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

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[trigons_child]

"I will help as much as I am able," Raven said. "I think it will be trial and error to decide where things should go, as I have never done anything like this before."

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[bitten_notshy]

"Never moved furniture at all?" Jack asked. "How did you manage that?"

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[trigons_child]

"Never balanced this 'qi,'" Raven said with an amused smile. "Or moved furniture to be honest. There was never any need. My room was always as it was back home, and I saw no need to rearrange my room here."

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[bitten_notshy]

"Right, qi," Jack repeated, as he hefted the table. "Is it intolerant of me not to be certain I believe in the stuff?"

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[trigons_child]

"Not at all," Raven said, doing her part to help guide the table. "There are many different ways that people meditate and find inner balance, and each method does not work for all."

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[bitten_notshy]

Jack stepped backward one more pace. "I think I'm not inclined toward meditation to start with."

Inner peace, frankly, made Jack nervous.

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[trigons_child]

"Many do not require it," Raven said. "I do, to help strength my shielding so I do not become overwhelmed by all the emotions around me."

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[bitten_notshy]

"I hope I'm not bothering you at the moment," Jack said. "All I feel is a little annoyed by the assignment."

And curious. Curious was his baseline.

Re: Activity: Move Furniture

[trigons_child]

"Not at all," Raven said. "Professor Skywalker has been an excellent instructor. I am rarely bothered by normal emotions around me. It is only when they become intense that I am affected." Like, say, when a handful of students suddenly became paralyzed and panicked.