fandomtownies | The Perk, Friday morning

Beka arrives, looking tired, but confident. As always when she's got things to do, she's dressed sexily. A short black leather skirt, white blouse tucked in, black leather vest, open, and knee high black leather boots. Her hair, unusually is down and gleaming as though it's been very well brushed.

After waving hello to Tara, she orders an extra-large coffee with two shots of espresso and a pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese, pays and takes her food to the table.

"Good morning, Prof."

"We're not in class, Beka, it's Tara." She smiles cheerfully, but her voice is firm.

"You look well prepared. Excited about the debate?"

"Tara, then." Beka smiles back, pleased at the gesture. "Excited, a little wound up. I don't like to lose," she says wryly. "How are you this morning? Ready to see your students go at it?" ~~Dirty pun not intended. At all.~~

"Definitely ready. It's the first assessment piece... well, in my teaching career. I have every confidence that you will all amaze and impress me."

~~Plus there's that other little surprise I've got up my sleeve. Bwahahahaha.~~

"You bring that out in us. The desire to succeed. I haven't seen it in other classes near as much. Except maybe Spider's class." She sips her coffee and sighs with pleasure. "I think that's just because we're scared of him."

~~I like surprises. Not. Tell me!~~

Tara laughs. "You mean I'm not scary? And I was trying so hard..." She wrinkles her nose at Beka's coffee, and inhales the steam from her own tea, waiting for it to finish steeping.

"I can't tell you how much I love you all, though. I was so proud in last week's classes, the way people were actually challenging themselves, and confronting their own assumptions." She cocks her head. "Tell you what - I have a job for you. Can you think of an appropriate reward I can give the class at the end of the quarter? By then I'm sure everyone will have earned something special, and if everyone continues to put this much work in, I want to give more than grades and gold stars."

~~Well, there are cookies.~~

Beka studies her seriously. "Well. You could be scary...if you really wanted to. I just don't think you have it in you. I've only met you a couple of times and I can't see you wanting to hurt anyone. Push us, yes. Break our brains a bit, maybe. Hurt us? No."

She smiles at Tara's reaction to her coffee. "Reward. Hmm. I wouldn't even know where to begin. Let me think it over?"

~~I like cookies. Chocolate cookies?~~

Tara makes a 'grr' face, and then laughs. "I don't think anyone's ever been scared of me in my entire life. I'm glad you're not."

She takes a sip of her tea, and sighs in satisfaction. "So when we talked before you said you were from three thousand years into the future? Would you mind telling me a little about your history? Any major apocalypses we ought to write down to warn people about?"

~~Maybe next time. If you're good. Had a request for sugar cookies, so that's what it is today.~~

Beka grins wryly. "I seem to be stupidly lacking in fear. Or at least in sufficient measure to do much with it except get myself in trouble."

Slathering cream cheese on the bagel, Beka considers Tara's question. She purses her lips. "That's sort of complicated. In the first place, I'm not even sure it's your future I'm from. No magic in my timeline. Also, time is...malleable. What's happened already could change. For example by my being here." A small, unhappy sigh escapes her lips at that thought. "I suspect, actually, that's why I'm here."

~~I'm always good...Except when I'm very bad.~~

Tara laughs. "Most people don't think there's magic in my timeline either. I lived on the mouth of hell - and you would not believe the size of the morgue there - and most people didn't believe in vampires, or magic. I wouldn't use that as proof we're not from different points in the same history."

A concerned expression crossing her face as she hears Beka's sigh, Tara leans forward and asks, "what would you change? If you could?"

~~If you're very bad the rewards do not include cookies. That doesn't mean there aren't rewards, though...~~

"I think it'd be hard to hide magic in my universe if it were there. Well, no. Not hard. Pointless. With so many aliens, it'd pass almost unnoticed. But I see what you mean. People do have a tendency to ... avoid the unusual."

The question is one she asks herself nearly daily. Though lately it's fallen by the wayside. She bites into her bagel, chews and swallows, while thinking how to explain it. As always, she begins, "I don't know. It's bad. There's a race of beings, almost human supermen. Nietzscheans. They treat true humans like worse than dirt. Except the best of the women." Pain flickers across her face. "They want them to improve their bloodlines."

She sips her coffee, wanting to give Tara time to process, before she continues.

~~Punishment can be a reward.~~

"Nietzscheans? Named for the philosopher?" Tara notices the pain on Beka's face, and begins to formulate theories about what exactly might have happened to her new friend.

~~Try to remember that when we get to class today, hm?~~

"They named themselves that, yes. They draw their philosophy from Nietzsche. Be better, smarter, faster. They enhance themselves genetically. For example, they have bone blades in their arms for better fighting." A look, somewhere between longing and revulsion, or maybe both, crosses her face.

"They call regular humans 'kluges'. It's a computer term, for things thrown together. Mixed." She looks off above Tara's head, not really seeing anything. "They broke the Commonwealth. They treat us like slaves. We eke out an existence, trading, stealing, whatever. But...without them, we'd probably all be Magog food. So...I don't know if I'd change it." Even though it might be up to me to do it.

*eyes wide* Oh?

Tara frowns. "They protect you from Magogs? What are they?"

~~*looks innocent*~~

Beka snaps back into focus. "I wouldn't say they protect us. It's just that we share space with the Nietzscheans, and the Magog are less likely to encroach on Nietzschean territory."

She waves a hand. "Sorry. My relationship to the Nietzscheans is...complicated. ~~Mistress of understatement.~~ The Magog are bipedal, furred, clawed predators who alternately feed off humans or use them as hosts for their larvae." This provokes a visible shudder. "The Nietzscheans at least only want to steal our labor and our DNA."

~~Totally doesn't belive.~~

Tara shakes her head. "Beka, that's an awful, awful way to live, but it's not slavery. If you have to steal to eat, that means no-one's responsible for you. They don't care if you live or die."

She pauses, biting her lip. "Beka, I think you might have some issues with today's assignment. I want you to give me the benefit of the doubt, okay? Can you trust me?"

*bats eyelashes* Why ever not?

"It's only slavery when they keep us on farms and work camps. Pop's a tramp-freighter captain. We're free, because we work at it."

Closing her eyes, Beka inhales the steam from her coffee. At last, she nods. "I trust you. But can you tell me why you think I'll have issues? Issues and I...tend to wind up with me needing to hit things or dodge fireballs. I'd prefer to avoid more detentions."

Because. You like to mix it up. *smirks*

Taking another sip of her tea, Tara sets the cup down and laces her fingers together.

"The first section of the course focuses on the Big Evils. The ones people think are incontrovertible. Last week was murder - and some people had real difficulties with that. Over the next few weeks we will address rape and discrimination. But this week, and next week, we're looking at issues of freedom and ownership. And slavery."

Tara frowns, trying to catch Beka's eyes. "This is going to be confrontational, Beka. At some point in the course I'm going to push everyone's hot buttons - I suspect this week it will be yours."

~~Just you wait. Please don't hurt me!~~

Beka looks at Tara, speaks tightly. "I can talk about it... Just... if anyone says it's right, or tries to justify taking someone's freedom... I. I'll do my best not to pop off and tell them they have no idea what they're talking about."

~~Only if you ask really nice.~~

Tara nods. "If it gets too much for you, you let me know okay? I'll be watching for your signal. And you can tell them they don't know what they're talking about - you have experiences they don't, and you're not only allowed to share them, I expect you to."

~~What if I ask you to hurt me, but nicely?~~

Beka releases a long pent-up sigh. "Yeah. I can do that. Maybe let's...talk about something else? I'll just worry over it. And that's not productive."

A game smile crosses her face. "You're from Sunnydale. So...what can you tell me about vampires."

~~Oh, yes. I can do that.~~

Tara rolls her eyes a little. ~~And imagines Beka with a game-face, which in Sunnydale terminology would make her a vampire.~~

"Just about anything. What do you want to know? First thing to understand is that there's a world of difference between the vampires we've got in the school, and the vampires you hear about most of the time. Our vampires? They're all more than a hundred years old. Most vampires - fledglings, or minions - they're like children. Really, really strong children."

She frowns, looking for a way to explain it so Beka will understand. "You know how hungry a little baby gets? And they kick, and scream, and any breastfeeding mother will tell you that they can hurt, they're so hungry? Most vampires are like that. They're so hungry they can't focus on anything else, and what they want is your blood."

"Our vampires," she grins, "are grown ups. They get just as hungry, but they'd no more latch on and start sucking than you would to a random breast. ~~Okay, bad example.~~ They'll go and make dinner, just like we would."

slid thread here (http://www.livejournal.com/community/fandomtownies/205937.html?thread=7612017#t7612017).

Beka grimaces. "Babies scare me more than vampires. Ick."

Another sip of coffee, and a bite of tangy cream cheese to give her time to digest what Tara is saying. "Essentially, it sounds like baby vampires are like homicidal maniacs that will eat anyone or anything. And your vampires are...connoisseurs? So, when they make dinner...do they make it out of humans?"

~~I wouldn't suck a random breast. But a nicely presented one... OMG, dirty bad. ;)~~

Tara laughs at the expression on Beka's face.

"Yeah, you could say that fledglings are homicidal maniacs. And a lot of people would. And they're sure not as cute as babies. As for our vampires... well, yeah. They eat humans. I've known a vampire who lived on animal blood, but it's like being a vegetarian. Most humans wouldn't want to be, even though they know something had to do for their food. Most vampires wouldn't want to be either. The only difference is, most humans let someone else do the killing, and pretend it grows in little supermarket packages. Vampires are a lot less hypocritical about it."

~~Presented how? I ask purely for the sake of research.~~

Beka nods. "Actually, I've been thinking a lot about that. With the debate, and class, and spending time talking to Angelus. I keep thinking - and this is weird with as much as I generally hate Magog, but I'm coming to question that too - that vampires can't be judged on human terms. It's like saying a shark is evil for being a shark."

Should she ask Tara? "...do vampires always kill the people they feed from?"

I prefer the suggestion of nudity to nudity itself. A blouse buttoned to just above and just below the curve of the breast. A sheer bra. A slinky halter top...there are reasons I dress like I do. *grin*

Tara's face beams with pride. "Exactly, Beka. That's moral relativism. Evil depends entirely on whose perspective you view the situation from."

Tara's grin turns wicked as she addresses Beka's question. "No, not always. I knew a guy who went to a vampire brothel - where people pay vampires to feed on them. Apparantly, it feels really good. Really good." She shrugs with one shoulder, ruefully. "Never had the chance to find out for myself, though."

~~I'll remember that. In case, you know, anyone ever asks me.~~

Beka cocks her head, amused. "So...moral relativism, this thing I've been calling 'gray'...that's a good thing? And you support it?"

The slightest flush of heat creeps into Beka's face. "I...wondered what it would be like. Not enough to pay for it! So, you'd be interested in it too?" ~~is so totally not looking for someone to tell her that she's not the only girl who wants to be bitten, omg.~~

~~*eyebrow raise*~~

Tara looks surprised. "Are you familiar with the term 'ethnocentric'? It's generally considered to be a bad thing. It's the belief that your way, or your culture's way, is the only way - or at least, the right way. It's the reason why most wars are fought, and most cultures destroyed. Moral relativism is the opposite of moral ethnocentrism. So yeah. It's good."

She grins, blushing just a little herself. "And, yeah. I'd be interested. I mean, who wouldn't be? If it's good enough that people pay for it..."

~~Hey, you wouldn't believe the questions some people ask me. So, um, incidentally... this would be way too high cut?~~

"I've heard the term, yes. And I know the meaning. It's just...well. Magog, you know? And Nietzscheans. When you live under seige, it's hard to accept that it's good not to hate the beings killing you. But...I'm trying to learn to understand that it's the individual Magog doing the killing I should hate. Not the entire species."

~~You're cute when you blush.~~ Beka sighs a little. Relieved. "Glad to know I'm not the only one... I'm... uh. I've been curious. But you know how that kills the cat. So I was...is there some way to protect myself?" she stammers out, not wanting to talk about Angelus specifically. Since he's the TA.

Really? Neat. If anyone, like Buffy or Illyana or Chiana or Faith or Callisto or... anyone...asks, feel free to tell them. *eyes her* It's a nice blouse. The breasts are nice too. Combination? Not enough skin. *grins wickedly*

"Of course," Tara smiles, a little indulgently. People who haven't live on a hellmouth can't be expected to be vampire-savvy. "To start with, they need an invitation to get into any private dwelling the first time - from someone that lives there. So your room is safe. Once you get to the biting, though... holy things burn them, like crosses. I drink some holy water every night at sunset, just in case, and you could carry a holy water pistol if you wanted to be really safe. None of that will kill them, it'll just hurt them enough to make them stop if they were... caught in the moment."

~~I'll spread the word. But I tend to go high-cut these days because I've got a big ole bullet scar. You know how it is.~~

Beka grins, a little smug. "I knew about the invitations. So, they don't get like a free pass once they bite you? And, you don't automatically turn into a thrall or a sheep? If I were to drink holy water, would I then not taste good? This is all fascinating...purely hypothetically of course."

Her head cocks. "Cross? Does it have to be, you know, sanctified?"

~~Bullet scar? All right. This is news to me. Who am I killing for this?~~

Tara bites her lip. "Um, except someone told me that Angelus had told them he needs an invitation every time. Which is not actually true. Once he's in, he can get in any time he likes, unless you do a deinvitation spell. And no, you don't thrall or anything. And the holy water would make your blood burn in their mouth, so they wouldn't drain you." Her face falls. "Of course, it wouldn't stop them from snapping your neck, but at least they wouldn't turn you into a vampire."

"Any two bits of wood will do, I think. I'm not sure about other religious symbols. It might have to be the religion of the vampire."

~~I got shot through the heart and died. Girlfriend flayed the guy alive, so you're a bit late. Did I mention I don't like guns? Also, I have Issues.~~

Beka smiles reassuringly. "I know he can get in for good once he's been in. That's why I only invited him into my ship, which has excellent tech-locks. He'd have to get help to get into that. And..."

Abruptly she realizes that she's talking about Angelus and Tara probably knows it. Her bangs fall in her eyes as she carefully doesn't look at Tara. "Well. I don't want to piss Angelus off by burning him if he's just doing what I freely offer." Nodding, she continues, "A cross might be better, or a holy water pistol if I can get one." He likes pain...he might even enjoy it.

OK. No need for the killing. I promise never to bring my weapons around you. Ever. Honey, we all have Issues

Tara smiles softly. "It's like anything... risky, Beka. You just need a way to make sure you're safe. I'd suggest a safeword, but if he got caught up he might not hear it. A cross to the side of his face would get his attention, and he'd heal in moments."

~~Thank you. I really appreciate that. I'll let you know if you accidentally push any of my buttons.~~

Beka laughs aloud. "Safeword? With Angelus? That would entirely defeat the purpose. And probably insult the hell out of him." Then she looks serious.

"Also, it'd imply things about what we're doing together that aren't true and that I don't want to deal with. He's not my Master. Or even my boyfriend. He's just a vampire I like to ... I don't know you well enough to spit out that word ... screw around with. That's why I asked about thrall."

~~Would hate to hurt you. In any way. Ever.~~

Tara nods. "I don't think anything with Angelus is ever really safe. And sometimes that's what you want."

~~Thank you. Although there are good ways. Judicious use of teeth is perfectly acceptable.~~

Beka smiles. "Yes. Precisely." She taps her finger on the table three times, then stops, nods, as if she's made a decision. "Thank you. For not judging."

The last of the coffee has gone warm, so she drinks it down before it can chill. There's one last thing on her mind. "Some friends and I want to explore our personal ethics. It may involve doing things we technically shouldn't do, or at least doing them in less moderation than is ... decorous. We need someone to keep an eye on us, help us understand our mistakes and successes. Someone who would help us if we got in trouble with Admin for trying to figure out who we are. ~~Also someone cute and totally fun to hang out with.~~" Beka gives her a slow smile. "Would you be that someone?"

~~Noted. Agreed. Amended. I rather like pain myself. But... I don't assume. Even when we're talking about vampire bites.~~

"I would be honoured," Tara replies shyly. "Is this an official school club, or just a gathering of like-minded people?"

~~It is good of you not to assume. Am fragile and broken, and have been hurt too many times.~~

"Delighted, then." Beka grins, then winks. "Like-minded moral relativists. Maybe we'll unofficially call ourselves 'Shades of Gray'."

~~I understand. Believe me. Broken goes around. Consider yourself added to my 'watch and protect' list.~~

Tara looks at the clock. "We should get to class."

Stepping into the Perk, Shane slips off her sunglasses and hooks them into the front of her shirt. Heading over to the counter, she orders her usual Black Death and then takes it over to a seat by one of the windows.

Drawing her feet up into the chair, she cradles the cup in her hands, sipping at it occasionally as she watches the people pass by on the sidewalk. There are gray circles under her eyes and she looks tired but at the same time strangely peaceful.

The Perk, Friday morning

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