24 Aug 2023, 11:22
Quiet Times
“Quiet Times” - 5th September 2023 - 4.30PM - Outfit: School Robes
Another afternoon, another study session in the library for Damian. Lessons had just ended for the day and he was already seated there ready to start, with a pile of books of various subjects on the left and some very ordered notes written on papers on the right. The school year was only at the beginning, but he wanted to be perfectly prepared each day for the day after, and that required him to study and revise almost constantly. Luckily for him the material he had to study wasn’t that much, and that meant he could relax just a little bit instead of rushing topics.
He took one of the books and the relative notes he took that morning and placed them in front of him, then he took a quill, a new bottle of ink and dipped the quill in the ink. He was a bit tired, maybe he underestimated the amount of work he had to put in order to balance school and personal life, and didn’t rest much the previous days. A small yawn was quickly covered by his right hand, maybe a bit too quickly, since he realised only later that he still had the quill in his hand and with that movement he had just involuntarily stained his nose with the ink. “Aw, dang. How dumb can I be?” he mumbled, raising his voice slightly and trying to wipe that stain away.
He sighed and hoped nobody saw that and that he had successfully wiped the ink, it would have been quite embarrassing considering how precise he looked from the outside, judging by the order and rigour he put in his notes. He then finally started studying, double checking that his notes were consistent with the notions written in the book, and slowly regaining the concentration he always had when he was immersed in the studying: at this point, even a small noise could have startled him.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
24 Aug 2023, 12:02
Quiet Times
Cassi is extremely frazzled, they have a test tomorrow and they're scrambling to the library to study. They quickly rush into the library and grab about 4 books before heading to a random table in the middle of the aisles.
When they got there, there was a boy with curly light brown hair and he looks incredibly focused on his work. Cassi sat down across from him and tried to stay quiet but failed, "Hi, I'm Cassiopeia but please for the love of all of hogwarts call me Cassi. I'm here to study, you?"
Cassi is painfully how frazzled and slightly messy they look right now. Their ginger hair is wilder than usual, their buttonup shirt with an undone green and silver tie is wrinkled, their collar is sticking up and their pupils in their green eyes are extremely dilated. Is this what reading too much does to you, if so I'm happy with my two book a day policy.
Cassi hates quizzes because then they're so fixated on passing that they don't pay attention to what's happening around them, like how they ran in a wall on ther way to the library, in fact they still have a red flush in the spot they hit especially hard on the wall.
When they got there, there was a boy with curly light brown hair and he looks incredibly focused on his work. Cassi sat down across from him and tried to stay quiet but failed, "Hi, I'm Cassiopeia but please for the love of all of hogwarts call me Cassi. I'm here to study, you?"
Cassi is painfully how frazzled and slightly messy they look right now. Their ginger hair is wilder than usual, their buttonup shirt with an undone green and silver tie is wrinkled, their collar is sticking up and their pupils in their green eyes are extremely dilated. Is this what reading too much does to you, if so I'm happy with my two book a day policy.
Cassi hates quizzes because then they're so fixated on passing that they don't pay attention to what's happening around them, like how they ran in a wall on ther way to the library, in fact they still have a red flush in the spot they hit especially hard on the wall.
@Damian Hills
"I didn't come here to be average."
-Unknown "I did not impulsively force someone to open up to me again......Okay fine, I did but for good reason.
- Cassiopeia Alarie
24 Aug 2023, 15:11
Quiet Times
“Quiet Times” - 5th September 2023 - 4.30PM - Outfit: School Robes - Interacting with @Cassiopeia Alarie
Damian definitely didn’t hear anyone coming and sitting at the same table: he was still completely focused on the reading of his book, and he seemed to be struggling a bit too. He was in the middle of reading again a particular paragraph he didn’t quite catch and at first he completely ignored the movements of the other student, who just took the seat, and continued reading without interrupting himself.
The words spoken by Cassi caught him and the sudden disruption of his attention made him flinch and close the book with a bolt-like movement, and the flinch caused his hair to turn half blonde: it was something that usually happened to him when he wasn’t careful enough to control his emotions, and after all he was still learning how to use his special talent. At first he didn’t even realise his hair had changed colour, and focused his gaze on the student who appeared to have rushed to be there. “Ah. You got me there.” he said, regaining composure and opening again his book, which wasn’t damaged by that fulminous movement made before.
“Cassi, huh?” he asked, placing one hand under the chin, and began to study them and their figure. “I’m Damian. Also here to study.” he replied with a much calmer tone of voice. He then looked at the books they had with them to see if they had some subjects in common. “First year?” he asked after a while. If they were at the same year, then for sure they would have studied the same things.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
24 Aug 2023, 19:52
Quiet Times
"Ah. You got me there." He's a metamorphmagus, how fascinating. Cassi can now see his face he has blue eyes and a bunch of freckles centered around his nose. Cassi is now realizing that they scared him and guilt is now seeping in, "Yeah sorry, I didn't mean to scare you." Cassi says guiltily with a small smile on their face. “Cassi, huh?” Actually Cassiopeia but they're happy he chose not to say Cassiopeia, he seems like a pureblood so it definitely changes Cassi's view of some purebloods. Not all purebloods are pompous arses.
“I’m Damian. Also here to study.” Cassi can relate, the tests are kicking their arse, but it's not that bad....joking it is. "You look more like a Fredward or a Leonardo." Cassi said jokingly with a straight face, you'd think that Cassi is serious but the amusement in their voice gave it away.
"First Year?" he said like he already knows but needs to be sure for some reason. "Yep, what gave it away? My charisma or my beautiful smile?" Cassi asks beaming widely. Why must Cassi always have a joke for every situation? Wait no this is Cassi were talking about, Cassiopeia 'obsessed with cake' Alarie.
“I’m Damian. Also here to study.” Cassi can relate, the tests are kicking their arse, but it's not that bad....joking it is. "You look more like a Fredward or a Leonardo." Cassi said jokingly with a straight face, you'd think that Cassi is serious but the amusement in their voice gave it away.
"First Year?" he said like he already knows but needs to be sure for some reason. "Yep, what gave it away? My charisma or my beautiful smile?" Cassi asks beaming widely. Why must Cassi always have a joke for every situation? Wait no this is Cassi were talking about, Cassiopeia 'obsessed with cake' Alarie.
@Damian Hills
"I didn't come here to be average."
-Unknown "I did not impulsively force someone to open up to me again......Okay fine, I did but for good reason.
- Cassiopeia Alarie
24 Aug 2023, 21:16
Quiet Times
“Quiet Times” - 5th September 2023 - 4.30PM - Outfit: School Robes - Interacting with @Cassiopeia Alarie
At that point Damian’s hair had returned to its usual colour, a dark brown exactly like the rest of his hair, and he didn’t even notice since nobody really reacted to that. He temporarily left his book open on the table, giving Cassi his full attention; he knew he shouldn’t have taken a break, but given that he was already studying much those days and he didn’t have much work left, a quick chat wouldn’t have hurt. He had some friends here and there at Hogwarts, but they all had other things to do, and he liked interacting with new and interesting personalities.
“Hm? Really? I prefer Damian, though. Or also Christopher, my second name.” he replied in a casual tone, getting the joke but replying seriously at first. “But nobody calls me that, only my family.” he added, thinking about how scared he must be each time he hears his full name. “You look like a Vanessa, or a Theodora.” he went with the joke at last, saying that with a smirk. He didn’t really know why, their face inspired one of those names, but Cassi was okay too.
“Ha. I don’t know, I just wanted to see if you could have been my study buddy.” he said, indicating the pile of books Cassi had on their side of the table. “Is that the right word? Yes, I believe so...” he added in a lower tone of voice, almost as if he was talking to himself. He wasn’t quite sure, but that sounded right. “So, what are you studying?” he asked and looked again at the pile of books. He couldn’t really think of anything besides studying, could he?
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
25 Aug 2023, 01:12
Quiet Times
“So, what are you studying?” Damian asks temporarily giving his full attention to Cassi. "Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts books because I have a Charms test tomorrow and after that a Defense Against the Dark Arts. I didn't know work at Hogwarts would be so stressful. If I don't pass this test, it will literally be the end of me." says Cassi with a terrified look on their face.
Cassi is terrified of their mom finding out they got less than an Exceeded Expectations on a test, parents are not to be messed with about 'bad grades' especially Alice Alarie.
Some parents put too much pressure on their children, and it shows a lot. Cassi can see that Damian looks very stressed, which means he puts too much pressure on himself or someone puts too much pressure on him, most likly the latter.
"She puts a lot of pressure on me about my work, my weight, and everything else that is perfect about me. Heck she even hates that I tell people my name is Cassi, I keep telling her Cassiopeia sounds stuck up and formal and I hate it. I'm already stressed at home, now Hogwarts is stressing me out too."
Cassi is terrified of their mom finding out they got less than an Exceeded Expectations on a test, parents are not to be messed with about 'bad grades' especially Alice Alarie.
Some parents put too much pressure on their children, and it shows a lot. Cassi can see that Damian looks very stressed, which means he puts too much pressure on himself or someone puts too much pressure on him, most likly the latter.
"She puts a lot of pressure on me about my work, my weight, and everything else that is perfect about me. Heck she even hates that I tell people my name is Cassi, I keep telling her Cassiopeia sounds stuck up and formal and I hate it. I'm already stressed at home, now Hogwarts is stressing me out too."
Cassi really does hate their name, they say it's because it's stuck up and formal but it's actually because of their mother. When she calls Cassi's name it's either body-shaming or yelling, but of course they can't tell anyone else about that so the 'stuck up and formal excuse' is what they tell people.
@Damian Hills
"I didn't come here to be average."
-Unknown "I did not impulsively force someone to open up to me again......Okay fine, I did but for good reason.
- Cassiopeia Alarie
25 Aug 2023, 11:08
Quiet Times
“Quiet Times” - 5th September 2023 - 4.30PM - Outfit: School Robes - Interacting with @Cassiopeia Alarie
“Hm... let me guess.” he said after hearing Cassi’s words and most of all seeing their expression and their eyes when mentioning a possible failure in the test. “Your parents would be furious if you don’t pass? Or do they expect top marks?” he asked, recognizing the same terror he had many times in the past. He never really got a mark below the top, but the fear he got every time before a test was probably the same Cassi was experiencing at that moment.
His question got answered shortly with them expanding why they were so afraid to fail that test. He didn’t quite catch who they were talking about, but he hypothesised it could have been their mother. “I see. So that’s why you look exhausted. Maybe you should organise your time better and divide what you have to study day by day. This way you won’t be stressing the day before.” he replied calmly, totally not getting the point of Cassi.
He also suffered much from the pressure from his parents and his family in general of being perfect, top student and bringing nothing but pride and honour to the family, but even if he suffered he didn’t quite realise it yet. In his mind this kind of lifestyle was perfectly normal and natural, and everyone should have adapted to it. For him, the right solution was simply to find a way to live up to the standards the family demanded instead of changing the views.
“By the way, what are you struggling with?” he asked curiously, he really couldn’t think of much else besides studying, but maybe another point of view could have helped him understand there was much more in life other than a perfect score.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
26 Aug 2023, 06:56
Quiet Times
“By the way, what are you struggling with?” Usually when Cassi rants, people usually stop talking to them but Damian is still talking to them, so that's a good sign.
"Mostly Defense Against the Dark Arts, I just don't get it and don't get me started on the history of magic, I can't remember all those dates. Herbology and the rest except those two are fine." Cassi hates not knowing something because not knowing means Cassi is 'less than' as their mother likes to put it. Herbology is both easy and hard but Cassi can easily score at least an E on it and Potions will probably be an E or an A, it could go either way.
But Damian seems like a super genius who has no problems in class whatsoever, maybe Cassi would learn how to stay focus from him. "Connaissez-vous le français?" French is practically the love language for strict parents so if Damian knows basic or fluent french, that means he understands how Cassi feels. Cassi themself is fluent in French, courtesy of their mother who was born in France.
Apparently every 'true' witch or wizard knows French but Lottie knows French and she's a squib so that's not true, not that Cassi would say that to their mother's face.
"Mostly Defense Against the Dark Arts, I just don't get it and don't get me started on the history of magic, I can't remember all those dates. Herbology and the rest except those two are fine." Cassi hates not knowing something because not knowing means Cassi is 'less than' as their mother likes to put it. Herbology is both easy and hard but Cassi can easily score at least an E on it and Potions will probably be an E or an A, it could go either way.
But Damian seems like a super genius who has no problems in class whatsoever, maybe Cassi would learn how to stay focus from him. "Connaissez-vous le français?" French is practically the love language for strict parents so if Damian knows basic or fluent french, that means he understands how Cassi feels. Cassi themself is fluent in French, courtesy of their mother who was born in France.
Reducio
Translation: Do you speak French?
Apparently every 'true' witch or wizard knows French but Lottie knows French and she's a squib so that's not true, not that Cassi would say that to their mother's face.
@Damian Hills
@Damian Hills
Last edited by Cassiopeia Alarie on 13 Sep 2023, 10:10, edited 4 times in total.
"I didn't come here to be average."
-Unknown "I did not impulsively force someone to open up to me again......Okay fine, I did but for good reason.
- Cassiopeia Alarie
26 Aug 2023, 11:10
Quiet Times
“Quiet Times” - 5th September 2023 - 4.30PM - Outfit: School Robes - Interacting with @Cassiopeia Alarie
Damian was quite surprised to hear that one of his favourite subjects was the one Cassi struggled with. “Really? History of Magic? I find it truly fascinating.” he replied with a surprised tone. He didn’t mention that he lightly struggled with remembering dates and had to spend a lot of time reading successfully the chapters in order to not mess up events and numbers, that was probably what everyone struggled with, or at least that was what he was thinking. Yes, he was completely ignoring the possibility of being dyslexic, he didn’t need any other type of frustration added to his studies, and not being able to read fast or constantly swapping numbers was already frustrating enough.
“If you pay attention in class and take good notes, half of the work is already done. Then you just have to revise or practice, depending on the subject, and that’s it.” he added, going briefly on his study method, and took back his book to continue his study. He was confident enough he could still talk and study, maybe at a slower pace, but still manageable.
His attention went again on Cassi when they started speaking french. “Oh? Oui. Comment le savez-vous?” (Tr: Oh? Yes. How do you know?) his French was rather fluent, even if he didn’t really like that. He hoped to have escaped from it, and even if a few words wouldn’t have hurt, he still looked slightly annoyed when he talked. “My parents always said it was important to know it, whatever.” he added, switching back to English. He clearly didn’t enjoy that language, mostly because its learning had been imposed on him, but he also had trouble with the grammar. At least, for once it came useful in some sort.
He kept reading his book for a little bit, and then returned to Cassi. For some reason, he didn't want to leave them drowning in those books: he didn't offer his notes, that was something he was way too proud of to be shared with anyone, but he took his own Defense Against the Dark Arts book and offered it to them. “Hm. Check this out.” he started, lowering his tone just a little bit. He was slightly embarassed, he couldn't understand why he was actually trying to help them. “On my book there are some shorter notes I took. It can be useful to remember them, they synthetize quite well all the topics seen in class.”
Last edited by Damian Hills on 3 Sep 2023, 15:50, edited 1 time in total.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
26 Aug 2023, 22:51
Quiet Times
Damian is very helpful but Cassi thinks that's odd because kids with strict parents don't usually share their notes, so he either has an interior motive or doesn't know why he's doing it, definitely the latter. "Thanks Damian, I owe a bunch. You've most likely saved me from failing a test, if you need anything just ask. Oh and French is a strict parents love language." Cassi took the book happily and beamed at Damian.
He has strict parents, while most people say they want strict parents, they should probably figure out the reality of it first, it's not all sunshine and unicorns.
"Do you have a random cursed object in your house? My family has a cursed violin, it only let's certain people touch it. It leaves a pretty nasty effect on you afterwards. It's just me and my mama Lottie who can touch it, my brother and mom can't, we have more than one but that one's worse than the others." Cassi says without looking up from the defense book, Damian was right the notes help Cassi understand much better. They feel like they can trust Damian not to tell people certain things and the violin is one of them.
Cassi's maternal family was somewhat...active on Voldemort's side of the war, the violin and some others weren't very dark so they got to 'keep' them with surveillance of course, but they can't tell Damian just yet.
@Damian Hills
He has strict parents, while most people say they want strict parents, they should probably figure out the reality of it first, it's not all sunshine and unicorns.
"Do you have a random cursed object in your house? My family has a cursed violin, it only let's certain people touch it. It leaves a pretty nasty effect on you afterwards. It's just me and my mama Lottie who can touch it, my brother and mom can't, we have more than one but that one's worse than the others." Cassi says without looking up from the defense book, Damian was right the notes help Cassi understand much better. They feel like they can trust Damian not to tell people certain things and the violin is one of them.
Cassi's maternal family was somewhat...active on Voldemort's side of the war, the violin and some others weren't very dark so they got to 'keep' them with surveillance of course, but they can't tell Damian just yet.
@Damian Hills
"I didn't come here to be average."
-Unknown "I did not impulsively force someone to open up to me again......Okay fine, I did but for good reason.
- Cassiopeia Alarie