fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, January 17]

"Today we discuss lying," Anakin said as he closed the classroom door precisely on time. "Everyone lies. 'Of course that doesn't make your butt look big.' 'You like her, I like her.' 'I'm totally okay with you moving on.' 'Everything's fine, why do you ask?' It's how the world goes around because no one wants to be trapped in a conversation where someone whines at you for hours on end about how awful their life is."

He looked around the room. "Trust me. Everyone's life is terrible. They're just not telling you about it. Be grateful."

He reached onto his desk for a piece of paper. "Today we're conducting an exercise to see how well you pass this particular social ritual, then we'll discuss whether you think it is necessary. We're playing two truths and a lie. I'll tell you three things about myself and you have to decide which one is the falsehood. Then you'll all tell three things and we'll see how well you can either read each other or keep things hidden."

He gave them a small smile. "I'm very good at this." He schooled his face to absolute neutrality, put his mental blocks up to bar any psychics in the room from gaining an advantage, then recited: "During a war at home I was known as 'The Hero Without Fear.' I named my children after people I met in Fandom. I've never been beaten in one-on-one lightsaber combat." His eyes challenged them to call him out. "Who's next?"

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"I have 19-year-old twins," Anakin said, eyes full of pride. "Luke's a senior here. Leia's at home."

The pride was easy to read and Amber smiled. "I would like to meet Luke. And they are named after your friends here at Fandom?"

Anakin tried to keep it as uncomplicated as possible. "Luke was named for my best friend's stepfather. Leia is a shorter version of my best friend's name: Lorelai."

That didn't help her in figuring out if he was lying about naming them after people here at Fandom. "Leia is a very pretty name. Your best friend must be a very special person, Master Skywalker."

She paused a moment.

"What is a lightsaber?"

"It's a light-based combat weapon from my home galaxy," Anakin said. "Only Jedi are allowed to use them." He smiled. "I was one of the best."

"A Jedi is like a soldier from your home galaxy?" Amber asked curiously. "And you've never lost a combat battle usin' one of them?"

"That's what you have to figure out," Anakin replied with a smile.

Amber smiled. This was not so easy when you didn't know someone well enough.

"Is your best friend here at Fandom?" Yes, she was going back to that because she still thought that one about his children was a lie. If he graduated here and his one son was a senior here, then... really, it just didn't make sense. Did it? No. Amber didn't think so.

Anakin shook his head. "She's at Yale."

"What's her name?" Amber asked.

"Lorelai," Anakin said, looking a little doofy. "She goes by Rory, though."

Amber laughed and tossed her hands up. "I give up! I can't tell what you are lying about!"

"I was defeated in lightsaber combat," Anakin finally admitted. "But I killed both of the men in the rematches."

"Oh my gosh," she said, smile falling.

"The life of a super-powered soldier," Anakin said. "They had tried very hard to kill me back, if that helps at all."

She swallowed and nodded. "Super-powered soldier. Two against one in self-defense?"

Anakin hedged. "One-on-one against someone else with almost as much power as I have," he said. "I was older the second time I faced each of them, more experienced."

"Your combat... it was either kill or be killed yourself?" Amber could completely understand that.

Edited 2008-01-18 22:27 (UTC)

Anakin nodded. "Lightsabers take limbs or lives," he said. "We don't generally use them unless we're out of options."

She nodded. "Then I'm glad you are alive to stand there and teach our class."

Ethics [Thursday, January 17]

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker

Re: Two truths and a lie: Anakin Skywalker