fandomhigh | Lawyering Up, Week 4: Wed, Period 2 (1/30)

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Lawyering Up, Week 4: Wed, Period 2 (1/30)

Another class, another set of packets.

"Today we'll be discussing Environmental Law," Nathan said. "We like having clean air to breathe, water to drink, and food that won't kill us. Environmental law is how we make that happen.

"Environmental law has a wide scope," Nathan continued. "It could involve trying to create a law to protect a rare species, it could involve trying to bring a civil lawsuit against a company that poisoned your water supply. There is even environmental racism. That's when the 'not in my backyard' syndrome meets 'money talks.' Which means the environmentally harmful actions happen in places where those who live there don't have a political voice due to their social status and/or skin color.

"We can probably all agree that we want our environment to be safe to interact with," Nathan said. "But can we do that and not hurt our economy? Or without creating laws that are too broad in scope? Some wonder if we're allowed to argue it at all.

"Which brings us to today's exercise." Nathan indicated the last part of the handouts. "Environmental law and the Constitution. Does the Constitution as it stands now give us the strength to pass laws with the goal of protecting the environment? Or do we need to come up with new ways, such as an amendment that specifies a clean environment as being a fundamental right?

"Pair up," Nathan said. "One of you take a position that says the Constitution is fine, the other takes the position that it needs changing. Argue your case. See if you can change your partner's mind. I'll be here if there's any questions."

[ooc: OCD is up! Have at it!]

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"I--it's both," Sam said. "You're my brother, I always want to spend time with you. But I just want to make sure I'm putting in an extra effort. It seems kind of like you need it."

"Yeah, I'm completely high maintanance. can't leave me alone for a minute."

Sam scoffed at Dean. "You know, you think you've got me fooled, but I can see right through you. This is exactly what you get like when you're freaked out, which after being tortured by something in Dad's body and losing Alec you have every right to be. And I'm sorry, okay? Why can't you let me make this better?"

"Taking a nap isn't going to make it better, Sammy. It isn't going to make you feel less guilty and it isn't going to make me any less..." He trailed off as what he was saying caught up with his brain. There were some things no matter how much he felt they were true, just didn't need to be said out loud.

"Any less what? Nervous?" Sam guessed. "Dean, what do you want me to do? What can I do?"

And there were the puppy eyes. No matter how he was feeling, that look brought out all his big brother protective instincts to make things all right for Sammy. He just wished it was as easy this time as giving him the last of the Lucky Charms.

"Just.... hang out with me because you want to hang out with me. Watch bad movies, make me eat your cooking homework, rant about how I'm a pervert, whatever. Just don't do it because you feel guilty and think I need taking care of. I can take care of myself."

Sam was quiet for a few long moments, looking very much like he wanted to argue with Dean. He wanted to tell him that he couldn't take care of himself, not right now, but he knew that wouldn't go over well at all, and he had to admit, between the two of them, Dean was the one who was more likely to bounce back from this unharmed.

"I have to make stew. For my cooking homework," he added quickly, to clarify. "If you want me to try to cook for you at some point, I mean."

Dean smiled a little. "I could eat stew."

"Some of it got burned in class," Sam warned him. "But I wouldn't make you eat that part."

"I've eaten burnt food before," Dean said. "As long as it's not charcoal..."

"It wasn't that bad," Sam said quickly. "I can make it however you want it too."

"Heavy on the meat," Dean said promptly. "Can never have too much meat."

There was a dirty comment in there that Sam could make, but he decided not to in the end. "All right, you carnivore. I'll make sure there's plenty of meat."

"We can do it tonight," Dean said, then paused and added awkwardly, "If you're not doing anything else..."

"I'm not," Sam said quickly. "I mean, not specifically. But I was thinking about spending tonight with Dawn. Things have been...awkward, to say the least, and I'm trying to fix that. What about lunch tomorrow?"

Dean smushed down the surge of disappointment at that because, wow, spending time with Dawn instead of him was not something he should be annoyed at Sammy for doing.

Pathetic, dude, he thought at himself. Really pathetic.

"Yeah sure," he said aloud, trying for the same tone he had been using, but knowing he was falling short. "Whenever you've got time."

"I have all day tomorrow," Sam said, trying to get Dean back to cheerful. "No classes or anything. I'm all yours."

"You don't have to," Dean said, even though yeah having Sammy around was what he wanted. But not if it was just out of pity or duty. The last thing he wanted was for his brother to start resenting him.

"Yes, I do," Sam said, trying to tease. "No one else will eat my cooking but you."

"You're not really that bad," Dean said, reviving a little. "Besides I'm sure Dawn would eat it. Even if she then wanted to put peanut butter on everything or something."

"She might eat the burned stew, if I put like, peppers in it or something," Sam said, laughing. "I need someone who eats normal food."

Dean cocked his head to the side. "I'm not sure -- is that a compliment?"

"Yes. You eat more normally than Dawn. And considering how you eat..."

"Okay, now that's an insult. I can tell."

"It's more of a suggestion that chewing your food before swallowing helps."

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