fandomhigh | Ethics [Tuesday, January 12, 2nd period]

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Ethics [Tuesday, January 12, 2nd period]

"Today we discuss lying," Anakin said as he closed the classroom door precisely on time. "Everyone lies. 'Of course that doesn't make your butt look big.' 'You like her, I like her.' 'I'm totally okay with you moving on.' 'Everything's fine, why do you ask?' It's how the world goes around because no one wants to be trapped in a conversation where someone whines at you for hours on end about how awful their life is."

He looked around the room. "Trust me. Everyone's life is terrible. They're just not telling you about it. Be grateful."

He reached onto his desk for a piece of paper. "Today we're conducting an exercise to see how well you pass this particular social ritual, then we'll discuss whether you think it is necessary. We're playing two truths and a lie. I'll tell you three things about myself and you have to decide which one is the falsehood. Then you'll all tell three things and we'll see how well you can either read each other or keep things hidden."

He gave them a small smile. "I'm very good at this." It had taken him a very long time to come up with things that Leia either wouldn't know or shouldn't know, but that was hardly the point, was it? He schooled his face to absolute neutrality, put his mental blocks up to bar any psychics in the room from gaining an advantage, then said: "I have never lost a lightsaber duel. I hate sand. I can fly any ship I ever sat at the controls of." His eyes challenged them to call him out. "Who's next?"

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"In very specific cases, yes," Anakin said, nodding.

"To protect someone," Leia had to grudgingly agree. Because she'd lie to protect those she cared about. "But what about when someone is capable of deciding whether they need that protection or not?"

"There is some information that is just too dangerous to have floating around for anyone to discover," Anakin replied. "Military secrets. Aspects of Jedi training. There is a reason that successful rebellions depend on careful compartmentalization of information. You can't be forced to reveal something you don't know."

Aww, look, he was trying to be a little helpful there at the end!

While sidestepping her main point, yes, but still.

"True," Leia said. "But that didn't answer my question."

"I think that until I know someone better, I am not going to be comfortable spilling what I view to be a military secret with them," Anakin replied. "Does that answer it?"

"My mother's name is not a military secret," Leia insisted, crossing her arms.

"Let's come at this from another angle," Anakin said. "I am quite sure Bail Organa knows who your mother was. Why hasn't he told you?"

"He probably thinks he's protecting me as well," Leia said. "But when I tell him I've met you, I doubt he'll hide my mother's identity from me."

"I'm not so sure about that," Anakin replied. Of course, Anakin thought of Bail as being a lot pettier than he probably was, but he had a Thing about Senators he hadn't been secretly married to.

Leia shrugged. "We'll just have to see about that," she said. "And if for some reason he won't, then I'll start looking on my own." Because now wouldn't that just be so terribly dangerous, and wouldn't it be so much safer to just tell her?

"And where would you start?" Anakin asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Why should I share that with you?" Leia said, oh-so-sweetly. "But I do have access to historical records that weren't rewritten by the Empire." She wasn't sure what, if anything, she could find, so she was totally bluffing. Of course, she also still thought her mother was also a Jedi due to misunderstanding Ben.

"Is that where you learned about Dooku?" he asked.

"My father thought I should know true history, not what we were fed by the Emperor," Leia said. "That's all mindless propaganda."

And still kept Padmé's name out of things. Anakin would almost like the guy if he didn't, well, loathe the guy.

"Like what?" he asked. Because he hadn't been there and wouldn't know.

..shut up.

"That the Jedi were traitors who started the Clone Wars so they could overthrow the Republic, for one," Leia said. "That accusation is utterly ridiculous."

Anakin's lips pressed together. "We had no interest in ruling," he said flatly. "Ever."

"I know," Leia said. "But Palpatine would have everyone believe there was some vast Jedi conspiracy, and few dare question that, not with Vader slaughtering Jedi and any who harbor them."

"There," Anakin said. "That right there is why I won't tell you who your mother is. I couldn't live with myself if Vader killed you."

"How is he going to know I know my mother's name?" Leia argued. "And I already know your name. Isn't that just as bad?"

How to explain that Palpatine knew who Anakin was married to without actually explaining that. Hmm. There was a reason Obi-Wan did most of the talking.

"My name is dangerous enough," he conceded. "But you don't really need to research me. My name and her name combined will grab the Emperor's personal attention."

"And why is that?" Leia asked.

Anakin was quiet for a very long moment. "Because I sat on the Council as the Chancellor's representative," he said finally. "We were friends."

Before the whole Sith thing.

"It's not something I generally mention."

What with the entire friendship being a careful manipulation and all.

"That doesn't mean he'd ever find out who I am," Leia said quietly.

"I'm not prepared to risk that," Anakin said just as quietly. "You're my daughter, and I've seen their work."

Up close and personal, even.

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