Destiny & Free Will, Week I [Monday, Period 4]

[atreideslioness]

Ghanima had decided to hold class outside by the pond next to the school, since there was no reason to keep her students cooped up in a classroom today. She'd tacked a note on the classroom door, and was now waiting the students assembled, sitting on a rock as they found their way to her and took seats on the grass.

The moment everyone arrived, her eyes snapped from the pond to the children seated (or standing) around her. "Good afternoon," she said in a clear voice that carried effortlessly. "This is Destiny and Free Will. If you are in the wrong class, please consider this your opportunity to leave. Although it is entirely possible that if you are here, then you are where you are supposed to be, no matter what it says on your schedule. I am Lady Ghanima Atreides. You may address me as Miss Atreides, Lady Ghanima, Miss Ghanima, or some variation thereof. Be warned, however, that I do not answer to Lady Atreides. Lady Atreides is my grandmother, and I have no desire to claim that title from her."

"This class is designed to look at the differing opinions on predestination and freewill from a variety of religious, temporal, and philosophical schools of thought," she continued. "Regardless of any personal experiences you may have had on this topic, I expect everyone to maintain a respectful and open mind towards the subject matter and your classmates. Mocking destiny is a dangerous pastime, and not one I will permit during class hours. What you do on your own time, however, is your business."

She waved the stack of papers sitting in her lap at them. "This is your syllabus. Be aware that it is subject to change at any time, unless a particular class is predestined to happen, in which case the syllabus is moot anyway, isn’t it?" The smile she flashed the students was decidedly impish.

"For now, I would like you to go around and introduce yourselves, and state for the record whether you believe in destiny, free will, or are currently undecided."

[Wait for the OCD, for that is your destiny! OCD is up and destiny is assured. GO FORTH.]

Comments

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben gave her a look that made it obvious he wasn't buying that at all.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

She should've known better, really.

Okay, fine. But it's no big deal. Just haven't been sleeping well, okay?

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Not okay, he replied stubbornly. Talk later?

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

Really, they could be stubborn at each other forever, and Tahiri knew it. And she didn't have the energy for that today, so she gave in. Yeah, okay. Missed you, you know.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Missed you too, Ben said, giving her a small, still slightly worried smile.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and gave him a tiny grin in response. After classes, then, maybe? Not like you're not practically next door for the next three weeks.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben nodded. I need to stop by Stark's first.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

I'd wonder if you didn't, Tahiri replied, a flash of actual humor in her eyes. I could tell you he didn't get eaten by the sandworms, but that's just not the same.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

It'd take all the fun out of it, he agreed.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

And you need to have more of it, she concluded. So there.

Like it had even been an argument to begin with.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben stuck his tongue out at her.

Maturely.

Re: Listen to the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

I'm not dignifying that with a response, Skywalker, she told him, doing her best to keep her expression neutral, and never mind that she just did respond.

That failed after about ten seconds and she had to suppress a tiny laugh.