7 Sep 2023, 22:13
Sunday Debates
“Sunday Debates” - 10th September 2023 - 10AM - Interacting with @Sylvia Nightingale - Outfit:
Reducio
The more they were talking, the more he had fun. It wasn’t a canonical definition of fun, but he was visibly enjoying it. Simply the fact that they were occasionally diverging and Damian was accepting her different view of certain things without the need to overcome her or raise his voice meant he was really valuing their conversation.
He was also pleased with the interest Sylvia had in his club, at first he had dropped that suggestion a bit randomly, but then she seemed actually interested in joining, and of course a new member was exciting news for him. He took a piece of blank paper and carefully ripped it; somehow, he had managed to follow a straight line. He then took a quill and some ink and carefully wrote a name. “Here you go. She’s the leader of the club.” he commented while waiting for the ink to fully dry before handing the paper to Sylvia.
“Oh, was my voice that loud?” he asked after being informed that his speech was almost audible from outside. He didn’t mind, after all no one could have negatively judged someone revising, right? “I suppose I tend to lose myself when I do a speech like that one.” he added with a small pinch of pride. Yes, he was rather proud that he was that invested in a simple discussion about a topic of the first year.
Lastly, he went back to his textbook to passively browse it while thinking. “Hmm... it depends.” he replied with his eyes on the book and occasionally going on the girl. “I agree that some chapters are redundant and the author tends to repeat themselves. But I also think that some others are dealt with extreme precision and an excellent narrative.” he expanded his point of view, and was now very curious to know Sylvia’s view on that.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
9 Sep 2023, 06:17
Sunday Debates
Mentioning: N/A
Fortunately, the girl had invited her to go exploring in Hogsmeade later today, so perhaps Sylvia would have a chance to ask about it later. Wondering how Damian and Alyssea met, since they couldn’t have been classmates due to the age difference, she asked: “I actually know the girl that you were speaking about. So how did you guys know each other? I suppose it isn’t through History class, is it?”
Although surprised by Sylvia’s words, Damian didn’t seem the least bit bothered by the fact that many others could possibly hear him talking from the outside. An extrovert, I suppose? According to her own experience, introverts usually feel quite awkward when been overheard by strangers. “Your voice isn’t that loud, perhaps I just happened to have an acute hearing today.” Adding another comment on this learning method, she continued, “I suppose it’s a effective way to remember things, isn’t it?”
Knowing what Damian had meant by the textbooks being precise, she decided to share her thoughts on this matter as well. “True, the textbooks definitely shouldn’t include anything that aren’t certified yet. Yet they could always focus more on stating the event vividly rather than mainly focusing on forcing us to memorize its historical significance.” Not sure whether the boy would take her words in the wrong way, she explained it more clearly, “I mean, of course those are crucial points, but letting us know more about the event itself might help us understand why it is important better.”
Dreams make good stories. But everything important happens when we're awake.
10 Sep 2023, 18:41
Sunday Debates
“Sunday Debates” - 10th September 2023 - 10AM - Interacting with @Sylvia Nightingale - Outfit:
Reducio
“Huh, really? Curious. I saw a note advertising the club and I thought about joining.” he explained. “What about you?” He also was curious to know how Sylvia knew her without knowing about the club. They were also from different houses, so perhaps there was a fun story behind it? He watched as Sylvia took the note while he put back the rest of the paper and the materials just used.
Rather happy to have found a new member for the club, he went back to his studying by browsing his book a little more. He didn’t want to cut Sylvia out of their debate, but he was starting to slack off a little bit too much: his ‘break’ had to end and they had to resume their talk about History of Magic as soon as possible to avoid losing too much time.
He stopped again when Slyvia specified why she heard his voice if he wasn’t actually talking that loudly and nodded. “Oh, I see. Thank you, for a moment I thought all Hogwarts could hear me.” he added casually, since that wouldn’t have been a problem at all. “Yes, it’s indeed a good way to lock notions in mind. I usually do it alone, it helps with my focus, but I don’t mind if someone joins or listens. In fact, I tend to be more precise when someone is paying attention.” he continued, nodding again.
What Sylvia was saying made perfect sense to Damian: he struggled a bit to remember and read dates and words, and by not admitting the struggles he had he simply put much more effort in it, thinking that more or less everyone could struggle with numbers and ordering them. “I agree. I think most of our classmates would appreciate History of Magic a lot more if they were encouraged to use their logic instead of passively learning facts just for a bare A. I have already met many people that simply accept to be average and don’t care about learning more.” For once, he had the possibility to criticise some behaviour well seen among students that he really couldn’t understand, and it was time to let some of his thoughts flow.
“Take this as an example.” He pointed to one of the minor events written on the blackboard. “Everyone simply learns the date and the name, and that’s it. They don’t ask themselves anything about the true impact it had on the people back then.” And with that, another small monologue was starting.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
11 Sep 2023, 12:48
Sunday Debates
Mentioning: N/A
More importantly, she almost always has something else on her mind than to look around at something as unimportant as a piece of paper stuck on the wall. Perhaps it indeed wouldn’t be that worthless. she thought. But then again, I did manage to hear about it without looking at the ads, didn’t I?
Contemplating over how she could describe her first encounter with Alyssea briefly yet accurately, she said: “Well, I originally intended to do some spell-practicing in the Abandoned Toilets, but then saw her crying over a so called ‘terrible class performance’.” Hoping that Damian wouldn’t find her description confusing, they went on discussing the advantages of speaking out loud while studying.
“I suppose so, though I’d often prefer going over the points in my head rather than voicing them.” She replied, meanwhile making a mental note to try Damian’s suggestion some time soon. Who knows? It might work.
Although noticing how much Damian disapproves of their classmates’ behavior, Sylvia does see a point of why the others think like that, since no subject could possibly catch everyone’s interest. Nonetheless, she still believes that it’s mainly because the books and the subject itself presented itself in a plain and unattractive way. Even she herself doesn’t really enjoy History class, but only reading some outside-class books related to it.
Pointing at one of the events listed on the blackboard, Sylvia knew that one more speech is coming up from Damian. How come he could turn everything into either a debate or a presentation? She wondered while listening. During a pause in the boy’s words, she interjected, though trying not to sound rude: “Trust me, I do understand what you’re attempting to convey. But there certainly is a possibility that the completely different historical background could limit our ability to emphasize with the people of the time, don’t you think?”
Dreams make good stories. But everything important happens when we're awake.
14 Sep 2023, 18:32
Sunday Debates
“Sunday Debates” - 10th September 2023 - 10AM - Interacting with @Sylvia Nightingale - Outfit:
Reducio
He nodded hearing the story of how Sylvia and Alyssea met, he wasn’t expecting anything too fancy, and a simple chat in the bathrooms was plausible. Her words made him inevitably think how he met all the people up until that point in some sort of studying setting, with very few exceptions; maybe he should have opened just a tiny bit and studied just a little less, and maybe met some potential friends.
He kept scribbling for a bit more while Slyvia was talking, he was almost done at that point and would have soon left the room after having cleaned up to go... somewhere else. His intentions were to go grab other books and continue his studying of other subjects, but probably he should have stopped and relaxed for at least some hours. He didn’t have much else to do, so there wasn’t a huge range of choices.
At least, now that he was part of some clubs, he would have had something to do every once in a while instead of studying constantly even when it was clear that he already knew everything he had to know to get top marks. Sylvia’s addition to the club would have been beneficial, he didn’t have problems hanging out with strangers but at least now there was someone who knew personally.
“Hm, understandable. I need to speak loud, but I suppose that could work too.” he replied, imagining how hard it must have been to keep all the thoughts organised in a speech just in his head. Maybe it was just him that worked differently, everyone had their own method.
Sylvia stopped Damian during a pause, understandable from her point of view, considering how the boy basically kidnapped her in hearing all his thoughts and speeches from the moment she walked in. He was just a bit annoyed, but tried to be civil for once and didn’t say anything, also because that was the last topic he intended to cover. He nodded, not completely agreeing but still acknowledging the different view on it. “Alright, it might be true.” he quickly said, and turned his back to the blackboard. “I revised everything. Thanks for the company and for the debate, Sylvia.” he announced and started to clean the blackboard from all the writings they both had made during their little debate.
As he started packing his things, his mind was wandering to the idea of actually studying with others: he had to admit that Syvia’s interventions led him more than once to a clearer path, and overall he was pretty content with it. He wondered if a similar activity might have been a good idea for the club, he was certainly going to ask the members. And just before leaving, he turned again to Sylvia to tell her farewell. “Then... see you at the club.” he said with a tiny, almost imperceptible smile, and left the room.
✿ Damian Christopher Hills ✿
17 Sep 2023, 16:02
Sunday Debates
Mentioning: N/A
Among all the fellow students Sylvia has met so far during her time here at Hogwarts, almost all of their conversations topics were about everyday life, and occasionally even nearly worthless discussions only used to kill the time and reduce the awkwardness of silence, which is the type that Sylvia dislikes the most.
Barely believing the fact that Damian chose not to argue with her anymore about their points of view, Sylvia realized that it was most likely because he was getting ready to leave. About time, She thought as she took another glance at her watch, or else I’ll be late for my adventure with Alyssea.
As Damian bid her farewell, Sylvia gave a slight nod in return. “Pleasure meeting you, Damian. I can’t wait to see where the group chat would lead us to.” She replied with a neutral tone, though also intending to show her appreciation of all the short yet incisive speeches Damian has made just now.
Dreams make good stories. But everything important happens when we're awake.