fandomhigh | Seven Deadly Sins, Period #5, 7/10 [Envy]

If any of the students were hoping that it wasn't going to be a demon teaching class again this week, well, they were going to be very disappointed. Learning to live with disappointment would be a useful life skill.

"Welcome back to class," Callie said brightly. "This week, we're talking about envy. Envy, also known as resentment, jealousy or covetousness, is basically when you have something and I want it."

She stopped there for effect.

"That's it," she continued. "You have it, and I want it. This sin isn't about me killing you so I can take it, or me breaking into your house while you're out and stealing it. I'm just looking at something you have and thinking that I would rather I had it, and not you."

Yeah, she was going to let that one sink in some more.

"This is pretty much human nature, isn't it? I mean, this is a sin for reasons that escape me. Possibly because it leads to competition instead of sitting around thinking about how nice everyone else's hair looks today. If you were to become obsessed with jealousy, then that would wreck your life, but becoming obsessed with ice cream cones would wreck your life, too. And your figure."

Callie was now pacing in front of the room. "If you look at someone else's husband and think, I wish I were married to him, so what? Now, if you scheme to break them up and sleep with him behind his wife's back" -- well, okay, she was still a succubus, but they were pretending to discuss morality -- "and you want to call that a sin, no one's stopping you. And that one's already a sin. So what's the problem, here?

"Seems like we're not supposed to even be noticing what other people have. Keep your blinders on, keep working. Don't ask what your coworkers make; you might be getting shafted on your paycheck. Don't think about your neighbor's new car, or let that inspire you to work harder and get your own new car. No, no. You should be complacent. Complacency is good."

There was a dismissive hand gesture to go with that. "Don't worry, complacency gets to be a sin, too. Everything's a sin, if you look at it long enough. In the meantime, maybe it's okay for people to want what other people have. Just use it constructively. Or you can lay around doing nothing and noticing nothing and being completely worthless and unobservant. Your call."

So long as the demon wasn't stacking the deck, right?

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"So, last week everyone introduced themselves," Callie said. "This week, I want you to pick someone else out in class and say something you envy about them. But if you weren't paying attention, then just pick anyone you've met while on this island. Something they have that you wish you had. Could be that awesome curl to their hair, or their attitude, or their significant other, or that power they have of setting things on fire with their mind. Got it, kids? Person: thing or abstract concept you covet of theirs. Who wants to start?"

Well, this class was oddly timely with relation to that little bit of conversation Natalie had had about taking initials and turning them into a nickname. Yeah, she didn't think she necessarily wanted to be associated that strongly with a thing like Envy.

Oh how things would change.

"I envy Jace ~~who's hopefully here to be referred to omg~~," Natalie said, going with about the only person in class she knew, "for his ability to read Italian."

Oh like she was ever going to confess to anything more in class.

"Why thank you, big sister." Of course he'd take being envied as a compliment. Of course.

"And you can use that to inspire you to learn Italian," Callie said. "Or you can convince him to translate Italian for you. See? Productive. Good answer."

"I envy Alec. For having those big blue eyes." And while Alec did in fact have nice eyes, Jace was mostly saying that to embarrass his parabatai.

Predictably, Alec just flushed and looked away. So yes, good job there, Jace.

"Envy, or draw little cartoon hearts and dream about?" Callie asked.

Being a teacher had not made her mature.

Hanna didn't know many people in this class, so she was going with a generic answer. "I envy anyone in here with a cool super power."

"Your ability to identify shoes might count, to others," Callie said. "But I envy the really interesting ones. Some super powers seem like they'd be a pain in the ass. What would you want, if you could have one just to pick?"

"I think invisibility would be good to have," Hanna said after a moment of thought. "It'd be nice to hide without really hiding sometimes."

She could have used a power like that over the last two years.

"I envy whoever is in this room who slept with someone last night," Atton announced, hanging back in his seat.

His life was difficult these days.

"Going off-island to random clubs helps," Callie volunteered. "So does dressing as cheaply as possible."

TMI time, with your host, Callie Maggotbone!

"Nobody's said they envy ME, yet!" Bucky grumbled. "How come?!? Are you all STUPID as well as inferior?!"

"I'm envious of you," Terry chimed in. "I wish I had a patient and tolerant roommate like you do."

What? He was literally asking for it.

"Yeah, well I wish you were a patient and tolerance roommate like me, too, but we can't all be awesome," Bucky told him magnanimously. "You should try harder, though."

Seven Deadly Sins, Period #5, 7/10 [Envy]

Class Activity - INVU - 7DS02

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