11:15pm, Friday April 2, 2009
Outside the entrance of Spellpunk

Figaro had wasted no time in getting his spring holiday started.  They'd got off the train earlier that evening, went home for a meal, and then he was sending owls and Flooing to get a group of friends together for a night at Spellpunk.  He'd tried to get in touch with nearly everyone - either on the train ride back, or in the hours after dinner. 

Naturally, he'd had a row with his mother who was extremely disappointed to hear that he still couldn't produce a corporal Patronus.  For as much as you dally about, you'd think you'd have a wealth of happy memories to draw from! Don't you know there's a Dementor problem? The middle of the night, Figaro? Honestly!  And so forth. 

But Figaro was determined and he whined, cajoled, and negotiated his way out of the house.  And once he hit the pavement he Apparated on his newly won Apparition licences straight to Diagon Alley.

In the chilly night air, he waited in the long queue for the club to open.  There were scads of familiar faces about, both friendly and not.  He bounced in place with excitement and pent up energy.  It was a theme night!  A bill posted said as much:

FrIdAy NiGhT fAnCy DrEsS
Muggle Night

Figaro, in a black top hat (which was all he cared to find on short notice), announced, "Gentlemen of Phrenology are playing tonight!  You heard them? They're like New Orleans jazz rock fusion or something.  There's a tuba."

As much as Zel loved that he could stay with Garrett over Spring break, it was cramped.  His brother and sister-in-law lived in a two-bedroom flat with their new baby. With Lucas and Emeric staying there as well, it was cramped. They shared the couch, while Zel was to be sleeping on the living room floor.  After merely an hour of chaotic visiting, he was ready to go. Zel had been worried that his hosts would be offended by him going out with friends, but Garrett seemed more than happy that Zel actually had friends—and encouraged him to go.

As tall as Zelig was, he wasn’t quite as tall as his older brother, and was allowed to raid his closet so he could dress muggley. He had found some hideous camoflague cargo pants, an orange shirt with a man’s face on it as well  some reference to the French and beans, and some hideous green sneakers that had text about boxes.  Around his waist was a surge protector, plugged into itself. Apparently muggles liked to wear these things.
 
Transportation wasn’t a big issue—there was a place down the street that served as both a reptile store and access to the floo network, but muggles only saw it as “Salazar’s Snakes.”

When he finally reached Spellpunk, the first thing he did—was find Figaro. He wanted to give his friend a hug, but didn't want to be weird about it-- after all, it wasn't like they hadn't seen each other in a long time.  He flicked Fig's top hat in admiration. 

“Figaro—these pants—“ he motioned towards the camoflauge, “Apparently, Muggles think it makes them invisible.”  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a wii remote. "I have a muggle wand. They point it at their fellys."  Zel was quite proud of his knowledge regarding muggles.  He had the inside scoop, with a muggle sister-in-law and all.

She loved her parents, she really did, but Sky was seriously rethinking her decision to go home over spring break.  She had wanted to leave her brother in the castle, so he could have some time to himself, not having to badger her to behave or do her homework.  She knew that he needed some time just being Shade.  So she had ridden the train to the station, and then she apparated home.  Her mother was happy to see her, as usual, and greeted her with questions about her classes, grades, and if she was getting enough sleep.  Her father was also glad she came home for break, but he just asked her if there were any boys he needed to destroy.  He was rather overprotective of her.

So after dinner was finished and the evening approached, Sky excused herself from any more family talk and escaped up to her room where she changed into something she had been holding on to for a random occasion.  It was something that no one would even look twice at her wearing, for when she was out of Hogwarts, or even on weekends at Hogwarts, Sky had her own style.  It was a little quirky and sometimes downright weird, but she liked it.  Tonight was going to be no different. This outfit was right up her alley.

She walked downstairs with a cloak on and her hat under her arm - disillusioned of course - and told her mother she'd be back late and then left her cloak on a hook by the front door, walked out of the house and past the wards and apparated to Diagon Alley.  She'd heard some whispers at school, and even heard something about a club from Figaro at one point or another and decided to check it out.  She walked towards the large group that had gathered and tried to spot a couple familiar faces, but there were too many there. She'd find someone to talk to when she got in, otherwise, she'd just have fun by herself.

"Zel!'  Figaro didn't hold back in a triumphant cry that Zel had actually come out.  And he was even dressed up!

"I can't believe it.  You're here. And you look gorgeous, mate. Beautiful." He clasped his hand in casual greeting and reached for the little white stick.  It had a couple of buttons and a little loop of rope.  He'd never see a wee-mote before. 

"The eff is this?"  It fit nicely in your hand, but to somone who was used to the particular ergonomics of a wand handle, it seemed chunky.  The trigger fit nicely though.  "Pew pew!" he sent muggle lasers at Sky O'Connor who was approaching.

"Muggle alert, muggle alert.  Hide your small children and infants."  Because apparently muggles would eat them?

Fig hadn't though to find some kind of muggle gadget; there wasn't anything at home particularly muggle, but they could have stopped some place on the way in.  Some of the smaller shops were open late and he'd thought he'd seen some phones in there.  But eh - he didn't have any muggle money anyway. 

There were few things more amusing than wizards trying to dress like muggles.  Despite not being able to go far in London without running into a million plus muggles, the concept of modern muggle attire still seemed somewhat lost on the average magical citizen.  Though, as Migs wound his way through the nightclub in search of familiar faces, his hard-soled boots rapping loudly against the floor, he suspected he looked strangely out of place himself.  He might have melded in perfectly at home but he was a long way from the plains of North Dakota. 

"Nah - the kids are safe."  Migs offered with a grin as he neared the table of Hogwarts students.  He'd just caught the end of the Huffelpuff's warning to anyone who had happened to bring kids to the nightclub.  "Damn rugrats are chewy unless you smoke them for at least a week.  I think they're safely off the menu for the night." 

Despite Tulojow's offer to stick around, Migs had decided to hop on the Hogwarts express with the other students and head down to London for the spring break.  He'd yet to really see the city properly and big cities like London were the types of places country boys like him didn't believe existed until they'd walked the streets themselves.  He'd decided to do the tourist-y exploration the proper way: with a wallet full of currency and a guide book in his back pocket.  The bulletin boards near Platform 9 3/4 had advertised this evening's entertainment in Diagon and Migs had overheard a few kids talking about plans. 

"Almost good enough to try a real one," Migs commented with a mischievous grin as Figaro feigned shooting with the wii remote.  "Almost." 

Mysti was pretty excited for the night. She’d been home with her family for the spring holiday and had gotten the invite to the Spellpunk themed party night.  After some convincing to her parents, she’d gotten permission to go (especially excited as she’d recently gotten her apparation permit). Then she had her mother’s assistance to come up with something “muggl-y” for the theme.  It was more fun to go fancy (and it did say fancy dress, even though it’s muggle) so her mother looked through some books and eventually found some fun older style clothes which could work.

When she arrived that night, Mysti was excited and felt pretty in her outfit. She made her way into Spellpunk and looked for some familiar faces.  She enjoyed some of the crazier outfits, and loved seeing what everyone had come up with.  The girl came across Figaro and went towards him, the first familiar face.  She also recognized more people as she got closer.

“Nice hat, Fig. We’re some fancy muggles.” She said in greeting. And smiled at Zel and Migs. “And those are some interesting outfits, too.”

"Migs, right?" Figaro greeted the tall American boy with the long black hair dressed in clothes that Figaro recognized as vaguely...cowboy...? "Nice costume," he said, not really realizing that Migs wasn't in his fashion element.

The line finally started moving forward, and Mysti had arrived.  He smiled at his housemate and gave her a friendly greeting.  "Heya, Mysti."

It wasn't long after that they were through the unassuming door, down the narrow hallway and descending into the club proper.  It was filling up fast and Figaro made his way to the bar.  He was 17 now, and the myriad wonders of adult beverage were now available to him.  His mum had given him an earful back in his November birthday about moderation and safety and he'd internalized most of it - but having a few drinks was fun and exciting to him, and he still had a lot to learn.

He leaned on the bar trying to get the barkeep's attention, his top hat tipped jauntily askew.  The drink specials were all muggly sounding things like screwdrivers and apple pie shots.  "Uh, what's a screwdriver?"

"Vodka and orange juice."

"I'll have that," he said and laid a dozen sickles on the counter in a teetering stack.  As he waited for the drink, he picked up the stack and let the coins fall back into the stack one by one, making a clinking metal rhythm.

"Anyone else want anything?" he asked familiar faces near him.  "Zel? Whatcha want? Glass of milk? Water?"

He was teasing his mild-mannered friend, but Fig had actually never been out with him.  Maybe Zel would surprise him and he'd be dragging him home.

"Figaro bloody Sellaphix!" A voice from behind them all exclaimed. A short witch dressed as a Muggle policewoman, complete with little bowler-hat with chequered pattern was gaping at the group of them at the bar.

"Now I'm definitely too old to be in here!" Theta Pepper grinned broadly, and extended her arms to her old classmates.

"Heard you'd taken over editing the paper, nice work! Trumble, how are you? My you've grown… again." Always short amongst others, it seemed like every time someone grew another inch it was another foot from her perspective...

Then peering at each of them in term in the light issued further greetings.

"Mysti? I adore your outfit, and oh Solomon's knickers is that Sky O'Connor?! Grief!"

Sky had been in the year below, and in Gryffindor, but she recognised the girl - people tended to remember twins in the Hogwarts community.

"Oh gosh, you make me feel like I should have dressed a lot more normally," Theta admitted, having taken muggle to the point of muggle profession because it didn't quite feel silly enough to wear the clothes she wore when she and Chris were amongst the Muggles. They liked to go and see Muggle films and theatre when they could, and with her mother's advice had not always been too far off the mark in this aspect.

"Come and dance!" She exclaimed excitedly, already pretty merry to say the least, explaining her rather more confident approach than the Theta who'd been at school....

"Pepper!"  Fig greeted the older witch with the type of enthusiasm so often found at parties - acquaintences became friends, friends became the best of friends.  Theta Pepper had been a few years ahead of him in school and had run the Howler - back when it was a bit more respectable!  But that didn't seem to make Figaro insecure in the slightest.  Theta was always friendly and opinionated and he had to respect that.

He reached out to give her a brotherly fist bump and shouted over the growing noise.  "Yea, I'm editor! It's gangbusters.  Busting down doors. Stirring the pot.  Making waves!"

"I'm getting a drink!" he repeated.  "Want anything?"  By now the bartender had slid across the practically neon-colored orange drink in a tall narrow glass.  There was an umbrella in it for some reason and he took it out to tuck it in his hat band.

"No, I'm good, thanks though!" She responded enthusiastically, complete with hand gestures. "I heard good things, Sellaphix, good things about the Howler. Nice one!" Theta winked and raised her own glass, which gave off a bit of a strange glow in the light of the room.

"So are you all in costumes or is it just me?" She asked, looking about the group. "What on earth are those?" Her dainty hand reached out to the wii controller. "And how are you?"[1]

1.	This can be pointed at anyone in the group who'd just like an opening, Theta was a seventh year Ravenclaw last year

Migs nodded a confirmation of his name to Figaro before grinning and extending a hand to greet Mystique.  Their little group was approached by a young woman who Migs didn't recognize, but it seemed she was familiar with all the Hogwarts students.  She didn't seem that much older then the rest of their crew; that combined with the stroll down memory lane suggested she was a fairly recent graduate. 

"Oh gosh, you make me feel like I should have dressed a lot more normally."

"I'm not sure there was a standard expectation."  Migs grinned as he glanced around the room.  "Muggle always seems to have a rather vague definition.  Name's Migs Nagde."  He offered the young woman - Pepper, according to Figaro - a hand and a grin. 

After ordering himself a firewhiskey, Migs turned back to the group.  "Nah.  This is how I usually dress.  Just hopped the train with a few changes of clothes - didn't think to pack any costumes.  Luckily, over here ranch wear seems to be a costume.  So, you're a cop, eh?" 

“Thank you, Theta! I decided to try for historical muggle fancy dress. I’m not sure how accurate it is, but I thought it was pretty!”

She was glad to have found a good group of people so far. When you go to events and parties, you never know who will show up first. Mysti usually liked to gravitate first towards people she knew, then perhaps branch out and talk to new people.  Plus she wasn’t sure how many people she knew would even be here tonight.

“That screwdriver sounds good, I’ll try that too.” Mysti said, ordering after Migs, then turning back to the group. “It’s fun to see how everyone goes with a theme. Muggle is pretty open, so lots to go with. I love all of your costumes and outfits! There’s some pretty crazy ones too.”

Mysti looked around the room, taking in the other costumes. People went with all ends of the spectrum.  Fancy, crazy, comfortable, and all kinds of colors.

"Zel? Whatcha want? Glass of milk? Water?"

He shuddered. “Not milk. Anything but milk.”  Zelig wasn’t a picky eater, but he absolutely could not stand milk, even if it was flavoured like chocolate or strawberry. It had to be cooked into things for it to be consumeable. But what did he want to drink?  Hehadn’t the faintest idea.

“Figaro. Surprise me.” Zel replied. “Just. No milk.” And then there was Theta!

“Trumble, how are you? My you've grown… again."

Zel rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, “Yeah. I do that.” He cleared his throat, “My mother claimed that my dad had giant’s blood in him, but I don’t know how accurate that is.” His father had been a tall man, just over seven feet tall. It was difficult for him to tell which side of the family he got his height from, as his mother was taller than most full grown men and she definitely didn’t have giant’s blood. She was a muggleborn, though she would never admit it.

He looked around the club. There was a nice turnout, but he did feel like he stuck out. It was hard not to stick out when you were over six feet tall and looked like Jack Frost.

An American!

"Oh hello Migs!" Theta greeted with a broad grin. "Well, not exactly, we call them police officers over here, rather than cops - and I'm not a real one obviously…"

"… that my dad had giant's blood in him…"

"Pfft, you just like to make me feel small, that's your game." She socked Zel playfully on the arm with a palm before stepping forward so she could hear Migs a bit better.

"Theta," she extended her hand, "nice to meet you, are you over with the Salem group?" Her keen eyes were examining his face a little closer.

"I used to be at Hogwarts, last year, so I just missed out on the Tournament, but my sisters and my cousins are all there still." She sipped her drink and addressed the group with a broad smile across her little features. 

"You should all come dance! You look like nervous wallflowers!"

Since Zel had given Figaro control of his beverage, at least the first one, he was momentarily out of the conversation between Zel, Theta and Migs and Mysti.  "Yea, you know the one that's blue!"  Figaro had to shout instructions to the bartender. 

Soon Figaro was handing Zel something blue with floating green bubbles in it.  "It's not strong," he assured his friend.  Figaro wouldn't actually try and make anyone sick.  "The blue stuff tastes like orange and those are like...fruit bubbles or something.  Call it a Virginia Floo or something.  Can't remember."

"Let's go!" Fig had heard Theta's call for proper party behavior, and he was all about that.  He pushed his top hat forward on his head and started pulsing to the fast, accordion driven beat of the janky, folksy blues-fusion band or whatever it was.  He didn't, like, know how to dance properly, but he'd never learned shame.  He just did what he did, did what others did, and always kept to the beat.

"ZEL!"  Zel was not participating at the level Figaro expected.