alecctoccarrow

[alecctoccarrow]

a closed starter for @thelionshrt what: the yule ball

Alecto was not particular pleased with these Americans. They were terribly loud and terribly wrong about just about anything that mattered at all. The Yule Ball was a beautiful British and pureblood tradition, not meant for anyone beyond that circle. It was terrible enough an American mudblood had been allowed to roam against them, but to do so with the support of a beautiful pureblood that knew what Alecto had gone through to be who she was today... The entire thing turned the ball into something despicable and disgusting.

Leaning over to Regulus Black, she said, through sneered mouth and gritted teeth, Alecto claimed, "Why Dumbledore ever bothered to invite them I'll never know. You're nothing like your brother, thank Merlin and I must say; they're terribly loud aren't they? Terribly uncouth. I cannot imagine what they have to offer us. It's a shame, I was really looking forward to this, but these thrice damned Americans ruined the entire thing. I mean, sending a mudblood as a possible representative of their government? What an insult."

[alecctoccarrow]

🔮 (Regulus I hit the ask limit sorry :( )

Send me a 🔮 and I’ll tell you where I think your muse will be in 20 years.

"Oh, Merlin, I don't have a clue. Probably holed up in the Ministry somewhere pulling puppet's strings via paperwork the rest of us will never see and frankly don't want to or stuck in St. Mungo's due to a potions mishap for the rest of his life. I don't much fancy he'll be anywhere near me, regardless. We seem to have different priorities."

[alecctoccarrow]

"Oh, all owls are excellent messengers dear, its their job. I trust yours to be something special if you can brag about her so, though." Alecto paused for a moment as an image came her head of Rita and her owl hooting back and forth with the other as Rita wrote for the Howl, translating little owl noises into gossip. Fighting down the laugh that rose as a result of that image, Alecto couldn't stop the twitching of her mouth as it fought to turn into a smile.

"Oh, Rita," she sighed once she got her face under control, "I think we both know I would lie to you and you to me but," she said with a sharp nod, "I trust we're both being honest now. There's no fun to it otherwise." Alecto wasn't afraid of lying or being lied to. It was the primary way her house seemed to speak with the other three.

Tossing her head back, Alecto grinned at the other girl. "No," she proclaimed with a tilt of her head. "No, I'm not worried in the slightest." She'd been itching for a fight for years now, could feel it under her skin as it rolled and writhed in a desperation to get out. The possibility of freeing it was a thrilling one. "No need to be nervous when I'm so sure of the outcome."

"say what you like about my owl, but she's quite the messenger." rita quips back in teasing, the corners of her mouth upping just slightly in jest. "i wouldn't lie to you, alecto." she would, but she isn't right now. and she's sure alecto knows that; creating such big falsehoods could result in quite the bad path for somebody like rita. even she knows better. bigger, better. rita's not sure; but if she ends up alive, then alecto may be on the right path. best to follow. "does it make you nervous?" rita asks after a beat, "...the future of it all." if there was a fight, rita's unsure how she would fare.

[alecctoccarrow]

"Merlin, you look more miserable than a wet puffskein caught in a spring storm," Alecto drawled from her seat at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall across from Dahlia. "Surely our housemates aren't that terrible of company?" Leaning across the table, she lowered her voice into something that could almost be describe as conspiratorial, "I know some of them are in fact that terrible, but we mustn't go about advertising that knowledge of ours, hm?"

Settling back into her seat and taking a long drink of pumpkin juice, Alecto considered the younger woman across from her. She had always struck Alecto as a kind of younger sibling, the kind she could braid the hair of and talk about makeup without worrying said makeup would go missing the next morning, as it had so often with a younger Amycus. For all her love of her brother, a girl like her needed sisters, and someone like Dahlia helped fill that.

Turning a smile with canines on full display to the other girl, she admitted "No, not so shocking as all that, but I do rather fancy I anticipated a little less care and a little more celebration, you know? Lovely as any news coverage is, I did hope for a bit more... Gladness for the service we're providing."

@dahliaxgreengrass

Dahlia stood alongside the crowd, watching people coming and going. It was not her style to be seen at such an event but she felt obligated. The least she could do was stand there, hands folded in front of her non-costumed midsection with a bored look on her face. A joyful presence she was.

Though something interesting did happen. Alecto Carrow spoke to her. It made Dahlia raise her head high. She looked up to Alecto. There was something about the woman that she admired completely. Being acknowledged by her was always exciting. A smile even escaped Dahlia's lips.

"A shocker, yes. But it's so lovely, is it not?" she smirked as she looked at Alecto.

@alecctoccarrow

[alecctoccarrow]

Alecto rolled her eyes. "Honestly," she muttered, "how anyone manages to forget they possess magic is beyond me." She had never been overly impressed with Peter Pettigrew. He and his friends certainly annoyed her to a remarkable level that seemed almost impossible to explain to someone that didn't have to handle that group. She rolled her eyes again as he cast reparo.

"You know, I know photographs are becoming more common here, but I've still never quite understood the appeal of them over portraits and paintings. They hardly seem like they'd last as long as a properly done painting and, well, people seem to be falling all over themselves to take them," she pointedly noted. "Why on Earth bother with them, Pettigrew?"

Pushing himself off the floor with a grunt, his hands moving to the front of his clothes to brush himself down. The lens of his charmed camera scattered across the room in tiny bits. He had only gotten it in the summer, how had he already managed to damage it? Slightly flustered from the fall, Peter nodded. "Aye I suppose I do." He recognised with a chuckle.

With a wave of his wand, and the whisper of 'Reparo.' The tiny pieces of glass began to float in air, clicking back into the camera lens like pieces of a jigsaw. "I just like taking photos - they aren't of anything important. But these are the memories that we'll look back on one day. That -or we'll remember how fucking slow people travel down this corridor."

[alecctoccarrow]

There were a few people in the world that would considered the idea of trusting Bellatrix Black with anything to be a textbook case of foolishness. Alecto found such people to ones not worthy of her time, attention, or general regard. Bellatrix Black was a singular witch, capable of some truly incredible things, and Alecto did treasure her. Of course, she also treasured the trinkets and items the other witch might occasionally have seen fit to bestow upon her especially since she also loved giving Bella things. Small items were such a lovely way of conveying friendships, as they'd sit as permanent reminders of the bond whenever someone looked at them.

Opening the package Bella had given her, Alecto lifted the tome from its wrappings and held it up to eye-level. It was surprisingly light for its size, bound in some dark leather that almost resembled dragonhide if it wasn't for how cool it was to the touch. The pages were yellowed, some sticking out from the book here and there like a woman with her hair caught in a gust of wind. It smelled faintly like fish and old ink, and it was possibly one of the greatest things Alecto had seen in a long time. It was certainly the best thing this term.

"Honestly, one day that entire bloody dormitory ought to be in flames. It's nightmarish. Though," she added with a smirk, setting the book down on her bedside table, "I am sure this will make that task much easier. Did you have a look through it? Any spells I ought to keep an eye out for?"

What had started off as nothing, had certainly become a more than treasured friendship. There were no regrets with the witch as far as Alecto was concerned and Bellatrix was very much determined to keep it that way. "It's something rather simple." She chuckled, moving a few more things about. "Simple but fun." Bellatrix couldn't have seen herself getting anything other than things that would compliment her friend and add to her fun. "I was considering a rather nice set of the more interesting types of potions for you. Can't have you going about without the appropriate drop to compliment the day, hm?" A seemingly perfect gift and yet not something Bellatrix would have dared bring to Hogwarts. Not yet anyway.

"Open it up. If you don't like it, I'm sure I'll have more in store that would fit you even better." Though the Slytherin had no doubt that her friend would love the present given to her even if it was of the simpler kind. Just a simple tome on dark magic, enchanted to look as plain as old tome found within their library. "I made sure no one could mistake it for the wrong thing. Or, in this case, the correct item. Some might say it's a bit of light reading. I'll make sure to have the other gifts here soon, though." Oh, she was going to get the set of interesting poisons to her friend. If anyone could see a love for the dark arts and have it be shared with, it was Alecto. Of that the witch had no doubt.

With a chuckle she dropped onto her bed, nodding along. "Whatever could that mudblood have to add to the mix? Calling it a fuss, no doubt a compliment given her character." The mention of a fire putting an end of the crimson horror was too comical an idea. "Perhaps one day there'll be time to correct that issue."

[alecctoccarrow]

Alecto knew, in some distant corner of her mind, that a good reporter never reveals her secrets or her sources but she couldn't stop her face from pulling down into a frown at the obfuscation Rita presented her with. Alecto wasn't as diabolically curious as the Ravenclaws were, but she did appreciate knowing where her information was coming from. "You better not be speaking to the owls for your information, Rita," Alecto sighed. "That's hardly a way to run a paper." At the rest of Rita's remarks, Alecto grinned. "Oh," she practically purred, "I'd be amazed if this entire incident wasn't eventually forgotten for bigger and better things down the line."

@rxskeeter

rita can't exactly tell her how she knows - doing so would reveal that she was an animagus - but it was how she got most of her information. it was almost all too easy to have gotten into dumbledore's office and overheard him speaking about it with some of his staff. it was the talk of the wizarding world as of late, after all. "i've got ears in the most difficult to reach places, for sure." is all she says, swallowing. "things are starting to heat up," people would be fools to not see that there was something coming. "i have a feeling this will be the lightest of it."

[alecctoccarrow]

🙍‍♀️

🙍‍♀️ a letter about someone else

Regulus,

Are we absolutely sure I can't hex your bone-brained, disgraced brother into oblivion? I imagine he's important to you, but I am this close to charming my tarot cards to have a razor's edge to it so the next time I throw them at his thick head, some actual damage will be done. The git deserves it.

We could even pass it off as part of the grand plan everyone's been talking about. I mean, it's not like he doesn't have it coming and I for one will certain focus better if he isn't strutting around like a peacock, turning himself into an absolute menace. Besides, it seems kinder than blasting him off the tapestry.

I am also not above setting his robes on fire.

Alecto

@thelionshrt, mentioned @thcfallenstar

[alecctoccarrow]

📋 (for bella)

GROCERIES

Some normal cheese, no idea when ours grew legs

Firewhiskey

Bread

Ink

Parchament

Flame-resistant curtains

Cat food

Seriously, normal cheese. I think it's starting to blink.

@bellaaegis

[alecctoccarrow]

a closed starter for @blackestrose

"Ah, hello Andromeda!" The greeting moved out from Alecto towards the woman she had addressed it to. A smile firmly in place that edged on the boundary of a smirk greeted Alecto's conversational target. It was sharp and full of teeth. "How is our lovely Athena doing?" Settling more firmly in her seat and fixing Andromeda with a canny look, Alecto tilted her head. "Shame we never got a better discussion on costumes during the celebration. I suppose I shouldn't have been surprised you chose Athena, but I was certainly surprised you didn't make something of it like Bella did. She's always been so terribly clever. How are your classes going, Andy? I'm sure I could use your advice in a few of mine."

[alecctoccarrow]

Settling herself more comfortably against the wall she'd chosen for this discussion, the back of her mind taking great pleasure in the feel of the stone. It was a concrete reminder that no one would be sneaking up on her, not if she could help it, and that anyone wishing to approach her and her friend would have to make such a thing obvious. It was reassuring and that turned her fairly small smile into a grin she directed towards Bellatrix at her comment. "People, paying attention to the world? Bella, perish the thought! You know full well it's only girls like us that are capable of such a thing. Not even Gringotts is enough for people to start caring about things that matter, I fancy."

People always claim they care, about everything and nothing all at once but never bothering to act on it. Perhaps Bella was right, perhaps this would be the thing to make people care, but Alecto doubted it. She fully expected people to need more time, more actions before anyone would ever dare be stirred to action with them. "People only care when they feel they have to," she sniffed, looking around at the other students that didn't dare bother the two of them. "It wouldn't surprise me at all if in a week or two this entire incident is brushed off and forgotten."

Bellatrix had been observing the chaos around her, the streets filled with those celebrating. The sheer amount of people unable to hold their liquor, or seemingly not caring about it, it was simply too amusing. No words could have described how much joy was added to the mix when her ears picked up on Alecto's voice out of all those near her. "Indeed, such a pity. Then again, you'd be surprised what gets people to react. Perhaps this was just what everyone needed to open their eyes to what is around them." Not to say that people were blind but Bellatrix very much doubted anyone had paid mind to things until now.

No better way to stir up things than to actually have something happen that would leave no doubt. "It's always in moments like this when you find out just how much people care. Then again, I find it even more surprising how many people do the oppsite." Not all that surprising, given just where they were talking about things without anyone paying them more than a glance. - @alecctoccarrow

[alecctoccarrow]

Lucian Flint was the kind of athlete, the kind of jock that would usually have driven Alecto to insanity. But perhaps the idea of of forced proximity had a merit or two to it and she only rolled her eyes at the offense the man adopted over her misinterpretation of his costume. "Well, you look like a watermelon with those stripes," she reiterated. "Though I suppose I ought to be grateful it isn't another strange fruit or vegetable costume like that blasted olive." At least a Quidditch costume was respectable, proper magic and a cultural cornerstone. Not that Alecto had any clue who this Dai Llewellyn was, of course. All of her Quidditch knowledge had come from Bella, entirely second hand, since Alecto herself found playing the sport absolutely miserable.

"Well, I daresay I've already reminded you over our tragic showing," Alecto sniffed, "and I now owe you at least two very strong drinks for the cruelty. If you'll be able to walk straight after those, I'll certainly owe you another." It was one of Alecto's skills that allowed her to find the strongest possible drinks a pub could serve before forcing her friends to partake in them with her. How she found these things was another question entirely, though Alecto attributed it to good luck and a nose for trouble. "Come on," she gestured with a jerk of her head towards the nearest stall. "Don't give me that look. I thought watermelon, so I said watermelon, and my error has been corrected. Now, what do you plan to drink?"

On the whole, Lucian was quite a big fan of Halloween. As a child he enjoyed it as a form of escapism, a chance to dress up long after it was acceptable to delve into you imagination. Now, as a grown man, he cared less about dressing up and more about using it as an excuse to get hammered with his friends. There was something about Halloween that made people looser, a comfort in the masks and disguises that let them be their true selves without an inhibitions.

That wasn't to say he wasn't going to dress up; he still enjoyed that side of things, he was just putting a little less effort in. He donned a striped t-shirt, shorts, and an old robe to play a part he knew no one would recognise. He hoped people might at least recognise the quidditch team, but so far no. He was dressed as "Dangerous" Dai Llewellyn, a deceased Welsh Quidditch player for the Caerphilly Catapults. He was known for dangerous - borderline stupid - moves that Lucian thought were quite inspiring.

Well, that and it was the only quidditch costume he could think of and achieve pretty easily.

Despite his plans to get drunk, he was currently very sober and searching for a friend to entertain him. Just as he hoped for a friend to come by he heard a voice he recognised calling out and turned around to see Alecto. He groaned as she brought up the previous match, shaking his head. "Oh don't remind me," he sighed, still struggling with the rubbish result. "A watermelon?" he scoffed, looking down at himself. "I'm Dai Llewellyn," he told her. "The very famous quidditch player."

[alecctoccarrow]

🔫 PISTOL - do they trust people easily? how easily will they turn their back to someone? have they been backstabbed before? will they betray someone if given an ultimatum?

Alecto doesn't not trust people. Her trust comes from the assumption people know that it would be incredibly stupid to mess with her and so she is comfortable turning her back to someone, but she is also absolutely ruthless if it turns out her trust was misplaced. I don't know if she's been backstabbed and if she has, it was over something small enough Alecto chose to let it go because, again, she has absolute confidence that people will not want to get on her bad side. She would, however, absolutely betray someone if she wanted to, no ultimatum needed.

[alecctoccarrow]

It was a prevailing and completely incorrect assumption that out of the three Black sister, Andromeda was the one with the least-sharp tongue and the easiest attitude. The other woman was still a Black, after all, and the dry response Alecto received when she had asked about the other woman's costume was so delightful to her that she smiled at the other, canines wide and obvious in her costume. What a delight it was to Alecto to talk to those that had the decency to bite back and not cower about like that silly Borgin girl.

"Oh, of course Bella told me," Alecto admitted, "I just had to make sure. It seemed such an obvious costume for someone as clever as you, Andromeda, that I wanted to hear straight from the hippogriff's mouth that Bella hadn't been messing with me." Alecto meant it as a compliment. She couldn't think of someone more suited to dress as Athena than Andromeda, though she realized it could have sounded like a snub and so added "You, of course, look stunning. It suits you. Are you enjoying the festival so far?"

As the night grew darker, the festival really began to come alive. The beautiful dancing flames behind the jack-o-lanterns gave a variety of fun shapes that light up the fair grounds. It was divine. The cool temperatures as the sun set continued to enhance the mood.

Company was not needed, but it wouldn't be turned away when it was someone Andromeda tolerated. Alecto barely made it onto the list. Anyone who could be a friend of Bella, much like the friends of Sirius, had to be decent and trustworthy enough.

Andromeda looked Alecto up and down, tilting her head to the side. She found it near impossible that Bella wouldn't have stated her outfit to Alecto nor that the other Slytherin was being obtuse. "Athena," she replied, raising her eyebrow. "Have you not seen Bella already? Perhaps the theme was lost on your, then."

[alecctoccarrow]

🍰 CAKE SLICE - favourite cake flavour? are they specific about types of cakes?

Alecto adores a proper red velvet cake. She was turned off from chocolate cake after eating so much of it that it once made her ill, but a red velvet cake is pretty much the same thing without the unpleasant memories attached, hence her love of it. There's also something very fun about eating something so incredibly red. It's a little gory, a little monstrous and she does love that. In general she isn't incredibly picky about cakes, but she does absolutely require that it's well-baked and not hard as a rock.

[alecctoccarrow]

🧡 for a friendship-themed headcanon

As long as Alecto likes you, you've got a guaranteed revenge plan stored somewhere in her head in case any of her friends were put through a humiliating or profoundly embarrassing experience. She, of course, assumes her friends can look after themselves just fine and that they don't particularly need her help getting payback if needed, but she also think she might be a little bit faster executing a plan than they would be. Punishment and revenge, after all, are best when executed swiftly and without mercy. It's important that the target knows exactly why they're being targeted, after all.

[alecctoccarrow]

Alecto laughed a little, the noise deep in the back of her throat. "Of course it was a strong word, Rita, I only ever bother speaking in strong words when it comes to important things. There's no point in me saying anything if I could end up misunderstood." It was something odd to care about, to be so passionate towards, especially when there was little doubt in Alecto's mind that many still regarded those of her beliefs as a particularly unnerving urban legend. Especially with an attack on Gringotts, a place known near universally for its incredible security.

Watching Rita's eyes flick about the room, Alecto smiled to herself. As if she would be so foolish as to discuss this in a location she wasn't fully confident in. That smile widened at the news the other woman shared with her. "Now that is interesting," she purred. "Rita, darling, you're an absolute dear for telling me that. A shame, of course, as I'm sure they'd have some fascinating things to tell us, but alas. I suppose we can't get choosey. However did you find that little tidbit out?"

"i suppose shame is a strong word," rita doesn't so much care as alecto does, but she was raised a certain way and the news of gringott's didn't tug at her heartstrings as it would some of her peers. but her loyalty to that cause stems mostly from fear; of what would happen to her if that loyalty faltered. just as her father had taught her. so she nods along with alecto and hands the other a filled drink upon her request, "i didn't write it in the article, but," the blonde pauses, eyes casting about the room in caution, "i've heard they've put the goblins working that day under unbreakable vows. y'know...so they don't talk about what they've seen." rita can only imagine the sight.