fandomhigh | Mad Kings & Queens, Week XI [Monday, Period 4]

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mad kings & queens

Mad Kings & Queens, Week XI [Monday, Period 4]

As the students came in today, they would find that Ghanima had gotten rid of the desks in favor of huge pillows tossed about the room, and a large television at the front of the room.

"Right then," Ghanima said cheerfully. "I decided to deviate from the syllabus today a bit, since you've all been so busy lately. We'll be watching Wildcat in Snow, one of my favorite films. None of them are, technically, mad, unless you count the lust for power as a madness. Horribly clever, most of them, which is part of the problem."

"As you've learned, the lines of succession can cause problems," Ghanima continued. "Sometimes rulers behead potential rivals. Sometimes they lock them up. And sometimes, it is not always clear who is next in line."

"Henry the Second of England. Eleanor of Aquitaine. King Philip the Second of France. Three of the most powerful people in the world. Add in three would-be players, and a hapless pawn or two, and you've got a dynastic battle of the highest order."

"So get comfortable, enjoy the movie, and chat amongst yourselves. How would you protect yourself in a situation like this? Is there a way to stay safe? Is this madness? Or just good-old-fashioned family squabbling on a much larger scale? After all, it's not just the family silver at stake - it's two countries, and the entire balance of power in the civilized world."

[Wait for the OCD no more! It is up, and class is in-session.]

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I've snapped and plotted all my life. There's no other way to be alive, king, and fifty all at once.

Plot to take the throne!

Yamanaka Ino

Tahiri Veila ~~who will leave the plotting of such things to her disowned future self, thank you~~

Aravis ~~who doesn't need to plot, just marry well.~~

Ronan Nolan ~~who's seen what the throne can do to people, thanks, he'll leave that for others~~

Jaina Solo ~~who probably doesn't need to plot there~~

Reno who didn't plot to take it, he just kind of walked away from it.

And who also is still poultry.

Liir Thropp ~~who's sort of been plotting but also sort of got one and raaaargh facepalm~~

Lion-o ~~who still isn't an adult yet, but this is the most regal-looking icon~~

Savannah Levine ~~who knows some people would love to see her try to overthrow them just for an excuse~~

Zayne Carrick ~~who legitimately has nothing to do with any thrones whatsoever~~

Jo Harvelle ~~who lives in a constitutional republic~~

Eve Levine ~~who has way too much fun being plotty sometimes~~

I found out the way your mind works and the kind of man you are. I know your plans and expectations - you've burbled every bit of strategy you've got. I know exactly what you will do, and exactly what you won't, and I've told you exactly nothing. To these aged eyes, boy, that's what winning looks like!

Take notes, pass notes, take advantage of the pillows to take a nap. Just don't let Ghanima catch you snoring!

Ino claimed a pillow for herself, and flopped down on it, tugging out one of her notebooks.

Tahiri snagged a pillow for herself and got comfortable. She wasn't going to argue with a light day.

After this class, Jaina's comm was going back on, and she'd been feeling a little apprehensive about just how long she'd be locked off in her room answering messages. The fact that she now felt like she had another class period's worth of relaxation time complete with pillow-lounging made her like her teacher that much more.

Because it would never not be funny, Tahiri couldn't resist. "Your grandfather's a cat."

Jaina actually laughed before clamping her mouth shut, pretty much out of habit in this class. "You know, just the very thought of that makes so many things better."

Ha. She'd actually gotten Jaina to laugh. Score. "I noticed, on Friday night, yeah."

"As much as I hate being dragged into radio," she said, "It was completely worth it, just for that."

"It sure sounded like it," Tahiri replied. "Because you at a party wasn't enough of a surprise for one night."

Look, she couldn't get over it, okay?

"It does happen sometimes," she protested. She just usually had to be forced or bribed into it.

"Okay, okay, I believe you," Tahiri said, still horribly amused. She would so never try and poke at her Jaina like this. You know, if she wanted to live.

Jaina paused, and wondered if she could make Tahiri stare at her like she did Ben with this one: "I own some dresses, too."

"You --"

Oh, yes. Yes, there was definitely staring. Ow.

"I thought that'd do it," she said, not sure why she felt all self-satisfied now.

Maybe it had something to do with the fact that Tahiri was still kind of slack-jawed, and couldn't come up with a thing to say in response to that?

"I didn't say I liked it," she said, just in case that helped.

Well, yes, it did. "And that makes it so much less scary, somehow."

If you're broken it's because you're brittle.

Get comfortable, watch the drama unfold, and wonder how England ever survived these people.

[So! Here's some clips for those of you heathens that do not know this film. Enjoy!]

Edited 2009-03-23 03:21 (UTC)

Tahiri (who wasn't really glancing around the room frequently for certain people who hadn't shown up apparently) kind of wondered how people managed to cram that much maneuvering into one tiny section of one planet. She still didn't have much patience for political intrigue, but the movie was definitely engrossing.

Huh. Jaina had only ever really watched movies when she was in class. Just something she was noticing.

Liir took notes. Because wow.

He wondered, after a moment, if perhaps he might start researching this sort of thing on his own. Because there was an artistry to it that he could just glimpse but couldn't quite get a handle on.

I'm villifying you for God's sake - pay attention!

Once they ping in. Hopefully they aren't still avian.

Alas, Reno was still avian for another good hour or two. But he was there in order to carry out his TA duties.

Which, incidentally, meant that he was very thankful that today was a movie day.

The sky is pocked with stars. What eyes the wise men must have had to see a new one in so many.

She's there, both before and after class.

I'd hang you from the nipples, but you'd shock the children.

So. Guess what I watched this weekend? Again. First two guesses totes don't count.

I have SO much love for this movie. So much.

There are seriously no words for how much I adore this script, and this movie is pretty much my definitive vision of how it should be done.

So many bitter, brittle, beautiful people. Why don't they make movies like this anymore?

Eee! Perfect movie for this class! *loves*

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Mad Kings & Queens, Week XI [Monday, Period 4]

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Watch the Movie

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