fandomhigh | Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying; Week 15

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spies and spying

Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying; Week 15 - Period 3 (Final)

Aly surveyed the class with a grin as they came in. "Morning, all. Welcome to your last class. Hopefully you've had fun this term and learned a bit as well. I enjoyed teaching you all."

"It was difficult to think up an exam for this class. Most of the time when you're spying, if you survive, you passed." She grinned. "If you get the information you need, you succeed, but staying alive passes. Since I don't think that would be the best idea in the world to do that, I simply have a few questions and one last memory game."

"First, when do you think spying is appropriate and has this changed from your opinion at the beginning of the class."

"And second, in your opinion, what are the most important tools of a spy. How would you continuing building your ability to use these tools if you were to continue training as a spy after this class?"

She glanced at the stash of pens that were wriggling about where they were captured in a bag. "Since our pens and books seem to be rebelling, let's just go ahead and do this orally. I'll ask a few follow up questions because I would like to see how you're thinking this morning."

"Once you've answered both these questions, give the jewel game one more try, and then have a good rest of finals week. I'll hopefully see you next term."

[OOC: Seriously you guys were an absolutely fabulous class. I love you all like pie. A bit of OCD is coming up. And omg, this was always in the comm. Really.]

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"And second, in your opinion, what are the most important tools of a spy. How would you continuing building your ability to use these tools if you were to continue training as a spy after this class?"

"The most important tool for a spy is her perception," Setsuna said, feeling rather smart for that answer. "Without perception, you have nothing. And, umm..." She started to lose a little juice when it came to elaboration, fidgeting slightly. She still found explaining spying difficult; it was just...something you did, really. "You continue building your perception by making sure you never stop using it, and, in fact, always try to make it better."

"How do you make it better?" Aly asked, feeling for Setsuna's difficulty explaining the actuality of spying since she ran into it too.

Setsuna mentally facepalmed. Blarg. Explaining. If Alianne-sensei had asked her to explain how chi can be used to create a more powerful attack or how to divide the wind just right when executing a Shinmei Ryuu technique, she's be good as gold. But you couldn't explain spying...

"Uhh, well....you practise," Setsuna said, starting lamely. "You make sure you're constantly keeping your awareness sharp and consise, always looking around and noticing details and just...practising at noticing things."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

tricksy-spy.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 00:52 (UTC) - Expand

"The most important tool is your own common sense," Aeryn says. "There will be some instances where you don't have the usual tools available, or you have to gather information when you hadn't been expecting to. I was able to use things I learned from this class to complete an assignment in Criminal Justice class just by remembering what I learned about seeming like you belong there and playing off of that. If you can keep your mind sharp, you can take it from there."

"If you pay attention to the world around you, you can adapt to the circumstances?" Aly rephrased questioningly.

"Yes," Aeryn answers. "If you can't adapt, you'll usually be discovered easily and it's all over."

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

tricksy-spy.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 01:11 (UTC) - Expand

Weiss considered this. "I'm the most important tool. My body, my mind, and my control over both. If I'm going to blend in, I have to know who I am and I have to know who I'm being and I have to know them both completely."

Aly nodded. "Very good. Which is more important? Who you are? Or who you are being?"

"His mouth. A spy needs to convince people he's not what he is, needs to get people to do things they wouldn't, and talk his way back to safety when things go bad."

Aly raised an eyebrow. "Do you consider that your most important tool in spying?"

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com - 2006-12-19 19:54 (UTC) - Expand

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

tricksy-spy.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 01:55 (UTC) - Expand

"A spy's mind is the most important thing," Anders said without hesitation. "Lockpicks and costumes and all that, that's just gear. It won't do you frak-all good if you don't know how to read a situation and remember things. And people. And the layouts of places. How to get around. Information, 'cause writing it down isn't always safe."

Aly grinned, delighted. "Excellent, Anders. Now, how do I talk you into joining my spy service once you're done with school?"

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 01:31 (UTC) - Expand

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

tricksy-spy.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 01:43 (UTC) - Expand

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 01:50 (UTC) - Expand

"Definitely not wearing makeup," Teddy grumbled. "Being able to think quickly and logically in any situation is important to a spy."

Molly snickered quietly at Teddy's first statement.

Aly also tried not to snicker at the first answer. "Certainly the second is more important than the first, but do you think wearing makeup could be important at times?"

"The most important tool is your attitude." Hikaru held up a finger.
"You need to be confident in what you're doing. If you don't believe in yourself or your cause, you don't have a very good chance at suceeding." Kaoru grinned. They were quite proud of their answer.

"Why don't I think confidence is a problem for either of you?" Aly replied, chuckling.

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 05:16 (UTC) - Expand

"Confidence, improv skills and of course lock picking tools are a must on every utility belt."

Aly laughed. "Leave the utility belt behind. Such an unsightly bulge under your clothes," she advised. "Is there anything else you'd think necessary?"

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

maias-notebook.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 10:51 (UTC) - Expand

"The most important tools of a spy are your powers of observation and your memory," Molly opined. "I would build my abilities by continuing to use them as much as possible."

"Why those two?" Aly asked, mainly curious to hear Molly's reasoning.

Re: [SAS 12/19] Question 2

bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com - 2006-12-20 01:46 (UTC) - Expand

"Senses," Jim replied immediately, then hurried to cover himself. "Know your body and how it reacts. Get used to different situations so you're never at a disadvantage. ~~Make sure your Guide has trained you in blocking out light in case you're ever hanging under a train.~~"

"Being able to be quiet and notice everything around yourself. And I guess by practicing."

"The most important tools to a spy are a keen intellect and an eye for details. You may have all the gadgets available out there, but still fail miserably if you cannot keep up an illusion or remember the tiny yet greatly important details. I suppose that one way to work on improving that is play games to hone your skills, such as the jewel game, for example. You attempt to notice a higher number of objects this time than last in order to keep improving."

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