Through a Glass Darkly: Spies and Spying.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Aly was waiting in the classroom as her students filed in.  She gave each a warm smile as he or she signed in.  Once everyone was seated, she stood up to greet them, absently stroking her black beaded necklace.

"Good morning.  I'm Alianne of Pirate's Swoop and the Copper Isles.  You may feel free to call me Aly though if you're uncomfortable with that, duani would be acceptable."  She grinned.  "This class is 'Through a Glass Darkly: A Hands on History of Spies and Spying' or however you'd like to shorten it as the first is a bit of a mouthful."

"During the term, we're going to cover the basics of spycraft, running spying operations, and how in the history of this world and others, espionage has been used, completely failed, and succeeded beyond expectations."  She paused, surveying the classroom.  "And, since I don't see much use in feeding you theory all semester - if I liked theory, I would have gone to study magic with my brother -" she interjected with a slight roll of her eyes. "we're going to cover the practicalites of what makes a good spy - and what gets spies killed." 

"You already know my name.  So I'll give you a bit more information about me.  I've been spymaster to my Queen for six years now and helped organise the rebellion to put her in power.  Everything I'm going to be teaching you is something I've used in the past seven years that has helped my Queen, her country, my spies, and myself survive.  The number one thing?  Is your mind.  Half of spying is ninety percent mental as they say."  She winked.  "No matter the gadgets or magic or little toys you have at your disposal, your brain is your biggest advantage and the thing that shall keep you alive."

She surveyed the class, stroking her necklace again.

"So today, I'd like to get to know each of you, hear what you think spying ought to be used for, and then play a few memory games to help train that advantage."  She smiled slightly mischieviously and may have appeared relieved to the very observant.

"Oh, right.  I'm also looking for a teacher's assistant or two.  If you'd like to help out, see me after class.  You don't need to have any experience."  She grinned.  "Just enthusiasm."

[OOC: Syllabus is coming as my brain is fried.  Also, there'll be an OOC post for all of you later today if you'd keep an eye out for that.  OCD is Up..]

Comments

Introduce Yourself

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Tell Aly and the class who you are, two interesting and/or random facts about yourself, and when or under what conditions you feel spying is appropriate.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"I'm Eric Weiss. Uh, I'm related to Harry Houdini and I'm learning a little magic myself." He paused. "Spying's appropriate when you think that someone is lying in such a way that might be harmful to others. I'm not talking slander, but like, when the witholding or altering of the truth might put others lives or well-being in danger."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I'm Molly Hayes. I'm from 2009 and I'm a mutant with super strength," Molly said. "I think spying is appropriate when people don't tell you things you need to know." Molly listen at doorways? No, never.

Re: Introduce Yourself

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

I'm Teddy Altman. Um, I'm a Skrull," Teddy said. "I think spying is appropriate when it saves people's lives."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

"I'm Seely Booth. I like socks, and I'm here because I borrowed a police car." He thought about his reply. "Spying is appropriate when it might save lives, or stop the bad guys."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

"Bridge Carson, I'm currently a cadet at SPD Academy in addition to being a student here, and I think spying is appropriate when there's a danger of people being hurt if they don't have that information."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

"Samuel Anders, or just Anders. Please. I come from the city of Delphi on the planet Caprica, and --" Anders turned a little red here, but took a deep breath and continued, "I write about baseball, sometimes."

He chewed on his lip as he mulled over the last part of his answer. "Sometimes you gotta do what needs to be done, right? If it's gonna save people's lives, or keep a disaster from happening, then yeah, I think spying's appropriate."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[greenmagebriar.livejournal.com]

"Briar Moss, I'm from Winding Circle Temple and I have plan magic. I think spying is appropriate pretty much always. Information never hurts."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

"I'm Draco Malfoy, I'm a wizard. And I'm from England, just in case the accent wasn't a dead giveaway." he starts "I think spying is very useful. Sometimes people keep things from you that they shouldn't and spying is the only way to find out..."

"...well, okay, torture also would probably work but nobody wants it to come to that."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

"My name is Setsuna Sakurazaki." She paused, considering what else to say. She really had to start taking care of that whole 'getting rid of my secrets before getting rid of my demonhood' thing, so she decided, "This is not my real eye colour, and I have wings. I believe spying is appropriate when it is done to save people's lives, or I'm getting paid well enough to do it."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[ihatedenmark.livejournal.com]

"My Name is Hamlet Dane. I'm the crown prince of my home nation, and I keep a robotic hot pink rabbit as a pet. I think that spying serves a purpose when you need additional information in order to decide whether or not to pursue a course of action."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[2-twin-devils-2.livejournal.com]

"I'm Hikaru Hitachiin." "And I'm Kaoru Hitachiin." They made a bowing motion toward all. "We're studying here from Japan and like mayple syrup." They chorus after intros. "Spying is appropriate whenever you want to find out information that people just won't come out and tell you."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[cat-in-the-box.livejournal.com]

"I'm Schrodinger. Yes, these cat ears are real and I was made with them. Yes, I said made. And I think espionage is appropriate in conditions of war, conditions leading up to war, and possibly conditions that might lead to war."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[can_be_more]

"My name is Aeryn Sun, I was raised in the military," she says, because that might be important in this class, she's not sure yet. "I haven't exactly had any experience with spying that wasn't used for reconnaissance in a mission of some sort."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[courier-gavin.livejournal.com]

"I'm Jake Gavin junior. My dad owns a courier firm, and I think spying is necessary in order to get information. All kinds of information."

Re: Introduce Yourself

[herald-thief.livejournal.com]

"I'm Skif. Trainee Herald of Valdemar, ex-theif. Spying is important when you think it is and your Companion agrees."


((ooc: SORRY! :O ))

Pass Notes or Chat During the Lecture.

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

.

Re: Pass Notes or Chat During the Lecture.

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

Anders was, in fact, listening quite intently throughout the lecture, although he'd stop and scribble notes in his notebook every once in a while.

If anyone were to, say, peer over his shoulder at the notepad they might be able to make out a few random stick figures and phrases to the following effect:

- tuxedo: optional. what if you have to look scruffy?
- gadgets: cool but optional
- brain: important. uh oh.

Re: Pass Notes or Chat During the Lecture.

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

There wasn't much of a lecture, no, but Sakurazaki definately had a few choice notes to scribble down in Japanese about this new teacher and her thoughts regarding spying. She was about to jot something down about the obsessive fingering of her beads, but then realized throughout class that she, too, had been idly playing with the chain of her own necklace, and decided against making such a note.

The Jewel Game

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Only less with jewels and more with silly pictures.

Once you click the link, study the picture for 30 seconds. Then click back and write down everything you remember on the picture.

Comment to let Aly know how you did.

Jewel Game (http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/puzmatch.gif)

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

c, cat, dog, bell, chalkboard, apple, hot dog, 7, stork, bicycle, coffee cup, glasses, shaking hands, cake, soccer ball, music, eggs, truck

"18 out of 25." Molly hoped that wasn't too bad.

Re: The Jewel Game

[socksofcool.livejournal.com]

c, cat, dog, bell, coffee, glasses, 7, eggs, handshake, chickenleg, music, football, truck, cake, apple

"16 out of 25."

Matching Game

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

Turn over the cards to find matching pairs.

Comment to say how long it took or how many times you had to turn over the cards. Or just give a handwavey assessment.

Matching Game (http://www.queendom.com/mindgames/mindstretching/memory-games/memory-game1/index.html)

Re: Matching Game

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"Took me about two minutes. Some of the pictures were similar and I got tripped up."

Talk to Aly After Class

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

She's around to answer questions or just chat.

Re: Talk to Aly After Class

[http://users.livejournal.com/weissguy_/]

"Hey," Weiss said. "Eric Weiss. You said you needed a teaching assistant?"

OOC

[tricksy-spy.livejournal.com]

If it's needed