Ethics [Thursday, April 3]

[sith_happened]

Today the desks in Anakin's classroom had been pushed along the walls and replaced with cushy pillows and blankets.

"Today we talk about sloth," Anakin said, holding himself even more carefully and clearly uncomfortable with the very idea of relaxing. The students were certainly not expected to be held to the same standard.

"Originally, sloth was described as 'an uneasiness of the mind'," Anakin continued. "Apathy. Melancholy. Joylessness. And importantly, the decision not to do anything about it."

He shrugged. "The modern view understands that the mind is slightly more complicated than that and sometimes it is impossible to will yourself not to be sad. Instead, this sin focuses on the failure to utilize your talents and gifts."

He made eye contact with each student. "In a place filled with as many talented people as this one, I can view it as almost criminal to not live up to the potential each of you has. Today, pair up and talk about what your plans for the summer are, and how what you will be doing will be helping you in what you might think of as your greater destiny."

He waved at the blankets. "Or embrace your inner sloth and take a nap. Being tiny this weekend can be tiring."

Comments

Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

That's what he's here for.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

Andrew walked up to Anakin with a grin and a shiny red apple in his hands.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

Anakin smiled back. "This doesn't have anything to do with the fruit baskets I heard about on the radio, right?"

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"I don't think so," he said, hoping it was just a normal apple. It had come from the common room, so he couldn't be sure.

"I just, um, brought it for you." He shrugged and held it out for Anakin. This hadn't seemed nearly as silly this morning when he picked it out of the bunch. "Just, you know, because."

Well, there was a bit more to it than that, but Andrew didn't quite know how to explain it.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

Anakin's smile grew a little wider. "Thank you," he said quietly, looking embarrassed.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[wannabe-pan.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. No, thank you," he said, nodding, obviously not knowing what to say now.

"Um, great class today. And, um, I'll just be going." He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb in a general away direction.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

Lana hesitated, then went up to talk to him. "If I went back to where I was before in time to live my life there... Would you think that was wasting my life?"

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

Anakin furrowed his brow. "I'm not sure," he replied honestly. "Are you thinking of trying to?"

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

She nodded. "I am. At least, I'm trying to decide if I should. I think maybe if I went back that I might be able to fix things. But... I'm not sure if I'm running towards something or away from something."

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

"What would you be leaving behind here?" Anakin asked.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[lovelylana.livejournal.com]

"A couple of good friends... a scholarship to the University of New Haven... my horse..." She bit her lip. "I think that's all. I mean, I have a place here till I graduate or till the end of summer, but after that..."

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[the_merriest]

Rikku hesitated, and then went up to his desk after class.

"I, uh." She blushed. "I think I forgot to thank you, for the ... airplane ride."

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

He carefully hid a smile behind his hand. "You were young and easily excitable," he said.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[the_merriest]

She laughed. "Yeah. Pops says I'm the reason he's bald. But. Um. Sorry I didn't. And ... thank you. That was seriously awesome."

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

"I always want to try it at the Temple," he admitted, grinning. "You're very welcome."

Re: Talk to Anakin! (After Class)

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah wasn't exactly sure what she had done to piss him off, but she was here after class as ordered.

"You wanted to see me?"

Re: Talk to Anakin! (After Class)

[sith_happened]

"You're planning to spend the summer learning dark powers," Anakin said flatly. "Shockingly, that caught my attention."

Re: Talk to Anakin! (After Class)

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah let out a breath. "My heritage, sir," she said calmly. "My father's side of the family is not exactly sweetness and light."

Re: Talk to Anakin! (After Class)

[sith_happened]

"Neither am I," he replied. "Are you learning theory or practical application?"

Re: Talk to Anakin! (After Class)

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah didn't look away. It wasn't something she liked, but she wasn't going to lie, either.

"Both, sir. My father's side of the family have these powers and will kill me if I cannot learn them and defend myself." She swallowed. "I am sixteen years old and an entire cabal wants me dead. If I cannot learn this, I may well be dead by seventeen."

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

Eve wasn't thrilled with this. But she was going to be a good girl and not a brat. Which was why she took a couple minutes after class before going to talk to him.

"You wanted to see me?"

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "You're encouraging someone to learn dark powers. You might imagine this would flag an ethic teacher's attention."

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

"I'm encouraging my daughter to learn how to utilize the abilities she has from her father's side of the family," Eve said.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[sith_happened]

Anakin stared at her. "Dark powers," he repeated.

He'd killed a man for offering an similar opportunity to his son.

Re: Talk to Anakin!

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

How to explain this without giving herself a migraine? Or without giving him a migraine?

"Darker powers, sir," she said as respectfully as she could manage. "Our magic is divided up as witch magic and sorcerer magic. Witch magic is healing spells and defensive spells, that type of thing. Sorcerer magic is offensive spells and illusion. Witches and sorcerers don't get along -- well, her father and I did pretty well but that's a story for another time. My point is, witches naturally classify sorcerer magic as darker magic because of that."

She shrugged. "And she has to learn it and practice it because witches are better at witch magic than sorcerer magic. If she doesn't practice it, she's not going to be any good at it. If she's not any good at it and she tries to use the ice spell to freeze an opponent long enough to get away or a barrier spell to keep enemies from reaching her, it'll fail and she'll be caught."