23 Nov 2021, 22:53
CYUT Errand Group 3
THIS IS A PRIVATE THREAD FOR:
@Clair Fernandez, @Henry Knight, @Willow Anderson, @Beverly Hinson, @Ami Proccopio, @Julian Pritchard and Professor @Halford Booth
DATE: November 23rd, 2021 | TIME: 4:00 pm / 16:00
Closing vestiges of a dying day languished outside high, arched windows, as the sun cast its final light through their panes. Catching hold of the air in the room, those rays filled the space with a dull, grayish glow. But gaining strength were shadows in various areas, where a dim corner might beckon to solitary souls, or where dark lines detailed window panels on the polished floor.
Perpetually fighting the gathering gloom was a large chandelier, hanging from the center of the domed ceiling high overheard. Its warm light would only become more prominent as the event carried on.
The floor, spaciously designed to accommodate art of any form, remained open in the centermost point of the room. Any students with a pension for self expression through dance would enjoy plenty of space to fit their desires. And, if the chalkboard toward the back of the room were to be believed, there was at least one such individual in this group.
Placed upon a large easel, the portable chalkboard held the names of each group member, followed by their respective talents. Directly above the names was a welcoming message for those participants, written in handwriting much too cheerful to belong to the sour-faced professor seated beside the board.
Perhaps his ire stemmed from the rather uncomfortable-looking chair his rump rested upon, or maybe his face had simply frozen in a permanent scowl of judgement and boredom. Whatever the case, and whatever the students believed, both arms and legs were crossed, further accentuating his closed body language.
If one were to look past the disconcerting sight of Professor Booth, they would also see a long, rectangular table, placed to one side of the open space in the center of the room. At first glance, its clear purpose was to bear any and all materials that this group's members might need, catered to fit their specifications. And bear them it did.
Its contents included knitting needles, yarn, string, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, glue, and many other crafting materials.
Gathered together near the crafting section was a wide selection of paints, sufficient to leave any artist stumped on which color to utilize first. Beside them also lay a wooden palette, along with a variety of brushes.
The more unique options the table presented were several Rubix Cubes, and a single pink tutu.
Nearby stood another table - round in nature - surrounded by six chairs, all similar to Professor Booth's.
A blank canvas sat upon its own easel, and a whiteboard sported multiple colored markers. Both were coupled with a chair of their own.
As students arrived, they would receive only a flippant gesture toward the materials table from their disgruntled professor, as indication that they should get started with whatever they had planned.
R E M I N D E R S:
• Professor Booth will be a passive member of this group, which means I will not role-play as him unless necessary. You are allowed to god mod him greeting you - as detailed in the description - watching your talent, anything reasonable.
• The word count requirement is 800 words, please calculate your total at the bottom of your posts for me. When you hit 800 words, please edit your original post in the signup thread with your word count.
• You must hit the 800-word requirement before December 14th.
• Please keep in mind the rules of the site when interacting with others during this errand. PG-13 ratings still apply.
• There is a ZERO TOLERANCE policy for violence in this thread. Anyone who does not complete the actual errand task within their 800 words will NOT receive the reward. If your character is doing something unreasonable, you will be escorted out of the thread and will not receive the rewards. Depending on the severity of the offence, Professor Booth may also ban you from his future errands.
• For roleplay purposes, your student would have received the following note the day before the errand:[font=Segoe Script]Thank you for signing up for 'Celebrate Your Unique Talent'! You have been placed with Professor Booth. Here is everything you need to know:
GROUP: Number 3
LOCATION: Rehearsal Room
TIME: 4:00 PM
If you requested materials, they will be provided. I am looking forward to seeing you there![/font]
28 Nov 2021, 23:53
CYUT Errand Group 3
Julian opened the door to the classroom they'd been assigned hesitantly, a little surprised to find it mostly devoid of people, aside from a serious-looking professor he wasn't all that familiar with. He didn't think he'd been that early. Still, he couldn't say he minded. The prospect of having to teach a number of complete strangers (or, as it were, a number of complete strangers and Willow, his duelling captain) how do anything was more than a little daunting, and being the first one would give him some time to pour over his notes, so he could be better prepared. It was part of the reason he'd headed out of his common room as early as he had.
"Good afternoon, professor," he greeted the man with a quick, jerky wave and stepped in, making a beeline towards the table holding the materials. It didn't take him very long to find what he was looking for. Among crafting and art supplies, the small pile of Rubik's cubes stuck out. He grabbed one of them gingerly and tested it out, producing a rhythmic clicking as he headed back to the table in the middle of the room. He didn't seat himself, though, opting instead to rest his bag atop the table so he could find the small bulleted list he'd put together beforehand.
Having seen the kinds of talents the other people in his group were meant to teach him about had made him a little nervous. They mostly seemed oriented towards art. Given how he usually avoided most things artistic (except for doodling to help him visualise when practising transfiguration), he couldn't help but wonder if they'd be similarly uninterested in what he was planning on showing them.
Still, he wasn't just planning on giving them a list of moves to memorise. He was going to explain how to figure out a solution from scratch, and all the maths involved. How could anyone not be interested in that? (He knew people often claimed not to be interested in maths, but he had trouble believing it. And maybe it would be different at Hogwarts, since no one was really forced to formally learn any.
After scanning over his notes until he was certain he had them memorised and there were no necessary changes, he finally took a seat, fiddling with the cube he'd picked as he waited for more of the students to join him.
(WC: 403)
"Good afternoon, professor," he greeted the man with a quick, jerky wave and stepped in, making a beeline towards the table holding the materials. It didn't take him very long to find what he was looking for. Among crafting and art supplies, the small pile of Rubik's cubes stuck out. He grabbed one of them gingerly and tested it out, producing a rhythmic clicking as he headed back to the table in the middle of the room. He didn't seat himself, though, opting instead to rest his bag atop the table so he could find the small bulleted list he'd put together beforehand.
Having seen the kinds of talents the other people in his group were meant to teach him about had made him a little nervous. They mostly seemed oriented towards art. Given how he usually avoided most things artistic (except for doodling to help him visualise when practising transfiguration), he couldn't help but wonder if they'd be similarly uninterested in what he was planning on showing them.
Still, he wasn't just planning on giving them a list of moves to memorise. He was going to explain how to figure out a solution from scratch, and all the maths involved. How could anyone not be interested in that? (He knew people often claimed not to be interested in maths, but he had trouble believing it. And maybe it would be different at Hogwarts, since no one was really forced to formally learn any.
After scanning over his notes until he was certain he had them memorised and there were no necessary changes, he finally took a seat, fiddling with the cube he'd picked as he waited for more of the students to join him.
(WC: 403)
30 Nov 2021, 17:55
CYUT Errand Group 3
Open to Interactions
Interacting: @Julian Pritchard
Mentioning: @Halford Booth
Permission given by the creator to say that Halford Booth cast the doubling charm on the guitar
Word Count: 650/800
Henry slipped his guitar pick into his jacket pocket, wand in his inner jacket pocket. The teen slipped his guitar scrap over his shoulder, resting the instrument on his back.
Henry usually was the first to arrive or was serious about keeping time but now that he is older. It felr different, the third year didn't feel like he needed to arrive firsg or early. Plus musicians usually arrived last or late, right?
The teen took the slip of parchment off hus nightstand, reading over it. Still not believing that he signed himself up for this talent showcase, two years the lad would have been too terrified to do anything close to this but now something feot differnt.
Slipping the parchment into his pocket, next to the picks. Remembering the locstion written on it. The third year smiled toward his orange feline, Loki. He had a feelimg the feline had something to do with his newfound courage. Bravery.
Loki jumped from his bed, rubbing aginest his owners ankles once. There wasn't much room on Henry's shoulde that day eith the guitar so Loki would have to walk as he two exited the Snape dormitory and slytherin common room.
Henry walked through the dungeons, climbing the stairs toward the rehearsal room with Loki by his heels. The teen felt his anxiety loom over him but he wasn't nervous, his anxiety was only bubbling with the fact that he wasn't sure if any of his friends would be in the group.
Henry stepped inside the room, it wasn't late but not exactly early neither. Henry cast a eye around, only the professor and one other student. Six group members, counting Henry but not the professors and only two males which both seemed already there.
Henry offered a nod and soft smile toward the boy holding a strange mutilcolored cube. The teen forgot to list his materials with the sign up so he had to go to the Geminio now and ask him about having other guitars for the others.
Henry watched the professor perform the doubling charm; Geminio on his guitar creating five more of the instruments. Henry thanked the professor, moving the other five one by one to the table before setting his own back over his shoulders.
Walking toward the board, Henry read the names. He only talked to two others in his group. And knew three of them. The professor is someone he only seen in classes but doesn't know much about him. Clair was the ravenclaw whom Henry mer in the dungeons after curfew one night, they talked for a bit and didn't get caught. Willow is a hufflepuff prefect who Henry seen a bit of and might have got to stop two first years from dueling. There was also suppose to be another hufflepuff duelist there. Julian. Henry heard their name during his duel, one of the duels that happened during his own around two months ago.
The teen looked around, Loki still by his heels as he turned and walked toward the bot offering a nod and soft smile as he took his guitar of his shoulders. Taking a seat besides the boy, resting his guitar on his shoulders as Loki walked over to another chair. The feline jumped up om the chair, sitting down. Henry knew that his feline woild have to move when the others came.
Turning toward the boy, Henry offered a soft smile as he spoke"I'm Henry and that's Loki, I remembered seeing you at the duels a few month's back so your a duelist right?" Reaching into his jacket as he looked at the boy with blue eyes, pulling out a classic hogsmeade chocolate bar and handing it toward the boy as he spoke"here, take it." Henry thought the boy seemed a little nervous and he didn’t really like chocolate himself, so why did he have the bar? Who knows.
Last edited by Henry Knight on 7 Dec 2021, 13:37, edited 1 time in total.
"There's no such thing as strange creatures, only blinked people" - Newt Scamander
1 Dec 2021, 23:31
CYUT Errand Group 3
☁ Interacting ☁
@Ami Proccopio, @Henry Knight, @Julian Pritchard
There was a benefit to having a gaymother friend that was an animagus, and that was riding into a room on her back while she's a bear. Ami was as cool as upper-classmen could be in Willow's opinion. They were both headed to the Rehearsal Room to show off their talents. Willow did painting sometime last year as a talent, but she had started to keep her physical art more of a secret for herself. A way of grieving the darkness that had lurked beneath the school. Instead, she wanted to bring something joyful.
It was no secret that since Willow's first year she had been handing out friendship bracelets to anyone and everyone that she met. Her robe pockets were full of them, her backpacks had a bag of them. Whenever she got low she would spend her evenings in her dorm singing to herself and making more. But a lot of people didn't actually know how to make them. So, today she was on a mission to show everyone how to make a simple design. She was armed with a bag full of embroidery thread, scissors, and tape. Sure, she could use the severing charm but the last time that she did that Hufflepuff ceased to have a floor.
Willow was surprised to see that only two other people had showed up before them. She slid off of Ami's back, giving her head a scratch before running over to read what everyone's talents were gonna be. "Julian, you can solve a Rubik's cube? That's so cool, I've always wanted to learn how." She sat beside one of her duellists, giving Henry who was a boy in her year a small wave. "And you're doing guitar, Henry?" Willow had a wide toothy grin. "This is going to be so much fun. I hope you guys are ready to make some friends today." Truly, there could never be any doubt that the young girl was a Hufflepuff through and through. Her Prefect badge was still visible, pinned to the collar of a much more casual outfit than the stuffy black robes.Word Count || 351/800
Permission given to enter with Ami
☁ Outfit Reference ☁
Reducio
"I don't know whether to cry or scream or do both. It feels like I've done more than enough of both. And it feels like I haven't done enough." - Mason Deaver
Stamina 12 ∴ Evasion 12 ∴ Strength 5 ∴ Wisdom 12 ∵ ArcPower 10 ∵ Accuracy 15
Stamina 12 ∴ Evasion 12 ∴ Strength 5 ∴ Wisdom 12 ∵ ArcPower 10 ∵ Accuracy 15
6 Dec 2021, 09:29
CYUT Errand Group 3
Players do not need to wait for another person's character to finish their talent before performing their own. For example, if someone else's character is playing the violin and no conclusion to the performance was mentioned, you may still post that your own character performed a dance. IC, if it doesn't make sense that two talents would be done at the same time, then you might write out your character reacting to another's talent, then showing their own once that talent is finished. There simply isn't enough time before the deadline for everyone's talents to [OOC] be performed at separate times.OOC NOTICE
This also serves as a reminder that the errand deadline is December 14th, barely over a week after the time of this notice. Please be certain to meet the word count requirement and detail your character performing their talent before that time. You may continue to role play in this thread following that date, but if the requirements are not met by then, you will receive no rewards for the errand.
Reducio
@Clair Fernandez, @Henry Knight, @Willow Anderson, @Beverly Hinson, @Ami Proccopio, @Julian Pritchard
7 Dec 2021, 13:04
CYUT Errand Group 3
Clair walked slowly into the rehearsal room, she was late, only a little bit late but still late, which the first year Ravenclaw hated, it was something she did not like doing, but she was late for a good reason, she had gotten lost, again.
She noticed the bored looking professor, he waved to a table with crafting things and knitting needles,
'Oh great! They got everything! I wonder if there is any other crafters?' she thought walking over to the table that housed all the crafting things, she looked at it with wonder, what to do first?
She knew that the whole thing about this evening was to meet other students, but to her it was also for fun, to have a night to play around with crafting stuff and to play with, she also saw knitting needles, this was going to be fun!
Setting down her bag she pulled out some yarn, and took the knitting needles off the table, sitting down in a chair she started to knit, looping her hands in a speedy way that made her hands look like a blur, the object she was making soon was showing, it was a small blanket for Clover, the Rat was getting cold at night and Clair had been wanting to make a blanket for a while, now was a great chance!
The blanket was only one foot by one foot, small and sweet, just the way Clair liked it!
After a while of knitting Clair looked up, to see what other students were doing, one girl was making friendship bracelets, at least that's what it looked like, you never know what's happening in Hogwarts!
Another boy, one Clair knew, Henry was using a guitar.
and a boy with a Rubik's cube, Clair was not sure who the last boy was.
she looked back at her blanket, she wanted to see if Clover liked it, the small rat was sleeping in her pocket at the moment, but was she allowed to take her out? why not?
scooping her hand in her pocket that held her Rat, she pulled the little sleeping Clover out and put her on the half done blanket, the rat opened one eye, looked at her squeaked and then closed her eyes again,
"Do you like it? it it good little girl?" she asked, patting the rat's head, she picked Clover up and put her in her Robe's pocket, then she started to knit the blanket a little bigger.
(wc 416/800)
open to interactions.
She noticed the bored looking professor, he waved to a table with crafting things and knitting needles,
'Oh great! They got everything! I wonder if there is any other crafters?' she thought walking over to the table that housed all the crafting things, she looked at it with wonder, what to do first?
She knew that the whole thing about this evening was to meet other students, but to her it was also for fun, to have a night to play around with crafting stuff and to play with, she also saw knitting needles, this was going to be fun!
Setting down her bag she pulled out some yarn, and took the knitting needles off the table, sitting down in a chair she started to knit, looping her hands in a speedy way that made her hands look like a blur, the object she was making soon was showing, it was a small blanket for Clover, the Rat was getting cold at night and Clair had been wanting to make a blanket for a while, now was a great chance!
The blanket was only one foot by one foot, small and sweet, just the way Clair liked it!
After a while of knitting Clair looked up, to see what other students were doing, one girl was making friendship bracelets, at least that's what it looked like, you never know what's happening in Hogwarts!
Another boy, one Clair knew, Henry was using a guitar.
and a boy with a Rubik's cube, Clair was not sure who the last boy was.
she looked back at her blanket, she wanted to see if Clover liked it, the small rat was sleeping in her pocket at the moment, but was she allowed to take her out? why not?
scooping her hand in her pocket that held her Rat, she pulled the little sleeping Clover out and put her on the half done blanket, the rat opened one eye, looked at her squeaked and then closed her eyes again,
"Do you like it? it it good little girl?" she asked, patting the rat's head, she picked Clover up and put her in her Robe's pocket, then she started to knit the blanket a little bigger.
(wc 416/800)
open to interactions.
WHAT IF I FALL? OH, MY DARLING
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
7 Dec 2021, 18:12
CYUT Errand Group 3
Open to Interactions
Interacting: @Julian Pritchard | @Clair Fernandez | @Willow Anderson | Bear (@Ami Proccopio)
Mentioning: @Beverly Hinson
Word Count: 927/800
Henry held the instrument on his knees, slightly wishing that he came later as hia blue gazed looked towsrd the door wondering where the others are.
Henry was more confident and a little braver thus year that the teen thought about going first, guitar wasn't that difficult to teach and if he went first then he wouldn't have to worry about later.
As he thought, Loki let out a low meow that alerted his onwer. Henry turned his head and watched the hufflepuff prefect; Willow Anderson enter on a bear? It was a strange sight to behold and at first Henry found himself wondering how the girl trained the large animal but then remembered that the bear could be a animagus. It made more sense than the hufflepuff finding a wilf animal and training it to ride.
The hufflepuff seemed excited, Henry felt energy bubbling around her. Offering the girl a soft smile as she spoke to the boy; Julian who Henry gave the chocolate to. Nodding toward the girl's question about his talent with a smile, listening to her talk sbout making friends that day. It soudned a little daunting to the teen but also a littoe comforting as he spoke"yeah, this day ought to be brillant," eyes flickering towsrd the door. Now only two missing from the group.
Henry directed hid gaze toward the three, Loki jumped from the chair and wapked over to Willow. Rubbing aginest the girl's legs twice. After the feline got any attention that was or was not given, he would walked back toward his onwer. Taking a seat on the ground, next to Henry's chair.
Henry directed his gaze toward the group as he spoke"best group of the day, right mates," a touch of laughter at the end of his words for a moment before it faded. Leaving only a soft smile as he looked over at Julain, looking at the cube in his hands as he asked"Willow called that a rubik's cube, what does it do?" The teen haven't seen the strange, colorful cube before and wondered what it's purpose is as he stared at it when another entered.
Head snaped in thier direction, someome who Henry recognized. The third yesr offered the girl a soft smile as he spoke"Hey Clair," noting slightly how she grabbed the knitting supplies and started on something. Henry turned his head toward the board, all but one person is missing. That could either be Beverly Hinson or Ami Proccopio. Depending who is the animagus.
Henry figured that he better go, everyone but one was there so better start now. Standing to hia feet, guitar in one hand as he spoke"I'll go first, I guess. If you, mates can a garb a guitar that would be brilliant." Henry pulled the guitar to his chest, holding it out a bit so the others could see the strings. The third year would wait for those who choose to grab a guitar, got one before he cleared his throat.
"Hey, the talent I'll be showing you today is guitar. I taught myself over the past few years and thought it could be simple to teach in a few minutes," Henry spoke feeling his anxiety bubble over him as he turned his eyes behind him. Looking at Loki who stared back witu amber eyes, giving a soft meow. Henry softly smiled toward his feline, taking a deep breath. Feeling himself calm down and gain some confidence.
Looking back at the group, Henry would point to each cord as he explained them, "there's five basic chords, they are," Henry would pause after saying each chord to strum it once.
"C major."
Strum the chord
"A major."
Strum the chord
"G major."
Strum the chord
"E major."
Strum the chord
"and D major."
Henry strummed the chord. Then looked up at the small group as he held the instrument, the teen looked out hoping the instruments are in tuned as he spoke"if you play piano or sing then this will be easier for you than for others. Tuning and knowing the order of when to play thr strings are the two important ones, strings are often referred to as numbers." Pausing for a moment, Henry took a breath as he strummed a few stings playing a short song.
The teen held the instrument, holding down a few strings as he strum this time. Letting the music play out before he spoke"open string is when you strum, close string is when you hold down the string on the upper part then strum. To stop the music, just place your hand on the strings in front of the hole," Henry demonstrated how to stop the music on his own guitar thinking to himself for a moment before he continued speaking"to play a song or medley, you just play differnt patterns of chores and open or closed strings," the teen played a few chords on his guitar ranging from low notes to a few high ones.
"That is the basics, do you mates have any questions?" Henry asked looking over the group, waiting a few moments as he looked to see if anyone in the group has questions before he spoke"that's all I have, if you want I could teach you a song to play but uh whoes next?" The third year sat down on his chair, placing his guitar next to him so it leaned aginest the chair. Loki gave a meow toward Henry, the teen smiled toward his feline before looking out at the group. Waiting for the next to go.
"There's no such thing as strange creatures, only blinked people" - Newt Scamander
7 Dec 2021, 20:19
CYUT Errand Group 3
Clair looked at Henry, he was now showing them how to play a guitar, 'odd, is Henry not a Pureblood? do Wizarding families have Guitars?' she wondered while watching show all the chords, and after every chord he said he would strum it in the Guitar,
"Is it like a Piano? I played piano for a while." Clair said, watching the Slytherin boy, she looked at her own work, setting it aside she decided to stop and listen to the others while they showed off what they could do, then feeling her pocket start to move she looked down and seen the tail of her rat whisk down off the chair she was seated on, quickly she stood up, and reached for her rat, but the little beast ran away, following the rat around the room she tried and tried again to get the little bratty beast, "You dumb rat! get back here or no diner!" she said, in the direction of the rat, at this the rat stopped for a few seconds, just enough time for Clair to chase her down and shove the rat into her pocket, returning to her seat with her rat back in her pocket Clair smiled at the others, "Sorry, she has had this thing for running away at random times."
placing her hand over her pocket she looked back at Henry, was he even still showing his talent?
(wc 236+ last times 416 total Wc is 652)
interacting with @Henry Knight @Julian Pritchard @Willow Anderson @Ami Proccopio and @Beverly Hinson
"Is it like a Piano? I played piano for a while." Clair said, watching the Slytherin boy, she looked at her own work, setting it aside she decided to stop and listen to the others while they showed off what they could do, then feeling her pocket start to move she looked down and seen the tail of her rat whisk down off the chair she was seated on, quickly she stood up, and reached for her rat, but the little beast ran away, following the rat around the room she tried and tried again to get the little bratty beast, "You dumb rat! get back here or no diner!" she said, in the direction of the rat, at this the rat stopped for a few seconds, just enough time for Clair to chase her down and shove the rat into her pocket, returning to her seat with her rat back in her pocket Clair smiled at the others, "Sorry, she has had this thing for running away at random times."
placing her hand over her pocket she looked back at Henry, was he even still showing his talent?
(wc 236+ last times 416 total Wc is 652)
interacting with @Henry Knight @Julian Pritchard @Willow Anderson @Ami Proccopio and @Beverly Hinson
WHAT IF I FALL? OH, MY DARLING
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
13 Dec 2021, 07:13
CYUT Errand Group 3
(Interacting with @Henry Knight, @Willow Anderson, @Clair Fernandez)
Thankfully, it didn't take long. One of the other boys in the group soon joined Julian. He didn't immediately recognise him, even though he seemed vaguely familiar. His attention didn't linger long enough to figure it out, however, owing to the orange tabby at his feet, to whom Julian's gaze was immediately drawn. It didn't much matter. The mystery was solved as soon as the Slytherin spoke.
"Oh, thank you," Julian said absentmindedly, as the new boy--Henry--introduced himself (and his cat) and offered Julian a chocolate bar. Julian was, in general, pretty ambivalent about chocolate, but he didn't want to be rude, so he took the bar with a small nod. At the same time, he didn't want to get his cube sticky by actually eating so, after a moment of contemplation, he lay bar on the table in front of him. Maybe someone would see it and ask for it. "I am, yeah. A duellist. Although I've only really had the one duel." He gave a small shrug. Even though he was part of the team, calling himself a duellist seemed a bit of an overstatement.
He crouched a little in his chair to grin at the cat. "Hi Loki," he said. "Will he let me pet him?" Though he directed his question at Henry, he didn't look up, his gaze still firmly on Loki as he gingerly extended his free hand for the cat to sniff.
He did look up, however, when he heard a familiar voice.
"Willow!" He waved at her with the hand holding the cube. "Hello. Oh, yeah, I'm Julian, by the way," he told Henry, a sheepish look on his face as Willow's comment on friends reminded him that he'd completely forgotten to introduce himself.
"But yes," he beamed at Willow. "I can solve one. It's pretty easy, really, once you know how." He demonstrated, taking a few seconds to scramble before quickly reassembling it. It was a simple process. First he made a white cross on the bottom, then he filled out the cube's bottom two layers. Once that was done. he oriented the final layer's edges, then the corners so that they were all uniformly yellow, and then he moved the corners and the edges around so that they were all in their right spots. As he did so, he explained what a Rubik's cube was to Henry.
"It's a geometric puzzle. The idea is you scramble it, and then you have to put it back so that each of the sides is only one colour, see?" He presented the solved cube. "It's pretty hard, but you can actually use maths to solve it, because apparently the cube forms something that's called a group, like whole numbers and adding. My dad taught me. Isn't that brilliant?"
Julian would've carried on explaining, but in the interim a new girl--Clair, from what Henry had said--had arrived and started knitting, and in the time Julian took to wave at her and squint at her rat, wondering if it would be safe next to Loki, Henry was already getting ready to teach them how to play the guitar.
While he'd had some piano lessons as a younger child, Julian had never really seriously played any instrument, so he was curious to see whether Henry would be able to teach them enough in the space of a few minutes that they would actually be able to play anything.
As it turned out, while the chords Henry was teaching them seemed simple enough, in practice, Julian could not get his fingers to press down hard enough on all the frets that they would sound nearly as good as Henry's did. Still, it was interesting to know that with some practice, he'd probably be able to assemble the chords they'd learned into an actual song. His fingers were already sore, though, and he had no desire to make them any sorer, since he'd need them to teach everyone how to solve a cube so, when Henry asked who was next, he immediately jumped at the opportunity.
"I can go," he said, his voice wavering slightly with nerves as attention turned towards him. "Everyone take a cube." He stood up and raised his up high so everyone could see. "Okay, the first thing to do is simply to scramble it, by spinning random sides. It's good to notice when you do this that the cube is made of separate pieces, right? Centers won't move relative to each other, and each piece has set colours on it. So in order to solve it, it isn't enough to get, say, all the green stickers on one side. All the pieces have to be in the right place, so that all the sides of each piece are on the face with their matching center." He quickly assembled the green side of his cube correctly and showed them, before scrambling it again.
"There are many ways of solving the cube. Most of them require learning sequences of moves. But I'm going to show you how to figure out which moves to do by yourself. The first step is simply to make a cross with the edges on one side, like this." He demonstrated. "You gotta make sure that the pieces in your cross all are matching their centers for both colours. Once that's done, you're going to find corners that match the colour of your cross and link them with the corresponding edge and then insert them where they go, like this. Until you have two layers of the cube totally solved." He demonstrated finding the pairs and joining them and inserting them slowly.
"Now, this is the hard part, because we have one layer with the pieces on it totally scrambled, but trying to fix it will immediately ruin what we already have. There's a bunch of algorithms--um, that's a word for a sequence of steps--that can help you here, but you can actually figure out how to do it yourself. The trick is this: the cube actually makes something that's called a group in maths. Groups are... objects with an operation, like adding or multiplying or, in this case, permuting--that means moving the pieces around. And in order to be a group, the operation must have an inverse, so you can undo it, and you need to be able to link the moves so that it's not different to do a with b, and then with c, than doing a with the result of doing b and c. Um, that's called being associative." It suddenly occurred to Julian that trying to explain maths he didn't quite understand to other people might not have been the greatest idea, and he blushed a little.
"Um, anyway... So every sequence of moves has an inverse, right? And it's just the inverse of each move, in reverse. If you perform the sequence of moves in reverse, you'll get back to where you started. So if you do a sequence of moves, then another one, then you do their inverses, only the pieces that are in both sequences will actually remain moved. That's called a commutator in maths. And you can use that to solve the last layer without needing to memorise anything. Except you'll need to jot down what moves you made, so you remember." He then showed them, in turn, how he used that to turn both edges and corners so the right colour was facing up, and then to move them around the cube so they were in the right spot.
Once he had a solved cube, he sat back down. "Any questions?" He beamed at them expectantly.
(1263 words)
14 Dec 2021, 07:20
CYUT Errand Group 3
D E A D L I N E
The word and errand requirements were met by the following students:
@Henry Knight | @Julian Pritchard
Rewards should be handed out before the end of the day. If you have any questions please feel free to owl me. I encourage all of you to continue roleplaying in this thread as I will not be locking it. Have fun, everyone!