Destiny & Free Will, Week VII [Monday, Period 4]

[atreideslioness]

The students should have gotten a handwaved notice to dress nicely and meet at the Danger Shop, where they were met by a Ghanima waiting just outside the door.

"Right." Reaching inside her coat, Ghanima retrieved a deck of the Dune Tarot and fanned the cards at them. "Step right up, and ask me what today holds for you. Through there --" she gestured at the door to the Shop with the cards, " -- is the Monte Carlo Casino of Monaco. One of the most famous casinos in the world, renowned for its elegance and architecture."

"Your mission is to take the future I forsee, and try to beat it. If I tell you that you are destined to win big, sit outside and give away chips. If I say you fail, go cheat the casino by whatever means you choose. The only rule is not to get caught doing anything illegal by security; that would be a failure of the exam." Not that Ghanima was actually grading them based on the final, she preferred to look at their overall body of work. "I want to see how many of you manage to flaunt destiny."

"After all," she grinned humorlessly, flipping up the Hanged Man with ease. "Navigating the future is a family talent. Who wants to try and beat the oracular Atreides?"


[OOC: OCD Awaits! And now, I crassssssssssssh. Feel free to tag me ooc if there's a future you want Ghani to give your student, otherwise it will be randomized.]

Comments

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's around, both before and after class.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[glacial_queen]

Karla came in early to speak to Ghanima. "Lady Ghanima? Do you have a moment," she asked. "I wanted to beg your pardon for missing class last week. I was summoned home to Kaeleer."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"I always have a moment for my students, Karla," Ghanima replied warmly. "A trip home is always an excused absence for my class. Is everything alright?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[glacial_queen]

Karla smiled at Ghanima's obvious warmth. She was really very fond of the Atreides clan as a whole. "It's better now," she answered. "Though the two weeks I was there--time difference--were fairly stressful. Though I did learn to fly, which was pretty, uh, astral."

Picking up new slang is hard, even for a teenager.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Time does tend to pass differently between worlds, I've noticed," Ghanima agreed. "I've been here for two years, and yet only a few months have passed in my homeworld."

The use of new slang didn't go unnoticed, however, and Ghanima hid a smile. "What type of flying?" she asked. "Leto and I are both fond of piloting thoppters." And using it to terrify Irulan to no end.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[glacial_queen]

"With wings!" Karla announced proudly, calling in her pair. They looked vaguely mechanical, with metal and leather struts, though there was no obvious way to move them; no machinery, no cogs, nothing of that nature. In the center of the back of the wings was a Sapphire chip, easily the size of Karla's thumbnail, and shimmering sapphire fabric provided the webbing. "I can soar like an eagle now," she didn't-quite-boast. "I'm no Eyrien, but I was trained by one."

Because that was helpful, Karla.

"I gave Ben and Ender each a pair, and Dinah's getting one, too, later. For now I have another set so I can teach others. Would you like to learn, Lady Ghanima? Do you think Leto will be interested?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin approached her just before class because after would make the whole apology bit odd. "Lady Ghanima?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Merlin," she greeted, mouth twitching as she tried to suppress a smile. "Still in one piece from chasing demons?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm made of sterner stuff," He replied with faked haughtiness.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Well, I am rather hoping that the demons were of the squishable variety," she deadpanned. "I would hate to find myself short an apprentice."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I blew one of them up!" He was so damn proud of himself. "It appeared to be a rather small dragon."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Of course you did, dear one." Ghanima resisted the urge to beat her head against the desk. "Are we done blowing up dragons for the term, or do we need to reschedule some of your lessons?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I won't miss class again, you have my word." A beat. "I won't miss class if I'm able to attend."

Because what if he was passed out in the clinic? What then?

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Well, today is the last class for this particular subject," Ghanima chided gently. "If you missed any more of this class, then I would most likely be missing it as well."

Semantics, to be sure, but Ghanima enjoyed playing with words.

"Miss Peters filled me in on some of the details that Miss Lance inadvertently left out of her message, so consider it an excused absence, with no make-up assignment."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Sorry about that," Merlin said sheepishly. "Tony needed help and I didn't really think about telling anyone."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"The ability to mobilize swiftly and effectively in a crisis is an admirable trait," Ghanima said, giving praise where it was due. "Just make sure you catch all the details next time."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah wasn't quite sure when Professor Atreides would be holding her office hours next, and this felt important enough to check in with her. Plus, after talking with Francine on Saturday, she felt even more guilty for not checking in sooner.

"Professor Atreides?" She poked her head in as class was letting out. "Hi. Got a minute?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Miss Lance," Ghanima replied, waving her over. "Have you come to take our final, then?"

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah got an 'eep!' look on her face, then cautiously said, "Hopefully not?" How much trouble was she in? "Francine said she talked to you, although I guess I could fake it..."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"She did." Really, Ghanima, messing with your students like this was just mean. "Although perhaps next time you should do an outline of what you want to leave in a message, to make sure you hit all the relevant points before getting cut off, and possibly warn your messenger about what the other party already knows."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Check your stories, really, how long had it been since she'd had to lie to an authority figure that she forgot to do that first? "Um, yeah." Dinah winced. "That probably would've been good. Or telling Francine to just... say whatever, hunh."

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

To be fair, Ghanima had an unfair advantage, even if they had checked their stories. Being able to read truth in every line of the human body had its benefits.

"You all owe Miss Peters a great deal for her services," Ghanima reminded her gently. "Someone had to stay behind and care for the puppy."

Which was Ghanima-speak for 'leaving her behind and making her do the dirty work was Not On, so you're getting extra meditation exercises for a week.'

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Which Dinah had figured out by the time she'd called from Vancouver, and Francine was making cookies and worrying by the phone. "Yeah. I brought her thank-you presents, but we do owe her big. Arthur and Merlin couldn't have gone if she -- um." Oh, forget it, no point lying by now. "Talked Chuck into getting them I.D.'s so fast." She sighed, looking resigned. "A real plan for the next time there's an off-island crisis. That doesn't include ditching Francine to deal with everything here."

'Cause there's always a next time.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

"Fake IDs Dinah? Really?" Ghanima sighed. "You know, I'm sure the office staff could procure semi-legal documentation for them, since we are on a nexus. Something that would allow them to travel for day trips and the like, without risking arrest."

She did not like the way Dinah was assuming there would be a 'next time', no.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Plus, I don't think Merlin should go around telling people his name is Marvin Hugh-- Um. Yeah. Those names aren't really all that good, off-island. Chuck's got a weird sense of humor." Dinah nodded, wincing. "I'm sorry we didn't warn you better, or prepare better." But she couldn't be sorry they'd gone to help Tony. "It worked out, though. No one even got seriously hurt! And, there were adults there." See? Supervision!