as he slapped him playfully on the shoulder. "Perhaps we should go check out the food and, um, make sure the kids are behaving."

He glanced over at Tate. "Well boss? Do you want us to go prowl the ballroom?"

Was Max trying to seriously imply that Neo wasn't manly?

...Harsh.

With a shrug and a "fine", he looked in the complete opposite direction of Bunbury, shoving his hands deep into his pockets.

"More often than not, I am unaware that I do it at all, until you point it out to me." Lilyan replied, quite honestly. Also, more often than not, he was a hard one to figure out.

The more people that filed in, the more uncomfortable it got.

"I might take my leave as well." She added, tilting her head at him, "Unless you object."

One glance at Neo's back was tempting Max to burst out in a peal of laughter. He looks bored enough to start blasting the bushes outside in search of students making out in the dark.

"Why Anastasia! You look positively radiant tonight!" Max exclaimed and extended his right hand towards her. "You were already engaged in a conversation and I thought it rude to interrupt. Forgive me?"

"You're right," Tate waved a hand at the men. "Take Neo for a drink and do a quick turn around the room. See if you can get some of these lovely guests to dance with you." His staff wasn't entirely unfortunate looking. They could get people to DANCE.

"No one has died or disappeared recently. I promise... only good news," Tate agreed. "Enjoy your evening."

No sulking, Neo. Quit that! "All's well now, mate? Can't have you keel over this early in the evening."

"I'll..." Tate glanced at Lily. Again. "Of course, Healer Moretti. Don't let anyone try to talk you into healing them at the ball. Have a snack and have fun."

And he would be looking her up for their dance later, of course.

"Yes." And as for good news. "Depends who you ask." Ethan shrugged it off.

"Whichever you like, Annie." As always.

Though, Truebridge did grin, actually grin in agreement. Anastasia did look radiant. She was always beautiful but tonight it was particularly noticeable.

Zan offered a nod at Max but otherwise stayed quiet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tailzinator

Constantine sighed and rolled his eyes as he picked up on the sound of a rather annoying former Herbology professor. "Glad to hear that you're still the same annoying woman as always," he replied gently, giving her a firm glare.

"Glad to see you're as..." Anastasia's upper lip curled slightly in disgust, "pathetic as always." She returned the glare and turned her attention to better prospects.

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

"Why Anastasia! You look positively radiant tonight!" Max exclaimed and extended his right hand towards her. "You were already engaged in a conversation and I thought it rude to interrupt. Forgive me?"

"Why thank you, dear, and same to you of course." Annie laughed and gave Max's hand a squeeze. "How've you been?"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cassirin

"No one has died or disappeared recently. I promise... only good news," Tate agreed. "Enjoy your evening."

Well then. "That's good news already," Bunz nodded her approval. "You too, Headmaster."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Con_Stripes

"Yes." And as for good news. "Depends who you ask." Ethan shrugged it off.

"Whichever you like, Annie." As always.

Though, Truebridge did grin, actually grin in agreement. Anastasia did look radiant. She was always beautiful but tonight it was particularly noticeable.

Zan offered a nod at Max but otherwise stayed quiet.

"Let's um," Annie somehow managed to scoot even closer to Ethan. "Dance?"

Gulp.

"Busy as usual," Max replied and winked. "How have you been, Annie?"



Then he heard Tate give him and Neo the okay to leave the line and prowl the premises.

"Annie, forgive me but duty calls. Neo and I," he began and saw Ethan, "and Zan need to go inside."

He lifted her right hand and his lips gently brushed her knuckles. "Save a dance for me."

Max dropped her hand and motioned for Neo and Ethan to follow him inside.

Quote:

Originally Posted by demented_death_eater

"Busy as usual," Max replied and winked. "How have you been, Annie?"

Then he heard Tate give him and Neo the okay to leave the line and prowl the premises.

"Annie, forgive me but duty calls. Neo and I," he began and saw Ethan, "and Zan need to go inside."

He lifted her right hand and his lips gently brushed her knuckles. "Save a dance for me."

Max dropped her hand and motioned for Neo and Ethan to follow him inside.

"Wonderful," Annie replied, pausing before adding, "though I will admit... sometimes I miss this place." She gestured toward the castle with her free hand and took a step back from Max.

Oh, were they leaving.... so soon? "I'll be... er... over here..." Annie called toward Ethan before slowly making her way toward some seats. Or was she allowed to sit with the staff as Professor Truebridge's date?

"And prettier too." Celandine agreed with a small laugh. She watched Copernicus' retreating back and sighed just a little. Duty sucked but at least she was getting to talk to Tommy who was totally awesome. "Its my Copernicus. I mean, my boyfriend. He went here too, transferred a bit after you left and graduated when I was in 5th year." Cela explained. "I'll introduce him later if you like." Cela might have been watching him leave a little too closely.

Sigh.

Pretty.

Regina stared at the Headmaster's hand for a few seconds before she realized she had to place hers in it. She grabbed his hand and gave it a rather vigorous shake. "Uh yes, its great to be here!" she said a little too enthusiastically, grinning a little too widely. This is how they do it in polite society right? she wondered to herself, completely out of her element. She finally let his hand go and tried to say something... polite. "Great work you did around here... You look great... I mean, everybody does." she said blushing slightly, not really meaning to give the Headmaster a direct compliment, but then again this was the first time a guy in a tux was actually nice to her instead of trying to blow her head off.


Then out of the corner of her eye Regina detected shiny movement. She looked upon a beautiful blonde, in a dress that nearly matched her hair. She just gave her a polite smile until she made eye contact. Brown eyes. click. A memory of laughing brown eyes flitted through her mind. Can it be?.... she thought as she wondered aloud "Is there a roller derby nearby? I remember spending quite a bit of my youth there passing the time" she said looking around then carefully eyed the blonde for a reaction.


Another voice from the past rang in her ears as Regina turned her head. She smirked as the lovely lady walked up next to the shiny blonde. Memories of the young student standing her ground against a particularly nasty flying Professor made Regina smile. "Well well well, its Gutsy Tommy" she greeted.

She laughed, as she stood up a bit straighter to judge her proper height with him. "I'd say I'm about an inch-ish shorter than you? So, I'm all okay on that front." She reached up and flicked her hair over to one shoulder, letting the loose curls cascade over it and catch the light. She grinned. "I imagine I will tower over a fair few, but ah well...I'll just have to try make not look awkward if any of the younger years fancy a dance." Or if she went and asked JD for a dance (if Ellie didn't mind, of course), just so she wasn't stood on her own by the food table all night...

Nia raised an eyebrow. He hadn't had a trail? How? Why not? Why hadn't he got a date or thought about it or had a string of girls following him? It didn't make sense! Hmmm.

She swished a bit in the ruffles of her skirt, and let the light dance off the diamantes on the bodice. "She isn't?" Nia kind of repeated, slightly distracted by her own swaying. "Aw, that's a real shame." She looked at Raiden. "And you didn't ask her to the ball anyway...I mean, surely then she's an alumni?"

Bella looked at her friend, giggling, it was true she had made quite a few friends, but she really needed to dance with somone before the dance finished, "Sure, lets go" Let the mission take stage 2, she told herself, though she really didnt know what she was talking about.

Bella turned towards the doors of the dance room, make-up done, shoes, hair and dress perfect. Now it was time to dance the night away.

"Lets check it out" She walked towards the doors.

Gold smiled at Bella.

"It must be."

She thought back to all of her own mother's dresses, again. They were still there, still as lovely as ever. "My mum still has a lot of her old dresses," she told Bella, conversationally. "Silks and velvets and lots of pretty stuff." Charmed, to make sure they didn't tear, or wear out. Though how long the charmwork would keep them safe, Gold didn't exactly know. She guessed they would last a long while, yet.

"They're really delicate." Her lips tugged, into half a smile. "I've never actually worn them, they look so fragile." But pretty. Or maybe pretty wasn't the word. Beautiful was.


Gold beamed. "Thanks, Nance," she said cheerfully. She had spent lots of hours trying to pick a dress, and was glad that that had paid off well. AND she had had to stir up the potion. For her hair. Gold knew she could have ordered it, but it had felt nicer, to whip it up. Reminded her why she was taking NEWT-level Potions despite the fact that it wasn't her best subject, even though she could usually follow instructions down to a T where potion "recipes" were concerned.

Date? Oh, that. "Chris," Gold answered, simply. Who still wasn't here. Where was he? Gold looked around, as if Chris might jump out from somewhere. "What about you?" She had no idea if Nancy had come to the dance with someone, or alone. Not that it actually mattered, you know? As long as Nancy had a good time, that would be alright.

Everyone should have a good time, tonight.

Because tonight was special.


Ellie wasn't uncomfortable, was she? Gold hoped not. It would be a shame, if anyone couldn't enjoy tonight because of that. Though, personally, Gold knew she would have thrown on combat boots and come to the ball in ripped jeans, if she had felt that a dress wouldn't keep her comfortable. But that was her, and she could be a little wild at times.

Not irresponsible, though. Never that.

Or at least, scarcely ever.

Her eyes flicked back to Melissa, in a cheerful way. "Sure," Gold said, with a little nod. She didn't know where Melissa was headed, but that was alright. Gold wasn't curious, and there was no need to be either. "Make sure you have lots of fun, Melissa." She waved to the girl as she departed, before focusing her attention on a few people.

Who had just arrived.


Aww, Cela looked all lovely when she smiled like that. "You seem pretty happy to know that we both look shiny," Gold commented cheerfully. She looked down at her heels. Sparkly!

Oh, and there was Professor Truebridge. Gold thought of hiding, the moment she saw him. She had always felt he didn't think she was up to his standards, and the feeling had been growing a lot, lately. She might have edged away into the shadows, but then decided that would be very impolite and smiled up at their Defense professor.

"Good evening, Professor Truebridge." She paused, taking in Professor Bunbury. Well, not a professor anymore, but it felt odd to think of her any other way. "You look lovely, Professor Bunbury," she said, her lips turning up into a splendid smile. Because it was always a pleasure to see someone who knew how to dress properly, and look good.


Headmaster Tate looked.... faintly amused. Or maybe that was just her. Gold smiled at him anyway, a warm, little smile, before focusing her green eyes on Healer Moretti. "Good evening, professor," she said cheerfully. "You look beautiful." Everyone was soooo shiny, tonight!

Gold found that all rawr.

Bella smiled, the thought of so many dresses, such beautiful dresses. The though flooded her eyes, Silks dresses, Velvet dresses filled her gaze. They were so beautiful. Her smiled lingered as the images faded away so she wa looking at Gold again.

"My mother had LOADS of dresses, she was a dress type of person" She told her friend, thinking back, she couldnt really remember when her mother hadn't worn a dress. Most of them had gone now, Bella only had a small selection of them herself.

She also remember her mother once had an old tiara, she didn't know why, she never wore it. It just sat there, in it's little silver box. She didn't know where Emma had put that anyway. Pulling herself from her thoughts she smiled at Gold again.

"Are they? I bet there really beautiful though" She said, smiling once more.

Oh, the same could be said for her mother. "Same here," Gold laughed. "I think I inherited my fashion sense, from mum. She had - and has - a lovely taste in clothes."

Only, Mayonna had been far more athletic than Gold was, which meant she wore the dresses less often. Gold was good at fencing, and she could win a duel, but that was it. Her mother, on the other hand, had dabbled in pretty much every other sport, and done it excellently, too.

"They are, and they are," Gold laughed. Fragile and beautiful, both. Her eyes twinkled, as she looked at Bella. "So, what are your plans for the night?" Gold was going to dance like crazy, and help herself to the chocolate fondue fountain -- to begin with, that is.

Bella giggled, she wished she had a sister. All she had was her younger brother, she loved him dearly, but sometimes felt lonely having no sister she could share fashion tips with and gossip.

"I think i might have inherited mine from my mother and aunt, but im not that much into fashion really" She told Gold, gasping at herself, how could she not be into fashion? She's a girl. Shaking her head a little she added, "I mean, i have no older sister to help me really"

She laughed, a devious look in her eyes, "Im going to try and get as many boys i can to dance with me" She told Gold in hushed tones so no boys could hear her, "I came with no date you see"

Well she could try right?

Quite oblivious to the interraction between Annie and Neo, Truebridge nodded. Dancing was something he could do, and he didn't mind with Annie either.

Kind of ideal actually.

Except for that.

Duty and all. Yeah.

Where the hell was Lafay and why wasn't SHE patrolling and all? He nodded.

Giving Annie an apologetic and lopsided smile, Ethan planted a quick and brief kiss on her cheek. "I won't be long."

Hopefully.


"Good evening Gold." Truebridge murmured as he moved past the line, following Max and Neo. She was one of the good ones, that Gold. One of the brightest in her year.

Giggle.

Wasn't her dress pretty?
Possibly the shoes a bit more, actually.

Lorelai Bristol was NOT a fan of huuuuuge crowds, certainly not if they weren't there for her. Buuuuuut, she was happy on this night. Extremely happy. Albeit Adam had decided he wasn't coming a few months ago, and she had made plans instead of coming stag. Her unofficial date was already here, in the recieiving line alongside everyone else. Sarah Griffin was quite possibly one of the best friends ever. Like, best as in... Dorm-sharing, Lori-admiring , Guard-badgering unofficial date type.

Instead of dwelling on the fact she wasn't on her boyfriends arm right now, Lori swanned through from the entrance hall and almost down the receiving line, with a BIIIIIIIIG smile plastered on her face; simply because she had caught sight of ex-professor Bunbury's hair!

There was GOLDIE! And Sarah! And Miranda The Panda! Aaaaand... OLLYWOLLYVER/Curls/Curly Sue/It. Ohhh, they all looked so CUUUUUTE!

Lori just happened to look cuter with her baby pink glittery platform heels on. YAY.

Woohooo for cute friends!