[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/FiJS3k1.png[/img] Poppy slipped quietly back into the tent, just in time to hear The Nut Lady speak. She grabbed her maroon planner and self-inking quill from her bag, which she quietly placed on a side table that appeared out of no where. Poppy made eye contact and grinned at Fade () who was wrestling an armload of art supplies near two beanbag chairs. She settled on a third one and waved again to to alert her that she'd returned,

"Ms. Kerr. I have two. How do you best coordinate a diverse group of people who may not be cooperative, with you or each other? Also, what other food-related businesses do you find interesting in Hogsmeade? Thank you." Poppy smoothed her skirt and made ready to take copious notes. She was here to take the workshop seriously and learn something worthwhile. Hopefully the others wouldn't mind the second question, which she realized was more pertinent to herself. The insider knowledge would be worth noting for anyone who liked Hogsmeade visits anyway.

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/FiJS3k1.png[/img] "I haven't had the pleasure of dining at the newer establishments, but I'm looking forward to trying both."

Poppy paused and gathered her thoughts. "To clarify, an example would be a group of students that contained rivals socializing and working together within the confines of a workshop setting. Professors can dock points and assign homework or detentions to maintain order if things do get out of hand, but Captains are merely fellow students. Once Quidditch season starts, people are going to have high spirits and hurt feelings."

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/1Cqs7fw.png[/img] "Oh, you mean a set up just as this one?" Lydia smiled "If you look around there has been conflict here already." She looked at the girl "just as professors, Captains have a position of power and respect. During a workshop you will still be in charge. Do you respect your prefects? The other houses prefects? What about rival houses Head Girl/Boys? Are they not students as well? I know this is not what you asked. I am getting to that, but I wanted to you to see yourself from a different perspective as a captain of a workshop."

Lydia ponder for a moment the best way to elaborate and she asked "What would you do if you had a Slytherin and a Ravenclaw passionately arguing over who is the best Beater of all time? It has nothing to do with your workshop, you have no idea how it started but you have the ability to break down the tension. Do you take action or you go find a professor? Do you use your magic or physically get in between them? Or perhaps you take on a different option that I have not mentioned?" Lydia smiled while waiting for the girl to think over her answer. ()

pre-start of lecture

Eirik nodded. 'Oh, it's a terrible place. Mom wanted me to go to Hogwarts, she went here, but Father...he was from Durmstrang and insisted." he looked thoughtful for a moment. "Ultimately, yes, he does own me. If it comes down to it, I will do what he says no matter how I feel about it."

"Oh of course," Eirik said quietly, "do go and sit with your special one. We will talk later, rest assured."

Then he settled in to listen to the speaker.

-Current time-

He was absorbing everything she had to say, for he could see how much of it would apply to his Council and their continuing efforts in the future.

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/FiJS3k1.png[/img] "Captaincy is a big responsibility. I understand it better now that you've put it in those terms."

Poppy smiled at the next topic. "I would have the arguing students take a break. Perhaps to eat something quickly before rejoining the group. Hanger is real. I am not above shaming those who are unfair to others and who waste time selfishly. Calling people out should suffice, but I also believe in forgiveness and moving on quickly from things like that."

She hoped someone else would ask questions so she could work on her own notes.

Fable twitched a ear as she was a light sleeper and peeked open and eye. She got in a stretch and a smile to the joining friends before the lecture started. She rubbed an eye and watched as Poppy and the Nut Lady seemed to be having a intense conversation about how to deal with diverse groups.

'Huh' she thought. She wasnt ready to ask questions and was still in her more listening introverted mood. She also was observing all the newcomers, attaching familiar smells to faces and observing the new faces she hadnt seen before.

Snatching his hand back when scolded him, Fade grimaced. “I wasn’t, honest!” Although the color rushing to his cheeks and the scattering supplies said otherwise. Stuffing his hands into his pockets to better prevent temptation, Fade took inventory of the beanbags left unoccupied around the room. “Yeah, sure.” He agreed to save her a spot as she flitted away to wrangle any stragglers. Realizing that Poppy () had seen his foolish display caused his blush to deepen even more. Mercifully she had turned her attention to the guest at the front of the room to spare him at least some embarrassment.

Honestly he had hadn't come because he had anything valuable to contribute, but rather because a number of his friends had been talking about attending all day and he didn’t feel like being alone. Well he didn't feel much like socializing either, but he was curious about the proceedings. Although he was starting to wonder what sort of trouble Chase was getting into back at the dorms.

Eirik was interesting, Magnus thought. He wondered what being a vampire would be like. Was it better, worse or just different from being a werewolf? With a flick of his wand, a bottle of soda started slowly making its way to him and he drank it without giving it any thought whatsoever.

Magnus' attention was drifting as he lazily started drawing a basket of nuts. He heard mention of food too but he was struggling to listen.

Eirik sat back a bit in his beanbag. He had listened to the tips that their speaker was giving out, and while sound, he had heard them all ( so far) from either his Father or in class back at his old school.

Granted, their suggestions of how to handle disruptions were more aggressive, to put it mildly, even though the less aggressive techniques were also taught. He was a bit surprised that here, those ways seemed like first choices.

Eirik glanced about to see how others were getting along during this lecture. He wasn't surprised to see that many seemed...distracted.

He decided to ask a question. "Excuse me, Miss Lydia(), I do have a question. I was thinking about the options given for breaking up an argument that you have presented as an example, where two students have begun to..I am assuming verbally..fight in a workshop that is being run.

Putting myself in the position of a captain, as you put it, where would you as an advisor draw the line before getting physical with them..? Before or after the fight became physical..?

Coming from another school we...ah..usually chose getting physical first and then talking or other things later. I am just curious, since you say that you attended Hogwarts, how you were trained to handle such situations. "

(( I haz a question. Why no pings for shy? =P don't have time to post now, but will tomorrow, I hope.

what might make Eros decide to interact with someone? thoughtful I'd like to include him, and you, but given that Kat is very much the sort that likes her space, she wouldn't push someone unwilling. And we already saw him be less than eager to speak with someone more outgoing.))

Mac sat tight in her beanbag, brow furrowed in concentration as she began to take notes.

[img align=left]http://i.imgur.com/FiJS3k1.png[/img] Poppy scribbled notes and gave what she hoped was a reassuring look to Fade (), who was blushing furiously. She was relieved when Eirik () asked Ms. Kerr a question.

Elizabeth smiled as Eirik introduced her to Magnus. Honestly, she didn't care that the prefect was a werewolf as it didn't change anything about him in person. She nodded as he rose up to sit with his girlfriend. She grinned a bit at that, though. "Speak with us whenever you feel like. ", she said and was about to go over to Fable to wake up her, just to see that she was already awake. Smiling at her, Elizabeth took a small notebook and a self-inking quill from the pockets of her coat to take some notes on the upcoming lecture by Ms Kerr. She could probably use the things she learned here well for her later life. She wasn't really sure what to do after Hogwarts right now, but wandlore had always quite fascinated her and although she agreed with Mr. Ollivander about Unicorn Hair, Phoenix feathers and dragon heartstring being the supreme cores, there were also many other possibilities - considering the Elder wand had been made with a Thestrail hair core. Different countries cherished different cores, probably. Elizabeth noticed that she was thinking too much instead of listening and started to quickly write down the last words Ms Kerr had said.

(when you come back) ((if I missed someone Im sorry)

Fable furrowed her brow then spoke surprisingly quiet yet enough to be heard. She was trying to choose her words wisely as at the moment the workshop seemed a bit confusing as to its purpose.

"Offering food and items to a club, workshop, team is all well in good but I dont think it should be used to necessarily defuse an argument. I think that, like with any group, there will be people who come just for said times and not for the cause. Then when someone causes a ruckus, be it on our off topic, rewarding said people with food, while others have been told to wait, would only inspire more people to create a ruckus."

She took a breath.

"I agree that time outs are useful, not only for the presenter as they have to be the calm, controlling force in the group to keep it on track but also for people who do get into an argument. However if the argument is on track with what the group is discussing, I think listening to both sides and playing devils advocate and adding insight would help with the end conclusion. Especially if it inspires people to think further out of their present point of few. "Thinking Out of a box" I believe muggles say."

"If it is people arguing about something that has no relation to the group topic and they dont stop when asked, you could simply ask them to leave and return when they feel they have themselves under control to be apart of this group. As you, being the presenter, not only are in charge of steering the group to what it is meeting to accomplish but are also responsible with wrangling the distractions, so as not to let the 'Known arguers' take control over the group and pull more people in."

"With what has been discussed as well with diverse groups, while I understand that passionate discussions can arise due to the example of competition. Part of a public group would be respecting each other and I think rivalries, egos, and competitions should be "Left at the door"."

"Ms. Kerr, if I understand correctly this is what your teaching? I would agree with your decision to go with what best suited you for your business and the partner you would want to work with. Which is what I am trying to apply to the groups. I would think if business ideas were to be applied to creating a group/club/team, it would be to find something your interested in or passionate about, discuss to see if others would be interested in said idea, then forming a group then laying out basic ground rules and goals of said group. Is this right?"

"Because, while I mean no offense, while Ive been sitting hear listening and observing, myself I havent received quite a clear picture as to what this workshop is about. You have people trying to "take food", others are drawing, some are half asleep or daying dreaming and a few are taking notes, though I have no idea what about...so for all I know they are drawing kitty cats or journaling."

She said this last part and smiled slightly. She meant no malice but in order for this meeting to make sense instead of becoming an 'Art Club' she felt it should be pointed out.

((OOC IM NOT TRYING TO BE MEAN I SWEARS IT!!))

( and everyone else)

Eirik just stared as Fable started talking. His admiration of her grew with each word, and by the end of her 'speech' he was smiling. He chuckled quietly and then said, "Yes, what she said."

Fade closed his mouth as soon as he realized it had been hanging open while he listened to weigh in. She brought up a number of valid points, this was making for an interesting observation after all. Figuring that now was as good a time as any, he plopped down in a bean bag beside Mac () who was already being absorbed by one. She was new to his house and seemed mild mannered enough to not mind the close proximity. “Interesting stuff, hm?” He said to break the tension perhaps only he was feeling. It was brought to his attention that many of the other students had the foresight to bring pad of parchment. Fade was beginning to feel foolish to not have brought a sketchbook of his own.

"Yes, it seems very confusing for your life to change so drastically." Kyros answered quietly, almost apologetic, after hearing Magnus' story. He could only imagine how it felt like to have your old life gone like that... Though he did have experience with leaving everything you knew behind, and it made him feel a tad of sympathy for the Ravenclaw. "Sorry if it's meddlesome for me to ask that. I was just wondering how it feels like to have such different families during one lifetime. I don't mean to offend." The boy tried to give an encouraging smile.

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Eirik. I'm such a model student." He touched a cheek with a finger in his characteristic mischievous pose, and then laughed. "I won't say I'm too fond of rules. Guess life made us troublemakers in it's own ways."

Kyros wanted to keep talking to Magnus, who seemed a very nice fellow, and Eirik, but their conversation was interrupted by the guest lecturer. He took a quick gulp of tea, pulled his pen and bullet journal from his backpack and waited for the lecture to start. Poppy Blackwood, one of his prefects, began with interesting questions towards cooperation within groups, and he began taking notes according to the lady lecturer's explanation. Her informal way of talking and the manner she would turn questions into scenarios to be analysed made him eager on his feet to join the conversation at hand - he really liked the idea of being a workshop Captain, and the subject of group dynamics interested him a lot.

"From my understanding, this workshop is about group management, isn't it? This is the foremost ability someone should have as a workshop Captain." Kyros replied to Fable, after another quick sip from his teacup. "To better conduct discussions, deal with conflict inside groups, keep your group focused... You may argue that this isn't happening in this current group, but we did kinda jump into action, I suppose." He gave a small, daring smile.

"I do have a question that I believe to be connected to Fable's. Miss Kerr, what is your advice on dealing with people who doubt your authority? You said that we respect prefects and Head Boys/Girls and Quidditch Captains even though they're students like us, and I'd believe that stands true to most people in this school. From my knowledge, however, Hogwarts does have a history of authority defying students, does it not? What do you propose about this kind of situation?"

Mac smiled as a Ravenclaw boy she had not met yet took the beanbag next to her. She thought carefully about his question, and when Ms. Kerr stopped a moment to take a breath, Mac said, "Not quite interesting yet, but I think it's about to be very interesting. She gave the boy a warm smile and returned to her notes. For no particular reason she doodled a line of cartoon crawdads across the top of her parchment.

Idly Mac wondered if someone who knew the charm could animate the crawdads, might they pinch one of the students. Mac had no idea.