Link to your encyclopedia thread: x
Name of Ability or Race/Talent that you Are Applying for: Prodigal Defense Against the Dark Arts Learner
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):

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Adelaide Barlowe was an overachiever. Some may say she was born that way - always striving to be the best at everything she does and to be better than everyone - which wasn't exactly a lie, and it also didn't help that she has always been a perfectionist. She had to be perfect in everything, she always had to be ahead than others and she hated not knowing something. So, it didn't come to a surprise to anyone that the majority of her free time at Hogwarts was spent in the library studying or reading ahead in her textbooks, which probably sounded incredibly boring to the average teen who hated homework, studying and school and preferred to be out with their friends, but Adelaide loved learning. She was always eager to learn new things, her intelligence being one of many things she prided herself on.

Even when she was a young child, while her sister was occupying herself with flying a toy broom and playing outside with her friends, Adelaide was sat in her room, a pile of textbooks beside her as she flew through them, the words instantly soaking into her brain and staying there. Her tutor always praised her for knowing so much ahead of the lessons, which made her happy and proud of herself. Even her parents were proud of having such an intelligent young girl, and her mother was glad that Adelaide took after her love of learning and her intelligence.

Defense Against the Dark Arts was one of the classes Adelaide was the most excited for at Hogwarts, and it definitely lived up to her expectations, quickly becoming her favorite class. It also appeared that she had a natural talent for the subject (though if you asked Adelaide she had a natural talent for mostly everything) as she never got anything below an O in any piece of homework or test. She found herself unable to wait until the next class to learn more so she would always read ahead in her textbook and would also frequently find herself heading to the library to find as many books on DADA as she could to read. By the end of her first year, Adelaide was quite confident in saying that she had read most of the books on DADA in the library.

She also aspired to sign up for the Ravenclaw Duelling Team in her second year, and she knew the spells she learnt in DADA would be the most helpful, so it was honestly quite lucky that she enjoyed DADA as much as she did. The Ravenclaw thought that being able to know spells a year above her is the perfect way for Adelaide to prove to everyone, especially her parents, that she's worthy and intelligent. Hopefully, one day, with her determination, she would become a great Duellist.

Word Count: 471/400

Link to your encyclopedia thread: Behold
Name of Ability or Race/Talent that you Are Applying for: Perfectionist
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it):

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June Selwyn spent her entire first year obsessed with her reputation. And while she didn't particularly take an active role in creating one until later in the year, she certainly was thinking about it from the moment she stepped on the Hogwarts Express that fateful September day. Reputation was consistently the name of the game, especially, especially when it came to her reputation with professors. She refused to have any reputation she would form start off with her being poor at magic. At while the idea of socializing and building notoriety for herself amongst peers terrifying, her professors seemed more approachable, somehow.

Call her a teacher's pet, call her a kiss-ass, but June Selwyn has always strived to be the best in her classes. She could not, she would not be the student that required extra attention, assistance, or tutoring after class. And, of course, this required perfection. Always perfection. Every word, every syllable, every movement had to be down pat before even attempting to cast the spell in front of anyone. Countless hours were spent in her dorm room or common room, impeccable attention spent on each and every detail while trying to go unnoticed by her peers. No one could know how hard she worked, she wanted her results to appear effortless.

And as stressful as it could be, June took immense pleasure from the whole process. It was incredibly rewarding when the praise from professors and peers came, when she earned top marks and never needed assistance in classes. Her pride in her public perception only fuelled her need to keep pushing, keep being perfect. Which perhaps was not good for her psyche, but with the comfort it was to her ego, she paid little mind to any possible negative repercussions.

This led to June taking casting spells very seriously. Practicing in her head or under her breath was the first thing she did as she was getting ready in the morning, and was the last thing she did in bed as the candles had been snuffed and softly snoring roommates dreamt away. The desire, the need to show no flaw, no mistake is what consumed June's mindset, even beyond casting. The slightest slip or crack in anything she did could bring her reputation tumbling to the ground, taking all of her work down with it.

Perfection was simply the only option.

Word count: 400

Link to your encyclopedia thread: Ency Link
Ability you Are Applying for: Wandmaker

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WC: 1000

Wood: Walnut—
Few would look upon walnut and offer its wielder any sort of birth or respect or fear. Neither rare nor associated with any particular power or prestige, the walnut wand would provide Evelynn no particular boon. It is, however, well known and respected for its appearance. Dark, hard, and dense, the wood is prized for its strength and ability to tolerate fine carving and complex workmanship. Among the temperate hardwoods, its quality is unmatched, and it is said to occupy a class unto itself. In the wizarding world, it is said to pair well with those of superior intelligence and versatility. This does, in many ways, reflect Evelynn. Spouted by more than a few of her peers as the brightest witch of her year, Evelynn possesses an uncommon intelligence that goes beyond merely the academic. Intuitive and well educated, she is often capable of reading her peers, occasionally leaving them feeling as though she had a glimpse of that which had not been said. In the field, she is often capable of grasping the larger picture of a situation and comes swiftly to a decision of how best to proceed in a given moment. Dynamic critical thinking and decision making are what have helped her in her position as captain of her quidditch team, modifying strategies on the fly. Their—until recently—unbroken record was a testament to this. Beyond this, she also carries herself with a certain dignified reservation. Understated and collected, Evelynn is not a fan of the lime-light, and prefers not to draw attention unless it serves a specific purpose. Even then, efficiency is key, and she would balk at any notion to do more than what was necessary to achieve a desired outcome. Realistically, walnut is—in all ways—her representative. Let us just hope she never loses sight of her currently unyielding moral compass...

Core: Wampus Cat Hair—
While not born as an innate legilimens, if Evelynn had a questionable aspiration, that would be it. For her, indoctrinated into an unknown world from the significant disadvantaged position as an outsider, the acquisition of knowledge has always been viewed as paramount. This knowledge was never limited to academia. Knowing people could be as valuable, or even more so; a lesson that solidified itself with every passing year. Hogwarts was hardly the place of safety and security students were lead to believe. Deceit and danger lurked around every corner. Friends would come and disappear months later. Over and over. And more than once, those that she had even considered close(r) confidantes had fallen into haggish hands. Trust had become a resource in short supply. Conversely, the need to gauge the intent and well-being of those around her had sky-rocketed. She was still a novice in the skill, but she has shown a natural talent in that ability, keeping a collected exterior to ensure to take stock of a person and situation. Very little shakes her resolve in that. Evelynn is still carving her path and developing her values and idealisms, but one thing she is not is easily swayed. Preferring to come to her own conclusions, she takes the time to assess a situation and weigh all information available to her. Desperately loyal to those very few who have earned her affection, she has already shown herself on more than one occasion willing to brave danger in efforts to save them. For the most part, she flies down the straight and narrow, upholding and modelling expected rules and regulations of the school. That said, neither has she any issue with breaking a rule herself if she believes it necessary either for the greater good, or to accomplish a necessary task. After all, rules aren't inherently good; just as dark spells aren't inherently bad. It really comes down to the intent behind an action. And Evelynn is exceptionally skilled at justifying hers.

Length: 22.4 cm—
While hardly short of personality, there isn't a single peer who would ever describe Evelynn as either dramatic or lively. Well known for her polite mannerisms and refined tastes, "aloof" and "dignified" have more commonly been used as her descriptors for the prefect. In spell-casting, she is much the same, preferring precise movements that eliminate extraneous flair. For her, smaller is more fitting, particularly given her tendency to conceal carry. A wand on the shorter side would be much preferred, while also reflecting her reined nature.

Flexibility: Supple—
Given a wand's rigidity denoting its owner's willingness to change and general level of adaptability, Evelynn's would likely fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. She is, of course, very adaptable. She has to be. Situations can change in an instant and circumstances like quidditch and the various school events have her constantly on her toes, waiting for the next key piece of information that changes her entire approach in that moment. She plans and prepares, but understands that flexibility is key. In order to survive, one must adapt. If it were as simple as that, she might find herself in possession of yet another swishy wand. However, it also represents a willingness to change, which is something in which Evelynn isn't as easily swayed. She may be flexible in a situation, but not so in her beliefs. She is steadfastly loyal to those whom she has stamped as having earned it, and rigid in her values. Once she has made her mind up about something, it is generally because she has already considered all aspects that might impact that belief. Nothing is likely to sway it easily without bringing to the table a significant and novel piece of information. Once she has a goal in mind, she will pursue it relentlessly. When she deems a peer has earned her ire, no amount of sweet-talking or bribery will shift her resolve. She is rather paradoxical in that regard. Flexible, but rigid. Adaptable, but unyielding. To bring it to the centre would reveal a wand of balance. One that is neither whippy nor solid, but rather supple.

(If approved, no need to add to trunk, I'll include it in my Ency Update Form)

Name & Ency: Piérre Marchonné

Applied Ability: 's Grace

Rationale:

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Was he graceful? No. Was he quiet? Not really. Was he subtle?

Um... We still know who we're talking about here, right?

It is Piérre, right?

Still him? Yeah, okay. Still talking about him, got it.

Okay, so he wasn't "stealthy" in the traditional sense. He didn't stick to shadows and try to walk soundlessly behind other people like a little sneak. The kid was way more polite. He'd prefer to run right up to them instead and then wreak mass chaos on them in a plethora of different ways.

But before he could act on his myriad plots of tomfoolery, the boy had to be able to make sure that he had found the right person and that was in the right place for his keen eyes to spot a place to spring his traps from. On top of that, all of this would have to be performed from a position of undetectability. This led Pierre to an interesting and shocking conclusion about himself as he went about the process of reinventing his place as the sower of general trickery about the halls of Hogwarts, becoming more and more refined in his art as he went.

He was unparalleled at being a social chameleon.

Throughout his years, the boy had never once worn the same house colors more than thrice in the same week. He had gone out of his way to obtain every single house's uniform colors in his first and second year, and with the help of Multicolorfors, it made the job much easier and more flexible for if his plans had to change on the fly. With the right outfit and the right personality... The boy seemed to disappear from the average person's typical scan of the immediate environment.

There was something about that ability to gel effortlessly into passing conversations with a disarming smile and a flexible disposition that Piérre used to observe and watch from a safe distance from his target or the focus of his curiosity. In tandem with his cat, Figaro, both master and familiar were often one or the other seen, but seldom together. Sometimes, they were not seen at all, hidden in a pool of gossip just between two suits of armor, perhaps hovering just overhead on a broom pretending to enjoy a flight with a small pod of students in Flying class, hiding his face behind a goblet of pumpkin juice as those around him laughed and carried on (with himself joining in the frivolities with great enthusiasm from time to time).

Crowds were his camouflage, and if there were no crowds, his ability to make himself appear disinteresting and mundane to the eye, even for an wizard of his exotic origin and veritable reputation. Rumors would be rumors, but Piérre knew the truth. He learned things from other people in those meaningless conversations, every discussion planting a new idea in his head and his own thoughts germinating in others'.

But above all-- the mage of a thousand names, the fool of many colors, the boy who "didn't exist"-- Piérre Marchonné liked to watch and understand by means of hearing words from the horse's own mouth before drawing conclusions or jumping too hastily to an accusation. A skill that more than a few people he had met at Hogwarts thus far had seemed to lack; and people who had shortly vanished after interfacing with and throwing accusations at Piérre, strangely enough...

Now, Piérre was reinventing himself again, better than ever now. A new future was waiting for him, a destiny that he could just barely scrape the tips on his fingers on but not quite grasp. It was an elusive thought. A silly thought, really. The idea of travel, of performances; of magic, intrigue, and misdirection. A dream of the idea of finding others like him, those who had no idea of the world that they would soon become a part of and being able to guide them the right way so that they didn't have to struggle and learn the hard way on their own like he had.

To do that... And not exist in the immediate minds of the common world. After all, he was content to watch joy emanate from others because of the things he did with a light heart and silly intent. He didn't have to be an obsession. He shouldn't be an obsession.

He didn't want to be an obsession.

He was content to be the little voice in the periphery before a show of brilliance and awe, the small and mischievous giggle that reminded those who truly listened that there was always more than what met the eye.

And what merry green eyes those were; eyes that only children endowed with curiosity and keen intrigue, like himself, would be able to see.

800 words

If approved, I will add the ability to my Encyclopedia Update Form myself!

Link to your encyclopedia thread: Here
Name of Ability or Race/Talent that you Are Applying for: Lovely Creature
Describe why this fits your character (not why you the player want it): (WC: 476)
Seren had always been told she was pretty, by her grandparents and the various portraits she had met at least. She was not used to being stared at, however... It was not something she had encountered, not really, until she had begun visiting Diagon Alley to do shopping for school. If it had happened her first time, though, she had not noticed. She had been far too nervous, and too scared, to notice anything. She had been focused on her supplies, and not making any mistakes that might embarrass her. Indeed, if she HAD noticed anyone staring, she would have assumed she had done something foolish, not that she was unusually pretty and thus eye catching.

However, as time went on, when she dealt with strangers after that, on the streets as she went for her rare walks or on the odd occasion she got to visit Diagon Alley outside of school, she found she was attracting a LOT of looks her way. It was unnerving to the shy young girl, and she took to wearing a hood whenever she could get away with it.

When she could not, however, she found that the staring continued. Sometimes, people seemed to be staring so much they got distracted by what they were doing and made mistakes. Once or twice, that had worked in her favor (A candy seller accidentally mischarging her for her purchase, as an example, because the salesperson had been so busy staring they misread the weight. Surprise discounts did not displease Seren, but she HAD wondered if she should say something.) but on others, people had gotten upset when they realized they had been so caught up in staring that they had spilled the ingredient they were trying to weigh out all over the counter. It was truly awkward for the young woman.

Another effect she noticed was displeased looks from some people, especially her mother, who did not seem to approve of the attention that the girl was receiving, but there was little Seren could do about that.

Anyway one looked at it, Seren was finding it harder and harder to deny the fact that for some reason, people seemed to find her irresistible to stare at, and it was not like she was doing anything strange, generally, when she was being stared at. She tended to keep her Metamorphmagus ability usage to when she was in private. For a time she had thought it was the Ombre hair she had taken to 'wearing' each day, but when she went out and about with her natural black hair, as a test, no one seemed to act any different.

Seren was confused, and uncomfortable, at the way people seemed to think she was just such a lovely creature, but this was her life, and she would, somehow, have to learn to live with it.

link to your encyclopedia thread / link here
name of ability that you are applying for / terrible presence
describe why this fits your character / word count: 453

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Autumn thrives on the discomfort of others. It's a part of her she rarely finds worthy of pride, but one she indulges anyway. She wants people to be on their toes around her, enjoys feeling dangerous. Maybe it's a coping mechanism, meant to keep everyone around her at arm's length, emotionally and often literally. Maybe she was born that way, destined to scare. Possibly it's genetic, yet another metaphorical punch in the face from her mother, who also happens to be cursed with a bone-chilling ambience to her. Maybe it's because it's easier to be scary than to be approachable. Either she's gotten so used to presenting as frightening that it requires no effort anymore, or there's something naturally scary about her; most likely, it's both, because it all goes back.

Back to when she was born, maybe. When her relatives stared at her dark brown eyes and saw none of the life and purity and childish joy they had expected. She hadn't cried no matter what the nurses had done, and her grandmother had said it was an omen.

Perhaps back when she started school. She could intimidate anybody in vicinity with a single glare, and the bullies avoided her, saying she made them feel icky. The teachers noted her lack of popularity, and told her parents they were worried Autumn was scaring the other kids off.

The chill that followed her around peaked following her father's death; that part was certain. She hated everyone, and her terrifying demeanour became more intentional- sharper, more refined. She watched people, studied what made them sweat, and she integrated those things into everything she did. She walked within the shadows, spoke cryptically, glowered, scowled, threatened people and followed through on those threats. With enough time, she no longer had to try. This thing- this terrible presence,- it was who she was now, for better or for worse.

And now the darkness practically follows her around. The atmosphere becomes silent and the air becomes cold wherever she goes. She's unsure how to stop it, and she's unsure whether she wants to. She can't make friends in the rare occurrences in which she tries, and when she's in crowds she can feel people watching her, whispering and tensing up when she looks their way. In an awful way, she enjoys it. She enjoys the disconnect to others, the way they react to her aura. Enjoys seeing them shiver when she speaks.

It's a guilty pleasure, and one she's lost control of. She has a sneaking suspicion it will, as most things concerning her do, come back to haunt her sometime in the future, but for now she simply basks in this terrible presence she seems to possess.

(if approved, i'll add to the ency update form)