contrivance
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| ───── | The library smelled of old parchment and polished wood, of quiet hours folded into corners and the faint tang of ink that lingered long after the quills were put away. This Saturday afternoon, Stella had claimed the same table she'd gravitated toward during the first week of term, the one beneath the tall window where the sunlight fell just so, pooling in warm rectangles over the surface of her books. She'd avoided the library for a few days after the incident with Portia, but it appeared that Evpraksiya's defence had been enough to put an end to the girl's antics. Portia hadn't so much as glanced in her direction since then, fading into the backdrop of Hogwarts' bustling corridors; now, almost three weeks later, those old anxieties seemed almost laughably distant, leaving Stella free to settle into school life in peace. She'd even managed to make another friend in that time, a Hufflepuff girl with big green eyes under a tree on a rainy afternoon. With both Claudia and Evpraksiya's friendship to lean on, happiness at Hogwarts was finally starting to seem possible. Her quill moved briskly, scratching evenly across the parchment as she copied notes from her Charms textbook. Beside her, a small wooden paperweight in the shape of a sleeping lion rested on top of a neat stack of index cards, and a glass inkpot sat just beside it, its surface catching the afternoon light in soft amber reflections. Stella paused briefly to stretch her shoulders, letting the faint hum of the library envelop her—pages turning, chairs creaking, a soft shuffle from a distant aisle. Nothing intruded, nothing demanded attention; everything conspired to keep the moment hers alone. | ───── |
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| ───── | TAG..@LIVIA MACHAVARIANI......NOTES..MENTIONS EVPRAKSIYA V & CLAUDIA KSTA 5 EVA 9 STR 0 WIS 7 ARC 4 ACC 10.../ / /...SEER & WANDMAKER .ACTION..:..STUDYING ; REFLECTING ON RECENT LIFE EVENTS | ───── |
Last edited by Stella Bianchi on 27 Dec 2025, 04:00, edited 1 time in total.
a nameless girl in the freshest summer greens, a saint, an angel;
contrivance
date: 27 september 2025
time: afternoon
location: hogwarts library
After befriending one most genteel Esme Hestridge, Livia's days had been peppered with moments of cognisance and magnanimity. The most lovely of hours were spent entertaining her newfound friend like a beloved guest; the two seemed to get on just as well as they possibly could have. Livia had hardly expected to employ a dear bosom companion at school other than her most exalted cousin Evpraksiya; Esme, then, defied all expectations. It was during a decently-warm day with Esme that Livia had come across her fidus achates's cousin practising a spell. Having been unaware such magical prowess existed among those not far from Livia's own age, she had inquired as to what this miraculous individual's name might have been, to which Esme had kindly informed her that the marvellous magician was Stella, her Italian cousin.
Livia had scarcely been more pleased to have known the Italian language nearly as familiarly as she could traverse her family's orchards in Kutaisi. This provided a bulwark by which she could strengthen a potential understanding with this 'Stella' individual. She told no one of her intentions for fear they might be labelled as 'Machiavellian'; the truth was, Livia did not yearn to use utilise Stella as a means to an end as that would imply. In fact, she desired a mutually beneficial relationship and would even welcome the two girls growing closer and birthing a true friendship.
As anyone seeking the successful naissance of a new amicable association, Livia began to organise her free time by way of the art of people-watching. Eternally, she kept her eyes open for any sign of Stella. Whenever she saw the older girl passing by in the corridors, she ducked through openings to find out where Stella might be going. It was through this steadfast observation that she ascertained the library as a key haunt of Stella's. Livia, too, much appreciated the labyrinth of leather-backed tomes, and she began scouting a date and time she could find Stella in the library.
Finally, the product of her probation yielded itself in the perfect period during which she could encounter Stella. The afternoon of the 28th of September came around agonisingly slowly. Livia, who had awoken alongside the sun, had taken ample time to dress herself adequately. She wore a black mock neck jumper and a long, brown pleated skirt. A mustard-yellow neck scarf, tied off at the corner, looped around her neck to provide a whit of colour. Her beloved leather boots, mid-calf length and of the antiquated Victorian style, helped to complete the look. She had also taken time to braid her hair into a bun, having had to stare at two mirrors at once to ensure it was done correctly. As a final touch, she had woven two sprigs of yellow forsythia into the plaits to match her scarf.
Certain that this effort would prove her tenacity to Stella, Livia began to make her way to the library. She stood as tall as she could, which was quite fairly tall for her age, and took slow, loping steps as if she hadn't a care in the world. Her gaze remained politely blank, her lips set in a neutral line. She had purposefully 'forgotten' her bag and school supplies in her dormitory, which would set the scene just as she wished.
The young Slytherin pushed open the doors to the library as if she owned the room, stepping forward and scanning each table for a spot at which Stella might be seated. Her research proved fruitful: the older girl was sat underneath a tall window that cast large rays of sunlight across it and the stacks nearby. Livia directed herself towards the table, ensuring she walked toe-first so that the small heel on her boots would not make any noise no matter if she stepped on carpet or hard floors.
Once she arrived at the table, she smiled warmly at the most superlative Stella Bianchi. She did her best to make her gaze appear a bit troubled, which was hardly difficult as she did not know what she was doing now that she had found Stella, and that uncertainty troubled her. She let her eyebrows draw together and raise, hopefully creating a sheepish persona, and she placed a hand on the table. 'Hello there. I must apologise for my intrusion. I'm Livia, a first year, and I came here to study but realised I must have forgotten my quill and parchment! You seem studious – would you mind if I borrowed yours?'
time: afternoon
location: hogwarts library
roleplaying as livia machavariani
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence
After befriending one most genteel Esme Hestridge, Livia's days had been peppered with moments of cognisance and magnanimity. The most lovely of hours were spent entertaining her newfound friend like a beloved guest; the two seemed to get on just as well as they possibly could have. Livia had hardly expected to employ a dear bosom companion at school other than her most exalted cousin Evpraksiya; Esme, then, defied all expectations. It was during a decently-warm day with Esme that Livia had come across her fidus achates's cousin practising a spell. Having been unaware such magical prowess existed among those not far from Livia's own age, she had inquired as to what this miraculous individual's name might have been, to which Esme had kindly informed her that the marvellous magician was Stella, her Italian cousin.
Livia had scarcely been more pleased to have known the Italian language nearly as familiarly as she could traverse her family's orchards in Kutaisi. This provided a bulwark by which she could strengthen a potential understanding with this 'Stella' individual. She told no one of her intentions for fear they might be labelled as 'Machiavellian'; the truth was, Livia did not yearn to use utilise Stella as a means to an end as that would imply. In fact, she desired a mutually beneficial relationship and would even welcome the two girls growing closer and birthing a true friendship.
As anyone seeking the successful naissance of a new amicable association, Livia began to organise her free time by way of the art of people-watching. Eternally, she kept her eyes open for any sign of Stella. Whenever she saw the older girl passing by in the corridors, she ducked through openings to find out where Stella might be going. It was through this steadfast observation that she ascertained the library as a key haunt of Stella's. Livia, too, much appreciated the labyrinth of leather-backed tomes, and she began scouting a date and time she could find Stella in the library.
Finally, the product of her probation yielded itself in the perfect period during which she could encounter Stella. The afternoon of the 28th of September came around agonisingly slowly. Livia, who had awoken alongside the sun, had taken ample time to dress herself adequately. She wore a black mock neck jumper and a long, brown pleated skirt. A mustard-yellow neck scarf, tied off at the corner, looped around her neck to provide a whit of colour. Her beloved leather boots, mid-calf length and of the antiquated Victorian style, helped to complete the look. She had also taken time to braid her hair into a bun, having had to stare at two mirrors at once to ensure it was done correctly. As a final touch, she had woven two sprigs of yellow forsythia into the plaits to match her scarf.
Certain that this effort would prove her tenacity to Stella, Livia began to make her way to the library. She stood as tall as she could, which was quite fairly tall for her age, and took slow, loping steps as if she hadn't a care in the world. Her gaze remained politely blank, her lips set in a neutral line. She had purposefully 'forgotten' her bag and school supplies in her dormitory, which would set the scene just as she wished.
The young Slytherin pushed open the doors to the library as if she owned the room, stepping forward and scanning each table for a spot at which Stella might be seated. Her research proved fruitful: the older girl was sat underneath a tall window that cast large rays of sunlight across it and the stacks nearby. Livia directed herself towards the table, ensuring she walked toe-first so that the small heel on her boots would not make any noise no matter if she stepped on carpet or hard floors.
Once she arrived at the table, she smiled warmly at the most superlative Stella Bianchi. She did her best to make her gaze appear a bit troubled, which was hardly difficult as she did not know what she was doing now that she had found Stella, and that uncertainty troubled her. She let her eyebrows draw together and raise, hopefully creating a sheepish persona, and she placed a hand on the table. 'Hello there. I must apologise for my intrusion. I'm Livia, a first year, and I came here to study but realised I must have forgotten my quill and parchment! You seem studious – would you mind if I borrowed yours?'
@stella bianchi
all godmods of esme hestridge were approved by her writer.
all godmods of esme hestridge were approved by her writer.
| [staff] jessamine lancaster even you cannot conquer the sun. | marina alacrán [inpc] her hair is kinda wild and free. |
contrivance
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| ───── | She sensed the movement before she registered it properly, a shadow shifting at the edge of her sunlight. The sound of footsteps was muted, deliberately so, and for a second Stella's quill paused mid-stroke—not out of caution, but mild appreciation in the back of her mind for the stranger's careful show of consideration towards their fellow students' desires to study and read in peace, insignificant as the action of walking quietly may have seemed. Dipping her quill into the inkpot, she moved to commence her study, but as the footsteps drew closer, it became clear to Stella that she herself was the endpoint of this person's movement, and she felt the beginnings of curiosity take root in regards to who it was and what they needed from her; there was a respectful slowness to the approach, and that small courtesy had made an immediate, private impression on the young witch. Finally, the stranger stopped at the edge of the desk, and Stella looked up to ascertain their identity. She was not disappointed—although in fairness, she rarely was by most people—to see a girl, taller than herself by a small but noticeable margin, with a braided bun wound neat at the nape and the most delightful mustard-coloured scarf looped around her throat, the colour catching the sun and warming the air between them like a small, admitted flame. There was, however, the faintest sense of something... misaligned about her, a kind of—well, perhaps wrongness was too harsh, but certainly some sort of quiet unusualness that brushed coldly at the edges of perception. Not enough to unsettle Stella entirely, but enough to make her blink once more than she otherwise would have. As the girl began to speak, though, Stella's expression eased into openness, head canting slightly to the side in a manner one might call gracious as she gently narrowed her focus towards to her new acquaintance's words. Her default inclination to assume goodwill, out of both naivety and habit, seemed to trump her natural reaction to the girl's slightly uncanny presence for now. "Hello there. I must apologise for my intrusion. I'm Livia, a first year, and I came here to study but realised I must have forgotten my quill and parchment! You seem studious – would you mind if I borrowed yours?" For a moment, Stella simply blinked at the first year's words, something warm and faintly charmed stirring in her chest at the confession and the earnestness of it all. The corners of her mouth lifted into the suggestions of a smile, brown eyes brightening—there was nothing intrusive in the request; if anything, she found herself oddly pleased to have been asked, to have been singled out by a new(ish) student in a moment of need. "Of course," she replied softly, reaching into the leather bag slung over the side of her chair and procuring a handsome black quill, "I don't mind, I always have spares." She slid the quill, and a generous stack of fresh parchment, across the table to where Livia stood, and offered another smile, genuine in its friendliness. Only then did a question probe at her mind, something that had slipped her attention earlier, and she could not resist asking it, though it was less out of burning curiosity than it was out of the lingering ease that came from still being half-folded into her studies. "And you really forgot your supplies? Though you intended to study here?" There was no accusation in the question, only innocent, nonjudgemental musing without true deliberation—that is to say, Stella did not linger on it. Maybe Livia was simply absentminded by nature, or perhaps it was just one of those days where plans simply slipped; regardless of what it was, there was nothing to flag any sort of alarm, nothing worth remarking on beyond the small curiosity it had stirred. "Happens to the best of us," Stella would assure the younger girl with a slight nod of her head, and with that her mind moved past the topic of Livia's forgetfulness entirely. "You're welcome to sit here too, if you like," she added, gesturing to the chair next to her own. The desk was certainly spacious enough to seat two, and she had no objections to Livia sharing it, though truthfully she would have offered the same to nearly anyone who had approached with such courtesy; it was a generosity she extended almost by reflex, the instinctive courtesy of someone disposed to think well of others until proven otherwise. "I'm Stella, by the way. Second year. Though you might want some books first, too?" Her gaze flitted over to the many bookshelves of the library, already scanning the aisles in quiet thought, wondering which volumes might prove of use to Livia today. "What were you hoping to study?" | ───── |
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| ───── | TAG..@LIVIA MACHAVARIANI......NOTES..ATTEMPED TO INCORPORATE LIVIA'S TP :]STA 5 EVA 9 STR 0 WIS 7 ARC 4 ACC 10.../ / /...SEER & WANDMAKER .ACTION..:..TALKING TO LIVIA | ───── |
a nameless girl in the freshest summer greens, a saint, an angel;
contrivance
date: 27 september 2025
time: afternoon
location: hogwarts library
roleplaying as livia machavariani
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence
sta: 2 | eva: 10 | str: 0 | wis: 7 | arc: 8 | acc: 8
terrible presence
At first, Stella's reaction to Livia's inquiry was everything the young Slytherin could have wished for. She allowed a broad smile to her face, thinking it might accentuate the childlike nature she still thought she possessed, and, well, friends did smile at one another, no? Even if the smile was deliberate, it was still a smile tinged with genuine pleasure. She then reached up to adjust her scarf just minutely, straightening her shoulders as she moved; each movement was as intentional as it could be, meant to cement her as a kind-hearted, outgoing girl who had simply, rather unfortunately, made a small mistake – except, the thing was, the one thing Livia, so far, remained certain of, is that no mistakes had been made.
With her hands folded in front of her and a pleasant, amiable expression on her olive-toned face, she gladly took the quill offered to her. 'Really, thank you so much...' She trailed off, now aware that Stella had not, in fact, introduced herself. Luckily, Livia discerned that the pause would work in her favour, conveying a false uncertainty about the other girl's name.
Almost as if to aid her in her endeavour, her cheeks thought it a lovely idea to dust themselves in rosy blush when Stella suggested that she oughtn't to have forgotten her supplies if her intention truly was to study. Livia couldn't imagine how she'd seemed suspicious. She stared at Stella with wide green eyes, her expression blank for a moment, as if she were a clockwork figure with a broken cog. Finally, she gave a small shrug, a lackadaisical (although hardly real) smile on her lips. 'Aha, silly me. Very forgetful. You know, I'm something of a maths whiz, but we can't have everything.' After that imitation of the patterns of a speech of an upper-year she'd heard recently, Livia tittered, feeling very fake and altogether quite exhausted. Surely forgetfulness was normal, but for her, it simply did not occur, and although she lacked an aversion to deception, attempting to procure a reasonable excuse had taken far too long.
Luckily, Stella assured her that it happened to 'the best of us', which brought Livia's genuine contentment back to her exterior. Yes – even the most seasoned of chess masters could blunder. She paused, internally debating whether she should ask to sit near Stella or simply leave and speak again when returning the supplies; to her gratitude, Stella decided this for her by offering a spot at which she could sit. Livia nodded and slipped the parchment to the space in front of the open seat. 'Thank you – I do appreciate it.'
It was then that Stella introduced herself. Livia smiled, nodded, as if she hadn't known – as if she didn't know the girl's surname, too. 'A truly lovely name – from the Latin for star, no? Or is it Italian, for you?' Although she remained quite friendly as she spoke, the recognition of the name's likely origin stuck a pang of jealousy, like an adder's fang, into her heart. This was fitting, given that her own name referred to envy. Sometimes she wondered what her father had been thinking.
Whatever it might have been, it was of little importance now. Livia, who had rested her hands atop the back of the seat, paused. 'Well, yes. As much as it pains me to admit it, I'm simply dreadful at Transfiguration.' This statement, although curated to receive the most beneficial reaction from Stella, was not in itself a falsehood. Although, of course, Livia was an O-average student, excelling in nearly everything she attempted, she did not like how Transfiguration required both precision and open-mindedness. Although the girl possessed both separately, or so she opined, putting both together confounded her. 'I will return – I discovered a textbook last week, one that I think will be particularly useful.'
It took her less than two minutes to acquire a textbook that seemed properly beneficial. The large tome caused Livia great strain when she attempted to carry it back, and it released a soft thud upon hitting the table. 'My apologies,' Livia said softly, the gentle rasp of her voice directly mostly at Stella, but also at anyone in the vicinity. Only then did she take a seat. She opened the textbook to the page detailing the Sauce-Making Spell and sighed. This was where her deceptive skillset would surely be tested. Livia took notes on one of the parchments Stella had so generously provided her. Condimentum. Gamp's Law of Equal Exchange. Law of Conservation of Mass. These were all terms she was quite familiar with, despite the stunt she was about to attempt. With bright emerald eyes and a wan smile, she glanced up at Stella. 'Er, I apologise for badgering you further. However, I must admit that I have been attempting to study the Sauce-Making Spell, albeit with excessive ability. You are a second year, so I assume you have already learnt this spell – would you mind assisting me with its properties?'
@stella bianchi
| [staff] jessamine lancaster even you cannot conquer the sun. | marina alacrán [inpc] her hair is kinda wild and free. |
contrivance
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| ───── | "A truly lovely name–from the Latin for star, no? Or is it Italian, for you?" Stella nodded, charmed at the compliment. She had never harboured any particular fondness nor dislike for her own name, but its origin tied her back to her own family's roots, and it was always pleasing to have them recognised. "Yes—well—my family is Italian..." She sat up a little straighter at the mention of Transfiguration, brown eyes brightening against the soft sunlight streaming across her desk. It was her favourite subject, after all, and to her own great surprise, her most competent. Stella had always found Transfiguration rather beautiful in its underlying logic, the idea that one thing might be persuaded, through care and intent, to become another, without losing the truth of what it had been, requiring a respectful kind of imagination more than anything. Perhaps she could be of use to Livia beyond the proffering of a library seat, though before she could say anything, the younger girl had excused herself and quickly disappeared among the shelves, soft footsteps falling upon carpet with intentional direction. Stella blinked after her, wearing a small, bemused smile on rosebud lips, and picked her quill back up from its resting place on the table to resume taking her Charms notes. In the brief moment before Livia's promised return, the interaction replayed in Stella's mind, though for what reason she could not say for certain... there was a faint impression at the edge of her awareness, something not unkind, not unwelcome, but slightly askew in its rhythm—as if a melody had been played with a note ever so marginally out of tune, such that one could not easily name the error, only feel its presence. Before a tangible thought could be formed on the topic, though, Livia reappeared, holding a book that seemed twice her size. Any suspicious musings were instantly dispersed and forgotten; Stella had never been much inclined towards distrust without cause, and Livia's sweet courtesy had settled over her impressions like films of mildew grew against bathroom tiles and kitchen windows. The pair worked side by side in relative silence for a few minutes, broken softly by a request from Livia. Stella tilted her head a fraction in acknowledgement of both the question and the seriousness with which it had been asked, once again appreciating the endearing politeness her new friend carried herself and spoke with that was so harmonious with Stella's understanding of how people—and the world, in general—intrinsically worked: civil, and kind, and considerate. "Of course I don't mind," she said mildly, with an ease that suggested the matter was already settled in principle, if not yet in detail. Her quill, still resting loosely between her fingers, was set down with care once again, and she moved her chair a smidge closer to Livia. "You'll forgive me if I ask—when you say you are attempting the spell, do you mean the theory of it, or practical execution? I'd be happy to walk through the spell with you as I understand it, if you like..." She paused and glanced around their desk. The thought had occurred to her that casting any sort of spell, particularly one like the Sauce-Making Spell, was perhaps not the wisest or most considerate action in a library setting. "Though perhaps we ought to save real spellcasting for a slightly less libraryish place," she recommended with a smile. "And I should warn you in advance that, well, I'm not really certain I have any special talent for it beyond having made a few unremarkable sauces since learning the spell." Stella gave a small, self-effacing laugh, meeting Livia's eyes in shared humour. She could not quite get over her happiness at being acquainted with such a winsome character, though there was still the matter of how she could help the girl when wandwork was out of the question... "You mentioned struggling with Transfiguration as a whole," Stella said gently, trying to strike a balanced tone with acknowledging Livia's struggle without condescension or shame. "Do you have an idea of what it is exactly about the subject that you find challenging? I don't claim to have any real authority on it, but perhaps I might be able to help in a more general sense? I quite enjoy Transfiguration myself, and I'd like to think I'm alright at it." Stella delivered the last sentence with an almost apologetic modesty, not wanting to sound pompous or arrogant to her new friend. Casting her gaze downwards, she caught a glance at the parchment Livia had begun to write upon, noting the neatness of it as a reflection of the girl's care and discipline. If she really thought about it, it stood in faint contradiction to someone who claimed to simply have forgotten all of her supplies... Whatever the cause of Livia's Transfiguration-related plight, Stella was certain they could get to the bottom of it and resolve it in no time at all. | ───── |
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| ───── | TAG..@LIVIA MACHAVARIANI......NOTES..MY PIE! I'M SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT :,)STA 5 EVA 9 STR 0 WIS 7 ARC 4 ACC 10.../ / /...SEER & WANDMAKER .ACTION..:..TALKING TO LIVIA | ───── |
a nameless girl in the freshest summer greens, a saint, an angel;