Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jun 21, 2009 9:27:07 GMT -5
Ben waited for D'rorah to reply to his questions but heard no answer as she appeared to be lost in thought. He didn't push further, simply waiting for her to say something patiently. Although he wasn't the greatest fan of silence, he understood that some people wanted peace and quiet. Plus, when he was younger and in a large crowd the constant babbling that surrounded him had not been a very pleasant experience and following trips to the mall or the occasional concert he had very much enjoyed the quiet in the car on the way home.
He nodded in acceptance when D'rorah stated she didn't want to research, keeping his eyes on hers as she looked at him, still with that constant smile affixed to his face. [red]"Probably good to have a break every now and then anyway,"[/red] he replied calmly, settling into a comfortable position with his arms leaning behind him, supporting him as he leaned back and watched her. [red]"What are you researching anyway?"[/red]
He blinked slightly when she went back to the previous subject, giving a stray thought some consideration when it reasoned with him not to even try pronouncing those words. He remembered back to one time last year when a friend had started learning ancient runes. The names of those symbols... it had taken him hours to say just one of them right, although the interludes of laughing had probably not helped any. Suffice to say, he thought it a good idea that he had not taken the subject. [red]"How do you get the original texts? Do they sell them in those shops you mentioned? And who do you communicate with in those languages if they're extinct?"[/red]
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Jun 23, 2009 0:50:20 GMT -5
[blue]"A break?"[/blue] she asked, not understanding why anyone would wish to take themselves away from such engaging research. She looked confused, she felt confused. Why was she confused? Perhaps the account she had been reading had been more overwhelming than she had initially thought. It was yet another of far too many reminders of how awful things had been and would likely continue to be throughout this war.
When he asked what she was researching, she waved her hand briefly, dismissing the subject. [blue]"Linguistics,"[/blue] she lied, figuring it would make sense that she was studying languages if she was surrounded by texts in a variety of them. Besides, it was true in a way... translating so many texts was, in a very indirect manner, a method of studying languages. Though, of course, she already knew these languages. Even so, there was always more to learn.
He saw him blink as she returned to the previous strand of conversation and figured it had been a somewhat rocky transition between strains of thought. But his entry as a whole had been a rocky transition on its own... just showing up and seating himself before her when she didn't even know him, so she figured he was no stranger to rocky transitions. [blue]"Yes, sometimes they sell them in ordinary bookshops,"[/blue] she replied with a slight nod. [blue]"Sometimes they must be tracked down. It depends on the text and its origins as to what must be done to secure it. And, just because a language is extinct does not lessen the value of the knowledge that can be learned from things written in that language. Indeed, the whole collective of history is typically far more intelligent than the meager trappings og the present."[/blue] She paused and furrowed her brows slightly. [blue]"Who are you anyway? And why are you so interested in me and my books? I am just another dusty Ravenclaw, enamored of her work... most people would have fallen asleep by this point in the conversation."[/blue] That was better, get him answering questions instead of asking them... there was no reason for her to always be the one giving information. She didn't know anything about this boy or who he was. Why would anyone just randomly approach her and initiate a conversation? It was an odd, practically unprecedented event in her life--nearly as odd as the time Bryan had asked to sketch her in the library... but then, he had turned out to be her Elemental Master.
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Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jun 23, 2009 18:30:46 GMT -5
Ben grinned at her apparent confusion to his mention of a break, finding her response most amusing and showing it on his face just as her puzzlement was easily viewed on hers. [red]"Yeah. A break. Y'know... time to relax, to not worry, not work... everyone needs a break every now and then, even if they insist on denying it,"[/red] he informed her cheerily, having added in the last comment purposely. She certainly didn't look as if she understood the concept, but the very fact that she didn't want to work now told him that she really was in need of a break.
She seemed very dismissive of what exactly it was she was studying, but her one word answer caught his attention and, of course, caused more questions to form in his head. [red]"Linguistics... So, you're studying other languages from books written in other languages? Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just read it in English?"[/red] He made no pretence to understand the concept; instead, his questions were meant to display an interest and a willingness to learn and understand which was entirely genuine. Despite his curiosity, he did try not to push the questions she did not answer, not wanting her to feel pressured.
He listened intently to her words, storing more questions in his head for when she was finished so he didn't interrupt, but finding her beating him to the punch in that area. A grin developed again from his perpetual smile, blossoming on his face as she asked questions in return. This was more like it... a real conversation, rather than him just asking all the questions and keeping it going. Not that he really had a problem with coming up with endless streams of questions; they just seemed to flow out one after the other naturally. But generally he was aiming to draw the other person into conversation by speaking them. [red]"I'm a 4th year Gryffindor. Muggleborn. I've been told I have a habit for staring and asking incessant questions,"[/red] was his response to her first question, his grin widening a little at the last sentence and hoping to draw some sort of a smile out of her as well.
[red]"And you're not 'just another' dusty Ravenclaw, because for one you're not dusty, and for two... uh... secondly,"[/red] he edited, hearing the oddness of his words only after they were spoken, [red]"I don't think the houses are very good indicators of who everyone is. Everyone's different. Although with all those books you had earlier, you did fit into the stereotype pretty well,"[/red] he added, the grin that had faded slightly as he spoke replenishing itself. [red]"I also don't tend to take naps during the day any more, and like I said before, I came over because you looked as though you needed cheering up. Generally the easiest way to get someone's mind off of whatever's troubling them is to draw them into conversation about something they like; and the easiest way to do that is to ask questions,"[/red] he explained rapidly, talking quite fast and stumbling over a few words as he did so. Generally he didn't have to explain his methods because they worked well enough anyway, but D'rorah still did not seem quite relaxed enough yet to simply engage him in idle conversation. He only paused for a few seconds to see if she had anything to say before continuing. Sometimes explaining his blindness and how he saw the world helped, but he didn't really want to bring that up unless he had to. Pity was one thing he had gotten most confused and annoyed with during his first weeks at Hogwarts... because he could see now, and it was a miracle, so why were they pitying him?
[red]"But anyway, those questions... How do you secure books? And how do you track them down to start with? How do you even know a certain book exists if you haven't seen it yourself? It's not like they're gonna be listed on the internet or anything."[/red] He could have asked more but thought he should probably pause again and wait for her to answer these before continuing... he didn't want her to forget the first questions he'd asked due to sheer amount of them.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Jun 30, 2009 22:51:14 GMT -5
[red]"Linguistics... So, you're studying other languages from books written in other languages? Wouldn't it be a whole lot easier to just read it in English?"[/red]
[blue]"Not everything is written in English. And many languages have expressions, thoughts, and connotations which simply have no true correlation in English-speaking cultures.[/blue] She paused, arching an eyebrow. [blue]"Furthermore, why would I trust anyone else to translate the things I am interested in?[/blue] She scoffed slightly and continued in a dry tone of voice. [blue]"So few people are even capable of understanding English properly these days."[/blue]
She was slightly mystified by the smile that seemed omnipresent on his face. She couldn't understand why anyone would smile for no apparent reason. They were just sitting here talking... or, more accurately, he was asking questions and she was answering them. [blue]"I can confirm those two habits,"[/blue] she replied, the beginnings of a sarcastic smile pulling up one corner of her lips slightly at the thought of others observing Ben's penchant for staring and asking questions.
Already, he had begun speaking again. She mused to herself that he really seemed intent on carrying out a long conversation and soon found the reason why as he stated that she looked like she needed cheering up. A dry laugh that sounded almost like a slight cough found its way from her throat. [blue]"Cheering up,"[/blue] she repeated with a slight shake of her head. [blue]"Yes, by all means Mister Ellis, I do so need... cheering," she remarked sardonically. [blue]"You speak as though the world is supposed to be some sort of magical, happy place with no emotions other than joy and elation. I assure you, I am quite fine without any... cheering."[/blue] She had no idea what his taking naps had to do at all with the rest of the conversation, but didn't bother to question it. The boy was obviously some interesting brand of strange... D'rorah thought it best not to confuse herself further by attempting to understand it.
D'rorah certainly couldn't hold Ben's inquisitive mind against him, but the questions were piling up like cordwood. [blue]"Like anything else one wishes to seek out, one asks like-minded people where certain things might be found. One researches for clues, pays attention to current news and events, muggle technology is the the sole source for the whole of human knowledge."[/blue] Her lip quirked slightly as she considered the image of using a computer to search out the texts she sought. [blue]"You would be surprised at just how much information one can gather simply by being observant without asking any questions whatsoever,"[/blue] she added dryly, thinking very much of Ben and his constant questions as she finished the statement.
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Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jul 2, 2009 18:18:59 GMT -5
Ben listened patiently as she spoke, questions building up as usual but keeping quiet until he was sure she was finished answering. After all, he didn't want to overwhelm her with questions so that she would forget them all before getting round to answering. She was certainly doing an admirable job so far and he didn't have to temper his curiosity quite as much as he usually did. [red]"If there's no correlation then how do you understand them? How do they get translated in the first place? And surely if someone's translating a whole book then they should be qualified to understand both languages?"[/red]
His smile turned into a grin when he saw a hint of a smile on her face, however sarcastic it might be. Perhaps he was actually getting somewhere! A smile was a smile, whatever the reasons behind it might be. His grin turned into a full-on beam when he heard her laugh, even if it didn't sound quite right or natural when compared to other laughs. [red]"Yes?"[/red] he questioned when she spoke of his vision of the world as a 'magical, happy place'. [red]"It definitely is magical. And it can be happy. What's wrong with joy and elation? Why do you not want cheering?"[/red] he demanded, the beam faded from his face a little by this point and turned to mostly inquisitive, not understanding any of what she had just said.
Again as she answered questions he listened patiently, finding less questions on this occasion as she answered most of them before he could ask. [red]"Could you show me how sometime?"[/red] he asked eagerly, seeing it as both an opportunity to appease his curiosity on the matter and to meet with D'rorah on another occasion and hopefully continue his efforts to cheer her up... this didn't appear to be a one-day task. [red]"Then I could observe and ask questions if I get confused about something. Cause it seems to me like doing both would be the best way to get information."[/red]
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Jul 3, 2009 1:51:30 GMT -5
[blue]"Only certain things have no correlation. For those concepts, it is necessary to understand the culture, to learn about the daily lives of the people who spoke the language, their histories, myths, and metaphors. One must learn to think as members of this culture might have thought... and then a reasonable understanding of those concepts might be understood. Other words simply have many layers of meaning which make more sense in their original languages. I have encountered many translators who are merely mediocre. I prefer to read the texts myself."[/blue] She tried to think of an example that would be easily explained in English. She needed something to illustrate a basic concept of what she was talking about. [blue]"For example, certain tribal communities in Africa have absolutely no correlation for a word we use often in English--"should". If I say that you should have done something, you understand readily that I mean you had an obligation that needed to be filled that perhaps was not... that one simple word has an underlying meaning of obligation, duty, even guilt. And yet, I would have no way to directly translate such a word into that language. Or, another example. If you have ever heard the Hebrew word "shalom". In modern Israel, it is used as a greeting, a farewell. The root of the word means wholeness, but it can be conjugated to mean peace. If I wished to ask something like, "how are you?" in modern Hebrew, I would literally ask "What or how is your peace?" These words are specific, their meanings are complex. We take our native languages for granted so often, but they have developed over centuries and they are subtle and rich."[/blue]
She stopped speaking when she realized how much she had said all at once. She could lecture for hours on certain subjects if the need or opportunity arose. Though, generally she preferred to be quiet and simply listen. She found that listening was often far more beneficial than speaking. As he replied to her own retort about life being magical and happy, she realized that they were truly of a different ilk.
[blue]"I have no issue with joy or elation specifically,"[/blue] she replied. [blue]"However, I am certain there are many more important things I could worry about in the world other than my own... cheerfulness. There are times when life is unpleasant. I accept that as readily as I accept any other state. I see no need for you to impact your own happiness by worrying over my emotional state when you do not even know me. At any rate, expecting to be happy all of the time strikes me as being particularly naive."[/blue]
Every question she met with an answer only generated further questions from Ben. [blue]"You want me to show you how to observe things, Mister Ellis?"[/blue] she queried, her brow furrowing slightly. [blue]"Mainly, it involves being silent. And I am not certain that is a task you will find easy or enjoyable. And I would like to point out that, though it seems like one would find far more information throuh a combination of observation and questioning, observation is far purer. When one questions, one allows the respondent an opportunity to filter his or her answer. One also is hard-pressed to avoid somehow influencing the answers of the respondent--either by the manner in which questions are presented or by one's responses to the answers provided."[/blue] She paused, regarding him for a moment. [blue]"Why, I could very well be crafting my answers at the moment to mislead you for some reason. And all because you asked so very, very... very many questions,"[/blue] she finished with a smirk.
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Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jul 3, 2009 20:34:50 GMT -5
Ben's smile increased a little yet again when she began to answer his questions in more depth and he stayed silent as she spoke, finding yet again that she was answering the questions that came to mind before he could voice them. He was a rapt audience; quite obviously paying attention to her mini-lecture in response to his question. He wasn't rude enough to ask something and then not listen properly to the answer. He kept his eyes on her – although that was a given whenever he was interested by something or someone – and shook his head in response to her mention of the Hebrew word, not having heard it before. [red]"I think I get it... it really is complicated,"[/red] he replied, not sure if he had any questions from her speech at all. [red]"I don't think I should try learning another language... I'd butcher the pronunciation like I did your name, and I'd just get so confused by all the different meanings anyway,"[/red] he came up with a few moments after realising he really didn't have any questions for her on any of that.
[red]"Well you don't have to worry about it. I'm worrying about it for you. Life can be unpleasant, but if you focus on the good things, the silver linings, then it doesn't get quite so bad. And then if you mention it to someone else then it makes it a little bit less worse for them, and doing that helps make it even less bad for you."[/red] He paused, watching her face but not waiting for a reply before continuing, addressing her other points. [red]"The only plans I have regarding my own happiness when it comes to you is as I just described – feeling better cause of helping cheer you up. I know people can't be happy all the time... unfortunately... but there is always something to be grateful for or happy about, and focussing on those things make the bad seem not quite so ominous and a better future so much more accessible. It's not naive knowing that there is always something to be happy about – it's more useful and inspiring than anything else."[/red]
Of course, his theories had never quite been put to practice in the context that D'rorah might see them – with the thought of the Shadow Wars – but even if he had, his thoughts would likely have been the same. Thinking on the positive side of things would help bring the lightfighters together towards a common goal of defeating the evil that insisted on plaguing them. They could all do with a pep talk or two to get their spirits back up.
He nodded eagerly at her question repeating what he had said, grinning in amusement when she mentioned the silence. As much as he wanted to comment that he could be silent when he wanted to, he doubted that interrupting her would either prove his point nor make her particularly happy. He waited as he had before until replying, but not leaving her much time to add on any last thoughts before launching into more speech on his part. [red]"I can be silent when I want to be,"[/red] he started off with, slightly indignant. [red]"Speaking too much tends to scare away animals, and I don't want to do that when I want them to come near. Plus speaking draws attention. But right now, it doesn't matter if attention comes this way cause of me speaking. Besides, people can alter their actions just as easily as their speech. If you don't ask questions there's no guarantee you'll ever find what you want by observing – questioning is at least direct. And it's not like you need to keep it a secret that you're looking for those books anyhow, right?"[/red] he argued back. [red]"And why would you want to mislead me? What'd I do wrong to cause that?"[/red]
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Jul 4, 2009 12:48:46 GMT -5
[blue]"If, indeed, you are capable of being silent when you wish to be, then it seems we must cultivate the want, rather than the ability to fulfill it,"[/blue] she replied when Ben had finished speaking. She had listened quietly throughout his reply, waiting until he was full finished to speak herself. It was a grand idea he had... and certainly, she could find no fault with wishing to be happy. Though, the expectation that it was possible struck her as being overly optimistic. And she still thought it naive.
[blue]"I do not know you, Mister Ellis. And that, for me, would typically be reason enough to mislead you. However,"[/blue] she paused slightly before continuing, [blue]"I do not believe I have said anything particularly misleading."[/blue] she added. Though, she had quite thoroughly mischaracterized the nature of her research. While learning languages was an ever-evolving process of assimilating information, she was more directly looking for information regarding the Shadow Wars. Of course, she would never tell anyone that outright... and certainly not to someone she had just met. [blue]"I do appreciate your point of view. I wish I had cause to be so openly optimistic. However, I am not. But I would not wish to deprive you of your own optimism and sunny point of view, so I will not argue with you over the fine points. Perhaps I can learn to be... cheerier by observing you,"[/blue] she offered with a slight smirk. [blue]"My powers of observation typically serve me well in such regards. So, what do you recommend I do?"[/blue]
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Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jul 7, 2009 7:18:04 GMT -5
[red]"Why cultivate the want? I'm already quiet some of the time. Isn't it better to have a balance rather than talk or be silent the entire time? That'd get boring,"[/red] he tried to argue back, unsure quite what she was getting at when she said about making him want to be quiet more. Why would he want to be quiet more? He was perfectly happy with the amount of not talking he exercised at the moment, when other people weren't around to think he was being rude by not talking to them.
He blinked at her statement that not knowing him would be reason to mislead him, still not understanding. Why mislead someone just because you didn't know them? That seemed odd behaviour... Weren't Ravenclaws supposed to be clever? Not illogical? [red]"I... I'm not sure I understand,"[/red] he told her, the confusion clear on his face. [red]"Why does not knowing me mean you'd mislead me? Especially when I said I just came over to try and cheer you up. What's the point in misleading me? Why would you?"[/red] he questioned, reiterating his point by rephrasing it several times over to make sure she understood the question.
He waited as usual for her to finish speaking before replying, surprised by her last statement asking for a recommendation. Most people were not so direct and it took him a few moments to get over the shock of being asked straight before he answered. [red]"I don't mind you arguing with me. It wouldn't... uh... 'deprive me of my optimism and sunny point of view',"[/red] he quoted her. He sincerely believed that he had a counter argument for anything she might say on the matter. [red]"Recommend you do to be more optimistic?""[/red] he checked, wanting to make sure he had understood her right before replying to that.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Jul 7, 2009 14:00:37 GMT -5
D'rorah smirked slightly as Ben questioned her statement of his cultivating the want to be quiet. [blue]"Indeed,"[/blue] she remarked in a teasing tone of voice. [blue]"Those of us who prefer silence tend to be quite boring."[/blue] She was finding herself amused by his arguments, and amused by his responses to her replies. Her tone of voice was baiting as she smirked at him. She was definitely teasing him at this point, having decided the banter was an interesting game.
At his next volley of questions, she shook her head slightly, a quiet sigh escaping her lips. [blue]"Mister Ellis, you and I are two very different people,"[/blue] she replied quietly. [blue]"Subterfuge is a necessary tool in my life. I have often had people approach me, touting the best of intentions, who were only waiting for a moment when my guard was down so that they might attack. Misleading others is a survival mechanism."[/blue] She paused, offering him a sad smile. [blue]"You seem genuine... but then, so have others. I do hope that you can keep your optimism though. I find myself slightly envious of it."[/blue]
Only a moment later she had asked what she might do to be more optmistic and found that Ben was apparently interested in arguing the merits of his position. But then, she wasn't really sure she wanted to argue for being morose and closed off from the world. There were things she enjoyed on occasion, certainly. Some, more than others. She dry smile found its way to her face as Ben parroted her own words in his reply. [blue]"Fair enough... still, I am far more interested in the practical application. So then, what do you recommend I do to be more optimistic?"[/blue] she confirmed.
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Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jul 8, 2009 10:29:54 GMT -5
Ben blinked as she spoke, having never quite developed the art of using or understanding sarcasm or dry humour. Generally he could recognise when it was used, even if he didn't understand the point of it, but on this occasion it completely passed him by. [red]"I didn't say that... Or at least, I didn't mean to. I meant that I'd find doing one or the other the whole time boring,"[/red] he informed her earnestly, not wanting her to think he was insulting her. Although... she was smirking, he noticed for the first time. Her words had caught him off guard and prevented him from noticing it, but now he had he was uncertain as to whether she had been serious. [red]"...Were you joking?"[/red] he asked directly after a slight pause of considering her expression. At least if she was then he was hopefully doing his task of cheering her up okay.
[red]"What, so you assume that everyone is out to get you?"[/red] he asked, putting it as straight as he could see it. [red]"That's kinda depressing... how are you supposed to trust everyone if you're wary the whole time? How are you supposed to relax?"[/red] he asked, not realising she rarely did either of those things. [red]"It's just Hogwarts... there aren't people out to attack you. You don't need a survival mechanism,"[/red] he added, again not knowing how wrong he was.
He nodded at her words, settling himself more comfortably on the grass before speaking. [red]"You detach yourself from the negatives, look at a situation from the outside. But don't look back for the negatives – look at it differently. Look for the good things in it. There's always something positive. Like... my being blind before magic healed me,"[/red] he began, thinking an example would be the best way to explain it. And his blindness was the easiest example that came to mind. [red]"Sure, I couldn't see. But I learnt to know the world differently – I could get so much more from my other senses. I got to meet new people from this group for other kids like me, who couldn't see or hear, or maybe only had one leg and had to go in a wheelchair. It meant that when magic did heal me, I appreciated everything more... people don't look properly, because they're used to it. But I see so many details that others miss, because it's so new and different from everything else."[/red] He paused, thinking he could probably go into more but not wanting to overload the example.
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Post by D'rorah Philosophy on Jul 8, 2009 20:37:02 GMT -5
D'rorah's brow furrowed slightly in confusion as Ben began clarifying what he had said. Apparently he didn't get her humor. But then, as subtle as her facial expressions were, and as dry as her tone of voice was, she supposed it would be easy enough to miss. [blue]"Yes, Mister Ellis, that was my weak attempt at humor,"[/blue] she confirmed in a wry voice. [blue]"I suppose it may have been difficult to discern, but even I occasionally see the merit in a bit of humor. Perhaps my execution is a bit rusty though, it is not something I indulge in with any great frequency."[/blue] She still wasn't entirely certain what to make of this sunny-dispositioned Gryffindor. His entire position was alien to her... simply walking up to a stranger to cheer her up. What sort of person did something like that? He had to want something... even if he wouldn't admit it.
She waited as he began speaking again. He obviously didn't understand her. She was trying to figure out how to speak his language... and as an experienced linguist, she was beginning to feel frustrated that her translations were somehow off. [blue]"Until offered evidence to the contrary, I do my best to limit my potential exposure to those with harmful intentions..."[/blue] her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed for a moment. [blue]"And schools are some of the most cruel institutions I have encountered,"[/blue] she finished, recalling with ease years of harrassment at Falstaff's. Even pushing those memories aside, there most certainly were people who would like nothing better than to attack her. Of course, Ben would have no way of knowing that.
[blue]"I see details as well,"[/blue] she replied morosely as he finished his missive on looking at things optimistically. [blue]"And you are wrong. In certain things, there is no redeeming quality to look for."[/blue] She wasn't going to get anywhere here. She and Ben were speaking two completely different languages and living on two completely different planets. Perhaps if she'd been a normal student and just a regular eighteen year old, she would have been able to find some grasp on his perspective. As it was, she couldn't see any hope for the current situation. Feeling bleak at the realization of just how far behind her her youthful optimism and innocence was, she simply wanted to get away from the conversation. She didn't need to be told that her way of viewing the world was depressing. It was reality. And reality was simply that, reality. There was no use being depressed about it for the most part... that would only make things worse. But then, neither was there any cause to constantly go around feigning happiness.
She stood from her position, placing the strap of her satchel over her shoulder. [blue]"Pardon me Mister Ellis, I believe I should return to my studies."[/blue] She straightened the bag on her shoulder. [blue]"Enjoy your optimism. It was interesting to have met you."[/blue] With that, she turned to head off, actively working to pull her mind away from the odd conversation.
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Benjamin Ellis
Gryffindor
[red]4th Year Gryffindor[/red]
if you don't have a smile I'll give you one of mine :)
Posts: 55
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Post by Benjamin Ellis on Jul 9, 2009 14:53:38 GMT -5
Ben frowned again in confusion when D'rorah stated that schools were cruel, not understanding what she meant. Perhaps the pressure that the students were under with exams? But that was hardly cruel... and it didn't involve misleading people, unless she was cheating on tests somehow. And judging by the books she had been studying earlier, not to mention her position as Ravenclaw prefect, that seemed extremely unlikely.
Apparently she disagreed with him on seeing positive things in life everywhere. [red]"Like what?"[/red] he questioned, going through a list of supposedly worst-case scenarios in his head involving natural disasters, tragic accidents and disabilities, not coming up with any. His view on reality was that it could always get worse; which in turn meant there was always something to be grateful for, you just had to look hard. It kept your hope up while times were bad and pushed you forward as they began to improve again until it was back to normal.
Ben blinked, confused again when D'rorah suddenly got to her feet. A slightly dismayed expression appeared on his face when she gave her leave and began heading off, and he stood quickly as she left. [red]"What...?"[/red] he began before trailing off, numerous questions buzzing in his head. [red]What did I do wrong? You asked how to be more optimistic, I just answered... did you not want me to? Where are you going? Why are you going?[/red] He didn't voice any of them though, instead choosing to remain silent with a slightly disgruntled expression on his face as she walked away. How was he supposed to do anything to cheer her up if she did that? Still, he had learnt enough over the years that generally when people walked away from him, they didn't want to be followed and hounded some more.
Sitting himself back down on the grass, he laid back on it and closed his eyes so the sun was beating down on him, and focussed on his own personal optimism. Even if she had walked away this time, she would not be able to forever. He could greet her another time, not to mention that he was sure he had been a source of amusement for her at one point. Time would tell whether he would be able to make an impact on her or not...
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