fandomhigh | Ethics [Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 1st period]

Today the students would find themselves in the Danger Shop instead of the usual classroom: this time in a setting up to look like a house, with comfortable sofas and chairs to sit on in the living room and fully stocked kitchen behind it, and a trap door leading to the basement hiding under the rug.

...didn't everyone have that in their house?

When class began, Anakin came in through the door. "Welcome back from break. Today we talk about lying. Kant believed that any lie, no matter how small, was a violation of one's dignity. I, personally, think that Kant came from a magical bubble land where he'd spent his life swaddled in cotton candy, but some of you might believe he has a point."

Anakin certainly didn't think so, though.

He held up a list. "If I read your name off, you're a fugitive hiding in this house, which is owned by a student whose name wasn't called. In precisely three minutes, several armed stormtroopers--think police with absolutely no sense of humor--will be coming through the door. If they find the fugitives, they will take them away and kill them."

Anakin was full of cheerful scenarios.

"Homeowers: you have to decide if you will lie and say you have no idea where your classmate is, while your classmate tries to persuade you not to sell them out. If you get caught lying, you'll be killed as well. If you turn them in, it's possible--but not likely--you'll receive a monetary reward. Your real reward is still being alive."

He clapped his hands to begin. "Your time starts now."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Anakin, given the option, would much rather have found some way to get off-planet rather than hide out anywhere. He'd also rather have been the protector rather than the fugitive. Therefore, this was a good lesson for him, wasn't it?

He was chewing his lip, eyebrows knitted together in a matching expression of taking-this-seriously, and no, he wasn't above using Force persuasion if he had to.

"There isn't much time," he said, because he'd take this negotiating thing as seriously as he took everything even if he hated it. "You never saw me, all right?"

"Of course," Alec said, even going so far to modulate his voice as though he were in a scenario where he might be overheard. "Listen, I'll help however I can, you don't have to -- bargain or anything."

Oh, great. Reduce the exercise to essentially zero remaining talking points.

"If the police come down here anyway, do you think you can handle yourself? I have some weapons you could use to defend yourself if it comes down to that."

You know. In the hypothetical. Not now.

Okay, actually now.

"I can handle myself fine. Don't worry about that," Anakin replied. He didn't think it was bragging, at least. "If it goes badly, don't worry about me. Just get out if you have to, okay?"

If it actually came down to a fight, he wouldn't complain much.

"Not going to happen," Alec said seriously, shaking his head. For reals, these two should never get into any kind of danger together ever. It would be the most solemn and least bantery fight of all time. No one wanted that. "I think I can handle a few police officers."

The sad thing was, he was probably right there. BUT STILL. THE HERO COMPLEX WAS AN APPALLING THING.

Tahiri was probably crying at the mere thought of how un-bantery that fight would be. Way to encourage him, Alec.

"In full body armor," Anakin cautioned -- not as a discouragement, more of a warning. "Stormtroopers aren't exactly looking for the peaceful solution."

And Kennedy and Steph too?

"I got that impression from how they're raiding people's homes for refugees," Alec said a little wryly. "Peaceful people rarely do that."

Fine, them too, and Gabrielle for that matter.

Anakin opened his mouth to reply, then snapped it shut and grinned sheepishly. "Guess I didn't need to point that out to you."

"No, it's okay," Alec said. "I guess we don't really know the complete context of the situation. I'm just not getting the sense that this is a harboring-a-murderer-who's-being-chased-by-upstanding-policemen situation."

"Not at all," Anakin said fiercely, then checked his chrono. "But if we're agreed on this, I'd better find a place to lie low before they get close enough to hear."

"Oh, right," Alec said, because yeah, in a real situation, just look how dead they'd be right now! "Okay, uh..." With the air of someone who was acutely aware of how silly he looked, he pretended to hand Anakin something. "That's a weapon just in case, and hopefully you won't need to use it, so... good luck."

So dead. So, so dead. Let's not rush the boy's fate.

"Thanks," Anakin said with a quick nod. "And may the Force be with you when they get here."

Ethics [Tuesday, October 16, 2012, 1st period]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]

Re: Negotiate! [10/16]