Isis Carter-Xavier
May 29, 2021 5:47 AM
Let the sparks and ear plugs fly! [Beginners] by Isis Carter-Xavier
“Welcome, students,” Isis greeted as the beginners filtered by her into the classroom. “Essays, please!” She held out her hand and offered a smile. When it was up to her, she tried not to assign too many essays to the younger years, but this one was short, anyway, and the research they had done for it would hopefully have prepared them for the day’s lesson. “If you need to sit down to get it out of a bag, that’s fine, just make sure it gets my way before we begin.”Once it seemed like she had all the students and essays she was likely to be getting today, Isis tapped her wand on the board, and the words red sparks appeared in an appropriately colored font and underlined itself.”Hopefully you all did your research and can easily identify the differences between the three red sparks charmed: Vermillious Uno, Vermillius Duo, and Vermillious Tria.” Similarly, the incantations appeared underneath their category on the board. “Can anyone tell me what is the purpose of this vein of magic?” Isis called on raised hands in the order she saw them, awarding points for answers that were close enough. Primarily, the spells were for signaling help, but they also made pretty decent minor defensive spells in a duel.
“Great job, guys. So obviously, the three vary in terms of strength and incantations. Today, I want you to assess which spell your partner is using based only on what you see.” Isis picked up a few packets of foam ear plugs and tossed one at Oz Spellman and one at another student farther back who looked sleepy and inattentive. “You’ll all need a pair of ear plugs so that you don’t hear the words your partner says, so come on up and get those.” There were a few options for size and color. While shopping for supplies, Isis discovered that ear plugs were apparently yet another needlessly gendered item, so she took the liberty of charming a few into other color options and repackaging.
“Try not to lip-read, if you can help it,” she added as the students returned to their seats. “I want you to primarily judge based on the strength of the spell and the wand movement. Take turns for a while, and in twenty minutes or so we’ll reconvene to discuss our findings.”
OOC: Hi gang! Info can be found on the HP wiki for all 3 spells:
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Red_Sparks
https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Vermillious_Duo
and https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Vermillious_Tria
One important note: the wiki shows sort of a zig-zag wand movement for Uno and says Tria has a "downward slash" but does not provide info on Duo. For our purposes, let's assume it is a horizontal slash. Let me know if there are any questions!
Subthreads: That sounds incompatible with lying down by Oz Spellman with Henry Spellman
If that is what you want... by Iris Cobb with Lydia Priory
Magic Roman candles, got it. by Augustine Reed-Fischer with Rosalynn Tellerman
Anything worth doing . . . by Reighleigh Mae Thorn with Billy Cobb
*sighs* by Amethyst Brockert with Alexei Vorontsov
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Isis Carter-Xavier
Let the sparks and ear plugs fly! [Beginners]
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
June 08, 2021 10:09 AM
Anything worth doing . . . by Reighleigh Mae Thorn
Ray appreciated Defense Against the Dark Arts in part because wow was that a crazy thing to be teaching eleven-year-olds but also because wow was that cool. It was basically Ray's entire aesthetic, wrapped up in creepy drawings and diagrams on old yellow parchment and spells that could do some real damage. The spells they read about weren't usually good for pranks (even Ray had limits) but most of the ones they actually practiced in class could be worked into something creative. Some were more limited because they were just used for a specific creature but some, like today's bounty on a silver platter, were more widely applicable.Collecting a pair of black earplugs to go with the rest of her outfit (well, the outfit she wore under her robe and the accessorizing black fishnet choker necklace that peeped above her collar), Ray took a moment to see who was around to work with. It was tempting to work with someone equally mischief-minded for the sake of having some fun together, but there was also the possibility of having some fun at someone if she chose someone who was either more naive or more annoying. She wasn't about to fire a ball of sparks into someone's face but a well aimed shot into a backpack could maybe be fun, or between someone's legs if their robes weren't in the way.
Approaching the first person who didn't seem totally awful - no pastels or bows or hair gel - Ray smiled a little too sweetly to be really sweet. "This should be fun," she said, not bothering to hide the mischief in her voice. "Lots of ways to use a spell like this. Who goes first?"
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
Anything worth doing . . .
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Billy Cobb
June 11, 2021 7:23 PM
...is probably a lot of fun? by Billy Cobb
Defense Against the Dark Arts wasn't the worst class in the school. It was probably Billy's third favorite after Care of Magical Creatures and fell very closely behind Herbology. Sometimes they swapped around, but Herbology usually won out because it usually took place somewhere resembling outside. However, unlike Herbology, this class could get 'exciting'. For instance, this one was pretty good. They were going to get to shoot fire at each other. Dope! Except there had been an essay due for the class, hadn't there? Whoops. He vaguely remembered something about that, well... he'll just have to do something about that later maybe. It's not like he was in the habit of not doing work, this one just seemed to have slipped his mind somehow. Oh well, no big deal.He wandered up to the front and grabbed the first pair of earplugs he saw. Well, the first pair that weren't pink. Or purple. Or yellow. That minor task accomplished, now he had to find a partner. Now who did he want to shoot fire at? His gaze drifted briefly over his sister, but decided against it as she'd probably complain to the professor or Ma or somebody 'cause he lit her on fire or something like that.
A voice came from behind him and he couldn't help but to grin. Oh... this might be really fun after all. He turned to face Ray's very, super sweet smile with his own mischievous grin. "Yer not wrong, I can think of a few interestin' uses." Ray almost always made classes more interesting. Plus she wasn't one to go crying when things went a little bit off the lesson plan. "Ma raised me right," Billy responded to her question, "But, since I don't know that we have any ladies 'round here," he made sure to vocalize that word just right to indicate his opinions on prim and proper womenfolk, "Well, we'll just have to figgure out some other way of decidin.'"
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Billy Cobb
...is probably a lot of fun?
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
June 11, 2021 8:08 PM
And probably going to get us in trouble. by Reighleigh Mae Thorn
Ray grinned mischievously, happy not to be considered a lady in this case. Billy was already pretty high in her estimation but he was going up rapidly. "I'll have you know, I was in pageants for a long time," she said with mock indignation before devolving into a snicker. "And I did my best to make a mess of all of them. Let's do this thing. Rock paper scissors?" she suggested, holding out her hand. When he obliged, she began counting, but made a fist and threw a punch into Billy's arm on two. "Rock! You first," she grinned.Normally, she would have loved to go first for something like this. It was the chance to show off how dastardly she could be at best and at worst it was the chance to blow the end of her wand up and that was awesome. Plus the sparks sort of looked like what she imagined fairy trails looked like and that was really cool, but she wasn't about to admit it. Still, she'd been the first one to plot something dastardly the last time she'd worked closely with Billy and she wanted to let him flaunt his creative streak too. Also, this was way more likely to get them in trouble with the whole class if they did something crazy, not just a stern warning from the teacher if they went through with it; best to let Billy set the bar and try to clear it.
She squared up and pulled a face as she put her earplugs in. "Light me on fire and I'll get you back," she warned, although the threat sounded more like a promise, giddy as she was to be doing something fun in class (friggin' finally). When her earplugs were in solidly, she nodded at Billy. "Alright. Do your worst."
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
And probably going to get us in trouble.
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Billy Cobb
June 12, 2021 12:11 PM
Well, that's the point ain't it? by Billy Cobb
Billy's grin continued as Ray mentioned her 'pageants' and her attempts to make a mess of them. While he wasn't entirely sure what pageants were, he had little doubt that Ray would have done what she could to make them more 'fun'. Rock, paper, scissors seemed like a perfectly reasonable way to resolve the situation. He was going to throw scissors but was interrupted! She had tricked him! That was a good one, he'd have to remember it. He rubbed his arm in an exaggerated fashion to make it seem like that totally hadn't hurt at all. It actually smarted quite a bit, but he couldn't let that on, she had a good punch to her."Owww..." he exclaimed also in an exaggerated fashion just to complete the ruse, "Alright, if you insist." Now he just had to think of something to do to make this fun. Oh maybe he could light Ray's hair or something on... Then his train of thought was interrupted by Ray warning him to not catch her on fire. He returned the statement with his most innocent look that he could muster. "What?" He asked, his voice simply steeped in sweet innocence, "Me? Never." Now he wondered if she could read minds. He'd heard legends of strange people that could do such things.
Anyway, he continued thinking while sticking his own earplugs in his ears. What could he do that would be fun and still mildly along the lines with what they were supposed to be doing? Apparently setting Ray on fire was out.... well, unless he wanted to be set on fire in return. Hmm...
She said something more, he assumed it was something along the lines of 'I'm ready' or 'Light me on fire now', or something like that. He took his stance and was still thinking when it finally struck him. He went over to his bag and pulled something out of it and gestured for Ray to hold out her hand, when she did he placed a stick he had picked up outside in it. Then, upon the stick he jammed two of the marshmallows he had grabbed from the Hall and had been intending to toast in potions class. He hadn't gotten the chance, but now seemed like a good time!
Retaking his position, he grinned at Ray and with a downward slash fired off a rather intense burst of red sparks towards his fluffy white targets.
OOC: OOC: I'm assuming Ray is okay with accepting Billy's targets, can edit if necessary.
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Billy Cobb
Well, that's the point ain't it?
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
June 13, 2021 6:07 AM
Naturally. by Reighleigh Mae Thorn
Ray rolled her eyes over a grin at Billy's assurance that he would never light her on fire but couldn't help wondering a bit what she'd do if he actually did. She didn't want to get him in trouble but she wasn't sure she could keep her cool if she caught fire. Hoping she wouldn't have to figure that out, she got herself ready. Her face wrinkled up in confusion when Billy didn't start shooting off spells and instead ran to his bag.Anyone who carried marshmallows and a stick ready to go was cool in Ray's book and she accepted the items with a determined nod, holding them in front of her and away from her body. She was pretty sure the professor had said not to actually cast the spells directly at each other so there must be some amount of danger involved in this game they were playing but it was worth it for a good magical smore. Still, a small tingle of doubt in Ray's stomach reminded her that this was probably really dangerous and very stupid; she pushed it away. Yelping, flinching, or jumping would not be alright so she locked her jaw, determined to play this off.
She hadn't expected Billy to go full force though. She definitely wouldn't have been able to identify it from the spell herself, partly because when red sparks were flying at you they always seemed pretty intense, but the slash and the blatant lipreading she was relying on did help. She wasn't supposed to do that but how often was she ever going to need to do this kind of thing anyway? It wasn't the spell identifying part that she was proud of herself for; she didn't jump!
The marshmallows were engulfed in sparks and she blew on them to get them out, waiving the stick around gently to help get more air without launching them onto the floor or something. She grinned at Billy. "You did it!" she said, pulling one earplug out with her free hand. The sparks around the marshmallows disappeared then, revealing . . . completely normal, white, untoasted marshmallows. "Oh . . . you didn't do it," she retreated, surprised. "You know, I don't like them burnt, but these are a little underdone," she told him, raising an eyebrow as a challenge as she made a show of pinching one of the marshmallows as if to confirm its un-done-ness
OOC: The result of Billy's spell approved by his author.
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
Naturally.
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Billy Cobb
June 17, 2021 5:57 PM
Great! Let's get to work then. by Billy Cobb
Ray didn't give him any sort of uncertain look or anything as he handed her the stick. Not that he really expected her to after some of the other classes they'd had together, but it was yet another indication that she was the kind of person he liked to hang out with. The way she just held out the stick and marshmallows while he lined up the shot spoke volumes to him. She was alright.The sheer amount of sparks that blasted out from his wand with the trio spell surprised even him. Those marshmallows were engulfed. That was a shame they wouldn't have been nice toasted just perfectly. Now they'd be all black and ruined. Well, maybe Iris would want them. She liked horrible burnt marshmallows. Once more to her credit, Ray didn't even flinch as the blast rushed past her. Thankfully none of it hit her. She was tough. Dope.
"Wha...?" He asked a bit dumbly in response to her comment as he pulled out an earplug as well. "Whaddya mean?" Taking a few strides to reach her and the marshmallow stick he inspected the results as well. "Goshdarnit," he muttered. Well, there was certainly only one thing to do. He returned her challenge with a challenging gaze of his own. "Alright then, how 'bout you show me what you got then?" He took the stick, gestured for her to take his previous position and held the stick out to the side as she had done. Now he just had to play it just as cool as she had. "I don't like mine burnt neither." He commented as he put his earplug back in and waited for her.
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Billy Cobb
Great! Let's get to work then.
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
June 24, 2021 5:57 PM
I already did. by Reighleigh Mae Thorn
Ray gave up the stick as Billy took it, grinning at his reaction to failure. Mom always said that men couldn't handle failure, especially in front of a woman, and that that's why dad left - he was too big a failure to stick around where mom could see. Ray agreed that he'd left because of a failure but she was pretty sure it wasn't dad's career or something that was the problem. Still, Billy seemed a better type of guy than the ones she'd known at school and stuff and having fun with a classmate was definitely a refreshing change of pace from her life before Sonora. Almost a full year into the program here and she hadn't yet found a reason to think that it was not the right place for her, even if she'd gotten herself pretty close to detention a few times."Charred," she said, making a face of mock disapproval when Billy said he didn't like his marshmallows burnt, "is the only way. Then you can pull off the outside in layers and eat the gooey inside separate." Perfect. Now she'd set herself up for success whether she horribly burnt the marshmallows or not. Not like she wouldn't play it off either way but still, it was best to give reasons for such things so they didn't look like excuses. Besides, she really did prefer her marshmallows black on the outside.
Taking up the same stance Billy had done but leaving her earplugs out since she was the one casting now, she decided on the lowest version of the spell. Billy's hadn't done it at top tier, but perhaps this was a good way to at least make sure she didn't go setting too much on fire if she did mange it. She paused a moment to concentrate before waving her wand in a zig-zag formation, letting out a smaller burst of sparks than Billy had. The marshmallow was once again engulfed and she strode forward to Billy as they waited for the sparks to clear enough to see the results.
"Marshmallows aren't magic resistant right? And you don't have magically fire resistant ones?" she confirmed, fearing she hadn't managed a smore either.
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Reighleigh Mae Thorn
I already did.
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