Competitive Team Building, Wednesday, Period 1

[geniuswithasmartphone]

The Danger Shop was set up like a sunken living room that would be at home in the 1960s, right down to the color palette and the oddly-shaped furniture. At one end was a large easel with an over-sized pad on it; Hardison stood in front of it, black marker in hand, while Parker kept excitedly shouting guesses and Eliot watched everything with a dubious eye. On the pad was an over- complicated drawing of a handsome elf shouting something while an army of orcs dragged several tiny people (with particularly hairy feet) towards an ominous black tower.

Anyone who who had seen an incredibly popular fantasy franchise would recognize the scene. And anybody familiar with internet memes would recognize the phrase Hardison was attempting to convey.

"Hardison," Eliot said, exasperated. "You realize you're supposed to try to get it across quickly, right? We're not looking for photorealism, here."

“PETER JACKSON. Frodo and Sam forever! Winning at the raiding party favors!” Parker was bouncing on her toes, and stopped to uncap a marker and take a small sniff. “Ooo. Licorice.”

"No--and, mama, I told you about sniffin' markers, you're just gonna get a headache. C'mon, y'all, this is easy! Eliot, I showed you this video on Youtube like six months ago!"

"What, you thought I was payin' attention?" Eliot shook his head. "Those things are always all shrieking and bad music."

“So anyway, class.” Parker capped her marker and looked vaguely sneaky. “Don’t sniff those, you’re too young. And today’s activity is about communication with people on your team. Also, art!”

"Yeah, Eliot, art," Hardison said, gesturing to his meticulously-detailed picture. "Each person's gonna get a phrase they have to draw while they're team guesses what phrase they got. But they can't use any numbers or letters in their drawin' and they can't say nothin' to their teammates. All they can do is keep drawin' an' write down any words their team gets right."

"Whichever team guesses theirs first wins," Eliot said. "So speed is important. Symbols and shorthand are key." Hardison.

Parker was drawing on the wall now, something that looked like a time-lock safe schematic. She stopped abruptly to add, “Charades is cheating, but if we don’t see it, it didn’t happen.” She pointed her marker at the students. “Get started!”

"An' anyone who can guess the sayin' I'm drawin' here gets to be my favorite forever," Hardison added, giving his co-teachers a disappointed look.

Deception for Fun and Profit, Monday, Period 2

[doubleohblonde]

Bond's class was in the Danger Shop, which resembled nothing so much as a vast wardrobe and changing area, this week.

"Good morning," Bond greeted the class. "Now this week we're going to be looking at appearances, because a sad but useful truth of this world is that people will look at one another, and based on things like clothing choices and various mannerisms, make assumptions about the kind of person you are. If you are aware of these various markers, and are able to assume them with verisimilitude, you will be able to use the associated assumptions people both within and without those groups make about your character as a result to your advantage."

He gestured around the room. "With that in mind, I would like you all to create a persona not your own, and dress accordingly. Once you've done that, show the rest of your classmates, and without telling them who you're trying to be, see what they think of your new identity. Hopefully there'll be some overlap."

Sex Ed, Tuesday, 3rd Period

[so_hawkward]

Sorry kids, there were no fun props waiting for you in class today, just a long handout that Clint handed to everyone on their way in.

"Hey guys and ladies. So, we've talked about how to be safe when you're having sex, but I thought we should also talk about how to figure out who you might want to have sex with," he said.

( A brief discussion of sexuality. )

Magical Bestiary | Tuesday, period 2

[not_every_mage]

Anders looked slightly sheepish as the class filed in. "Hello," he said. "Bob's ... I don't know how a dead wizard could be indisposed, but apparently he is, so I'm in charge. We're watching Incubus High. It's not supposed to be very good but there are fight scenes and pretty people in the trailer, and that's good enough for me. Enjoy."

And with that he took a seat.

Speech, Tuesday, September 22, 2015

[professor-lyman.livejournal.com]

"Today we're going to work on our diction," Josh said. "You can have the most amazing speech on paper, but if no one can hear you saying it, it's not going to do a lot of good, right?"

He didn't wait for a response because he was Josh, and let's be real, he very rarely waited for anyone else to talk.

"Everyone stand up. We'll start with easy stuff, then work our way to Gilbert and Sullivan."

Oh, you wish he was kidding.

Surviving (and Thriving) on Fandom Island, Week 4 (Wed. Period 3)

[atreideslioness]

The Danger Shop setup today featured a small computer lab, with a terminal for each student. Beside each terminal was a portable radio, a set of earphones, and a smartphone. (Sorry, those phones weren't real, kids. You could try to walk out with one, but it wouldn't be a very successful attempt.)

( Telephone, Telegraph, Tell A Squirrel... )

"And if you're from one that isn't used to technology, I promise it's not that intimidating." Tahiri tapped one finger against the tabletop. "We'll be here to help with anything that might give you trouble, okay?"