Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying; Week 10 - Period 3

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly was looking very, very amused as the class came in.  For those following the home game, that and the fact that there were still piles of clothing, costumes, and makeup in the back might be a reason to be worried.

"Good morning all," she said with a smile as they sat down.  "Last week we discussed disguises, and all of you put one together.  This week, we're going to talk about what makes your disguise believable - your cover story."  She grinned.  "Yes, normally you do this the other way around.  This way is more fun.  What you're going to do today is make up a cover story - a legend in the technical term - to fit the disguise you devised last week."

"Spies rarely admit they're spies.  Telling your mark that you're spying on them is hardly a way to gain their trust and find out their secrets.  And before anyone points it out, this is definitely a rule I've been breaking since I've been here.  But on the other hand, this isn't my world, and I'm not working as a spy here.  At home, very few people know what I do.  Or rather very few people connect me to the Queen's spymaster."

"When you go undercover, you will succeed only if you convince everyone around you that you're a different person.  And you can only do that if every detail is consistent.  Every single bit of information from the trash in your pockets to your glasses to your story has to match.  If you're masquerading as a dissident student, you probably shouldn't be driving a fancy car or wearing expensive shoes.  Be consistent.  And blend in.  The key isn't to be quirky and distinctive.  The key is to be nondescript."

She moved over to the whiteboard and started writing down some bullet points. 

• Develop your legend - your backstory.  Keeping details close to your actual life - at least at first - can help you remember and sound truthful.
• Decide on a current cover: name, job, purpose
• Choose an appropriate look or disguise.
• Gather pocket litter or other props to support the disguise.  Each item needs to be appropriate to the persona. 
  
• Learn local customs, accents, slang. 
  
• Match your vocabulary/language to your character's education.

Five Tips for Maintaining Consistency

• Use correct jargon for your assumed profession/role
• Know how much travel and life experience your character has. 
  
• Avoid personal discussions about your pretend family.
• Close questioning sessions quickly.  Avoid the questions by giving the information before it's asked for and by giving enough information to shut down further questions.
• If you think you're about to be exposed, get out of the one on one conversation.  Invite someone to join the conversational group or suggest a coffee or trip.  Anything to give you a chance to lower the pressure and get back into character.

Aly went through these points quickly but thoroughly, stopping to make sure everyone understood. 

"Very well then.  You have two tasks for today.  The first is to develop a cover based on the disguise you came up with last week.  I don't expect anything too elaborate, but I want to know what you're thinking about.  The second is a homework assignment.  Next class, I like you all to hand in a paper detailing a cover that you could use.  You can feel free to make the situation you're going undercover in, but I want the situation detailed, the cover, how you're taking what we discussed today in class into account, and the disguise you'd use.  At least three pages, I'd think."

She looked around.  "Any questions?"

[OOC: I don't know how much I'm going to be around as I still have a killer migraine, but I'll tag Aly in as much as possible.  Credit again to the Handbook of Practical Spying for helping put together the lesson.  OCD is up]

Comments

SAS 11/14 - Sign In

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

One on top of the other!

Re: SAS 11/14 - Sign In

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Setsuna Sakurazaki

Re: SAS 11/14 - Sign In

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

S.T. Anders

SAS 11/14 - Notes and Questions

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Questions on the lecture? Feel free to ask. God knows, it may be nonsensical

Re: SAS 11/14 - Notes and Questions

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Setsuna is quickly, intently keeping notes. She feels incredibly focused on class today, too, which is a relief for her. She hated being distrated in one of her favourite classes.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Notes and Questions

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

Even though they were feeling under the weather, wrapped up in an extra coat each, the twins couldn't pass up an oportunity to see Setsuna flail a little bit.

A note slid over to Setsuna.
//So, how'd the date go?//

Re: SAS 11/14 - Notes and Questions

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders was busy scribbling notes -- actually on the lecture, and started putting together a backstory for that disguise from last week, possibly halfway wishing that he'd put on a baseball uniform just to make his life easier. Every now and then he'd reach up to scratch at the bandage on his neck, then go back to scribbling, tongue poking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Notes and Questions

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Because she was 12 Aly couldn't help stopped at one point to comment. "Topless vampire issue?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at the bandage.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Notes and Questions

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

Weiss considered sharing his own cover story from the fetish club in Vegas, but he thought it best to share privately after class.

SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Yep, the disguise you chose last week. She wants to see a basic cover and legend for it. Where will that disguise be worn to help you infiltrate?

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Setsuna raised her hand before starting. "Alianne-sensei? Technically speaking, if you recall, I had two disguises last week. Which should I use?"

She was hoping she could get away with doing the Crow. That would be a lot easier to explain than the Bunny Suit.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly chuckled. "I would be fine with either. Though certainly the crow would make your job creating a legend quite a bit easier."

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

Schrodinger clicked his heels together in his Hitler Youth uniform in front of Aly and saluted. "I was thinking I could infiltrate an evil Neo-nazi orginization. Although I guess that's kind of redudant."

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly nodded. "And the rest of your details? What's your story?"

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

Teddy thumped his head down on his desk. "Why did I do a drag queen disguise?"

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly patted Teddy on the shoulder. "Because you like going that extra mile to impress your teacher and classmates?" she said with a grin.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

"We were planning on disguising ourselves first as... not twins, and second, as record producers for a big lable. We can investigate all the corrupt ways the record companies are using their artist's money and profits." Hikaru nodded.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly grinned. "I see. I like the choice on staying away from being recognised as twins. So how are you going to prove that you actually are record producers? You'll be talking to people in the industry so you'll need some sort of credentials." She looked at them expectantly.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

Weiss raised his hand. "Um, Aliane, I think I should skip this part. I had to go undercover this weekend. I can tell you about it after class." Weiss looked vaguely mortified.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly raised an eyebrow, looking amused. "I'll look forward to hearing about it."

Re: SAS 11/14 - Putting together the Cover

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

Hamlet who totally did stuff last week, looked over the one sleeved jacket and water pistol he'd chosen last week.

"I suppose that I could try passing myself off as a one-armed man, on the run from someone who wishes to kill me."

SAS 11/14 - Talk to Aly

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

After class, she's around for questions, concerns, anything really.

Re: SAS 11/14 - Talk to Aly

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

Weiss walked up to Aly. "Okay, so... Greg Sanders, John Dorian, and I thought we overheard a murder. And we went to investigate and we found all this... well, sex club stuff. So JD and I went undercover at a fetish club to get information..." Weiss paled. "Our cover was a complete success."

Re: SAS 11/14 - Talk to Aly

[greenmagebriar.livejournal.com]

"Ma'am? I wasn't in class last week because I had to go home for the week."

SAS 11/14 - OOC

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

For one must be clear when one is finish. *crawls back into bed*