Stepping up the Game

[Simon Vanity]

Simon had decided that his costumes for the halloween feast had been up until this point a way of getting out of really trying, and that just wasn't good, if he hoped to win, how on earth was he supposed to unless he really tried to. He had therefore gotten a good costume, one that was a little elaborate than the ones that he might've otherwise gotten, and it was perhaps a little more uncomfortable than he might've wanted, but he thought that if he had any chance of winning anything this was a better costume for it. Certainly better than the two sports costumes that he had worn that had not been very interesting or good. Simon smiled lightly as he stepped into the great hall, instantly comparing his costume with others and attempting to see if anyone else had a costume like his because he couldn't really see himself winning anything if someone else was wearing the same thing as him, but he couldn't instantly spot anyone that was. He began moving around the room, his face was covered with the mask, but he knew he wouldn't last too long wearing it, since it was rather warm, and there was a lot of candy he wouldn't turn down at this event. The teen reached a food table and did pull off the mask, letting lose the matted down auburn hair as he took something to eat. He was hopeful of his chances this time.
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[Analei Westwick]

The previous Halloween was one of both fond and negative memories for Analei. She had met Zennon, but she had also had a fight with two, horrible people. This year, she would be sure to stay clear of them, and leave any bad situation she found herself in. She wanted to have a good night.
Analei had done her make-up to that of a monster. She just wore plain black clothes to go along with it, but she was quite proud of how she looked. She kept her eyes wide as she walked into the Great Hall, hoping that she had one of the scarier costumes that year. Analei made her way to the food table straight away; the food was always great at the parties that the school held. She picked up an interesting looking treat and moved it toward her mouth to taste, before her eyes landed on Simon Vanity. Analei had seen him at the dueling competition, and around school, and she couldn't help but feel smitten. She stepped closer to him, unsure just how to start a conversation with the handsome boy. "Any idea what these are?" Analei asked, holding out her hand that had strange looking orange candy in it. It was a lame question, but one that she hoped would get the conversation going nonetheless. Analei knew he was a year older than her, but she wasn't some dumb First Year anymore, she was a Second Year, and that was sure to be better.
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[Simon Vanity]

Simon was enjoying what he had in his hand, when a voice spoke beside him. He glanced at the person and noted the thing in her hand. It seemed that as he noticed what she was holding that the question posed caught up to him. He shrugged, ”Not sure,” he reached out and took something similar to it from the table, he didn’t often pay attention to what he was eating when it came to celebrations like this. He held it up to his nose, ”Some kind of pumpkin hard candy probably,” he looked to her, and from the fact he’d answered her question, actually focused on her, he didn’t know her, but then again, he wasn’t sure he would’ve known with the make up she wore, ”That’s impressive,” he motioned to it, ”Pretty scary too, how long did it take?” he added his voice showing genuine interest in it. Since it was pretty impressive and rather scary if someone wasn’t expecting it. He couldn’t help but actually rather like it, though it probably dampened his chances of winning anything. If this girl had put this effort into her costume, others will have put in more and more. His costumes were always rather basic, he had never been particularly creative, he just liked reading and learning, and being the best but he had always given up on being creative.
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[Analei Westwick]

Analei beamed when Simon Vanity responded to her. She couldn't believe he was talking to her! And he was so friendly, he didn't just blow her off. Upon his answer, Analei put on in her mouth, to be met with the taste of orange and pumpkin - a weird mixture really. She couldn't bite down on it, it was far too hard. Simon was talking to her though, and asked her a question, so she tried to smoosh it to one side, without appearing foolish. Just what she'd need, to look like an idiot in front of Simon. "About an hour and a half - with some help." She managed to say quite clearly, and with a smile. Analei wished she hadn't put the candy in her mouth now, and there seemed to be no way of smoothly getting rid of it. She'd have to spit it out, and she definitely did not want to do that. "You are a superhero right?" Analei asked, though she couldn't remember the name of which one, it wasn't really her forte. "I'm Analei." Merlin, could she be anymore boring?!
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[Simon Vanity]

Simon looked at the girl with a slight disbelief when she said that it had taken about an hour and a half to do. Simon had bought his costume, and everything had gone with it. He ran a hand through the auburn hair chuckling lightly, "You put way more effort into your costume than I did," his comment was light hearted, but in a way he was annoyed because he knew he wouldn't win anything if people were putting real effort into the costume. Of course he wasn't. But he knew that it was a long shot, he just had to keep upping the game until maybe he came in with the chance of winning something one of these years. He had several more years at Hogwarts he had to win something eventually, it just went without saying. He was competitive and if he was just to win once that would enough. The part-veela nodded at her, "I am, Spiderman, if you've heard of him," Simon had picked a rather muggle costume, so he assumed that most wouldn't know what he was or anything. Though he had to admit he was sure that others would've at one point dressed up like this so he wouldn't be the first. "Simon," Simon replied as she introduced herself. Simon figured that she was in the year below him, just from the fact that her name didn't ring a bell at all. "Hows the sweet?" he asked since he could see that she was still sucking it.​

 

[Analei Westwick]

Even the way he ran his hand through his hair was mesmerizing, and he looked amazing in his suit. Analei shook her head when he said that she'd put more effort into her costume. "No, but you look great." The blonde said, before realizing what she said, her cheeks turning red under her makeup with embarrassment. Analei hoped her make-up hid it.
Though her parents hadn't kept her from muggle things, Analei had been more drawn to reading magical books and stories. She had seen a few comics of the superheros, but she'd never watched the muggle movies, so she shook her head when he mentioned a spiderman. "No, I recognized the outfit though - I just didn't read the comics. Does he turn into a spider?" Analei asked, rolling the hard candy to the other side of her mouth. She almost told the boy that he didn't have to introduce himself, she knew who he was, but she figured she'd embarrassed herself enough already, and luckily stopped herself before she did - as he asked how her sweet was. Embarrassment took over her once again - was this really what it was like to have a crush? Red cheeks and embarrassment? "Really hard, and not actually that tasty." Analei laughed softly, hoping he wouldn't be too put off by her. Maybe he'd find her cute and endearing.
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[Simon Vanity]

Simon smiled at her, "Thanks," he said sincerely back, he appreciated honesty above most other things so he tended to take people at face value. So, he believed her when she said it. He was even more surprised when she actually knew about it, only knowing a little less than he did, since he hadn't read a whole lot about it, "He has spider like qualities," the ravenclaw said, "It's pretty useful, he swings about on webs through new york city in America," Simon added, since she knew so little about it, a little more information probably wouldn't be the worst thing for him to do. The part-veela looked at Analei with a confused expression, "If you don't like it, spit it into a napkin," he suggested, fairly bluntly, "I won't mind," he knew that some people might mind a little if someone did that, but he certainly wouldn't mind at all. Since if it wasn't that nice, why would she continue to eat it. There were so many other sweets and hard candies on the table that she might prefer why stick with the one she didn't like. "Here, try this one," Simon picked out a sweet that he liked and offered it to her.
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[Analei Westwick]

Though Simon thanked her for her compliment, she still couldn't help but feel embarrassed. Analei appreciated how easy he was to talk to, it was definitely just her stupidity that led her to say silly and embarrassing things. However, Simon didn't seem too perturbed as he continued to talk about who he was dressed up as. "That does sound pretty useful..." Analei agreed, but suddenly found herself at a loss of what else to say. Merlin, he was going to think she was insane! First she was chatty, but now quiet and had nothing to say. This was more difficult than she thought it would be. How do people talk?
Simon then told her to spit her lolly into a napkin. Analei looked at him, unsure whether she should actually do it. "You won't be horrified?" She laughed lightly, but he had said that he wouldn't mind. As he offered her another sweet, Analei quickly turned and found a napkin, spitting the hard candy into it, bunching it up and putting it into her pocket - luckily she had one. Analei giggled again, and took the sweet that he was offering. "Thanks! Let's hope your taste is better than mine." She said, putting it in her mouth, and nodding her head. "Mhmm, much better!" She mumbled out. "This is why I should just stick to chocolate frogs and popcorn." Analei laughed again.
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