fandomhigh | The Art(s) of War and Peace; Wednesday, Second Period [ 09/28 ].

"Good morning. Today, we work with chapter four, often known as 'Tactical Dispositions'," Ghanima said, smiling at them as she hopped off her desk and walked over to the chalkboard. Shunsui, for what it was worth, was behind the desk as usual, though this time with a little bonsai tree. "Sun Tzu said: 'The good fighters of old first put themselves beyond the possibility of defeat, and then waited for an opportunity of defeating the enemy.'"

She picked the chalk up and began to write. The cantor of her writing seemed to provide the harmony to the melody of Shunsui's trimming shears. "First, he claimed that 'to secure ourselves against defeat lies in our own hands, but the opportunity of defeating the enemy is provided by the enemy himself.' This is excellent advice, as it reminds us that the enemy is never perfect, and that everyone, ourselves included, has a weakness. 'Thus the good fighter is able to secure himself against defeat, but cannot make certain of defeating the enemy.'"

"'Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive,'" she recited, writing quickly. "'Standing on the defensive indicates insufficient strength; attacking, a superabundance of strength.'"

"Naturally," Shunsui finally offered, "such a belief can extend beyond the art of war ♥. For example, one may seem to merely be partaking in the relaxing activity of keeping a bonsai while the more quick-minded instructor does all the hard work, only to then choose the right moment to chime in with a pointed comment about when to step on up ♥."

"So, how do we reconcile these differences?" she asked, looking at them. "One could even say that bonsai keeping is a constant war of knowing when - and how - to cut back. How can you create a plan of attack for anything, not just combat, using Tzu's ideas? Wooing a romantic partner by using almost defensive-only tactics seems doomed to failure, as does using that mindset during a business transaction. We know from our earlier lesson that a prologued engagement benefits no one in the long run, why do you then think Tzu advocates waiting here?" Ghanima set down her chalk and turned around to face them fully. "I'd like you to get in small groups of two or three and discuss this, and try to come up with a non-combat situation where this would be a viable, and indeed desirable, strategy."

"And I brought bonsais for everyone, should you like to partake yourself while you discuss ♥."

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Mercy was trying to shape a bonsai, but not so much with the talking today.

Scully was frankly, intimidated. Needing a manicure didn't help with that; she probably could have trimmed her little oak with her nails. Sighing, she turned to Mercy. "Do you know where to start on this?"

Mercy had worked a little in Asrai's greenhouse back in Aspen Creek, and while he was far more into roses, he'd had a bonsai or two.

She smiled at Scully a little shyly and demonstrated what she was doing. "I don't know a lot, but I know you just need to do tiny bits at a time. I'm not very good at it myself."

"The only person I knew who had one of these before was... not a pleasant person." Scully frowned. "I wonder if he learned strategy from these?... Tiny bits." Snip. Snip. "They're really lovely. I suppose taking time helps."

"I think it's supposed to be a way to help you meditate, sort of," Mercy said. "Because you have to go so slowly and be calm and careful."

"Maybe I should get one for Mulder. But he can't keep goldfish alive, he'd probably kill a mini-tree too." Another snip, then Scully stepped back, biting her lip. "Keeping calm is my thing, not his."

"Is Mulder your... boyfriend?" Mercy asked. She nodded as Scully stepped back. "Asrai used to say that the most important thing was knowing when to stop."

"My best friend," Scully said in a subdued tone, then more conversationally, "He'll be visiting this weekend; he's on my mind... how long did you work for Asrai?"

She considered, realizing she hadn't talked to Mercy since that time she visited the Clinic. "Do you have other things in common?" Oblique, but clear.

"I didn't really work for him," Mercy clarified. "I just... when my guardian or foster parents decided I had too much time on my hands they'd send me to work with somebody. I spent a bunch of time with him, until we discovered I have a black thumb and pretty much kill everything I try to grow."

She blushed. And hedged. "Um... no. I've never met anyone else like me."

Absolutely true. Asrai was a werewolf and Mercy definitely wasn't. As had been shoved in her face many times.

Scully gave her a look of sympathy for that, then said, "I'm better in a lab. With tweezers, and syringes, and precise measurements. Not trusting my gut on making something grow." She stroked a finger down one frond. "I'm sorry there weren't more of you around, so to speak."

Mercy ducked her head. "Yeah, me too. Would have made some stuff easier."

She stepped back to look at her own bonsai, which, well, it hadn't died yet anyway. "I'm good with mechanical things - cars. Charles taught me after I crashed Bran's Porsche."

"Who was Charles?" Scully asked, deciding to water and fertilize the little oak, since she didn't feel like she could snip it any further back.

"My guardian's son." She shook her head at the bonsai and decided she'd best quit while she was ahead. "He's native american too. Taught me a lot about my heritage, 'cause there wasn't anyone else to do it. He's... a little intimidating."

Now that was an understatement.

The Art(s) of War and Peace; Wednesday, Second Period [ 09/28 ].

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