The Much Anticipated Arrival((MOVED))

[jacques]

Jacques shook his hair ruefully, and said on a quiet voice. "Uh, lets say touching thing at Zonko's, when you don't know what they do, is a very bad idea." He grinned sheepishly, bending his head when she reached up an touched on of the rather..odd blue spikes. He gave a purring laugh in response to her giggle.

After sending a pine marten flying across the floor, Jacques watching it with a slight frown, Susan asked, "How did you know it was me?"

Jacques grinned suddenly, eyes glinting behind the mask, "Oh," He said airily, "Guessed." He said truthfully. He had thought it was Susan, and ventured a guess, hoping he was right. He grinned again, rubbing th back of his spiky head. He had a good memory, and after the common room and jumping into the lake, he knew her general shape.

"Do you want to dance?"

Jacques looked down at his feet, gulping slightly, his cheeks reddening fractionately. Apart from traddional dances in Africa, when he was much, much younger, he nothing about dancing. Any type. He was as graceful and quick as cat, and wasn't bad at learning, but..He didn't want to disappoint her, so he smiled shyly, and said in a quiet voice. "Uh, sure, I'd be delighted." He looked around, but Caitlin was't there, and no one else was dancing to take tips from.

Hesitantly, with a concentrated smile, he started to hover a hand over her waist, then out to the side, then a shoulder, then back to her waist, her hip, until it looked like he was drawing a huge circle. Still trying to remember where to place his hands, he blushed a bit and smiled sheepishly.

[darko2]

Sebastien wandered into the ballroom in full Masquerade. He had chosen to wear a black, crushed velvet suit, with matching vest without the jacket. Instead he had a foot-length, black, crushed velvet cape with a red silk lining. He wore a top-hat atop his head, and carried a waist-length black cane with a silver skull on the top with ruby eyes. His mask for the evening was a fractured, upside-down, pentagonal mask made out of brushed silver adorned with teardrop sapphires down the left side, as the mask displayed a saddened expression.

He swept through the ballroom, eying its occupants as he made his way to the punchbowl, overhearing an argument that a young student was having with his Ancient Runes professor. Tsk, tsk...c'est tant pis... He thought to himself as he scanned for the punch. It seemed to have vanished shortly after Professor Choi arrived to assail the young perpetrator. He watched as she invoked very strange and presumably ancient magic, enveloping the student in some yellowish smoke, and toted her off.

He shrugged off what he had just witnessed, thinking to himself that the students showed such blatant disrespect toward their superiors, it was absolutely despicable in his eyes. When a figure of authority enters the room at Beauxbatons, everyone stood. It was only respectful.

Shortly after the professor and students departure a house elf apparated onto the punch table with a loud cracking noise. It looked around muttering something to itself and then looked up at Sebastien.

"Ohhh! You wants some punch...yes...The last batch was sent back, horrible things done to it, yes...." The small house elf disapparated with his last "yes" and apparated again, startling Sebastien with the cracking noise this time. Sebastien watched on as the small elf held a rather large crystal bowl that seemed to be three times his size. He set it down and snapped his fingers and out of thin air, a transparent, ruby red fluid poured into the bowl. Sebastien's mouth watered as the small elf poured him some of the punch into a very ornate crystal goblet.

"Here you ares then!" It squeaked before turning around. Sebastien took the goblet and spoke up. "Merci-beauxcoup, mon ami petit!" He said enthusiastically raising his goblet to the elf.

The elf gave him a very quizzical look, the puzzled expression seeming somewhat alarmed as well.

"No, m'name's Crackle!" He squeaked as he obviously misunderstood what Sebastien had said to him in French, and turned on spot, disapparating into thin air.

[Susan Matthews]

Susan laughed as Jacques tried and failed several times in trying to place his hands in the correct place. After watching him suffer for a few more moments, Susan took his left hand in her right and moved his right hand to the small of her back. She placed her left hand on his shoulder and waited for him to lead. She figured that they would just move in time to the music, which was now an upbeat sort of tune that made you feel like moving.

Over Jacques' shoulder, Susan caught sight of another person who had entered the dance floor. Susan had never seen him before, or at least that what she thought. It was always hard to tell when everyone was wearing masks. Maybe she would talk to him later. The regular Susan wouldn't have dared speak to a boy with the intentions of flirting straight off. There was something about wearing a mask, though, that changes everything. Susan threw a smirk in the direction of the new comer, and then focused her attention of Jacques.

"Ready?" she asked happily, as she straightened her posture and initiated the steps, while still allowing Jacques to lead.

[jacques]

Jacques smiled sheepishly as she placed his hands in the correct spot. Noting down the first steps for future referense, he saw her look over his shoulder, and he turned his head curiously. A boy, one he didn't know, had entered. Jacques nodded in greeting, before turning his attention back to Susan. Holding her hand lightly, he shut his eyes through the tiger mask, listening to the music. In his head he tried to count the beats, tapping his foot until he found it. One two three..One two three..no..one two three an one two three an.. Smiling slightly now that he had found the beat, he began swaying slightly.

"Ready?" She said, beganning to start.

Waiting to see if she was going to start, he decided he was meant too. Moving his feet clumsily, he looked around, though they were still the only dancers. Looking back at his toes, he began to move faster, enjoying the upbeat music, and he became more graceful, though it was appearent he was no master.

[Caitlin Collins]

Caity grinned privately to herself as Jacques tripped, hoping he wouldn't see and get embarassed. Then she remembered the mask. Perhaps they were a good idea, after all.

"Hey Caitlin!" Jacques called, parting from Susan and motioning her over. Happy to oblige and glad that she wasn't going to just spectate for the rest of the evening, she walked over to where the pair had paused. As she approached, she realised who he had been dancing with - Susan, a girl she'd met in one of the many 'Quin incidents'. Jacques had mentioned her as a possible way to get masks, before they had planned their trip to Hogsmeade.

"Hi Jacques. And... Susan?" It was probably better to phrase it as a question rather than discover she was wrong in a few days time. "No luck with the hair then?" She aimed the last question at Jacques, motioning to his blue locks. He had been most displeased in Zonko's when he read the label saying it would not wash out for five days.

[Susan Matthews]

Susan stopped dancing with the arrival of Caitlin. To be honest, Susan would still be puzzling over who she was if Jacques hadn't addressed her by her name. She didn't particularly mind that Caitlin had interrupted their dance. Although Jacques was starting to get the hang of dancing, it wasn't exactly enjoyable the way they were both staring at their feet.

Glad for the distraction, Susan smiled warmly at Caitlin. "Your dress is absolutely gorgeous!" Susan exclaimed gesturing to the silky blue fabric.

The ball room was still relatively empty. Susan now noticed the arrival of a Jester and a Fairy, still unidentifiable. Susan also saw that Quin was being escorted out of the dance. A smirk appeared on Susan face, happy that Quin got what she deserved for once. Lastly, here eyes fell on the boy in the black suit by the punch bowl. Susan returned her attention to her friends, smiling brightly.

[darko2]

Sebastien leaned against the punch table as he sipped on his punch lightly. His eyes perused the handfull of people that had trickled in. Two students directly ahead of him, dancing, he was sure the girl had given him a playful and inviting smirk, but was somewhat unsure. She later gave him another glance as they were joined by another girl in a flowey blue dress. It seemed that most of the girls chose the color blue for the evening. He turned his gaze up to his left as he noted two people lingering at the end of the staircase. A singular pair as they seemed to be a little bit more into the Masquerade spirit, a blue fairy, with exquisite assembly of her accoutrements, the charm on her wings that made them appear to flutter lightly made the corner of his mouth arch up into an impressed smile.

Beauxbatons worthy... He thought in his mind, remarking on her spellmanship. Her escort, a rather Royal Jester, with the colors of red and black, adorned with golden bells. This pair seemed to have gone all out. He let the other corner of his mouth arch upward, bringing his lips into a full smile.

He eyed the Jester's mask as it looked very intricate and dark. He noted that it was attatched to a long dark wooden rod, which looked strikingly like a wand. Transformé, peut-être... He thought as he cocked his head, arching an eyebrow in scrutiny.

He set his punch down and began to stroll around the room.

[jacques]

Jacques shook his head like a dog, showing that nothing made a difference to the blue spikes. Grinning sheepishly, he touched a hand to his forehead, then his heart, and gave a bow to the girls. "Not a lick." He said sadly, widening his eyes comicily. He put his hands in his pockets, and looked around the room as the Susan and Caitlin started to discuss the topic of dresses. Admittedly, they both looked very pretty, but, being a guy, paticularly a half/savage guy.

He waved in greeting to the boy who was wandering around the ballroom, but dutifully stayed by the pair. Rocking back an forth on his heels, he started to tap his foot to the beat. Absentmindedly, he formed his hands as if holding an invisable drum stick, and began to swished them in the air as if beating a drum. "You two look very nice." He said quietly, a small flush creeping into his cheeks.

[Susan Matthews]

Susan shot a smile at Jacques as he commented on Caitlin and hers appearance. Such a ladies man . . . Susan thought as she noticed Jacques had stood by them, even though Susan had proceeded to talk of "girl" topics. "Thanks," Susan replied with a soft blush. Susan noticed how Jacques had started beating his "air drums" in a way that expressed boredom. Suspecting that Jacques and Caitlin had planned to meet at the ball, Susan excused herself.

"Well, I'll let you guys catch up! I'll just be . . ." She gestured randomly in the direction of the punch, "around!" Susan gave Caitlin a quick hug and waved to Jacques enthusiastically. Leaving her friends, Susan headed generally in the direction of the boy in the tux. As soon as she was close enough to be heard, she commented, "I like your hat." Though it sounded like a stupid statement to make, Susan had to admit it was true. The top hat that rested on the boys head was very distinguished labeled him as bold. Not many people would choose to wear such a hat. Feeling the courage within her grow, she took a step distinctly in his direction. They were now close enough to be actually holding a conversation. Susan waited for a response nervously. She didn't want to be written off as a silly girl, which she probably was, now that she thought about it.

[Caitlin Collins]

“Thanks, yours is really nice too,” Caity replied, straightening her mask again and admiring Susan’s dress. “This isn’t actually the dress I planned to wear but I think I could have done a lot worse,” she grinned. Blushing slightly at Jacque’s comment, she nodded her thanks. What girl didn’t like being complimented? She watched his “air drums” bemusedly out of the corner of her eyes as she continued talking with Susan about dresses, hair, makeup and other such topics.

“I’ll see you around,” she said as the other girl left. “Have fun!”
Caity watched as the Gryffindor struck up a conversation with a boy she hadn’t met standing next to the punch bowl and turned back to face Jacques, suddenly finding herself oddly nervous. Now why was that? She’d been around him loads of time before, usually with just the two of them on their own, so she couldn’t understand why now would be any different. Perhaps not being able to see his face was making her uncomfortable.
Acting as if nothing was wrong, she desperately sought for a conversation starter to break the silence.

“Your outfit’s nice too,” she told Jacques, smiling in a friendly manner and glancing down at what he was wearing. “African, by any chance?”

Over Jacques’ shoulder (or rather, past his arm, as she wasn’t actually tall enough to see over his shoulder) she saw a ghostly patronus enter the ballroom which, to her great surprise, she recognised. It was Dylan’s – a Ravenclaw who had been helping her practice her own patronus after the excursion into the forest. It approached a tall girl standing alone at the edge of the room, quickly leading her away.

“I wonder what that was about,” she commented, gesturing behind him at the rapidly departing girl and silver beagle and secretly glad for the momentary distraction from her emotions.

[jacques]

Jacques waved Susan a farewell, watching as she left he pair and went to the punchbowl and struck up a conversation with another boy. Focusing his attention back on Caitlin, he looked hesitinently at her, a small smile on under the tiger mask. Not the type to show he was nervous, his face was composed and calm, but he didn't feel as self assured. They had mostly met outdoors, but, that wasn't why, he was sure.

“Your outfit’s nice too. African, by any chance?”

He smiling calmly, nodding. "How did you know?" He said, faking surprise. Seeing she was looking behind him, he turned too, and saw a patronous, a beagle, walking through the room. A worried expression crossed his face as he saw it walk up to a girl, and then the pair of them running out. Frowning slightly, he fallowed them until out of sight. "I don't know...do you think something is worng?" He asked to her comment, turning back to face her.

[Susan Matthews]

Before the boy in the suit could make a response of any sort, Susan was momentarily distracted by a patronus. A beagle, Susan recognized it as. She watched glide across the ballroom until it came to a stop in from of D'rorah. Susan held her breath for a moment, as if it would help her to hear what message went a long with the spell. Of course from across the room, nothing could be heard. Trying to remain clam, Susan inconspicuously looked around the room, trying to decipher who was missing.

Like those elementary games, when some one left the room and a single person was chosen to close their eyes and guess who was just outside the door, Susan scanned the room. It was mostly littered with first years, messily attempting to dance. Susan's heart quickened as she found she could not spot Dylan. Behind the boy she was attempting a conversation with, she saw D'rorah move quickly out of the ballroom, following the patronus. Had the beagle belonged to Dylan? As much as Susan tried, she couldn't remember anything about what kind of pets Dylan might have had when he was younger. Now that she thought about it, there was a lot she didn't know about Dylan.

Her heart quickened as her mind browsed over all the possible reasons why D'rorah might be rushing after the silvery puppy. Dylan had been through so much in this past week, she severely hoped nothing was wrong. Perhaps he's misplaced his tie, Susan forced herself to believe, despite all the negative thoughts that nagged at the back of her mind. He'll show up as any minute, Susan told herself over and over again, as she nervously glanced at the open double doors again. She half-expected a smiling Dylan with D'rorah on his arm to come waltzing into the ballroom, ready for a good time.

Susan swallowed roughly, trying to maintain these smiling images in her head. With a quick breath, she shook her hair gently to clear her head. She replaced a smile on her face as she looked back to the boy in front of her. Another mask, she thought, how ironic. . .

[darko2]

Sebastien was taken off guard as he watched the ethereal beagle float through the ballroom, seemingly commanding everyone's attention at the moment, like some strange spell that had imperiused the ballrooms occupants to stop, turn and look at the glowing pup. Sebastien shook his head as he realized someone had come over to strike up a conversation with him, a girl, no less, in a beautiful yellow dress, with a gold mask which seemed to accentuate her pale blue eyes.

"Oh..." He blushed and a hint of a smile swept across his face. "Thank you. I was not quite sure that if it would be...ehm, appropriate with the rest of my ensemble, 'owever, I think it works well after all." He said as fluidly as he could, saying the word 'ensemble' in French and dropping the 'H' in 'however'. He smiled wider now and picked up one of the empty, ornate crystal goblets, gesturing toward her.

"Would you like some punch?" He offered her as he motioned to pour her some, completely forgetting his manners. "Oh, 'ow rude of me..." He said setting down the goblet.

"I'm Sebastien, Sebastien Bellefleur. I just transferred 'ere from Beauxbatons about a week ago." he said introducing himself as he extended a hand.

[Caitlin Collins]

((Jacques, I started a new thread so we won't get confused with Susan and Seabastien's conversation.))

ragedsyphers.proboards100.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=dance&thread=1195661221

[Susan Matthews]

Susan smile broadened as she momentarily forgot about the patronus and delved into conversation. This boy she had chosen to approach was very friendly . . . and foreign, Susan picked up his accent, French. As she was about to accept his offer to some punch, he seemed to be struck with the notion of manners. He introduced him self as Sebastien Bellefleur, a Beaxbaton's transfer. Susan met his extended hand with her own, and gave it a friendly shake.

"Welcome to Hogwarts, Sebastien," Susan returned the introduction, "My name is Susan Matthews."

She gestured toward the punch, "Is it safe?--The punch I mean. I caught Quin, a trouble-maker, lurking around here earlier." Susan resisted the urge to lift the table cloth to look for a perpetrator. If Quin had gotten into the punch it was undoubtedly not safe. She was thirsty though. Susan glanced at Sebastien, searching for his eyes underneath the pentagonal mask he wore. She had trouble imagining what his face looked like with out it. He didn't come off as the type to side with Quin. Sebastien had this air about him that seemed welcoming and kind . . . or was it just the French accent? She rubbed her parched lips together as she tried to decide if Sebastien would be worth trusting.