<div class="floatleft">(https://66.media.tumblr.com/61509ce5646931c22d9f8e0d5e4f4983/tumblr_pldn57nIyR1smw1wso1_1280.jpg)</div><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Name:</span></span></strong>Stefanie Cirillo (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=316301.msg15271333#msg15271333)<br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Date | Time:</span></span></strong>September 30th, 2pm<br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Location:</span></span></strong>Ballroom<br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Outfit:</span></span></strong>Burgundy-lace bustier-eqsue top, high-wasted, black dress pants with matching casual-style blazer (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c2/53/d8/c253d84cb57f747058faeb810a9a2a95.jpg) and black, strappy heels. (https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5a/02/a4/5a02a46ce0d6ac6443b59d066ebc9b2a.jpg)<br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Mood:</span></span></strong>Nervous, Overwhelmed, but holding it together.<br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Content:</span></span></strong>Opening Ceremony Introduction, Unintentional ease-dropping & Strawberry tasting.<br/><strong><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: times new roman;"><span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 13pt;">Tagging:</span></span></strong>Marshall (M), Giselle (M), Delilah & Grayson | Open<br/><hr/><br/>The journey from Connecticut on the east coast of the US to the northern half of Scotland was definitely not a straightforward one. Her flight had a stopover in Amsterdam, thankfully splitting up the many hours and giving her the ability to stretch her legs and eat something that wasn’t in the category ‘plane food’. While the journey had taken its toll on her in some ways, Stefanie had been able to nap while listening to her music, enjoy a film or two and apply some makeup before she arrived in the United Kingdom.<br/><br/>The weather was just as miserable as it was back home, and she found herself wishing once again for that beautiful Greek summer she used to enjoy as a kid. From the airport in Inverness, Scotland, Stefanie was shuttled to the cities train station and from there, she travelled by train to the closest stop to Dellban University. She noted that seemingly other students had been with her through the latter half of the long journey, though made no attempts to socialise, choosing instead to keep her earbuds firmly in place as she was seated on a minibus that would take them to the University for the last leg of her journey. At least, she hoped that was the case, because all this travelling was beginning to frustrate her and she’d rather not end up lost in a foreign country.<br/><br/>Arriving at the castle proper was something Stefanie, and she was sure the other students, didn’t quite expect. It was a sight that took her breath away, the architecture was fanciful and outright beautiful, the lands that surrounded it seemed lush and expansive. Even as she stepped out onto the grounds and the caretakers moved to help her with her things, she was shocked at how they were dressed so uniformly and seemed so professional, but also how they fit with the feel of it all. This was a university, but it was a castle first, seemingly one that stepped right out of a story book to take root here. And now, this was to be her home for the next few years. How could one complain about that?<br/><br/>Stefanie was too curious of her surroundings as she stepped through the threshold along with other students, paying them no mind whatsoever as she was escorted to pick out a room placement and then guided to said room. The room where she’d be staying with two other people for the next few years. The idea of roommates irked her somewhat, Stefanie very much liked having her own space, but she stepped into the fairly large and lavishly decorated room with a smile. It really was beautiful. She laid down her things on her chosen bed at the further end of the room near the beautiful bay window that was plush with delicate cushions and outlined with matching drapes that also fell around the headboard of her bed. She took some time adjusting to the room and relaxing, only to get changed from her comfy, airport attire to something more formal, to match the high tea she knew would take place that afternoon. She, of course, had to look presentable and assumed everyone else would be doing so for the occasion. Hell, even if that wasn’t the case, Stef was always going to put some effort in when it came to her appearance.<br/><br/>Stefanie made her way toward the hall where the high tea opening ceremony would be taking place and her breath caught in her throat once again as she stepped inside. The elegant, period feel of the place really lent itself to that whimsical atmosphere and she felt the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and a voice in the back of her head saying:<br/><br/><em>’Are you sure you fit here?’</em><br/><br/>Surely everyone else was having the same sort of thoughts; she couldn’t be alone in this...overwhelmed mindset.<br/><br/>Steeling herself, the brunette continued her stride inside, blue eyes scanning the faces that had already seated themselves at tables as well as that of the staff, the open side of the ballroom, the faculty that seemed to sit at the head table toward the top of the room. That anxiety didn’t go away, but Stefanie bit the bullet and took a seat down besides an open chair, content in requesting the service of a member of staff to pour her a glass of water, which they brought to her table adorned with a slice of cucumber and ice.<em>Posh peoples water.</em>She began observing the flower arrangement on the table absentmindedly when the headmaster spoke up and announced his presence to those in attendance. Her eyes followed him as he paced, listening to his words as they echoed around the room – it was the usual spiel that schools like to preach – and then he was done and they were left to their own devices, to mingle.<br/><br/><em>’Oh boy.’</em><br/><br/>Almost immediately, Stefanie stood up again, taking her glass with her cautiously while her other hand flattened the black material of her form-fitting dress pants. Rolling her shoulders back, the matching black blazer shifting slightly with the change in her posture as her long, chestnut locks fell back over her shoulders, she stepped away from the table and started over toward where all the wonderfully decorated – and pretty damn adorable – finger foods were laid out. On her way, she passed a pair who were just raising from their seats; one adorned in a leather jacket, the other in a grey blazer, catching the end of their conversation and the male students Hogwarts line.<br/><br/>A smirk pulled at the corner of her lips as she continued past them, an inaudible scoff causing her head to bob slightly. He wasn’t wrong, this place easily fit the bill of an alternative universe Hogwarts, where all the students were a little bit older and a lot less magically inclined. Thankfully their headmaster wasn’t a Dumbledore look-a-like, or she might have been looking around for a kid with a forehead scar and awaiting the arrival of some scary, nose-less dude.<br/><br/>Stefanie made her way silently toward the table of snacks, her heels quiet against the carpet laid out on this side of the room, and she stepped up beside the pair who appeared to be admiring the presentation of the food. Again, she caught the last part of the conversation it seemed, where the girl in the denim shorts and beautiful complexion was commenting on how it all looked fake. What was with her and ease dropping the last bits of people's conversations? She extended a hand, picking up one of the strawberries and raising it to her mouth, taking a bite. It was the freshest strawberry she’d possibly ever eaten; it practically made her taste buds sing.<br/><br/>“Definitely fake.” She added to the conversation after she’d swallowed her first bite. “I wouldn’t touch them if I were you. Lawsuit on the first day doesn’t sound ideal.” She offered them a sly wink with the tiniest of smirks as she took another bite into her strawberry.