Working Together: How Not to be an A-Hole - Monday - Third Period

[biotic_psychotic]

"Good morning. Welcome to Working Together: How Not To Be An A-Hole," Jack said as the class filed in. "Welcome to the Danger Shop. For any of you who might not have been here before, it's a simulation room. For our first day of class, we're going to do introductions because that's part of not being a jerk when you're in a new environment with a new group, and then you're going to figure out the confidence course."

Down the center of the room lies what might generously be called an obstacle course. It held standard things like staggered tires to run through, wires to crawl under, ropes with no knots to climb, a wall to get over, a mud pit to swing across - but also things right out of video games. Gold coins hanging in the air, a sphere of perfect darkness - the inside of which was not viewable because: perfect darkness, riveted boxes with question marks on them, banana peels randomly appearing and zipping across areas of the obstacle course before disappearing.

"Some of you might have seen or done a thing like this before. Usually it's a competition. This ain't. You don't get graded individually. Clock starts, clock don't end until every member of this class gets from one side of the room to the other. Which means class don't end until every member of this class gets from one side of the room to the other. You'll be choosing a team captain for the day but that's because most groups don't work by committee. I expect the captain to listen to the ideas of the others and make the ultimate decisions on how you cross, but participation in this is mandatory. No lurkers, got me?" Jack looked at all of the class.

"So - start with introductions. I'm Jack, I'm your teacher. I don't care what it says on your roster, I'm not 'Ms. Zero' or 'Miss Jack' - it's just Jack. Your TA is Peebee. We're here if you have questions."

[OCD is up!]

Comments

Re: Choose a captain

[hashtag_chocobro]

Did being in this class with Norman make things better or worse? Prompto honestly couldn't tell, because he felt a huge swell of relief in his chest because this was the one person who could really understand what he was dealing with right now, but, at the same time...this was the one person who really understood what he was dealing with right now. It was sort of a catch-22, or something. But he laughed softly at Norman's dismissal of the throne and joined in with one of his own. "Yeah, no," he said, lifting his hands a little, "I'm not sure I'm exactly best for a leader position, either."

Which meant, hey, there, somewhat shameful puppy dog eyes skittering around to the other students right now with a very, very heavy dose of please don't hate me although I'd get it if you did mixed in there, too.

Re: Choose a captain

[always_someone]

"I mean, if I was captain, I'd probably just suggest we go around," Norman admitted, smiling wryly, scratching the back of his neck. "But maybe the easiest approach isn't the best one right now."

You know. For that reason that Prompto would probably understand better than anyone else.

... Even if the rules didn't say they had to run the course.

Re: Choose a captain

[unusual_sith]

"Going around is a perfectly valid option, if it's within the parameters of the class," Lana said.

"And I'm willing to be captain unless someone else feels they're more qualified."

Because somebody had to, didn't they?

Re: Choose a captain

[always_someone]

"... I vote Lana to be captain."

It let him and Prompto dodge responsibility!

And she liked his idea.

Re: Choose a captain

[unusual_sith]

"Well, that's one." Lana looked around. "Does anybody object to me being captain, or to Norman's plan? It does seem to be the easiest."

Which she wasn't necessarily trusting, but if they didn't try it, they'd never know, would they?