Starborn Wonders
Ava carefully listened to Marce as she was telling the story of Lyra. "Your dad tells it better than any book I've ever read," she said after a moment. "I don't think I'll ever be able to look at them without thinking about the lovers."
She lifted her head, watching the sun set, "I like that Hades gets soothed by music," she said, smiling. "Everyone always makes him out to be the worst possible boss, but he's just... you know, complicated," she turned to Marcella, "Not cruel. Just someone who understands what it costs to love something enough to walk into the dark for it."
♡⸝⸝
"Haven't camped much in Wizarding ones, but that would work," she said, as they set up their tents. Thankfully, Marcella knew how to set up, so Ava was free to just help around. Once it was all done, she sat beside Marce as she prepared a bonfire for s'mores. She shifted to crouch by the bonfire, carefully loading a marshmallow onto a skewer with a seriousness as if she were making a complex potion.
"This is going to sound really sappy," she said, glancing at Marcella with a little smile, "but I think maybe this is my favourite birthday already. I mean —" she gestures her hand towards tents, the soft murmur of other students, and the stars, "how many people get a meteor shower on their birthdays?"
Biting into her treat, she just toasted and looked around, trying to see what was going on around her. "I think Miss Helen is narrating mythologies..." She said, wondering if they could go and hear them. The Seer loves hearing stories; if she were still at home, she would be forcing her father to tell her bedtime stories.
Reducio word count: 292 |
Reducio outfit:  |
Reducio mention: @Marcella di Angelo |
| sta ⋆ 5 | eva ⋆ 7 | str ⋆ 4 STATS I GOT wis ⋆ 6 | arc ⋆ 5 | acc ⋆ 3 | seer | ability | ability THROUGH⠀THE⠀YEARS ability | ability | ability |
Starborn Wonders
banner by the divine Camille de Varenne
Restless nights back home often compelled Cecilia to seek solace in the starry sky outside her window. Unfortunately, living under the lake meant that this was no longer possible from the comfort of her bed. Though she could sneak out once in a while, it just wasn’t quite the same. Fortunately, she stumbled upon the notice after a dreary lesson. Her tired eyes suddenly eyes lit up as she read it.
It was only after she had signed that a realisation dawned on Cecilia; she had no clue if any of her friends would attend. Yet before she could propose the idea over breakfast, Rosaline and Leo invited her along. It seemed that Frederick Buckley would also come and with that, the four of them would venture out into nature with the hopes of witnessing a meteor shower.
That evening, Cecilia stood at the vanity table, carefully gathering her curls into a ponytail before securing it with a neat bow. She then slipped a windbreaker over her thermals and turned her attention to her bag. Initially, she simply packed a notebook, water, some pepper imps and a small tin of conté crayons. Then in the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of two round pots containing bruise removal paste and burn healing paste. If this were the start of the year, she would not have spared them a second glance. But she was several months into her healer’s internship now and knew the importance of being prepared. Heaving a deep sigh, she begrudgingly grabbed them for good measure. Whilst heading towards the great hall, Cecilia quietly hoped that she would not end up needing them.
Once they departed, Cecilia found herself feeling all giddy. She was practically bouncing as she admired the vast landscape and pointed out every unusual tree or leaf along the way. After a few minutes of endless chatter, her throat began to feel dry. Cecilia quickly reached for her water bottle and right as she took a swig, Fred made a rather cheeky remark. “Pfft,” she laughed involuntarily, nearly choking on her water as she lowered the bottle. Her lips slowly curled into a vulpine smile as she met his gaze. “You know what? That’s a great wish! Mine is to have infinite pudding as a reward for beating Gryffindor,” she teased playfully as her grin widened. “But hey, I’ll tell you what. If by some miracle you do beat us, I’ll gift you all the pudding you want,” she offered half-jokingly.
Whilst continuing along their path, Cecilia noticed a familiar face glancing around like a lost sheep – her fellow Wonderbolt. He had been kind and rather fearless in her eyes, even when the odds were stacked against them. It was an admirable feat that somewhat intrigued her. She waited a moment to see if would find the company he was looking for. Then when it seemed as though no one would appear, she called out to him. “Hey, Zephyr!” she waved whilst approaching him. “If you’re keen for it, you should totally join us,” she offered whilst gesturing to the other three. “I hear the meteor shower is even lovelier with good company,” she remarked half-jokingly.
Once they rejoined the others, Cecilia found herself mesmerised by Taros’ tales, and fell silent — for once. The possibility of meeting magical creatures, or even foxes, piqued her curiosity even though she did not know how to approach them. For a moment, it seemed that her state of tranquility would remain unbroken until Fred mentioned giant spiders. Upon hearing that, she could not help but chime in. “You know I hear they reaaally like Quidditch keepers. Maybe one will end up following you back to the castle,” she teased, stifling an amused giggle as she skipped on. It seemed like an obvious lie, but that would not stop her from having fun.
As they neared the peak of the mountain, a sudden burst of laughter echoed as Fred took off. Before Cecilia fully processed what he had said, she promptly dashed after him in hopes of not losing. Her radiant grin never faded, not even as she struggled to catch her breath upon reaching the end.
Glancing around, she noticed other students huddling in their groups before settling for a tent. Before she could suggest they do the same, Fred had spoken. “Hm,” Cecilia tapped her chin as she thought. “I reckon we make the most of the opportunity and live like muggles,” she suggested and glanced around at the others in case they had any opposing opinions. Her eyes then gleamed upon hearing Fred’s question. “I’m so excited!,” Cecilia beamed.” I’ve never ever seen a meteor shower. I bet it’ll be so magical.”
mentions: @Rosaline Everhart, @Leo Noxley, @Frederick Buckley, @Zephyr Deakin
Last edited by Cecilia Merrick on 12 May 2026, 18:02, edited 4 times in total.
Starborn Wonders
il fix the code tmr shut up shh
| GDL | mentioning : @Erast Yan, @Elena Clark, @Archer Duncan ooc note: permission and discussion to godmod elena granted. wc: 2186 ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── The grounds had long since emptied into evening quiet, washed gold beneath the lowering spring sun. Somewhere beyond the courtyard, laughter drifted faintly through the open archways, carried away by the breeze before it could truly reach them where they sat way out, cushioned by the lengthening spring grass that was becoming harder to tame as the april showers fed it with hydration. Hogwarts itself seemed softer at this hour, gentler somehow, stripped of its usual noise and movement. Giovanni had, at some point, attempted to read, take advantage of the rare quiet, for it was not often nearing the summer months, that the grounds quietened enough to make it possible to read several sentences without being violently jolted from the fragile bubble of tranquillity. Only last week, hed narrowly avoided losing his right ear as a first-years fanged frisbee flew past his head at such an alarming rate that he had spent the following five minutes questioning how the things were even legal, and whether the Ministry simply drew regulations from a hat and hoped for the best. Anyway, the effort of reading had not lasted particularly long. This may have been because stretched across the grass beside him (or should he say, partially across him) Elena Clark had been talking nearly uninterrupted since her arrival, entirely at ease where her head rested against his lap. Giovanni had been registering the lack of breaths between each of her sentences with slowly increasing alarm. They were opposite sides of the same coin, he thought sometimes. Giovanni met his troubles the way candlelight on a rainy day met the window glass; softened at first glance, pretty even, though impossible to fully see through without realising how much was being filtered, fractured and hidden beneath the surface. Nothing about him spilled carelessly into the open air. His thoughts rather sank into the depths of him as ink into dark water, carefully quiet and controlled, revealing themselves only in fragments so sharp and cutting, as though instead of freezing to ice, theyd been molded into blades of sharpened glass. Perhaps a dry remark here, an unreadable glance there, small violences of honesty delivered so calmly they rarely sounded cruel until long afterward. Elena Clark, meanwhile, approached hers like a girl let loose upon an ice rink for the very first time; all soft turns and delighted imbalance, tracing the outer edges again and again in widening circles before ever daring venture toward the middle. Nothing in her arrived plainly. Her thoughts instead unfurled like colourful streamers caught in spring wind, drifting from stars to mythology to half-forgotten curiosities before somehow, impossibly, returning to the very thing she had meant from the start. Giovanni, despite himself, had grown terribly and irrevocably fond of following the trail. “…and the radiant is near Lyra, which is why they’re called the Lyrids, but technically the meteors themselves can appear anywhere across the sky depending on visibility conditions, and actually-” “And actually,” Giovanni echoed lightly, fingers weaving another small flower carefully into the braid taking shape between his hands, “you’ve spoken about Comet Thatcher so often that I’m starting to feel emotionally attached to it.” He smiled to himself as he heard her gasp in mock offence from where her head rested. “I have not.” “Mhm.” “I haven’t.” “You quoted one verbatim at breakfast three days ago.” “That was one time.” A quiet laugh escaped him then, warm and unhurried. Truthfully, he did listen when she spoke about the stars. “And now you’re trying to pretend you aren’t already planning the entire thing in your head.” She tilted upside-down to look at him through her lashes, her eyes startlingly bright in the dwindling light of the hour, and entirely unapologetic. “Maybe I am.” He only shook his head fondly before focusing once more on the braid, the golden strands spilling softly between each ridge of his fingers, a small pile of flowers resting beside him in the grass which had been gathered earlier during their walk across the grounds. He worked carefully despite the ease in his posture, separating pale strands with surprising precision, finishing the final braid and tucking the flowers into the final loops before he gently sat her upright by the shoulders, narrowing his eyes critically as they flickered left to right, inspecting his work from both sides. “There,” he declared. “Finished.” Elena remained half-turned toward him, shoulders still in his grasp, looking at him intently as evening light caught against the flowers he’d woven delicately through her hair. For a brief moment, she said nothing at all, but simply held his gaze with that familiar brightness lingering quietly behind her eyes. Giovanni leaned slightly closer then, squinting, dark lashes lowering as his gaze narrowed thoughtfully against the deepening dusk. “Wait,” he murmured. “There’s still something…” Before she could ask what, he blew a sudden burst of air directly into her face. She recoiled instantly with a startled laugh that immediately kick-started one of his own despite himself, her hand flying upward while the other smacked uselessly against his cheek as she dissolved into a flurry of half-giggled complaints and entirely toothless insults. Giovanni laughed quietly beneath the impact of her warm hand, a grin spreading easily across his face. “I had to make sure it stayed symmetrical,” and the smile was evident in his voice. “You’re impossible.” “And yet,” he replied smoothly, catching her wrist before she could swat him again, “here you are.” Her narrowed eyes failed to hide the smile tugging at her mouth and he took triumph in it, adjusting one of the flowers she had nearly dislodged herself before something gentler stole briefly across his expression, softening the sharper edges of it into something quieter, more serious, the sort of look that would have gone unnoticed by most, though perhaps not by Elena, who had long since learned how to read the subtleties tucked carefully beneath him. “Its a brilliant idea by the way.” She nudged him with a smile and he could tell a teasing comment was to follow. She always got that spark in her eyes when it was coming. “Where did you even learn how to braid hair? Secret hidden talent?” “Two sisters,” He answered easily, lips quirking into a smirk. “Survival skill.” That earned another laugh from her. As he reached behind him to reclaim his abandoned book, she drifted back into place as naturally as breathing, and Giovanni returned to reading with a quiet exhale. Around them, silence bloomed soft and familiar, the comfortable sort that no longer required filling. Elena traced idle patterns into the grass while Giovanni turned another page. Minutes passed quietly between them before she spoke again. “Do you really think I should go for it?” She spoke thoughtfully. Giovanni glanced down immediately. There it was again, that bright, irrepressible excitement he had spent the past several weeks watching slowly consume her whole. It lingered at the edges of her composure no matter how neatly she tried to contain it, woven into the quicker cadence of her words and the unmistakable light that entered her whenever the stars were involved. Honestly, after enduring weeks of Elena appearing beside him with armfuls of parchment, a horrifying amount of comet diagrams, and increasingly impassioned speeches about celestial debris, Giovanni had eventually reached the inevitable conclusion that the only way to restore peace to his life was to force her into bringing the idea to the professors herself. (jk he loves her dw) Before he could answer, the book vanished from his hands. “Oi,” Giovanni protested, looking down at her in disbelief. “I was reading that.” Elena only grinned, hugging the book protectively against her chest, and in response, he sighed theatrically, though warmth lingered plainly beneath it. “Yes,” and it was quieter and more emphasised now. “I do. Besides, somebody had to finally unleash all that terrifyingly specific comet knowledge onto the general public.” (Time skip eyy cause I'm lowkey lazy asf. now boom its the day of the event yeah) By the time the twenty-second of April finally arrived, Giovanni had heard enough about the Lyrids to confidently survive an advanced astronomy examination against his will. If the prospect was ever pressed upon him, he owed Elena a thank you. The Great Hall buzzed with copious amounts of energy that evening, many students gathering in excitable groups, unable to take a seat whilst the professors and organisers attempted varying degrees of order amongst the crowd. Giovanni watched with hands shoved loosely into his pockets and dark hair falling carelessly across his temple which was softened only slightly by the warm candlelight overhead, his usually cold expression currently caught somewhere between indifference and quiet amusement as he watched Elena move briskly between students with poorly concealed excitement brightening her features. It suited her. Before long, however, his attention had shifted elsewhere. Archer Duncan looked considerably more alive than the last time Giovanni had properly seen him. Well. Recovered. Not entirely healed, perhaps people never truly were after such things, but lighter somehow. Now less ghost than boy. Giovanni found himself briefly recalling white hospital sheets, a card, charmed into something soft and less painfully sterile, flowers resting near the bedside table because, at the time, words alone had not quite felt enough. He had been grateful for the invite, and had grown unusually fond of the boy, and so had accepted. Another chap accompanied them, and Archer, already somehow acquainted with both boys separately, took it upon himself to bridge the gap between them with quiet ease as Giovanni stuck out his hand in invitation of formal introduction and handshake to Yan. The three eventually fell into step beside one another amongst the moving crowd departing the castle grounds, and conversation surprisingly drifted naturally enough throughout the trek, occasionally interrupted by Taros’ voice carrying over the group as he pointed out distant landscapes, wandering creatures, or details hidden within the mountains surrounding them. Giovanni found himself rather enjoying it. The further they travelled from the castle, the quieter the world seemed to become. Pines towered overhead in dark silhouettes whilst evening breeze stirred loose petals and leaves across the winding paths beneath their feet. Archer drifted easily through the scenery like someone reacquainting himself with an old language, attentive to every small detail surrounding them. Giovanni caught sight of him in his peripheral vision pausing briefly as a flower petal landed against his dark hair, watched him turn it carefully between his fingers before slipping it into his pocket rather than discarding it. He snorted softly. “Getting sentimental now, Duncan?” The comment came easy and teasing, accompanied by the faintest curve of amusement at the corner of Giovanni’s mouth as Archer slipped the flower petal carefully into his pocket rather than discarding it. Not long afterward, Giovanni found himself stooping absentmindedly to pluck a small flower from the edge of the trail all the same. The bloom remained loosely twirled between his fingers until a few moments later into the evening, when excusing himself and wandering briefly from the others brought him near Elena’s astronomy station once more. She was midway through another animated explanation regarding constellations, and taking her distraction as an opportunity, Giovanni slipped quietly behind her and tucked the flower into her hair amongst the others already woven there, a light poke against the side of her head following before he disappeared back into the crowd entirely before she could properly stop him. Hypocrisy, perhaps. Though Giovanni preferred not to examine that too closely. The plateau finally came into view beneath the deepening twilight, speckled with tents and glowing fires that warmed the encroaching darkness. Students dispersed quickly about the campsite, laughing, settling and roasting marshmallows . Archer chose one of the muggle tents furthest from the babble with the decisiveness of someone clearly familiar with the process already. Contrastingly, Giovanni was not. That fact revealed itself quietly several minutes into the setup when, after one prolonged look at the tangled arrangement of poles and canvas before him, he glanced toward Archer with the faintest narrowing of his eyes. “This,” he informed him calmly, “seems deliberately designed to humiliate people.” Despite both Giovanni and Yan contributing varying degrees of questionable assistance thereafter, Archer managed to assemble the tent with impressive efficiency, the small structure eventually standing firm beneath the darkened sky while Giovanni watched with the composed air of someone choosing not to acknowledge he had been entirely useless throughout most of the process. Wow, he had to give it to Archer, that was a job well done. Now settled, the three drifted separately for a while amongst the various bonfires and stations. He wandered further through the campsite, passing by Elena seated beside her astronomy station and surrounded by open books, scattered parchment, and students listening attentively as she spoke animatedly about constellations overhead. He could practically recite half the speech himself by now. Still, he lingered near enough to listen anyway, and eventually, the noise of the bonfires began fading softer around the edges as midnight crept closer. ───────────────────────────────────────────────────── |
GDL |
Last edited by Giovanni De'Luca on 12 May 2026, 13:11, edited 1 time in total.
ooc pinterest . ency . playlist . owl |
*ੈ✩‧₊˚Star-pale, celestial, neither flesh nor blood.⋆⭒ ࣪ .⋆
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Starborn Wonders
Despite her hatred towards her father, Bree still found joy in watching the stars. Lately she has been spending more and more time outside. The stars no matter how much she rejects it, it somehow become a part of her. So when she heard, more of saw, about the Lyrid Meteor Shower, her heart dragged her towards the sign up sheet. Signing her name on it, as she walked away she had no clue what she actually just did. Heading out to her daily morning run, she questioned herself on why she signed up. But deep down inside she knew that if she missed this shed regret it deeply. She pondered the idea of watching it alone but sometimes these moments felt like they needed to be shared. Watching the stars light up the sky as they shot across and then looking around and seeing the amazement on everyone else's faces seemed... like a perfect way to end the night. Doing her normal round of stretching, running, then slowly jogging one lap around as a cool down, the thought, of if she made a mistake signing up for it, still was haunting her. Going back to her dorm, she dresses in her robes and attends her classes for the day.
After she finished her classes she ran upstairs and started going through her trunk, looking for a outfit perfect for the event. Sure everyone else might be dressed in their pajamas or something comfy but Bree felt the need to dress for it. Those things felt personal for the Gryffindor and not something she could just stroll out in. Although dressing up did not mean you must freeze or not be in comfort. Finally finding her dress she smiles softly as she holds it up. It was a pitch black dress made out of fabric soft enough to be a baby's blanket. It was sleeveless but had gloves made out of the same fabric that went up to her shoulders. It was snug against her body and went almost all the way down her legs. For her shoes she wore short black boots that had small heels to them. Once she was finished dressing, she ran her brush through her hair allowing it to stay down. Going back to her trunk, she makes sure its closed when she spots a letter on her bed. Picking it up, she turns it around to look at the name. It was addressed to her, but the handwriting was in her mothers flowery cursive. Carefully opening it, anger floods her as she recognizes her father's handwriting. Crumbling the letter in her hand, she throws it down and storms downstairs.
As night fell, Bree made her way to the grounds. She followed everyone else and looked around. The people there found others they're familiar with and grouped together to get in tents. Biting her lip, she spots a familiar first year. Bree did not know the name of her due to never talking or interacting with her before, but she recognized her from the Gryffindor common room. The younger girl was obviously another fellow lion. Deciding to go to her, she starts walking towards her determined. About halfway to the girl, her steps falter when the girl begins to shout for another that she didn't recognize. Biting her lip, she decides to continue to go up to her. A couple of steps away, she ends up stumbling straight into her. Picking herself up she offers help to the other girl. "I'm so sorry!" softly and shyly she says, "Are you hurt anywhere? I- I didn't mean to fall into you like that!"
@Laasya Manjunath and @Julia Evans
Last edited by Bree Grey on 12 May 2026, 16:42, edited 1 time in total.
| 𝓗𝓪𝔃𝓮𝓵 𝓝𝓮𝓵𝓼𝓸𝓷 𝓓𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓝𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓽: 𝓟𝓸𝓽𝓪𝓽𝓸 𝓟𝓮𝓮𝓵 |
𝓞𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓝𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓽: 𝕊𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕤: 𝕊𝕥𝕒 𝟟| 𝔼𝕧𝕒 𝟞| 𝕊𝕥𝕣 𝟝| 𝕎𝕚𝕤 𝟠| 𝔸ℙ 𝟟| 𝔸𝕔𝕔 𝟟| 𝓑𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓜𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓮 |
𝓑𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝓖𝓻𝓮𝔂 𝓓𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 𝓝𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓽: 𝓲𝓝𝓟𝓒 𝓓𝓸𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷𝓼 |
Starborn Wonders
꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱ ☾☼☽ +:｡.｡ ༺❀༻ ｡.｡:+☾☼☽ ꒰ᐢ. .ᐢ꒱
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧x
x
"I think it's fate. Maybe a sign. That there's something they didn't finish and now we have to. Saints have a weird way for these kind of things, y'know?"
Skylar hums thoughtfully. Saints and Fates are interesting ways to look at it. It is eerie in a way, knowing that they are being watched. Being lead. Being seen for all the choices they make. But then again it is... reassuring, no? To know that there is security in your actions, that all is intended by fate. Or all is intended by the stars.
Skylar looks up into the night sky, the stars glittering across the inky black canvas. There was something beautiful and magical with how they twinkle in the distance, whispering the untold secrets of the night.
"Well, if it were fate, I am glad to have met you." Skylar says sincerely. She turns to Mika and gives her friend a smile. Then she turns and squints at the tent.
The weird muggle technology is standing now, by some miracle. However, Skylar would not trust it to stand for the night. Using her limited knowledge and subpar skills, Skylar attempts to fix a few questionable looking screws that were weirdly loose. Giving the tent an experimental kick, Skylar watches carefully to see if the tent falls.
Almost as if the stars blessed them, the tent is still standing. Skylar grins with triumph at the rickety looking thing, high-fiving Mika at their success.
"Well, that took forever. How about we grab some snacks and just stargaze inside the tent, aye?" Skylar asks, gesturing to the flap on the tent. It has a see-through top, allowing whoever inside to enjoy the night sky without having to deal with bugs.
Grabbing another cup of hot cocoa and more snacks, Skylar nudges open the tent flap and slinks inside.
"Now, my friend, you can tell me what's really on your mind."
x
✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧ ✩₊˚.⋆☾⋆⁺₊✧
sta • 5 | eva • 6 | str • 4 wis • 7 | arc • 7 | acc • 6 |
Shop | ENCYCLOPEDIA | Gallery I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. |
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Starborn Wonders
Poppy had been looking forward to the evening since she'd first seen the signup sheet. Somewhere around the end of the Ramadan celebrations, the little girl had done some deep soul searching and had come to the conclusion that she couldn't keep going the way she was going. Her parents weren't happy and would probably never be. Her first months within the castle hadn't been happy and would've continued not to be. It had taken some time, but the little girl recognised the need for change.
Do you ever feel like a misfit?
✪ Everything inside you is dark and twisted ✪
How did one continue doing the same things over and over and then expect a different result? 'Madness', someone had called it.
The decision meant putting herself out there more. She'd done her due diligence in signing up for house teams. She spent more time outside of her common room, even on days when she didn't have a particular reason to be. It was starting to get warmer, flowers were blooming and the grounds were in no short supply of places for her to snap photos.
This was different.
It wasn't a passive attempt at integration. Persephone was putting her name down with the intention of being a part of something – and was there anything better than a night under the stars? Between homework and curfews, she hadn't found herself outside much. True, she could see the night sky from her dorm room in the towers, but...it wasn't the same.
The little girl could still remember nights out in fields with her brothers and sisters. Those memories filled her with the sort of warmth and nostalgia that left her seeking a familiar comfort. It was comfort she thought she could find on the excursion, a stopgap until she could be back on Grimsbane Farm with its nightly sea of stars out there in the English countryside.
With her camera slung around her neck, Poppy had joined the others in the Great Hall. She'd hoped to walk with some of her friends but had been running late. She understood, of course. It wouldn't have been right to have them wait – even if they wouldn't have minded. Surely, they would've been as eager to get into the festivities.
She was excited.
Poppy had learned to make peace with the sometimes erratic thumping that took place inside her chest whenever she tried something else the castle had to offer. The anticipation no longer filled her with dread as it did back at the start of her schooling when her fears circled constantly around running into something she would have to avoid. Maybe it was the Gryffindor finally finding its footing inside her. Maybe it was the fact she'd finally let go.
Ashamed as she was to admit it, Poppy was learning that there existed...a relief in the idea that she didn't have to report everything back to her parents and that there were things they would simply never know. It was, in a word... liberating. More liberating than she sometimes knew what to do with.
Would her mother and father have been happy to see their daughter led out into the dark, eyes on the stars like every pagan nightmare they'd ever known?
In the moment, she ...didn't know if she cared.
The night was cool, a gentle breeze tickling her face. The sky was alive, filling her with awe and wonder and reminding her that there was something far bigger than her out there. There wasn't much to say – not much that she wanted to say. It was enough for her to be walking alongside the others, listening to their chatter from the day they'd all had.
Never having been much of a presence, she found herself a spot close enough to listen but not close enough to intrude. While the sounds of the night and her classmates swelled into the heavens, Poppy sat with her own feelings.
They weren't bad, necessarily, just heavy. In some ways, it almost felt...important, never mind how silly and simple the step actually was. She was there. She had been hiding up in her common room, regretting that she hadn't gone.
Sometimes the small steps were the ones that felt the biggest, and her reward? A night under the stars.
Her eyes glued themselves to the sky when it was time. Unlike some of the others around her, her awe was muted – but very much present. It was her first time witnessing something like it and she didn't have the presence of mind to find anything to say.
Truly, it was a brilliant night to be out of the castle.
Encyclopaedia ✿ Metamorphmagus ✿ If the sun shines, that's reason enough.
Starborn Wonders
Banner by Leo Noxley
Mentions:@Archer Duncan, @Giovanni De'Luca, and @Rosaline Everhart
✥─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────✥
“Mother!”
Chubby arms hugged tall rolls of aged parchment, carrying it to the soft picnic rug in the open field. The bundles blocked his vision, bumping into his cheek with every step. Then, swift hands fished up the charts. He blinked up and saw his mother's smiling face.
“Thank you, my love.”
Erast thought his mother looked beautiful this way. Her ember brown hair fluttered free in the midnight winds, moonlight on her skin and the shine of stars in her gunmetal blue eyes. Gone was the shroud that was weathered melancholy. Here was bright, lively. Here, like this, she was free.
“Why do we come to watch the sky so much?” The question slipped from his tongue. Regret prickled his throat at the flash of pain in her eyes, washing away some of that vitality.
“Listen closely, my love.” His mother's arms drew him closer, wrapping securely around him. He latched on immediately, instinct overriding surprise. “See this sky above us?” She waved a hand across the starry night sky, gentle and in reverie, as if caressing something beloved. He nodded intently, resting his cheek on her thigh.
“Wherever this sky spans, I'm never afraid.” A hand brushed over his cheek. He stared up at her, and identical eyes gazed back at him. That melancholic smile warmed for just a second. “No matter where we are, there will be people who love us very much who stare at this same sky.”
Erast’s eyes widened as the glow of a comet cut through the skies, a brilliant streak against a dark canvas.
“Under these stars, you will never be alone.”
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The hazy warmth of that memory rinsed away with a blink, drawing the commotion of the Great Hall back into focus. Erast awkwardly followed along as the organising prefect, their Groundskeeper, and the facilitating professor instructed. He had not expected so many people to be here.
The announcement of the Lyrid Meteor Shower had not been a surprise for Erast. Even as a toddler, he had learnt of the famous celestial event from his mother and her notes. There were, however, two surprising things about this: First, this would be the first celestial event that he would be witnessing outside his family's estate. Second, this would be the first time he would be witnessing such an event with... friends.
Spotting Archer Duncan in the shuffling crowd felt like finding an oasis in a desert. He excitedly slipped away from where he had been squished in between a group of giggling friends to head towards him. Their last interaction had been in the form of a mere fruit basket during Archer’s recovery. Filled with sweet fruits handpicked for how they would withstand the cold and duration of the hospital stay, and paired with a worried letter now embarrassing to recall, it had been a sort of selfish manifestation of his guilt. It was difficult to fully digest the whole truth of what Archer had undergone before and during his absence, even more so knowing that he had indirectly allowed that suffering to continue after witnessing signs of it when they first met. Now, the older’s eyes, keen in his search for their tentmates, seemed brighter than they once had been. Subconsciously, he let out a sigh of relief. “Hi,” Erast gave a small wave. He would give a shyer version of it to the unfamiliar face next to Archer upon seeing him, Giovanni De'Luca. He recognised the boy from the figure-skating competition at Koldovstoretz, and he had been a beautiful skater. Erast had blinked dumbly for a moment at Giovanni's extended hand before he snapped out an awkward hand to accept the handshake. The bubbling happiness from the interaction made him smile, glad to have been accepted. Archer was impressive, being acquainted with such talented and nice people. Erast imagined his father would be pleased, knowing he was getting to know such capable pureblooded peers with good networks. He quietly brushed that thought aside, just in time to be swept away as the group began to make their move.
The trek up the surrounding mountains was clearly a murder plot targeting him. Erast, having spent his entire life restricted and contained within the walls of his family’s estate, had never been one for intense physical activity. By the half-hour mark, the insightful commentary by their Groundskeeper became a buzzing that slipped underneath his skin and contributed to a prickly irritation alongside his uneven breaths. He barely stood upright and contained his expression as random shoes stepped on his heels and bumped elbows into his arms.
Mercy was Giovanni’s teasing quip, yanking Erast’s attention away from self-pity. He turned in time to catch Archer glancing thoughtfully at a stray petal, before tucking it away tenderly into his pocket, as if for safekeeping. Sentimental was an apt choice of word to describe Archer. Even during their perilous first encounter on the Astronomy Tower, there had been a distinct fondness in the way the older boy glanced at the midnight view and the stars that watched over them. Even as he carelessly threw himself on the border between suffocating safety and eternal slumber, Archer seemed to hold onto those scraps of goodness, similar to an anchor. To think even then, the older was generous enough to share that joy with an audacious stranger.
His irritation fell flat in an instant. Warmth settled in its place, temporarily displacing the knotted conflict that remained. Erast distracted himself with searching for a flower as Giovanni had done.
By the time the plateau came into view, his mind had entered a pleasant, fuzzy state. The rare joy of company had dulled his physical aches earned from the trek, amplifying the budding euphoria in his chest. Perhaps it was the thinning oxygen, or the freeing mountain views, but everything felt so light at this height. Even as the non-magical tent parts tangled and retractable poles flopped around him, he found himself giggling and hiding behind his hands at his and Giovanni’s struggle instead of his usual floundering. “Wait, wait– I’ll… hold this,” He bit his lip to reel in his laughter, trying to be helpful. Submitting to his fate as an obedient fabric pincher and pole-straightener, he watched in awe as Archer single-handedly managed to turn a couple of metal sticks and a large sheet into a cosy tent.
Then, Erast found himself sitting alone in the tent as his older tentmates scattered to roam the vicinity. The sudden silence coaxed him out of the comfort of the tent, following the inviting tug of the beautiful view beyond that transparent mesh. For a while, he found himself roaming aimlessly around the plateau, weaving between rows of tents and groups of chattering students. The movement felt peaceful, a droning calm as they waited for the meteor shower. A syrupy thought of visiting his same-aged friends, gathered by Rosaline Everhart, arose. Noticing Archer slipping back into their tent, the idea of returning floated up in his mind beside the last. Choices– Choices of company, friends, all of whom want him around. That notion made him melt.
His mother had been right.
Under this moonlight, he was seen. Beneath these stars, he was wanted. Under this sky, he was no longer alone.
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Starborn Wonders
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Starborn Wonders
22nd April 2026 | | | Night | | | Grounds | | | 1st year | | | Terrible Presence |
After a long, rather eventful, day, Livia had been looking forward to the night ahead. She intended to find a respite from the conundrum of everyday life, and as she partook in the hike to the mountain plateau, she could not help but feel as if a weight had been lifted from her. The scent of spring air, the whispering of the wind through the branches of pines, surrounded her. Although she had pinned her long, dark hair into a tightly-spun chignon, a lock of waves fell in front of her face; unusually, she did not mind, opting to leave it instead of halting in her walk to fix it.
She did not converse with anyone on the way. Admittedly, her focus was on her breathing. Though hiking and spending time in nature was something she was much accustomed to, having enjoyed numerous hikes with her family in Georgia, Russia and even the UK, Livia was not known for her athleticism. Technique, she was familiar with; one would never see her slip or tumble. However, she rarely participated in cardio exercises, and her muscles were not quite strong. She knew how to level her breathing, but this was something that required immense focus. By the time they arrived, she had to pause momentarily to catch her breath.
Livia did not attempt to find her tent upon arrival. Instead, she left that to others; she would find one not fully occupied later. She instead continued to carry her small messenger bag – she was nothing if not organised, and it was not too heavy – as she explored the surroundings. She acquired some berries and nibbled on those, not keen on the idea of sticky marshmallow fluff coating her fingers. Once a snack had been had, she would meander through the various stations.
First, she opted to listen to @Elena Clark. While she was familiar with Ms Doukas, the librarian, Elena was someone Livia had found some semblance of kinship in. Watching the moon-struck soul explain something she was passionate about caused a small, but noticeable, smile to spread across Livia's tired face. She understood the general idea of how meteor showers worked, having been an avid reader of all sorts of books. However, there was something more magical about hearing about things from someone who truly cared. Furthermore, the illustrations Elena had procured were truly beautiful. Livia gazed at them thoughtfully, ensuring to offer Elena an appreciative nod before moving on.
Then, she travelled to where @Helen Aletheia Doukas spun stories. She had learned that the librarian boasted a beautiful voice. Why she had chosen to work in a library of all places – where one was expected to remain respectfully quiet – was not something Livia understood. Once again, the books held illustrations, something that piqued Livia's interest. She watched, intrigued, as Ms Doukas began to explain the origin of the constellation Lyra. She nearly lost herself in the melodic nature of the librarian's voice, only realising that she had stood there for quite some time when her arm grew heavy from holding her bag and when the flames of the bonfire had warmed her face.
Thus, she glanced between the two remaining facilitators. The charms professor was someone she had seen more than the groundskeeper; however, she was not the most avid fan of one @Katherine Townsend, whom she viewed as over-exuberant and exuding favouritism. It did not appear as if Ms Townsend was performing any necessary task – verily, why was she pitching a tent if house elves could perform the act for her?
That understanding resulted in Livia casting her focus to @Taros Quintero. She had vaguely heard his descriptions of the nature during the walk, something she had appreciated. While she had mostly focused on her own laboured breathing, she had appreciated the attention he gave to the wildlife, which many people often overlooked during a journey. Though she had initially lingered near Elena and Ms Doukas, she now made her way to Mr Quintero's bonfire, remembering that he had offered more information on ‘the planet we call home’. She found a stump near the bonfire and sat on it as nicely as was possible, cautiously setting her bag on the ground before folding her hands in her lap and pulling her shoulders back as she listened to his words. He had a nice voice – easy to listen to, his words knowledgeable and punctuated with a smile.
She left eventually with the intention to rest within the tent. Midnight would soon approach, but until then, she needed to sit somewhere a bit more comfortable. She moved to find the nearest tent, which happened to be quite lavish on the inside. Unfortunately, as she would find once she entered, it also held a student she had grown to despise...
She did not converse with anyone on the way. Admittedly, her focus was on her breathing. Though hiking and spending time in nature was something she was much accustomed to, having enjoyed numerous hikes with her family in Georgia, Russia and even the UK, Livia was not known for her athleticism. Technique, she was familiar with; one would never see her slip or tumble. However, she rarely participated in cardio exercises, and her muscles were not quite strong. She knew how to level her breathing, but this was something that required immense focus. By the time they arrived, she had to pause momentarily to catch her breath.
Livia did not attempt to find her tent upon arrival. Instead, she left that to others; she would find one not fully occupied later. She instead continued to carry her small messenger bag – she was nothing if not organised, and it was not too heavy – as she explored the surroundings. She acquired some berries and nibbled on those, not keen on the idea of sticky marshmallow fluff coating her fingers. Once a snack had been had, she would meander through the various stations.
First, she opted to listen to @Elena Clark. While she was familiar with Ms Doukas, the librarian, Elena was someone Livia had found some semblance of kinship in. Watching the moon-struck soul explain something she was passionate about caused a small, but noticeable, smile to spread across Livia's tired face. She understood the general idea of how meteor showers worked, having been an avid reader of all sorts of books. However, there was something more magical about hearing about things from someone who truly cared. Furthermore, the illustrations Elena had procured were truly beautiful. Livia gazed at them thoughtfully, ensuring to offer Elena an appreciative nod before moving on.
Then, she travelled to where @Helen Aletheia Doukas spun stories. She had learned that the librarian boasted a beautiful voice. Why she had chosen to work in a library of all places – where one was expected to remain respectfully quiet – was not something Livia understood. Once again, the books held illustrations, something that piqued Livia's interest. She watched, intrigued, as Ms Doukas began to explain the origin of the constellation Lyra. She nearly lost herself in the melodic nature of the librarian's voice, only realising that she had stood there for quite some time when her arm grew heavy from holding her bag and when the flames of the bonfire had warmed her face.
Thus, she glanced between the two remaining facilitators. The charms professor was someone she had seen more than the groundskeeper; however, she was not the most avid fan of one @Katherine Townsend, whom she viewed as over-exuberant and exuding favouritism. It did not appear as if Ms Townsend was performing any necessary task – verily, why was she pitching a tent if house elves could perform the act for her?
That understanding resulted in Livia casting her focus to @Taros Quintero. She had vaguely heard his descriptions of the nature during the walk, something she had appreciated. While she had mostly focused on her own laboured breathing, she had appreciated the attention he gave to the wildlife, which many people often overlooked during a journey. Though she had initially lingered near Elena and Ms Doukas, she now made her way to Mr Quintero's bonfire, remembering that he had offered more information on ‘the planet we call home’. She found a stump near the bonfire and sat on it as nicely as was possible, cautiously setting her bag on the ground before folding her hands in her lap and pulling her shoulders back as she listened to his words. He had a nice voice – easy to listen to, his words knowledgeable and punctuated with a smile.
She left eventually with the intention to rest within the tent. Midnight would soon approach, but until then, she needed to sit somewhere a bit more comfortable. She moved to find the nearest tent, which happened to be quite lavish on the inside. Unfortunately, as she would find once she entered, it also held a student she had grown to despise...
| [staff] jessamine lancaster even you cannot conquer the sun. | marina alacrán [inpc] her hair is kinda wild and free. |
Starborn Wonders
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22nd April, 2026
Grounds
Interacting with: @Joseph Sims
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Speech -- Thoughts
Pam followed Joseph with a grin, inwardly glad that he was also up for some food, despite his comments on the chocolate filling their stomachs.
Pam claimed a stick of marshmallows for herself and held it over the fire eith the kind of focus she specifically reserved for life-changing decisions or storybooks she was overly attached to. Or food. Food too.
"Your chocolate was enough." She said, between bites, although the intensity with which she was currently stuffing her face probably did nothing to support her words.
Eventually, after her stomach had stopped demanding emergency attention, she settled down beside her friend, knees tucking into herself as she leaned lightly against his side, eyes turned up towards the sky.
Good thing the clouds had kept away.
"It's a clear night, luckily." She pointed up at numerous stars hanging off the sky, imparting a dark purple hue to the sky. The moon hung bright and pale, commanding attention like the showstopper of the night.
Quite literally.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" She murmured fondly, expression softening as she blinked up at it, silver light reflecting in her eyes.
Her eyes drifted over to Joseph, whom Pam had made into her backrest, rather subconsciously. She hoped the latter would not mind.
Her attention shifted to Astra, nestled in the boy's palm, looking cute and comfy. Could rocks feel cold? Pam shivered herself at the thought. While it wasn't remotely cold, with the setting of the sun, the weather had turned quite pleasant. The rock was pretty....
Wait, the rock...?
Oh no the ROCK!
Pam sat up, startled, head nearly smacking into Joseph in the process as she suddenly, magically remembered the existence of the newest addition to her family. She dug into her pocket, and fished out a rock, much like Joseph's.
She showed it to the boy, sheepish smile on her face, "Er... I brought her to show you and then forgot—"
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"I'd rather be heartless, than have my heart in pieces"
-Calming Presence- The Muggle Condition
iNPC: Hikari Fujimoto