Errand CCP Finished

So Bailey seemed to at least be laser focused on his explanation, he hoped his rant wasn't too hard to follow, luckily she seemed to understand it all. And she had another question about holiday traditions.

"Oh, yeah I guess you can call it a tradition. I usually visit extended family on my ma's side, I got a couple a cousins that I like hangin' with and we 'ave presents and bake sweets and 'ave tons of carbs like potatoes and gravy, and sweet potatos and corn, plus we have meat, sometimes turkey or lamb or ham." His mouth was watering as he thought about it. Only then did he remember the food on his plate, he took a bite of a brownie then chewed and swallowed. "We sometimes open one present on christmas eve to play with or read to be like an apetizer before all the presents we get in the mornin'. And we'll read about the birth of Christ from Luke."
"We don't really do the whole Santa Clause thing, I was told pretty early on tha' Santa was based on an 'istoric figure not any sor' o' magical one, though now I expect it's possible 'e was both. I don't suppose 'e's on one of your frog cards is 'e?"

word count 216

[quote][quote]

Wow. There was a lot going on at this table all of a sudden, and it was all fascinating. When Colin got back to the table, he brought two lovelies with him, and it was suddenly very clear what "Eyes of Sky" meant and who they belonged to. AngelFyre was doing her level best not to intrude on their moment, but the poor lad was trembling like a leaf, and stammering, and going on about pumpkin pies and runes. She kept her eyes completely averted, but she was not deaf. All she could do was look down and just smile, hoping his "Eyes of Sky" felt similarly towards him.

Looking over to Harper, she waved and mouthed, "I am so sorry. It got really busy here."

AngelFyre was particularly interested in the things Finius Allred was saying. Like Bailey, she was familiar with the history of the Catholic/Protestant split, but the thing Finius said that most caught her attention was being raised as a Baptist. AngelFyre's mother and Grandma Ruth were both Baptists, hailing from the southern part of the United States. She wondered how, or even if, his experiences with being a Baptist meshed with theirs? Could be an interesting discussion at some other time. AngelFyre herself was born in Scotland, and was also a Protestant, but she was of the Church of Scotland, her father's church.

She was actually pretty keen to learn more about Catholicism as Simon was Catholic. They had already pretty much determined between themselves, however, that the most important thing for both of them was their belief in Jesus Christ, the holy Trinity, and that He died for our sins and rose again on the third day. As they both came together on the core and heart of what made one a Christian, the different roads and paths (e.g., denominations; i.e., Catholic or Protestant) people took to get there was less important to the two of them than them just getting there and loving their fellow man along the way.

Addressing one of the girls that came back to the table with Colin, the one with short red hair, AngelFyre wanted to answer her question about why be a part of a religion? It was a good question, and she did not know that she was qualified to give a good answer, but she was qualified to say what it meant to her in her own personal life. Looking to the girl and smiling, AngelFyre said, "Hi, I am AngelFyre, by the way, but you may call me AF. You asked a very good question, and it is one that could get you 1,000 different answers. For me, I grew up in the Church of Scotland. My folks attended regularly, so it was what I knew. However, they both were pretty clear with me from a young age that it was up to me to embrace it or not. They would not insist I call myself a Christian as that would be a personal decision between me and the Lord, but they wanted me exposed to it and to understand it. I asked a million questions, and I still do, but the thing that prompted my decision to accept Christ was that there was a calling on my heart to do so. I find a great comfort in knowing I am never alone. Does not mean terrible, rotten, sad things will not happen to me or to those I love, because they will. We live in a fallen world. But there is no denying that there is a peace that comes with not being alone when the bad times do come and the knowledge that there is something more, and so much better, waiting for me beyond my time here on this earth. It would seem too sad to me to think that this life is really just all there is. A belief in something greater than oneself is simply transformative and freeing,"and she looked around the table. "I would be very interested in anyone else's answer to that question, if anyone wanted to answer it, that is."

@Extressia Garren Leo and @Colin McCoire and @Finius Allred and @Bailey Glade and @Simon Kincaid and @Harper Jordan

Cooperative, Constructive, and Positive (CCP) Interaction. That was what was intended for students within the Great Hall that particular day as they were welcomed to come discuss theirs and others religions in an open format of acceptance and understanding. For someone like Simon Kincaid, religion was a part of his every day life but he also accepted that some of his fellow classmates had other views. For him, what was most important was how you treated others as that was the core of all religions.

He wasn't sure as he entered exactly who would be gathered in the Great Hall or how many, but he had a fairly good feeling that if AngelFyre had heard of this as he had, that she would be in attendance. He made his way inside, seeing some of the others and offering up a wave or a kind smile to a few that he passed, most he recognized, but there were always the few he didn't.

Sure enough, he did see AngelFyre amongst the crowd and he made his way over to where she was, patiently waiting for a good time to interrupt and then spoke. "Hope I'm not intruding," he said to anyone there in among them.

He wasn't sure how cooperative this would be. He wasn't sure how constructive this would be. Still, he planned on keeping it positive (as he did with most things in life) and was looking forward to an evening of perhaps getting to know his friends a little better.

Word Count: 252
Interactions: With @AngelFyre McCubbin, perhaps soon with @Cassandra Ironwoods, open to other interactions

Just seconds after she had finished speaking, she heard Simon's voice from behind her. A warm rush coursed through her knowing he was there. This kind of an opportunity to learn about others' faith and speak about their own faith here at Hogwarts was something that they both had ached for, so this was a very welcome opportunity.

Turning around, she knew her smile had to be wide. Her favorite person was now here, and that just made the whole experience so much richer for her. Plus, it was another opportunity to learn even more about Simon's beliefs, and that was most especially welcome.

Patting the space to her right where Kim had once been, she looked up at him "Simon, hi! You are not interrupting at all. Here, come sit and join us, please." As soon as he sat down and got settled, she leaned over and whispered," "This is so exciting. I am glad you got wind of it and could come. The question, well, the last question on the table was asked by the girl with the short red hair. I do not know her name or I would tell you, but her question was 'Why would anyone join a religion because she never saw the point?' I just finished my answer, which you pretty much know already, but that is where we are right now."

She reached over and quickly squeezed his hand and then just as quickly released it, eager to hear if anyone else would take up the question.

@Simon Kincaid

Kim didn't realize what his words did to Sophia.

After all, to him, all he was doing was talking to her, and sometimes teasing her too.

But everyone did that, it wasn't just him. Well, maybe they didn't tease her all the time. Still, Kim didn't think what he was doing was bad, and Sophia hadn't expressed any desire for him to stop either. Therefore, his behavior would continue. He didn't know why he tended to do it, there was just something about girls when they squeaked that was cute and he wanted to hear it more. The only way for that to happen was by teasing and making them a bit flustered.

So what else could he do? As Sophia shuffled closer, Kim glanced over at her and let his lips twitch into what could almost have been called a smile. "Crowds bothering you too?" He asked and glanced over at the crowded table where they had just come from. Sophia chose this time to ask him a hypothetical question and Kim tilted his head to the side. "Do I wish? Yes, I do wish sometimes. But not for minor things like that." He said with a shrug.

"It's not as if I'm bothered by them." Kim told her.

He was trying to keep his condition a secret from her and everyone else at Hogwarts.

No one knew just how severe his condition was and how complicated it was at the same time. Kim's extreme social anxiety popped up randomly and affected him in different ways at different times. It was kind of strange. Sometimes it wouldn't affect him at all and would only do so later, whereas other times it affected him right away and he'd have to leave in order to recover. Or at least put some distance between him and the crowds he was dealing with then.

When AF came along to apologize, although it wasn't really necessary, Kim let her say her piece and responded and Sophia chimed in and started to say something completely out of character for her. Something that made Kim's brow raise and he blinked, totally surprised by the odd fact that Sophia was apparently flirting with him. This had never happened before. He was usually the one teasing her but now the tables had turned and Sophia was in control!

It was probably because he had corrupted her by letting her stay around him all the time.

She'd picked up his bad habits.

Well, she'd asked for it! Kim would play along with her little scenario. He raised his voice so both Sophia and AF could hear him, a smirk playing along the corners of his lips. "Why would you assume they would be boys?" Kim asked with an arched brow. "If you're going for what-ifs, we could have had a boy and a girl. That or twins, twins can be cute too." He said with a grin, messing with Sophia. She'd started this whole thing and done it with a straight face too. She'd better be able to continue playing the rest of the scene!

When she turned to look at him, he smiled brightly too as he nearly always did, especially when she was around. He was sort of disappointed he had missed AngelFyre's answer on that, but he was sure he had heard it before. Religion wasn't a new topic for either of them and most Sundays they got together to have a sort of Bible Study on their own since there were no religious services held at Hogwarts. It was something both of them missed from their pre-Hogwarts existence.

Simon gave a quick wave to all that was there and came and took a seat. He wasn't sure he knew everyone and there'd be time for introductions later perhaps but he would take this opportunity to share his thoughts, if any one should care. "Understanding," he wrapped it up quickly in one word. "That's what I aim to achieve from religion. We've got this huge, wonderful, beautiful world, and something's got to be responsible for it. Life is too complex in my mind to just be some sporadic happening. Life progresses, technology progresses, people evolve both in body and mind and broaden our horizons. We reach for the skies and then to the stars and beyond. We're always searching for that understanding and having a connection to a higher power and fellow man just helps us achieve that."

Word Count: 226 | 478

Harper did feel a bit overwhelmed about all that was now going on at the event table. She tried to look to each person as they were talking. She wanted to listen to them, and contribute to the conversations if she could. She wanted and thought that everyone deserved to be listened to, but she didn't even know where to begin when discussing. There was too much going on. So, instead Harper simply listened and nodded along to what everyone said. Indicating, hopefully, that she was listening to everyone now crowded at the table.

When AF had mouthed her apologizing about the sudden business at the table, Harper didn't seem to mind too much. She then shook her head slight and mouth back.

"It's no problem." Was what she had mouthed in response, hoping that she made her mouth movements clear enough that AF could understand what she was saying. She was the type to just want to exist. She didn't have any need to be fully apart of conversations to feel involved, nor did she feel left out if she wasn't talking. She still felt like she was actively involved in conversations without those things, and was glad to be at the event regardless. She would likely leave soon anyways. Her social battery was getting pretty drained.

Open to interactions

Bea wasn't sure what to expect coming to the Great Hall. Professor Horne had mentioned something about religious beliefs and what you believed in, but to the shy eleven year old, this openness about herself wasn't something she ever did with ease.

There was also the matter that Bea wasn't sure where her beliefs fit. Nan was pagan, believing in mostly what one would call Wiccan practices. Her Da was a Catholic, so they really celebrated most if not all the Catholic holidays at home. Bea wrinkled her nose at the thought. Really she wasn't sure what she believed in. Her family had never pushed her in some way to be anything in religion. She knew her cousins on her Da's side were very much Catholic, going to Church and all that. She just wasn't sure where were path lay... She had celebrated both Easter and Beltane last month. She had promised Nan in her last letter after Beltane that she would also make friends.

Have confidence Beatrice. Go and enjoy yourself. I want to hear about these friends of yours in your next letter.
-Nan

Walking slowly into the Great Hall, Bea looked around. There were so many students in the room today. Most of the house tables were a mix of students from all houses. "Fit 'v A git to loss" Since she didn't know really anyone there currently, she sat down at her table, grabbing a plate full of chocolate fudge and cookies. Sweets solve everything. She wished for her cherry candy. It was a pity she had left it in her dormitory...

Word count: 254

@Simon Kincaid
@AngelFyre McCubbin
@Finius Allred
@Mei Hagikura

As Fin continued to talk about traditions, AF also seem to be interested. She introduced herself, and started talking.
Then Simon came over and joined the conversation. Moving over so he could fit Bailey thought I am not going to last much longer at this table- there are too many people, it’s too crowded, and it is too loud. Sorry Kim- I’m going to have to abandon you. He seems like he is fine though/ he will be fine. He and Sophia though… are they flirting? Snapping back to reality, Bailey stood up excusing herself.
With all of the talking, Bailey couldn’t keep up.
When it became too much, Bailey stood up and walked to get some more food. She was just a tad overwhelmed, and needed a way out. That table was too crowded and loud- she needed some quiet.
Deciding to go over to Mei, Bailey filled her plate with the desserts and headed over to mei.
Sitting next to her Bailey smiled and asked “How are you doing? I had to leave that table- it was too crowded and loud. Anyways, what religion are you a part of? Are you a part of one?”

Word count: 200/1000
Total word count: 1,386/1000

Bailey looked like she was getting overwhelmed and had left for more food. He was starting to get overwhelmed himself but he would try and stick it out for a bit longer. I guess he wouldn't get an answer about if Saint Nicholas was a collectors card in chocolate soon though. He tried finishing his thoughts. "Anyway traditions are great for bringing people together and establishing a culture, but you do have to be careful not to make tradition the same as teachable truths. I remember someone at church who always made sure you weren't wearing a hat in church, he was pretty rude about it too, thinking it was disrespectful because when he grew up it supposedly was. There was another guy who gave out candy to kids like me for reciting Bible verses. Who do you think gave a better impression of the church with their traditions?" He let the hypothetical question hang in the air for a while and finished his brownie and started again on the pumkin pastie. He hadn't gotten a chance to eat much since he was talking so much, he didn't like the attention it was drawing to him but he would try and bear with it if he could answer peoples questions.