2013. Wednesday

 

So today's the day.

Clare actually thought all the comotion would happen at the evening since the Ball only start at six pm, but then someone thought it could be funny to hang mistletoes in every common place, including the stairs.

Thanks to her social anxiety, she manages to avoid anybody in the vicinity and goes to see her posts. She's glad to have received her father's confirmation about her brother's Christmas gift and was prepping to send another letter to her sister and mother when someone greets her from behind.

"What're you doing?" Brice tries to pry.

"Playing Santa Claus."

Although she's not seeing them as much as she wants to, the three women made sure to always keep contact and sent celebration cards during holidays. This year, her mother will spend the day with her new (and probably temporary, dixit Eloise) boyfriend while her sister will spend it with some university mates. So yeah, they didn't really have any place for her to stay.

"You're the one doing it? What about your parents?"

Well, Estelle's in coma and dad's...

"My father isn't really the kind to remember about his children."

It comes out more depressed than expected.

"What about you?"

Brice breaks into a grin, expecting that question.

"First, we don't have Santa Claus and depending your area, we got different features. In Napoli, people celebrate it December the 13th for Santa Lucia, who's basically the Santa Claus of Northern Italy. But around Roma, which is my district, people would usually celebrate it with the Epiphany, january the 6th."

"Hence your mother taking days off around there."

"Yup. But you know what's the best part?"

"What?"

"The equivalent of Santa Claus isn't Santa Lucia, but some witch named Befana riding a broomstick."

"No."

"It is. Irony when you know that the Vatican is located in Roma."

Indeed, so Latin were more pliant about believing magic despite having more important Christianism. Though, roman culture is also very well known for their mythology, something they heavily inspired from greek myhtology, with Hecate, the goddess of magic.

"You know what is even better in a country like Italy?" Corinna prompts once they left the postbox.

"You know something about Italy?" Brice asks back.

"I'm part Italian."

"So that's why I can't stand you," he mumbles.

Corinna chooses to ignore it and keeps on her explanation while Clare can't seem to get the reference.

"There is a magical city under water in the middle of Mediterranean Sea, you can access it by one of the surroundings countries through a magical gate."

"Let me guess, it's called Atlantide?"

Corinna sends her an appreciative look and nods, because it's kind of a subject Clare is interested in so she read about it. Although, actually knowing that the city under sea was more inside some protective bubble rather than really living in the water, like the sea creatures, was little disappointing.

 

Breakfast and lunch were festives and succulent and everyone is just impatient to be at the evening.

The Ballroom is located at the sixth eighth floor, the famous one where there is balcony so people could take a rest. It would be the first time she goes in as not one of her friend invite her, maybe they need an authoriation as they're not actual students there. And, well, the Ball sort of need an invitation for the students who aren't allowed (like those under last year of first cycle).

However, the floor may have a great view or really spacious, it's an hassle to climb all the stairs to the floor in question and the 6 lifts can't really take more than ten people per cabin, and not even magic could do any good to the passengers if they force it. Especially if the ladies or gentlemen have an impressive attire. But the school couldn't have let the Ball happen in the refectory with the kitchen just next to it, right?

And the balcony does have a breathtaking view.

The whole scene was incredibly amazing and Clare has to admit that she wouldn't have want to miss it.

The walls have been decorated richly and in soothing tone matching the jazz playlist playing. There are some tables with appetizers and the center of the room had a platform for the dancers. But Clare notices people aren't coming only by the lift stopping at the eighth floor or even by the main stairs but actually from the helical stairs within the room.

"What are those stairs doing here?"

"They lead to the mezzanine," Corinna says without batting an eye.

She knew for having been given a tour the first few days but doesn't seem that impressed even by all the embellishment. Clare would like to visit after the formalities of the Ball, when everyone would be wasted enough not to notice her doings.

The director of Beaux Bâtons gives his speech and wishes and people could finally step on the stage to dance. After letting the main couple opening, of cource.

Meaning each school's champion. With Leon's of Hogwarts dancing with that gorgeous Beaux Bâtons students, according to their pin of an H cursive and two wands like a tent. Clare and Teddy like to joke she has some veela blood, like his friend Victoire Weasley but maybe it's just something only the Delacour had.

One by one, other couple start to step in too and the girls enter in their turn.

Thanks to Brice's lesson, Clare manages to not step on Corinna and has more fun than any thing they did together. But all things come to an end and she did promise a dance for another two partners.

Next she goes to the stage, Teddy's dancing with Lara and with his purple robe with pink streak, he totally matches Lara's golden suit. And that's without talking about his Gryffindor hair color. Bridget's chatting with Corinna and she just rocks in her black suit with a yellow shirt instead of white. As she promised to come in her hufflepuff color. She can't help but smile to see how it feels so much like Hogwarts even out of the school.

"What?" Her partner Brice pries.

"I was just admiring how stunning the girls are dressed."

"You're also dressed beautifully."

"Why, thank you. You're not bad yourself."

He's wearing a suit but with a color combination that Clare's not used to see, for a man or just in general. The jacket and pants are white with a salmon shirt and adding to that, he also has an ash neckerchief where he pinned his Beaux Bâtons blazon. She herself pins it on her scarf-pin in raven form to attach her cape because her dress is sleeveless. At least, it's long enough to not trip on it and hide her bronze shoes with high heels.

To be honest, she regrets not putting the snake embroidery but since Corinna did put her on her waistband beside the H pin, she thinks that one actual Slytherin is enough. Besides, with her friend's mermaid dress, there's no more Shytherin in the room.

She barely notices the transition between Brice and Ake because her eyes' caught on Côme and Emmanuel. While the first didn't put much effort in his outfit and literally looks like his everyday clothes, meaning uniform, Emmanuel is dead gorgeous in his black and white suit. But she does gasp when she looks at her new partner because Ake could be as much handsome.

After the fun's worn off, people would chill on the balcony while sipping on the cocktail served or chatting around light snack.

However, Clare prefers the last part of the Ball where all the pomposity is gone and someone put some French pop music and where she starts to really enjoy herself on the mezzanine. 

 

2013. Wednesday

 

So today's the day.

Clare actually thought all the comotion would happen at the evening since the Ball only start at six pm, but then someone thought it could be funny to hang mistletoes in every common place, including the stairs.

Thanks to her social anxiety, she manages to avoid anybody in the vicinity and goes to see her posts. She's glad to have received her father's confirmation about her brother's Christmas gift and was prepping to send another letter to her sister and mother when someone greets her from behind.

"What're you doing?" Brice tries to pry.

"Playing Santa Claus."

Although she's not seeing them as much as she wants to, the three women made sure to always keep contact and sent celebration cards during holidays. This year, her mother will spend the day with her new (and probably temporary, dixit Eloise) boyfriend while her sister will spend it with some university mates. So yeah, they didn't really have any place for her to stay.

"You're the one doing it? What about your parents?"

Well, Estelle's in coma and dad's...

"My father isn't really the kind to remember about his children."

It comes out more depressed than expected.

"What about you?"

Brice breaks into a grin, expecting that question.

"First, we don't have Santa Claus and depending your area, we got different features. In Napoli, people celebrate it December the 13th for Santa Lucia, who's basically the Santa Claus of Northern Italy. But around Roma, which is my district, people would usually celebrate it with the Epiphany, january the 6th."

"Hence your mother taking days off around there."

"Yup. But you know what's the best part?"

"What?"

"The equivalent of Santa Claus isn't Santa Lucia, but some witch named Befana riding a broomstick."

"No."

"It is. Irony when you know that the Vatican is located in Roma."

Indeed, so Latin were more pliant about believing magic despite having more important Christianism. Though, roman culture is also very well known for their mythology, something they heavily inspired from greek myhtology, with Hecate, the goddess of magic.

"You know what is even better in a country like Italy?" Corinna prompts once they left the postbox.

"You know something about Italy?" Brice asks back.

"I'm part Italian."

"So that's why I can't stand you," he mumbles.

Corinna chooses to ignore it and keeps on her explanation while Clare can't seem to get the reference.

"There is a magical city under water in the middle of Mediterranean Sea, you can access it by one of the surroundings countries through a magical gate."

"Let me guess, it's called Atlantide?"

Corinna sends her an appreciative look and nods, because it's kind of a subject Clare is interested in so she read about it. Although, actually knowing that the city under sea was more inside some protective bubble rather than really living in the water, like the sea creatures, was little disappointing.

 

Breakfast and lunch were festives and succulent and everyone is just impatient to be at the evening.

The Ballroom is located at the sixth eighth floor, the famous one where there is balcony so people could take a rest. It would be the first time she goes in as not one of her friend invite her, maybe they need an authoriation as they're not actual students there. And, well, the Ball sort of need an invitation for the students who aren't allowed (like those under last year of first cycle).

However, the floor may have a great view or really spacious, it's an hassle to climb all the stairs to the floor in question and the 6 lifts can't really take more than ten people per cabin, and not even magic could do any good to the passengers if they force it. Especially if the ladies or gentlemen have an impressive attire. But the school couldn't have let the Ball happen in the refectory with the kitchen just next to it, right?

And the balcony does have a breathtaking view.

The whole scene was incredibly amazing and Clare has to admit that she wouldn't have want to miss it.

The walls have been decorated richly and in soothing tone matching the jazz playlist playing. There are some tables with appetizers and the center of the room had a platform for the dancers. But Clare notices people aren't coming only by the lift stopping at the sixth eighth floor or even by the main stairs but actually from the helical stairs within the room.

"What are those stairs doing here?"

"They lead to the mezzanine," Corinna says without batting an eye.

She knew for having been given a tour the first few days but doesn't seem that impressed even by all the embellishment. Clare would like to visit after the formalities of the Ball, when everyone would be wasted enough not to notice her doings.

The director of Beaux Bâtons gives his speech and wishes and people could finally step on the stage to dance. After letting the main couple opening, of cource.

Meaning each school's champion. With Leon's of Hogwarts dancing with that gorgeous Beaux Bâtons student, according to their pin of an H cursive and two wands like a tent. Clare and Teddy like to joke she has some veela blood, like his friend Victoire Weasley but maybe it's just something only the Delacour had.

One by one, other couple start to step in too and the girls enter in their turn.

Thanks to Brice's lesson, Clare manages to not step on Corinna and has more fun than anything they did together. But all things come to an end and she did promise a dance for another two partners.

Next she goes to the stage, Teddy's dancing with Lara and with his purple robe with pink streak, he totally matches Lara's golden suit. And that's without talking about his Gryffindor hair color. Bridget's chatting with Corinna and she just rocks in her black suit with a yellow shirt instead of white, as she promised to come in her hufflepuff color. She can't help but smile to see how it feels so much like Hogwarts even out of the school.

"What?" Her partner Brice pries.

"I was just admiring how stunning the girls are dressed."

"You're also dressed beautifully."

"Why, thank you. You're not bad yourself."

He's wearing a suit but with a color combination that Clare's not used to see, for a man or just in general. The jacket and pants are white with a salmon shirt and adding to that, he also has an ash neckerchief where he pinned his Beaux Bâtons blazon. She herself pins it on her scarf-pin in raven form to attach her cape because her dress is sleeveless. At least, it's long enough to not trip on it and hide her bronze shoes with high heels.

To be honest, she regrets not putting the snake embroidery but since Corinna did put her on her waistband beside the H pin, she thinks that one actual Slytherin is enough. Besides, with her friend's mermaid dress, there's no more Shytherin in the room.

She barely notices the transition between Brice and Ake because her eyes' caught on Côme and Emmanuel. While the first didn't put much effort in his outfit and literally looks like his everyday clothes, meaning uniform, Emmanuel is dead gorgeous in his black and white suit. But she does gasp when she looks at her new partner because Ake could be as much handsome.

After the fun's worn off, people would chill on the balcony while sipping on the cocktail served or chatting around light snack.

However, Clare prefers the last part of the Ball where all the pomposity is gone and someone put some French pop music and where she starts to really enjoy herself on the mezzanine.