Closed Optimism pv Koko Riddle

banner by hana bakir

Date: 1 March 2025
Time: Afternoon
Location: Library

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Dull afternoon light filtered in through the arched windows of Hogwarts's library as a small-statured seventh-year idly leant over a thickly-bound book. Dust clung to its cover as it rested, closed, on the surface of her table. With a well-manicured index finger, she poked at the cover, lifting it open before letting the book shut once again. Sometimes dust puffed into the air, catching in the occasional ray of sunlight, sparkling like the perfect distraction, like metal to a Niffler. Koko was bound to fall prey to the whims of the beautiful universe.

With a gentle huff of breath, she lazily pried open the book, this time forcing herself to gaze at the words. Black incantations in an old serif font swirled together above an ocean of beige. Koko's amber eyes darted from word to word, falling deeper into the sea, until she glanced up at the ceiling and realised the sharp tang of blood had danced on the edge of her tongue. Her brow furrowed minutely—she must have bit the inside of her cheek again, a habit she'd used to have when focusing intensely, but one she had thought she'd grown out of.

Now that the ambiance of the room had taken her attention away from her book, she was able to hear the gentle buzz of chatter—a surprise, given that it was in the library, after all. The books she was near certainly did not whisper. Koko deigned to glance at whomever else was in the room, and upon seeing mostly younger students and no familiar heads of hair, she attempted to return to her reading.

When a younger student came up to her, though, she was hardly upset. In fact, she shut her book with a speed she wished she had when actually studying, and she sat up straighter, shooting the boy a soft smile. 'Hi! Nice to meet you. I'm Koko.' She extended her hand and would shake his if he took hers.

He really had to be young. If he wasn't a first year, then he was definitely a student Koko hadn't seen before—and she liked to think she had a decent handle on who was who around the castle. Her eyes narrowed, caught on the boy's relatively small stature, his unhaunted eyes, and upon registering his question, she found herself nodding. 'Oh, er, yeah. I... have a collection, actually. Do you know what type of broom you were looking for?'

The metallic sheen of her Silver Arrow and the sturdy make of her Oakshaft solidified themselves in her mind's eye. She was hardly willing to give away a broom she had used; despite some brooms being perhaps 'better' than others, all of the ones she had used in Quidditch held a special place in her heart. But there were a few she hadn't used yet, that she'd had lying around just in case... and it seemed this was as good a case as any.

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@Pettely Knots

When the older student reached out her hand as an offer for a mutual friendly gesture, Pettely couldn't help but raise one of his eyebrows. Most students he approached didn't seem willing to discuss things with him due to the lack of introduction he provided and his abrupt nature. He continued to stare at her hand. Normally when a person offers Pettely a handshake, he would've instead replied with something like 'No thank you. I do not shake hands.'

Of course, that wasn't a genuine rule--just a way to see how they react, and make them feel uncomfortable, sort of a social experiment, though not exactly a justified one.

Ultimately, he managed to overpower his spiteful side, and shook it, since he wanted something from the opposing person. And the badger knew he had to make a good impression if eager to fit his needs. It paid off. The older student responded saying she had a whole collection of 'em, which made Pettely clench his fist in celebration.

Upon registering this opportunity of a lifetime, he decided he had to stay formal, and mature. After all, if Pettley blew it with one of his 'clever' dialogues, that would result in him never forgiving himself throughout the next 5 years.

"Ahem, my fellow student, do you by chance have a Nimbus 1001? Psssh, I've never realized what a shitty name it had. I still want it though. Use the accio Charm to get it. Always wanted to see it in action."

'Ugh, why can't I control my own mouth.'

banner by hana bakir

Date: 1 March 2025
Time: Afternoon
Location: Library

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The younger student's hesitation almost made Koko pull her hand back — almost. A strange sense of relief washed over her when he did, in fact, shake her hand. She could hardly fathom what an embarrassment it would have been to be refused a handshake by a child.

Her berry-red lips remained in a composed, close-lipped smile, her calm gaze still focused on the boy in front of her. Her eyebrows rose minutely when he asked about a Nimbus 1001, rising further when he swore, and still further when he mentioned use of the summoning charm. Whatever she had expected from reading in the library had not, in fact, resulted in a young boy speaking to her, let alone with such interesting choice in words. Something in her shifted, and she wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all, but instead, she pursed her lips in thought.

'Not a Nimbus 1001, unfortunately.' Koko drummed her fingers on the table, a noise that, although soft, could still be heard. 'But I do have rather a bit of spare coins. I could certainly help you pay for one, if that's the broom you're looking for.' She reached for her messenger bag, lying on the floor next to her chair, and she kept her gaze on the child as she felt around for her coin purse — aha!

She could hardly recall the price of a Nimbus 1001 — the most recent brooms she had bought were well over a hundred Galleons, yet she expected a broom for a younger year would be notably less expensive. Nimble fingers counted out twenty Galleons and slid them across the table, red nails catching on one of the coins before sending it towards Pettely. 'That's 20 Galleons — do you think that should be enough?'

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@Pettely Knots