fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, October 19, 6th period]

Vader stomped into the classroom, slamming the door so hard behind him that it cracked across the middle.

"Today I will give you your midterm assignment," he snapped, cloak swirling around him as he paced. "The master-apprentice system of education has long been traditional in my galaxy. The Jedi used it--" his tone was laced with scorn as his helmet swiveled towards Rory, "and my own Sith still use it. We will be following in the Sith tradition."

He pulled a piece of paper from his desk. "I have paired you up into master and apprentice teams. Throughout the coming week, you will work together. Masters, your goal is to train your apprentices to a level of usefulness in a skill of your choice. Apprentices, your goal is to become better than your master at that skill and ultimately become the master. You must provide a united front to the rest of the world while seeking to undermine each other at every turn. Next class you will report to me about the weaknesses and strengths of your partner and how you would hypothetically use them to gain the upper hand in your relationship."

And if Vader sounded a bit bitter about this particular arrangement, well, he was.

"I have heard about the master-slave exercise in the previous Ethics class," he growled, voice heavy with menace. "This is a completely different concept and anyone who tries to turn this into non-hypothetical exploitation will be answering to me personally. You will be wishing for detention when I am finished with you." He made sure to look at every student as he said that. There would be no misinterpretation of his intentions in this.

He turned his attention to the paper in his gloved right hand. "Listen for your names. I will only be saying them once."

At the end of class, he looked around the room again. "I will be holding office hours on Saturday and Sunday if any of your visitors choose to speak with me and hear how inadequate I find all of you." His helmet swiveled towards Rory again. "Other than that, do not bother me."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Why didn't you like it?" River asked.

Jack opened his mouth to answer, then closed it, and started thinking very hard about how adorable River was and how nice she felt against his side--and nothing else. "And that I'll tell you when I've got my next apple carving ready to show you." He smiled sweetly. "Okay?"

River nodded, feeling she had pushed him too far. "Sorry," she said and leaned her head against him. His thoughts were comforting, but she sensed they were hiding something else.

"Nothing to be sorry for." Jack lifted her hand, his own still slightly sticky from the apple, and kissed it. "I like you, River," he told her.

River smiled. "I like you too. And I liked teaching you how to make apple sculptures. Haven't thought about them in a long time."

"They're interesting," he said. "How come it's been so long since you thought about them?"

"Because they're part of my childhood and I don't think about that a lot." Something in River's tone of voice hinted that that was a subject she'd rather avoid.

"Something we have in common, then," he said lightly, picking up on the tone and changing the subject. "You should let me buy you a coffee during the week and we can discuss apple sculptures. It's the least a humble apprentice can do for their master."

"I accept that offer," River said with a failed attempt at looking serious.

"My brother is coming to visit me this weekend," she told him, changing the subject.

"For parent's weekend, right? Are you looking forward to seeing him?" Jack asked with a grin. "And is he as cute as you?"

"Yes, seeing Simon will be good," River said with a smile. "And I guess some people would call him cute, but he's taller than me, a man and older."

"Are you having a visitor?"

"He does sound cute." Jack shifted in his seat and sliced off a piece of apple, chewing it before answering. "Nope, I'm footloose and fancy free this weekend. No parents, so no one to visit."

River's look betrayed that she felt a little sorry for him. "Oh," she said.

"Hey, it's okay. I've never had any, and I've had 18 years to get used to the idea - it doesn't bother me." Which was entirely true. He sliced off another piece of apple and offered it to her. "Apple?"

River accepted the piece of apple. "I didn't mean just parents. I meant a visitor. I don't think my parents would show up."

"Everyone I care about is already here, so It really doesn't worry me. There was someone I thought might show up, but I'm kind of relieved he's not - that would have been way too complicated." Jack laughed at the understatement, but it died away as he asked, "You don't get along with your parents?"

"No," River said. She didn't elaborate any further.

Okay," Jack said soothingly. "We're quite a pair aren't we?" He smiled gently and folded his fingers around her hand. "You don't like your parents and I haven't got any. But I think we both do okay with the people we have."

River smiled a little. "I think so too."

Ethics [Thursday, October 19, 6th period]

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)

Re: Team 9: River Tam (master) & Jack Harkness (apprentice)