Meet CLARISSA ALIGHERI. They are of UNKNOWN age and origin. Clarissa embodies the star, BELLATRIX. They use she/her pronouns and are currently employed as a CRYSTELLARIUM RESEARCHER at the CELATHERS RESEARCH INSTITUTION.Their faceclaim is KEELEY HAWES.
Bellatrix reminds me of ;ethality: scariest when it is quiet and unexpected. neatly-ironed suits and all your ducks in a row; your sister has always been chaos, and as no god can handle her, they must create you and name you order. mouth creasing in displeasure until it is a frown, fault-lines of annoyance in flesh. meticulously organised notes. a reputation of whispers from someone you used to be, and a sense that you could be — still — at a moment’s notice. .
They do not know where they come from, and it is in the family’s interest — if not theirs — that it stays as such. The most prolific ‘Alighieri’ is Clarissa’s sister Lysandra ( who chose the moniker ) but — however 'independent’ she may pride herself on being — Lysandra wouldn’t be Lysandra without Clarissa.
The two are not twins ( this much they know ) but they bicker as though they are, the same younger-older argument borne out through the centuries with a mother who refuses to answer. ( They have always been waiting upon the Cain instinct to find the truth. But neither one has died yet. )
Their mother, Chiara ( a truly fearsome woman ) pit them against each other — it was always a tradition in their family — in the aim of making them stronger. So Clarissa fostered a burgeoning duelling ability — and could take credit for her sister’s competence in that regard, certainly — and Lysandra taught her a confidence she still carries today.
So the skill her sister now has with magic comes from an upbringing they barely remember, but the skills are muscle memory, and why? Clarissa, bearer of the mark of Bellatrix.
But what has Clarissa been doing? How has she been spending her time? Well, she’s spent it in her own way: moving from duelling club to duelling club ( legal, underground, she was never fussy ) to make a name for herself as the most notorious of duellists, particularly known for honing crystals for more offensive use as well as… her own particular flair.
In the duelling ring she is known as Nemesis, goddess of revenge against hubris — it has always made her chuckle — and she has made many regret thoughtlessly challenging her. Particularly her sister, when she needs to remember who knows — and taught her — every trick in the book. Duelling is a craft to Clarissa Alighieri, and she takes it deadly seriously.
Not that you’d know. In fact, when she’s not working at the institute researching into crystals, Clarissa runs an (illegal) duelling ring — sort of Fight Club-esque, first rule of fight club everybody — from the basement of her home.
( Which her sister’s gifts paid for. She has never been allowed to forget this. )
It’s moved from city to city for many years, some of its more seasoned practitioners having come from days in Paris, or Berlin. However, on the surface, Clarissa is her sister’s polar opposite: calm as the surface of a pond to hide the fire within, spick-and-span and hardworking, and scolding of her sister’s habits. Which isn’t… always false.
Bellatrix, Latin for “the female warrior,” is just as formidable as her name might suggest. Bellatrix’s prowess is in offensive magic, and Bellatrix chooses a very powerful warrior of offensive magic. While former Bellatrix have varied in element and personality, Bellatrix does take great care to only sponsor those who show aptitude for dueling and spellwork. Bellatrix can always fall back on charms, and may be a decent conjurer as well. If you’re in the midst of a battle of some kind, you certainly do not want Bellatrix to be your opponent.
Filling the role of Carter MacArthur’s Mentor.
Clients: Usually people with a need to get out their anger, or simply a curiosity about just how far their power goes; they frequent Clarissa’s duelling club, and whether that’s a good or bad thing for them is up to the mun.
Best Friend: Someone Clarissa’s just honest, and herself with, about how much she knows about her life. She’s definitely a lot less comfortable than Lysandra about not knowing the absolute specifics of where she was born & other such details.
