fandomhigh | Conflict Management [20.03]

Class was being held in the danger shop today. The floor was springy, bouncy even, and had a number of large circles drawn on it in white paint.

Along one wall were a number of inflatable sumo suits.

"Today we are going to look at resolving a conflict through physical means. There is a long history of resolving disagreements in this way, such as duelling and trial by combat. Trial by combat did, in some circumstances, permit the use of champions, to fight on behalf of the accused. Interestingly enough, there's a school of thought that believes the modern legal system is just a slightly more civilised version of trial by combat, with barristers as the champions."

Harriet shook her head. "Having known a number of barristers in my time, I'm not so sure I agree with 'more civilised'. Nevertheless, today we are going try out our own version of conflict resolution by physical means." She swept a hand at the suits. "Sumo wrestling. Suit up, find a partner, and pick a ring. The first person to force the other out of the ring is the winner."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Gwynn blinked. "Why?"

Chris shrugged. "I actually have no idea."

"This time is very strange." Gwynn shook her head. "Sword fights are much more effective for resolving issues."

"Well, they don't do it to resolve issues," Chris said. "At least as far as I know. It's more... like entertainment."

"These outfits would seem ineffective for bedroom sports," she commented in confusion.

Guess who had been getting explanations of entertainment and "wrestling" from Eve?

Chris gaped. "Uh... it's... not a bedroom type activity," he said.

Gwynn looked at him expectantly, waiting for more of an explanation. "But it is called wrestling...?"

"Well, yeah... wrestling is a sport," Chris explained. "It's not a... bedroom activity."

"Physical sports, right?" He should not be convinced by that look of understanding that she suddenly got in her eyes.

"Yes, it's a physical sport," Chris said. "But it's not sexual in any way."

Okay, he realized that from the perspective of someone that didn't know anything about wrestling, it could look sexual... but he didn't know enough about the sport to explain it well.

She was digesting this information.

"So... they grapple and grope and throw each other around?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"Like the foreplay on the internet...?"

It was amazing, if one knew the way Gwynn's mind worked, that after one AU weekend night, she had no qualms about asking him these questions.

Maybe it was because she trusted him?

Or maybe because even after two years, she still had no concept of things you do not try to understand in mixed company.

Who knew.

Chris looked distinctly uncomfortable that Gwynn was asking him these questions, but he did his best to answer them anyway.

"Uh, no. As far as I know, Sumo Wrestling is in no way sexual."

Gwynn sighed, not noticing that Chris was in any way uncomfortable.

"You realize that 2008 is a very confusing time... then again, you did not throw me around," she mused out loud.

Her face brightened and she looked at him as suddenly something occured to her.

Chris's face turned bright red as well. "Yeah... I know how confusing modern times must be for you."

"I think I understand this, now," she said with a smile that could not mean anything of the kind. "So, if you throw someone around while you are grappling and touching, it is a sport, and if you do not, it is foreplay and bedroom activities?"

Gwynn's mind could be a scary, scary place sometimes.

"Sort of.... yeah," Chris said, his face still burning with embarrassment.

"Chris, some of these things do not make sense." Gwynn thought about this very seriously as she poked at the SUMO outfit.

"Eve never explained this part of things... I should ask her... or Johnny! I had a nice talk about love and flailing with him yesterday."

Chris facepalmed a little. "I think you're very confused about some things. Maybe we can talk outside of class and I can try to clear up some of that confusion."

Gwynn gave him a look that on anyone else would have been pleading. "I would appreciate that, Chris. I take wonderful notes."

"Okay, so anyway, let's just do this and then we can talk later."

Gwynn nodded and then looked at Chris. "So... I just grab you and try to throw you out of the ring?"

Chris nodded. "Pretty much, yeah."

Gwynn frowned and then reached out and grabbed Chris at the hips.

Conflict Management [20.03]

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO

Re: Suit up and SUMO