fandomhigh | Freelance Treasure Hunting, Monday, Period 5, Class #1

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treasure hunting

Freelance Treasure Hunting, Monday, Period 5, Class #1

As the students arrived, they would probably notice a woman clad in form-fitting black leather perched on a picnic table, swinging her feet as she waited for them to arrive. Some students, if they had met her, might be shocked at the woman's resemblance to Aeryn Sun.

Not that Vala knew the girl's last name, but that wasn't the point.

"Good afternoon, class. My name is Vala Mal Doran and I'll be your instructor for this class. As you know, this class will be about how to make your living as an interdimensional space pirate."

"Now, the first question you may have is why you would want to be an interdimensional space pirate, er, treasure hunter, in the first place. Clearly, you have much to learn if this is your question--because first, it's about fun. There's excitement, and danger, and your adrenaline rushes, and it's a wonderful feeling to know that you have done your best at every step of the process, and that the money you hold in your hand at the end of the day has been if not precisely honestly earned...well, you still have it in your hand, so it hasn't been used as bribes or bail money, and that's always a bonus."

"But enough about me," she said, getting up and wandering around, "I want to know about you--your names, where you're from, how long it takes to get there, the most convenient travel route, and any valuable or mythical objects that, if you were from your universe, you would attempt to appropriate and sell. Also, if you know of any pitfalls to obtaining these objects, either mystical or legal, please feel free to elaborate."

"Don't be shy," she coaxed, after a minute, "Who would like to go first?"

[ooc: ~~Please wait for~~ OCD is up!]

[daughter of ooc: Going to run errands for a few hours, will pick up pings when I get back.]

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Collapsey Fashion

Ask questions, WTF, take notes, gossip with your classmates--it's all good.

Who are you? Where are you from? What kind of things would you think are valuable in your universe? How easily are the police bribed?

Not that she was taking notes or anything.

In case you'd like to discuss something afterwards.

No stealing the post, omg!

Karal Austreben

Rikku

Dean Winchester

Rikku bounced up excitedly. "Hiya! I'm Rikku, and I'm from Spira. You have to go sideways on an airship to get there 'cause of dimensional stuff. Uh, I don't know, most of the really good stuff the Yevonites destroyed. We Al Bhed kept diving in the ruins to find old treasures and machina. And information spheres are always really valuable, since Yevon kinda trashed most of our history? So I tried to tell Yunie that we should be sphere hunters but ~~x-2 sucked~~ she didn't go for it. I think it would've been great."

She considered. "The rest of the good stuff you have to steal from fiends before they evaporate. I got really good at stealing and hitting at the same time so you don't have to waste a move. But those you don't wanna sell, you can make way awesome weapons from those or use them to blow things up. You can bribe fiends, too, but that's expensive. I mean, I have money, but it's more fun to steal them anyway."

Karal blushed bright red when he saw the teacher and sought refuge in laying out his paper and pens, and dutifully recording everything that was said. Several minutes in, right about the time pirates were mentioned, he stopped.

As the lecture progressed, he grew more appalled. She was talking about stealing people's treasures, no matter how unsuccessfully she tried to couch it in different language, and selling them. Apparently she was intending to teach an entire class of students that this was acceptable behaviour. "This is not right," he muttered.

Evie Carnahan

Evie gave him an utterly sympathetic look. "I know. You're new here, aren't you? I'm Evie Carnahan."

She already has two separate notebooks out. One for the Vala version. One for real life.

"Ah, well..." Evie had been thinking more of archaeological methods to finding treasures when she signed up for the class, rather than, well. Logistics of crime. Still, can't let the side down. Plus, this woman looks like Aeryn, but she's older and she clearly doesn't know Evie, because she doesn't look like she has a headache. All this is rather unsettling.

"I'm Evie Carnahan, I'm from Cairo and London-- those are cities on this world. Only I'm from ninety years in the past. So some of the treasures that haven't been found in my time have been found since then." She paused, took a breath, "I would think the Book of Amon-Ra or the Book of the Dead would be valuable, because they're thousands and thousands of years old. Supposedly magic." She cocked her head, then confided, "And really, some of the authorities in Cairo just expect you to make 'arrangements' with them prior to going out on a dig. Deplorable practice, but fairly well-established, I'm afraid."

"Karal," he replied, somewhat distractedly. "Of Karse. Perhaps this is a bit of levity? An attempt to ease students into their studies with an attempt at humour?" He glanced over at her, looking hopeful. "And yes, I am one of the new people."

"I can tell. You look rather as I did, my first week here." Evie shook her head sadly. "She may be joking. But there's an equally good chance she isn't. I tend to keep two sets of notes while I'm here, just in case the teacher's version of reality is very very different from the one I was previously taught."

Rikku cracked her knuckles and got ready to get back to learning. Tried to make herself feel all serious. She wasn't succeeding very well, but at least the professor looked interesting.

As the lecture progressed, she grew more cheerful. She was talking about stealing people's treasures, no matter how badly she pretended not to, and selling them! Apparently she was intending to teach an entire class of students how to do this successfully. "Freaking awesome," Rikku said.

[thanks mun for letting me play ;)]

"There is no reality in which the sort of life she's advocating would be right. Seeking lost treasures, whatever the motivation, is one thing, but stealing them is entirely different." He shook his head. "Teaching people that it is acceptable is simply not right."

"Well, I don't know if she said it was acceptable, although I suppose that's implied," Evie said, a little weakly. Perhaps she's been in Fandom and had one too many insane teachers at this point. "But, well. It does happen. And I think historical preservation would be an *excellent* justification for this kind of thing. So one really ought to know how, just in case it's necessary."

"No," he said. "Forgive me for sounding rude, but that's not correct. I'm aware that for some unfortunate people theft may be their only recourse to survive. But she said," and he recited from memory, "the money you hold in your hand at the end of the day has been if not precisely honestly earned...well, you still have it in your hand, so it hasn't been used as bribes or bail money. She spoke in terms of want, not need, so that is neither survival nor historical preservation."

Karal stood slowly, automatically smoothing his robes. "My name is Karal Austreben, Sun-priest of Vkandis Sunlord, from the country of Karse." He was aware he was being perhaps needlessly formal, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. "I was brought here in a way you could not duplicate, no matter how you tried. The Sunlord's temples hold many objects sacred to Him, which the unscrupulous or foolish might consider to be treasure. Attempting to steal them would be decidedly unwise, and I would never attempt to do so."

Evie frowned, biting her lip and looking torn. "Oh, dear. Oh, I suppose you're right. But, but... she's the teacher." She gave him a worried look. "Perhaps it's a test? And we're supposed to confront her?"

She really, really didn't want to do that.

Evie waved to Rikku in between discussion bits. "Hi, Rikku! Which cabin did you end up in?"

Karal had his doubts. The woman's voice when she'd spoken of fun and excitement had matched her words. "Perhaps," he said thoughtfully. "Though just because someone holds a position does not mean they do so legitimately." He would attempt to speak to her after the class finished, he decided. "My apologies, again, Evie," he said with a small smile. "I didn't intend to lecture you."

"No, no, I admire your priniciples. I fear mine are somewhat more-- flexible, after time both on digs and here on the Island. I really don't want to end up in Detention for back-talking a teacher." She sat up a little straighter. "Although! I am taking a class on how to annoy them! So perhaps I will be able to be more assertive later on."

"I've learned many thing that I believed to be True are only truth as I understand them, Evie. A certain flexibility is necessary just to survive," he said, smiling reassuringly. "But some things I can't accept." He shook his head and changed the subject. "Though I think I'm in that class, as well. Is it with someone name Ares?"

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Freelance Treasure Hunting, Monday, Period 5, Class #1

Sign-In

During the Lecture

Introduce Yourself

After Class

OOC

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