survival of the fittest

Lucinda Jane Talkalot. Slytherin. Half-blood and proud. Sixth year. Beater. “My skin has turned to porcelain, to ivory, to steel.” { A force to be reckoned with. }

[sheddingscales]

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”

“How about overdressed and under-educated?” Lucinda drawled. They were debating over the Frog choir’s new uniform, which many were branding as pompous, more than a little over the top, downright stupid. It wasn’t something she particularly cared about or payed any attention to but they were frankly hard to miss. Besides, Lu couldn’t resist the reply. The smile on her lips fizzled out with thoughtfulness. She shrugged at Reginald. “Maybe it shouldn’t matter what you dress like if the singing’s any good, yeah?” With that she left him for class.

[roleplayaskmemes]

Oscar Wilde starter sentences - put one in my ask box! (part one)

[sheddingscales]

roleplayaskmemes:

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

“Always forgive your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.”

“The truth is rarely pure and never simple.”

“Women are meant to be loved, not to be understood.”

“A good friend will always stab you in the front.”

“Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.”

“A thing is not necessarily true because a man dies for it.”

“Everything in the world is about sex except sex. Sex is about power.”

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”

“Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.”

“I can resist anything except temptation.”

“To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance.”

“To define is to limit.”

“I have nothing to declare except my genius.”

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.”

“Every woman is a rebel.”

“I like men who have a future and women who have a past.”

“Youth is wasted on the young.”

“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all.”

“Women have a much better time than men in this world; there are far more things forbidden to them.”

“Some things are more precious because they don’t last long.”

“It takes a great deal of courage to see the world in all its untainted glory, and still to love it.”

“The mystery of love is greater than the mystery of death.”

“Hear no evil, speak no evil, and you won’t be invited to cocktail parties.”

“The basis of optimism is sheer terror.”

“Only the shallow know themselves.”

“One should always be in love. That’s the reason one should never marry.”

“No man is rich enough to buy back his past.”

“Friendship is far more tragic than love. It lasts longer.”

“Irony is wasted on the stupid.”

“Deceiving others. That is what the world calls a romance.”

[sheddingscales]

professor-blishwick:

Matilda gave Lucinda a nod. “I really do. I’ve just been informed that aurors are on their way, but that’s truly the only concrete information I know.” She felt horrible that she didn’t know more and couldn’t give more information to the students, but she knew she had to do her best to ease their worries and fear if she could.

Aurors. That should have comforted her more. She idolized them once and still aspires to be one. However, the attack made everything seem a bit more real. Aurors were heroes, yes, but they were human to Lucinda now, too. “Well, thanks, then. That’s decent of you. Keep us updated, yeah, Professor?” She needed news, facts, so her head could stop inventing them and focusing on the worst possibilities.

[sheddingscales]

kate-estelle-wood:

Kate turned to face Lucinda and gave her a tight smile. “Really? I’d like that. Are you sure?” Lucinda probably had better things to do than help Kate, but she had still offered.

Her head could not nod quickly enough. “Absolutely, yeah. I need to be useful, to be honest. Where have you looked already?” They ought to go about it logically, rather than running around the hall like headless chickens.

[sheddingscales]

A voice of reason among chaotic clamour. Lara offered sensible answers to Lucinda’s worries but ultimately they made her feel more and more powerless. “They better. They will, I know. It’s just maddening to sit here, isn’t it?” And aren’t we nearly adults? Her head whispered.

[sheddingscales]

roxannemontegue:

She looked over and watched the girl beside her, slowly nodding in agreement. They shouldn’t be shocked, none of them should. Some of their fellow students no doubt were involved in the group that attacked and killed so many innocent people, but even that hadn’t fully registered. They all knew war was coming; well, here it was. “It’s become more real,” she said quietly, looking down. “Even if we knew it was coming, it never struck so close until now.”

They shouldn’t, shouldn’t, yet they were. Of course, the were. Once again, Roxanne had struck the truth, there was no way anyone could have prepared for this. Not only could they not imagine the scale of it nd how it would feel, it was difficult to resist falling into the illusion of comfort, of safety Hogwarts supported. Even Lucinda had and the destruction of that illusion only made the impact worse. “I feel so useless. And all I’m doing is complaining.”

[sheddingscales]

charliesporter:

Charlie nodded, confirming everything Lucinda was saying. Just like she was doing right now, she had done before and she would do whenever Lucinda needed it- Charlie wouldn’t let her fall, or lose hope, or both. That’s how their friendship worked, that’s how it had been since they met; one would support the other at all times. Some would say Charlie was always way too positive, way too optimistic – how dared that girl hope for the best even when the worst was right there, happening? – The thing is, if she didn’t hope for the best, then there was nothing left. If she didn’t hope for the best, Rosmerta was dead, a war would happen and they would lose it; if she didn’t hope for the best, things would never change, hatred for mugles would always exist and innocent people would always die. Charlie did not want to live in a world where there was no hope. 

“James and his friends are planning on leaving the castle and go looking for Rosmerta. So know that if the Ministry can’t bring her back, we will.”

Charlie was so positive, incredibly hopeful but Lucinda could not brand it naive or foolish. Not then, when she needed that optimism like the breath that steadied her. The logic of her head might have protested but it was completely over-ruled by the fundamental, primal need for the hope that was keeping her afloat. That was the only thing that kept her from drowning, from altogether losing it right there in the Great Hall. On a basic level, this was about survival. Hers and Rosmerta’s. Lucinda didn’t just want to believe what Charlie said, which her heart clove to, she needed to.

It was not insubstantial, the hope Charlie provided. Not just crafted words, seemingly soothing but empty.  James and his friends are planning on leaving the castle and go looking for Rosmerta. So know that if the Ministry can’t bring her back, we will. That was tangible, that was something desperate fingers could hold onto, hold tight to. Lucinda opened her mouth but fumbled over words. James and his friends -- how could she hope to, dream of being a part of that? Who would have connected that word with her? Yet she felt she had to go. Not only out of duty, out of genuine care, Lucinda had the skills they needed. She had devoted her life to DADA, in class and outside of it. Mostly, it was to protect herself, but she would be lying if she said she hadn’t dreamed of being an Auror. This was what she was waiting for, the test of what was real and imagined. “Could I -- can I join you? I reckon I can help. I know it.”

[sheddingscales]

andrewjianli:

“Sorry,” he said, almost instinctively. It wasn’t a very thoughtful question to ask at a time like this. He definitely should have said something better - maybe asked if she knew Rosmerta or something. “Hey …” something was definitely going on and he didn’t know what, but he didn’t like seeing people upset. “I’m sure you are. And she’ll be back. Uh, yeah. We’re in the same house and year and I like her.” They had bonded when it became apparent they were both a little odd and thinking about her gone … it was killing him.

At his apology, Lucinda shook her head in disagreement. It wasn’t thoughtless, he couldn’t have known she would react badly to such an innocuous question and it was innocuous. “It’s not your fault. Simple question.” Or it should have been. It appeared to be simple for Andrew -- We’re in the same house and year and I like her. “Is that all it takes?” She hoped so. There was so much Lucinda hoped for:  Rosmerta’s safety, which was obviously the most important; her friendship, which worried her all the same. But hoping was equivalent to uncertainty for her and that she despised, even feared.

[sheddingscales]

andrewjianli:

“Nasty word, isn’t it?” Andrew glanced around absently, frowning in thought. It was discouraging on one hand but there was some hope in it. At least they hadn’t found her … he didn’t want to finish the thought. “Were you - are you friends?”

Were you -- are you friends? The words dizzied her. Lucinda’s mind alternated between the frightening words (were? are?) so quickly, she felt she was spinning around. The other grounded her -- friends? Did she have people she could call friends? What constituted friends? Was Rosmerta one of her friends? The word recurred and recurred, always a ｑｕｅｓｔｉｏｎ . Lucinda swallowed. When she thought of the girl, she thought of warmth and generosity, openness. Proximity. All the things her daily life lacked. Then maybe they were. “I hope so.” Merlin, I hope so. A desperation thickened her voice. If  when Rosmerta came back, she’d talk to her about it. “Are you?”

[sheddingscales]

charliesporter:

Charlie shook her head negatively and held Lucinda’s arm. “I didn’t say it, I didn’t say that I think she’s dead, do you hear me?” she said, “I said that she didn’t go missing. People don’t simply disappear. I said they captured her and that’s because she has muggle parents — that is what I said.” Charlie was aware that, anyway, it meant Rose could be dead by now — but there was a chance, a possibility, that she wasn’t, and she wanted to hold on to that while still not forgetting that the girl might never come back. “I… know this sounds stupid, but I want to hope for the best. I don’t want to assume that she’s simply gone, and neither should you.”

She snatched the air back into her lungs while listening. Each breath and each word steadied her, like Lucinda had something to lean on. Possibility. Hope. She didn’t believe it. They always challenged each other -- she and Charlie -- in class and outside it. But it seemed like more that just that, you couldn’t label it a rivalry. There was a support there, a belief that the other could achieve what they knew them capable of. They did not just push each other, they held each other up.  Holding steady the ladder that led them to their goals. “No. You’re right.” Lucinda enunciated it with a steel to her voice. “That doesn’t sound stupid. What’s stupid is assuming. Sitting around here and deciding there is nothing to be done. Giving up and -- and hardly giving her a ｃｈａｎｃｅ  . Right?”

[sheddingscales]

ofambiticn:

“That’s what they’re saying,” she murmured, looking up at Lucinda’s voice. A rare comforting look struck her face, and for a moment she contemplated taking the younger girl’s hand. In stead, she choose to use l o g i c to comfort her. “I — Luce, she’s probably alright, okay? It is not like death eaters to just take someone quietly, and they had not reached the village yet. Maybe she’s just, I don’t know – maybe she didn’t hear the alarm. I’m sure it will be okay.”

Lucinda listened to Lara’s words, clung to them. They did comfort her, mostly because she knew the girl wouldn’t just make something up to make her feel better. But only to a point -- yes, there was a possibility Rosmerta was alright, but she was still out there alone and maybe confused. “Something needs to be done, then. Who’s looking for her out there?”

[sheddingscales]

stcrdustandroses:

An exception. Lucinda was really lovely to her, and she wondered then what made her so special. All she was was another artist with another m a d d e n i n g mind, nothing exceedingly brilliant ( though, she was quick to tell others otherwise ). Her family kicking her out flat on her arse was an example of that. “Well, thank you for letting me be your lucky exception.” It made her feel better, even if it left her brain reeling with questions as to why? Even if was all in the past, even if there was nothing to do but move on and really in a way she had made her peace  – there was no use in complaining … why? When Lucinda answered, Rosmerta knew the other girl was probably doing what she did. Besides, no one carried around liquor and spliff like this if they were feeling dandy. She wouldn’t push further. “I worked at the Three Broomsticks, so, I have some of the best shit really. If you need anything just come to me, yeah? I was the one who got everyone too knackered to remember their names at Lily and Doe’s party and I’m not sure whether to be proud or worried about new found powers of bartending.”

It was difficult for Lucinda to put her finger on it. Sometimes you could sense something about a person, not deductible from what they said or did, it radiated from the way they said or did it. Gut instinct. Lucinda but faith in that, if not auras or sixth senses. “No problem, did do anything, really.” At her offer, a grin broke across the girl’s face. Rosmerta was so open and generous -- though they had been talking all of five minutes, she was bulldozing all Lucinda’s defensive walls. She could feel it, but didn’t particularly care. That was half the effect of the alcohol and half the fact that she didn’t want to forfeited present company. Nudging her, Lu teased, “Yeah? Wow. Might be the best thing I ever did, making that exception.” She felt better already. A laughed filled the air at the experience she referenced, “Rosmerta -- the woman, the myth, the legend. You should be proud of that, I think. Everyone was happy, at least.”

[sheddingscales]

please mr.postman

[charityburbge]

Charity felt p a t h e t i c, causing a scene like this for no good reason. Wrapped up in her own mind, she could only think about the effects it had on her, which was incredibly unlike her — but then, she wasn’t much like herself in that moment. She did not notice how younger students seemed affected by her outburst, she did not notice the worried way Lucinda wrapped her arm around her – all she really noticed was a comfort sitting around her shoulders. And she was grateful.

“Thank you,” she whispered, and while Lucinda and her had not really spoken since the party, she let herself lean against the brunette. Tears did now leave her eyes, and she wished she could stop them — but it might help indeed. “This is enough,” and she did still feel rather pathetic ( and selfish ), yes, but she could not deny that Lucinda’s comfort was something she had needed. A silence followed, Charity trying to find her voice and say words that were right, even though she didn’t know what they were. All she could think about was Rose, and her stomach grew tighter and tighter everything her name entered her mind. After a while, she looked up. “Are you okay?”

[sheddingscales]

She was racked with worries -- that she wasn’t doing this right or well enough, that she would only make matters worse. But Lucinda had to try, it was better to offer help and fail than to fail to offer help, wasn’t it? When she heard Charity’s whisper, the saddest smile contorted her lips. Without thought, her unsure grip on the girl’s shoulders tightened. Naturally, Lucinda rubbed softly up and down Charity’s forearm, something that her mum did and she always found comforting. Something that she did then.

“Do you want to sit down? Or we could go to the toilet? Surely they’d have to let us do that.” There was no place for privacy here. “But don’t think you need to hide your tears, either. Everyone here is as scared as you are. We all have different ways of showing it, but doesn’t mean shit.  Anyone who tells you any different -- that crying is a sign of weakness or whatever -- is really dense. Or else they’re trying to cover up how scared they are.“ Lucinda was surprised at herself, how many thoughts she voiced and to such as extent. Then she felt awful and stupid for rambling.  Shrugging, she added, “But you probably knew all that.” There were lots of ways she could have answered Charity’s question, but after a moments deliberation, Lucinda held up her free hand, quaking, for her to see. It was an answer in itself. It was the most honest one.

[charliesporter-blog]

“Yes,” she answered, only loud enough for Lucinda to hear. After all the shock of the attack, after talking to several people, after all the panic, all the was left for her to think about was Rose. “It’s horrible, and kind of obvious what happened, isn’t it? a Death Eater attack and a muggleborn girl goes missing,” she said. Charlie sighed, rubbing her own face with her two hands. “Are you okay? I didn’t see you at Hogsmeade.” 

[sheddingscales]

Kind of obvious what happened. The words rang through her head, like that blasted alarm. They sounded dangerous, but too final to be a warning. It was that -- the finality of them -- which made her nauseous. “You think she’s -- ?” Lucinda couldn’t say it, nor could she answer or acknowledge anything else Charlie had said.

[sheddingscales]

They shared fire whiskey and spliff. She hadn’t judged Lucinda, she didn’t even pry -- she was just open and listening and talking and there. In return, she had gotten closer to Lucinda in days than many had in years. Side by side. Exceptional. 

“Missing?” What a suggestive, sinister word. She couldn’t take it in, Lucinda refused it.

[roxannemontegue-blog]

The Death Eater attack honestly terrified her. The prospect of the war that everyone talked about, while still real and scary, was suddenly even more real and prominent before. Before the attack on Hogsmeade village, it was merely talk, not something she could actually, fully grasp. Now…with people dead and injured, with talk of a student missing…

Roxanne was terrified.

She kept her panic on the inside the best she could, schooling her features and finding people who were less-than-calm and trying to sooth them. Suddenly someone was beside her, and she took a deep breath. “I can’t believe this happened…”

[sheddingscales]

I can’t believe this happened. Roxanne had voiced what Lucinda had failed to put into words, even just in her head. The experience was so surreal. The shrill shriek of the alarm, which Lucinda didn’t believe existed, which she had never heard before on countless visits to the village. The panicked flight from Hogsmeade, during which her legs seemed to run automatically. Now, this -- confinement in the Great Hall, where they had ate meals and hung decorations. It was not to be believed, too much to be processed or understood.

Yet at the same time, it was absolutely plausible. At the same time a war had been brewing for so long, it was only a matter of time until it reached them. It was not as though they could be immune, not even in Hogwarts. They didn’t live in a different world, though some might have been under that illusion. Lucinda never was, so why was she so disorientated now? “Me either. But at the same time I...shouldn’t be so shocked.”