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

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

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

c, egg, 7 chicken leg, stork, bike, board, coffe, soccer ball, hot dog, dog, cat, cake, balloons, music

"Is that good?" Teddy asked.

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"I'm not sure," Molly said with a small grin. "I've never done this kind of test before."

Re: The Jewel Game

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

Teddy set his head down on his desk and sighed. "I thinking this won't be an easy class."

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly grinned again. "I think it will be fun." She hesitated for a moment, fearing Teddy might think her rude, but decided to ask anyway. "You're a skrull?"

Re: The Jewel Game

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

"Yeah," Teddy said, head still down on his desk.

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"You don't look like the only skrull I've met. Is this your disguise?"

Re: The Jewel Game

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

Teddy's head shot up and he stared at Molly, eyes getting huge.

"You've heard about Skrulls before?"

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly nodded. "The one I met is engaged to my friend Karolina."

Re: The Jewel Game

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

"This is my regular form. I'm only half Skrull." Teddy said, digesting the bit of information Molly gave him.

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

"You're from Earth though? Are there mutants where you're from?" Molly asked curiously. "There are only a few people here who come from an Earth that has mutants."

Re: The Jewel Game

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

Teddy grinned. "Yes and yes. I was begining to wonder if I was the only one from that earth."

"Have you heard of the Young Avengers?"

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly nodded. "Me and my friends try to stay hidden from the super hero types, but I've heard of them," she said.

Re: The Jewel Game

[notthehulk.livejournal.com]

"Oh." Teddy looked down at his notebook at the stick figure with lightning coming from it's little stick figure hands.

"Not fond of spandex?"

Re: The Jewel Game

[bruiser-in-pink.livejournal.com]

Molly shrugged. "It's more that they, Captain America in particular, want us to stop fighting bad guys. Especially me now because I'm still underage." She rolled her eyes. "Like that really makes a difference."

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."

Re: The Jewel Game

[bridge-carson.livejournal.com]

c, bike, cat, dog, bell, chest, cake, chicken, eggs, pitcher, coffee, stork, 7, notes, hot dog, truck, hands, apple, soccer ball, balloons

"Um, 20 out of 25," Bridge says. It's possible he sounds a little disappointed.

Re: The Jewel Game

[cantgetnorelief.livejournal.com]

C, cake, pitcher, soccer ball, handshake, balloons, presents, bicycle, chalkboard, a bell, a puppy, the number seven, a football, a burger, an apple, eggs, a hot dog, and a chicken drumstick.

It figured, really, that he'd have remembered all the food pictures.

"Nineteen out of twenty-five?" Anders made a bit of a face, then shrugged. It was better than he'd been hoping for, honestly.

Re: The Jewel Game

[greenmagebriar.livejournal.com]

"22 out of 25. What's that thingy?" Briar pointed at the truck.

Re: The Jewel Game

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

c, soccerball, music notes, truck, ham, stork, sunglasses, treasure chest, eggs, bell, cat, dog, 7, cake, apple

"Um...15 out of 25." says Draco. He had no idea if that was bad or not.

Re: The Jewel Game

[bound2blade.livejournal.com]

Sakurazaki not only wrote them down, but she placed them in correct boxes, too. Handshake, truck, bells, cat, dog, stork, lunchbox, c, 7, balloons, gifts, coffee (maybe tea), glasses, bicycle, blackboard, musical notes, football, eggs, chicken leg...

"Nineteen of twenty five," she announced, wretchedly disappointed with herself. How could she have forgotten hot dog? Honestly.

Re: The Jewel Game

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

"C, bike, cat, dog, balloons, hamburger, 7, music notes, blackboard, hands shaking, cake, stork, glassses, soccer ball, lemonade, chicken leg, truck, eggs, apple, hotdog, football." The twins nodded. "21 out of 25."

Re: The Jewel Game

[can_be_more]

C, 7, cat, dog, bell, cup of something, pitcher, balloons, egg, two different kinds of bird (chicken and stork), glasses, bicycle, truck, cake, apple, gifts, handshake, and Aeryn doesn't know what a chicken leg is, but it's there.

"I don't know what some of these are," Aeryn admits, because she probably could have done better otherwise.

Re: The Jewel Game

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

C, cat, seven, chicken leg, dog, bicycle, truck, lunch box, balloons, bell, blackboard, hot dog, cup, hamburger

"Hm," Schrodinger said. "Fourteen..." And then his attention was gone and he went to play the other game.