Hubris from Revelation: the Social Engineering of Ultimate Truths [Monday, Period 2]

[atreideslioness]

The class met in the Danger Room today, which was set up into a series of different rooms. Most of them were full of very heavy furniture. The last one was full of low tables with tea kettles resting on top.

"Your professor asked me to come in and discuss my time in Afghanistan when I studied under one of the magi and learned the Tao," Biff said, smiling at Ghanima. "I might have forgotten to mention that Josh learned about the Tao. I learned about feng shui, which is dependent on something called qi, and then the rest of it I ignored because I was being taught by beautiful Chinese concubines and I got distracted easily."

Ghanima, meanwhile, was sitting in the back of the room. To any outside observer, she looked quite studious and duly interested in what the guest teacher was saying.

To anyone that actually knew her - Biff included - she was actually dying of amusement.

He pointed at a series of small brass scales on a nearby table. "What I do know is that the qi in all of those rooms is totally screwed up. You take these brass scales and someone who looks good at lifting heavy objects and start moving things around until the qi is balanced again. When the little brass scales balance, you've completed the task. When you're done, come back and have a cup of tea and I'll tell you more about the Tao as I read from the Book of the Divine Elixirs or the Nine Tripods of the Yellow Emperor."

He certainly hadn't messed with the tea, as a subtle manipulator of the elements might do. Except for how he had.

[OOC: Major props to the always-awesome nojesusfreak for humoring my request. OCD is up, and see the OOC note.]

Comments

Sign-In

[atreideslioness]

In a zen-ish manner!

Re: Sign-In

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Jonas

During the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

Take notes, pass notes, wonder who this person is and why Lady Ghanima is letting him teach...

Re: During the Lecture

[see-beyond.livejournal.com]

Jonas didn't understand most of the lecture but he tried to follow along just from context clues. It, unfortunately, proved more difficult than usual since the lecture was short. He was thankful that he understood the activity somewhat but still had no idea what it had to do with anything the guest lecturer had said earlier.

He was in so over his head.

Re: During the Lecture

[bitten_notshy]

Jack didn't entirely follow the lecture, but the end result seemed easy enough: he had to move furniture.

Right. Important academic subject, there.

Re: During the Lecture

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

...Fiona was just going to watch and try and make it make sense later. Because it certainly wasn't making sense right now.

Re: During the Lecture

[trigons_child]

Raven was intrigued by the concepts of feng shui and qi, so she was listening attentively.

Re: During the Lecture

[vanillajello]

For once, Kate was in this class well-rested and ready to go. She was chuckling at the short lecture, and not too phased about having to move furniture.

Fandom was weird but kind of nice.

Re: During the Lecture

[furnaceface]

Guest speakers were just as well as anything, Jono supposed. He took notes, naturally. Might as well pay attention to all of that zen... whatever it was.

Re: During the Lecture

[iamnotallgirl]

Move furniture? Were they serious? Jill would be lucky if she didn't break her foot!

Activities!

[atreideslioness]

Welcome back from break! There's three parts to today's exercise...

Activity: Move Furniture

[atreideslioness]

Grab a partner, and take turns moving around the furniture and trying to get your qi properly balanced.

Activity: Tea Time!

[atreideslioness]

Yay, you balanced the qi! Now you get your reward: Tea. Which is totally not poisoned in any way by the subtle manipulator of the elements. Nope.

Activity: During Tea Time...

[atreideslioness]

If you drink the tea, you will soon discover that you are completely paralyzed. You can still blink, though.

Biff has decided that it'd be easier to lecture if no one can talk back, and he's now lecturing from the Book of the Divine Elixirs or the Nine Tripods of the Yellow Emperor.

Activity: ...

[atreideslioness]

Now that you're paralyzed, it's time for the teachers to have some fun.

That's right, you're being painted blue. Isn't this fun?!

Talk to the TAs

[atreideslioness]

If they aren't paralyzed.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[rocksthescarf.livejournal.com]

Chuck was there, yep, and not yet paralyzed.

Talk to Biff

[atreideslioness]

If he sticks around after class.

Re: Talk to Biff

[nojesusfreak.livejournal.com]

Biff was there, ready to tell you just how good you look blue.

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's there, before and after class.

And yes, she thinks this is funny, and no, she doesn't care if you don't think so.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[trigons_child]

Raven approached Ghanima before class because her state of mind after was going to be questionable at best.

"Lady Ghanima, may I speak to you?" she asked.

OOC

[atreideslioness]

I knew since the moment someone said Ghani should teach religion that her Favoritest Teaching Buddy Ever was going to make an appearance, so ya'll can blame the people that enable me.

Once again, a big hand for nojesusfreak. If you haven't read Lamb, get thee to a library. Heathen.

ETA: If you choose to be paralyzed, the teachers will give you the antidote at the end of class and your character will have the feeling of pins-and-needles for about an hour afterwards. The blue face paint will last for as long as you'd like, but it would stick around for at least a day. You will not be blue for the dance, unless you don't shower.

If you choose not to be paralyzed and blue, that's fine, too, but Ghanima and Biff won't let you stick around the class for not following instructions.

Re: OOC

[trigons_child]

...I apologize for Raven, she's not going to take this well I think. :)

Re: OOC

[bitten_notshy]

Jack is walking out. Sorry -- I will happily serve detention if it's found necessary.

(And this time I posted this comment from the right account!)

Re: OOC

[furnaceface]

*Puts up hand* Jono can't drink! Will he be in trouble for having a furnace where his face goes?