electric feel | nova

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

she got the power in her hand

to shock you like you wouldn't believe

June 2, 2027
nova hypatia vector

”Dis ith pawbawlee dee beth hing youth efer—“ Benny paused to swallow the half of pie he’d stuffed into his mouth ”—made.” He was never shy with compliments. It was just his nature. Plus, he liked seeing someone light up when he gave one. Well, Veronica never quite smiled, really, but he gave them nonetheless. His sisters were so talented. He always told them so. Benny eyed the rest of the pastry in his hand, sitting haphazardly on a napkin rather than a plate like a civilized person might do. He hadn’t been joking. This was seriously the best apple pie he’d ever had.

”Mum makes pie all the time, but it's nothing like this. What’s your secret?” Not that Benny would tell his mother that, although she had never really scolded her youngest for anything he’d said. With that, Benny scarfed down the remainder as if his life depended on it. Thankfully he was alone in the shop, no guests to give him a side-eye or other shop owners popping in for a coffee to roll their eyes at the Ollivander. He was almost sad when there wasn’t any pie left in his hand, and he balled up the napkin and tossed it in the bin nearby, mimicking some maneuver an American had shown him, although he couldn’t remember the sport’s name. But it wasn’t a typical throw of the Quaffle.

But for the real reason, he’d dropped by. ”Right. Do you have any espresso—or just black coffee if you don’t have any?” He asked excitedly, running a hand through his hair and pushing it back where it had fallen into his eyes. Clearly, he probably did not need any more caffeine, but Benny liked how it made him feel, and he needed some way to stay away from his approaching shift at the bookstore. While business had picked up since the school had reopened and offered summer courses, some nights brought in no traffic at all.

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[nova hypatia vector]

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Chin cupped into her hands as she leaned on the bakery counter, Nova wasn’t sure whether she was impressed or disgusted by the manner in which Benny ate the slice of pie he had purchased only seconds earlier. She could see crumbs of crust fall out of his mouth as he tried to talk, and she was momentarily embarrassed that she knew what he was saying to her. Probably because this had happened before and would definitely happen again. The slice of pie was consumed ridiculously fast, far quicker than she would ever want someone to eat one of her baked goods, and it made her question whether he had actually tasted it in his attempt to inhale it. As for her secret? That was easy. “Runs in the family,” she answered as the crumpled napkin was launched towards the trash bin. How it made it in was something only Merlin himself knew, but she could see miniscule morsels coming off of it as it flew through the air in what could only be described as movie level slow motion. Nova didn’t clap despite being slightly impressed at how he managed to sink it in. “Everything I make is good. You know that.” And it had always been like that, just as it had been with plenty of other Vectors. Having the gift made it so much easier to show off though.

“Do you actually need any right now?” she questioned Benny’s request for caffeine. He always looked like he was wired, and she wasn’t going to be the one responsible when his heart finally gave out from an over stimulus of caffeine. “Because I don’t have any ready to go,” Nova added, looking over her shoulder at the system they used at the bakery. It would take a matter of seconds to get a pot brewing, but she didn’t want to be wasteful. And there was no way she was giving Benny an entire pot to drink. Looking at him though, she already knew he wasn’t going to be satisfied until he got his fix. Preventing him from eating the remainder of the pie was honestly more important. Without saying anything to him, she waved her wand over her shoulder and cast the necessary charms to get the coffee machine going. “What roast do you want?” she asked as she got ready for a second flick to levitate the requested bag over.

gehry benjamin ollivander ● 411 ● Song by Artist

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[gehry benjamin ollivander]

she got the power in her hand

to shock you like you wouldn't believe

June 2, 2027
nova hypatia vector

Nova didn't mention anything about the particularly frantic way he'd just inhaled a slice of pie. Then again, she and all his friends were probably quite used to it. It had been far more impressive their first and second years at Hogwarts when he was still quite small, and suddenly he'd eaten a pie or some other sweet that was the same size as him. It didn't have quite the same effect now. " Of course." Benny agreed happily, leaning casually on the taller part of the counter. " Shame on me for ever daring to doubt you." Tilting his head slightly, he grinned as he feigned the abashment of the thought.

When Nova asked if he actually needed the coffee. Benny pretended to think, his eyes looking away as if lost in thought. " I always need coffee." Benny confirmed. While he would readily admit his addiction, he didn't see an issue with it. Perhaps he might have stayed awake more in Potions if coffee had been served at breakfast during their time there. As a Ravenclaw usually was, Nova had been far more studios than he. Achieving the right marks in all the right classes and diligently completing her assignments on time. Benny had only ever entered the library to nap or meet Vivian when she needed a hand for some prank or experiment. Though it did wake him up, there was a calming effect to it as well. He had even experienced taking a nap after two espresso shots, much to many's confusion.

Before Benny contemplated asking again or perhaps getting on his knees to beg, Nova began a brew with a little bit of magic. His eyes lit up, and Benny looked at her. " Have I ever told you you're my favorite?" Well, for the moment. Though she typically stayed in the top three favorites if he had to rank them. Plus, she was far prettier than at least one other one. And fresh coffee and pie you could fondly remember every day of the year—that was also hard to compete with. "Light roast, please." It was uncanny how many of his classmates had decided to stay in London or at least nearby. Benny felt he saw them all quite often. Benny remembered Nova when he was younger, along with other kids of various ages in Diagon and Horizont Alley.

The Fortescue's had always happily given him ice cream, their middle child a squib like his brother though she was far more outgoing than Frankie ever was and the same age as Benny and Nova. The Malkin's were far younger but nice girls. And, of course, any member of the Weasley clan that visited the joke shop. There were many other families, but it would take Benny all day to mentally list them all.

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[nova hypatia vector]

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"Never do it again," Nova stated flatly, giving him a stern look before cracking a smile. How anyone could manage to not laugh at half of her former classmates was a mystery. Or not really, because she definitely hadn't thought of most of them in that way whilst at Hogwarts. Funny meant distraction. Which, looking back on it, was so incredibly stupid of her because school hadn't ever mattered that much. The goal had always been to work here, and grades didn't dictate that. Acting stuck up certainly didn't win her any awards either. At least the goofy characters still came to her for cookies and other things. She wasn't nearly as much of a prude as she used to be. Where would Mina and Rue get their edibles? Rue could mix potions like no other, but Nova doubted they knew how to turn an oven on. And Mina definitely had no business being near open flames that weren't coming from a lighter. Benny was Benny. "Because I could poison you and you'd never know it," she added jokingly, taking the plate where the slice of pie had been for only a few seconds. "Another?" Would he be able to resist?

Moving behind the counter to start gathering the coffee he wanted, Nova scoffed when she heard him call her his favorite. "How many others have you said that to today?" she asked as she flicked her wand at the cups. One levitated gently off the stack and made its way towards the light roast pour, where it steamed instantly. Once it finished, it floated safely in front of Benny. "Careful. I don't have any burn salves on me," she warned, before cutting another slice of pie onto the plate, not caring if he wanted one or not. The answer was always going to be yes, because it was Benny and it was her sweets. A match made in magic.

gehry benjamin ollivander ● 315 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

she got the power in her hand

to shock you like you wouldn't believe

June 2, 2027
nova hypatia vector

Benny tried his best to look as innocent as possible. Again, it wasn’t as effective as when he was young. Something about a sweet and smiling little boy could easily sway a person into forgiveness. But now he was too tall and, since gaining a little muscle, not even as scrawny anymore. But he grinned in response to Nova’s light scolding. ”Not only is she talented and lovely but merciful as well.” Nova had lightened up quite a bit since their school years. His classmates from every house were a rambunctious lot, even the studious Ravenclaws and the stern Slytherins. Benny pitied the Professors who dealt with them.

She offered him another slice, though, warning that perhaps it might be poisoned. It was unfortunate he had no potions ingredients around for an antidote considering Potions had been one of his better subjects. He could have easily feigned disbelief at such a threat but…pie. So when she asked him if he wanted another slice, Benny merely looked at Nova. ”Merlin, it's like you don’t know me at all.” Benny would never say no to a baked good, or really any food at all. And the idea of dying while eating good food did not seem like a bad way to go, now that he thought about it. It was fitting since he seemingly never stopped eating. He leaned casually on the taller countertop above the display case. His brow creased just slightly as he feigned offense. ”Nobody else today.“ Again, he did his best to look innocent. ”Why am I getting the feeling you don’t believe me?”

”Thank you.” Benny accepted the cup and heeded the warning, taking a small sip at first. Benny took a bite with his new slice of pie, remembering his manners this time. ”If this is poisoned —“ There was some force in the world greater than magic, and somehow it lived inside this slice of pie. ”—then I die a happy man.” Instead of inhaling the rest of the slice and his coffee all at once, he paused a moment. ”Do you have time for a break?” It wasn’t the busy time of day. That wouldn’t be for a couple of hours. A schedule Benny knew by heart from his time watching his father craft wands to working at the bookstore. And Nova’s aunt was always so lovely to Benny. She never ceased to comment on his height, remembering when he was small, and all the children would play together.

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[nova hypatia vector]

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She was...lovely? Benny's colorful language certainly didn't sound like her at all, though in recent years she had strived to be a better person all around. Five years prior and such a descriptor would have had her in a laughing fit. Despite the changes since school, Nova disliked calling herself nice. She had gotten friendlier for sure, and she believed her customer service was exceptional. Watching and learning from her aunt absolutely helped with that. Removing herself from the toxicity that seeped out of Harmony on a daily basis did wonders too. Stress and anxiety were virtually gone and she didn't feel the need to compete for attention anymore. Now if only her step-mother croaked too...

"I don't believe you, because I know you," Nova stated. He had just said so himself, after all. There could always be more favorites today, for whatever it was that Benny got up to throughout the day. Undoubtedly if he ended up with Mina, she would take over that spot in an instant. Everyone always said how she was fun, or whatever. More like mildly erratic and immature, but growing up slowly, finally. The last few interactions the two of them had were pleasant enough and Nova didn't feel like she was talking to a puppy on drugs anymore. Now it was just the drugs.

He was lucky it wasn't poisoned, because the first bite was in his mouth before it even looked like he considered the possible consequences. Of course, if she were to poison a pie, she'd do the whole thing, so the first slice would have done him already. "Maybe for a couple of minutes," Nova checked the clock that sat on the wall behind the counter. There wasn't anything currently baking, and even if there was, it wouldn't need immediate attention. Everything in the bakery's kitchen was charmed to work automatically, easing the burden that baking normally took. Sometimes she wondered if it could even be considered the same thing, then remembered that the end results were superb so it had to be. Flicking her wand as she crossed over to the table Benny was sitting at, a second cup of coffee floated down in front of her as she took a seat. "So...what have you been up to lately? Aside from this," she broadly gestured at the food in front of him.

gehry benjamin ollivander ● 393 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

she got the power in her hand

to shock you like you wouldn't believe

June 2, 2027
nova hypatia vector

Benny was characteristically unreserved, with which thoughts he verbalized. And his friends had long since grown accustomed to his nature. One could summarize it as it was just simply Benny. But he didn’t mind. There were worse things people could say about him, and he’d certainly heard a few not-so-nice comments. Dwelling on those would not change anything, so why bother? Besides, Nova worked quite a bit in contrast to Benny and others like Mina. So much like he would others such as Vasilia or Nell to go outside and touch some grass from time to time, he would also tell Nova.

Fortunately, she had let that cool demeanor thaw out since their school days. Still, Benny could only imagine what being dormmates with Vivian Jordan and her obsession with glitter might do to one’s general demeanor. ”But then you know I speak only truths.” Benny insisted. ”Besides, can’t I have more than one favorite?” There was no rule against it. A workaround, one might say. If someone bothered to look closely enough, they might see how Benny clung to his friend group. Companions in crime while in school and a mischievous bunch as children. Benny had always been friendly, and people gravitated toward him for it. Merlin knew his life at home wasn’t nearly as exciting. Veronica mothering him, Frankie avoiding him if he could help it, and Nell up to her ears in wand work to spare the time.

But Merlin knew nobody, but Nova could bake like this. Mina could have offered to take all his shifts until the end of time, and he’d still choose this slice of pie. Fortunately, Nova had time for a break. With the second slice finished and coffee in hand, he sipped slowly as Nova sat down. ”Work has picked up, which used to be rare for this time of year.” The cycle was always the same. Busiest before the start of term, around the winter holidays, Easter, and the start of summer. ”There’s some new novel all the younger kids have been climbing over one another to buy, something about a guy that hides out on an island for years or something.” Benny sipped more of his coffee, privately grieving that he had no more pie. ”And all the students with summer courses.” Benny was grateful that summer courses were not a requirement in his time, but even he could recognize that the reason behind these changes was still a sad one a year later. ”What about you? Aside from working too much.”

Benny knew others who put in just as many more hours working. At least Nova appeared to have a good relationship with her Aunt, and nobody had to hurry away subtly into a safe place in the shop while his sisters somehow worked with one another. He had always wondered if his siblings knew he was far more observant than he appeared. There were no fantastical notions about his family floating in his head. But it wasn’t in his nature to intervene or insert himself in the middle of a conflict.

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[nova hypatia vector]

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Had Benny ever actually lied to her before? That had her at a loss for words, because she was almost positive that he never had. "You do, don't you?" she asked rhetorically after thinking on it for a few seconds. Even she lied. Not usually anything horrendously awful, but the occasional white lie to her aunt about when she'd gotten home the night before, or to her younger siblings about something mundane. There were lies of self-preservation too, though they were reserved for Harmony mostly. Merlin, she hated that woman...

"I suppose you could have favorites for different situations...but I'm your favorite cook, right? That's basically an irrefutable fact." And maybe the only person better than her was Decima. That was because her aunt had decades of experience with the family ability to hone it. Nova felt like she was getting closer though. The quality of the bakery definitely hadn't dipped at all with the addition of her own work.

Sipping on her coffee as she listened to her friend, Nova nodded her head a few times. She'd noticed how much busier the shopping district had been lately too. There was no such thing as too many customers, but there had been a few days where she fully felt the heat of the kitchen because of how long the ovens had been running. "Honestly? Nothing important. Just a lot of this," she motioned at the shop. "But this is what I chose. I'm hoping one of my siblings will get the baking bug too and be interested in helping me." So far it looked like she was the only one lucky enough to be granted the charmed cooking, the worthy apprentice to Decima Vector. But there was going to be a point where she knew she'd need help, even if just at the counter. Working herself to death didn't need to happen even though there were times where she felt like she could. Some of the other shopkeepers that were of similar age to her in Horizont seemed to take it way too seriously, and Nova tried her best to not be like them. She needed a life outside of work. Where that was though, was yet to be seen.

"I know I need to get out more. It's just...I don't know...stressful when I try to take a break? If that makes sense." Everything had been so work oriented for her since her father died that she didn't even know what relaxing was anymore. Hard work had gotten her here, and she was sort of afraid to see what would happen if she took a break even if she needed it.

gehry benjamin ollivander ● 441 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0

[gehry benjamin ollivander]

she got the power in her hand

to shock you like you wouldn't believe

June 2, 2027
nova hypatia vector

Benny shrugged innocently. The boy had always been honest and didn’t know how else to be or why he would want to. Where Benny might disagree with someone would be on information disclosure. The omission of information rather than the disproval. There wasn’t any good reason his mother needed to know that the brownies he sometimes ate were laced with anything that wasn’t chocolate or the typical ingredients. ”I would’ve thought you knew me well enough by now.” Since they were kids and, Nova first arrived to live with her aunt in those days before Benny towered over all his friends.

”Of course.” Benny stated matter of factly. There was no denying Nova had a gift. He couldn’t even bring himself to joke that anyone else could do better. Benny’s heart was in his stomach, which could not betray the truth. ”I would duel anyone that claimed your work was not the best.” Not that Benny was a fighter or one with that mighty Gryffindor spirit yearning to save the day, but one had to be insane to make such a claim. But this was also just the typical hyperbolic posturing one could expect from Benny and his cheery demeanor.

Sometimes, Benny forgot Nova had younger siblings. They didn’t stop by often as her older brother did. But they were also still in school, so it was not quite like the age gap between Benny and his eldest sister. ”Do they come by? Or does that Scary Lady not let them?” Benny had almost collided with Nova’s stepmother exiting a shop, and after the initial shock of her beauty, he’d quickly scurried away far enough for the chill in his spine to dissipate. Benny looked blankly at Nova. No. That made no sense at all. ”Yea, you really need a day off.” He insisted, finishing his coffee. ”Why don’t you come out with me, Mina, and Rue sometime? Nothing too crazy.” At least not for them, but a few drinks never hurt anyone.

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[nova hypatia vector]

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”Sometimes I feel like I know you too well,” Nova teased. Like how much caffeine he had on a daily basis. One of these days she was going to have to cut him off before he accidentally made his heart explode from the stuff. That could happen, right? The whole little group he ran with was not exactly the most mysterious in the world, though there were times where she was left scratching her head by Mina or Rue’s antics. The things those two got up to, or previous did, absolutely left her perplexed. But they frequently bought from her on both fronts, so who was she to complain?

She rolled her eyes at the idea of Benny dueling anyone. A cook-off was how she would definitely challenge someone. Or accept one, perhaps. Somehow the fact that she quite literally could not make bad food hadn’t gone to her head too much yet. She could thank her aunt for keeping her as grounded as possible. But she knew that any judge in a competition would be lying if they gave the win to anyone other than her.

The scary lady Benny referred to being Harmony, had Nova immediately slouching in her chair and letting out a long sigh. ”Something like that.” Harmony was a bitch. There was no arguing against that. And her stupid art gallery her ‘stepmother’ ran was just down the street and entirely too close for comfort. The fact that they were this close in proximity and rarely saw one another spoke a lot about what their relationship was like. Because there was no relationship. Being belittled for simply existing was the absolute worst, and thankfully Decima and Archie saved her from that frequently. ”It’s emotional terrorism,” Nova said honestly with a shrug. ”I know I wasn’t pleasant when she first came around, but can you really blame me? She’s the same age as Archie and acts like she’s owed everything. She isn’t.” There was no way for Harmony to acquire the bakery, but the worry was still there. Decima had it written down everywhere that she was to inherit it, and no one else.

The problem with a day off was that if she did go out with Benny’s crew, she was going to be hungover the following morning. And while most of her work was automated through charms, it still sucked standing in the heat vacuum of a kitchen with a gnarly headache and the constant feeling of needing to throw-up. ”You aren’t wrong,” she admitted. Though Benny’s definition of nothing crazy was absolutely wild for her. ”Alright. I’m down. Just let me know when.” Her aunt would probably be happy to see her have some sort of social interaction outside of chatting with the regulars, who were all pushing one-hundred and twenty.

gehry benjamin ollivander ● 468 ● Song by Artist

MADE BY VEL OF GS + ADOX 2.0