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fandomhigh2009-05-10 11:14 pm
saveyoulater.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2009-05-10 11:14 pm
Entry tags:
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.]
"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.]
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
She knew checking would sound weird, but if this wasn't the real Ellie Bartowski, she could stop right here and send her on her way. It was unlikely, but just barely plausible.
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
All of that was even true, as far as it went.
"Anyhow, I don't want to tell you too much, but I know you that way. it's a little weird from this end, too."
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Her socially awkward brother went out with a pretty blonde spy teacher? Because that was the important thing here.
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
She was sticking to the old cover; it kept things neatest for whatever version of herself existed in this Ellie's world's future. (And that concept made her head spin.)
"Please don't tell him. He's, what, 14 or 15 for you?"
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Because Sarah seemed like a pretty cool person, someone who probably could be good for Chuck in the future.
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Questions itched at her. She wanted to know what Chuck was doing while Ellie was away at school, if their dad was still around, if she could help that situation at all. She held her tongue. Trying to fix the past might just make things even worse.
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
She had many questions as well, but she had seen enough Mister What episodes and movies about time travel thanks to Chuck. Knowing about the future could change things. Possibly for the worse.
She couldn't believe she was even thinking about this.
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
"I don't really have anything else to tell you. It just felt wrong to have you in class and not let you know."
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]
Re: Talk to Sarah [Spy Games, 5/11]