Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Tyrion was already standing on his desk as the students got to class. It had seemed to work well the last time, and he wasn't about to mess with traditions that proved useful.

"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. Most of your cohorts seem to go for the variant with Professor in front of it."

"Before we start, I'd like to mention that I need an assistant. Mr. Carter, you seem like a likely lad. Stop by after the class and we'll discuss the details."

A pause, there, as Tyrion hoped he'd chosen well and looked at his notes.

"This class is not -- as some of you may have heard from people who took it last term -- 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."

Comments

SIGN IN [1/02]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Like it's your first class of 2012! Unless it isn't.

Re: SIGN IN [1/02]

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

Wesley Wyndam-Pryce

LISTEN TO THE LECTURE [1/02]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Decide if the teacher has some points.

Re: LISTEN TO THE LECTURE [1/02]

[wwiii]

If Warren was still maybe a little awkward coming in today (after that whole debacle where they were both paid killers and Professor Lannister had died at Tony's wedding and... yeah), he was looking a bit more relaxed by the time Tyrion had finished the lecture.

Make it your strength. Yeah. This was definitely the right class for him.

Re: LISTEN TO THE LECTURE [1/02]

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

Wesley was nodding a bit approvingly by the end of the lecture. Oh, he liked this teacher already.

Re: LISTEN TO THE LECTURE [1/02]

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

The teacher had some good points.

Squall wasn't entirely sure why he thought that being short meant he couldn't fight, though. SeeD taught people of any size to find the weapon that worked best for them and use it well.

INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Names, two things about you the world is unlikely to forget, and one thing you just think is important.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[walkswithcoyote]

"Hi. My name is Mercedes Thompson."

Two things that were common knowledge. Well...

"I'm female and I'm part Native American." That should cover that part.

And one thing she just wanted them to know. Hmmm.

"I grew up in Aspen Creek, Montana, so winters here... really don't much count as winter."

That should do.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[liarallmyown.livejournal.com]

"I'm Jace Wayland." There, that was the easy part. Jace felt he was wholly unforgettable so picking just two traits was difficult.

"Well people aren't likely forget how I look." Because he was beautiful. And covered in scars below the neck. "And I'm told my sunny disposition sticks with people."

Riiiiiiight.

"And I don't like cucumbers."

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[wwiii]

Well. It was Warren's first class of the year, might as well rip off the band-aid now and get it over with anyhow, right?

"Hey. I'm Warren Worthington the Third," he greeted as he stood, and then decided to go right for the two obvious ones first. "My dad is a wealthy business owner, and, yeah, I'm a mutant."

He stretched his wings slightly, in case anybody had managed to miss that part. Somehow.

"And I'm still planning on going to college after high school with all the normal people."

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[abitlowkey]

"I am Loki," he said, chin up and shoulders back like he was attempting to be taller than he actually was at the moment. "I am a liar who has done terrible things."

Just ask Alex! And yes, the name was one of the things people would be hard pressed to forget about him.

"And I greatly enjoy this thing you call Tumblr."

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[wesleynotponcy.livejournal.com]

Wesley stood up. "My name is Wesley Wyndam-Pryce," he said. "I'm... er, English," he said, because the accent made that fairly noticable. "I spent the better portion of my childhood studying vampires and demons."

Hmm, something else.

"And I'm a representative of the school student council."

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[wasthecuteone]

"Hi, I'm Petra West," Petra said cheerily. "I'm one of the surviving beauty queens from Miss Teen Dream, and when I was eleven I was in a very popular boy band. And if that confused you, it's okay, I'm transgender." And one thing she just wanted people to know...the well-developed sense of personal style was too obvious... "And I love old Hollywood movies." There. That should do.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[momslilassassin]

Ben glanced around the room, noting familiar faces.

"I'm Ben Skywalker," he said. "At home, my last name carries some weight. I'm a Jedi--think warrior monk without the celibacy thing who's been trained extensively in diplomacy and combat--and," hmmm, something that he wanted them to know, "and I sunburn easily."

Which was still fairly obvious from his trip back to Naboo.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[knight-fatali.livejournal.com]

Well. That was a rather... dismal start to the day. Seifer was beginning to wish he had stayed in bed and skipped class.

"I'm Seifer Almasy," he said. "I have spent over half my life so far being trained as a mercenary," he paused for a moment. "And I came damn close to helping some psycho nearly end the world I'm from."

"And I really dislike telepaths."

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[whateverknight.livejournal.com]

Going after Seifer made his introduction easy.

"I'm Squall Leonhart," he said. "I have spent over half my life so far being trained as a mercenary. And I stopped 'some psycho' from nearly ending the world I'm from." He gestured vaguely at Seifer. "He helped."

As for something about him that was important... "I grew up an orphan, but it turns out that my father is alive, in charge of an entire country, and a moron." It wasn't something he wanted to talk about, but it seemed like maybe Lord Tyrion could help him deal with Laguna.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[cant-be-helped.livejournal.com]

Dorothy had no hesitation at all when it came to talking about herself.

"I'm Dorothy Gale," she said, speaking when it was her turn. Given her plain and simple dress, she decided one of the obvious things about her to share was "I'm not wealthy, but from a small farm in Kansas." For a second obvious thing, she decided on "I'm also young, only fourteen so I'm rather small, too."

"For something that isn't obvious, I'm good friends with the Empress of Oz. It's a magical land far from Kansas." That wasn't even really a humble brag, it was more of just a flat-out brag.

She ended her statement with a little smile on her face.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[glacial_queen]

"My name is Karla," she said when the class discussion got around to her. "I'm not from this world, and I'm a witch that belongs to all three castes back home."

Neither of which might be immediately apparent from looking at her, but the world wouldn't forget them because she wouldn't let it.

"And I'm really good at making cookies."

Okay, Karla didn't mean to turn this into 'two truths and a lie...' She was just in denial confused in denial.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[kestrelswolf.livejournal.com]

"I am called Blysse, and he is Blind Seer," Firekeeper started, introducing both herself and the very large blue-eyed wolf at her side. "I cannot read, and I speak the language of Beasts better than any human tongue. Blind Seer get his name because his eyes is blue, and he understands human speech. One thing you should know about both of us is this: wolves is not tame creatures," this last was said with a predatory grin.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[taseredagod.livejournal.com]

Some part of Darcy's brain had short circuited during her classmates introductions, mostly due to the wings and Loki.

"Um...my name is Darcy Lewis. I tasered a really hot guy who fell from the sky and I can cook anything in a microwave, even things that shouldn't. And uh, I worked for an astro-physist this summer."

She didn't mention that all three items were directly related.

Re: INTRODUCTIONS [1/02]

[exactlyaverage.livejournal.com]

"Uh, hi. I'm Jack Carter," Jack said standing up. "Um."

Jack was struggling here.

"I like banana milkshakes and a huge Dodgers fan, which should tell you I'm a glutton for punishment."

TALK TO TYRION [1/02]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Especially if you just got shanghaied into TAing. Or if you just want to say hi.

Re: TALK TO TYRION [1/02]

[abitlowkey]

After class Loki gave him penetrating look before turning away again. "You're Midgardian like the rest. Not a Dwarf."

Re: TALK TO TYRION [1/02]

[exactlyaverage.livejournal.com]

After class, Jack approached Tyrion with a amused look. "Hey Professor. Did you pick my name randomly or did I make a good impression walking through the door."

OOC [1/02]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

I always wanna put FIRST here when I have the first class posted of a term.

FIRST.

Also, I'm off work today, so I may be a bit slow during the day. Promise I'll catch you all as I can.