http://halfman-lion.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] halfman-lion.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2012-01-09 04:52 am
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Basic Strategy, Monday, Period 4

Class met in the Danger Shop today, which had been set up to look like a dimly lit dungeon, deserted save for a swarm of small, ugly beasts that looked a bit like purple bears with lizard heads.

"Last week our subject was acknowledging things about ourselves we can't change or forget," Tyrion said without preamble, and with some pride he'd gotten the wolves to show up in Danger Shop again. "This week, we begin a unit on making the best of what you have. You may be strong. You may be clever. You may be lovely to look upon. You may be rich. Unless the gods gave with both hands at your birth, it's unlikely you're all four. It's far more likely you're weak, stupid, ugly or poor -- relatively speaking, of course."

"Your choices are two. You can either concentrate on what you have a gift for and hope it's enough to get you through anything, or you can spend your life trying to master the things you're worst at in hopes of balancing yourself out. All things being equal, and assuming you're being honest with yourself about having tried to improve, I'd say you're usually better off focusing on your skills and making them as good as they can be. A swordsman does not prepare for battle by reading, nor should he, and it makes no more sense for a weakling to spend his days fiddling about with a sword. He might hurt himself."

"But -- because this is my class, and I have the right to be perverse sometimes -- today we will start with a single kind of skill, and pretend we're all trying to improve our strength." He pointed to a beast. "Your job is to fight these lovely fellows. They've no ability to speak or reason -- all you can do is find a way to bash your way out of this one. After you've done that, we'll talk some more."

Before he released the class to fight the beasts, he added, "And by the way, because this got me into trouble last time, I must add these creatures are not real. They're a kind of film and can't hurt you. Don't ask me how it works."

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[identity profile] unburnt-queen.livejournal.com 2012-01-09 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Dany tried her best. She truly did.

She took a long time selecting a small, lightweight shield -- nothing like Ser Jorah's, but enough for her to hide under -- and a sword she could lift with a single hand. She steadied herself against the beast, mimicking the stance she'd seen performed. She thought of the Dothraki curved blade, and longed for how useful it seemed, because she felt entirely impotent.

And then she managed to cut the animal once before it threw her to the ground, and that was that. Her pride stung more than anything else.
abitlowkey: (half smile)

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[personal profile] abitlowkey 2012-01-09 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
"You would have done better to only choose one," Loki chimed in, spear still in hand. "Sword or shield."

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[identity profile] unburnt-queen.livejournal.com 2012-01-09 03:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"I've seen men use both," Dany replied, peering up at him. "Does it not make sense to have both defense and offense in your hands?"
abitlowkey: (LURKER)

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[personal profile] abitlowkey 2012-01-09 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you the strength to bear it," Loki replied, looking thoughtful before offering her a hand up. "You're no man, after all."

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[identity profile] unburnt-queen.livejournal.com 2012-01-09 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
She took the offered hand, considering his words. "Then which would you recommend?"
abitlowkey: (eager like a puppy)

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[personal profile] abitlowkey 2012-01-09 04:42 pm (UTC)(link)
"For now? The shield is your best weapon," he replied, pulling her up. "A sword is messy and easily misused. A shield can hide both weaknesses and strengths from your opponent's eyes."

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[identity profile] unburnt-queen.livejournal.com 2012-01-09 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
"How can a shield fight back, though?" she asked, worrying her lower lip. "All it does is hide me."
abitlowkey: (LURKER)

Re: STRENGTH EXERCISE [1/09]

[personal profile] abitlowkey 2012-01-09 06:54 pm (UTC)(link)
"If you try, anything can be a weapon," Loki replied with a bow. "For example, I am Loki whose lies are sharp enough to pierce even the most sturdy of armor and topple the strongest of walls. Your shield can keep you physically from harm, but it will be your mind that lashes out at your enemies."