Creative Problem Solving, Tuesday, period 3

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

[Class #10: The Insecure Job]

“This week we’re doing something a little different: working on making your own stuff safe.” Parker was maintaining a strategic distance from Eliot, because if she didn’t, she’d start checking him over for evidence of alien overlords, and that could get violent. “You can go high-tech, with lasers, and safes, and hidden compartments…”

Eliot was pretending not to notice Parker keeping away from him. He wasn't doing a very good job. He stood stiffly, arms crossed over his chest, jaw clenched, occasionally shooting glances at her. "Or you can keep it simple," he said. "Low tech, easy to maintain, hard to hack. A couple basic snares and traps, let anyone going after your stuff know you mean business."

Parker didn’t look at him but her tone was pointed. “Of course, you want to be able to discourage people. But not get them hurt. That could get you sued, or worse, put in jail. And some people will be skilled or strong enough to get out of that kind of thing.”

"And some people are skilled and strong enough to get past the damn lasers and safes," Eliot said, tone about as pointy as it got. "Ain't a damn single thief these days who goes into an apartment expecting a bear trap."

Which made no counter point at all to the whole "getting someone hurt" thing. Eliot was currently perfectly okay with that part.

The expression Parker made at that was her usual ‘you people are insane’ only dialed up to eleven. “Okay! So. Take a look at the security displays here…” A wave to the left at the high-tech, a wave to the right, at the kludge-and-blood-worthy. “...and figure out what works for you.” A pause. “No maiming inside the classroom.” Just deal with that, Eliot.

Eliot rolled his eyes. "Ain't even like you could maim someone in here." For once he actually looked put out by that fact. "So just calm the hell down already, Parker."

The death-glare Parker shot him for that would have done well at taking down a small moon, or a Rebel base.

“Get started, people.”

[ocd is up!]

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[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

Like your teachers are enacting an Edward Albee in front of you.

Re: Sign In!

[doesnotkneel]

Edward Kenway

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[notamascot]

Kaylin Neya

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[beautifulsenshi.livejournal.com]

Minako Aino

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[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy Li

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[bearmaidenfair]

Vider Bearskin

Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

There are safes, security lighting set-ups, heavy-duty locks, as well as more makeshift materials for traps, barriers and hidden doors.

Also cookies.

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[notamascot]

Kaylin was fascinated by all the things. They mostly didn't exist back home.

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[spin_kick_snap]

Unlike the rest of her classes this week, Kathy was actually paying attention to this one. It had just occurred to her that once she got her mirror--err, that was if she got her mirror--she'd need a way to protect it. Because who wouldn't want a magic mirror that showed them the fullness of their potential? And she knew how easy it was to break into someone's house--she and Sparkle had done it! Which meant dorm rooms were probably even easier!

So, yeah, she was checking out a mix of low tech and high, trying to figure out the best way to ensure the safety of her mirror when--if--she got it.

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[vdistinctive]

Eliot spotted the bruise on Kathy's cheek and scowled. He stalked over, arms still crossed (the whole class was generally safer, that way), and stopped in front of her.

"The hell happened to you?"

You know, just in case Hardison heard about it and decided this was somehow Eliot's fault.

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy really needed to get over being so jumpy. Really she did. Because, much like yesterday, she responded to being startled by an act of violence.

Look, he'd scared her while she was thinking about how to best protect the mirror she hadn't gotten yet. He should understand!

And hopefully he would after she yelped, jumped, and whirled to face him--with a spin-kick.

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[vdistinctive]

Eliot caught her ankle in one hand, held on for a moment, squeezed, and shoved her leg back.

"You done, Li?"

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[spin_kick_snap]

Kathy windmilled her arms and hopped a few times, nearly falling over before righting herself with a writhing motion that was almost unnatural.

"The heck was that?!" she demanded, her instinctive apology dying at that warning squeeze.

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[vdistinctive]

"It's called a block." No it wasn't. "Answer my question."

Re: Listen to your teachers/ Talk / Ask Questions /Play with stuff

[spin_kick_snap]

"Funny kinda block," Kathy muttered. "And you startled me. I just reacted."

Her hand went to the bruise he'd asked about. "I caught an elbow to the face out in Baltimore." She scowled. "He won't be doing that again."

What she wasn't saying was that she'd caught the elbow because she'd been distracted, wondering about Mr. Gaunt's mirror. And she'd been really upset when he'd jarred her train of thought. Which was why he wouldn't be raising his hand to anyone for awhile. It was a little broken.

But it was okay. He was a criminal.

Talk to the Teachers

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

… or not.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

Parker is here, ready to help you keep things secure in a non-paranoid, non-homicidal way. Unlike some people who are right there being jerks.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[vdistinctive]

Eliot wasn't being a jerk, he was being serious about security!

Those suspicious glances he kept shooting Parker probably weren't helping anything. He didn't want to be suspicious of her, but -- she was a thief.

He was getting a headache again.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

Parker would have multiple things to say to that observation, starting with 'duh' and ending with 'but I like MONEY. Not STUFF.' A shame Eliot wasn't giving her the chance to expound on that. In front of the students. Really.

She shot him a glance back, watching him for any sign he was going to do something weird. By her standards.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[vdistinctive]

She also liked diamonds and jewelry. He's seen her Christmas tree! He fiddled with the claw, reassuring himself again that it was there, and caught her glance. He returned it with a glare.

Why did she keep staring at him?

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

Why did he keep glaring at her?

Well, sure, but those were trophies! And it was CHRISTMAS. You couldn't deny Baby Jesus the best for his birthday!

Also, that was a new tick there, that playing with the claw. Maybe she should ask Sophie what it meant... but she'd probably tell Parker to figure it out herself.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[vdistinctive]

"Dammit, Parker," Eliot grumbled, moving towards her so he wasn't shouting across the room full of students. "The hell is your problem?"

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

"Problem? I don't have a problem. Do you have a problem?" Parker asked, watching him for the next tell or bit of new behavior. "What kind of problem do you have?"

Okay, now she was just assuming he had problems.

Re: Talk to the Teachers

[vdistinctive]

Eliot was trying to decide if a pit trap by the back door to his house was a good idea, or would just result in a hole full of gremlins and squirrels.

OOC

[whoisalicewhite.livejournal.com]

The Ho Ho Ho Job will always have my heart for the re-enactment of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? And Parker believing in Santa.