Sneaky Spycraft: Week 6, Period 4

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

The class met in the Danger Shop which had apparently produced racks and racks of clothes of all sorts and a variety of fun props.

Aly was waiting for the students to arrive and take a seat before starting.  "Today, if the massive amounts of costumes and props didn't give it away, we're going to be talking about disguises.  The whole point of a disguise is to be unnoticeable in the company that you're keeping.  To blend in so that you don't occasion comments like 'I've never seen that person before' and 'I wonder who invited her.'  It's not a matter of satisfying your ego by 'standing out' so everyone notices you.  It's a matter of getting your job done without undue risk to yourself, any of your contacts or your employer."

"When you go undercover, you 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."

The Danger Shop helpfully produced a blackboard in midair with tips on putting together a disguise and maintaining consistency.

• 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 grinned.  "I love disguises.  They're one of my favourite things about spying.  What you all need to do today is create one using the costumes, wigs, makeup, and props we have here.  You can create it to go with the persona you made up last week or something completely different.  Help each other put together a disguise, a cover, and the reason for the disguise then come show me."

"Some of you have done this before, I know, in my class this summer, but I'm not apologising for the repetition.  Very few things are learned on just one go-about, and almost none of those things are anything useful."

"So go ahead, ask any questions you might have then work together to create a disguise and a cover story.  Let me see what you come up with."

[OOC: Aly might not apologise for the repeated class, but I do.  *kicks non-going off alarm and plans that'll keep me out of the house until 3ishFHT.  OCD is coming up.]

Comments

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Do I get to adore back?" she wondered, smiling.

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely grinned broadly. "If you want to."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Of course I do. What's traditional for this holiday?" she asked, grinning.

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Flowers, candy, small gifts to show you care."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis nodded, and then asked the most important question of all. "Are we still allowed to have sex?"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Of course!" Seely said. "Just not at the movies."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Oh, good. I wasn't sure if it was a holy day. You mentioned saints."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Of love! Sex is fine!"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"There's nothing special I have to do for that, either?"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Not unless you want to."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis smiled slyly. "Maybe I will."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely grinned slowly. "You will?"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Perhaps."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

Seely grinned. "I'd like that."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I know."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Wonder how you guessed."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"I'm very good at reading you."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"You are, are you?"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

Aravis nodded.

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"What else can you read about me?"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"You...are also somewhat fond of me."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"Only somewhat?"

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"Moderately so."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"I think you need to try reading again."

Re: Listen, Take Notes, Chat

[notqueenyet.livejournal.com]

"More than moderately?"