The Chae watched as Mei Xing worked on his shirt, although there was not much he could see as she had her back turned to him. He would have stepped up beside her to watch what she was doing but he had a feeling she was more uncomfortable in the situation than he was and didn't want to press that further. By now, his frustration had entirely dissipated now that he was out of the very much public gaze. It was not like he had a date waiting for him either so he remained patient as Mei Xing kindly helped with his shirt.

He listened intently as the girl answered his curiosities about her costume. To him, it seemed like she had put a lot of effort in.. or alternatively, it could be that it had been effortless for her. At least there was more thought and effort in comparison to his own. He hadn't expected it to carry such historical weight, but the fact that it was a family heirloom impressed him. His respect for her attention to tradition grew in that moment, though he could tell she was downplaying it, as if the rich heritage of the outfit was "nothing special". He didn't agree. "I wouldn't say that is nothing special. It sounds like there is quite a bit of meaning behind what you're wearing. I think that's worth something." He understood the assignment that most followed for Halloween costumes, but he appreciated the classic elegance Mei Xing portrayed with hers. "Well, I think you look beautiful," he commented sincerely, wanting to give the compliment where it was due.

"Mine?" he smiled sheepishly, fingers running back through his dark hair. "It;s nothing as meaningful as yours, I'm afraid. I opted for a more.. traditional masquerade look. A suit and a mask. I wasn't really in the spirit of dressing up," he admitted with a half-smile. 

---

Tae-il watched as Mei Xing took the shirt without turning around. Her offer of the cloak, while practical, made him smile faintly, though he waved it off in his usual, understated manner. "I'm alright, but thank you," he replied, leaning against the edge of a nearby counter, his arms crossing over his bare chest in a somewhat guarded posture.

When she asked him to talk, Tae-il glanced at the sink where the shirt now soaked, its fate resting in whatever magical concoction Mei Xing had brought with her. He wasn't entirely sure what to say at first. He wasn't exactly accustomed to small talk, especially in such an unusual scenario. But she had a point.. it would be better than standing here in silence, both of them pretending not to feel awkward.

"Alright," he began, exhaling slowly. "I suppose we could talk about.. well, anything other than this situation." The faint smile on his lips persisted, attempting to make light of the situation. "Right.. tell me about your costume. Where did you get it from? What does it signify?" 

---

The Chae followed Mei Xing through the crowd, his gaze occasionally drifting over the various costumed students as they mingled and danced, but his mind was focused on the peculiar situation he found himself in. His pace remained calm, despite the slight tension in his posture. He was not used to accepting help so directly, especially when it came to something as personal as fixing his appearance which he prided himself in, least of all from the girl whom he was following. The walk was silent, which he appreciated whilst he mulled over the situation and grumbled in his mind, but this had more to do with the unexpectedness of it all than anything else.

He recognised the path they walked, noticing that they were headed towards the Prefect's bathroom. She held the door open for him, but he shook his head, taking hold of the door and allowing her to go through first, like the gentleman he was brought up to be. "You first," he voiced quietly, waiting for her to enter before following her inside. He eyed the familiar interior, the spacious room feeling oddly isolating in that moment despite its luxurious design. He turned to Mei Xing, seeing her busying herself with preparing the vial and turning on the water, which gave him a moment to gather himself.

"Whenever you’re ready."

He hesitated for a moment. Just get on with it. Inhaling, he shrugged off the suit jacket, setting it on one of the benches before unbuttoning his tainted shirt, keeping his movements fluid and unhurried despite the lingering awkwardness in the atmosphere. It wouldn't have mattered if she was watching or not, but he appreciated the courtesy. "Here," he held out the shirt to her once he had taken it off, feeling exposed but braving the situation regardless. "Hopefully it works. Let me know.. if you need anything," he added, unsure of what else to say.

---

Tae-il looked at Mei Xing as she spoke, the awkwardness in her voice not lost on him. He hadn't anticipated such a forward suggestion, and though he could feel the hint of discomfort it caused her, he also understood that she was simply trying to help. He ran a hand through his neatly combed hair, exhaling lightly as he mulled the thought over. The idea of removing his shirt, even for practical reasons, was an unwelcome thought, but necessary since it was still bothering him. To appear messy and unkempt was indeed humiliating for him.

"That's.. kind of you to offer," he began, keeping his tone measured, trying to put her at ease after sensing her hesitation. He glanced around the room briefly, noting that several students had already turned their attention elsewhere, too distracted by the sppokily festive atmosphere to notice his predicament. Still, the idea of walking around with a pink stain on his once pristine white shirt wasn’t exactly how he’d envisioned the evening. He considered her offer, shifting his stance slightly. "If that concoction of yours truly does work, it could be worth a try." He wasn't entirely keen on dragging the moment out, but he also didn't want to seem dismissive. Mei Xing had been more than willing to assist and he respected her for it.

Although his demeanour was measured, inwardly he still felt a little flustered by the absurdity of the whole situation.. attending a haunted ball, only to end up with a neon stained shirt and an unexpected conversation about removing it. "Don't worry about the cloak," he responded with a small wave of his hand, unconsciously smoothing down the front of his clothes with the other. The damage had already been done, and more than a few pairs of eyes had witnessed the ordeal. "I'll allow you to lead the way."

---

Tae-il finally looked up as he heard the familiar voice of the Hufflepuff, Mei Xing, somewhat regretting his initial curtness. He was sure that it hadn't been done on purpose, but regardless his shirt had been ruined. "Thank you.." He took the serviette from her hand out of courtesy more than the hope it would actually help with the stain. He stepped to the side, out of the way of wandering students, taking out his wand to try and magick the mess away. Instead of disappearing, the stain turned from a neon green to the colour of neon pink, his already furrowed brows deepening in its frown. A strange potion from the wandering witch.. they weren't joking, after all.

"It's alright. What's done is done," he responded, accepting the situation, looking up from his shirt and focusing on the girl in front of him. "I don't think there's much more that can be done, so I'll be wearing half a pink shirt for the night." It was partly in jest now that the initial frustration blew over. "Apologies for the outburst."

---

Tae-il adjusted the black silk mask covering the upper half of his face, glancing at his reflection in one of the stained windows one last time before stepping into the eerie mist swirling just outside the entrance to the Great Hall. Tonight, whoever had organised the ball had truly outdone themselves, the creepy atmosphere on point. What once was the familiar grandeur of the Hall had been transformed into a haunting scene straight from a decrepit graveyard. Fog swirled along the stone floor, so thick at times that even the flaming torches that lined the walls seemed to struggle to pierce through it. He could hear the faint echo of skeleton musicians warming up inside as he walked in. 

Tae-il only expected himself to attend for a short while, as it was expected of him. He remembered missing a social event once only to be reprimanded by his mother through a scornful letter, urging him to socialise and represent them lest they lose face. It was quite a catastrophic reaction from Tae-il's perspective but he heeded her words nonetheless, obediently attending every gathering that followed. 

Tonight, he did not have a date, nor had he prepared in advance enough, clearly unenthused by the circumstances. He did not mind, however, hoping to mingle enough with familiar faces before excusing himself. He was suddenly stopped by a stooped figure who wore an abnormally large witch's hat, holding up a tray that just about reached the height of his waist. He took a glass of strange coloured liquid, inspecting it curiously, when he felt someone bump against him, half the liquid spilling down his front. "Ugh," he inhaled deeply in frustration, noticing his previously pearl white shirt under the dark suit stain a neon colour. "Watch where you're going.." He didn't look up immediately to see who had knocked into him, too preoccupied by the mess.

---

Alias: Fi
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