fandomhigh | Culture Shock, Thursday, 5/14, Period 2

Entry tags:

culture shock

Culture Shock, Thursday, 5/14, Period 2

When the students settled around the main campfire today, they might notice that their teacher was already sitting there and waiting for them, his arms crossed over his chest, dressed in an outfit that might even be considered fancy dress clothes... If you were looking for fancy dress clothes from America, 1876.

If Algren was going to teach a class about culture shock, he was going to demonstrate that he was just as susceptible to it as any of his students were, around here.

"I see a few new faces," he noted, remaining where he was seated as he surveyed the class. "Which, considering the subject material of this workshop, doesn't surprise me. Either the majority of you have found yourself in a place that's a far cry from the home you're used to, or you're looking to end up in such a place in the future, I'd wager." There was a pause, and Algren allowed himself a moment to look amused. "Or else there was a mix-up in the office. If that was the case, I won't judge. You might learn something here, regardless.

"This class, ladies and gents, is going to cover the several stages of culture shock, one week at a time. I'll do my best to base the course material around scenarios that will serve you well here in Fandom, but the goal when the workshop is through is to give you hands-on experience dealing with culture shock in a less... absurd environment, as well." He was allowed to call Fandom absurd, damn it. "Culture shock, for those of you who might not be familiar with the term, is what occurs when a person spends an extended period of time in a culture that is different from one's own. It isn't necessarily instantaneous, as the name suggests, but it can wreak havoc on a person's mental state and emotions, once that person begins to come to the realization that the behaviors that they're comfortable with won't necessarily get them the results that they expect in their new environment.

"I'm going to make today's class an easy one. Introductions. I want names, where you're from, one thing about Fandom that strikes you as oddly different from the place you call home, and one thing about where you come from that you think might come as a shock to people from the outside, starting with..." He pointed at a random student. "You."

A beat. "Oh, and I'm looking to fill in a second TA spot. If anyone happens to be interested in taking a little responsibility alongside Miss Sawyer in helping the class survive the term, please come and speak to me after we're finished our introductions."

[The TA slots are already chosen, but feel free to ping to Algren to attempt to win him over, if you'd like. Syllabus, rules, and class list are here!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"You're not sure why we have laws against murder?" Elspeth asked. Had she understood that correctly?

She addressed her answer to the classroom at large. It would be interesting to hear their responses. "Precisely. Let me put it another way: for all of your laws, do murders still occur? And when they occur, are they always so simple to punish? Are there never details that can change the circumstances entirely? Would you punish a mother for killing to protect her children? A Queen executing a known criminal? An uprising to replace one who is unjust?" These questions weren't rhetorical, they were asked with honest curiosity.

"A Queen executing a criminal according to the law of the land is not murder," Elspeth said firmly. "And any good judge will take circumstances into account, no matter what the crime."

"What you end up with are numerous definitions of murder, with a sliding scale of what's acceptable and what is moral; people try to hammer out reasons why killing this person is right and that person is wrong."

Karla exhaled, this could be tricky to explain, ~~especially since she continued to make random assumptions about things~~

"This is not to say that we do not believe murder is wrong. Oftentimes, it is. But what I am saying is that there are times when it is justified; and it would be impossible to make sure every nuance is put into law. Thus, we have no law against it." She raised a single finger to forestall arguments. "But that does not mean murder receives no punishment. Everything has a price, and taking the life of another can carry a steep one. If you were to murder a member of my Court, or one of my villagers, or even someone from Glacia, I would have the right to demand a price from you, up to and including your own life. If someone does not have sufficient power to demand that price be paid, they may lodge a formal complaint for someone with more power to look into and extract the price on their behalf."

She was silent for a few moments, putting her thoughts in order. "What holds our society together is Protocol. The Blood are dangerous; Warlord Princes especially so--their tempers and violence and aggression are part of what makes them Warlord Princes. But there is Protocol to keep us in check, to harness our crueler tendencies. What is and is not acceptable under Protocol is instilled in us from the cradle. When someone acts beyond it, there are consequences. What I guess I'm trying to say is that while Protocol is self-policing, it is not law. Does that make more sense?"

Elspeth listened thoughtfully. "You have consequences for murder, then. It's a bit like two nations, each with their own rulers. The Queen of one nation cannot arrest the King of another for killing her people." Her face hardened for a moment and her voice got cold. "But she can make him pay."

"Precisely," Karla's eyes narrowed and her jaw set. "Just because someone is part of a Ruling Council, that does not make them immune to what they owe. Everything has a price, and there is no one strong enough to evade payment." Her voice was as cold as Elspeth's.

Another moment passed in silence. "Though Protocol is the same wherever there is Blood," she said, in a ~~forcibly~~ casual tone of voice.

Elspeth nodded. "It makes a bit more sense now, thanks."

"And so the idea behind the class prevails," Karla said, laughing. "We are models for everyone to emulate, amazing diplomats, and all that good stuff."

"Others will learn from our shining example," Elspeth smiled back.

*Well, it's much easier between us than trying to have a civil conversation with certain--* Karla sent on a distaff thread before she remembered that most people here couldn't hear her. Hellfires, this world was complicated.

"And aren't they just lucky to have us," she said aloud. What could be said over threads differed greatly from what could be said for all to hear.

:Arrogant, know-it-all princes?: Elspeth suggested via Mindspeech. :I don't know anyone that fits that description!:

"We seem to be of a mind on this," she said aloud, giving Karla a mischievous grin.

Subtle and Karla were almost as far apart as Kaeleer and Fandom High. She whirled to face Elspeth, her jaw dropping and eyes widening. *You heard me?!?*

:I have the Gift of Mindspeech,: Elspeth responded, puzzled at Karla's reaction. :Who did you mean to speak to, if not me?:

*I did mean to send you the message on a distaff thread* to-may-to, to-mah-to *but only because I momentarily forgot that this was a class in Fandom, not in the Hourglass. Most people here can't hear me.*

[Must to bed. SP?]

Edited 2009-05-14 08:55 (UTC)

Elspeth shook her head in confusion. :I'm not sure what that means, but I guess we can speak to each other. Unless I'm imagining this!:

[Of course! Night!]

*To speak as we are uses threads. Females use a distaff thread; males a spear thread. And I don't think either of us are imagining this. This class is a bit beyond the pale for that--and would you really have dreamed up certain arrogant princes?*

Elspeth covered her mouth to hide a giggle. :Where I'm from, anyone with the Gift can speak to anyone else. Gender doesn't come into it.:

*Can you speak to animals this way, too? Back home, we have the kindred. They're Blood, as I am, but non-human.* So far, Elspeth sounded as if she came from a world much like Kaeleer.

[And now I laugh till I cry about Valdemar and Kaeleer having anything in common beyond magic.]

:Only to my Companion, but she isn't really an animal,: Elspeth Sent.

*Who is your companion?* Karla asked, not grasping the capital C.

:Gwena,: Elspeth said. :She's a sort of friend, guide and mentor, and she wears the shape of a white horse.:

*What does she do while you take classes?* Karla asked. *Is she taking other classes? I know they had a unicorn for a student once, so her shape should not be a problem.*

Elspeth hid a giggle again as she tried to imagine Gwena in class. :No, she has her time to herself when I'm in classes and such.:

*What does she do? I don't see her offering pony rides to pass the time,* Karla said wryly.

Elspeth snorted. :I don't keep track of her all day, but I know she's spent some time down by the water's edge. A body of water that size is new to both of us!:

Re: Introductions [05/14]

glacial_queen - 2009-05-14 21:00 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only