ext_31317 ([identity profile] tricksy-spy.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-09-26 10:10 am
Entry tags:

Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying; Week 4, Period 3

Aly was wandering around the Danger Shop, approaching each student to greet them and just happy they'd received her handwavy email informing of the location change.  As everyone took a chair, she smiled at them all and perched on the edge of the table at the front of the room.

"Good morning.  Today is the first day we're going to talk about - and practice - some of the actual tools a spy uses."  She grinned, excited.  "Lockpicking and pickpocketing aren't just used by spies, of course.  But an agent can end up in a multitude of situations where a little manual dexterity is helpful."  She winked.  "Some of you already have experience in this."  Aly nodded at Briar, Sakurazaki, Skif.  "And for you, I have something a bit more difficult planned."

"But before we get into the actual practicing, let's go over the basics of how, exactly, you pick a lock or someone's pocket."  With that she took them through a short but information-filled lecture on pickpocketing and picking locks.

She gestured them all to gather around the table.  "Now, these are all training tools for learning.  Take a turn at them, see what you can do.  A third of picking locks is the theory, the other two-thirds is practice and steady hands."  Aly smiled mischieviously around the table.  "And I don't want to hear anyone complaining this is too hard.  I learned how by the time I was four.  There are sets of lockpicks on the table.  Feel free to try out a couple different ones.  And for those of you who want or need more a challenge, I have some much more difficult locks over in that corner."  She pointed to where there was an assortment of pretty much any type of lock possible.  Including one that didn't actually look like it needed a key.

"Over here," she led them over to another part of the room that was hung with handkerchiefs plus several fitting dummies wearing many-pocketed clothes decorated with bells.  "You can practice on the dummies if you like.  Steady hands will keep the bells from ringing, though you want to remember that if you're doing this in truth, your mark will be moving more than the dummies will.  You also can practice with a partner and handkerchiefs."  She winked.  "Stealing the handkerchieves.  Other partner-related activites are for outside the class.  I also have a scenario set up in here with 'real' people if you want to try your skills out."

She came back to the main table with a smile.  "Right then, any questions before we start?"  She paused to answer any that came up.  "Now, I have one last thing for you.  Part of being aware of your surroundings at all times is knowing who's near you and what they're doing there."  Grinning, she reached into her jacket and pulled out a yo-yo, a cellphone, a deck of cards, and a pen.  Looking at the pen more closely, she chuckled.  "Ooh, a naked pen.  Nice.  These belong to four members of your class."  She looked as innocent as possible.  "You guys can come up and get these at any time.  And keep a closer eye on where someone puts their hands."

"Finally, I'll have these tools out in my office whenever I'm in there.  If you wish to get more practice, feel free to stop by."  Aly grinned.  "You don't even have to talk to me if you don't want to.  Next week we're back in the classroom, and your homework is to keep practicing.  Just don't pick-pocket your classmates."

[OOC: Trying to pick a classmate's pocket is going to make Aly cranky and she will actually give detention for it.  Ping me in the OOC thread if this is what you're looking for.  Thanks to [personal profile] bridge_carson, [profile] futurebucs_star, [profile] weissguy_, and [profile] socksofcool for letting Aly pick their respective pockets.  Feel free to go nuts modding the locks, lockpicks, handkerchieves, whatever.  If you want to try the DangerShop scenario, feel free to mod the people or I can play them.  OCD's up!  Play away]

Re: SAS 9/26: Picking Locks: The Beginners

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-09-27 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
Anders caught the packet, his expression awed. "Seriously? Wow!"

Re: SAS 9/26: Picking Locks: The Beginners

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-09-27 02:32 am (UTC)(link)
Anders laughed. "Just don't try and pick any of the locks Bridge makes. That's a really bad idea."

Re: SAS 9/26: Picking Locks: The Beginners

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-09-27 02:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Well, for one," Anders said, "they're electronic. And when they're working right they give you candy. Plus he's got them set up so if you try to mess with them or get around the keycodes, you get teleported somewhere else."

Maybe he shouldn't have said that.

Re: SAS 9/26: Picking Locks: The Beginners

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-09-27 02:59 am (UTC)(link)
"I've never tried to find out," Anders said. "Bridge said you could end up getting sucked through locker 327, or in the basement -- that was worse when there was a giant squid living in it -- or somewhere else. Maybe anywhere."

Re: SAS 9/26: Picking Locks: The Beginners

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-09-27 03:16 am (UTC)(link)
"Don't do that," Anders said, almost plaintively. "You're way too cool of a teacher to end up disappearing."

Re: SAS 9/26: Picking Locks: The Beginners

[identity profile] cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com 2006-09-27 03:31 am (UTC)(link)
"I will," Anders said, and bounced a little bit in a manner not at all unlike Blair. "Today, even. Wow, thanks again!"