| Details for Duel Declined |
| Summary: | A friendly conversation between Niko and Douglas, becomes heated once Douglas voices a few views that seems to cause Kimiko to cry. |
| Date: | 1938-10-12 |
| Location: | Gryffindor Common Room, Hogwarts |
| Related: | None |
| Characters |
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Gryffindor Common Room
The big, round common room of Gryffindor Tower is full of squashy stuffed armchairs and couches upholstered in rich red fabric. Tables are placed in useful spots around the room and a bulletin board is up on one wall, where school notices, ads, lost posters, etc. can be posted. The wooden floors are covered by old Persian rugs and the walls are covered in burgundy wallpaper that depict various mystical animals in golden silhouettes. Illumination is provided by a large window that looks out onto the castle grounds and is supplemented by a fireplace that dominates one large section of the wall providing not only light but also warmth.
Douglas is over near the fire, sat comfortably in one of the oversized armchairs there. This much is not unusual. What seems to be unusual, however, is that he's got a book in his hands, and might actually be studying.
Niko comes down from the boys dormitory, he looks tired but that is starting to become common place for him, he notices Douglas offering a small wave in greeting, "Macmillan." he says slowly, noticing the book, he blinks for a second, "A book on building ships?" he asks curiously, a warm smile on his face.
Douglas looks up with a start, giving a half smile as he spies who it is. "Something like that," he agrees, closing the book and tucking it away, but not before the title on the cover can be read: 'A History of Gringotts'. "You look knackered, pal. Been up all night, have you?" His smile turns to a grin and he waggles his brows. "Been up all night with the snowsnake, eh, you dirty old bastard. Dipped your wick, is it?"
Niko just starts to chuckle, shaking his head, "Studying Potions." he says slowly, with that warm smile on his face, "You planning on robbing Gringotts with Medusa?" he says playfully, giving him a question just as ridiculous as his.
"I know my luck. I'd get caught, and she'd glare her way out of it until some goblin gave her enough cash just to go away and not bother him any more," Douglas replies amiably, shaking his head. "Did you know nobody has ever successfully robbed that place? Imagine what you could do with those kind of spells, that nobody's ever managed to break, eh?"
Niko chuckles softly, "Well I have heard that a through times, but never really considered it." he says softly, looking over at Douglas, "But I can imagine various things someone can do with spells that strong."
Douglas throws up his hands. "You could do anything," he insists. "But they just waste their time looking after bits of shiny metal."
Niko rubs his chin, "I suppose that you could do a lot. I don't know about anything, certain things are impossible even with magic." he says slowly, "But looking after those shiny bits, are rather important to some people." he says with a chuckle.
"I don't get why," Douglas decides. "I mean, it's not like you need money for anything, with the right spells."
Niko considers for a long moment, "I suppose part of it is status." he says slowly, looking to Douglas, "A sign of who you are? In some social circles?" he says a small shrug.
Douglas shakes his head. "No, not really. I mean blood's more important than bits of gold and silver. It's not like you could buy your way out of being a half blood, is it? Or wizards everywhere would."
Niko still has that warm smile on his as Douglas makes his comment, "You make a valid point, I mean if that was the case a lot of Pure-Bloods could just buy the social graces they are lacking, but alas, no gold or spell can fix that either." he says softly with a small nod.
Douglas shakes his head. "My point is that gold os pretty much worthless, apart from some sort of ritual thing where you're expected to hand it over for goods. But realistically, I mean, let's say you want a beer, right? So you just head to the beer tap, cast a spell, and make that tiny drip of beer on the end of the spout into a full on pint of the stuff, and nobody's worse off. The bloke running the bar hasn't lost any stock, and you've now got a beer."
Niko nods slowly, "Well yes, but not everyone is versed in certain skills, so the need for a balance economy comes into play. Some people are excellent broommakers, but may not be able to to just that. So they put their skills to use to make their wares, sell them and buy other wares. It becomes a situation of supple and demand." he says warmly with a small nod.
"But all you need is one good broom somewhere to start with," Douglas argues, "then somebody can come along and duplicate it like that. It's not a massively hard spell. So how are the broom makers still in business? Because people expect to hand over bits of money for things. It's ingrained into our psyche. But we don't actually need it."
Niko chuckles softly, "Well while there are mass market brooms, if you are familiar with broom lore, certain broommakers will match up your wood affinity and craft a broom specifically for you." he says with a small nod, "But also, with out a balanced economy you destroy motivation, desire to create better goods, if there is no reward for putting hard work forth, no one would put said hard work forth." he says softly with a small nod.
Douglas is sitting in a armchair by the fire, speaking with Niko who looks rather tired and is only a few feet away from the Boys Dormitories. It is early morning and many students are not yet awake, which shows by how their words carry in the commons, as they discuss if an economy is needed in the Wizarding World.
Douglas points to Niko. "And people wonder why I say classes are a waste of time. I mean, who needs History of Magic anyway? Is it any use to anyone ever?"
Niko nods slowly, "Actually, those who take N.E.W.T. level History of Magic, start to learn about things like Magical Law, a very important topic for those who want to work in the I.M.C. at the Ministry." he says with a warm smile.
Kimiko shuffles out from the girls dormitory, still wrapped in a bedrobe. From the top of the stairs, she lifts her chin enough to gaze through her half-lidded eyes (because that's easier than just opening them, right?). "I like hissory o' magic," she slurs sleepily. "S'interesting."
"But why do you want to work there," Douglas presses. "You're not creating a good, or actually making something. You're working there for… well, for money. And we established you don't need money."
Niko chuckles. "Well they are not creating goods but Treaties and Laws, to govern conduct between us and various other magical communities." he says softly with a nod, spotting Kimiko he smiles softly, "Good morning Kimiko." he says to her warmly, offering her a small tired smile, "But we have established that we need money as a motivational factor, to keep people creating new and inventive wares." he says slowly with a nod.
"Some of us make new stuff just for fun," Douglas points out, then acknowledges the girl with a nod. "Kimiko. Here you go, then. Hypothetical question. Could you get through life without money? If not, why not?"
Kimiko comes down the stairs, taking each step with slow deliberation. As the bottom step, she wrinkles her nose, perplexed. "How would you pay for things without money?" She gives Niko a half-awake smile as she makes her way to a couch upon which to curl up. "I guess…it's possible? But you'd have to grow your own food, or have something to trade."
Niko nods, "While some people do things for fun, others need that driving motivation to push them." he says slowly, "Look at the muggles, they are constantly creating new and interesting inventions to ease their lives, to improve their living status, to make leaps and bounds in various fields, because they can't use magic to make their life simple, they have to strive for things to be easier." he says slowly with a small nod, "They do not have brooms, but they build machines that fly. They do not have Healers who can use potions or magic to heal wounds, so they strike and push, to create new medicines." he says slowly, "Why? Because they have that drive, that motivation, to create things for a better life." he says with a nod.
Douglas waves a hand vaguely, "Yeah, yeah, I dropped Muggle Studies as soon as I could. I'm sure they're great and everything, and you love them to pieces, but we're talking about real people here. Not muggles. The point is that we can cast a spell to make one tiny bit of food into more food, so all you need to do is borrow a loaf of bread, then cast a spell, then give them two loaves back, and still have some for you. It's like short selling."
Kimiko kicks off her slippers, and tucks her bare toes up under the hem of her robe. Her bright smile at Niko's admiration for Muggle innovation quickly fades into a look of shock at Douglas, as if the boy had just punched her in the gut. She's certainly awake now, but she's struck speechless.
Niko stares at Douglas, the warm smile on his face, "Well those people…" he starts off slowly, taking a step towards Douglas, "Are just as good as you, they are very much real." he says slowly with a nod, "Just because you we, were born with a talent they lack, doesn't make them any less of a being, their blood is just as red as yours or mine." he says slowly, the warm smile still on his face, "Some muggles have done greater things then many, Pure-Bloods." he says slowly with a nod, "Bettering their society, the people around them, the world, saving lives." he says with a small wave of his hand, his tone still warm and friendly.
"I'm sure they do a lot of great stuff," Douglas soothes, rolling his eyes and leaning back in his seat. "But you know, they're just muggles. Their version of great is lovely for them, and I hope they're very happy. But they're not like us. I mean, they can't even fly a broom. Even first years can fly a broom."
Kimiko frowns, eyes downcast, and she mutters, "Yes, well I'd like to see you drive a car." Scowling, though never directly at Douglas, she sits up and slips her feet back into her slippers, rising to stomp back toward the stairs to the girls dormitories.
Niko chuckles softly, "So that is how we evaluate greatness? Broomflying?" he says slowly, saying it again, "Broomflying." He suddenly shakes his head for a moment, the warm smile still on his face, "No they can't fly a broom, but they built so many things to compensate for that. Ships, Boats, Planes, Blimps." he says softly with a wave of his hand, "The list goes on and on really." he says softly, "Greatness is measured by how you effect the people around you, your society, your community." he says softly, "Putting others before yourself, though that is lost on many in the Wizarding world, because, some Pure-Bloods feel that they have an air of superiority over others, because their great great great great so and so did this or that." he says with a small wave of his hand, "That is just riding someone else's coattails, that isn't greatness, that is laziness." he says with a small nod.
"So are you trying to say that you're better than real wizards, then?" Douglas asks, genuinely interested. "I mean, because you always have to try to show you're just as good? And yeah, maybe you're not quite such a tit about it as some people whose names I won't mention. Black."
Kimiko stops at the top of the stairs, whirling to glare at Douglas through tear-glistened eyes. Well, she glares until she actually looks at him…then she looks away. Her intended sharp scolding comes out in more of a meek disapproval. "You might as well just go join the Magijugend now, Macmillan. At least then everyone could see you for what you really are." With that, she turns sharply and courageously hurries out of sight.
"A wizard," Douglas responds frankly, shrugging. "Aren't you?"
Niko watches as Kimiko leaves, sighing deeply by her expression and words. "I am not saying I am better, I am saying that I am an equal." Niko says slowly, shaking his head, "I do not try to show that I am just as good." he says with a wave of his hand, "I simple act accordingly, because I know." he looks back towards the way Kimiko just ran off, the warm smile fading from his face, "I know that, I am just as good. I do not have to prove anything." he says slowly with a shrug looking back at Douglas his face straight, "I have pride in my lineage, as I feel everyone should. I simply do not lay down and let people tell me that I am a lesser wizard." he says slowly with a wave of his hand, his face still straight and his tone not as warm as it usually is, "And to make things clear, I am just as real of a wizard as you Douglas." he says his hand reaching into his robes, pulling out his wand, "I am sure we can find a Prefect to supervise a duel, or are you too afraid of just a silly Half-Blood who you don't even think is a real wizard?" he says slowly, his eyes narrowed on Douglas.
"If you're threatening me, Denholm, you're a bloody idiot," Douglas warns, rising to his feet and ambling towards the boys dorms. "I'm going out for a bit. I hate it in the walls. Too stuffy. Anyone want any fish if I catch 'em?"
Niko chuckles, "So you are a chicken." he says with a chuckle, "Afraid of the little half blood." he says, "It is not a threat, but a challenge." he ways his hand slightly, "I didn't take you as the type to back down, but I suppose it is easy to talk big til someone wants you to put those words into action." he says with a wave of his hand, "I can't believe Douglas is to afraid of me, to even accept a supervised duel!" Niko exclaims loud enough so that even people still up in the dorms can hear him. His eyes still locked on Douglas.
"Little man complex, Denholm? Let it go," Douglas insists with an easy grin, shaking his head as he disappears to change.