fandomhigh | Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying; Week 10

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]

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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.

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?//

Setsuna halted a moment to consider the note that she really almost expected to eventually arrive. Upon reading it, her eyes immediately narrowed, then she sighed, and scribbled out a response, sending it over in the usual low-flying bird.

//I have no idea what date you are talking about.//

One was quickly sent back.

//But Ranma told me you were gonna have one. :x
~Kaoru//

Followed by a sneeze.

Setsuna frowned at the note, wrote something, crossed it out, then wrote something else.

//~~It was not a date.~~

...He said it was a date?//

Kaoru scribbled something back, Hikaru laying over the desk watching him, holding a pencil up like he's going to strike.

//Yea. He was pretty nervous about-

Go on a date with us Setsuna!!! :D//

And he did, smirking while scribbling the last part at the bottom and sliding it back before Kaoru could get to it, to finish it normally.

That? Would be a facepalm. If Alianne-sensei asked, Setsuna was prepared to say something along the lines of 'Oh, nothing, just an annoying little bug.'

But she was blushing at this point, and she bit her lips as she wrote back.

//He talked to you about it? What else did he say, besides that he was nervous?

...And I'm not going on a date with you. XD//

Kaoru managed to write out everything he wanted to say this time before another steal from Hikaru.

//He kept saying that if he messed up, it would be his last chance. Stuff like that.

You're breaking my heart, Setsuna! :<//

My, wasn't this a nice mix of emotions. Thankfully, her response worked for both.

//You can't possibly be serious.... XD//

Kaoru looked down at the note and paused. Who was she saying that to..? He couldn't see why she'd say that to his side of the note. It was quite plausible of Ranma to think that way....

But while he was thinking, Hikaru was already at the note again, having a little too much fun...

//Of course.. My love for you is like the never ceasing tide, like the sun's love for the sky... undying!//

~~and here I die, because this is so bad XD~~

He waited to see if she'd turn around after this one, his amusement clearly gushing from ever feature.

There was a slight glance over her shoulder, and Setsuna rolled her eyes to roll even the mere possibility that she could start thinking that he was being serious right out of her head. Because he so obviously wasn't.

She wrote something down, crossed it out, and changed her approach.

//~~Okay, which book did you steal that gem from?~~

Oh! Can it be? Do my eyes decieve me? That you should say those sweet, sweet words to me now that I have dreamed so often you would whisper in my ear? Be still, my heart, for you will give me away!//

..Setsuna had read many a romance novel in her time. Of course, in retrospect, she was about ready to headdesk her brains out.

If it wouldn't have been completely out of place, Hikaru would have stood up and hugged Setsuna for playing along. Instead, he sent another back.

// <3 //

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

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