fandomhigh | World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

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World Mythology -- Third Period -- Monday

When the students arrived that day, they'd find the table along the back wall held plenty of juice boxes, granola, and yogurt, and Ghanima was standing off to the side of the classroom, occasionally saying something quietly into her mobile and looking high amused as a serious-seeming little girl sat on her desk.

Well, she only looked serious until you recognized that glint in her eyes, and anyone from the Atreides or Trebond families would probably run screaming.

"Good morning," she began, once everyone was settled. "I am Elianne Sihaya, and Mother says I'm going to teach today, most likely because she thinks she's funny."

"Therefore, we are going to touch on the Romans, and look at the tale of Romulus and Remus."

"Plutarch presents Romulus and Remus' ancient descent from prince Aeneas, fugitive from Troy after its destruction by the Greeks. Their maternal grandfather is his descendant Numitor, who inherits the kingship of Alba Longa. Numitor's brother Amulius inherits its treasury, including the gold brought by Aeneas from Troy. Amulius uses his control of the treasury to dethrone Numitor, but fears that Numitor's daughter, Rhea Silvia will bear children who could overthrow him, so Amulius forces Rhea Silvia to perpetual virginity as a Vestal priestess."

"She ends up having children anyway, although different versions present different fathers, the most common being the god Mars, and the other Hercules. The king sees his niece's pregnancy and confines her. She gives birth to twin boys of remarkable beauty; her uncle orders her death and theirs. One account holds that he has Rhea buried alive – the standard punishment for Vestal Virgins who violated their vow of celibacy – and orders the death of the twins by exposure; both means would avoid his direct blood-guilt. In another, he has Rhea and her twins thrown into the River Tiber. In either event, in every version, a servant is charged with the deed of killing the twins, but cannot bring himself to harm them. He places them in a basket and leaves it on the banks of the Tiber. The river rises in flood and carries the twins downstream, unharmed."

"The river deity Tiberinus made the basket catch in the roots of a fig tree that grows in the Velabrum swamp at the base of the Palatine Hill. The twins were found and suckled by a she-wolf until a shepherd of Amulius named Faustulus discoverd them and takes them to his hut, where he and his wife Acca Larentia raised them as their own."

"In all versions of the founding myth, the twins grew up as shepherds. They came into conflict with the shepherds of Amulius, leading to battles in which Remus was captured and taken to Amulius. Their identity was discovered andRomulus raised a band of shepherds to liberate his brother; Amulius was killed and Romulus and Remus were conjointly offered the crown. They refused it while their grandfather lived, and refused to live in the city as his subjects. They restored Numitor as king, paid due honours to their mother Rhea and left to found their own city, accompanied by a motley band of fugitives, runaway slaves, and any who want a second chance in a new city with new rulers. Of course, it did not go well."

"The brothers argued over the best site for the new city. Romulus favoured the Palatine Hill; Remus wanted the Aventine Hill. They agreed to select the site by divine augury, took up position on their respective hills and prepared a sacred space; signs were sent to each in the form of vultures, or eagles. Remus saw six; Romulus saw twelve, and claimed superior augury as the basis of his right to decide. Remus, angry at this claim, leaped across the wall Romulus was building as an insult to the city's defenses and their creator. Enraged, Romulus slew his brother, before burrying him with all honors and founding a city that would go on to spawn an entire civilization -- Rome."

"So, what do you think? For those not normally in this class, after spending the weekend with your parents, would it be better or worse to be raised by a wolf? What makes a 'parent?' What is 'family?' Genetics, affection, support? For the regular denizens of Fandom, what makes us 'your' children? A quirk of the timeline, or something more eternal?" Essie smiled at the class angelically. "Discuss."

[OCD is up, credit for the class topic goes to the ever-creative mind of

tyler_back !]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Take notes, pass notes, get a juice box, and wonder WHY Ghanima's children are always so insanely strange.

For the moment, all four of the girls were quietly watching the people around them as Annja took notes. That would be when Jenna leaned over to talk to Annja in a whisper.

"Mommy! That girl teaching the class looks just like Psyche!"

Firekeeper did not have anyone accompanying her to class who did not do so normally; they'd spent the weekend hanging out with Jake in the Preserve and had only been peripherally aware of the presence of the children, in the sense that the island suddenly became crowded with a number of unfamiliar scents.

They looked around curiously at the new faces in the classroom, just daring anyone to say anything bad about being raised by a wolf. Really.

Arella was well-behaved, but Raven was keeping an eye on the demon child, lest he start to creep another of her friends out.

Jaina had her kids in class today, jaryd distracted by something and Jordin listening intently. At one point Jordin looked up at her and said, "Momma, they're talking about twins like us!"

And then after that when Jordin started looking Concerned, Jaina just tried to cover her ears.

"Auntie Jaina!" There was a small, red-haired girl waving like a maniac from next to Karla. "Auntie Jaina, it's me!"

Karla would just be resting her face on her desk and hoping to stop blushing at any minute now.

"Hi, you,' Jaina said slowly, since she had no idea what the kid's name was. She couldn't even guess from radio since two kids around meant she hadn't heard it since Thursday. "Having fun in class today?"

And if there was a look to Karla like Name please?.... well Karla had her face on her desk. Nevermind.

"You an' Mommy an' Daddy all inna same class?" Jaenelle burbled. "That's silly! You're too old!"

Apparently, Jaenelle had a thing for telling everyone how old they were. Karla was starting to believe that it was a divine punishment on her.

"Jaenelle Mara, please stop bothering, uhhh, Auntie Jaina." Karla peeked over from her desk to give Jaina an apologetic look. "Class means we have to be very quiet."

"I'se not botherin'!" Jaenelle protested. "Auntie Jaina loves me!" She turned bright blue eyes towards the aunt in question. "Right, Auntie Jaina?"

"I do," said Jaina with a smile. Look, as far as she was concerned, kids from an alternate universe were really no less related to her than Anakin or Ben or Luke or her own kids. "But your mom's right, we're supposed to whisper in class."

And then Jordin piped up, "Who are you?" and ruined that.

"I'se Jaenelle Mara Skywalker di Glacia," Jaenelle announced proudly, loud enough for everyone to hear. "That's my Mommy," she continued, pointing at Karla who was trying to sink ever-lower in her chair. "An' that's my Daddy. She's a Queen an' he's a Jedi an' I'mma be both!"

All of that information was, of course, quite pertinent to Jordin's question.

Tahiri was listening to the lecture as usual, and next to her Cassa was listening even more intently; it almost looked like Cassa was paying more attention than Tahiri was. Both of them looked particularly interested at the mention of twins, and glanced over toward Jaina and her two, but Tahiri was doing a very, very good job of keeping any agitation at Remus's fate to herself.

At least, Cassa didn't seem to notice.

Ben took careful notes (and did a mental headcount of how many people in the room were sort of related to him) while Mara drew pictures with crayons.

Karla tried to catch his attention during class, in such a way that neither Lady Ghanima or her child would notice. *Can you take Jaenelle this afternoon?* she sent. She gave him a wry smile. *I'm going to work.*

Considering where she worked, she thought Ben might have Opinions about taking their daughter there.

Ben hid a grin behind his hand and nodded. I'm dropping Mara with Aravis before I go to see Ender. Would Jaenelle like to tag along?

*Yes. Yes she would,* Karla answered dryly, not bothering to actually ask their daughter. *I'm sure she'd love to meet 'Unca Ender' or whatever she'll end up calling him.*

Want me to take holos? Ben asked dryly.

*Make sure to note it in the baby scrapbook, too,* Karla said, trying not to grin. *Baby's First Fandom Adventure.*

You're not that funny, Ben informed her.

*Awww...is Daddy in a growly-bear mood?* Karla sent, smirking. *Consider this my way of helping to keep little Jaenelle a Fandom-figment.*

I was pretty sure of that, Ben replied. Um, no offense.

*Gee, Ben, you're too kind,* Karla said, rolling her eyes.

Yep, definitely where Jaenelle got it from.

I saw your face when she showed up, too, Ben reminded her. This wasn't exactly something you wanted.

Oh sure, Ben. Bring logic into this.

*I was surprised! Four seconds after learning I'm some child's mother, I find out you're her father, too? It was kind of a shocking thing to learn, okay? I didn't think it was a horrible idea.* Expression at the time notwithstanding. *Just a really, really weird one.*

Really, really, really weird.

*If it makes you feel any better, I'm less surprised to find that I have a child with you, than it is you have a child with me,* she added, going back to staring steadily at her desk.

Hopefully he wouldn't be able to parse that for a bit.

Edited 2010-04-12 21:21 (UTC)

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