fandomhigh | Ethics class, 2-4pm Monday afternoon

Tara leans against her desk, smiling as she watches the students come in. Some of the faces she recognises, and gives a nod. The room is filled with soft, comfortable chairs, which are positioned in a circle. Each chair has a wooden insert in one arm, to lean on while writing, and each wooden insert has a blank piece of paper on it.

When everyone has taken their seats, Tara begins.

"The first rule of ethics class is that you do not talk about things that happen inside of ethics class. The second rule of ethics class is that you do not talk about things that happen inside of ethics class. Allow me to clarify: you may discuss your revelations, challenge your friends and mock the teacher all you like. But if anything said inside this class is ever used against another member of it, you will answer to me, personally. You will have the opportunity to explain yourself before I drag you before Principal Connor. This class cannot function if people are afraid to speak."

She looks around the classroom, stopping briefly on each face. "This school is very unusual. Yes, obviously the squid is a bit odd, but what's more interesting to me is that there are individuals sitting in this room" she nods to Angelus, "who identify themselves as evil. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what the first section of the course will be discussing. Evil, good, and what makes the difference between the two. Your evil classmates have perspectives you need to think about and consider. Don't ignore them in a mistaken belief that they have no ethics."

"Each class runs for two hours. Ordinarily this will be broken up into two sections: discussion and debate - today, however, there will be two discussion sections instead. The majority of your assessment will come through your involvement in class discussions. Every student is expected to participate every week. If you are painfully shy, write your thoughts down and hand them in to me. If I don't know what you're thinking, you don't get credit for it. After this week a formal debate will be held once a week. For those of you unfamiliar with debating, this means two teams of three students taking opposing sides on an issue determined by me. You will each be expected to debate three times during the term, with a week's notice to prepare for each one. If I don't get enough volunteers, I will volunteer someone. At the end of semester a practical exam will be held. This will assess not what you choose to do, but how accurately you have come to an understanding of your own ethical code. I expect you to be honest with yourselves."

"Friday and Monday classes are identical. Please feel free to switch between them if you have commitments that interfere with your regular attendance."

"I will want two teacher's assistants for this course, whose function it is to prompt discussion and challenge your thinking. These students will be expected to attend both Monday and Friday classes. Today's discussion will serve as your audition. TAs are expected to prompt discussion and challenge other students to analyse their own responses as well as the tasks expected of any other student. If you are interested, please say so on your paper, or see me after class."

[OOC: Class will be open for responses for the next week, for those who need to slowplay. For those of you who read Friday's class, this speech is not directly cribbed. That would be totally irresponsible. I made two changes.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"There's only one person that I can unequivocally say that I would kill without a second thought," Archie says quietly, his voice unusually hard. "The man is a half-mad, abusive bastard who has no compunctions about visiting his personal frustrations on others, and absolutely no limits to the ways and lengths in which he will do so. As far as I'm concerned the world is better rid of him."

Tara nods, thoughtfully. "If you were told that his personality was the result of a mental disorder that could be cured with a course of medicine, would you rather give him the medicine and a second chance, or would you still kill him?"

Archie raises his head and looks at Tara, an unusual fire burning in his eyes. "I would give him a second chance only if he were removed from the environment that made it so easy for him to do the things he did. But if through someone else's negligence or indifference he were allowed to remain unchecked, you're bloody damned right I still would."

Tara nods, no judgement in her gaze. "Would that be revenge for what he's done? Or protection for those he would do it to?" She leaves the question hanging, implying that Archie is not limited to these options.

Archie's voice drops to a whisper, and he's mortified to realize that his hands are trembling. "Both. Perhaps more. The man was a detriment to the well-being and morale of his fellows and subordinates, and that was no way to run a ship. It would be protection not only for his fellow officers and those under his command, but for the entire ship's crew. It would be for the good of the fleet, in general; if he had been promoted, I fear how the scope of his malign influence would widen. But the revenge . . . now that would be -- strictly personal."

"Archie." Tara waits until she has eye contact before continuing. "When someone has hurt you - terrorised you - the fear and the pain stay long after they're gone." Her voice is low, meant only for his ears, and there's a pain behind her eyes that suggest she's talking from personal experience. "Revenge is a way of gaining control again. It's not about them, it's about you. It's about healing."

Archie nods, still shaking, but somewhat calmed by Tara's steady gaze. "I've suffered enough at his hands. I can't bear the thought of anyone else suffering the same way because of my inaction. That would haunt me the rest of my life."

Tara nods, understandingly. "Do you know the saying 'evil thrives when good men do nothing'?"

He smiles weakly. "I do now."

[OOC: Must go to bed now, but holy god, you are good at this.]

Tara smiles softly, and murmurs, "if you ever want to talk about it, you know where to find me, okay?"

[OOC: Thank you so much. And now Tara's feeling all over-protective of Archie...]

Ethics class, 2-4pm Monday afternoon

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