fandomhigh | Destiny & Free Will, Week II [Monday, Period 2]

The class met outside by the pond, as ~~handwavily~~ ordered. The flamingos were wandering around Ghanima's improvised classroom, which had plenty of overstuffed pillows for laying about. Along the edges were small low tables, each with two cushions to sit on 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 foretelling 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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I go back about once a month, sometimes twice, to visit my mother, and a couple friends," Scully said. "At least, I did before the island moved. I haven't tried since then, but I think I heard someone say they got home fine. And there's always Portalocity." As expensive as that could be over the long-term. "Somehow, usually, the Causeway changes to your own world, and that Baltimore, at the end of the trip."

"What is Portalocity, anyway?" Although if it was expensive, it wasn't exactly going to be a viable option. "I think that's how I got here."

"It's a business that, well, creates portals. To different times, places, and planets," Scully explained. "As well as dimensions. They're not perfectly reliable, but they'll usually get you where you want to go." She tilted her head. "Did you notice a big purple or blue swirly lightening ring, or something? Anything that might have moved you without you knowing it?"

"There was a door marked 'Portalocity'," Toby admitted. "I opened it, because I was curious, and then... there I was, in a room full of kids waiting for the shuttle to this place." So he'd gotten on said shuttle, of course, because why the hell not?

"Ah," Scully said, understanding. Then frowned. "You just got on the shuttle without knowing where it was going?"

"I talked to a couple of the other kids beforehand," Toby defended himself. "Not that any of them really knew all that much about this place, but... it sounded interesting?"

Scully suppressed a smirk, and said, "Well, I can't say you're wrong there. 'Interesting' like the Chinese curse sense. And no one ever knows enough about this place before they get here."

"Would anyone actually send their kids here on purpose if they knew the island teleported or however-the-hell it's moving around?" Toby pointed out.

"Some people send their kids to boarding school for bad reasons," Scully had to point out. "Which is why I don't usually ask people why they're here."

"Point taken," Toby conceded. "Considering the number of times I've been shuffled off somewhere myself? I get that." Somehow he'd just always assumed it was different when it was people's own kids, though.

Scully's curiosity flared up, but she bit her lip on most of the questions that came to mind. "So you've lived other places aside from Toronto?" she said instead, giving him the opening.

"Not unless you count a few months in Brampton," Toby admitted, with a smile that had a wry little twist to it. "I'm a kennel kid," he explained. "Foster families and group homes all the way back."

Scully nodded, sympathy but no pity in her expression. "A lot of the people who find their way here seem to benefit from it," she said obliquely. "The weirdness, and the strange classes-- it's the change a lot of them need." She studied Toby, her face calm, then turning wry. "Even with the invasions. Which I'm sure you've heard about by now."

"So one could argue it was destiny or fate or something that brought 'em here, huh?" Toby pointed out, amused. "And I uh. Haven't actually heard about the invasions, no."

Facepalming, Scully said, "You can avoid them if you stay in the dorms?" She grinned and dropped her hand, saying, "Sure, fate. Except for how I don't believe in that either."

"I'm not ruling it out just yet," Toby said easily. "If someone can prove there's a reason I'm here beyond being curious to the point of possible stupidity given I've apparently found myself on an island subject to invasions, I'm open to that."

Destiny & Free Will, Week II [Monday, Period 2]

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!

Re: Activity: Pair Off!