fandomhigh | Destiny & Free Will, Week II [Monday, Period 4]

The class met in the Danger Shop today, as ~~handwavily~~ ordered. The room was set to a giant circle, with plenty of overstuffed pillows for laying on in the center. Along the edges were small round tables, each with two chairs and various items placed upon them.

Once the bell rang, Ghanima looked up from where she was sprawled on the floor playing with some cards and smiled. "Destiny," she began with preamble, dropping the cards and pushing to her feet. "Refers to a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. It is a concept based on the belief that there is a fixed natural order to the universe."

"Destiny may be seen either as a fixed sequence of events that is inevitable and unchangeable, or that individuals choose their own destiny by choosing different paths throughout their life." Ghanima paused to smile at them briefly. "Confusing, isn't it?"

"Many Greek legends and tales teach the futility of trying to outmaneuver an inexorable fate that has been correctly predicted. This form of irony is important in Greek tragedy, as it is in Oedipus Rex or Thornton Wilder's The Bridge of San Luis Rey, where in spite of all the character's attempts otherwise, it does not preclude a horrible fate," she said, wandering the room to pass out a handout on Oedipus.

"Some believe that one's destiny may be ascertained by divination. In the belief systems of many cultures, one's destiny can only be learned about through a shaman, babalawo, prophet, sibyl, saint or seer. In the Shang dynasty in China, turtle bones were thrown ages before the I Ching was codified. Arrows were tossed to read destiny, from Thrace to pagan Mecca. In Yoruba traditional religion, the Ifá oracle is consulted via a string of sixteen cowries or oil-palm nuts whose pattern when thrown on to a wooden tray represents the 256 possible combinations whose named "chapters" are recited and verses interpreted for the client by the babalawo." Ghanima grinned and waved her hand in the international 'blah blah blah' manner. "Every society has their own way of fortelling a future, from worm entrails to crystal balls. My empire put its fate in the hands of a family that can walk the veils of time, forward and back, to see what lies beyond, and now they're stuck with the future that the Mahdi chose. Oracles can be a tricky bunch, and you must always assume that they may have a hidden agenda of their own."

"Today, it's time for you to face your destiny." Ghanima gestured to the tables ringing the room. "Pair up, wander around, and pick a method of divination that speaks to you. Read your own destiny, or that of your partner, and then discuss if you agree or disagree with the results you obtained."

[OOC: OCD UP. Up way-early, so I don't miss it tomorrow.]

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She's around.

Jennifer made sure to talk to the teacher.

"I'm okay now. As you can see," she said.

Ghanima folded her arms and fixed Jennifer with one of her Looks. The ones that usually sent ambassadors or dignitaries fleeing for cover if they valued not getting flayed-alive.

"No, I do not see," she said crisply. "Do you have a doctor's note for me, Miss Walters?"

Uh-oh.

"Well, it wore off, so..." Jennifer said, unsure of herself. "I didn't... see one?"

"It 'wore off', so you didn't see one," Ghanima echoed. "Do you have any idea how absurd that sounds given the context?"

"Well, I was checked out of a hospital okay on Saturday..." Jennifer said, knowing that was no excuse at all.

"Let me make sure I understand this properly," Ghanima said, keeping her voice perfectly modulated. "You had been in the hospital and were already injured when you arrived at club; I heard what Miss Choovanski told Mr. Durden. You proceeded to have a severe departure from your usual mental state, and underwent an unprecedented transformation."

"Rather than go directly to the clinic, as you gave the impression that you would do, you waited until it 'wore off' and then used that as an excuse not to follow up with a medical professional." Ghanima regarded Jennifer coldly. "What is the eighth rule of Fight Club, Miss Walters?"

Edited 2009-07-13 18:40 (UTC)

Jennifer bit her lip. She knew she was in trouble, now.

"...I thought they might arrest me," she admitted. Of course, she came to that conclusion much later, but it's how she felt now.

"Who was going to arrest you?" Ghanima inquired. "Detective Constable Day? The Troopers?"

"It's a long story," Jennifer said. "But I think... whatever happened? My cousin's responsible. And he's... he's kind of wanted. By the authorities."

"So you have a cousin, who might or might not be wanted by people who have no authority on this island, and who might or might not be at fault for your transformation. And you deliberately withheld this information from your teachers and administrators," Ghanima continued, her posture becoming even more icy. "Miss Walters, you do realize this is a nexus, and we are used to dealing with extraordinary circumstances. We ousted a Hell-God. Mundane police and their laws are not our concern."

"Your lack of judgment leaves me severely disturbed in regards to your continued health. Therefore, I am forced to be a bit more direct than I normally tend to be."

"You will report to the clinic. You will speak with a doctor, and get checked out. If there is a problem, you will go to Principal Winchester about it immediately."

"Additionally, you risked not just yourself, but your partner and everyone else at the fight club. You are benched until I get word that you are physically able to participate, and then Mr. Durden and I will still have to assess if you are capable of following the rules. You may come and stretch out or work on the practice dummies, with doctor permission, but you will not be sparring anyone on our watch until you can learn how to follow the rules. If you can't trust us, or yourself, you have no place on the mats." Ghanima's voice was tight with barely controlled anger. "Do you understand me?"

"I didn't even know!" Jennifer said, exasperated. "Until it happened, I didn't know. But I've been piecing it all together, and I've been trying to figure this out. I swear, I didn't lie or withhold anything."

"I am not talking about your unintended transformation. You stepped on the mat knowing that you were injured," Ghanima replied briskly. "That alone placed both you and Katina at risk, and would warrant complete expulsion from Fight Club if I were not in a good mood."

This was Ghanima being merciful. Jennifer was lucky.

"Your steadfast denial that anything is wrong, compounded with your resistance to seeking medical attention is what has triggered the rest of these consequences. There is absolutely no logical reason that you should have been 'piecing it together' alone, and pretending it did not happen is not acceptable." Ghanima's expression was absolutely steely. "I do not tolerate such passive-aggressive tactics at the best of times, and I have even less patience for those who lie to themselves."

"Get out of my class, Miss Walters, until you are willing to take responsibility for your actions - and your inaction."

Ghanima's words stung as hard as any barbs of disappointment Jennifer's father had ever expressed.

"I'm sorry," Jennifer said, hurrying out of the classroom.

Ghanima watched her go before turning back to the rest of the class; allowing Jennifer to hide behind her excuses would only weaken her own self-confidence, and it posed too great a threat to her own health. If there was something seriously wrong, then they needed to find out before Jennifer got hurt again.

And lucky Tyler got out of needing to play 'Bad Cop.' This was distinctly unfair, and he owed her alcohol or sparring. Hopefully both, although not in that order.

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

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