fandomhigh | Seven Heavenly (And Proper) Virtues, Period #5, 7/24 [Temperance]

Maybe it was hypocritical to have a demon teaching a class about virtue. But since when had the administration cared about hypocrisy?

More importantly, Callie liked to use the class as a way to torment her students. If pressed by Her Royal Pinkness, Callie would remind her that demons were supposed to tempt, and that she always turned over offenders for detention.

It was entirely too fun to make mortals squirm.

So today, there was a long buffet table near her desk, one that was covered with a white sheet. She liked to build tension, okay?

"Good afternoon, class," Callie said brightly. "Today's virtue is known as temperance. Temperance is another word for moderation. It's important because temperance is what separates us from pure id. Temperance keeps us from being beasts, indulging whatever whim we'd like at a moment's notice. Humans have the ability to think, and it would be nice to see some of you using that ability now and then."

Any time now.

"Now, 'heavenly' is one of those religious claptraps that the Muggles are so fond of, but this class is teaching how those virtues also lead to one being proper. Someone who has control of his or her desires is a rational being; someone with no control is a beast. Otherwise you're just some shmo lying in the street, covered in your own filth, shoving food into your mouth and humping everything that walks by. Is that what you want?"

Really. Have a little class, students.

"So to illustrate this point, today I brought dessert." Callie whipped the sheet from the table to show a display of culinary delights: crème brûlée, chocolate-raspberry mousse cups, truffle tarts, German cake, tiramisu, mint-chocolate cheesecake, and so many other ~~fully moddable~~ delectable looking treats.

She looked at the children thoughtfully. "Now, you did have lunch," she said sternly. "So I'd like to see some temperance from you. All of you must now come and have dessert, but only the proper amount that you think someone practicing moderation should allow themselves to indulge in. Remember, you're in control of your desires, aren't you?"

In other words, it was a trap. Take too much dessert, and you could be reported for unbecoming behavior. Refuse to take any, and you were failing to participate. So students would need to second-guess themselves and worry while taking as little as possible from the embarrassment of gourmet wonders.

"Lastly," she added, "I'm a demon, so I clearly can't help myself. I don't have a higher nature to appeal to, after all. So I'm going to eat whatever I like."

And probably make noises about how good the food was.

Callie loved being a teacher.

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Sholeh finally reached a compromise. She would take only tiny slivers of food--but she'd take a sliver from everything that looked tasty. That was moderation, right?

"Looks like you have a sweet tooth," Callie said warmly. It seemed to good to start affectionate, if she was hoping to make someone afraid. "Did you get any of the truffle tarts? They're to die for."

"They all look really tasty," Sholeh said, offering Callie a tentative grin. "But I'm only having a little bit of each, see?"

She held up her plate for Callie's inspection.

Callie did, for that matter, inspect her plate.

"You missed the Swingles (http://www.businessinsider.com/10-expensive-nyc-desserts-2011-4#steves-authentic-key-lime-pies-9)," she ~~modded~~ said. "They're little key lime pies that have been dipped in chocolate and frozen. Surely you're going to have one of those."

"You think I should?" Sholeh asked, reaching for the little treats. "I'm not sure what key lime is, so I didn't think to take one. But if you say they're good..."

Sholeh wasn't so good with the trusting people. Or rather, she was too good at it.

"It's very sweet," Callie said. "Creamy, and a little tart. Come on, take a bite. Tell me that isn't the best thing you've ever tasted."

Temptation was good. Leading the girl around by the nose was fun. It'd be even better if she could find the right buttons to push the girl into gorging herself.

It was just an apple, Eve. Didn't it look yummy?

*Sholeh, I don't have a good feeling about this,* Zhahar whispered.

But Sholeh was taking the proffered treat anyway, and putting it into her mouth. Callie was her teacher! Surely she knew best, right?

She absolutely knew best. And she liked messing with people. Those were two important facts to put next to each other.

"Tell me that wasn't amazing," she beamed. "You know what's even better? The chocolate peanut butter torte. Have you tried that yet?"

"I have a little smidgeon right here," Sholeh said, picking up the fraction of the torte she'd already cut for herself. "But, no, I hadn't tried it. Is it as good as the keys and limes?"

"Better," Callie said. "I insist you try it. But you need a bigger slice than that to really roll it around on your tongue."

"But the lesson..." Sholeh protested weakly. "I wouldn't want to eat too much..."

"No?" Callie asked. "Why not? I mean, what's the harm, really? If you have extra dessert just this once, what's the worst that could happen?"

Well. Callie's dad was currently the Ruler of Hell. So there was that.

Come on, Callie! This was like shooting fish in a barrel.

"Maybe I could try a little more of the peanut butter stuff," Sholeh said, turning towards it again. "I can put away one of my other desserts, maybe."

"You could," Callie said. "Do you really want to?"

Honest question! It just happened to have dangerous consequences. Not the same as a trick question! Mostly not. Mostly.

=Say yes, Sholeh!= Zeela confessed. =Say yes right now!=

::But that would be lying!::

"Not really," Sholeh confessed, walking into the trap with eyes wide open. "It all looks so delicious!"

Seven Heavenly (And Proper) Virtues, Period #5, 7/24 [Temperance]

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Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

Re: Class Activity - A Moderate Amount of Dessert - 7DS04

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