"Welcome, Amaranth," the professor says, briskly, tapping a stack of papers on her desk. "I'm glad you've finally arrived, since your assignment is due soon. I hope you were paying attention to the material, since I'm expecting a paper on the topic of its meaning."
"Your assignment! Based on the material you just witnessed, you are to construct an argument for what it means, supported by evidence. Honestly, do they not make everyone take the writing seminar these days..."
Well, I certainly don't have anything written, but— May I sit?
You know, considering all this— [ looking out over the library; pausing, off-balance for the first time, realizing Persephone is here too ] —it's not just my opinion you're wanting, is it.
Edited (personal redundancy pet peeve) 2021-08-28 17:45 (UTC)
"Oh, of course. Pull up a chair." She folds her arms across the table. "Well, it's interesting to get a range of ideas, isn't it? It makes for an interesting exercise."
"I've been given reasons to... want an outside perspective, yes. I'm someone frequently characterized by her confidence, but it is, occasionally, a double-edged sword."
Hope frowns. "I think if I was listening properly, it came from the direction of the computer center or the writing lounge... I'd appreciate it," she says. "I have a lot of papers to grade."
[ a little sigh, and she straightens her shoulders, businesslike. ]
I'll take a look, then, and report back. If your academy is being invaded by hostile forces, that is something I am uniquely qualified to deal with, after all.
[ she is probably at least half joking. which is to say: not entirely. ]
In the end, though—you say you are looking for meaning, but... I am not certain I'd call that the right approach. —Or the just approach, rather.
[ turning the rest of the way around as she realizes she has more to say, here ]
I do not understand the sorcery you were studying with that young woman, your apprentice. But it harmed her, and in a way that looked troublingly fundamental. To say that there is a more important meaning to be found in this—whether or not that's true, there's something backwards in it, to me. You fucked up, as we said. That is what to take from this: that you have an obligation, now—to do everything in your power to redress it.
In contrast, I cannot imagine that Paula is helped very much at all by her suffering serving as a moral lesson. Not any moral lesson that does not demand action, at least.
"Well, I won't cause you to break the ethics code by giving you too much. But I think... with that kind of perspective... hm." She taps her fingers on the desk. "Once you investigate what you wanted to go look at, I'd say perhaps you should go visit the Retrospectives section."
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Hello Hope. [ a head dip, polite but still informal ]
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[ toying with being irritated; settling on bemused instead. this is for Hope's sake, after all. presumably. ]
By "what I just witnessed" you mean that memory, I take it? I can give you my opinion on it here and now, if that's truly what you seek.
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She has a stack of partially-graded papers in front of her, after all, liberally marked up with red pen.
"But if you'd like to talk through initial ideas, I suppose I can treat this as office hours."
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May I sit?
You know, considering all this— [ looking out over the library; pausing, off-balance for the first time, realizing Persephone is here too ] —it's not just my opinion you're wanting, is it.
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Because, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were looking to have a moral judgment decided by committee.
[ teasing, yes, but there's a pointed quality to it ]
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"I've never been one to care much about the majority. But let's say that I'm doing my own research, a little bit. Checks and balances."
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Do you trust your own judgment so little?
...Or is it what I just saw, putting it in doubt.
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"I've been given reasons to... want an outside perspective, yes. I'm someone frequently characterized by her confidence, but it is, occasionally, a double-edged sword."
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[ blunt ] You fucked up, yes.
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1/2
Well. A great deal gets forgiven in this city when it is called "good intentions" or "necessary sacrifice" or both.
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She jolts upright in her seat. ]
What in the gods was that?
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"...hm. I'm not sure. That doesn't usually happen."
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I should hope not.
[ a pause, looking back over her shoulder ] I'm inclined to investigate.
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[ a little sigh, and she straightens her shoulders, businesslike. ]
I'll take a look, then, and report back.
If your academy is being invaded by hostile forces, that is something I am uniquely qualified to deal with, after all.
[ she is probably at least half joking. which is to say: not entirely. ]
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[ She makes to leave, but then pauses. ]
....Do you truly want me to read all I can, here? I am no scholar, but perhaps this sort of subject does not need one.
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In the end, though—you say you are looking for meaning, but... I am not certain I'd call that the right approach. —Or the just approach, rather.
[ turning the rest of the way around as she realizes she has more to say, here ]
I do not understand the sorcery you were studying with that young woman, your apprentice. But it harmed her, and in a way that looked troublingly fundamental. To say that there is a more important meaning to be found in this—whether or not that's true, there's something backwards in it, to me. You fucked up, as we said. That is what to take from this: that you have an obligation, now—to do everything in your power to redress it.
In contrast, I cannot imagine that Paula is helped very much at all by her suffering serving as a moral lesson. Not any moral lesson that does not demand action, at least.
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"Well, I won't cause you to break the ethics code by giving you too much. But I think... with that kind of perspective... hm." She taps her fingers on the desk. "Once you investigate what you wanted to go look at, I'd say perhaps you should go visit the Retrospectives section."
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