Diplomacy, Tuesday, September 2, 2025 [2nd period]

[sith_happened]

Anakin was wearing a fabulous gray hat while trying his best to pretend that he wasn't. "Hello, everyone."

Ahsoka was not wearing a hat, instead she had a garland of flowers draped around one montral. "Welcome to diplomacy, a subject we are both highly familiar with." Because that was something people needed to worry about when the moose was involved.

"We are also very good at it," Anakin added, which was a more debatable statement. "And because it's the first part of the semester, we're going to go with the more obvious first class assignment: small talk. Meet everyone in this class-it's not difficult--and come away with their name and something they think is interesting about them." He shrugged. "You don't have to agree that it's interesting, but you can't show that on your face or in your mannerisms. While you're learning this about others, you must also impart your name and something incredibly uninteresting to the other people. Faking being enthusiastic is also an important part of diplomacy."

"You will be quizzed on this next class," Ahsoka added, because it was the start of the semester and they got one warning. "Because another part of diplomacy is that you don't have to care about those little details, but you do need to remember them."

Anakin nodded. "Ahsoka and I will also be participating," he said. And no one could even curse about that today!

And it could have been worse, they could have had class tomorrow led by two Padawans.

Dealing With Other People's Trauma, Tuesday 9/2, 3rd period

[stykera]

Stark was standing at the front of the room looking serious. Serious except for the rather absurd hat that he’d woken up wearing and had been unable to rid himself of thus far.

“Welcome,” he said once everyone had arrived. “I know some of you. Not all. I’m Stark. Just Stark, though some people decided to call me James.” It was easier just to go along with that, honestly.

“I don’t usually wear this hat. It just…appeared this morning. The island does things like this, sometimes. You’ll get used to this eventually if you haven’t already done so.” Probably, anyway.

“So. We’ll do introductions in a moment. Always good to start with those especially when there are new people on the island.” He nodded to the new faces.

“But first, a small introduction to what we'll be doing here. Or what I hope we'll be doing here, in this class. The idea of it,” he said, looking around, “is to recognize that we've all had different experiences. Not all of them positive. And that can cause problems.”

Oh, the understatement of it all.

“So we're going to try to not make things worse for other people. We'll try to be kind, when we can. We'll try to learn how to be gentle with others when they need it in certain situations and at certain times.”

Stark paused then and looked around. “I don't know anyone who hasn't been hurt, hasn't been traumatized in some way. It's good to remember that. Now, having said that…i suppose the rest of you ought to introduce yourselves?”

Reclaiming Your Childhood, Monday, Period 1 [9/2]

[atreideslioness]

Students had handwavily been informed to meet at the old campground today, where they would find Ghanima and Trebor waiting, and a fire already in process.

"Good morning!" Ghanima started off cheerfully, once it seemed everyone had arrived who was going to arrive. "I am Ghanima Atreides, and this is 'Reclaiming Your Childhood.'"

"The goal of this class is simple: I, like most likely many of you, lacked what could be termed a 'normal' childhood," she said bluntly. "You may have noticed by now, but Fandom Island seems to attract the unconventional resident."

"And as a still relatively new parent, attempting to navigate the world with Trebor, I decided... why not? Why not give myself, and everyone else who was interested, a chance to do the things you always wanted to do, but never got the chance?" Ghanima continued. "So, to start off today, we're starting simple with s'mores!"

She gestured to the supplies laid out around the campfire. "We're going to do this in a few different steps. First, everyone pick out a journal and pen from the box over there. Do not worry, we are not doing therapy journaling -- unless you want to -- it is mostly so that you always have a pen and paper for my Suggestion Box. Trebor?"

Trebor, just happy to be helping, beamed, and held up a wooden box with a hinged lid and a slit in the top.

"Very good, beloved," Ghanima praised him. "The Suggestion Box is for things you want to do. It is one-hundred percent anonymous, so that you do not have to feel self-conscious about your requests. Just jot down a on your papers things you think would be fun, and put them in the box, or hand them off to Trebor and he can put them in the box. He cannot read yet, so do not fret on that front."

"Once you have had a chance to pick out your journal, let's get started on making some s'mores and doing some introductions." Ghanima smiled brightly. "Paper first, as it were, and sticky fingers second."