fandomhigh | The Art of War, Week #10 [Period 3, Monday]

"Congratulations, you've made it all the way to week ten," Ghanima said dryly from her perch on the desk. "So far, many of our discussions seem to have focused on physical engagements of force, mostly because many of you are all familiar with tactics in a military sense."

"While I am as much a fan of armed combat as the next Fremen, however, it is it necessary to learn how to apply the tactical ideas you are learning outside a battlefield."

"Last week, we tried to measure cost against outcome when weighing the human element," Ghanima remarked. "Today, we focus completely on the human component, and turn our tactical prowess to that most dreaded tactical engagement of all - relationships."

"Each of you has a slip on your desk with an assignment. You must try and follow the directions to the best of your abilities, using the tactical ideas we have discussed in your negotiations. You are not limited to your classmates for this exercise, and indeed, I shall award extra credit for each successful 'mission' you undertake. I will do my best to listen to radio and chart your progress, but you will be expected to report on your varying levels of success next week."

"Yes, boys and girls, you are going on dates. Get what you want out of the other person, without giving too much ground. Try not to end the world while you are at it."

[OOC: OCD is up, go forth!]

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He was still fluttering a little, lashes and fingers and eyes moving from her to the slip to her.

"Well," he said, straightening a little, "I'd... well, it is, I'd like to apologize for missing class last week. I was, unfortunately, a kitten."

There. The first of the options taken care of.

"So I heard!" she replied merrily. "Miss Yamanaka informed me of your transformation. Don't worry, it's considered an excused absence. I do not count Random Acts of Fandom against my students."

"You may get the notes from any of your classmates, or if you'd like, you may look over mine."

"I should like to look at yours, if you don't mind. I'll ask Ino about hers as well."

Different points of view were often useful.

"Thank you, though. About it not counting against me. I enjoy your class."

Flutter flutter slip flutter. He really didn't want to ask.

"Thank you, Liir. It's nice to know that people do gain enjoyment from the material, beyond the educational value," Ghanima said, holding out her notes from last week. The papers had her lecture from last week, as well as jotted remarks about the student's reactions and decisions.

The flutters and slip-glancing was not unnoticed, however, and Ghanima opted to go for the direct approach. "Did you have a question about this week's assignment as well?"

He took the papers with a nod of thanks before glancing up again at the question.

"Er..."

He looked at the slip again.

"Can I perhaps get a different task to do?" he asked with obvious unease.

"I-it's not because I think it'd be too hard. Just... the whole idea makes me, er, uncomfortable."

"Really?" Ghanima gestured for him to grab a chair from one of the desks.

"What is it about the assignment that makes you uncomfortable, Liir?" she asked gently. "I promise, I'm not going to bite."

He looked at the seat for a moment, wondered if he could get away with just standing, but finally caved and pulled one of the chairs over to sit.

"I... don't like people doing things for me. Especially not cooking."

He'd built quite a lot of his self-worth on his ability to do things for other people and while he was getting better at doing them for himself or even thinking that he had some worth without such things, he wasn't quite there yet.

There were clearly entire Worlds of issues here, but Ghanima ignored them in favor of narrowing the focus.

"People do things for others all the time, whether out of the goodness of their hearts or for an ulterior motive," she said serenely. "There is nothing wrong with accepting what is offered, so long as you know what game is being played and are willing to participate."

"But you say it is especially the cooking aspect which bothers you. Considering the spirit of the assignment, what sort of alternate would you suggest?"

He didn't argue with her, instead putting his mind to the question asked of him.

"Perhaps to convince someone to do something they don't want to do initially? Or to, um, er--"

Oh.

"To try washing their clothes properly. How about that?"

"Convincing someone to do something they normally wouldn't could probably include proper laundry care," Ghanima mused. "I know that I'm dreadful about doing my own wash."

"You may count that as your alternative assignment, then. However, you will additionally need to explain what the person normally would have done. If you do not feel comfortable reporting on it to the class, you may ~~handwavily~~ submit it to me in a paper report. Does that sound fair?"

He nodded.

"Certainly, though my thoughts on proper laundry care are simple enough. It doesn't have to be a long report, does it?"

Only he'd probably end up going off about tik toks if it had to be a longer paper.

"Not long at all, simply state who your targets were, if you were successful, and why you think it worked," Ghanima replied.

He nodded crisply, like a soldier taking orders.

"Certainly."

He moved to stand.

"And thank you. I appreciate it."

"Of course. While I do deeply encourage you to push the boundaries of your comfort zones, I am not here to make my students unhappy," Ghanima said. "If you would like to talk with me more about why it makes you so uncomfortable, my office hours are always open to my students."

He swallowed the first comment he was going to make before nodding again.

"All right. I... I might do that for more than just that, if you didn't mind," he admitted as he finally did stand.

"I never mind," she assured him, pushing the ever-present dish of lemondrops forward on her desk as he stood. "If I did, I should simply hide in my suite, and never open the office. And then I'd be a very poor teacher indeed."

"Good luck with your assignment, Liir."

The Art of War, Week #10 [Period 3, Monday]

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