certain birds only fly by night.
date: sometime in july 2025.
time: midday.
location: apothecary shop/diagon alley, london.
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
Family shopping, although necessary, was something Livia often avoided at all costs. Shopping days, especially in London, were always long and dreary. They took trains and dressed as finely-outfitted Muggles so that Julik would not begin to cry in the Floo network. Livia had begun to opine that her mother should not baby young Julian so; otherwise, he would never grow used to society. This notion had been considered selfish. Livia had been concerned, confused; she would never put herself over her brother, after all. Nonetheless, she aquiesced, having been told that, today, she would obtain both some nicely-tailored vestments and perhaps a sweet treat from Florean Fortescue's.
Her father had spent the majority of the day within the confines of Flourish and Blott's, a decision Livia wholly understood, even if her father – a Roman historian of magic – was far more of the bookish type than his curious daughter. Although the youth had a well-honed appreciation for ancient tomes, she believed one could learn more from the ancient art of doing. Thus, as her mother allowed her brother into Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, she queried as to whether she might be allowed into the Apothecary Shop.
It took a minute amount of bargaining as well as the concession that her mother accompany her before she received such an allowance. She peppered the shopkeeper with numerous questions, some of which he was unable to answer fully, all while her mother looked on in slight apprehension. Livia and her mother left the shop after an hour, and as they began to walk on the cobbled path once again, Livia struggled to maintain her balance with the bags upon her arms. She had simply needed to obtain some of the curious offerings from this spot, and, now, jars of bones, bezoars and various other slightly-icky knick-knacks filled the paper bags.
As Livia's gaze caught upon a rickety broom in a window, her mother seemed to be scouring the vicinity for something else. The girl nearly asked, but remained quiet, certain she would be told it was either 'adult business' or that 'children should be seen but not heard'. The second sentiment never applied to Julian, but Livia was, at least, intelligent enough to know when it might apply to her.
However, before Natela could find whatever strange artefact she was in search of, two quite familiar figures (at least for Natela) came into their vicinity. 'Livka, pay attention,' Natela murmured, and Livia glanced up from a shop window with a skull inside. Natela smiled warmly at the Dralts as they approached. 'Quelle suprise ! If it's not the Dralt family. Mr Dralt,' she gestured towards Isaac for Livia's benefit, 'this is my daughter, Livia. It's been quite some time since you've seen her, and she's grown quite a bit. Livia, do you remember Pericles?'
The truth, which Livia would refrain from admitting, was no. She plastered a smile on her face, though. 'Minutely. Hello again, Mr Dralt. And Mr Dralt.' She would offer a small curtsy that was likely not as graceful as intended, courtesy of the bags balancing preciously on her small arms.
@pericles dralt
giving pericles permission to godmod natela as needed.
title credits: certain birds by fish in a birdcage, shayfer james & sparkbird.
| jessamine lancaster even you cannot conquer the sun. | marina alacrán her hair is kinda wild and free. |
certain birds only fly by night.
┏
Outings had become rare for the father and son. Pericles had grown accustomed to meeting in the grungy confines of irreputable establishments- the Hog's Head as opposed to the Three Broomsticks, or Knockturn rather than Diagon. "Turned less heads", Isaac insisted. Yet Pericles had witnessed the slow decay of his father's social skills. His etiquette was losing its polish, and while his wife was away on a Seer's pilgrimage, isolation tarnished his mannerisms further. The vampire had developed a tendency to skulk, sticking to the sidelines of busy roadways, moving from one shadow to the next. His gaunt features were partially obscured by a hooded cowl, though his fangs weren't easily overlooked. His mouth hung slack-jawed to taste the air like a long-deprived lion. With a towering height, overly bright eyes and a prowling gait, the being was an ink blot against the colorful canvas of Wix society. Still, his son made an effort to reclaim normalcy between them. Maybe this was a soft-launch rehabilitation. After a meeting with an appraiser, Pericles had insisted on going for a stroll to a Diagon teahouse, one they "used to visit with mum." He lured him along, a boy leading a ghost by a string. The Machavariani trio were spotted first by Isaac, who nudged the young warlock with a whispered word, incidentally meeting the matron's gaze. They promptly detoured.
Pericles suspended his expression while waiting to see which side of his father's sugar-and-ice personality they would receive, face flat as he glanced between them. "Natela." Isaac purred the name, extending the informality like an umbrella on a rainy day. An upturned palm was offered, skeletal with overly long fingers, jagged yellow nails hidden politely by leather gloves. A gentle squeeze and release; he was aware of himself, always, and wouldn't suffer her the revulsion of dead lips pressed to the back of her warm hand. His smile was all teeth, and his eyes flashed when redirected to her children. "Why, if it isn't Little Livia, and littler Julian. How you've grown, indeed." His hands folded as Isaac returned to Natela, rumbling, "You have always worn motherhood beautifully. They are blossoming faster than fluxweeds. And what of their father? How fares Seamus?
Pear's expression, adapting on his father's queue, settled into pleasant surprise. His smile was equipped as an accessory, mouth quirked one way as his head cocked the other, combining for a curious but benevolent look. He remembered Livia blurrily. When he was six, the girl was barely one, an eerily tranquil infant staring at him with wide eyes from her mother's arms. He remembered grimacing awkwardly when offered to hold her, standing too-straight in an overly starched suit. He was afraid his sleeves wouldn't bend enough to properly support such a tiny thing. They'd surely seen one another in passing at some family function since. Somehow, that little sprout had rocketed up into a young lady, though it wasn't her spindly limbs which stuck out to Pericles. It was the way she radiated a Terrible Presence not all too dissimilarly from the undead at his side. Mister Dralt and Mister Dralt, she called them, unaware of how deeply he loathed being lumped in with the family name. Pear maintained his presentation all the same, returning her curtsy with a reflexive partial bow, saying smoothly "Please: Pericles."
It isn't just a passing hello, nor is it a diversion disguised as conversation as it was with @Eun-ji Lee Hunt's horrid grandmother. Isaac earnestly appeared to be enjoying the run-in. In fact, he was so caught up in dialogue that Pericles' fixed smile started to wane, and he became all-too aware of the girl withering beneath her haul. Da is on about the company, the upcoming upgrades, the small celebratory meeting he is about to host with beneficiaries only, to which the Machavarianis are obviously invited. Relief sparked in Pericles when he heard, "But I've stopped you in the street. May I indulge you over a cup of tea?" It is doused as he concludes, "Pericles could aid little Livia with the last of her list." The heir's face flickered with a displeasure momentary enough to be overlooked by those less attentive. He isn't opposed to aiding, but he's been voluntold, a lack of agency he resents deep down. The thought doesn't dim his smile as he assures with pristine professionalism, "It would be my pleasure, Misses Machavariani." He opened long arms to Livia, offering to relieve her burden as he added, "If you'll allow me?"┗ ┛
| @Livia Machavariani |
Last edited by Pericles Dralt on 20 May 2026, 17:55, edited 1 time in total.
{ 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔯𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔰 𝔞 𝔟𝔬𝔶: 𝔞 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔰𝔱𝔯𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢, 𝔢𝔫𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔡 𝔟𝔬𝔶. 𝔗𝔥𝔢𝔶 𝔰𝔞𝔶 𝔥𝔢 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔡𝔢𝔯𝔢𝔡 𝔳𝔢𝔯𝔶 𝔣𝔞𝔯 𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔯 𝔩𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔞𝔫𝔡 𝔰𝔢𝔞. }
(iNPC: Madhup Hexum)
certain birds only fly by night.
date: sometime in july 2025.
time: midday.
location: apothecary shop/diagon alley, london.
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
As much as decorum dictated that staring was a staunch breach of politesse, Livia could not stop herself from gazing wide-eyed at Isaac. She catalogued his choice of a handshake instead of the more proper kiss to the knuckles; she understood that something about him radiated a presence she could not quite articulate. Her mother did not seem too shaken, but Livia assumed this to be familiarity with him. Natela greeted Isaac with the confidence of someone well versed in the art of socialisation, returning the firm, although brief, handshake. She would not appear perturbed by what Livia perceived as a breach in etiquette.
Livia's gaze caught upon the flash of Isaac's teeth in his smile. She had not truly recognised smiles as things that were potentially threatening, not until now. But she supposed it was all, at the barest, a baring of teeth. Livia's free hand nonetheless found Julenka's shoulder; he had never been the best at encountering new people, and although Isaac was not exactly new to Livia, Julenka blinked up at him with wide brown eyes, clearly disconcerted. He softened somewhat at his sister's touch, but still remained hesitant. He did not speak, something that appeared to surprise Natela, as she spared him a small glance before returning her attention and smile to Isaac. 'Ah, thank you,' she said easily, lightly, welcoming the flattery as if it were a bouquet of expected flowers. 'Séamus? He's doing quite well; he's been bent over books for half the summer. You know him. Always engrossed in some project or another. He found a rare edition of an old history in Flourish and Blott's; he hasn't been able to set it down.'
Natela's lilting voice described Séamus's adventures and his research, and then some of her own work endeavours, and then various happenings Livia could not have followed even if she'd cared to try. She removed her hand from Julenka's shoulder and moved her bag to that hand, flexing the fingers of her now-free arm, which ached quite truly. Livia's attention, then, shifted from Isaac to Pericles. The younger Dralt did not exude the same looming presence as his father, though something to do with his eyes intrigued the girl. She did not stare instead just nodding when he corrected her incorrect assumption about his preference of name. 'Pericles,' she repeated, her voice low and raspy for an eleven-year-old girl.
Isaac offered Natela the idea of 'catching up over tea', something to which she agreed quickly and easily, leaving Livia – who was quickly finding she did not quite enjoy being referred to as 'little' – with Pericles, whose momentary shift in demeanour she had observed. She did not react to it, although it was mildly disappointing to simply be left with someone to whom she would be a burden. But, then again, she thought, watching Julenka follow Natela and Isaac, perhaps this was better than burdening the adults.
Thus, she made it her newfound mission to make herself useful to Pericles, or at least interesting to be around. Her eyes widened just slightly – perhaps noticeable to those with a Keen Eye – at Pericles having extended his arms towards her. At first, she did not comprehend what to do, but, after a moment's hesitation, she handed over the bag of assorted knick-knacks. 'Thank you, Pericles,' she affirmed, cautious not to use his surname. 'I had not realised that I would have to carry all that I bought. A silly error, I understand, but in the moment... well, they had so many things.' A hint of a hidden smile lifted her voice higher as she added, 'Bones of all sorts, the most interesting explosive mushrooms, leeches... even an unidentified blue powder, the likes of which I had not witnessed before. I do not even want to pour these into potions, not when I can admire them in their jars.'
Glancing up at Pericles with wide eyes, and duly ignoring the mention of 'the rest of her shopping list', she offered a tentative, tight-lipped smile. 'Do you like potions, Pericles?'
@pericles dralt
giving pericles permission to godmod natela as needed.
title credits: certain birds by fish in a birdcage, shayfer james & sparkbird.
| jessamine lancaster even you cannot conquer the sun. | marina alacrán her hair is kinda wild and free. |