Fandom Gladiators; First Period [05/24].

[died8yearsago]

"I'm going to make this quick," said Rosa, once everyone was gathered again in the now-familiar danger shop stadium, which was set up like an incredibly elaborate (and fully moddable) obstacle course, while holding an extremely wriggly dog that clearly wanted to be anywhere except in her arms right now, "because this stupid little dummy," said with the utmost affection, of course, "has been cooped up in an apartment almost all week and is about to explode. This isn't an actual game from the show; this right here's a Fandom Gladiators original.

"First one to catch the dog three times wins. Janet, since you won last week," somehow, "your advantage this week is that you only have to catch the dog twice to win. Good luck everyo--"

That was the precise moment that Arlo 2 finally managed to escape from Rosa's arms and go tearing down the stadium with a happy bark and climbing up on ALL THE THINGS, ohmygosh, so many things, all the things, so much room, all the room! ALL THE RUNNING NOW!! Bark bark bark, come and plaaaaaaay new friends!!

"Okay, then," Rosa grunted at her nice dramatic build-up being completely ruined by energy and cute. "Go, I guess. But if any of you hurt that dog," then you were clearly a monster anyway, "I will end you."


[[ ocd is incoming up! GO GO GO! ]]

Working the Long Con, Friday, Second Period

[talentforlying]

"Right then. First order of business. All your new IDs arrived via the wonders of the US post," John stated abruptly, once the bell rang as he started flipping them on the desks of the students to which they belonged. Yes, even a couple decent passable ones for Vette, with whatever she'd handwavily wanted in Aurebesh on it. "I'll ask you no questions and you tell me no lies as far as these are concerned, got it? That's the understanding my source and I have, so extend me the same professional courtesy."

"Today, we're gonna talk about William Thompson. He was an American criminal and con artist whose deceptions caused the term 'confidence man' to be coined. So all of you aspiring con-artists can thank him for giving you a job title."

"Operating in New York City in the late 1840s, a genteely-dressed Thompson would approach an upper-class mark, pretending they knew each other, and begin a brief conversation. After initially gaining the mark's trust, Thompson would ask 'Have you confidence in me to trust me with your watch until tomorrow?' Upon taking the watch -- or, occasionally, money -- Thompson would depart, never returning the watch. This is because rich people are idiots, and it would have been considered 'rude' to refuse someone of their own social standing, and potentially caused a minor scandal if got out that they were scrooges."

"Thompson was arrested and brought to trial in 1849, in a case that made newspaper headlines across the country. The New York Herald, recalling his explicit appeals to the victim's "confidence," dubbed him the "confidence man." Per the Oxford English Dictionary, the first known use of the term was printed in The New Orleans Picayune. For those of you of the academic bent, the Thompson case was a major inspiration and source for Herman Melville's 1857 novel The Confidence-Man."

"So here's your assignment for today: grab a classmate or two and figure out what small-talk you need to make to get them to trust you. Think about what non-verbal cues you are looking for in people that let you steer the conversation, and give you the advantage you need to gain someone's confidence."

Recreational Misuse and Alternative Uses of Gadgets, Friday

[captainskullpoopl]

At the head of the classroom there was a blender. But, like, the sort of blender you'd see on QVC at about 3 a.m.

You know the sort.

"Should have bought those awful jalapeno poppers," Wade muttered, squinting at the blender. "Those would be fun to blend."

"Did we actually remember to get anything to blend?" Vanessa asked. "Shi--shoot." She started looking around. "What looks blendable?"

"We're in luck, I found a bunch of shitty CDs in the trash," Wade said, fanning them out like this was all a planned ruse. "I know what you're thinking, 'People still listen to CDs?' And you're not wrong. No one does. Hence our destroying them with glee."

Vanessa was looking at the CDs. "I don't even know any of these songs. So your assignment for today is to find out: Will it blend?"

"Should we have found safety goggles?" Wade asked. Knowing that it wouldn't change the fact that they hadn't.

"I don't think they would blend well," Vanessa said. "Oh, you meant for--safety? I'm sure it'll be fine! Just make sure you have the lid on tight, kids!"