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last online May 13, 2024 9:31:15 GMT -7
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Mar 26, 2017 13:17:49 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 13:17:49 GMT -7
The Yule Ball had been combined with the Ministry's Christmas function, Jess explained. Taylor hadn't expected that, but Jess's description—“lots of dancing and lots of schmoozing”—was understandable. It was government mixed with delegations from two foreign schools; the Department of International Magical Cooperation must have adored it. “And it was nice to see the castle again.”
Taylor chuckled, doubting that Hogwarts had changed very much since they were last there.
They were correct about Jess's having referred to technology, which she elaborated as, “Phones and computers and things like that.” It all seemed so different to Taylor, and they weren't surprised that their fascination had prompted Jess to ask them if they had taken Muggle Studies.
“No, I didn't take it.” They shook their head, although they wished that they had taken the subject. “I should have, though. Muggles are really open-minded about gender identity and sexuality,” they explained. From what they knew, most Muggles didn't seem to bat an eye; they had whole parades. “Not like here.” Not in magical society. It was getting better, maybe. The new Charms professor was a trans woman, but Taylor still knew of people their age whose marriages had been arranged for them.
“Mostly,” Taylor continued, “I read the fashion magazines. And about music.” They smiled. For them, it was an escape. “You know David Bowie?” they asked. “Ziggy Stardust? I'd love to be like that.”
@jessica
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last online May 13, 2024 9:31:15 GMT -7
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Mar 26, 2017 20:37:29 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2017 20:37:29 GMT -7
"I took Muggle Studies, and it was a really interesting course. A bit error-prone, but generally an eye-opening perspective." Taylor mentioned that Muggle society had a better grasp on the breadth of gender and sexuality, and Jess agreed. "It's not perfect, but the Muggle world's been working on it for the better part of a decade." High society seemed to be the worst at it, and old people (either magic or Muggle), but overall it seemed to be harder - although she didn't have an awful lot of experience, for obvious reasons. "Of course I know David Bowie! Good music, lots of classics. The music videos were a bit weird, but that was the eighties. Ooo, and Labyrinth! Great movie - have you seen it?" It was really nice talking to people who were interested, but she hoped she wasn't overloading Taylor's knowledge of Muggle things, or it could be a bit awkward. taylor
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last online May 13, 2024 9:31:15 GMT -7
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Mar 27, 2017 18:27:31 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Mar 27, 2017 18:27:31 GMT -7
From Jess's perspective, Taylor was sure that there were plenty of errors in the Muggle Studies material that the Ministry required Hogwarts to teach. They were glad to know, though, that they hadn't been entirely wrong about the Muggle world's view of people like them. “It's not perfect, but the Muggle world's been working on it for the better part of a decade,” Jess informed them.
“There's a Gay-Straight Alliance at Hogwarts now, actually,” Taylor stated. “One of the girls in my year leads the meetings.” There were enough people for it to exist, which was a step in the right direction, thought Taylor.
On the subject of the one person whom Taylor might have thought of as an idol, Jess answered that she knew who he was, too. “Of course I know David Bowie! Good music, lots of classics.” Taylor grinned. There was someone else in the magical world who understood. Jess added, “The music videos were a bit weird, but that was the eighties.” Taylor knew that they had been older, from before the parents of some people their age were even born, but they still enjoyed what they had seen. Most everything was still photography; snapshots of moments in time that didn't move as magical photographs did. Still, Taylor thought it was genius.
“Oooh, and Labyrinth! Great movie - have you seen it?”
Taylor shook their head. They knew that David Bowie had done a film, but they had never seen it—not that they had the means to see it, without a television or whatever else Muggles used to watch films. From what they understood of it, it seemed different, though they didn't think that they wouldn't enjoy it. “I haven't,” they replied with a slight frown. “I haven't got a television or anything. But it must be brilliant.” They might have been able to go out and buy something, which was a thought, but they knew that they would need to learn how to operate it, too.
@jessica
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last online May 13, 2024 9:31:15 GMT -7
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Apr 6, 2017 15:19:04 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 6, 2017 15:19:04 GMT -7
"That's good to hear. We'll get there, sooner or later." It wasn't something she knew an awful lot about, but everyone getting respect was a good thing in Jess's opinion. Taylor seemed to be really excited about David Bowie, and disappointed that they hadn't seen Labyrinth - because there wasn't exactly an awful lot of opportunity in the wizarding world, she assumed. Well, Jess could do something about that. "It's pretty great. If you want, I've got a telly, and I can probably track down a copy. You can come over and watch." Was it odd to be inviting people over who you'd met just a few minutes ago? Maybe, but that was Jess. And she liked sharing her technology, because there were so few people who really got it. But she thought that Taylor might. taylor
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last online May 13, 2024 9:31:15 GMT -7
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Apr 16, 2017 4:40:43 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 16, 2017 4:40:43 GMT -7
Jess expressed that people's views would come around “sooner or later”, and Taylor remained cautiously optimistic that she was right. It would happen eventually that people would come to understand that members of the LGBTQ+ community were just as much a part of the wider community as they were. The same went for Muggle-borns like Jess, who were possibly even more marginalized—at least if the attacks on Hogwarts were any indication.
Labyrinth, agreed Jess, was “pretty great”. So great, in fact, that she made an offer to them. She had a television, and she said that she thought that she could probably procure a copy of the film. “You can come over and watch,” she said.
Taylor was touched. “I—Wow… Merlin… Thank you, Jess,” they replied, a stunned smile still on their face. “That would be great.” Was there an adequate word to describe that kind of generosity? Taylor didn't know, but “great”—the first word out of their mouth—didn't do it justice.
@jessica
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last online May 13, 2024 9:31:15 GMT -7
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Apr 23, 2017 17:05:00 GMT -7
Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2017 17:05:00 GMT -7
Taylor was clearly surprised by Jess's offer for them to come over to see Labyrinth. Surprised, but thrilled, by the expression on their face. Which was good - she rather thought Taylor needed something unambiguously happy, even though that wasn't why she'd offered in the first place. "Awesome! It's been ages since I've seen it. I'll let you know when I find it, yeah? I think I know where to find you." Plus then she'd get to go get ice cream. And getting to her flat was a little odd, because she wasn't on a common wizard tract, so she'd have to explain anyway. taylor(I think your next post can end it!)
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