Tex Williams made his opinion clear .bree.

[ADRIAN NAMIR]

SMOKING:
Should we as a nation have stronger warning labels on the packages of cigarettes?
For and Against
Winner gets an A

Zooming in on the blackboard with his lens, Adrian Namir almost wanted to laugh. Obviously the answer was suppose to be yes. That was who everyone was assuming would win, right? I mean, it was a shoe in. Obvious, the tobacco industry was run by a bunch of bureaucratic Nazi zombies, otherwise the things would have a giant skull and cross bones put on the front. Wasn't it obvious that it was poison.

It was a topical issue they were all suppose to research over the weekend. He doubted any of his peers did, because the answer was obvious. It was shoved down there throats everyday in commercials, movies, magazines, whatever else kids are into these days. Heck, you would actually get fined for lighting up outside in the streets of New York, because of second hand smoke, though that was about as enforced as jaywalking...

Anyway, that wasn't the point. The point was nobody was going to stand up for the cigarette companies, even the vast majority of these students were in fact smokers. Adrian himself wasn't a fan. The smell of cigarettes always seem to evoke one of his numbingly painful migraine head aches, and the taste was rancid. But he did hate a hypocrite, like something fierce. Raising his hand, Adrian turned his camera off, his deep inveigling voice calling baritonely over the mass buzz of his classmates. "Against." Rising out of his seat, Adrian sauntered to his podium, waiting for one of his class mates to come and do verbal battle with him. Many looked surprised that he had broken his usual silence, while others did there best to look offended by his stance.

He knew he didn't have the look of a worthy opponent, though he did rather like it better that way. Tee shirt under flannel, over jeans, beanie on top, and converse. Just another crunchy hipster, trying to be cool. His dark hair was uncombed, and he had two days growth on his chin and upper lip. And, given the tired expression on his face, he looked as though he might fall asleep on the podium he was slouched against.

Finally a girl came up, two years younger than he. Electives weren't ordered by year orientated, though she looked like she should be in his. With a bemused raise of his eyebrow, Adrian waved for her to go on ahead first. After all, he wasn't in any rush to get his a. "Ladies first."

She had his foremost attention. Eyes. Ears. Even posture was in the pretty girls direction, as Adrian mentally geared himself up for what he hoped would be a good fight. He liked his challenges hard and trying, because there was nothing really less satisfying about an easy win.

[BREE BENGAL]

Bree wasn't a big fan of school. She didn't need to know half the stuff they taught, and it wasn't like she was stupid if she couldn't recite the entire Consitution of the United States of America. In fact, it actually really didn't matter, right? It's not like the government or the people actually followed most of that, at least not anymore. Yeah, the world was full of hypocrites, and everyone else was too stupid to realize it. Of course, Bree was a hypocrite, too, but that was all part of the plan.

But anyways, if there was any class she did like, it was this one. Debates really were pointless, especially on politically controversial topics like this, but that's what made it so amusing. The fact that they were spending time trying to sway opinions on things that no one's opinion would be swayed on easily, like gay rights or religon, was downright hilarious. An amusing waste of time and "precious" school hours. Honestly, Bree didn't think anyone would be stupid enough to go against it, seeing as most of this class was probably for it. Bree would probably go for it, because it was easy, despite the fact that she smoked.

But people always seemed to surprise Bree, in the end.

When that one quiet kid went up, everyone seemed to be stunned. Bree rolled her eyes, unimpressed. He probably thought he was so cool. No one else was getting up, so she silently volunteered, standing up even though a few hands were starting crto creep into the air. Recieving a rather shocked look from the teacher at her attire, or lack thereof, she walked up to the podium, not bothering to adjust the pack of cigarettes slightly hanging out of her orange bra top. "For. Obviously." Smiling with as much fake innocence as she could muster, she began her opinion, not even acknowledging the "brave" kid, or that he allowed her to go first.

"I think we should have stronger warning labels on the package because, well, why the hell shouldn't we?" Ignoring the teacher, she continued. "I mean, everyone does know the risk of smoking, even smokers, seeing as we shove the risks down their throats on a daily basis." Wording, it was all about wording and leaving an impression. "But I'm pretty sure the tobacco companies won't let us know all the ingredients in their products, and what if someone was allergic to one of the ingredients? I'm not sure, but I think a prolonged CHANCE of death is better than an instant one." Shrugging, she added, "If we know the nutrition facts of a Big Mac- which can be just as deadly- we should know exactly what's in a cigarette. Or else the corperations and government really do want to kill us all."

Yes, Bree Bengal could make a statement, whether it was in appearance or words. "Your turn," she said to the kid, doubting he could come up with an argument that people would agree with.

[/justify]

notes; sorry this is bad, morning are laame.
outfit

[ADRIAN NAMIR]

Adrian watched as she delivered her speech, keeping his face poised with interest, despite her argument being a little rocky. Obviously she was just underestimating the situation, which was her first mistake. Adrian had seen this type before. The pretty girls who could be cut throat, but didn't because their reputation proceeded them. And Bree Bengal had that sort of reputation to be sure. She informed him it was his turn, and he nodded in thanks. Elbows propped against his podium, Adrian seemed to chew on his words before expelling them, hands folding and unfolding as he took his time. Many of his peers thought him to be done, losing the battle, and buying time, only making himself look more foolish. "Interesting." He pronounced, his tone even and flat. "Not the argument I would have gone with. Bold. Impressive." It almost sounded like he was being sarcastic, but his face held a strange sincerity to it which made reading his face difficult.

Clearing his throat, Adrian's hands rubbed against one another, a little smile appearing on his face. "My opponent brings up an interesting fact though, about fast food. Tell me, Bree, should we start putting firmer labeling on them? Or chocolate? Energy drinks? Pizza? Skateboards? Cars? Staircases? Like you said, no one here is unaware of the dangers of smoking because it's shoved into our faces constantly. Who here still has their D.A.R.E. tee shirt from sixth grade? I do. But if you start putting a skull and cross bones on everything bad for you, soon there will be nothing left. And say, just say, that they don't go crazy with the label. Should we still be forced to endure being treated like retarded- sorry-" He waved with an air of theatre to his teacher, a little wry grin forming as he politically corrected himself. "Like mentally handicapped children. We know it's bad, no one is stopping, so what is the point?"

He was enjoying himself a great deal. Flashing his little smirk to his opponent, he continued. "Instead of focusing on something as ridiculous as a label, perhaps Father Government should be looking into research being done on big, bad, tobacco. Like, for instance, Bree you would say obesity is a bit of a problem in the country, right? Smokers in general are thinner than nonsmokers, even when they ingest more calories. In fact research has shown that overweight individuals are shown to comprised of only 38.9% of smokers. Compare this to the 49.5% ex-smokers and 44.1% who have never smoked a day in there lives." People were impressed by statistics, even if they didn't understand them, thus Adrian had been careful to do his research. Grinning at his opponent, he gave her a wink, adding the final touch of mentioning his credibility. "You can fact check me, if you want. Australian Bureau of Statistics January 1994 report entitled “1980-90 National Health Survey: Lifestyle and Health Australia”, Kentucky State University. Lee. C.J.: Panemangalore. M. “Obesity Among Selected Elderly Females In Central Kentucky.”, and “Cigarette Smoking, Exercise and High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol” funded by the American Heart Association...."

Leaning back against his podium lazily, Adrian had to admit he was quite excited for her response in return. After a moment of silence, he nodded, mimicking her blase tone earlier. "Your turn."

[BREE BENGAL]

During the whole "argument" Adrian presented, Bree listened, but stood in a slouch with her arms folded across her chest. She rolled her eyes at parts, realizing what he was doing, and that it was working. People looked around at each other, shocked. Oh, cool, he could use big words and actual sources and statistics and make himself look smarter. Big. Fucking. Deal. She was unimpressed, as per usual. Very few people could impress her, one of them being Cash, but she didn't want to think about the only guy who could make her truly laugh at the moment.

Bree looked at all the impressed people and sighed loudly, attempting to get everyone's attention. "Wow, my 'opponent' can make his argument sound better. How inventive. You guys do know that Hilter made himself sound like a good guy, right?" Hypocracy was a sadly human trait of Bree's. So the use of a big and kind of scary statement like that did sort of make her seem like the better person, which she doubted. There was no such thing as 'better' or 'worse' people. Everyone as a whole was horrible, and the only difference was that some people, like Bree, were aware of this fact, and some people, like basically everyone else, were blissfully unaware. At least, they thought they were 'blissfully' unaware. It made people too trusting, to be able to see some nonexistant good in everyone, but- she was getting distracted.

"How's that for 'bold'?" she said quietly to Adrian, then turned back to her audience. "But I do agree that eveything is potentially dangerous, yet people still do it. Why? Because people don't care. People will do what they want to do because the simply want to do it. Risks, whether healthy or unhealthy, are a common practice amongst us." She scanned the room, considering what else she could do. Bree was very bold, indeed. The problem was that not everyone saw what she was trying to make them see: how horrible people really were. As much as she referred to the human race as if she weren't affiliated, she still knew she was human, and that obviously other people saw that part.

"Someone can fact check him, yes, and realize those statistics are correct, but who honestly gives a fuck?" The teacher looked pretty pissed, but she contined before she could say anything. "People also like to eat food. Is that such a bad thing?" Realizing she was getting a little off topic, she added, "My point is, go ahead and put stronger warning labels on the box. Watch maybe a few people decide to quit smoking or not start at all. But the thing is that the tobacco industries won't ever go out of business." Hmm, okay, how could she swing this?

Oh, yeah, that's how.

She reached down her 'shirt' and pulled out the cigarette package there. "It's empty, ma'am," she said the the astonished teacher. "Just wanted to bring in an example, that's all." Which was bullshit, considering it was only empty because Bree smoked her last one before coming to this class. Her perfume hid the smell, though, and the gum she was chewing made it even more unnoticeable, except to people with very stong noses. "See here, it has a sign that says in bold letters, taking up half of the front of the box, 'Cigarettes can cause cancer'. Yes, we all know this. Smoking can cause cancer and second-hand-smoke and yellow teeth and bad breath and all of that. We know, and we still smoke. Because the thing is that people hang on to the 'can'. Hope is one of those funny things. It can guide people to make stupid desicions, with the hope that everything turns out alright. If it always causes cancer or birth defects or lung issues, then maybe the number of smokers would go down immensely." She doubted she had ever said this many words at once in all her life, but she continued on, finishing up her long-winded argument. "So statistics like Adrian here has presented are the reason people do smoke, or eat a lot of food, as you mentioned. Because they take the risk with the hope that they are part of the percent that don't get cancer or become obese. Because people think and know that there will always be that 'can' instead of an 'always.'"

Bree was pretty proud of herself, to be honest. To her, that was actually a good argument. Then she realized: Oh, she had put effort into it. Yeah, that might have been the reason. Oh well. Stepping aside without a word, she awaited the response.

[/justify]