So You Say You Want a Revolution: Week 5, Period 3

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

"Three days until Parents' Weekend, and most of you are still here? I'm impressed," Aly said teasingly. "Those of you who are new, don't worry. No one's died as a result of parental or other visitors. Embarrassment, I can't help you with. What I can do is-"well, technically she was going to probably start the embarrassment early, but whatever "- possibly give you some pointers on handling not just this weekend, but every time you need to establish a quick rapport with another person whether you need them as a contact or ally for your movement or just because you want your girlfriend's mom to like you.

She flipped the whiteboard around to reveal the writing on it.


11 Ways to Start Off on the Right Foot, or a Guide to Flirting.
1. Remain Still and Composed
2. Smile genuinely
3. Maintain as much eye contact as you can tolerate
4. Employ the same body language you would use with an old friend
5. Your opening statement is crucial
6. Assess then focus on the other person's interests
7. Mirror body language and echo speech patterns
8. Plan in advance what you're going to say about yourself
9. Be prepared for likely topics
10. Maintain unshakable confidence no matter what
11. Work the silences

Returning her gaze to the class, Aly gestured to the board. "Everyone likes an easy tip sheet, right? Here you are then, eleven ways you can start to build trust and establish rapport with a new contact." She winked. "Or a new interest. In all honesty, you can look at this type of conversation as flirting without sexual intent. What is flirting other than initiating contact and expressing interest in another person? You want to appear interesting, sincere, confident enough for the other person to think you're worth continuing the conversation with."

She looked back at the board. "Some of these are rather obvious. 'Smile genuinely.' I'm sure you've all met someone who just pulled his teeth back from his lips and called that a smile. It's not and it won't inspire warm feelings or even a smile in return. 'Your opening statement is crucial.' It's all the other person has to reply to, and when you're making contacts or flirting, you don't want to force the burden of the conversation on the other person. So don't box yourself in. Don't say 'wow, sure is hot in here.' What if the other person likes the heat? Ask them what they think and move on from there. Everyone likes talking about him or herself so find out their interests and focus your attention there."

Aly paused then rolled her eyes slightly. "But not to the exclusion of talking about yourself. Don't dodge questions. It's obvious and from a technical standpoint, anyone smart enough to be your agent is smart enough to notice. I realise that sort of thing looks really good in the spy films or novels, but it just doesn't generally work. Give the person a reason to keep talking to you, give them a reason to share information about themselves. That's why you're planning what you want to say in advance."

"So, any questions about this, how you'd use it, why you'd use it, anything?" She asked, gazing around the room, meeting each student's eyes. Once any questions were answered, Aly continued. "Your assignment today is twofold - one, I want you all to pair up and flirt - or establish a rapport if that's easier to think about or your girlfriend is in the class - with someone. If you don't know them very well, that's a bonus." She glanced over the class. "The second part is to keep these ideas in mind throughout the weekend and try to consciously use them as you meet some of our visitors. Be ready to report back on how it worked next Wednesday."

She waved to dismiss them into the activity then called everyone's attention back to her. "One last thing. If there's anything you want to be sure I mention - or don't mention - to your visitors, feel free to let me know. I look forward to meeting everyone's family and friends, and I'd rather not let any cats out of the bag."

Comments

Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Work those flirting muscles and build a rapport with a fellow classmate.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[seaweed-demigod.livejournal.com]

Just because he didn't know how to flirt didn't mean he wasn't going to try so he was there, waiting for a partner.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[wrongkindofsith]

It was almost like Cara could scent blood in the metaphorical water, and she had been told to live life it like was Shark Week.

She dropped into the seat next to Percy and smiled. Well, technically it more closely resembled a smirk, but one of her more inviting ones.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[seaweed-demigod.livejournal.com]

When he realized that he wasn't alone, Percy looked up and tried not to look like a deer in the proverbial headlights.

"Uh, hey," he said, trying for casual and cool. He was neither of those, really. "Gonna be my partner?"

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[wrongkindofsith]

"If you'd like," Cara replied, leaning forwards slightly. Not as much as she would if she was actually flirting with him, but definitely enough to emphasise her... assets.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[seaweed-demigod.livejournal.com]

Percy's eyes flicked down (of course they did) and he immediately forced them back up to her face. Thankfully, he managed not to blush but it was a close thing.

"Sure, yeah, why not?" Percy replied, nodding. "You know how to flirt?"

He was going to guess...yes.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

Elphaba sat off to the side, not actively trying to find a partner. She didn't dislike anyone in the class bad enough to make them work with her on this. It wasn't a lack of self-confidence, or even self-loathing, it was simply accepting the fact that she thought most would have trouble flirting with a girl as green as she.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

Faramir could not help but notice, and so he made his way over.

"Lady Elphaba," he said with a slight bow. "Would you do me the pleasure of being my partner in this exercise, or in the alternative offered to us?"

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

Elphaba's face betrayed her surprise, but she quickly regained her composure, even if she was smiling slightly. "Which would you prefer? I admit the activity will be... new for me."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[thinkbetterofme.livejournal.com]

"I am not unfamiliar with it, but the way it is presented here is new to me," Faramir admitted, returning the smile. "I would not mind practising it, if you aren't adverse."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[didntchewgrass.livejournal.com]

"I hardly should shirk away from the unknown," Elphaba said. "So I suppose it would be good for us both to practise, just so I may know what it is like."

Even if she doubted she get a chance to do it, often.

[ooc: AFK 30 minutes as I head home from work!]

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[trickydemigod.livejournal.com]

Getting to spend the class time flirting was way better than sitting around listening to a lecture. He could do this in his sleep. Luke waited for a partner with a smile on his face because, hey, might as well go in it looking cute.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[onlymistaken]

Well, at least Cally had a useful opening line...

"How do you do; my name is Cally. You appear to have stolen my roommate."

Even if none of that was actually new information.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[trickydemigod.livejournal.com]

Luke grinned. "Hey, he moved in of his own accord. No theft was involved, I swear."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[onlymistaken]

"I think my dog would disagree with you; she's under the impression that everything in the room belongs to her, and no one asked her permission." Cally put her palm up in a what can you do gesture. "She got her own bed out of the deal; you'd think she'd be pleased."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[trickydemigod.livejournal.com]

"She misses Nico, huh?" Luke asked. "I might be willing to lend him out for a playdate."

Luke, stop treating your cousin like he was a poodle.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[likes_scoundrels]

Oh, look, a cute boy. This assignment was going to be so difficult.

"Hi," Leia said. "Want to flirt?"

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[trickydemigod.livejournal.com]

"Well I suppose we have to, don't we? School assignment and all," Luke said. "Normally I'd never flirt unless I had to, really."

Liiiiiiies.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[likes_scoundrels]

"Oh, me neither," Leia said, barely keeping her face serious. "This is such a terrible thing to make us do. Flirting should never be done on school time."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[trickydemigod.livejournal.com]

"Yep, completely inappropriate," he agreed with a nod. "But...since I do want to be the best student I can be, I'll have to flirt to the best of my ability now."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[eyesofahero.livejournal.com]

Right, flirting.

Cloud would be attempting to become invisible about now. He had a poker face on though if his face were visible under all that hair

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[glacial_queen]

Hello, Cloud. Karla would like to assure you right now that the smile she is wearing is one full of friendship and optimism and can not in anyway be interpreted as 'wicked.'

Really.

"Kiss kiss," she said, sliding into the seat next to his. She flashed him that in-no-way-wicked smile again. "Want to be my partner?"

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[eyesofahero.livejournal.com]

Now, you have to understand that Cloud was by no means a poor defenseless soul when it came to woman, really. The fact he was about to spat something along the lines of 'Better you than anyone' had absolutely nothing to do with it. Nada.

That was some not-wicked-at-all smile, darn it.

Cloud smiled back, in a even less wicked fashion -if that was possible-; while he still preferred torture to do this -and honestly, this could be considered torture on its own right-, Karla made things less weird. Or not. He would not dwell too much about it.

"Gladly", said as he took a deep breath. What had been on the board? Eye contact. Alright, he could do that. There, eye contact; Karla had pretty eyes anyway. Yes, this was working.

He was so doomed.

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[glacial_queen]

Eye contact first and then a genuine smile--which Karla's was, absolutely. And, if her body language suggested amusement more than anything else, at least she was still obeying the rules as written. She was often amused by her old friends, too.

Now, to find an interest... "You haven't been by the store recently," she noted. What? That counted as an interest! "You missed the chance to beat me at edible chess."

Re: Pair Up and Flirt! [Rev 9-29]

[dontvotemeout]

Jason wasn't very good at flirting - it wasn't like he had a lot of experience with that sort of thing, no matter how much he might pretend - but he figured smiling as he looked around might be a good start.