18 Nov 2020, 06:59
On Houses and Hats
Interactiong with @Marcus Iwasaki
October 4th
The silence of the library was oppressive to most but to Kazuo, it was a delightful reprieve to the constant noise of the more popular common areas. Whether he was studying, reading his own books, or writing in his journals, the undisturbed peace of a comfortable chair hidden among rows and rows of shelves lined with all manner of books and scrolls was his current safe space. The chair he was currently sitting in was large and plush and he must have looked all the smaller curled in on himself with his feet tucked under him. He was flipping through the pages of his first journal, the one he had chosen when his mother had taken him shopping for school supplies; pocket-sized, leatherbound, and embellished with a golden coloured fox.
“Remember, little fox,” his mother had told him that day as they wandered down the aisles of the stationery store. “It may be strange and it will definitely be hard but you have a great opportunity to see things from a new perspective.”
He stopped on the page where he had written his observances of the House system and the strange ceremony, his brow creasing into a deep and disapproving frown. Only a month had passed, such a short period of time, yet he couldn’t be surer that there had been some mistake. He had known that he would be out of place in this school. He had been prepared for the cultural divide and the language barriers. He had experienced those enough when they’d first come to London, only months before he had received the letter. His mother had spoken to him of the other things he might face, the status differences between purebloods and those children whose parents didn’t have a long legacy of magic. He’d yet to have any issues there. But these Houses… This strange divide the school had imposed upon the students…
His gaze fell to the other book in his lap, one that had detailed the history of the House system. He’d read it cover to cover but it still didn’t answer his questions. Nor did it comfort him in any way to know that a talking hat had decided to exile him to a House that simply did not match his nature nor his aspirations. He didn’t entirely dislike the dorm he had chosen as he’d found Scamander quite an interesting person and was quite fascinated by mystical creatures but the others in the dorm… He really didn’t feel any kinship toward them, nor had he found himself to share any of their interests. They tended to be far too excitable and affectionate for his tastes and he’d yet to meet one as genuinely passionate about learning as he was.
He opened the book, tracing his fingers over the descriptions of the Houses with a sigh. He simply must remedy this error. He had decided upon his course of action a week ago yet had procrastinated on actually doing what was necessary. Not without good reason, of course. The man, his target, the Head of the House he felt he should be a part of… Iwasaki Marcus. Not a professor; in fact, Kazuo had heard the man had been the Caretaker before taking over as House Head. It seemed the man was as fond of the library as he was which had been very convenient. He would simply have to wait for Iwasaki-sensei to appear.
He had appeared more than once yet each time Kazuo had been hesitant to approach. There was something about the tall man that intimidated him. He was hardly a timid child, more prone to overstepping his bounds - politely, of course - than to hiding in shadows, at least with adults. He understood the rules of navigating conversations with adults - at least he thought he did - so he did not understand why Iwasaki-sensei drew a clenching nervousness to his gut. Part of him was fascinated by it yet still he could not force himself to take more than a few steps toward the man.
Nothing would change if he did not act. Iwasaki-sensei was not a danger, whatever Kazuo’s gut might be telling him - well, no more of a danger than any other adult in this school. He would do this tonight, no more procrastination. Kazuo stood, clutching his journal and the history book to his chest as he made his way toward Iwasaki-sensei, schooling his features into passivity, taking a deep, steadying breath as he pushed away the nervousness. He forced his feet to action, stopping just a few feet away from the House Head. Lips parted to spill forth words too formal for the likes of this school, a force of habit he had yet to break.
“Good evening Iwasaki-sensei,” Kazuo spoke with a slight bow. “Pardon me for interrupting your leisure but I have a request to make of you. If now is not a good time, could I arrange a meeting with you in the near future?”
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
21 Jan 2021, 14:57
On Houses and Hats
The library was slowly becoming one of Marcus' preferred stomping grounds in the castle. As the newly-appointed Head of House slowly rediscovered his love for research and knowledge, he found that the Hogwarts library and that of the Ravenclaw tower were quite pleasant spaces. There were comfy chairs and little reading nooks that he could easily claim as his own. If he was reading, students didn't dare to approach him. Sure, they generally didn't approach him on a regular day, but it seemed that they had more respect for people's space when they were reading and studying. It was a nice side effect of his renewed reading hobby.
Today he found his way to a corner of the library that was partially surrounded by book shelves. The space was large enough for him to pace in a circle as he read, which is exactly what he did after he retrieved the book he had left in this area. The stimulation of both his mind and his body was relaxing. As he flipped through the pages to find where he had left off, his concentration was broken by the sound of a voice. He stopped walking his circle and turned to look at the source.
Sensei? He could not recall the last time he was referred to in that way. Probably back when he was young and being teased by his friends when he helped them with their homework. By Mel, probably. But Marcus quickly pushed such memories away, focusing his amber eyes on the young boy in front of him.
The boy's pronunciation of Marcus' last name - which was often butchered or had far too much of a European accent attached - led him to believe that he had some grasp of his native Japanese language. The bow surprised him as well, and led to Marcus bowing his head slightly in response. He was wary of the situation. He was wary of children in general and did not particularly like being approached, but at least this boy seemed to have some sense of respect. The next words out of his mouth were an apology for interrupting him, after all.
A request? Marcus was intrigued. He snapped his book shut with one hand and gestured to one of the two armchairs with the other. "Now is fine, take a seat." After the gesture, Marcus used his free hand to adjust the sleeve of his dress shirt. He was dressing much differently than he had as Caretaker, meaning today he wore a dark button-up and dark dress pants.
The Ravenclaw Head of House would only sit once the boy had. It was a habit he had - making sure others acted first before he did the same. Once they had both taken a seat on either end of a reading table, Marcus would wait for the boy to speak. For once, his patience with a student was not thin. This one seemed interesting. Perhaps it was the feeling that they shared a heritage or the respectful way he had approached - either way, Marcus would be perfectly cordial until he had a reason not to be.
Today he found his way to a corner of the library that was partially surrounded by book shelves. The space was large enough for him to pace in a circle as he read, which is exactly what he did after he retrieved the book he had left in this area. The stimulation of both his mind and his body was relaxing. As he flipped through the pages to find where he had left off, his concentration was broken by the sound of a voice. He stopped walking his circle and turned to look at the source.
Sensei? He could not recall the last time he was referred to in that way. Probably back when he was young and being teased by his friends when he helped them with their homework. By Mel, probably. But Marcus quickly pushed such memories away, focusing his amber eyes on the young boy in front of him.
The boy's pronunciation of Marcus' last name - which was often butchered or had far too much of a European accent attached - led him to believe that he had some grasp of his native Japanese language. The bow surprised him as well, and led to Marcus bowing his head slightly in response. He was wary of the situation. He was wary of children in general and did not particularly like being approached, but at least this boy seemed to have some sense of respect. The next words out of his mouth were an apology for interrupting him, after all.
A request? Marcus was intrigued. He snapped his book shut with one hand and gestured to one of the two armchairs with the other. "Now is fine, take a seat." After the gesture, Marcus used his free hand to adjust the sleeve of his dress shirt. He was dressing much differently than he had as Caretaker, meaning today he wore a dark button-up and dark dress pants.
The Ravenclaw Head of House would only sit once the boy had. It was a habit he had - making sure others acted first before he did the same. Once they had both taken a seat on either end of a reading table, Marcus would wait for the boy to speak. For once, his patience with a student was not thin. This one seemed interesting. Perhaps it was the feeling that they shared a heritage or the respectful way he had approached - either way, Marcus would be perfectly cordial until he had a reason not to be.
@Kazuo Shimada
Marcus' Intimidation is in effect.It is a sentiment that enters people's hearts when they are in your presence. They feel dis-ease when you are present, even if the interaction is casual or even friendly.
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
24 Jan 2021, 06:17
On Houses and Hats
A seemingly good start, the intimidating Ravenclaw Head of House did not immediately shoo him away. Kazuo gazed up at the tall, dark-skinned man, taking that brief moment while Marcus took in his presence to study him. Iwasaki - the name had clearly indicated Japanese lineage yet when he had first set eyes on Marcus, he had questioned whether the man was another mostly European descendant like some of the students he had seen. Standing in Marcus' presence, he could see that wasn't the case. The features he had grown up surrounded by stood out to him, at odds with Marcus' more obvious non-Japanese features. The most distinct feature, though, was the Head of House's amber eyes. He couldn't recall having ever seen such an eye colour.
The opportunity to study Marcus would pass quickly as the Head of House chose to speak, waving him over to a chair. A sense of relief filled him, having managed to overcome the first two hurdles in his quest. Overcoming his personal nervousness would have meant nothing if Marcus had merely refused and sent him on his way. An ever-present risk when dealing with adults. Seldom did they seem willing to take children seriously, in his experience. His mother had always taken him seriously, even when he was being childish. That stray thought brought a tightness to his chest that he refused to acknowledge as he took a seat in the chair, waiting to see if Marcus would sit as well or choose to remain standing. That Marcus chose to sit set Kazuo at ease; the adult did not seem interested in looming over the small boy, using his size as intimidation as Kazuo had seen other adults do. Not that Marcus needed to do anything, he seemed to manage an aura of intimidation without trying.
"Thank you," Kazuo replied, setting the book and his journal on his lap and folding his hands atop them to keep from fidgeting. Adults had expectations. They liked quiet, well-behaved children. Children who spoke with respect. As long as you met those expectations, adults were more likely to consider what you had to say. He had given a great deal of thought to what he would say yet now that he needed to speak, nervousness gripped him. "I would like to join your House, please." The request came out painfully blunt and not how he had intended it. He had meant to start with a logical argument and end with asking to join Ravenclaw but nervousness had him starting at the end. He rushed on, wanting to explain. "When I arrived at the beginning of the school year I did not know about the Houses or the hat. Everyone says the hat doesn’t make mistakes but... I’ve read about it since then. About the Houses and what they are supposed to represent and I believe the hat must have made a mistake. I don’t… I’m not… Hufflepuff isn’t a good fit, sir. I’m not like them and I think I would be better suited to your House, to Ravenclaw, sir.”
His words were earnest and though he did his best to keep his emotions off his face, he was still a child and couldn’t entirely hide the frustration and confusion that he had been feeling since that first night that he had been surrounded by the boisterous Hufflepuffs he had been doomed to share living space with for the next seven years. Kazuo's eyes searched Marcus’ face, hoping the Head of House would take him seriously. "I've thought about this very seriously, sir. I have tried to understand why I was put in this House but I cannot find a reason that makes sense. I am... lost." It was an apt word, lost. He had meant it in reference to his inability to reason through the hat's decision but it managed to encompass much more than that. Though he would not admit it, not even to himself, Kazuo did feel very lost.
@Marcus Iwasaki
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
28 Jan 2021, 22:28
On Houses and Hats
As the boy approached to take the seat that Marcus gestured to, the man noticed the books that were being carried. One appeared to be a journal and the other had a title suggesting research on Hogwarts. Did he have a question on the school? He would be sorely disappointed to know that Marcus had not researched as much about the school as most students probably had (although in this moment, the man made a mental note to spend tomorrow looking more into the school). He knew the basics of the history - the founders, the houses, the public records of all the catastrophes at the school - but nothing incredibly in-depth.
As the kid thanked him, Marcus realized that it was very unlikely he had been sought out for a history question. That would be better suited to the History of Magic professor. Why would someone seek Marcus out specifically? At the beginning of the year, he had been approached by two Slytherin students, one seeking detention records and the other seeking knowledge on foreign families. The detention thing had made sense because as caretaker he had access to all the records, and the other kid had apparently already known that Marcus did not attend Hogwarts in his youth. It was not a secret, plenty of students knew that if they asked around. So what about this kid? What did he want from the new Ravenclaw Head of House?
The request that followed made Marcus' amber eyes widen slightly. He wanted to switch houses? Well, now things made sense. As the dark-haired child continued speaking - explaining exactly why and how he had come to this conclusion - Marcus leaned back slightly in his chair, contemplating how to let him down. Bluntness was his specialty - was that what was called for here? By the time the first year kid had stopped speaking, Marcus had straightened back to his full height in the chair, his posture once again perfect as he maintained eye contact.
"It's not possible," Marcus said, straight and to the point. "The sorting hat's decision is final, there have never and will never be any exceptions," the man continued, pretty much repeating what he was told when he asked the same of his colleagues. He kept his eyes focused on the boy, letting those words sink in, before he continued.
"That said, seeing as I am not and will not be your Head of House during your stay at Hogwarts, I highly suggest you seek advice from the man that will be looking out for you for years to come. I cannot sing the praises of Hufflepuff - I did not attend Hogwarts in my youth, and honestly doubt I would have ended up there - but I do know your Head of House would be a great resource to you," Marcus paused very briefly in thinking about the Head of Hufflepuff. The two men had become something like friends in the last few months as colleagues and temporary neighbors - despite their differing personalities.
"I asked him a while ago about his opinions regarding the house system, and he was very insightful. Talk to him, and you may gain a better understanding about how Hufflepuff will help you grow as a student and a person." Although Caradoc had once said he was not the one to go to for wisdom, Marcus had found their conversation on the house system enlightening. One thing Browne said is that the houses are not just starting points, but they can also be destinations. That had stuck with Marcus, but it was not his piece of wisdom to share.
"What is your name?" Marcus asked, refocusing on the kid in front of him.
As the kid thanked him, Marcus realized that it was very unlikely he had been sought out for a history question. That would be better suited to the History of Magic professor. Why would someone seek Marcus out specifically? At the beginning of the year, he had been approached by two Slytherin students, one seeking detention records and the other seeking knowledge on foreign families. The detention thing had made sense because as caretaker he had access to all the records, and the other kid had apparently already known that Marcus did not attend Hogwarts in his youth. It was not a secret, plenty of students knew that if they asked around. So what about this kid? What did he want from the new Ravenclaw Head of House?
The request that followed made Marcus' amber eyes widen slightly. He wanted to switch houses? Well, now things made sense. As the dark-haired child continued speaking - explaining exactly why and how he had come to this conclusion - Marcus leaned back slightly in his chair, contemplating how to let him down. Bluntness was his specialty - was that what was called for here? By the time the first year kid had stopped speaking, Marcus had straightened back to his full height in the chair, his posture once again perfect as he maintained eye contact.
"It's not possible," Marcus said, straight and to the point. "The sorting hat's decision is final, there have never and will never be any exceptions," the man continued, pretty much repeating what he was told when he asked the same of his colleagues. He kept his eyes focused on the boy, letting those words sink in, before he continued.
"That said, seeing as I am not and will not be your Head of House during your stay at Hogwarts, I highly suggest you seek advice from the man that will be looking out for you for years to come. I cannot sing the praises of Hufflepuff - I did not attend Hogwarts in my youth, and honestly doubt I would have ended up there - but I do know your Head of House would be a great resource to you," Marcus paused very briefly in thinking about the Head of Hufflepuff. The two men had become something like friends in the last few months as colleagues and temporary neighbors - despite their differing personalities.
"I asked him a while ago about his opinions regarding the house system, and he was very insightful. Talk to him, and you may gain a better understanding about how Hufflepuff will help you grow as a student and a person." Although Caradoc had once said he was not the one to go to for wisdom, Marcus had found their conversation on the house system enlightening. One thing Browne said is that the houses are not just starting points, but they can also be destinations. That had stuck with Marcus, but it was not his piece of wisdom to share.
"What is your name?" Marcus asked, refocusing on the kid in front of him.
@Kazuo Shimada
Permission given by @Caradoc Browne to reference the conversation on the houses
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
1 Feb 2021, 04:09
On Houses and Hats
The answer he was expecting inevitably came. It’s not possible. That’s what everyone seemed to believe. What he couldn’t grasp - what he refused to accept - was why everyone simply accepted the infallibility of a magical hat created by fallible humans. He gazed at Marcus, doing his best to keep a polite and passive expression despite the disappointment he felt at the predictable answer. He had been prepared for it so why was he disappointed by the inevitable? He waited for Marcus to continue, listening as the Ravenclaw Head simply directed him to seek advice from his own Head of House. Caradoc Browne. He had considered speaking with Browne-sensei but he had doubts that the Hufflepuff would take him seriously. He had hoped that the rational reasoning he had prepared would resonate with the Head of the House that was said to exalt in intellectual pursuits. Though Marcus’ advice seemed genuine, it was not what the boy wanted to hear and so, as children are prone to doing, he preferred to simply ignore it. How could a man who barely knew him possibly know what he would need to grow as a student?
Marcus’ final question caught him off guard, bringing about the realization that, in his nervousness, he had forgotten one of the most basic steps of etiquette. He had completely forgotten to introduce himself, a seemingly unforgivable oversight. His eyes widened in surprise at his own mistake and he quickly bowed his head in apology. “Sumimasen. Excuse me.” He reverted to his native tongue out of habit and embarrassment. He took a deep breath then forged on in English. “My name is Shimada Kazuo, sir.”
“I understand that every member of the faculty says the same thing. The Hat doesn’t make mistakes. It has never been wrong and it is the only way this school uses to divide the students up. I think that is a convenient way to prevent the students from arguing about where they are going to stay but I cannot reasonably accept that answer. I’ve read the history of the school. The Houses and the students in them were decided by the founders. Wizards who were human and thus could very easily make mistakes. I would argue that the traits they chose to single out could be considered mistakes. Nonetheless, the hat is a creation of their magic, fallible human wizards creating a tool that has the potential to be just as fallible as they were.” He had prepared this argument, had given much thought to the logic of the system and the flaws he saw in it. He spoke carefully, focusing on his words, and he grew more comfortable.
“If the House system was once guided by wizards, it makes no logical sense to deny students the opportunity to appeal to the wizards currently in charge. I understand that you want to avoid every student petitioning for a change of House but denying any exceptions is the kind of rigid thinking that has the potential to harm those students who find themselves incompatible with their House or their Housemates.” He offered up the logic, as convincing an argument as he could make based on what he had read about the House system.
“The House system was designed to be more than just a dormitory system. So if the student’s traits do not align with the House they are assigned to, it does not make sense to keep them in that House simply to defend the reputation of a magical object created by wizards. Is the value of the hat’s reputation worth more than the lost potential of those students who find themselves miscategorized?”
He finished with a question, hoping that the logic of his argument would give Marcus pause, perhaps to consider it. If Marcus had never had to go through the sorting process, having never attended Hogwarts, would that make the Head of House more sympathetic or less? He couldn’t be sure but it did pique his curiosity. What had his school been like? Did they have a House system? As much as he wanted to ask those questions, he held them back, knowing it was not the best time to be going on tangents.
@Marcus Iwasaki
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.
11 Jun 2021, 15:49
On Houses and Hats
Shimada Kazuo. His introduction done in a Japanese form, considering Shimada was a last name. A familiar last name, actually. One that Marcus thought he knew for a moment, but no. Couldn't be.
The Head of Ravenclaw didn't have long to contemplate the familiar name, instead needing to focus his attention on the words that Mr Shimada suddenly launched into. He spoke of the hat being flawed because of its creators, humans that can make mistakes. Marcus had to put in effort not to smirk a bit at the argument, instead maintaining his very serious expression. It's not that he wasn't taking the Hufflepuff seriously, it's just that the kid was arguing a bit of a lost cause. Whether the hat was right or wrong, its decision was final. It seemed to him that Mr Shimada wanted to get rid of the whole sorting process.
Marcus gestured to the books that the boy had brought over with him, tapping his finger on the spine of the Hogwarts-related book. "I don't know what this book may have said, so if it contradicts, tell me - but from my limited information on the hat, it seems to me that there is very little room for error," he said. "The founders put their essence in that hat, and their essence decides who goes where. The hat digs deep enough in your mind to know things about you that you may not know yourself," he elaborated. His knowledge was limited, but that is the impression he had of the Sorting Hat. "What you may view as wrong is right in the eye of the hat's creators, and so that's what makes the hat 'infallible,' so to speak. It doesn't go against its creators wishes, so it serves the intended purpose. What you're saying seems you think the founders are wrong, and while that may be your interpretation - this is their school. What they say goes, essentially. How can their interpretation of who they want in their house be wrong if it's their school? Just because a few terms have been associated with each house does not mean those traits define every member, it may just be things that the founders looked for, but it doesn't mean those are the only traits found in their students."
Marcus felt that he was going off on a tangent, not quite addressing what the boy wanted to hear, but he felt the need to talk through his own thought process to better converse. He saw movement out the corner of his eye, and his head turned to track a student passing by. Realizing it was no one he recognized, he turned back to the young Mr Shimada.
"But why are you so set on the idea that the sorting hat has made a mistake?" Marcus asked, adjusting slightly in his seat and sitting up a bit taller. "I haven't heard of anyone who spent all their years at Hogwarts feeling that they didn't belong in their house. I've heard of people being unhappy with their initial sorting, but I've been told they settle and flourish in the hat's decision within their first year. I can tell you've thought about this a lot, but you've been in Hufflepuff for only a month. Have you given it a proper chance yet? Or did you subconsciously distance yourself from your peers once you found out the "traditional traits" of each house?"
The Head of Ravenclaw didn't have long to contemplate the familiar name, instead needing to focus his attention on the words that Mr Shimada suddenly launched into. He spoke of the hat being flawed because of its creators, humans that can make mistakes. Marcus had to put in effort not to smirk a bit at the argument, instead maintaining his very serious expression. It's not that he wasn't taking the Hufflepuff seriously, it's just that the kid was arguing a bit of a lost cause. Whether the hat was right or wrong, its decision was final. It seemed to him that Mr Shimada wanted to get rid of the whole sorting process.
Marcus gestured to the books that the boy had brought over with him, tapping his finger on the spine of the Hogwarts-related book. "I don't know what this book may have said, so if it contradicts, tell me - but from my limited information on the hat, it seems to me that there is very little room for error," he said. "The founders put their essence in that hat, and their essence decides who goes where. The hat digs deep enough in your mind to know things about you that you may not know yourself," he elaborated. His knowledge was limited, but that is the impression he had of the Sorting Hat. "What you may view as wrong is right in the eye of the hat's creators, and so that's what makes the hat 'infallible,' so to speak. It doesn't go against its creators wishes, so it serves the intended purpose. What you're saying seems you think the founders are wrong, and while that may be your interpretation - this is their school. What they say goes, essentially. How can their interpretation of who they want in their house be wrong if it's their school? Just because a few terms have been associated with each house does not mean those traits define every member, it may just be things that the founders looked for, but it doesn't mean those are the only traits found in their students."
Marcus felt that he was going off on a tangent, not quite addressing what the boy wanted to hear, but he felt the need to talk through his own thought process to better converse. He saw movement out the corner of his eye, and his head turned to track a student passing by. Realizing it was no one he recognized, he turned back to the young Mr Shimada.
"But why are you so set on the idea that the sorting hat has made a mistake?" Marcus asked, adjusting slightly in his seat and sitting up a bit taller. "I haven't heard of anyone who spent all their years at Hogwarts feeling that they didn't belong in their house. I've heard of people being unhappy with their initial sorting, but I've been told they settle and flourish in the hat's decision within their first year. I can tell you've thought about this a lot, but you've been in Hufflepuff for only a month. Have you given it a proper chance yet? Or did you subconsciously distance yourself from your peers once you found out the "traditional traits" of each house?"
@Kazuo Shimada
PC: Aaron Jones | iNPC: Madeleine Nakamura | Former staff account: Marcus Iwasaki
2nd Gen PC: Idalia della Torre
Best way to contact me? Discord or owl Idalia
15 Jun 2021, 07:58
On Houses and Hats
Whether Marcus was sympathetic to his arguments or not, the Head of House at least extended him the courtesy of hearing him out and he appreciated it. If Marcus was humouring him, there was still a chance that Kazuo’s words might sway him. Unfortunately, as Marcus began to speak, it became quickly evident that he had not convinced the Head of House. His face fell a bit as he listened to Marcus explain that the hat’s decisions effectively came down to what the creators wanted. He frowned, considering this perspective though it gave him no more comfort than his previous understanding. If that was the case, if his placement in Hufflepuff was what these mysterious founders would wish, what did that mean? That Rowena Ravenclaw wouldn’t have chosen him? He looked down at the book, his frown deepening with that thought. Helga Hufflepuff had taken those that the other House Heads didn’t want. So the other House Heads wouldn’t have wanted him?
This train of thought did not sit well with him. Not at all.
“So you are saying that the school is merely maintaining a system that the founders set in place regardless of whether or not it is fair to the students?” He replied slowly, sighing. “The opinions of four dead wizards who no longer run the school is a strange way to judge students. Supposing that the Hat determines worthiness in the eyes of its creators, as you say, then that would mean that Rowena Ravenclaw would have rejected me. I find that… disappointing and illogical.” Some dead witch had rejected him for reasons he could never know. It wasn’t as if he could ask the Hat why. Would the Hat even know? He had a feeling it wouldn’t. It wasn’t the witch herself after all, just a magical creation. That also meant Marcus wouldn’t know either.
This wasn’t how he had expected this conversation to go. As Marcus turned the subject from explanation to inquiry he did smile a bit, considering the questions. “It isn’t just the House traits, sir.” He said with a shake of his head for emphasis. “It’s about intentions. The other students are not like me, they don’t share the same interests. I don’t feel that I can talk to them, that I have anything in common with them.” He explained. Marcus wasn’t wrong in assuming that Kazuo kept his distance from his Housemates but it wasn’t because of the stereotypes he’d heard about his House. He didn’t really buy into stereotypes, after all, but in watching the others interacting, he couldn’t help but to feel as if he didn’t fit and it felt disingenuous to try to force himself to try to be something he wasn’t simply to fit in. “I would prefer to be among students who shared similar interests and temperaments.”
@Marcus Iwasaki
Don't confuse my attitude with my personality. My personality is who I am; my attitude depends on who you are.