fandomhigh | The Art of Battle Tactics; Monday, First Period [10/25].

""'All warfare is based in deception'," said Shunsui, starting the class out straight away once every one was settled in the circle with their cushions and their cups. "So says the great stategist Sun Tzu in his ubiquitous Art of War ♥. 'Hence,' he continues...

"'when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe was are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near'.

"Of course, deception can prove useful in many other things outside of the battleground, as well ♥. When playing cards, do we not bluff our cards to give our hand a better shot? In the game of love, do we not often attempt to present ourselves as better than we perhaps are? Perhaps deception, in some cases, is more effective than in others, and, after all, it can only be so long until the people at the table learn your tells, your paramour begins to see your flaws, and there is no choice but to reveal your true power to your enemies ♥.

"So....," Shunsui took a thoughtful sip of his tea. "It should be of no surprise to you, at this point, that I should like to discuss this thought. Deception on the battlefield. Deception in the battles of day-to-day life. Is it effective? Do you believe it in yourself? Is all fair in love and war, or has one who has fallen to deception already lost in the greater picture of honor and goodness? Can such things exist, on the battlefield?

"I would love to hear your thoughts, ducklings ♥."

And not just because he got up that morning and didn't really feel like going through the effort of the fighting class he had originally intended to today's lesson, either.

But mostly because of that, yes.

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Deceptively!

Short, sweet, and sophorific. Shunsui would say he'd hate to rumble on enough to draw any of the students to slumber, but that would, indeed, be a deception.

Although points to anyone who decided to pretend to have drifted off as a way to get out of the discussion. That was an excellent use of tactics that Shunsui himself would be proud of.

(And one he'd deployed himself on countless occasions, as well!)

"'Man,'" Shunsui added, offering up another quote, with a faint grin because this topic was one rather near and dear to his deceptive little heart, "'is not what he thinks he is, he is what he hides.' So what do we think of stategic uses of deception? Yay or nay? Any good examples to share with the class? We are, after all, here to learn from each other ♥."

Should he be needed for anything before he officially switches his beverage of choice from tea to sake, he is most certainly there!

Alara Kitan

“I think in terms of battle deception as a tactic can be good” Alara considered as she thought back to being that alternate version of herself against the Kaylons, “especially if its a means to try and survive the conflict,”

Illyana Rasputin

"We all employ tiny deceptions, every day, to get through our day," Illyana said. "We smile when we don't mean it, we exchange empty platitudes and courtesies and 'small talk' that means nothing, to create an illusion of connection."

"I wear this face every day to make people more comfortable. It's mine, sure, but it's not the complete truth. Sometimes we decieve to make things easier for other people, and not just ourselves."

Astrid Magnussen

"Do you generally feel, Alara-chan," Shunsui asked, tilting his head a little; he held his cup close, but did not sip quite yet, "that survival by any means necessary is important ♥?"

"And do you think, Illyana-chan," Shunsui mused with a little thoughtful hum, a small smile that almost seemed to be affecting a certain innocence, as if the things she'd laid out were possibly entirely foreign to him, "that these tiny deceptions in our every day life translate easily to the battlefield ♥?"

"It's not hard to go from small lies to big ones, it's just a matter of adjusting your perspective," she said with a shrug. "If you believe you're doing it for the right reasons, what stops anyone from lying about if they plan to uphold a treaty? Or how many troops they'll commit to a plan?"

"Small, polite lies can become big ones, when things like what people perceive as their 'duty' or 'patriotism' are involved."

Another thoughtful hum slipped out of Shunsui at that one, giving the words a little more consideration with a sip of his tea, although he mostly knew what his next question would be.

"But one had to wonder...," he ventured, "if they truly believe what they do is done for what is right or for duty or patriotism...do they ever cease to be lies? Obviously, when one goes against something like treaty, the lie is very evident; the falsehood is more than likely the intent. But do you suppose, Illyana-chan....there is ever a time when the lie and deception begin to blur with the truth? Is there ever a time where a lie is employed so often, it may very well now be the truth?"

“Maybe not necessarily my own survival,” Alara said thoughtfully, “but if it meant the survival of the cause being fought for even if the odds were low…I think then that survival by any means would be important,”

"The self-sacrificing type, then," Shunsui said with a lift of his brow, "are we, Alara-chan?"

"Well an alternate version of me was," Alara explained, "she was part of some resistance after the galaxy got invaded and I don't think it was going well..." she paused, "I guess if we were similar ...well I suppose I would be as well.."

The Art of Battle Tactics; Monday, First Period [10/25].

Sign In - AoBT, 10/25.

Listen to the Lecture - AoBT, 10/25.

Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Talk to Shunsui - 10/25.

OOC - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Sign In - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Sign In - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Sign In - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.

Re: Discussion: Deception - AoBT, 10/25.