seeing the picture [open]

[Bryan Kelley]

Valentines' Day Ball. It was something that Bryan normally wouldn't have bothered attending. He had no girl that he was currently sweet over nor did he have any real interest in the holiday or a ball either. Yet, the boy was dressed up nice and seated on a chair against the wall, with his sketchbook resting on his lap. Bryan had decided the ball would be an excellent time to brush up on his drawing people skills. As it was, Bryan had that pesky little moral code of his that he didn't draw people without their express permission to do so. However, the boy had passed over this area of his moral by not drawing the people in detail. Instead of concentrating on getting features correct he focused on the different positions.

Any one who were to look at Bryan's sketches from the Ball would not be able to say who each of the drawings were based off of. Bryan did not draw facial features. The hair on the figures were in different styles but not necessarily the same style as the people in the room. The clothes were likewise not as explicit, yes he copied some of the different girls' dresses and style of the boys' robes but nothing was drawn in complete detail or the same details the actual dresses worn had. Instead, Bryan tended to mix and match.

The Gryffindor had ended up somewhat curled/hunched in his chair with his pencil moving over the white surface. It was hardly the scene expected for a romantic occasion, but Bryan had no date nor had he anyone he was actually crushing over. So he stagged it and did not give any thought to the picture he presented seated with drawing instead of dancing or flirting with one of the girls who had likewise came alone. It wasn't that Bryan didn't have any interest in getting with a girl, it just hadn't occurred to him to do so yet. He, like most boys, admired and was attracted to the opposite gender, but he just wasn't really one of those people who went to random people and chatted them up. Bryan was a gradual mover and let things take their course.

He did not force things and that was probably why the sixth year was seated sketching the various forms the occupants of the ball stood or danced in instead of participating himself. Yet, the boy was content in the lot he had chosen. He did not stare longingly out at the dance floor and the various couples. He didn't really show much of any emotion as he concentrated on sketching.

[Susan Matthews]

It wasn’t really much of a decision to Susan whether to attend the Valentine’s Ball or not. There had been much ado about the occasion, and nearly everyone had been speaking of the decadent event up until even the night before. Most all of her dorm mates had previously made plans to go, or had been asked. Susan had made neither, but as she watched the girls rushing around the Gryffindor dormitory in preparation, she couldn’t help but change her mind. Rummaging through her clothes she found she had brought along the perfect black dress. Intending to be prepared, at the start of the year, Susan had brought several formal dresses, and the first two had been worn to the other formal occasions at Hogwarts. She was onto her last dress and would have to buy a new dress or re-wear one of her previous dresses should she plan on attending any other events.

Short on time, and not prepared for such an event, Susan was not able to do anything extravagant to her hair or nails. She was able to take off the chipped red of her last nail coat, leaving her nails and toes sadly bare. Wishing she could take the time to properly curl or wave her hair, she could only brush it smooth and pull it up into what she imagined as an haute pony. Afraid to mess with it any more, she brushed on some simply make up, and slipped into her shoes, happy that they managed to shield her uncolored toes.

Inviting herself along with a group of leaving girls, Susan committed herself to their mindless chatter. At first she was annoyed with the talk of what music would be playing and if any of the cute boys from the Quidditch team would be attending, but as they descended the stairs, Susan found it oddly calming to think of absolutely nothing. For the past couple of weeks, her thoughts had been surrounded by serious topics concerning the war and school work. Training and worrying for friends had consumed her. Tonight though, she couldn’t help but giggle girlishly with her fellow Gryffindors and joining friends.

As their group entered the ball room, it easily dissipated as the miscellaneous girls melted into the crowd, leaving Susan alone by the door. Searching for someone, anyone she knew, she let her eyes scan the mass of students and chaperones before her. Aside from the occasional faces from classes she saw no one she felt like joining until her eyes came to Bryan at against the far wall. From where she stood, it was easy to see he had brought his sketch pad along and was most likely sketching the night away. She contemplated a moment whether she should approach him or not. Their last chance together had been uncomfortable to say the least, but they did manage to end on friendly terms.

Taking a chance and walking in his direction, soon she found herself standing on the other side of his sketch book. She paused for a moment, finding her courage to speak up. “Hey, Bryan,” she said at last just loud enough to be heard over the booming music in the background. She smoothed her dress nervously, and teetered from foot to foot in her red heels. “No date tonight?” she asked with a smile as she could now see he had been sketching someone in the distance, rather than dancing or enjoying the refreshments of the ball.

[Bryan Kelley]

Bryan was currently in a world of black and white, or rather graphite and paper. The cheery red, pink, and white decorations were not really perceived in his mind. The music blasting in his ears was mere background noise as his hand held the pencil, moving it across the page as he sketched a couple who were dancing in a sort of tango fashion. The guy had dipped the girl, who was laughing in response to the action. Bryan's pencil had managed to capture the fluidity of the movement and even though the couple who had inspired the sketch were now moving more traditionally around the dance floor, Bryan still worked on the sketch.

As a voice spoke at his shoulder, working to be heard above the din of the music, Bryan's pencil paused over the sketched girl's foot. It took Bryan only a moment before he realized someone had spoken to him in greeting, his name making its way through the drawing fog that was his brain. He ceased drawing and turned his head to look at Susan. He smiled. "Hey Susan," he greeted her. "You look nice," he added before she asked him if he had no date.

"Nope, no date," he stated. "A girl probably wouldn't like me much for a date anyway; ignoring them to draw the night away," he added with a grin and a small wink. It took only a glance to see that Susan was standing there alone with him. He did not think she would be over by him if she had a date herself. "No date as well?" he questioned her. Bryan didn't see why she would not have been asked. She was pretty, nice, and sweet. Bryan did not hold the blunder area of their first meeting against Susan in his analysis of her. However, that did not mean that she had not been asked. She might have been and just turned them down.

Wasn't it in olden times that girls had only the power of refusal? Now girls were a lot more free in their power and yet so many still preferred to be asked instead of doing the asking. The power of refusal still held so much power for them it seemed. Not that he would say this aloud unless he knew he would not get chewed over for it.

[Susan Matthews]

It seemed an eternity as Bryan failed to notice her at first. So absorbed in his drawing, Susan wondered if he had even heard her. She stepped forwardly lightly, prepared to voice her greeting again, should it be that he hadn’t heard it. As she opened her mouth to repeat herself, Bryan chose at last to respond to her. A feeling of relief washed over her as she found she had been nervous as to how he would receive her. She was caught off guard, but only for a moment as Bryan commented on her appearance. “Thank you,” she said feeling pleased and reciprocated the comment.

Seeing Bryan alone, she had assumed he had no date, but hearing him say it seemed necessary. It wasn’t hard to believe that he might have asked someone or planned to meet a friend at the event. She didn’t want to be caught third-wheeling on Valentine ’s Day. The thought had crossed her mind, but now she found them to be false, she found it a relief. With his added statement made at the expense of himself, Susan smiled and caught his wink. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true,” she replied coolly, moving to stand closer to him as to be heard easier.

Bryan seemed to look at her for a moment before inquiring on her status at the ball tonight as well. Meeting his eyes, Susan confirmed similarly, “Nope.” She then bravely chose a chair by Bryan and carefully took a seat. “Wasn’t asked,” she explained although he didn’t press, “and didn’t have the guts to ask anyone myself,” she finished with a pursed smile. After she said it, she wished she hadn’t, but it was too late as she heard her own words leave her lips. She laughed dryly and clasped her hands together as her previous nerves returned.

She thought of excusing herself to retrieve a refreshment, but found it hard to think of an excuse to leave after recently sitting down. Glancing at the sketch pad in his hands, she could better see his most recent drawing depicting a couple in a tango. Seeing the comical pose between the boy and girl put a more realistic smile on Susan’s face. She said nothing outwardly, but was severely impressed once more with his drawing skills. Forcing herself to stick out the interaction she’d started, looked up once more, finding Bryan’s eyes.

[Katherine Knightswood]

Katherine had seen the notice circulating among the common rooms, and had sighed. A Valentines’ Day Ball. Of course, an excuse to have a soiree. Not as if anyone was studying, this short bit into the next term. Katherine had done the typical Knightswood thing and gone hunting in her wardrobe for her dressy gown, contemplating how to alter it with charms. She had been dressing herself for high-society functions since she was eight, given that her Da was a diplomat with the Ministry.

So now, Katherine looked herself over in the mirror with a critical eye. Her garb was in the Knightswood colors of midnight blue and silver, and was a rather dashing combination. Her gown was in the French Empire style and made of deep blue velvet trimmed with silver at hems and seams. Silver elbow-length gloves and silver-colored shoes completed the garb, while her jewelry consisted only of a simple silver necklace and earrings.

Katherine had done her hair up in a simple braided bun, held in place with a pair of hair sticks beaded to match her ensemble. Her makeup was minimal, with only a bit of gloss and blush. She looked like the heir to a Pureblood family. So why was she standing in front of a mirror, dreading this party? Katherine sighed and squared her shoulders. It couldn’t be anywhere near as horrid as that one Ministry function her family had attended with those awful boys ogling her, now could it? Come on, Katherine, she though to herself. You’re the bloody Heir of Knightswood. Now get down there and act like it!

Decision made, she turned away from the mirror and headed out of the Ravenclaw dorm for the party. Katherine paused briefly before entering the crowded room, glancing about nervously. She smoothed her dress down carefully, prayed that she wouldn’t trip over her own two feet, and crossed the threshold. Katherine hugged the wall as unobtrusively as possible, feeling completely off-balance at a social event for the first time in a long time. She got a glass of the punch being served and sipped at it as she put on her social face and made her way around the room. Where were the other first years? At least they could sit together and commiserate, couldn’t they? And there’d be dancing, right? Katherine braced herself to endure the party, trying to keep her face relaxed enough to smile.

[Bryan Kelley]

A grin touched Bryan’s lips as Susan disclaimed his statement that he would not make a very good date. Bryan conceded it was probably true. His date would probably make sure he couldn’t smuggle his sketchbook and pencil into the gathering, hence forcing him to keep his attention on her. However, Bryan wasn’t the type of person to willfully ignore another, unless he really wanted to. He usually only ended up ignoring people when he had started sketching only for a person to join him later. This was usually the case. When present with other people who might talk to him, Bryan usually keeps one ear open while he was sketching. He had been whacked one to many times upside the head by his mother not to pay some attention, at least when she was in the room.

Bryan was ready to ask her to sit down after he had asked about her own date but she had soon selected a seat by herself. Bryan arched a brow when she stated she hadn’t been asked. ”A pretty girl like you?” he asked with some surprised. ”I would have surely thought someone would have asked you!” Bryan spoke sincerely. However, her closing words caused him some paused. He wondered whom she would have asked. However, he wasn’t tactless to go asking that question. ”Did you have someone you wanted to go with?” he asked instead. He did not press her for names but just asked if there was some one she would have asked.

”I didn’t have any one in mind myself. Almost wasn’t going to come,” he then stated, turning his face down to the sketchbook and adding a little more to the sketch of the tango-dipping-couple there. He worked on adding some small designs to the sketched-girl’s dress. The designs did not match any one’s dress in the ball, so Bryan was keeping with his track of not drawing anyone from real life without their permission. It was probably a silly code at times, considering the person was probably not going to know he had drawn them, seeing as Bryan was sitting in a chair along a far wall and the couple were on the other side of the room. However, Bryan did not want to take that chance. He figured the one time he bends or breaks the rules was the time he would probably get in trouble for it. It was easier just to stick to his code.

Bryan added a few more lines to the sketch while he waited for Susan to speak. It was after she did, if she did, that he stated. ”Since you’re dateless, and I’m dateless, you wanna be my date?” he asked, turning his face to her with a soft smile. He wasn’t quite sure what possessed him to make the offer. Part of it was out of friendship and just so they both weren’t sitting alone in the Ball but there was another underlying reason that he was surprised to admit to.

[Susan Matthews]

Sitting by Bryan, she couldn’t help but blush slightly as he openly called her pretty. She found a silly smile plastered on her face as she shook her head no to enforce her previous statement. Susan avoided his eyes, embarrassed by the compliment and not sure what to say in response. As she thought about it, she couldn’t remember the last time someone had specifically told her she was pretty. Surely Dylan had said something at the last ball, she decided, but they were friends and it didn’t seem to count like this did.

When Bryan asked if there was someone she had wanted to go with, her thoughts were drawn to the insignificant boys in the halls and common rooms whom her friends had dared her to ask. It had been fun and games at the time, but thinking about it now she couldn’t help but be grateful she hadn’t asked them. For if she had asked, and they had said yes, she wouldn’t have been here sitting by Bryan on this night. “Not really,” she said, summing up her complicated thoughts, and nodding conversationally as Bryan confirmed a similar answer for himself.

Susan’s eyes followed his hand again as he picked back up on his drawing momentarily. She watched with some interest as he added an intricate design to the girl’s dress. Not asking, but wondering all the same who he was drawing, Susan glanced out at the dance floor trying to match a couple to the drawing. Although the ball was quite full by now, she was unable to pick out the particular couple in the featured picture. Looking back to Bryan, she guessed that maybe the picture had come from his head, rather than an actual pair of students.

In their lapse of speaking, Susan felt she needed to say something. For the moment, Bryan was content to sketch away at this picture. Empty handed though, Susan had only to watch him unobtrusively. Thinking about his last statement, that he almost wasn’t going to attend, Susan spoke up. “I almost didn’t come either,” she said, feeling that her nod earlier might not have sufficed. “Watching everyone else get ready, I didn’t want to be alone in the dorm tonight,” Susan said to Bryan, but keeping her eyes out on the floor, still hoping to catch a glimpse of the featured couple.

When Bryan spoke again, she easily turned her focus back to him. His words surprised her slightly. She turned the question over in her head as the obvious answer refused to fall from her lips. As she noticed the smile form across his face though, she couldn’t help but match it. “I’d like that,” she answered honestly, and secretly thrilled to have a date for once, albeit spur of the moment. Smiling more openly now, Susan felt giddy with excitement.

[Bryan Kelley]

Bryan had not thought much about opening calling Susan “pretty.” He did not think it was something very surprising. She really was pretty and he found it strange that no one had asked her to the ball. However, there wasn’t really anything Bryan could do about that. He could only attribute it to the blindness of the male members of the school. But then, their blindness was their loss and another’s advantage. However, Bryan had never thought himself to be the one taking advantage of such a thing. For one he had never really given that much thought into girls before but that’s not to say he didn’t like girls.

He was only mildly surprised when she stated that there had not really been anyone she wanted to ask. Bryan did not know whether he should believe her or not. She might have wanted to ask someone but could very well not tell him that. Bryan couldn’t say why that would be but girls were odd and made the strangest reason for some of the things they did. Bryan was no mind reader so he did not pursue this line of thought any longer but decided to take it at face value. Instead, he continued to work on the sketch before she spoke again. Bryan smiled as she spoke. ”I just thought it would be a good chance to draw different position people get into,” he stated motioning the couple on his page. ”This was originally those two,” he motioned a couple who had walked off the dance floor and were now conversing at the refreshment table with some other students. ”But you can’t tell because I don’t have their permission to draw them and I’m not going to ask,” he continued, adding an extra line, darkening the motion of the boy’s hand that had held the girl.

After he had asked her to be his date, Bryan didn’t really know what answer he expected her to give him. She could very well say no because it was all last minute and it didn’t exactly say Hey, I wanted to go with you. Rather it tended to say, hey, you’re here to so lets go together. Not really romantic for such a ball where romantic feeling was almost a give in with its romantic topic. However, as she returned his smile, Bryan felt that he knew the answer would be an affirmative and his smile broadened as she replied. ”Cool,” he stated. Bryan had to force himself not to turn his attention back to his sketch book. That would hardly be good. Ask a girl to be his date and then go on drawing and almost ignoring her. Perhaps he had been correct he wouldn’t make such a good date.

Bryan flipped his sketchbook, it was a smaller one than his normal sketchbook, closed and shoved his pencil behind his left ear, hardly aware it did very little make his appearance nicer for the formal event. However, the pencil there was rather part of him and it did seem odd not to see it there when he wasn’t drawing. Bryan slid his sketchbook into the inner pocket of his dress robe before he stood up. He turned to Susan and stretched his hand to her. ”Would you like to dance?” he asked her.

[Susan Matthews]

She smiled, hearing Bryan’s answer and realizing that it was so . . . him. He would get dressed up only to sit in the corner, sketching the others out on the dance floor, Susan couldn’t help but deduce. Looking down at his drawing once more, though, she couldn’t blame him. The pose on the page was certainly unlike anything one could create in an everyday situation. Following his motion, her eyes were led to an insignificant couple across the room by the refreshments. Wondering the significance, Susan’s unasked questions were soon answered as Bryan explained that the two on the other side of the ballroom were in fact the couple featured in the sketch. Looking from the paper to the people, Susan was unable to detect any outright similarities between the two. Gazing at the unidentifiable girl, Susan smiled suddenly as the girl laughed out loud at something the other had said. Looking back to the sketch, she found the smile to be the only feature left to the model across the room aside from her pose. True to his word, Bryan had kept his figures anonymous.

Susan had watched his smile broaden with her affirmative answer, and she was glad that she had made the effort to come over and say hello in the first place. Now that the two of them were officially an item for the night, Susan wasn’t quite sure what would happen next. Truthfully, she found she wouldn’t have minded to sit by Bryan if he continued to sketch. Watching his hand move the pencil swiftly across the paper was fascinating to her and was something she could surely never tire of. In fact, she even leaned forward some, looking out onto the dance floor, attempting to spot another couple for him to feature in his sketch book. His sudden closing of his drawings, commanded Susan’s attention, and she was surprised to see him placing the small book within his robes, placing the pencil behind his ear.

She felt her heart beat quicken as she saw Bryan stand and turn to face her. As he reached his hand out to her, Susan knew what his words would be before he spoke them. Realizing maybe for the first time, that this ball was indeed a dance and that she would be expected to dance at one point or another, Susan took his hand. “I’d love to,” she answered happily, allowing him to help her from her seat. She kept a hold of his hand, liking the way it felt, as he would inevitably lead them to the dance floor. While she had expected to spend the night watching the others dance with Bryan, she suddenly found herself amongst the others, prepared to be the ones dancing.

[Bryan Kelley]

A smile touched Bryan's lips as Susan replied and accepted his offered hand. It did not occur to him that she would not want to dance; it had not even crossed his mind until after the words had left his mouth. However, the boy did not contemplate it further; he had no reason to do so now that she had answered in affirmative. Bryan closed his hand around hers before he helped her to her feet. Bryan was a little surprised when she did not relinquish his hand but instead of being awkward over it, Bryan brought her hand to rest in the crook of his arm, much like a gentlemen of olden time would do when escorting a woman. This done Bryan moved to escort her out onto the dance floor.

"I warn you though, I may be a terrible dancer," he told her with a smile. "I haven't done it a long time." Despite this, Bryan did not seem nervous. He did not mind if he made a fool of himself despite the fact he usually was on the side lines of most events. When they came to a halt on the dance floor, Bryan released her hand with a smile. The song was currently a fast song and people were quickly moving and swaying in time to the music. It did not take longer for the movement of the current dancers to work its magic on Bryan and Susan and the two were soon joining the throng of dancers.

For the dance, and maybe for the night, the pair could forget about the troubles of the world. They could forget about being apart of the Light fighters as the music moved around them, the beat beating its way into their blood as the music caused them to move and just have a good time. For the moment it did not seem as if there was evil in the world and that perhaps they were just normal teenagers.

Bryan was able to clear his mind and not think about things. He did not need to think about the fact he was dancing with a fellow Light Fighter, his knowledge thanks to D'rorah's memories during their joining, or whether or not she knew that he was the Elemental Master of Wind. Instead, he could concentrate on the music, a pretty girl, and just having a fun time. However, even in this case, the cares of the world could not be dispelled from his mind completely but lurked in the dark corners of his mind, ready to jump up at any moment, at anything out of the ordinary.

[Susan Matthews]

Ooc- nah, you’re fine-- I’ve kind of modded too, let me know if it’s an issue.

As the two of them stood, Susan listened to the music for the first time. Of course she had heard it before, when she had initially entered the ball room. Now however, she was suddenly aware of the variety that had been set to play to support everyone’s taste. Holding onto Bryan’s hand lightly, it only seemed natural when he moved her own so that their arms linked, much as a timeless couple would have done. Feeling the music, Susan allowed herself to be led further onto the dance floor.

Though the music was loud, by watching his lips, Susan was able to catch his words regarding his dancing skills. She laughed lightly in disbelief as she noted his words did not match his attitude. She replied with, “I’m sure we’ll be fine,” before at last feeling her hand released as they were now among the throbbing crowd of dancing students. Standing still in the middle of the dancing peers didn’t last long as hard base pumped life into the two of them.

The beat wasn’t hard to find, and soon it was difficult to do anything but dance. Moving rhythmically to the catchy songs of today and then slowing down for the more classic tones, Susan and Bryan blended in with the rest of their class. Hearing only the music and seeing only Bryan in the midst of moving peers, it was easy to forget the weighing task on her shoulders, and Bryan’s as well, even if she wasn’t aware of it yet.

They made it through several genres and styles before Susan began slowing down. Still grooving, but slightly less so, she leaned closer to Bryan to be heard over the booming music of the moment. “Care for a drink?” she half shouted, motioning in the direction of the set tables where a colorful punch bowl and assorted treats were set out. Caught in the moment, Susan wasn’t quite ready to quit, but glancing at the ladle providing refreshment for the others, she craved the rush of the sugary beverage.

Susan leading Bryan this time, the two wove their way back to the sides of the ball room, where several couples and free flyers had resorted to resting and taking advantage of the free food and drink. Susan poured herself a small glass of the punch and took a sip before turning back to Bryan, “Terrible dancer, my foot,” she giggled; rocking gently from foot to foot, still feeling the music.

[Bryan Kelley]

The two will enveloped by the mass of students on the dance floor until they became apart of the one unit of dancing people. Various songs and dances passed by and Bryan had lost track of how many songs he and Susan had been dancing to. However, already weariness from the activity was settling in and when Susan yelled above the din for them to get a drink, Bryan merely nodded his head in response, finding it easier than to try and be heard above the pounding bass that vibrated through their very cores.

Bryan allowed Susan to lead him through the crowd and he followed closely upon her heels, moving through the walk way she was creating as she moved through the mass of dancers. As the made it through the last pair of dancers, Bryan felt as if he could breathe easily again. It was strange how he had not noticed how closed in he had felt within the mass of dancers. However, he did not give it much thought but continued to follow Susan to the refreshment table. He followed her in pouring himself a cup of the punch.

His eyes looked up to her when she spoke. A grin touched over his lips. "I said, may be," he clarified, the smile still in place, "not that I was." After speaking, Bryan took a drink from his cup. The liquid felt cold as it slid down his throat, it almost burned from the fact that he was thirsty from the activity they had just been participating in. He took another smaller sip to follow the first before he lowered the cup. He watched as Susan rocked in motion to the music, the beat apparently still moving through her blood. He could feel himself still moving slightly to the music as it played throughout the area.

[Dylan Cooper]

His eyes focusing almost imperceptibly as she shivered, he knew she could not possibly be cold; he was boiling, and her attire looked like it could keep her relatively warm, along with the dancing they had just finished. Stepping closer to her, still at her side, he slunk one hand behind her and allowed it to rest on her waist, his arm running along her lower back as he pulled her slightly closer in a faintly protective manner. He was unable, however, to keep from smirking as she replied to his suggestion. The formal mode of address had become a regular form of teasing to the both of them now, and he always enjoyed their light banter immeasurably.

His eyes catching on a girl that could only be Susan, he almost made a start toward her before seeing her and her partner head his way. They ended up a bit down the table at another punch bowl, and he meandered down through the small crowd, his arm still sitting comfortably around Dee’s waist. There was, in all honesty, no-one he would rather see right now than his Shadow Warrior and, more than that, his closest friend. A bright smile adorning his features, he didn’t fully recognise the boy she was with – in fact, he didn’t think he’d ever seen him before in his life.

Fast approaching the couple, he moved around to the side of them so that he could view them both with ease. “Hey, Susan!” he said, loud enough to hopefully be heard above the music and general din of the ballroom. “You look great,” he offered enthusiastically, a broad smile still plastered onto his face. Looking briefly toward the boy standing with her, a plastic cup about half full of liquid in his hands, he nodded slightly, extending his hand in greeting, now free of the cup he had held. “Hey, I’m Dylan,” he introduced happily, looking between the two of them. “Are you two here together?”

[Susan Matthews]

“Ah,” Susan replied, seeing for the first time her error in interpreting Bryan’s comment on his dancing. “Mea culpa,” she pleaded playfully, taking another sip of her punch before standing back some to survey the refreshment area. Looking to her side, she was able to see a certain Dylan and D’rorah making their way toward herself and Bryan.

She straightened some with Dylan’s approach. Her smile remained in place, but lessened slightly as Dylan and D’rorah came closer. She had to admit it was good to finally see the two of them enjoying the ball together. Susan was all too familiar with the bad luck the both of them had had on the previous holidays. Now however, although the smile on Dylan’s face was evident, their last meeting in the Three Broomsticks replayed over and over again in her head.

Susan easily finished off what was left of her punch, and placed the empty glass on the table as Dylan and D’rorah were now both within view of Susan and Bryan. Despite their recent conflicts, Dylan remained upbeat, leaving Susan to almost believe that their last encounter had never happened. “Hey, Dylan,” Susan replied, doing her best to match his pleasant tone. She then turned to D’rorah and broadened her smile some, “D’rorah, it’s good to see you,” she greeted honestly.

Hearing Dylan's compliment, Susan thanked him and returned the favor with a, “You too,” before turning once more to D’rorah. “And D’rorah, you look absolutely gorgeous,” she said, admiring the elegance of her navy dress. Looking toward D’rorah now, and her expression of happiness, it was evident she was no longer in her state of no emotions. She hadn’t yet had the chance to speak with D’rorah since she’d recovered from her loss of emotions; it was definitely nice to see her enjoying herself at the ball.

As Susan thought about it, if D’rorah had regained her emotions, this meant that the new Elemental Master of Wind had arisen. Unaware to the very fact that she was actually standing right beside him, Susan pondered the students currently attending Hogwarts, wondering which one had acclaimed the powers of wind. As Dylan introduced himself to Bryan, Susan was suddenly aware of the fact that the two boys did not know each other. Of course they would have to be friends as soon as possible, Susan decided, getting ahead of herself.

Standing between the two, Susan did her part as the mutual friend. “Dylan, this is Bryan, and Bryan this is my friend Dylan,” Susan motioned to each of them before turning to D’rorah. Without the knowledge that Bryan was in fact, D’rorah’s Elemental Master, Susan was led to believe that they too, did not know each other. In turn, Susan also motioned toward D’rorah and introduced her as well, “And this is D’rorah,” Susan added with an especially bright smile.

Hearing for the first time, Dylan’s question of if they had come together, Susan took the liberty of answering with a sideways glance at Bryan, “Yeah, it was all sort of last minute.” It was sort of last minute, Susan thought, but they were here now and having a good time. Looking to each of the three faces around her, Susan was glad to be enjoying the ball with those whom she was positive she could call friends.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah was thankful for Dylan's hand at her back as she shivered. It was certainly a nice gesture, even if no amount of physical heat had any true possibility of warming her. She felt foolish in fact, shivering when she was wearing more clothes than anyone else at the dance. True to the style of teenagers, there were many bared shoulders and legs dotted throughout the room. D'rorah, in contrast, was a heavily clothed as ever, her elegant gown covering her flesh from chin to ankle, long sleeves covering to her wrists. It had required a lot of her own alterations to find a gown that suited her... and the saleslady had nearly thought her mad at the request for something so modest.

It took her only a moment to realize that Dylan had chosen a direction in his wanderings. She followed along willingly, feeling his hand at the small of her back. All too quickly, she spotted Susan and Bryan--apparently their intended destination. She realized, as Dylan introduced himself to Bryan that they had not yet met. Well, this was certainly an interesting coincidence... two Elemental Masters with the opposite Shadow Warriors.

"[blue]Yes, it is good to see you as well, Miss Matthews. You also look quite lovely this evening,[/blue]" D'rorah replied in response to Susan's greeting. There was a small spark of jealousy hidden deep within D'rorah in fact at seeing Susan's smooth, unblemished skin, but she allowed no part of it to show on her face as she maintained what passed for her as a smile.

She smirked slightly as Susan introduced Bryan around, ending with her. "[blue]Yes, Mister Kelly and I have more than met,[/blue]" she replied. "[blue]In fact,[/blue]" she looked over at Dylan, her eyebrow arching slightly, "[blue]Mister Cooper and Mister Kelley seem to have switched partners of a sort for the evening.[/blue]" The statement was slightly cryptic, but she had absolutely no intention of outright proclaiming Bryan to be her Elemental Master right here in the middle of a crowded ballroom. She turned her eyes back to Bryan and Susan, looking for a hint of acknowledgement. Bryan, she was certain, would recognize exactly what she was trying to communicate, given their bond. And Dylan had always been quick to understand her. That only left Susan, whom she really knew very little about, all given. The two had not really had any private conversation other than the time D'rorah had updated Susan on Dylan's status as he recuperated.