Favours and Second Meetings PV Damien

Made by the amazing Prat Pass

─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────
Nevan adjusted the strap of his satchel as he approached the tucked-away corner, quiet as always in his movements. He slowed when he caught sight of Damien, seated with a book in hand, clearly absorbed in whatever he was reading. At the sound of his name, Nevan inclined his head slightly in greeting.

“Good morning, Damien,” he said evenly, his tone carrying the same careful politeness he always made sure to inject in it. “I hope I’m not intruding. It seems I’ve discovered your corner of the library.” His eyes flicked briefly to the book Damien held, but he didn’t linger. He’d learned quickly that most students had things they preferred not to explain immediately, and he knew it was impolite to ask about absolutely everything he was curious about.

As he settled across from Damien, Nevan adjusted his tie, fingers brushing the Slytherin green as if to make sure it was neat. A flicker of pride touched his expression before smoothing into his usual composure. “I’m beginning to feel at home here,” he admitted after a moment. “My dorm suits me well enough, and I’ve already managed to find a few shortcuts to the library.” His lips curved faintly, the closest he came to a smile. “Which makes sense, considering I seem to keep ending up in here.”

He paused, studying Damien with a calm gaze. “It’s good to see you again. I remembered you said I could ask if I had any questions, and I wondered if you’d mind if I took you up on that offer.” There was no hesitation in his words, though his voice carried its usual quiet reserve, more matter-of-fact than uncertain. “It’s about Astronomy. A small thing, not something we're required to study, but something I'm curious about anyway. I'd look it up myself, but I haven't had much luck yet.” He probably could find the answer easily, but he was reluctant to mention that. He really just wanted to talk to Damien again, one of the first people his age Nevan has ever had a normal conversation with. And he was also testing him, to see if he'd keep his word.

His hand rested lightly against his satchel, as though ready to draw out notes or parchment if Damien agreed, but also ready to pick it up and leave should he decline.
─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────

Made by the amazing Prat Pass

─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────
Nevan slid his satchel onto the table, the leather making a muted noise against the wood. He adjusted it once, twice, before finally leaving it where it was. His hands smoothed over the front of his robes in a quiet, practiced motion, and then he sat a little straighter in the chair Damien had left open for him. He tugged his tie, green with silver embroidery at the edge, back into place with a faint but prideful touch, as though making sure it was the first thing anyone would notice about him. He was proud of his house, even if it didn't have the best reputation.

His gaze shifted toward Damien, thoughtful rather than impatient, as though he was still shaping the question he wanted to ask. He wasn’t one to rush through conversation. Silence, to him, had its own sort of value. When he finally spoke, his tone was polite, low, but carried with it the steadiness of someone who rarely asked without reason.

“Yes. We’ve only just begun with the basics, mostly orbit paths and surface characteristics. But…” He leaned back just slightly, folding his hands in his lap, “I’ve been thinking about the retrograde motion. How planets appear to move backward across the sky sometimes.”

He paused, his eyes following the spines of the books stacked in the next row of shelves, before he returned his focus to Damien. “It makes sense, of course, when you think of Earth overtaking them in orbit. But I noticed something while reading — the retrograde of Mars is far more dramatic than Jupiter’s or Saturn’s. The ‘loop,’ if you chart it, is wider and faster. Whereas for Jupiter or Saturn it’s more drawn out, slower, and narrower. Why is that? Is it only because Mars is closer to us, or are there other factors that affect how it appears?”

He let the question linger in the air between them, his tone calm but his gaze sharp, betraying his genuine interest. His fingers brushed idly against the clasp of his satchel before stilling, a subtle fidget quickly subdued. “It struck me as one of those little details people mention but don’t linger on, and I thought you might know more, given your interest on Astronomy. It's alright if you don't, or course, I'm sure I can find my answer if I search through some more books.” He looked around the little space that Damien had claimed to himself, nodding in approval. And then he laid out some parchment in front of himself, quil in hand, ready to write down notes from what Damien told him.
─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────

Made by the amazing Prat Pass

─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────
Nevan listened carefully, his expression unreadable at first, though his dark eyes stayed fixed on Damien the whole time. He had the manner of someone who didn’t like to interrupt, even when he might have already grasped the meaning. His posture remained straight, shoulders squared, but his hand drifted to the edge of the table, tapping a finger against the wood in a faint, rhythmic beat. It wasn’t impatience, it was something he occasionally did when thinking.

When Damien paused, Nevan gave the faintest of nods, acknowledging both the question and the care Damien had taken to phrase it clearly. “Yes. It does make sense,” he said after a brief silence. His tone was calm, steady, but carried that same glint of curiosity as before. “Closer planets move more quickly, so when Earth overtakes Mars, the difference is sharp and the path appears wider. With Jupiter or Saturn, the difference is smaller, stretched across more distance, so the loops look narrower. It's not really that hard once you have someone to explain it to you.”

His voice was measured, almost cautious, but also pretty grateful. Then he tilted his head slightly, the faintest crease forming at his brow. “So… it isn’t only proximity, but also the speed of each planet’s orbit. Mars is close and slower than Earth, so the effect is exaggerated. Jupiter and Saturn, farther away, move even slower, but their distance makes the apparent change less dramatic.”

Nevan let his hands fold neatly on the table once more, his expression easing back into one of composure. “Yes, I think I follow. Thank you.” He gave a small, polite smile at that, though his eyes still lingered on Damien with a spark of appreciation for the explanation.

He adjusted his tie again, something he had always done since he was even younger, an attempt to look perfect, the green and silver settling crisply against his shirt, before adding in a quieter tone, “You explained it nicely. The book I read made it sound unnecessarily complicated.” His fingers brushed once more over the clasp of his satchel, a fleeting gesture of habit. “You’ve made it seem far simpler.”

He left the words at that, respectful and without excess praise, but there was no mistaking the sincerity in his expression.
─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────

Made by the amazing Matthew Campbell

─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────
Nevan shook his head lightly, his dark hair falling across his forehead before he smoothed it back again with his hand. “No, I don’t have any more questions. Not for now, at least,” he said, his voice soft but even. “Your explanation was more than enough. I understand most of everything else we're learning.”

He adjusted the strap of his satchel where it crossed his chest, fingers brushing the leather a few times as though grounding himself, giving himself confidence. He still wasn't used to frequent social interactions. “I’ve been enjoying Astronomy more than I expected,” he admitted after a short pause. His tone carried honesty, though it was carefully measured. “The skies are beautiful. Predictable, in their own way. It’s reassuring. There’s something satisfying to me about charting the movements. And it's calming, the night sky.” His lips curved faintly, a shadow of a smile, though it was gone quickly enough.

“But I think,” he continued, sitting a little straighter, “That I enjoy Potions the most. Perhaps because of my father, but I genuinely enjoy doing it too. It's precise and requires discipline, it's easy to do it right if you're focused and know what you're doing. I like the professor too, even if he's strict. I think I like that, it grounds me. To have rules, but ones that are necessary and not annoying.” He tilted his head slightly, considering his own words. “Those classes are enjoyable.”

His gaze flicked down to his folded hands which he placed in his lap, then back to Damien. “Charms too. Simple spells, but practical. They’ve been helpful, and I know we'll be learning even more helpful ones.” He gave a small nod, as if confirming it to himself. “The Levitation Charm, The Unlocking Charm, Lumos. I've used those already. I'm not the best in Charms, but I'm pretty good, I get the spells in a few tries.”

He fell quiet after that, letting the statement hang in the air for a moment, and he pulled at the sleeves of his robe. “Astronomy is calming, Charms and Potions are practical. I think I like those things.” His eyes lingered on Damien again, polite but steady. “What about you? Are second year classes hard?”
─────────────────⋆⋅𓆙⋅⋆────────────────

Made by the amazing Matthew Campbell