sith_happened: (Anakin: pondering)
Anakin Skywalker ([personal profile] sith_happened) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2011-11-08 09:53 am
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Ethics class [Tuesday, November 8, 2011, first period]

When Anakin came into the classroom today, he was not alone. He was wheeling in more than a half dozen droid babies in their own strollers. "It's that time of year again," he said, not even trying not to look amused. "Droid babies. You make fifty different decisions a day when faced with a child--what will you feed them, how strictly you enforce bedtimes, how often you interact with them, how much leeway you grant them in exploring their environments--and as every parenting booklet will tell you, each decision you make is fraught with peril about causing lasting damage to the child's delicate psyche."

He rolled his eyes. "If you think about it too hard, you'll get paralyzed by the responsibility. These droid babies have been programmed to be about six months old--they can crawl, but slowly, and are putting absolutely everything into their mouths. They eat formula about once every four hours, are exploring the wonders of solid food and are generally sleeping through the night."

If you didn't annoy Anakin, of course, in which case, the baby would cry alllll the time. He gestured at the back of the classroom, which had been filled with baby food, diapers, clothing, baby-proofing equipment, cribs, toys, and various other baby stuff.

"As you can see, six month-old babies do not travel light," he added. "The average cost of a baby's first year is rough ten thousand dollars in modern money," he continued, "and adding an element of budgeting will often bring moral debates into relief as, for instance, the cost of a babysitter is weighed against a night out and trying to balance the mental health of the parents against the child's ever-demanding needs. Each pair has been given 200 fake dollars to budget out for your week, and before you ask, no, this will not pay for childcare at the center in town, and no, you cannot supplement with your own incomes. It will, however, be needed to pay for baby's various...things. I provide the baby, ten diapers, a day's supply of formula, a pack 'n play that can be used both as a bed and a containment unit for when the baby is getting into too many things, and two changes of clothes for each of them. You must work with your partner to decide on the name of your child, and then what you will be buying from the store in the back of the room to prepare for a week with a baby."

He grinned. "May the Force be with you." His expression turned a little more steely as he focused on the engineers in the class. "And no trying to modify the droids. It'll set off an alarm that only I can turn off."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-08 06:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Aww, she's cute," Juliet said, reaching to pick the baby up and bounce her around a little. "Do you think he's serious about not paying for childcare?"

She liked babies, but only to a certain point.

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-08 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
"I don't think he's capable of not being serious," Hanna replied, eying the baby warily. "And she is cute...for now."

She had a feeling that wasn't going to last.

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-08 06:57 pm (UTC)(link)
"She's cu --" Juliet repeated, then "OW!"

Someone had just found out babies this old had wee, adorable teeth. Juliet's hands were staying firmly away from the baby's mouth from now on.

"She bit me," she whined. Then: "So ... what names do you like? I love Winter and Francesca."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-08 08:01 pm (UTC)(link)
"It bites?" Hanna said, mildly horrified. "Maybe we should name it, like, Razor, or something. Don't think that one's been claimed by a celebrity, yet."

She shook her head. "In all seriousness, I'm not really attached to a name. I like Winter the best of those two, though."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
Juliet had gotten Winter from Nicole Richie, but she wasn't going to point that out. "So ... baby girl Winter Marin Darling," she said. "And her teeth."

She bounced the baby a little more. "I'm glad we got a girl. They're way more fun to dress."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 02:39 am (UTC)(link)
"Seriously. Think of all the adorable baby outfits she can wear," Hanna agreed. "It's not weird to get cute baby clothes for a robot, right?"

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:01 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course not," Juliet said, with sunny self-confidence. "It's the only reason this assignment isn't completely lame."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
"You're not wrong," Hanna said, nodding. "I guess we'll have to get important things like bottles and formula and stuff, too."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:11 am (UTC)(link)
"I guess," Juliet said, much less enthusiastic on that side of things. "Diapers, too, right?"

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:14 am (UTC)(link)
"Yeah, probably." Hanna made a slightly disgusted face. "And there's the lame part of this assignment."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
"Seriously. I've never even babysat," Juliet said. "I guess this is a learning experience."

She rocked the baby a bit, trying to stop it from grabbing at her necklace. "I can take her whichever half of the week you want. I'm not that busy."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
"I've babysat five-year-olds. Never infants," Hanna admitted. "I'm not terribly busy either. But she seems kind of attached to you already. So, want to take her for the first half? I don't mind being the one to take her on the weekend."

Thus sacrificing her social life. She could handle it! Maybe.

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] twintuitionist.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:34 am (UTC)(link)
"She likes that I'm wearing shiny things," Juliet said. "But that sounds good. I'll give her to you Friday around lunch."

Re: Hanna Marin & Juliet Darling

[identity profile] new-it-girl.livejournal.com 2011-11-09 03:36 am (UTC)(link)
"That works for me," Hanna said. Though she was just a bit wary of taking care of a baby. Even a very real looking fake baby.