fandomhigh | Ethics [Thursday, December 2, 2nd period]

Anakin came into the classroom and shook a small pile of powdered sugar from his robe. Fandom weather was enough to make you sigh some days.

"This semester we've covered six of the seven deadly sins," Anakin began, listing them off on his fingers, "lust, gluttony, greed, wrath, envy, and pride. That leaves us with sloth." He gave the class a brief smile. "Though gluttony might have been more appropriate to discuss right after Thanksgiving, where the tradition seems to be to eat until you burst. Regardless, sloth was originally described as 'an uneasiness of the mind'," he continued. "Apathy. Melancholy. Joylessness. And importantly, the decision not to do anything about it."

He leaned back against his desk. "The modern view understands that the mind is more complicated than that and sometimes it is impossible to will yourself not to be sad. Instead, this sin now focuses on the failure to utilize your talents and gifts." He glanced around the room. "In a school filled with as many talented beings as this one, I think it would be almost criminal to not live up to the potential each of you has. Today, pair up and talk about what your plans for the future are, and how the classes you've taken and the people you've met here will help you in your greater life goals."

You know, a really easy subject.

"Oh, and Mister Starsmore, please see me after class."

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Cassidy smiled and nodded. "And you're Rosalind, if I remember correctly?" She hoped so or else she was going to be really embarrassed. I"d love a partner."

"Rosalind," she confirmed, taking a seat by Cassidy. "Have you thought about this sort of thing before?"

Some people her age probably hadn't. It was a fair question.

"Only since the day I was born." She said with a slight shrug. "Well, not that early, but soon after I was aware of who and what I was," she said seriously. "Has this been something you've had to think of?"

"I did a few years ago," she said slowly, "but both less and moreso now."

That made total sense, Rosalind. What?

"Since the day you were born?"

Cassidy nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. Some people reacted to this badly and she didn't want to scare off her new partner.

"Where I'm from, I was born a Queen," she explained. "So, since I was old enough to understand, I've been taught what my duties and my responsibilities to my people and the Court I will one day form."

And to be perfectly honest? It had never occurred to her to even think of anything being different.

"Shall I assume," she said, after a moment's pause, "that you are not--expecting people here to call you by your title?"

Rosalind was callng no one 'majesty'.

Cassidy blinked and then smiled, shaking her head.

"Oh no! I only want to be called Cassidy," she said, her eyes sparkling. "Even at home, my title is only used by those newly met and who are wanting to use Protocol. Having everyone here call me Lady Cassidy would make me extremely uncomfortable." She smiled again. "All Queens are called Lady Something Or Another, and our caste is only mentioned when we are being introduced to people or Warlords or Warlord Princes want to be cranky and makes sure everyone around us know that we're Queens and are apparently incapable of taking care of ourselves."

Cassidy had no idea what a "majesty" was, except that it was mentioned in a great many fairy tales in the library.

...

Rosalind was, surely, allowed a moment to parse all of that, come up with at least three ideas that were incompatible with her understanding of Queens and forumulate a proper response, right?

Well, she needed one anyway.

"Forgive me," she said slowly, "but Queens are a caste?"

Cassidy would be happy to help Rosalind understand.

Well, as helpful as a witch from Kaeleer was ever able to be in their explanations.

"Yes? Back home, there are a few castes and the Queen is the highest caste. She helps to heal the land and to take care of her people. She's the heart of the land and the focal point of the Court." She played with a strand of her hair. "Queens are taught to be the ones that can heal the hearts of their people and our blood helps the land to be healthy and productive." She thought for a second. "I've read in some books here that Queens are born from Queens and apparently male Queens that are called Kings in a family?" She was still a little confused about how that all worked. "That's not how it is back home. I'm the first Queen to be born into my family and the first one to be born in our village in several generations."

She gave Rosalind a grin. "I was born a daughter on the same day that I was born a Queen and my family is not aristo. On cleaning day, I am on my knees right beside my mother scrubbing floors and helping to keep our house in order."

Rosalind tilted her head slightly as she considered that and… came up with nothing that made much sense. Ah well.

"Well enough then," she said, with a nod. "You're correct in that--it's different here, at the least. I'm afraid I've never heard of anything quite like how you describe things as being."

"No one here except for Karla, Shira, Raven and Professor Anakin seem to know anything about it." That was because of Karla more than anything. Shira knew because she was from their world.

"So, how long have you known about your plans for your future?"

"Concretely?" Rosalind arched an eyebrow. "Nearly four years now."

"Was it your choice or someone else's?"

Ethics [Thursday, December 2, 2nd period]

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