fandomhigh | Magical Theory 101 (Monday, 02/13/2006, 5th Period)

CLASS IS CLOSED FOR GRADING.
Jenny has chocolate hearts, cinnamon gummy bears, and a whole bunch of other kinds of Valentine's Day candy set out for her students. Along with red fruits--cherries, strawberries, raspberries, red apples--and bagels, cream cheese, and coffee. Always coffee. The door is closed in order to minimize disturbances from the hallway.

"Okay, guys, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. So today, we're going to cover that time-honored way of screwing up everyone's romance: the love spell. If you hadn't guessed, I'm a little less than fond of them.

Love spells? Generally don't work. Your intent has to be pure. How many people you know who cast a love spell with pure intent in their hearts? Anybody know anyone who's actually cast a love spell? And then had it work out okay, that is.

So. As an example, let's use this kid named--well, we'll call him Alex, shall we? Alex's girlfriend broke up with him, and he decided he wanted to get her back. So he found a witch at his high school--who had just a teeny-tiny little family history of mental instability, might I just add--and somehow conned her into casting this love spell for him.

The results? Not quite what he bargained for. First off? The intent wasn't pure. I think when I had a little ~~totally off-screen and non-canonical, fyi~~ chat with this student witch about responsible spellcasting she mentioned the words 'blackmail' and 'I want the Hellmouth working for me.' And something about a deep-seated anger. So you know, when you're trying to cast a love spell, you really shouldn't be thinking, 'Ooh, Hellmouth, now there's the perfect energy for the lovelorn to be calling upon."

Yes, in my dimension, the last high school I worked at had a direct connection to hell right underneath the library. Made things interesting, let me tell you that.

So. This kid, Alex? He and the witch got a focus object, and then the witch decided that she could cast a love spell by calling upon Diana. Research, people! If you're going to cast a spell, make sure you're calling upon the appropriate divine energy. Maiden Goddess of the hunt? Not nearly the goddess you should be calling up in a love spell. Or a spell which contains the word 'submits.' Diana? Submission? Pretty laughable there. And research is key--especially because if you research far enough back in time, you can figure out that Diana is derived from Artemis, who turned a hunter into a stag and had him ripped apart by his own hounds just because he accidentally saw her skinny-dipping in the forest. And Artemis? Worshipped by the Amazons, who weren't always fond of men. You go back far enough, to pre-Hellenic times, and sure, Artemis was a Goddess of fertility, but she was also associated with the cycles of life and death.

But, hey, I'm getting a bit far afield. So Alex came to school the next day and is convinced that the object of his affections? Will be totally gaga over him. And yet, they kept fighting. But every single other female in the entire school fell head-over-heels madly in love with him. Including those who might have a couple wards up to protect them from spells cast on the Hellmouth. What Diana wants, Diana gets, and what ended up happening was that virtually every single woman in town formed a bloodthirsty mob because Alex didn't love them. The ex-girlfriend? Also caught up in this, and believe me, having the women of the town after you because you broke up with someone? Gotta be unpleasant too.

Plus someone got turned into a rat for a little while. Ick.

Luckily? Spell got reversed, and just in the nick of time, before the mob tore Alex and his ex-girlfriend apart. Just like Actaeon--that hunter--was torn apart by his hounds.

So. See what happens when you meddle with magic to change emotions? And why casting a love spell is just seriously icky karma. Let's talk about love spells. And Alex. What do you guys thing about love spells and what Alex did?"

ETA "Also, anyone seen Logan? He dead or something? Because he's missed the last three classes. Logan, I need to talk to you, or I'm gonna have to assign you detention for this weekend."

Useful Links:
Ms. Calendar's Voice Mail
Ms. Calendar's E-Mail
Artemis
Ephesian Artemis

OOC: Lots to do at work today, as Mondays are my busy days. Responses may be slow, but will be forthcoming.

{{OOC: OCD comment threads ~~going up shortly~~ are up.}}

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"Unless," concluded Kiki thoughtfully, "It's not really about love at all. If it's about control, power, manipulation and possession, then someone who wanted those things over someone else would have no problem using a love spell to get what they wanted."

Paige nods, "that's a really good point, that would have to be it wouldn't it? Cos you know they wouldn't love you so why cast a spell for that reason? I guess it would be more about control." she replies in total agreement.

Kiki gives a little shiver. "It's even creepier when you think about it that way!"

Cordelia is pretty red in the face at this point, after listening to the discussion. "Or maybe Alex knew that Co- his girlfriend was being a gigantic bitch and still actually loved him and didn't know how to talk to her because she was stuck up?" she paused and took a breath. "Um, just a theory."

Kiki mulls this over. "But... even if she did still love him, how would she feel knowing he tried to manipulate her like that? I mean, I think Alex wasn't out to do that, he probably just didn't think it through. He still didn't really have a whole lot of consideration for her own feelings or person, regardless of how she may have been acting."

["I have a theory, it may be bunnies..."

...And now that song is stuck in my head.]

Cordy smiled wryly at Kiki. "Yeah, well maybe Alex isn't always the brightest cookie. But I think his heart was in it. From what I heard."

Jenny nodded. "Cordelia has a good theory," she said. Not that she knew how that relationship had gone. "Alex had some pretty strong feelings, and it sounds like they got a bit jumbled up in the relationship aftermath. Seems like some good intentions were mixed in there too."

"I have a feeling he just didn't think it through. But in all fairness, it did work, in the end. For awhile, at least," Cordelia said.

And then she realized that she had said too much, and put a hand over her mouth.

"Well," said Jenny. "That's good to hear. I like hearing when things work out, even if it's only for a while."

Xander? Not a word. Not. One. Word.

Though he shoots her a look thats somewhere between apologetic and grateful, and... probably a little surprised.

Cordy chances a brief glace over at him and gives Xander a small smile.

Paige nods looking a little grossed out, "yeah it really is."

Xander looked up, and actually managed a few coherent words. "You're not ... necessarily? Wrong. But you can be mad at somebody and want to get back at them or feel like you have the power in a relationship for once, and still love them." He grimaced. "Not saying it's not stupid. But it's not matter and anti-matter."

Kiki nodded. "That's true. I guess I'd just like to think that love shouldn't require something like this, but I guess if someone is that desperate, they really will resort to such measures. I can't imagine the result being that beneficial, though."

"No, it definitely wasn't." Which he at least didn't have to rapidly cover for himself after saying, since Ms. Calendar had described the results in graphic detail. "Love makes people do the wacky, though. And, uh. People who are stupid people? Will do it stupidly."

Kiki swiftly rests her knuckles against her lips to mask an urge to giggle. This time? For once the embarrassing unintended double entendre was not hers.

Magical Theory 101 (Monday, 02/13/2006, 5th Period)

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."

Re: Discussion - Today's Topic: Love Spells. And "Alex."