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a tale of two lions

A Tale of Two Lions, Monday, Period 2

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.]

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

"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.

"You trust the Academy, then?" Tyrion asked, in a gentle -- he'd always be gentle with the shy -- but interested voice.

Re: Introductions [8/27]

pulseof_life - 2012-08-27 14:06 (UTC) - Expand

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halfman-lion.livejournal.com - 2012-08-27 14:20 (UTC) - Expand

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halfman-lion.livejournal.com - 2012-08-27 15:30 (UTC) - Expand

"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."

"Eventually you will end up in a position much like that of this world's mayor or governor, correct?" Ghanima asked. "Is the will of the territory Queen final, or will you be susceptible to challenges to your authority?"

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nothornlessrose.livejournal.com - 2012-08-27 16:25 (UTC) - Expand

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."

"Thank you," Tyrion said, and tilted his head thoughtfully. "Would you want the true Emperor back in power, even if he was foolish enough to allow himself to be deceived? Or is your ultimate goal a new government?"

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notconflicted - 2012-08-27 18:25 (UTC) - Expand

"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."

"Politics is not the only method of power," Ghanima pointed out. "Businessmen, journalists, historians, teachers... there are many different types of power, and many different ways to use it."

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notyetplatypus.livejournal.com - 2012-08-28 04:36 (UTC) - Expand

"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.

"Hello again, Lex," Tyrion said. "Money never hurts. Do you know what sort of business you'd like to have?"

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hasadestiny - 2012-08-27 21:57 (UTC) - Expand

"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."

"Do you prefer Lord, Prince, or simply Ulrik?" Ghanima asked practically. "Are these three crowns at least congruent with each other, or do you face geographic challenges as well as changing ideas of government?"

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nomelancholy.livejournal.com - 2012-08-27 17:57 (UTC) - Expand

"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?"

Edited 2012-08-27 15:25 (UTC)

Tyrion knew he couldn't top that, so he didn't even try.

"Whereas I'm simply the younger son of a very wealthy man who inherited a nice piece of land, did well with it, and is exceptionally good at winning battles," he said. "Nobility, not royalty. Power's inherited in my world, but no position is secure. The Lannisters were losing ground before my grandfather died and my father made some wise moves and ended up as the king's chief advisor."

He spoke of all this with respect, but no affection. He had no desire to turn this into an argument with Daenerys ~~if she's in class~~; he would say no more.

"I've no designs on ruling myself. But I would prefer not to be slaughtered like a lamb if things go badly for the rest of my family. For that reason, I keep my eyes and ears open."

Edited 2012-08-27 17:09 (UTC)

"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.

"That's an excellent reason to be here," Ghanima replied gently, giving the boy a warm smile. "Do you have people who think you should be in a leadership position?"

Given that apparently people had already been telling him to help and not destroy...

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genesishero - 2012-08-27 19:10 (UTC) - Expand

"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."

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lockestheway - 2012-08-27 17:12 (UTC) - Expand

"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."

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atreideslioness - 2012-08-27 19:17 (UTC) - Expand

"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.

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halfman-lion.livejournal.com - 2012-08-27 19:10 (UTC) - Expand

"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."

"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.

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whenshewasnice - 2012-08-27 22:38 (UTC) - Expand

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whenshewasnice - 2012-08-28 10:54 (UTC) - Expand

Bucky stood on his desk and raised his paws to the ceiling. "YOU ARE ALL OPPRESSING ME!!!" he shouted. Then he groomed his shoulder nonchalantly for a while, to give the pinkish freaks time to chew on it.

Eventually, he looked up again, and this time actually answered the question. "My name is Bucky Katt. I'm from Boston, and not some weird elves-and-hobbits place like the rest of you weirdos. In the real world, humans are evil, oppressive overlords dedicated to the subjugation of the genetically superior so-called 'domesticated' animals. VIVA LA REVOLUTION!"

"My name is Lucrezia Borgia, and I am from Rome," she said, feeling it necessary to add, "though I have learned that I am in the past, compared to everyone else here. The origins of power are varied. Kings and Queens may rule, but my father is Pope - the head of the Holy Mother Church -- and wields considerable power of his own. Military leaders have their own power, and a friend taught me that even beauty can be a weapon, if well-used."

She bit her lip. "I do not know what power I wish to have," she said. "Women are rarely allowed to rule outright, but ... I feel I may enjoy being influential. One can accomplish many things by moving in the shadows."

The new poorhouse, obtained by blackmail funds, stood testament to that.

"Kenzi, Canada, just north of this country we're all in," Kenzi said, balancing a pencil on her fingertip, looking absorbed. "Ummm. Money. Money money money. Pays for politicians, pays for guns, pays for ... stuff." She grinned. "I intend to just be powerful enough for no one else to have power over me. Without having to rule anybody, ick."

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