fandomhigh | Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Tuesday

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glass ceiling

Breaking the Glass Ceiling, Tuesday

"All right, children," Kerrigan said, standing straight up in front of the class. "Today's your last class in this module. I hope it's been a little educational." The corners of her long lips tilted up a little bit. "What we've been talking about is the essence of how to deal with a world that's pitched against you. I hope by now you've also gotten the idea that trolling message boards and getting indignant is fun, but it won't help you get by."

God only knew how little being indignant had done for her.

"Sometimes you have to get dirty," she said. "Messy. Foul. When you're at the bottom, you have very little left to lose but your own life - use that. After all, no one is going to give you any respect if you keep your head down solely to make sure you don't get stomped on."

"But that obviously makes this a little... complicated," she continued. "Keep in mind that everyone and anyone can try to use who you are against you, even when they don't mean to. Even when they're friends, or you think they're friends, even if you think you have an insight as to who they are and what they do. Some of you know this. Others..."

She raked her eyes over several members of her audience. "I want you to tell me now how you plan to fight. If you plan to fight. Why you do. Because there's nothing I can tell you that's a magical fix-it. Some of you are going to get kicked down without a single thought into your head as to how things might get better. Trust me. It can happen to anyone. Anyone at all. No matter how... noble... you think you are."

Her mouth evened out. "Go ahead and talk," she said. "If I see any of you in my class next semester... there will be a lot less of that-- so do get it all out now."

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Tell Professor Kerrigan about your plans, your morals. Or whatever you're willing to share with the class, anyway...

Classmates are welcome to jump in, of course.

Edited 2010-06-22 13:16 (UTC)

"I'm going to fight to bring down the Empire and restore the Republic and return peace and justice to the galaxy," Leia said determinedly. She didn't aim small.

"I think I've heard that before," Kerrigan drawled. She didn't sound particularly impressed, but she wasn't mocking Leia, either. "Your own personal brand, I take it."

"No," Leia said, shaking her head and frowning. "I will not replace one dictatorship with another. The Senate is made up of thousands of worlds, each of which will have a say."

"But still-- your own choice in government," Kerrigan observed, neutrally. "Any brilliant plans yet, miss Organa?"

"The government that was in place before the Emperor seized control," Leia corrected. "It wasn't perfect, but it's a much better option than what we have now. As for plans, I know I'm allegedly safe here in Fandom, but I can't discuss them openly if there's the slightest chance of them being overheard by an imperial agent." Actually, she didn't know any plans yet, and that bothered her a lot. It was part of the price of that safety.

Kerrigan refrained from correcting, again, 'so the government when it was the way you liked it best'. "I see," she said instead. "Are you afraid to get your hands dirty?"

Re: Tell Us All About It

likes_scoundrels - 2010-06-22 17:13 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Tell Us All About It

on-her-korhal.livejournal.com - 2010-06-22 17:15 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Tell Us All About It

likes_scoundrels - 2010-06-22 17:17 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Tell Us All About It

on-her-korhal.livejournal.com - 2010-06-22 17:24 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Tell Us All About It

likes_scoundrels - 2010-06-22 17:54 (UTC) - Expand

"I -- I just want to be happy," Tara stumbled, when her turn came.

She wanted more than that, of course. She wanted to be a good witch, to go to college, to get away from her family and have something as far from her mother's life as she could manage. Someday, maybe, she wanted to have a job helping children somehow.

But she didn't think that was the kind of plan Kerrigan cared about. So she stayed quiet.

[OOC: Totes readable, yes.]

Kerrigan's head tilted thoughtfully. "That's not all you want," she said, evenly. "Though congratulations - you have 'hiding in plain sight' down to an artform."

"Thanks?" Tara shrugged one shoulder, embarrassed.

"And ... maybe not, but I'm not going to restore peace and justice to the galaxy, either," she said softly, eyes flickering over to Leia as she went pink. "My universe isn't like that."

Edited 2010-06-22 15:36 (UTC)

"Restoring peace and justice is overrated," she said, flatly. "Most of us should feel lucky enough if we manage to dig our own foxholes without anyone claiming that makes you their property."

It took a moment for Tara to process the analogy, mostly because she wasn't terribly clear on what a foxhole was.

"That's what I want," she finally said. "My own foxhole. I think ...? "

"A hole dug out in the open to serve as shelter during an offense," Kerrigan explained, idly. "Finding one outside of anyone's army is... rare."

Re: Tell Us All About It

life_inshadow - 2010-06-22 16:27 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Tell Us All About It

on-her-korhal.livejournal.com - 2010-06-22 16:53 (UTC) - Expand

Re: Tell Us All About It

life_inshadow - 2010-06-22 16:59 (UTC) - Expand

"I've already said I want it all," Emma stated. "That hasn't changed. I'm hardly going to kick a kitten to get what I want, but that's because a kitten isn't going to try and stop me."

"The only thing about you that worries me is the arrogance, Miss Frost," said Kerrigan, although her voice didn't sound concerned at all. "Do you think you can keep up with your desires?"

"I've exceeded everyone's expectations so far," Emma replied smoothly. "As long as I have a clear set of goals, and know what I'm willing to do to accomplish them, I see no reason why I cannot continue to astonish the masses."

Being called 'arrogant' was a compliment, so far as Emma was concerned.

"Oh, I can see enough reasons from here," Kerrigan replied, equally smoothly. "Namely keeping your eye on the prize so long you don't see the knife in your back -- although I assume you have plans for that, too."

"If they're close enough to knife me, they're close enough for me to know about it, and anything else they're planning." That wasn't a nice smile. "That's what powers are for; why else would we have them if we aren't supposed to use them?"

Um, probably not the lesson you're supposed to be learning at Fandom, Emma.

"Even the best telepath can get fucked over if she isn't listening in the right direction." Probably not the lesson she was supposed to be learning, but not a lesson Kerrigan felt any need to unlearn; she did it herself.

Re: Tell Us All About It

icecoldfrost - 2010-06-22 17:36 (UTC) - Expand

Helen had been thinking about this very thing. If her people didn't want her anymore, why should she go back? Why should she fight to be part of an organization that didn't want her and a world where women were considered second class citizens - little better than slaves?

"I believe I need to find a place for myself here or in another world. There is nothing left for me back home."

"Build your own little palace?" Kerrigan asked, lifting a brow. "An empire away from home...? How do you plan to find one of those, little Helen?"

"I don't want a palace or an empire," Helen said quietly. It hurt that Kerrigan would think that was why she'd wanted to return home. "I just want a place where I belong. Where I can do something useful and not be treated like a freak."

Her father's words, abomination, were in her mind once more despite her efforts to shut it out.

And had this been two years ago, there might have been a chance, however small, that Kerrigan would have apologised for her choice of words.

But it wasn't, and Kerrigan regarded her coolly. "You're going to need a lot of castle walls to manage that," she said, "And a spot close enough to the sun to stay away from the animals."

"Why? Most normal people don't," Helen argued. "Why can't I find a place of my own?"

Animals she didn't have to worry about. She could control those if she needed to.

"I'm going to destroy Adel," Rinoa said firmly. "And then find Ultimecia and finish her, as well."

It was personal. She'd unsealed the former, and been possessed by the latter.

"If that means using all of my powers, so be it."

Even if that meant that the SeeDs would then have a third Sorceress to kill.

(very readable!)

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