A Tale of Two Lions, Monday, Period 2

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

It was the start of a new school year. If Tyrion were at all melancholy at the passage of time, it was strongly overlaid by his excitement at new students, new books, new ideas to impart …

New teaching partner.

"Hello," he said, once everyone seemed to be in place. He was sitting on the desk again; otherwise, the contrast between his height and Ghanima's felt comic. "I'm Tyrion Lannister and this is Ghanima Atreides. Welcome to A Tale of Two Lions. If you are ruthless, power-hungry, and generally desperate to be allowed to tell other people what to do … you may actually be in the right place."

"Or, rather, not desperate to tell people what to do, you just do it anyway," Ghanima teased gently. "Whether you feel you are meant for power, or other people are telling you that you are, we're here to make sure you not only survive it, but that you rule. Not your advisers, not your counsel, but you."

"And with any luck," Tyrion added, "you'll do it with some mercy for those who must bow the knee to you. But this class is about what happens, and what you must do, before you can take any power. So we all know each other better, we'd like you to discuss today where power comes from in your homelands."

"So tell us where you come from, why you have come from there, and how power is invested and transferred," Ghanima stated. "Are you kings, queens, titans of industry or from a clan of ruling sages? What is the power that you hope to wield, and how is it traditionally taken?"

[OOC: Cowritten with atreideslioness.]

Comments

Sign In [8/27]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Like it's the first day of a new school year.

Re: Sign In [8/27]

[pulseof_life]

Paddra Nsu-Yeul

Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Listen, take notes, plot world domination...

Re: Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[pulseof_life]

Yeul was... so not the right person for this sort of class. Ruthless, power-hungry?

She glanced side-long at her classmates through lowered eyelashes. Was everyone in her class like that? Or were there others who were here on accident, like she was?

Re: Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[notyetplatypus.livejournal.com]

Chaz was trying to figure out how exactly he had ended up in this class, school, and life. He was failing on all three counts.

Re: Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[genesishero]

Evan... wasn't entirely certain he was in the right class as the lecture went on. But then, his Uncle had always told him that he'd need to strive to be a good leader, that the fate of the world itself might very well hinge on it, so... he wasn't sure.

He was going to sit quietly and take notes, all the same.

Re: Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[lockestheway]

There Peter was, keeping an eye on class and listening to the teachers while diligently making no--

Okay, he was plotting world domination. But he did that every day anyway.

Re: Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[unburnt-queen.livejournal.com]

Daenerys would have never selected this class if she'd known what other teachers were here. Yes, she certainly...verged on trusting Lord Tyrion -- almost -- but who knew what secrets he might slip to his brother? She would have to guard herself here, and be more an observer in this class than a participant.

Re: Before & During the Lecture [8/27]

[monkeymonkeydie.livejournal.com]

Bucky spent the whole lecture chuckling evilly under his breath, with his tail dancing back and forth sinuously like a snake being charmed.

Introductions [8/27]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Name, where you're from, and origins of power in your world -- as well as any power you hope to obtain.

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[pulseof_life]

"I am Yeul, from Gran Pulse," she said quietly, all her unease tucked away. "At the moment, I would say that most power comes from the Academy. They are the central government as well as the hub of progress for human technological advances."

That was correct without also mentioning other sources of power.

"As for what power I hope to obtain..." Yeul studied her hands. "I have no need to obtain power."

She already had it, after all, and it couldn't be taken from her or given away.

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[nothornlessrose.livejournal.com]

"My name is Cassidy and I'm from a territory in Kaeleer called Dharo." She played with a strand of her unruly hair while she tried to figure out the best way to answer the question. "In my world, the Queens and their Courts take care of the land and people they rule, but their source of power comes from their blood and their jewel and how they wield it."

She swallowed. "As for what power I hope to obtain? Uhm... I'm a Queen and one day the territory Queen will assign me a place to rule and care for the land and the people."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[notconflicted]

Considering Sia was still playing a lot of things close to the vest, her answer wasn't going to be entirely accurate, but she doubted anyone would think she was lying.

"My name is Marasiah Fel, and I'm from a galaxy far, far away. We're ruled by an Empire, though currently the true Emperor has been usurped through a combination of trickery and the stupidity of people he had been working with." Sia still wanted to slap you upside the head, Moff Council. So hard. "I'm simply in this class to understand better how such a thing could happen."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[notyetplatypus.livejournal.com]

"Uh, I'm Chaz. From Las Vegas. And um, we have a mayor, governor, and president. And various people in charge of other small parts of government and other things." All of this was told to his desk. "I have no interest in running for politics. Or getting involved."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[hasadestiny]

"Lex Luthor, I come from Kansas in a version of the United States relatively close to this one, power's supposed to come to elected officials from the people, but having ready access to money doesn't hurt," he said. "I'm most likely to end up with power in the business arena."

He supposed he could run for political office one day, but that was a long way off.

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[nomelancholy.livejournal.com]

"Ulrik, of House Oldenburg, in Denmark," Ulrik introduced himself. "I am from Denmark, which is a monarchy- technically, the king is elected by a council of nobles, although in practice it is almost always his eldest son who ends up with the position. I myself am a third son, and seemed destined for nothing more than administration of a minor province. Fate, however, had other plans, and I find myself in the position of inheriting not one crown, but three. I am here because the political situation in my world is- complicated, at the moment, and I must learn to adapt to the new ideas regarding government that are beginning to spread across the continent."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[atreideslioness]

"Since you are introducing yourselves, it's only fair you know who is teaching you," Ghanima said. "I am the Lady Ghanima, Princess Royal of House Atreus. Aryeh, the Lioness of the Atreides, daughter of Muad'Dib, daughter of Chani, granddaughter of Liet. Empress of the Known Universe and sister to the God Emperor."

"I do not crave power for its own sake," she stated, looking at each of the students in turn. "I rule because the alternative is to allow humanity to become extinct, and I will not allow that."

"I have been the target of assassination attempts since before I was born. My own regent attempted to kill me as a child. I am a creature of two cultures, and Leto often teases I am more Liet - Fremen - than Atreides, or Imperial. In both, however, I am deemed a Princess Royal, with all the expectations and responsibilities that come with it."

"My family is clairvoyant, able to read the strands of the future. I stand as guardian and defender of Atreides rule, as the Aryeh. I will do whatever is necessary to defend my family, the Imperium, and the future of humanity. My father led a jihad which brought the Known Universe to its knees. I will kill ten thousand times more than that if it is what is required to preserve the dignity and survival of the human race."

"Any questions?"

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[genesishero]

"I'm Evan Sabahnur, from Kansas, like Lex," Evan said, after a moment of feeling kind of silly that his introduction wasn't all that impressive. "And leadership it's pretty much the same thing in my reality as his. The people in charge are elected officials, it's a Democracy. And I... don't really have any power over anybody, and I'm not really looking to get any. But I've been told that if I do, it's my responsibility to make certain that I use it to help people, that I don't become a destroyer instead of a leader."

And so here he was!

... Fidgeting. The very image of the would-be Apocalypse, truly.

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[lockestheway]

"I'm Peter Wiggin, I'm from Earth about two hundred years into the future," Peter said, repressing a sigh, "And until recently, power in my world flowed from the Hegemony of Earth. Unfortunately, the Hegemony was in power mainly because the rest of the planet thought a united Earth was the only way to keep the bad guys out."

He stuck out two fingers in a sort of gun shape. "Then we shot down all the bad guys," he said, "and now I would say the power lies with whoever manages to back up the right words with the right army at the right time. It's all in flux."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[liarallmyown.livejournal.com]

"I'm Jace Wayland and I'm from New York City," Jace said. "But I come from a group of people that doesn't really obey...I guess I will say human laws. There's a group of people called the Clave that make laws for us."

As for the last question. "...I just want enough power where I can do what I want without people bothering me."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[unburnt-queen.livejournal.com]

"Daenerys of House Targaryen," she said, feeling a bit silly for introducing herself in light of who was teaching the class. "From Westeros, though I have not been home since I was a child. Power is, rightfully, descended through one's lineage, but it can be seized, as well. Kings and queens rule, and their children follow after them, but if someone were to kill the king and live, they might usurp the throne that way."

Not to name names.

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[glacial_queen]

"My name is Karla and, like Cassidy, I am a Queen from Kaeleer. My Territory is Glacia and when I graduate, I'll be starting a civil war to take my Territory back from my uncle and the puppet-Queen who rules it," Karla said in a neutral voice. "Kaeleer is a matriarchy and only those witches born with the power to heal the land are Queens."

Explaining it that way seemed to cut down on confusion than when she said that being a Queen meant being born to the caste. This world had odd notions of what entailed a caste. "However, simply being born a Queen does not enable one to rule; there are several other steps, as it were, beforehand."

Re: Introductions [8/27]

[whenshewasnice]

"Natalie Adams from Montreal in Canada," Natalie said, in her usual mild manner. "And where I come from, power comes from politics, or money. Occasionally fighting skills, but that's a little more rare."

She was ignoring the last question for now.

Talk to the Teachers [8/27]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Once we ping in! TA has been picked OOCly and can either ping to one of us here, or be handwaved into the OCD next week.

Re: Talk to the Teachers [8/27]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

Tyrion had a notepad with him, and was jotting down key phrases from the introductions. Some were things he'd still need to look up; others were to help him remember which student was which.

OOC [8/27]

[halfman-lion.livejournal.com]

EEEE NEW CLASS NEW YEAR HI.