fandomhigh | How to Win Friends and Influence People Class 2: Sept. 11

Entry tags:

win friends

How to Win Friends and Influence People Class 2: Sept. 11

Glinda was waiting at the front of the classroom, and seemed less cheery than usual. Although there were still snacks in the form of a cake and tea. "Today's lesson covers the fundamentals of handling people. They are as follows: First, don't criticize, condemn or complain. Second, give honest and sincere feedback. Third, motivate the other person to genuinely want to achieve what you are aiming for.

"Today's activity will revolve around that. I want you to pair up. You will take turns proposing the craziest idea you can think of, and the other will try to critique without coming across as namby-pamby or overtly harsh. Any questions? No? Then let's begin."

[OCD up! Up super early for SP justice. Roster, syllabus, and other fun things can be found at that link. See OOC note for how to make today more interesting.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Didi was only easy when it didn't matter. When it didn't matter, it was more fun to say yes than to say no.

"Not to their faces," she specified. "I don't have any reason to argue with them. They're probably perfectly nice."

Excuse Tybalt for a moment. He had to make sputtering noises, now.

"They're villains! Vile, pretentious dogs who have no concept of appropriate conduct in the face of the superior house!"

"They didn't do anything to me," Didi said. Was it wrong of her to enjoy the sputtering?

"For a class assignment, I'll say they're jerks if it makes you happy. And then if it were an assignment, I'd say you were a jerk if it made them happy. It's really not my fight. Sorry."

"Thou didst ask if I had an enemy to share," Tybalt pointed out. "And now thou hast agreed to the task, and so I suppose ought to turn to thee and ask the same, for the sake of this class and this teacher's assignment. Is there some mad deed that thou wouldst see me perform?"

"Oh, I can think of a few," Didi said thoughtfully. "I want to see you stand on your chair and sing a song from a Disney movie at the top of your lungs. You can pick the song."

She was magnanimous.

"I know no Disney music," Tybalt replied, curling his lip faintly and giving his head a shake. "I was never the sort of child to content myself with the adventures of Bumbi or Dambo."

~~Or whatever the heck the Meta is. Or maybe he's getting it wrong on purpose. The world may never know.~~

"Too bad," Didi said. "Disney music is awesome."

A second later, she added, "What would you sing for me?"

"What would I sing for thee?" Tybalt gave her a critical look for a moment, and then he shook his head. "I believe thou art mistaking me for a man with a singing voice. That would be a mistake."

"Oh, come on," Didi said, smirking. "Everybody has a song. Don't be afraid to share yours."

It was entirely possible that she was intentionally being maddening.

"Thou art accusing me of being bashful?"

Now there was a concept that was relatively foreign to Tybalt, yes.

"Not especially, but there has to be some reason you won't sing," Didi said. "If you aren't afraid...."

She gestured. Chair. Up. Now, please.

Tybalt eyed Didi as though she'd gone absolutely mad.

And then he eyed the chair. And then Didi, yet again, before be deduced that no, he was the one who had lost his mind, here, and that if he was going to be absolutely insane, he might as well be insane, on a chair, and singing.

Which was exactly why he was shooting her one more defiant look before stepping up onto the aforementioned chair. He had his pride, after all.

Grinning, Didi clapped and waited politely for him to sing.

If she looked smug, it was because she figured she had won.

And so, there was Tybalt. On a chair. On a chair, with an applauding young lady sitting there and looking particularly smug.

He was a Capulet. He was the only one in the room who was allowed to look smug, Damn It. And that was why, when he cleared his throat and then opened his mouth, what came out was not a song at all. Oh, no.

"If I might have the attention of those who are not terribly busy with their assignments?" He shot a serpentine smile at Didi before he pressed on. "The Lady Didi hath bade me announce to you the entertainment for the class today. She'll be joining me, of course, to serenade you all with a stirring rendition of whatever song best suits her fancy."

He stepped from the chair to the top of a desk, and then gestured grandly to the seat he'd been standing on a moment before.

"Thy stage awaits, milady."

There was a special place in hell reserved for him, yes.

Yes. Yes, there was. Didi would make a special point of escorting him there herself, just to be certain his reservation wasn't lost.

Nevertheless, she clambered on up, smiling.

"Lord Tybalt is too modest," she said. "It is his voice that allows this song to soar. We are performing, as a duet, 'My Heart Will Go On' by Celine Dion."

And then, in a not-especially-good voice, she sang,

Every night in my dreams
I see you. I feel you.
That is how I know you go on.

And then looked at Mr. Greasy-and-Self-Satisfied over on the desk. Your turn, Tybalt.

It was... somewhat sad, that Tybalt actually knew the words to this.

Don't ask him how. It was too painful. Just so long as he wasn't standing up there alone making an ass of himself, he was game to do this, either way.

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on.

He raised an eyebrow at Didi. Time for some stunning but not particularly well-sung harmony, then?

~~He knew the words because the male lead in the film was stunning of course.~~

Yes. One round of the chorus, then they'd call it a draw? Didi tried to ask that with her eyebrows as she opened her mouth to sing.

Near, far, wherever you are...
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go ONNNNNN and ONNNNNNN

Yes, one round of the chorus was plenty, especially considering this was more a dare than any actual willingness to sing or sing well.

It was possible that the ability to sing well had taken one look at them, and then run screaming for the lifeboats as though it had mistaken them for an iceberg.

And my heart will go OOOOON and OOOOOOON.

...

Tybalt needed a cigar, now.

ONNNNNN....

And as soon as they were done, Didi took a quick bow and jumped down.

She didn't smoke, but if she did, she'd want that cigar, too.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

How to Win Friends and Influence People Class 2: Sept. 11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11

Re: Activity :: 9/11