Posts
1
Archived Applications / Monroe Litchfield
« on: 16/08/2014 at 22:14 »
Application for Hogwarts School
→ CHARACTER INFORMATION.
Name: Monroe Litchfield
Birthday: 8 January 1927
Hometown: Litchfield Place, England
Bloodline: Pureblood
Magical Strength (pick one): Divination (Can I have like, an 8 as part of the Litchfield special request? Pelas?)
Magical Weakness (pick one): Charms
Year (pick two): 5th, 6th
Biography:
I. Mars, Bringer of War
I remember being frightened, when the war began.
It was illogical, of course. Our entire family are wizards, diviners; the fighting amongst the muggles would run its course and all would be well again. I was assured of this many times as the months dragged on and things seemed to be getting worse and worse. But I listened, trusting. Any gifts in divining had not presented themselves in me, yet, so what else was I to do?
The war kept on, and I kept being frightened by it, though it seemed far away. I did eventually develop a strong talent for Divination, as was expected, but I tried not to focus on what was happening outside the safety of home, the safety of Hogwarts. My humor was quite possibly the thing that kept me from dwelling on it for too long. It seemed improper for me to be so affected by something that should not have been my concern.
So I laugh loudly and often, and try to get others to do the same. It seems to be working so far.
II. Venus, Bringer of Peace
30th May 1934.
The journal was a gift.
That's the forty-fourth date written in it. I write down important dates in a list; it's the only thing I ever put there. I never write down why they are important, though. With so many seers and diviners and crystal-gazers moving through my life constantly, it's nice to preserve a bit of mystery. Sometimes it seems the only way to do it is by romanticizing the past.
The past has always been a source of gratification for me. It is solid, unchanging except in our perception of it. It's mysterious in a way that the future can never be, with a family like mine.
Good dates are written in black. Bad ones are also written in black, but I can tell them apart by the subtle difference in pressure applied when I wrote them down, the way the curves of the letters are a bit sharper, less flowing than my usual relaxed handwriting.
30th May 1934 was of the good-important variety. I look at the date, crisp black against cream-colored parchment, and try to remember why I wrote it down. I am pleased when I find I cannot.
Perhaps my siblings find it strange, this obsession with mystery. Then again, I tend to deflect things like this with a poorly thought-out joke.
(Of course, they know about the journal. They know everything. How can they not?)
But that's the thing about being a Litchfield - when there’s no mystery to be had, you have to create your own.
III. Mercury, Winged Messenger
Having my eldest brother at Hogwarts has been an adventure in itself. Last year I left the nicest notes lying around in library books to remind him about my birthday. Wouldn’t want him to forget, after all.
True, I started doing it few weeks early - about thirteen weeks, if I’m honest - but how else would he remember? I like to help out where I can. It’s what makes me so lovable.
I wonder if he ever found the one tucked in that restricted section book on the top shelf. It took a lot of doing to get it there and I hope the gesture was appreciated.
IV. Jupiter, Bringer of Jollity
I'm supposed to be the laidback, funny Litchfield - the one no one really expects much from because everything worth doing has already been done by my older siblings. To a certain extent, that takes off some pressure, and I can concentrate less on things that bore me and more on having a good time.
There is a certain amount of good fortune in having the entire school know about my gifts with Divination. It makes it hard for anyone to tell if I’m being serious when I mention an offhand prediction. ‘Your shoelace is untied — no, wait, that’s tomorrow, sorry!’ is a personal favorite, though ‘best keep an eye on your cat today’ tends to give interesting results.
I’ve tried to keep track of how many times I can get away with a made-up prediction before I have to mention something legitimate. Otherwise, I’d be the boy who cried wolf, and where would be the fun in that? Mixing it up a bit keeps everyone on their toes.
V. Saturn, Bringer of Old Age
I am fifteen, but if being the youngest of six has taught me anything, it's that no one is immune to time. Not even the Litchfields. Often, there is a sense that our abilities make us special, and they do. But we still grow old and die no matter how many of us claim to see it coming.
I’ve been blessed, I think, with the ability to deliver jokes with a straight face. Part of me thinks that might go away as I get older, and I don’t want it to. I like being able to diffuse tension - it makes me feel like I’m not just living in the shadow cast by my family.
Which is good, really, because I’m awesome.
VI. Uranus, Magician
I’m horrible with Charms, and at times it feels as though I'm the only one. It shouldn't be so difficult - you mimic the incantation and movement and it should just work. Am I trying too hard? I think that’s probably impossible, for me.
I suppose I could request a tutor. In fact, I have, but most tutoring types don’t appreciate being told that they might spill soup on themselves tomorrow in the middle of trying to demonstrate incendio.
(Whaaaat, I put the fire out, it was fine—)
So, yes, I did try. I tried so hard, but I’m just not any good at it. I’m not terribly concerned, though. I’m good at Divination and decent at most other things, and that’s good enough.
VII. Neptune, Mystic
“I’m always serious.” I say it with a straight face. Without fail, someone asks me to be serious at least once a week. It isn’t a total lie - I’m serious about not being so serious.
Seriously.
I can get away with it because I’m the youngest, but at least I know that. I’m not a total pain in the arse, usually. I try not to take things too far, though I’m not always the best judge of what too far entails.
Point is, I care about my family - they’ve always taken care of me. If I can contribute a little humor when it’s needed, I’m happy to do it. I’m sure they’d do the same for me.
That is, if any of them were as funny as I am.
→ ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
House Request: Ravenclaw or Gryffindor.
Personality: Charming and a bit arrogant, Monroe always stops himself before he can think too hard about any one thing, though he has the capacity to be a brilliant student. His most common response to anything potentially tense or awkward is a joke or quip. He’s quite the class clown, and not particularly concerned with his marks, but doesn’t generally go out of his way to break any rules. He isn’t particularly keen on knowledge for its own sake, but he has a unique way of looking at puzzles and problems that contributes to his relative success in school. Of course, reacting the way he does to serious situations often means he doesn’t have much experience sorting through his emotions in earnest.
Appearance: Monroe stands a bit taller than other boys his age, but not so much as to be immediately noticeable - an inch or two, at most. Of course, he still has another growth spurt or two to go through. His skin and hair are dark, his features mimicking those of the rest of his family. He is found smiling more often than not, and his gait is relaxed, sometimes slouched. When not wearing his Hogwarts uniform, he gravitates toward argyle and bowties. No one can tell if he’s doing this ironically.
→ SAMPLE ROLEPLAY.
“No, it’s not that I can’t do it.” He knew better than anyone what he was capable of - and to be sure, he could complete a simple History of Magic essay. “It’s the principle of the thing.”
He’d argue to the ends of the earth about completing an assignment which he found a waste of time and effort, but he’d do it in the end if only because Tom insinuated he was incapable. And Merlin knew Monroe wouldn’t take that kind of thing lying down. He shook his head, a knowing smirk pulling at his lips.
“Catch you later, mate.”
“Hey!”
The boy turned, finding himself being chased down by the one and only Astrid Bixby. “Astrid, darling, we simply have to stop meeting like this—”
“Wait up! It’s for the paper!”
“I think you’re great, really, and you know I’d never try to hurt you—”
“What do you think about serving frog legs at lunch? Some say it’s a delicacy, but others think it’s plain gross.”
“But Astrid,” Monroe reached out toward her, attempted to place his hands on her shoulders. He put on his most serious expression, but the smirk from earlier still threatened to resurface. It was all a farce, of course, but he had a very serious aversion to contributing meaningless quotes to the school’s drivel-filled paper. Hopefully Astrid’s reaction would at least prove entertaining.
“You can’t keep chasing after me like this. It isn’t fair to other girls.”
→ ABOUT YOU.
Previous Characters (if applicable): Viola Vane and friends.
How did you find us?: I signed over my soul and now you're stuck with me.
