fandomhigh | Spy Games, Monday, Period 5

If Sarah didn't seem nervous as she waited for the class to assemble, that was only because she'd spent the last decade keeping cool on the outside no matter what went on underneath. Just teaching for the first time would be bad enough, but there was one student name on the roster that she had very much never expected to see here.

"Welcome to Spy Games," she said with a smile and a twist of her sweaty palms against her skirt as the time came for the session to begin. Her voice came out calm, sure, self-confident as possible. Thank God. "I am your instructor for the next two months. My name's Sarah Walker and, to get this out of the way, I am qualified to teach this class because I worked for the CIA for the last several years. My main focus was protection of national security data."

Anyone at the CIA could say that, but Sarah was hoping to ward off questions.

"If you're here," she went on, "I'm going to assume you want to be a spy, or at least want to know how to be a spy. Maybe you want to work for the government; maybe you just know a lot of people you don't trust. Whatever your experience, there are all kinds of applications for the stuff we're learning here. The syllabus and rules are on your desks, but some of the things we'll cover are lockpicking, disguise, persuasion, and weapons."

"But today, we're talking about basic undercover work," she went on. "If you're undercover, you're lying to everyone all the time. You lie about your name, your family, what you do for a living, maybe your politics, maybe your religion. But under all that, you can't change who you are. You're still you, but the details are different. And the secret of good undercover work is using that."

"For example, I'm not exactly the chattiest person in the world. If I go undercover for more than a few hours and I decide I'm going to be someone who can't keep her mouth shut, I'm going to get caught fast. I'll always have to think about the part I'm playing, and that's when people make stupid mistakes. And a big part of your job as a spy is not making stupid mistakes."

She cleared her throat, finally relaxing into this. "I understand the tradition for the first week of classes is introductions. We're doing that, but with a twist. If you've heard of the game 'Two Truths and a Lie,' we're going to play that -- except you must make one true statement about yourself, one false statement about yourself, and a third statement that can be either true or false. Your fellow students will guess how many lies you told, and which they are."

"Remember that if you're undercover, you're lying for a reason. And in this class, you have a purpose too. Tell lies -- and truths -- that will make me think you have it in you to be a good spy." She pointed out randomly. "You first."

Once the students were done with the game, she smiled before dismissing the class. "Your assignment for the week is to tell one lie. It doesn't have to be a big one or about anything that matters. Just tell it and see how it feels; we'll report back next Monday. And if any of you want to be TA, I could use one. And Miss Bartowski, please stick around too -- I have a quick question for you."

She was impressed how level her tone sounded on that last bit.

[OOC: First posted class of the semester! I will pick up tags in the a.m.]

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"Teddy bears?" she asked. Anyone who actually knew Triela might be surprised at the lack of sarcasm or condescension in her tone there.

"Yeah, my dad traveled a lot for his job and they were my souvenirs," she explained.

"What kind?" Triela leaned forward curiously. Then she remembered to add, "I collect them too."

"Really? Cool."

Claire had never met a fellow collector.

"I have all kinds. From all over the world. What kind do you collect?"

"Mostly Steiff bears." She shook her head. "I complain that Hilshire doesn't have any idea how to shop so he always just buys bears, but I actually like them." A tiny smirk made an appearance, "Don't tell anyone, though."

Triela wouldn't normally be so open with someone she didn't know, but a fellow bear collector couldn't be too bad a person, right?

Claire chuckled. "Your secret is safe with me. Do you have your bears here? I brought a couple, but I left most of my collection at home."

Triela nodded enthusiastically. "It's not a huge collection, so it's easy to travel with them."

"Maybe after cabins, I could stop by and see them?" Claire asked. "And you are welcome to come see the ones I brought with me."

"I think that's a great idea."

Triela flashed a grin. "I'm Triela."

"I'm Claire," she said. "Where are you in the dorms?"

"I'm in room 409." Her grin flickered for just a moment at the reminder that her roommate was leaving soon.

"I'm in 312, with Dinah Lance," Claire said. "Do you know her?"

"You're with Dinah?" Triela asked, grin back in full force. "Dinah's great!"

Claire returned the grin. "Yeah, I'm glad that I got such a cool roommate. We're supposed to go shopping this afternoon."

"I'm glad you did too." She shook her head, "Dinah and I go rappelling sometimes. If you wanted to join us sometime..."

"Rappelling? Where? It sounds like fun," she said.

Triela smirked. "Off the roof of the dorms. And it is."

Claire stared. "Seriously? And you don't get in trouble?"

"Not yet," Triela laughed. "I suspect that since we don't break anything no one really minds."

"That definitely sounds like fun," Claire said.

"Well, next time we do it we'll have to make sure you know, then."

"Cool, thanks."

Her dad would probably be annoyed, but she didn't care.

"So where are you from, anyway?" Triela asked, leaning back in her seat to relax a bit.

"I grew up in Texas," Claire said. "But my family is in California now. How about you?"

"Rome." Which probably explained that almost-undetectable trace of an accent.

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