fandomhigh | Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Tuesday 2nd Period (12/18)

Entry tags:

prophecy

Prophecy in Theory and Practice, Tuesday 2nd Period (12/18)

Tuesday, December 18, Second Period

The usual pastries and hot drinks were laid out for the students as they entered, and as soon as everyone was seated, Aziraphale indicated a stack of blue books and an assortment of fortune-telling accoutrements.

"Your final exam is in two parts, one written and one practical. I don't expect that the test will take the entire period, so if you finish early, you are welcome to stay and talk quietly." He gestured toward the blackboard, where there were instructions and a list of questions for the exam.

Aziraphale looked around at all of his students, a sad smile on his face. "I want all of you to know that I've enjoyed teaching you, and learning from you. I wish you all much success in wherever the Plan takes you, and I hope that perhaps one day, our paths will cross again."

PROPHECY FINAL EXAM
Part One: Short Essay
Choose ONE of the following and write a short essay giving your response.

1. Ethics: We discussed the in class the question of whether seers held any ethical responsibility toward the subject of their prophecies, and whether they were obligated to inform the subjects of the details of a prophecy. Taking this a step further, write a brief essay discussing a situation where a seer might become an active participant in a prediction.

2. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy: The classic story of Oedipus features a prophecy that came to fruition directly as a result of those involved trying to avoid the outcome predicted. Write a brief essay discussing your views on whether having knowledge of a prediction makes it more or less likely to come true, and whether or not the subject of a prophecy should attempt to change the outcome.

Part Two: Practical Application
Complete BOTH exercises outlined below.

1. Bibliomancy: Choose a book from the shelves here in the classroom, randomly select a passage, and write your interpretation of how this passage could be understood to apply to your own life at this time.

2. Cartomancy/Palmistry/Rune Casting: Using one of these three methods, do a simple reading for yourself, using one of the following questions, and write out the details of your fortune and your interpretation of the answer:

a) What will happen to me this afternoon?
b) What will happen to me tomorrow?
c) What will happen to me next year?

[ooc: ~~Please wait for the~~ OCD is up and class is in session.]

Class Roster
Syllabus
Class Requirements
Linkdrop for previous classes

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ask questions about the class or exam, or talk with him after you've taken your test.

After the exam, Chris approached Aziraphale.

"I'm sorry to hear that you're leaving, sir," Chris said. "I've really enjoyed learning from you."

"And I've enjoyed teaching you, Mr Halliwell," Aziraphale replied, smiling. "But I've got one of those feelings that there'll be an assignment coming rather soon. And it doesn't do to ignore those sorts of feelings."

"I guess you wouldn't be a very good prophecy teacher if you did," Chris admitted with a small grin.

With a soft chuckle, Aziraphale shook his head. "No, I suppose I wouldn't be. Although I'll admit that I never imagined I'd wind up doing something like this. Doesn't say much for my own powers of prediction, I don't think."

"Well, you told us that prophecy isn't always accurate or possible," Chris reminded him. "But I do appreciate everything you've taught me."

"I hope you'll find it useful," Aziraphale said. "Or, even if you don't, I hope you've at least found it interesting to learn. I think that's perhaps the more important thing."

He smiled at Chris, and continued thoughtfully, "You'll look after your family for me, while I'm not around?"

Chris nodded. "Of course I will," he said. "And you'll stay in touch, right?"

"I promise. It may not always be timely contact, but whenever I can, I'll be sure to write or call. And with luck, we'll run into one another again."

Re: Talk to Aziraphale

neurotic-witch.livejournal.com - 2007-12-18 15:57 (UTC) - Expand

After the exam, Annette approach Mr. Phale with a neatly wrapped gift box (http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1601203/2/istockphoto_1601203_gift_box_christmas_holiday_present_object_isolated_white.jpg) in her hands, another one tucked up under her arms.

"Mr. Phale? I got you something for Christmas... something that I want you to have and to remember me by," she said softly, her eyes sad. Reaching out, she handed him the gift box (http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a163/Chronovore/teacup01.jpg) first.

Aziraphale smiled, albeit a little bit sadly, and took the box. Sensing that perhaps Annette would appreciate if he opened it right away, he did so, and then held out his arms for a hug.

"My dear, it's lovely. Thank you so much. Although I can promise that there'll be no danger of me not remembering you."

She hugged him tight, careful of the other package still in her arms. "I'm going to miss you so much," she whispered, kissing his cheek before she pulled back slightly.

"One more gift that I know you'll enjoy," her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she handed him the next gift (http://www.godiva.com/catalog/product.aspx?id=1700&SE_Section=Shop&SE_Category=16) she'd gotten for him.

"We've had so much fun, haven't we? I still wear my snowflake necklace you know, and I'll never forget being wee!tiny and falling asleep on your lap during the picnic at your home. So many memories..."

Aziraphale peeked inside the second box, and grinned at the delicious looking chocolates. "So kind of you, Miss Hargrove," he murmured. Her mention of the snowflake necklace, and that lovely afternoon he'd spent with all the children running around the house, brought tears to his eyes as well. "It's been...an absolute delight to know you, my dear. And you never know, we may yet run across each other again."

"I hope so, I really do," chuckling with slight embarrassment, Annette brushed at her cheeks and leaned to give him another tight hug. "You have been the best ever; a friend, a mentor, a professor... everything. Thank you so so much."

"Oh, child, if you had any idea how much you've all given me," Aziraphale said softly, hugging her back and then placing a kiss on her forehead. "Believe me, I'll never forget a single one of you, or a single moment that I've spent here with you."

And that just made her cry more. "I hope to see you again one day. After graduation I'm going home. But maybe... one day..." She stood straight and smiled at him. "You take care of yourself, okay? Very good care of yourself. Like I've always said, you have the most beautiful blue eyes; they should always be happy."

"If a group of people as disparate as this can come all together in one place, my dear," Aziraphale said soothingly, "then I think there's a very good chance that we may meet again someday. And there's no reason we can't correspond, is there? I'd very much like to hear about how things go for you, after you graduate."

He smiled and nodded reassuringly at Annette. "I'll do my best, and I have a couple of people who are looking out for me as well."

Re: Talk to Aziraphale

misshargrove.livejournal.com - 2007-12-18 16:34 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Talk to Aziraphale

a-phale.livejournal.com - 2007-12-18 16:37 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Talk to Aziraphale

misshargrove.livejournal.com - 2007-12-18 16:41 (UTC) - Expand

Andrew walked up to Aziraphale, holding the Nostradamus text in his hands. "I, um... thank you," he said.

Aziraphale smiled. "Thank you, Mr Wells. It's been a pleasure having you in my class. I only wish we'd had the chance to get to know each other a bit better outside of it."

Andrew's face fell as realization dawned. "Wait, you're leaving Fandom? I thought maybe you were just taking a break from teaching."

"I...I think I will have to be leaving rather soon," Aziraphale said regretfully. "I've got a feeling that I should be expecting an assignment any day now, and I don't think it's the sort of thing that I'll be able to just nip out and take care of."

"But..." He really didn't know what to say. "I don't want you to go," he whined.

Aziraphale's eyes widened a little, and he looked down toward the floor with a sad, guilty expression on his face. "I'm sorry, my dear," he murmured softly. "It really isn't my choice. I'll be leaving James, and my friends...and the best home I've had in a very long time."

"Oh," Andrew said, realizing that his had to be a very difficult subject for Aziraphale. "I'm very sorry to hear that. Is it a super secret mission?"

It suddenly occurred to Aziraphale that perhaps Andrew had never been told about his true nature, and he looked up, tilting his head at the young man. "I don't suppose it will really be a secret, although I won't know that for certain until I actually hear something. And I guess it's possible I could be wrong, but there's this unsettled feeling I always get, before I'm called away, and I have it now. I can tell you that I think it's going to be something big...a war someplace maybe, the boundries between here and Below being breached...seems like that's the kind of thing They want me for, these days."