3 Dec 2019, 02:49
Broadening One's Horizons
Frankly, Illowy had never once in her life heard the name Charlotte Bronte, much less the names of the author's sisters given they were all Muggle writers. All the same, with such a diverse blend of students in the school, it was concieveable that it would only be a matter of time before Illowy would find herself a strictly Muggle book. This was a paperback book by the name of Jane Eyre, a classic, unbeknownst to the young Slytherin, that she'd found dropped in the hall. Mostly likely by one of the older students.
Naturally, Illowy had grown up reading and listening to Muggle stories and fairytales, but she'd never actually read a Muggle novel before.
The girl sat, nestled on the stone window ledge, pouring over the words and trying to understand. One had to admit that it was difficult following the social commentary, and though she didn't like it, much of it was going over her head in spite of trying her best to understand. She'd only made it through a few pages before she closed the book and turned it over in her hands to look at the cover. It wasn't completely special looking, depicting only a young woman against a dark background, looking as though she were tidying her hair up into its bun.
I was told I was dangerous. When I asked why, they said, "Because you don't need anyone." That's when I smiled.
8 Dec 2019, 04:18
Broadening One's Horizons
@Illowy Magnard
Gem had spent all his life devoting himself to muggles.
He didn't know so much about them, and he hadn't actually spoken to very many, either, but they resided in such a tender, sweet spot in his heart. Maybe it was their creativity, their instruments, how they got through life without magic... just hearing about how they repaired stuff or got anywhere was a novelty to Gem. He'd made up his mind when he was about eight, that he'd give his life for muggles.
However, one of the most prominent areas in muggle culture had to have been the books they'd written. It wasn't untrue wizards and witches could articulate far better, but it was... curious, how they picked up a pen and paper and unleashed all that, without the help of anything but their mind. All of that, no mentions of magic, nothing. Just a slice of life, through a muggle's eyes. He'd given so much of his time for all of that, be it Oscar Wilde or J.D. Salinger, if it was popular and made by a muggle, Gem would get his hands on it as soon as he possibly could.
He wasn't exactly sure what he was doing in the corridors, but he'd managed to wander off in there after Charms, a text book tucked under his arm. He smiled at a few students passing by, but didn't pay so much attention to what was happening around him-- not until he spotted a familiar face. Aw, shite, it was that girl he'd seen when Brielle broke her leg! Upon further inspection, (which he didn't have any reason to inspect in the first place, but she might've been plotting his murder. He never knew. Watching never hurt, did it?) he spotted a book in her hand; Jane Eyre, a classic.
It took a whole lot in him not to holler about how that was one of the best books ever written, and even then, managed to swallow his excitement back and shift closer to her, pursing his lips nervously.
"Quite a good book, isn't it?" He murmured, "sad, isn't it? How Jane's treated?" He scratched the back of his head, getting his fingers all tangled up in them. "Yeh. Sorry, I wos just... I think it's real good. The book, I mean."
What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.
9 Dec 2019, 05:54
Broadening One's Horizons
For a moment, the girl didn't register that the lad was even speaking to her before she finally lifted from her thoughts and her pale eyes flickered to him. She studied him, trying to place his familiar face before it finally clicked. He was the first year she'd met with Chris when her housemate had fallen from the tree; However, she had no hope in placing a name to his face. She hadn't seen him really since the incident, though being perfectly honest, she hadn't sought him out either.
She gave a small shrug, "It's good so far... I've not gotten too far into it yet, just a few chapters. I found it in the corridor this morning... but its a Muggle book, I think." the snake explain, her voice sounding a bit unsure of the book, "I just... I don't think I'm quite keeping up with it." Illowy shook some hair from her face, "There's allusions and alliterations that I can recognize as so, but I don't understand what they're trying to reference..." thoughtfully, she skimmed her thumb down the width of the worn pages.
The after thought that he recognized the book finally came to the front of her mind and she looked up at Gem quizzically, "Wait, you've read this before?" she questioned, suddenly wondering what his blood status was for him to have even gotten his hands on such a book. Illowy to her belief came from a pure blooded family; and while her mother always taught her not to judge someone by their blood status, one's blood status often gave a fair idea of how one was brought up, "Are you Muggle-Born?" she asked, leaning in and slightly lowering her voice, not realizing until after the words left her mouth that one could take offense to such a question.
I was told I was dangerous. When I asked why, they said, "Because you don't need anyone." That's when I smiled.
14 Dec 2019, 18:22
Broadening One's Horizons
@Illowy Magnard
Gem listened, tilting his head when she spoke of alliteration and allusions. Muggle books and wizard books were so different, and she couldn't have been much older than twelve, so... he thought she might get it, but it was for older people, maybe fifteen year olds? He never really knew how to scale reading levels.
"It's a muggle book, so I get it," He spoke softly, peering over his shoulder, just so he was sure no one else eavesdropped in on their conversation. "They make references ta fings I didn't even know existed." His eyes skimmed the page, crossing both arms over his chest thoughtfully. He was considering just leaving, up until she asked if he were a muggle-born. Fair question, but it was enough to make him grin all humorously and big, mostly because he didn't expect it.
"Ah- hn, no. No, I joost really like muggle stuff, it fascinates me ta no end." He scrunched his nose up to try and suppress his smile, not that it was working so well. "I like old- like, really old- Victorian era literature? Not a big fan ov Shakespeare, you know him, don't you? I like Hamlet- uh, wait," He stopped himself, the idea he might've been speaking too quickly all at once barely hitting him. "Sorreh. I got a bit ahead of meself... um, you aren't very interested in muggle fings, are you?"
What really knocks me out is a book that, when you're all done reading it, you wish the author that wrote it was a terrific friend of yours and you could call him up on the phone whenever you felt like it. That doesn't happen much, though.
18 Dec 2019, 23:32
Broadening One's Horizons
He grinned at her, and for a moment she thought he was going to laugh at her. Illowy thought that it was more then a fair question, especially this day in age when people had all sorts of different blood statuses. He admitted against being a a Muggle-Born, now trying to suppress the goofy smile as he explained his interest in the Muggle world before yammering on.
"Of course I know who Shakespare is. I'm not completely shielded." she knew he was a play write, and she'd heard the basic plot lines of some of his plays... though if she were being completely honest, she had never taken the time to actually read anything of his. Not that she'd ever quite had the opportunity to. All the same, she gave a shrug of her shoulders when he questioned if she was even interested in such things.
"I certainly don't go out of my way to learn about it." she told him frankly, "But I do know some things. I live in Dublin, so I've picked up a couple things over the years. And we still use to Muggle things, like electricity, we have a landline if we need it and things like that. My grandmother had a record player and we listen to that sometimes..." Illowy tried to think of other things she knew about the Muggle world, "I know about the giant magic mouse in the States," Mickey Mouse, "and um... my mother use to read me Muggle fairytales, and we rode in a taxi car once..." it was always moments like these when she realized how little she knew about the Muggle world in spite of living in a city densely populated by them. On the other hand, she supposed she knew more then other purebloods who lived much more traditionally.
I was told I was dangerous. When I asked why, they said, "Because you don't need anyone." That's when I smiled.
18 Dec 2019, 23:47
Broadening One's Horizons
"Pardon me, are you two talking about Muggle things?" Emika had been walking in the corridor and had overhead some of the conversation. "I don't mean to intrude, but I couldn't help but overhear you." She smiled nervously as she approached the two other students. She clutched at her books tightly as she introduced herself. "I'm Emika Brown. Hufflepuff, first year." She smiled. "My dad is muggle-born, so I know a fair bit about Muggle stuff and about Muggles in general." She took a deep breath before addressing the older girl. "Um...What book are you reading? I mean, if you don't mind me asking. I can go away if I'm annoying. I just really love books!" She kept smiling the best she could, pretty nervous as she had not interacted with many other students yet. I'm so awkward.. can they tell? Oh, gosh, please don't let them be able to tell I'm nervous as heck right now and I'm actually horrible at social interaction. Maybe I should have just kept walking. Don't freak out don't freak out don't freak out. She thought she might have been sweating as she waited for one of the other tow students to say something.
It doesn't really matter who you used to be, what matters is who you've become.
------------------------------------------------------
Emika
5 Jan 2020, 23:08
Broadening One's Horizons
@Emika Brown @Illowy Magnard @Gem Stuart
Selim had been wandering the corridors after his potions class, which he largely spent just reading the textbook for the fourth time and then falling asleep. He had a bit of time till his next class, Charms, but he would have to make sure he didn't wander somewhere unfamiliar, which was annoyingly easy to do in this over-the-top castle.
He had paused, upon hearing a conversation between three students, hearing the word 'Muggle' then 'Shakespeare'. He didn't intrude on the conversation, instead, stopping and standing a few feet away and just watching them interact in complete silence. He calculated their movements, body language, tones of voice, noting things in his mind absently, but thoroughly.
It was interactions such as these that he enjoyed observing. It helped him figure out how to perfect his masks, and how to act in ways not suspicious to others.
Idly, while he watched, he traced a finger on the arm of his robe, following a scar hidden under layers of fabric.
He enjoyed Shakespeare, Macbeth being one of his favorites, with a quote he followed every day; 'False face must hide what the heart doth know'. The quote, he found, was amusingly ironic when applied to his life.
His mind trailed over the characters he knew in the play, the thought of the witches making him smile ever-so-slightly.
While he thought, his amber slitted eyes took in the scene before him with mild amusement.
Selim had been wandering the corridors after his potions class, which he largely spent just reading the textbook for the fourth time and then falling asleep. He had a bit of time till his next class, Charms, but he would have to make sure he didn't wander somewhere unfamiliar, which was annoyingly easy to do in this over-the-top castle.
He had paused, upon hearing a conversation between three students, hearing the word 'Muggle' then 'Shakespeare'. He didn't intrude on the conversation, instead, stopping and standing a few feet away and just watching them interact in complete silence. He calculated their movements, body language, tones of voice, noting things in his mind absently, but thoroughly.
It was interactions such as these that he enjoyed observing. It helped him figure out how to perfect his masks, and how to act in ways not suspicious to others.
Idly, while he watched, he traced a finger on the arm of his robe, following a scar hidden under layers of fabric.
He enjoyed Shakespeare, Macbeth being one of his favorites, with a quote he followed every day; 'False face must hide what the heart doth know'. The quote, he found, was amusingly ironic when applied to his life.
His mind trailed over the characters he knew in the play, the thought of the witches making him smile ever-so-slightly.
While he thought, his amber slitted eyes took in the scene before him with mild amusement.
"False Face must Hide what the Heart Doth Know." -Macbeth
S.F