corvusoculis

[corvusoculis]

🧡 for a friendship-themed headcanon

The one way to figure out whether or not Selma sees someone as an established friend, or a potential friend and ally is to pay attention to just how much time is invested by the other. While at times coming off as harsh, in the broader sense she's warm and that warmth is given to all, especially those the witch considers near and dear to her. Beyond that, of course there is a general sense of politeness that she can't, and very much refuses to shake. To Selma friends are simply extended family, those that she has chosen to dedicate her time, effort, attention and love to and is willing to protect, no matter what. Come hell or high water.

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🍧 SHAVED ICE

🍧 SHAVED ICE - do they still have any objects from their childhood? what significance does it have to them? what would their reaction be if they lost it?

Apart from the alchemy tome and the picture of her and her closest friends there is only one thing Selma considers a treasure from her childhood. A doll, given to her on Christmas before they moved to England. Even though the witch barely remembers much of the area they lived in, she does recall the few things in the fondest light. Losing either of those things would be devastating as they are a reminder of where she came from, who she is and far she's come. The only time Selma could see herself without the photograph of her and her friends would be if said friendship would be as lost as the image itself and that's something she's not going to let happen, ever.

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🕷️ SPIDER

🕷️ SPIDER - what is their biggest fear? do they have any irrational / mundane fears?

While Selma isn't much of a person dealing with the irrational sort of fear she does fear things that seem almost all too natural to the witch. For one, there is nothing she fears more than those she cares for getting hurt without a chance to help or do anything about it. The loss of family and friends seems almost too heavy to deal with and yet is becoming something more and more real with the progression of a war just outside the doorsteps of nearly every home. As for the fear some may consider irrational, varying with just who one may ask, Selma Avery fears the discovery of the secret her parents, and by extension her, are keeping regarding the blood status and purity of her. Ever since her parents opened up to her about the fact that her entire existence is a lie and, to them either way, a fact no one should ever know about, it's become a thing the blonde does not dare ever even think about, knowing fully well that within the circles they walk it would destroy their reputation.

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❇️ SPARKLE

❇️ SPARKLE - what is their most prized possession? what do they value?

Selma's most prized possession is an old tome on alchemy and its powers of transformation. She found the book within the Avery manor library, tucked away between stacks upon stacks of books and although she understood nothing written within its pages back then, she fell in love with the shapes and forms and diagrams as well as the other images within it. It wouldn't be until years later that she'd actually slowly start to understand the words on the pages and with each page becoming clearer to her, her love for alchemy and transfiguration grew. The Ravenclaw very much links both together, seeing the benefit in it as a whole. Tucked away between its pages is a photograph of Selma, Pandora and Regulus, taken were children shortly after she'd arrived in England. While the witch isn't entirely of a material-loving nature, the treasure items that have come and gone along the path certainly have added to who she eventually became as a person. Through both the book and her friendship her sheer amount of creativity was boosted, allowing her the confidence to venture forward an explore territories she may not have ventured into prior to it. All in all, those things have cemented her wish to venture down the path of an alchemist or healer; wishing to create, shape and mend.

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who: @thelionshrt where: great hall, near a christmas tree event: yule ball 1978

Selma had found herself at a loss, for words and for ideas on what to do. This had been a good evening, she couldn't deny that. Not by a long shot. But a part of her had worried. Despite usually so on par with events like this, the flow of steps and the dances expected to be danced, it felt all the more complicated for it. In all her confidence, this night had proven less predictable than anything the world may have thrown her way. Her desperate search for a calm moment ended by a Christmas tree, taking a sip from her drink before allowing herself to glance around the room. Observing, for the moment seemed like the better option until her eyes fell onto her Regulus nearby. Now, that was company she certainly could handle even on the darkest of days. "Did you need a moment as well?" Her face held that look, hidden within the corner of her eyes as she instead scanned him, motioning with her hand toward his suit.

"It looks wonderful. Really suits you." Selma smiled at her friend as in return she fumbled with the glass in her hand, shockingly nervous for such a normal, yet formal occasion. "How are you doing with all of this, though? You're admittedly even harder to read than usual." The tone of her voice never went into a territory one could have described as demanding or hostile. In face, where her hand lacked the motion, her words conveyed the open hand, the offer to talk should he need someone. "Then again, I could be wrong. After all such events are far more nerve wracking than we all give them credit for."

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who: @diggoryxamos where: great hall, end of the dance floor near refreshment table event: yule ball 1978

The evening had been nice, far from what she'd expected and all things considered it was something she knew she'd remember for years to come. Selma had been talking to a friend after having bumped into them while looking for Alex around the room. It was quite the shocking realization to see just how many people could fit within the halls filled with music on a night such as this; even more shocking to see just how hard it was to find another. That was until her eyes fell upon someone else the witch would not have minded speaking to in the least. Amos, brother of the one she'd been looking for. While there was no guarantee the other would know the whereabouts of his brother, it was at the very least a chance to talk. There was some idle curiosity that occasionally made itself known. "Excuse me", she turned to her friend. "I've got to talk to someone."

Selma didn't bother much to hear the answer before her feet carried her through the crowd toward the Gryffindor. "Amos!" Despite calling out to him upon nearing him, the voice still held a certain grace and politelness, one she couldn't simply shake. Etiquette had been embeded within her until it had become the same thing as breathing; too normal to ever fully let go of. "Selma Avery. I don't believe we've officially met. Beyond the usual circles in which names are thrown about." She allowed herself a sip from her drink. "Do you happen to have seen your brother around? It's a bit hard to find anyone in this crowd. Little bit like a bowtruckle in a yard, isn't it?" It would have been foolish of her to deny the fact that she was more than happy to learn more of the other, yet finding Alex had priority.

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who: @alexdiggory where: foyer of the grand stair case, in front of the great hall event: yule ball 1978

Nothing quite made sense on a night such as the one on which a ball such as theirs would be held. Even the days leading up to the event had been nothing short of chaotic, filled with cheers and whispers, with glances and the odd connection here and there. Selma certainly had no idea what had come over her the day she'd accepted to go the yule ball with Alex Diggory, somehow having come to see the whole thing as one big adventure she was more than curious to see through to the end. Merlin, if she were to be honest there was a certain excitement within the idea.

Alex Diggory was miles upon miles away from what her family would consider a good idea and that made it perfect. And beyond that he was brilliant in a way the blonde would probably never dare voice out loud.

For the moment she stood within the foyer, glancing around and observing all the faces as they lit up with the cheer of a holiday's glow. This was a celebration, no matter how one would put that. Even the odd comment here and there from the Ilvermorny students couldn't dim the occasion. Finally, her eyes landed upon him and with quick yet careful steps she'd move over to him.

"Oh, hi!" The witch paused before she caught herself in her own moment of entrapping silence. "You look great, you do." Selma may have spent the better part of her time at Hogwarts nagging the other, pointing out the lack of effort much rather than anything but today wasn't a time for something like this. Today she'd be kind. If anything, Alex Diggory deserved a break. "I'm not too late, am I?" Honestly, it was hard to imagine.

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One would be a fool not to note the spark of curiosity within her eyes as it mixed with amusement. "My mind is safe and sound, rest assured." Her voiced laced with the hints of a chuckle as she flipped the page to begin copying the words written upon the first. "Let him claim it, then. Anyone in their right mind knows that Slughorn is a soft heart walking, with a need to shine almost as big as the heart he tries to hide. No one is going to believe he made these." She paused. "I'll be handing a copy of this to Professor Pyrites."

For what it was worth, Selma may have been a part of said Slug club but when it came down to it, it certainly was only something done to please her parents. Slughorn seemed to glow ever so much more when surrounded by those he considered valuable to his collection of ever stunning connections. The witch spun around, her attention of the other. "What if I don't agree? Does that make me a bad alchemist?" There was a challenge within those words. The smirk lighting up the corners of her mouth said as much. "If I do everything by myself just who would I have around to admire and observe the conclusion of my Magnum Opus." Far be it for her to actually assume she'd accomplish such a thing. Try she would. There was a whole world to be discovered, after all. - @rvbvstans

rabastan got up from his comfortable seat to observe selma's creation in detail as she was scribbling down notes. "it's.. decent, i suppose. there's plenty of room for improvement." he could keep the serious tone for a few moments, though, before the teasing smile on his face gave him away. "fine, avery. it's perfect. now relax yourself before you've completely lost your mind. who's it for, anyway? pyrites or slughorn? because slughorn's about as talanted as my left shoe. most he'll do is steal what you've done and pass it off as his at one of his slug meetings, the prick that he is." if it weren't obvious by now, the lestrange didn't exactly hold slughorn in high esteem. he leaned against one of the work tables, playing with a cube of metal laying around, raising an eyebrow ambiguously at the ravenclaw's question. "you kind of are. you know, a true alchemist works alone. what if i was on my way to succeed at chrysopoeia?"

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Words seemed like the most complicated thing when it came to Alex Diggory. As though anything coming out of her mouth turned into a language all together unfamiliar to the other. Nothing seemed to make sense, or so it appeared to the Ravenclaw and it left her ever the more frustrated for it. "You, are wasting the day away." Her hand had moved, the wand aimed at the little bird before a quick spell made it explode into a poof of smoke. "What is it you think you're going to use this for?" The witch gestured toward him, pointing in the direction the paper bird had taken off mere minutes ago and somehow could not have been more disappointed. It was a question as unclear to her as it was to the other, clearly, as to why she even cared, yet underneath it all the whole thing was so simple. Alex Diggory was someone who held immense potential, could go far if only he were to put his mind to it and still, day in, day out, the blonde found herself observing the other walking through life like a drunk troll lost in the woods; no aim, no goal, no future in mind.

"When have you last sat down to study? For anything!" The witched reached for her books, her eyes entirely on the other. "You could at least join me for that. No harm done, hm." None of that was a question. Of course, the witch had left it up to Alex to decide whether he wanted to come along or not. All she could do was hope he'd see that she was actually trying and assume she meant the best. Any individual with potential such as his was a tragedy to be seen withering away. "If not that, then at least get off that bench and move about." How many years had she spent hoping, pushing; near begging he would come to his senses. Would he at least take her invitation for a walk? - @alexdiggory

Alex was not wasting the day away, in fact, he took great offence to the insinuation otherwise. Had he skipped his mornings classes? Yes. Had he had an excellent reason to? Of course! He had been out late last night and he needed to sleep! Alex without his sleep was not an Alex anyone wanted to see, afterall. Besides, its not like he went to his morning classes ever anyway, his professors certainly wouldn't miss him.

He didn't even know what Selmas problem with him was anyway. It's not like it was any of her business what he did with his time and for the record, making paper birds and charming them to attack students as they walked by was an amazing use of his time. "What are you doing?" He challenged back, a cocky grin on his face "I'll have you know, I'm working on my charms homework right now actually." He lied through his teeth as he uncupped his hands and watched as the paper bird took off after a first year. "See? Magic."

@corvusoculis

[corvusoculis]

Selma whirled around at the sound of a familiar voice, her own laced with the hint of an amused chuckle. "I dare say, if you hate alchemy then there is no hope left for any of us." Her hands played idly with the cloth within her hands only to toss it aside in favor of a moment left to take notes. Of course, what a waste it would have been not to note down the formula and list of ingredients. There was no doubt that Slughorn would want to see what all of it had been about, just how it had come to be. Impressive things seemed to draw the other in.

The Ravenclaw looked up from her notes to glance over at him. "If such a thing does not exist, I'll at the very least have to try and get as close to it as I can. So, what's the verdict?" Her hand moved, wand pointed at the floating and resting orbs of radiant, shimmering light, some filled with the hint of a snowflake's dance, others emitting a glow that seemed to have come directly from a candle on the most handsomely decorated christmas tree. "What brings you here anyway? Not in the way, am I?" Yet her voiced seemed entirely laced with challenge. There was never anything wrong with that, surely. - @rvbvstans

rabastan almost let out an audible groan when he saw there was someone already at the alchemy laboratory, until he recognized the blonde as selma avery. "alchemy? hate it. not really my thing." rabastan sarcastically claimed, more so to announce his presence to the ravenclaw. he wouldn't mind waiting for her to finish; at least, she knew what she was doing and had an actual talent for alchemy, unlike most people who'd stop by. though, giving it more thought and knowing selma and her dedication, rab decided he'd probably be stuck until midnight waiting for her to finish whatever she was working on and he liked to work in private. so he sprawled on the nearest armchair instead, resting the back of his head on his hands as he looked at her creation. impressive, really. "no such thing as perfect, sel. you stress too much."

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🌈 RAINBOW

🌈 RAINBOW - what advice would they give to their younger self?

If there was something Selma could tell herself it would be to prepare herself. To hold everything she loves dear and to enjoy herself as much as possible before life gets serious and takes a turn for the worse. To treasure each moment spend without worrying about the future. At the end of the day she yearns for the days she spent without the feeling of a gilded cage and wishes she would have figured out who she truly is much, much earlier.

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who: @alexdiggory where: central hall

In a world such as theirs Selma could hardly ever be said to lack meaningful things to fill her time with. Whether it be her dedication to the charms club, her determination when it came to transfiguration and the ever-growing need to let those spells turn into something more creative. Of course, alchemy wasn't something to be underestimated either. The week had been hectic, with the witch running as though stopping could mean certain doom. She was simply busy. Her arms held the books intended to be returned to the library. In fact, if all went according to plan there'd be a much needed study session ahead of her.

Yet it all changed when her eyes trailed the hall around her, observing the students as they went about their business. For a moment she stopped, allowing her steps to slow in order to take in the sights around her. The witch always felt a calming presence when around others simply living their lives. That was until her eyes fell upon an all too familiar figure, seemingly as idly as she'd ever see him. There was sadness and disappointment within the sight in front of her, mixed with a certain and all too familiar feeling of frustration. It was quite the confusing combination that made her emotions boil to the surface and yet demanded to be controlled. "What are you doing?" Without much care she dropped the books onto the bench next to him, eyes not even bothering to look down. "Please, tell me you're not wasting away the day." One could have accused her of being too harsh. And it was certainly a possibility, yet there was a sort of caring laced within her voice.

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🤥 LYING

🤥 LYING - are they good liars? do they have tells to show they're lying?

However sad it may be, Selma has become incredibly good at lying. Due to the burden she carries, the witch has become rather adept both at keeping secrets as well as figuring out the tells of another all so that she can have a slightly easier time holding onto her own secrets even in those dark moments when they threaten to spill. On bad days, perhaps one could tell that they is something hidden underneath but even then, to the untrained eye it simply appears to be the stress of her attempt to be the image of perfection and control.

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🎭 MASKS

🎭 MASKS - do they act differently around certain people? what's different between the way they act around friends, family, strangers, etc.?

While Selma very much knows who she is, her behavior is adjusted based on whomever she is dealing with that day. Friends such as Pandora and Regulus get to see the real Selma, without much chipped away or hidden behind a mask. Apart from that one big secret the witch is determined to wear to the ends of the earth, they both know her as the exact witch she is and always has been. Around her parents she behaves like the daughter they need; the one to live up to expectations, ever attempting to be something she is not and never will be. Ever since the secret had been made clear to her, she's walked through life with a burden that she is determined to carry by herself. While her parents may shoulder some of it, it still pushes her to wear a mask at times even around them. Around other purebloods of the sacred 28 Selma behaves like the typical pureblood daughter, raised properly and with manners and skills that will make her a suitable match. The mask is always on around people like the Regulus' family as well as most of the stricter sacred 28.

[corvusoculis]

hc + 🐈 for a pet/animal-themed headcanon

All her life Selma's only had one pet and that was her beloved Eurasian eagle owl named Achilles. While that is plenty to keep her occupied, though, an owl is never a pet one can have around for most of the day. With most the days spent in the owlery, Achilles is a far shot away from being the most hug-able pet. If Selma had the choice, she'd be getting a cat to accompany her during her adventures. Ever since she was little the witch's been hoping for a cat, feeling much more connected to that idea than just having an owl. Now, she adores her owl but a cat and an owl cannot be compared beyond their nature as creatures that like to hunt.

[corvusoculis]

who: open to all // @noxstarters where: alchemy laboratory, near Slughorn's office

Hours must have gone by, by the time that Selma finally looked up from the work in front of her. At some point over the last few days she'd offered, no, promised to use whatever knowledge she'd acquired within the art of alchemy to create lights, decorative orbs that would resemble both the shine of the holidays as well as the shape of a snowflake. Selma was no fool, aware that sooner or later Slughorn would be hosting his usual parties as he always had during the stages of the festive time.

Footsteps echoing within the rather quiet room, only disturbed by the bubbling within the brass cauldron on the other side of the room, pulled her from the work displayed in front of her. "Was there something you needed? None of the Professors available right now, I'm afraid. Or have you suddenly decided to take up alchemy?" Selma tilted her head to the side, glancing over at whomever had entered before her attention returned to the task at hand.

Selma stared at the creations in front of her with the tiniest frown. The witch was too much of a perfectionist to consider the idea of presenting Professor Slughorn with anything but the best. No, nothing but the absolute best would do. "Do you think these have a nice glow?" The Ravenclaw couldn't help but wonder if these were up to whatever standards she'd set for herself and by extension, for a party hosted by Slughorn. "They have to be perfect."

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So many things factor into her reaction that, if asked, the witch could not have pinpointed precisely what causes her to go from a slightly confused smile to a face that leaves little to the imagination when it comes to the very obvious annoyance displayed upon her features. "Destruction of your reputation and people's good mood, perhaps. Beyond that I do have my doubt about just what this stick of glowing light can do exactly." Selma couldn't tell whether it was his speech about the greatest warriors or the way he behaved himself in that moment. It all seemed rather odd to her.

"If this drink you speak of is an offer of peace, I will gladly take it." The Ravenclaw was willing to give him a chance to present himself as more than this walking shade of chaos present in front of her and yet there is doubt about how well this may work out. All she could do was hope. "Will you stop poking me with this thing if I do agree?" Life was all about taking chances given and she was not about to waste any of them. "Just please, stop it or I'm going to shrink it. Don't tempt me because I will." Selma looked at him with a serious expression, showing willingness but at the very least tempted to actually go ahead with it. Part of her couldn't wonder about just how comical the other may appear with a tiny form of glow stick instead of this swing, swooshing piece of muggle magic. - @ludobxmxn

"somebody with no aim," he chuckles as he dusts himself off and continues to move the light saber about selma's face, snickering. "this," he pauses, moving the light saber away and holding it with both hands intensely, "is one of the greatest weapons of destruction in the galaxy. only the most dedicated of warrios are allowed to weild it," he nods seriously, before once again attacking selma with the plastic toy and faux hits. "vmm, vmm, wmm," he hums in play, "fwshhhh!" when he playfully slices at her neck. "you'd never stand a chance," ludo shakes his head as he steps back.

"oh, y'know," he shakes his head in dismissal at her question - this was nothing. drinking back home was so normalized that he didn't even think twice about it. "just the normal cool amount that a normal, cool guy would drink, probably." he over explains with a shrug. "how about um, yourself? should i go and buy you a drink?" he pauses again, awaiting a reply. "vmm..." the lightsaber pokes selma again in the side, and he smirks.