Heliotrope LeJean
 | |
| Heliotrope LeJean | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Born | 15 October 1996, 21 |
| City of Birth | Loch Lomond, Scotland |
| Blood status | Half-breed |
| Also known as | Fish Freak, "Soggybottom" (school years); "Tropes" (in the criminal element) |
| Physical Information | |
| Species | Part Merperson |
| Gender | Female |
| Height | 5'7" |
| Hair Colour | Blonde |
| Eye Colour | Grey |
| Skin Colour | Pale/Grey |
| Marks/Tattoos | Webbed digits, gills along base of neck/collarbone, translucent eyelids in the form of a nictitating membrane |
| Relationships | |
| Father | Kulgor |
| Mother | Danielle LeJean |
| Magical Characteristics | |
| Wand(s) | |
| |
| Education | |
| School | Hogwarts |
| House | Hufflepuff |
| Class of | 2015 |
| Occupation | |
| |
| Character Information | |
| Playby | Beth Riesgraf |
| Will | |
Heliotrope is part merperson. Hers was a slow adaptation to magical society, growing up with little to no social skills or constructs. She spends every extra moment swimming. She is a Hufflepuff Graduate (Class of 2015).
- Major Plots: Kelpie Sightings, Selkie Seeking
- Supporting Roles: Zel Trumble and His Troubles
Avatar Gallery
Origin
Danielle LeJean, a dropout of Beauxbatons, followed the tradition of Mirabella Plunkett (of Chocolate Card Fame) of falling in love with a merman. She made Union with Kulgor, a hunter, considered marriage in Loch Lomond tradition. Heliotrope spent her early years with the spawnlings, raised communally, although was considered a 'merg' that would never amount to much even when she got her Hogwarts Letter.
By the age of 10, she could subdue Kelpies, and the mane hair that would become the core of her wand was from such a hunt. Mermish is her first language. Her physiology is akin to wixes under the effects of Gillyweed although she also has functional lungs. Her eyelids are transparent so she sleeps with a mask.
In the summer of her 1st year of school, The Quibbler wrote an unflattering article about her, suggesting: she was a homonculus experiment created by Analiza Snark, was key to the 'Rotfang Conspiracy' to poison water wells with gingavitus, wouldn't live past the age of 16 and was the source of a hair-discoloring illness affecting one of her housemates. Obviously none of this is true, yet first impressions of Heliotrope don't do her any favors.
Recently At AO
Upon leaving Hogwarts, Heliotrope eventually got a job as a Mermish Translator, although she was also scouted for several Quidditch teams.
1st to 3rd Year
By the spring of '09, Heliotrope was the strange, silent girl who spent most of her free time swimming the Black Lake eschewing her studies. People were either fascinated by the concept of her existence or disgusted by her strange habits. Transforming mice to clams (snuffboxes), jelly beans into flavored tadpoles, horrendous blocky handwriting and an alien, merfolk mindset to life, as some examples. She nearly interrupted a Quidditch match by trying to catch the 'Gold Snidge' from the stands (misunderstanding the history of the Snitch/Golden Snidget). Earning particular enmity from Erin Harper during his Seeker years on the Slytherin team. When constructing a new Kelp Whip, her and some first year Gryffindors restrain what they believe is a Kelpie colt.
Her mind was a stunted blank, a deep pool as a staring contest with the Legilimens sensitive Alvis Norling would suggest. It also helped shift her perspective, as Heliotrope became motivated to embrace both her merfolk and human side, previously an unknown limitation. In the summer of '09 she swam around the continent, both to tow home her plum tree from a Herbology final and to learn the more of the ways of other merpeople. Notable pit stops included The Lazy Kelpie. She met the likes of Deus Deres and Tynan MacFusty. This was also the time she got a pet Lobalug and her first Mermaids Purse.
During her 2nd year, in the shadow of the TetraWizard Tournament, remedial tutoring is a must if she's to have any hopes at Hogwarts. She's tutored by her academic opposite, super overachiever Sasha Schlagenweit. Many of her 2nd year classes show she's still thinking 1 year behind, as her relationships with Obderedria Pienas and Philo Falkin cement as frequent class partners. (Don't ask what happened with Cheering Charms) Of course, she vehemently believes that a lake crossing from the train station is the only way to reach the castle.
Then Head of Hufflepuff Leopold Sandusky encourages honing her hunter instincts to Quidditch, as Heilo is a natural athlete. Really, the Hufflepuff team needs every chance fielding a team after an unfortunate bout of broom sickness. It takes her several games and practices to learn Seekerhood, achieving many a foul from illegal catches, again to Erin Harper's chagrin vs Slytherin. And believe it or not, as grungy as her Yule Ball dress is, her poise is excellent compared to the other 1st and 2nd years taught ballroom dancing by Aileen Reid and Nightingale Kesali. Even if she was barefoot. When Zel Trumble was outed as a werewolf, Heliotrope was swept up in the brawl arming herself with a 'miniature trident' from the place settings, only be be knocked askew and stab Nicholas Bevans in the leg with a fork. Sissel Jowd also utilizes her help introducing the 1st Years to the denizens of the lake in a History of Magic class.
During the infamous Body Swap day of Nov 6 2009, Heliotrope briefly inhabited the scarecrow, Cap'n Patches, transfigured by Salem Champion Mace Steinbeck, while her body would go on to be inhabited by Hexy. If anything, her body was attributed to setting up a Portable Swamp and graffiti on an upper floor. Later, after the passing of a Gryffindor student in their year (Emilia, younger sister of Amara Báthory) Heliotrope is the first to recognize she's missing from classes after winter break but is unable to convey the significance.
Compared to her sluggish activity in winter, summers see her far more active, especially in the tropical seas of the Southeast Asia trip in the summer of '10. Back in the UK, more frequent trade with her home colony of Loch Lomond prompt more questions she's had on why Merfolk are classified as Beasts by the Ministry, given their cultural divides.
Back at school for her 3rd year, she slowly seems to be understanding jokes and emotions. She's naturally adept at Creatures, of course, yet is also enrolled in Muggle Studies to improve her understanding of humanity. She becomes fascinated with an Animus Amulet lost to the lake, although never wearing it, systematically retrieving it and casting it away over the months even at risk of temperature shock. During the events of the student abductions in February (Mischief Unmanaged) she's caught in the lake when it transforms into blood, requiring hospitalization to clear out her gills.
4th Year On
Three years of almost Trolling half her classes lead to an uncomfortable ultimatum, much as it took a lot of effort from her circle to get Heliotrope to realize this: if she flunks her 4th year she might not even be able to sit her OWLs. Concepts of education and friendships are tested, but ultimately Heliotrope strives to tackle the academic challenge ahead of her.
Summers still see her visiting distant Merfolk colonies but she also starts visiting friends in muggle areas, gotta get those Muggle Studies into practice.
5th year is especially draining for her, mentally. Spending far too much time ‘dry’ when she has to cut back on swimming to improve her grades, she develops an eye disorder from over correcting for the lack of light reflection she’s used to underwater. Her vision improves when she’s given study “glasses” that have a thin layer of water in the frames rather than lenses. Try as she might she never did achieve an Outstanding in any subject (although it appears some of the examiners were never given the memo as to her upbringing). Her scores do little to suggest she would be back for her 6th year:
- O: none
- E: Muggle Studies, Transfiguration, CoMC
- A: Potions, Herbology, DADA
- P: Charms, Astronomy
- D: History
One of her mentors challenges the Defense & Charm grades, and Ministry interest in her connection to the Merfolk bring about plans for her NEWT education after some remedial training. She misses check in and is not seen at the start of the 6th Year for her class. What nobody realized over the summer was that she was imprisoned in Finfolkaheem, found past the Orkney Islands. Although one of the most beautiful permanent merfolk cities, the local Finfolk are highly aggressive against humans and don't take kindly to a half human visiting. Once she escapes, it's mid-October before she can return to Hogwarts and yet again play catch up on her studies.
In 2014, Loch Lomond draws public ire given the disappearance of Maya Elliot, as Heliotrope's colony never revealed what happened to her after weeks of searching. Her mother Danielle is arrested for a time during the investigation.
Full Mermaid
Under the duration of Gillyweed, Heliotrope becomes a fully fledged freshwater Selkie. Most notably having a silvery tail instead of legs along with other features. Fully green hair with brackish purple undertones; yellowed eyes; completely grey, slightly oily scaled skin; stronger gills and inability to breathe air normally. She lacks the vestigial seal appendages some freshwater Selkies have, compared to the limb structure of saltwater Selkies. She's able to swim even faster and adjust for pressure more easily in this form.
Quite unusually, Helio will shift towards this appearance from any consumption of gillyweed. Including Gillywater and the recreational ‘Kelp’ strain that doesn’t have any of the usual gillyweed properties. There’s still trace amounts to affect Helio’s physiology, although for a shortened timeframe. For this reason she tries to avoid ‘kelp parties’ whenever she can, as the smoke diminishes her lung function in favor of her gills. Often resulting in the need for an emergency soak.
Magical Potential & Skills
Heliotrope is considered a rudimentary witch by terms of Ordinary Wizarding Levels. She hasn’t completed her N.E.W.T.s either. Not one for subtlety or creativity with her spells, her repertoire is very utilitarian.
The Life Aquatic - Being from a culture of the deep, much of Heliotrope’s understanding of magic is shaped by water. By her 1st year she could cast Aguamenti to such volumes it was hard for her to turn off (enough to flood a stairwell once) with dribbles even after dropping her wand. Water manipulation spells were the first ones she could perfect. Her own clan and other merfolk societies have special techniques to manipulate water by physical contact. This is similar to an elemental conjuration affect of dance magic; Heliotrope is not well-versed on such wandless manipulation, however.
- Likewise, her expertise with natural magic (Creatures and Herbology) is with aquatic subjects, both freshwater and saltwater. Hunting and restraining kelpies is a rite of passage in Loch Lomond. Her understanding of Astronomy and History is also shaped by merfolk lore. Beyond that, her disposition towards other sentient Beasts and Beings is shaped by the long persistent turmoil for Centaurs and Merpeople eschewing being status, which would place them alongside dark creatures like Hags and Vampires.
Transfiguration - Besides aforementioned water conjuration, Helio’s easiest transfiguration efforts involve aquatic and amphibious creatures. Whether intended or not, given her first impression of useful objects is tied to merfolk aquaculture.
Defense - Heliotrope is far better in combative situations than she appears in theory. She has instinctively picked up on spells that compliment her hunting style, whether underwater or above ground. She usually fights defensively and goes for nimble, ambush strikes. She tends towards nonlethal spells, such as the Knockback Jinx. Likewise she uses shields and spells to make the most of her environment, like Protego or the Seize and Pull charm. She also utilizes the spear, kelp whip and her lobalug combatively.
- Helio is able to perform a limited Patronus Charm, enough for the shielding effect. As of early 2018 she has yet to cast a corporeal Patronus. Past attempts suggest the shape of a huge creature.
Broom Flight - Heliotrope is quite skilled on a broom. She’s naturally athletic and spatially aware, finding flight has less resistance than deep pressure swimming. She joined the Hufflepuff Quidditch team in her 2nd year as Seeker. Her flying was more than up to par, her fouls came from illegal catches or maneuvers until she picked up on the rules. She and her mother Danielle also know how to temper brooms to assist with underwater navigation, comparable to muggle ‘underwater scooters.’ She almost took up Quidditch professionally before employment with Mermish Translation.
Language - Mermish is Heliotrope’s first language. After English, she’s also somewhat conversational in Scottish Gaelic and French, owing to growing up in Loch Lomond and her mother being French.
Trivia
Character Creation, Tropes, Playlist
- Tarot Motif: X - Wheel Of Fortune; representing destiny, karma, fate and chance. Shortened to either Wheel or Fortune, this card signifies change and cycles, "what goes up must come down." Upright, the Wheel signifies not just boons and luck, but clear intent, decisive action and control to make the most of circumstance. Reversed, the Wheel signifies upheval, disorder, break-down and misfortune. This could be unforeseen setback or the results of poor decisions. Even worse, fighting, ignoring or giving up control when dealing with change.
- Zodiac: The Rat; which for Heliotrope suggests alertness, flexibility, versatility and keen observation. Opportunistic and adpative with a high survival rate. They're known to treat friends like family and give all of themselves in efforts, especially if unrestricted or independent. However, the Rat may lack empathy and humility, be arbitary or indifferent, or trust too easily. Also, straightforward to the point of being unable to catch on to euphemism.
- Horoscope: Libra; those born under this sign are harmonious and fair. Libras value compromise, unorthodox thinking, and finding balance. They can be the first to try something new. The seek to have people get along and fix problems, making sure others are happy and protected, counting on the collective strengths of the group. While having a well-tuned internal compass, morality or instinct, they may get lost in group-think or conformist tendencies. Potentially struggling with fixation on what's missing or not working, or sense of self based on life changes and differences in groups.
- Helio is accented with cool colors, such as the Dark Cyan (hex: 008b8b) used in the main AO site color scheme. Her namesake is from the pink-purple tint of heliotrope flowers, such as Fuchsia (hex: ff00ff), Heliotrope (hex: df73ff) & Heliotrope Magenta (hex: aa00bb). The latter two are sourced from Wikipedia
- Niobe's Vincent Fournier wrote the 200,000th IC site post in a thread with Heliotrope during the events of Plot:Selkie Seeking Ripples in the City
