All Aboard the Beetle Bus!

[Mischa Primakov]

Faith glanced between the two of them, at least noting the elbowing back and forth, though the only hint of acknowledgement was a sly smile and a slightly raised eyebrow.

"That's good; I do miss magic, wish we could use it as long as we knew no one was around. Was out in the middle of nowhere hiking at one point during the summer, not like anyone would have seen." she said with a small shrug.

"Right, I forgot." she said about the dances. She liked dancing, though was more of a dancing with friends for fun and to be silly than big formal affair kind of person. She did have a love of R&B, Hip-Hop, and funk that was at first was sometimes a bit off putting or surprising to those that made assumptions about her musical tastes based solely on the southern sweetness of her accent.

"Durmstrang should come visit sometime; they go and visit Hogwarts sometimes, don't they?"

"Da, they do. With that French school and the Triwizard Cup thing. About time they let the other schools join in. Not like they're the only ones."

He glanced at Jay to see if he'd caught the meaning of mentioning the dances.

[Jerric Mason]

Jay saw Faith's smile and was glad for his darker complexion that hid a blush fairly well. He cleared his throat briefly "Yeah dances are pretty cool I suppose." Jay was a pretty good dancer thanks really to his natural agility and athleticism. It wasnt his first hobby but it could be fun. He had gotten why Mischa brought it up but didn't pounce on the set up as such. For all his bravado and daring on the field or in the duel he was but a teenage boy rather intimidated by a pretty girl.

He eased a bit as they talked about the other schools "Yeah I wish we did something like that here in the states, like we got included or all the schools that arent part of it had their own tournament. Itd be awesome to be able to prove we are the best to a bunch of other schools."

[Uru Miskwa'a]

"Being picked by three houses is a big deal from what I understand. That kind of thing doesn't happen at Hogwarts, they put the hat on you and it talks with itself before declaring which house you go in. I'm kinda curious to see the statues. Might look into how other schools do it too, I assumed everyone had a sorting hat!"

She then blushed.

"Oh I'm so sorry! Ohroo? Is that correct? I'm so embarrassed to have said your name wrong."

"No need to be embarrassed!" She said with a smile. "It's not a standard English name. It's like Red or Scarlet in Ottawan. A lot of people just call me 'Ooh'. Much easier to say it seems."

[Sylvain Leloup]

Sylvain smiled as he listened to the conversation. Aside from that, his only reaction was a reflexive lick of his canines when hunting was mentionned.

[Layla Smith]

"No need to be embarrassed!" She said with a smile. "It's not a standard English name. It's like Red or Scarlet in Ottawan. A lot of people just call me 'Ooh'. Much easier to say it seems."

"Scarlet? I like that more, can I just call you that? I can say that!" Layla laughed "ooh is fine though. If that's right. I hope other names are easier to say, I have enough to learn about this school."

[Rahvin]

Xanthe had always been the quiet girl; sitting by herself somewhere, hoping nobody would notice her. But something was different this year; she'd changed over the break. Nobody would immediately notice how, but the change was there. It had slowly come about in the past few months; a realization that if she had to *be* the change she wanted to see...

...so from her seat; trying to be just a little sneaky; Xanthe pulled out her wand, waved it around, and uttered a soft incantation.

"Cantis."

Or, perhaps, it wasn't as quiet as she had intended. Those closest to her heard the word and saw the slight flick of the wand - but none really had any time to say anything before something strange began happening.

"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you!" The voice is a rich baritone and comes from the front of the bus. Near the front students can see the face of Barnaby go confused as the words escape from his lips and the song continues.

"I told the witch doctor I was in love with you! And then the Witch Doctor, he told me what to do! He told me -"

The first laughs had just escaped from students and were quickly silenced as students found themselves singing along as well:
Ooo ee oo ah ah! Ting tang walla walla bing bang!

More voices join in as the song continues.
Ooo ee oo ah ah! Ting tang walla walla bing bang!

Even more voices, confused and slightly concerned buses all over the buses as the uncontrollable urge to sing along sweeps over the bus - including Xanthe herself, the spell having ever so slightly backfired on her.
Ooo ee oo ah ah! Ting tang walla walla bing bang!

The radio squeals to life, switching rapidly between stations to find bits of sound that match with the song.
Ooo ee oo ah ah! Ting tang walla walla bing bang!

And then, to everyone's great relief, the urge disappears. Barnaby blinks in the front seat, not entirely sure what just happened.

The bus continues to roll along the road...

[Arlington Wayne]

Arlington laughed. It was an odd experience, but it had made him feel more at ease. Maybe the bus wasn't so bad after all.

[Grace Wilkinson]

"Been wrong before, happens sometimes," he shrugged, shifting toward the middle of the seat he was leaning over. Grinning like a bandit, "Maybe I've seen you at a party somewhere before then?"

Grace rolled her eyes. Typical. The school bad boy was too busy to remember the new girl.

"Probably. I hosted a few last year. When I came here. To this school."

[Cian]

... later.

Cian, amused by the little smashing aside of decorum, wore a grin and a pleasant attitude. Settling back, right as he left off, and his voice trailing slightly from the expense of it all looked back at Grace.

"Don't worry yourself too much Grace, just messing with you," he said with a slight chuckle, perhaps a bit more of an after thought from the previous musical number than anything.

[Grace Wilkinson]

Grace sang clearly, and even matched most of the rhythm!

Unfortunately.

"..that happened." She sighed. "How was summer Cian? You rogue."

[Cian]

"Hot, city streets give off double at that. Though," he said, slipping out of the seat and holding to the corner so that he can swing around sitting beside her without much more fanfare.

"So, tell me then. What does the one and only Grace Wilkinson do for her summer break?"

[Grace Wilkinson]

"Yeah well, I prefer my ears to be working and be in one piece."

She eyed him as he sat down. "Visiting places. Italy. France. Spending time with family." She became stiff as that memory came up.

"What about you, oh mysterious Cian of the City?"

[Fitz Crowinshield]

Fitz sees the commotion from the back of the bus and smiles, pulling a couple of bottles out of his pack.

[Sylvain Leloup]

Sylvain thought he hear a spell word but before he could spot where it came from most of the bust roared in song and laughter.

Not him though.

Thankfully he was well trained in counter charms and managed to shield himself. He was bothered by the song but let it slide...his eyes darted around to see anything odd.

[Mischa Primakov]

Mischa found the unexpected musical number to be hilarious, laughing so much he nearly gave himself hiccups.

"Oh Jay, I don't think those high notes were for you . . . . "

That just brought more laughter from the blonde Wampus.

[Uru Miskwa'a]

"Scarlet? I like that more, can I just call you that? I can say that!" Layla laughed "ooh is fine though. If that's right. I hope other names are easier to say, I have enough to learn about this school."

"Scarlet is a pretty name isn't it... Maybe you can call me that when the two of us are just by ourselves hanging out." She said with a smile and an excited girlish look in her eyes.

When the song erupted Uru smiled and laughed with the crowd even throwing in a round of solitary applause at the end as she enjoyed the moment.

"Someone always does something on the bus. It's the one redeeming quality of the ride." She said to Layla.

[Xanthe Vanderwyck]

Xanthe was pleased with herself; the spell was an even bigger success than she'd imagined it'd be...

...even if it *had* backfired ever so slightly and caused herself to sing along too. But that was a small price to pay for unleashing the *new* Xanthe on Ilvermorny. This year she would finally stand out! Although, she *was* trying to be a little sneaky with this particular prank... but those paying attention might notice Xanthe seemed a little nervous as she looked around for people's reactions.

[Layla Smith]

"Scarlet is a pretty name isn't it... Maybe you can call me that when the two of us are just by ourselves hanging out." She said with a smile and an excited girlish look in her eyes.

When the song erupted Uru smiled and laughed with the crowd even throwing in a round of solitary applause at the end as she enjoyed the moment.

"Someone always does something on the bus. It's the one redeeming quality of the ride." She said to Layla.

"Scarlet it is!" Layla smiled brightly at that "and gives me more time to learn how to say your name correctly. Not sure anyone ever gave me a nickname, Layla is a simple name."

Then sudden singing! Layla was caught out by the sudden loud singing, looking round surprised and confused.

Oh my god they're so loud!

She joined in some polite applause, listening to Scarlet explain it.

"Everyone had their own sections of the carriage on the Hogwarts express usually, so that kinda thing wouldn't happen. I guess it's a good way to start the year, singing and cheering" she laughed "even if it was a bit loud for my poor English ears. If this turns out to be a singing school though I have no musical talent at all, so I'm in trouble! I'll be a silent dancing part I hope."

[Jerric Mason]

Mischa found the unexpected musical number to be hilarious, laughing so much he nearly gave himself hiccups.

"Oh Jay, I don't think those high notes were for you . . . . "

That just brought more laughter from the blonde Wampus.

Jay chuckled a bit as well after the song ended and gave Mischa a playful shove "yeah like your russian ass sounded any better!"

[Rahvin]

A few minutes after the song finally stops, a new smell starts to permeate the bus, overpowering the smell of pepper. It's a heady smell and, fairly quickly, makes it difficult to concentrate. There's a clatter from somewhere towards the back of the bus as a bottle falls to the floor and starts to roll towards the front of the bus.

Up at the front, Barnaby sniffs the air and shakes his head. Somebody was causing trouble - but it was like this every year. And, after all, it wasn't enough to make it hard for him to drive.

OOC: The slight buzz makes it harder for everyone to concentrate for the remainder of the scene. Upgrade the difficulty of any rolls made for the rest of the scene once; if you wish to resist, you can roll Brawn + Resilience with an Average difficulty upgraded once (i.e., adding both a Difficulty die and a Challenge die).

[Cian]

"Well I," he paused at the scent, though it interested him his concentration was pretty keen regardless of what ill effects were supposed to take place. Thus, he only smiled, was always fun to see what people came up with. Even if the group anonymity of it all didn't play well to his sensibility.

"Huh, anyway," he tapped the back of the seat a bit, "Clubs, parties, living the life. Y'know? Doing what I can with what time I got, havin' the time of my life. Should come to the city sometime, I'll show you the works," he said with his all too perfectly charming and roguish grin.

[Sylvain Leloup]

Sylvain lowered the window to take a good breath in, fully under the effect of the drugs

'I'll just take a nice nap now''

[Uru Miskwa'a]

"Scarlet it is!" Layla smiled brightly at that "and gives me more time to learn how to say your name correctly. Not sure anyone ever gave me a nickname, Layla is a simple name."

Then sudden singing! Layla was caught out by the sudden loud singing, looking round surprised and confused.

Oh my god they're so loud!

She joined in some polite applause, listening to Scarlet explain it.

"Everyone had their own sections of the carriage on the Hogwarts express usually, so that kinda thing wouldn't happen. I guess it's a good way to start the year, singing and cheering" she laughed "even if it was a bit loud for my poor English ears. If this turns out to be a singing school though I have no musical talent at all, so I'm in trouble! I'll be a silent dancing part I hope."

"So you like dancing!?" She asked with excitement on her face which lasted for a second until the nasty smell permeated her vicinity.

"Ugh... and then there are some... not so creative pranks as well..."

[Mischa Primakov]

Jay chuckled a bit as well after the song ended and gave Mischa a playful shove "yeah like your russian ass sounded any better!"

"Psh I've actually had singing lessons I'll have you know. All the big family gatherings have entertainment and we're supposed to contribute."

Then the next prank happened.

"Ugh that smells worse than wet bear . . . "

[Layla Smith]

"So you like dancing!?" She asked with excitement on her face which lasted for a second until the nasty smell permeated her vicinity.

"Ugh... and then there are some... not so creative pranks as well..."

"I love dancing! I'm not very good at it but..." Layla started to say, but then winced as the area became very unpleasant.

"Ugh, what is that vile smell? A prank? Can we open some windows or something?"