prefect debates!

[ugly-old-hat.livejournal.com]

Starter Debate Questions:

1) How will you make your House a better place?
2) Are you experienced? Have you ever been experienced?
3) Teamwork is important. How do you get along with the members of your House?
4) If you were to get your ass kicked, who would you want to do it and why?
5) Who is your hero and why?
6) Where my lasers at?


Rules for the Debate:

A. Any persons currently nominated for Prefect may choose to answer or not answer any questions asked.

B. Any Hogwarts student or staff member, including those running for Prefect, may pose additional questions to any or all nominees. If you would like to ask nominees questions, please ask them now ((OOCly: post them in a comment or comments to this post. Be sure to indicate in your subject line that your comment contains questions, and if they are directed to specific candidates, please indicate that, as well.)) Keep in mind that nominees are not required to answer any questions. Voters may choose to take failure to answer any way they would like.

C. Question answering begins immediately, and lasts until the time the Polls go up, which will be approximately 8:00 p.m. Monday, August 24, 2009. ((OOCly that's 8 pm Eastern Daylight Time. ICly it wouldn't make any sense to specify a time zone since they're all at Hogwarts XD ))

Comments

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

Mikami had been expecting something like this, and managed not to show much of a reaction apart from going very still for a moment. "I believed," he said, in the flattest tone possible, "that I was acting for the good of humanity."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Which, of course, entailed killing many humans without recourse to the legal system?" I press. "I see. This is good for humanity."

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"That's not what I said. I believed that Kira chose me to enact divine judgement, and I was wrong. I'm not even saying that I deserve a second chance after what I've done, but since by the nature of this place I have one, it's my duty to make some contribution to this world. Call it an atonement, if you like."

He probably ought to have stopped there, but he didn't. "And you're making it sound as though I killed indiscriminately. Those 'many humans' were primarily violent criminals who would have gone on to end more innocent lives than I ever did. Speaking of which, how many people have you murdered, Mello?"

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Including my own?" I ask. "I don't see how that matters since I wasn't proclaiming to uphold justice. I was after your precious Kira and you. It was about proof and not getting trapped and killed." I shove my hands in my pockets. "You would have killed me, without knowing anything about me, just on Kira's word."

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"You don't see how it matters?" Mikami shook his head. "Being indifferent to morality doesn't keep it from applying to you. Are you claiming to uphold justice now? You should answer that before you talk about my hypocrisy."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"So, Teru, you feel that I am unqualified to point out your hypocrisy because I do not practice any of my own? Or because I don't claim to uphold justice?" I lean forward a little. "Or is it because you know I'm right?"

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"Again, that's not what I said, Mello." The tone was heavy with condescension. He resisted the urge to say 'Mihael' - if this exchange wasn't destroying his credibility as a candidate, having Mello hex his mouth shut again probably would. "What are you doing now, if not claiming to uphold justice?"

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"I am doing exactly the same thing I was doing then. Beating Near," I say, leaning back. "And you have yet to answer why I am unqualified to point out your hypocrisy."

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"...I don't think any of us needed to hear that," Mikami muttered. "All right," he added, raising his voice again, "I'll spell this out. You claimed that your own crimes are irrelevant here because you don't care about upholding justice. Leaving aside the question of whether that's a valid argument, if you're so indifferent to morality, what was the point of your original question to me?"

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Leaving aside any morality at all," I say, mocking his tone, "the point of the original question is to point out that your actions tend toward not only the fanatical but you will use weak arguments to justify those actions until such time as proof is presented that you are in error. At that time, your actions will continue extreme, though self-destructive, as a good fanatic will do."

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"I see. Well, we all know what I used to be now." In the worst possible terms, but there was no way he could deny any of it. Damn Mello. The only way he'd be elected now would be if no one had been listening to them. "Is there anything else you'd like to ask me? Preferably something that's not about my hair."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Why would I say anything about your hair? Are you vain now, too?" I ask. God, he's really gone off the deep end.

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"That was sarcasm, Mello." He gave a pointed look towards Ryuk. "Some of my alleged supporters appear fascinated by it."

He was starting to prefer that to this, though. At least there was hope of rising above the 'prettiest boy in Hogwarts' business.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Sarcasm? Really? One of us wouldn't know it if it bit us on the ass," I say, glaring at him. "And, it's your fault that idiot shinigami likes you. He finds you rather amusing, I'm sure."

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

Mikami continued glaring right back. "Yes, I'm familiar with his type of amusement. Do you have another question?"

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Just the one I originally asked and you have yet to answer," I reply, pulling out a chocolate bar. "Just what are the values of Hufflepuff that you claim to know about and uphold?" I unwrap the bar as I talk and take a bite when I'm finished.

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"You didn't ask that question in any way that indicated you sincerely wanted an answer," Mikami snapped. "The values of Hufflepuff, traditionally, are hard work, justice and loyalty, and I suppose you're about to claim I have no right to speak to the 'justice' part."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"You seem a little paranoid, Teru. And, you still haven't answered the question. If it is too difficult, I could rephrase it. Or, we can put this inability to answer a direct question down to being a lawyer." God, he's so easy.

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"You asked me what the values of my House which I intend to uphold are, and I told you. If that's not the question you meant to ask then I suggest you do rephrase it." He took another long breath, forcing himself not to raise his voice. "And I'll thank you not to use my given name." The insult to his profession, he told himself, was beneath his notice. He'd have to ignore it, anyway, if he wanted to get through this without snapping.

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Fine, then, X-Kira," I say easily. This really is too much fun. "And, just how do you intend to uphold those values? Through fear?" This reaction should be amusing.

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

Breathe, Teru. Don't let him win, you can do this, you're not thirteen any more. You're not back there.

"No. That was never what I intended. Through setting an example."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"Ah, example," I say. I take a step and wave my hand about importantly, like I've seen lawyers do. "And, let the record show just what Mikami Teru's example is. He has killed, in cold blood, a vast number of individuals, stating it was for the cause of justice and righteousness."

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

"Whereas you, Mello -" don't say Mihael, it's not worth it "- admit you didn't have even that much justification." His hands tightened at his sides. "And I didn't mean I'd encourage anyone to imitate that."

[mello-n-choco.livejournal.com]

"As we've already..." I have to stop because all of the sudden there's a fucking sharp pain shooting up my arm. I turn to glare, as much as I can, at the fucking samurai who has me in a joint lock.

"Now, Mello," he says in that obnoxious way he has that sounds like he's always laughing at something, "let's not air our personal grievances in public. I'm sure there are things that you've done that you would rather not be brought up, aren't there?"

The fucking way he said it made it sound like he knew something. Other than getting thrown around by him, I couldn't think of anything. "I'm not the one running for public..." Fucking hell, he didn't have to twist. I glare at him more, but he's looking at Mikami.

"Mikami-san, I do believe we've discussed your experiences and that you have learned much from them. It is my opinion that you you are quite able to conduct yourself with honour."

And with that, he pulls us both down onto the chairs. "If you wish to keep your arm, I would suggest being quite," he whispered in my ear and then laughed.

Fucking hell.

[righteous-pen.livejournal.com]

From the stage, all Mikami could see was that Yukimura had taken hold of Mello's wrist. The look on Mello's face, though, was quite expressive.

He bowed, finding himself able to breathe again. "Thank you, Yukimura-san. I am - very grateful for your endorsement."