fandomhigh | Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4

Tyrion was already standing on his desk as the students got to class. He wasn't concerned about them noticing he was a dwarf; that would be blindingly obvious even if he carted the Iron Throne in and stood on top of that. However, being below eye level tended to put him at a disadvantage that he saw no need to start from today.

"Good afternoon, and welcome to Basic Strategy," he began. "I'm Tyrion Lannister. You may address me as Lord Tyrion, or as Professor Lannister if a noble title is too much for you."

"Before we start, I'd like to mention that I need an assistant. I want someone to go to the market for me, fetch my books, cook from time to time if you're the sort, help out in class every so often, and, most importantly, laugh at my jokes. There's coin in it -- twice whatever the going rate is for student jobs on the island, if I like you. If you're willing to take it on, stop by my office tomorrow and we'll chat."

A pause, there, as Tyrion willed the students to jot this down and looked at his own notes.

"This class is not about how to win a war. It's about how to make the circumstances of your life work for you. How to get what you want, whether it's a crown or some money or a pretty girl. Many of my thoughts may be useful; if they aren't, I hope at the least I'll entertain you for an hour every week."

"The main thing we're going to discuss today is where we all start from. Unless you're an idiot, no doubt you've surmised a few things about me by now. First, of course, is that I'm devastatingly handsome. Second, you might have heard the way I introduced myself, or noted the quality of my clothing, and correctly deduced that I come from a family of some standing. And finally, the thing the world will very rarely let me forget -- I am a dwarf. My limbs are short, my head is large, I wouldn't be the first person you'd call for back-up in a swordfight."

He'd been speaking quickly through his introduction, but here he paused and began to pace himself, as if he wanted to ensure the students were listening. "I can't forget any of that. No one else will."

"And I promise you, there are things about each of you that no one will ever forget, either. It might be a family name; it might be something you've done, or failed to do. It might be very good or very bad. Whatever it is, you need to take it on fully. Make it into your strength, and no one can ever use it to hurt you."

"You" -- and here he pointed randomly into the front row -- "start our conversation. Your names, two things about you that are common knowledge, and one thing you just want us to know. Next week, we'll start discussing how to turn what we have -- and don't have -- into things we can use."

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"I'd call that a High Septon," Tyrion said, no doubt confusing poor Lucrezia further. "I hope your father isn't as fat as ours is, for the sake of his health."

So people in Lucrezia's homeland prayed to another god, just as the Old Gods held the worship of those in the North. It made some small sense, even if Tyrion still felt his faith was the correct one.

"Not at all," Lucrezia laughed. "He is slender, and considered to be quite handsome."

Just ask his mistress. Or his other mistress.

"Does your High Septon have children?"

"None I know about, but it's not something I've investigated," Tyrion said. "They give up their personal names when they take office, and I don't know him well at all."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Why, is it unusual for a pope to have children?"

"To have them, no," she said. "At least, not to my understanding. Most of the Cardinals and Bishops as well have children and mistresses of their own. But it's generally kept secret, and not acknowledged openly, no matter how well-known the secret may be."

"Mistresses. Does that mean your mother was not your father's wife, even though you bear his name?" Tyrion was wording that very carefully. If Lucrezia had been a boy, or less obviously well-born, he would have just said bastard. "Perhaps that matters less in your world than it does in mine."

Lucrezia appreciated his tact, and smiled. "The Pope cannot marry," she said. "So he has never taken a wife, and none of his children are legitimate issue. He drafted a papal bull declaring our legitimacy, but public reception does not necessarily follow."

She flushed slightly before admitting, "It does matter, I believe, except that Papa is influential enough that we are still highly regarded."

That was, at least, where the Borgia infamy did not cancel out the benefits of marrying the Pope's child. But even a king's illegitimate child could marry well, and Juan had turned down the hand of a bastard princess.

Edited 2011-08-29 21:54 (UTC)

Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [8/29]

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [8/29]

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [8/29]

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [8/29]

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [8/29]

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [8/29]