"Welcomes," she returned with a wry smile. As for her intentions? "One. Or t'other. Neither. Both?" Probably the first option for the moment. But it was quickly blending into the second. It was almost too easy. A wibble of a lip, or a flickering her eyelids, or a pout - and she'd stolen some more. "What's a girl meant to do?" she asked with a sigh. Woe is me...

She could feel the slight movement as his fingers ruffled the feathers. "Flutter?" Her eyes lit up. "Well they can fly, so one assumes so," she answered logically. "Would be able to do it. Charm them, I mean?" Because that'd be so pretty and awesome and cute. She wanted fluttering wings. Yes please.

"I'd be careful of my wings," she answered quickly. "And worse case scenario, there are other ways to fly." Though if he gave he fluttering wings... "Treated with respect, fire doesn't have to burn." She raised an eyebrow. But if he wasn't gonna say anything, then she'd be a free agent, as it were.

Nia understood what he meant. Some people you always wanted there. Or if they weren't, then when you did get together it was still as if you'd never been apart. "Errr..." Good question. He liked Quidditch, so that wasn't an issue. And even if he supported the opposition, he'd still be there, technically watching her. Actually... "Who do you support?" She was intrigued to find out.

"I'm sure you'll do plenty of interesting things in life." It was true. He deserved to. "And if I can be there, I won't need any persuading."

Cass strolled over to the food table, lifting her skirt up to her ankles, and threading her way around the left over food from the ridiculous food fight that had happened a few minutes ago. "This place looks terrible." She told no one in particular as she continued her careful journey towards the table filled with food.

"Well, remind me to thank whoever helped you." James answered chuckling with her. As long as Marie was comfortable it was all good. Though it wasn't like there weren't plenty of charms that you could put on clothing to make them feel just a little less restraining or itchy or uncomfortable or whatever.

He obligingly watched her spin around. "I definitely like it. And thanks." He grinned and then held his hand up. "Wait. Wait. I have a prop." He so did. He pulled a comb out of his pocket and ran it through his hair. "Tada!" Hehe. He was SO lame. He pocketed it again and laughed quietly.

"So... I hope you like dancing."

"Right, well that would be Destiny and Evelyn." she said thinking how they had helped her and didn't even know who her date was at the time. They would soon be finding out though because there was no way Marie was going to hide who she was there with.

She was glad that he liked what he was seeing. If definitely made it worth all the trouble she went through to get that outfit on. "Thanks, I wore this just for you," she said winking at him. "A prop?" she asked and then laughed when he pulled out a comb. "Nice." At least she knew where to get a comb if she needed one because really, there was no place on her outfit to put one.

"Yeah, I like dancing." Especially if she got to dance with him holding her close.

"Aw yeah?" Hehe. Her friends were kinda.... interesting. He found it kind of funny that they seemed so anti-Jimmy. Don't hate the playa ladies, hate the game. Oh the lulz. Honestly though, he wasn't particularly bothered. It was funny to him the reasons people made up, the things they'd cling to in order to not acknowledge the obvious.

You know, the obvious? His obvious awesomeness? Yeah that.

"And now we pretty much match." He pointed out. And best part was he hadn't had to throw on something lame like a lot of the matchy guys seemed to have managed to get themselves kitted out in. And his prop? It had been in his pocket to start with. He'd discovered it and come to the conclusion that his mother had been the reason for that little surprise. He didn't think it was her way of approving his costume either, more like her way of saying she missed him and to look after himself.

Of course she'd said exactly that in her latest owl too. Not the most subtle woman, Jordana Wilkes.

"Great." As in, great that she liked to dance and also, yes he was a great dancer. It sorta came with years of having to dance against his will, developing the ability anyway. The enjoyment came later.

He grabbed a cauldron cake off the table and bit into it. One for the road. Waggling his eyebrows he swallowed his mouthful. "Shall we, or do you want to sit and talk for a while first?" He'd prefer not talking. Apologising was okay. But talking... eh. Eh not so much. They'd done enough of that. Filled the quota.

"Yeah. They may be a little odd sometimes but they are there when I need them." Well they probably wouldn't have been there for her if they knew who her date was tonight. But they didn't at the time so they were there to help her. And really, she didn't care if they did know, she wouldn't change her mind about coming to the Ball with him anyway.

"Yes we do match, and you get to look hot, not silly like some of the other guys here. The guys who looked silly in their costumes or whatever you wanted to call them, trying to match their dates. Pfft, they should have opted for something HOT like her date did.

"Dancing is good now, we have all night to talk if we want to." Besides, if they danced then she would have an excuse to get close to him... and possibly most definitely do some more apologizing.

"Yeah. I have friends like that." Like Finn. At the end of the day he and Finn were buddies and the guy was there whenever Jim needed him. Not that Jimmy tended to be the type to ask for help or whatever. But you know, some things you didn't need to say out loud.

"Hehe yeah. You wouldn't catch me dead in some of those get ups." And it was better for Marie too, that he looked good and all. She was the one that had to put up with looking at him all night, right?

"My thoughts exactly. And other times for talking to, I figure." Because he wasn't planning on just leaving it at tonight. No way, he was having too much fun already. Not that he was, you know, being... serious or anything. Much. At all. Really. Pfffft. Pfffft. No.

Maybe a bit.

He held out his hand.

"Come on then, lets go show off." Grin.

"Right, other times for talking." She did intend on getting him back in the RoR. Then again, there may not be much talking going on in there either. Eh, whatever, she was sure she would have a good time, talking or not.

She readily took his hand when he held it out to her. "Lead the way," she said smiling s she followed him to the dance floor. She was so ready to finally have some fun. This term had pretty much sucked for her up until Mia had convinced her to move on with her life, without Carter in it. Now she was glad she had listened to the girl because if she hadn't then she most likely wouldn't be at the Ball, let alone there with the hottest guy in the school.

How was it she had never met him before?

Catching the face Rhea made at the pudding, Nikolai glanced towards the bowl. Maybe she had seen someone do something to it? Someone like that boy who was dressed as a banana. That boy seemed shifty enough to mess with the food. After all, he was dressed as a banana..

Hearing her speak, though, his eyes focused back on her and it was his turn to make a face. What she said made him decide he was not going to eat the pudding. Brown stains on his teeth? Eww! "I think I vill have some fruit then." he grinned before deciding something better. He would just not eat at all. How long was the food on the table unattended anyway? More importantly, how long was banana boy at the table unattended? "I suppose." he shrugged, "But vhat if I do not like any of this food?" He was not going to spit it out.. no matter how disgusting it was. Better to just avoid it all together, yes?

Yes.

Hehe, compliments work every time. It was the truth, though. She did look beautiful and he apparently looked lovely. Returning the wink, he removed his hat with a flourish and bowed very low. He knew all about Zorro and dressing up like him he had to play part! "Thank you, M'lady." he said, and straightening himself up, he placed his hat back on his head. And Sandra didn't like dressing up, she was missing out on all the fun. Now knowing what Rhea was, a goddess, Nikolai nodded. "I should have known you vere a goddess.." Yes, another compliment.

It was going to be weird standing in front of food and not eating. Distraction, he needed one! "I have not seen you in a while. How have you been?"

Must. Not. Look. At. Food.

Her flip-flopping about her intentions was fascinating to watch, and he did so with interest. She pretty much ran through everything she could, didn't she.

"I think you're leaning more towards the former, really." Yes indeed. Nia would have a Raiden!puppet by the end of the night, and she probably wanted it that way. "Sometimes I wonder... it seems your intentions are terribly impure." What was a girl to do? "Exactly what she wants to at all times, I suspect. Who's to stop her?"

He certainly wouldn't. Nia was amusing. She would be allowed to do whatever she wanted, even if it resulted in his dangling from strings for her. There were precious few people that could do such things to him; vaguely, he mused that it was a good thing that Nia was far less embarrassing about it than Cela had been.

"I could try it, if you'd let me," he murmured, touching his wand through his sleeve. "I don't think it would be terribly difficult to charm them to flutter a bit. Not enough to be a nuisance, but it'd be a neat effect."

He liked to think he was decent at such spells. Then again, he'd recently proved himself woefully incompetent, so who knew. He'd managed to get his mask on his face pretty well though, and hopefully it wouldn't have destroyed his skin underneath.

"I'd be terrible were I fire. People would be under the impression that getting burned had become impossible, I think." He was ever the person who refused to do anything that could cause another harm. Pretty sure that would carry over to being a flame. "If it were me, I wouldn't singe your wings."

Who did he support? That... that was a tricky question. Because... well.

"I don't know that I really support anyone..." He shrugged. "I follow it, but I don't really back any specific team. Though by rights, I probably should..." Cela's brother being a Quidditch player and all, and a few of the Hogwarts Alumni he remembered, also playing for teams. "I just watch. I've never really pushed myself into it, because I wasn't really allowed to watch or play for most of my life. But when you go to a team... I'll support that team, then."

He didn't comment on his possible future. Considering he still had no clue what he was going to do after he left here, 'interesting' things were possible, but by no means certain.

He should probably work a bit on that.

Adam grabbed some chips, and stuffed them into his mouth, hoping no one saw him eating like a pig and not a Lion- as Fee would put it. He was extremely nervous to dance with Kurumi, it would be their first special moment together- and his stomach growled uncomfortably. He wished there was someone to talk to to ease his mind and feet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Team ronmione

Adam grabbed some chips, and stuffed them into his mouth, hoping no one saw him eating like a pig and not a Lion- as Fee would put it. He was extremely nervous to dance with Kurumi, it would be their first special moment together- and his stomach growled uncomfortably. He wished there was someone to talk to to ease his mind and feet.

"Hungry?" Ever-Lily teased and snatched a chip from Adam's hand and munched it. Giggling, she asked, "What's been going lately?"

"Nervous- tonight is my first dance with Kurumi...And umm, we're dating if you haven't heard already..."He added shyly, spinning around a few times. She took a chip from his hand and he acted "mad" by putting his hands on his hips and making a putty face.

"You think?" Nia shrugged, though a smile was clear to see. She didn't want a puppet, but equally, she wasn't going to not batter her eyelashes at him all evening. Because that was funnnn. She liked to see his reaction. "My intentions aren't..." She drifted off. What exactly did he mean by impure? Was it refering to her outfit, or something else? Hmm. "I don't get what you're trying to imply there, my dear Sir, but for you to say that...I'm guessing it's mutual."

Mmm. What she wanted to do sounded good. What he purposely allowing her to get her own way? She needed some resistance, else where was the rebellious fun? "You might," she answered, smirk upon her lips. And if he tried the right way, he probably would too. Sor all the fact they were playing on his will power - it could probably be reversed easily enough.

"Of course I'd let you," she replied, beaming. She wanted fluttering pretty wings. And to feel like a little girl at Christmas. And almost, almost might have some 'cuteness' about her for the first time in 18 years. "Pleaseeee, do it." She nodded excitedly. "But yeah, not so much I topple over or we can't dance." Because she wanted to have her dances with him. And she didn't want to have fancy wings and then just look silly. She wanted everyone to look and see them for a good reason. That they are just so cool.

Nia laughed. Not at the fire bit, but at the fact he might manage to make everyone danger prone due to unawareness. It was an interesting trail of thought. "Then it would be a problem me playing with fire then," she said almost recklessly. It was followed by a teasing wink. But still...

He didn't really support a team? Her mouth opened. She'd been brought up with a team. Well, two teams. Obviously biased, since her father had been a successful Pro. She almost felt bad he hadn't had the opportunity to get into it as a kid. But then, if he could just support her team. "That sounds like an awesome plan," she said with a grin. "And I can get you tickets for one of the boxes. And show you round." Was she getting ahead of herself? Yes. But somehow it made the letters in her trunk not feel quite so nervy. Just exciting.

She smiled reassuringly. "If she likes you, then what's to be nervous about?" Ever asked, hoping that at least sounded a little bit intelligent, if it even made sense. "Thank you for the chip," she added with a laugh, remembering her 'manners.'

Adam laughed. "I'm a bad dancer"he laughed, he could barely stay on beat with the tempo and his feet got all tangled up or he was staring at his shoes half the time."When you get a boyfriend you will understand- trust me..."Adam said patting her shoulder. "Your wonkcome "He said smiling.

"I feel like such a child," she mumbled, but then looked up at him and smiled. She then felt it might be the right time to change the subject, so she pulled out a notebook and started to write.

"I do," he said firmly, nodding. "You may not think you want it that way, but apparently you just can't help yourself." Was she implying that his intentions were impure? The young man grinned. "My intentions are always pure, thank you very much. I'm wounded, that you'd seem to think otherwise."

He might stop her doing what she wanted? Well, considering that she'd listed off what she wanted before, and he hadn't seen a problem, he figured he was safe from having to deny her anything. Though her means to those ends... maybe. However, were he to play his part, his stopping her would be all but impossible.

Terribly out of character, that would be. Were he a will-less man in a mask who did as he was told.

The bright smiles at the idea of her wings being charmed to flutter were just... spectacular. Raiden couldn't not smile at that, even as he gestured with one hand and let his wand slide from the holster.

"Turn around, let me see if I can get it to work." Heh. Did she think he would over-do it? "Even if they were going batty and insane on you, I think we'd figure out how to go about our business. After all, we're meant to do a few things to make the night a success, right?"

While shuffling through his mind, trying to figure out which spell was best designed for this thing he was about to do to her wings, he half-listened as she continued the conversation. Yes, it would still be a problem were she to play with fire. But only with fire that wasn't related to him, because he would be safe fire.

How had they even gotten to this topic?

"Well, you'll just have to be exceptionally careful and make sure the fire you're mucking about with is me, won't you."

No chance of getting singed if she never played with anyone else, though that would probably be a very, very lonely life. Heh.

"Box seats, and showing me around? If I'd known being friends with a Quidditch player would have perks, I would've made friends with one before," he murmured, voice clearly teasing. "Are you sure you'll have time for me between all your intense training sessions and matches and getting stalked by paparazzi?"

He was pretty good at reading her. Too good, really. Sometimes it was as if he could just read her mind. Admittedly her cheeks gave her away at times, but still. "For some reason, I don't believe you," she commented. "For one, I'm the angel. And for two, you must have thought about it to get the idea my intentions were impure." She tucked some of her hair behind her ear, and fiddled with her earring rather than returning her hand to where it'd been laying on the skirt of her dress. "Despite my cynicism, I don't wish to wound you, however. Perhaps I can make it up to you in some way?"

He was going to do it! She could see him getting his wand out, and Nia's eyes twinkled. Raiden always managed to make her feel special. It gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside.

She swivelled round slowly, her ballet shoes silent on the floor. She peered over her shoulder, wanting to see what he was doing. She might have been bouncing a bit too, from excitement. Batty and insane? She sure hoped not! It'd make concentrating on the dancing impossible. She might even take off! Which would be pretty cool, but equally frowned upon by the Professors. "We are," she said, still wiggling in excitement. "And I think we're doing rather well so far...so no need to spoil it with freaky wings, mmkay?!" Not that she believed he would do that. He was going to give her super beautiful gently fluttering wings.

"I will," Nia replied, turning her head the other way so it didn't go stiff from trying to look so far over her shoulder. "I think I just about could cope with that." Though, it'd be limiting. Oh, she'd enjoy it alright, but...then it might get tiresome rather than fun. And...it wouldn't be fair.

"Only the best," she grinned. "Hey, I'm not just any Quidditch Player, you know." Well, in the grand scheme of things she was. For the moment at least. But still, she was dreaming big. "I'll always make time," Nia answered certainly. "And, I doubt I'll need to worry about the paparazzi." As a Captain and Prefect at Hogwarts Nia had somehow escaped the radar. And so she had no reason not to expect it to happen again. She did her talking on the pitch, and then just got on with life. Why would the press have any other reason follow her except for match write ups in the sports section. "You're just being silly."

"Why do you feel like a child?"Adam inquired leaning in playfully. "And you brought a notebook to a costume party?"He asked in shock and awe, girls nowadays were different.

"Ah, but if I thought about it... then it was only because you pushed me toward thinking about it." Leaning away from the wall, toward her, he lowered his voice. "You're a bit of a terrible influence, aren't you, Miss Angel. It seems even angels are capable of having impure intentions. Just as much as they're capable of stealing."

Because yup, Raiden was the innocent party here. Most innocent, pure-minded person in the world, thank you very much. Hehe.

"And how do you propose to make it up to me?" he asked as she turned to give him access to her wings. He ended up murmuring in the vague direction of her ear, close enough so he could be heard without issue, yet not quite so close that he would muss her wings. His left hand brushed over the feathers, feeling exactly how they were attached to the 'wing' structure. If they were attached the wrong way, he couldn't make them flutter without them breaking.

Luckily for her, they were in a good way.

"Well I'll try my best. If I ruin them, you can hex me or something." Then they'd be kinda equal. The prefect straightened a little, and his left hand pressed gently against the small of her back. "Don't move now, okay?"

It took a few quick flicks, and a few quietly murmured spells. More precautionary measures than anything; one to make sure that the wings didn't move enough to break or come apart in any way, one to animate them at the point where they met her back, and then a few carefully placed charms to make the tips of them bend in and out, to help with the illusion of wings that actually worked.

"How's this, then? They're not bothersome?"

He stared at them for more than a moment, wand still held up just in case they decided to go insane. It seemed that they were only going to move gently though, and just enough to hopefully make Nia smile.

"Indeed you're not. I don't think I've ever seen a Quidditch player with wings before. Most stick to brooms." His fingertips touched the edge of the left wing as it moved, letting the feathers brush past. "You'd better make time. Otherwise I'll have to go to the papers and whine a bit, tell them that I charmed your wings in Hogwarts and you forgot all about me." Hehe. Yes, have them writing big long articles about how she'd gotten so famous that she'd forgotten all her friends from her school days. "You're insane if you think you'll escape the paparazzi's notice. Quidditch players get looked at a lot."

"I did nothing of the sort!" She turned away, pretending to be flabbergasted that he could suggest such a thing. In truth though, a smile was creeping back across her face. Because he'd just as good as admitted he'd thought about it too. As he leant towards her, Nia looked up from under her fringe. "Maybe, such temptation shouldn't be laid before me," she said, a knowing smile on her face. "Even the best of angels would find it hard to resist what I'm having to put up with." Yes, she was so taking the opportunity to turn it round. He was so not totally innocent like he was trying to imply.

"Er, good question." She thought about it. "Any suggestions? I wouldn't want to make it worse." She managed to look guilty for the slightest of moments, but couldn't hold it as he was fiddling with her wings and she wanted to know what he was doing. He seemed to be studying and checking them. Which was good, because it meant he was taking good care of them.

"Deal!" Nia agreed with a grin. Because she knew he wouldn't ruin them, and so wouldn't have to feel bad casting against him. She stopped bouncing, and managed to stand as still as a statue. Like one of the living statue street performers you saw in Covent Garden. She was itching to look round, and see how it was going, but stayed dead still. She didn't really fancy her hair or dress or anything else fluttering than her wings. It was best she let him do his work.

But as soon as he asked how they were, Nia flicked her gaze round. They were...just. Wow. They didn't just absentmindedly flap, they actually moved like they would allow her to fly. "They're..." She didn't know what to say. She was speechless. She swallowed slowly, before giving him a light kiss on the cheek. Well, somewhere between his cheek and lips, since his mask was in the way. "They're gorgeous. Thank you." And that said, she realised what she'd just done.

She'd kissed him.

Her eyes widened. He'd know it'd just been a friendly thanks one, right? Because, that was what it was. She bit her lip as her cheeks began to flush with colour, and the knot she'd had in her stomach tightened once more.

"Especially not wings like this," she said, trying to ignore what she'd just done - almost making seem dismissed as something totally normal. She ran her tongue round the inside of her mouth, watching as he fingered them. She would be doing that if she could reach and be certain she wouldn't damage them. She wasn't going to risk it though. Just revel in his charm work. "I'll make time, I promise." And she meant it. She'd need his sanity if training and matches were as hard as they were rumoured to be. "This is me, you're talking about, don't forget." Papers, following her? Pah! As if.

Kurumi continued to grow and grow...she probably shouldn't have shoved another cupcake in her mouth after the neck incident, but she couldn't help but hope that the second one would cure what the first one had done. Instead, Kurumi's shoes and feet were growing to the size of a small wooden desk and she was about as tall as a full grown giraffe - at least now her neck and body match. She had to look down to see the table where she could just make out one last cake that she decided to squish with her gigantic hands. As she brought her hand down, and thanks to not knowing her own strength, she ended up crushing the table with a loud CRUNCH!

"O-o-o-oh d-d-d-dear," she stammered worse than piglet as she tried her best to move around without squishing anyone's toes...which was very difficult considering her boat sized shoes at the moment.

THUD! CLANK! SLPAT! KAZAAAM!

Kurumi's head now had hit the ceiling and sent one of the hanging decorations, not sure which one, crashing to the ground.

"W-w-what's going on?!" she cried as a few tears ran down her face. To those on the ground, it probably felt like a bucket of water falling from the sky.

This had to be all cookie hater's doing. It was her evil and sinister way of getting back at Kurumi for being a magical girlscout. Now...where was she...

"Kurumi are you okay I think these cookies will bring you down to normal size" if you can reach it she said with a sigh.Why would anyone do this to you.

Cookies? Kurumi squinted a bit. Oh...were those tiny round button things cookies? Trying to pick up one was like trying to pick up small round beans with chopsticks. The first one she ened up crushing into cookie dust. The second one suffered the same fate. The third one she finally got in her giant hands before one of her giant tears washed it away.

Where.Was.Cookie.Hater?!

Kurumi was sure by the time she was a 5th year or so she would look back on this day and laugh. But, for now, she felt like one of those giant balloons during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade that was out of control and flying all over the city crashing into buildings and smushing things.

Was that it? Was she just like a giant balloon? Maybe if she poked herself with something sharp she would deflate? The only sharp and tough thing in the area was an old dinner roll. *sigh*