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

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."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[axe2grind]

Jack was still struggling with this, but he thought he was getting it, what with the word 'program'. "So, they're like-- automatons," he said slowly. "Only not very smart ones?"

Unlike, say, his ex-maybe-dead-girlfriend.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

"You mean like droids? Robots?" Anakin asked.

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[axe2grind]

Jack flinched a little, and his metal hand clenched for a moment. "Droid, like android? Yes, that was what I was thinking of." Until this week, he'd wondered if that was what he was. Now he had a new word for it: cyborg. Or a 'very basic one' if Mr. Stark was correct. "Someone I know works on them. And other mechanisms with clockworks."

Re: Mingle: Anakin

[sith_happened]

Anakin nodded. "These aren't exactly the same," he said. "They can be interacted with and touched, but they aren't real. They can't leave the room. They disappear as soon as I cut the power off."