fandomhigh | Urban Survival - The Uglier Side of City Living, Wednesday, Period 2

"Okay," Sparkle said, clapping his hands and grinning at the students in the... fancy classroom. "So before we get into any of the 'now you are on your own and have to survive in a damn city with basically nothing' shit, first we have to figure out what you have to worry about in that situation. Or like, any situation. Those of you who aren't human are going to have to correct me if I'm wrong here- I don't want to speak for the basic needs for anyone I can't be sure about and lead you astray, but if there's something I miss that's pivotal, or if you actually don't need any of what I've listed, let me know. We want to end this semester with you not having wasted your time, you know?"

Unfortunately, all of Sparkle's extensive googling hadn't unveiled a list of basic Togruta needs or anything, so he was going to have to work with what he had unless directed otherwise.

"So, with trepidation in my heart of hearts, here there is a handout of fundamental human needs, which looked thorough enough to be useful while also seeming open-ended enough that most of it should apply to everyone in the room. Again, please, god, correct me if I'm wrong. I'm from one of the boring Earths." And was apparently the only one in this room who could say that. He was going to try not to let what an intimidating thought that was show on his face as he gestured to a stack of handouts. "This one is a table, most of what I've found are pyramids, which, while pretty, don't, like, actually go into depth about stuff like what 'physiological' is supposed to mean. This one has columns. You know it's being thorough when it has columns."

... Cough. Shrug. Grin sheepishly at the class.

"What we're mostly going to focus on this semester are the things in the 'subsistence' and 'protection' rows. Which isn't to say that the other stuff isn't important at all - I mean, freedom? Hugely freaking important too, and we'll probably touch on it down the road anyway. But a lot of the stuff below the top two rows kind of starts settling into 'suggestion' territory instead of 'requirement.' Especially if you're in dire straits and can't exactly make it to bingo night at the local church or whatever. Things like your health, your ability to eat, clothing and a shelter are a little bit less optional. They're also things that you've got a better chance of having at least some control over. I know 'equal rights' isn't exactly something we all have the luxury of saying we have. It's also not something you can necessarily focus on doing something about while you're struggling to survive. That one's a trap. We are definitely going to talk about that trap later on, too. But today... I just want you to look at the table. Get to know the table, and what your priorities on it are. Then I want you to go through the table from Affection on down and tell me a few things you think are most important, and a few things you figure you could probably get by without, at least for a while. A lot of that stuff is stuff we aren't going to cover in class, but if, like, half of you think I should be, I'm going to want to know."

Because seeing where people's priorities sat was fun and educational, okay?

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So help Sparkle, he was chewing the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning.

"The ones at the top are the ones we'll be putting the most focus on this semester, yeah," he agreed, shrugging. "The stuff lower on the table, as you work your way down are more... psychological needs. Bearing in mind that a lot of them come from a place of bias or privilege on their own. Like, church? Not everyone needs that. But for some it might prove a fulcrum for mental and emotional stability, making attaining those top needs easier. Or they might help in ways you don't even consider. We'll be covering that stuff, too. Just not in as much detail as 'how the hell are you going to eat in a place you can't hunt or grow your own food.'"

Jalian nodded, still slightly skeptical. "So, these are needs for some people, and nice for some, and unnecessary for some." She looked over the table again. "They don't seem all to be equal, even in one box," she said.

She pointed. "See, autonomy, that is important. But passion...that isn't a thing you are given, and you can do without it, I think."

"Most people can," Sparkle agreed, smiling faintly. "That's why I'm having you guys discuss this thing. There's no such thing as a list of needs that applies to absolutely everyone. Not really."

He pointed to the bottom of the list.

"Like, good luck meeting any of your needs without the freedom to do so, right? I handed this out because I want to see where everyone's priorities sit so I can give attention to the things people think do matter, or I can explain how in certain situations, some things might actually mean more than people give them credit for."

Ah, that made more sense. Jalian gave the table another look.

"Games and parties, I think, are not so necessary. Or sexual activity. I do not understand the obsession with privacy here, but if you need to plan your own things that others wouldn't approve of, then you might need it. Skills and interpreting things are important, so you know what else you need."

"Yeah, parties become pretty low priority when you don't have somewhere to live," Sparkle agreed with a nod. "And having skills, especially marketable one, are also helpful when it comes to finding a job. It's not a sure thing either, but it doesn't hurt. Interpreting things can come in handy in a lot of ways. Interpreting a situation to see if it's safe or not, for example."

"Yes," Jalian agreed. Her eye caught on something else, and she rolled her eyes. "Language. Not reading or writing this English was bad enough. And some of the words are still hard. If you don't know the language where you are, it's much harder." She looked thoughtful. "Also knowing what is valuable. Money," which would never not be funny, "or other things. I don't know where that would be on here."

Sparkle looked thoughtfully at the list.

"Assuming you're not just volunteering whatever you do for free, my guess is that money would fall under work," he mused. "Since that's generally how people get money, and all. It all boils down to something you do or something you have having value to another person, who is willing to pay you or give you things you need in exchange for it."

And work showed up there roughly a million times, so it was probably one of the important ones.

Jalian made a cutting motion. "Not the money. I meant, you need to know if it is money, or something else. To know what the people around you value. Then you can decide how to get what it is, and trade more effectively. Or steal," she added with a shrug.

Or use as blackmail. Any way, you had to know what to go after.

"Well, that part is usually straightforward enough," Sparkle noted. "Unless Portalocity has screwed you over bad and left you in a different world or something. But even then, just find a marketplace or something. Keep an eye on how people do business."

A beat.

"Or steal. Just so long as you don't get caught."

He never said he was a good role model. He was just also pragmatic. Fuck the law if the law wanted you to starve, okay?

Jalian nodded. "And hope it isn't bound to them. Like a credit card."

Sparkle shrugged.

"Depends where and when you are, but those can be pretty easy to steal, too."

What? As if he'd never done it before?

"Worst case scenario, you go right to taking what you need directly. Or begging. Which nobody here wants to think about as an option, no, but if you're that low, pride becomes one of those things that doesn't sit at the top of the table, too."

"Harder to use, though," Jalian said. She shrugged back at the rest of it. "I would rather take than beg."

"If you can find me somebody who would rather beg than take, I'll show you a liar," Sparkle pointed out. "But sometimes, taking isn't an option. Even for people who are really good at taking. Sooner or later, you'll run into somebody that's better at keeping what they have than you are at taking it."

Jalian thought about it, then just shrugged. She could concede the point theoretically, but she still didn't plan for it to ever happen.

Urban Survival - The Uglier Side of City Living, Wednesday, Period 2

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