Practical Diplomacy, Friday, January 4, 2019

[sith_happened]

The class would find themselves in the Danger Shop, which had been set up like a diplomatic reception: drinks in the back of a too large, too bright, room with much too long a line; a variety of languages being spoken with various degrees of expertise; waitstaff circulating with varieties of mid-level snacks on tiny skewers (and no, they don't know what they are either); and people standing in pairs, singles, and small groups looking uncomfortable.

"Welcome to a networking opportunity," Anakin said, making a slight face, "otherwise known as roughly 40 percent of your life as a diplomat. Today's assignment is to introduce yourself to three people in this room, including me, exchange business cards--" he passed them out to every student as he continued speaking, "and come away with three ways to remember who they are for the next reception."

He smiled a little evilly. "Because there will be a next reception."

Comments

Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

Anakin was sipping from a glass that was holding club soda and pretending to be absolutely fascinated a conversation about the latest hair salon that had opened nearby. Save him from small talk. Saaaaave him.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[chirpchirpchirp]

Well, introducing herself to Master Paintball was part of the assignment, and Vette intended to take this class pretty seriously, and so she waited... not until a break in the conversation so much as the moment when it looked most as though Anakin might need a rescue before slipping in sideways and then chirping, "Hey! That sounds great. I don't suppose they wax lekku there, too?"

They never did. Weird hairy people.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Lekku get hair on them?" Anakin asked curiously.

Not the point at all, Anakin.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[chirpchirpchirp]

"No," Vette replied, looking seriously weirded out by the prospect. "Wait, is that why humans wax things?!"

And there went the point, careening right past the both of them now, courtesy of the weirdest throwaway Vette flavour dialogue in the whole MMO.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Yes," Anakin said. "Wait. Why did you think they did it?"

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[chirpchirpchirp]

Vette squinted a little.

"Feels good? Leaves your skin all nice? Smooth, you know?" She paused. "... Because the hair is all gone? That's why? Ew!"

Why were humans so weird!?

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Yeah," Anakin said dryly. "It's peculiar."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[unusual_sith]

"Pardon me." Lana nodded to the fake people. "Dean Skywalker, I wonder if I might have a word?"

Sith rescues Jedi! Well, she got a kick out of it, anyway.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Of course," Anakin said, excusing himself from the fake people. "How may I help you?"

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[unusual_sith]

Lana handed him one of her business cards and smiled. "Lana Beniko, though I imagine you already know that. Actually, I've been wanting to speak with you."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"I was wondering when I'd see you," Anakin admitted, tucking the business card away.

Kanan and he had been quietly and not-so-quietly freaked by her since last semester.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[unusual_sith]

"I couldn't miss a class on diplomacy," Lana confessed. And between her amusement at freaking out the Jedi and her keeping things close to the vest in case they did more than freak, that was all he was getting right now.

"I actually did have a question unrelated to the class, though. As Dean, I thought you might know who to speak with about the dormitory facilities?"

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Depends on the problem," Anakin said. "It could be anyone from Fosse to Zoe."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[midichlorianfail]

"Ani, buddy, long time no see."

Had Theron decided that the best thing to do to avoid actually having to talk to people was play-act the kind of obnoxiously overfriendly drunk idiot? Yes, yes he had.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"No one calls me Ani," Anakin declared, frowning a little.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[midichlorianfail]

"Sure thing, Ani."

If Theron could annoy Anakin into not coming up with ideas like this, all the better.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

Anakin was very tempted to accidentally (well "accidentally") trod on Theron's foot.

Twice.

"Anakin," he insisted.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[midichlorianfail]

When he grew up, Theron was arguably going to annoy two members of the Dark Council to death. He had skills.

"That's what I like about you, you're a man who knows what he wants," he said, going to clap Anakin on the shoulder. "Ani."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"--kin," Anakin added stubbornly. And futilely.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[axe2grind]

So this wasn't like being thrown into the deep end of diplomacy, or anything. Especially for someone who didn't sign up for his own classes.

Still, he'd at least seen people try to be diplomatic. Professionally, that is.

"How are you enjoying the party, sir?"

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Thrill a minute," Anakin said dryly. "The roast beef skewers are okay, for once, at least."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[axe2grind]

"Is that what they were?" Jack had thought so, but had been leery of making assumptions. Different world, and all. "I liked the little fruit tarts." He looked around, then back to their teacher. "Mr. Skywalker? Where did you find all these people to participate in this?"

The words 'Danger Shop' meant literally nothing to him.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Oh, most of them are computer projections," Anakin said. "The ones who don't look like teenagers or...Sidon or Vette, at least."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[axe2grind]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmm.

Jack's mouth opened, and closed, then opened again. Then he took a deep breath and said, "Sorry, not sure I got that. They're -- like something from my phone comm?"

He'd gotten that the phone had a computer in it from Vette, but after that, he was just completely lost. Did they escape a phone, maybe?

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"Something like that," Anakin said, "but slightly more complicated. They're programmed to be interactive, but they can't come out of this room."