fandomhigh | Good Omens...And Bad: Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Lab Thirteen

As the students enter the classroom, they may notice first of all that there’s a spread of scones, muffins, danishes, cinnamon rolls, and other breakfast pastries. Accompanied, of course, by coffee, tea, hot cocoa, and cider. The second thing they may notice is that the room has been decorated with twinkling lights, sparkly paper snowflakes, and fresh evergreen garland.

Aziraphale is sitting in his chair, looking very pleased to be back.

LECTURE: “First off, let me just tell all of you how much I missed being here for your last couple of classes, and especially how sorry I am for missing the pageant. James has videotaped it, however, and I want you to know how very proud I am of you all.” He eyed Marty slightly for a moment, then continued. “Now, today is our second-to-last lab. We’re going to do some rune-casting, and then I want you to take the remainder of the period to work on your final projects, which will be due next Friday. Also, since I myself have missed a class and a lab, I’m forgiving any absences during the time I was away. However, I do expect to see you all in both classes next week.

“Now, let’s move on today’s topic: runic divination.”

Aziraphale gave a brief lecture on the subject ~~which I am too tired to write~~ and passed around handouts for the lab exercise. “Please use this material to do a casting for yourself or your lab partner.”

Handout #1 (use to create your own reading)
Handout #2 (use to generate an automatic reading)

HOMEWORK: “Please remember that at the beginning of the term, you were all told that there would be a class project required as part of your grade. This project is due next week. There will be a drop box outside my office each day where you can hand your project in, or you can bring it with you to next Friday’s lab.

“I’ll be in my office briefly after class today if anyone needs to see me, or you can catch me here after class.”

Syllabus
Class Roster
Classes Linkdrop
Lab Partner List

[ooc: I'm back, yay! *glomps on class* ~~Please wait for~~ OCD is up. Begin.]

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Marty looked down at the floor in quiet anger and perhaps just a little ashamed at Phale's disappointment.

"I've had this conversation several times this week. I know I should have done more to alert the school and others of what happened but I firmly believe what I did was the right thing to do to save other lives," Marty replied. "Being human doesn't mean he's helpless. Just because he can't throw fireballs or teleport doesn't mean he can't solve the problem he still has. I think those of us who aren't human seem to be forgetting that."

"And those of you who are human seem to be forgetting that for someone born otherwise, suddenly becoming altered that drastically may very well feel a great deal like dying themselves," Aziraphale snapped in reply. "There's an awful lot of talk about tolerance and acceptance around here, but the fact is that there shouldn't have to be any tolerance or acceptance. Human -- mortal -- isn't the 'normal' to which the 'abnormal' among us need to be compared."

His eyes closed briefly, and he took a breath, realizing that he was beginning to sound a great deal like someone whose example he'd been very careful not to follow, quite a long time ago.

"Mr Blank. I am sorry that the reaction to what you did has been difficult for you. And I am also sorry that I can't say you don't deserve it. But it's done, and can't be undone. All I can hope is that we can find a way to help Belthazor's father, and do something to help Belthazor regain that part of himself that he's lost."

Marty glared at Phale and pulled out his cell phone.

"That wasn't the point I was making," Marty replied sharply. "I've have friends here who are aliens, from other worlds and God knows where else."

He held up the pictures he took on his cell phone of Bel in demon form killing the girl for Aziraphale to see.

"I don't care where they're from. This is not something to be tolerated or accepted. I'm sorry Bel's father is in danger and that Bel has lost a part of himself. Bel is still alive and has options. She doesn't."

"Can we agree that this part of him murdered someone innocent?"

"No."

Aziraphale gave Marty a stern look. "We can agree that Belthazor killed this girl. Not some 'part' of him. The entire person. You can't cut out the part of a person you don't like, who does things you don't agree with, even if those things are reprehensible. This wasn't the answer, Mr Blank. I agree that something had to be done. But it shouldn't have been this, and it shouldn't have been done by you."

"And if this was a picture of Blair? Or Dr. Wilson? You wouldn't change your opinion?" Marty asked coldly. "You might think what I did was the wrong thing but he's the one who told Veronica last summer that he was afraid of his demon part taking over. He was the one who told Piper to work on a power stripping potion. He was the one who was trying to get rid of his demon half. So I find this whole intrinsic person thing complete and utter bullshit. Look at the grin on the demon's face. He liked what he did. And if you were the guy Bel was supposed to get help with his problem? Then her death is just as much your responsibility as it was his."

And with that Marty turned and walked toward the door.

Aziraphale rubbed his hand over his eyes, and thought hard about what Marty had asked. In a quiet voice, he said to the retreating figure, "Perhaps I wouldn't see it as the same if it were someone I knew personally," he admitted. "But I care personally about Belthazor as well. And about you, Marty, which is why it upsets me so that you chose this course of action."

He looked up at Marty's back. "I don't know that we'll ever agree on this. But I will admit to being in the wrong on at least one point -- it isn't up to me to tell you what choices to make. This has become personal for me, and it's made me forget that this is part of being mortal. I can't dictate the path you take, no matter how much I may want to. I wish you hadn't done it, Marty. But even if I disagree with your choice, it was your choice."

Marty's hand had been on the doorknob for almost everything Phale had said.

He stood there for several moments before quietly saying "I'm sorry I disappointed you."

And then he was gone.

Aziraphale watched the door for a while after Marty left. Then, rubbing his eyes again and looking very solemn, he packed up his things and headed to his office.

Good Omens...And Bad: Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Lab Thirteen

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