Discover Top Posts Tagged with #c:leila

Dec 20, 2018

closing time : leila, lucinda, & eleonora

One last call for alcohol. Leila’s wild ways come to an end as an unlikely team work together to bring back the sweet little Ravenclaw that does not go around kissing unsuspecting George’s. (for now)

parties: @shatteredwitch | @lucyinthewest | @eleonoraxaltieri

“I completely agree, she must be brought to task.” Lucinda said, as they came to Eleonora Altieri’s door, she let Leila go in first. The moment they were inside she whispered “Colloportus,” casting the locking charm on the door. “Miss. Altieri?” She said, still standing between Leila and the door. “You wanted to see me.” She hoped her professor would pick up on her urgency, after all, they could not afford for Leila to figure it out first.

Eleonora was rather surprised as Lucinda walked in through her door unannounced, sealing the door behind her. And there was another girl with her that she’d seen around the castle as well as in the Hospital Wing. Leila? If she didn’t think the idea to be utterly ridiculous, she might have thought Lucinda had come to ambush her. Nevertheless, the tone of Lucinda’s voice was impossible to miss. “It’s fine, Lucinda. We’re alone,” she said, as if giving an all clear to speak freely. “Is there something wrong?” Already she was scanning over the two girls to look to see if anything was visibly amiss.

Leila looked between Lucinda and Miss Altieri, and since it seemed their teacher didn’t want to start anything in front of Leila, she was just going to have to. “Why can’t you leave Lucinda alone? She shouldn’t have been so rude, but you also don’t need to be such a bitch about it now. It’s done with, get over yourself.”

“Exactly, Leila,” Lucinda stayed a few feet behind her and shook her head vigorously, pointing at Leila and then at a cauldron. “There is absolutely no reason to have called me in like this.” She kept her wand firmly in hand, but pointed at Leila. “And Leila, who is usually the sweetest creature in the world is positively beside herself on my behalf.” She wished for once she might be able to transmit her thoughts into her teacher’s head. “I am so upset that she is worried over me. In fact you could say she is not like herself at all.”

At first, Eleonora looked rather disapprovingly at Leila, not expecting such words from a girl she’d thought was generally quiet. And she hadn’t even called Lucinda here, where did this girl get the right to call her a bitch? But things became clearer when Lucinda spoke, and the gist of what was occurring dawned on Eleonora. “Right— well, perhaps we can figure this all out together. Come to an understanding between the three of us.” So something had made Leila act out this way. “Some things will probably have to...change. Do you have any ideas as to what might help us change?”

Leila looked between the two of them again. “You do realise that I’m also in the advanced class with you, Lucinda? And I’m a Ravenclaw? I’m not stupid. And I’m not going back to what I was. I found that potion years ago, not here, and it’s smudged anyway, so you won’t know how it was made.” She folded her arms, proud that she could do something for herself. “There’s nothing wrong with me now. Why should I change back?”

“Well, it was worth a shot.” Lucinda sighed, pointing at Leila, still blocking the door, she practically shouted “Expelliarmus!” intending to grab her wand. “Leila, I love you dearly, but this is not you. I promise, now that I know how you are suffering we will work together to help you gain confidence. But this is not the way.” She looked at Eleonora, “She took a confidence potion, I assume she brewed it correctly.”

Eleonora was somewhat surprised by Lucinda’s rather...abrasive reaction, though she supposed it was something. A moment later she waved her own wand with a spell that caused ropes to gently coil themselves around Leila. Eleonora would have preferred not to, but the fact that Lucinda seemed to think that Leila needed to be disarmed spurred on her decision to make sure the girl couldn’t lash out. “We could use Veritaserum to make her tell us the ingredients but...I’d rather not subject her to that.” Eleonora decided to try another bluff. “If you want to stay this way, Leila. You can. I would like to know how to recreate the potion, though. Shouldn’t knowledge be shared? Rather than lost to the past?” Would that appeal to the girl’s Ravenclaw nature?

She didn't expect to be disarmed so quickly, or the ropes to appear around her. “Fuck both of you.” Leila struggled against the ropes. “You don’t mean that. She was the one who said I should be more confident, but she’s just a liar. Why should I trust either of you?” She was furious, at them and at herself. She should be smarter than this. “You’re acting like I’m broken. Why shouldn’t I use magic to fix myself? You have no idea how pathetic I was before. I was miserable. I don’t want to feel like that ever again.”

“Leila, you were never broken. You didn’t need magic to fix anything.” Lucinda felt terrible. She had done this to her friend, her only real friend. She looked at Eleonora, “Surely there can’t be that many confidence potions. Perhaps we could narrow it down?” She looked around the room, “We can’t have all the ingredients for all the potions in the castle, what if we looked through the possibilities?” She reached out and took Leila’s hand from where it was held down by the ropes, “You were never pathetic, Leila. I’m sorry I made you feel that way.”

Eleonora sighed lightly at what was occurring, and though she felt sympathy for the young women’s plight when it came to her confidence, she obviously couldn’t stay this way. “There’s a couple possibilities with what we have in the castle. But if what Leila says of it being an old book is true, it could even be an experimental one that was one of a kind. It’s too risky to brew a counter-potion without knowing exactly what we’re dealing with.” Eleonora tried to make another appeal to Leila, standing before her and taking on a more sincere tone. “Leila, what Lucinda is saying is true. She’s your friend, isn’t she? Why would she lie? Perhaps it was more difficult to speak your mind before and such things, but you can always work towards it in a way that will stay true to yourself.” She pursed her lips in some concern before going on to say. “Was there any potion left over?” Eleonora had thought of another option if that wasn’t viable.

Leila looked far too smug as she pulled her hand out of Lucinda’s. “You really can’t be happy, can you? First I’m too meek, and now I’m not doing whatever you tell me to do. What kind of friend does that? I supported you, even when you were being an idiot. I even said that people didn’t really know you when they were talking about you. But everything’s wrong with me.” She was only trying to hurt Lucinda to try get the topic off the potion, especially when Eleonora asked if there was any left. One hand went to her pocket, hoping they didn’t know she’d carried it around with her in case it wore off. “I drank it all.” She declared. “And even if you find the recipe, I made an educated guess at how much of one ingredient had to go in, since the page was damaged. Your guess would not be the same as mine, which means you could cause more damage. What kind of Healer or friend would want to make it worse?”

“What if we just used a bezoar?” Lucinda said. Leila's words hurt but she reminded herself that this was not Leila. “Or something to accelerate the effects so it wears off faster.” Surely there had to be something. “Even just putting her to sleep for a few days might be useful.” She turned back to Leila, “Just tell us, if, when you're no longer under the potion's influence you want to use it again I won't refuse you.”

Eleonora shook her head, “A bezoar is for poisons. This is just...a regular potion. There’s nothing inherently...harmful about it— unless you brew it wrong or do something terrible in overconfidence.” But there was something she’d done with poisons and illnesses before, something she supposed she could try now. It was a large part of how she’d come up with Mateo’s personalized potion. Couldn’t she just make a personalized potion to counteract the one Leila had taken? “Alright, I think I have something that will work, but I need a sample of your blood, Leila.” She had a feeling Leila wouldn’t give it consensually. “But from that I can make something that will nullify the potion you took.”

“Tsk, tsk, Luci. I thought you were smart.” Leila taunted, trying to anger the blonde enough that they didn't know about the hidden bottle. And it seemed to be working, her face going dark. “Go to hell.” For a girl who grew up in a convent, it was the worst thing she could think to say. “You thinking attacking me is going to help anything? Because there is no way I'm giving you anything.” She tried to take a step back, but the ropes wouldn't allow it, making her stumble. “I hate both of you.” She directed it at her friend. “I hate you. You're going to let her hurt me? Like I haven't had enough of that in my life? How is that going to make me better?”

Lucinda opened a cabinet and took out a small knife usually used to chop up ingredients. “If we believe anything they told us in the convents that's where we're all headed.” She pulled up the sleeve of Leila's dress and made a quick little cut on her arm, then handed the knife to Eleonora. “You're going to be just fine.” She spoke like a mother to a naughty child. She used a quick healing charm and the cut closed up. “See? That wasn't difficult at all.”

“Lucinda, wait!” Eleonora started, having planned to at least do this humanely and numb the area that they would be taking blood from. But it seemed to be too late as a knife was being handed to her, and all she could do was sigh and shake her head a bit. Well it was too late now. A moment later she was placing the sample of blood into a cauldron, and began mumbling incantations over it, discerning it’s secrets. “If there’s any potion left, Leila, you might as well tell us now.”

Leila yelped as Lucinda cut her. It hadn't been deep, but it'd still stung, and despite all the pain she'd endured in the past, she'd never handled it well. “God, why am I friends with you?” She muttered, looking down at her arm. No mark was left, but she knew that didn't mean she was going to forget it, or how she'd been betrayed. “Yes, there is potion left, and I'm going to take it the second I get out of this. I can always make more too. Magic is so wonderful, and I'll use it to fix all my problems. I don't know why I didn't think of it before. Well, that's not true. I was a good girl.” Her voice was scathing. “I didn't want to do anything wrong, break any rules. I was pathetic.”

“I don't know.” Lucinda said, sincerely, “Everyone else hates me so it would only make sense if you did too.” She looked over at Eleonora, “Should I check the other classrooms? If she does get back to normal she'll tell us where it is.” Her energy was too high to do nothing. She'd rather run around on a wild goose chase than sit by idly.

Eleonora wasn’t...entirely sure what to make of the obvious drama between Lucinda and Leila. Certainly there was a part of her that wanted to help, but she wasn’t familiar with the situation, and she was currently more focused on helping Leila recover. Hopefully there would be time after to untangle the two women. “She would have probably hidden it, right? It might just be a wild goose hunt, to be honest.” Eleonora fixed Leila with a well-meaning look and said, “If you take it again, then I’ll simply brew the counter-potion again. Though I’d like to talk after about...all this.” She didn’t want Leila to continue on as she was, so obviously distraught. “Lucinda, would you grab the Murtlap tentacles, please? This shouldn’t take long.” Thankfully, the potion was a rather simple one to decode.

“They hate you because you have to be the best. You're not perfect, but god forbid anyone else makes a mistake. You'll be there to call them out in it. And then, when they do the same, it's everyone else's fault.” The bottle was right there with her, and they thought it was hidden away. Leila felt smug about that. “If you give me that potion, I'll be miserable. I won't want to talk. I'll hate myself. I did before.” Leila could remember so clearly, all the doubts and fears that had plagued her. They didn't now, and she liked that feeling. She liked not letting anything hold her back.

“You’re right, I’m terrible.” Lucinda closed her eyes, looking at Eleonora. How badly had she treated her? And over nothing in consequence. Because she couldn’t stand to see someone so well loved and so gifted. Because Eleonora would always be better than her. “When we give you the potion, Leila, you will be yourself again.” She went to the cabinet to get the ingredients Eleonora asked for, and handed them to her. “And you will feel terrible for a bit, but eventually you’ll see that you’re best as the person you are.” She had to see, in her praise of her friend, that her own character was vastly lacking. “Madam Altieri, please tell me how else to assist you.” She said, heading over to the cabinet in case she needed to get more items.

Though Eleonora felt no particular fondness for Lucinda, her lips frowned lightly at the two girls interaction. Certainly there was much to unravel here, but she still didn’t have the time at hand to do so. “That’s enough, Leila,” though she didn’t particularly expect the woman to actually be quiet. But perhaps she could direct some of the fire away from Lucinda. “And who do you think you are? Coming in here and telling me that I’m a bitch?” Eleonora egged Leila on as she put a few more items into the potion, hoping to draw her ire. “Thank you, Lucinda,” she said. “I’ll just need some Puffer-fish eyes now. And then we should have our counter-potion.”

“I don't want to be myself, that's the problem. You were right to tell me to change, and I was so grateful for it. I just don't know why you want me to change back, it was your idea.” Leila turned Eleonora. “I called you a bitch because Lucinda lied to me, told me you'd called her here to scold her again for her behaviour in class. Unlike her, I support my friends, so I wasn't going to let her feel bad about something that was stupid and a waste of everyone's time. But, you know, I stand by what I called you. Aren't you supposed to be some kind of Healer? What's so good about making me feel so sick at the thought of just about everything that all I can do is agree to everything that's asked of me?”

“Leila, you’re a good person. I do think you should build your confidence, but that is not what this potion has done to you. Confidence is loving who you are, and you’ve done nothing but complain about that person since we’ve been here.” It was similar to something Melanie had said to Lucinda when they first met. She got the puffer fish eyes as asked and handed them to Eleonora, wincing at Leila’s words. “This is only proof that you are not yourself. I can understand your anger at me, but Madam Altieri has done nothing to harm you.” Her guilt on that front was growing by the minute.

Well. Eleonora hadn’t entirely diverted Leila’s attention away from going after Lucinda, but she hoped it was something. She thanked Lucinda once more before adding the puffer-fish eyes in, and the potion suddenly turned a lovely shade of a calming blue, one that didn’t jump out at you, but was still pleasing to the eye. “It’s ready,” she said before scooping some of the potion into a little vial. It wouldn’t take much to revert Leila back to herself. “Leila—” she began, “We can either do this peacefully, or we can make you drink this. And I can make you drink it. You should know as well as any Healer that we’re rather adept at making people take their medicine”

“I like who I am now. I'm smart, strong, and apparently I'm pretty. Nothing can stop me.” Except for the ropes, obviously. But they couldn't keep her locked up forever. Leila rolled her eyes at Eleonora. “I'm sure you can make me drink it. I'm not very good at fighting. But I won't make it easier for you to ruin me.” She would just drink more confidence potion later, but she'd stall as long as she could, just to prove a point.

“Well clearly the potion didn’t make you pretty!” Lucinda said, latching onto something. “And this isn’t you, the moment the potion wears off you’ll feel terrible!” Lucinda was sure on that point. “I told you, once it’s over, if you truly wish to take the potion again I won’t stop you.” She wasn’t sure if she was lying.

“You were pretty before, Leila. The potion was only meant for confidence, as you said. And you were already smart and strong as well, it just gave you the courage to let them out. You can build that courage on your own.” But Eleonora pursed her lips as Leila refused to compromise. She didn’t like doing this against Leila’s will, but she also knew it was for the best. Besides, she’d had to do worse things. A moment later she was advancing on the girl, wand waving with a spell that was meant to confine Leila’s movements even moreso, making it impossible for her to squirm or wriggle. “Would you open her mouth please, Lucinda?” It should be easy now that Leila couldn’t fight back.

“Obviously it didn't make me pretty, but it made me realise I'm pretty.” Leila shot Lucinda a dirty look. “Like I can believe a word out of your mouth.” But before she could say anything else, she was frozen in place. If looks could kill, both of them would have blown up on the spot.

Lucinda gingerly pulled down Leila’s chin, opening her mouth. “Now we must keep her bound until she’s fully clean, if not she may just jump for another potion.” She knew Leila was smart enough to have one at hand, perhaps on her person. At the very least she could summon it. She seemed very clever when she wasn’t working on undermining herself. Lucinda bit her lip and said quietly to Leila, “I’m...really sorry for everything.”

Eleonora stepped forward to precisely and carefully pour the counter-potion down Leila’s throat, not particularly nervous that it wouldn’t work. After all, she was a master for a reason, and she had confidence in her abilities. Then she went to close Leila’s mouth, making sure to hold it shut so she could ensure that the girl would actually swallow the potion rather than try and spit it out. “It should work quickly enough.”

Leila couldn't move, couldn't protest. The old her would have been terrified, but now, she was just angry. Before she could spit out the potion, her mouth was forced closed. She held out for as long as she could, breathing through her nose, but instincts kicked in. As the liquid slid down her throat, she felt triumphant for a few shining seconds. And then she felt miserable, her eyes going wide. She still couldn't move, but she would have sunk to the floor. She'd ruined everything. She was going to have to leave, she was sure of that. How could she face any of them again?

Lucinda stepped forward and took one of Leila’s hand. “How are you feeling?” She said gently. Eleonora had said it should work quickly but...how quickly was that? “Listen, anything...you’re feeling a little insecure about, it’s okay. We’ll deal with it later.” Anyone who had met her in such a state would surely know she wasn’t in her right mind.

Eleonora scanned over Leila with her wand, trying to see if there was any trace of the original and foreign potion in her veins. When it came up clean, she released her magic hold on the girl, letting her move more freely. But the ropes stayed for now, until she could be sure that Leila would not be trying to drink any possible hidden stash of the original confidence potion. “Are you alright, Leila?” she asked gently.

Tears welled up as she was released from the spell. Leila nodded jerkily, not trusting her voice just yet. She didn't want kindness right now, she wanted to be alone. Not once in her life, under her own power at any rate, had she actually felt brave enough to face anything. “I'm sorry.” She whispered the words. “I'm -” There weren't enough words to explain how terrible she felt. “There's - there's a bottle in my pocket.” As much as she wanted to be brave again, she could see how she'd ruined everything.

Guilt built up in Lucinda’s chest when she saw Leila’s tears. This was all her fault. “Oh Leila it’s not your fault at all!” She said, hugging her and patting the back of her head. “You’ve done nothing wrong! I should never have pushed you. I should have been a better friend!” She took the potion out of Leila’s pocket and handed it to Eleonora, “Release her, I’m sure she’s alright now.”

As soon as Eleonora saw Leila’s reaction she was feeling protective, and a softer expression came over her features. “It’s alright, Leila. It’s over, now,” she said in a soothing tone. Eleonora pocketed the potion, actually rather curious about it. She’d like to study it later. However she wasn’t quite as fond of the way Lucinda seemed to command her to free Leila. After all, she’d been about to that anyway. Either way, she wordlessly let the ropes vanish from the poor girl. “Is there any more of the potion elsewhere, though?” They needed to be sure, after all.

Stiffening up as Lucinda put her arms around her, Leila shook her head at Eleonora. “No, that was the last of it.” She still had the recipe, but she was never going to try make it again. The effects had too much of a consequence. Eleonora was wrong. It wasn't over, because everything was damaged now. The one thing she was sure of, as much as she wanted to leave, she had to at least apologise. But the thought didn't make her feel very good. “Can I please go? I'm very tired.” She didn't want company, she wanted to be alone, to think. Alone had always been safer.

Lucinda frowned, stepping back. “Leila, whatever happened, it’s going to be okay.” She promised, feeling personal responsibility for everything that had happened. However, she stepped away from Leila as she was released. “Of course, if you want to be alone.” She reached out but pulled her hand back, “If you need anything at all….tell me okay?” It was strange to feel so helpless for Lucinda. She turned to Eleonora, “Thank you...for your help. I’ll see you in class.” She turned and left the room, feeling she’d already done enough damage.

Eleonora watched Lucinda go, but not before giving the girl a responding, “Of course. I will...see you then.” She knew that Leila wanted to be alone, but she was still rather concerned for the girl. Perhaps after Leila had time to settle, she would check in on the gentle Ravenclaw. No, not perhaps. She would certainly be looking in on her. “That’s...entirely understandable, Leila. Of course, you’re free to go. However...I would like the copy of the potion,” she said gently. “I wouldn’t want it falling into wrong hands.” It seemed like the responsible thing to do, and though she trusted Leila, she didn’t want the girl to be tempted again. “But, let me know if you need anything as well, alright?”

Leila just wrapped her arms around herself, unable to look at either woman as Lucinda left. “I got the potion from an old book I had brought from home. I will send you a copy.” Although she had no intention of making it again, there were other things in the book she'd want, and there was never a reason to tear out a page. “Thank you. I'm sorry.” She glanced up for just two seconds before leaving, she couldn't bring herself to say another word.

#c:Lucinda #c:Leila #chatzy