Around 11:00 p.m. Classes are over and exams start on Monday.
Before posting, please read this plot thread for important details!

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Fauna stood on the edge of the Forbidden Forest, growing more fearful by the second. She’d left about five minutes early, anxious to make it out of the castle without anyone noticing her. Fauna was now regretting this decision. She should have at least waited for Saffron, so they could shiver in fear together. What else were friends for?

In her hands she clutched her lit wand, a bundle of bandanas, and her last shred of sanity. The colorful bandanas emitted an eerie sheen, enchanted to glow faintly in the dark. Half of the bandanas were bright orange and stitched with the face of a niffler on one side, while the other half were lime green and showed the gruesome visage of a ghoul. Fauna thought it very appropriate considering what she had faced these past few weeks. The note she’d received hadn’t said anything about team mascots, so she may have gone a little overboard though.

She wondered, for the hundredth time, who had sent those notes last week. At first she’d thought it was a joke, because she’d never even heard of Wizarding paintball before! Fauna had told Saffron about it in passing, only to discover her friend had received a note as well. They’d laughed about it and then dared each other to show up. Admittedly, Fauna was quite flattered that the note had personally asked her to make the bandanas, which was the real reason she found the courage to sneak out after curfew again.

Fauna didn’t like being out here alone, however. A part of her was paranoid that this was an elaborate prank and someone wanted to get her into trouble. Lately she’d hurt friends, dueled with foes, and unleashed a horde of nifflers on the grounds, so it was no surprise that people weren’t happy with her. Fauna could handle being ignored or blending into the crowd like normal, but being disliked was taking its toll. She really wanted to forget about her problems for a while. Fauna shifted her weight from foot to foot and hoped that someone wasn’t setting her up. She’d spent a lot of time on those bandanas!

A hooting sound pierced the air and she jolted, whirling around to stare at the dark forest looming behind her. For a moment Fauna worried that she’d be expected to go in there- surely not. It was bad enough that she was breaking the rules for a game, when it was a game she would probably lose, too. Thanks to Vienna she’d already proved how awful she was at reacting quickly to threats.

Fauna heaved a sigh and adjusted the goofy hat on her head. She called it her monster hat, even though there was nothing intimidating about it. It was the softest hat she owned and would cushion her head if she fell. The rest of her was clad in dark, loose clothing, and over that she had on elbow pads and kneepads. A frown tugged at her mouth as she just realized how silly she probably looked, but then she shrugged, just thankful it was dark out. Fauna tugged self-consciously at her knee guards, let out a yawn, and then startled when she saw a light bobbing in the distance. As the light and the approaching figure came closer, she waved her lit wand in the air. A few bandanas fell out of her grasp and she bent to pick them up, causing her hat to tip precariously on her head.

The teachers had done their best to deprive Neely and everyone else in the castle of fun in the past, particularly torturous week of classes, but what the old bats didn't know was that Miss Cornelia Heloise Woolfolk had been invited to an oh-so-exclusive after-dark soiree on the grounds. (Alright, so it was technically a paintball war, but that meant Neely could experiment with colors).

Clutching the invitation in on hand and her illuminated wand in the other, the Slytherin smiled to herself as she glided out of the castle and toward the forest. Stealthily, of course. It was creepy, but completely exciting. She was sure all kinds of wickedly cool students were going to be there, the ones who were slick and suave enough to be out past curfew and not get caught. Surely none of the square had been invited... not that they would show up, anyway, because they were all a bunch of scaredy cats.

"AH!" Neely shrieked, her horrified blue gaze suddenly landing on a thing with 5677673454545 million eyes as she looked up from the invitation's instructions. She came to a teetering halt, luckily having forgone a pair of heeled ankle boots at the last minute, in favor of her favorite class black Wellingtons. They were so supermodel-at-a-muddy-festival-concert retro.

When Neely realized what she was staring at, she let out a relieved scoff, hand dropping from her chest. "Wasn't killing Arius enough?" She murmured in a carrying tone as she loitered near the edge of the forest and crossed arms. "What's that on your head?" If she wanted a hat, she could have asked Neely. Not that Neely wanted to give advice to serial killers, but some people needed to go through fashion boot camp for the benefit of society. When Neely graduated, she was definitely going to start her own charity: The Neely Woolfolk Foundation to Preserve Eyesight.

Looking around more properly, the girl wondered where everyone was. Surely this couldn't be the party location. Maybe there was a secret password to get into the real thing, which was probably more hidden. Neely looked down at the invitation again, and suspiciously back to Fauna. Had she been invited? She was holding bandannas, which unfortunately meant the Hufflepuff had definitely been let in, probably on the promise of being the supplier. The Slytherin quickly stuffed the slip of parchment into her pocket and looked around for covert symbols on rocks. It was hard in the dark.

"So which team are you on?" She asked at length, in a surprisingly engaging, somewhat sweet tone. There was no one else to talk to. "You know... I shouldn't tell you this..." She sighed and leaned closer, putting a hand up to her own mouth and staring directly at Fauna. "But you could be totally gorgeous if you wanted. Like at the--" She stopped, on the verge of saying fashion show. Nightmares.

With a heave and a ho, Trent Travis had pulled himself up from his usual chair in the Slytherin common room and began to head out into the deserted hallways of Hogwarts. He and many others, including his best friend, Jasper, had been invited for Wizard Paintball. If it was anything like normal Muggle Paintball, Trent would definitely be great at it. Splattering paint all over the place probably seemed like an Artist's dream... But Trent wasn't an artist, and he thought this was rather buttocks. Then again, what WASN'T buttocks in Trent's eyes?

Dressed in a beige t-shirt, black trench coat, and faded jeans, Trent Travis was looking like his normal scruffy self. The only difference is that Trent took a shower today. It was that time of the week again. The corridors were completely empty and Trent hardly even tried to remain cautious. He walked with his normal slouch and clutched the parchment that had invited him to this dumb event. The only reason he was going was because Jasper told him to, anyways. If it weren't for him, Trent would be locked away in his dorm writing poems about his depressing life and how he was completely bonkers over Olivia Foley. A typical pathetic teenager, really.

Within minutes, Trent was trampling the grass of the muddy Hogwarts grounds. It was dark besides his newly lit wand and faint lights by the forbidden forest. Trent paused a moment before continuing to the woods, this could always have been a trick. Who knows what people planned on doing to Trent when he was alone? Probably steal his lotion, that's what!

But as he drew nearer, he realized it was a couple of girls. "Sweet Merlin." Trent mumbled to himself, fixing his soft and, for once, non-greasy hair. He slowed his pace but was already yards away from the other students. Trent sighed and eyed the grounds; he shouldn't have gone out so early. The girls will be very uncomfortable being alone with him.

Trent fixed his hair once more and stopped a couple of feet away from the girls. "Err... Hey, ladies." Trent gave them his usual crooked smile, that was probably the last thing they wanted to see, and held his wand out to examine them. The Wabblefolk or whatever girl and Fauna Blake. "How are you, Nilly... I mean... Neely... Fauna?" His smile turned into a very cheesy grin as he eyed Fauna up and down. He didn't mean to seem so creepy, but it was just in his nature.

Wizard Paintball at night. The idea was strange, bizarre, likely to get him in detention and absolutely enthralling. Upon receiving his invitation, Jasper had quickly and discreetly figured out who else (that he cared about, anyways) had gotten an invitation. The answers weren't surprising. Waker had gotten one, Vienna had gotten one, even Trent got one. (Actually, that was surprising. Just who was sending these invites anyway?) They needed to get out more and classes were finally over. He should probably be studying for exams next week but...Vienna was going to be here. And he'd been studying for these exams for around three years. Jasper thought he was set.

Having had dressed from head to toe in dark clothing - black shorts and one of those strange muggle graphic t-shirts his mum was always buying (it was dark gray with some sort of light gray and lime green design on it. It looked nice, though, even if he wasn't sure what it meant) - Jasper felt prepared. Wand out (but at his side), Jasper walked down to edge of the Forbidden Forest. There were a few faces there already, he squinted, making out Fauna Blake (the Hufflepuff who was going to work for Tilly over the summer), a younger girl he thought he recognized as one of Vienna's admirers, and...Trent! Good, he'd actually shown up.

"How are you, Nilly... I mean... Neely... Fauna?" he caught the end of Trent's...greeting (if it could be called that) and bit his lip.

"Fauna...you're in charge of this?" he asked incredulously. She always seemed like such a young, innocent, tipsy Puff. "You haven't been drinking, have you?" he asked suspiciously, eyeing her strange hat. Were those eyes supposed to be bottle tops? Oh, good merlin, she hadn't drunk that much, had she? Puffs were wild drinkers, probably. They had to have a lot of repressed feelings from when they were all happy and cheerful all the time. Right?

"Trent!" Jasper greeted somewhat awkwardly and blinked, staring at his best friend. "You showered?" There was an unmistakable note of delight in his voice. Jasper was the type of person who sometimes took as many as six showers on a normal day. He was shower-happy. "Glad you showed up, though." he muttered, coming to stand besides him. "And...hello, Neely, is it?" He didn't know her. She was a Slytherin, he thought, and hung around Vienna sometimes. Maybe. Maybe not. "I'm Jasper."

Jasper glanced around. "Do you know how many more people are coming? I know Waker and Vienna, for sure, but...I didn't check with anyone else."

It was a few minutes before eleven, and Meg was walking out of the castle. She had received an invitation to wizarding paintball, and decided to attend. After all of the stressful work that the students were given in the last few weeks, and with exams around the corner, it would be a good stress reliever for the night. Well, that, and the fact that she really wanted to see wizarding paintball. She saw what muggle paintball was, but never a wizarding form.

The invitation had stated for all people attending the night-time paintball fight, would need to bring their wands. Naturally, she had no idea who had sent the invitations, nor did she really have any desire to know who had sent the invitations. Besides, she figured that it would be a fun experience to go to. And, if the paintball was a prank, she highly doubted that she would get mad at it anyway. Thus, her reasoning for attending the wizarding paintball. Well, there was actually one more reason for why Meg had decided to attend. She figured that such a concept could make for an interesting piece of art that she was bound to create at some point. Plus, it would be fun.

As Meg was walking towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest, she took out her wand, and muttered the spell to make a light appear out of her wand. She was dressed in a simple black t-shirt, dark jeans, and black shoes. Her brunette hair was tied back in a ponytail.

While approaching the edge of the forest, Meg squinted a bit to see who was there. She first spotted Fauna, wearing a hat that seemed to be made out of mostly eyes. She noticed Neely Woolfolk and two other boys that she did not immediately recognize. Wait, Neely Woolfolk? 'Why is Neely here?' she thought to herself as she continued to walk up to the small gathering thus far. 'Perhaps Neely doesn't know that paintball will make her dirty,' she thought to herself with a grin. 'Ah, oh well. As long as I'm not on her team, it's going to be fun showing her that fact,' she thought to herself.

Meg did not have the best of relationship with Neely, but she did not exactly hate Neely that much. It was more of a frustration. Thus, she would be happy to release that frustration. Putting a smile on her face, she walked up to the group. "Hey," she greeted the group all together.

When the figure came into view Fauna had just enough time to figure out it was Neely, who took one look at her and screamed.

Fauna shrieked right back at her, dropped all the things she'd been holding and spun around, expecting to find something large and lurky behind her. Yet there was nothing there. She picked up her wand with a shaky hand and peered into the darkness again. Only the trees stared back at her, mocking her terrified state.

Fauna turned around to face Neely with a frown, wondering what the big deal was. As she started collecting the bandanas again, Neely made a comment about killing Arius, which annoyed her enough to glance up and glare. Any intimidating effect Fauna’s glare normally had was lessened tenfold by the ridiculous hat on her head.

“I did not…” she sighed, finding that she was denying much these days. Fauna stood up again and didn’t answer Neely when she wondered what was on her head. It should be obvious! She stared off into space, hoping that if she looked hard enough someone else would appear to distract her. Sadly, Neely was not the silent type.

When she asked Fauna what team she was on, however, Fauna was surprised by her friendly tone and immediately grew suspicious.

“Um, I don’t know. Are we supposed to know… what teams we’re on?” She frowned.

After a silence Neely leaned forward and complimented her... sort of. Fauna’s eyebrows shot up and her cheeks colored. She stared at her for a moment, wondering what was up the girl’s sleeve.

“Er, thanks Neely…. I guess,” she said warily. After another pause, she finally said something she never would have bothered to mention before. Perhaps Neely’s attempt at niceness prompted it.

“You know… have you ever thought that maybe I like my crazy hats and… goofy clothes?” She said simply, not trying to accuse her.

Fauna peered into the distance again, avoiding eye contact. “I mean… sometimes, I just like…”

She trailed off, spotting someone else coming towards them- oh Merlin, it was Trent Travis. She widened her eyes at Neely and started fidgeting with the bandanas in her hands. At least he looked, well, clean. Fauna normally wasn’t too picky about those things but it was hard to ignore a boy who rarely showered. Feeling his eyes on her, she stared down at her hands.

“Hi Trent,” she replied reluctantly. Fauna hoped he wouldn’t pester her about Ollie. She didn’t like the way he looked at her friend all the time, but thankfully Trent was the one boy Ollie didn’t seem crazy about.

Jasper appeared soon after Trent did, shocking her completely when he assumed she was in charge of this.

“No! No, I’m not!” She sputtered, looking around for support. “I… I just made the bandanas!” Her brow furrowed in confusion. “And… I haven’t had anything to drink, either.”

She smiled a bit as he exclaimed about Trent’s weekly shower, but her smile soon faded when he announced that Vienna and Waker would be coming. No way. Fauna paled, as if he’d just announced an additional week of exams. Vienna would kick her butt in the game, and Waker was in the running to be head girl! No way she would participate in this! Fauna started to feel very uneasy and hoped Jasper had his facts wrong. The guilt she felt over Waker hadn’t abated yet, it was still as fresh as the night she and Devlin had been discovered, and made even worse by Fauna’s avoidance of the girl.

“Megan!” she breathed in relief when she spotted her. Fauna rushed to stand next to her, happy to have a friend nearby.

She was here because Fauna was making her. That was her story, she was sticking to it. Saffron Padmore was not a very brave girl. There was a reason she wasn't a Gryffindor. Oh sure, she had her moments, like when she'd attempted to rescue Fauna from the evil fake snake or when Neely had made her bullied her provoked her into dumping milk on Neely's shoes. But those moments were far and few between. In general, people were scary. Saffron continuously attempted to get over her fear of people by joining clubs and classes and such but....it wasn't working! People were scary.  Except for Fauna and Meg and a few other people. But mostly, people terrified Saffron.

She had no clue who had invited her. Clearly, they hadn't picked very well. Saffron wasn't sure if she was going to be able to take out anybody. Likely she'd be taken out in...five minutes. Or less, with her luck. So there she was, timidly creeping up to the group. "Hi!" Saffron squeaked, barely able to even look at the 6th year guys. They were 6TH YEAR GUYS!!!! Her face went bright red and she looked hurriedly away. "Fauna! Meg!" she greeted cheerfully. Yay, people who didn't terrify her! And... "Neely? What're you doing here?" she looked at the girl sideways. "You do know paintball involves...paint, right? All over your..." Saffron wasn't much for fashion. She had no clue what brand name any of Neely's clothes were. "...Jimmy Choos?" That was a safe bet, right?

Saffron darted over to Megan and Fauna, hugging them both quickly. "Fauna," she whispered into her friend's ear anxiously, "Why is there a weird guy in a trenchcoat over there? He's...kinda...scaring me." she squeaked at the end. Most people scared Saffron, actually. And the way nobody except for the other guy was standing very near Trenchcoat-dude did not escape her. Though, he was cute. And scary. But cute, too. Saffron pondered it idly.

Vienna treaded through the dungeon corridors with feline grace, narrowly avoiding an overzealous prefect as she rounded into a corner. One could say she was practicing for the showdown tonight. Invitation in one hand and her wand in the other, Vienna perused her surroundings before darting into the northwest stairwell. Her knee-high suede boots made soft thuds against the ground as she ascended the stairs two steps at a time.  Muffled voices sounded in the distance and Vienna doubled her pace. She would not be caught by anyone. Not tonight.

Upon reaching the back entrance, Vienna flung the doors open and sneaked out into the night. In high spirits and much too excited, she broke into a slow jog and did not stop until the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest was within sight. Judging by the silhouettes, quite a few people were already there.

Tonight was the final treat before exams. Nothing said good night and good luck like elimination-style paintball. Vienna did not know who organized the game but the person certainly had her gratitude. Work hard, play hard. That was the point, wasn’t it? She even abandoned her traditional dress and heels for a form fitting black ensemble. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and not a single strand escaped its place. Vienna came prepared.

“Lumos.”

She murmured as she approached the group. A small light illuminated their faces and Vienna spotted several of her peers among the crowd. There was Jasper, who looked surprisingly dashing in black, Neely, impeccable as always, Trent, whom she didn’t know well, several students of the lower years, and…Fauna Blake? A predatory smile lit up Vienna’s face. Round One had gone painfully astray with the unanticipated appearance of Ava and the ghoul, but Round Two, Vienna assured herself, was hers for the taking.

“Evening,” she acknowledged everyone’s presence with a polite nod.  No love was lost between the two when her eyes rested on Fauna. “Didn’t think you would receive an invite, let alone have the guts to show up,” Vienna smiled coyly as she walked past the Hufflepuff and her friends, “I’ll see you in the woods.”

She joined the Slytherins and nudged Jasper playfully in the ribs, “We better be on the same team. I would die if I do not take down Fauna Blake tonight.” She greeted Trent with a small smile before turning to Neely, “Neely, my dear, promise me you will do Arius proud and get in at least one hit on ‘the girl with the eyes’.”

“You know… have you ever thought that maybe I like my crazy hats and… goofy clothes?”

Neely looked confused for a moment. She opened her mouth to give an answer, closed it again, and pondered what to say. Fauna had actually sounded quite sincere and curious, not threatening, and Neely herself was on the verge of a more-thoughtful-than-usual reply when Trench Coat Travis appeared.

Neely instinctively moved closer to Fauna Blake. Yes, The Girl With the Eyes. At least she knew Neely's bloody name and didn't collect Hufflepuffs as parlor decor. She was a Hufflepuff, after all. And she bathed. Apparently Fauna was as uncomfortable as Neely, because the look the older girl gave the Slytherin felt like a very rare moment of solidarity between them-- perhaps an extension of Neely admitting that the girl could be gorgeous if she put in some effort... and took off the hat.

"Who is Nilly?" She muttered darkly. Good golly Godric, Trent was so weird.

Jasper Quinn, who arrived next, was far less creepy, and even if he didn't know her name, he got it right on the first try, which pacified Neely, if only a little. Her ears perked up at the familiar word Vienna. Even Megan Ruiz and Saffron Padmore couldn't ruin a party if Vienna Pascal was going to show up. That probably meant lots of other great people were coming, too.

"Of course I know it involves paint!" Neely defended herself. She kicked up a leg to show off her pristine rainboots just as Vienna appeared. A beaming smile crept onto the fourth year's face and she held up a hand, wiggling her fingers at the dark-haired beauty before floating naturally into the huddle of Salazar's house. "Vienna! Your boots are to die for." Neely placed a hand over heart. The girl was flawless. At Vienna's request that Neely help take out Fauna-- and defend her own prince's honor in the process-- the Woolfolk girl almost forgot her moment of civil conversation with the Hufflepuff. She giggled delightedly. "Don't worry, I'm definitely getting her. This time when she trips, there will only be mud to land in." Not a hundred-galleon dress. Neely raised her wand like a starting gun, mock-shooting into the sky, and winked.

"Hey, has anyone seen..."

 Sasha was painfully aware that he was running a few minutes late.  He'd spent far too long standing in front of the mirror in the boy's bathroom, staring at his reflection.  How did one dress for a cat's funeral?  Was it like the funerals of people?  He had to assume so; it was safer to dress conservatively and be too formal than to dress too informally and be disrespectful.  Under normal occasions, Sasha took considerable care with his appearance, but he'd been especially fastidious tonight.  He wore the dress muggle suit he'd packed on his mother's insistence.  He'd had no real decent reason to explain why he wouldn't need it at school at the time.

He was still highly uncomfortable with sneaking out in the dark of the night but it seemed poor Neely's need for support had outweighed the potential mark this might put on his squeaky clean record, if he was unlucky.  At least, if he got caught, he'd have a reasonable excuse.  And, surely, Neely would back him up. 

On a few occasions, he'd wondered why the cat was being buried in the forbidden forest.  If it hadn't seemed an extremely insensitive question, he'd have considered asking. 

The hard soles of his loafers made more noise than he would have liked as Sasha made his way out of the castle and across the grounds.  He kept to the darkness until he'd moved past the first row of trees, when he lit the tip of his wand with a quiet and somber "lumos." 

It didn't take long for Sasha to hear voices from between the trees.  Apparently, this burial was a group event; Neely hadn't mentioned that but, perhaps, that had been a side-effect of the grief.  Somberly, he made his way towards the group, quickly looking for Neely and approaching, intent on offering his condolences.   "I'm so sor..." 

His voice cut off as Neely's own voice piped up, peculiarly void of any grief or sadness.  In fact, she sounded defensive.  And ... it involved paint?  What kind of funeral was this?  Uncertain and surprised, Sasha looked from Neely to the other students gathered there, his stomach seeming to grow heavier as he took in the variety of funeral-attire.  "I ... wha- what's going on?" Sasha asked, uneasily.  "Where's ... where's the-" he started.  But, he stopped.  Maybe this was some peculiar funeral.  If it was, he certainly wouldn't want to ask about the whereabouts of  the unfortunate deceased.

It was late, and Mystique Anne Ketteridge was sneaking out.  She was hopeful that she would know others sneaking out as well.  She couldn’t have been the only one to have received the mysterious letter!  She quickly changed into her darkest clothes, stuff that she could move in well also.  Finding some black lipstick and makeup she had, she gave herself some "war paint" under her eyes. She put on her black high-top converse (those shoes were so comfy!) and then grabbed the letter and her wand. Concealing both items, but making sure she could still reach the wand, she headed out of her room.

Mysti had been quiet about getting the invite, and didn’t know who all was going to be there.  She was just excited about the event, as it was sure to be the best thing to happen all year.  Even if she lost, it would be sure to provide much excitement, and a well needed break from studying.  Whoever had organized this deserved some major thanks.  She just hoped they didn’t get in trouble, because if they were all found out, major punishments were sure to be handed out.

Acting like a spy in some action movie, Mysti made her way out of the castle.  Continuing her theatrics, she stealthily moved across the school grounds.  In sight of the edge of the forest, she saw a few people through the trees. Stepping lightly, she made her way to the trees a bit away from where everyone else was. She’d had a great idea, and just hoped it would work out the way it looked in her head.

Sneaking up towards everyone, she made sure not to step on any twigs.  Mysti liked to think she had the eyes of a cat, since she saw so well in the dark.  Slowly making her way towards the group of people, she scoped out the area.  There was a nice flat path for her plan of entrance. Getting her footing, she pushed off on her back leg, doing a type of somersault/spy roll.  

“Whyyyyyycha!” She exclaimed in a ninja-esque sound as she flung herself forward.  Pulling her wand out of her pocket, she aimed towards a tree and shot out a neon-green coloured paintball. Unfortunately, she lost balance in her attempt to get into a crouch and the paintball was then aimed towards the well-dressed Sasha.

“Crap! Look out!” She said as she toppled out of her crouch and onto her bottom.

"Yes I took a shower." Trent snapped back at his friend before giving him a friendly smile. Many people had started joining now... Many people who gave Trent the worst looks. Not that he cared, he just felt it was a bit rude. Not a hello? Just (Insert nasty look here) and (Insert Snub and walk away). Trent frowned, slightly, before adjusting his coat. People could be so peculiar sometimes... Trent felt normal in comparison. But then again, that was Trent and no one really should listen to his opinions.

The girls shied away from the two Slytherin boys as more people appeared. Trent didn't listen to Narcy Wabblefobble or whatever when she complained because, quite frankly, he didn't give a flying monkey. If she wanted his attention, which Trent really doubted, she would have said oh... I don't know... 'Hello'? She was a nasty little twit and she was lucky Trent really didn't have the mind to smack her. She was, however, a woman. Why wasn't she in the kitchen? As Trent's father would of said.

Vienna appeared out of no where (Well, not out of no where but Trent wasn't paying attention) and he smiled, halfheartedly, at her. He knew fully well that Jasper had a bit of a crush on Vienna and he thought it would be to Jasper's benefit if they were on the same team. But, being greedy, Trent mainly wanted Jasper on HIS team so he wouldn't be alone. "Hello." He said, quietly, and watched as Neely and her talked about some girl with the eyes and almost immediately didn't care and turned away.

Then the oddly dressed fourth year came... Oh boy. Trent finally didn't feel as much of a loser than before. And of course the crazy Hufflepuff girl, Mystique or whatever, appeared out of thin air shot a paint ball right at the boy. Silly girl. Trent rolled his eyes and turned to his fellow Slytherins once more. "Jasper. You owe me one for this." He finally muttered in his friends direction. If he pulled something like this again, he'd probably knock Jasper out with a pillow, or something unnaturally spiky and hard if he felt like it.

Trent sniffed, lightly, and got a bit impatient. How long was this going to take and how many people were there? He really hoped this turned out to be fun, else he'd be disappointed and, well, he'd write in his diary how much he wants to hurt Jasper. Other than that, he smiled, cheerfully. "This'll be fun. Won't it?" Trent said to everyone. He, for once, said something normal.

“And… I haven’t had anything to drink, either.” He frowned as she denied his accusations. Jasper had never actually seen Fauna drunk. But he'd heard stories and after observing her behavior, it didn't seem that far a stretch. Jasper eyed Fauna suspiciously, but there wasn't much time to be suspicious. Neely started whining when two more young girls - one who looked rather brash and the other who was refusing to look at Trent and worriedly whispering to Fauna - showed up and Jasper tuned her out.

"Fourth years." he grumbled under his breath to Trent, "We weren't that annoying then, were we?" Actually, they were probably worse. But that was besides the- OH. Vienna Pascal was here! Not that there was any other Vienna he knew, but...his eyes lingered on her. She looked ravishing, Jasper thought privately, in her outfit. “Evening,” her voice carried and Jasper nodded coolly in her direction, but didn't say anything. She would come over here, wouldn't she? Hopefully Trent wouldn't frighten her off. He listened carefully to every word she said. Fauna, huh? The weird, tipsy girl who'd be working for Tilly this summer.

To Jasper's delight, Vienna joined him and Trent in the - er - 'Slytherin' corner of things. "Hey, Vi," he greeted her casually. Jasper was grateful for once that he was capable of acting. The mere fact that his pulse was going faster because she had elbowed him playfully would no doubt seem amateurish to the very sophisticated Slytherin.  “We better be on the same team. I would die if I do not take down Fauna Blake tonight.” she told him and he smirked.

"You know," he said lowly so that hopefully Fauna wouldn't overhear, "She's going to be working for my cousin this summer." Vienna was smart enough to figure out the possibilities that were implied in that. And Jasper was enough of a Slytherin that he wouldn't feel guilty badmouthing Fauna to Tilly if Vienna wanted. "And," he added, "I think Fauna might be drunk. Just...so you know." Vienna began talking to her fangirl - the exuberant Neely - and Trent spoke.  "Jasper. You owe me one for this."

"Shut up." Jasper shot back with a smirk. "You know you're going to enjoy shooting people, correct? I know I will." his eyes found Vienna as he spoke. Shooting her with a cupid's arrow, perhaps. "Damn it, you're going to have fun." his words were light and carefree. "Even if I have to make you." With just a hint of threat. Jasper had long since come to the decision that Trent needed people making him participate in activities that didn't involve photography or stalking Olivia Foley.

A strange boy showed up and Jasper couldn't resist staring. Who showed up in a suit to paintball? "Kid," he called out, unaware of the fourth year boy's actual name, "This isn't the late night ballroom dance." It wasn't witty in the slightest, but he had to make some sort of comment. And out of nowhere, a strange girl threw herself into the crowd and tossed a paintball.

"Trent," he stage-whispered, mock-serious, "I think you've been beat by the little ones for weirdest person here." The little ones being this weirdly dressed girl and the penguin-suit boy. "And YES." Jasper added firmly. "You are having FUN."

Slowly, Sasha's eyes surveyed the scene, taking in the array of ... outfits?  Costumes?  Types of attire that were, easily, worlds away from his own, proper suit.  He was so, completely, confused. 

A loud, strange cry sounded behind him and Sasha leaped in place, a small, startled cry escaping him.  He turned quickly towards the source of the cry and, despite himself, started again when he took in Mystique's strangely painted face and the flash of green of something illuminated by his wand hurling towards him.  With a sickening schlich, the ball of color hit him in the shoulder, leaving a large, colored splatter. 

He stared back at Mystique, shocked and bewildered.  What did she think she was doing?  This wasn't how someone behaved at a funeral!  "What ... what are you doing?" he asked, baffled and slightly worried.  "I don't - I'm not sure ... I don't think this is the way to make her feel ...," he dropped his voice, hoping the whisper would carry to Mystique but bypass Neely but, halfway through the sentence, he grew quiet.  Sure, wizarding folks did many things strangely but ... this was all a bit strange for a funeral, even for witches. 

His face beat red, Sasha turned towards the older Slytherin and watched him as he commented on Sasha's choice of attire.  "I ... I didn't think it was a dance.  I thought ... I -"  He looked towards Neely for a brief moment just as the full magnitude of the situation hit him.  He was out.  After hours.  With no good reason for it.  Because, she'd told him ... "how's your cat?" he asked, quietly, almost casually.

Neely didn't spot Sasha, whose appearance she'd wondered about since she'd fed him a wild story about her cat dying (and had profusely apologized to the kitten Cashmere later that night so that Karma wouldn't take it's toll), until the Ravenclaw was standing almost in front of her. In a full suit. Tripping over his words.

The thing that came out of the dark next was almost more terrifying than the hat with 5677673454545 million eyes. It was preceded by a premature lime-green paintball, which found its way onto the shoulder of the suit that Neely had just been appraising with a subtle 'maybe-I-took-it-too-far' expression. "Oh my Merlin," the Slytherin cried, drawing in a sharp breath and clapping a hand over her mouth. What in the effing name of Helga Hufflepuff was that thing?

A Hufflepuff. Obviously.

Neely's eyes widened. It would have been funny in almost any other situation, but now it just seemed sort of terrible. She lowered her hand and turned, beginning to sneak away between Trench Coat and Jasper, but she heard Sasha's voice again and cringed. She bit her lip for a moment and then turned back around, resuming as normal and friendly a face as possible as she faced the boy.

"Hi, Sasha!" She said cheerily, hoping to soften him before she continued. She'd only meant to drag him out for a bit of fun; she hadn't known he would take it all so seriously. She thought if she could convince him to attend a funeral, he would show up (in normal clothes), see everyone having a good time, and jump in. Maybe be a bit shocked, but that was all part of the fun. Neely loved to push people's boundaries a bit, sure, and social experiments were always amusing. But Sasha Schlagenweit needed to have fun. Homework and 'football' didn't count.

"I... my cat?" She asked, her voice growing small. This wasn't going at all how she'd planned! Neely had assumed she'd be laughing, not feeling awful. Her eyes shot to Vienna, whom she didn't want to think of Neely as a cowering little baby, and she took a deep breath and rounded her shoulders. "My cat's fine. Cashmere recovered, actually! It was a miracle."

The smile plastered so carefully on her face to the point that it was almost painful became a little more relaxed and sincere. "Mystique can be such a weirdo sometimes," she lamented, pointing to the green paint which had ruined his suit. "But green is a nice color, at least." She offered, recalling a conversation about green shoes. "So, since you're out here, you should definitely join the game." That was the whole objective, obviously!

Reaching out blindly toward Fauna Blake, Neely aimed for one of the silly bandannas, in hopes of offering it to the Ravenclaw so that he wouldn't murder her for lying about her cat.