atreideslioness: (History)
Ghanima Atreides ([personal profile] atreideslioness) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2016-01-05 09:28 pm
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Diplomacy, Relationships, & Tactics: The Art of War, Week 1 [Wednesday, Period 2]

Each desk had a copy of the syllabus ready and waiting, and Ghanima sat on her desk, hiding her smile behind her tea as they filed in; mentally cataloging the new and familiar faces. Apparently, a few of them were gluttons for punishment. MARA.

Tahiri was standing instead, hands tucked behind her back and boots unceremoniously shoved under her desk (look, she was indoors and in no danger of frostbite, so you couldn't make her wear those things) but just as busy taking stock of the familiar and unfamiliar students. And resigning herself to another semester of brain-breakage.

Sorry, Tahiri, but you were co-teaching with your former teacher. There was bound to be at least some brain-breaking.

"Good afternoon and welcome," Ghanima said in a clear voice that carried effortlessly. "This is the Art of War, and I am Lady Ghanima Atreides. You may address me as Miss Atreides, Lady Ghanima, Miss Ghanima, or some variation thereof. If you are in the wrong class, please feel free to leave at this time. For those of you whom I have had in class before," she smiled suddenly, looking far less severe. "Welcome back."

Tahiri nodded and offered the class a smile. "And hello to the students who weren't in our class last semester. I'm Tahiri Veila, but Tahiri is fine. Miss Veila, or Jedi Veila, if you have to be formal." Her tone suggested that she wasn't particularly encouraging formality.

"This is perhaps the one and only class at Fandom High that you'll ever have a textbook," Ghanima said, not particularly apologetic. "Thankfully, it's not one written by the American educational system or textbook writers in Texas."

GHANIMA. NO.

"Instead, we'll be using a translated copy of 'The Art of War,' Chinese military treatise that was written during the 6th century BC by Sun Tzu. Composed of 13 chapters, each of which is devoted to one aspect of warfare, it has long been praised as the definitive work on military strategies and tactics of its time. It is divided into 13 chapters, or P'ien, and the collection is referred to as being one Ch'üan, or chronicle."

"Which is a long time ago, yes, but you'll find the principles are easily applicable in almost any setting. As I discovered while I was taking this class," Tahiri added with a slight chuckle. That had been the semester where she, Jaina, and Ben had all been in the class, and one or more of them usually ended up missing class because of some mission back home. It was sort of hard to forget.

She started around the classroom to distribute copies of the text to the students. "Though let's just be clear, a battlefield isn't the only place these principles can be applied. They're just as useful if, say, you're dealing with a difficult person."

Ghanima was tempted to offer a cookie to anyone who beat the Jedi Attendance Record of 2008, but, well, that seemed like a terrible idea.

"I'd like to point out that people who take this class have a higher-than-average rate of surviving Very Impulsive Ideas," she said instead, dryly, giving Tahiri a fond smile. "The book is not only popular among military theorists, but also among political leaders and those in business management. The book addresses strategy in a broad fashion, despite the title, touching upon public administration and planning. The text outlines theories of battle but also advocates diplomacy and cultivating relationships with other nations as essential to the health of the state."

Tahiri laughed and -- once she was done with the handouts -- held up her hands in a 'you got me' gesture. "Politics has never been my strong suit, but the last few years I found myself working to resettle war refugees and help them adjust to coexisting with different cultures. At first I was surprised how much of this class I could apply on any given day there, which I guess means I really should've paid a little more attention to the lectures."

"It can even be used in regards to your personal relationships, platonic or romantic," Ghanima continued. "Or, just for navigating the high school social scene. In examining the text, you might even get to know yourself better, which is the biggest war of all."

"Sun Tzu himself is a bit of a mystery, and historians debate whether or not Sun Tzu was a real historical figure. Which, really, is par for the course with anyone truly interesting." Ghanima smiled at the class brilliantly. "If you're larger than life, they'll never believe you were real."


Tahiri was tempted to make a joke about how that must mean she knew a lot of mythical people, but instead she just grinned. Maybe her glance flicked over to Mara if she was there for a moment, but that was totally coincidence, right? "We're actually going to start off with a lesson from the text today, but don't think this means you get out of introductions time."

Ghanima knew many mythical people, and people who'd grown to mythic proportions due to circumstances beyond their control. Friends, family, family of friends. She wasn't going to look at any of the students in particular, if only because Fandom had taught her that they would, perhaps, all become larger-than-life within their time.

Ghanima moved to the front of the room, picking up her chalk to write quickly;
So it is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.

"Know thy enemy, know thyself. We'll cover it more in-depth later, but for today I would like you to go around the room and introduce yourselves. Give us your name, class, and some random fact about yourself. Pay attention to what your classmates have to say, you never know when such information could come in handy."

Tahiri nodded to the class. "Just . . . try not to use it to take advantage of them, okay?" In class, at least.

[OOC: Going up early for funsies. Wait for the OCD is up!]
weetuskenraider: (Erm)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-06 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, from that I'm going to assume you're from the same galaxy as me, if you're familiar with us," Tahiri said with a smile, though she took care to speak a touch more evenly; there was a twinge in the Force telling her not to assume any more than that, for some reason. "There are a few others around the island who are, too, but we're not all from the same time period."

Or version of the timeline, but that seemed a bit more technical than necessary right now.

She tilted her head, curious. "I am one, though, yes. Are there not any of us around where you're from?"

It wasn't as if there weren't sections of the galaxy that didn't believe they existed, and it wasn't like the Order hadn't all but ceased to exist at, oh, a few different points in history either.
thatwaslucky: (huh)

RE: Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] thatwaslucky 2016-01-06 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
"No. I mean... I thought that was all a myth," Rey said. "And I didn't think there'd be anywhere from where I'm from here."
weetuskenraider: (Looking Up)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-06 05:09 pm (UTC)(link)
"As I understand it, a lot of people believe that, if they've never seen one, and there aren't exactly many of us to go around. Where did you say you were from during introductions? Jakku? I don't think I've heard of that planet, but it is a big galaxy," Tahiri admitted. "And the Order has gotten so small that it's practically stopped existing on . . . um, a couple of occasions."

Usually when someone came along and tried to wipe them all out.
thatwaslucky: (this might work)

RE: Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] thatwaslucky 2016-01-06 05:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, guess what had happened in Rey's time!

"How many more are there here? And where are you from? And can you get back?"
weetuskenraider: (Green - It's a Flightsuit Rly)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-06 05:53 pm (UTC)(link)
Hopefully this wasn't the start of an every-other-generation pattern!

"I'm from Tatooine myself, and there are three other teachers from home -- um, the galaxy, that is -- that I know of, and one student," Tahiri told her. "And a few others in the past. Getting home isn't usually a problem, either."

She frowned. "Are you worried you can't?"
thatwaslucky: (hand on hip)

RE: Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] thatwaslucky 2016-01-06 05:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Rey shook her head. "I don't know how I got here to recreate it, and Portalocity is no help. I really need to be getting back."
weetuskenraider: (Thoughtful Inna Sand)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-06 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
"You weren't sent here, then?" Tahiri guessed. Hey, that was new. "Wow, okay, that's weird. It's hardly as if Portalocity doesn't know how to get there, but . . . well, you wouldn't be the first student who ended up here unexpectedly."
thatwaslucky: (distracted)

RE: Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] thatwaslucky 2016-01-06 07:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"And from what I understand I probably won't be the last," Rey sighed.
weetuskenraider: (In the Woods In Profile)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-06 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
"It happens around here," Tahiri said sympathetically. "I'm sorry, for what it's worth, and I bet this place is a huge adjustment if you're used to the desert, so that can't be helping. Can I ask -- is it really important for you to get home?"

Because she completely wouldn't be surprised if there was some kind of crisis.
thatwaslucky: (desert girl)

RE: Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] thatwaslucky 2016-01-06 08:04 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yes," she said sincerely. "I'm waiting for someone there."
weetuskenraider: (Glowy Sunshine Angstiness)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-06 08:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Tahiri swore softly to herself in Yuuzhan Vong then immediately looked contrite about it. Whoops, not in front of the students.

"No way to get a message back to this person?"
thatwaslucky: (eh)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] thatwaslucky 2016-01-07 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
"It's not really an option," Rey said.
weetuskenraider: (In the Woods In Profile)

Re: Talk to the Teachers (AoW 1)

[personal profile] weetuskenraider 2016-01-07 12:32 am (UTC)(link)
Tahiri decided she wasn't going to press the issue, for the moment. "I see. That does make things complicated. Though there's nothing to say this person might end up here looking for you, maybe as unexpectedly as you did. Fandom can be weird that way sometimes, with the coincidences. I know that's not much of a consolation, or anywhere near a sure bet, but . . ." She shrugged, looking apologetic. "I'd rather not get your hopes up too much."